Our good friend Scott Hess delivered this wonderfully freak-fuelled vinyl mix of exceptionally curated curios, recorded live at the new FKA Black Amber venue he co-runs in downtown Bangkok. The mix marks the release of his latest 'Red Light Bangkok Vol 2' EP, which is on sale in all good stores right now.

TRACK LIST
Drexciya - Organic Hydropoly Spores
DMX Crew - Unconnected
Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express
Dj Overdose - Sorry To Disappoint (Ob Ignitt Remix)
Jonny Rock - Untitled ( Jonny Rock Edit)
Automatic Tasty - Tarmac Under Ten Tonne Sky
Emil Gayles - Spirit Dance
Risque III - Essence Of A Dream
The Abstract Eye - Back In Balance
Dj Minx - Stiletto Stroll
Los Hermano - Binary Funk Infusion
Gemini - Track 1
UC Beats - Vertigo
Space Age Polymers - 3 Piece
A Number Of Names - Shari Vari
Scott Hess - Sirius City

Scott Hess live from FKA Black Amber 11.06.2021

Singapore-based producer Intriguant combines a flair for the conceptual with a distinctly ethereal sound. The refined studio craftsman recently released his third album 'Spirits', and the powerfully immersive music contained within is extended into his potent contribution here. Meditative waves lap over precise drums and deeply weighted bass, as the profoundly moving track effortlessly rises and dissipates. Vividly conjuring otherworldly panoramas and haze-infused dreamscapes, there was only ever one choice of track to close this delightfully varied compilation.

Intriguant - Option

DJ and producer Maarten is a brightly burning member of the kaleidoscopic Bangkok underground. Co-founder of the Sabai Sabai Soundsystem, he fuses all of his decades-long digging expertise into this bass-heavy, speaker rocking funk workout. Rolling percussion, freaky synth work and powerfully projecting bass combine over this dance-ready arrangement, making sure this sleazy jam is destined to carve up floors in the months and years ahead.

Maarten - Tell Me

Musician, producer, vocalist, and DJ, Isaac Aesili's very being brims with creative energy. A fully-fledged member of Lord Echo's live band, the Bangkok-based Maori artist released his acclaimed solo album Hidden Truths via Bastard Jazz last year. Here, the talented songwriter arrives with a soul-infused backroom jam. Sparse, hypnotic, and alive with a palpable sense of seduction, the intoxicating track levitates over speaker-shaking bass and crisply driving rhythms. Pure quality.

Isaac Aesili - Love Slave

Also arriving from the More Rice camp are minimal master DOTT alongside supreme psychedelic selector, Elaheh. Prolific producer DOTT has been steadily winning fans across continents with his twisted brand of stripped techno and house. Meanwhile, Thai-Iranian DJ Elaheh is masterfully living up to her reputation as one to watch as she emerges from the Asian underground on her very own terms. Their track is a paranoid warehouse bump that pops from the speakers powerfully as subtle textures rise over earth-shaking rhythms.

DOTT & Elaheh - Amorn's Shady Deal

Part of the wonderful More Rice collective out of Bangkok, Sarayu is DJ with an ear for dancefloor quality, and in recent years he's channelled his refined selection skills into a string of uncompromising house, techno, and electro-infused productions. Embodied with a tangible analogue grit and gently Detroit-facing sound stamp, his dusty groove takes the compilation all the way into heads-down territory thanks to its celestial synths, tight drums, and propulsive bass.

Sarayu - Nic's Bent Face

We love Ryota. A vibrant being who exudes light, his music is as full of electricity as the man himself. Based in Tokyo, the seasoned record collector and DJ makes inspired music formed straight from the heart. This epic interpretation of Cat Boys' 'Stardust' blends raw production with indelible funk, as the thick bass, psychedelic vocoder and heavenly chords drive the track deep into delay-laden dub territory.

