STL’s music has always been free and imperfect – sketches rather than songs. He operates in a smoky and smoggy world somewhere between house, lo-fi, dub and ambient and his tracks always arrive fully formed, as if they are looping infinitely in some parallel dimension. ‘Take Me To Your Leader’ is another magnificent collection of all that, with sublime extended psychedelic workouts that range from the wonky, malfunctioning sounds of ‘M-Brainiac’ which is like the machines have taken over then realised they can’t cope, to the more cuddly and soft-edged but still ramshackle rhythms of ‘Fat Sunday’ which are as heady as can be. Brilliantly dusty and analogue as ever.
Across eight carefully selected slices of starry-eyed machine soul, Cold Blow presents an exquisite tour through backroom techno and downtempo electro. With a focus on thematic flow and an immersive listening experience, the London-based label explores works from leading lights of the 1990s and previously unreleased cuts that celebrate the human heart that can be discovered in synthetic sound practices.
Forest Drive West returns to Mantis with a double pack of crooked, finely chiseled rhythms and porous, tactile atmospherics. Hovering comfortably between the distinct energies of drum & bass and techno, Joe Baker has helped define the creative upsurge in crossover tempos and tones with a practice that focuses on mood and presence rather than genre tropes. His first releases appeared 10 years ago on influential labels like Livity Sound, Rupture and Hidden Hawaii. He reconvenes on Mantis after delivering the first release for the Delsin series back in 2020. The scope across these eight new tracks is steeped in Baker’s trademark restraint and subtlety, but equally he explores a broad scope of energies and tempos. From ambient, spacious downtempo and slow-motion, heavily dubbed drum mantras through to crisp, techy drum funk and dancehall-coded swagger, the range within the distinctive Forest Drive West sound is more versatile than ever. It’s a range cemented further by the guest appearances on the album, as Patrick Russell comes on board for snarling, D&B-coded workout ‘Uromastyx’ and DB1 lends his chops to mesmerising closing breakbeat trip ‘Planes’. Exquisite sound design with a mysterious streak binds these various approaches together. With club impact matched by spatial immensity, Mantis 1920 furthers the surefooted, intentional sound Baker has been shaping out as Forest Drive West for the past decade.
Much like the fusion resulting in the output of light and heat within a star, the last seven years for Dave Sumner, aka Function, have been defined by immense change and an outpouring of creative energy. What began in late 2016 as a period of burnout from a relentless touring life became a catalyst for the most prolific recording era of his career. At the time, the studio became the only viable escape, a space to transmute exhaustion into a gestalt work. Aeternum (Existenz) serves as the missing element in this creative arc. It acts as the final chapter of a cycle, that began with the 2019 album Existenz and moved through Subject f (Transcendence), Awakening from the Illusory Self, and Green EP. Drawing inspiration from the seven stages of alchemy, this mini-album represents a cathartic process; a natural end point of a psychological cycle and the beginning of a new curve. Across the six tracks on the mini-LP, recorded 2016-2019, Function builds a unique world, one which underlines his place as one of the luminaries of contemporary techno.
After debuting on Delsin in 2023 as Reeko, Spanish techno icon Juan Rico now steps up as Architectural to present his second EP on the Amsterdam based label. Where Reeko is known for his adventurous, highly energized, broken techno bangers, his approach as Architectural is more fine-drawn. Over the course of four tracks, his tracks build slowly into immersive pulsations, pushing deep frequencies into captivating rhythm grooves layered with mesmerizing atmospheres.
Achordat returns with its second release, continuing its commitment to experimental sound explorations. This chapter comes from DYL, who weaves dub textures with jazz inflected elements, moving fluidly between 170 and 140 BPM. On the journey of the second track, DYL is joined by Roberta, adding another layer of depth to the release. Shaped by the arrival of the cold season, the record embraces melancholic moods and raw, sometimes harsh atmospheres, reflecting winters introspective and uncompromising edge.
Marking the anniversary of three decades of career, Dopplereffekt debuts on Tresor Records with Metasymmetry. This latest release finds members Rudolf Klorzeiger and To-Nhan in deep inquiry in sound, contemplating structure and pattern in physics and nature resulting in a harmonious audio tessellation. ‘Metasymmetry’ itself relates to a kind of second-order reality found not in the structures of life but in the rules that govern these structures; that order exists not only in things but in the relationships among systems of order. It is a structure of structures, a logic of laws, an abstract unity embedded in the act of transformation itself.
