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Review: Athens of the North is back in business this new year with a couple of singles as well as a new album dropping before the end of January. This time it is Bo'vel's Changes album that gets served up on wax having teased the act by including them on a compilation Just A Touch late last year. Their soul sound is distantly UK-centric but with influxes from dub, funk and more. That is well showcased here across ten tracks that were famously made in the mid-90s in Manchester without a big budget or big press campaign but became cult classics all the same.

Review: When is an album not an album? How about when it's the second outing from Catapilla, a band that promised plenty in the formative years of English progressive rock (circa 1971), but wound up delivering just two record before seemingly disappearing into the ether from which their music was born. Comprising just four tracks, even with two songs running upwards of 12 minutes this collection falls short of the standard 80-minute LP we're used to. But then there's nothing standard about the band in general. Otherworldly, epic, unbound by rules or expectations and always keen to see what happens with just that little bit extra on the break, refrain or weaving harmony, this is exactly the sort of thing we've been taught not to expect in 2020, but exactly the sort of thing you should have been looking for.

Review: This is a very important record in the UK.

Review: Now on its fourth or fifth re-press, this is one of the most distinctive records in Mala's early career and has subsequently been blessed with one of the most distinctive productions in James Blake's career with his much sought after Harmonimix. The harrowed processed vocal soul and tick-tock riddim of "Changes" remains as timeless and heart-stopping as it was in 2007 while "Forgive" remains as deep, driving and full of attention to rhythmic details. A genuine classic, unless you've got a spare couple of hundred for one of the original presses, this is a very wise time to invest.

Review: Kontor presents 'Changes' from Chris Lake feat Laura V: Mega UK house hit with two smashing and brand new,
unreleased Spencer & Hill and Lange vs Gardeweg remixes. Also includes Dirty South remix and instrumental.

Review: Manchester's Synkro duo, who have previously landed on everything from Z Audio to R&S, and their Smokin Sessions household, return to the Belgian leviathan Apollo (R&S) with a stunning album made up of ethereal ambient scapes and glitchy, scientific IDM. Sounding like a hybrid of Autechre and James Blake, the pair are masters of suspense, creating tunes which contain the drive and guts of many late 90's electronica acts, but that also verge on calmer and more peaceful territories thanks to their injection of bittersweet vocals. "Changes" itself is a perfect example of their versatility and also of what they do best: moody electronic jams with a twist of pop and r&b. A smacker.

Review: Jodey Kendrick won't necessarily be familiar to you as he is someone who rather goes under the radar, but now you know. This EP proves his unique type of production genius across a bunch of mind-warping techno cuts that fuse Detroit, 90s UK styles and brain dance into glistening and physical workouts. The future rave kicks off with the high-pressure 'Changes' and then takes in the sludgy stomper 'Malfunction All Levels' and the caustic and high-tempo industrial urgency of 'The Metal Planet'. 'Organic Matter Detected' closes down with a more cerebral and sparse vibe designed to keep you on edge.

Review: Riding high on the success of a second release that introduced A-Scott & Chad to the Constant Sound fold, the third instalment finds Burnski back in the saddle to offer up "Changes", getting into a more techno-oriented frame of mind without losing that warmth and playful sensibility he has made his own over the years.
After strong remixes from Trus'me, Steve O'Sullivan and Cab Drivers on previous releases, Constant Sound 003 gives another opportunity for the label to call upon the finest in the business to reinterpret the original material.
In keeping with the heads-down workout tones of Burnski's original, it makes perfect sense to invite an artist as accomplished as Deadbeat up for a remix. Scott Monteith has long been a stellar example of how to push dub techno in thrilling new directions and it shows on his version of "Changes".
Kris Wadsworth has just as much to say for himself after years spent crafting heavyweight house and techno with a mercenary instinct matched by lashings of machine soul. He reduces the original track into a stripped down techno dub perfect for late at night. His remix will only be available on the vinyl.
It's yet another step forwards for a label committed to delivering nothing but the highest quality house and techno for those who seek a touch more depth from their music.

