A2. Baris K - 200 (Khidja & Balabas Remix)

A1. Richard Sen - Night Navigator (Scott Fraser Remix)

A1. Andy Blake & Timothy J Fairplay - B-Ultras

A2. Khidja - Mustafa (Timothy J. Fairplay Remix)

Order here:
https://www.juno.co.uk/products/giraffi-dog-live-from-the-multiverse-infinite/859714-01/

Especial presents a 2 EP live concept collaboration with Berlin's Giraffi Dog. With live tours cancelled due the on-going changing world, the idea of bringing their live set to vinyl - an opera for your innerspace, while constrained from outerspace - was born.

Setting up Doom Chakra Tapes with DJ Deflektorschild in 2016, Max Webber's project first released the L'Existence Du Reve cassette album as a blueprint for the Giraffi Dog sound, with some tracks appearing on the acclaimed vinyl debut for Aiwo Recs, before a split 7" for the WARNING label series followed. 

Teaming up with friend Max Heesen (Dessous, Poker Flat) to take the project live, their backgrounds in punk and hip-hop shine in their take on breakbeat driven club culture. 

Recording live in the studio, as a different state of meditation, MCPs trigger drum machines, the duality of live synth and vocoder, while tape machines, reverb and FX looped, twisted and filtered for an inter-mind festival 

Cut as a continuous mix, tracks like Concorida, Jam X and Multiverse, are a manifestation of their sets dropped from small basements in Berlin to fields in the outskirts of Paris, this first EP acts as a hypothesis for the parallel, the other, the alternate, the infinite.

B2. Giraffi Dog - Jam X

A1. Giraffi Dog - Outside (Pt.1)

Order here:

Especial and Giraffi Dog return with 2nd part of their concept EPs of live / studio collaboration.  Digging deep they present Multiverse (Infinite 2), bringing their live showcase to vinyl – the completion of the duality of your innerspace, now unconstrained for outerspace.

The forced hiatus to their live experience hopefully over, the final EP comes in two parts, a real-time live recording, followed by more studio reimagining to close.  To start, 6th Chakra is pure Giraffi Dog.  Featuring Doom Chakra Tapes founder, DJ Deflektorschild, this rough and spacey opener is a breaks-mantra, the third eye open, Ajna flowing intuition, realisation and imagination. Recorded live at the Warning Festival 2022, promoters and label compadres offered the perfect platform to showcase the Dog’s energy as the meeting of MPCs, drum machines, synth, loops, FX and more morphs to present the mind-modulating King OTN as the party set peaks.  

Again cut as a continuous mix, Anagh lifts to DX Metero.  Floating, spinning, ethereal, before piano introduces Starfather, the skyward ending.  Hopeful, melancholy - bywords of Especial on it’s meandering journey.  A long time due but worth the wait, Giraffi Dog beamed live and direct, watch those stars.

B2. Giraffi Dog - Starfather

B1. Giraffi Dog - DX Metero

A2. Giraffi Dog - King OTN

A1. Giraffi Dog - 6th Chakra (feat. DJ Deflektorschild)

Order here;
https://www.juno.co.uk/products/giraffi-dog-comunion-feat-toby-tobias-remix/878968-01/

Ever since the first white labels appeared at the end of Summer 2013, [Emotional] Especial has been putting out music that is slightly left of (club music) centre. Influenced as much by and including dub, electro, disco, proto-house, house and techno, guided more by a feeling than a sound. 

This thinking has been that exemplified by every 10th release being a label sampler - a showcase of unreleased tracks or remixes of what has come before, plus the odd one off cut by an artist to watch. Some 4 years since the last Sampler, the label's 40th release presents new label heads Giraffi Dog, returning after their recent "live" Multiverse EPs, here teaming up with GF Rich for a breaks anthem. Sub bass rising, the persistent build leads to piano before drop and Acid mayhem ensues, highlight why G Dog are such a producer to watch. 

