Joey Beltram – Classics LP [RS96100]

Few producers have had the same seismic impact on techno and rave music as Joey Beltram. Hailing from Queens, New York, Beltram was a key architect of the early ’90s rave explosion and responsible for some of the most influential electronic records of the era – and it was Belgium’s R&S Records that gave many of these tracks their first home. Originally compiled and released by R&S in 1996, Classics brings together the core of Beltram’s groundbreaking early output – namely the Beltram Vol. 1 (1990) and Beltram Vol. 2 (1991) EPs, alongside the legendary Second Phase productions ‘Mentasm’ and ‘Mind To Mind’ (1991), plus a selection of aliases and collaborative work from the same period, including tracks under Mental Mayhem, Open Mind, and Disorder. Now remastered and reissued as a 2LP, Classics is available on vinyl for the first time since 2006, offering a long overdue opportunity to own these timeless cuts in their purest form. Across the 13 tracks, you’ll hear the sheer force and innovation that made Beltram a household name in underground techno.

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Joey Beltram – Classics LP [RS96100]

Ada Kaleh – Unravelling [RS2306]

Ada Kaleh, the Romanian composer and DJ, follows up on his recent releases for R&S Records and Apollo with a brand new single, ‘Unravelling’. Featuring the vocals of Fela Kuti at his most potent, ‘Unravelling’ also includes a featured performance from Eric Leeds, the American saxophone player most noted for his work with Prince, both in the studio and as part of the Purple One’s touring band.

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Ada Kaleh – Unravelling [RS2306]

Model 500 – Classics LP [MLP093]

Juan Atkin’s masterpiece compilation, the blueprint of Techno albums…. the 1993 Model 500 ‘Classics’ compilation with some of Juan Atkins’ biggest early Metroplex milestones, with some of them in exclusive remixed versions. 3 decades later Metroplex is re-releasing this collection of hugely influential tracks for a new generation to play from fresh and clean vinyl!. Just like the recent 12″ reissue series, this album has been fully remastered with all the care and attention to detail you can imagine. Tracks like ,,No UFOs”, ,,The Chase”, ,,Techno Music”, ,,Night Drive (Time, Space, Transmat)” or ,,Off To Battle” are basically techno ground zero, with the electro influence of mid-80s to late-80s Juan Atkins productions still omnipresent. 30 years on since its original release on R&S records, ‘Classics’ is still as gritty and timeless a statement as ever.

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Model 500 – Classics LP [MLP093]

Second Phase – Mentasm [RS9109]

SECOND PHASE - Mentasm

Second Phase (aka Joey Beltram and Mundo Muzique) are 2 legendary producers whose output shaped an entire generation of ravers, DJs and producers minds. ‘Mentasm / Mind To Mind’ is one such influential release, literally creating new styles, new directions and impacting on dance music for decades to come. Unique programming and fresh sounds made their records stand out head and shoulders above everyone else’s output. This is a quintessential techno record, a glimpse of innovation from back in the day. 1991 techno classics – repressed and reissued for 2021.

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Second Phase – Mentasm [RS9109]

Lost Souls Of Saturn – Lost Souls Of Saturn [RS1909]

R&S present the eponymous, debut, full length album transmission from Lost Souls Of Saturn, an epic in scope, time and space, multidimensional mind trip. This ambient house masterpiece combines flavours gathered from across the galaxy, stewing them up into a delicious primordial soup. Old sci-fi soundtracks, acid, free jazz, avant garde, musique concrete, world music and more all whirl around an underground-dance-music axis. Primarily Lost Souls Of Saturn are Seth Troxler and Phil Moffa, plus further opaque participants congregating to combine music, imagery, and storytelling into an inextricably linked whole, all wrapped-up in a philosophy of their own making.

