TOP 10

SINGLES THIS WEEK

Balearic Gabba Soundsystem

Balearic Gabba Soundsystem EP

    After taking time out to make the neccessary adjustments, those boffins at CERN boot up their system and set out to solve the last of mankind's burning questions - what happens when you whack two of the best record labels around into the Large Hadron Collider and smush them together at high speed? The answer comes in a glowing, glistening futuristic missive pressed on pristine black vinyl, and you're looking right at it. The stylish Italians behind the excellent Hell Yeah recordings bring their party to New York's inimitable Golf Channel and we're all lucky enough to be taken along for the ride. "Quando" gets us off on the good foot with it's mechanical backbeat, buzzling synths and psychedelic stylings, swirling out the speakers like a Sabres Of Paradise mix of a lost "Screamadelica" session. Morricone guitar lines and trippy female vox cut through the "Smokebelch" dub fx while the serrated synths swell into a mighty wall of noise. The Balearic Gabba Soundsystem harness the balmy vibe of sunset in Tisno for "Adriatic Bolt", marrying boogie bass with blissed out keys for the kind of midtempo cut perfectly suited to a boisterous boat party. Over on the B-side, the Italian ensemble channel their inner Laurie Anderson for the cerebral electronics of "I Don't Care Who You Are". Detached and abstract vocals sit atop writhing wormhole synths and glistening keys on this beatless banger, tripping away wonderfully under the influence of shifting fx. "Quiet Force" brings proceedings to a close in shoulder rolling fashion, topping a lolloping bassline with emotive synths, cinematic piano and a giddy 303 line. It's audio LSD for a sunny afternoon in the park and makes the perfect finish to a killer EP. Golf Channel + Balearic Gabba Soundsystem = Hell Yeah!


    Closed Paradise

    The Master Series Volume 1

      Masterworks music launch a new series of 10" special editions with this sublime 10" from rising French star Closed Paradise. If you've kept you ear and eye on this cat, you'll know that his thing is groovy, dancefloor magic which shakes its shit right across the house/disco/Balearic spectrum. This latest missive is no exception, and A-side cut "Your Love I'm Gonna Take" is a lesson in sampler use for the rest of us. The producer selects some choice cuts from a soulful strutter and lays them out around a chunky sunset house bassline, tweaking the EQ and teasing the loops out into many a joyful crescendo. Jazzy piano work, coastal guitar licks and a warm sound make this a future Adriatic classic. B-side banger "The Vision" hits us with a headnodding, slo-mo rhythm, cycling into the kind of robotic boogie chugger you'd expect to blow the roof off at El Diablo's. If you dig on Sleazy Beats, early Wolf Music or Jisco, then this is most certainly your jam!

      The Creams

      Let's - Justin Van Der Volgen Versions

        Justin Van Der Volgen's been hitting us with heaters for about a decade now and his latest excursion on My Rules is no exception. If you've kept a close eye on the label then you'll no that anything goes, with the disco viking flipping modes between edits, original tracks and remixes. This volume sees Justin shimmy between the former and the later, serving up a vocal and instrumental version of The Creams' "Let's". This infectious disco-not-discoid cut harnesses some classic Ze style early 80s NYC vibes here, as spiky James White lead guitar drawls over a Konk bassline while the off kilter drum beat keeps its own skewed 4/4 rhythm. The sass and style of the Japanglish female vox add a dreamy feel to proceedings, while the rhythm section keeps the floor moving perfectly. Extended, expanded and exceptional, this is classic JVV on a vinyl only tip - get invovled.

        Music For Dreams release their first vinyl of 2016 with the debut of Nick Mackrory & Harry Collier. Late one night label boss Kenneth Bager was surfing the net and found "Elle Dit" – he immediately fell in love with the track and signed the duo. Their first outing for the Danish imprint showcases their distinctive blend of electronic and organic acoustics with a very Balearic twist. Mackrory began his musical career as a drummer before embracing electronic music during the early UK rave scene and branching out as a DJ, producer and percussionist. More recently he’s been running labels Forgotten Corner and Colona with fellow producer Phil Banks. Vocalist Collier has previously recorded and toured with Faithless as well as successfully writing and performing with his own band Kubb. This new collaboration sees both artists on top form with Mackrory’s productions providing beautiful backdrops to Collier’s uniquely stripped back, honest and emotional vocal performances. "Elle Dit" gives a perfect example of the Balearic duo’s timeless Burt Bacharach songwriting stylings and is a bitter-sweet ode to the breakup of a rather Kafka-esque love affair. It has been heavily featured on Ibiza Sonica and gained support from former Cafe Del Mar Resident Phil Mison. "Tu Sonrisa" continues the continental theme with Spanish lyrics made up by non-Spanish speakers Mackrory and Collier "so please forgive us if it doesn't make much sense! We think it's about drinking margaritas on a beach, chatting to a beautiful señorita, with the sunshine filtering through the leaves of the palm trees!" The instrumental has been getting strong support from Manchester’s Moonboots. Finally ‘Pen-amaen’ is an epic piece of jammed Balearic madness - inspired by the local Cornish coastline that hosts the sunrise where on certain mornings a mermaid can be seen silhouetted against the sky.