Label mainstay Alphonse returns, with White Pepper from the "Stolen Sunrise EP", here remixed by House stalwart Toby Tobias. Having released for a who's who of labels including REKIDS, ESP Institute, Delusions Of Grandeur and Futureboogie, the illusion these past years of who is Alphonse can finally revealed as Toby himself. The remix of his alter ego takes the 'Balearics' of the original and adds breaks and 303, all retaining a laid back feeling for summers return.

On the flip, the label welcomes rising star, Remotif. With a series of EPs showcasing a growing talent, his recent Coymix release sealed the deal. Here, his comedically titled Beam Me Up Softwoiii belies a party anthem, where breaks and arps rise in unison before an Aphex sunrise burst, drops and heads down in pure dance. 

Akio Nagase returns to close with another of his Japanese folk meets lilting 303 Acid House. An Okinawa traditional folk song, conveying a life lesson, here to Hosenka flower is laid across slo-mo acid bubbles to quirkily and perfectly complete another 10th release of the Especial path.

B1. Remotif - Beam Me Up Softwoiii

A2. Alphonse - White Pepper (Toby Tobias Acid Remix)

A1. Giraffi Dog & GF Rich - A New Home In The Jungle

Order here:
https://www.juno.co.uk/products/lauer-dena-wheres-your-love-gone-feat/877592-01/

Frankfurt's celebrated producer, Philip Lauer returns to Especial, this time teaming up with Berlin based vocalist Dena for a special collaboration, covering Julie Stapleton's soulful House classic with a modern interpretation across a number of versions (vinyl and digital). 

After the success of the Hotel Lauer EP on Especial way back in 2016, Lauer has continued his ascendency with albums for Permanent Vacation and Running Back, as well as releasing a string of sure-fire, dancefloor friendly EPs for the likes of Cin Cin, Futureboogie and Skatebard's Digitalo Enterprises.

Born and raised in Bulgaria, before making the move the music mecca of Berlin, Denitza Todorova has a carved a path with her electronic, dance pop stylings across releases for the likes of K7 and Kitsune Music. First appearing on Make It Stay from Lauer's last album, it jumped out as the perfect partnership to bring the raw, soulful and uplifting sounds of the cult V4 Visions label up to date. Founded by Alex Palmer, the label was part of the UK's early 90s club sound, releasing street soul, deep house and more, in Where's Your Love Gone, Palmer and 18-year-old writer/vocalist Julie Stapleton hit on the perfect marriage of Lovers Rock and Street Soul yearning with the haunting sounds of US House. Presented as a new take on the classic, but with utmost respect, the EP starts with the Club Mix, a Larry Heard bassline joins a marimba melody, lifting Dena's vocals of youth's lost love and pain. This is followed by the Demo Mix, a warm, beautiful string laden original take that Lauer and the label felt had to be included. 

DJ Slyngshot is welcomed to provide a deep, tech remix. A name to watch via his releases on his YAPPIN label and recent EP for Workshop, his remix is an analogue twist of hypnotic, raw dub techno percussion and counter breaks builds as string and piano join. The EP ends in the Synthapella, as bongos, cowbell and whistle are added to create a drifting Balearic version for late summer nights and dawn that highlight Dena's vocals in a 'sunrise' light.

DIGTAL BONUS - Lauer & Dena - Where's Your Love Gone? (Demo Instrumental Mix)

DIGTAL BONUS - Lauer & Dena - Where's The Love Gone? (Breaks Mix)

B2. Lauer & Dena - Where's Your Love Gone? (Synthapella Mix)

B1. Lauer & Dena - Where's Your Love Gone? (DJ Slyngshot Remix)

A2. Lauer & Dena - Where's Your Love Gone? (Demo Mix)

A1. Lauer & Dena - Where's Your Love Gone? (Club Mix)

Order here:
https://emotional-especial.bandcamp.com/album/african-acid-ep

Especial welcomes the return of Akio Nagase, Osaka’s own 303 specialist, with a second EP of acid infused world music. After the success of his Asia orientated debut, here his ethno-inspired dance comes to and from Africa, the mother. 

