+ FEBRUARY 2025 PART I

Combining a passion for melodic psych and darkwave, Red Telephone’s 2023 debut album ‘Hollowing Out’ was described by Clash Music as “Gritty, brilliantly dark and expansive. A deliciously dark, mesmerising and a dystopian-tinged sonic palette that could have been heard in Bowie’s Berlin in the late 1970’s. An impressive and masterful debut.” 

Hailing from Cardiff, the multi-instrumentalists with two sets of brothers in their ranks released their first two singles as a double A-side vinyl on Welsh cult label Popty-Ping and have been championed by Huw Stephens & Steve Lamacq. The five-piece recently finished recording their second album, which is due for release in October 2024.

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“Gritty, brilliantly dark and expansive. A deliciously dark, mesmerising and a dystopian-tinged sonic palette that could have been heard in Bowie’s Berlin in the late 1970’s. An impressive and masterful debut.” - Clash Music

“Very nicely layered. Has a bit of early 80s melodrama; a sort of Pet Shop Boys croon and a Krautrock halo.” – Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music

“They have the potential to soundtrack a generation.” – Drowned in Sound

“Something brilliantly dark about this, with their synth psych noir with a pulse. Real potential to go big.” - Chris Hawkins, BBC 6 Music

“With music as smart as their aesthetic, Cardiff’s Red Telephone are making neo-noir sounds that could have made it onto the ‘Drive’ soundtrack.” – Gigwise

Delay the New Day

Faithful

Yong-Gwanglo Part Two

Change My Mind (feat. Camilla Florentz)

Dead Stars

No Shame

Welcome to My Blue Sky

I Want You (Fever)

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory

I Can’t Imagine (Why You Feel This Way)

Taxi Man

TIME

Shir Khan Presents Welt Am Draht - a collection of Exploited dancefloor gold from 2024!
'Sex!' by duo Modular Project rolls out a neat and classy groove as the sturdy bones of a Disco beat thump under a snake-hip bass, serrated acid line and bold, unfiltered piano chords.
Bearing flecks of Krautrock, Indie, Electronica and Funk, Made In TLV's 'Super Cool' is an anthem that traverses vast sonic territory.
Diar Storm, Lost Boy 1984, Play Paul present a modern form of Dark Wave Electro that is, equal parts stroppy and sexy. 'Everything So' emits cathartic steam as vibrant synths burst with bittersweet chords and jagged staccato tones.
'Tainted In The Sun' by Niv Ast kicks off with a Manchester chorus beaming out over stroppy power chords.
Gary Numan’s cross-continental hit 'Cars' from 1979 has been covered, sampled and reworked from vastly different pockets of the industry. Now - Laroz presents a rejuvenation of ’Cars’.
'Infinity' by Budakid is a journey in the truest sense of the word. Through an effervescent bass sequence, clever filter control and kinetic drum work, Budakid generates consistent motion from start to finish.
'Falling For You' by Komilev dials in that Panorama vibe packed with effervescent drama, soul and sass.
'Rompe Disco’ by Alex Medina bumps like House and glistens like an Italo whilst also exuding the moxie of Reggaeton.
'Foreign Affairs' by Micropacer follows with more early 80s flair.
Pole Position of Brunch In The Park Barcelona fame channel their complementary energies into 'Diamonds'; a recording inspired by Electro House that deftly straddles 80s New Wave, Prog and Indie.
Moodymanc's 'Joy' twists Philadelphia soul sounds into a peak time house monster. Now re-edited for modern times in a special Breakbeat version.
São Paulo based Renato Cohen fires up his arsenal of analogue gear and adds a bright and burly Italo cut with ’Lemon Key’.
Zeynep Erbay’s ’Neon Palm’ sits comfortably alongside modern Indie Dance, Italo Disco and House alike.
Slump Recordings boss Baby Rollén’s ’Feeling Mumbled’ Remix is an ultimately playable DJ tool; one that renders an after hours sunrise as chords bounce of the tracks surface like rays of light while tight, nifty shuffles interlock with a bouncing bass line.
Austin Ato fleshes out some deliciously hallucinogenic Italo synths in his Remix version of ’Super Cool’ by Made In TLV.
’Acid Infatuation’ by Levantine is a sound that occupies a sweet spot between Eurodance and Italo.
Black Hawks of Panama steps in with ’Wrapped’.The ingredients are simple: a slapping disco kit, Alpha Juno, zesty guitar licks and an anthemic vocal. The result is a contagious Italo march that burrows deep under the skin; put simply - a slice of pure rapture.
'Good Times' by Renato Cohen sparks things up with bright, muscular drums that pave the way for a rasping bass line - a killer DJ tool. Raw energy is spat out while snares clash and vocals march along with an intensity that doesn't let up.
Captain Mustache’s ’Diavola’ flexes low-mid tones warble in lock step with strapping drums and an earworm synth line.
’Heart Life' by NEAT adds a further facet to the compilation with an allaying Italo-tinged groove.
In ’Neonim’ by Laroz, a gently jagged bass line bubbles away, creating a buoyant bed for expertly crafted drums which pop out with expressive alacrity. Dulcet piano tones form a bond with amber-tinged synths as warming soundscape is developed.
James Curd throws a dart straight to the dance floor with the jazz-tinged House jam ’Feeling Mumbled’ built from a classy palette of samples.
Sandhog closes the album with the highly memorable recording 'Berlin' that speaks to the power of simplicity.
Artist: Various Artists
Release: Shir Khan Presents Welt Am Draht 2024
Label: Exploited
LC: 15799
Cat: EXPDIGITAL260
Publishing: Exploited Ghetto Music Publishing/Sony ATV
Beatport Pre-order: 17.01.25
Release Date Streaming/Global Download: 31.01.25

+ FEBRUARY 2025 PART I

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