        TRACK LISTING

        A1. Elle Dit (Colona Album Edit)
        A2. Pen-a-maen
        B1. Tu Sonrisa
        B2. Tu Sonrisa (No Vocal Mix)

        Prins Thomas

        Toransu EP - Inc. Chmmr Remix

          Full Pupp celebrate the big 5-0 in style with a freshly designed logo and their first ever doublepack, courtesy of the mighty Prins Thomas naturally. Pressed properly loud across two discs, "Toransu" sees the open minded dancefloor genius continue his eccelctic journey through the genres, combining spacey techno, lush ambience, off kilter grooves, fizzing acid and galactic house in much the same fashion as we saw on the unparalleled Paradise Goulash mix. A case in point, A-side cut "Meiro" incorporates that diverse selection into one track, building from tightly programmed drums into a pulsating web of cosmic synth, pulsing acid line and chugging bass, before dropping out completely into a gorgeous Innovative Communication style ambient passage featuring the bassline from "Wicked Game". How the hell does he do it? The B-side features a couple of floor-ready 12" versions of album cuts from "III", with "Luftspeiling" and "Trans" coming under the knife. The kosmische haze of the former is reinforced with a stomping one note bassline, warm acid lines and mechanised percussion, while the swelling fjordfunk of the latter is housed within a frenetic maze of percussion and aimed directly at the mainroom. The second disc opens with the highly percussive title track, a tense tool powered forward by a throbbing bassline and the occasional outburst of rude and crude acid, before the bottom heavy, tripped out drum track from "Luftspeiling" gets an unaccompanied outing. On the B-side, PT classic "Stockholm Express" experiences a signals failure and gets royally redirected by Full Pupp favourites Chmmr, whose chunky- funky rework should have you blowing your horn in no time. We're back in the outer rim for the set closing "Aoa (Kort Miks)" as Thomas layers zero gravity textures and wormhole riffs over a techy motorik rhythm. The man cannot be stopped!


          Ruf Dug

          Island Remixes - Inc. Peaking Lights / Al Breadwiner / 2814 / Kenneth Bager Remixes

            Ruf Dug’s debut album "Island" was released to much acclaim in 2015 on Kenneth Bager’s Music For Dreams imprint. It sold out its first promo run within weeks, delighted our Balearic customers and bagged the #15 spot in our End Of Year review. Now for 2016, Ruffy has picked some of his favourite artists to rework his tracks and this is the result. I'll leave the talking to Ruffy...
            "When Kenneth asked me to make the album he always had the plan that we would get some remixes done of the tracks. From an early point in the album I was thinking about who I'd love to remix the tracks, and this represents the first part of some serious wish fulfillment! Peaking Lights' music I adore; I had the luck to play with Aaron a while ago and we got on very well. It was a total thrill when he agreed to do the remix. I made "Speedboat" in part as a tribute to (i.e. ripoff of!) the PL sound so there is some very nice symmetry to the remix. Al Breadwinner is an incredible dub producer from Stockport, not far from my house at all. He has an enviable all-analog hardware studio and is constantly producing dubs. He was the very first person on my list to do remixes - "Rasta Beach" is the most Reggae-ish track on there and to hear it after it's been through his rig is really something. 2814 have emerged this year - a duo who I still haven't met in real life, they transformed the Vaporwave landscape earlier year with their debut album, showcasing incredible compositional tunes. Here they have taken "Tendacayou" from the hilltop spa and dropped it firmly in a dark cyber dystopia, and it sounds all the better for it. K-BAG is the man who makes it all happen, the man with the master plan. He sent me a mail and asked for the parts to Dominica a while back. He's taken Dominica and turned it into the ultimate sunset soundtrack... from Cafe Del Mar to the Louisiana museum, this is one to send out over the waves when the sky is turning orange...”

            Sauna Youth

            The Bridge

              Sauna Youth are an evolving band of future humans making truly irregular punk, not quite comparable to anything else. 'Weird' is a meaningless platitude, and 'art punk' is a classifier that shouldn't be required. This last year has been an amazing time for the band, seeing them release their widely applauded ‘Distractions’ album, a split record with their sister band Monotony, embarking on several tours, radio sessions and even appearing on Marc Riley’s ‘All Shook Up’ TV show for BBC iPlayer.

