Darkness enshrouded the city, replacing warm crepuscular air with a fresh nightly breeze that seemed to creep between the gaps in his clothes. Looking down, the tiny hairs on his arm had stood upright in lew of the falling temperature. It really was time to head home. His family were expecting him back. Though something eerie summoned him to stay, something in his gut said to walk, walk out in the night and face the silence that awaited him in those open fields on the outskirts of the city. The last light of sunset danced its way to darkness and he was alone, but this was what he wanted.

Ilker Soylu is a man of many guises. He returns under his Mastering Black alias, breaking the silence of a three-year hiatus with a broody and atmospheric four-track EP. This release rides electro BPMs for the title track ‘Obey’ and the ‘Obey’ rework on the B side, contrasted with A2 ‘Black Palms’ and B2 ‘Bit Of Your Love’ that chug with tension around a slower BPM.Varying on a darkened energy, crisp electro breaks articulate through bubbling arpeggios and ephemeral vocals. ‘Obey’ vocal drifts in and out of the title track, perhaps commanding, perhaps being commanded. This semi-neutral, ungendered voice speaks to the curiosity of the listener, with the potential for an unusual trip when heard in the stark strobe lighting of a rumbling nightclub. ‘Bit Of Your Love’ continues the vocal theme with a questioning tone, embroidered with rattling hi-hats and experimental sound design.The alternative version of ‘Obey’ on the B-side skips the vocal input for a dubbed-out and rhythmic interpretation of the title track. Metallic synths and a notable groove ride throughout the revisited version. A2 track ‘Black Palms’ opens with a calm downbeat house mood, with rich mid-range pads and drums that roll in a friendlier direction. Noisier synths break the calm with staccato flecks that lead us to an energising darkness once more.
No stranger to eclectic sound production, Mastering Black provides a diverse and club-ready EP to mark his return to production.

As label and record shop founder of Zwart Goud, Ilker leans on a rich background in dance music and uses his years in the industry to produce this highly kinetic and mood-enriched release. Expect this to wobble and warp its way through sound systems for years to come.

From an aspiring b-boy to working with luminaries Billy Porter, Joss Stone, Kimberly Davis and Teni Tinks, The Shapeshifters, Simon Marlin announces the release of his brand-new studio album “Let Loose”.

Wrapped in a defining optimistic mood and colourful palette, “Let Loose” plays with the friction between musical persona and influence, delivering a masterclass in Simon’s flourishing depth of integrity as a producer and admiration to those that exert their enduring influence upon him.

“I'm a facilitator of talent. I'm blessed that over the years I've managed to put a team of people together - as a producer, that's what I do, very much in the old school sense like a Quincy Jones or Gamble & Huff, they’re the guys I try to emulate - and make something magic out of nothing, but do it in a contemporary way. That’s what really floats my boat, and that's what this whole project is about.” Simon Marlin – The Shapeshifters

Across the latest and long-awaited studio album “Let Loose” The Shapeshifters pledge rhythmic allegiance to the golden era disco records and their spellbinding qualities; embracing the tension often found between tradition and future to craft a euphoric, certifiable body of work presented to the devoted audience he deserves. The Shapeshifters exemplify a scene in rude health one that is now switching on an ever-younger fan base, and with Marlin being the beating heart of it it’s easy to see why The Shapeshifters are more in demand in the clubs than ever.

The twelve-track album is illuminated with vocal collaborations including the recently released and debut collaboration with the Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award-winning Billy Porter.

Layers of rushing strings, flares of brass and hedonistic grooves provide refreshing dancefloor power dynamics and deliver a liberating, triumphant and inherently uplifting record.

Taking an impeccably smooth course through disco-infused house, The Shapeshifters continue the rich relationship with Glitterbox and its record label; one that has yielded instant classics that epitomise the label’s ethos for preserving disco’s mission to uplift and empower.

A very special and limited pressing of Session Victim’s first album ‘The Haunted House of House’ in Translucent Orange vinyl.

Containing SV classics such as Good Intentions, Zionks, Dark Sienna and Cow Palace.

