Ladybug continue to provide an essential platform for new Japanese electronic music talent. Release no.3 is another subtle but bold EP from Tokyo's Mayurashka.

Her selections for NTS, Community Radio Berlin and more have set her apart as a vital force in Japan's new wave of DJ's and producers. With a clear flair for hypnotic, tribal club jams across the three original cuts on the A side, we also get a precision rework from NZ's hot-to-trot Eden Burns alongside a dreamy interpretation from label regular Igaxx. All very fresh sounding with some really interesting sounds and rhythms to offer.

A forthcoming compilation on Planet Trip and a cassette on Osare! Editions are also underway.

Recommended!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: I'm basically creaming off anything Eden Burns does at the moment. Not only have we got another instalment of his Big Beat Manifesto this week; he's dropped probably the remix of the year so far on this killer percussive house ritual by Mayuraska. Big T I P!

TRACK LISTING

A1. Waterskipps
A2. Straw House
A3. MandMMaps
B1. Waterskipps (Eden Burns Remix)
B2. Straw House (Igaxx Remix)

Hard-edged sound design and brutalist soundscapes are what characterize this new one on LIES. ADMX-71 - the industrial side project of Adam X - contributing a fierce and uncompromising collection of tracks of the Ron Morelli's cult label.

With a career that dates right back to 1990, you'd expect ADMX, real name Adam Mitchell, to know his way around the noise boxes. Exemplified brilliantly here is a real control of aggression - these tracks kick like a mule but the focus and intricacies are rich and rife. Tech heads are gonna be in awe of some of the sounds and textures conjured up, but jaws will drop further when witnessing the level of manipulation and control the producer inflicts onto the elements.

Demonstrating poise when needed, destructive tendencies are nurtured throughout "The Aging Process" which shifts tectonically through a variety of dystopian moods and cataclysmic flavours. Nothing is left disregarded though, every movement, every sounds is there to do a purpose. Like a highly efficient demolition team who only bring the right tools for the job.

It's a quintessentially brilliant addition to the LIES catalogue and another highly credible project from this long serving US veteran. 

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Speaking Via Telepathy (4:47)
2. Sensor-Tised (5:57)
3. Walking Through Walls (5:39)
Side 2
1. They've Instilled Fear In Us (6:15)
2. Catch Me If You Can (5:14)
Side 3
1. Atlantis Rising (5:23)
2. Leading The Way (6:10)
Side 4
1. Dormant DNA Activation (6:39)
2. The Code Decipher (6:26)

Aleksandir's debut album on Omena, "Skin", was both musically and conceptually, a truly personal and expressive record. Here we have three tracks from the album in glorious remix form.

Tom VR has managed to carve out a unique sound with his music, released on labels such as All My Thoughts, Intergraded, Lionoil Industries and Valby Rotary. He delivers a dreamy, lucid and melodic take on "Skin & Mind" and makes an already beautiful track almost implausibly wide-eyed and holographic as its steams through at breakneck speed.

Ikonika remixes "I Used To Dream'" Her take on the track is a futuristic electronic beat construction, polished with class and driven by weighty and intricate rhythms and production. It's sassy and slinky, and'll have you rubbing up against a random stranger in the shadows of your favourite nightspot club 4AM at the weekend.

John Dunk launched the Cameo Blush project in 2019 with the "Murky Waters" EP on Nick Hoppner's Touch From A Distance label and released a follow-up "Lucky" on Ross From Friends' Scarlet Tiger label. Both showcase his inventive rhythms and sunrise-ready melodies. His remix of "Prado" is both colourful and vibrant, a melting pot of swirling sounds that gives the original new life... Mega, mega stuff here - you snooze you lose! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: A richly modern record that rosters in a cutting edge trio of producers for remixes. The result is three inventive reworkings accentuating the soulful yet highly contemporary sounds from the original. Hard to pick a fave but Ikonika's mix of "I Used To Dream" will be receiving plenty of rotation out in the clubs.

TRACK LISTING

A. Skin & Mind (Tom VR Blossoming Arp Mix)
B1. I Used To Dream (Ikonika Remix)
B2. Prado (Cameo Blush Remix)

New Art Of Tones EP which simultaneously launches his own label Palp. 

"Brotherhood" kicks us off, a slow organic house bubbler which recalls KDJ, GAMM and MCDE in equeal measure. With a chunky, detailed production incorporating jazzy florishes alongside the driving MPC house beats this is exactly the kinda track that'll warm the club up to a gentle broil before maximum steam later in the session.

Talking of maximum steam, "All Night" should provide that much needed release of work week pressure come Saturday night. A maxed out disco-house cut up, compressed nice and heavy and beefed up with hefty bass while looping gospel vox career overhead - watch out Horse Meat Disco / Glitterbox heads! ScruScru is also on hand to remix said track - nurturing that Saturday night flavour into a squelchy cut-up house track that'd sound great a the old Electric Chair parties here in Manchester.
  
A nice introduction to this new series from AOT with DJ support right across the board - peep dis! 

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Brotherhood 
Side 2
1. All Night 
2. All Night (Scruscru Remix) 

NZ's hot-to-trot Eden Burns drops the forth part of his "Big Beat Manifesto” series. An unmissable series for lovers of mushroomy house & party dance music. Rightly causing a stir on the global stage, this cool cat has injected a fun and playful energy into the house music blueprint that we here at Picc HQ have been very thankful for. Others in the series have nestled permanently at the front of KP's record box!

For volume four he hasn't switched up the formular thank god - three big un's with a nice downtempo chiller tagged on for extra bonus points (the dubby house tool "Harderthan" in this case...) 

"Wetwork" has a late night drug-chug / Balearic house vibe which instantly makes me think of the open-air Barbarellas, although I'm sure there's some New Zealand equivilent that surpasses that simile. "Harderthan" is a quirky, sub-woofer teasing workout with 'nuff dubwise inflections as it forces sheer air from out underneath its sheer bass weight. 

Onto side B and if you've waiting for that wide-eyed money shot look no further than "The Year 2000" - a cheeky deep house tickler crafted with precision and flair. Bouyant organ stabs, deep set, rumbling b-line, vigorous hi-hats and slamming kick - pure house music, made with love and delivered with energy. "Second Dance" is equalyl as flavoursome as it combines organs, piano, congas and more subwoofer goodness into a charged, heads-down house heater that, played right, should have people careering into the sppeaker stacks in no time.

Eden Burns might just be my favourite house producer at the moment! - serious!

TRACK LISTING

A1) Wetwork 
A2) Harderthan 
B1) The Year 2000 
B2) Second Dance 

"Discovery" was originally released in 2001, five years after those Daft Punks blew us all away with "Homework" and the world was a very different place. "Homework" had been the shot of adrenaline that club culture needed, prompting the golden age of filter house, with a legion of imitators following their lead. But the French duo hadn't spent the interim resting on their laurels, instead they'd dug deep into their record collections, exploring the productions of Thomas' father (Daniel Vangarde, who hit the charts with Ottowan's "D.I.S.C.O.") and honing their songwriting skills. They'd also spent a fair bit of time in the workshop making two very snazzy robot costumes which have become their uniform ever since. And when they were good and ready, they unleashed "Discovery" (or Disco Very) on the world. Opening with the massive hands in the air "One More Time", the album soon heads into a sampledelic melting pot of 70s disco grooves, reinterpreting the likes of Edwin Birdsong, Cerrone, Sister Sledge, George Duke, Tavares and Barry Manilow!!! This time around though, they'd taken a step back from the dancefloor, instead creating a pop gem that'd work in a club, on the radio, in an armchair or  anywhere really, that even contained proper songs. Perfect in its conception and execution this was the album that turned them from house music's golden boys to global megastars, and rightly so.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. One More Time
2. Aerodynamic
3. Digital Love
Side B
1. Harder Better Faster Stronger
2. Crescendolls
3. Nightvision
4. Superhereos
Side C
1. High Life
2. Something About Us
3. Voyager
4. Veridis Quo
Side D
1. Short Circuit
2. Face To Face
3. Too Long

For the first time on vinyl, this compilation brings excerpts from electroacoustic pieces written by Jocy de Oliveira from 1987 to 1993. Jocy is considered a pioneer in avant-garde electroacoustic music in Brasil, also as a pianist, working with famous 20th-century musicians like Igor Stravinsky, Oliver Messiaen, Cláudio Santoro, Luciano Bério, John Cage, K. Stockhausen and Xenakis.