Review: Two years after first hooking up in the studio, Adam Port once again joins forces with veteran British duo Stereo MCs. In its original form, "Changes" sees mic man Rob B wearily half singing, half rapping over Port's melodious, tech-tinged deep house backing track. Although the music is quietly positive and attractive, the track feels strangely subdued. It's accompanied by a couple of fine, more obviously club-focused remixes. Port's own hypnotic, bubbly tech-house re-make expertly mines the Innervisions back catalogue for inspiration, while Freerange boss man Jimpster laces Rob B's entire vocal (spoken word section included) over snappy beats, rich bass, and immaculate deep house chords.

Review: Florida's Charles Bradley is often referred to as "the screaming eagle of soul", a tag that we absolutely and wholeheartedly agree with, particularly on this latest EP for Daptone. Although Bradley was born in 1948 and has been making music for donkey's years, the artist came to prominence in the early 2000s, and has been on fire ever since. For starters, it's near impossible to find someone making this sort of soul music in 2016, and love ballads as powerful as "Good To Be Back Home", "Nobody But You", and pretty much every track on here, are not easy to come by. Secondly, we haven't heard an artist as passionate about his country since "God Bless America", a beautiful reminder that the world isn't all that bad, and there are plenty of positive and uncorrupted minds still out there today in the music scene. An unmissable album, for anyone.

Review: Heiner Kruse has been rolling out razor sharp drum & bass on his Basswerk label since the turn of the century. His third studio album "Changes" finds him teaming up with long time collaborators Kingz, creating a heady brew that spans trip hop, downtempo, snappy tech step and more atmospheric pieces in between. The likes of "We Keep Destroying The World" and "Sincere" may have plenty of bite, but they're still executed with a smooth, smoky finish that makes this fine home listening material too. Kingz takes a socially conscious approach to the lyrics which suits the moody atmosphere, rounding out another fine turn from one of Germany's leading exponents of deep D&B.

Review: Aussie greats King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard follow hotly on the heels of the weirdo rarity album 'Made In Timeland' for a return to no-nonsense album releasing. A change in aesthetic accompanies 'Changes', which comes in various editions and packages. Only seven tunes make it up, and in an unusual curveball from the band, the tracks encompass new influences from soft rock to 1970s rhythm n' blues.

Review: Stone Foundation build on their well-received first single from earlier this year with another lovely bit of slow motion funk on the 100% label. First up is 'Changes', an all new tune that languishes in long legend drums, perfectly lazy hits and drawn out sax lines that sooth your soul and melt your heart. The flip is a fine cover of 'Going Back To My Roots' which anyone who has seen the band play live over the years will know has been part fo their repertoire for a while. It's a more uptempo and tightly coiled funk strider that busts with trumpet stabs and noodling sax energy.

Review: New album of tough, vocal Techno and harder House grooves from the Berlin based producer who broke through with his 2002 'Progress' album. 'Changes' is a fitting name for the new Alexander Kowalski album as it's without doubt the most adventurous and exciting journey the Berlin-based producer has ever been on. The album features a range of vocal productions. On 'Changes' we find Khan from Captain Comatose, who puts in a little human factor into Kowalski's sound with his unmistakable voice on the single 'House of Hell'. Then there is Fritz Kalkbrenner, a young Berlin guy, whose beautiful voice has been heard on tracks by Sascha Funke. Here he lays his voice on a few tracks plus there are standout collaborations with Funk D'Void and Joris Voorn. Released on the renowned Different label responsible for albums in recent years from Tiga, Vitalic, Super Discount and Alan Braxe.

Review: New album of tough, vocal Techno and harder House grooves from the Berlin based producer who broke through with his 2002 'Progress' album. 'Changes' is a fitting name for the new Alexander Kowalski album as it's without doubt the most adventurous and exciting journey the Berlin-based producer has ever been on. The album features a range of vocal productions. On 'Changes' we find Khan from Captain Comatose, who puts in a little human factor into Kowalski's sound with his unmistakable voice on the single 'House of Hell'. Then there is Fritz Kalkbrenner, a young Berlin guy, whose beautiful voice has been heard on tracks by Sascha Funke. Here he lays his voice on a few tracks plus there are standout collaborations with Funk D'Void and Joris Voorn. Released on the renowned Different label responsible for albums in recent years from Tiga, Vitalic, Super Discount and Alan Braxe.