The undeniable flagship of Renaissance Records, a ReMix Collection is always an event when it lands; so, as festival season begins, and we turn the corner into summer, what musical news could be better?

And it really is news. In keeping with the ReMix Collection ethos of inviting the biggest and best to rework undeniable Renaissance classics, which to date has included Solomun, Tale Of Us, Adam Beyer, Nicole Moudaber, Patrice Bäumel and Yotto, the label were delighted to secure the services of Gorgon City to provide their take on one of the earliest, most immediate classics - Mephisto’s ‘State Of Mind’.

Released in 1992, ’State Of Mind (Quiet Mix)’ was a standout during Renaissance formative years at their legendary Venue 44 home in Mansfield. Its classic status was further compounded 18 months later when Sasha and John Digweed included it on the ‘Mix Collection Vol.1’ and introduced it to the ears of the wider world. It was, and is, an Italian house classic, which stands out through its deft piano riff, wobbly female vox and THAT spoken word - ‘music with more muscles’.

Gorgon City’s Renaissance Remix wastes no time with its update. Continuing the style and sound Kye and Matt established with ‘Somebody to Love’ and ‘Ahora Todo Va’, the track is a deep, peak time monster that injects bass, an unforgettable acid mid and deep horns to dramatic effect.
“We’ve been fans of the ReMix Collection so didn’t hesitate to take ‘State Of Mind’”, they confirm, “the signature parts of the track are legendary. We had real fun knitting them into a tougher, contemporary sound.”

Belgian artist Melawati steps up to Ellum Audio with an arresting debut album, Artimia. Produced with an array of modified machines and modular synths, it is a testament to finding beauty in chaos.

Martijn Ravesloot aka Melawati makes music out of mistakes. He comes from an indie background but has always admired Aphex Twin while playing in bands such as The Subs and working in theatre. He has a love of experimenting with soundwaves that gives rise to his complex, experimental and improvised sounds. He first met Maceo Plex while jamming and that session turned into the track 'Daliah' which dropped on Ellum Audio and was remixed by Tale of Us.

After that, Melawati wrote this most absorbing and beautiful album during the pandemic in a dark studio attic in the heart of Brussels. He set about recording live experiments on analog synths and then deconstructed and reconstructed them into the tracks presented here. The angelic tones of guest vocalist Lisa Jane feature on two tracks though the pair have never met, and Melawati is now set to take his impressive live show to Tomorrowland. His life has changed since writing the album, he now has two children and lives on a farm, but the power of this music where organic and alien worlds intersect remains utterly compelling.

Opener 'I Just Want To Go Walking' pairs a heavenly vocal with celestial chords and a bustling broken beat that strikes a powerful emotional note right from the off. The excellent 'Riddles' showcases more majestic synth work and molten melodies that suspend you in mid-air while 'Slow Pulse' is an intense layering of drones and heavy drum tumbles that again offsets light and dark, tension and release. 'Red Herring' rests with beautifully pensive synth patterns that twinkle, warp and melt before your very ears and 'You And I' takes off on a rubbery groove overlaid with heart-aching keys and shimmering, wordless vocals. 'Somebody' is brain-soothing synth bliss with lush patterns and icy drums that gently unfold to get you in a trance and the gorgeous 'Radiate' then offers a widescreen and cosmic ambient interlude. The heartbroken synths of 'Let Your Love Wash Over Me' speak of the end of a cosmic love affair and 'Violent Thoughts' rebuilds on smooth arps and smeared pads over downtempo drums. The final trio of tracks offers rousing breakbeats on 'New White Noise', uplifting synth catharsis on 'Pain And Pressure' and a melancholic lullaby on 'Stellar'.

Artimia is a beautiful mix of harmony and dissonance, of real emotional power and improvised musical elegance.

Transmission number four! Cee Breeze and Midi Drifter coming at you with archive jams...
Produced in London circa 2018-2019BC. From bleep to UKG and a lickle acid assortment, the duo has got you covered from the living room to the rave.