Melati ESP - hipernatural

May 17, 2023

Lefto Early Bird: "I've always been a fan of artists using a foreign language (anything but english) on club music, think Yaeji or Photek's 'Glamourama'. Melati Malay was born in Indonesia and moved to New York (not sure exactly when) and despite being scared of using the Indonesian language due to insecurities around not knowing the language very well, she did just great on this release. The record is co-produced by Kaazi (100% Silk, Asa Tone) and I really like the dreamy synths, the sounds of a big forest in the background, the soft approach of rhythm and also her voice almost used as a sample itself. It feels like a record made on a sister planet of our own planet, a place where nature blends with human technology. Listen to this record walking in the park/forest on a rainy day and pay attention to the rain drops on leaves."

Listen to hipernatural here:

Aa Sudd - Pushedd

May 7, 2023

Nelly: "This insane release is from Aa Sudd a.k.a. Vector Trancer. The man behind the beautiful Hyperterranean mix series on LYL Radio and also sick dj & producer crafting the most wicked hypnotic tracks. When listening to ‘Pushedd’ I instantly get the feeling of being sucked into a dark foggy swamp. An atmosphere I often like to create on the dancefloor or either in a listening trip."

Listen to Pushedd here:

Fantastic Man - Beyond Control

April 18, 2023

Paramida: "Fantastic Man’s discography is as consistent as it gets. He’s one of the best contemporary producers & DJs out there. Someone who will leave a mark in dance music history and while all of his music is great, this new release „Beyond Control’ is arguably one of the best tracks in recent time. Alex Kassian and I have been rinsing it out!"

Listen to Beyond Control here:

Claudia Sin - Panic

March 30, 2023

Garçon: "I came across this song before travelling to Japan last October. It became a kind of soundtrack to my trip and has stayed with me ever since. Claudia Sin is an Artist from Naarm/Melbourne in Australia who I hadn't heard before discovering this compilation. It literally froze me when I first heard it. There is some music that has a certain 'silence' to it and I often look for that feeling in music and got that instantely with this one. I like it when everything stands still and the piece could play on forever. Those dark drone sounds and the way they combine it with their voice is both giving you sorrow and pure joy. It's one of those songs I would end a set with."

Listen to Panic here:

FOXTROTT - Take it Back / Go for Joy

March 16, 2023

Gayance: ''FOXTROTT is a treasure, she's one of the musicians who always brings me to tears when I hear her songs. Her EP ''Take it Back / Go For Joy'' is like a friendly hug from a close friend. Her ways of awakening faith and love in her cinematic sounds are just pure magic. She's Canadian / Montreal excellence and an artist who really inspires me."

Listen to Take it Back / Go For Joy here:

Florence Sinclair - White Horse

March 2, 2023

Emma DJ: "Florence Sinclair is the artist I've been doom repeating the most lately. I was late to the party on his music, White Horse is the first song I discovered of him. It makes me nostalgic in similar ways as Babyfather or Frank Ocean's Blonde without actually sounding like them. When I listen to some of his other works like Gentle Decay (album), I feel he's one of the most exciting artists around at the moment. His palette is so versatile and yet very singular, it just makes me impatient to hear what he's going to drop next."

Listen to White Horse here:

KING VISION ULTRA - SHOOK WORLD

February 19, 2023

Dis Fig: "KING VISION ULTRA never fails to deliver. Each record building a new world. This time it’s SHOOK WORLD. And it’s one that encapsulates the real character of NYC and honors its tradition of mixtape culture. I would recommend not to snooze on this one."

Listen to SHOOK WORLD here:

Saint Abdullah & Eomac - Patience Of A Traitor

November 16, 2022

E‐Saggila: "I've been a big fan of Saint Abdullah for a while now and this record with Eomac really tells a story through this emotional attachment to culture and tradition. Their work is mainly sample based which I feel demonstrates more intimacy with the artist and the pieces they source together. Both Eomac and Saint Abdullah deliver a personal narrative through this release and I think everyone should give it a listen."

