Mixes

Buy/Stream

Froid Dub - Tears Maker Chant LP [R$N50]

The street was alive with hustle and bustle as people shouted from apartment windows down to friends below and music played loud from boomboxes on the corners. It was a hot day in the city, the type that might make you sweat. The rumble of the trains could be heard all day long, people being taken from place to place, wherever that might be. He sat there taking all this in, perched upon his park bench, smoking a cigarette, watching as the world went wearily by. This was his city, his funk. 

Black Loops appear on a new compilation for Hudd Traxx, a celebration of the fifteen years that the label has been in existence. It's an impressive feat, especially considering the consistency and dependability of the imprint which has released music by the likes of Dj Sneak, Iron Curtis, Nightmares On Wax, Chez Damier, Rick Wade and many more. 

This track is an ode to house in the deepest, truest of senses.

PREMIERE: Black Loops - Forster Funk [Hudd Traxx]

A Potion Activated. Give in to the temptation of The Forbidden Plum. Take a bite and let the juice drip. Your journey begins with a hypnotic seduction, stoking the flames of desire as the voice in your head whispers, Want it so badly. Dark and sexy, the flames get higher. The walls sweat on your descent as you lose control. Flood lights sweep over the crowd of bodies, cutting through smoke.

For several years now ISLA has been serving up the best in ambient, experimental and trance-driven creations, welcoming artists like Ambien Baby, D.Tiffany, Pillow Queen, NAP and Le Fe to the label. Next up they've called on Maara for 'A Potion Activated', marking her second EP following a debut on Priori and Ex-Terrestrial's NAFF imprint. Backed up by a remix and a collaboration from two label affiliates D.Tiffany and NAP, the release teeters 'between heaven and hell', delivering five trance-inducing rides into purgatory.

PREMIERE: Maara - The Forbidden Plum [ISLA]

The waves rolled in against the beach - onlookers danced and moved beneath the glow of the moonlight as the drums bounced and echoed against the cliffs and the cove.

This was a magical place, ethereal and peaceful. The stars seemed closer than ever despite being millions of miles away against a backdrop of deep treacle black.

Soon the daylight would return and the crowds would retreat into the peaceful ambience of the trees and the tropical forests behind.

Perhaps this was to be their forever place...

Demi Riquisimo features on a new split EP from Semi Delicious - a sun kissed summer affair on vinyl only for the heads and dancers.

PREMIERE: Demi Riquisimo - Tutukaka [Semi Delicious]

Every morning without fail, just as dawn broke, a small boat would appear at the waters edge to whisk the most curious of people off to an unknown destination. The boat only ever returned empty, slowly it traced its routine daily journey back and forth across the calm waters. Rumours had long circulated about where those who boarded the vessel disembarked; some said it led to a utopian island, others attested to it taking people to their final resting place. Only those willing to take the risk would find out.

Aldonna's music is perfectly tuned for late nights on the floor; think of sweaty rooms filled with energetic dancers. The Melbourne producer came up through the ranks in the city with her party series Re-Leaf and is now expanding her name across the pond with her bright, supercharged productions. Her debut EP Morph, which comes with remixes from Alex Kassian and Marli, lets us into some of the influences that fuel her as a DJ, taking us on a nostalgic ride through warm proggy trance, euphoric rave and acid-laced breaks.

Morph EP

PREMIERE: Aldonna - The Empress' Acid Line (Alex Kassian Remix) [Homage]

Every single night he sat and watched as the darkness engulfed everything around him. In the distance he could see the islands vanishing beneath the shadowy cloak of black as if some great magician had simply hidden the world beneath his cloak. He’d never planned to be nocturnal but it wasn’t the darkness of which he was fond but the silence of a quiet world.

It was around this time that he found peace, solace and serenity.

It would all be illuminated again come the glow of the morning. How many nights was it now anyway? He’d lost count but best believe that this was far more than likely to be sunrise 5000.

ELWD draws for the dusty emotive vibes with deep pads and nice percussion on a new EP for Noire & Blanche. Further enhancing his signature style he fits perfectly alongside the label.

PREMIERE: ELWD - SUNRISE 5000 [Noire & Blanche]

Ransom Note Records are delighted to announce Blueprints Revisited, six remixes of the breakthrough debut mini-album from Ammonite, a.k.a. songwriter-producer Amy Spencer.

We have invited an array of the best producers the underground has to offer to perform remix duties. Our first offering is from Seoul-based duo, Salamanda remixing When You Don’t. The up and coming self-described "leftfield ambient duo", have taken elements from the heavenly, delicate original track and reworked them into a retro, synth heavy, slow-mo workout. The sparse, driving drum break reveals Amy’s angelic vocal layers and Salamanda have added their own distinctive flare, creating a spectacularly bold mix.

When You Don't (Salamanda Remix)

Listen / buy

PREMIERE: Ammonite - When You Don't (Salamanda Remix) [Ransom Note Records]

RIDE’s Andy Bell, recording under his electronic alter ego GLOK, and the producer and Insult to Injury label boss Timothy Clerkin have joined forces for Alliance, a brand new seven-track album released by Bytes on November 8. The collaboration finds Andy and Tim with their freak flags flying, working in a freewheeling environment where nothing was off limits, with influences ranging from Death in Vegas and Boards of Canada to James Holden and New Order.

