The vinyl-only imprint has reversed its decision to limit output to physical releases as well as forgo its share of digital income in order to aid its artists during the current crisis.
‘I’ve always stood by the choice of vinyl-only releases in the face of being called elitist and now I’m going to be called a hypocrite by some who feel it devalues their vinyl purchases but some of the artists I’m working with have lost most of their income so, fuck it, this needs to happen and we’ll return to vinyl-only in future’ says label founder and Posthuman member, Josh Doherty.
The label’s catalogue, bar a handful of releases, is now available via the label’s Bandcamp Page with all funds going directly to the artists involved.
ILA001 – Room 13 (aka DMX Krew & Bass Junkie) ILA002 – Affie Yusuf ILA003 – Luke Vibert ILA004 – Jerome Hill ILA005 – Posthuman ILA006 – Global Goon ILA009 – Cardopusher ILA011 – Ben Pest ILA012 – Luke Vibert ILA013 – Posthuman ILA015 – Snuff Crew ILA018 – Nehuen ILA020 – Luke Vibert – Valvable
Artist: Joe Rolét Title: Maximum Width EP Remixer: Rich NxT Label: Infuse Cat. #: INFUSE041 Format: Vinyl / Digital Release Date: 10th April 2020 Tracklist
Maximum Width
Rounding
Maximum Width (Rich NxT Remix)
Amber Road
Planetary Notions boss Joe Rolét debuts on Infuse to open April with his ‘Maximum Width’ EP, backed by a remix from Rich NxT.
A rising name within his home city of London, Joe Rolét is a DJ and producer whose passion for subbed out club music with a cosmic twist has seen him become one of the scenes hotly tipped talents – a sound that’s also reflected in full via his bubbling label, Planetary Notions. Releasing music from artists such as Per Hammar, Lopaski, stevn.aint.leavn and Desert Sound Colony whilst welcoming the likes of Vlad Caia and more to join as guests on the imprint’s Rinse FM show, 2020 now sees Rolét follow up releases via Beeyou, Courtesy Of Balance and his own Planetary Notions imprint as he makes a debut label appearance on Infuse with his ‘Maximum Width’ EP this April, accompanied by a remix of the title cut provided from FUSE resident Rich NxT.
Lead cut ‘Maximum Width’ sees Rolét introduce his blend of slinking, reduced grooves atop of bumping low-ends whilst working an infectious vocal throughout, whilst ‘Rounding’ sees warped synths, off-kilter melodies and further tripped out vocal snippets come to the fore. On the flip, FUSE favourite Rich NxT puts his stamp on the title track in impressive fashion as he raises the tempo and introduces sizzling bass stabs and rolling hats, before rounding out proceedings with the hypnotic ‘Amber Road’ – a paired back cut that harnesses soaring sci-fi leads and wriggling percussion arrangements to great effect to shape up an impressive debut offering.
In light of the current Covid-19 Pandemic Studio Enisslab headed up by Italian DJ / Producer and Live Act Neel has announced the release of a very special 56 track charity compilation project, fundraising for The Red Cross, who are working extremely hard alongside health services internationally that are feeling the effects of the corona-virus outbreak the most right now.
This special release features over 6 hours of previously unreleased and unheard material, where an all star cast of artists were encouraged to share and produce music that reflects this time we are living in.
Neel, who is one half of live duo Voices From The Lake, and LF58 speaks out on behalf of the initiative, organised in collaboration with improvised live project Circle Of Live, and visual art collective Sbagliato. He explains:
“In this situation we all need to look after each other and this project is a start. I wanted to reach as many people as possible to spread this message, so I started to share the idea personally with lots of artists and the response was amazing. I wanted them to take their time with whichever tools they had available at home to produce some music that reflects this time we are living in, a contribution for this special project and to portray a special message.”
The project’s cover art image brought to you by visual art collective Sbagliato shows pictures of windows of houses and studios taken by the artists themselves: 56 musicians, 56 windows, 56 tracks shape a new place of sharing.
