Ransom Note

The room was crowded with bodies, all hoping to outlast one another in what felt like an eternal waiting game. Everyone had been told the prize would be worth it in the end but they could only take their word for it. Impatience was getting the better of them, they'd been sat twiddling their thumbs for hours and hours now. Time seemed to crawl along at a snails pace; they had to keep reminding themselves that it was a marathon, not a sprint. 

Paul Blackford has been releasing music for two decades, and you can tell, his slick electro and machine funk creations are deftly produced, characterised by a meeting of modern and classic influences. His next release comes via N-Gynn and Mike Gill's Superlux imprint, which has previously been home to music from Thoma Bulwer, Dawl, Desert Sound Colony and more, and has a serendipitous story behind it.

Mike and Paul connected after a video was posted on the former playing one of his tunes, and in response Paul sent his entire catalogue to Mike by way of thanks for the support. So the conversation about an EP on the label begun and Weekend Warrior is the result, which showcases his classic fusion of future-facing electronics and classic Detroit-flavoured electro.

The thought of him made her blood boil, her fists clench and her brow sweat. What had begun as shock had soon been replaced by sadness and swiftly that had contorted itself into anger. The person she'd known all these years wasn't really who she thought he was, and now she couldn't even bear to look at him, it were as though he had become a stranger. He'd been exiled from her home, from her life, from her inner circle, but there was a mountain to climb when it came to exiling him from her mind.

After racking up appearances on Me Me Me and Riotvan, among others, German-born, Brooklyn-based producer Tony Y Not crash lands on Live At Robert Johnson with a stellar debut. She's already built a distinct sound through her previous releases which orbits around metallic synth lines, pulsing dynamic rhythms and dark moody atmospheres, all of which come together on her new three-tracker. Titled Your Exile In My Mind, the EP takes cues from techno, euro disco, acid, Italo and wave, and is without a doubt made with a dark dance floor in mind.

Today marks what would have been the Guv'nor's 60th birthday.

As a little nod to the late great Andrew Weatherall we've re-sharing an old mix of his alongside Sean Johnston, recorded in the lead up to Electric Elephant 11 years ago, which was only previously available on Mixcloud.

This came just a year into the duo's journey as ALFOS and their now infamous project which Andrew described as “an oasis of slowness in a world of increasing velocity”.

A solid slice of oompty boompty music to see you into the weekend. Stick it on and raise a glass to the chairman!

Phuong – Dan has been a resident at Hamburg’s Golden Pudel club for nearly two decades – it has become a space synonymous with off piste and leftfield dance music acting as a home for exploratory DJ’s to broaden the expectations of dancers.

Phuong – Dan has been a pivotal part of the evolution of the club, hosting his party Gatto Musculoso since 2006.

As a DJ his sound is diverse, drawing upon a wild array of influences and nuances as he seeks to create abstract experiences through music.

Working on a project by project basis, with a particular focus on artistic integrity, Phuong – Dan has become one of the most interesting artists working in this space. As the founder of dispari, a multi disciplinary record label and platform he has released music and works by the likes of Gavsborg, Cloud Management, Anatolian Weapons, Hector Zazou, Laurie Anderson, Florian Bräunlich and Sven-Åke Johansson.

This mixtape is a wild trip, spanning a variety of sounds.

Esa is a producer, musician and DJ who has never been one to sit still. He is always working on something exciting and seems to draw strength from collaboration and the creativity of others as much as he does himself. Over the years he has released music on the likes of Highlife, Local Talk, Dekmantel, Bronswood, Endless Flight and many more – his sound evolving based upon his external influences and discoveries of late.

Based in London, he is incredibly well travelled and has worked alongside a number of musicians and bands, seeking to broaden his musical horizons and draw upon the roots of the sound and cultures which have informed his tastes.

As a DJ Esa is well versed, honing his craft on dancefloors in Glasgow where he held his first residency at the infamous Subculture. It is here that this mixtape was recorded, his return to the party earlier this year was a triumphant tour de force showcasing just how far Esa has come as an artist.

This mixtape spans a wide variety of styles and sounds but most importantly is destined to keep you moving and dancing throughout. Sometimes live sets don’t make much sense out of context, yet in this case there is something special captured in the sound which makes you feel like you are right down the front banging that old Sub Club booth.