Her main musical tools are human voice, Yamaha TX and DX7 synthesizers, woodwind instruments, tablas, electric violin, and less traditional instruments from other cultures. In her pieces, Jocy talks about imagination, mythologies connected to the sacred feminine and contemporary physics cosmology.

Jocy plays synthesizers in all tracks and is accompanied by great musicians as Ayrton Pinto, Joseph Celli, Sang Won Park, Ricardo Rodrigues and Anna Maria Kieffer.

The LP comes with an insert with unseen photos and two texts, one by Jocy de Oliveira and other by the musician and researcher Paulo Beto.

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A
A1. Onírico
A2. O Contar De Uma Raga
SIDE B
B1. Raga Na Amazônia
B2. Solaris

The idea for a remix LP came about following the incredibly positive reception that greeted “The Flow Across Borders” upon its release in May last year.

After the services of The Orb and Richard Norris were secured by the label, Frazer and Ali asked some of their favourite artists on Castles in Space to contribute remixes for the project, which subsequently grew into a wonderful overview of both the scope and diversity of the band’s output and the skill and sensitivity of the remixers.

Frazer Brown: “As the tracks started to come in, we realised that this collection was going to be something very special. The Orb remix is classic Orb, Richard Norris’ contribution is pure bliss, and the fact that this is the first official remix that Concretism has ever done is especially thrilling. Every track is astounding…”

Ali O’May and Frazer Brown met in early 2018 while performing with their respective bands at an Electronic Music Open Mic (EMOM) gig in Edinburgh. With obvious common interests, further discussions lead a few months later to Ali passing Frazer a USB drive filled with stems recorded directly from Ali’s vast modular system. Across August and September 2019, Frazer used about a dozen of those stems as the foundation for a set of tracks, building them into fully realised pieces across a range of styles from techno, lo-fi, breaks, acid house and ambient. And thus was born the Dohnavúr method - Ali coaxing the raw materials from his modular set up and Frazer working them up instinctively with his encyclopaedic knowledge of electronic music into tracks for which the feel, genre and direction is inspired by Ali’s foundational building blocks.

Sleeve artwork is once again handled by Mark Hall.

TRACK LISTING

01 New Objectivity - The Orb’s Rest And Be Thankful Mix
02 The Kindness Of Others - Concretism Remix
03 Twenty There - Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan Remix
04 The Kindness Of Others - Richard Norris Remix
05 Sunk - Kieran Mahon Remix
06 Pwll Du - Letters From Mouse Remix
07 Five To Return - Pulselovers Remix

Jozef K continues with part 2 of this stunning project on Takeout under his Eternal Blood moniker, showcasing his stunning take on post-rave tinged House & techno.

These tracks will tick so many boxes for those who love the atmospherics of Jamie XX to the rawness of 808 State as both EP's take you on a fascinating journey with the vibe of the magnificent North West's free party legacy its central focus.

Jozef's material is regularly supported by the likes of Dixon, Mano le Tough, The Blessed Madonna and Sasha but these smiley bangerz are gonna get rinsed around the holy boroughs of Blackburn, Shropshire, Wales, Manchester and anywhere with a young population of free spirited hedonists eager to surrender to the rave. Most recommended. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: As the rave and breakbeat resurgence tightens its grip, Jozef K unleashes another update to the classic formula with some futuristic adaptations on the sound. If you liked A Guy Called Gerald's recent slammer, this is 4 U!

TRACK LISTING

A1. Horizons
A2. XXIX
B1. Barcelona Fire Soundsystem
B2. Hecate

Group Listening’s brilliant first album, ‘Clarinet & Piano: Selected Works, Vol. 1’, was a haunting, meditative and lovingly considered selection box of musical reworkings. It featured rearranged tracks by the likes of Arthur Russell, Brian Eno and Robert Wyatt. But it was also much more than that. In making this record of reimagined musical works, Stephen Black (clarinet) and Paul Jones (piano) were two musicians doing what all music fans do: comparing favourite tracks, turning each piece over for new meaning and developing a musical understanding of each other in the process.

Fast forward a couple of years, a remix album of ‘Vol. 1’, 12” ‘What’s A Girl To Do?’ - featuring a re-work of the Fatima Yamaha club staple - an EP of rearrangements with Cate Le Bon from her LP ‘Reward’ and a remix of Lambchop’s ‘This Is What I Wanted To Tell You’ and the pair started ‘Clarinet & Piano: Selected Works Vol. 2’ from an altogether different vantage point.

“We’ve done a lot more work together now and so have developed certain ways of working. Because these processes have become norms, it’s spurred us on to push things a bit further and to avoid repeating ourselves,” they say.

Whereas their first record was put together over an intense three-day period in a hired-out studio, ‘Vol. 2’ saw the pair having to work around various pandemic lockdowns. This meant taking over Jones’ living room, where they gradually put its ten tracks together between September last year until March of this. They would record one or two songs over a couple of days then pause for the week, building and ruminating on ideas; it allowed the music take on a more ambitious nature - albeit within the chosen pairing of piano and clarinet - but also took in all the bits of chat, traffic noise and other creaks and squeaks of a home recording.

“I like to think that ‘Vol. 2’ starts where ‘Vol. 1’ ends” Black says. “Paul and I allowed ourselves the time and freedom to explore and experiment with the recording process and the song selection itself.”

Taken as a whole, there’s a gorgeous ambience to the record but that shouldn’t be confused for ‘Vol. 2’ being an ambient listen. The organic understanding that Black and Jones have of each other’s processes as musicians means that the music sounds incredibly fluid, but the overall tranquillity of the record is made up of dozens of small nuances. It’s a puzzle that’s been put together just below the surface as the duo react with a warm emotion to the songs they’ve chosen.

It’s in the way that Group Listening are able to prod, probe and contort the self-defined parameters that they’ve set themselves that makes ‘Clarinet & Piano: Selected Works Vol. 2’ such an intriguing listen - and it’s the love and care they’ve taken over it that makes these versions entirely their own.

TRACK LISTING

Sunset Village
Blue Crystal Fire
Y Cwsg
Hollywood Dream Trip
Take Care
Camberwick Green
All Of A Sudden
This Was Us
Five Hundred Miles
Sealand

At the heart of Jacob Gurevitsch's latest album is a desire for collaboration, and with Spanish Grammy nominated singer Buika, and Danish chanteuse Alice Carreiri at the helm, the Danish guitarist delivers, with his third album Yellow Spaceship.

Rich in cross cultural flows, dipping into flamenco and bolero, jazz and with flourishes of Italian and French soundtrack motifs, Jacob has laced together 10 sublime tracks whilst unleashing his impressive Spanish guitar skills, a craft which begun in his late twenties, complimenting his soul, jazz and funk grounding, instilled as a young, gigging guitarist.

Phenomenally, Jacob has built a mammoth fanbase online with his streaming track counter reading at over 100 million in part due to the roaring success of his previous long player, Lovers in Paris, also released on Danish label, Music for Dreams. It was back in 2014 when his title track from said album was remixed without permission and gained large traction on the radio dials in Ibiza that kickstarted an association with the vibe of Ibiza and chill out music whilst picking up a legion of DJ fans like the legendary Ibizan DJ Alfredo. His second album In Search of Lost Time came out in September 2019, further stripped back and acoustic than his prior and that paved the way for Yellow Spaceship.