Ryota OPP - Stardust

Fauve Records frontman Romain FX has been steadily making his indelible mark on the world stage in recent years. Having made glorious noise via the Fauve Radio airwaves, the French Dj and producer quickly became a figurehead of the Hong Kong scene, and his productions are now routinely finding their way into the sets of discerning selectors worldwide. The infectious mid-tempo groove of 'Fly' sees him take to the mic for the first time on his compositions, with the results proving irresistible. The bass rolls and the synths soar as Mr FX invites us all to take flight.

Romain FX - Fly

Bandung-based Munir has been creating a near endless stream of captivating music in recent years and was always an artist we hoped to include in the roster. Also known for his work recorded as Midnight Runners, the talented producer skips through genres with ease as he consistently arrives with infectious sounds and textures. Here he delivers a gorgeous, Italo-inspired disco hybrid, infused with star-gazing musicality as well as ample dance-focused weight.

Munir - Cosmic Hearts

Meditative Balearic bliss from a true master of the sound. Impeccable production, imaginative chord progressions, and an overwhelming ocean-side aesthetic combine majestically on this glorious composition. Yokohama-based musician, producer and DJ Max Essa is one of our favourite cosmically-charmed creators, and we're thrilled to include his inspired work on the compilation.

Max Essa - Water Wheels

Exquisite guest mix from Hell Yeah! Records and Buena Onda brothers in arms, Marco Gallerani and Gallo.

Tracklist: 
Kayroy & GREETINGS - Imagine (Gallo's Tropical Hinterhof Remix)
Dust-e-1 - Enthusion
Tonarunur - Flotholt
Mushrooms Project - Sun Up
Gallo - Abysso (Calm's Mellow Mellow Acid Dub)
Stonehenge - Free (instrumental mix)
Reverso 68 - Journey to the East
Tonica & Dominante - Gennarino 'O Sioux (Leo Mas & Fabrice Vocal Dub)
Aura Safari feat. Villy - Lagos Connect (Extended Mix)
Relative - The Healing Place
Malcolm - Soviet (Acid Mix)
Bruise - When Piano Attack

Marco Gallerani & Gallo - Buena Onda X Cosmic Tiger

Rocco Universal - Assuage

Rocco Universal - Planetarium

Rocco Universal - Sleepwalking In Silom

Early morning vibrations via Headstream Radio. Recroded live in the studio at Desa Potato Head, Bali

Rocco Universal live at Headstream Radio - Desa Potato Head

Live vinyl mix from Rocco Universal, recorded at Turf, UK. Music from across the board of the cosmic dancing world. Music from Boo Williams, Larry Levan, Omar S, Patrice Scott, Boo Williams, Shina WIlliams, Midi Basics, Ge-Ology, Prince, Psychic Mirrors and more

Podcast number 3 - Rocco Universal live at Turf

This was, in fact, the first Cosmic Tiger podcast. It comes from Rocco Universal, who’s signed up to be a regular contributor to our sub cultural milieu. Rocco has released on high calibre labels, including Leng and Kolour Recordings, and has had his music played and charted by artists including Soul Clap, Dimitri From Paris, Lexx, Max Essa and many others. 

Recorded live at Safe Room Bangkok, the mix incorporates cosmic disco, electro, Chicago house and a bunch more cool shit. You can follow him on RA here
Rocco Universal bw2.jpg

Rocco Universal Live At Spirituals - Safe Room Bangkok

Tokyo based Ryota began his dj career back in 1999 spinning obscure hip-hop, house, and breakbeat oddities. His musical odyssey led him to delve deeper into the roots of the experimental sounds that inspired him. Over the years he's amassed a wildly eclectic record collection, aided by his time spent as a vinyl buyer at Coconuts Disk in Ekoda - an Aladin's cave of wax treasures. His magnetic energy behind the decks - coupled with his light-emitting personality and diverse track selection - make him a wonderfully entertaining dj. He's released his own compositions on UK label Meda Fury, and has performed internationally at a number of esoteric events, at venues including Brilliant Corners in London, and 12x12 here in Bangkok..

