FSK24
Ghostpoint

Utopia Originals kicks off with a brilliant first real which revives some early progressive and trance sounds from 1993. They still sound right on point today which shows what a visionary Michel Spiegel aka Nuw idol really was. He himself describes this as "ancient galactic music decoded and restored for 4th dimension understanding". It is Alex Bradley who has put together this series of 12"s from the archive and you might have heard 'Restore' on a recent comp by Kalhari Oyster Cult. The entire EP has been remastered here in all its glory.

We’re thrilled to announce NAFF017, “To / Deep”, by Chicago trio Purelink “To / Deep” comprises four tracks, two of which –Maintain the Bliss and Head On A Swivel– were previously released as a digital-only EP in 2021. Here, Purelink return to form with an updated sound, adding crystalline angularity and dialed precision to their warm, enveloping style.  Blissed break abstractions flutter and gasp like shifting lightthrough variegated glass. Rhythms arise within rhythms,the breath resounds throughout.“To / Deep” carries the uncanny feeling that home has changed, or that home is change.

SAISEI founder Junki Inoue continues his vital archival work uncovering the riches of Japan’s distinctive electronic music scene and bringing them to new audiences around the world.The PMA EP compiles four dynamic tracks recorded around 30 years ago by the duo of Shigeru Nakamura (drums/vocals) and Mikio Kato (synths) aka B-2DEP’T.Nakamura and Kato’s first album as B-2DEP’T, Products Plus, appeared on cassette in 1993 on Trigger Records, the predecessor label to Transonic (given a retrospective on SAIS004). Its bright yellow and blue retro-futurist artwork – which is echoed in the design for this reissue on SAISEI – matched the sounds held within: inventive, out-of-the-box dance music blending overseas influences with an idiosyncratic Japanese sensibility.Two tracks from Products Plus appear on this EP, All tracks re-edited by Junki Inoue and regular collaborator Yuzo Iwata for vinyl extended play and available now for the first time on vinyl. ‘Clockwork Giant Panda’ appearing in a version co-produced with Yoshinori Sunahara (ex - Denki Groove), merges a breezy US house groove and bassline with twinkling, almost parodic Japanese keys that act as a kind of meta commentary on Western perceptions of Japan (a concept pioneered by Yellow Magic Orchestra). The two parts of ‘BSMH’, or Body Sonic Mental Health from ‘Products Plus’, were originally remixed by Daishi Hisakawa of Tanzmuzik, who draws on darker sounds from Europe and the UK: restless Depeche Mode synth harmonies spiral above a pacy EBM pulse, with robot vocals intoning the titular slogan. The package is completed by the unreleased track ‘PMA’, whose driving, bass-heavy mood falls somewhere between Sheffield bleep and the ambient techno of early Biosphere.SAISEI is a Japanese word which translates to ‘reproduction’ and ‘to play’ (as in playing records). Japanese culture is widely known for its traditional nature just as much as it is for being forward into the future and this label’s concept does justice to exactly that. Having started digging for records as early as 16 years old, Inoue delved into productions from 1990s Japan to uncover these native gems. SAISEI’s core concept is to recapture and reintroduce unique pieces of Japanese electronic music onto vinyl, to an audience it never reached before as most of this music was only released in Japan.

For their 4th venture, AGT Records presents the cosmic sounds of George T and his solar-sound-system explorations. Responsible for a multitude of club ready releases in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, you can find George Thomson’s aliases in the catalogues of legendary labels such as NRK Sound Division, Stickman Records and Glasgow Underground. Thomson’s sound is a warped fusion of disco, electro and tech-house, splicing together influences from the US tribal and UK tech house scenes that were prevalent in that golden era of electronic dance music.This is on display with ‘Some Lunar Pursuits’, as across the EP you find driving, jet-fuelled basslines that lift the tracks off the ground, while ‘Baby’ and ‘Silver’ throw about snappy percussion and dubby, reverb-drenched vocals that bring you back down to Earth and back onto the dancefloor. ‘Bass Chase’ provides a stripped-back bass heavy weapon to switch up the vibe, and title track ‘Lunar Pursuits’ is made for the afters as nostalgic synth lines float around alien house stabs, sending you back into the skies and beyond.AGT Records is putting this one back into the stratosphere, all in good time.

On behalf of re:discovery records, it is with great excitement that we announce the 2nd EP in the 3 part series that highlight the music from the 1990's Norwegian electronic act Neural Network. Picking up from where EP #1 left off, the A-side features the title track from their first album 'Brain-State-In-A-Box'. Originally, this was actually an edit from the 30+ minute live version that was played in 1993 where Keith Flint and the Prodigy crew gave them the thumbs up for being a great opening act for them to take stage to. A pinnacle UK rave track in all the essence, give this one a proper go. All 16 minutes of it! The B-side features our favorite ambient cut from Neural Network's 2nd album 'Modernité'. Titled 'Part 3' it is a deep, emotional and moving ambient track. Goosebump material to those that knew it orginally. All 3 of these EP's come with notes from the band on those special early days of their music and their inspiration. All these tracks are on vinyl for the first time with excellent artwork from UK's Grid Pattern. Bring back the Chill Out Rooms!

Latress on Time Passages, recommended!