Berlin-Hamburg duo Session Victim bring their celebrated "Sidequests" trilogy to a close with "Chapter Three" on Delusions Of Grandeur, wrapping up the series in signature style - full of warmth, groove and left-of-center touches that remind us why their music has remained so enduring over nearly two decades.

Once again blurring the lines between live instrumentation, crate-digging textures and deep house aesthetics, the record feels like both a culmination and a new beginning.

Opening the A-side, "Too Soft To Be Loud" with Viken Arman finds German house pioneer Ian Pooley reworking the original into a sleek, floor-focused roller. Shuffling drums, glowing synth pads, and that distinctive Pooley touch elevate the track into prime late-night territory, striking a balance between hypnotic subtlety and groove-driven energy.

Following on, "Know Less" with Viken Arman again, showcases the magic of Session Victim’s continued collaboration with the French producer. A heady, slow-burning cut that layers dreamy strings, glitchy keys, and a syncopated bassline, the track unfolds patiently, rewarding deep listeners with moments of spacious beauty and understated intensity.

Flipping over, "Broken Coast" (still with Viken Arman!) heads into cinematic territory, combining driving drums, delicate Rhodes fragments, and immersive atmospherics. There’s a mysterious, almost soundtrack-like quality here, capturing the ominous mood of an after dark stroll around NYC’s Central Park in the 70’s, while maintaining the unmistakable swing of Session Victim’s grooves.

Closing out the trilogy in style – "Rain Or Shine" introduces a new collaboration with rising producer Eo, weaving together intricate downtempo rhythms and jazzy vocal chops. Balancing lightness and depth, the track grooves along effortlessly giving off a sun-soaked energy. An uplifting finale to the Sidequests journey.

With Chapter Three, Session Victim deliver yet another set of genre-defying pieces that honor their deep musical roots while pointing toward fresh possibilities. Their chemistry with long-time collaborators, coupled with the ever-trusted Delusions Of Grandeur platform, ensures the "Sidequests" trilogy will stand as a modern classic in their discography.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: The DOG revival continues in earnest with label stalwarts Session Victim joined by German house royalty Ian Pooly for some typically buoyant house jaunts. Perfect for the mid-session, with a busy and bustling dancefloor, eyes-wide-shut and not a care in the world. When's the weekend again?!

TRACK LISTING

A1. Too Soft To Be Loud /w Viken Arman (Ian Pooley Remix)
A2. Know Less /w Viken Arman
B1. Broken Coast /w Viken Arman
B2. Rain Or Shine /w Eo

Berlin-Hamburg duo Session Victim return to the ever-reliable Delusions Of Grandeur imprint with Chapter Two of their "Sidequests" trilogy, marking yet another high point in their almost twenty year journey through heartfelt, sample-rich house music. Overflowing with analog warmth, sun-drenched textures and irresistible grooves, the release also features a stellar remix from label co-founder and deep house pioneer Jimpster who kicks off the EP.

Here he takes "Behind The Glass" into spaced out house-not-house territory. With crisp drum programming, trademark Rhodes, and subtle pads that build over time, his version delivers that late-night sophistication he's known for, steering the downtempo original in a clubbier direction without losing its blissed-out essence.

Up next we have a brand new collaborative effort with long time friend, label mate and fellow sample nerd Nebraska. "Make It Happen" is a dusty, slo-mo house groove featuring delicate keys, euphoric strings and that unmistakable sense of journey. It’s just the kind of low-slung epic house they do best, intimate yet club-ready, nostalgic but never retro.

Flipping over, "Too Soft To Be Loud", another collaboration with Viken Arman, follows with a jazzy, almost samba-esque rhythm and swirling atmospherics. Loose percussion, catchy guitar riffs and Rhodes stabs collide with off-kilter dub FX and soft vocal snippets giving the track a laid-back, live-band feel that harks back to their "See You When You Get There" era.

"Hubcap Candy" dives deep into funk territory. Nebraska’s on point boogie bassline drives the track forward as crunchy drums and layers of synths create a dreamlike haze. It’s loopy, moody, and finds Session Victim at their very best.