Delsin invites you to submerge into the prismatic electronica of Xenia Reaper. Across nine tracks of exquisitely rendered sonics, the shadowy producer engages in the time-honoured craft of introspective sound manipulation, folding gaseous pads into dissected breaks and running heavyweight machine pulses through achingly beautiful synthesis.
Achordat begins as an open entity shifting, adaptive, ready to take new forms. DYL introduces this with four pieces: three solo experiments and a collaboration with Roberta, captured on a Sunday morning of spontaneous creation. Each track opens a different angle, together sketching the first outline of a label built on movement and transformation.
Best known for his cinematic jungle excursions, Seb Uncles returns to Livity Sound for a second extended release of introspective electronics with a strong influence from mystical sources. As Eusebeia, Uncles has developed a strong, independent presence in modern electronic music defined by a prolific run of deep-diving, breakbeat-driven albums and EPs.’ The Wyrding Way’ finds Uncles delving even deeper into this area of his output, keeping drums to a bare minimum and focusing instead on powerful melodic lines. There are still considered soundsystem moments that connect with Livity’s long-standing sonic focus, not least the subtle dub inflection of EP centrepiece ‘By The Light Of The Moon’. Elsewhere Uncles leaves the melodic parts unaccompanied, letting the phrasing and emotional pull of the title track tell its own story. Balancing light and dark elements and drawing inspiration from personal experiences and perspectives, combined with spiritual and existential observations, Uncles capitalizes on the evocative streak in his studio practice to deliver a timeless, immersive experience unlike anything else in his considerable back catalogue.
IDO returns with the second chapter of Transcendental Movements – a series dedicated to active meditation and deep listening. Active meditation is a practice of fully inhabiting the movement of sound. Instead of seeking absolute silence, it invites you to dive into textures, to be carried by frequencies, to follow oscillations like a breath. Every vibration becomes an anchor point, every resonance a gateway inward. In a world saturated with noise and anxiety, this approach offers a space to refocus the body and calm the mind. Here, listening is not passive: it’s an awakened trance where tensions shift and dissolve, leaving only a pure sense of presence. For this second volume, Valentino Mora has gathered a new ensemble of artists exploring the frontier between intimate perception and sonic landscape. The compositions – slow and organic – unfold like micro-universes, at times ethereal, at times dense, designed to guide the listener on a sensory journey that transforms anxiety into movement, and movement into inner peace. Transcendental Movements Vol. 2 is an invitation to listen differently: not to escape, but to return to yourself.
The Birmingham master, Mick Harris, arrives with his first vinyl installment of his “Culvert Dub Sessions” series. Mick has taken to the studio desk with his live hands on mixing approach and conjured up 8 tracks of classic, deep, slow rolling dub techno in the traditions of the greats. Think heavy nautical dub outs, windswept delays, low ends to make you seasick, high freqs cutting through the scenery, this is Harris at his finest. No holds barred, sincere electronics from the gut in pure form. A perfect soundtrack for a chilly fall sunset on the river bank.
‘Opening Patterns’ comprises five compositions taken from Peter Van Hoesen’s live performances, purpose-built to shape the first moments of each set. These five immersive pieces serve as the sonic foundation of his recent live shows. Expansive and detailed, they explore rich harmonics and shifting frequencies, with each track carrying its own distinct identity. Functional yet expressive, they now offer a new starting point —not just for the Belgian producer, but for adventurous DJs and curious listeners alike.
Aura Sonora returns with a second release, bringing together two meticulous studio craftsmen, DYL from Romanian & Tammo Hesselink from The Netherlands. Their “Moire Patterns” EP kicks off with ‘Pattern 1’, a deep and rhythmic slice of rubbery techno that rides broken beats with atmospheric pulses up top. ‘Pattern 2 slows down to a predatory crawl with icy pads making a dystopian vibe then ‘Pattern 3’ brings a sense of mystic tribal ritual deep in some futuristic jungle and ‘Pattern 4’ closes down with more fantastically crafted, dubby, broken rhythms that are topped with organic percussion and almost impossible not to move to. Pure rhythm science brilliance.
