Magically delicious, "Lucky Charm" completes Roman Flügel's personal feel-good-tetralogy on Running Back. Joining "Garden Party", "D.I.S.C.O." and "Mega" for a quadrophony of fun.

The lead track comes in three flavours - the main mix displaying all the artifacts in a dizzying spectrum of piano licks, warm bass and jacking drum beats. Add a few timpani rolls and juddering arps and it's easy to fall victim of the overwhelming joy thrown at you... leave your troubles at the door!

The dub mix and perc mix do a good job of highlighting various other elements of the track; the dub obviously focusing on bass and rhythm whilst the perc mix chucks a whole manner of extra percussion into the mix for a fiery track that's perfect as a segue, tension builder or DJ tool!

"Whatever This Is" happens to be our favourite however. Harking back to the sounds explored on The Primitive Painter project (alongside long time collaborator Jörn Elling Wuttke) it's got that undeniable Flügel personality - quirky, jerky, naive and playful - with a brilliant ear for synthesis. Its correspondent "Luv Armour" is a piece of sonic shine that's doing the splits: house, new wave, synth pop and some melancholy for the finishing touches. Perfect late night alternative dance material.

Finally, "Film 4" is the final dish of this lush meal. Referring to the other "Film” tracks on the "Mega" 12" and created during the hard and dark times of closed amusement party parks, it is full of yearning and contemplation; yet executed in that typical Flügel style.
An excellent conclusion to this four part series - highly recommended! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Roman Flügel's been a constant for nearly three decades - always innovating, grooving and playful. This latest EP for Running Back is no exception as he pairs synthesis wizardry with wide-eyed, technicoloured optimism. The Primitive Painter-esque "What This Is" is worth the entrance fee alone in my book.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Lucky Charm - Main Mix
A2. Lucky Charm - Dub Mix
A3. Lucky Charm - Perc Mix
B1. Luv Armour
B2. Whatever This Is
B3. Film 4

Euphoric trance bangers from Krystal Klear which take you right back to the rushing feels of the mid 90s, without any of the cliches and all of the tingles! Executed with all the finesse and dexterity we've come to expect from this hardcore and long serving stalwart of the dance scene.

Recorded between Paris, New York, Dublin and London and brought to you via Running Back. Recommended! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Krystal Klear gets out the glo-sticks and goes for a trance-informed romp into peak time power.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Endeavour
A2. Americana
B1. Tokyo Flower
B2. Excelerator

Good things come to those who wait! A commonplace saying that is also true in the case of Perel’s Running Back debut. Ever since "Die Dimensionen“ appeared on DFA, their CEO couldn’t wait for a call from the lady herself. Star is the consequence of said call and not only that. The very first 7“ on Running Back features Perel’s vocal talents in her native tongue. "Star (German Version)" is mesmerizing and charming, dead on target and unforgettable.In her hometown, they call this an Ohrwurm. Collectors and completist will be delighted to hear that the flip side contains two more track exercises: Eis am Stil and In The Box. A magnificent 7.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Star (German Version)
B1. Eis Am Stil 
B2. In The Box 

History revealing compilation project centering around the legendary Front Club in Hamburg Germany that existed from the 80´s - late 90´s - a leading club in terms of music selection, mixing technique, rave culture - in a very important period of time.

Eponymous resident DJ´s Klaus Stockhausen and Boris Dlugosch take a close look back at that time, guide you through the history, the early beginnings and absolute key moments of house music club culture in Germany.

37 legendary tracks make up the CD release - many of which have not been on sale forever and a day while the vinyl, set across two volumes, selected 16 of the hardest hitting numbers for an unmixed selection for the DJs and collectors alike.

Hamburg’s Front club was already the stuff of legend, and the story is important now, 21 years later as not many peoiple know how house music infiltrated Germany to give techno some competition on the dancefloor. With Front you wouldn't have Robert Johnson or, to some extent, Parorama - house and disco simply were not celebrated in large numbers until Front, Stockhausen and Dlugosch opens minds and record boxes to the soulful sound. 