Residing in Copenhagen, Jacob has a litany of cultural paths that have led him back to Denmark, having travelled plenty and spent much time living and learning in both Buenos Aires and Rio De Janeiro. The bulk of the recordings on Yellow Spaceship took place in Denmark but Jacob's creative hideout in Palma, Mallorca has been integral to his songwriting process. And it is Majorca where Buika, the flamenco singer with attitude who takes the vocal reins in Melancolía, originally comes from. The song drips with emotion, an exploration of love and beauty and a recourse for painful times. Danes are known for their tendency towards melancholy, although here, the grey Nordic despondency makes way for a kind of poetic wallowing that compliments the Spanish guitar and singing. The song also represents a massive turning point in Jacob’s life after a great friend passed, a movement in which appreciation of people and things became the key to life. It was at the funeral of his friend he heard a perfectly poetic make-believe about how his beloved pal had taken off into the sky in a 'Yellow Spaceship' with an errand to spread his charisma.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Yellow Spaceship
A2. Melancolía
A3. Elevation In Minor
A4. Gamla Stan
A5. La Ville
B1. Song For Sol
B2. A Walk To Remember
B3. Breathe
B4. La Maison Verte
B5. Finu

“The score for ‘The North Water’ was written just before and during the pandemic in 2020, mostly over arguably one of the darkest winters of some memory in Montreal,” says Hecker.

“The music was an attempt to add depth and texture to a five-hour doomed arctic journey that charts a trajectory from hardened optimism into abject futility. We worked with a primary palette of synthesizers, electronics, and treated cello, in rich live spaces as well as suffocating dead ones. This version of the score is an enhanced mix of some of the material that made its way into the project.”

Adapted from a novel of the same name by Ian McGuire, it tells the story of a disgraced doctor who becomes a medic onboard an Arctic whaling ship.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Have you seen The North Water yet? It's amazing - accentuated and enhanced by Hecker's immersive and detailed score. Possibly avoid if, like me, the thought of being trapped in a submarine 3 miles underwater absolutely scares the living shit out of you. Otherwise - you're good!

TRACK LISTING

Seasick
First On Deck
Delirious Hunt
Seasick II
Left On The Ice
Our First Whale
Ice Row
It's A Mistake To Think Too Much
The Warmth Of Drax
Winter’s Coming
Loot
A Breather
Seasick III
Twinkle In The Wasteland
Starting Over Again

Hypernatural, comprises of Dan Whitford, better known as one of the pillars of Melbourne heavyweights Cut Copy, Mirko Vogel, the engineer extraordinaire who has recorded for Modular and Room40, and Mike Gamwell, also known as Knightlife, who’s racked up several releases on Cut Copy’s own Cutters Records. You could say their roots are in Melbourne, Australia, but it seems unfair to pinpoint the trio to any specific location.

That’s because their sound lies somewhere deep in misty forests, or half-remembered dreams and subconscious wells of ancestral emotion. The transformative power of these 7 tracks was no accident however. The music was pieced together during two trips - one to the remote Swedish coast and another to the Scottish highlands. The three producers used a set of guidelines that allowed each of them to compose and arrange tracks separately yet collectively, like a connected Oblique Strategy. They took inspiration from the stark beauty of their natural surroundings, which had a huge effect on the music they were making.

The resulting tracks inhabit a world of their own, full of shimmering arpeggios and drifting pads, taut drums and sound effects. The opening track Longboat cruises into view with white noise washes and galley master rhythms, conjuring Old Norse battleships and a sense of sailing the open sea, destination unknown. The single Stormfront is a depth-charged deep house burner, bristling with atmospheric energy and rolling like thunder. With its cascading synth arpeggios and weighty drops, it swells like moody clouds on the horizon and releases tension like the first rain of a summer storm.

Hypernatural particularly succeeds in its world-building, and there’s a cohesion to the tracks despite their many differences in tempo and style. Spirit Walk joins marimbas with modular pulses, as well as slide guitar and snappy shakers, to bring out some Ry Cooder swagger. Unknown Caller taps into the phone line at the speed of 5G, sending breakbeats down the wire on a cold calling mission to recruit ravers for the next after hours. But there are also tracks nodding to blissed-out comedowns and daydreams. Both Changing Tides and New Dawn slow down time to an introspective moment, a catch of the breath, the witness to a beautiful moment. Album closer Valley harks back to classic rave-era ambient, an avalanche of optimism down a majestic mountainside.

Hypernatural evokes panoramic vistas and serene countryside, and you could certainly imagine it soundtracking a hike along coastal hills, or a field at a festival. But it also resides beyond the pastoral, finding a home in airport departure lounges and autobahn service stations, until it eventually settles down inside us - even without the headphones on.

TRACK LISTING

1. Longboat
2. Stormfront
3. Changing Tides
4. Spirit Walk
5. Unknown Caller
6. New Dawn
7. Valley

Super limited import copies of the new Yoruba record by Afefe Iku. It's a rather special one as the Missouri house spiritualist takes us on a tribal journey across three unfathomably deep tracks.

"Sister George" has a rootsical throb not unlike a Basic Channel or early Richie Hawtin record. But rather than keeping thing minimal Iku adds a plethora of ricocheting perx, dub-flecked swirls and a female vox musing on Black rights and equality.

"Karma Debt" sees Afefe turn his deft production had toward the piano and jazz drums; utilizing a quirky Afro vocal hook and pounding beat to conjure up a quintessential slice of afro-deep-house. Superb!

"Saffron" concludes, shimmering with 3D synth patches and driving by cavernous bass plumes. Iku showing off his rich and masterful production techniques in a spectacular finale that gets better on a every listen.

As usual the producer has concocted timeless house music with that spiritual edge that instantly connects with worshipers of the dance. Highly recommended!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Deep spiritual house goodness from two market leaders. Afefe Iku and Yoruba can't really be touched at this tackle. Epic stuff for lovers of that deep sound!

TRACK LISTING

Sista Georgia 
Karma Debt
Saffron 

Buckle in for Steel City Dance Discs Vol. 26 with Kettama. The G-Town heavyweight hits the thrusters for this high octane collection of thumping house and techno.

Late night Berlin vibes on opener, "Higher", then flying into the dizzyingly good, pure fairground waltzer vibes on "Saint Laurent". "Picanya 2400" opens up the energy gates to stadium mode - an open air epic that'll keep 20K eager festival goers more than satiated throughout its duration. "Bōsōzoku" should take the any mid 30s techno heads still at it back to the golden days of tribal techno circa 2002 before "Move Like Vibert" pays tribute to the UK luminary through a tastefully deployed array of breaks, bass and bleeps. 

Mega energy, rock solid pressing = unmissable record! 

TRACK LISTING

A1. Higher (Steel City Power House)
A2. Saint Laurent
A3. Picanya 2400
B1. Bōsōzoku
B2. Move Like Vibert

John Carroll Kirby brings his talents as a composer and producer to film scoring. His vivid imagination, dreamy compositions, and knack for storytelling with instrumental music make for a perfect match with comic book writer, artist and filmmaker Dash Shaw’s vibrant, fantastical animated feature.

Kirby’s score is at once deeply evocative and mysterious, evoking nostalgia, wide-eyed innocence, and ethereal otherworldliness. As with all of Kirby’s music, the score resists easy genre classification, melding together sounds from New Age, exotica, library music, and the sweeter side of electronic music.

Cryptozoo: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is Kirby’s latest album following the release of his electronic-jazz album Septet in June 2021. He will be touring the UK & Europe in March 2022.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Luz Mala
2. Savage Cryptids
3. Gustav The Faun
4. Phoebe’s Theme
5. Tenderfoot Pegasus
Side B
1. Joan
2. Mystic Brine
3. The Tower
4. End Credits Theme

In a year of the moon, Kreidler have produced the album Spells And Daubs. In a year of the moon – and in a year with 13 moons. Such years are known for not being the most comfortable.

