Lisbon's Paraíso bring their A&R a-game once again with a stellar EP by one of the city's most beloved techno DJs - @vilmusic - and a chef's kiss remix by the one and only queen of twisted dance, @ednd from Algarve.

VIL effortlessly strikes a balance between his seasoned raver's effective ammunition approach and his penchant for freshness that has accompanied him since his early days as a dubstep DJ. Concise elegance and banging inventiveness meet in the opener Rotari, as the A2 follows with detroitian levels of class and relentlessness, all ecstatic hats, warm stabs and beautiful percussion. Ghet09 closes the A side with tom-filled jack-infused beats and smooth keys with an instant-classic quality, all offset by eerie pads cause it's techno we're gladly witnessing after all.

Anjos, the new Birmingham brings in-your-face energy in the tight drum programming and a dash of trippy, quasi-dubby melodic elements in an ode to Lisbon's tentative premier techno neighbourhood Anjos.

Deranged yet loved-up, the B2 is a perfect peak-time dreamy mood-setter - proving we're in the hands of a skilled emotion-to-dance translator. The record closes with a stellar remix by one of Portugal's innovators, EDND herself, who drowns the opening track in mysterious waters and adds beautiful melodic elements, perfect for that much-appreciated deep dive moment on the dancefloor. There's a wonderful digi bonus for the heads, where oneiric pads are punctuated by vocal chops from a very familiar classic.

BUY VINYL/DIGI

Digital Bonus - Vil - Soul Thing

B2 - Vil - Sis

A3 - Vil - Ghet09

A2 - Vil - Balanço

Mysterious, melodic and dark - Portuguese can-do-no-wrong-er @lakehaze is back, adding to his impressive catalogue a four-tracker EP named 'Coordinates Of A Decaying World' for Lisbon's ever-attentive Paraíso.

Off-beat toms and rim shots paired with squelchy, slippery, acid make the opener, 'Galactic Federation', feel as bouncy and polyrhythmic as a non 4/4 track, playing a delicious illusion on the audience - completed emotionally by beautifully textured stabs and pads that speak of longing and perhaps of ethical space exploration to escape the pains of this Earth.

Reverb-drenched arpeggio acid and digital choirs welcome the listener in a grandiose, almost goth-like way, offset by an improvisational, on-the-go arrangement spirit, an impression that is met by the track title 'Jamming in Dracula's Castle'.

The B side opens with fat kicks and bass, its textures reminiscent of dutch and Belgian rave traditions; expertly merged with a Moroder-like synth-a-delic motif - always propulsed by that driving, taking-no-prisoners bass and acid lines.

The last track of the EP takes us to sunlight-drenched territories in comparison, with a warm sub bass and classic breaks serving as a base to another one of Lake Haze's expertly programmed acid lines.

The beautiful pads and melodies prevail, but the feeling in this closing number gives us an optimistic glimpse into a better future, after an EP that is about showing us some moodier, shadowy emotional rave bangers.

A1 - Lake Haze - Galactic Federation

Discos Perdidos - which translates as Lost Records - is a new series started by Lisbon label Paraíso, dedicated entirely to releasing archival music that, for a reason or another, never saw the light of day.

The first outing on this adventure into the unknown is by none other than the legendary portugal-born, london-based techno instigator @ciscoadvent aka Cisco Ferreira. The three tracks on this EP were written in 1998 and were meant to be released on a label that another Portuguese techno legend - Jiggy - meant to start running, but other projects got in the way. Fast forward to early 2023, Jiggy showed the Paraíso crew the DATs containing these gems - immediately entrancing - and both him and The Advent agreed to give Discos Perdidos the honours of putting them out.

Titled Shiolas, this three-tracker opens with 'Don't Do It', a relentless techno banger that, albeit its four to the floor drum pattern, feels swingy thanks to cleverly programmed percussion and claps. A concise but extremely effective bassline and synth lead guides the energetic smasher, with cut-up vocals, timely placed filters and hi hats giving it a final shimmer.

It's followed by the Piano Mix, with an equally strong and raw arrangement and a new element - an alien, sound-sculpted piano that gives it an extra sense of urgency.

The closing track 'Jacker' has more abstract leanings, although similarly dancefloor-ready, featuring an off-kilter yet driving conversation between stabs and bells in a display of expertly crafted dubby yet visceral sound design.

A piece of dance music history is recovered - techno is now a story told more accurately.