TRACK LISTING

CD Tracklist: 
Disc 1 (Mixed By Klaus Stockhausen)
1. Blue Moderne – Through The Night (Dub Mix 1)
2. Connie - Funky Little Beat
3. Skyy – Show Me The Way
4. KC Flightt – Let’s Get Jazzy (Dope Dub Mix)
5. Modern Romance - Can You Move (Midnight Mix)
6. Nitro Deluxe – This Brutal House
7. Shirley Lites - Heat You Up (Melt You Down)
8. Mark Imperial - J' Adore Danser (Club Mix)
9. Mario Reyes - Whatever Turns You On (Club Mix)
10. Wired - To The Beat Of The Drum (On The Burn Mix)
11. Toyin Agbetu Presents Nemesis – After The Storm (Boris DlugoschEdit)
12. John Beltran – Aquatic
13. The Wizard & The Prince – The Wiz Is A Genius
14. Val Young – If You Should Ever Be Lonely (Street Mix)
15. Syncbeat – Music (Boris Dlugosch Edit)
16. CT Satin – I Found A Friend (Underworld Version)
17. Temper – No Favors (Dub)

Disc 2 (mixed By Boris Dlugosch)
1. Üdytü Ützeltürk And His Male Harem – Kairo
2. Answering Service – Call Me Mr. Telephone (Street Dub Mix)
3. Simphonia - You And Me (Dub)
4. Sandee – Notice Me (Notice The House Mix)
5. The 28th St. Crew – I Need A Rhythm (Vocal Club Mix)
6. Solution – Feels So Right (Original Victor Simonelli Mix)
7. Housefactors – Play It Loud
8. Fortran 5 - Heart On The Line (Bassline Mix)
9. Ralphi Rosario - An Instrumental Need (Club Need)
10. Mood II Swing Feat Lee Smith Jr – I Need Your Luv (Right Now)
11. Nick Holder – Frantic
12. Dee Dee Brave – Can’t Get Over It
13. D.O.G. – The Key (Lunar Dub)
14. The Prince & The Wizard – The Music Is Kicking
15. Fila Brazillia – Mermaids
16. Station Q – That Special Melody (Club Mix)
17. Sensory Productions - Deep Introspection
18. Hot Streak - Body Work (Vocal Mix)
19. Steve Arrington - Dancin' In The Key Of Life (Special Mix)
20. Executive - Celebrate Your Love

Vinyl Part One: Gatefold 2LP Tracklist (Unmixed)
A1. Blue Moderne – Through The Night (Dub Mix 1)
A2. Modern Romance - Can You Move (Midnight Mix)
B1. Simphonia - You And Me (Dub)
B2. Answering Service – Call Me Mr. Telephone (Street Dub Mix)
C1. Wired - To The Beat Of The Drum (On The Burn Mix)
C2. Temper – No Favors (Dub)
D1. Steve Arrington - Dancin' In The Key Of Life (Special Mix
D2. Executive - Celebrate Your Love

Vinyl Part Two: Gatefold 2LP Tracklist (Unmixed)
E1. KC Flightt – Let’s Get Jazzy (Dope Dub Mix)
E2. Toyin Agbetu Presents Nemesis – After The Storm (Boris DlugoschEdit)
E3. Dee Dee Brave – Can’t Get Over It
F1. Mark Imperial - J' Adore Danser (Club Mix)
F2. The 28th St. Crew – I Need A Rhythm (Vocal Club Mix)
G1. CT Satin – I Found A Friend (Underworld Version)
G2. Ralphi Rosario - An Instrumental Need (Club Need)
H1. D.O.G. – The Key (Lunar Dub)
H2. Fila Brazillia – Mermaids