We are so happy to present to you this live mix he recorded at Cheeky in Tokyo. He weaves rare and little known sounds from deep in his vaults, taking us on a road-trip through his musical mind.

Live at Cheeky in Tokyo by Ryota OPP

This one was our second mixtape instalment, and we were as thrilled then as we are now to bring you a set recorded by one of our favourite producers, dear friend, and all round creative dynamo, Andy Ash. He’s released music on countless high quality labels, including Dessous, Quintessentials, Kolour, Whiskey Disco, and Fly by Night, with a varied sound that skilfully incorporates influences from disco, boogie, Detroit techno, Chicago house and beyond. A quick browse through Discogs reminds us just how prolific his output is at times, and happily, we know for a fact that he’s been busy in the studio recently, so hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for more of his funky shit. Until then, press play and enjoy the hot mix!

Vinyl Jam for Cosmic Tiger by Andy Ash

Far-reaching live set from Rocco Universal, recorded live at Safe Room in Bangkok

Balearic Warm Up by Rocco Universal

Feel good mix recorded live at Cosmic Tiger HQ, made especially for Nowhere Bangkok to help soothe the pain of living in isolation. Selected and mixed by Rocco Universal. 

**For those of you based in Bangkok, our friends at Nowhere BKK are running a coktail delivery service. You can speak to them via Line app @nowherebkk

Lockdown love mix for Nowhere BKK

For someone who’s back-catalogue is as broad and extensive as his, Pitto has been fairly quiet in the studio of late — preferring, as he does, to focus on quality before quantity. Here, he presents his second EP on Detroit Swindle’s Heist Recordings, following on from 2018’s magnificent psych-house excursion, ‘Late Night Studio Moves’. This time out, he delivers three varied original grooves alongside a remix from our friend and disco sage, Pete Herbert.

Probably the most immediate track from the record, it’s ‘Sammie’ that gets the remix treatment, too. Here, Pete takes the energy level up a notch or two while retaining the essence of the original, and the result is a hands-in-the-air slice of Balearic gold. Feel-good, driving, and endowed with an Italo-house aura, this one has future classic written all over it. As soon as we can start raving again, this one is on the decks.

Preview - Pitto 'Sammie' Pete Herbert Remix (clip)

For someone who’s back-catalogue is as broad and extensive as his, Pitto has been fairly quiet in the studio of late — preferring, as he does, to focus on quality before quantity. Here, he presents his second EP on Detroit Swindle’s Heist Recordings, following on from 2018’s magnificent psych-house excursion, ‘Late Night Studio Moves’. This time out, he delivers three varied original grooves alongside a remix from our friend and disco sage, Pete Herbert.

Title track ‘Baila’ rolls over eight minutes of off-kilter, heads-down rhythmic explorations, dark, dubby and deeply energetic. The idiosyncratic 'Discko’ incorporates bass guitar licks, trumpet stabs, and wonky samples and marches along with a subtly menacing feel, while ‘Sammie’ lightens the mood significantly with its power-hook piano chords and uplifting vocal.

Preview - Pitto 'Sammie' Original mix (clip)

Determined to do our bit to help everyone get through these crazy time, we continue our Lockdown mix series with one of Hong Kong's very finest, Arun R. 

Over ten years deep in the scene, Arun has a cultured ear for eclectic soundscapes. A regular on the Asian gig circuit, he's graced the turntables at all the right spots, including Wonderfruit(Thailand), Sonar (Hong Kong), The Lighthouse (Vietnam, Potato Head (Singapore) and many more. Apart from that, he's an excellent fellow, and we're happy to host his sound here.

While he refuses to be pigeonholed by genres, for this mix he displays his deep love and knowledge of the various shades of quality house music. Dubby, nuanced, and ever so slightly dirty, this is the kind of house music we can fully dig.

Arun R Lockdown mix

Preview - Sirs 'Turkish Folk' (clip)

We've not seen or heard too much from Glasgow man Ali 'OOFT!' Herron in a little while, so we were happy to lay eyes on this, his forthcoming EP for the Clandestino crew.

