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Review: Batov Records have proven themselves juggernauts in their ability to stick to a theme; since 2016, they've kept up their Middle-Eastern grooves themed 45's series for a spate of over 13 releases. Les Dynamites and Radio Trip serve up their latest. Hailing from Jerusalem and Israel respectively, both bring influences from dubbed-out Mediterranean bass, Yemeni folk and trip-hop to each tracks, different in style but reconciled by these influences. What's more 'Oud Two' and 'No Oud' are intended as invitations to dance, with both bands intending their respective tracks as rallying calls for Israeli belly dancers and breakdancers.

Notes: ZeKit is a 4 voice paraphonic microsynth, featuring a simple step sequencer, various digital waveforms, an analog VCF, VCA and two AR analog envelopes.

The instrument can be controlled using MIDI (notes & clock) and has both a sync and audio inputs. External audio sources can be mixed in or be processed through the VCF / VCA.

ZeKit is available in fully assembled version

This comes with the high quality aluminium case.

A universal power adapter is available as an option.

Please reuse any compatible 5V to 9V DC adapter you already have.

All Fred's Lab instruments are manually assembled in Germany.

ZeKit is an ultra-compact paraphonic monotimbral hybrid synth with 4 voices.

These are the detailed technical specifications of the machine.

Sound Engine
Digital part
Additive sawtooth synthesis
8 mono waveforms / 8 para waveforms
Filter tracking and glide modes
16bit / 250 kHz DAC

Analog part

12dB / Oct low & band-pass VCF
2 resonance level chill / acid
Optocoupler VCA
Analog A/D & A/R envelopes
Envelope looping and re-triggering

Sequencer

96 step sequencer, with up to 4 notes per step
External sync - MIDI clock or Sync (+ start / stop) over 3.5mm jack
16 user programmable patterns
Live pitch transposition and transition of the patterns

Controls

6 knobs - Cutoff, Attack, Decay, Accent, Release and Level
3 toggles - LP/BP, CHILL/ACID, VCF/MIX
7 switches - Wave, Options, Motifs, Sequencer controls

Connectivity

MIDI input - DIN5
Power input - 2.1mm jack 5V to 9V DC
Line / Headphones output - 6.35mm TRS jack
Clock & Sync input - 3.5mm TRS jack
Audio input - 3.5mm TRS jack

Mechanics

Dimensions: 127 x 92 x 56 mm - (w x d x h)
Weight: 315 grams
Power: 350 mW
AAA Battery holder (optional)

Review: Detroitish Italo vibes soundscapes from Marzahn Berlin!!

Review: Following up two volumes in the Sextant various artist EP series, the enigmatic Tachyon makes their full proper EP debut here on Swiss imprint Unruh. 'Fried' is very much an advanced take on the minimal techno sound and will effectively warp minds at the afterhour, followed by the mutant electro textures of 'PCM' (dub). Over on the flip, the icy and spatial 'Traffic' takes its cues as much from 2-step as dub techno, followed by the eerie twilight beats of 'Late Chatter'. Tip!

Review: 'Anon 1' was originally released as a very limited Anonymous 12" on Past Inside the Present in 2020, featuring 36 and Isaac Helsen. The idea was to let people hear the music and judge it not on the names behind it, but purely on the quality of the music itself. When it sold out, the label revealed who wrote it. Obviously quite a few 36 & Isaac Helsen fans missed out, so Past Inside the Present repressed the record, but this time with the knowledge of who made the tunes now public.

Review: By this point in time Dog Eat Dog had already said a fair bit. Throwing the Warrant EP at the world in 1993, marking the arrival of a hybrid music tour de force among the alternative and skate rock and punk community. Play Games was the band's second full length album, and while it perhaps didn't boast the kind of anthem 'No Fronts' became two years earlier, it still very much represented an act setting out their stall and winning. Albeit perhaps not in terms of chart impact.

Then again, that was never really the Dog Eat Dog way. This, after all, was one of the first outfits - in the US at least - to try and marry hardcore punk with hip hop, welding two distinctly counter-cultural but (at the time) disparate genres together. And for the most part they succeeded. This is one of those parts.

Review: 2 more gems from the ever growing Dynamite Cut 7 inch series. First up and first time ever on a 45 featuring Linda ''Tequilla'' Logan on vocals on a dirty funk drenched groove. On the flip the rare super sexy 7 inch version of the infamous Turn Off The Lights taken from the original tapes is presented here. Infectious essential classic funk for the nu & old generation alike.

