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Review: Konerytmi is quite a productive name in electro the last few years and in just a handful of earth cycles, the output of this Russian born audio warrior has reached staggering levels. Thankfully, the quality is there giving fans the joy to discover so much from him. One that definitely should be in your wantlist is the Saaristo EP. 'Hiekkalinna' is really good example at the strategy he employs when making tracks. 'Kesakauri' and 'Avaruukisko' add a bit of 80s nostalgia with some darker synth lines and an EBM balance to the electro. The title track ends the EP on a melancholy note and is perhaps, our favorite of the four. Konerytmi continues to give us terrific electro to enjoy.

Notes: ***B-STOCK: Box damaged, product in perfect working order***


Second-gen version of the excellent Opsix features major updates including 64-voice polyphony and an improved interface. Same powerful six-operator FM synth engine.

Supplier's Notes:
A Full-Spectrum Sound Experience

Opsix mk II is a digital synth like no other. Based on the sound engine of the original Opsix, the number of simultaneous voices and voicings has been expanded to an astounding 64 voices. The result is superior performance and precise control.

The Opsix Operator Mixer simplified FM synthesis for the first time, making it not just comprehensible but also controllable. With the addition of extra synthesis capabilities and programming, it offered a more efficient workflow and an even richer sound.

And, it is fully compatible with the sounds and samples from both the original opsix and the opsix Native software, including numerous high-quality libraries.

Evolved to an astounding 64 voices

The Opsix mk II has 64 voices, twice as many as the original 32 voices, allowing users to enjoy tone editing without having to worry about the number of simultaneous voices. In addition, the operator-mixer section, the most distinctive feature of this product, has been accented with a new image colour, green.

Get Illuminated with the Operator Mixer

At the heart of every sound is Opsix mk II's Operator Mixer - a simple set of six faders and knobs that invite exploration. Each part lights up red to indicate carriers or blue for modulators. Manipulating them opens up new sound-shaping possibilities to breathe fresh life into your musical ideas. This straightforward, hands-on workflow is part of what makes Opsix mk II so unique, just like the sounds it offers.

Direct Hands-On Control

Whether you're tweaking a preset or building a patch from the ground up, the six data entry knobs on the right give you quick access to the parameters you need and seamlessly sync with the large OLED display, giving you a clear, focused direction to your workflow. Coupled with the mixer, it makes creating fresh sounds super easy and, most importantly, fun!

Select from a full range of analogue-style filters, from the radical Korg MS-20 low-pass/high-pass filter to the powerful yet smooth KORG Polysix low-pass filter that gives your sound a vintage feel. There are also two or four-pole low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and band-reject filters with resonance.

There's even a built-in spectrum analyser and oscilloscope that gives you visual feedback via the screen on the music you're making.

Six in One Synthesis

The core of Opsix mk II is nothing short of exponential. Since waveforms can be arranged and modulated in nearly infinite ways, Opsix mk II can easily do the sonic work that is similar to numerous types of synthesis:

Subtractive

Removing parts of the sound to get the sound you want; the most widely-used synthesis. Opsix mk II uses up to six envelopes and multi-modelled filters to achieve many cutting-edge and classical analogue synthesis tones.

Semi-Modular

Rerouting signal paths to change the sound. A spin through the Algorithm section will dramatically reshape the sound by changing how the signal routing between the operators work together, and no patch cables are needed. Analog-style controls and plenty of stackable waveforms take you from digital to analogue-sounding in no time. Enjoy deep basses, crisp leads, thick pad sounds, fuzzy brass tones, and so much more.

Analogue (Modeling)

Analogue-style controls and plenty of stackable waveforms take you from digital to analogue-sounding in no time. Enjoy deep basses, crisp leads, thick pad sounds, fuzzy brass tones, and so much more.

Waveshaping

Adding intentional distortion to the waveforms to achieve aggressive overtones that are either harmonic or inharmonic. This will help you achieve gritty, bitey tones dripping with character.

Additive

Stacking waveforms and blending their harmonics is key to an expansive range of harmonious, dissonant, and tension-driven sounds. With six operators available, the complete FM experience is possible, including the ability to go back in time for classic sounds you have heard throughout recording history.

Classic FM

Last but certainly not least, Opsix's highly flexible and powerful architecture starts with true six-Operator FM. As a result, it easily delivers signature sounds you have surely heard on thousands of hits from the '80s on through today, and with far more polyphony than other standalone FM synths available today.

With all of these ways to realize and explore sounds, Opsix mk II is uniquely suited as a "future-modern-classic" synth!

