Ransom Note

Time seemed to move at a snails pace, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the clock. Today was different from the others: nobody had called, there were no messages in his inbox, barely a soul in the office. Maybe he'd missed something, a memo or a calendar invite... or maybe he should see it as a blessing in disguise; an opportunity to spend time with his imagination and forget that work even existed..

For their third release, Brussel imprint Undo Seat Belts welcome the Parisian chartered accountant by day, and music maker by night, Frédérique Sueur. 

Le Temps Mutile Les Talons is the name of this blissful and offbeat collection of nine tracks that finds itself lingering in the spaces between new wave, experimental, synth-pop, minimal synth and ambient. Its lo-fi bedroom quality and DIY touch imbues it with a feeling that's both comforting and disconcerting: a must listen.

R.A.M. back in action for May's drive time slot on Netil Radio, featuring a special microphone appearance from Timothy Clerkin.

Tel Aviv-based producer, vocalist and live performer May Lavie joins the Human Endeavour Records family for its fourth release, ‘Are You Having A Good Day?’

The four tracks are a window into May’s mind-expanding world, which she creates through hypnotic, textural loops and spoken samples dug up from all corners of the Internet. She pairs passages of text from scientists, social activists and films that raise questions of human nature, with her intoxicating vocals and a cosmic concoction of indie dance, synth-wave and electronica.

’The Poem’ picks things up next. Eerie and hypnotic, a dizzying vocal passage is layered over a bewitching, echoing synth line, moody pads and May’s gliding voice.

Buy: bit.ly/HE004MayLavie

She stared at the screen, her eye sight waning from its harsh glare. Attempting to tear herself away had been an impossible task, she couldn't switch off her thoughts, they continued to race at warp speed giving her no respite at all. She'd tried putting them down on paper, even toyed with the idea of sealing them in a letter and posting it through his door, but the fear of rejection was too much. How had she got herself in this deep? She'd only met him just a few weeks prior, how had she become completely and utterly hooked...

Barkley Bandon is creeping out of the shadows once again, this time for his sophomore EP Heaven Was A Failure. The illusive London-based producer first popped up on our radar through his Bandcamp self-releases, then again when his debut EP Always Gonna Wait For You landed in our inbox last year. On this brand new release for South London party-turned-label Scenic Route, he explores themes of desire and intimacy through his sleazy, stripped back cocktail of tripped out rhythms, infectious pop melodies and hypnotic bass grooves.

Zaltsman knows a thing or two about what sets off the dance floor. Whether it's behind the decks, in the studio or as a curator, the London-based artist has a knack for getting bodies moving. 

His own productions for the likes of Dansu Discs, Silver Bear and Cross Country are characterised by crisp percussion and infectious rhythms, plus he's a real dab hand at flipping a classic for the club.

Over the last few years his music has been getting props left, right and centre, becoming a staple in the sets of DJs like Midland, Ben UFO and Moxie, and we imagine it'll be no different for his next release, You Fly, So Do We.

The EP inaugurates the brand new label arm of his long running party series Emergency Room. Since 2017 they've been throwing events across London, Bristol and Brighton, inviting artists like Overmono, Call Super, Leon Vynehall and Eliza Rose to join them.

He takes care of this week's Shine A Light On mix with a blend of shuffling, percussive, rhythmic delights that would set the off the dance.

They couldn't see anything through the thick fog, could barely make out their own feet trudging through the boggy grass. It didn't bode well, what should have been an easy journey had turned into a treacherous mission across unknown terrain; they still had a long road ahead of them. Darkness was looming on the horizon, and soon their vision would become even more impaired, was it worth them battling through the obstacles despite their better judgment? 

Jokios Kultūros is part of the Electric Shapes family, he's been a constant throughout the Lithuanian imprint's journey. After a string of EPs and track contributions over the last few years, he's finally releasing his first long player into the world, the aptly titled ALL IS ONE.

It amasses all the different styles and influences that have motivated his productions, from breakbeat, house and DnB to ambient, trance and downtempo, and a taste for Japanese-inspired melodies and video game elements.

On their new single for Tropopause Records, musical collective Kalabash look at how man-made objects can provide us with new and strange views of the world.

Sonically the track plays with texture and mood, drawing influence from UK techno and experimental club sounds, underpinned by touches of smooth RnB.

In Kalabash's own words - "it’s our view of how a machine might interpret electronic music today" - which naturally extends to the visual accompaniment to the release. In the spirit of collaboration, a central component of Kalabash's work, the collective have teamed up with film director Matt Hass for a short film that riffs off the theme of re-contextualising everyday objects and subverts the idea of non-human entities perceptions towards humanity.

"Chaotic cohesion" is how LORA describes her sound. And that's something we love here at R$N HQ. Borderless electronic selections, a few twists and turns, hands in the air moments... Catch one of the London-based DJ and promoter's sets and you'll get plenty of that.

LORA's pathway into DJing came via her residency for longstanding hip hop night Livin' Proof, which led her to promote her own parties. For a few years she helmed Grapefruit and Nice One, two parties that gave her autonomy on sound and curation, and welcomed artists like Violet, LSDXOXO, Afrodeutsche and Shygirl.

This experience as both a curator and resident, as well as her monthly residency on Balamii Radio in South London, has played a part in her broad approach to selection, which can see her moving from warm, deep grooves to classic old school house, shuffling UKG and euphoric breaks.

Ahead of her launching her brand new party Floorjam, which will see her bringing the likes of Raji Rags and Arianne V to Peckham's Carpet Shop, she treats us to a mix of dusty house cuts and rolling vocal grooves with a few classic cuts thrown in for good measure.

The machinery came to a clattering halt, the sheer sound of it forcing the entire building to judder and shake. The factory had seen better days; the brickwork was crumbling away, the smell of dust and oil hung thick in the air and clung to your clothes. It was a wonder it still operated as it did, that it even opened on a daily basis or that it managed to retain enough staff to keeping things ticking over. Slowly but surely its purpose was becoming defunct, but it would cling on to life for as long as humanly possible...

Cyphon Recordings next signing have made a name for themselves under a number of different aliases. The Tijuana-based brother duo have had deep house outings as Soul of Hex and a debut as Mano De Fuego on Underground Resistance, but with this brand new project, Cyborg Nerve, their focus is firmly on electro. Balancing crystallised intergalactic cuts and raw, machine funk grooves, the EP is a triumphant introduction to the newest musical string to the Vicario Musique Recordings bow.

Lewis G. Burton has played an integral role in spotlighting the new wave of trans+, non-binary and femme identifying artists in London and beyond.

Through their infamous techno party and art platform Inferno, which has been running since 2015, they've championed DJs, producers and performers who are bubbling up in London's queer scene, and in turn have created a forward-thinking and inclusive space for self-expression in the capital.

As a DJ, producer and performer themselves, Lewis takes a no holds barred approach, rattling through hard, furious and infectious sonics that'll have you dripping with sweat.

On top of their musical endeavours, Lewis is a staunch activist for trans+, intersex and non-binary rights, which sees them helping to organise protests and marches at London Trans+ Pride every year - the next of which will take place 8th July (go and march!!).

Off the back of Inferno's programming at ICA's 75th birthday (the home of many of their parties), Lewis brings the energy for their Ransom Note mix, and wastes no time blowing away any residual cobwebs from the weekend. Strap yourself in.