Baby Face

Nobody Scared

Hi Scores and Crammed Discs present SSR Records: In Retrospect, nine tracks from the vast SSR catalog originally created between 1990 and 1996 and now remastered for today’s dance floors. Released on premium gatefold sleeve 2x12” with extensive liner notes and through all digital platforms.

Compiled by: Koen Galle aka Kong DJ
Remastered by: Wouter Brandenburg
Graphic design by: Léo Fouan
Distribution by: Newsdistribution.be & EPM Music
Thanks to: Marc Hollander, Samy Birnbach, Sofia Rasquin, Hanna Gorjaczkowska

Hi Scores is beyond excited to present SSR Records: In Retrospect. This 2x12” compilation album presented in a beautiful gatefold sleeve and through all digital platforms, wishes to highlight the immense and hard to grasp legacy of the Brussels based label. SSR Records was founded in 1988 by Marc Hollander as a sub label of his Crammed Discs and spanned the nascent years of house, acid, rave, trance, new beat, hip-hop, future jazz and broken beat, collaborating internationally and racking up close to 200 releases until it was put to sleep in 2002. Far ahead of their time, SSR Records released music of both European and North American artists that hadn’t broken through yet, such as those collected on this compilation: Move D, Nu Era, Gemini, Bjørn Torske, Glenn Underground or Matthew Herbert.

SSR Records was run by Crammed Discs chief Marc Hollander and Minimal Compact singer Samy Birnbach aka DJ Morpheus. SSR Records: In Retrospect comes with extended liner notes, exploring the pivotal milestones in the history of the adventurous label and zooming in on the origins of all records featured on the compilation.

All nine tracks on SSR Records: In Retrospect were selected by Hi Scores’s head honcho Kong DJ and have been remastered. Created between 1990 and 1996 and in the at the time pioneering spheres of house, breakbeat, electro and trance music, these treasures from the vast SSR catalog today stand as a stunning testimony to a truly remarkable and timeless musical legacy. Kong DJ: ‘While collaborating with Crammed Discs on the releases of Aksak Maboul in 2016 and Zazou / Bikaye in 2018 on Ensemble, I began to grasp the impressive catalog of the label and its sub labels, including SSR. Surprised by the tiny footprint SSR had left on the world wide web - often the case for labels ceased before the internet revolution - I wrote an article for British website The Vinyl Factory. This would later prove to be the first step towards this compilation album, collecting favorites from the label as a kid in a giant candy store.’

Avalon - Linked (Move D Remix) (snippet)

Chocolate

Soy Como Soy

Soy Como Soy (Arodes Remix) [feat. Cleydys Villalon]

PULSE 1

bloom 99

Adrenaline Slip is the ambitious and progressive debut full-length from Textbook Maneuver, the solo project of Michael Keane. This is an artist and composer to watch, presenting interesting new music with each release. He creates music that takes listeners on an atmospheric journey, taking his classical piano training but transforming his composed themes into organic electronic music.

Songs are born from improvisational sessions, where melodic themes evolve alongside harmonic and rhythmic progressions. Each track, supported by narrative-driven song titles and artwork, tells a story. The result is a unique fusion of nostalgic prog and contemporary electronica, offering an immersive listening experience.  Current success includes 5 released tracks, and part of Life Science Records. 

The album’s apex is the four-part suite, known but untitled as Space Trip. Starting with “Tell Them I’m Not Here (Still in Outerspace)”, a trippy long-form chill out. The video has garnered 47K+ views. The album moves into “Spacewalks”, Michael’s personal favorite right now. The suite closes out with the two-punch, highly melodic and emotional “Re-Entry” and “Controlled Landing.” Michael says, “these songs were inspired by the nearly nine months our two NASA astronauts spent in space in 2024 into this year. For each part of the suite, I wanted the title and musical themes, timbre, tempo, and overall emotional effect to be my interpretation of what it might feel like to be suspended out there, doing what you love but also wishing you were home.” There is a self-described coda, “Murmur 3 Home” which wraps up the album. Two other “Murmurs” appear. “Yeah, these are meant to be kind of like segues as the album moves through themes but serve as stand alone songs. I have many other ‘murmurs’ composed, planning on having on all future albums.”

Well, onto the music; over an hour to get immersed in. This is a very ambitious endeavor, for a debut, mixed and mastered with headphone wearers or listeners with long drives in mind. Looking forward to everyone’s reaction and what the future may hold for this talented new artist. 

Murmur 2 Corridors

Textbook Maneuver / Distance Major

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