Ransom Note

This has been a busy year for a relatively new producer, Eden Burns. He first appeared on our radar with the release of a balearic come club crossover EP on Public Possession, the record label come shop come fashion parlour extravaganza. Since then he has been busy having been invited to remix music on Optimo and then in his return to Public Possession not once but twice with new music.

Eden Burns has broad taste, this much is clear in his diverse approach to music and the elements by which he manipulates. You might be as likely to find yourself lost amidst a drawn out ambient saga as an oddball club jam and you never know quite what you are going to get. That's what makes it exciting.

Next month he will release a new EP via the label, AGAIN! He works fast. This time it's a club driven affair on a new EP called "Big Beat Manifesto Vol. I“. In keeping with this we asked him to record a mixtape of his own big beats and he does so in unique style.

Jean Marc Virard is a creative by nature, under the guise of 4THSEX he has previously worked predominantly in the fashion industry, having launched the brand in Summer 2018 at the critically acclaimed high-fashion retail store Departamento Los Angeles. 

However, behind the scenes he has also been a prominent and proactive member of the Timetable Records crew hosting a monthly radio program on NTS Radio alongside the likes of Nosaj Thing, D.Tiberio, Holodec and Gerry Read. More recently he has entered the realm of production himself and is set to release a full body of music on the label in the coming months, two LP's to be precise. 

Earlier in the year we were greeted with an insight into his own musical perspective, a two track EP was released via Timetable which demonstrated his creative prowess - blurring the lines between elements of house, techno and hip hop. It was a distinguished and powerful statement of intent which was reminiscent of heady warehouse parties and nostalgic days of rave which he described as follows:

"One night we were talking about what it was like to go to parties as teenagers. How every aspect is exciting and kind of dangerous, especially for a kid. The House & Techno scenes in France & Chicago were at their peak in the late 80s / early 90s and we were lucky to see what we did. Next thing you know I started to patch on my Eurorack modular systems, programmed some 909 and tracked some emotional strings. When I opened the mic Rob [English] told a story about taking a bus to the Legendary Muzic Box in 1989'"

We since invited Jean Marc Virard to record a mix and it is a blistering showcase of his own music, reference points and is uniquely riveting throughout. This one comes with high recommendations.

The roots of house music stem from Chicago, whilst some may argue and contest such a statement it's hard to deny the influence that the city has upon the genre, even some forty odd years later. New York also has a place in the heart of house, a city born upon breaks and disco culture before being re-imagined by the likes of Larry Levan who interacted and with music by the likes of Frankie Knuckles, Jesse Saunders, Ron Hardy and Larry Heard.

Dj Spen grew up in Baltimore, watching on with keen interest he observed the lineage between the cities, the pioneers and the sounds. In the eighties he was a hip hop dj, appearing regularly on the radio. It was only later that he would evolve his sound and begin to piece together his own musical narrative which lead to him being more prolifically involved in house music.

Over the years he has released music most prominently via Basement Boys Records and Black Vinyl Records. It is at this point in his career in which we focus, a time when house music was alive, evolutionary and perhaps its most dynamic.

We invited Dj Spen to record a mix, an ode to the sound of Chicago upon which he was raised and hasn't left since.

Run by Willis Anne and based out of Berlin, LAN is a record label which channels the underground ethos of electronic and experimental music culture in a humble, unpretentious manner.

It has acted as an outlet for an extensive array of musicians to channel unique, abstract sounds - sometimes these are club focussed yet often they are built as much with a pensive, reflective listener in mind. 

This mix is a testament to the hard work and commitment Willis Anne has invested in the label and showcases a plethora of music due for release or featured on LAN thus far.

It's an exciting representation of his own ethos and approach towards music and creativity.

A few months back we were sent an album via Huntleys & Palmers, a record label with which we have worked closely over the years. It was by an artist called System Olympia who upon digging we discovered had previously released music via Slow Motion Records and was a regular on NTS.

However, nothing prepared us for the supreme quality of the record and to be honest it caught us completely off guard. Titled "Delta Of Venus" the album features ten tracks which move slowly and provocatively, some built for the dance floor and others simply for a dark room and late night funk. Elements of Lo-Fi and nods to the P-Funk era creep throughout in what is an alluring, sexy affair.

The record has already received widespread support and airplay, it's of little surprise given how well rounded and addictive it is. System Olympia is an artist who has very much made a statement and we are humbled and delighted to be able to feature her as part of our mix series.

This month marks the release of a new LP by Filipino musician Vex Ruffin, it's his third full length outing on the renowned imprint Stones Throw, a record label which requires no introduction.

Vex grew up split between California’s Inland Empire and Alabang, Manila in the Philippines. His music is very much a reflection of that and draws upon influences from funk, soul and hip hop alongside Filipino culture. Family, nostalgia and the personal connections he's made along the way all inform his own creative process and the music that he makes is humble, warm and honest. He himself described his latest album as follows:

“At my age, you start to reflect. I’m going back to my roots, channeling that time, mixing nostalgia with how I am right now.”

This mixtape is as much of a reflection on that as the album is as Vex showcases a collection of Filipino music and records over the course of an hour. Funk, soul and delicate disco play out across a mix which is truly unique.

South Africa is alive and kickin', a fresh faced wave of musicians and artists are helping to pioneer a shift in dynamic releasing music reflective of their experiences, identities and culture. It's wild and the rulebook has well and truly been scrapped, hell yeah. 

Mx Blouse is one of these artists, their music has captured the imagination of a new generation applying a limitless ethos to the notion of style and genre. Sitting somewhere between house, vogue, funk, hip hop, r'n'b and afrobeats the music is a resilient soundtrack to underground Johannesburg and represents what is a very exciting new chapter the country's musical legacy.

Whilst not a dj by nature, Mx Blouse has done a rather spectacular job of piecing together a mix which represents their sense of self, tastes and club lead experiences. It comes highly recommended.

Operating out of Melbourne, here is a group who have been showcasing jazz and diy experimentalism in a whole new light.

The four piece group have been making waves amidst funk, soul and jazz communities the world over and most recently released a nine track album via longstanding UK based imprint Mr Bongo, a label which has become an authority in the sound.

"All News Is Good News" was released in July and was met with critical acclaim, it was well received and showcased the instrumental capabilities of a group very much on the rise.

We invited them to piece together a mixtape, they do so in fine style.

Based in New York, Amelia Holt is a disc jockey and a collector with sophisticated taste. The way in which she pieces together a narrative through music is fascinating and this has perhaps been best showcased through a selection of mixtapes that's she's released online for the likes of Mitamine Lab and Knowing Something amongst others.

Her taste is far reaching and having spent time behind the counter of a record shop in New York she has amassed a wealth of knowledge.

Recently Amelia launched a residency on Public Records' online radio and streaming platform Public Access on which she invites dj's to curate audiovisual material. It's a testimony to her own taste and her notion of curation.

There's a lot more to come from her but we'll let her tell you all about that for herself.

Running a record label is no simple feat, it requires dedication, investment and commitment. Many have tried and failed whilst others simply dream of the notion.

Multiplex is a label which has been in operation for twenty five years, a remarkable achievement for what began as a passion project in Denmark all those years ago. Founded in 1995 the label went on a hiatus of sorts and was then reborn in 2017 following an absence, it has been responsible for the release of music by the likes of Orlando Voorn, Morgan Geist and John Tejada.

More recently the label has released music by Cai Bojsen-Møller, Wilma, Ultra and Luca Lozano.

An imprint reborn yet still very much clinging on to the underground sensibilities which launched and birthed the label in its own right. It is a true testament to the commitment and perseverance of Kong and Daniel Karrill.