Hugo Capablanca has been measured in his approach to releasing music of his own. While his label continues to grow in stature, fresh Capablanca material doesn't come along every day, and this salvo on Disco Catorce is a welcome fix. Lipeli's "Paper Sound Dub" of "Lap Dance" is a killer restrained roller that leans towards heavily percussive disco and bug-eyed 70s sound FX. "Track 2" finds Capablanca getting heavy with the signal processing, creating a right racket in the process. Alessandro Adriani's remix of "Dance Less" is a lean, menacing workout of wave-laced techno, and then YPY freaks the end of the record out with the "Exp Ver" mix of "Top Less".

Markus Guentner's story continues where his last album, 'Theia' left off with another set of epic atmospheres and brave new worlds. This time Markus enlists the skills of harpist; Tom Moth, cellist; Julia Kent and fellow ambient storyteller; bvdub to complete the journey. From fiery remnants, a universal rhythm emerged. An ebb and flow of force and fate, creating worlds within worlds, forever connected by an infinite empire. Markus Guentner's 2015 album, 'Theia' took us back to the mythological impact that birthed the Earth's moon. The creation of the galaxy as we know it today was being born and more specifically, the eventual rise of the human species followed. This is where Empire takes its cue, continuing the story and portraying the connection and many interactions between the Earth, the Universe and the mystifying forces amongst them. Be it physical, scientific or mythological, Empire draws on the ebb and flow relationship the Earth has with the deeper, unknown space around us. Markus dives into sometimes sinister, but always majestic territories with his unique manipulation of looping drones, textures and gradual atmospheres. The album and its planned progression, combine back-and-forth chapters between Markus' own productions and collaborations, representing the different perspectives between the unknown worlds. Beginning 'Offworld', in a dark and distant, swirling ambient chasm, Empire then moves into manipulating shards of light, with Canadian cellist Julia Kent adding a stirring yet poignant element to the growing void. Icelandic for "hiding", 'Fura' finds us back in the emptiness, but this time with a sense of hope as fluorescent molecules - future stars - gather and birth new worlds. A return to terra firma, and slow-motion grass moves all around you - a future mirage depicting a new vision of beauty that's yet to be formed, brought to you alongside fellow master of emotive ambient, bvdub. The dream is cut short and you then find yourself in the void of 'Nun' - the God of Egyptian Mythology - as echoes of man and cities once alive, are drowned out by an ever-present mysterious force and a subtle, alien static. All is not dark however, as harpist Tom Moth (Florence and the Machine) brings a shimmering, angelic shine, as you witness the growing energy and birth of the sun - the leader, life, and power amongst the Empire. Its birth; the 'New World Order', closing with a slow churning, atmospheric piece that is both complex and elemental, gracious and sinister, dark, yet in many ways hopeful for all that remains.This is the Empire as we know it today. Empire will be available on marbled transparent orange and black vinyl (including digital download) and digital formats on June 11th 2018.

This superb, six-track assault on the senses gathers together some of the most sought-after cuts from the Balkan Vinyl and I Love Acid vaults, five of which have never before been seen on wax. There's naturally plenty to set the pulse racing throughout, from the wild, lo-fi acid stomp of LFO's "I Love Acid" and the late Andreas Gehm's "Heaven & Hell", to the breakbeat-drive rave madness of Luke Vibert's "Acid Hitler" and the gentle braindance shuffle of Plaid's "Hui". Arguably best of all, though, is B12's "Proximity", which sounds like an electro re-make of LFO's "LFO" with added clandestine creepiness.

Given that Hard Fist's first two releases hit home hard, hopes are naturally high for the imprint's third 12". Whereas releases one and two were solo EPs, Princes of Abzu is something of an all-star affair. Label founders Cornelius Doctor and Tushen Rai join forces for the excellent, Acid Arab-esque opener "Place Du Pont", while Jakam's superb "Tribes" brilliantly joins the dots between Afro-house, Middle Eastern exotica and, most thrillingly of all, spiritual jazz. Elsewhere, Shadi Khries' "Semsemeh" is a dark and atmospheric chunk of psychedelic acid-jack and Timothy Clerkin's fuzzy and aggressive "Akama" is a mid-altering analogue chugger.

Soul Clap definitely knew what they were doing when they snapped up certifiable diva legend Nona Hendryx to sing on one of the cuts from their self-titled 2016 album. Now Ray Mang has got his mitts on the parts to "Shine (This Is It)" and turned out three versions for his own Mangled label - the classic combination of extended vocal, instrumental and radio edit versions. Whichever cut suits you best, the vibe is the same; a bold and bright summer party track splashed with horns, keys and plenty more besides, although the smart money is on Hendryx's legendary vocal, which soars as though no time has passed since her days working with Material in 80s NYC.

Prolific and long-serving Canadian producer Fred Everything is never one to rest on his laurels, but it's been no less than 10 years since he last released an album (the classic Lost Together on Om Records). Now he finally returns to the long player format on his own Lazy Days label with the appropriately titled Long Way Home, a widescreen exploration of his sound via all manner of styles. There's gorgeous broken beat and neo soul, slow-strutting electronic disco and modern boogie, and that's just the A side of this expansive 12-track album. Warm, immaculately produced and unafraid of embracing pop as much as underground styles, it's a masterful return from Mr. Everything.

Casey Tucker is on a roll at the moment, and his infectious brand of uplifting, full-fat machine soul seems to have struck a chord in many places (not least via his reissues on For Those That Knoe). After appearing on Love Notes back in 2015, Tucker's back on the label with another salvo of colourful, charming and utterly magnificent house jams shot through with the inventive programming of techno. "Alternative Faction" is many things - a bubbly acid track, a swooning deep house cut and a sassy broken beat affair - and yet feels utterly smooth in its execution. "That Time Of Year" has plenty of Motor City soul feeding into its composition, not least in the gorgeous synth strings, and "New Mission" gets busy in the swing with all kinds of bouncing melodies and rhythms.

The latest transmission from Botanic Minds comes courtesy of an unnamed producer, although whoever they are they clearly understand the innate minimal funk of the label. "Track001A" shuffles with the kind of subdued seduction that Botanic Minds has made its name on thus far, while "Track001B" follows suit with another surefire bomb for the late night / early morning rollers who want their groove to last forever. Rising producer Lizz brings a different kind of energy with the remix of "Track002A," injecting some warm melodic instrumentation samples into the mix to create a positively sunny atmosphere. Barut makes a first appearance on a remix of "Track002B," again flipping the script with a throbbing acid approach that contrast smoothly with the sleek minimalisms of the original tracks.