Listen to Patience Of A Traitor here:

Fret - Because Of The Weak

November 3, 2022

Gooooose: "I'm always fascinated with things that have minimalistic structure but could carry very strong emotions, whether it's music, painting or an art piece in general. These tracks all fell into this category to me, sounding like some sticky and angular organic architecture."

Listen to Because Of The Weak here:

Animistic Beliefs - MERDEKA

October 18, 2022

Half Queen: "With every NAAFI release, I am left guessing, sweating, wandering around in a state of euphoric, cooked bliss. Animistic Belief's MERDEKA came across my radar on one of my usual Bandcamp sifts. There are a lot of club oriented records coming out constantly, but in recent times, few have engaged me like this one. It's like an unfurling of multiple states within a person, and it is so glaringly obvious that everything in this storytelling was deeply considered. I want to live inside it."

Listen to MERDEKA here:

Julian Zyklus - Waterpiano

October 4, 2022

ABADIR: "Waterpiano by Julian Zyklus has been one of my favourite releases this year so far. Released on the Seattle based label Hush Hush Records, Waterpiano is a work of beauty, emotionally charged thanks to its dreamy atmosphere and delicate sound. In the album’s four pieces, Zyklus relies solely on a piano manipulated with his Max for Live patches, creating rich, bubbly and fluid textures with various types of delays, which hooks the listener in an immersive listening experience. Each track consists of a cascade of contemplative melodies where we can easily identify moments below the water surface, others floating in the air and, finally, silent moments which leave the ears thirsty for new melodies. Waterpiano is unique with its simplicity and soothing aesthetics, it’s a real break from everything."

Listen to Waterpiano here:

Gohda - POSTED IN THE BACK OF THE CLUB

July 13, 2022

Simo Cell: "The release from Gohda just came out on Dawn records, criminally underrated label run by the amazing Hajj. As a big fan of the post dubstep era that came around 2011, this album drove me crazy.

It didn't just make me nostalgic, it also excited me a lot. Ghoda managed to bring his own touch for a proper post dubstep facelift ! It's like a brilliant mix between r&b, drill, bass and edm.

Favourite personal track from the ep: For Awhile..."

Listen to POSTED IN THE BACK OF THE CLUB here:

Shakenna - I Bet You (Dub Version)

March 12, 2022

Renata Do Valle: "This sweet reggae bomb reissue, Shakenna - I Bet You, sails back into 2022 caring all its lucid dream-inducing lyrics over a cruising beat, interlaced with magic melodies. The Dub Version is my favorite, bound to speed up heartbeats and slow down sunsets - All I (we) could hope for this upcoming spring/summer.

Shakenna - I Bet You is out now on 'Miss You' sub-label for Sound Metaphors. Produced by Los Angeles based reggae master drummer, Patrick Houchen aka Shakaman."

Listen to I Bet You (Dub Version) here:

Idee Du Femelle - SEQUENCES

February 11, 2022

Rey Colino: "Recorded in 1987 in Terrassa, Catalonia, and originally released on a tape in 1988 in a very small edition (30 copies), Idee Du Femelle' Sequences album is as adventurous and transgressive as it is visionary.

Right there, at the intersaction of ambient 90s techno and 80s industrial music, this is a prime example of reissue done right: original artwork with a custom-made sleeve and a very informative triptych linear notes.

A delight for the ears and eyes. Essential."

Listen to SEQUENCES here:

Lara Sarkissian - In The Form Of A Sphinx

November 25, 2021

Mark Knekelhuis: "Lara Sarkissian has become one of my favourite artists in recent years. She lives in Oakland SF, where she hosted the CLUB CHAI events with 8ULENTINA and ran the same-titled label (which is sadly disbanded this year). I was glad to see Lara's contribution to this 30 years of Club Tresor compilation. Imagine this 'In The Form Of A Sphinx' track in a large reverberating room, where the ice-cold pulsating bassline takes the spacious room into the experience. Love her touch of haziness, that makes her work hypnotic and sensitive.

