Buy / Stream: https://ffm.to/disco-relaxation

Taking his cues from ‘80s new wave and synthpop, Mexican newcomer Levantine has a super-punchy electro sound that has been winning him fans like the legendary DJ Hell. He serves up three hot tracks for Exploited which clearly define what he’s all about.

‘Disco Relaxation’ is a bruiser from the off, with a rugged ascending bassline scale filtering into play on top of a propulsive beat. The push and pull between the percussion and the synth give the track a delightful wiggle, and the drama is built masterfully slowly through an array of bold melodic lines and vintage sounds to a powerful climax.

‘Nuevos Horizontes’ is a bit more of a melodic affair, hazy detuned chord washes punctuate that shoulder-popping bass arpeggio and ride cymbals adding a sense of urgency as the track builds. A tense breakdown ensues, after which the bass groove morphs through a series of different tonalities and pads and FX soar in the background along with a sprightly arp that provides the icing on the cake.

‘The New Wave’ rounds off the package with dramatic drum fills and hits meeting a mutli-layered bass groove that’s drenched in clever atmospheric touches. A haunting melody arrives halfway through to give the track a euphoric edge, but none of the toughness is foregone as a result — making this a track of bold contrasts.

Also making electro, psychedelic and stoner rock with his other project Red Eyes & Tears, Levantine is very much one to watch.

Artist: Levantine
Release: Disco Relaxation
Label: Exploited Club
Cat: EXP113
LC: 96788
Publisher: Exploited Ghetto Music Publishing
Beatport Pre-order: 06.05.2022
Releasedate Beatport & Streaming: 20.05.2022
Releasedate Global Download: 03.06.2022

Disco Relaxation

Levantine - Disco Relaxation | Exploited Club

Our beloved house producer, Hemi, arrives on Duro with 'Whispers'. He's been around for some time operating from Istanbul, Turkey, both as a DJ, producer, promoter or film-maker. To follow the single we invited the mind behind Frank Music label, Johannes Albert. German DJ & producer resident from the notorious Berlin party hotspot Renate.

The opener is the original version, a cut fueled by forceful drums, a power-driven sinewy bass, mixed with a barrage of resonant percussions, a deep piano riff, and a contrast of distant, spectral vocals alongside wacky synthesizers. 

On the b side we have the remix made by Johannes Albert, a solid, electrifying and ethereal track. Dynamic drums accompanied by a shocker bass, liquid and centrifugal synthesizers and undulating pianos, a lightning bolt to the dance floor.

Whispers

PREMIERE: Hemi - Whispers (DURO)

Buy / Stream: ffm.to/malfunction-exp

UK producer Louis De Tomaso pushes a vibrant retro sound that’s laced with euphoric intention and has received support from the likes of Krystal Klear, Jennifer Cardini, Kendal, Pablo Bozzi, Tiger and Woods, Perel and Cormac. He comes up trumps here with two new tracks for the well-reputed Exploited imprint.

Channeling classic Eurodance and Italo, ‘Malfunction’ is a riot of a track that’s brimming with strong melodies and motifs. Within seconds you’re assaulted by an array of potent lines weaving away under ticking hi-hats and roomy snare hits, swelling to a tremendous intensity before the undulating bassline rocks in. Big arpeggios, fizzing chords, soaring leads and dramatic riffs abound, with never a dull moment in this super-colourful track. All is woven together seamlessly, erupting like a volcano as the melodies transpose to higher octaves as the track progresses. Any one of these riffs would be strong enough to be the lead refrain on any given track. Louis De Tomaso’s generous spirit instead packs them all into a huge 5 minutes and 40 seconds.

‘Prince’, a track that lay unfinished for nearly 5 years, is more on the hi-NRG tip. Given a new lick of paint by De Tomaso, it’s driven by a camp, sugary lead riff that bursts through the mix like a buzzsaw. Chugging bass arpeggios provide more forward-thrust as the spacious beats hammer away and classic ravey synth sounds hammer out a delightful selection of colourful hooks. A huge build where pitch risers meet rapid-fire claps sends the track rocketing into the ether, exploding in a rainbow of colour. Fun levels are maxxed out on this one.