Tracklist Adiel – In The End Agonis – Eternal Silence Alessandro Cortini – Ridopiango Anthony Linell – Concordia BMG – The Needle Crossing Avenue – Ultimi Giorni Caterina Barbieri – Clessidra Cuna – 1,5 M D-Leria – Landed In Another Place Desroi – Lavender Dino Sabatini – Mascherina Distant Echoes & Buck – 40:16. Dj Nobu – Our Drums Donato Dozzy – Let It Go Emanuele Cefali – Prora Erika – Xenon Moon Eva Geist – Tun Fabrizio Lapiana – Contact Filippo Scorcucchi – Visione Forest Drive West – Dune Giorgio Gigli & Lunatik – Pròdromo Grand River – Chambers Johanna Knuttsson – Paltanen Laertes – Cerbero Laurence Guy – Try To Understand Leafar Legov – Willow Lucy – Window Glows Luigi Tozzi – A New Hope Marco Shuttle – 100 Mathew Jonson – Horns For Life Mike Parker – Siren’s Theme Monodogue – Ustali 2 Natural/Electronic.System. – Daydreaming Neel – A Thought Without Time Organic Dial – Rhomb Peter Van Hoesen – Faultline PRG/M – Preludio R2π – Indoor Outlook Rabih Beaini – Cyclops Retina.It – Cult Of Violence Passion Roberto Bosco – No Tears, No Fear Rødhåd – Leashed Sciahri – Senseless Rain Sebastian Mullaert – Phosphenes Shifted – Leave Me Cold Sigha – Ae3am Simone Giudige – Transizione Somne – Quarantine City Steevio – Collapsing Systems TM404 – Covid Tobias. – Keep On Sleeping Valentino Mora – Eau Varg2™ – L.A.M Voices From The Lake – Prima Luna VRIL – Missin Wata Igarashi – Las Ventanas Abiertas
DGTL was supposed to create history on 11 and 12 April 2020 with the first circularly organized festival. Coronavirus threw a spanner in the works, making the event at the NDSM docklands impossible. However it is not in the DNA of DGTL to throw in the towel. To ensure that both DGTL visitors and the people who weren’t lucky enough to get a ticket get through the Easter weekend in festival mood, DGTL has organized the world’s largest online festival.
These are tough times for festival lovers, artists, DJs and organizations. Just as DGTL was set to kick off the festival season, everything collapsed. Based on the motto “we’re in this together” and out of pure love for house music, DGTL has organized an online alternative in record time. Spread over multiple digital stages, DGTL will host the world’s largest online festival; DIGITAL DGTL on April 11 and 12. Over two days anyone watching will be able to transform their living room into a festival area and at the same time maintain that all important “social distance”. The organization would like to underline the fact that online visitors to DIGITAL DGTL will experience the festival from their quarantined homes and save their dance with friends for DGTL 2021.
With the digital festival, DGTL makes a virtue of necessity and still makes history, albeit in a different way. For two days, sets are streamed from, among others:
Adriatique | Afra | Ana Lilia | Deniro | Jasper Wolff | JEANS | JP Enfant | Julianna | KI/KI | KiNK | Kléo | Luuk van Dijk | Mary Lake | Mella Dee | Mind Against | Nicky Elisabeth | Nicolas Lutz | Ø [Phase] | Pascal Benjamin | Patrice Bäumel | Perdu | Pieter Jansen | Prunk| Tom Trago | Worakls | Working Titles
As befits a real festival, several stages are streamed simultaneously. In collaboration with video streaming partners NOMOBO and Absolut, DGTL allows visitors to switch between the various streams via digital.dgtl.nl. DGTL has approached their digital edition with as much attention to detail as they do their real festival, creating unique live content during the festival days, producing daily recaps and offering fans pre-event messages, Revolution talks and Q&As about sustainability throughout the weekend.
DGTL is already preparing for a full comeback in 2021 but this can only happen if the industry is healthy and this pandemic is brought under control worldwide. This is why DGTL calls on all fans and viewers to make a donation to hospital Erasmus MC during the online edition to develop a vaccine and medicines to fight the coronavirus. #KeepDistanceStayDGTL
Artist: The Lumens Title: Joy EP Label: Positive Not Happy Cat. #: PNH01 Format Vinyl only Release Date: May 4th 2020 Tracklist: A1. Joy A2. Joy (Stephan Bazbaz Goa Mix) B1. Casa Acida B2. Casa Acida (Thomas A.S. Remix)
New imprint Positive Not Happy debuts with a fantastic EP from Milan-based label owners The Lumens with remixes from Stephan Bazbaz and Thomas A.S.
