Zeynep Erbay is a Turkish producer and dj who has released music on the likes of Soul Clap Records, Fool’s Gold, Nu Northern Soul and Exploited. She tends to blur the lines between traditional house music and that steeped in a more italo lead, cosmic influence.

As a DJ she is commanding, her taste informs sets which tend to weave and wander, telling a broader story rather which soundtracks long nights on the dancefloor.

They are often highly energetic, yet packed with feel good influence.

Now based in London, she has worked tirelessly, cementing herself as a key figure in the eclectic underground.

Watching from his penthouse he gazed out over the city, taking in the view and wondering whether those down below ever thought much of him up high amongst the clouds. He could see it all, the city in all its abject disarray and chaos. The clouds as they came and went overhead might affect the mood or the tone, yet the underlying themes remained all the same. 

This was his empire. His kingdom. 

Up here he was safe and free. 

Perhaps one day he would retreat down to the streets, take in the sights and sounds, the people below. Perhaps one day he would be one of them.

Goose Down releases a wicked assortment of dusty, groove focussed house and downtempo. A splendid assortment of mood music which will soundtrack many a pensive, peaceful moment.

On the 20th September 2024, we hosted a joint party with Spezialmaterial at Zukunft in Zurich.

True to form, the night brought together Tia Cousins, Matt Cowell, and Princess P for a session that lived up to the Spezial ethos.

For a taste of what went down, check out this 2-hour snippet from Tia Cousins and Matt Cowell’s b2b, capturing the essence of the evening in full swing.

Stormy waves for January, direct from Donegal courtesy of Harri Pepper’s brother.

Raised amid the rhythms and canvases of his family’s jazz bar and art gallery on the wild Welsh coast, Jac Pepper’s journey began in the creative crucible of Peppers in Abergwaun. Brother to DJ Harri Pepper, featured on these very pages for time, Jac has spent over a decade crafting vinyl-only residencies from Ireland to Australia.

Now settled in the surf town of Bundoran, Donegal, where the raw beauty of the Dartry Mountains meets the Atlantic waves, you’ll find him holding court at George’s Bar and Treehouse Live events. What started as a few months chasing swells turned into finding his spiritual home – a place where music and the ocean merge.

Spanning continents and decades with the raw energy of post-punk to ‘global rhythms’, meditative downtempo and euphoric disco, and from classic house to sideways acid this mix is a deep slice of his musical cake (yup I made that all up on my own) and reflects the ethos of his upbringing: creating spaces where people feel “comfortable and free to dance” – or music “checking some stormy waves.”

Nice curveball for January, let’s go…

We recently released the most excellent debut EP from the mysterious Double Body. Four scuzzy, Lo-Fi dance floor destroyers that brim with hypnotic patterns and mesmerising, looped samples.

Even though they won't tell us their real identity, we thought we'd see what a mix from them would sound like... from early Photek that sounds "like an abandoned factory on Mars" which gives you a sense of the vibe the mix reflects their approach: a bit of an outsider, but definitely still plugged right into the world of the electronic.

https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/double-body-the-alternate-currents-ransom-note-mix/

Organic exploration with our first Music To Watch Seeds Grow By signings…

Some musical journeys begin with a whisper, a gentle rustling of leaves, and a breath of sound. For brothers Clive and Mark, aka the legendary Woo, this journey has been unfolding since the 1970s through a four-decad long sonic odyssey of discovery…

Their latest output on our very own Music To Watch Seeds Grow By imprint is an ode to Sweet Peas.

One of a series of five unreleased albums from their archives, it’s a thoughtfully curated collection of ambient, minimalist, and new-age soundscapes designed to be the perfect soundtrack for moments of sowing these seeds, which accompany every release in quiet reflection.

“To our surprise and delight, Sweet Peas can be planted in the autumn and they’ll blossom in the coming spring” notes Clive.

To accompany this creation, they’ve created “A Walk in the Woods with Woo” mixtape, where Stevie Wonder’s forest-infused melodies dance with Marlene Dietrich’s vocals and Schubert’s transcendent strings paint aural woodland landscapes. Each track is a seed, carefully planted, slowly unfurling its own unique narrative. It’s a meditation on growth, on patience, on the delicate art of nurturing something beautiful from the smallest of beginnings.