Having released a steady stream of high-grade underground club sounds – ranging in style and tone from slow-motion disco to organic sounding house – OOFT! first came to our attention over a decade ago, with outings on Delusions of Grandeur and Instruments of Rapture, as well as the L.E.S.S. Productions label he ran with The Revenge. He's also graced the rosters of labels including Wolf Music and Quintessentials, Midnight Riot, and his own FOTO imprint.

He has a knack for capturing an infectious hook and has turned-out a selection of essential edits over the years, but here he delves deep into realms of emotive, classic-sounding house with a delicately varied EP.

There's a distinctively retrospective essence to the entire EP, which wouldn't have sounded out of place in the '90s golden era, alongside the output of Pacific Records and the like. Opener 'Reclaim Landscape' is a blissful sunrise jam, it's staccato acid line providing the steady core around which emotive pads soar and hypnotic spoken-word vocal permeates. 'Obligatory Consumption' retains the lush atmospheric texture but has a more urgent feel, upping the tempo and adding a Detroit-influenced chord progression to take it further into club territory.

El Clinico Magnifico' is the most mellow of all the original versions here, gently chugging along as ethereal waves swell and subside. On '21 Processes' the emotive feel continues, rich but melancholy pads rise over a rubber band bass and crisp drum programming, with snappy snares adding energy over the evolving melodies.

Balearic leaning housers Clandestino complete the package by offering up a pair of lovingly crafted remixes of 'Reclaim Landscape'. The first version stays true to the essence of the original, unfolding over a lively arrangement adding a respectable rave break and organ stabs to the repurposed acid part. The 'Beach Version' drops the tempo and pulls the drums right back to deliver a super-chilled ambient excursion, introducing the track into purely horizontal realms.

Preview: OOFT! 'Reclaim Landscape' clip

Here's the third instalment of our regular show on the wonderful Baliaric FM. Broadcasting from the magical island of Bali, on this episode we play an eclectic mix of music from Blair French, Rheinzand, Priori, The Primitive Painter, Flamingo Pier, Aroop Roy, Rocco Universal, Nico Lahs, Aktshun, and Carl Craig.

Cosmic Tiger Show #3 - Baliaric FM

We're big fans of the work of Yokohama-based musician, producer and DJ, Max Essa, and we're over the moon to present to you this wonderful mix he recorded especially for Cosmic Tiger.

With a finely-tuned sound and an ear for cosmic-charmed soundscapes, Max's music regularly finds its way into our sets. From sun-kissed ocean-side introspections to psychedelic backroom bombs, his releases on Bear Funk, Hell Yeah! Not An Animal, his own Jansen Jardin imprint, and many other fine labels are always refined, imaginative and effective. He carries these sensibilities into his DJ selections too, with an all-encompassing sound that takes in blissful melody, expansive world rhythms, tripped-out dub and murky late-night textures.

We love this mix, and we think you will too. Big love to Max Essa.

Max Essa Cosmic Tiger Mix Summer 2020

Franz Scala - "Sabrina" (short version)
Anatolian Weapons - "Ela" (AW Slight edit)
Furor Exotica - "Fat Training"
Ondata - "Kolossos"

Committed party starters and NTS Radio regulars Feel the Drive push the pedal to the metal on the next leg of their logical musical progression, with this, their first outing as a record label. 