So definitely listen to Lara's previous work and her mixes on NTS, which are also sick and where her Armenian background is beautifully reflected in her selection of traditional Armenian music that blends into alienating contemporary sounds."

Listen to In The Form Of A Sphinx here:

Sunju Hargun - JIN 04

November 14, 2021

Naone: "This EP gave me a sensation of almost a ‘love at first sight’ when I heard it, from one of the artists who gives me so much inspiration these days; Sunju Hargun. Satisfying in every aspect, all the tracks from this EP can be played in any setting – from a packed dance floor on a Saturday night to an ambient session on Sunday morning. His first track ‘Chale’ would be my ultimate favourite that I cannot stand to not stand if I don’t play it out. It never fails to lift up the dance floor, especially when you hear the playful yet hypnotizing vocal. The second track ‘フーイズカサンドラ’ with the sticky and vile acid line would endlessly cling to your ears and take you to a hectic psychedelic journey of 7 minutes that I could listen to forever. The B-side includes a solid remix from Mark Pinol which seriously builds up the tension and Initial B.B’s downtempo track proves that slower BPM never means less power – it even adds more strength and muscle to the original. I guarantee, both sides will just magically fall in the right moment."

Listen to JIN 04 here:

K-HAND - Party Time

October 30, 2021

Dee Diggs: "I have been revisiting this foundational work by the recently departed Kelli Hand aka K-HAND. I've played this particular track in a couple of my recent sets and watched how it lights up the room. I have seen the repetition of "Feel it, Party time, for you, for you", the building momentum of the drums, and that rich heavy organ stab carry dancers from a sway to stomping and jumping with their hands in the air. There is something so inherently uplifting about this track that reinforces just how talented and authentic she was. She still moves us from a place beyond this physical realm. I feel so much gratitude and reverence for all that she accomplished and all she has left us in her musical legacy. I invite you all to pay your respects to the 'First Lady of Detroit Techno' by digging into her HUGE discography, buying some K-HAND records (on vinyl or digi), and giving the amazing K-HAND tribute mix by Russell E.L. Butler a listen. REST IN PEACE & POWER, K-HAND."

Listen to Party Time here:

Sempra - Diamond Life 11

October 16, 2021

Coco Bryce: "A bit wankerish perhaps to pick an EP from one of my own labels, but then again – the reason for releasing this is that I think it's simply stunningly beautiful. I first heard of Sempra when LCY showed me a couple of his tunes early last year. And then coincidentally, the man himself sent me some demos shortly thereafter. Blown away by pretty much every single track I heard, I knew right away I wanted to get an EP of his pressed up. Not an easy task, as he kept sending me batch after batch of goodness, making just a 4 track selection damn near impossible. It's got everything I could personally wish for in a jungle record: crisp breaks, lush chord stabs, sugar sweet vocals and bumpin' basslines. The high cuteness factor won't be for everyone, but I for one can't get enough of it, and am eager to hear what he'll come up with next. Hard to pick a favourite, would be a coin toss between 'Rely On U' and 'Love + Joy', with the latter getting the most plays so far, seeing as it's such a perfect song to play early in a set: soothing and laidback, but with a little 'ruff with the smooth' edge when he rolls out the Amens at around the 2 minute mark. Perfect for dancefloors and headphones alike."

Listen to Diamond Life 11 here:

Postdrone - Ready For Nothing

September 30, 2021

Sicaria Sound: "We’ve picked Postdrone’s debut EP, out on Cairo based label Rakete. Each track is intensely dark and hypnotic and weaves across experimental textures; some of them wax and wane, whilst others are heavy hitters throughout. As expected from us there’s a couple of the 140BPM-ish tracks on this release that we’re into, 'Qaha' and 'Blur'. But we’ve got the same love for the militant 'Dawsha FM' (plus Hassan Abou Alam’s remix of it is solid) as well as the stunning opener track, 'AAML'. If you want to hear more from Postdrone yesterday (28th September) he guested Zuli’s essential listening NTS show as part of his Nile Sessions series spotlighting fellow artists from Egypt."