Running Back's Mastermix series is a timely reminder of what has made Running Back endure and remain at the top of many house music fans' favourite label lists for over a decade. Gerd Janson's widely adored imprint has invited one of house music's original & greatest proponents of the Mastermix, NYC's Tony Humphries, to curate and mix the CD edition of the compilation, accompanied by an unmixed double-LP which features a handful of the compilations rare & exclusive cuts. Beginning with Todd Terje's blockbuster "Ragysh" and traversing tracks from across the label's history, it includes contributions from long time label regulars alongside more recent additions and reminders of some of RB's best reissues. Label mainstays Tiger & Woods, Matthew Styles, Redshape and Leon Vynehall all appear, alongside Mr G, Paul Woolford and recent breakthrough artists Shan, Jex and Roy Camanchero. Tiger & Woods's "Don't Hesitate" appears on vinyl for the first time, while the Dixon edit of Precious System's anthem "The Voice From Planet Love" will be available on wax again after only appearing on a super limited 12" run the first time around. The choice of Tony Humphries to mix the compilation is a significant one. Having received his break in the early 80s as an understudy for the legendary Shep Pettibone's Kiss FM show, Humphries went on to become one of the defining DJs of house music's formative years with his residency at New Jersey's Club Zanzibar and London's Ministry of Sound. His previous mixes illustrate his continuing ability to bridge dance music's past & present, with prior contributions to Resident Advisor and Fabric's respective series in addition to label compilations for King Street Sounds and West End Records.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: New Jersey don, Zanzibar luminary and Kiss FM's most celebrated dance jock, Tony Humphries takes time to explore the vast Running Back catalogue and delivers a highly enjoyable master-mix that perfectly encapsulates both the impressive depth of the label alongside Tony's unique and coveted DJ style.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Todd Terje - Ragysh
A2. Tiger & Woods - Do Not Hesitate
B1. Tiger & Woods - Time
B2. Precious System - The Voice From PlanetLove (Beat-Appella)
C1. Precious System - The Voice From The Planet Love (Dixon Edit)
C2. Leon Vynehall - Beau Sovereign
D1. Mr. G - Ben & Gerd (Killin 'It M Day)
D2. Paul Woolford - Forevermore (edit)

The eye of the storm: welcome to Tornado Wallace's debut album! How about some references? New Age sounds meet new wave melodies, Grace Jones runs into the Dire Straits at Compass Point, while a Korg Mini Pops and a Roland CR78 make amends for Sly & Robbie's absence, Michael Mann pictures Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness', Robert Rauschenberg tries his luck at naturalism and an imagined Wally Badarou echoes through all of it. The accumulation of about four years of work, with tracks written in Berlin and Melbourne, "Lonely Planet" is nothing like you may have expected from the Australian expat. Merging functionality with a musical playfulness on releases for ESP Institute, Beats in Space and Music From Memory's sister Label Second Circle, Tornado Wallace's found himself as one of the producers behind José Padilla's International Feel album. Here, he leaves the needs of the dance floor behind in order to create a magical mystery tour de trance into his and our inner jungle. Sandwiched between the title track and the yearning beauty of the album's final point "Healing Feeling", you get all of that as well as collaborations with and contributions of NO ZU, David Hischfelder and the voice of Sui Zhen on "Today", who would easily make Anna Domino take her proverbial hat off.
Tornado Wallace created an album that supersedes the requirements and expectations of a debut. Like a lost Island Records or a never released Made to Measure album, "Lonely Planet" soundtracks notions and ideas that recall the nostalgic future in the past as much as it looks ahead.

STAFF COMMENTS

Patrick says: Comprising of seven expansive compositions, ‘Lonely Planet’ transports the listener to a dreamlike landscape alive with excellent birds, dense foliage and breathtaking vistas. As he glides effortlessly between future primitive visions and otherworldly ambient suites, Wallace marries lush FM synthesis with Knopfleric guitar and organic percussion, grounding us in reality while our eyes dart over the intangible. And there, nestled in the midst of all this utopian beauty is ‘Today’, the greatest 80s pop record that never was. Boasting a blithely shrugged vocal from No Zu’s Sui Zhen, the track sounds like a springtime meeting between Talk Talk and Gina X at a far flung resort. Yet despite its abundance of detached cool, this cinematic gem lends the LP a human touch, allowing the listener to find their place in the natural rhapsody. Clear your schedule, close your eyes and take the trip of a lifetime.

TRACK LISTING

1. Lonely Planet
2. Trance Encounters
3. Today Ft. Sui Zhen
4. Warp Odyssey
5. Voices
6. Kingdom Animalia
7. Healing Feeling