Electronic & Dance 335 Items

Classic South African house / Kwaito album on vinyl for the first time ! Originally released on CD in 1995, this album which is associated with the birth of South African street music genre – ‘Kwaito’ and dance/dress style ‘Pantsula’ is now remastered for vinyl from the original tapes – resulting in the best sounding version of the recording to date.

Regarded as one of the earliest full length Kwaito albums, ‘Sigiya Ngengoma’ was released just one year into South Africa’s new democracy in 1995. Characterised by ‘mid-tempo’ beats, heavy bass hooks, adapted breakdancing and vocals in informal Zulu and other South African languages; ‘Sigiya Ngengoma’ would form a critical part of the South African street music movement that now has its own fashion, crews and dance style.

It helped post-democratic South Africa define its own musical identity and would pave the way for other Kwaito releases that ultimately led to the emergence of Amapiano years later.

The NID Tapes’ presents a collection of early Indian electronic music uncovered at the archives of the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad. Recorded between 1969-1972 the compilation chronicles electronic works from the previously unknown Indian composers Gita Sarabhai, I.S. Mathur, Atul Desai, S.C. Shama and Jinraj Joshipura who worked at the nation’s first electronic music studio founded at the NID during the utopian years following India’s independence - a radical period of visionary experimentation and artistic freethought.

The studio was founded with support from the New York composer David Tudor who personally set up a Moog modular system and tape machine in the autumn of 1969, and The NID Tapes also includes an excerpt from Tudor’s work discovered amongst the collection of tapes. The release developed from a long-term research project by the British artist and electronic musician Paul Purgas who travelled to Ahmedabad over many years to explore the origins of electronic music in India. This resulted in the discovery of the electronic music archive at the NID and its eventual restoration and digitising, which featured in the acclaimed BBC radio documentary Electronic India.

The compilation presents excerpts from the 27 reels of archive tape spanning the three years of the studio's operational history, showcasing work from the pioneering electronic composers which included the musician and poet Atul Desai, NID teachers and technicians I.S. Mathur and S.C. Shama, Gita Sarabhai who had previously studied with John Cage in New York in the 1940's and the young architecture student Jinraj Joshipura who was just 19 years old at the time of first composing with the Moog synthesiser. The audio showcases their various visions for electronic music production, exploring analogue synthesis, tape collages, voice experiments and field recordings revealing a meeting point of Western and Indian avant-garde traditions, and offering a unique insight into South Asia’s post-colonial sonic imaginary. The vinyl and digital is a collaborative release by Strange Attractor Press and The state51 Conspiracy and has been mastered by Hari Shankar Kishore (hvad) with design for the release and a vinyl etching created by Shreya Aurora a recent graduate from the National Institute of Design.

Launching at the same time through Strange Attractor Press will be a book titled ‘Suncontentinental Synthesis: Electronic Music at the National Institute of Design, India 1969–1972’. Edited by Paul Purgas this collection of critical essays will reflect on the larger cultural and political dialogues surrounding the studio as well as written contributions by Geeta Dayal, You Nakai, Rahila Haque and Jinraj Joshipura the last surviving composer from the NID.

Acclaimed electronic music artist Rhys Fulber returns to Sonic Groove with his latest album, "Balance Of Fear". Once again, Rhys delivers a masterfully crafted selection of eight songs that seamlessly blend techno, industrial, electro, and EBM elements, layered with thought-provoking atmospheric melodies. The album serves as a soundtrack for navigating through dark times, decaying cultures, the misuse of technology, the erosion of social structures, manipulated spirituality, and the consequences of disaster capitalism. To stay afloat in these turbulent floodwaters, one requires a "Balance of Fear".

Two versions available - limited hand numbered (100 copies) of red vinyl and normal black vinyl version.

"Balance", the artist's third album, is a return to the roots, i.e. towards club sounds - on the album you can hear several amazing guests - Dominik Płonek, Yana, Dizkret, Runforrest, Einar Indra from Iceland and DJ Eprom. A unique mix of artpop with sophisticated electronics, which Envee brought together with its amazing mixing and mastering. For dessert, Barrakuz, which took the title "Balance" from Wojtek Koziar's photo to a new dimension with its collage. Everything is perfect on this album.

DC Salas returns to his own Higher Hopes imprint with the ‘Pixelated Dream Theory’ EP. A club-centric, no nonsense four tracker, the EP is a collage of influences drawn from various strands of dance music knitted together in Salas’ imitable style.