Review: If you didn't catch The Summer of Soul on the big screen then we're really, truly, very sorry indeed. The documentary was one of the most fascinating and evocative, not to mention poignant box office releases of the immediate post-pandemic lockdown period, and in our opinion is up there with the best non-fiction flicks we've ever seen.

Centring on the Harlem Cultural Festival, which took place over successive weekends in 1969, it tells the story of how this Black-run, and predominantly Black-billed event welcomed hundreds of thousands and hosted groundbreaking performances, but was quickly forgotten and lost in the shadows of the much more mythologised and predominantly white Woodstock, which took place at the same time. The long-overdue reappraisal is a musical feast, with great archive footage of numerous greats, and asks serious questions about who owns and decides on which narratives survive, while this album offers a fantastic overview of the sounds and names involved.

Review: Oftentimes in this busy and chaotic world it's challenging to draw a parallel between two congruent events. In this case drawing its inspiration from Detroit's meteoric rise from the ruins of the past, BerettaMusic a label founded in Detroit in 2002 who took a several year hiatus is back in a big way, also rising from the ashes like it's birth city has done. Ryan Sadorus who co-founded the label with Brian Kage delivers some next level quirky Detroit house jams. Already getting spins by local Detroit DJ's and the verdict is in and the tracks are dance floor ready and sure to get people moving. The release also features vinyl artwork by renowned midwest artist Jon Griffin featured on full color vinyl jackets.

Notes: Twelve Inch Original in bamboo - invisible wall mount for album cover - for attaching your records and record sleeves as wall decoration - no frame or visible hardware.

Twelve Inch Original is the perfect counterpart for your records. So you can easily display your record collection and still impressively and replace the records in seconds. The design is based on the Twelve Inch magnet where no visible frames or brackets are required. All you need to do is attach the black magnetic disc to the wall and insert the Twelve Inch into the record you want to display. The plate looks like it is floating. This is easy and looks good.

Twelve Inch can also be used for Gatefold and standard double LP cases. For heavier records such as deluxe or gatefold versions, always make sure they are firmly attached by aligning the white card exactly so that the metal part adheres to the magnetic disc. Please note that some records may be too heavy for our product. In this case, you can take out the record and display the empty case. If the case tends to open by itself, you can attach the round magnetic cardboard disc to the outside of the case, which holds it together as long as it is attached to the magnetic disc.

Review: Hot on the heels of his well-received EPs on Linear and Midi Records, Ionut Arapu returns to Rawax with two more top-quality tech-house cuts in his distinctive trademark style. On A-side 'First New Dance', the experienced Romanian producer peppers a rolling, bass-heavy groove with cut-up and layered vocal textures, deliciously wonky electronic lead lines, star-fall sounds and the kind of melodic elements more often associated with 1990s IDM. He opts for a deeper, more melancholic tone on 'Undoing', where emotive chords, dubbed-out electronic motifs and intergalactic synth sounds cluster around a sturdy, peak-time ready groove.

Notes: The Germanium Filter is Death By Audio's love letter to sticking a pencil in your speaker.

Start with a console-style drive circuit, add in a dash of obsolete germanium transistors and finish it off with a super intense DBA-style filter - BLAMO! You've got a sound heavy enough to crush on and sharp enough to slice a tomato.

The Filter control is extremely unconventional - it'll take you from bottomless, sub-woofered out lows to super searing and brittle highs, with a universe of tone in between. The Germanium Filter will help you find the sweet spot for your instrument in any situation - at a show, in the studio, or even stranded on the side of the highway after your tour van catches fire - hey, it happens!

The Gain knob starts with a dirty boost that then spans through saturated drive, spitting distortion, and a blistering fuzz tone. Get ready for your sound to be cranked up to infinity-and-a-half and captured on tape by the most incredible recording engineer you've ever heard - only there's no engineer and no studio. Just you, your guitar, your amp and the Germanium Filter.

Controls

Filter: Controls the frequency response of the pedal, featuring huge low end, scooped mids, and sharp, piercing highs.

Gain: Sweeps from mild overdrive to blasted-out fuzz. Very interactive with your guitar's volume control.

Volume (internal): Controls the overall output level of the pedal.

Specifications

Dimensions: 5" x 2.5" x 2.25" (including hardware).

Weight: 10.6 oz

Power: 9V (runs on standard 2.1mm negative center 9V adapter or included 9V battery).

Current Draw: 5 mA.