FULL INTERVIEW HERE:

https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/seeds-mix-1-a-walk-in-the-woods-with-woo/

The clouds were scattered, a delicate array of colours illuminated in pinks and blues from the late evening haze. The sun was setting in the distance casting strange shapes and shadows on the land below. At times it was hard to assess where the sky began and the fields ended, for they met somewhere in the middle in a myriad of shades.

Who knew what sort of god might live above their hollow might. Up in the heavens there had to be some sort of shepherd which watched over them all.

For if there wasn't, what else was there?

Nummer Music are set to reissue material from Paul Mahoux’s seminal BùLù project. The release comes with new remixes which reimagine the ethereal, dream like states of the original and rework them with prowess for discerning dancefloors and clubs.

Do!! You!!! radio host and selector steps up for a round of Ransom

The great Sarahtonin is a selector who’s not one to fit into boxes. Less about genre boundaries and more about pure, unadulterated feeling – crafting sets that are part emo-odyssey, part dance floor magic built of rare disco through to techno Sarah’s is one for the journey…

Her Do!! You!!! radio show has already garnered her a cult following, with listeners all over the world. Whether she’s lighting up the sweaty confines of Corsica Studios, festival stages like Gala, or curating mixes Sarah brings an infectious energy that’s impossible to ignore.

Buckle up, and let Sarah be your guide.

“Take off all your clothes… I feel the beat… come and dance with me…”

FULL INTERVIEW: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/sarahtonin-the-shine-a-light-on-mix/

@sarahtonindj

For those who've been paying attention, Wes Baggaley isn't just another DJ—he's a selector who has meticulously explored the underground electronic landscape across Europe for many years. From the hallowed decks of Panoramabar to Frankfurt’s seminal Robert Johnson and in the sweaty depths of Glastonbury's NYC Downlow, Baggaley has cultivated a reputation as a vinyl obsessive who treats records like a primary language.

He's not one to pull punches either; in real life and on his Instagram, he offers a refreshing take on the absurdity of the state of the music world—from lamenting the current popularity of "garbage pop remixes" masquerading as "cool" and "underground," to poking fun at the disconnect between an artist's public persona and the commercial realities behind the 'scene'...there's definitely a reason Dave Clarke's FUSE is his favourite mix!

Drawing from a deep well of experience—eight years on Rinse FM and residencies that span from London's Dalston Superstore at the most excellent queer house music party Bottom Heavy to the world's most revered underground spaces—Baggaley delivers a journey that's both intense and unpredictable.

This mix captures the restless spirit of someone who refuses to be confined by genre boundaries. Dark ambient textures collide with driving techno, industrial edges spark against electro. It's a mix that reflects Baggaley's current Narr Radio remit, and it certainly refuses to sit still...

FULL INTERVIEW HERE: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/wes-baggaley-the-alternate-currents-ransom-note-mix/

Follow here: @wes-baggaley

“Like nature, our approach has always been quite random,” Renowned duo Woo on Music To Watch Seeds Grow By

There once was a Woo on a musical spree, Who sang to Earth Angels beneath a tall tree.

With tunes of delight, they made seedlings grow, Their “Music To Watch Seeds Grow By” did glow!

The Woo danced a jig with a cucumber cane, While the Earth Angels hummed a melodious refrain.

“Seeds sprout in time!” they chirped in their glee, And the Woo clapped along, as happy as can be.

So now when you hear that harmonious tune, Think of the Woo and a sunny afternoon.

For Earth Angels and melodies make gardens thrive, And nonsense like this keeps the whole world alive!

A thoughtfully curated collection of ambient, minimalist, and new-age soundscapes designed to be the perfect soundtrack for moments of sowing these seeds, which accompany every release in quiet reflection.

Composed by the renowned duo Woo—Mark and Clive Ives — this is one of a series of five unreleased albums from their archives. The release combines soothing tones from clarinet, guitars, percussion, and electronic elements, creating the perfect soundtrack for gardeners and music lovers alike. Featuring tracks like “Golden Hours” and “Earth Angels,” this album is an ode to the slow, rewarding process of growth and new beginnings.

https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premieres/premiere-woo-earth-angels-music-to-watch-seeds-grow-by/