Formed by George Thompson, Kyle Martin and Jonathan Nash, Kommune were active between 2014-2015. As close friends living near each other, their musical journeys were intertwined; Nash and Martin had recently completed their debut album as Land Of Light, while Thompson (aka Black Merlin), at that time putting the finishing touches to his debut album ‘Hipnotik Tradisi’, was also working with Martin as part of the duo Spectral Empire. Sharing equipment and ideas, Kommune arose organically, serving as a creative outlet for exploring analogue machine music in an improvisational context. Sessions in their North London studios led to a handful of gigs at venues including Hamburg’s legendary Golden Pudel and London’s LN-CC. This fleeting chapter of musical history may well have gone entirely undocumented had it not been for the fortuitous decision to meet up for a recording session in October 2014. Filling a car with their machines, they drove to a converted barn in the south of England, proceeded to set up, settle in and hit the record button. Over the course of two days, fuelled by the experiences of recent performances, the trio immersed themselves in the machines, crafting subtly evolving, long-form compositions with an enchanting balance and flow. Across the four long-form compositions that make up ‘Oast’, the trio summons barely controllable scrapes, acid-like bubbles, and bleeps from their machines, leaning on dub mixing techniques to give the tracks a sense of depth, dynamism and organic ambience. Mastery of the TR-808 drum machine is central, with remarkably nuanced drum programming imparting a hypnotic rhythm to the work, allowing other elements to emerge and unfold at a beautifully measured tempo. Recorded entirely live and improvised without any overdubs, ‘Oast’ offers a profound journey into minimalist electronic music while serving as a tribute to friendship, curiosity, and the spirit of experimentation.
Since his early days at Chain Reaction, K. Soublis (Fluxion) has carved his own unique style, combining elements of dub, ambient, techno, score, textural, and even jazz elements, all glued together with his distinct production aesthetic. Haze is a broad selection of pieces that was recorded between 2023-2024. The music is moving from more slow cyclic compositional pieces on Life Motif, Nexus, Desiderium, to ambient dub pieces, on Magenta and Touch, on to more euphoric and uplifting ones on Footsteps, Berlin and What Tommorow Brings, reflecting on artist’s need to tell stories. As a whole Haze showcases the artist’s versatility on moving and combining differentgenders with his own distinct crafted sound, bringing a bold always fresh unique view, making the album an indulging and intriguing listening experience as a whole. Fluxion has managed to constantly adding to his sound through the years always evolving and Haze is a testament of his restless nature and the artist’s need to move towards more uncharted territories without alienating the listener.
DYL presents a live-recorded set that embodies his experimental approach to sound design. By reprocessing stems from both completed and unfinished tracks through his modular system, he gives these pieces a renewed purpose and direction. The set offers a cohesive yet dynamic listening experience, reflecting DYL’s refined production techniques.
Belgian independent label De:tuned, founded by Ruben Boons and Bert Hermans, celebrates its 50th release with the long-awaited 10-track studio album ‘Analog Days’ by Swedish electronic music pioneer Robert Leiner. During the first years of De:tuned, Robert Leiner (aka The Source Experience) played a vital part in kick-starting the label. He also graced the De:tuned parties with his outstanding dj sets and captivating live acts. Continuing the label’s 15th anniversary celebrations, De:tuned and Robert Leiner mark the occasion with an extraordinary collection of mostly hardware productions recorded between 2005 and 2015. These diverse jams have now been mixed and completed for this momentous milestone. On offer a unique interplay of rhythmic movement and soothing sounds, each presenting Robert’s distinct characteristics.
Samurai Music presents Urmah, the first LP exploring the 170 tempo from acclaimed Techno/Electronic producer Juan Rico aka Reeko, aka Architectural. For Urmah, Reeko delves even further into sound and psyche with a richer, more enveloping exploration into his distinct interpretation of the tempo. Reeko’s production prowess shines brightly on Urmah with the warmth and weight of each track leaving an indelible impression. Urmah focuses on heady fathomless grooves that tease shards of breakbeats like delicious icing, binding themselves to a gentle psychedelia with celestial textures. This is dexterous, meditative journey music from a producer who has an intimate relationship with groove creation. With Urmah, he further showcases his expertise, expanding his palette to display a refined command of the 170 BPM tempo. The LP is a testament to his ability to innovate and redefine, solidifying his reputation as a pioneering force in electronic music.
Coral Morphologic’s first album took us on a journey through space. Now with their sophomore LP we arrive at our destination, an aquatic world teaming with life. Across the vast expanse of the cosmos we approach a shimmering satellite globe. Entering its orbit in a hypnotic swirl our eyes peer closer and closer to the glowing sea below. We land near an intertidal zone wondering what enchants this world and its waters. Coral Morphologic 2 is inspired by the corals’ cosmic ability to synchronize their lives to Earth’s daily rotation upon its axis, the Moon’s monthly trip around Earth, and Earth’s yearly orbit of the Sun.
The Hipodrome Of Music 