Feelings Matter

First single form "Moving Grounds", coming friday 15th.

Jump On It

IGNITION Extension Pack out now!

4 new remixes by Cassius Select, Brodinski, Bamao Yendé and myself, pushing the sonics of the IGNITION world further into club-territory.

Artwork in collaboration with Latoya Haguinatha Breu & Babybrusher

C - (feat. DÆMON) (Cassius Select Remix)

The first release on raghoul in 2025 will be the debut album ‘Sankara Never Died’ by Moroccan producer 3xOJ. This 9-track experimental bass album is packed with collaborations, featuring live drummers, vocalists, rappers and transverse flute-players, and will be the first release on the label to be made available on vinyl. ‘Sankara Never Died’ is the fruit of four years of labour and is a homage to the electronic sounds coming from this small but significant corner of the continent. Each track invites the listener into a universe of its own, and explores the different sounds that the artist has been working with over the past decade.

Having gained praise for his release Stasix on Nyege Nyege Tapes and EP Stork on Hakuna Kulala, 3xOJ is a Meknes-raised, Casablanca-based electronic music DJ and producer. His approach to music history and theory has brought him in contact with a wide range of styles and influences that he has learned to weave together with his love for contemporary club culture.

note from the heart

Let's not pretend that any of what we do and make as a label and people holds any value or makes any sense in a world where several genocides of our peoples can unfold before our very own eyes with total impunity of the international bodies that are supposed to keep humanity safe and sane. Daily, our screens, powered by the blood and lives of millions of our Congolese brothers and sisters, are overflowing with images that could only be from nightmares. But they're not. They are the horrifying daily realities of our Palestinian, Sudanese, Lebanese, Syrian, Yemeni and Congolese siblings subjected to the exploitation of natural resources, labour, and land. To those continuing to resist and defend their homeland, we owe you our lives. And from the white ruler, we ask: How do you expect us to create capital for you as you bury our women with their children still hiding in their bellies? How do you sleep at night knowing your peace is drenched in the stench of mass graves that were once hospitals? How do you want us to wake up and seize the day when you continue to seize our lands and futures with it?

Sankara Never Died is a catharsis, a purge of some sort. It is a reminder that the revolution is here and looks red, brown, and black.

From the world to Casablanca, back to the world.

pre-order

3xOJ - Sankara Never Died

Taken from SBKT067: 96 Back - tender, exit
Release date: 27th November 2024
Limited vinyl + digital

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For his sixth 96 Back LP, Evan Majumdar-Swift found himself writing “a long form eulogy” to his years living in Manchester while preparing for an imminent move to London. Initially intended as a series of technical exercises, which saw the artist radically stripping back his established production setup, over the last two years tender, exit gradually took on the form of an emotional landscape, mapped in transit between two cities. “The overarching concept of the record is cycles, recognising them, loving them, and tearing yourself away from them,” he says. Heard together, the project takes on the pace and cadence of a passionate conversation with a loved one.

Full press release - https://svbkvlt.bandcamp.com/album/tender-exit

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Photography: Ana Radtsenko
Design: Luke Griffiths
Mastering: Raphael Valensi

tender, exit

Preorder

96 Back - Rubber Knife

I forgot to upload these to soundcloud last year

artwork by cormac mcgoldrick (@nerv.mcg)

Grindhouse

@patarlab @vinerrrrr

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4ehGk52g3E
-----------------------------------------------------------
Death is certain, life is not. And both are available at our supermarket. 

With everything that’s happening in the world, one must wonder if there’s breaking free from it all or should they just stop trying to make sense of it. It’s a choice and it isn’t — depending on the circumstances one finds themselves in. What seemed senseless beginning to take form and what had always been solid shatters into pieces: home, family, plans, love, identity, freedom, sex, philosophy, technology, making-it, bank account, self, traumas, patterns, overcoming them, residence, conscience, morals, vodka, values, vulnerability — they have equal chances to serve as safe place or jail, wake or deliverance, life or death — go figure.

In its first release, Patar flips the table — and the cards, and the chips with it. No stake is too high to even mention it. One track and 7 versions of it, as an attempt to transgress from confusion to clarity — or maybe the other way around. Here’s an artistic experiment for you: do not brief, do not declare, do not obey, and do not fight — or do. And see what comes out of it. 

Qurgōn is a pit grave. There are dead horses in it, dead people, dead weapons, and vessels. It stinks and it’s scary. It’s a place where nothing will ever be born, or will it? It requires nothing, silently craving admiration. It only ever serves a collective memory of all the heroes and the blood-thirsty freaks alike. They are one, after all. It only is to be unbothered, looked at in awe and disgust; to be a break out on the smooth surface of the steppe’s ass.  

