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25—07—12
Sure Thing’s third release, Inflorescenze, comes from Milano-based artist Atoloi. He’s offered the label a meditative work that reflects upon the tension that arises from polarity: nature and the city-bound sphere of clubbing, weight and levity, the internal world of the artist and his external environment. Inflorescenze moves like a living, breathing organism, or like one undifferentiated process: a circuit with no end and no beginning.
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The sequence of the tracks—and the arrangements themselves—suggest a logical flow: mood and texture gradually intensify through a process of natural unfolding and flourishing. The ambient “Fioritura”—a space-setting arrangement replete with buzzing drone and subdued melody—prepares the mind for what’s to come. “Felce,” then, ushers in a journey of rhythm. It begins simple enough: a hand drum over reverberating synth that lingers in the backdrop like mist. Another rhythm, and another, enters, leading only to a deeper hypnosis. These polyrhythms touch the primordial mind. “Umida Superficie” and “Forma e Cammino” only add potency to the rhythmic environment. Even tracks for the club sphere aren’t disconnected from the work’s conceptual purview; they remain situated within it, catalyzing the deepest state of immersion yet. As the release slows and re-enters the ambient sphere with the spacious, ethereal “Sulle Sensazioni” and the chiming bells of “Chiusura,” we sense we’ve reached the final stretch. Undoubtedly, though, Atoloi’s world will resonate long after we’ve left it.
25—07—12
On their debut 45 for Batov Records, Indonesia-based BABON deliver two irresistible jams, cooked from a recipe full of Indonesian flavours, Afro Latin funk, Morricone grooves, Bollywood breaks and blues, they call “Tropical Desert Music”.
Big Disco Dub 12″ on the obscure Jahtari spin-off Jahmiga, exploring the sweet spot between funk bass and echo chamber with two certified heaters produced by LA axe master Dubsworth and disrupt.
UK dancehall veteran Speng Bond spins a big heart-shaped tale with ‘Empress’ on the A side, meshing his signature ragga-comedy flow with uplifting lofi jazz funk vibes into a sexy anthem that will put a big smile on faces and Reggae sound systems alike.
On the AA-side the enigmatic voice of Domino Slims takes you to an all too familiar scene: the DJ drops your favourite song – but suddenly someone tries to chat you up! ‘Don’t Talk To Me Now!’ can be the only answer when this thumping slap bass epic hits the floor.
Also watch out for the hypnotic Dub cuts, two groove-focused percussive workouts layered with mystical vocal haze by Kimchi Shocka and plenty of Space Dust sparkled on top.
out on JAHTARI — Leipzig, Germany
25—07—09
This music is taken from the soundtrack of two video-installations: “Storie percorse” and “La terra del cielo” by Studio Azzurro Cover and inside art: ‘Loa immages’ painted with computer.
25—06—28
The third offering from Marco Passarani’s Studiomaster label heralds a significant return: M.Chrome. Absent since 1994 when it debuted on Alan Oldham’s Generator, this alias is resurrected to explore new sonic frontiers. While its roots subtly echo a certain legendary Detroit imprint, “Flare Rider” stands as a testament to evolution. This isn’t just an EP; it’s a series of compelling sonic narratives, guiding listeners through techno and house territories. Expect subtle acid inflections, deep cosmic voyages, and a powerful, melancholic harmonic core that defines its distinct planetary landscapes. Best experienced as the sun begins to rise and the vision of distant planets starts to fade!
25—06—26
The Oganesson Remixes EP follows the March 2025 release of the “Oganesson” digital single, which was the first new music released by Tortoise since 2016. The EP includes the original version of “Oganesson” alongside five new remixes of the track created by collaborators and friends of the band, including poet and activist Saul Williams, prolific mastering engineer Heba Kadry, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney, indie music icons Broken Social Scene, and International Anthem labelmate Makaya McCraven. The Oganesson Remixes EP comes ahead of a new album by Tortoise, which will be released this fall via International Anthem and Nonesuch Records.
25—06—25
Since its discovery in the late 90s, Dave Bixby’s legendary $2000 private press album from 1969 is considered by all serious record collectors as the king in the loner/downer folk genre.
After being involved in 60s Michigan folk and garage-rock bands such as The Shillelaghs and Peter & The Prophets, Bixby started playing acoustic guitar and experimenting with LSD. After a year of drug abuse he felt broken. Starting a soul-searching, spiritual journey, he wrote “Ode to Quetzalcoatl” and most of the material for his second album, Harbinger’s “Second Coming” in just one month and a half.
Assisted by fellow musician Brian MacInness, who played some guitar parts on the album, Dave recorded “Quetzalcoatl” using a echo-laden four track machine in a flat’s living room. The sound is lo-fi and sparse: just acoustic guitars and some occasional harmonica & flute, added to Bixby’s haunting, emotional vocals, spiritual lyrics and solid songwriting. The opening cut, the eerie and painful “Drug Song” sets the mood perfectly for the rest of the album which contains more tormented titles like “666” , “Lonely faces”, Open Doors”, “Secret forest”…Never an acoustic folk album sounded so intense as this.