Altered Reality

What started as a legacy synthesis has evolved into something completely different. Opsix mk II is FM-based, but the similarities to the classic synthesis end there. The Altered FM architecture delivers sounds across a vast spectrum, far wider than any single synthesis has been able to cover before, thanks to new sound components; new waveforms, filters, shaping, effects, LFOs, envelopes, modulations, and more, all translating to its broad assortment of sounds.

Powerful Effects Processing

Opsix mk II provides three blocks of 30 types of high-definition effects that you can use together to enhance your sounds even further. There's everything from a great mix of usable standard effects like chorus, phaser, delay, and compressor to some world-class shimmering reverbs that will elevate your sound to the next level.

Specifications

Keyboard: 37 keys (velocity and release-velocity sensitive)
Sound generating system: Altered FM sound generator
Maximum Polyphony: 64 voices (varies depending on the setting)
Structure: 6 operators, 1 filter, 3 EGs, 3 LFOs, 3 effects, step sequencer, arpeggiator
Algorithm: 40 presets + user algorithm (unique to each program)
Operator: 6 modes (FM, Ring Mod., Filter, Filter FM, Wave Folder, Effect)
Oscillator waveform: 23 waveforms (Sine, Sine 12bit, Sine 8bit, Triangle, Saw, Saw HD, Square, Square HD, Additive Saw3, Additive Sqr3, Additive Tri3, Additive 12345, Additive 1+2, Additive 1+3, Additive 1+4, Additive 1+5, Additive 1+6, Additive 1+7, Additive 1+8, Noise S/H, Noise White, Noise Pink, Noise Blue)
Filter: 11 types (LPF 12, LPF 24, LPF MS-20, LPF POLY6, HPF 12, HPF 24, HPF MS-20, BPF 6, BPF 12, BRF 6, BRF 12)
EG: ADSR
LFO: 23 waveforms (Triangle, Saw Down, Saw Up, Square, Sine, Sample&Hold, Guitar, Exp. Triangle, Exp. Saw Down, Exp. Saw Up, Step4 Triangle, Step6 Triangle, Step4 Saw Down, Step6 Saw Down, StepRnd:Time, StepRnd:Lvl&Time, StepRnd:Level, Random:Time, Random:Lvl&Time, Triangle + , Saw Down + , Saw Up + , Square +)
V.Patch: 12 routings
Effect: 30 types (Chorus, Unison Ensemble, Phaser, Phaser (BPM) , Auto Pan, Auto Pan (BPM), Flanger, Flanger (BPM) , Rotary Speaker, Auto Wah, Exciter, Enhancer, LFO Filter, 3-Band EQ, Distortion, Guitar Amp, Decimator, Grain Shifter, Master Limiter, Compressor, Delay, Delay (BPM) , Autopan Dly, Autopan Dly (BPM), Tape Echo, Tape Echo (BPM) , Early Reflection, Reverb, Shimmer Reverb, Spring Reverb)
Sequencer: Step Sequencer (up to 16 steps, up to 6 notes per step), Motion Sequencer (up to 6 lanes)
Arpeggiator: 7 patterns (MANUAL, UP, DOWN, ALT1, ALT2, RANDOM, TRIGGER)
Number of programs: 500 (350 preset programs and 150 user programs as the factory-set default)
Favourite: 64 (16 Slots × 4 Banks)
Controllers: MODULATION wheel, PITCH wheel, RATIO OP 1-6 knobs, LEVEL OP 1-6 sliders, DATA ENTRY A-F knobs
Inputs/outputs: Headphone (6.3 mm stereo phone jack), OUTPUT L/MONO and R (impedance-balanced 6.3 mm TRS phone jacks), DAMPER (6.3 mm phone jack, half-damper not supported), MIDI IN and OUT connectors, USB B port
Power supply: AC adapter (DC12V)
Power consumption: 5 W
Dimensions (W × D × H): 565 × 338 × 90 mm / 22.24" × 13.31" × 3.54"
Weight: 2.9 kg / 6.93 lbs.
Included items: AC adapter
Accessories (sold separately): DS-1H damper pedal, PS-1 pedal switch, PS-3 pedal switch

Notes: ***B-STOCK: Box damaged, product unused & in perfect condition***


Updated version of Korg's excellent Wavestate, drawing on the iconic Wavestation synth to create a modern take on wavetable synthesis, now with added polyphony.

Supplier's Notes:
Wavestate mkII

Extended polyphony. Extended possibilities.

Korg's legendary Wavestation introduced the world to wave sequencing, and the 37-key Wavestate mkII builds on that legacy with a reimagined, compact synth designed to satisfy today's demanding musicians and producers. MkII expands polyphony to 96 stereo voices and adds a fresh look. It's completely compatible with sounds and samples for the original Wavestate.

