Forbidden Dance continues its story with Brazilian synth virtuoso Pedro Zopelar and his 4-track EP. Known for his genre-blending productions that traverse ambient, deep house and electro, Zopelar crafts tracks that are both pulsating and sensual. His latest work is a testament to his ability to merge the warmth of vintage rhythm machines with futuristic synth explorations, delivering a sound that’s both nostalgic and forward-thinking.
French house maestro Franck Roger returns with the latest chapter in his Earthrumental Music series.A standout 4-track EP designed for deep, late-night dancefloor sessions. A masterclass in groove and atmosphere, this is essential listening for discerning house heads.
Rick Wade on Norm Talley’s Upstairs Asylum are words that will excite any true school house heads. Wade is a production machine who turns out always no-frills, trusty and tracky grooves of the sort that are always essential for building a vibe in a set, and Talley’s a fellow Detroit head who has long been helping to shape the house sound. ‘So Juicy’ begins with a flourish, lavish strings and chunky drums that slide along nicely. ‘Midnight Hustler’ sinks into a slightly more steamy and deep sound with hints of 60s US soul and funky licks, ‘Turn Out’ is a more traditional deep house roller with a comic vibe and ‘Lonely Symphony’ brings some cinematic string drama to a breezy blend of house beats.
Factory Floor return to Phantasy with a new single, ‘Tell Me’. As propulsive and direct as anything the cult UK electronic group has ever released, ‘Tell Me’ continues to perfect the dynamic in the band’s current lineup of Gabe Gurnsey, Nik Colk Void, and Joe Ward, with additional drum tracking by Stephen Morris of New Order. Situated between the sonic promise of enduring indie culture, yet naturally imbued with the band’s relentless forward-thinking ethos. Throughout, Colk Void’s inquisitive vocal guides the listener through an elastic square-wave bass groove that forms the rhythmic backbone to Tell Me, before Gurnsey and Ward’s frenetic drumming breakdown rains with pure abandon, exemplifying the band’s personal alchemy between genre, scenes, human, and machine.
As Dolly Records marks its 15th anniversary, the label celebrates with a powerful new various artists release that distills its core values: timeless quality, emotional depth, and a dedication to house, techno and beyond that moves both body and soul. Carefully assembled by label head Steffi with the same precision of her DJ sets, the compilation brings together a diverse lineup including both longtime allies and fresh additions to the Dolly family. Fifteen years in, Dolly continues to evolve without compromise. This release is both a reflection and a statement of intent.
“The 6th chapter as the previous 5 chapters is education that a lot of alleged “House” DJs and Producers are obviously lacking showcasing modern, vintage and out of print/promo labels:
Trax Records, Underground House Records, Precision Records, Dezzarotic Records, L.A. Club Resource, Gherkin Records, Chicago Connection, Still Music Chicago, Dark Entries and Chiwax to productions from:
Ron Hardy, Felix Da Housecat’s 1st production, Sweet D, Gene Hunt, Larry Heard, Farley Jackmaster Funk, Virgo 4, X2, Dmarc Cantu, Steve Summers, Boyd Jarvis, Juju, Leron Carson, G-Strings, Ron Morelli, Terence Woodard, Delroy Edwards, Mutant Beat Dance and a new production of jakbeat to come from Chicago with a new alias project dropping later this year in 2025 for a label we support. (more news on that later)
⚠️ warning ⚠️
This selection covers the building blocks of the early dance music scene with selections of today and yesterday incorporating musical blueprint dubs, a couple of vocals in between but overall: a raw style of basement underground tracks of Chicago and New York’s timeless heroes & icons we admire, honor and inspired by their education.
We hope this will give people the chance to listen to music many may have never heard on this side of sound that provides a provocative and thoughtful musical workout in your mind with vinyl turntables, a vintage mix console with an effects box and cd players.”
