Dürk Vallon-Late Shift Funk (jE jE Music Recordings)

After Kollaps-Thinking (Mellon Place Records)

(en) French soundsmith Sebastien Bouchet has a well-documented knack for deep, eccentric techno and house – as well as a reputation for keeping his solo releases few and far between. Seeing him return to Kompakt under new monicker SEBASTOPOL is a pretty special treat, then – his last contribution to the Kompakt label family dates back to the year 2014, when he dropped the much-acclaimed Speicher 77 (KOMPAKT EXTRA 77). Naturally, expectations are high, and his latest offering GAHALOWOOD does not disappoint, seamlessly merging Bouchet’s leftfield sensibilities and unlikely riffs with a strong dance floor drive. 

Opener and title track GAHALOWOOD gets things off the launch pad quickly, thanks to its stoic kickdrum and surging synths – but it’s those vocals that really pull you in, evolving from atmospheric swabs of texture to full-blown mumblecore imbued with all the deadpan romanticism of an early 80s New Wave act. B side follow-up FLASH POOL seems equally committed to the human voice, deploying its intimate groove whispering upfront, but takes an unexpected turn into psychedelic cowbell territory where feral bleeps roam the lands and hooklines grow in the weirdest of places. Closing cut HEAVEN presents a comparatively straightforward house arc - while still sniffing out some trippy goodness that’ll leave your thirst of sonic adventure wholly satisfied.

Kompakt 366

GAHALOWOOD

Sub:Sonic Records proudly presents Quantal - Toucan 

2 sensational Originals in the shape of Toucan and Exit-Release with 4 outstanding remixes from Somerville & Wilson, Uj Paz Gaz, Unisex Audio Club and Mr BC.

*Cotton Bud Mastering

Quantal - Toucan (Mr BC Remix)

Man Power - Valhalla

This one goes out to all you soggy DJs out there. The selectors and entertainers whose slot is not in sync with mother nature’s winning hand. You look out over a sea of anoraks and subdued faces and wonder if the sun will ever shine again. You look at your beer and wish it was a warm cup of tea. You look down at your coat and realise you’ll never pack your winter wardrobe away for the summer…  

These instances are hard, if not impossible, to imagine as this year’s unlikely heatwave continues to dazzle and frazzle us. But we all know that those rainy day moments do exist. We’ve all played them in the past. We’ve all got many more in the future. And now Darkroom Dubs have the perfect soundtrack for them: Skinnerbox – ‘Music For Sad & Rainy Open Airs’. 

Two tracks tailored for the greyest of outdoor shows. Moody, pensive and vitally atmospheric; both ‘Cold Neck’ and ‘Wet Shoes’ counter and complement any damp DJ set consummately. The former is a lavish, eight-minute saga that ripples with analog weight and shines with sudden cosmic blasts. The sinewy latter extends the trip closer to nine minutes with a wriggling weave of acid and bass before smacking us hard with vibrant solar sensation in the epic breakdown. No matter how treacherous the conditions you play this in are, the sun will always rise.

Cold neck, wet shoes, warm heart: The weather might be an unpredictable beast, but these tracks most certainly guarantee temperate reactions. And let’s face it; this is Skinnerbox and Darkroom Dubs… These guarantee joy regardless of what weather mother nature throws at us. Enjoy!

Mastered by Conor Dalton at Glowcast Audio.
Art by Dave Beazley.
https://www.darkroomdubs.com

Played & supported by Ame, Kollektiv Turmstrasee, John Digweed, Nick Warren, Domenic (Sub Club), Toto Chiavetta, Audiofly, Luke Brancaccio, Eagles & Butterflies,  Baikal, Yotto, Rüede Hagelstein, Chris Fortier, JOBE, James Zabiela, Curses, Kolsch, Bog, Tiefschwarz, Fairmont, Tsugi Magazine, Data Transmission, Decoded, Ibiza Global Radio & many more...

b2 stringed along

mulemusiq/endless flight