Review: This is a four-track sampler taken from parts one and two of the One Hundred and Fifty Steps VEP series which is all about exploring the rise of 150 bpm dubstep, a sound that characterised by fast basslines, broken rhythms and heavy halftime pulses. From VEP pt. 1, L.A.'s Carre delivers pacey wobblers and then Berlin's Formella debuts with playful breaks and more wobbly bass on 'Dripstep'. VEP pt. 2 features Leipzig's Old Man Crane with their intricate, syncopated style shinning through on 'Grey' and Valencia's Andrae Durden then shows class with a Kryptic Minds-inspired low-end powerhouse.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
I Believe - "Master Spirit" (5:19)
Girls On Pills - "Vheladei" (Open Spaces Update) (4:44)
Steve Mantovani - "Doctor Of Dreams" (4:39)
Miki - "107" (Melly Melody version) (4:54)
Open Spaces - "A Beginning Of An Idea" (5:14)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Volume One of a label retrospective of pioneering early 90s Prog House label Interactive Test Compiled by Alex from Utopia Records and enigmatic Interactive Test founder Franco Falsini. Falsini, responsible for many of the underground classics on the label he founded in Florence in 1991 was first known for his 70s Italian Prog / Cosmic group Sensations Fix. A trailblazer who continued to push the boundaries of electronic music two decades later with Interactive Test, accompanied by the up-and-coming talents of Trance hero DJ Miki the Dolphin, his brother Riccardo and an host of cult Italian music producers. Here we start with 5 tracks from the archive, all highly collectable, remastered for DJs and psychedelic music enthusiastic alike from the best sources possible. Authentic and original dance sounds still hitting the spot in our times.
Review: The Positive Reaction label is looking to build bridges between North Africa and the rest of the world with the music that it puts out. It has roots in both Tunisia and Berlin and has a healthy respect for 90s electronic takes on electro, breakbeat, techno and trance, which all shine through this new six-track VA. OA gets underway with hard-nosed techno, H0ney serves up lashings of peak time energy and BENKHLIFA drills down into the darkness with a blistering baseline and white-knuckle techno intensity. Elsewhere, MZA's 'Thelea' brings more low-end dirt and DEV's 'Love Affairs' brings lush euphoria.
Review: It's a nearest and dearest thing; Polish craftsman Offish calls up his pals from around Europe for this epic collaborative free-for-all. Taken from the full digital album that comprises 13 bleeding edge slabs of timeless brutalism, this vinyl sampler highlights its extremes with these four powerful cuts. 'Eviscerate' (with Forgiven Soul) nods to the Quarantine sound with strong elements of Digital and Spirit (RIP) while 'Mushrooms' (with Greg Lvov) is an immense and hypnotic weave of percussive elements. Elsewhere the ominous dubbed out minimalism of 'Look For Patterns' (with NonRev) set us up for the disarming depths and cosmic charm of 'Cautionary Tale', making this this is an exceptional trip for DJs, dancefloors and listeners alike.
B-STOCK: Sleeve split on top but otherwise in excellent condition
Dirac Sea (5:38)
Pterodactyl Phaser (6:22)
Spintronics (6:34)
Circuit Model (6:22)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve split on top but otherwise in excellent condition***
Okain brings the class to this final outing of the year from German tech titans RAND Muzik. It's a full-throttle 12" that wastes no time in getting down to business: 'Dirac Sea' combines funky drum programming with nice squelchy acid, warped synth lines and crisp percussion to soon sweep you off your feet. 'Pterodactyl Phaser' is smoother and has a subtle garage shuffle to its low end, while balmy pads keep things cosmic up top. 'Spintronics' then ups the ante once more with thumping tech kicks and lively synth lines. 'Circuit Model' shuts down with some nice psychedelic clouds and a busy bassline. Quality tackle for sure.
Review: Sometimes it really does seem like Perth-via-UK house mainstays Craigie Knowes, well... know! Emphatic of their own personal, cratebugging expertise, it would seem that their knack for tracking down and contracting brilliant yet not totally refined dance music talent stems from some unshakeable expert quality: perhaps some business-insider access to info about burgeoning underground artists we're not in on? Whatever the case, Berlin's Olsvanger is the next model musician to be called up, his former founding efforts of the likes of Tofistock and Powerpuff Tracks proving credential assets for the furthering of this aural arrester, 'The Core'. With two Kalahari Oyster Cult releases already under his belt so far, you know what you're in for: 'Goldman's Propeller' and 'Lava Luva' provide extra fishy aquamarine breaks and sexy sample-held step sequencings, perfect for lone raving over break-fast. Ptooey!