With a history of making reggae influenced electronics under the Makedub alias, his development to acid master continues to showcase a skill at fusing samples, effects and found sound in a dub-desk mix that is body moving and catchy in one. 

With a mission to bring the music of the world closer, Acid Maasai Collecthiv sets the scene with TB 303 weaving around dub heavy bass, crossing the Athi river, seeking singers to raise spirits and bind. Countries and continents are tribes and with a reopening world, the dance should encompass all; open minds to bring unity. 

This is exemplified on the ethereal Morisyen Acid. Sound design, Mauritian samples - creole vibrating perfectly with Akio’s acid work and simple but effective “predominately” repetitive beats to uplift like the Tamarind sunrise. 

Acid mantra as mind-gateway continues with Serengeti Summer. An heir to Whoktish, this is not reggae. 808 and 303 in harmony; a jam of man, machine and samples to bring today’s ethno-blue storytelling through consciousness. 

Closing is Jua, interweaving the fabric of life, passing down from generations the primal with the psychedelic beat to communal gathering, Akio presents the music with love and respect.

B2. Akio Nagase - Jua

B1. Akio Nagase - Serengeti Summer

A2. Akio Nagase - Morisyen Acid

A1. Akio Nagase - Acid Maasai Collecthiv

Order here:
http://www.juno.co.uk/products/khidja-never-seen-the-remixes/577051-01/

Coming hot on the heels of Khidja’s return to the label with their Never Seen The Dunes EP, is a set of remixes by friends and family of the label and band, featuring no less than Discodromo, Inflagranti, Red Axes and Selvy on mixing desk duties.

A proper Remix EP with all 4 tracks from the original EP getting a proper European flavoured rework. Starting with Discodromo, this dynamic Italian duo produce for the likes of Dissident, Internasjonal and Slow Motion Records, DJ around the globe and run the exemplary CockTail’s d’Amour label out of their Berlin base. Their unique take on the modern discoid sound is perfect for the title track and taking right to the red zone. Adding pulsating bass, driving appegio, all while allowing the bump of the original to keeping pushing things on, it’s a perfect introduzione.

This is followed by Inflagranti’s inspired retake of the deeper vibes of Aura. A huge favourite of the label, the Swiss team keep the bass and dam’ funk, but head straight for the autobahn to create an old school NYC electro-dub style remix. A matured cruiser that keeps the swing, it all leads to those strings and Eastern flavours gliding over for the perfect finale.

Things head darker on the reverse, with Tel Aviv’s shinning stars Red Axes, maning the controls for the scatter bounce of Indecis for the stand out remix. Twisted vocals, brooding FX and reversed guitar all atop a mesmeric kick, things just keeps going higher and higher.

Finally The Quiet Before The Red Stop is passed on to a name for the future, Selvy. With appearances on Polish Cut Outs and a recent EP for Transatlantyk, here he takes the ‘Balearic’ grooves of the original adding some club bumpin’ bottom end and kick while maintaining a lightness for the White Isles. A perfect way to round off. Watch the skies (and basements).



B2. The Quiet Before The Red Stop (Selvy Remix)



Following the release of the “Eleccio” mix CD in 2014, Especial has continued on it’s path to develop and push a club sound that is slightly more leftfield than the on-going boompty House rehash, the mutation of nu-disco in to something a bit more proggy, trancey and the never ending thud-drug-chug of the 110 bpm ableton-for-beginners brigade, by offering a
mixture of musically psychedelic, twisted, dubbed-out, proto-obsessed club EPs.
Possibly falling between pillar and post, an audience does exist though and to celebrate that fact, a new mix CD - this time helmed by rising shipmates Khidja - is incoming. As before, “Junta” is a best of best from the previous 9 releases (EES011 - 019), plus a few special
extras from our Romanian duo. To accompany the CD release, a Sampler EP again focuses on some unreleased gems, unheard versions and a special remix.
We start with a remix from Khidja and their own take on the very special Masimbabele.  Upon hearing a Remix EP was in the works, the duo begged for a go and rightly so, as here is possibly the best remix, with a dubby groover. 