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Lost Souls Of Saturn – Lost Souls Of Saturn [RS1909]

Lone – Ambivert Tools Volume Two [RS1708]

LONE - Ambivert Tools Volume Two

Lone AKA Matt Cutler delivers the second instalment of Ambivert Tools, breezy atmospheric house, stacked with ‘floor ready trax, inspired by his red hot Magic Wire imprint. First up is the tropical percussion and telescoping arpeggios of ‘A Mind’s Eye Melody’, displaying Cutler’s talent for a nagging melody it comes on like Tangerine Dream remixed by 808 State – pulsating drums, hymnal chords and gooey sub bass. ‘Looking Glass’ calls to mind a Mood ii Swing dub – truncated stabs and jacking rhythms overlaid with shimmering resampled piano chords that give way to a slashing FM riff that contrasts sweetly. In the B2 slot Cutler unfurls a hushed, 6 minute balearic reprise of the ‘A Mind’s Eye Melody’, heartstopping Emulator ii chords and harp glissandi wash over a wistful flute figure pedal to sweetly memorable effect.

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Lone – Ambivert Tools Volume Two [RS1708]

Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50 [RS1303]

Space Dimension Controller is in the cockpit, preparing to land his sophomore album thru R&S. A robot pilot announces imminent landing on the intro to the hyPer-Funk of the title track, and ‘While I Was Away’ wistfully gazes starboard to lush neo-soul vibes – imagine OPN doing slo-mo electrosoul. ‘It’s A Cold Planet Without You’ keeps a tense slowfast vibe with fluctuating drums and strobing cyber-dub FX, and the Eno-esque ‘Music For Spaceports’ decelerates the whole thing to lush ambient bliss mode upon reentry to orbit. listen
Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50 [RS1303]

Lone – Galaxy Garden [RS1206LP]

LONE - Galaxy Garden

Matt Cutler is back with his fifth album, which is an impressive feat in just five years of releasing music. Galaxy Garden starts off on a more esoteric tip with the tropical electronica of “New Colour”, in its sunshine chimes. By the time we get to “Lying In The Reeds” we’re up to a house tempo that harks back to the softer side of early Detroit. It’s when “Crystal Caverns 1991” starts up that we reach the most blatant distillation of old-skool; kicking off a breakstep beat with sweet but punchy 90s synths, the track cuts into a deadly rave motif without so much as a pause in the beat and it’s like being back in, er, 1991. Every track reeks of originality, whether it be the surprising track structures, the superbly detailed production, even the evocative imagery that the music conjures up.

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Lone – Galaxy Garden [RS1206LP]

Model 500 – Control / The Messenger [RS1202]

Juan Atkins returns to R&S on a Model 500 solo mission. The last Model 500 single enlisted the help of the live line up that includes Detroit techno royalty Mike Banks and UR alumni Mark Taylor, but this latest release is just Juan in the studio and back at his best. ‘Control’ is vintage Model 500, the classic electro that Atkins pretty much invented, with his treated vocals riding over the crisp rhythm programming, dark basslines and Detroit synths. ‘The Messenger’ on the flip is a moodier affair, with the liquid synths almost running away with themselves over the rough beats.

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Model 500 – Control / The Messenger [RS1202]

Lone – Echolocations EP [RS1103]

LONE - Echolocations EP

Nottingham’s resident excavator of classic Detroit techno and old-school rave sounds, Matt Cutler a.k.a. Lone has prepped a brand-new EP that further explores that club-appropriate sound palette. “Echolocations” is a six-song, double-12″ record that will be released on R&S label.

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Lone – Echolocations EP [RS1103]

Space Dimension Controller – Temporary Thrillz [RS1008]

The ‘Temporary Thrillz’ doublepack vinyl release sees Jack advancing his signature sound over this maxi EP format, that also includes 4 locked grooves and comes in a limited first run on purple splattered vinyl! People have difficulty pinning down the SDC sound, I’ve seen it described as electro, space funk, cosmic disco, pop-psychedelic, techno-funk, jazz fusion, disco house and electronica. It’s probably all those things and more, and we are proud of the fact that its so hard to pigeonhole. The ‘Temporary Thrillz EP’ contains intergalactic slow jams, deep club excursions and mid tempo space funk, all with the SDC trademark depth, soul and finesse. listen
Space Dimension Controller – Temporary Thrillz [RS1008]

Model 500 – OFI / Huesca [RS1006]

Model 500 - OFI / Huesca

The first single from Model 500 in eleven years, and the first recorded by the new band line up is most definitely an event for R&S Records. Uptempo electro techno tracks from Juan Atkins with classic bass lines and robotic vocals.

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Model 500 – OFI / Huesca [RS1006]