Review: Carlos Duran's "Radars" shows his most vanguard electronic style with a very deep bassline with very groovy and hypnotic sounds, coming slowly and slowly to finish in the perfect track to mix with everything! Very personal style, you can listen the "Radars"! Sergio Castilla's "Inside Process" is a big track for the dancefloor with tech house rhythms; beginning in the Cirez D way with a fantastic break coming up with very electronic sounds to rock da house! Lastly, Albert Larra's "Animal Dream" is a dark tech house tune with analogue retro sounds and a very interesting electronic voice. Excellent track changing from the beginning to the end where the transformations will make you fly!

Review: A Chris Lake's anthem of the summer gets a full official release including a bouncing electro house mix from Dirty South.

Review: A Chris Lake's anthem of the summer gets a full official release including a bouncing electro house mix from Dirty South.

Review: A Chris Lake's anthem of the summer gets a full official release including a bouncing electro house mix from Dirty South.

Review: Here the same mixes find a home on the French Paradise imprint.

Review: Superb electro flavoured vocal house bomb by Chris Lake!

Review: Emerging as a notable name in the UK house scene, Alisha made 2022 her year with standout tracks on Eastenderz and performances at renowned events like Warehouse Project, INPUT, and Amnesia for Jamie Jones' Paradise. Now gearing up for an even bigger year, she drops her latest single 'Changes' on Hot Creations, with a classy remix by house music icon Mike Dunn. With tough kicks, rumbling low-ends, and squelchy synths, 'Changes' warps and drives, anchored by a hooky and infectious vocal sample. Mike Dunn's remix delivers a soulful, swirling journey with rich chords and delightful house music.

Review: For those who know, First Touch are doyens of the club scene from back in the day and were regularly heard on the world's best dance floors. The German outfit brought a special kind of modern funk back from 2000 onwards and helped revive boogie across a number of great LPs and 7"s. They have remained active over the years and this new one is another fresh sound. 'Changes' is classic First Touch with nice analogue drums and rubbery synth bass lines as well as warm piano chords and horn stabs. Then there is 'Chron' which falls more into a world of seductive electro territory.

Review: Swedish DJ/Producer Joel Mull (Inside, Drumcode, Code Red, Primevil, Lask, Truesoul, Elp, Sway, Bio etc..) dons his Icarus disguise once again, as he returns to Jericho, following his previous 'Round Midnight' and 'Nightfly' EPs. Here, Joel starts with some dark and seriously funky stabs for 'Changes', intertwined with uplifting percussive vibes for a very groovy and melodic dance floor production, that will no doubt appeal to cross over DJs also. Track 2, 'Convey" sees Joel, keeping the beats tougher, with a harder groove, nagging melodic riffs, and funky elements for another effective Jericho production. The AA side features a brand new interpretation of 'Changes' from legendary fellow producer Adam Beyer (Drumcode, Mad Eye, True Soul, Jericho, Primate, Soma, Nova Mute, Intec etc.) who totally reworks the production, with some sinister effects and rocking glitchy elements for a Mad Eyesque workout, which is truly deadly. Support already from CDR from Jel Ford, Adam Beyer, Joel Mull.

Review:  Vertical67, who also runs the The Vortex Traks label, gets Analogical Force underway for 2024 with this adventurous new album, Changes. The man born Thomas Pahl has worked under several aliases over the last ten years plus and uses this one for fierce electro that takes no prisoners. His discordant sound emerges again here with plenty of fusions of dreamy melodies, angst-ridden breakbeats, reflective sonic vistas and rugged machine rhythms. Some of our faves include the tumbling arps and lithe bass of 'Moments Of Jo' and more menacing moods of 'Fading Memories'. It all adds up to a far-reaching album and hugely compelling journey.