Review: Angelo Badalamenti is to noir thrillers what Ennio Morricone is to the spaghetti Western scene. The Italo-American composer has been a pivotal part of the Hollywood soundtrack scene since the 70s and, among many cult-like figures, he's collaborated extensively with the great David Lynch on projects such as Blue Velvet and, of course, the present Twin Peaks, a film which has reached a God-like status over the last two decades. The music from the motion picture is as vivid and dream-like as the film itself; Badalalementi immerses you in a world of Neo-gothic trance and bizarre, fairy-like dances that instantly recall the movie's infamous dance scene concerning two horses. What is most notable about it is his use of subtle jazz nuances and the man's pioneering downtempo style. NB: this particular release, Fire Walk With Me, features additional music and acts as a companion to the official soundtrack as heard in the movie. What a soundtrack. Totally essential.

Review: First featured on long-serving British band Osibisa's 2021 album New Dawn, 'Yo Luv is Betta' is a glistening, life-affirming chunk of Afro-soul cheeriness rich in shuffling, Tony Allen style drums, sparkling High-Life guitars and warming horns. Who better to remix it, then, than Masters at Work man Louie Vega? He joins forces with fellow veteran Josh Milan on the A-side Celebration Mix, an extended, organic Afro-house revision that makes the most of the band's original horns, bass, drums and vocals. Vega's own musically detailed, Sitar-sporting 'NYC Expansions Dub' resides on the flip, delivering an exotic, largely instrumental take that once again celebrates the quality of Osibisa's musicianship.

Review: The Heat Rock label has been turning out overlooked gems or stone-cold classics from the worlds of funk, soul and hip hop for a while. Here they reissue the first volume of their Altered Tapes series on 300 copies of limited edition red vinyl. It's a real doozy for collectors and DJs alike as it packs a proper punch. First up is an Altered Tapes remix of The Emotions's 'Blind Alley' which is super sweet soul music with a fresh hip hop beat and big horn sections powering along. On the back side, Phoreyz & Brisk offer a Multramix of Big Daddy Kane's cool and catchy 'Ain't No Half Steppin.'

Review: While Tiamat have gone through many different iterations and shapeshifts over the course of their 25 year tenure, there's no denying the Swedish goth-rockers penchant for the gloomy and macabre with Lovecraftian and Poe sentiments weaved throughout.

It's arguably why their often misunderstood seventh full-length, 'Judas Christ', is regarded as the outlier in their expansive canon.

Leaning deep into lovelorn themes with retro Sisters Of Mercy influences lending cuts like 'Fireflower' and 'Angel Holograms' a death-rock hue, it was perhaps too less death obsessed for the morbid fanbase upon initial discovery.

This 20 year anniversary reissue allows fans old and new to revisit, reassess and pay residual respect.

Notes: All the modulation effects you could dream of in a compact pedal. Chorus, Phaser, Tremolo, Vibe, Rotary and Filter programs give you plenty of sonic options with nice tweakability and superb sound quality.

Supplier's Notes:
The M1 is a powerful multi-function modulation machine with six customized, studio-quality programs: Chorus, Phaser, Tremolo, Vibe, Rotary, and Filter. Each program has a wealth of options to tune, tweak, customize and then save to one of nine onboard presets. A sound explorers delight, the M1 features a dedicated lo-fi knob allowing you to mix various lo-fi parameters to every program. Add subtle movement and texture to float under your playing or make a massive statement with a thick swirling chorus to choppy panning tremolo. Write your sonic story in any style and genre with the M1 High-Fidelity Modulation Machine.

Programs

Chorus - Find subtle chorus to be vibrant and lush tri-chorus that will instantly teleport you to the 80s. Type I is a traditional chorus great for tight smooth chorus tones. Type II adds a second chorus with an offset rate and depth. Thanks to the constructive interface, it has a more dramatic character caused by essentially running two chorus pedals in series. Type III finds its roots in the classic tri-chorus effect running three chorus units in parallel for a lush multi-dimensional chorus.
X knob controls Lag to set the maximum allowed amount of pitch detuning.

Phaser -Classic 70s phaser sounds we all know and love, with added features that you wouldn't expect. Similar to the Lillian, Type I is a 2-Stage Phaser that produces a single notch to the classic mild phaser. Type II is a 4-Stage model producing 2 notches for a stronger effect. Type III is a phaser modeled after the unique tuning and LFO shape found in a Uni-Vibe.

X knob introduces Feedback for a more dramatic phaser effect.