The woozy ‘Empyrean’, which combines the analogue-decayed production of Boards of Canada and the ethereal vocals of ‘Xtal’ from Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works 85-92 with a fizzing behemoth of a synth line, is a fitting way to launch the album as it was the first track they worked on together. “It’s basically a Timothy Clerkin remix of a demo I sent him,” Andy explains. “I can’t get enough of it. To me, it’s one of the best tracks I’ve ever been involved with since I started making music.”
credits
released September 19, 2024

Written and produced by Timothy Clerkin and Andy Bell
Mixed by Timothy Clerkin
Nothing Ever lyrics written by Beth Jeans Houghton
Mastered by Keith Tenniswood at Curved Pressings
Artwork by Nick Taylor
(P) and C) Bytes 2024

Alliance

PREMIERE: GLOK & Timothy Clerkin - Empyrean

Book yourself a hotel room, get your beaver suit on and get that hot coffee brewing ready for some Lokier listening:

http://www.theransomnote.co.uk/music/mixes/lokier-shine-a-light-on-ransom-note-mix/

With a current release on Days Of Being Wild featuring fellow DJ and friend Morgan Hammer, the Mexican DJ/Producer is riding high, making the move to Barcelona to explore all that Europe has to offer. Keeping busy with upcoming EP's with labels Have A Killer Time and Nein plus a selection of remixes, mixes and compilations in the making, we'd say you'll be hearing a lot more of Lokier. 

INTERVIEW

Lokier - Shine A Light On... Ransom Note Mix

His mind wandered from time to time. From this to that and back again.

His perceptions danced atop a fragile sense of perspective, he wondered if he might ever regain the right to reality. For every thought was a maze, a whirlwind in which to become lost in the fog of the morning.

Whether he could be trusted was another thing.

There wasn't much else for it but to try.

Slump Recordings continues to grow from strength to strength. Now a prominent force in a new wave of House music with progressive, deep rooted sensibilities. There's plenty of fun to be found on this one from SY but this slightly deeper cut was what caught our ear.

PREMIERE: SY - Perceptions [Slump Recordings]

Weaving and winding it moved through the jungle with devilish pace.

Yet to the naked eye you might never know that it was slipping beneath the surface. On the ground and in the rivers the basilisk was king – a scaly creature with a pointed tongue. It’s venomous power was enough to floor even the heartiest of prey.

As the sun beat down upon this desolate place it remained anonymous, almost invisible.

For only a handful of people had ever seen the basilisk, some even believed it to be a myth. However, the reason so few had caught a glimpse of this magnificent beast was because once you had you weren’t likely to be left behind to tell the tale…

High energy material on Hardline. Bouncy and energetic sounds which will echo and cause damage in the club – Prizefight & Trustee are on to a winner.

PREMIERE: Prizefight & Trustee - Basilisk [Hardline]

Music To Watch Seeds Grow By welcome Los Angeles based multi-disciplinary artist, E Ruscha V to the Seeds family, with a release for the Cosmos.

There once was a fellow named Eddie Ruscha V, Who lived in a garden extraordinarily,
He spent all his days reaching up to the sky, For Music To Watch Seeds Grow By.

His fingers were leafy like ferns in the spring, His hair tangled vines where the nightingales sing,
“O fumblesome, tumblesome, root-tappity-high!” He sang as the seedlings grew nigh.

 


 
The Cosmos flowers danced in their purple and pink, With petals that shimmer and stems that could think,
“Dear Eddie,” they whispered through pollen and dew, “Play something delightfully new!”

His orchestra bloomed from the rich fertile ground, Daffodils trumpeted, making a brassy sound,
While Cosmos conducted with star-patterned faces, Their petals like musical braces.

Said Eddie Ruscha V with infinite glee, “My botanical symphony’s the key, don’t you see? The reaching and teaching and beseeching I try, Makes Music To Watch Seeds Grow By!”

When visitors came from the land of Dahloon, They’d waltz with the Cosmos beneath the full moon,
While Eddie played tunes on his hollyhock-flute, That made even cactuses root.

O! Eddie Ruscha V of gardening renown, With Cosmos flowers crowning his vegetable crown,
May your reaching continue through soil and loam, With plants dancing right through your home!

 

 
Cosmos follows a path that Ruscha began exploring with his 2018 release, “Who Are You”, on Beats In Space and continued through recent works like ‘Green Mirror’ under his alias Secret Circuit and ambient pieces for the “Slow Show” performances. Each project has been a cultivation season that invites listeners to pause, observe, and connect with cycles of natural emergence.

Cosmos is dropping at the end of March. Here’s a premiere for ‘Reaching Up’, available to pre-order on Bandcamp now.

Pre-Order Cassette/Digital

Release Date: 28/03/2025

Reaching Up

Premiere: E Ruscha V – Reaching Up [Music To Watch Seeds Grow By]

Ransom Note Records are over the moon to welcome illustrious French Electronic duo Froid Dub to the fold for the debut 12” vinyl release with us, Tears Maker Chant. Head honchos of the wonderful Delodio label, Stéphane and François, mark the 50th release for R$N Recs, and this is without a shadow of a doubt an incredibly special one for us. So, sit back and ready yourself for some inimitable Froid Dub cuts; laid back but pounding, graceful yet aggressive but above all, thoroughly danceable.

