Various Artists
The Underground Sound of Kyustendil

Originally released digitally in August 2020 and supported by DJ Stingray, Martin Gore (Depeche Mode), Manni Dee, Rommek and Tapefeed, OBSCUUR is thrilled to present the vinyl issue of Catartsis & Otone's split EP "Mechanical Gesture". Catartsis and Otone explore, both in their collaborative and respective work, a wide spectrum of electronic and electroacoustic music with the practices of field recording and attentive listening at the core of their creative process. Inspired by musique concrete and electroacoustic sonic manipulations, they combine and alter sounds from the real, from their surroundings and from found (mainly metallic) objects. Stemming from this approach, they engage in rhythmical and textural research to elaborate a - peculiar, acousmatic and almost tangible - percussive and club-oriented music. With "Mechanical Gesture" Catartsis & Otone bring us an EP that is the very definition of the word "groove" while investigating rhythms and timbres from various mechanical apparatuses. Press, slice and carve your way through this assortment, it's guaranteed to get you moving.

Steven Rutter, one half of B12, returns to De:tuned with a staggering ode to the 90s UK bleep techno era. Opener "O.L.F. ResPekt" sets the bar with a respectful flashback to the trademark sound. "Rewind 273" follows the path with a pitched down composition that strengthens the rather mellow and floaty vibe. On the flip "Incredible" combines the best of both worlds, a real gem for all bleep and bass fiends in signature B12 style.Kevin Foakes (Openmind, DJ Food, Ninja Tune) created all the graphic work. Mastered by Matt Colton at Metropolis and pressed on 180 gr vinyl. A separate digital release will also be available at the usual digital shops. Stay tuned!

Vinyl Only, Limited.'At night, thoughts tend to get off the leash and walk free.'(King S. Bag of Bones)New chapter in MixCult chronicle – Dreamcatcher by Amsterdam based Caim.

After a short break, renowned underground label Bass Culture is back. The outlet has been a source of high quality electronic music since 2009, building a solid reputation over the past 13 years. Label boss D’Julz leads the charge with the first Bass Culture EP since mid-2021.The Est. 1992 EP sees the seasoned Parisian delving into his own history to produce four cuts that epitomise the sounds present in the early nineties, all wrapped up in contemporary packaging, so they sound fresh, polished and vibrant.The EP kicks off with ‘Highway’, which merges a 4×4 beat with rolling breaks. A funky bassline drops in along with a vintage melody. As the track develops, D’Julz adds more layers to create a symphony of retro sounds, all bouncing off each other to produce a delightful, uplifting cut.Next up, ‘Your Mom’s Fav DJ’ also utilises breakbeats to drive the track forward, with a solid groove undulating in the low end. Sultry pads add depth, while Rhodes keys usher in the jazzy second half after a short breakdown. A smooth, mesmerising cut full of flavour. The title track begins with a mysterious riff, gradually introducing that iconic nineties organ to form the bassline. The atmosphere is enchanting, D’julz building the tension and energy with a considered approach. A cut that has a relatively simple arrangement, which creates maximum impact as it hypnotises the listener with its mystical allure.Lastly, ‘SFUMATO’ closes the EP with a touch of high class funk. This is deep house with funkadelic rhythms straight out of the seventies era. The track emanates warmth, wrapping you up in its smooth, comforting composition. A great finale for an EP that epitomises the depth and range of Bass Culture… And we’re back.

Opening slash002, Copenhagen's Peachlyfe delivers a deviously ambient interlude. Rising into a transcendent crux, 'Sane & Awake' flirts with breakbeat's signature percussive style, teasing a drop, before taking a U-turn, panning out into evermore blissful peaks. Full of bounce, DJ Lucid brings the build with 'Entry Plug', drawing together dramatic strings and a pounding kick drum, while Narciss expertly splices up a haunting vocal fragment on 'Once More With Feeling'. Geared towards festival stages - huge crowds and height-of-the-night summer climaxes - the record takes its cues from the hedonism of the 1990s, delivering a powerful punch that's anything but backward facing. DJ Car Keys, part of Dutch-pop sensation Goldband, makes a special appearance in his debut as a solo producer. Closing the B-side, 'Spinning' is a 155-bpm belter, where a looped hit-hat collides with psychedelic spoken word passages.

Baby with a Halo is the newest record by Montreal based artist Ura. The songs on here feel like little organisms. While familiar genre references may shadow the pieces, from the faint ash of reminiscence comes something tactile and singular to the person who sat with the sounds and felt how they might coexist. Everything is rhythmic, the textures arrive, disappear and respond to each other in ways that could make you forget there was someone behind the controls all along. The result is full of love and ambiguity ~ choose ur own journey.