Stream: soundcloud.com/discosparaiso/sets/paraiso011

BUY VINYL / DIGI

A1 - The Advent - Don't Do It

B2 - Shcuro - Together (Steffi Remix)

A2 - Shcuro - U.N.I.

A1 - Shcuro - Together

PARAISOMIX012 - Salbany 'Rave Paraíso Live'

A bass rumble seems to rearrange your organs like a spiritual doctor, fast techno kicks and a funky as hell percussion line emerge - it's the lucky 13th release on Lisbon's Paraíso, this time by local mainstays @shcuro and @vilmusic - the first, label co-founder, the second a longtime friend and impeccable DJ with a range that runs from dubstep to the hardest strains of techno and beyond. 

The opener track ‘Rumble The Funk’ evolves with infectious stabs and cut-up vocal and our legs can't seem to stand still.

The groove continues on with the A2 'Recoil', a soulful, dubby, relentless ode to techno that feels authentic and purposeful. Emotional tones find their way in via a mysterious, melodic string, introduced in the breakdown.

Dubbed out motifs, delay + feedback strokes make a welcome return on the appropriately titled 'Chime Dub’ that opens the B side of the record: skippy rhythmic layers and a warm bassline complete the picture, string flourishes give us glimpses of radiant dancefloor revelations.

On the B2 the duo's opener track gets the remix treatment by another exciting duo: @blasha-allatt, who are the women behind the iconic queer techno raves Meat Free. They flip the original's melody into a rapid, dreamy affair, conveying an optimism that perfectly wraps up this solid record by continuing the celebration of collaborative work.

B2 - Shcuro & Vil - Rumble The Funk (Blasha & Allatt Remix)

B1 - Shcuro & Vil - Chime Dub

A2 - Shcuro & Vil - Recoil

A1 - Shcuro & Vil - Rumble The Funk

Lisbon's Paraíso is back with its 14th release 'Crossroads' by local legend-in-the-making @salbanymusic and remixes from portuguese dance music pioneer Cisco Ferreira a.k.a. The Advent and Detroit's own AMX otherwise known as The AM.

The record opens with 'My Life', a warm yet propulsive detroit-referencing techno cut with pad washes, shuffling hi hats, an introspective vocal sample, cascading organ solos and arpeggios to a blissful effect. A2 'Crossroads' brings us a raw, bouncy, jam-like rhythmic section with syncopated toms and snares offset by a piano stab motif and emotive strings. 'Next Morning' closes side A, a hypnotic, curveball roller featuring a warm, rolling bass, offbeat drum hits glued together by immersive pads and UR-esque strings.

Side B opener 'Mito' delves into trippier territories with admirable skill - not losing an inch in dancefloor potential - fusing bleeps and bells, beautiful chord progressions and hyper groovy drum machine programming.
Techno icon @ciscoadvent steps in with his 'Lisbon Dub' remix, transforming 'Crossroads' into a sparser, delay-infused slow-burner held together by a dope bass line. @amx313 brings the lead synth of ‘Mito’ to a lower octave, mutating it into a swingy midwestern experimental cut that inspires urgency and life force.
A restless mantra emerges via the digital bonus track, an alternate 'Elevated' remix of 'Crossroads' that superbly merges original detroitian leanings and industrial textures in a no-frills peaktime banger.

This is one of those records that lovingly reminds us techno is about emotion, swing, energy. As in life, nothing here sits still: movement, physical and metaphysical, is the messenger of progress.

B2 - Salbany - Crossroads (Cisco Ferreira Lisbon Dub Remix)

B1 - Salbany - Mito

A3 - Salbany - Next Morning

A2 - Salbany - Crossroads

A1 - Salbany - My Life

‘Intertwined’, the first collaborative EP by Paraíso founders @mariaamoramormaria & @shcuro, is up next on the decade-old Lisbon label. This pair of syncopated, energized, immersive techno tracks comes with remixes by Tresor residents Fireground and DC’s own Black Rave Culture, a trio composed of James Bangura, Amal, and Nativesun.

‘Waves of Hope’ opens the record in full force with a relentless beat that combines early 90s euphoric energy and jacked-up snares over a fat bassline, soulful pad progressions, technoid bleeps, dubby washes, and Maria Amor’s own soothing cut-up vocals, elegantly touching several foundational club music sounds through an inspired lens.