Closing out the EP we have the original of "Behind The Glass", a headsy, beatdown piece that slowly unfolds over an unconventional brass-like bassline and delicate guitar textures, paying homage to the golden age of trip-hop haziness and it’s pioneering turntable spirit.

Blending crate-digging sensibilities with forward-thinking production, this latest release solidifies Session Victim’s reputation as genre-blurring tastemakers, and their chemistry with Delusions Of Grandeur remains as strong as ever.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Session Victim and Delusions Of Grandeur are pivotal figures in the slower, more sample based sound of UK house music over the last fifteen or so years. Continously touring and releasing records, this new project, "Sidequests" has seen some of their finest work to date. Especially feeling the Nebraska colabs on this one ;)

TRACK LISTING

A1 - Behind The Glass (Jimpster Remix)
A2 - Make It Happen /w Nebraska
B1 - Too Soft To Be Loud /w Viken Arman
B2 - Hubcap Candy /w Nebraska
B3 - Behind The Glass

Session Victim’s 5th studio album ‘Low Key, Low Pressure’ feels like an anathema to today’s fast paced, industry driven musical landscape – and for all the right reasons.

Having released two intense, dancefloor-focused 12“s on Rhythm Section and Delusions Of Grandeur over the past year, their return to Night Time Stories brings out their trippy, headsy side once again.

And despite the pandemic downtime being over, Hauke and Matthias remain holed up in the studio, jamming, head nodding to drum breaks and churning out records like the one in front of you.

Spanning 10 tunes – 12 if you count the limited bonus 7“ that comes with the first pressing – the LP is undiluted Session Victim, with their occasional trio partner Carsten “Erobique“ Meyer as the sole musical guest on the library-esque SOFT LANDING, a tune reminiscent of something the boys would try to hunt down on one of their compulsive record store rummages to feed it to their Akais.

You’ll also find the sequel to one of their cornerstone tracks from their 2020 album Needledrop, Jazzbeat 07. (It’s JAZZ- BEAT 08, in case you were wondering.)

Having acquired a taste for the occasional cover version over the years, the duo closes the album out with their rendition of Instra:mental’s Photograph. Tackling such a classic is a daunting task which they approach in a gentle way, not swaying too far from the original, subtly reimagining the rhythmical foundation and exchanging the distinctive playground sounds from the original with field recordings of the locals populating the gritty area around their Neukölln studio.

Being long time fans of Swedish organ player Bo Hansson, Hauke and Matthias tried to reach out to the people responsible for his cover artwork - who today are in their late 80ies and have not answered ever since. Things came together in the most fortu- nate way when the pair were introduced to French artist Xavier d’espinay Saint Luc and his enchanting pencil wizardry. The out- standing result is what you’re holding in your hands right now.

TRACK LISTING

1. Enlightenment
2. Soft Landing
3. Jazzbeat 08
4. The Hidden Trail
5. Porchless
6. Mycelium Dub
7. Walk In The Park
8. Assembler
9. One Trick Ponies
10. Photograph 

Expanding upon their recently released album Needledrop, which has received support from the likes of CRACK, Dummy, Mixmag, DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, XLR8R and more, the Remixed EP invites some of the pairs favourite artists for a deeper exploration of the album.

With a blend of jazz, electronic and downtempo, each of the remixers instill their own production styles to reimagine one of underground music’s most intriguing and genre-crossing acts into a new listening experience. From Laurence Guy’s melodic yet driving remix of ‘Needledrop’, to Jackmate’s transformation of ‘Still High’ into 5-minute, experimental rework, the ‘Needledrop’ remix EP continues to reaffirm the original album as Session Victim’s most eclectic LP to date.

Patrice Scott 90’s influenced take on ‘Isle Of Taste’ is a longer and more contemporary offering, whilst Dday One’s remix of ‘Jazz Beat’ adds a sinuous saxophone solo to fully embrace the experimental spirit of the original. The neo-jazz feel of ‘No Sky, Blue Sound’ is flipped to a slower tempo by Panoram, yet retains the explorative guitar solo heard on the album.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Needledrop (Laurence Guy Remix)
A2. Still High (Jackmate's Juke Rework)
B1. Isle Of Taste (Patrice Scott Remix)
B2. Jazzbeat 7 (Dday One Remix)
B3. No Sky, Blue Sound (Panoram Rework)