This is followed by an unreleased cut by another, but not forgotten, combo.  While C&A are M.I.A, here then is an extended rework of a stand out pop-ode taken from their underrated Migration album. 

On the flip is new member, Alphonse, taking his proto-rave-poem deep in to the echo chamber to create a unique dub that is very much for the smokers. 

Finally, Khidja offer the “original” version of Looki.  An ambient version appeared on the in early 2015, but here, finally, with kick, bass and some wiggle, is their balearic masterpiece.  Gracias Discos Especials !!

A1. The Unknown Cases - Masimbabele (Khidja Remix)

Order here:
http://www.juno.co.uk/products/steaua-de-mare-remixes/599436-01/

Emotional Especial comes together with Future Nuggets for a “Special” one-off collaboration.  Reinterpreting the music of Steaua de Mare are four remixes from rising (Eastern) stars Khidja and Mehmet Aslan.   

The first in a short series of Especial “Specials” - where new artists are brought together for unique releases - we start by teaming up with Future Nuggets to present again the sonic offshoot in the unique band, Steaua de Mare.  Returning in remix form, songs from their self-titled album, as well as extra additions, are specially reworked.

First Khidja take album track Babadag to new psychedelic depths, adding multiple layers of guitar and synths, all inexhaustibly dubbed and re-dubbed until a whole new track emerges for the more discerning minds.

Next Mehmet Aslan is focused on the dance-floor, carefully reconstructing new track Shop into a club orientated groove, aiming straight at the feet with inevitable results.  On the flip, Mehmet then reworks album highlight, Doamne ce greseala am, amassing tension in careful, subtle ways, crafting a version that is a proper meeting of hearts and minds.

To finish, Khidja return to remix the previously unreleased 1 Septembrie.   Going to great lengths in managing a myriad of details, with balearic, kraut, pseudo-disco and exotica reverberations all pulsating, here then are on point  examples of remix manipulation.  A perfect way to start this series and showcase these wonderful artists.  


B1. Doamne Ce Greșeală Am (Mehmet Aslan Remix)

B2. 1 Septembrie (Khidja Remix)

Order here: http://www.juno.co.uk/products/plus-instruments-love-is-enough/609166-01/

Joining the dots after last years reissue of Plus Instruments early 80s post-punk music on the Bodies EP on Emotional Rescue, Especial now looks at their return to recent music production, taking the song Love Is Enough from the recent Trancesonics album and giving it the all encompassing label remix treatment. 

Returning to releasing music after over 30 years hiatus, the now solo, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Truus de Groot, showed she had lost none of the unique off-kilter dance inflicted avant-pop observations.   

With the release of Trancesonics things come full circle, bringing Truus’ right back to her roots.  On hearing Love Is Enough’s thumping 4/4 kick, sliding hats, white noise and mind-worming vocals seemed in tune with what Especial is about - warped, tripped -out, dub inspired dance floor music that retains an ear for melody and at times, pop leaning, it was a calling not to be ignored.

Richard Sen then, leads the way with a trademark killer Chicago inspired bump’n’strings cut that takes Truus’ vocals to the horror chamber.  Next, Khidja show why they are names to watch with their retake, mixing double bass and vibes interplay, trippy fx and haunting refrain, all wrapped in a killer groove that signal a duo totally on their game.  

On the flip, it was a perfect fit to get Luke Solomon in to do one of his special ‘mad-hatter’ skat style remixes.  Jumpin’ and bumpin’ across the floor this is Music For Freaks.   Finally, homeboy Jamie Paton does it again with twisted, bubbling dub, riding snares, arps on arps, a multi-layered, live on the mixing desk work-out for mind and feet.   Is Love enough?  Maybe.  Or it could be Dub is enough?  Time will tell.  Dot to dot.