Artist: Louis De Tomaso
Release: Malfunction
Label: Exploited Club
Cat: EXP123
LC: 96788
Publisher: Exploited Ghetto Music Publishing
Beatport Pre-order: 28.10.22
Releasedate Beatport & Streaming: 04.11.22
Releasedate Global Download: 18.11.22

Malfunction

Prince

Buy / Stream

Louis De Tomaso - Prince | Exploited Club

Schedules and routines ruled his life; any diversion from the norm and he felt as though his world was caving in. Every day was the same: he at the same meals, walked the same route to work, went to bed at the same time. Others thought he was stubborn and unwilling to try new things, but it was something irrational that he couldn't explain - the fear of the unknown was too much for him to comprehend.

Esprit Divers is the new alias of Catalan DJ and founder of Suara, Coyu. Following a release on Kompakt's Speicher X series he now heads to Mexican imprint Duro for a two-track EP titled Neophobia, which is full of metallic, driving rhythms. Backed up by a remix from Polymath boss Third Son, the release is the next chapter in Coyu's adventure under this fresh moniker, which will be a vehicle for him to explore different sounds 'based on the idea of music of contrast: light and dark, sorrow and hope, mind and soul.'

PREMIERE: Esprit Divers - Neophobia (Third Son Remix) [Duro]

Up above soft, fluffy clouds danced on the skyline, passing slowly in all manner of shapes and sizes. Since she could remember she'd always imagined what it would be like to live up there, to float freely between the earth and the sun without a care in the world. If it could be a reality, she'd have no desire to come back down to solid ground, her mind and her body belonged in the clouds, where her imagination could run wild.

Having cemented her reputation as a DJ and party thrower, NYC-based producer Tony Y Not is now making waves with her productions. Over the last few years she's taken her synth-driven electro disco creations to the likes of Trampoliner, Ombra International, Critical Monday and Me Me Me, the latter of which is the home of her new EP, Send Me Up. Made up of two originals and two remixes - including the first ever from Val Budino and Ivan Berko, and another from label mate Ian Blevins - the music is a blend of cosmic synths, acid-tinged disco and euphoric melodies. 

Speaking about the release, Tony Y Not explains: "I wrote this music when the pandemic first started. Everything was up in the air for all of us and the only grounding thing to do is pour my emotions into my music. And here it is! I felt inspired by the stillness in Berlin at that time in the first lockdown. Nothing was moving and it gave an insight into how much was actually happening while everything was standing still.”

PREMIERE: Tony Y Not - Send Me Up [Me Me Me]

Rotten Citizens Vol.5

Bandcamp

Alex Aguayo - Earth Tones

@PimSecle - Roboti I Gljive 

Label @SaveforafterMidnight

All Sinchi premieres available on;
Youtube -www.youtube.com/channel/UCkJiiJt2HkHMSeZJIIQgQTA
Spotify- open.spotify.com/playlist/7sd3nFr…1ff4a1026348467b

♫ Info + Buy ♫

PREMIERE - Pim Secle - Roboti I Gljive (Save for after Midnight)

Buba is back on my choice! After his remix earlier last year, he delivers a fantastic EP with remixes by SouveQ. As a special instrument, he uses the Jaw Harp and builds all other elements around it. Buba is someone who is addicted to synth sequences and puts them through different genres as he did it on his track "Mantra". On the remix label boss, souveq added his own trademark arp feeling, and some extra piano chord progression.

Buba - Mantra EP (incl.: SouveQ Remixes)

PREMIERE: Buba - Mantra (SouveQ Doromb & Piano Boogie Remix)

Atmospheric Awakening 2

Quinta Queen - Breaking the Rules (Antoine Pete Remix)

Fluxed [Minimal Groove Concept]

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.

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