Kicking off proceedings we have the aptly named ‘Acid Breathe’, a brooding number punctuated by spooky synth work and a gnarly (you guessed it) acid line that sets the tone for a release loaded with peak time madness. Next we have the title track ‘Pixelated Dream Theory’, a track that nods back to the rich heritage of the Belgian underground, effortlessly fusing some of the key motifs of New Beat & EBM with a modern perspective.

The B-side opens with a secret weapon of Eclair Fifi's ‘Blaes’. Named after the street Fuse is situated on, it is crafted with the institution’s dancefloor in mind. A bassbin warping, head spinning affair that’s sure to be a critical part of DJs sets throughout spring and beyond into summer. For the EP’s final stanza we have the impressive ‘Phased Dance’. A suitable closer, the track leans slightly more into house than previous offering with flourishes of progressive, balearic all whilst maintaining the chugging fundamentals of the EP, teasing whats to follow with Salas’ planning a new album for the second half of 2024.

12" compilation with new tracks by Eoism, Voertuig, Colkin and a lost gem by Peter Seiler featuring Sheryl Hackett. Picture sleeve with a bold artwork based on a sculpture by Hede Bühl. Limited to 500 copies.

Label text:

"Colkin (Raw Soul, Mauke Club) kicks off the a-side with a spheric acid house meditation. Next is a track by Peter Seiler which could be found on the extended reissue of his 'Flying Frames' debut LP on Innovative Communication in 1989. It features the soulful voice of Sheryl Hackett. An extraordinary groover that is meandering between song and jazz improvisation. Eoism (Pulse Drift, Undersound, Inch By Inch) complete the a-side with some low-swung electro flavors, driving you straight into sunset.

On the b-side Voertuig (Tonal Oceans, Cobra Club) hit us with a serious and raw acid jam - dark and dirty. On the following track they show us their experimental jazzy side and cool things down again. A track the 1990s downbeat era was missing. Eoism close the first volume of Futur with a floating, futuristic banger from their lab.

Benedikt Meger's aspiration for funkscapes was always to feature funk grooves, old and new, fresh and relevant for today. Whether some rare, not so rare or just under the radar recordings from the past or new productions from today's artists across different electronic genres. This idea now culminates into the selection for the compilation Futur.

Enjoy the ride."

(Japanese pressing, Official reissue) Brilliant synth prog weirdness from the late 1970s Tokyo. Recorded by the guitarist Akio Niitsu who was compared, not without reason, to Manuel Göttsching. Niitsu has a fairly small discography of only three full-length albums, but his second one - “Pet Step” - was on Tomita’s label and supposedly with the involvement of Haruomi Hosono (this is according to Chee Shimizu who lists it in his “Obscure Music”).

Akio Niitsu's first album, "i/o(i･o)" released in 1978, was produced in a homemade studio that had been converted from a storeroom in his home, and he spent three years doing everything from composition to engineering by himself, using overdubbed guitar recordings. 's first analog re-release has been decided.As a guitar multi-recording album, the idea was realized six years earlier than the album "e2-e4" released in 1984 by Manuel Göttsching, the central figure of "Ash La Tempel", but it was too early. A hidden experimental/ambient gem!The paradoxical sound that makes you feel as if you are lost deep in a labyrinthine forest, combined with Tadanori Yokoo's artwork, is a piece that allows you to enjoy Akio Niitsu's worldview with your ears and eyes.

The lead cut "the Arrival" layers shouted exaltations alongside hand drums, scratchy guitar licks & deep chords. "the Offering" adds some latin flair while "the Awakening" provides electric piano with haunting vocals. On the flip you can find 2 different remixes of the "Offering" by the Teflon Dons. Coming soon—late June—so order Asap.

Long ago there were two enchantresses who journeyed into the centre of the Forest taking the left-hand path into darkness.

Forest Witches are Sun Choi and S.O.N.S

One of the most sought after old skool anthems ever, You Got Me dominated dancefloors for all of 1993 and 1994, and remains an undisputed classic of the genre. Lovingly repressed from DAT, this blue vinyl version is limited in stock.

Essex-based Nasty Rhythm is a raver from the good old days who turned his hand to making music a few years back during UKs lockdowns, causing a minor sensation on youtube after uploading his very first track. The raving spirit shines through brightly here, capturing the vibe of 1992 hardcore like lightning in a bottle on the 2 original A side tracks. Backed with pumped up remixes from The DJ Producer and Rognvald the whole EP provides a breakneck trip along the hardcore continuum.