Tremolo - This program emulates a tremolo with three algorithms containing all the bells, whistles, and even a cherry on top. Type I is excellent for traditional sounds similar to optical and bias tremolos that raise and lower the entire frequency range - similar to the Monument in standard mode. Type II is a warm and cozy harmonic tremolo - similar to the Monument in harmonic mode. This unique sound is formed by raising and lowering your high and low frequencies opposite each other. Type III offers several predefined patterns for rhythmic sequenced pulsing tremolo. X knob manipulates the phase of the left and right volume modulation for a wide stereo panning effect. Shape and Symmetry in Type III (pattern Trem) select the pattern group and patterns within each group.

Vibrato - Make good parts great with detuned, warbly, and vintage sounds that harken back to the 60s. Type I focuses on traditional vibrato sounds like those found in Julia and Julianna's "V" mode. Old record players inspire type II with classic RPM's on the rate knob and some noise character you'd find in your dad's old dusty Speedwagon LPs. The rate knob can select 33rpm, 45rpm, and 78rpm speeds in this mode. Type III is our take on the wow and flutter pitch characters found in old tape players. Warm and charming with a hint of nostalgia. X knob manipulates the phase of the pitch modulation when connected with stereo outs in Type I and Type II and controls the amount of "flutter" modulation applied in Type III.

Rotary - Because you can't fit a Leslie speaker on your pedalboard, type I aims for that traditional watery sound of a well-oiled Leslie speaker. Type II only spins the horn but still plays the sound out of the drum. Type III only spins the drum but still plays sound from the horn. X knob controls the drive of the horn.

Filter - Add tone-shaping movement to your signal with different modulated filters. Type I is a lowpass filter good for modulated darker tones. Type II is a highpass filter used to creatively modulate your low frequencies. Type III is a bandpass filter forming a sliding "window" of frequencies. Drive the filter frequency with the main LFO or do things like set the depth to zero and turn up the LO-FI envelope control to drive the filter frequency with your playing dynamics.

X knob controls filter resonance, bringing a more aggressive sound to the selected filter.

Tone controls the filter's center frequency or starting frequency where the modulation is applied.

Specs:

The M1 comes in a dark blue finish with red, orange, cream, gold, green, purple and blue ink.
The enclosure's exact size with knobs is 4.9" x 2.52" x 2.64". Power requirements are 9VDC (300mA minimum).
The use of an isolated power supply is recommended for powering all Walrus Audio Pedals. Daisy chain power supplies are not recommended. Power supply not included.
USB firmware updates can be done via www.walrusaudio.io

Review: A bona fide Brazilian rarity: Alucinolandia was the only full length from talented multi instrumentalist and bandleader Zito who really should have enjoyed more attention. Ranging from the R&B style stomp of "Primeira Conjugacao" to the Gershwin standard "Love Is Here To Stay" via the instant feel good sensations of "Bye Bye" where you feel like you're in the room, clicking, clapping and crying along with the band, this is a timeless document that really should have had more exposure than it did at the time of the original release back in 1969

Review: Following fine recent outings on Kaoz Theory and Constant Sound, Chris Stussy (real name Niels Steenbergen) brings his trademark brand of tech-house/deep house fusion to popular Parisian imprint yoyaku for the very first time. He starts cheerily and colourfully with 'Fessor of Dabz', a sonically inviting fusion of bouncy synth sounds, vibrant melodies, bubbly bass and snappy drums, before opting for a more turn-of-the-millennium UK tech-house sound (think Circulation and you're close) on 'Questions of Today'. The Dutch producer updates this sound further on the glitchier and slightly funkier 'Neutral Tones', before combining dreamy electronics with rubbery tech-house bass and drums on 'Angel in the Sky'.

Review: Elvis Costello's 12th album originally surfaced in 1989, enjoying particular success in the US, and gets the reissue treatment courtesy of Music on Vinyl here. Two of the songs - 'Pads, Paws and Claws' and the hit single 'Veronica' - included actually came from extensive co-writing sessions with Paul McCartney. Recorded in Hollywood; New Orleans, Dublin and London, the album finds Costello in typically incisive lyrical mood, opposing capital punishment on 'Let Him Dangle' and expressing a desire to live long enough to witness the death of Margaret Thatcher on the legendary 'Tramp The Dirt Down'.