In September 2020 the band met for exploratory sessions and initial recordings in Düsseldorf, in the familiar settings of the Kabawil Theater. That already has a certain tradition. The impetus this time was a solitary gig in the conspicuously spacious surroundings of the (former) Philipshalle. In a year that threw everyone back on themselves. Over the winter Kreidler worked remotely, sifting through the material, arranging the pieces, adding textures and contours. They met again in the spring of 2021 for further recordings at the Uhrwerk Orange studio in Hilden, near Düsseldorf. That, too, has a certain tradition.

From fifteen pieces they filtered out ten, and thus held an album in their hands. Then – and this is new – they took it to London, to Peter Walsh, so that he could mix the tracks.

Daubs are in no doubt here. This is a tenfold of colourful-blotches-thrown-onto-canvas. Then a stepping back, contemplating, remixing paint, layering, overlaying, scraping free again elsewhere. And these spells are not devastating curses, rather they are enchanting incantations, a calling forth a spring without having to ban winter in a sombre masks. Spells And Daubs is a melodious interplay. Not that Kreidler neglect the rhythmic; their characteristic drive runs through all the pieces on Spells And Daubs. Perhaps it's like this: The beat is musicalised, the melody rhythmitised.

Spells And Daubs is like a collection of short stories. Its ten pieces explore the same space drawn together by an overlaying arc. All of them have the length of a single, and each one has the potential of a single in the way the arrangements are laid out – so enticing is the melodic line and the beat. This succinctness was perhaps last heard on the 2000 eponymous Kreidler album. The drums are powerful with a light swing. The bass alternates beyond its functionality and its indicator just of the low frequency, swoops up and takes over the melodic lead. Perhaps most beautiful in the irresistible pop gems Arena, Unframed Drawings, and Revery. Aptly Alex Paulick moved to the fretless Bass – conjuring the spirit of Mick Karn.

For all of their Krautrock attributions, Kreidler never tire of reminding us that their musical development stemmed form a love of British pop music. So you might say the co-op with Peter Walsh is a match made in heaven. His illustrious mixing and production skills have lifted works from Shalamar or Lynx to Heaven 17 to Scott Walker, Pulp or FKA Twigs into other spheres. Kreidler had previously collaborated with him in 2013 for two tracks (Snowblind, Escaped, BB169). On Spells And Daubs, Walsh's methods and magic are especially audible in the spatial production, with his hallmark blend of depth and punch. Spells And Daubs is wrapped up in an enigmatic black-and-white drawing by prolific artist and filmmaker Heinz Emigholz from his Basis of Make-Up series. Their ongoing collaboration feels like a constant now. The mutual interference of Heinz Emigholz's and Kreidler's universes started about ten years ago, when he expanded the album Den with seven videos.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
A1 Tantrum
A2 Toys I Never Sell
A3 Dirty Laundry
A4 Revery
A5 Unframed Drawings
Side B
B1 Freundchen
B2 Arise Above
B3 Music Follows Suit
B4 Arena
B5 Greetings From Dave

Dinked Edition Bonus Disc:
Side C
C1 Howling At The Third Moon
C2 Moon
Side D
D1 Howling

Bad-ass cosmic house music here from Superlux Records co-founderN-Gynn on the hot n hyped Gottwax label - from the people that brought you Gottwood festival. It's been a six year hiatus for the label but this EP marks a strong return for this tastemakers of the current electronic music scene.

N-Gynn displays poise, elegance and keen handle of groove as these cosmic leaning tracks bubble and rock away nicely. Gated vox patterns, serious squelch and that natural buoyancy that recent star Budinho seems to exude so much in her DJ sets.

This is music that burns hot from sunrise to sundown; and is further still capable of soundtracking your nocturnal dance rituals under starry skies and red lights. Impeccably produced body music tailor made for long sessions and eager dancers.

Miss this at your peril! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Came out of nowhere and certainly piqued my interest! The perfect companion to the bubbly Budinho mixes that you'll be checking after her Love International comp; this cosmic-disco four tracker which casually skirts into proto-house decadence is all your 24 hour tropical disco party needs to keep bobbin'. This is my jam right now!

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Fire On Fire
2. Dinero
Side 2
1. In The Avenue
2. Fire On Fire (Luca Lozano Remix)

Originally released in 2001, Omni AM's highly sought after 'Kastmaster' EP reappears for the first time with all the tracks in their OG context.

This EP perfectly encapsulates the US duo's vision to challenge the conventions and boundaries of what defined house music throughout the late 90's.

First up, 'Tubes for Allah', is characterised by heavy driving bass and sub-aquatic sonics. Punchy kicks drums drive the track forward, whilst swinging snares create a skeletal jack that underlies the track's eerie synths and haunting vocals.

Berlin favourite 'Chill New Body' is up next. Out of print for over 20 years this track is slightly more restrained, the dub bass-line interplays with a hypnotising and unforgettable organ riff, until deftly programmed chords send the track off on a remarkable late night mission, with no less energy and atmosphere than its predecessor.

On the flip, 'Beat Dis', is one of Adam & Marky's most highly revered and well-known productions in all it's full glory. Opening with a wailing guitar, this broken, breakbeat Tech-House masterclass, builds with an incessant acidic bass, there's additional percussive effects and a repetitive vocal to keep the track moving but it's those sparse beats and bottom end that are the hook, a perfect example of how 'less is more' can be so effective. This track became such a firm favourite with Craig Richards & Lee Burridge that they included it on the 2nd instalment of their Tyrant compilations.

This is another essential release from the Omni AM and Euphoria catalogue, lovingly remastered from the original sources by Lawrie at Curve Pusher
for the new generation's hearts, minds and dancefloors.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Curveball nugget from the early 00s that's pretty under the radar and fuckin' killer! "Chill New Body" is the perfect combo of body kinetics, airy synth work and deep rooted bass - lovers of Nu Groove are gonna dig this massively.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Tubes For Allah
A2. Chill New Body
B1. Beat Dis

Paranrom returns! Since Firecracker’s "Everything Is A Door", the elusive producer's first LP; he's founded his own label Wandering Eye, produced automated piano music in Los Angeles (Thom Yorke Sonos playlist approved), composed synth lines underwater for Amen Dunes’ “Freedom” and toured two years with the band as well being involved in their collaboration with Sleaford Mod’s “Feel Nothing” and their upcoming album on SubPop. This debut on Running Back’s Incantations series lets you experience the deep, suspended sound worlds that the producer has birthed. “Acrobatic Thoughts” is surreal, abstract, puzzling and urgent, yet filled with beautiful, slow-moving melodies and emotional passages. Eccentric humor meets serious soundscapes, hushed utterances evolve around abstract key notes, while an out-of-time and out-place atmosphere surrounds a microcosmos that seems to be otherworldly and very natural at the same time. Panoram manages to build a house that can be as much of a home for ambient record collectors as for futuristic pop fans and all the ones in-between those poles. Or to describe it one sentence while quoting two titles of this enigmatic record: Seabrains controlled by beautiful engines. Like a huge jellyfish gentle floating through deep subaquatic abysses. It’s an epic adventure only accentuated by the producer’s refusal to keep to one theme or mood for any serious length of time; keeping the listener tentatively hooked from beginning to end. Most recommended.

TRACK LISTING

Healing Codes
Pseudolove
Wandering Frames
Z Miles
Beautiful Engines
Storme
Monocielo
Fiction Of A Sea
Seabrain
Azolyna

Planningtorock, the nom-de-plume of Jam Roston, has been creating celebratory queer music with a political edge for over 15 years. Initally working with James Murphy and DFA, alongside releases on Chicks On Speed before starting their own imprint, Human Level; they've opened for LCD Soundsystem and contributed to some amazing collaborations with fellow culture subverters Peaches and The Knife.