Perhaps one of the most wondrous facets of music culture in the UK comes in the form of grassroots, diy promoters and dj's who strive to broaden the eclecticism and experiences of people in their town. Based in Aberdeeen, Nina Stanger is a dj from Scotland who recently sent us an email following what some might deem as a fortunate, unfortunate experience if that makes any sort of sense. You never know who might turn up, hit the club, or the opportunities which might unfold as such...

Earlier this year footage emerged from a party in Aberdeen in which British politician Michael Gove was seen wildin' out to electro and jungle - he was alone yet found his way into the murky, smoke filled club in which Nina Stanger was playing a carefully crafted set of electronic and bass inspired sounds.

Soon after this she dropped us an email, explaining that she was gutted by the oblivious, unremarkable press coverage of the incident and was keen to be known for something more than accompanying the late night escapades of a rich Tory. We liked her style.

She sent us the mixtape from the night itself and we were blown away by her selections.

A keen digger, a radio regular on Edinburgh station EH-FM and a talented dj we offered her the opportunity to record a mix and demonstrate what she's all about. The result is an hour of cleverly orchestrated music which would work wonders in the club.

Next up is a prominent producer and dj who has made a name for herself in London following her move to the city in 2016.

Giulia Tess has released music on the likes of Fever AM, Future Bounce and More Time Records. However, most recently she announced a new EP on Scarlet Tiger, the record label run by Ross From Friend’s. The record itself is a leftfield exploration of experimental electronics which features elements of Techno, UK inspired bass sounds and abstract soundscapes. It's a hypnotic, strange release which is as fitting for late night moments all alone as it is on discerning dancefloors.

Originally from Italy, Giulia has established herself as a fierce and fearless dj having appeared on BBC Radio 1xtra, BBC Asian Network, NTS and most regularly on her own Threads radio show.

We invited her to record a mixtape which reflects where she's at as an artist in the present, she doesn't hold back.

Based in Vancouver, Venetta is fiercely independent and has become a crucial figure as far as social and political change goes within music culture in the city. As an underground artist, she is the co founder of NuZi Collective, a platform focused on uplifting and representing black & brown women, trans women & gender non-conforming individuals in the local music scene.

A keen activist for change she has worked tirelessly to reclaim the black & brown roots of electronic dance music, creating black political spaces as a source of empowerment.

This mix packs a fiery and ferocious punch as she weaves and meanders between techno, electro and bass inspired sounds. Trapped out hooks feature aplenty and this is a hell of a rollercoaster ride through the repetoire of a DJ at the very top of her game. You have been warned...

It's always a joy when we get sent a mix out of the blue by someone we've never heard of which rip roars through the office.

TI-DJ, A Nigerian producer and DJ from North London, hit us up with a nice email explaining his love and passion for jungle and drum n bass - we then spent some time digging through his archives and were cheerfully impressed with what we discovered amidst the material.

This mix then hit our inboxes last week, a collaboration between him and a friend WDubs. It doesn't dissapoint as it meanders through bass frequencies, UK inspired sounds and wild breaks. This is what it's all about and we reckon that you and yours are gonna' love this one.

For over fifteen years Steve Moore has worked to create expansive, synthesizer driven music which challenges the limitations and preconceptions of the machinery itself and the sounds created.

He has released numerous records on the likes of L.I.E.S, Mexican Summer, Future Times and Be With Records. Many of these releases have explored variable themes, some have included club ready material whilst others have been strictly focussed on ambience and experimental styles. It is not the case that Steve Moore is a jack of all trades, more so that he produces and creates the music which he wants, when he wants. Where and how it is received is beyond his actualisation, if it makes people dance then great, if it doesn't then that's great too.

Most recently he has released new material on Kompakt, the longstanding German label founded by Wolfgang Voigt, Michael Mayer and Jürgen Paape. It might be described as 'techno' but in reality it's as much a cinematic, synth driven, ethereal collection of music which might sound as perfect on a dark and lonely late night drive as it would in any nightclub.

In keeping with this theme, we asked Steve to create a mix which reflects his love of ambience, soundtracks and tonality. He does so with delicate precision, showcasing music by the likes of Dopplereffekt, Steve Miller Band, Ennio Morricone and more. There's even an unofficial Steve Moore version of Al Stewart's 'Year of the Cat'.