Listen to Ready For Nothing here:

Elko B. - Realm Of Rides & Romance

September 18, 2021

DTM Funk: "Elko B. (Antwerp) last album Realm Of Rides & Romance brings me to some new music structures. It's a musical trip. From exotica rhythms and western sounds to cinematic grooves. The reason why it's my pick: for me it's probably one of the most progressive and wonderful not danceable albums that I found in 2021. The whole structure of the album brings me to different places. The tune 'Tension, Ride and Romance' brings me to experimental version of a Kil Bill Scene. Since it came out, I listened many times to this album.

P.s. try to listen it when are you cooking."

Listen to Realm Of Rides & Romance here:

Davis Galvin - Errenia

August 20, 2021

CCL: "Those still sleeping on Pittsburg based artist Davis Galvin, it’s time to pry those eyelids open.

Galvin self-released a number of excellent EPs this year on Bandcamp - 9 this year alone (and counting!). Each of them brings something new to the table, arp odysseys, reso-piano, weird tense euphoric wormholes, etc.

It’s hard to choose a favorite but this Errenia release is one I keep coming back to. I am dying to play all three of these weightless brain-benders on some very large stacks and feel my eyeballs jiggle out of their sockets. Vetisone {2627 C} is perhaps my favorite, it’s a disorienting dubbed-out number sure to cause the people counting beats per minute to lose their wigs. Orghu {362 C} is a close second."

Listen to Errenia here:

V/A - PC Music Volume 1

August 10, 2021

Parris: "I stumbled upon this compilation completely by accident while listening to another A.G. Cook track on Spotify and had a flick through the rest of the record. It’s quirky in places but the thing I love the most about it is it’s just a really fun record and does what it’s meant to do which is to be exactly that, fun; it’s not trying to be anything other than PC Music. As someone who’s a fan of Pop music this record is a great example of showing where you can take different kinds of established genres and re-structure what peoples ideas of these are/can be. Personal highlights on the compilation are A.G. Cook - Beautiful and GFOTY - USA which is just so unique and different but so pop."

Listen to PC Music Volume 1 here:

Tomu DJ - Pretty Stuff

July 8, 2021

Nathan Kofi: "Tomu DJ has been on my radar for a little while and rest assured: she will stay on it. Most of my recent mixes included a track by Tomu and she got me hooked ever since. The emotional energy that drives 'Pretty Stuff', one of her recent outings, is unparalleled and hits right in the feels. The tenderly arpeggiated melodic top breathes life energy and gets me high AF. Moving down the frequency ladder we enter energetic breaky drums provoking body movement and introverted head bangz. And since we are slowly entering the post-covid world, this is a tune we can all use on the dancefloor. A voltage-controlled-love-affair stuck in a loop of continued healing."

Listen to Pretty Stuff here:

Noria Lilt - The Insiders of the In​-​Between

June 26, 2021

MSJY: "This one was a no-brainer! A little shameless self promotion too. But I couldn’t be more behind Noria Lilt’s forward thinking vision for this EP. It is a full bodied teleportation to future dystopian hazey raves: a perfect example of taking influences from the past and present to create something with an original attitude. It’s a break-filled melting pot of dismay, the kind of genre-less material I run through the internet landscapes for.

The remix by Atrice is also a masterful new age re-interpretation of 'FEEB'. Pretty much everything they do is bold, slick and sexy. So yes, utterly honoured to be part of this gold class Debut EP and so excited to watch what it brings out of people on dance floors!"

