The next issue in the on-going Mastermix series features a centerpiece of Frankfurt’s club history: Wild Pitch Club.

A predecessor to the esteemed Robert Johnson and a stepping stone for Panorama Bar’s very own nd_baumecker.

Founded by Playhouse masterminds Ata and the late Heiko M/S/O it was a Thursday club night that heavily featured house music as a prescription to the ongoing techno fever. Enamored with the US-American roots of it and all things deep, it not only presented the right records, but also their creators and protagonists. With a string of guest DJs from Robert Hood and Claude Young to Kerri Chandler and Theo Parrish as well as talent from the UK and Europe, it was one of the culture’s hubs at the time.

Here you have its testimony. Selected and mixed by Ata and nd_baumecker, it’s an authentic snapshot of the club’s vibe and spirit, spread over two 2x12” volumes, it’s the full dosage. Like Roach Motel confessed: Wild Pitch, I love you.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Intriguing dive into the pivotal German nightclub which avoided the pitfalls of techno-tourism and instead stayed true to its deep and housey roots.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Deep 6 - We’re Going Deep
A2. Ralph Falcon - Every Now And Then
A3. Tronic Pulse - Early A.M.
B1. Global Goone - Fin
B2. Low Key - Try Me Baby (Low Key’s Original Mix)
C1. The Afrodizzact - Strange
C2. Da Rebels - House Nation Under A Groove
D1. Iz & Diz - Down 4 U
D2. Kings Of Tomorrow - Untitled

The next issue in the on-going Mastermix series features a centerpiece of Frankfurt’s club history: Wild Pitch Club.

A predecessor to the esteemed Robert Johnson and a stepping stone for Panorama Bar’s very own nd_baumecker.

Founded by Playhouse masterminds Ata and the late Heiko M/S/O it was a Thursday club night that heavily featured house music as a prescription to the ongoing techno fever. Enamored with the US-American roots of it and all things deep, it not only presented the right records, but also their creators and protagonists. With a string of guest DJs from Robert Hood and Claude Young to Kerri Chandler and Theo Parrish as well as talent from the UK and Europe, it was one of the culture’s hubs at the time.

Here you have its testimony. Selected and mixed by Ata and nd_baumecker, it’s an authentic snapshot of the club’s vibe and spirit, spread over two 2x12” volumes, a collectable tape (download included) and a pleasant streaming version, it’s the full dosage. Like Roach Motel confessed: Wild Pitch, I love you.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Second part of this club-retrospective which revisits tracks that'd become staples and anthems of this pivotal Frankfurt scene.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Papermusic Issue One - Downtime
A2. Louie Balo - Don’t Shut Me Out
A3. KGB - Detroit 909
B1. Jovonn Feat. Krystine - Better Love
B2. Wam Kidz - In Love Again
C1. Kings Of Tomorrow Feat. Sean Grant - I Hear My Calling (Vocal Mix)
C2. Free Energy - Happiness
D1. Omegaman - Into The A.M.
D2. Presence - How To Live (2022 Remaster)

Space Dimension Controller’s first release in 2023 is also his first outing to Running Back. Needless to say that it pushes all the right buttons. Warm and playful, but forcing and with fresh jive, “Neuclidea” and its siblings revolve around classic SDC values. Nevertheless, the Irish melodist is also moving on to new pastures. Hardware sequencing, vintage digital synthesizers via analogue processing spawn a sound that pirouettes as much around the lost cyber-hippie poetry of Border Community as it’s the effigy of fast Balearic euphoria – if Ibiza would have been a party scene in Gattaca. Completing this treasure chest is a remix by Hodge for the pragmatic minded out there. Using some heavy drums of the west, his version of “Neuclidea” extracts the trance-like elements of the original and turns it into a floor-polishing brush. To sum up: music for heartbroken and lovesick victims alike.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Neuclidea
A2. Life Window
A3. Sunset Operator
B1. Neuclidea – Hodge Remix

Part 5 of this tasty little series continues with 5 more producers offering up a modern interpretation of dancefloor euphoria. Moritz kicks us off with "Flying Saucer", the kind of end-of-night epic you can imagine hugging thousands of people under star-lit skies to. Drizzled in the wettest 303 lines, with a chord sequence Todd Terje would be envious of, it's scientifically proven that 99.9% percent of dancers will go right off on a love buzz when this fires outta the stacks.

