On Versions, Queralt and Smith’s four tracks have been reimagined by Nandele, Flug 8, GLOK (Steve’s RIDE bandmate Andy Bell) and Nina Walsh, kindred spirits and treasured members of the extended Bytes/Ransom Note family.

And so I walk along the beach, turning my back on a world that’s stopped making sense, and the feeling that maybe sense is the first thing to go; before our civilisation falls, it will stumble through a long delirium, like an old man with Alzheimer’s, before it finally grinds to a halt … I’m trying to turn my back on all that, before me the great unknown, the poetry of the magnificent blue distance … to gaze out at the blue and open myself up to that which is beyond us, to let the blue beyond wash all that away like pebbles in its foam …

Bytes is proud to announce Sun Moon Town Versions, a companion piece to last year’s EP, on which Steve Queralt, bass player of pioneering shoegazers RIDE, joined forces with the writer and film-maker MIchael Smith for a stunning four-track EP featuring Steve’s music and Michael’s spoken-word musings.
 

On Versions, the four tracks have been reimagined by Nandele, Flug 8, GLOK (Steve’s RIDE bandmate Andy Bell) and Nina Walsh, kindred spirits and treasured members of the extended Bytes/Ransom Note family.

Premiering here is the GLOK remix, continuing Andy’s hot streak under his electronic alter-ego, which has seen him deliver stunning remixes for Dot Allison, Maps and A Place to Bury Strangers. For his rework of ‘Chaldean Oracle’, Andy eschews Michael’s vocal almost entirely, transforming the track into a Detroit dub-techno monster that has echoes of Bandulu and Carl Craig in its shimmering melodies, eerie distortion and pounding drums.

As well as these four new remixes, due to popular demand the release also features instrumental versions of the original tracks, with fans keen to hear Steve’s exceptional electronic soundscapes in isolation. It’s out on July 21, available digitally and a limited edition cassette, only available from Bytes Bandcamp.

More Info: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premieres/premiere-steve-queralt-michael-smith-chaldean-oracle-glok-remix-bytes/

Chaldean Oracle (GLOK remix)

More Info/Buy cassette

PREMIERE: Steve Queralt / Michael Smith – Chaldean Oracle (GLOK remix) [Bytes]

Amalgama - Encuentros Latinos [HalcxnR018]
BUY LINK: https://amalgama001.bandcamp.com/album/encuentros-latinos-ep-halcxn-r018
Label: Halcxn(https://soundcloud.com/halcxn)
https://soundcloud.com/alejandro_romero_music

"The first release by a foreign artist on the Chilean label 'Halcxn' is from Alejandro Romero. He is a DJ and producer from Quito, Ecuador. His work under the alias "Amalgama" is influenced by minimalism and abstraction. Alejandro uses electronic music as a language to tell stories and describe internal processes. His musical influences are Downtempo, IDM from 90' and 2000's and the current uptempo acid music.

"Encuentros Latinos" is an EP composed of four tracks. It explores the different compositional faces of the producer. The first two tracks, 'Haze' and 'Expansión', expose Alejandro's exploration towards faster rhythms and 'leftfield' elements. On the other hand, 'Nuevos Caminos' y 'Quiero Verte Bailar' show us his experimental and pop face.

The name of the EP aims to resume the different processes and moods experimented on by Alejandro through interacting with other artists and characters of the Latin American scene. 'Encuentros Latinos' narrates an intimate state of growing. It means a search for integration within the underground Latin community."

BUY LINK

PREMIERE : Amalgama - Expansión

The mighty Bawrut returns to Ransom Note Records with his incredible new record, Raqs EP. The follow up to his debut album on R$N, In The Middle, Our Man In Madrid discharges four weapons grade club monsters that will, as the title suggests, have have bodies moving to and fro the world over. 

In Bawrut’s own words: “Raqs means dance or dancing in Arabic. The need for dance in our society and it’s act of liberation is the focus of this new EP, where I explore a beloved place like the Mediterranean sea, mixing Arabic voices and Latin American rhythms, stabs, trance and flamenco.”

First single Que Quiere Usted wastes no time, entering the fray with a frantic clap assault that grows and evolves throughout the track, augmented by Bawrut’s trademark sparse, bouncy, synth lines. Hot on its heels, Draa Valley is a more understood affair, taking aim firmly at the dance floor. All driving drums and hooky vocal samples, it darts high and low before settling into that air-fist-punching final drop. 

Azadi shows yet another side to our Bozza, this time treating us to a mechanical funk workout of epic proportions. It’s angular stabs are thoroughly danceable, punctuated by some vaguely human (but definitely robotic) vocals that lift us towards mechanised heaven. Sonidero Usera closes proceedings with a more organic feel, opening with rainforest sounds interspersed with tribal drum patterns and cut up vocal stabs, which develops into a pummelling groove that is, quite literally, all singing, all dancing!