Review: A Day in the Stark Corner was the third album by American band Lycia, released in 1993 on Sam Rosenthal's Projekt Records. This much deserved reissue on Milan-based Avantgarde Records features all 10 original tracks which bear the Arizona outfit's well-known sound signatures: Mike VanPortfleet's bleak vocal delivery with wailing wall of noise guitars and haunting synth textures, underpinned by skeletal, reverberated rhythms of a minimalist nature. Tracks such as 'Pygmalion', 'The Body Electric', 'The Remnants & The Ruins' and 'Sorrow Is Her Name' are a zeitgeist of the early '90s ethereal darkwave subgenre.

Review: It was 14 years ago that Dopplereffekt's Calabi Yau Space album landed on Rephlex Records, much to the delight of electro fans everywhere. Now it finally gets a much warranted reissue on vinyl thanks to WeMe Records. The album found Dopplereffekt head off into their very own musical realm, far away from here between the stars. The eight tracks are cinematic and spacious in feel but dense in ideas. There is a supernatural feel, a cosmic eeriness that always keeps you guessing as the modulated sounds, whirring machines and alien details all detail haunting leads and implied rhythms.

Notes: 4 stereo channel performance mixer with sidechain ducking

On-board compressor with external sidechain control voltage option to add proper dynamics to your mix

Stereo output for speakerphones or headphones with enough current to drive a wide range of headphones

available in 1U / 24HP version

Version 2 update (from original Cockpit):

Increased headroom

Improved sound quality

Daltonic friendly - the LEDs are blue/red instead of red/green

No TRRS jacks anymore

Available in Black and Classic Gold

New aluminum knobs on the black module version

Power consumption:
240 mA +12V
75 mA -12V
0 mA 5V

Dimensions:
6 HP
38 mm deep

Review: Thee Sacred Souls will have your head in a spin and your heart bulging with their new 7" for Spain's Penrose. The group consists of Alex Garcia, Josh Lane and Sal Samano and they have been releasing music since only 2020, all of it on this label, all of it excellent. Their fourth 45rpm is another timeless one that has all the old school aesthetics and frayed edges we love with some new school vocal gold. 'Trade Of Hearts' is a dreamy and woozy number that encourages day dreaming and then lush falsettos on 'Let Me Feel Your Charm' picks up the pace with a more dynamic groove for tender dance floors.

Review: Experimental artist Matthew Rozeik turns his hand to jungle with the start of a new series 'City Spectre'. An intense voyage back to the blueprints with echoes of Reinforced and early Metalheadz, but done with his own vision, Rozzer slaps us silly from the off... 'Abducticate' is all about those gruelling Amens a la No U-Turn while 'We Must Come To Earth' has much more of a spacious sense of tension that's comparable to Soul In Motion era Krust or classic Photek. Flip for ice cold brutalism in the form of 'Cold Metal' before 'Dust Storm' takes us far away from this wretched planet on a rocket made of pure Prototype-level tension. Bring on Volume 2.

Review: This killer double sided single form 1968 finds its way onto 7" for the first time ever. Back then it was actually put out as a blank label and was mistakenly credited to The Bleachers, ratter than The Race Fans who actually wrote it. On the B-side is a totally different tune, 'Bookie Man,' which is a gem in its own right. A rare sound and killer groove, it's a great yin to the yang of the a-side and this is the first time both of these have been pressed up together at the same time.

Review: Not to be confused with either the album of the same name nor a prior 7" single with different music on it, this limited cut contains four outtakes and demos recorded by T. Rex's Marc Bolan in 1966. Later in 1981, backing instrumentals were recorded and added to Bolan's vocals, under the watchful eye of his trusted former manager Simon Napier-Bell. From 'Mustang Ford' to the later hit 'The Perfurmed Garden...', Bolan sounds all but overdubbed here; he is at one with each rollicking, slick backing, freewheeling and near yelling on this rock altarpiece.

Review: This is Freestyle free from any style.
There is no need for the disembodied voice telling you THIS IS HOUSE.
It is simply felt and known.

{Every kick.
Every arpeggio.
Every bass note.
Experienced through the prism of now.
Ribs rattle from the heart center to the endless reaches of consciousness.}

The racks are stacked high beyond the heavens as the Filter Queen speaks of love without words.
Bound to no earthly constructs, beholden to no laws.
This is the joyous sound of overground resistance.

Notes: The announcement of the Denon LC6000 Prime controller caught the DJ world totally off guard.

Tapping into the dual-layer capability of the SC6000 and SC5000, or bolting onto a laptop or DJ controller such as the Prime 4, the LC6000 brings immense flexibility and control over your DJ sets.