The Lumens are DJ producers who have played all over Europe with their spiky energy and hard-hitting grooves standing them apart. They are also promoters behind some of Milan’s most exciting underground events including Phoenix Room, Pennyroyal After Tea and Electronic Barbecue. Their new, vinyl-only label will release music that fits with the name – a blend of house, techno, electronica and acid elements with high energy and psychedelic influences. It will come from close friends and collaborators from their local community as well as international guests and makes a brilliant start.
They open up with ‘Joy’ an expansive house track with techno leaning drums. The swirling synths add a grand sense of space and scale and the subtle, well-designed details are what keep you locked in. No Waves Records boss and Rebellion associate Stephan Bazbaz steps up to deliver a slamming remix, in which he mixes goa-trance elements with a powerful, straight-up house beat. It’s a real weapon.
The superb ‘Casa Acida’ then sinks into a deeper, dubbier groove with lush wet claps but pounding kicks making for an intense groove. Plenty of warped synths bring a cosmic and late-night feel to finish things in style. Thomas A.S. completes the package with a lush interpretation that goes deep and bubbly, with mellow synth sequences melting into the groove and taking you with it.
Say the bosses of this new venture, ”positivity is the dynamic way to reach static happiness, always think positive to be happy!” With music this good, it will be smiles all round.
DGTL Records proudly serves up Volume Two of its Various Artists compilation series this spring.
By now, DGTL is well known for its immersive, forward facing festivals around the world, and the label deals in the same sort of quality – house, techno and electro from a mix of hot new talents and enduring mainstays. The music is all coming from local artists of all the cities they have DGTL in, and they wanted to showcase this exciting talent and give them an extra podium with this VA. To that end, Perdu, Colyn, Magit Cacoon, FM Live, Yotam Avni and more all appear on this superb 12 track collection.
Lovshai kicks off with the boogie bass and cosmic, future facing deep techno of Solo before FM serves up some smooth, seductive Detroit house that ripples with lush late-night energy. Dutchman Perdu offers The Light Within, which is an 80s tinged house track with old school chords and future-retro keys, Sanguine from Pin Up Club is a sleazier synth house affair with angular riffs, and Jenia Tarsol & Fortis’s Baolam is a sweet cosmic prog adventure.
Brazil’s Vermelho Wonder then offers the edgy astral techno journey that is Espetáculos Extraordinários and Colyn gets masterfully melodic on a series of skyward arps that lift you to the heavens. Elsewhere there is edgy grooves from Magic Cacoon, deep disco house from Sjamsoedin and floating techno from Yotam Avni that gets you in a trance. Davis’s slick sci-fi electro track Vestido De Espaço and the tunnelling and hypotonic techno of PØLI & Lorenzo Raganzini’s Velo closes things down in real style.
Once again this is a fine window into the unique musical world of this essential Dutch crew.
Artist: Various Title: BANGERS Vol. 4 Label: Terminal M Cat. #: TERM181 Release Date: 04.05.2020 Tracklist: A1: Beico – Bleeding Heart A2: OC & Verde – Magicians Of The Gods B1: Oscar Escapa & Lander B – Backroom B2: Rudosa – Reactor 4
It’s time to bang again! Please welcome Beico (solo), Rudosa, Oscar Escapa & Lander B and OC & Verde who deliver us some serious banging tracks! bang it out!
Artist: AND.ID Title: Player Remixer: Argy Label: Gruuv Cat. #: GRU104 Format: Digital Release Date: 24th April 2020 Tracklist Player Apollo 20 Apollo 20 (Argy’s ‘Club Ready’ Mix) Smokes
AND.ID heads to Gruuv to close April as he reveals his latest EP ‘Player’, backed by a remix from Argy.