On the A2, ‘Hotspring Love’ brings levitating, airy textures and mixes them with subtle acid arpeggios, pure-hearted vocal melodies, and bouncy percussive accents. The rolling subwoofers of a proper techno party can practically be seen, the fast-paced kick perfectly perforating the bassline.

Two remixes can be found on the B-side: first up is Berlin-based @fireground_r12, who flip the original ‘Waves of Hope’ into a more concise take, exploring its dub influences and adding in cinematic, ravey chord progressions to a hypnotizing, ecstatic effect. The italian duo add a distinct dose of Neapolitan techno, carrying the textured intensity of that unmistakable sound.
@black-rave-culture pick up ‘Hotspring Love’ and turn it into an ode to junglism, reappropriating the original pads in a classic DnB workframe with crisp breakbeats and an absolutely nasty bassline that no words can do justice to.

A1 - Maria Amor & Shcuro - Waves Of Hope

A2 - Maria Amor & Shcuro - Hotspring Love

B2 - Maria Amor & Shcuro - Hotspring Love (Black Rave Culture Remix)

B1 - Maria Amor & Shcuro - Waves Of Hope (Fireground Remix)

@ciscoadvent a.k.a. Cisco Ferreira has a firm footing in quality techno DJs’ bags - as well as in dance music history - and today we announce a special treat for the heads: Paraíso is releasing three never before heard tracks, rescued from a DAT lost sometime in the 90s. Titled ‘Passado Distante’ - you probably guessed it, it means Distant Past - we’re talking about a trio of no-frills yet creative and highly energetic technoid ammunition. Classics that never were but now are given a new chance to grace our dancefloors.

Opening this record, ‘Driven’ gifts our ears with syncopated claps and percussion while relentless rushes of hi hats and snares create a steady rhythmic core, creating a funky as hell piece that has the original spirit of techno inscribed in it.

Things remain fast-paced and to the bone in the following track ‘Circulate’, a rolling bassline supporting snare rolls and a cheeky, minimalistic bleep reminiscent of sci-fi worlds. Dense yet concise, like techno bangers ought to.

Closing this triad is the irresistibly rhythmic ‘Tres Trax’, a geeky but powerful closing act that shows Cisco’s early wide-eyed aura, blending complex percussion and a bassline so soaked in swing it will have your hips drawing rave sigils as they naturally learn the groove. Dubby details add mystery to this incredibly imaginative Detroit-tinged wonky banger. Cisco did it again.

PRE-ORDER

B2 - The Advent - Tres Trax

A1 - The Advent - Driven

B1 - The Advent - Circulate

Hard at work for over a decade now, EDND is one of those artists whose influence on her local scene rolls deep and yet feels subtle - she's been silently honing her craft surrounded by a healthy mix of VSTs, classic drum machines and second-hand synthesisers of all kinds in her home town of Portimão. She's also never stopped playing a part as an important cultural agitator in the south of Portugal and Lisbon alike, taking part in jam sessions or community-led parties in all sorts of DIY venues, as well as gracing established clubs and festivals with hers and her duo's Roundhouse Kick mesmerising live acts.

For her first solo EP 'Rupture of Plane', EDND finds a fitting home at Paraíso, where she explores the border between inventive experimentation and dancefloor effectiveness. The opener 'Quartz Composer' layers a bouncy bassline with mystery-drenched melodies and carefully sound designed percussive elements while the sparse vocal inspires a state of loving ecstasy. The infectious rawness of 'Field Effects' follows; its visceral, playful kickdrum pacing a dizzyingly trippy synth and an enticing suggestion of the rougher side of acid. 'While Sleeping Watch' ensues, bringing an even moodier, industrial-leaning piece of top-form EBM and techno. Paraíso regular Photonz steps in for a powerful rework of Quartz Composer, infusing it with a tough, whole new broken electro groove and an addictive synth re-design.

A1 - EDND - Quartz Composer

Paraíso é uma plataforma multi-dimensional: toma a forma de programa de rádio, editora e noite para celebrar a música a que um dia chamaram "underground house music from a paradise called portugal".
Uma homenagem à rave portuguesa que nasceu nos anos 90 e continua, hoje, a trilhar o seu caminho. Desde as lendas dos tempos da Kaos e do Alcântara-Mar aos produtores contemporâneos influenciados pelo espírito original da rave tuga, todo este contínuo serve de inspiração para a Paraíso. Para que a nossa herança nunca se perca e continue a polvilhar o inconsciente colectivo.

Paraíso

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