Up here in the mountains, above the clouds, sunrise was the most beautiful time of day. Everything was still and silent, from the green hills to the sleepy towns in the valley, except the intermittent buzz of insects and soft whistling of birds in the distance. The sky was hued with hazy pinks and burnt oranges as the sun began its journey into the sky and light started to spread across the landscape. The world began to wake from its slumber and the cycle of the day began once more.

Seb Wildblood's first release of the year - a three-track EP titled vitara 3000 - comes via Istanbul-based imprint Oath. Marking his first material since last May's sophomore long player do you feel it too?, the music represents a new creative chapter in his life physically and sonically. Having moved to LA from London a few years back, the tracks that form the EP, a nostalgic, blissed out broken beat affair, were spawned from him finding his first proper studio space in the city, and showcases the 'sound and energy' that this new location stimulated in his creativity and production.

PREMIERE: Seb Wildblood - vitara 3000 [Oath]

The night had been long, the moon would soon disappear to be replaced by the glow of the morning but it would be hard to forget what had come before. How could he when the darkness had engulfed not only the world around him but his very soul itself?

Perhaps this was the way it was meant to be, although it did seem bittersweet that he might get to wake to a brand new day whilst another may not.

This world was a fickle, funny place

And like that the sun rose, another day was born and he had little left to do but to forgive himself once more.

Groundbreaking artist and producer Chris Korda and rising NYC-born/Berlin-based artist and producer André Baum have collaborated on a stellar new EP for alt electronic label Foom. The record showcases both musicians versatility and unique approach to sound design. This track is a reimagined version from the record by Chris Korda.

Forgive The Night

PREMIERE: Chris Korda & André Baum - Forgive Yourself (Chris Korda Version)[Foom]

The sun began to set in the distance, sucking the warmth from the day and leaving a bitter chill in the air. In daylight the landscape was breathtaking but under the veil of darkness everything changed. The hills distorted into new forms, the trees became twisted and contorted, the shapes of the valley morphing and moving as if they were coming to life. The people and animals were different too; it was as though they were under a spell, hypnotised by the glowing moon and the blanket of stars that cascaded overhead.

Terra Magica know their onions. Since launching in spring of 2021, they've served up gem after gem of weirdo club music, welcoming with open arms artists like Rambal Cochet, Poly Chain, Mogwaa and many more to join their psychedelic world. Focusing predominantly on Various Artist releases, their next is more of the same, this time featuring new, unreleased magic from the likes of Tadan, Iro Aka, Moisk and a few nuggets from the label bosses, Mirko Hecktor and Tom Sprenger, individually and under their joint guise Hektisch Sprengen DJs. CLUB TERRAM has got a bit of everything we love: a sprinkle of cosmic goodness, a peppering of acid and some of those Goa trance flavours - very tasty.

PREMIERE: Iro Aka - Deshaper [Terra Magica]

The night was young as they cruised through the backstreets of the downtown neighbourhood. This is where they felt safest and like they could be their utmost self. There were few prying eyes back here and those who dared to wander these alleyways were long beyond saving anyways.

They held hands together as they marched beneath the faint glow of streetlight, music blared from a small boombox perched upon the shoulder of her close friend. She smiled as she caught his eye and winked kindly.

Nothing could beat the echo of drums in the street, the feeling of his hand in hers, it was magical.

If only every night could be like this.

Kito Jempere has collaborated with Adam Evald and Antoha MC on a sleazy disco inspired cut reminiscent of the downtown New York era. This is then beautifully crafted into a further whirlwind by Lipelis, who relishes in the rise and fall of percussion and luxurious vocals.

PREMIERE: Kito Jempere & Adam Evald, Antoha MC - Let’s Hold Our Hands Together (Lipelis Disco Mix)

Along with his globetrotting upbringing, Karthik Poduval's music is a byproduct of growing up as a 90s kid. Particularly his most recent outing, 'Evil Butter', a single alongside vocalist and Lovescene member Private Joy.

It's not only nostalgic 90s dance sounds that fuel his output though; under his Mera Bhai moniker he draws inspiration from his Indian heritage, and his love of disco, acid house, techno and breaks, striving to strike a balance between all the sonics that he loves.

As a multi-instrumentalist, he's also known as one of the founding members of psych group Flamingods, and in more recent years since its inception during the pandemic, as part of the internal team at Daytimers, the UK-based collective championing South Asian underground talent.

Bringing it back to his release schedule, this year is already looking bright. March will see him follow up his debut EP, Futureproofing, which came out via Moshi Moshi a few years back, with Relax Into Yourself, the first outing on his newly minted Morning Raga Records.