First single On The Nose enters next, with a delightfully soft, round bass that feels like bouncing around a padded room. Inside a Zorb. On MDMA. More echoed, analogue motifs dart from left to right, confirming with strong conviction that our chaps from Paris put the Dub in Indubitably Fantastic.

BUY FROM BANDCAMP HERE: https://ransomnoterecords.bandcamp.com/track/on-the-nose

FOLLOW FROID DUB
www.instagram.com/froid_dub/
www.facebook.com/froiddub
delodiolabel.bandcamp.com
soundcloud.com/delodio-label

FOLLOW...  more
credits
released March 28, 2025
Artwork by Sylvia Tournerie
Mastered by Krikor Kouchian

PREMIERE: Froid Dub - On The Nose [Ransom Note Records]

https://soundcloud.com/froiddub https://soundcloud.com/ransom-note-records
🛒 https://ransomnoterecords.bandcamp.com/album/tears-maker-chant
🔊 https://youtu.be/IG1iiamqn7s

Ransom Note Records are over the moon to welcome illustrious French Electronic duo Froid Dub to the fold for the debut 12” vinyl release with us, Tears Maker Chant. Head honchos of the wonderful Delodio label, Stéphane and François, mark the 50th release for R$N Recs, and this is without a shadow of a doubt an incredibly special one for us. So, sit back and ready yourself for some inimitable Froid Dub cuts; laid back but pounding, graceful yet aggressive but above all, thoroughly danceable.

Opening proceedings is the Acid tinged Just One, a masterclass in making people dance at under 80bpm. Achingly gorgeous polysynth chords rain down, hovering like a film overhead the saturated 303 line that wobbles along in the low end. First single On The Nose enters next, with a delightfully soft, round bass that feels like bouncing around a padded room. Inside a Zorb. On MDMA. More echoed, analogue motifs dart from left to right, confirming with strong conviction that our chaps from Paris put the Dub in Indubitably Fantastic.

Digital Pond closes side A of the 12”, a low slung, nonchalant piece of mood music. Idiosyncratically “French” , brittle chords piece the sound stage, evoking past Italo Disco spaces, but remaining conscientiously chug-dubbed out. Second single Control (Special Mix) opens side B… with a capital B. For Banger. Another Space Echo heavy workout in the lower frequencies of the audio spectrum, this is testament to the old adage that less is often, a hell of a lot more (to paraphrase).

The titular Tears Maker glides into view next, with its frantic 808 patterns and spacey melodica, setting the scene for the majesty to follow. This epically proportioned tune is probably going to be a little passe come the end of summer, because it’s going to be played at festivals the world over relentlessly. Be warned! Finally Terri’s Dub brings matters to a close, with its angular, stands and woozy vocals, we’re given the space and tie to contemplate what has just happened to us on two mere sides of vinyl.

Tracklist: 

1. FROID DUB - Just One
2. FROID DUB - On the Nose
3. FROID DUB - Digital Pond
4. FROID DUB - Control (Special Mix)
4. FROID DUB - Tears Maker
6. FROID DUB - Terri's Dub

PREMIERE: FROID DUB - Tears Maker [Ransom Note Records]

Sleep D are a pair of Australian producers and DJ’s who also run the prolific record label Butter Sessions which has become a home to an array of artists including the likes of Jennifer Loveless, Hybrid Man, Ewan Jansen and more.

The label is rooted in underground club music and has been in operation for over ten years and has remained a consistent presence.

The pair themselves make music which sits somewhat between genres drawing upon elements of early trance, acid, downtempo, house and techno. It’s always raw and rugged, at times progressive in places but definitely rooted in clubland.

This mix is a stellar representation of the pairs musical outlook which is broad and fierce. It goes very deep and as such the length reflects the diversity and strength of narrative in the style of sets they tend to perform and play.

This one is a tour de force.

Sleep D: The Ransom Note Mix

There was something in the air, a sense of tension. Out here in the middle of nowhere there wasn’t much to be seen for several miles. That had always been the intention.

Gathered amidst a small clearing they all looked tense and excited, for something big was about to happen.

Then someone walked forward, flicked the switch, cranked the generator and let everything rip.

For miles the sound would echo and boom. The rave had began.

X & Ivy hold no punches on a new release for Life and Death – a fast paced affair which flies off the hinges from the get go. This one slaps.

PREMIERE: X & Ivy  - What Is This Sound [Life And Death]

If you’ve spent any time on Seoul’s dance floors lately, chances are you’ve come across the name ffan. And if you haven’t? Well, you’ve got some catching up to do.

ffan has carved out a reputation for his intricate and high-energy sets, navigating seamlessly through genres with a flair that is perfectly controlled. Whether he’s behind the decks or deep in the studio, ffan brings a wild, magnetic energy.

His sharp focus has led him to become a key figure in Seoul’s bubbling underground scene. As the founder of club Nyapi Seoul and Studio Namsan, ffan’s voice shimmers through all projects he touches.