One artist made a call, seven responded — to dig to the bottom of that pit or touch upon its stony texture.

In order of appearance:

Viner [France, Marseille]
Şüräle [Kazakhstan, Almaty] 
Wulffluw XCIV [Moldova, Chișinău]
yutani [Armenia, Yerevan]
Sha Gen [Tajikistan, Dushanbe]
Aunt Zazà [Spain, Barcelona]
Hayk Karoyi [Armenia, Yerevan]
A.Fruit  [Spain, Barcelona]

Here’s another experiment for you: renounce all styles and genres and go with it. Who cares, anyway? Gloomy and epic, repetitive and bass-y — oh, always bass-y. Percussion-thick, yelling, obnoxious, rich. The sound of dying, finding peace, losing it again, and returning back to the hassle. The all-penetrating sound of a baby’s cry and the last exhale of a fighter knocked out for good. Ferocious sirens needling through the layers and layers of dead horses and weapons, clanking, squelching — resonating. With the horrors and hope. With memories and fantasies. With clinging to what seems to be it — and letting go. 

Nothing is certain anymore, yet everything is clear. 

p.s. The locations are mentioned to help gig providers locate the artists and, maybe, give an idea of their background and current state of mind, but not really and not necessarily.

* Qurgōn [Uzbek], commonly unknown as Kurgan [Turkic] or Курган [Russian]  a circular burial mound constructed over a mass burial site of warriors; originally in use in the Russian Steppes, Caucasus, and Central Asia, but later spreading into eastern, central, and northern Europe in the third millennium b.c.

text by Nastassja Popova
mixing & mastering by A.Fruit
cover by Timur Zima

Qurgōn (WULFFLUW XCIV Remix)

1. Blood in the Water: A hard-hitting, aggressive anthem that reflects on resilience and overcoming adversity. The title track sets the tone for the album with its intense beats and powerful lyrical delivery.

2. Rowdy Rowdy and Bout It Bout It (feat. Lofi Phonk): A high-energy collaboration that blends raw, unapologetic vocals with a chill, laid-back lo-fi beat, creating a unique and unexpected dynamic.

3. Gravity's Wave: A melodic and introspective track that explores the inevitable pull of life's forces. The song's smooth rhythm and thoughtful lyrics create a sense of floating through challenges.

4. Hadoken (Darc Reign Variant): This track is a direct and impactful banger, a variant of a previous release, showcasing a faster pace and more intricate flow, like a powerful punch.

5. Under Da Sea: A fun, lighthearted track that serves as a moment of reprieve. It's a whimsical dive into a carefree world, with bouncy beats and playful wordplay.

6. Skinny and Reo (feat. Ronnie D & Donny the Producer): A collaboration track with a classic feel, bringing together multiple perspectives over a smooth and sophisticated beat.

7. Dare You Threaten Me!: A track that combines a sense of bravado and confidence with a slightly menacing undertone. It's a lyrical challenge laid down to anyone who doubts the artist's ability.

8. Tidal Power: A powerful, flowing track that builds in intensity like a surging tide. The song is an ode to inner strength and the ability to command one's own destiny.

9. Undertow Anthem: An immersive and emotional track that pulls the listener in with its depth and complexity. It's a deeper cut that rewards repeat listens, revealing new layers each time.

10. Undertow Anthem: (The image shows "Undertow Anthem" listed twice.) If this is intentional, this second track could be a different mix or a live version, perhaps a quieter, more acoustic take that contrasts with the first version's energy.

Undertow Anthem

No Sleep

king of diamonds

uhmm ye SLOW...
buy = free download
produced by @loftminduk
artwork by @michaelbrailey

YE SLOW

MDLW - THE SONGWEAVER

Merlin Modulaw is a sonic architect who constructs immersive worlds and identities through the medium of sound. His artistic endeavors encompass a diverse array of approaches, spanning composition, production, performance, multimedia works and spatial audio. 

From an early age, his fascination with the convergence of various influences fueled a quest for innovation.
He seamlessly blends experimental electronic music and sound art with classical composition, contemporary rap, dancehall, and R&B, along with regional club-music styles. This unconventional fusion reveals the underlying parallels, forging a musical language that defies traditional boundaries.
Guided by a keen ear for innovative sound design and a talent for captivating performances across various mediums, Modulaw's artistic vision takes tangible form. Whether presenting acousmatic experiences, DJ-sets, performances, sound installations, or his own musical creations, he consistently pushes the limits of his artistic expression.

Having studied sound design and electroacoustic composition, Modulaw's creative exploration extends beyond the realm of music. He ventures into new territories such as videoworks and print, expanding the boundaries of his creative expression.