Emotional Especial

A2. Love Is Enough (Khidja Remix)

Order here:
http://www.juno.co.uk/products/alphonse-smokey/620102-01/

Following last years debut on Especial, Alphonse returns with a stand out dance floor bomb of an EP from afro-dub-house to basement breaks, backed by imperious remixes from rising stars The Pilotwings and DJ Normal 4.  

While the techno-breaks-poem Same For Me came with its own soliloquy of life and the transcendental mediations of dance, head-scratching and indifference ensued as the EP, backed with Junior Fairplay's monstrous-amen remix, slipped by all but the most 'switched on' heads - thanks Zaltan!

Now back, but still keeping to the shadows, with more sound system shaking cuts via the afro leaning Smokey and breaks pump of Glint AM. Smokey is a true heir to a unique British take on House. Congas, bongos, kick, dub bass lines and chants riding twisted fx - a true Warriors Dance.  

Next Glint AM takes things back. Skipping hats atop an 808 throb before Detroit inspired strings and Akai vocals await a Mayday bass to lift hands and hearts. This is no pastiche but born of life's love and experience, of misty mornings, standing on beaten up trucks, arms a lot, higher and higher.

Time then to hand remixing duties to rising brothers from other mothers. The Pilotwings retake of Smokey shows a crew at the height of their powers, stripping the beats back to allow time and space to ascend - letting it all float away. Things are closed by "one to watch" DJ Normal 4. An old head at heart, member of Cologne's Aiwo Records and name to check, his deeper take on Glint AM includes a nod to the atmospherics of Biosphere and Leiner while keeping things, always, always, always...looking to the future.

With support from Gerd Jansen, Dauwd, Zalton (Antinote) and Kim Ann Foxmann.

B2. Glint AM (DJ Normal 4 VibemixX)

A2. Smokey (The Pilotwings' Future Sound Of Lyon Remix)

Order here:
https://www.juno.co.uk/products/junior-fairplay-faxes-from-the-future-feat/675849-01/

After a deceptively quiet 2017, Especial picks up the pace pace by welcoming back the peroxide, youth filled Fairplay (re)version and a 2nd EP of old-skool-meets-the-new-school flavoured House and Breaks to lock, jock and spin.  

After the criminally overlooked ‘How Do You Like Me Now?’ EP – how is Classic Version not a…classic…version? – Junior gets back on the (lino) floor.  The EP starts with a look north to the ‘other city of 7 hills’ that birthed a warp’d British retake on House in his bleep-dub ode, End Of Love.  The autobiographical title belies a forward approach with his trademark echobox kick’n’hats underpinning uplifting keys and nodding bleep finger solo.   

Who to join the party then, than another man of mystery, Roy Of The Ravers.  After his debut EP on sister label Emotional Response became a most played from Aphex et al, it is only right to bring him to E’Special.  His brooding, hoover rush Remix 1 heightens the vibes with a heads down bleeping half-steppa.   Righteous! 

The flip is given over to Junior’s roots, bringing the hip-hopper back with the anthemic The Shazsquatch Goes Back Into The Woods.   No shoc(k) horror here, just more upwardly mobile breakbeat meets UK techno licks. You can hear Fairplay at one with man and machine, pushing a sound that looks back but most definitely goes forward with ‘Sunrise’ on the mind.  

To close is the swagger of EP title cut, Faxes From The Future.  Hair of the (black) dog fuses a swinging break with proto-dub-meets-Giallo stylings to rework the senses and say, now is (still) the time!    

A return to making the noise while keeping tongue planted firmly in cheek.  What are u like?  Top. Buzz.