The brains behind the operation, Szymek Lawik and Martin Lefteri have curated a no-nonsense ensemble line-up that represents a fitting embodiment of their colourful sound. Incorporating a massive dose of Italo gold washed down with a twist of new beat and electronic body music, their debut offering offers much to enjoy and signals their vinyl arrival in suitable style. The EP races out of the grid with Berlin-based Italian producer Franz Scala's 'Sabrina'. A veteran of ultra credible labels Bordello a Parigi, Tusk Wax and Bahnsteig 23 among others, Franz serves up a bass-propelled groove which provides the bed as energetic horn stabs, guitar licks and kitsch 'sexy girl' vocals rise and fall over an engaging, floor-friendly arrangement.Next, we're transported to mysterious foreign lands by Athenian producer Aggelos Baltas under his Anatolian Weapons guise. The downtempo chug, dextrous instrumentation and seductive eastern melodies of 'Ela' hypnotise us into some kind of transcendent fog, as subtle acid bubbles and voices wail in the shadowy distance. We're then treated to a lively soundtrack to a boxercise class or in-rave / at-home workout on Furor Exotica's aptly titled 'Fat Training'. The sultry 'work it' vocal assumes the role of personal trainer as the intoxicating arps, stabs and hooky synth work builds to a sweat-inducing frenzy. The clubs are just about open here in Bangkok, we road-tested this one last night and can confirm it does serious dance-floor damage.

Finishing things off, new label bosses Szymek and Martin get together in the lab as production outfit Ondata to bring us 'Kolossos'. Probably the most stripped-back and experimental sounding track on the record, the pulsing bass sits deep under sparse drums, as robotic voices and delay feedbacks echo in the distance. The groove builds as fierce staccato hits increase the energy, endowing the track with a dark but subtle industrial feel.

By putting together this hugely enjoyable collection Feel The Drive show their digging credentials are matched by a skillful sense of curation. We're hopeful that this will be the beginning of a long and joyful road trip for the bright young label.

Preview - Feel the Drive teasers

Apparel Music continue their noble quest to nourish our ears and souls with their latest offering, KX9000's 'Plaisance Food EP'. Hot on the heels of label boss Kisk's excellent and suitably titled 'Jazzyness' album, here they continue to offer a glimpse of life through their organic house-tinted lens – serving up a selection of tunes that are as suited to nourishing the soul as moving one's feet.

Though London-based, the Apparel crew have been busily scouting for talent via the French underground, understandably so considering what fertile ground this has long proven itself to be. This time out, they present work from DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist, KX9000, following on from his previous releases on labels including Pont Neuf and Better Listen. The result is a warm and varied EP of cuts which combine cleverly-crafted musicianship with an aptitude for groove, and just enough deviance to satisfy grubby sensibilities.

The low-slung feel of opening track 'Millenium Civic' is a gentle intro to proceedings. Emotive chords evolve under delicate top-lines as synth stabs and motifs glide in and out to create a lucid dream state. 'Unusual Lines' is one of the highlights, combining atmospheric chords, an urgent tempo, and – most importantly – a bastard acid line to full heads-down dance effect. Vocal chops, discrete percussion and hidden layers add energy and mystery in equal measure, and the purposeful spoken word sample completes the sonic landscape. Paul Cut's remix of 'Unusual Lines' endows the music with something of a classic US deep house feel, dare I say shades of Boo Williams or Glenn Underground here as the sub-bass powers over snappy beats and jazzy vibes solos.

I've opted to play you Ground Plane Aerial's remix of 'Millenium Civic'. While locked down there has understandably been a tendency to gravitate toward gentle tempos and horizontal sonic-soothing, so after pushing play on this one the allegro rhythm jumped out at me like some kind of charging disco rhinoceros. Utilising the original instrumentation while beefing things up quite considerably, GPA's version is effectively dance-floor dynamite. The well-programmed drums fills and drops give the track a manic live feel, while the dramatic arrangement and musical flourishes add fuel to the fire. The roof is well and truly off when the freaky lead synths eventually pop in, leading to uniform fist-pumping and pogo dancing.*

* I can certify this with more than a degree of certainty, the clubs are (for now) open in these ends, and both the 'Millenium Civic' remix and 'Unusual Lines' have been thoroughly road-tested and Cosmic Tiger approved.

Preview - KX9000 Millenium Civic (Ground Plane Aerial remix)clip

Magazine and record label spreading love and freaky vibrations through music. Based in Bangkok but with a whole world view

Popular tracks by Cosmic Tiger