Overview

Korg's legendary Wavestation introduced the world to Wave Sequencing, transforming raw samples into sounds that no-one had ever heard before. The flagship OASYS, Kronos and Nautilus keyboards developed Wave Sequencing even further, expanding on its unique palette of lush, evolving pads and driving rhythms.

Now, Korg is proud to present the new Wavestate mkII, with improved polyphony (96 stereo voices) and a fresh look. It's completely compatible with sounds and samples for both the original Wavestate, Wavestate SE and Wavestate Native software, including many excellent third-party libraries. Updated sounds and software keep it fresh and the compact form-factor, with 37 full-size keys, still transports easily and fits neatly into any stage, studio, or desktop setup.

Keyboard: 37-keys, velocity sensative
Sound generation: Wave Sequencing 2.0
Polyphony: 96 stereo voices
Configuration: Performance: 4 layers, reverb, EQ
Layers: Program, Arpeggiator, Key, and Velocity Zones
Programs: Wave Sequence, Filter, Amp, Pre FX, Mod FX, Delay
Presets: 261 Performances,799 Programs, and 1042 Wave Sequences
Controllers: MOD wheel, PITCH wheel, Vector Joystick, 8 x program/Performance Mod knobs.
Effects: Pre FX x4, Mod FX x4, Delay x4, Reverb, Performance EQ

Inputs/outputs:

Audio Outputs L/MONO, R (6.3mm TRS phone jack, impedance balanced)
Headphones (6.3mm stereo phone jack)
Damper (6.3mm phone jack)
MIDI in,out
USB Type B

Power: AC adapter (DC12V, 2500mA)
Power consumption 5w
Dimensions: 565 W x 338 (D x 92 (H mm
Weight: 2.9kg

Review: It's been a while since we've heard from Moroccan breakbeat favourite and Convergence Records founder Kosh, but he's back with a bang on none other than everybody's favourite Atlantean, underwater-breathing, acid trance house everything kru - Kalahari Oyster Cult. 'The Chopper' EP spans everything from Drexciyan kitsch-lectro to to floaty tech house trance to sillily verbatim breakbeat, ending on a hilarious high note with the timestretching, disc-scratching, stadium-ready rave rampage 'Come On'.

Review: The seminal musicians who have graced King Biscuit Time on US radio are too many to count, but who's complaining when so much gold material can be dusted down and given a fresh pressing. They surely don't come more momentous than this - German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk captured in 1975 as they were in the midst of progressing from their warm, organic kosmische roots towards the game-changing synthesis they're eternally treasured for. 'Autobahn' is of course the big hit here, stretching out over the A side as it should, but don't overlook the wonderful 'Kometenmelodie' and two-part 'Morgenspaziergang', all demonstrating Schneider, Hutter et al as the extraordinary visionaries they were.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Across a run of three outstanding EPs since 2017, Yazmin Lacey has slowly and steadily brought her cool and assured strain of neo soul into earshot, regularly popping up on festival line-ups and aligned with a resurgent UK jazz scene. Now we finally get to hear her stretch out on an album which takes its inspiration from the raw honesty of voice notes as a means of communication. Teaming up with the likes of Craigie Dodds, JD.REID, Melo-Zed and executive producer Dave Okumu, she's more than delivered on her promise with an outstanding, deep and nuanced album that hits true from the first beat to the last breath.

Review: LADYMONIX invites us to take one last look at ourselves in the mirror, grab our phone, keys & wallet, and strut unapologetically out of the house and into her second EP. Created from her Detroit homebase but inherently inspried annd ruled by her mother city of Baltimore, this new record continues the dancer/DJ friendly formula of her debut release, giving us something to play at ever stage of the night out.

Review: Ladymonix brings the class on the four tracks she lays down for Frizner Electric. 'Club Nowhere' is like a superbly deep Fred P track if he were a more extroverted character, while 'Mood' manages to marry dreamy pads to heavy weight kicks with a real sense of drive. The house gets raw and steamy on 'Gonna Let' then closer 'Movin On' is a super silky late night jam. What's more, a portion of sales from this EP will be donated to support Femme Queen Chronicles, a series about the lives of four black trans women in the city of Detroit.