Custom moulded right here in the UK, this cover is designed to fit the sleek contours of the Denon DJ LC6000 Prime media player.

Designed for the digital DJ, this super-durable polycarbonate shell offers a high level of protection and slides straight into protective cases, making it ideal for travelling.

Shields delicate faders, pads, buttons and knobs from the ingress of dust, liquids and accidental impact whilst still accommodating all cables.

At home, on the road or in the club, Decksaver has your LC6000 Prime media player covered.

Dimensions

Weight: 0.75kg
Length: 36.5cm
Width: 32.5cm
Height: 3.8cm

Notes: The tools we use to compose and produce music are dear to our hearts. Dust, liquid and accidental impact have taken many a good unit down over the years - this is where Decksaver steps in. Precision trimmed for perfect fit, the Solid State Logic UC1 can sit ready for operation. This case slides straight into a flight or soft case for maximum protection during transportation, and it also shields delicate controls and internal components from damage at home, on the road and onstage.

Notes: Omnitronic have stunned the rotary-mixer world with their entry-level mixers.

Your investment needs protection: and this is where Decksaver steps in.

Our custom-designed and precision-moulded lid gives an exact fit whilst accommodating cables, leaving your Omnitronic TRM-402 sitting ready for blending and mixing.

Manufactured from our own recipe premium polycarbonate for extra protection, each Decksaver cover is rigorously tested before it carries our name.

Shields all those delicate knobs and isolators from dust, liquid and accidental impact at home, on the road and in the DJ booth.

Dimensions

Weight: 0.7kg
Length: 33.6cm
Width: 23.8cm
Height: 3.9cm

Review: Some critics have called Cypress Hill's Back in Black their best album in 25 years. While this is a bold claim, it has some merit - at least to those who view the cannabis-obsessed Los Angeles crew's early-to-mid-'90s work as the artistic peak of their career. A big part of the allure of Back in Black is Black Milk's production, which in reaching for crunchy snares, classic hip-hop breaks and killer basslines doffs a cap to the group's gangsta-rap era releases. Lyrically, they're at their acerbic and dextrous best, too, matching updated raps on legalized weed with flows that take aim at other issues surrounding personal freedom and politics.

Review: Of his newly inaugurated eponymous imprint, Finnish producer Bjarki says it was the logical progression for him to share ideas and be in direct contact with his audience, releasing tracks created specifically for parties he plays at. BJARKI will also serve as a creative platform to launch a wealth of forthcoming audiovisual projects, so stay tuned. 'I Wanna Go Home' may be tongue-in-cheek but be warned: it is one serious banger of a track, and equally as playful is steely warehouse techno epic 'Woo!' up next. Turn over and the tracks take a more serious turn, best exemplified by the strobed-out hypnotiser 'Electric Ppl'.

Review: Sweet Soul Harmony From the Golden Era is a new album from The Lowriders that amalgamates two previous This Is Lowrider Soul CDs. The Kent Soul label has put together the 14 tunes they think best represent the sounds Los Angelenos, often of Mexican descent, love so much and are famous for having blasting from their low riding motors. This is the sort of music you can hear in East LA or Van Nuys Boulevard in the northwest of the city and is made up of sweet soul sounds that have been carefully dug out and unearthed over the years.

Review: Cosmic Disco Machine Records is an Italian independent record company specialising In reissue compilations, with the fourth volume of their eponymous series here, in a limited run of copies as always, There's a wonderful selection of tracks, with all have been only gently mastered to keep the original and characteristic mood of each one. Whether its Richard Wahnfried's entrancing "Time Actor", the off-kilter slo-mo polyrhythms of Mecanica Popular's "La Edad Del Bronce", or the more experimental realms of Italo explored by Schaltkreis Wassermann and Logic System - there's some proper oddball music of a fine vintage on this one.

Review: There's arguably few modern bands pushing and expanding the confines of death metal like Denver, Colorado based genre provocateurs, Blood Incantation.

Combining intricate tech-death stylings with psychedelic, prog-rock passages all awash in sci-fi hues led to 2019's 'Hidden History of the Human Race', landing on several end of year lists.

The much anticipated follow up, 'Timewave Zero', is a purposeful 180 from their formula, eschewing vocals, riffs and malevolence for ambient, synth-based science fiction psychedelia akin to latter day Tangerine Dream.

