Aline Brooklyn Obee
Original Series 03

Darcey Electronics are an inimitable duo made up of Darling & Tracey. Two Amsterdam based producers who have respectively released material via Dial, Off Minor Recordings, Safe Trip, Voyage Direct and Intergraded. They now join forces for the first release under the collaborative moniker in what is their debut EP for the newly launched label, Plant Life. ‘Hallo’ is a tripped out collection of tracks. Four experiments comprised of loose hypnotic percussion and stray melodies with machine driven prowess at the forefront. Plant Life is a record label run by Ally Tropical.

Aniara mainstay Arkajo showcases his versatility with three deep and driving cuts for Aniara29. First out is the intergalactic house transmission "Sagan" with it's rubberized bassline sending the message through. Ruggedly atmospheric tech-house groover "Mostly Harmless" follows up on the flip. The elegance of "Finally, I'm In Orbit", which has been rotating around booths worldwide for some years, rounds out the record in atmospheric bliss.

Low End Activist on an industrial dancehall tip featuring Vybz Kartel approved vocalist Sikka Rymes including alternate updates from Low Jack and Loraine James.

"Previously unreleased, Manchester, 1991. Betonska hits hard with their second release traveling back to an essential period of dance music history. A record blending rave, downtempo, ragga, dancehall, and early hardcore/breakbeat; a crossover that continues to shape and define some of the most innovative sounds of contemporary club culture.Produced by Philip Kirby, with vocals/rap by Martin Merchant (together Two The Hardway). On the A-side Graham Massey (808 State) accompanied them on the synths, and Howard Walmsley played the saxophone on the B1 and B2. All tracks were recorded in ’91 in Phil’s house, where “funnily enough Massey co-wrote ‘Army of Me’ with Björk!”. Find more info about it in the text below.The whole release consists of solely ’91 originals: a deliberate choice to not take it out of context. The A-side serves two versions of ‘Who Said?’, a mysterious midtempo jam with a jumpy acid line, organic yet punchy drums, and a mesmerizing lead synth played by none other than Graham Massey. The instrumental version has a more elusive feel to it, while the Vocal version tops it off with toasting by Manchester’s very own Martin ‘Sugar’ Merchant. Both tracks were pressed on the earlier test pressing from ’91, but have never been released officially before.The flipside boasts two mesmerizing versions of ‘Hot Number’. Driving proto-jungle rhythms and Sugar Merchant’s ragga vocals are fused with secondary vocals by Phil and a saxophone solo by Howard Walmsley to form a seamless and smokey sonic concoction that will get bodies moving. Whilst the B1 surfs on a slick breakbeat rhythm with a deep bassline, the B2 bounces on a 4/4 beat with a pulsing hardcore bassline.To top it off, the B3 and final track in the running order is a deep and dub track. Originally produced in the 90s, but recently finished by Phil, ‘Blossom Street Dub’ has an added synth line and an iconic King Tubby filter which help to enhance a time-warping, headrush effect. This track, alongside the ‘Hot Number (Alternative Version)’ B1 tune, will both be pressed for the very first time on vinyl, having been absent from the original ’91 test pressing. "ARTWORK BY SUSANNE JANSSEN

4 xtra spicey trax from the vaults of the elusive hardware donny, Phineus II. Straight out the Amiga served piping hot via this vinyl only release.