              To celebrate all of this Sauna Youth have decided 2015 has just enough room left in it for one more 7” and video. ‘The Bridge’ is taken from their album and accompanied with an exclusive brand new song called Blurry Images’ on the flipside.

              Beginning and ending in squalling feedback ‘The Bridge’ is the song that rings longest in your head when listening to ‘Distractions’, it’s full of the desire to set yourself apart, to connect and hold fast. “I am the source of the overflow, a torn neck, an effervescent glow, I am the route to the heart of it” sing Ecke and Boon in everyman unison. It’s keen and brisk, tireless and smart as a whip. ‘Blurry Images’ prefers to jog on the spot, its drumbeat and bassline pinned down by throbbing keyboard jabs. “Ancient warning, or invitation, what’s it look like to you?” question the vocals, drawing the song into focus before upping the contrast. It’s a tour de force and a fitting home for one of the most unhinged guitar solos the band have committed to tape so far.

              Farbror Resande Mac

              Farbror Resande Mac EP

                Since bursting onto the scene with a nebulous debut on Mystic & Quantum in 2014, Sweden's Farbror Resande Mac have explored the mysteries of the earth's core and lulled us into lucid dreams with divine EPs on Is It Balearic? and Aficionado. Now, the ensemble arrive at Back To The Balearics with a sumptuous collection of immersive, expansive and exquisite compositions perfect for sofa surfers everywhere. The synth drum, pulsing rhythm and naive melodies of "Achilles" opens the set with a nod to Jean Michel Jarre before the shimmering guitars, swirling synths and insistent bassline of "Tidens Tand" beam us to a open air dancefloor on the shore of a Venusian sea. After all that full blooded excitement, "Effeckt" drops the tempo and smooths out the mood as 80s drums and lush guitars cut through a hazy synthscape, settling into the perfect soundtrack for a midnight stroll. The wonderfully strung out "Stillhetens Hav" finds our Swedish hosts getting emotional over a heartbeat rhythm with brooding guitar chords and thick bass, before the dreamy fuzz of "Vattern" takes us homewards. Hitting you like the soundtrack to some wonderful film you will never see, the depth and emotion of the sound of Farbror Resande Mac will take your breathe away.


                Fat White Family

                Whitest Boy On The Beach

                  The Fat White Family announce details of ‘Whitest Boy On The Beach’, the first track from their forthcoming second album.

                  The single is released on the band’s own Without Consent label.

                  The track is accompanied by a video shot at Beachy Head and directed by the acclaimed artist Tim Noble.

                  The band release their second album, ‘Songs For Our Mothers’, early 2016. It follows their hugely acclaimed debut album ‘Champagne Holocaust’, released in 2013.

                  San Laurentino

                  First Love

                    Awaking from the dreamstate of Gryningen's hazy library inspired 10", we find Aficionado's expert selectors well rested and in the mood for a dance. Utilising their extensive network of global connections, Moonboots and Boardman enlist Hungarian producer San Laurentino to raise spirits and pulses with a deep and diverse collection of body movers. Perfectly conjuring the nostalgic melancholy its title suggests, opening track 'First Love' takes us by the hand for one last dance under the stars.  Cinematic pads sweep around a snapping drum pattern as a signorina from Rimini embraces a Basildon boy, seeing out the summer season to the hair raising chords and spine tingling sequences of a San Laurentino's masterpiece. While that holiday romance might have come to an end, 'Back To The Stars' leads you off in search of new experiences. Emotive pads, undulating bass sounds and celestial keys vie for attention while the solid kick, intricate percussion and lively hats play out a swaying rhythm. Then all of a sudden the track changes tack completely, tripping out to a modular melody and sinuous techno bassline before reaching a soul soothing conclusion. On the B-side 'Long Way Home' lulls us into a false sense of security via a gentle drumbox bossa, before thick bass stabs and a tough new beat rhythm take control of our bodies. Once again San Laurentino packs the track with atmospheric chords but this time adds delicate guitars and subtle piano, balancing the steely rhythm section with deep emotional resonance. Closing the EP with unrivalled sophistication, 'Amici' sees San Laurentino drop the tempo and concoct an irresistible low slung groove before expanding our minds with wavering pads, hypnotic chimes and misty synth vox. The perfect finale to an EP certain to leave you misty eyed on the dancefloor. Officially Aficionado.


                    Latest Pre-Sales

                    153 NEW ITEMS

                    E-newsletter —
                    Sign up
                    Back to top