In Memory of Alex T

Alex joined us out of the blue from Manchester back in late 2012 for his first year of Uni, getting stuck in with our local nights and radio sessions. It didn't take him very long to become a well loved and involved member of the local scene and one to watch on the 1s and 2s, those were a fun few years. As many will know Alex continued on his journey via Leeds to the World, working hard carving out an already very promising career. He was certainly on a path to becoming one of his generations greatest selectors and curators.... 
He will be missed but never forgotten X

All proceeds going to a choice of charity/ies via Alex's family  

NB Demo version, final master will be up soon…

Gary Deep Forever

GARY DEEP FOREVER

Title: “Bash Man - Candid”
Label: Non Stop Rhythm
Cat: RYDM78
Date: 16/12/2022
Country: UK

https://nonstoprhythm.bandcamp.com/

https://soundcloud.com/nonstoprhythm

PREMIERE: Bash Man - Swirl [Non Stop Rhythm]

[PREMIERE] Amy - Mr. Projectile | La Luna [2022]

Order here;
https://www.juno.co.uk/products/giraffi-dog-comunion-feat-toby-tobias-remix/878968-01/

Ever since the first white labels appeared at the end of Summer 2013, [Emotional] Especial has been putting out music that is slightly left of (club music) centre. Influenced as much by and including dub, electro, disco, proto-house, house and techno, guided more by a feeling than a sound. 

This thinking has been that exemplified by every 10th release being a label sampler - a showcase of unreleased tracks or remixes of what has come before, plus the odd one off cut by an artist to watch. Some 4 years since the last Sampler, the label's 40th release presents new label heads Giraffi Dog, returning after their recent "live" Multiverse EPs, here teaming up with GF Rich for a breaks anthem. Sub bass rising, the persistent build leads to piano before drop and Acid mayhem ensues, highlight why G Dog are such a producer to watch. 

Label mainstay Alphonse returns, with White Pepper from the "Stolen Sunrise EP", here remixed by House stalwart Toby Tobias. Having released for a who's who of labels including REKIDS, ESP Institute, Delusions Of Grandeur and Futureboogie, the illusion these past years of who is Alphonse can finally revealed as Toby himself. The remix of his alter ego takes the 'Balearics' of the original and adds breaks and 303, all retaining a laid back feeling for summers return.

On the flip, the label welcomes rising star, Remotif. With a series of EPs showcasing a growing talent, his recent Coymix release sealed the deal. Here, his comedically titled Beam Me Up Softwoiii belies a party anthem, where breaks and arps rise in unison before an Aphex sunrise burst, drops and heads down in pure dance. 

Akio Nagase returns to close with another of his Japanese folk meets lilting 303 Acid House. An Okinawa traditional folk song, conveying a life lesson, here to Hosenka flower is laid across slo-mo acid bubbles to quirkily and perfectly complete another 10th release of the Especial path.

B1. Remotif - Beam Me Up Softwoiii

Our 64th episode welcomes the magnificent sounds of Tifra to the CommaCast Series.

A well overdue addition to our beloved mix roster, Utrecht based Netherlands producer and DJ, Tifra shares with us a mix of sublime underground progressive sounds that had us groovin' from start to finish. With an impressive and continuously growing back catalogue of releases on prestigious labels such as Duality Trax, Gestalt, SNIPPETS, Rough and of course Comma Traxx. Tifra is a name that should be on everyone's wish list with a superb knack for creating forward thinking takes on current trends that move the underground dancefloors, it's obvious that this artist isn't going anywhere any time soon. Lock in for this one!

Follow Tifra here...
Soundcloud: @tifradj
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tifradj
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tifradj/

CommaCast 064: Tifra

Another premiere from the brilliant Toneshift - Planet Misc. Vol 1 release out on Comma Traxx.

The 1st track on the release comes from the one and only Bex! Continuing her slurry of high quality productions, Bex delivers once again with Dare to Dream.

Release Date: 31st March
Format: Digital Only

Bandcamp: https://commatraxx.bandcamp.com/album/toneshift-planet-misc-vol-1
https://soundcloud.com/commatraxx

Premiere: Bex - Dare To Dream [Comma Traxx]

The water was a deep radiant blue, from time to time small bubbles would rise from the ocean floor up the surface where an occasional flicker or glimmer of light would illuminate the lagoon as the clouds came and went before the sun. Diving deeper and deeper into the abyss, it were as if he was exploring some sort of mythical aquarian dream - a planet nestled beneath what he knew existed and floated up on the surface. 

There was no sound down here but very occasional he'd become aware of a change of pressure, a heavy weight and a light release as he moved slowly through the murky blue beyond. 

All he could do was keep swimming...

Third Place are set to release a new EP from Later Version, a beautiful assortment of fluid tracks which draw influence from a sense of weightlessness and ambient textures. Later Version is made up of Oakland-based artists Dan Letson and Jerod S. Rivera.

Swim Domain EP

PREMIERE: Later Version - Swim Domain [Third Place]

There were patterns everywhere, every crack in the sidewalk was part of something far bigger if he could only grasp it. Among the lines there were lessons to be learnt, lessons as to how the world around him worked and where it could be pulled apart. 

Walking the streets of the busy city he couldn’t help but look around at all the faceless beings, their empty stories and chaotic ambitions. They’d all come here to live the dream and reach their goals amidst the bright lights of the skyscrapers and late night diners. Who knew whether they might make it out the other side…

DOTT is the founder of pioneering record store and label More Rice based in Bangkok. He has helped breathe life into the progressive underground dance and electronic music community in the city and beyond. His new EP on Boiled Wonderland – a deep moving, dubbed out release which is reminiscent of old school Garage, UK Bass inspired influences and beyond..

Sense of Tension

PREMIERE: DOTT - Among the Lines [Boiled Wonderland]

2Lanes joins the Psychic Relief Records imprint this May with his new EP entitled ‘Sid Ranger Redux’, comprising four original cuts from the Detroit, USA based artist.   

Since 2017, Detroit 2Lanes has been steadily unveiling his unique twist on soul-infused House and Techno via a number of self-released singles and EP’s for the likes of Cape St. Francis, Ceramic Records and Portage Garage Sounds. Here we see 2Lanes offering his latest collection of works on a new four-track EP on the new Psychic Relief Records coming out of California and coming alongside the labels debut release from Philadelphia’s Furtive.

PREMIERE: 2lanes -  Rabbit's Foot Ft. Jonathan Aylward [Psychic Relief Records]

[PREMIERE] As The Fog Rolls In - Aspetuck | Telomere Plastic [2023]

Artist: Skinny Wizard
Title: Off Lead EP
Track Title: Dawn
Label: Echocentric Records
Cat #: ECR015
Release date: 11.08.2023
Format: vinyl, digital

@skinnywizardsounds
@echocentricrecords

Immerse yourself in blissed-out melodies, masterful sampling and improvised synthesis in four diverse club-ready tracks by Melbourne-based producer and live electronic artist Skinny Wizard.

grab your 12"

Premiere | Skinny Wizard -Dawn (ECR015)

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.