FOLLOW BAWRUT
https://instagram.com/bawrut_silencio https://www.facebook.com/Bawrut/ 
https://soundcloud.com/bawrut 
https://twitter.com/bawrutsilencio

FOLLOW R$N RECORDS
https://www.facebook.com/theransomnote https://www.instagram.com/thisisransomnote https://ransomnoterecords.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/ransom-note-records

Raqs EP

Buy/Stream

Draa Valley

Deeper electronic music with a melodic touch”. That’s how Portto describes his works. Never afraid of different sounds in his most present work, trying to combine inspiration from a more psychedelic and deep perspective into house music. Having grown up in his family eclectic combination of Brazilian music, electronic and synth-based 80s music… all which became infused with his own love for both lo-fi and European electronic music, Portto ended up with quite a mixed spectrum of musical influence. The love for music goes beyond the spectrum of mixing tunes, it is the passion for music and creation which makes a good difference for his work. Today, this translates into his music and dj sets where he picks apart and mixes together all the pieces of his different influences in music and life, always trying to connect people together through music.

soundcloud.com/porttomusic
instagram.com/porttomusic
linktr.ee/porttomusic

PREMIERE : Portto - Lora's Theme

Artist: @witnessprotectionprogram
Track:  U Am I Are
Label: https://soundcloud.com/witnessprotectionprogram
Format: Digital, EP
Release date:29/9/23
YouTube: https://youtu.be/aNF6wYBA3cY

U Am I Are is based around a massive bass line that glides effortlessly upwards and downwards through most of the track and four words/syllables that try to blur the lines that separate us on the dancefloor. The result is a hypnotic and exhilarating journey that invites you to lose yourself in the rhythm.
a hanging from Another Porch is a classic WPP chugger. It blends together a fierce industrial beat with dubby bass lines and sweet and optimistic synth parts that shimmer and sparkle. The track creates a dynamic tension between the harsh and the gentle, the dark and the light, the rough and the smooth.

U Am I Are / Hanging From Another Porch

PREMIERE | Witness Protection Program - U Am I Are [Witness Protection Program] 2023

Varaz - MTHCLS
BUY LINK: https://niewiederschlafen.bandcamp.com/album/mthcls
Label: Nie Wieder Schlafen (https://soundcloud.com/niewiederschlafen)
https://www.instagram.com/niewiederschlafen
Varaz (https://soundcloud.com/varazmusic)
https://www.instagram.com/varaz.music/

Nie Wieder Schlafen returns with a long overdue comeback and brings back the notorious belgium live artist Varaz with a premium vinyl release in a heartfelt tribute to a dear friend, whose memory inspired the creation of this beautiful work of art.

Varaz gently leads the A side with 2 ambient affairs to build the base of the textured and mindful sounds that is incorporated in this white marbled wax.

The EP's first two tracks, "Agora" and "All I Hear," are sophisticated and textured ambient soundscapes that invite the listener into a contemplative and introspective state. Varaz's deft touch blends ethereal tones with intricate soundscapes, creating a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.

"Perfume," the third track, is a deep house groover with a sublime bassline rhythm that leads the melody. Gently whispered vocals call out the titular scent, adding an air of mystery and allure to the track.

The B-side of the EP is equally captivating. "Cloud9" is a dreamy and eclectic story that excites with long-lasting pad hits, crisp percussion, and intricate details in the background. The final track, "5tuck in a Loop," is a fun and rolling dancefloor tune with a retro synthy vibe that will leave the listener grooving.

Nie Wieder Schlafen is proud to release this beautiful tribute on a physical medium. We hope it's nuanced soundscapes and intricate melodies will transport the listener to a place of emotional resonance.

Don't miss your chance to own this beautiful work of art, available on August 22th via Bandcamp or digitally on October 2nd via all the usual stores.

PREMIERE : Varaz - 5tuck In A Loop

https://orchidsmantissa.bandcamp.com/album/additive-behavior

Orchid - Ecstatic State

https://soundcloud.com/frequencepolaire
🛒 https://frequencepolaire.bandcamp.com/track/nothing-is-what-it-seems
🔊 https://youtu.be/be5gAJ0jSa0

A UNION OF TWO FRENCH WORDS ASSEMBLED WITH THE HELP OF CHANCE, FRÉQUENCE POLAIRE IS A FRENCH-BORN, CZECHIA BASED DJ/PRODUCER. AFTER FOCUSING ON HOUSE MUSIC UNDER ANOTHER MONIKER FOR ALMOST A DECADE, HE DECIDED TO START A NEW AND BRANCH OUT TOWARDS INDIE DANCE, DARK DISCO AND SYNTHWAVE. HE IS PRIMARILY INFLUENCED BY COLLEGE, JULIAN WINDING AND ALDEN TYRELL, TO NAME A FEW. OVER THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROJECT’S EXISTENCE, HE’S BEEN STEADILY RELEASING MUSIC AND PLANS TO PERFORM A BRAND NEW LIVE SET IN PRAGUEANDBEYOND.

IN 2022, HE RELEASED HIS FIRST CONCEPT EP ‘DALMATIAN DREAMS’, A RECORD RECOUNTING THE TALES OF A MOTLEYCREWOF8SAILINGTHE SEAINDALMATIA.

IN 2023, HE COLLABORATED WITH TIGRE AIME CHAT, A LONG TIME FRIEND AND MUSICAL COMPANION, THEIR FIRST JOINT MUSICAL PROJECT DATING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2009. THE RESULT WAS THE EP 'DIVINE CREATURE’, A BLEND OF DISCO, SYNTHWAVE AND SYNTH POP SUNGINFRENCH.

PREMIERE: Fréquence Polaire - Nothing Is What It Seems [Self-Released]

La Bouche - Be My Lover (AOTA Edit)

Hamid El Shaeri - Ayonha (SHIHA Club Mix)

Flatline x Hey Boy Hey Girl / NA•RO Mash

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.