It may seem a perplexing departure, but one the group have envisioned since prior to releasing their 'Starspawn' debut in 2016. Continuing to carve out their own path, and craft a solely unique vision may lose some riff-raff semi-fans, but those willing to follow Blood Incantation on their ever unfolding cosmic journey, have just been handed the keys to the unknown.

Review: Cicero 'Corey' Blake was a big name on the Chicago soul scene of the 60s. He himself actually hailed from Jackson, Mississippi and became most well known for the superb reissue 7" presented here. It was recorded in 1975 having been written by Phillip Mitchell and in the years since has become a real modern soul room classic that never fails to detonate any crowd all over the world. It will cost you upwards of a money for an original copy if you can find one and here it is pressed up with the original Sam Dees tune 'Your Love Is Like A Boomerang' on the flip. Essential soul for real heads.

Review: Expansion have been busy recently with a wealth of superb releases all dropping in relatively quick succession. This one comes from 70s and 80s Us soul family, Family Brown. They put out just one album in 1978 and a couple of singles with these two tunes now pressed onto 45rpm some of the best. On the a-side is the slow motion stepper 'Never Had A Love' which has pirouetting strings and male and female vocals playing off in seductive fashion. On the flip is the more groovy but just as melodically lush 'Listen.'

Review: A repress here of 2019's under the radar 'Box EP by The enigmatic British producer JS Zeiter, who executed more greyscale dub techno excursions of a typically high caliber on this one. After some spookily sensual ASMR action on intro 'The Code' he continues to build the suspense on the beatless Subarctic Soundscape of 'Darkness Falls' before dropping the power on the cavernous and glacial beats of 'On The Moor'. Flip over and take on more of the frozen seascape on the deeply hypnotic groove of "Empty" before one more emotional ambient outro in the form of 'Endgame'.

Review: NBAST's wax operation has an early spring treat in store for us with this split EP featuring Belgium artist Uc Beatz and UK talent Ethank. The stylish and considered EP opens up with bouncy and soulful sounds from Uc Beatz's 'Rino Magic' with its lush chords and groovy beats, fine samples and upbeat feel. 'Tricky Games' then cuts loose on big filter loops and euphoric vocal cries and on the flip Ethank opens with some sexy sax sounds and punchy, raw beats for 'Kootenay' and 'Clouds' then bristles with frazzled drums and hits but smooth chords.

Review: Never mind just all day, Lee Burridge must be dreaming of this music every second of every night as well because he manages to unearth more of it on a constant basis. It's like aural wallpaper, a sonic lava lamp to gaze at, zone out to, and lose yourself in. Mass Digital is the latest to offer up four teaks of people are calling yoga house with his Viaje De La Vida EP. 'Someone Like You' kicks off with a joyous and celebratory feel, full of hope and choral melodies. 'Rain In June' is similar, with lovely keys racing down and 'I Remember You' then slips into something deeper for later in the evening but still with those churchy bells up top.

Review: It is now more than two years since Planet Tapes launched out of Italy and this is only the label's third release, but the wait is more than worth it. IT is Italian Domenico Rosa who kicks off with a brilliantly lush and melodic house workout that has as much old school influence as it does future soul. Deyayu's 'Asthatwhatis' sinks into a deeper, more late night vibe with strident drums and rolling bass but nice crisp claps and heady ambient synths. There is an irresistible playfulness to Two Opposites's 'Tropical Aurora' that really swells the heart while Eros closes down with 'Phased Energy' which is all glassy and celestial melodies over light breakbeats.

Review: As far as contemporary drummers go, Richard Spaven is one of the most sought-after. He is master of progressive and contemporary sounds who has played with all the greats such as Jose James, Gregory Porter, Flying Lotus and The Cinematic Orchestra. He got sit alone here on this new 7" for Fine Line. Opener 'Hoodie Beats' shows off his considerable skills with an airy, floaty grove that is like live and deep drum & bass, then neo-soul vocalists Jordan Rakei joins for the superb 'Nova.'
Barney Artist drops some verses on 'Icarus '88' to bring a real edge and the title track closes in seductive fashion with lingering chords melting your heart.

Notes: The tools we use to compose and produce music are dear to our hearts.

Boutique synthesizer brand Dreadbox are racking up an awesome range of electronic gear.

Dust, liquid and accidental impact have taken many a good unit down over the years - this is where Decksaver steps in.

Precision trimmed for perfect fit whilst accommodating cables, your Typhon can sit ready for operation.

Slides straight into a flight or soft case for maximum protection during transportation.

