Andy Somoza Juaan
The Amigos EP

It's fair to say Malta's Sound Synthesis is associated with spacey, acid-flecked electro. But here, on his first album for the UK-based Gated label, a deep vein of old-school influenced breaks comes to the fore.The infectious acid lines are ever-present - the hands-in-the-air breakdowns, the rolling basslines - but this is a different side to Keith Farrugia's prolific output that brings in influences from ambient to downtempo to bassbin-worrying bangers.Take opener Ambient Talk, which kicks into life with skittish drums, or the woozy vocal-led All Night, which makes sharp use of the Amen break, as does album highlight 90s Chords.Yes there are classic Sound Synthesis melodies throughout these nine tracks, but there's also a darker side, exemplified by the aptly-named 140BPMadness, which showcases Farrugia at his most ferocious.

Another disastrous Poppers attempt at making people feel like dancing, this time featuring a promo release for DJ Tranquilos - a completely unknown "artist", never booked before DJ, virgin territory for bookers. Guaranteed to offer anything but tranquility to the listener. French vocal epic HiNRG pop cover and Soca dancefloor bulldozer on the A side. Heavy percussive acoustic drums with extraterrestrial synths and a sound effects DJ tool on the B side. Mastered for maximum dancefloor impact - only for true Peak Time DJs.

Introducing Part 2 of Megalon's highly anticipated archival collection, showcasing their studio output between 1995 and 1997. This compilation brings together the best tracks from the EPs released by Megalon on esteemed labels like R&S and London's Plink Plonk Records.Continuing their sonic voyage with finesse, this selection embodies the duo's forward-thinking approach. The music presented here is a testament to their ability to explore diverse styles and capture various moods, maintaining a striking modernity that remains relevant regardless of time. These tracks possess a timeless quality, sounding as fresh today as they did when they were first conceived. For any dedicated techno enthusiast, these records are a must-have addition to their record collection. With its true school UK techno essence and minimal electronic stylings, this compilation stands tall above much of the music produced on this island during that era.Drawing from Megalon's extensive DAT tape archive, all the music featured in this compilation has been meticulously restored by the renowned Curvepusher. The artwork and design have been crafted under the keen eye of Rogan Jeans, the original designer for Plink Plonk Records and Megalon, ensuring a visually captivating experience to complement the exceptional sound.

Beautiful cinematic electronix on this full length album by Lord Of The Isles inspired by the beauty of the islands of Scotland. Neil McDonald's love of the outdoors is a constant feature in his music, hence his Lord Of The Isles moniker, a direct reference to the Highlands and islands of his native Scotland. His vivid, effervescent and blissfully cinematic sound paints a soundtrack to unmade films, building imaginary worlds inspired by his childhood passion for science fiction. It is therefore no coincidence that the closing track 'Subtle Thoughts' samples the inimitable voice of Carl Sagan and is also the name of his forthcoming album on Lapsus Records. Subtle Thoughts' is an album of sumptuous melancholic electronica that, like all his previous works, avoids being pigeonholed. In it we find ambient and IDM, but also breaks and down-tempo 4x4 beats with deep ruminations, and even passages akin to new age and Balearic. In Neil's own words, the real concept behind 'Subtle Thoughts' is "The spaces in between. Listening to the quiet voices. Freedom of expression and being open. It also contains my hopes and fears for the future of our world, but mainly hope and love". Subtle Thoughts' will be released on 8 December with two advance singles: 'Open Mode' accompanying the album launch on 7 October; followed by 'Return to Yourself' on 4 November.

We travelled along the curvature of the earth and bent our minds asunder to get to where we are now. The passing of time has only made the lore more precious. With the gifts we have been provided, the story can finally begin.A man with drum machines, keyboards and a penchant for rawness enters. With rough takes and a distaste for convention, he emanates the sonicisms of TriForm. The forces of Earth are captivating but sometimes they conspire against you, and sometimes you lose revered recordings for abnormal reasons. From these once thought irretrievable tapes, he manifested the Refound EP.An ode to the EP’s arduous production, ‘Lost and Found’ revels in classic 90s house euphoria. Iconic bass stabs elevate and punctuate the succinctly aligned keys, causing big smiles and dancing miles. ‘909 Anodyne’ waxes and wanes, the vocoder-like synths repeating and reinventing over the mellifluous chords and the time-honoured drum machines' canonical reverberations.Flip the wax for ‘Attrakted’, a crunchy concoction with big-room tendencies. The bells are alive, and they’ve given you a thumping DJ tool that just won’t quit. Rounding things off is the aptly named ‘Younight’, lock in and get blindsided by the subtle acid, choral keys and saccharine beat. It’s emotion ‘til the very end.This is house music for every moment, made with machines and love. No AI, guy.