Ever-impressing Greek producer and live performer Andreas Dimitriadis, aka AND.ID, has grown to become one of the most consistent talents within the house and techno sphere since making his debut over a decade ago. A regular on revered Berlin imprint Mobilee, with sets at some of the world’s most illustrious venues including fabric and Panorama Bar, and festival appearances at the likes of Sonar, Nuits Sonores and Reworks, April now welcomes a label debut on Audiojack’s Gruuv imprint as he delivers three original cuts in the form of his ‘Player’ EP, accompanied by a remix from London-based talent Argy.
Lead track ‘Player’ welcomes a fusion of influences as deep, dubby chords float amongst metallic percussion and swirling bass licks, whilst ‘Apollo 20’ ups the energy as slinking drum grooves meet soaring synths, delicate stabs and decayed sweeps throughout. Next up, UK talent Argy delivers his lively take on ‘Apollo 20’, utilising the original’s driving undertones whilst layering infectious vocals and slick snare rolls atop, before closing proceedings with third original production ‘Smokes’ – a hypnotic and warping up-front production harnessing chunky basslines, hefty kicks and scintillating hats to close the package with authority.
Out of darkness can only come light. ‘Unity’ is a 31-track opus, a symbol of togetherness curated by Tale Of Us, including artists already on Afterlife and some new names to the label. Accompanied by a continuous journey through this new music, mixed by Tale Of Us, we hope this compilation brings some escape at a challenging time.
It is more important than ever that we stand together and do what we can to help our loved ones, our communities and humanity as a whole. All profits from ‘Unity’ will be donated to the Coronavirus medical relief fund (bit.ly/2WJ8roB) of the most heavily-affected region so far, Lombardy in Italy. It is a cause particularly close to the hearts of us all at Afterlife.
Tale Of Us cover the full spectrum of Afterlife sounds, from stirring, sunrise epics and eyes-down techno to more inward-looking moments, individually expressing a collective vision. Crystalline melodies and emotive oscillations connect each work and form the strands which Tale Of Us weave into a momentous Voyage. From the opening tones of the label founders’ own track ‘Alone’, every turn flows further into the Realm Of Consciousness, an unbounded dimension which ends in light.
Artist: Dennis Quin feat. Kerri Chandler & Troy Denari Title: Be Strong Label: Madhouse Records Cat. #: KCTDL1195 Format: Digital Release: 3rd April 2020 (Main Package) / 24th April 2020 (Club Mix) Tracklist Be Strong (Vocal Mix) Be Strong (Dennis Quin’s Dub) Be Strong (Key-a-pella)
Dennis Quin partners with vocalist Troy Denari and Madhouse Records founder Kerri Chandler to deliver ‘Be Strong’ to open April.
A rising star within the Dutch and global house scene, Dennis Quin’s rapid rise is one which has had a who’s who of the industry’s leading names taking note, from The Black Madonna and Laurent Garnier to The Martinez Brothers, Joris Voorn and Jamie Jones. Above all however, it’s Kerri Chandler’s influence which is the most notable, with the legendary house music icon ‘taking Quin under his wing’, resulting in a string of stand-out releases to date via his Madhouse Records imprint. Having touched down on the label in August 2019, early-April now sees Quin combine with Chandler for the very first time alongside fellow Dutchman Troy Denari to bring a special project to the label as they reveal the emotive ‘Be Strong’ – a track dedicated to Quin’s late mother.
“This is by far the most precious and special project I have made to date. It is my sincere wish that the message this song shares can be passed on.” – Dennis Quin
Opening with the slick ‘Vocal Mix’, Quin, Chandler and Denari’s ‘Be Strong’ quickly reveals a blissful slice of house music guided by rich melodies, bright keys and affectionate vocals, before diving into Quin’s own dub as he strips proceedings back to the bare minimum and lays the focus on snaking grooves amongst organic drum licks. Last up, the aptly named ‘Key-a-pella’ rounds out proceedings as a flurry of infectious piano melodies take hold of the production alongside Denari’s powerful vocals and soaring strings to shape up the package in classy fashion.
‘Be Strong’ will also welcome the release of a ‘Club Mix’ on 24th April, featuring a combination of shuffling percussion, slinking hats and infectious stabs throughout – a cut that’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for.