Shields delicate controls and internal components from damage at home, on the road and onstage.

Dimensions

Weight: 0.425kg
Length: 23.4cm
Width: 13.4cm
Height: 3.4cm

Notes: Lighting for DJs have become a lot simpler with the launch of the Wolfmix W1 and SoundSwitch Control One.

The Control One comes from the creative brains at InMusic and is capable of creating automatic, music-synched light shows to match every beat in a DJ set.

These units sit at the very heart of your setup - without them, the lights are down! Dust, liquid and accidental impact have taken many a good hardware unit down over the years - this is where Decksaver steps in.

Designed specifically the the Control One, this cover has the perfect fit whilst still accommodating important cables.

This cover is a Light Edition (LE), which is brought to you at a more cost-effective price, but still shields delicate knobs, switches, pads and internal components from dust, liquid and accidental knocks.

The low profile enables easy transportation into a case or bag for ultra-safe transportation.

Dimensions

Weight: 0.30kg
Length: 27.3cm
Width: 16.8cm
Height: 2.5cm

Notes: Guitar effects pedals are becoming more and more popular with DJs and producers with their ability to trigger the right noise at exactly the right time.

And whether you use Strymon pedals for processing other instruments, or even for your guitar, any unit that's regularly stomped on can suffer issues - and that's before we consider other stressors such as damage to switches or knobs during travel,or from dust, fluids or accidental impact.

These wonderful devices deserve care during downtime with the kind of protection only Decksaver covers can provide.

Precision moulded in-house to ensure a perfect fit whilst accommodating cables, your Strymon pedal can sit ready for operation.

Shields delicate controls and internal components from damage at home, on the road and in the studio.

Fits the NightSky and Volante pedals.

Dimensions

Weight: 0.235kg
Length: 18.1cm
Width: 11.8cm
Height: 3cm

Fits

Strymon NightSky
Strymon Volante

Notes: Guitar effects pedals are becoming more and more popular with DJs and producers with their ability to trigger the right noise at exactly the right time.

And if you're a guitarist with a taste for effects pedals, chances are you own or have played with or used a legendary Boss Stompbox at some point.

These units are are the world's best selling and can be found everywhere and cover a dazzling amount of effects. This is where Decksaver steps in.

Whether you use your Boss pedals for processing other instruments, or even for your guitar, any unit that's regularly stomped on can suffer issues - and that's before we consider other stressors such as damage to switches or knobs during travel,or from dust, fluids or accidental impact.

These wonderful devices deserve care during downtime with the kind of protection only Decksaver covers can provide.

Precision moulded in-house to ensure a perfect fit whilst accommodating cables, our cover shields delicate controls and internal components from damage at home, on the road and in the studio.

Fits all the Boss single pedal Stompboxes.

Dimensions

Weight: 0.16kg
Length: 13.5cm
Width: 8.4cm
Height: 3.8cm

Review: After what seems like an eternity, Warp has finally decided to give Broadcast's Microtonics series a full release. Initially made available only to fans at gigs, the two-volume series saw the band experimenting not with their krautrock-influenced brand of trippy electronic pop, but rather the kind of music concrete and synthesizer experiments that were once the preserve of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, Peter Zinovieff and the various modular synthesis fetishists that came in their wake. For that reason, it's not Broadcast at their most accessible, but if you're into vintage synth sounds and admirable experimental electronica, Microtonics makes for hugely enjoyable listening.

Review: Oumou Sangare is an icon of Malian music, and African music overall. She first came to attention in the early 90s with songs descended from wassoulou traditional hunting songs. She's remained a creative and visible force ever since, and now she's back with her first album of new material since 2017's critically acclaimed Mogoya. Timbuktu fuses Sangare's Malian sound with elements of blues, folk and rock to create a timeless body of work which winds up all her own. You'll instantly be transported into her rich and rooted world of sound, where she uses her position as a hugely influential African musician to push for women's rights amongst other socially-conscious themes.

Review: Another comprehensive collection of jazz here from the good people at Light in The Attic. This 14 track compilation has been carefully selected and compiled by Japanese jazz expert Yusuke Ogawa, who is the owner of Tokyo's Universounds record store. It comes on heavyweight vinyl with vast track-by-track liner notes by Ogawa and take sin everything from hard bop to free jazz with plenty of big and explosive moments as well as more deep and introspective sections of calm, all of which has been plucked from the vaults of Nippon Columbia. There is a reason Japanese jazz is so revered, and this record shows why.