Review: You might think that Yassin Omidi is a newcomer, but in fact it is the new-coming of an already accomplished and respected head who now delves deep into the world of dub techno on Steve O'Sullivan's Mosaic. The beatless 'Sluder Dub' is coated in heavy fog and static with conscious vocal musings and the roomiest of chords landing with great drama and tons of echo. On the flip is another analogue sound that features buffed metal dub chords, classic effects and a shapeshifting ambient hiss. It's dramatic despite being such a minimal piece.
Review: Back in February, East End Dubz launched a new label, Rhythm Traxx - an imprint which the London producer intends to use as a vehicle for "timeless house music with an emphasis on raw energy and infectious grooves". For release number three, he's turned to newcomer Oncho - a producer with little or no online footprint. Title track 'Paradigm' sets the tone, with fluid synth motifs, sampled vocalisations and glitchy tech-house sounds riding polished beats and a deep, weighty bassline. 'Goes Like This' joins the dots between vintage UK tech-house and the alien, bass-heavy sounds of bleep techno, while 'Get Back'is a dirty, acid-fired slammer and 'Thorough' is a TB-303-powered slab of deep tech-house. Closing cut 'Dreamin', meanwhile, is - unsurprisingly given the title - dreamy, glassy-eyed and hypnotic.
Review: The classic 1982 funk anthem 'Don't Fight The Feeling' by American r&b and funk band One Way gets a fine 12" pressing here, which means it can be played nice and loud. Singer Al Hudson leads the way with his buttery vocal, while a stepping and broken rhythm with lovely dry claps and w sloppy synth squeal make for a pretty unique sound given when this was first recorded. On the flip side, Windjammer's 'I Thought It Was You' offers a more mellow, melodic contrast full of the band's signature blend of r&b and jazz with cooing, heart-melting vocals and a nice stepping rhythm that lovers of UK street soul will surely be drawn to.
Review: A cornerstone of early 90s electronic music, Orbital's Lush resurfaces with renewed energy through the Orbital LEDs reissue campaign. Originally released in 1993, the EP is a masterclass in melodic techno, featuring the iconic 'Lush 3-1' and 'Lush 3-2', two seamlessly interwoven tracks that exemplify the Hartnoll brothers' knack for crafting emotionally resonant, rhythmically complex soundscapes. Reissued on 12" with striking new artwork by Intro, this edition includes heavyweight remixes by Underworld and CJ Bolland, whose reworks push the tracks deeper into the club stratosphere. Underworld brings a dense, propulsive momentum, while Bolland injects a sleek, hard-edged urgency. Yet it's Orbital's originals that remain the centerpiece. Those epic gliding arpeggios, layered synths and rolling percussion conjure both introspection and euphoria. A vital part of their Brown Album, Lush helped define the progressive techno movement, influencing generations of producers. Three decades on, the tracks still pulse with a timeless vibrancy.
Review: UK mambo kinds Orchestra Mambo International share their second single for ATA Records, both on digital and vinyl formats once more. After a dazzling debut single for the label back in May 2024, 'Balia Mi Cha Cha' is a funky cha cha number driven forth by the songwriting of bandleader and trombonist Jonny Enright, backed up by vibraphone from John Settle and lead vocals from Venezuelan singer Carlos "Pachanga" PeNa. The B-side, meanwhile, is a mambo instrumental entitled 'Bajo Con Vibes' ('Bass With Vibes'), which riffs on the double metonymy of the word "vibes" and plays up to a fantastically warm bass sound, providing a proper aural rung onto which central part of the track the listener may latch themselves and become thus enthralled.
Review: MoBlack Gold work both as appraisers and minters of quality Afro House. This record, once again, attests to the fact, clocking in as the label and music-making house's "XII-th" release. Jamek Ortega, MoBlack, Armonica, Samna Soundsystem, Peaty and Faros all stop by the dancehall in a confident move of jitting, shimmying surety, extending out from an extended version of Ortega's 'Voices' to a closing, kwaito-deep quaalude by Faros, 'Feeling You'.