There’s no better time to get acquainted with what ffan is bringing to the booth.

Read more here: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/ffan-the-wednesday-alternative-mix/

ffan: The Wednesday Alternative Mix

Slothboogie is regarded as a bit of an institution, the long running London based record label and party series has been responsible for releasing forward thinking music which has helped push a new wave of artists and dj’s in the pursuit of dancefloor enlightenment.

House music underpins a lot of what Slothboogie is and what they do.

Founded in 2010 as a blog, it quickly evolved in to something far greater and now the collective are widely regarded as selectors in their own right.

SlothBoogie is a vibrant cultural force—championing underground electronic music with a holistic approach that spans curation, release, performance, and community building.

There 15 year anniversary is accompanied by the release of a new compilation which they are celebrating with a launch party in London at Cafe 1001 this evening.

Slothboogie: The Ransom Note Mix

From the Lock Tavern via The Gun to spoons…

Family Silver are Mr Nick ‘The Gun’ Stephens and Casper ‘Volte Face’ Clark.

Nick was the publican at The Gun, a much-loved Hackney institution that recently closed its doors – more on that here for those who have been living under a rock. Nick’s excellent Netil radio show can also be found here.


 
Casper, is based in Clapton and was the music programmer for Camden institution The Lock Tavern where our paths originally crossed – most of the time being kicked out whilst DJing. Casper’s shared stages with Justice, Jeff Mills, Helena Hauff, Daniel Avery and many more and is also known for his long-running BleeD events via which he collaborated with labels like Blackest Ever Black, PAN and Downwards. Both share a love for “v lo-fi early eighties sound, kosmische, post-punk and scuzzy electronics,” with Nick’s influences ranging from 80s TV themes and Giorgio Moroder to The KLF, while Casper was shaped in his youth by electronic acts like Leftfield, Underworld, and William Orbit with DJ Hell’s International Deejay Gigolo Records becoming a huge influence later on.

Their sound sits between post-punk and the electronic… so with that in mind let’s give it a listen shall we?

Handily via the wonder of a recording  from this year’s Field Maneuvers where they opened The Gun’s stage.

Listen and read the interview here: 
https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/line-out-family-silver-live-sputnik-field-manuevers-2025/

@volte_face_bleed @fieldmaneuvers

Line Out: Family Silver Live @ Sputnik, Field Manuevers 2025

It was time to focus.

Walking through the night he watched as the cars whizzed on by, each presumably with a destination in the darkness up ahead.

He had to concentrate.

The sound of the engines struggled under the strain. The wheels turning frantically under pressure.

The end was nigh. For soon it would be daylight and all of the misgivings of the black haze would be forgotten.

Boss Priester features on a split EP from the ever impressive X-Kalay which continues to release some of the most innovatve, forward thinking club sounds. This time there are however, nods to the past. Wiggly tech house music at its best, a new lease of life for a sound ever loved.

PREMIERE: Boss Priester - Concentrate [X-Kalay]

fka boursin is the sort of musician we like. Understated, doesn’t take himself too seriously yet manages to channel real emotion and depth through music.

The sounds speak from themselves with Henry drawing upon influences from the likes of Dj Sprinkles, Basic Channel, old NY House music and after hours sounds.

The end result is a puzzle made up of pieces from each – all with evocative undertones throughout.

The latest release is out on Scissor & Thread – a suitable home for an eclectic, long playing selection of pensive tracks which leave food for thought.

This is music for late night moments alone, for foggy mornings and reflective moments.

fka boursin: The Ransom Note Mix

Australia’s electro master shows another side with a mature, experimental IDM sound.

A haiku:

Broken bones
A time to reset
A new way

Jensen Interceptor isn’t normally one to stay still but after a freak accident left him with multiple fractures in his foot he was forced to stop and take a few months off. Luckily for us he put all the pent-up energy into his new LP, Interception, out this week on his International Chrome imprint. The LP pulls in influence from IDM, Footwork, and Baile Funk to create his most experimental work yet.


 
“Since I started making music I’ve always made music geared towards use in my DJ sets but there’s always been an urge to explore the deeper side of electronic music. That time off after the accident gave me the space to dive into genres and really experiment.”

https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premieres/premiere-jensen-interceptor-hes-cute/

@internationalchrome

PREMIERE: Jensen Interceptor - He's Cute [International Chrome]

In a small, aging factory nestled between rusted warehouses, the machines groaned under the weight of decades of labour.

However, there was one machine—an old lathe—who refused to surrender. At first, it creaked and sputtered when the new software was installed, its wheels grinding against the sleek interface. But as the new technology clicked and whirred around it, something extraordinary happened: the lathe began to adapt.

It shimmered beneath the glow of the floodlights.

The adaptation had begun.

JKriv channels deep grooves on a new EP for Rocksteady Disco – a stellar EP reminding us of the good old days of house, funk and disco. This one’s got soul.

PREMIERE: JKriv - Adaptation [Rocksteady Disco]

Telepathic Fish co-founder DJ Food, aka one part of Openmind, takes us on a trip into the world of 90s chill out.