Comprised of three celebratory, joyful, saccarine-sweet house tracks, "Gay Dreams Do Come True" is Planningtorock’s aural mission to own their queer happiness, and to share that joy with anyone who wants to listen. Thru heavily manipulated vox, cheeky lyrics and super crisp digital beats, "Gay Dreams Do Come True" finds natural bedfellows alongside fellow PC Music innovators Sophie, Charlie XCX and GFOTY.

'This song is a dedication to my love, my wife Riinu and to the Black trans women who fought for the rights we have today as queer, gay, non binary lesbians.' 

TRACK LISTING

A1 Gay Dreams Do Come True
A2 Gay Dreams Do Come True (Instrumental)
B1 Girl You’ve Got My Heart
B2 Her Heart Is Now My Home

Quantic, aka Will Holland debuts on Aus with the ‘Heaven Or Hell’ EP a five tracker which follows last years ‘Theme From Selva’; the Studio 54 funk bomb that BBC 6 music snapped up for their A list, so far racking up 200 spins to date. ‘Heaven or Hell’ finds the balance between contemporary and heritage perfectly. Hypnotic disco grooves with lush warm melodic house licks all tied together with those signature walking basslines and live percussive funk that Quantic is known and loved for. Over five tracks he keeps it quite kinetic, nicely settling into the Aus Music remit whilst imparting a good degree of his musical personality into the tracks. An excellent release!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: A surprisingly house-focussed turn for eclectic producer. It's nonetheless earnest and authentic, rolling out four highly electronic and kinetic movements that aren't a million miles away from Fort Romeau, Nebraska or Leon Vynehall. Playful yet weighty; swinging nicely from the shoulders down to the hips and displaying some lush sound design.

TRACK LISTING

A1 - Heaven Or Hell
A2 - Let The Sparks Fly
B1 - Night Jaguars
B2 - OM617
B3 - Shake Your Demons

A new clutch of edits from the ever-reliable Schatzi who deposits a lovingly curated disc of disco, proto-house and jazz-funk goodness onto our willing auricular receptacles.

Rare-as-hen's-teeth source material, as per the norm, carefully re-arranged with modern dance establishments in mind; the records veers through voodoo chants, tribal rhythms, gilded guitar chops and rambunctious funky energy. Landing somewhere between Mancusso's Loft, Tony Humphries' Zanzibar and Danielle Baldelli's Cosmic club all at once!

All aboard the Schatzi steam train - chooo chooo!!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: More from Jacques Renault's exquisite stable. The most excited I've seen Pasta Paul all week was when we had this on int shop. Zanzibar and Cosmic Club flavours as we journey through disco, jazz-funk and proto-house.

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Track 1 (7:01)
2. Track 2 (6:49)
3. Track 3 (4:08)
Side 2
1. Track 4 (6:58)
2. Track 5 (5:08)
3. Track 6 (4:52)

Three of Reykjavík's most prolific and creative musicians have joined hands once again on this track-focused project. Each month in 2021 has seen a new digital single by the project, which are now all collected on this album. Some people say it's the hope that kills you, but statistically dreams are responsible for a lot more casualties. The second album from the Icelandic supergroup, not only acknowledges this but celebrates it. To dream is to slowly digest oneself from the inside.

Manchester’s Space Afrika make music of overlapping moments - oblique mosaics of dialogue, rhythm, texture and shadow, half-heard through a bus window on a rainy night. "Honest Labour", the group's first full-length since 2020's landmark "hybtwibt?" (have you been through what i’ve been through?) mixtape, expands the project's palette with classical strings, shimmering guitar and visionary vocal cameos, leaning further into their enigmatic fusion of ambient unrest and cosmic downtempo. It's a sound both fogged and fragmented, at the axis of song craft and sound design, born from and for the yearning solitudes of life under lockdown.

The album title is tiered, alluding to a legendary patriarch from co-founder Joshua Inyang's Nigerian family tree (who was lovingly called Honest Labour for his loyalty and resilience) as well as the nature of self-designated work, such as Space Afrika's music – a labor of love in its truest sense. With fellow co-founder Joshua Reid recently relocated to Berlin, the pair began sharing files last Autumn, piecing together poetic vignettes of looping haze and found sound, inspired by the notion of 'records that leave an impression, and help the listener deal with their life.' As the isolation of Covid compounded with the worsening Winter, the songs skewed increasingly introspective and emotive, reflecting a mood of dissipating futures and the infinite nocturnal unknown.

The artists cite two core motivations for "Honest Labour": to transcend the sum of their influences, and 'to show what we're capable of.' Both ambitions are entirely realized. The collection's 19 tracks flow with a synergy and sophistication as rare as they are radical, untethered to the dusty dub-techno templates of Space Afrika's early years. These are interstitial anthems, expressionistic and open-ended, delirious but deliberate, attuned to the drift and dreamstate of the present moment: ‘Ultimately this is an homage to U.K. energy, and an album about love and loss.’

Conjuring up similar, claustrophobic internal release and emotions such as Burial’s “Untrue” and Hype Williams’ “Find Out What Happens When People Stop Being Polite…”; and even the brand new Joy O LP (“Still Slipping Vol. 1”), “Honest Labour” is the most intimate electronic conversation you’re going to get out of your headphones all year.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Honest Labour is an absolute masterclass in electronic atmospheres and melodic restraint, treading a fine line between ambient stillness and rich, textural sonics. A shadowy, stunningly effective distillation of all of Space Afrika's experience so far, and a brilliantly immersive listen.

TRACK LISTING

LP SIDE A
A1 Yyyyyy2222
A2 Indigo Grit Ft. Guest
A3 Lose You Beau
A4 Solemn
A5 LV
A6 Preparing The Perfect Response ~
A7 Ny Interlude
A8 Rings Ft. Guest
A9 Noise Sweet
A10 B£E Ft. Blackhaine

LP SIDE B
B1 Like Orchids
B2 Meet Me At Sachas
B3 U Ft. KinseyLloyd
B4 <>
B5 Girl Scout Cookies Ft. Bianca Scout
B6 Ladybird Drone
B7 With Your Touch
B8 Strength Ft. LA Timpa
B9 Honest Labour Ft. HforSpirit

As no strangers to the West End Records back catalogue – both having taken on remix duties individually in the past – 2022 sees Michael Gray and Dr Packer combine to give two classics a modern rebuff. Brenda Taylor’s seminal “You Cant Have Your Cake And Eat It To” is finessed into a contemporary disco standard: Taylor’s voice still cutting through with plenty of soul while synth and pianos provide the groove. “Don’t Make Me Wait” cuts a tougher tone than usual, with acid-like bleeps and plenty of edgy boogie bass combining with a rock solid 4/4 house beat. Sure to be a big hit at modern dances like Horse Meat Disco, Homoelectric and Supernature Disco…

TRACK LISTING

A. Brenda Taylor - You Can't Have Your Cake And Eat It Too (Michael Gray & Dr Packer Remix)
AA. NYC Peech Boys - Dont Make Me Wait (Dr Packer & Michael Gray Remix)

Manic No Wave sax frenzy! James White tore up the city blueprints and charted his own map through the sonic sprawl of New York, perfecting a jittery, manic attack on sax and vocals and adopting the persona of a lounge singer in the waiting room of Hell - A maelstrom of chaotic transformations of funk, jazz (et al ) with equal parts James Brown and James White originals that rank among the most incendiary in his repertoire.

TRACK LISTING

1. Super Bad (James Brown) 
2. Melt Yourself Down 
3. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (Standard) 
4. Hot Voodoo (Standard) 
5. Cold Sweat (James Brown) 
6. These Foolish Things (Standard) 
7. Hell On Earth

This remains true with Dear God, I Hate Myself as it delivers a look at responsibility, fear, healing, and societal roles wrapped in rich gothic pop music. The sound is still distinctly Xiu Xiu, but Jamie Stewart's vocals are finally effortless paired with vibrant melodies full of subtlety and the distinct sonic accents expected of this anticipated Xiu Xiu release. The result is a record that proves that art can be pop and pop can challenge you to look inside yourself.