Review: Jacopo Latini is an Italian producer just breaking through with some choice releases on Mood Waves and Conceptual Moods. He's back on the former label with a lush new 12" of progressive house that leads in with the epic strains of 'Rumore Bianco' - the kind of track to get a crowd swooning thanks to its emotive, plaintive tone. 'Illusion' leans in a little more on the bassline, but there's no shortage of melodic flourishes on top and the subtle fleck of trance we're used to hearing in house music these days. 'Rumore Rosso' is a punchier affair, while 'Synthesy (Acid Dub)' sports a more explicitly 90s flavoured demeanour

Review: Gail Laughton's Harps of the Ancient Temples was originally released in 1969 and now gets a proper reissue job courtesy of Pleasure For Music. It is a stunning piece of work from the American jazz harpist who has scored many films and cartoons during his time working in Hollywood. the record was produced by the sound engineer Paul Beaver who is said to be the dude who introduced the Moog to Stevie Wonder and Frank Zappa. Alway, the sound here manages to be both classical and space age, retro yet futuristic, with the shimmering, ethereal quality of the harp impossible to ignore.

Review: Law & Auder's latest release, Big It Up/Boomstick, is a two-track EP that showcases their unique blend of jungle and liquid drum and bass. The A-side, 'Big It Up,' is a high-energy track with a fun, reggaeton-inspired melody and plenty of samples. The B-side, 'Boomstick,' is a more atmospheric track with an eerie melody, a big Amen break, and a deep, throbbing bassline. Law And Auder's production skills and their ability to create music that is both danceable and thought-provoking. This record gives major old skool hardcore vibes.

Review: Good friends Arnaud Le Texier and Antonio De Angelis have been collaborating for many, many years now. Both long time veterans of the scene, each time they get together, fans get a big treat hearing the results. Peer to peer producer influence drives them to the same high level of what being competitive DJs also does. The Split EP, aptly named, has each producer taking a side of vinyl to themselves to express their current direction. Arnaud Le Texier's 'Chocked' is a no-nonsense warehouse techno banger. Fans of artists like Surgeon or Sandwell District, this is right up your alley. The track 'Discover' has a great liquid groove to it reminding us of classic 90s material off Primate Recordings. For Antonio De Angelis's side, 'Sicario' adds a bit of house elements to this big techno sound while 'Destination' has a great melodic approach to it. For those that say techno is safe and boring, tell them about this record.

Review: The solo project of Swedish musician Sofie Herner, Leda is an experimental project mainly dedicated to roomy, claustrophobic freakouts, fashioned out of a distinctive form of guitar playing, among other tinkerings. Now a well-known name in the Gothenburg scene, Herner's proximity to her local DIY underground is abundantly clear. It feels just as reflective in the sound of her latest project here, Neuter, which sounds like a gargantuan woodwork project subsuming a collective consciousness. Building off the natural footprints trailed by not only her former output, but also her involvement in bands like Neutral and Enhet For Fri Musik, this LP comprises nine tracks of minimal guitar loops, layered oppressively with doomy vocals, all-encompassing percussion, and other oddball instruments. Movements one through nine guide us through uniquely dour worlds, all with the utmost creep factor.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight sleeve creasing and surface marks***


Last year, Piers Harrison's Mysticisms label shone a light on the late 90s work of overlooked German house producer DJ Leinad via a reissue of 1996 gem 'Souvenirs'. Here his sole album, 1997's sought-after Electric City is finally re-released on wax. Indicative of the time period Leinad was operative, the album contains a fine mix of jaunty, Chic and P-funk influenced disco-house ('Freak Tonight', 'Return To The '80s', the brilliant 'Pretty Young Thing'), chunky after-hours house hedonism ('In Trouble'), disco-rock sampling throb-jobs ('Let's Ship'), classy, solo-laden deep house ('Loving People'), early Playhouse style cut-up house ('Out of Phase') and squelchy, US-style house bounce (the inspired title track).

Review: The original Bridgit Mendler soundtrack to the citrine teen drama movie of the same name sees a full version on vinyl LP this spring. Notable not only for its inclusion in the contemporary musical film, but also for its chart-topping success, the ten songs that make up the many acts of this high-school drama were destined to charm the pubescent masses, coinciding with the film's overarching theme of the school's students transcending use of after-school detention to musical effect, in order to overcome their personal struggles. Imagine Glee meets The Breakfast Club; a cabal of songwriters including Ali Dee, Maria Christensen, Bryan Todd and Jeannie Lurie lay down an array of sure-to-be hits for Mendler to perform on behalf of the cast here.

Review: A sublime five-track EP that opens with 'Magik,' a nice loose and fluid downtempo sound with lush and wispy melodies. Elsewhere 'Reboot' brings some sleek metallic lines and cosmic keys, 'Reality 2.0' has funkier drums, 'RSVP' is a late-night electro-tinged reverie and 'Keep Livin' closes as a ten-minute zoned-out opus.