Strictly Kev likes the company of plants whilst working on music so that's handy for us isn't it?! We're assuming he's talking about a beautiful Calathea sitting in the corner for inspiration, tho his dream plant setup - a conservatory packed with Romanesco broccoli, trippy Caladiums, and Persian Shields - is something we'd be well on board with too.

Enough of the plant talk for a second and back to the music, ambient music to be clear. For those that weren't squatting in South London back in the early 90s, Openmind were the four-piece behind the mighty Telepathic Fish - the legendary ambient afterparty that transformed chill-out rooms from dub-playing afterthoughts into proper destinations.

Kev, along with Chantal Passamonte (Mira Calix, RIP), David Vallade, and Mario Aguera, started in a shared house above a shop with no neighbours to complain/bash the door down. What began as art school parties quickly grew into Sunday afternoon sessions in squatted venues - a former dole office in Brixton and even the derelict Roundhouse on New Year's Day. They hosted everyone from Aphex Twin to Mixmaster Morris among wall-to-wall mattresses, UV installations, and  Coldcut's Matt Black with his boundary pushing video projections.

The idea was simple: recreate that post-clubbing comedown vibe but on a massive scale, as an "aural and visual blanket" for club-rattled minds. They even published a fanzine called Mindfood and worked at the scene's hub, Ambient Soho record shop, helping shape what Simon Reynolds called a "wombeldelic sound-and-light bath" in contrast to the current trend of hardcore and it's relentless assault.

Thirty years on, that spirit's having a comeback. Events like London's A Loose Ting are bringing back the bedding and the hushed reverence, while Berlin's Overflow is going full sensory overload with vibrating mattresses, fountains, and harpists. New York's Planetarium gatherings have people mostly horizontal, inspired by psychedelic therapy sessions. There's even and ambient sauna in South London you might have come across via the wonder of Music To Watch Seeds Grow By's recent takeover.  Our very own Watching Trees dabbled in said chill out space this year, pairing the abstract and the ambient with projected dappled sunlight visuals from the mighty Jamie House. Turns out people still need those little havens away from the madness, especially in this day and age!

Also handily 30 years on the Openmind crew have just compiled the first-ever Telepathic Fish retrospective for Fundamental Frequencies - a double vinyl love letter to those hazy early-90s mornings when the music finally slowed down.

For this Seeds Mix, Kev has leaned into his love of minimalism and systems music - repetition built from layers of loops offset against each other to form subtle polyrhythms. There's a deliberate avoidance of drum machines here in favour of organic percussion, and around the eight-minute mark, a section from Psychick Warriors Ov Gaia that captures the feeling of being deep in the forest, phone abandoned, discovering that paradise was just a forage away.

Full interview here: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/seeds-mix-005-openminds-leave-your-phone-at-home-discover-paradise-after-a-forage-in-the-forest/

@strictly

Seeds Mix 005: Openmind's Leave your phone at home & discover paradise after a forage in the forest

A collision of rave outsiders: Morris’s unlikely pop mystique meets Gramrcy and Loveless on the FWD dancefloor… lnk.to/GJLPH149

In Berlin where the bassweight bubbles bright, Lived Gramrcy and John Loveless, deviant and polite, They stirred a pressure-cooker full of electroclash stew, With ISDN-line scramble and a hint of something new.

“Oh!” cried Tony Morris (former teacher, taxi man), “I’ll hypnotize with repetitions, catch me if you can! I’m Scotland’s most unlikely pop sensation, don’t you see? A cult figure cabaret, as deviant as can be!”

They mixed it up on Phantasy Sound with textural delight, The earworming anchor bobbed and bounced all through the night, From FWD-era gumption to the disco esoteric, They created ‘Lucid’ madness, quite atmospheric!

The festival-rupturing Highdive had ruptured long before, Now ‘Feel So’ tipped the scales toward the ecstatic dance floor, With post-punk percussion prancing, hi-NRG in tow, From Chicago down to Rimini, watch the bassline grow!

Said Peggy Gou and Daniel Avery, “What a splendid sound!” While 2ManyDJs spun it ’round and ’round and ’round, And Moschino’s models strutted to the supreme release, As rave outsiders intersected in their bubbling masterpiece!

So if you seek the throbbing beat of something deeply odd, Find Gramrcy and John Loveless – that peculiar duo’s squad With Tony Morris chanting in his late-sixties prime, Making lucid nonsense music, one earworm at a time!

Three years after their all conquering ‘Highdive’, Gramrcy and John Loveless return to Phantasy with ‘Lucid’, a pressure-cooker of FWD-era bassweight and electroclash scramble anchored by the hypnotic vocals of Tony Morris.

Listen below, pre order here: https://lnk.to/GJLPH149

PREMIERE: Gramrcy & John Loveless  - Lucid feat. Tony Morris [Phantasy Sound]

In the deep silence of an old house, water began to speak.

It started as a whisper—one drop from the kitchen tap, falling into a steel sink with a hollow plink. Then another. And another. There was no rush, no urgency. Just rhythm. Timeless. Patient.

This was the systematic drip, the noise which would echo through the chamber all night long.

It had been raining for days. The roof, patched but never properly fixed, had finally surrendered.

Kulture Galerie are back with a new release from the highly regarded New York based producer Alien D. This one is a bit more detailed, structured and refined than some of his previous which has often focussed a little more so on the looser, dustier fringes of house music. This time things get expansive.

PREMIERE: Alien D - Drip System [Kulture Galerie]

Hungarian Transylvanian artist Réka Csiszér aka VÍZ with an irresistible soundtrack for Halloween, following the release of her sumptuous second album ‘Danse Des Larmes‘ on Heat Crimes earlier this year.

Read more at Ransom Note.

@user-273556483 @heat-crimes

In Search of Unicorns: A Horror Soundtrack Mix by VÍZ

The clock in the hallway had always been peculiar. It was tall and wooden, its face a dull brass, with hands that twitched ever so slightly before they moved. It had belonged to an old friend, who claimed it “kept more than time.”

Every night, at exactly midnight, the clock would let out a soft click—the sound of its mechanism resetting for the next day. But one Friday, as the storm outside rattled the windows, the clock didn’t click. It banged

The minute hand shuddered... and jerked backward.

The bang came again, louder, like a gunshot wrapped in thunder.

Then the power surged back. Lights flickered on.

Star Creature really do have a remarkable knack for pulling lost gems from obscurity and introducing them to the modern day. This time around things are no different with a double hitting 7" bundle which showcases some of the rawest, bang the box meets funk from Chicago. Classic sounds all round and very highly recommended. A reminder of what it should be.

PREMIERE: Connie’s Crew  - Bang Goes The Clock [STAR CREATURE]

Hailing from Ghent, Belgium, Asa Moto is the dynamic electronic music duo of Oliver “Oli” Geerts and Gilles Noë—a pairing forged in 2012 that has since become one of the most inventive forces on the continent’s club circuit.

Signed to Soulwax’s DEEWEE label, they blend analog synths, voice, funk and uncanny grooves into a sound both club-potent and artistically bold. Through acclaimed EPs like Martino and an ever-evolving live show, they invite you to dance differently—together.

November see's the pair return to the imprint with a new EP called 'Music For Disc Jockeys Pt.1'.

This mix is a tour de force if you will, they cram 82 tracks into one hour and somehow manage to make that make sense. We have no idea how they've managed it but somehow in a precariously bonkers fashion... it works.

Asa Moto: The Ransom Note Mix

The sidewalk was a map of memory.

As he moved through the blocks, the city pressed back. Narrow corridors of wind between towers funneled against his chest; the heat from subway grates rose up his legs; the pedestrian current forced his shoulders into constant negotiation. Every intersection was choreography—pause, pivot, slide through the gap before the light changed.

This was urban physicality. The fight for space amidst the concrete warzone which surrounded him.

Everyone was out for themselves.

Yuu Udagawa is remixed by Takuya Matsumoto on a new EP for Razor-N-Tape. A classy release pairs two singular producers and weaves a wicked tapestry for the dancefloor.

PREMIERE: Yuu Udagawa - Urban Physicality (Takuya Matsumoto Remix) [Razor-N-Tape]

This is a special one, a family one.

Rosie Ama (Cain), as I’m sure you all already know, is a London-based DJ, radio host, and founder of Human Endeavour Records. She’s been in the fam a while now, operating on the outer fringes of dance music… which is exactly where you want to be if you're trying to avoid mainstream success and financial stability.

Having cut her teeth as a writer and editor for online music platforms Stamp The Wax and this here Ransom Note, Rosie demonstrated such exemplary dedication to underground culture that we eventually had to take disciplinary action against her. The subsequent court settlement led to the founding of Human Endeavour; sometimes the best label launches emerge from legal disputes, rather than business plans.

Officially launching in 2022 (once the legal paperwork was finalised), it serves as a platform for artists operating in the deep, dark and hypnotic corners of electronic music and has welcomed artists like Anastasia Zems, Justine Forever, Nandele, Medicine 8 and Thomass Jackson over the years.

Before doing her own thing, Rosie made up one half of Kiara Scuro alongside friend Nadia, a DJ and production partnership that released music on Fabric Originals, Ritmo Fatale and Faux Poly, as well as long-standing radio residencies on Rinse FM and Balamii Radio. After a decade together, she’s gone solo turning her full attention to the label and her monthly Noods radio show, Melodic Odds, that showcases her love for sleazy low-slung chuggers, leftfield acid house and synth-driven 3am groovers. 

Whilst I’d never tell her this to her face, it’s actually a delight to welcome her back to the fold - this time without the need for lawyers - for a mix that captures her hypnotic, trippy vision of what dance music can be when nobody's watching the figures…

Let’s get going then, shall we… 

Rosie Ama: The Ransom Note Mix

Chapping on the door to wake me, YOU CUNT. 
I have been waiting here all night. 
You could've picked me up. 
Oh, she had more "strings" to her did she? She can fuck off, am telling you.
I don't wanna hear about her ways. 
You know you love it this way, get a grip and hold my neck. 
Make it dirty baby. Make me throb. 
Like when we first met. 

Read more at: http://www.theransomnote.co.uk/music/premieres-exclusive-streams/premiere-cabaret-nocturne-blind-trust/

MORE INFO

PREMIERE: Cabaret Nocturne - Blind Trust

Sling & Samo are the exiting duo behind the Born Free record label which resides in Stockholm. Over the last few years the pair have been releasing a vast array of weird, wonderful, oddball music: some built for the dancefloor and some certainly not. The pair are colourful characters who don't take themselves or what they do too seriously. Samo is also well known in his own right as a producer and dj having released music for the likes of LIES, The Trilogy Tapes and Public Possession but together with Sling the pair enter a new realm of musical exploration. We asked them to record a mix for us. 

Sling & Samo DJ: The Ransom Note Mix

The days had grown long and tiresome, there was little light in the place in which he sat. Four walls surrounded his very being, he had not known he would miss her as much as this once she had gone. Now there was little left to do but brush the tears from his eyes, dive, dance and enter the abyss of a new and wonderful world. Only, without her. 

Folamour steps up to deliver a five track EP for the newly formed imprint Noire & Blanche. He blends emotive melodic twists with percussion and club sensibilities.

PREMIERE: Folamour - You Never Told Me I'll Miss U That Much [Noire & Blanche]

The corridor seemed endless as the bell buzzed in his ear. Leaving school was his favourite time of the day, such attention to detail in concentrated spells left him feeling numb and dry. As he walked through the wooden doors out into the daylight he could hear the sound of screams and chants from the nearby playground. He remembered the innocence of youth, back before exams, house parties and ate nights. He had never imagined himself to be a teacher, yet here he was lecturing the youth of tomorrow with the knowledge of today. Walking home he sighed. 

Scissorwork is set to release his first EP on the recently founded record label The Other Planet. He delivers four cuts of dreamy house and dusty grooves.

PREMIERE: Scissorwork - Walking Home [The Other Planet]

The dim glow cast a hazy flourish of light across the early morning sky. Soon it would fall beneath the surface of sight and the soft moon would vanish into the warm blue of daylight. In the greenhouse the flowers began to blossom and awaken beneath the first hint of the morning glow. The glass flickered beneath the glimmering beams and the murky green shadows within were illuminated and set alight. The rest of the park was quiet and still as the day broke. The night was gone. 

Coastdream is set to release a debut EP on X-Kalay who have consistently released music of supreme quality. This one is a sun kissed, summer ready house track with sublime form.

PREMIERE: CoastDream - Soft Moon [X-Kalay]

The beachfront was the place to hang as the sun dipped beneath the horizon. The shadowy figures were dotted in clusters up and down the pier as they smoked in the warm night air. In the evenings there was very little to do around these parts but drink and dance, perhaps move a little under the flickering spotlights of some sleazy nightclub. The summertime madness engulfed this place with a progressive sense of purity and freedom. Hedonism, decadence galore. 

Loure is set to release a new EP on Noire & Blanche, gorgeous deep house with a sun kissed twist.

PREMIERE: Loure - In The Evenings (Hidden Spheres Remix) [Noire & Blanche]

The sky was lit up brightly by an orb a million miles away. Deep in the dark and murky backdrop of space glowed a raging hot ball of fire known only as the Sun of Lemuria. It was a beautiful, god like blossom amidst the otherworldly darkness which swamped all else. Down on earth they observed the burning resolution from afar, worship it they did for it was what made plants grow, water run and the morning light when they awoke. 

Rigopolar is set to release a new EP on the newly formed imprint Nazca records, the label was founded in homage to the ancient Nazca people who loved to dance whilst celebrating nature and music.

PREMIERE: Rigopolar - Sun Of Lemuria [Nazca Records]

The sonics inside the metal chamber were at times overwhelming. The factory continued to pump out goods at a rate of flying proportions. They were now the industry leader and the Mu Tai empire was ready to capitalise on the industrial revolution. Soon enough their world of magic would be unleashed upon the unsuspecting, revolutionising the life and times of people far and wide. In his tall tower he observed the work from a glass prism, little did he know that he was being watched. 

X-Coast steps up with a sensational heavy hitting EP on UNDERTHESEA Records. Rave cuts which sit somewhere between beautiful soundscapes and purpose built club destruction.

Transformations EP

PREMIERE: X-Coast -  Mu Tai feat DJ RaDa [UNDERTHESEA]

He was deeply uncertain as the lights began to flicker prominently in the dark of the midnight hour. The street was illuminated by the pearly glow of orange beams from pillars which looked like metallic aliens had landed precisely spaced upon the earth. Are friends electric? Were the flickering objects his moonlight companions amidst a dream which had left him feeling lost and far away. Walking slowly he began to moved between the glowing frames, he danced. 

Djedjotronic is set to release an album on Boys Noize Records and we are delighted to premiere a track from the forthcoming project featuring the lovely Lokier.

PREMIERE: Djedjotronic - Are Friends Electric Feat Lokier [Boys Noize Records]

Expect the unexpected. That's the philosophy Rotterdam-based DJ mad miran promotes in her DJ sets. A regular on the Dutch capital's mainstay Red Light Radio and a face behind the counter at the infamous Clone record shop, Miran has fast become one of the country's most promising DJs. 

Although she only played her first DJ set in a club a couple of years ago, she's already landed a residency at Trouw successor De School and become part of the Strange Sounds From Beyond family, seeing her name spread like wildfire and lead to a string of gigs across Europe.