Each new Xiu Xiu release has evolved alongside the lives of Jamie Stewart and company. On this record you'll find more intensity and introspection than ever before, but sonically and lyrically it continues to move forward with a subtly new perspective ' hyper-focused yet aware of a larger, external picture unfolding. The pace of the record grips you, the music offers layers of detail, and the themes focus on not just the past or stark present but hint towards vespers of the future as well. Dear God, I Hate Myself will challenge you and force you to look inside yourself, but only after you get lost in the music. It's passionate, it's energetic, and it affects you. Dear God, I Hate Myself is a beautiful piece of humanist art. It's an important addition to the growing body of intelligent music from Xiu Xiu. And it's a brilliant gothic pop record that can stand next to anything.

TRACK LISTING

1. Gray Death 
2. Chocolate Makes You Happy 
3. Apple For A Brain 
4. House Sparrow 
5. Hyunhye's Theme 
6. Dear God, I Hate Myself 
7. Secret Motel 
8. Falkland Rd. 
9. The Fabrizio Palumbo Retaliation 
10. Cumberland Gap 
11. This Too Shall Pass Away (For Freddy) 
12. Impossible Feeling 
13. The Ropes Have Pulled Tight 
14. Cute Pee Pee

The Sound Of Love International 004 is a particular poignant collection of rarities, collectables and unearthed gems, pulled together by the Italian DJ and crate digger Budino. For the last two years, the pretty coastal town of Tisno in Croatia has been devoid of the (now) legendary Love International week-long celebration of music, leaving thousands of revellers and regular devotes with only the sounds of Love International to keep the spirits strong until the next time friendships are rekindled and dance resumes under the sun and the stars. Luckily, the fiesta is scheduled for a return to Tisno from 13th – 19th July 2022.

Budino, AKA Valentina Bodini, has a lifelong passion for vinyl, amassing an enviable collection of multi-genre LPs and singles via her years spent in Italy and now in Berlin. As resident DJ for Discodromo’s CockTail d’Amore parties, her enthusiasm for music and digging knows no boundaries, and her instalment into the Sound Of Love International series gives us an aural insight into her musical realm.

Musically, The Sound Of Love International #004 is a smorgasbord of sound. Opening with the glacial tones of Peter Seiler’s 1986 new-age gem ‘Serengeti’, the twelve track selection glides through proto-house, tribal ambience, industrial EBM, balearic dance and so much more. It’s a testament to the ground- breaking nature of these tracks that most of the music here was originally released some 30-40 years ago. Inclusions from Oliver Leib’s The Ambush project, Vibes Of Rhythm and Scott Edward stem from the post house & techno explosion of the early 90s, whilst the early proto-electronic experiments from the likes of Kirlian Camera, Clock DVA, Bourbonese Qualk and Pyrolator are welcomely revived for a new audience. Interestingly, a flexi-disc only release of ‘Hark’ by William Orbit & Laurie Mayer’s early 80s Torch Song project is also included here, elongated by Budino herself in the edit suite. Two brand new productions from DJ Blasy and Budino & Berko ensure that business is brought bang up to date, offering a unique and modern spin on the sounds of Budino, and her tantalising selection on this compilation.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: You might not have heard of Budinho yet, but you will after this Summer! The rising star of the new cosmic / Adriatic scene is set to take the world by storm. One of the Cocktail D'Amore crew, her impeccable curations of early 90s dance, cosmic and dancey EBM are dazzling everyone from Boiler Room to Test Pressing. Ahead of her Love International appearance in Tisno we get an absolutely beautiful compilation of frankly timeless dance music from a DJ and collector who really knows her onions.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Peter Seiler - Serengeti
A2. The Ambush - Casablanca
A3. Bourbonese Qualk - Ton Ton Macoute
B1. Pyrolator - Ein Weihnachtsmann Kommt In Die Disc
B2. Torch Song - Hark (Long Version)
B3. Kirlian Camera - Communicate (Instrumental Version)
C1. DJ Blasy - Metacognition
C2. Budino & Berko - Transoceanic
C3. Fidelfatti - Ocean
D1. Vibes Of Rhythm - Thrill Me (Trance-Paradise Mix)
D2. Clock DVA - Cypher (Glyph)
D3. Scott Edward - The Ion Engine

Cool – calm – collected: chapter 15 of this superlative series, compiled by Compost's head honcho Michael Reinboth. 21 tracks, 8 exclusive, previously unreleased tracks. The exciting package comes as 2-CD / 4-LP vinyl. Enjoy!

The exclusives by Area (guess you all know his brilliant Innervisions release), Arnau Obiols & KAYYAK (recently featured by Gilles Peterson in his "watch out for 2021" top five list), Ron Deacon (officially belongs to the Workshop-Crew together with other artists like Move D, Even Tuell and Kassem Mosse), Class Compliance (which are Manuel Tur with his Clavis partner Adrian Hoffmann, also known as Paskal & Urban Absolutes or Amberoom), Mille & Hirsch (operators of the fine Polish Records), All Is Well (Fred Everything), Ben Sturm (watch out talent of Leipzig's viral underground scene) and Oliver Kieser (best known as Kieser & Velten with their releases on G-Stone). This wonderful Esa Williams remix of Bantu Clan Vs Sarabi is also previously unreleased.

Several magazines voted the Future Sounds Of Jazz as one of the best compilation series of all time. With this series, starting in 1995, the term Future Jazz became a genre landmark.

TRACK LISTING

1. Typesun - Last Home (DJ Nature Remix)
2. Brandi Ifgray - Bones (Maurice Fulton Vibe Mix)
3. Lucas Croon - Turkischer Tee
4. Ron Deacon - Untitled B2 Brando Jazz (Previously Unreleased) [feat. Johanna Jaeremo]
5. Oliver Kieser - Oscura Serenata (Previously Unreleased)
6. Marni - Floor Of Soul
7. Kevin Yost - Another World
8. Arnau Obiols & KAYYAK - Tunacheza (Previously Unreleased)
9. All Is Well - Day Two (Previously Unreleased)
10. Aera - Line Of Conception (Previously Unreleased)
11. Toshio Matsuura Group - At Les
12. Bantu Clan Vs. Sara - Africa Ni Leo (Esa & Nonku Phiri Kaap Mix)
13. Class Compliance - Cuadro (Previously Unreleased)
14. Don Carlos - Mediterraneo
15. Shina Williams & His African Percussionists - Agboju Logun
16. Cotonete - Super Vilain Wants Love (DJ Deep & Romain Poncet Remix)
17. Rudoulpho - Sunday Afternoon
18. Ben Sturm - Francebeat (Previously Unreleased)
19. Mille & Hirsch - Pentagon Flow (Previously Unreleased)
20. Martin Buttrich - Meeting Dave Dish
21. James Holden & The Animal Spirits - The Neverending

Andrew Weatherall was Heavenly’s first true friend. By the time the label was born in the spring of 1990, he was already an inspirational sounding board, as well as a fellow traveller on the bright new road that stretched out ahead thanks to the massive cultural liberation of acid house. Back then, every energised meeting could be turned into a fortuitous opportunity in this burgeoning new underground economy. Bored of your job? Start playing records out! Start a club night! Get in the studio! Start a label! Just don’t stand still. Andrew would follow two of those commandments for the rest of his life, and he’d have a hand in the others at various points as well.

At the start of things, Andrew was a regular visitor to Capersville — the pre-Heavenly press office run by friend and label founder Jeff Barrett (soon to become Andrew’s manager). It was there that he famously picked up a copy of Primal Scream’s unloved second album and singled out a track that would later become Loaded, after being given an instruction to ‘fucking destroy’ it by the band’s Andrew Innes; it was there too that the idea to remix the first Heavenly release came about.