Listen to The Insiders of the In​-​Between here:

Andrea - Sktch

June 12, 2021

French II: "After a great album ('Ritorno'), Andrea comes with a killer release called 'Sktch'. I’m in love with the darkness he brings on this EP, it feels deep and muggy with great atmosphere. He blends different frequencies with almost surgical precision, probably something a lot of fellow producers would admire.

The first track 'Sarec' really takes me away, definitely something I would play out and draw inspiration from. It's cool to see how Andrea merges UK breaky / Dubstep influences with a unique style of mixdown, something that really distinguishes his and the labels' sound. I’m really looking forward to what Andrea has to offer for the future."

Listen to Sktch here:

TURBULANCE - Turbulance

May 21, 2021

AliA: "Dam's illest Kid Sublime, teams up with Georgian badman DJ and producer Mishulino and jazz piano protege Beka Gochiashvili to form the group TURBULANCE. It's a new project, started off in 2017, representing the UK broken beat movement. Kid spoke to his good friend Inkswel & the great Phil Asher (RIP), who functioned as A&R director for the project. They made the connection with Afronaut & Mark Force of CoOperation Records and it was an instant click. The wait is finally over and first response has been wild from bruk aficionados all over the world.

As I'm a brukhead myself, I couldn't resist this album. I can feel the energy from their jam sessions all over my body. Turbulance is definitely the right name to describe this LP. (On the Runnin' track they're doing a really good job on remaking an Earth Wind & Fire track.) Some timeless, grooving, varied stuff that can't be brought under one genre and feeds multiple influences."

Listen to Turbulance here:

Dukwa - Think Potential EP

May 8, 2021

Black Cadmium: "It's compelling how Dukwa does it. Taking you from lush to gritty within 20 minutes. Housey Rhodes, retro electro, bass, acid… all preparing you for deep watered electronica.

'Think Potential EP' is the first ep on Transient Nature. A new imprint already heading for greatness. The message is clear, welcome to Dukwa's ritual. Stick with him and he'll keep you raving against the machine! Top tracks: 'It's U' and 'Eye2eye'."

Listen to Think Potential EP here:

Agonis - Neutropia

April 20, 2021

Konduku: "Already one of my favourite LP's of the year is Agonis' debut album 'Neutropia' on Basel based label Amenthia (all their records are definitely worth checking out.) After releasing a few really good techno EP's Agonis has stepped up a notch with this one.

A surreal and hazy trip that is genre-bending and pushing the limits, both his own as well as electronic music's. Slick, focused, diverse yet really coherent. The fresh and playful sounds contrast perfectly with darker and dubbed-out undertones but overall the vibe is light and joyful. A true masterclass!"

Listen to Neutropia here:

LSDXOXO - Dedicated 2 Disrespect

April 8, 2021

Lil C: "Utter filth from LSDXOXO, words can't fully express how excited I am for this project to get unleashed upon peoples eardrums — it feels like a significant moment in LSDXOXO's career, showcasing his artistry in full effect. D2D fully embodies everything that makes LSDXOXO a living legend of club culture — 'Sick Bitch' is the unofficial global pandemic anthem we all need. Cannot wait until the clubs crack open again so this tune can live in its natural habitat — the space it truly deserves to exist in — dominating and destroying dance floors across the world. It's fierce, fun, and filthy AF."

Listen to Dedicated 2 Disrespect here:

G.S. Schray - The Changing Account

March 27, 2021

Bianca Lexis: "I've been keeping a close eye on G.S. Schray ever since I heard his first LP in 2017. His albums have been put out by UK label Last Resort, born out of the excellent NTS show of the same name. All of his releases are sublime, and this one is no exception. Not sure how to describe it besides pensive, beautiful ambient, perfect for getting lost in at late hours of the night."

