Djar One sets our ears on 'Fire' with a bombastic barrage of brushy big beat, flipping two incendiary, palmitic r&b cuts. 'Etta Is On Fire' reworks James' classic 'On Fire' to dusty, pyrotechnic effect, with flash powders of big beat and sass encouraging sweet talk and affective buzz. Then there's a version of 'Hit The Road Jack', which lends to an unusual tempo for battle music, with Djar One rounding out the syncopated backbeat to a clipped limit.

Ken Carson's A Great Chaos marks a creative breakthrough for the Opium affiliate, showcasing a departure from his previous work and establishing him as a force to be reckoned with in Atlanta rap. Collaborating with producers like Starboy, Outtatown, F1LTHY, and Lucian, Carson delivers a thrilling album filled with outrageous beats and vibrant vocal performances. The album's calculated sequencing and diverse production create a brisk and electrifying listening experience. Carson's vocals are upfront and raw, conveying a sense of urgency and vitality that permeates each track. From the icy duet with Destroy Lonely on 'Singapore' to the bludgeoning intensity of 'Hardcore,' Carson explores new sonic territory while staying true to his roots. Carson's audacious approach and undeniable charisma elevate the album to new heights.

Marc Mac's Def Radio marks the return of the Visioneers project and another superb fusion of live instrumentation with hip-hop's signature swing. True to Visioneers' style, the album reimagines classics or crafts new songs and often rebuilds them around central samples. Unlike the rigid swing of sample placement, Def Radio boasts grooves that feel naturally drummed in which brings a nice organic touch. Lead track 'The Look of Love' shines with its minimalist three-note motif and relaxed rhythm while standout tracks like 'Layin' Low, Gettin' High' and 'Cuban Candy Sticks' further elevate this collection which is a soulful exploration of the dual live and sampled essence of hip-hop.

Surely your first thoughts seeing this album drop are what a shame it is that LCD Soundsystem no longer crank out the tunes. Happily, we shall always have their fine body of work to revert to in times of need and few albums could quench your thirst for punk-funk-infused indie-disco bangers than this live effort from 2010's Berlin Festival. It has a number of the cult US band's classics included such as a fine rendition of 'Daft Punk Is Playing In My House', the seminal 'Get Innocuous!' and one of our favourites, 'All My Friends'. A wonderful way to revisit the glory years of one of the best bands of the last 20 years.

Mike Dunn is a real house OG. His style has always been to lay down raw as coleslaw drums and prickle them up with synth sounds that are blistering and caustic. He goes right back to his roots here and serves up a trio of cuts From The Beginning which show just that. '43:31' a stripped-back acid sound with a low-key groove, 'Acid Feet (Phaze 1)' is a wonderfully undercooked analogue sound with tinny hits, rickety drums and pulsing synth sounds that take you right back to the earliest house sounds and 'Time Machine' is a minimal drum track.

This is a vital EP that keeps on getting repressed cause it keeps on selling out. It is the sound of Plant43 in top form and exploring icy electro worlds full of awe-inspiring synth designs and rhythms that come back from the future. 'Halflight' is awash with zippy little leads which busy about between lush chords. 'Frozen Monarch' then takes you into even more far-flung interplanetary worlds with icy and glistening arps layered up to beautiful effect. 'Cloud Cocoon' brings you back to the dance floor with slow motion broken beats and singing synths that speak to the soul.

This new one from Binary Digit is inspired by the legendary Balearic Islands. It is a great second EP on this label following his fine debut and captures Ibiza's famous essence - namely partying, relaxation and blissed-out days while mirroring the island's hedonistic yet harmonious moods. Each track evokes the joy and unity of clubbers celebrating in an atmosphere of sharing, respect and ecological mindfulness. Standout track 'Smkndpe' has gained TikTok fame and has a quick-stepping groove with nice balmy pads. 'Corner Office Acid View' brings busy arps that dart about over shimmering beats and 'Overdoze in Ibiza' is a playful, candied fusion of sugary acid, glistening pads and weightless drums.

Eduardo de La Calle has always excelled at crafting economical yet impactful techno. It is often long and settled in its groove, dubbed out to the max and sprinkled with grainy chords. That simple MO has kept him at the forefront for years and here he hooks up with Reeko to serve up four more tracks of his distinctive techno gold to get 2025 underway on a fine footing. 'Track 1' is a real pressure builder with waves of synth and icy hi-hats washing over you, 'Track 2' then pulls back into murky minimalism and 'Track 3' brings the brain-melting bells. All that leaves is t cast you off into the deepest corners of the cosmos with 'Track 4' full of celestial wonderment.