Hypnotic drum dervishes by HHY & The Macumbas, pursuing a killer Nyege Nyege Tapes retrospective with the debut shot on their Horror Vector label. Tweaking springy rhythmic workouts with sinewy dub processes that bring the B-movie/VHS horror influence right to the fore, it’s a delirious set tipped if yr into CZN, Konono No.1, Shackleton, Raja Kirik, Metal Preyers, Adrian Sherwood.

Helmed by Jonathan Saldana and counting crack percussionist João Pais Filipe (czn) in the quintet of drums, subs, and noise, HHY & The Macumbas are prized for their thunderous energy, and ‘Bom Sangue Mau' (good bad blood) was recorded on stage in an empty theatre with a full soundsystem, lighting rig and smoke machines, to better capture the vibe.

Fixed in place with post-production and mixing at their Skull Cave Studio, the results represent the band in swingeing effect, knotting gnawing and bittersweet noise and see-sawing trance arps to thunderous rhythms inspired by myriad Black Atlantic traditions: West and Central African, Haitian, Brazilian. At its best, the record sounds like a deranged cross between John Carpenter and Adrian Sherwood, a Stroom or Finders Keepers oddity that's been re-imagined for a snuff theatre performance like some darkside wormhole that pushes rhythmic and sonic intensity into carnivalesque new places.

Analog synths and brass fanfares cut into 4/4 thuds and rattling skins on 'Via Negativa', sounding like the introduction to a technicolor '70s zombie flick, while 'Mão Esquerda' deploys ugly hardstyle squeals sandwiched between rubbery bass, and 'Serpente Explícita' is a humid fever dream - ominous, creeping synths and a hand drum that keeps building in intensity until it's ruptured by garbled voices and unsettling strings. ‘Fundição Termal Caçada’ is a militaristic death rattle that evolves into a synth-led burner before roaring with blood-curdling, brassy terror. And on the brilliantly titled 'Porno Perpetuum', they take on exploitation and sleaze soundtracks, cutting their frenetic drumming with animalistic screams and macabre whispers.

It's a haunted boat ride down the uncharted tributaries of an unknown continent, colourfully rendered by an artist who's at the top of his game right now.

Planetary Assault Systems is one of UK techno innovator Luke Slater's most enduring aliases, a project focused on forward-thinking techno with maximum cerebral impact.For his first new music as Planetary Assault Systems in several years, and the 70th release on his own Mote-Evolver label, he heads full throttle into the deep dark recesses of the club.

Zillas on Acid don’t hold back on their Neubau debut release, offering four brute tracks that could easily also work for soundtracking a dystopian science fiction movie.

Spanish artist PWCCA continue rising his profile around a prolific but solid discography. 'Cultura' is his addition for Semantica inprint; a first 12" shaped by reminiscent of techno purity, minimalism and hard education.

More Brazilian brilliance from Barefoot Beats...

Man of the moment, Aroop Roy takes a break from his busy touring schedule to serve up a super cool slice of deeply hypnotic magic. Totally bem gelada!

On the flip side, Belem born, but now Sao Paulo based DJ and producer Bernardo Pinheiro returns to Barefoot Beats and absolutely destroys the dance floor with this peak-time euphoric Brazilian Disco anthem.

All delivered on beautiful, LTD edition 10inch vinyl pressing.

BELEZAAAAAA!

Vamos!

Alwanzatar is a one-man musical project (Krizla from Norwegian cult heroes Tusmørke) creating extraterrestrial world music, with flute, incantations, synthesizers and electronics. This is Alwanzatar’s sixth album, performed on synthesizers and flute. Engsyre is dance music for the faery folk feasting in the woods, where the murmur of the city falls silent, and the booming bass of dreams takes over. It is the slow pulse of the blood in the ground, life sliding through roots of hungry trees, the scurrying movements of living creatures that do no wish to be seen. Hidden, until they show themselves in awesome splendour and sound reverberates in the hills.

Legendary dancefloors and legendary artists as the very own Samuel L Session who is back with a standout vinyl release. Elevate your music collection with this special work filled with Samuel’s sounds. It’s been 19 years since the last SLS vinyl and he wants to make a statement by releasing on his worldwide well-known label. It’s an unique masterpiece and it’s going to be the one everyone wants to have.