Amount's "In Den Tropen" is up next. A slow trance dazzler that reminiscent of jet-skiing through crystalline waters whilst multicoloured beach balls line the shore; it has the energy of holiday house music that take you miles away from the grey clouds of Manchester this winter.

Storken & JStaaf fire up the low end arpeggios and the twinkling leads for a rugged n wiggling electronic workout. "Tunghugg" the kind of intricate, techy roller that blasts apart the more forward gazing dancefloors leaving ravers scratching their heads with bemusement.

Archie Ward gets late night and strobe-lit on "Pizza Girl"; as it skirts casually into mainroom techno through that deep reverbed kick and staggered staccato leads - mega!

Finally, almost as if the EP knew we'd be out of breath by now, Jonus Eric calms us into serenity via "Fairlight" - a blissed out, post xtc ambient soundbath that'll get those serotonin receptors healed in no time.

Like one massive night out spread across a whole EP! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: No one quite captures the feeling of paradise musica like Running Back. Delivering a brilliant selection of holiday house heat, part 5 abducts us away from the January blues of a rainy Manchester.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Moritz - Flying Saucer
A2. Amount - In Den Tropen
B1. Storken & JStaaf - Tunghugg
B2. Archie Ward - Pizza Girl
B3. Jonus Eric - Farlight

While trance might be a state of mind (according to DJ Dag), it’s also a tone theory with a very specific tool kit. Here you get the version that makes sense in the aural universe of a producer that got raised on a diet of hip hop, boogie and the foundation tunes in house music. Moderate in tempo, the result is still euphoric to say the least: melted brains, stimulated spinal cords and rave rampage included. “Essentia” balances the euphoric rush of its topical genre perfectly with the happy-sad moments after the rave. If that is not musical or emotional enough for your taste, you will find content in the “Sunrise” version. Excessive use of the well-beloved choir, breakbeats and breakdowns make it equally irresistible for sun-ups and love-ups.

Flip the coin for “Winnies Karaoke”. Stemming from the same source and session as “Essentia”. Named after the interactive entertainment bar in Chinatown NYC and made sometime in the early morning hours, its the quintessential Krystal Klear. Sawtooth boogie, if you will. It’s counterpoint is the “Sundown” mix. Techno prog for the tilted generation.

Sometimes, in the permanent search of happiness, the world of tomorrow needs the sound of yesterday made with the means and minds of today. Essential bliss.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: More big room bonanzas from yer man Dec Lennon. There's few that manage to nail that glowing sugar rush of euphoria, akin to old trance records, like Krystal Klear. The formula is in full effect on this one.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Essentia
A2. Essentia - Sunrise Mix
B1. Winnie’s Karaoke
B2. Winnie’s Karaoke - Sundown Mix

Unlike some of his Norwegian pals Todd Terje isn't the most prolific of producers, so when he delivers any new material - original or remix - you know it's time to sit up and take notice. And you should definitely be taking notice of "Ragysh", because it's one of the best club tracks we've had in recent times. You know Todd, he doesn't like anything fussy in his work, just nice simple ideas that rock the floor: here we get some nice kick drum driven house music with a percolating percussion loop lifted from Blondie's "Heart Of Glass" intro (I reckon). A weighty keyboard line slowly filters its way to the front of the track before leading the way to the uplifting synthy breakdown. Remember those hands-in-the-air moments from Italy's Kamasutra? This will bring the bliss back! "Bonysh" strips "Ragysh" back to basics then adds extra cowbell and all sorts of retro sci-fi synth noises. Lastly "Snooze 4 Love" transports us to the land of Balearic house with dreamy synth washes competing for ear-time. DO NOT MISS THIS!

TRACK LISTING

A1 Untitled
A2 Ragysh
B1 Snooze 4 Love
B2 Bonysh

Absolute cutting-edge banger here from New York's Anthony Naples who debuts on Running Back. "Swerve" gets us underway with hard house-indebted hoovers and iconic 'donk' b-line. His kicks slam hard too, and when that glacial gated vox pattern drifts in we're thrust into a deep nightclub hypnosis few can resist!