Review: US-born, Germany-based Oshana's solo debut on Altered Circuits is a notable one for peak time party people with high-impact jams that also bring plenty of subtle detail. The tunes are rooted in the vibe of her live sets and fuse classic and contemporary club sounds with razor-sharp studio precision. From the tense, acid-laced drive of 'Above We Soar' to the cavernous, Chicago-flavoured bounce of 'Space And Time Dimensions,' Oshana balances groove with atmosphere perfectly. 'Girls In The Front' is another gem and hypnotic, bass-heavy workout with anthem potential, while closer 'Origins' explores trance-tinged territory before diving back into genre ambiguity. It's a refined, energetic statement from an artist in her element.
Review: Heady house label Courtesy Of Balance only releases music that you know will stand the test of time. It's informed by the classic schools of deepness but always with a modern touch and unique character, and next to carry that torch is Ostrich aka Nadir Agha. He's in charge of curation at Montreal's legendary Stereo Club and shows his class here with opener 'Snake Charmer' which is built on a dynamic groove foundation and embellished with wispy pads that take your mind on a wander. 'Promiscuous' is heavy, dubby house stripped back to the core essentials and perfectly executed. 'Buttered Up' is a little more mobile but embellished with nothing chords and smoky vocal soul and 'Broken Science' closes with a brilliant broken beat flourish that is full of jazzy invention.
Review: With a title inspired by the utterances of The Oracle of Delphi, a cult of female priestesses who reportedly "changed the course of civilisation" by inhaling volcanic vapours, it's clear that Lee Burtucci and Olivia Block's first collaborative album is rooted in paganistic visions and experimental mysticism. It's comprised of two lengthy tracks, each accompanied by edited 'excerpts', and combines Burtucci's experimental synth sounds and tape loops with Block's processed vocalisations and hazy field recordings. Dark and suspenseful, with each extended composition delivering a mixture of mind-mangling electronics, creepy ambience and musical elements doused in trippy effects, it sits somewhere between the charred "illbient" of DJ Spooky and the deep space soundscapes of the late Pete Namlook.
Review: Daniel O Sullivan, known as a producer for the likes of Tim Burgess and for his astounding art pop band Grumbling Fur, makes his first foray into classically informed chamber music. With some sort of superhuman genius mind, the unassuming Mancunian wrote these arrangements for a 14-piece ensemble and nailed it. 'Golden Verses' is stately, pastoral, yet menacing. Another highlight, 'Painting Rose' is some of the most psychedelic classical music you'll ever hear. So, if you're looking for chamber music that spans eras, genres and takes you on a transcendent journey, then look no further.
Review: London-based New Zealander Arjuna Oakes impresses hugely with this debut album, a contemporary soul and jazz fusion, global folk, electronica and post-rock motifs all woven in. Like any good LP, While I'm Distracted is a deeply personal journey exploring common themes of vulnerability, identity and hope in a world shaped by ever-more existential angst and social media stress. We're told that Arjuna approached this full-length album like a filmmaker crafting a feature and aiming to evoke emotion over concept. Performing vocals, piano, synths and arranging strings himself, he also leads a talented ensemble of collaborators who help him on this emotional odyssey.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
D'You Know What I Mean?
My Big Mouth
Magic Pie
Stand By Me
I Hope, I Think, I Know
The Girl In The Dirty Shirt
Fade In Out
Don't Go Away
Be Here Now
All Around The World
It's Gettin' Better (Man!!)
All Around The World (reprise)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Top up your Oasis CD collection with this new rerelease of 'Be Here Now', the band's third and "most colossal" sounding LP, in the words of one Noel Gallagher. Being one of the few major rock albums in history for which its PR persons actually feared overexposure, and sought to control its release, gag orders were signed by journalists to quell its premature hype. Far from the heyday of 'Wonderwall' or 'Definitely Maybe', the album went triple platinum, owing to lead single 'Do You Know What I Mean?', and the band's relentless, cocaine-fuelled pursuit of commercial success at the time.
Review: Steven Umoh aka London-based Nigerian singer Obongjayar is back with Paradise Now, a sophomore album that is a bold blurring of pop, punk, Afrobeat, funk, dance and folk into a colourful and coherent new sound. Crafted with producers Kwes Darko and Beach Noise, the album was recorded between London and LA so has a global spirit with universal emotional depth. It was designed to play from start to finish on a night out so is both a party record and a Trojan Horse with infectious grooves concealing layers of complexity and introspection. It's Obongjayar at his most adventurous yet and explores what modern, global pop can sound like in 2025.
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