Matt John -"The Rising Scope"

Out Now: https://orcd.co/CRM296

Tibi Dabo returns with ‘Overture’, a third tantalising single from his forthcoming Crosstown Rebels album, with remixes from Map.ache and Aline Umber.

The first two singles from the project, ‘Triple Frontier’ and ‘Licht’, have shown what Barcelona’s Tibi Dabo is all about - forward-thinking electronic music with original drums (a result of him having toured the globe with his band) and plenty of cosmic twists and character. A label favourite having dropped his ‘Isla’ EP on Crosstown Rebels back in 2022, ahead of his much-anticipated debut LP comes this third superb taster from it.

The superb ‘Overture’ is an eight-minute gem with super smooth percussion and elastic grooves, with wispy sci-fi chords and gentle synth modulations. It’s full of future feels and catchy drum funk that is sophisticated and smartly detailed with choppedup vocal fragments.

First to remix is Leipzig’s Map.ache, co-founder of Kann Records and member of the Giegling family. His take builds with fatter drums that are just as infectious, while rippling synth loops weave in and out as flashy basslines cut loose and balmy pads add extra cosmic absence to a hypnotic mix of the heady and the physical.

Aline Umber, a collaborative live project from French composers, producers and DJs Aline Brooklyn and Aman Umber, are second to remix. They run the Airfunk label and are no stranger to playing cult spots like Rex Club in Paris. Their ‘23% Eventide’ mix is a blissed-out and synth-laced trip with subtle, smeared chords and starry-eyed keys that have you gazing off into the distance as you get lost in the warm drums.

Tibi Dabo - Overture (Aline Umber '23% Eventide' Mix)

Artist: Various Artists
Title:  Freerange 200 PartB
Release Date:  23rd March (Vinyl) 30th March (Digital)
Format: Vinyl/Digital
Cat No: FR200B & FRD200B

It’s with great pride (and a certain sense of defiance!) that Tom and I present
you with the 200th Freerange release. Despite the best efforts of three bankrupt
distributors, an arsonist (who set the Sony warehouse ablaze back in 2012) and a
volatile market, we retained the fire in our bellies, a stiff upper lip, and most
importantly an unrelenting passion for electronic music, we soldiered on and here
we are at Freerange 200!
To mark the occasion we wanted to put together a compilation of exclusive new
tracks from both long-standing Freerange regulars as well as some fresh artists
to the label whose music we’ve been loving.  Being committed to vinyl we figured
the best way would be to do a two part release with four-tracks on each part.

Turning to Part B we open with a brilliant track with almost as good a title;
Hamburglar from Luv Jam.  This guy has been responsible for killer cuts on
esteemed labels such as We Play House, Tsuba and Phonica White so we wanted in on
the action and thankfully he indulged us.  We absolutely love the raw simplicity
of this track which bumps along just perfectly with not much more than a kick,
clap and single note bass line to keep you grooving. Apart from the repeating
piano stab hooking you in and sending people nuts when everything drops out in
the break that is.
Esa & Mervin Granger come next with the sublime deepness of Goema Heat.  Esa’s
proudly wearing his Cape Town roots on his sleeves on this one and as the title
suggests, has come up with the perfect track to warm up any party worth it’s
salts. We’re talking heavy on the percussion and tantalizing synth FX and a
lovely tension which builds subtly before taking things up a gear after the
breakdown when the bouncing bassline comes to the fore.
It’s fare to say a Freerange release such as this wouldn’t be complete without a
Manuel Tur contribution, so while we’ve been busy putting together his
forthcoming Remix Retrospective LP we’re happy to say Manuel found the time to
put together this gem entitled Laguenesie.
And last but not least we have Kito Jempere with his track This Is Why We Do This
featuring Detroit luminary Jerry The Cat.  St. Petersburg native Kito drops
serious heat on this raw and dubby club jam which we feel is probably as close to
an ‘archetypal’ Freerange track as it’s possible to get so sums up this special
release perfectly.

Esa & Mervin Granger - Goema Heat [Freerange Records] (96Kbps)

Högt I Tak - Warped Train (Original Mix)

Hidden in the middle of the desert was a mysterious old barn, a place in which ancient rituals had once been held in a bid to bring down the sun from up above so that it might be extinguished. It was damn hot.

This place had been known as Umbra. It remained as it was, a mere shell of a building in which wild dances, wild songs and wild chants had beckoned and bellowed between the four walls.

Little did they know that the sun would never fall from the sky up above - let alone that it might never be extinguished.

If anything it might only get hotter and Umbra would be all that was left to burn.

La Pointe is a a trio formed by Geneva-based techno pioneers Crowdpleaser and Entlet alongside New York City’s Jonny Sender. Together they are set to release a new EP on Secret Teachings featuring remixes from Jonny Rock & Nathan Fake. Jonny's caught our ear - we all know when the rock is in the house.

PREMIERE: La Pointe - Umbra (Jonny Rock Remix) [Secret Teachings]

Seasons | Summer 2025 marks the latest chapter in the acclaimed Seasons series from MNL, the long-standing progressive house imprint under the Manual Music umbrella. A staple release every season, Seasons showcases the diverse and evolving sound of progressive house, spotlighting both established names and rising talents from around the globe.

The Summer 2025 edition features a fresh and dynamic lineup: Claudio Pali, Franco Laino, NNPark & Mazayr, OTAVA and Rodrigo Pochelu & Fefo Carfagna. As always, Seasons captures the essence of the moment, this time, with a radiant soundtrack for long, sun-soaked days and deep summer nights.

Seasons | Summer 2025

Yesh

Buy / Stream

Static Orders

Static Orders (Radio Edit)

Axis 2 [Minimal Groove Concept]

Coast to Coast

19yo Gothenburg wonderkid Ebende debuts on Aniara with Bang! - two fresh cuts full of life & rhythm. Remix on the flip by Aniara boss Fabian Bruhn!

Bandcamp

Ebende - Bang!

Out on Wonder Stories with remixes by 
In Flagranti (Codek) - Uabos (Bordello A Parigi) - Jarle Bråthen (Full Pupp)
Release details: www.discogs.com/it/Hard-Ton-Whisp…On/master/1577351

Ws Wav

Hard Ton - On & On (Uabos Instrumental Remix)

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.