Back catalogue:

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


Some 20 years ago, Japanese producer donned the K.F alias (the initials of his given name, Kiyotaka Fukagawa) and delivered the astonishingly good 'Shining of Life', a sun-soaked Balearic house treat shot through with Japanese nu-jazz musicality, gospel-influenced vocals and expansive, life-affirming piano solos. This EP offers up previously unheard 'Shining of Light Flutemental' takes. Calm's own 'unreleased mix' retains some of the key elements of the 2004 original while adding morning-fresh flute solos and starry sounds seemingly inspired by Detroit techno. The 'Lambros Jahmans Sunset Mix' is a dreamy and immersive interpretation underpinned by an Afro-house style beat, while the 'Space Ritual Dub' is an almost entirely beat-free soundscape. On 'Undub (Space Ritual Dub)', the same producer wraps echoing flute and piano motifs around a tactile, hand percussion-driven rhythm track.

Review: Warsaw producer Kampinos delivers a knockout trio of tunes for GAMM here that collide soulful drum & bass with deep musical roots. The standout opener is 'Good Looking Pepe,' which flips Pepe Bradock's seminal house love-in 'Deep Burnt' into a lush, jazzy roller a la LTJ Bukem. On the B-side, 'Joi' explodes with gospel fervour and raw amen breaks to make for an irresistible jungle anthem built for dancefloor uplift. Rounding things off, Kampinos offers a rich, emotive refix of Little Simz's 'See You Glow' which is both warm and intense. This is rather unexpected yet effective outing for GAMM with a fine mix of soul and roughness.

Review: Kessell (Spain's Valentin Corujo) returns with his new EP 'Savage Garden' on Polegroup. The EP's name is certainly not to be confuddled as a reference to the boyish queer-affirmative trip hop duo of the same name; the emphasis here is rather on a truncated techno paradise, with a five-horned satyr gracing a classically styled front cover. It marks but one of many pummeller techno releases put out by the artist since 2013, though it's only his second after 'Nothing Left To Say' (Pole, 2023) to surrealise academic or Renaissance cover art. 'Hidden Echoes' and 'Seeing Beyond' stand out as the main darkened, textural edenics to saturate this utter floor stressor of a record, as though a giant hydraulic press were menacing the crowd from above.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Record slightly warped***


A top value for money opportunity here, as Moiss Music deliver the latest in their sweet and sticky Jam series of various artist 12" line ups, bringing you no less than six bubbling, vivacious disco triumphs from six artists. Khemir's 'Disco Bandit' kicks off proceedings, a production that sounds like it was made by a band of around 45 musicians, a proper cavalcade of strings, brass, brazen disco thump and beautifully bold vocals. Wurzelholz's 'Prince' goes for a bit more economy but with a slinky funk bassline like that - not to mention the occasional exclamation from the purple overlord himself - it's equally devastating in dancefloor terms. Among the other highlights, 'Golden' by I Gemin has the feel of a lost Daft Punk flip tune and Cosmocomics' 'Glamorous Garcon', boasting 70s-style synth bubbles that are as cute as they are retro. Tasty as ever.

Review: A tribute to who, you may ask? "J Dilla" is the immediate answer on Kidzblock's latest fidgety A-side, and their first to manifest as a 7" on their very own Kay-Dee Records. The house production duo may be new kids on the block, but their handicraft betrays a much abler quad of ears than the "up-and-coming house production duo" might suggest to the undiscerned. 'The Tribute' riffles with gospel tremolos in the back and parping filter-saw bounces in the front, bringing a real heat that holds truly to the essence of the word "bounce".

Review: MessenJAH Movement is on a roll after its first three outings and this fourth is just as momentous as it explores conscious dub. The A-side showcases the unmistakable voice of King Lorenzo on 'Down Ya Inna Babylon', which is a heartfelt collaboration years in the making. It's backed by a militant yet soulful MessenJAH Movement riddim and a heavy dub version mixed in-house with stepping rhythms and shiny digital leads. On the flip, Black Swan marks a long-anticipated link-up between Locks MessenJAH and EverestDub, who has been a key figure in Bristol's dub scene since 2008. The track pays tribute to the roots and legacy of Bristol dub and is named after the iconic venue that shaped UK sound system culture.

Review: The Japanese label Black Liberation Sound System has made an impressive start to life over its first three outings. The fourth is another strictly vinyl-only 7" featuring vocalist King Stanley. His tones are buttery and full of yearning as he delivers gentle patois and well-articulated lyrics over a sleek, future-facing dub rhythm. Plenty of studio effects make for an absorbing atmosphere and on the flip is a dub that allows them more room to shine. Two killer tunes as sound system season fast approaches, and another big moment from this ever more essential label.

Review: French techno DJ and producer Klint has forged a long, panhandling utility belt of digital and physical for himself - Truncate, Planet Rhythm and Molecular Recordings outputs among them - and now he makes his debut on the milestone Rotterdam label Arts with a definitive attestation to his own creative drive. The Greek "dynamis" simply means "power", and its etymological link to "dynasty" is meaningful, not least since Arts are among the foremost families to do it right now. 'Subculture' and 'Time Flies' stand out on this release as the best gurgling, weirdo sound design cuts to typify both artist and label, mingling undeniable heaviness and impish experimentation.

Review: Theo Kotts taps into some irresistible garage magic here on the cult Fuse label which has long been dominating the sound of the London underground. 'Dark At 3pm' is an urban sound with subtle nobs back top the original UKG sound with dark breaks and fizzing synths. 'Forward Motion' is a nice bouncy slammer with some balmy pads softening the edges and 'Glow' brings a little more heady melody to the fore, although the drums still cruise nicely. 'In Search Of' shows yet another side with crispy breaks and pitched up vocal hooks while 'Strides' slips into darkness once more.

Review: Let The Light will be KAMM's final album - and its most poignant - as it is a tribute to late member Alland Byallo, a beloved name in the underground who suddenly passed in 2023. Surviving members Marc Barrite aka Dave Aju, Kenneth Scott and Marc Smith dip into new sounds here, including jazz, psych funk, soul, golden-era hip-hop and textured electronics, and work them all into a heartfelt final statement that does a fine job of honouring Byallo's creative spirit with real emotional depth and warmth. From the serpentine tones of opener through the bossa-infused boom-bap of 'No Deal', the politically charged jazz burner 'Your Honour' and the sleek electro rhythms of 'How Long?', the album traverses plenty of ground. It also features Byallo's artwork and closes with a chorus of loved ones that makes it all the more poignant.