Ahead of the EP release we asked him to step up for this week's 'Shine A Light On' mix, which showcases his ability to match seemingly contrasting sounds and flavours. Best served as a warm up for your night out or 'at dusk at a house party', as Karthik advises, we're taken from disco and classic house to UK Garage, techno and jungle with a lovely dose of reverb and delay from his pedals.

Mera Bhai: The 'Shine A Light On' Mix

The night was young but soon this land would be plunged into a foggy blackness which was enough to tease and tickle the senses. It would fall like a thick treacle across the land and the marauders would seek this opportunity to prey upon the weak and vulnerable.

They would run wild through the fields, dancing and taking what they could find along the way.

For what use was it to the rich anyway? 

Loaded up on fun, drunk on dreams, they would soon stash their daggers and begin the walk downhill towards the towns and villages below. This was to be their wildest night yet.

Of Paradise are back with a new EP from Pugilist, a producer who is reimagining the shape of UK Bass culture, drawing upon influences from those who paved the way before and remodelling sounds for a new age. This new EP features a collection of sharp edged tracks, destined to challenge and rumble big systems.

Highly recommended.

PREMIERE: Pugilist - Daggers [Of Paradise]

On the horizon the shapes of the houses and trees began to sharpen as they gathered speed. Dusk was approaching and once the sun went down, there’d be no street lights to guide their way back. It wasn’t safe to be out here at night. They picked up dust, hurtling down the highway as quickly as the car’s ageing engine would take them, it began to grind and gurgle as the pressure on the accelerator reached full tilt. Not long to go, in their race against the setting sun they were close to the finish line.

Sarayu has been a key figure in putting Bangkok on the global music map. The DJ and producer is one of the minds behind Bangkok Community Radio and More Rice Records - a label-turned-record-shop - who's proved to be a dab hand at production too since releasing his debut EP, Pridi, back in 2021. His next is Intelligent Jump Rope Music, an intricate, atmospheric EP for another local imprint, Boiled Wonderland, which follows his track contribution to their Cognition compilation last year which shone a light on underground Thai artists.

PREMIERE: Sarayu - E30 Track [Boiled Wonderland]

It had been a long time coming, the shackles were loosened and the people danced and rejoiced in the streets as if they'd never seen the daylight before.

That night they would gather to celebrate and sing songs from a time long ago, long before all of this. The hardships and the struggles of the recent age would be banished beyond the horizon for at least one night only before the fallout fell down.

This was freedom day, it would go down in history as such forevermore.

Chiwax release a new EP from Re:percussion, a Melbourne duo made up of Mitchell Gee and Jackson Gray who channel elements of classic House and Italo into a wonderful EP which will sound excellent on the beach this summer.

This is what dance music is and should be all about.

PREMIERE: Re: percussion - Freedom Day [Chiwax]

The wind beat heavily against her face, whipping her hair into a frenzy and urging her to squint against its sheer force. Edging closer to the precipice, and peering inquisitively over the cliff face she quickly gulped and shuffled backwards. She considered herself open-minded, up for an adventure, for trying things she'd never tried before, but she had to draw the line somewhere. And this was her line; her 'absolutely not'.

Lithuanian imprint Electric Shapes are no stranger to voyaging through strange, cosmic and alluring sonic terrain to mine for the very best unreleased gems. Their yearly Unreleased Territory compilation gathers artists who are part of their musical orbit, some who you'll see return year on year and others who are fresh faced and make their debuts for the first time. On the fourth instalment of the series, they've gathered a whopping 28 tracks from the likes of Etbonz and Gem Wallow to Dazion and Full Circle who each in turn venture into psychedelic sludge, trance-inducing waters and dark, mysterious lands.

Unreleased Territory vol. 4

PREMIERE: Full Circle - Absolutely Not [Electric Shapes]

Wandering through the desert it was hard to tell what was real and what might be a mirage. For he had been walking for a hellish long time and hadn't seen anything yet which looked like paradise.

As the sun burnt his back and the dust from the sand below stuck to his thickened skin like sticky sickly sugar he wondered whether the trip might have been worth his time in the first place.

"Wild things..." they'd said.

"Beautiful things..." they'd promised.

He ain't seen nothing yet.

Pedro Elías Corro is a producer and DJ from Venezuela, who grew up in the neighbourhood of Catia, in Caracas during the 90's. Inspired by 'minitecas', mobile sound systems, he channeled this energy into a ferocious collection of banging dancefloor tracks which will have you and your neighbour dancing and alarms sounding.

The Tribe (Baila)

PREMIERE: DJ Babatr - Aget Love (Baba Super Mix)[ACA]

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.

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