"Here With You" is a hard edged stadium tickler, a delectable percussion array combining with expertly programmed sub bass and a niggling acid line for a techy n tough mid session burner that you can imagine is always doing the rounds at the more progressive global dances.

"Right As The Sun Goes" is a fiercy forward focused sun set track. One of those that the right DJ knows just when to drop - after a long hard afternoon session just as those red warm rays start to dance off the mountain tops = maximum crowd exstaticness!

Finally, "Be To" concludes proceedings with an ethereal, driving techno ride. Pluming bass, swelling pads, hypnotic perx; it's all there to suck you right into its acidic pumping wormhole, spitting you out into a it's jet streamed ascent.

Incredible stuff from Anthony Naples here, I'd go as far as to say might be my favourite record here's done. Supremely advanced yet losing no dancefloor sensibilities, this is the kinda shit you go to nightclubs to hear! 100% recommended! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Martin says: Open-air slammers (with hoovers!) from NY's Anthony Naples who keeps the fires burning well after sundown on this four track EP that's allll hitter zero shitter.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Swerve
A2. Here With You
B1. Right As The Sun Goes
B2. Be To

After the happily received and critically acclaimed Running Back Mastermix retrospective of Hamburg's seminal Front club by Klaus Stockhausen & Boris Dlugosch, another look at the playlists, hits, classics and unclassics is overdue. Now, the menu is solely set to the nineties - well after Stockhausen's departure and into Dlugosch's prime at said club.
Starting the dance is the sought-after evergreen “Deep Introspection”. Produced by Rob Mello and Zaki Dee for the legendary Jump Cutz series on their Luxury Service outfit in 1995, it's as ageless as deep house can be and on heavy rotation since its release. Same goes for “Agitate It” by Body Moods from 1993. Still an insider tip, and touched by the hands of Jazz-N-Groove it wouldn't sound out of place on a Louie Vega tape from that time.

The flip comes with DJ Disciple's “Street Experience” from 1993 and its Todd-Terry-esque “Hide-A-Way”. Snare roll, please. Rounding off with two home made co-productions by Boris Dlugosch himself: the remix for U96's “Come Together” (yes, the one from the submarine-movie-score-sampling techno chart topper “Das Boot”) and his exclusive edit for VDT “Strangest Music”. Both proving the fact that to what seems odd at the beginning (if classic US house is the indicator), can withstand the test of time and even gradually mature. Mega EP – check! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Klaus Stockhausen & Boris Dlugosch revisit this killer moment of house history; digging out more road tested hits from the Front club. Much like our own Sankey's Soap or The White Hotel; Berlin's Berghain and Tresor - Front had a sound all of its own.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1.Sensory Productions - Deep Introspection (Jump Cutz) (8:08)
2.Body Moods - Agitate It (BTS Groove Dub) (7:48)
Side B
1.DJ Disciple - Hide-A-Way (5:41)
2.U96 - Come Together (Subtle Dub Mix) (4:56)
3.VDT - Strangest Music (Boris Dlugosh Edit) (5:26)

Good things come to those who wait! A commonplace that is also true in the case of Perel’s Running Back debut. Ever since "Die Dimension“ appeared on DFA, our own CEO couldn’t wait for a call from the lady herself. Star is the consequence of said call and not only that. Picturing Perel’s development as a recording artist on the one hand and the hardships everyone had to experience since the world has been changed by a pandemic on the other, making it - in her word words - „an EP about crossing the "physical distance between the people I miss and love“. Opening with the riveting vocals of Star ("This song is literally a love song for my people“), the three pieces also show Perel’s growing versatility as a producer. The tried and tested neon disco lights interchange with darker tones, uplifting and affirmative moments (Tour De Perel) rotate with contemplative and pondering intervals (Internal Monologue). Yet, by no means Perel is whistling a sad tune. Her melodies are as always deep, distinguishable and delightful to dance to. Wherever that may be.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Star (extended Club)
A2. Star (extended Instrumental)
B1. Tour De Perel
B2. Internal Monologue

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