B2. Faxes From The Future

Order here:
https://www.juno.co.uk/products/kris-baha-barely-alive-timothy-j-fairplay/751479-01/

The label is delighted to welcome Kris Baha with his first 12" for Especial. After killer remixes of Sfire and Red Axes for the label, his name as an artist, with his darker take on dance music, has risen and risen.

With releases on Bahnsteig 23, CockTail d'Amore and Pinkman, Baha has become a respected artist in just a few years. Building analogue equipped studios in Melbourne and Berlin, DJing, producing and mixing have all led to atonal ear, where success came through dedication.

Following his debut album Palais, Barely Alive acts as release from these years of sweat. A call to all in this modern world, the song exemplifies a move from club music to a freedom in sound and song, as vox crash against 808 and Arp 2600. Remixes start with Timothy J Fairplay a name synonymous with Especial. Here TJF laces his trademark echoplexxed wash for a cold wave mover. Next prodigy Job Sifre builds on his acclaimed debuts with a remodel that goes straight to 'that' basement, mixing his love of electro, new wave and industrial. To close, the legend of Das Ding creates a re-alternate remix, fusing his unique fuzz with Baha's ode for a brittle finale.

B1. Barely Alive (Job Sifre Remix)

A2. Barely Alive (Timothy J Fairplay Remix)

Order here:
https://www.juno.co.uk/products/odopt-sample-commerce-shot/790139-01/

Moscow duo Odopt debut on the label with an EP of discordant, darkroom bangers for the end of days. Following acclaimed releases for Born Free, Discos Capablanca and Hivern. Ivan & Grisha - former residents of the infamous Denis Simachev Bar who glided aboard the Salon des Amateurs, Sameheads, Opium, Golden Pudel, 20:44 caravan with ease - present a 4 tracker of propulsive techno-house chamber music for these modern times.

Starting with A14 their nefarious, sonic industrial funk is on max. Samples reverberate around a dystopian shell, before playful tonalities swirl you higher. As hands to the sky as Odopt will ever witness. There is true beauty in the night.

A dense atmosphere prevails Keylat, it's darker EBM variations jack the master; voices scattering over schematic, metallic melodies before percussion is tamed, fading to a soporiphic realism.

Rolling, squelchy, acid, we embrace Sample Commerce Shot. Bending, growling, dive-bombing limbs and minds, its sleazy pursuit hard to resist as cavernous flashes lung from neo arpeggios to lock you in the groove. 

Holy Motor$ the perfect finale. Brooding, virulent, hulking. A monage of momentum, menace, machine music; its haunting nervy bass for the slaughter. Take my hand. Let's walk. Most likely we'll laugh in the next life.

A1. Odopt - A14

Order here:
https://www.juno.co.uk/products/akio-nagase-global-acid-ep/797870-01/

Akio Nagase joins Especial with an EP of global acid tracks. Centred around his heritage, Osaka based Nagase infuses his sounds with a mixture of dub and ethno-dance, wrapped in 303 infused mid-tempo 4/4 grooves. 

Making music for over 20 years, as well as running his Makedub parties, Nagase has released for Sound Channel, Darker Than Wax and cult Japanese digital label Chillmountain. It is here, on the latter, that the connection was made and his tracks unearthed. 

Rearranged, re-edited and remixed especially for vinyl, Jurassic Shanghai Acid starts, fusing sound effects, dialogue and samples atop squelching acid beats. Following is Mongol 303, as Khoomii throat singing and acid vibrations loop and flow across the Altai Mountains down to Steppe Plains - Madrugada Eterna.

Okinawa Yunta crosses the South China Sea to home, perfectly mixing unique folk song from Taketomi Island reconstructed with Nagase's gentle, wiggling acid accompaniment. The incessant repetitive groove an Acid mantra, flowing through consciousness to move mind and body. 

The bpm's rise for the close. Saigon Acid mixes tradition and Acid House for fun, a 3AM basement jam where Dan Nhi meets 808 and Nagase presents his ethno-acid love in.

Popular tracks by [Emotional] Especial