Andrew’s mix of that first Heavenly record is very much a product of its time. The World According To Sly and Lovechild is a swirling bass punch topped with a hypnotic marimba line and the kind of ecstatic diva vocal that you’d hear coming out of the speakers all night at post-Shoom clubs like Yellow Book. His take on the label’s next release — Saint Etienne’s Only Love Can Break Your Heart (A Mix of Two Halves) — would set the template for his next three decades of audio exploration. A drawn-out imperial dub, the track builds and builds with a moody intensity (partly down to the melodica played by Weather Prophets legend Pete Astor) that’s far more Kingston JA at dusk than Kingston-upon-Thames at kicking out time. It’s both a dancefloor record to get lost in and headphone psychedelia of the highest order — a perfect example of what he did better than anyone else.

Between 1990 and his untimely death in 2020, Andrew fed more Heavenly bands through the mixing desk than those of any other label. Consistently, he returned visionary music to the office, often in person for (at least) one ceremonial playback — a ritual that would involve the volume cranked up high and Andrew rocking back on his heels, eyes closed, lost in the alchemy of it all.

Each time, he would warp and twist originals into beautiful new shapes — elasticated club records that might evoke Detroit techno one second and Throbbing Gristle the next, before wheel-spinning into something akin to The Fall produced by King Tubby.

Andrew’s studio adventures would always be guided by that early advice to fucking destroy the source material. It’s why he was the first name that came up when remixes were discussed; the first number on the speed dial. Listening back to these remixes now — to thirty years of glorious outsider sounds — it’s more obvious than ever that Heavenly was blessed to have a friend like Andrew Weatherall. 

TRACK LISTING

Sly & Lovechild - The World According To Sly & Lovechild (Soul Of Europe Mix)
Mark Lanegan - Beehive (Andrew Weatherall Dub)
Flowered Up - Weekender (Audrey Is A Little Bit More Partial Mix)
Gwenno - Chwyldro (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
Saint Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart (A Mix Of Two Halves)
Confidence Man - Bubblegum (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
Espiritu - Conquistador (Sabres Of Paradise No. 3 Mix)
The Orielles - Sugar Tastes Like Salt (Andrew Weatherall Tastes Like Dub Mix Pt.1 - Live Bass)

Andrew Weatherall was Heavenly’s first true friend. By the time the label was born in the spring of 1990, he was already an inspirational sounding board, as well as a fellow traveller on the bright new road that stretched out ahead thanks to the massive cultural liberation of acid house. Back then, every energised meeting could be turned into a fortuitous opportunity in this burgeoning new underground economy. Bored of your job? Start playing records out! Start a club night! Get in the studio! Start a label! Just don’t stand still. Andrew would follow two of those commandments for the rest of his life, and he’d have a hand in the others at various points as well.

At the start of things, Andrew was a regular visitor to Capersville — the pre-Heavenly press office run by friend and label founder Jeff Barrett (soon to become Andrew’s manager). It was there that he famously picked up a copy of Primal Scream’s unloved second album and singled out a track that would later become Loaded, after being given an instruction to ‘fucking destroy’ it by the band’s Andrew Innes; it was there too that the idea to remix the first Heavenly release came about.

Andrew’s mix of that first Heavenly record is very much a product of its time. The World According To Sly and Lovechild is a swirling bass punch topped with a hypnotic marimba line and the kind of ecstatic diva vocal that you’d hear coming out of the speakers all night at post-Shoom clubs like Yellow Book. His take on the label’s next release — Saint Etienne’s Only Love Can Break Your Heart (A Mix of Two Halves) — would set the template for his next three decades of audio exploration. A drawn-out imperial dub, the track builds and builds with a moody intensity (partly down to the melodica played by Weather Prophets legend Pete Astor) that’s far more Kingston JA at dusk than Kingston-upon-Thames at kicking out time. It’s both a dancefloor record to get lost in and headphone psychedelia of the highest order — a perfect example of what he did better than anyone else.

Between 1990 and his untimely death in 2020, Andrew fed more Heavenly bands through the mixing desk than those of any other label. Consistently, he returned visionary music to the office, often in person for (at least) one ceremonial playback — a ritual that would involve the volume cranked up high and Andrew rocking back on his heels, eyes closed, lost in the alchemy of it all.

Each time, he would warp and twist originals into beautiful new shapes — elasticated club records that might evoke Detroit techno one second and Throbbing Gristle the next, before wheel-spinning into something akin to The Fall produced by King Tubby.

Andrew’s studio adventures would always be guided by that early advice to fucking destroy the source material. It’s why he was the first name that came up when remixes were discussed; the first number on the speed dial. Listening back to these remixes now — to thirty years of glorious outsider sounds — it’s more obvious than ever that Heavenly was blessed to have a friend like Andrew Weatherall. 

TRACK LISTING

Sly & Lovechild - The World According To Sly & Lovechild (Soul Of Europe Mix)
Mark Lanegan - Beehive (Andrew Weatherall Dub)
Flowered Up - Weekender (Audrey Is A Little Bit More Partial Mix)
Gwenno - Chwyldro (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
Saint Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart (A Mix Of Two Halves)
Confidence Man - Bubblegum (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
Espiritu - Conquistador (Sabres Of Paradise No. 3 Mix)
The Orielles - Sugar Tastes Like Salt (Andrew Weatherall Tastes Like Dub Mix Pt.1 - Live Bass)
Audiobooks Feat. Andrew Weatherall - Dance Your Life Away (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
Saint Etienne - Heart Failed (In The Back Of A Taxi) (Two Lone Swordsmen Dub)
Doves - Compulsion (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
TOY - Dead & Gone (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
Confidence Man & Andrew Weatherall - Out The Window (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
LCMDF - Gandhi (Andy Weatherall Remix II)
Espiritu - Bonita Mañana (Sabres Of Paradise Remix)
Unloved - Devils Angels (Andrew Weatherall Remix)

Andrew Weatherall was Heavenly’s first true friend. By the time the label was born in the spring of 1990, he was already an inspirational sounding board, as well as a fellow traveller on the bright new road that stretched out ahead thanks to the massive cultural liberation of acid house. Back then, every energised meeting could be turned into a fortuitous opportunity in this burgeoning new underground economy. Bored of your job? Start playing records out! Start a club night! Get in the studio! Start a label! Just don’t stand still. Andrew would follow two of those commandments for the rest of his life, and he’d have a hand in the others at various points as well.

At the start of things, Andrew was a regular visitor to Capersville — the pre-Heavenly press office run by friend and label founder Jeff Barrett (soon to become Andrew’s manager). It was there that he famously picked up a copy of Primal Scream’s unloved second album and singled out a track that would later become Loaded, after being given an instruction to ‘fucking destroy’ it by the band’s Andrew Innes; it was there too that the idea to remix the first Heavenly release came about.

Andrew’s mix of that first Heavenly record is very much a product of its time. The World According To Sly and Lovechild is a swirling bass punch topped with a hypnotic marimba line and the kind of ecstatic diva vocal that you’d hear coming out of the speakers all night at post-Shoom clubs like Yellow Book. His take on the label’s next release — Saint Etienne’s Only Love Can Break Your Heart (A Mix of Two Halves) — would set the template for his next three decades of audio exploration. A drawn-out imperial dub, the track builds and builds with a moody intensity (partly down to the melodica played by Weather Prophets legend Pete Astor) that’s far more Kingston JA at dusk than Kingston-upon-Thames at kicking out time. It’s both a dancefloor record to get lost in and headphone psychedelia of the highest order — a perfect example of what he did better than anyone else.

Between 1990 and his untimely death in 2020, Andrew fed more Heavenly bands through the mixing desk than those of any other label. Consistently, he returned visionary music to the office, often in person for (at least) one ceremonial playback — a ritual that would involve the volume cranked up high and Andrew rocking back on his heels, eyes closed, lost in the alchemy of it all.

Each time, he would warp and twist originals into beautiful new shapes — elasticated club records that might evoke Detroit techno one second and Throbbing Gristle the next, before wheel-spinning into something akin to The Fall produced by King Tubby.

