Revivis
Dance State EP

For the first time in our Rezpektiva series we make a return to a formerly released artist. Phantom Power was the producer behind our third release (REZ3three) and we enlist his skills once more in bringing to light two more tracks from his catalogue in the way of 'Helter Skelter' and 'Travelogue (Departure Mix)' both originally released on Crib Records in 1994. Once again - Rezpekt to Phantom Power ! Rezpekt to Crib Records !

Altered Circuits' next release comes by way of Bologna-to-Berlin transplant Jacopo Latini. On the Motherboard EP he combines stubby drums and sultry, efficient basslines with richly hued synth work. Once the cuts get going, a tapestry of melody reveals itself: gated leads are accompanied by burbling arpeggios, momentous chord progressions and bright pads that crawl in and out. The patches often incline to the bright and dreamy but are deployed with restraint; in the same vein, concealed and aloof vocal samples get sprinkled in. These techniques - staples for the artist - add an inscrutable quality to his work's mood. It is dance music that feels direct on the surface yet hides more ambiguous emotions underneath. Being a DJ was Latini's first approach to the electronic genres, and it arguably still is his main inspiration - it even occurs he writes tracks with a specific venue in mind. Since starting over a decade ago, and having meanwhile swapped the local Italian stages for the international ones, he has amassed a ton of analogue gear to help him do so. On this occasion, he plugged in his Roland D-50, Moog Sub 37 and microKorg XL, among other favorites, to take on progressive, trance and tech house. "Motherboard", "High Voltage", "It Comes In The Morning", and "Dual Effect" make for a diverse selection but have indeed the same objective: the club floor.

The fourth Planet Tapes record has a very deep meaning for us to which we are emotionally linked.It will belong to the hosts Two Opposites. "Astro Collector EP" can be interpreted as a mixture of raw and emotional sounds.Let's try to go into details about each track.Make Contact; sets the tone with its dark groovy lines and reverberated vocals that transport you to a world of pulsating energy and endless possibilities.Reversal Motion; you hear deep synth bass melodies and infectious rhythm.Starslalom; a fusion of classic electronic sounds and contemporary sensations that create an atmosphere of future nostalgia.Mirror Dreams; you enter a world full of groove, harmony and caressed by a bleep synth with sparkling rhythm.Siana Vision; the romantic note of this record which with its emotional sound will make you explore the boundaries of imagination.

Toronto label and party Hypnotic Mindscapes presents another issue of modern electronics crafted for the dancefloor with the third edition of their compilation series, displaying a bundle of trend-defying tunes from crew-adjacent artists. A1 opens with long-time friend and collaborator Patamamba (half of Kimchi Records) with “Igoon of Blue”, shades of progressive house music simmered in evocative acid lines reminiscent of 90’s nostalgia. The A2 features Hypnotic originator Cosmic JD with a deep-slamming breakbeat piece titled “Steam”, punchy basslines and trancey Arps bubbling into the early morning. On the flip, scene-vet and Seekers boss Alex Picone debuts on the label with “WhyWasteWine” a fast-paced, modern tech-house number with wonky melodies and metallic artifacts. Rounding things up, Moroccan (via Montreal) up and coming artist Jalil enters with an electro-infused ode to “Technology”. Artwork by Sofia Eleni.

Lowkey Episode #3, once again showcasing Barcelona's vibrant underground scene. Limited pressing as usual