She'd noticed a change in his temperament, it wasn't just the puffed up eyes and wet cheeks that were a giveaway. His door remained closed and his conversations had been reduced to one or two word sentences. She knew she didn't have to say much, she just wanted to let him know she was there; an ear for anything he wanted to divulge, whenever that may be. She didn't have all the answers but she had all the time in the world to listen to him.

To mark mental health awareness month, South London-based cassette label Sticky Tapes have rounded up several producers for a six-track mini-comp titled ‘hey, do you need someone to talk to?’. Known for their charity-indebted tape mixes, which have featured contributions from Violet and ELLES, CC:DISCO! and Barbara Boeing and many others, this new comp comes as a digital only release this time round and brings together the likes of Tim Reaper, Ell Murphy & Picasso, PRAYER, IN2STELLAR, Theo Everyday and Kitsta.

As always all proceeds from the release will be donated to charity, and this time round they're focusing on three mental health helplines, The Samaritans, SANEline and Switchboard, who are all doing incredible work for those who need someone to talk to when they need it most.

To raise further awareness of the helplines, Sticky Tapes will be posting 500 posters all over London that feature rip tickets with the helpline numbers.

PREMIERE: IN2STELLAR - Countertransference [Sticky Tapes]

As the twilight zone reaches over the rainforest, you lose control. Synthetic electrical pulses echo around you. There is no sense of time. No ability to communicate verbally. Only primal telepathy. One stream of thought blends into the next with no clear link. As you explore new parts of your consciousness, your mind is guided by goblins and mushroom-men. A mysterious unknown character speaks to you, what are they trying to tell you? As new sounds emerge above the horizon, you attempt to make sense of this entire experience. Your mind enters a trance-like state and you are taken into the higher atmospheric regions of air, as you take in all the sounds around you. You are dissolved into the ether, those upper dimensions far above the clouds. You are at peace now, immersed in the etheric presence.

Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBvKdYsjqKU

Design: Studio Balcony
Illustrations: Gabe Van Giap
Fader Cap: https://soundcloud.com/fadercap

Brainwash EP

Fader Cap  - The Journey [3am Extended Mix]

● After a year of hard work as a record label and the release of our first vinyl format album, we are excited to debut our Bandcamp page with a compilation of 10 tracks, celebrating 5 years of Strain!

This release marks the beginning of a series of compilations that will be released in the coming months. We hope you enjoy these 10 gems that reflect the passion and dedication of the artists who joined the project ♥️

Thanks to all who have been part of our journey so far, and to those who join us in this new stage.

● Artist: Phoro
https://soundcloud.com/phoro
https://www.instagram.com/phoro/
● Title: Breake The Floor
● Label: Strain Records
https://www.instagram.com/strain___/
https://soundcloud.com/strain1
● 2023/08/17

🛒 https://strainrecords1.bandcamp.com/track/phoro-breake-the-floor

📺 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLovNuJKkvPVu6G58cmi9RKH6Tdnvy2edD&si=SofyiSard_LPWXuU

🛒

𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙚 : Phoro - Breake The Floor [Strain Records]

Bobby. - Strange Fantazy EP
BUY LINK: https://pleasureclubx.bandcamp.com/album/strange-fantasy-ep
Label: Pleasure Club (https://soundcloud.com/thepleasureclub)
https://www.instagram.com/pleasure.club/


Somewhere between here and the cosmos there is an Astral Dance Party in a Celestial City...

Bobby. is your host and this is the sound of that cosmic soiree.

Space is the place <3

BUY LINK

PREMIERE : Bobby. - Strange Fantasy

Here comes a NEW HIT premiere - from our own label for a change!

We present the lush space house tune from Salut 80. Extraterrestrial dance floor energy from the young producer making his debut on Warning. Melting warm pads into melancholic synths that dream from a peaceful place far away.

Keep an eye on this newcomer as there is some serious talent in store!

Follow https://soundcloud.com/s80

NEW HIT: Salut 80 - Belive [Warning]

These were merely ideas, scribbles on paper, memories and moments. It was hard to define the context of one mans life into a body of focus, an idea in itself was not enough. It must be conceptual. This was not the first time that he’d attempted to build an accurate profile of a hero. He remembered the moments that they’d shared together long ago…

As he looked up from his seat, he watched the wanderers down on the beach, wading in the soft rippling waters. It all felt so long ago now. As if it had been another life. Perhaps that’s all it was…

This one is a little bit special. A spellbinding, emotional remix from Convextion as he reworks a track from ReKab into something delicate and remarkable. Tinged with poignant optimism this one has tears on the dancefloor written all over it.

PREMIERE: ReKaB - Concept 3 (Convextion Remix) [Analog Concept]

* Subscribe for more premieres: https://bit.ly/2igyosu
* Read more: https://boltingbits.com/moonee-evening-world-oath
* Listen on Youtube: https://youtu.be/7unKM03PO7Q
* Pre-order: https://oathcreations.bandcamp.com/album/sandquest-2

2024 gets underway, Oath are thrilled to share the imprint’s latest long play, which comes courtesy of rising star Moonee - and you better believe its a solid gold stunner…

Francois Lefevre, the producer behind the Moonee name - alongside his group projects Twice Movement and Simple Request (with French House royalty Tour-Maubourg) - really optimizes all that is bold and beautiful about the House genre. The release of ‘Wabi Sabi’ on Groovence in 2022, then ‘Primal Groove’ on Slothboogie last year, has already helped Lefevre craft a significant space for himself under the Moonee name. His sound is one of tremendous melodic feel, with a plethora of rhythmic patterns and atmospheres being utilised to help create a bountiful sonic universe. His attention to how the groove unravels and how progression can be used softly but subtly really comes over strong, immersing the listener in a very warm place indeed. As beginnings to discographies go, this start is immensely strong, and one which provides a rock solid basis for all sorts of excellence to come forth.

Two EPs down, and now this fantastic long play. Moonee really flexed his style and craft on this record, one which constantly delighted at every turn, providing an enriching spectrum of sounds that stick true to his production technique and to his craft. Not for one second do you stand still, but merely carried along on a wave of melodic euphoria, simply pleased to be along for the ride. The dips from heavy hitting though to softly spoken at handled so well, and as a result we are left with a pretty damn good way to enter in 2024. Winter has arrived, but warm your heart with this stunner.

PREMIERE: Moonee - Evening World

Echoes of the past float through the light, forming constellations of feelings that never fade. Memory becomes a gentle current that carries warmth through the stillness of time. Each reflection shines with its own truth: soft, radiant, and ever-present in the intervals between moments.

Sunborn

"Colors Of My Mind"

Veritas

128kbps. @Oceanicocean's track on Paerels. Repress coming in 10 days.

Paerels

Drums (Instrumental)

Bandcamp

A2| Oceanic - Drums (Instrumental)

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.