Andrew’s studio adventures would always be guided by that early advice to fucking destroy the source material. It’s why he was the first name that came up when remixes were discussed; the first number on the speed dial. Listening back to these remixes now — to thirty years of glorious outsider sounds — it’s more obvious than ever that Heavenly was blessed to have a friend like Andrew Weatherall. 

TRACK LISTING

Audiobooks Feat. Andrew Weatherall - Dance Your Life Away (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
Saint Etienne - Heart Failed (In The Back Of A Taxi) (Two Lone Swordsmen Dub)
Doves - Compulsion (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
TOY - Dead & Gone (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
Confidence Man & Andrew Weatherall - Out The Window (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
LCMDF - Gandhi (Andy Weatherall Remix II)
Espiritu - Bonita Mañana (Sabres Of Paradise Remix)
Unloved - Devils Angels (Andrew Weatherall Remix)

"New Flava Volume 1" is an audacious project birthed in Austin Aggrey-Odoom's brain in the Spring of 1995. Austin, being a devoted Christian as well as a massive music fan, was a regular at different churches across the London Area during the mid-90's. He then connected with many young aspiring gospel / soul / r&b singers and had the idea to produce a gospel album that could appeal to a younger crowd, mixing US r&b influences, to create a new kind of Christian r&b that could have radio potential, while showcasing U.K.'s underground soul talents from the gospel community. His love of God and passion for music would finally merge into this hybrid compilation project called "New Flava Volume 1".

With the help of producer Paul Cumberbatch, they recorded a selection of the finest voices that Austin could find amongst the gospel circuit. Inspired by popular US r&b / hip-hop artists of that time, they aimed to recreate a heavy and well-polished sound that would resonate with the fans of Mary J. Blige, Joe and SWV amongst others. The result is quite mind-blowing, Cumberbatch's top-notch productions make a strong foundation to let the artists shine throughout the compilation, such as Tyrone Henry on the instant-classic "Time For You And Me" or the label-favorite "Heaven Is In My Home" by Jasmine Kirby. The UK has always been a great hunting ground for soul talents, and this compilation is yet another example of it. Now for the first time on 2xLP, "New Flava Volume One" is a must-have for any 90's R&B collectors !

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Don't let the god squad put you off! This will still appeal to our secular listeners! Seriously good street-soul, r&b comp from the mid 90s - check!

TRACK LISTING

Tyrone Henry - Time For You And Me
Marissa Anglin & Charlene Reid - I Just Wanna Thank You
John Gibbons - Turn It Inside Out
Janine Cross - That’s What I Believe
Raymond Dyer - Come Inside And Look
Samantha Edwards - My Reason For Life
Jasmine Kirby - Heaven Is In My Home
Tyrone Henry - Curious
Charlene Reid - Spirit In My Life
John Gibbons & Marissa Anglin - Are You In The Light
Stella - Love So Unconditional
Tyrone Henry - Do You Really Know
Gillian Newbhard - Lord We Honour Your Name

More heavy, future-proof club music from the delectable RAND Muzik.

Olsvangèr kicks us off with the rolling, tribal-tinged tech-house of "Pkak Del Mar" - a weighty bassline and echoed percussion parts keeping us locked into this late nite groove. Tim Schlockermann offers up a lighter, skippier number via "Decompiled" which has hints of that mid 90s deep house vibe with its cheeky vox samples and glowing pad stabs.

Onto side B and Adam Stromstedt gets technical on "Cand"; deploying highly intricate breaks and glitches across deep Reese bass and more echoed percussion artifacts flying around the mix. A post 3AM rumbler of the highest order! Finally, Barney In The Tunnel concludes with the acidic & corrosive moody techno of "Emojional Rescue".

Top drawer stuff throughout - don't sleep!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: The good folks at R.A.N.D. Muzik deliver another all star comp. If you're searching for the freshest late night club sounds then look no futher! Imperative stuff from the underground. Check!

TRACK LISTING

Olsvangèr - Pkak Del Mar
Tim Schlockermann - Decompiled
Adam Strömstedt - Carid
Barney In The Tunnel - Emojional Rescue 

Soul Jazz Records’ new ‘Life Between Islands’ collection is inspired by the launch of Tate Britain’s exhibition of the same name. This landmark exhibition explores the links between Caribbean and British art and culture from the 1950s to now. ‘Soundsystem Culture: Black Musical Expression in the UK 1973-2006’, focuses on the most important Black British musical styles to emerge out of the distinctly Caribbean world of sound systems. The album features an all-star line-up including Dennis Bovell, Shut Up and Dance, Cymande, Digital Mystikz, Brown Sugar, Funk Masters, Janet Kay, Ragga Twins and more.

The album is a lightning-rod journey across Roots Reggae, Jungle , Jazz- Funk, Lovers Rock, Jazz, Dubstep and more. Much of Soul Jazz Records’ catalogue comes out of these genres and this album is partly an overview of some of Soul Jazz’s earlier releases (including Digital Mystikz’ long-deleted groundbreaking and now highly collectible single ‘Misty Winter’) alongside some choice rare and classic tunes that span over 30 years of sound system culture.

Many of the tracks represent how Black British artists defined their own identity, with songs such as Brown Sugar’s righteous ‘Black Pride’, ‘I’m In Love with A Dreadlocks’ and Tabby Cat Kelly’s powerful ‘Don’t Call Us Immigrants’. Aside from being musically rooted in the distinctly Jamaican-born phenomenon of the sound system, much of this identity is also shaped by the triangular relationship of being British-born, of Caribbean heritage, and with an equal love of African-American Jazz, Funk and Soul, as evidenced with many Lovers Rock reggae covers of American soul tunes (such as those of Jean Carn, William de Vaughan and Rose Royce featured here). This stateside influence can also be heard in groups such as the Funk Masters, a group formed by reggae radio DJ Tony Williams, whose jazz-funk music successfully crossed over into New York’s clubland, as well as the great Cymande, whose unique street-funk became staple material for numerous US hip-hop artists in the years that followed.

In the early 1990s, jungle and drum and bass artists took the essence of reggae’s soundsystem culture - MCs, dubplates, crews - and applied them to their own music, applying heavy reggae bass lines to intense double-speed drum breakbeats. At the forefront of this new movement were the duo Shut Up and Dance, working closely with The Ragga Twins, aka Deman Rocker and Flinty Badman, both MCs for North London’s infamous Unity reggae soundsytem. In the early 2000s, dubstep, spearheaded by Digital Mystikz, became the latest instalment in this ever evolving soundsystem culture.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Dang this is good! Skilfully joining the dots of sound system culture from its very beginning till now would seem like a daunting task for anyone. But guided by the Black identity of the majority of Sounds, Soul Jazz offer up a catch-all release that takes us from roots reggae and soul to jungle and dubstep without ever losing sight of the subwoofer. A phenomenal collection which, by way of a few choicely licensed joints ("Misty Winter", "RK1" especially), should be a instant-buy for anyone with a penchant for UK dance music.

TRACK LISTING

Black Slate - Sticks Man
Dee Sharp - Rising To The Top
Asher Senator - One Bible 
Cymande - Fug
Digital Mystikz - Misty Winter
Winston Curtis - Be Thankful For What You’ve Got
Trevor Hartley - It Must Be Love
Shut Up And Dance featuring The Ragga Twins - Java Bass
Brown Sugar - Black Pride
The Terrorist - RK1
Black Harmony - Don’t Let It Go To Your Head
Pebbles - Positive Vibrations
The Ragga Twins - Ragga Trip
Janet Kay And Alton Ellis - Still In Love
Funk Masters - Love Money
Cosmic Idren - Compelled
Harry Beckett - No Time For Hello
Sandra Reid - Ooh Boy
Tabby Cat Kelly - Don’t Call Us Immigrants
Brown Sugar - I’m In Love With A Dreadlocks