Morris Audio is welcoming Dutch artist Böhm with “People communicate EP”, full of dreamy, old school House with a techy edge. Techno, Acid or old school House, Böhm’s versatility while keeping a real underground edge is class.
London-based deep house duo Saison debut on NYC’s Nu Groove. With their four-track EP, Saison continue to show their versatility with this collection of tougher tracks built for the underground.
Longtime TX techno scene veteran Xander Harris is back for blood on the reactivated TRU (Texas Recordings Underground) label from fellow Lone Star cyborg Gavin Guthrie (TX Connect) as well as DJ/Producer Xinexport. Prepare to enter a world of scuzzy synths buzzing like cathode-ray screen-glow reflected back from bloodshot eyeballs, basslines sizzling like seared flesh around overheated nethacker brain-jacks, synchronized laser saws slashing serrated arpeggios to the rhythm of robotic drum machine assembly lines, dystopian melodies refracting through the haze like swarms of gleaming crimson camera eyes…6 trax of unstoppable terminator assault audio.
In a sea of disposable cookie cutter music Hieroglyphic Being continues to be a singular voice in the crowd. The 12 track album “The Sound Of Something Ending” deftly maps the intersection of house, techno, and EBM, while maintaining the curiosity of free jazz & the DIY of punk.
Moto Music presents Time Synthesis, a sonic collaboration of the living legends Dan Piu and DJ Estimulo, creating a future past guaranteed to last. Experience the dynamic aurora of class, seamlessly guiding your senses through savory flavors of funky Detroit and atmospheric Techno hybrids to the smoothest of sunset coastal Deep House designs marinated to move bodies on the dancefloor and influence the mind. Indeed a synthesis of good times where the future of authentic house and techno was never left behind.
Triple Five Sol drop 75 Racks on Dark Entries, an EP featuring 5 cuts of raw and jacking house music. San Francisco-based producers/DJs Johnny Five and Vin Sol linked up during a trip to New Orleans, and they began hatching plans to collaborate. After setting up a new home studio in Vin Sol’s abode, jam sessions ensued, and soon the duo had cemented their sound. Their analog house tracks harken back to the roughshod and unembellished vibes on 80s Chicago and New York labels like Nu Groove or Gherkin Records, influences they wear with pride. “Boxxx that Rocks,” “Just a Freak,” and “Everybody Loves Triple Five Sol” deploy chunky beats with sprees of minimalist bleeps, sounding like Chip E retuned for the 22nd century. It’s not all jagged drums and acidic squelch on 75 Racks, though; “Gonna Get Out” and “Halfway Home” saunter with the confidence of a New Dance Show participant, soulful and grooving with a dash of garage.
Detroit’s DJ Slush presents his debut solo EP Model Collapse with five versatile tracks inspired by classic stripped down Midwest house & techno. The EP marks the launch of Polytechnic Recordings – a new sub-label of Mark Grusanes Disctechno Music – run by Eric Schwab (DJ Slush) & Grusane. Following his productions on the Midwest Rhythms series, Model Collapse delivers more jacking drum machine programming, spacey & melodic synth lines, and a few psychedelic elements, with nods to the early years of deep house & proto-techno, packaged in a full color jacket sleeve.
Red Laser Records switches on the smoke machine and strobe light, dishes out the high grade poppers and continues with the most unprofessional approach in the biz as they celebrate their FIFTIETH fuckin’ release – a double disc photon torpedo diving into the label’s roster and featuring all new tracks from RL stalwarts across the ages. Marking this half century milestone, their in-house graphics team have been on a strict diet of kryptonite and engine oil, conjuring up one of the most lavish (and budget destroying) gatefold sleeves to date; alongside personal insights (and an in-depth cigar review) on their 13 year journey from label heads Il Bosco and Pharaoh Brunson.
This is Gerd’s debut on his own label Andarta. Four warm tracks that explore exotic combinations of disco, fm-synthesis, old school tape dub effects and percussive rhythms.
The Hipodrome Of Music 