Listen to The Changing Account here:

Barkley Bandon - Dynamite

March 13, 2021

Mr. Mitch: "I love when a body of work doesn't really fit into any genres or boxes. The album that this track comes from is incredible, he sent it to me before it came out and I was doing a bunch of long drives listening to some of these tracks on repeat. The track in question is the title track and it is pure soul to me but all of his tracks have a darkness to them as well. Would highly recommend this to anyone."

Listen to Dynamite here:

Hoshina Anniversary - Karakuri b​/​w Michinoku

March 4, 2021

John Gómez: "This sublime release by Tokyo's Hoshina Anniversary on ESP Institute has had my head spinning the past few weeks! Both sides are fantastic but 'Michinoku' in particular has an irresistible vitality. It is complex electronic music that absorbs with mechanical precision the dark registers of techno within a music that retains the underlying tensile muscle of jazz fusion. A bouncy bassline and rolling 808 beat anchor the music to clear rhythmic signposts and serve as the basis from which to take off into fearless flights of abstraction. It is spacey, challenging music but a liquid Fender Rhodes adds a certain melodic sparkle that is capable of capturing listeners from all spheres and makes it feel very much alive. Bliss!"

Listen to Karakuri b​/​w Michinoku here:

Jurango - Retreat Ites

February 12, 2021

Jasmín: "My pick is an EP that is released today: 'Retreat Ites' by Jurango on Livity Sound. One of my favourite releases of last year was a compilation by Woozy, which contained a great track by Jurango. This was the first time I came across his name. So I was excited to see the Bristolian producer pop up again on Livity Sound, a label that birthed a good bunch of my most played tunes.

What I love about 'Retreat Ites' is the bouncy percussion and playful rhythm that seems to show a bit of a dancehall influence. Jurango's productions sound super crisp, and they all just hits the right spot between warm and cold for me. Somehow a lot of Bristolian producers seem to have found this soft spot, or at least, my soft spot, haha!"

Listen to Retreat Ites here:

Kush Jones - Nice Day

January 31, 2021

Anz: "My pick is 'Nice Day' by Kush Jones. Kush is so prolific that this record released in Dec 2020 isn't even his most recent! I'm still yet to take in his January release on Haus Of Altr, but I guess lockdowns have completely scrambled my sense of time passing, so it's been nice to catch up with releases at my own (slowww) pace.

'Nice Day' features the most charming cover art from Anu, and 10 blissful and spirited tracks that cover a big range of occasions and emotions. Luscious pensive chords and bouncy grooves across the whole project — I think it's the perfect example of how much heart you can hear in Kush's music. And his 'Strictly 4 My CDJZ' series (ft. some more incredible artwork) is on 12 volumes out of a projected 40 — a tiny indicator of how much music Kush still has to share with the world. I can't wait.

For some further listening, get into his record on Future Times, and the Juke Bounce Werk collective. Sending love to the JBW crew for keeping lockdowns lively with their streams, releases and all important input. Juke Bounce Werk is a movement — don't sleep!"

Listen to Nice Day here:

Russell E.L. Butler - Blah Blah

January 15, 2021

Tygapaw: "The thing that really pulls me into Russell's music is that they have the gift of injecting soul into the hardware they create their music with, the groove brings everything to life, and find that very compelling. While listening to this album, I feel this sense of comfort and ease; there's such a nice flow and vibe with the rhythm with all the subtle variations to the beat. I almost didn't know about this record because of how much it has been overlooked on music platforms, so I'm happy I get the opportunity to tell people about this project. Highlights for me are 'Tout Va Bien' and 'Alone at Pisecka'."

Listen to Blah Blah here:

Howie Lee - 7 Weapons Series

November 27, 2020

Dengue Dengue Dengue: "We discovered Howie’s music through Maloca records, a new label from Belgium we’ve been following since it started, runned buy the talented Le Motel. Howie Lee is a Beijing based musician and we picked this EP because the masterful way he blends different styles of traditional Chinese music with modern electronic sounds and club music techniques. This is a records that has been on repeat for the last weeks on our media player."

Listen to the 7 Weapons Series here: