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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]

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

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]

Make A Dance is a duo made up of Ben Lewis & Josh Ludlow and best believe us when we say that they have been causing quite the ruckus. Their record label come party series has become a UK powerhouse releasing some of the best club music out there with a playful sense of self and dancefloor debauchery to boot.

As a duo they mix a broad assortment of house, disco, funk and beyond – blurring the lines between genres but always managing to maintain the soul and energy of a good party. Nothing too serious, nothing too dark.


 
At a time when the world ain’t so happy – they channel the feel good elements of a genre which can often take itself far too seriously and we can safely say that we’re here for it.

This mix demonstrates why they are two of the most fun in the booth at the moment as they whiz through a heady assortment of House, Disco, Italo, Balearic and beyond.

Make A Dance: The Ransom Note Mix

'Chemistry', a song whose spacey synth arpeggios wrap themselves around a bass line that pulses like the lifeline of a planet. It’s a third eye opener of a track, one that kicks down the barn doors of perception only to find a secret nightclub filled with neon smiles. Who knew the merging of synth-pop odes, chemical love and intoxicating attraction, pumped into the veins of country disco, could feel this good...

Clubland is filled with duos, and when it comes to Lord Fascinator & Kate Stein, they met on a tropical island after one had commissioned the other to create several giant monsters for a music video. Fast forward through ten years of costumes, chemicals, religious art projects and "Mad Max yoga retreats", they have finally cemented their relationship in the studio with their Primary EP, four tracks of psychedelic synth-pop, cowboy disco and cosmically inclined iridescent electronica.

@katesteinnyc 
@fascinatormusic

PREMIERE: Kate Stein & Lord Fascinator - Chemistry [Eskimo Recordings]

Melodize are back with their 18th release, this time with label boss Beartrax in the driver’s seat.

There once was a creature called Beartrax, Who dwelt in the land of Melodize,
With music opaque and remixes so fine,
That Pagliara himself would often opine:
“How splendid, how jumbly, how strangely divine!”

This Beartrax would dance on his tail in the night,
While playing a tune that was wondrously bright,
Opaque were his melodies, twisted and queer,
That made all the Melodize creatures draw near.

“Oh! Beartrax, dear Beartrax,” they’d cheerfully say,
“Your Pagliara Remixes make our hearts sway!
So splendiferous, rumbly, melodiously strange,
From basslines to treble, the whole tonal range!”

But Beartrax just smiled with his whiskers akimbo,
And twirled seven times in a musical limbo,
For musical nonsense was all that he knew,
In Melodize land where the sky was dark blue.

We’re premiering Massimiliano Pagliara’s synth-heavy, bassy rework of Opaque… Belter.

PREMIERE: Beartrax - Opaque (Massimiliano Pagliara Remix) [Melodize]

Time doesn't pass the same when shjva’s behind the decks. It folds in on itself like a bad trip or a perfect sunrise. 

Born in Lutsk, now deeply rooted in Warsaw’s underground, she’s been building her sound through Penumbrum (her label label & party), as co-owner of Qualia Records and through holding a long-standing residency at the city’s beloved Jasna Club.

Across past releases for Viscera Transmissions, Brutaż, Warning, People & Places and Common Ancestors, shjva's sound is always developing and always morphing. Her live sets and collabs with Volodymyr Gnatenko and Stereometrix stretch that sound even further, which sits somewhere between dub techno, dream states, and the kind of melancholic jazz you’d hear drifting out of a broken speaker at the afters. It’s hypnotic and deep.

Today's Wednesday Alternative mix is a love letter to minimalism, recorded using a prototype rotary mixer built by shjva's Polish friend Kamilescu, the mixer is raw, tactile and beautiful, just like this set which contains deep cuts and spaced out percussion. 

This is vinyl only recording that touches the ear on the softest pressure points, all day listening to create a brisk morning atmosphere.

shjva: The Wednesday Alternative Mix

The day was brand new, it were as if the past had been scrubbed and the world had been reset with some sort of miraculous grace and bright delight. There was a shine, a glimmer to it all.

As he wandered through the city streets he wondered and pondered the magic which had allowed for it all to be undone. All the chaos, all the madness, all the pain.

How could it simply shine?

This was how it should be, the sound of a piano danced atop the breeze in the distance.

Milton Jackson and Brian Kage team up with Detroit pioneer Jon Dixon to collaborate on an exquisite deep house cut on Freerange Records. A beautiful, honest track which brings hope and light.

PREMIERE: Milton Jackson and Brian Kage - The Shine ft. Jon Dixon [Freerange]

Following Ed Rain’s debut solo album ‘Met Him on a Wednesday’ (Ed is one of Andrei Rusu’s – aka half of Khidja – solo projects,), Malka Tuti Records release two aces remixes of the title track’s collaboration with Fantastic Twins.

We’re premiering Superpitcher’s MAD DECENT 10 minute signature opus of a remix. Cor listen to that bassline on some good cans…
On the flip Pilooski’s turned in a  “big room IDM” belter. But you’ll have to buy the release to get hold of that.

Pre Order on Malka Tuti
https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premieres/premiere-ed-rain-ft-fantastic-twins-met-him-on-a-wednesday-superpitcher-lovers-mix/

@malkatuti

PREMIERE: Ed Rain ft Fantastic Twins - Met him on a Wednesday (Superpitcher Lovers Mix) [Malka Tuti]

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]

Illinois-based producer Zvrra expands her discography with the four-track EP “Mica,” released on Munich’s ever reliable QEONE label.

There once was a Zvrra so rare, Who lived on a techno-swept prairie with care,
With her Wooden Rain Tool, So bizarre and so cool, That made rhythms beyond all compare!

She tumbled her beats like a shower, On dry wood for hour after hour,
While butterfly wings Made glistening things, As beetles turned gold by her power!

The musical Zvrra would play Her hypnotic percussion all day,
In QEONE’s domain, Through sunshine and rain, While breakbeats and melodies sway!

Oh wonderful, strange little Zvrra, From Illinois, not from Sierra,
Her ambient chirps And kaleidoscope blips, Made listeners feel so much clearer!


 
Following her 2020 techno belter “Dress” and 2021’s LP “Bizzaroland,” this new collection spans techno, breakbeat, ambient, and electronica across all its 4 tracks.

We’re premiering the percussive, intricately textured roller “Wooden Rain”

https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premieres/premiere-zvrra-wooden-rain-tool-qeone/

@zvrra @qeone

PREMIERE: Zvrra - Wooden Rain Tool  [QEONE]

Norway x Germany. Two heavyweights go head to head for a belter of an EP.

There once were two sorcerers of synthesized sound, Named Skatebård and Lauer, most wondrously renowned, They journeyed to Geilo one effervescent night, With Bordello A Parigi shining strobe-light bright.

“Oh fiddle-de-dee with your Trollkraft and strings! What Norwegian-German vibrating bass brings!” They twostepped and tangoed through fog with such glee, While bongos and toms played a disco jubilee.


 
The incandescent synthlines went weaving so high, Like glow-sticks elating the dawning trance sky, The italo-indie-house masters did play, Till the heyday of rhythm drove genre away.

And what did they learn from this euphoric spree? That electronic wizards, when paired, disagree On everything proper, but somehow still make The most splendid nonsense for dancing’s sweet sake!

Trollkraft unites the mighty Skatebård and (Philip) Lauer, a Norwegian-German partnership.

Their self-titled release features two tracks of Italo inspired 90s Garage.

“One Night In Geilo” draws on 90s house and two-stepping melody.

Out June 6th on Bordello.

Get it on…right…now.

Listen below:
https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premieres/premiere-skatebard-lauer-one-night-in-geilo-bordello-a-parigi/

PREMIERE: Skatebard & Lauer - One Night In Geilo [Bordello A Parigi]

PREMIERE: Retromigration - B=E² [International Chrome]

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

Fun filled selections ahead of Campo Sancho 2025 where Dicky Trisco will be joined by Luke Una. 

Read the full interview on site now. 

Dicky Trisco: The Campo Sancho Mix

It were as if the system was operating all by itself, making decisions of its own accord without the same fear or prejudice as that of any man or woman.

It knew each and every answer, it feared not the consequences which may come thereafter.

This was artificial intelligence and this was the future.

The sun would continue to rise and set each day. However, this was very much the beginning of a new dawn, one in which technology reigned supreme.

Love On The Rocks are back with a stellar EP from Pancratio - a beautiful, sun kissed affair which sits somewhere between the realms of house and trance yet is packed with balearic influences. Think sandy beaches and big speakers and you'll be on the right track.

PREMIERE: Pancratio - Artificial Intelligence [Love On The Rocks]

While some industry voices claim it's all computers now, Turbo Recordings maintain that everything in life can be understood as a "funhouse mirror"

Sascha Funke's "MZ" was a massive record for both Funke, Turbo and us come to think of it, all the way back in 2017. A classic, you might call it!  So much so that it's been given the re-rub treatment from a veritable smorgasbord of left-of-centre royalty including 

"We have paid access to the halls of European power, where you get to make backroom deals with Emmanuel Macron and British Seinfeld as Opus’ “Live is Life” blares over a gigantic bluetooth speaker. And, yeah, you’ll probably run into the most celebrated European producers of our time. Pional, Axel Boman, Mano Le Tough, and Roman Flügel — these are the kinds of names you only see once you’ve reached the highest levels of success, be it in dance music production or purchasing the hottest tickets in town on your favorite mobile device." says Turbo

We're premiering the mighty Flügel remix. The master keeps the roller style but just a bit more pumped. Does exactly what it needs to when you're dealing with this level of royalty; creating something altogether new, whilst maintaining the essence of the source. 

Pre Order them all here: https://turborec.lnk.to/MZ-Remixes

PREMIERE: Sascha Funke - MZ (Roman Flügel Remix) [Turbo Recordings]

Wandering through the mountains there wasn’t anyone else around. He was up here by himself amidst the clouds with an absence of friends and family.

For him this would be some much needed alone time, a chance to reset and regroup from it all.

Pausing for a moment he looked out at the world beneath, taking a deep breath and watching as the birds swooped and soared in the distance.

The wind blew softly in his hair…

boys be kko is a stellar producer from Japan. This EP features a classy assortment of house music, each track paced differently, yet this was our favourite – a deep moody cut.

PREMIERE: boys be kko - Sant Esteve (Kko Edit) [Bliss Point]

It was time to take a deep breath. That was all that was left to do in the scenario, he watched as his stomach rose and fell as he watched the waves drift on by.

The sea was a reflection of his mental state – it moved slowly, the waters deep and malleable, much like his soul.

He was guided by the power of his own delicate meditation.

1,2,3,4…

He observed everything around him, gazing softly but without sincerity. Things were moving everywhere.

Dawn Again returns to Hell Yeah Recordings with a wicked of new assortment of deep, pensive, balearic breaks which are the perfect soundtrack to the summer months. Highly recommended for sun kissed mornings, afternoons and evenings galore.

PREMIERE: Dawn Again - Guided Meditation For Dancefloor Nirvana [Hell Yeah Recordings]

They bounced and floated softly in the breeze before crashing down with pace upon the shore. A myriad of colours - radiant blues and pinks and orange - the beach balls were the bubble and buzz of the summer on the resort.

This was a tropical climate - the sort made for sipping long cool drinks and lounging upon benches as the world whizzed past in the distance.

Far out at sea she could see a jet ski whizzing atop the water, she wondered who might the rider be, a meek dot against the outback of dense blue ocean.

It was summertime.

Crystaline Reality gets us feeling all sun kissed with a fun collection of tracks on a joint release between DANCEMPORIUM and Tartelet Records.

PREMIERE: Crystalline Reality  - Beach Balls  [DANCEMPORIUM / Tartelet Records]

Producer DJ and dweller behind the counter at Phonica, Ysanne makes Mondays ok. "If you're not excited about life you should probably make some changes"

Full interview and tracklisting here: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/ysanne-the-monday-is-ok-mixtape/

Ysanne - The Monday Is OK Ransom Note mix

Town was packed and crowded, the traffic was a riot.

Everywhere it seemed as though lights flickered and flashed – glimmering and dancing against a backdrop of black, helping to make pretend that there was some sort of light or hope left in the city.

One wrong manoeuvre these days and it could be lights out.

One wrong manoeuvre these days and the whole game was up.

He weaved between the traffic and looked out for anyone who might be on the hunt, this was his town for the evening and he better not be caught short.

First Epoque releases a wicked, dubbed out set of weirdo bass mutations on Redstone Press as part of an EP called The Antonelli Scrolls. This was our pick of the bunch.

PREMIERE: First Epoque - WRONGMANOEUVRE [Redstone Press]

Valesuchi is a producer who we have kept a close eye on for a while now – the Chilean artist has released some stellar leftfield house and techno, drawing upon Latin influences and channeling a proper DIY sensibility.

We are talking rough drums, dusty pads, grungey acid and everything in between.

Based in Rio De Janeiro but soon to move to Lisbon we felt now would be a fitting time to feature her in our series after she reached out and sent us her new album – which is as riotous and intriguing as they come. A proper journey through weird soundscapes and analogue dreams.

This mix showcases her versatility as a DJ, a proper masterclass in movement between style, genre and pace. All with a no holds barred undercurrent which keeps things very fresh and very interesting.

Valesuchi: The Ransom Note Mix

A long overdue mix from the recent R$N Recs cohort and all-around excellent person, Bleaching Agent.

Full interview here: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/bleaching-agent-the-altered-currents-mix/

@bleaching-agent

READ INTERVIEW

Bleaching Agent: The 'Altered Currents' 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/

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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 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]

The band began to play loudly in the grand hall. The chamber had been packed for several hours, diners had eaten promptly whilst discussing matters of ethereal importance. The white table cloths now lay scattered messily across the room as the old busy bodies danced repulsively. The band were playing a song for Mr. Lewis, not that many of them knew him very well at all. This was merely a facade, a show of force for a leader whom was actually despised. There was only so much grandeur one could attempt to hide amidst, he was a mess. 

Austin Ato is set to release a new EP on Phonica White in the coming weeks, the producer has travelled under many guises in the past including Drums Of Death, Frankie Dreams and The Slumberjack.

Song For Mr. Lewis EP

PREMIERE: Austin Ato - Song For Mr. Lewis [Phonica White]

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

Cold air hangs thick in the early days of December, winter is here and we have a soundtrack to accompany the tone. 

Calibre is regarded as one of the most innovative and prolific producers within electronic music, over the years he has become a definitive figure in Drum & Bass, having elevated the genre in a way in which is celebrated and adored. Originating from Belfast he has recorded music which has tugged at the heartstrings, encouraging a new chain of thought associated with the sound. Albums like "Musique Concrete" and "Second Sun" remain some of the most crucial and important pieces of work to emerge from the Northern Irish producer and he is widely considered to be one of the most significant electronic artists of the past twenty years. 

At the tail end of last week Dominick Martin released a new album through his own imprint, Signature Records. It showcases a change of pace for the producer as he focusses on ambient textures and the poignancy of life. It was recorded across a four year period following the passing of a close friend and as such a sombre, humble sense of honest self expression runs throughout. Titled "Planet Hearth" the album was written in Valentia on Ireland's west coast. It's a beautiful record which highlights his own approach to music and offers an insight into the soul of a musician who has contributed so much. 

We are hugely honoured to be able to present a mix from Calibre which showcases ambient music, past and present.

Calibre: The 'Monday Is Okay' Mix

Floating between the clouds he looked down upon planet earth with a distant gaze as it all began to fall apart. Aeroplanes whizzed past with onlookers peering from the small windows, they watched him fly. All of his life he had been ready to ascend into outer space and join the heavens, the ground was no place for a man like him anyway. When it had been time to elevate, he'd packed his bags, left his house, cast a brief look back over his shoulder at the place he'd once called home and flew upwards in the hope of something new. Now it was time to start all over again amidst the clouds. 

Human Movement is set to release a new track on Of Leisure, a club focussed heater with a hell of a punch. This one is likely to see heavy rotation and fierce results.

Buy here: https://lnk.to/hmelevate

PREMIERE: Human Movement - Elevate [Of Leisure]

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]

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

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