We invited her to dive into her record bag for us and the result is 80 minutes of leftfield electro, raw breaks and introspective electronica. Enter into the crazy world of mad miran...

mad miran: The 'Wednesday Alternative' Mix

Amsterdam has been graced with a fearsome array of fabulous selectors and disc jockeys in recent times, the city is abuzz with experimental music and talent. 

Orpheu The Wizard has been a pivotal figure in the development of the scene, crucially helping to nurture new faces through his key role as a co founder of Redlight radio - a distinctive platform which has acted as a gateway and an open door to a new wave of music, producers and dj's. 

His own background is well versed, he's earnt his stripes and played the long game building a respectable array of musical knowledge and selective talent which he uses to entice and delight crowds across Europe and beyond. Eclectic, far reaching and multi purpose - his sets often run wild across a sprawling spectrum of sound. 

This year he will play at Love International festival, an appearance which should not be missed.

Read & Download

Orpheu The Wizard: The Ransom Note Mix

Step back, this is a big one. 

Across the past couple of decades there have been very few who can attest as much influence as that of Joakim, a singular producer who has been charted as an influential figure by many of the leading producers and disc jockeys in the present.

The French outsider has amassed a notorious reputation for his eclectic style as a disc jockey and producer having released music on the likes of Versatile, Kitsuné Music, Life And Death, Crosstown Rebels and beyond. As the founder behind Tigersushi Records and Crowdspacer he has been responsible for leading a new generation of talent into the dance and has played a key role in the future development of dance and electronic music. 

As an individual his own take on music is wide and vast, not one to shy away from the alternative or experimental he has done well to channel a sprawling array of style, genre and sound across his own lengthy career and in all honesty Joakim continues to surprise and intrigue with delight. 

A Dj's dj, he is a firm favourite and we welcome him as part of the series.

Joakim: The Ransom Note Mix

Thick white snow pelted down from above; the path in front of them was barely visible now the sun had set. It was a long walk back through the forest and the group had grown tired after fighting through the wind and the hail. Winter had arrived and it wasn't taking any prisoners. As they reached the depths of the forest they soon realised the snow had covered their tracks; their Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs were no more. How would they find their way back to base? They would have to take a punt and follow their gut instead...

Following his euphoric debut release on Feel My Bicep, James Shinra brings his skilled productions to one of Scotland's best exporters of electro, Craigie Knowes. Over the last few years Mitch and Max, the guys behind the label, have released heavy hitters from some of the finest artists operating in that sphere, like Carl Finlow, Jensen Interceptor, Maelstrom and Textasy. James Shinra adds to that healthy discography with some acid driven cuts that have a "sinister, wintery feel"...

Darkroom EP

PREMIERE: James Shinra - Gritti [Craigie Knowes]

The phone had been ringing off the hook all morning, each time he chose to ignore it. He'd debated unplugging it at the mains but the repercussions would be even worse than they already were. He knew that not answering wouldn't help him in the long run, but right now he couldn't face it. He would continue to live by the notion that what he didn't know couldn't hurt him.

Manchester party Off Beat make their first steps into the label world, launching a new platform to share their love of UK bass culture. For the inaugural outing, they've enlisted the talents of Breaka who's previous releases for Desert Sound Colony's Holding Hands, his own Breaka Recordings and Leeds' Stretchy Dance Supply have caused quite a stir since 2018. Titled The Startup, the two-tracker moves from UK bass grooves and warm subs on the A Side to jungle-inspired breaks on the flip; a perfect indicator of what we can expect from the newly-founded imprint in future.

OBR001

PREMIERE: Breaka - The Startup [Off Beat]

Days had turned into weeks and weeks into months; it was as though time no longer existed, nothing defined one day to the next. Failed attempts at keeping the mind and body active had quickly been cast aside, replaced by bad habits and squandered hours. Reality would return soon and in turn balance would be restored...

London-based imprint X-Kalay add to their healthy catalogue with an instalment from Holding Hands affiliate, Adam Pits. Marking his debut on the label, following a string of releases for Coastal Haze and Wex this year, he brings yet more styles to the table, adding proggy house influences and driving synths into the mix alongside signature breaks and techno. On the flip, illusive Magicwire artist Bliss Inc. puts his own spin on title track 'Piston Pump, twisting it into a euphoric peak time cut.

PREMIERE: Adam Pits - Piston Pump (Bliss Inc. Remix) [X-Kalay]

Ransom Note is an online music, arts and culture magazine. We provide a home for readers and writers with boundless enthusiasm, esoteric knowledge, fierce opinions and impeccable taste.

With our core team immersed in all aspects of dance music, we publish news, articles, and interviews covering the greatest in innovative, underground culture from across the globe. We offer regular, exclusive music and mixtapes from our favourite artists, and publish features shining a light on everything from the freshest new artists to the untold tales from rave history.

Alongside this we offer musings on film, books, life, and art, generating some context and controversy as an antidote to the reheated PR that clogs up the internet. Our office is fuelled by Tunnock’s Bars, cat memes, hangovers and a ridiculous, never ending love for our culture.

We're always interested in getting new writers on board – feel free to get in touch if you’ve got a story to tell.

With love until the grave.

Ransom Note

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks