Mortar & Pestle
EP

Our Ninja Tools series is back with the sharpest shurikens around, four new ninjas on the imprint for its 6th volume : Eric OS, Gogo Gadgeto, Central Intelligence and Sweely

Far over on the west coast of the USA we find a room full of drum machines, samplers and keyboards. Hard at work is Israel ‘Iz’ Gravning aka Tone Scientist, who’s been using this Seattle studio to produce genre-defying future music for more than 25 years.An avid student of jazz fusion, hip hop, house, techno and others, he was galvanised to build his own studio after hearing jungle and drum & bass on a trip to London in 1995. His musical course thus intersected with the collectives then pushing new dancefloor sonics rooted in the rich tradition of Black music – like Nuyorican Soul over on the east coast, and the new broken beats of IG Culture, Dego and Bugz In The Attic in London. Then, in the early 2000s, Iz put out a handful of EPs under different aliases, including ‘Lion Dub’ on the Guidance sublabel Subtitled, but soon stepped back from the public stage. That’s not to say he stopped making or playing music, though. Far from it.Fast forward two decades and our very own Walrus, chilly but happy in the depths of a Toronto winter, happened across ‘Lion Dub’ in the legendary Play The Record store. Intrigued, he tracked Iz down and discovered he had been active all this time. A short email exchange later and this 2xLP of archive material was born.These six tracks explain fully why Iz calls his studio the ‘Time Machine’: vintage equipment and instruments converse with up-to-date software; classic sounds and textures twist into fresh configurations; and Iz’s own creativity and musicality sings to us from a location beyond the trappings of time or genre.All music written, produced and mixed by Israel Gravning aka Tone Scientist in Seattle/Washington between 2005 - 2008 except for “Things Get Done”, written and produced in 2003, and “Bossman”, originally produced by Kris Moon and remixed by Tone Scientist. Zion12 was the name used by Israel for releasing Jungle/DnB and when DJing professionally around Seattle and elsewhere. Mastered & cut by Stefan Betke at Scape Berlin. Brought to you by Crevette Distribution Brussels/Belgium. All artwork by Camiflage. Printed by Bichel at Chromodrome Brussels/Belgium. Liner notes by Joe Delon. Israel would like to thank Mom, Dad, my brothers Gabriel & Jagger and their families, Cord, Andy, Kiva, the Ninjas at DSF, the Grid crew & the Great Spirit. Basic Moves would like to thank Jakob, Pim, Camiel, Boudewijn, Deg, Ailsa, Mike, Jordan, Kimcom & Joe. Keep buying records/don’t stream your life away. Underground club culture: one love/one circle.

Off The Grid unveils the second chapter of its label, this time with two tracks (A1 and B1) from Mataemon, an alter ego of Tolga Fidan, who puts his years of experience into forging two powerful cuts that balance the strengths of the past with the visions of the future, laying driving, deep and playful elements over steady grooves, raving straight from the heart. The A2 cut is the release debut of OG record collector and music enthusiast Matzo Sweetlife, a well kept secret on the outskirts of Brussels, who delivers a no-nonsense track of "machine soul", soft and dark, pure Detroit style. Rounding off the ep, the B2 marks the return of Oni-Ki (aka Onirik and Minoki) to wax after a short hiatus... this time with a solemn groover, confirming their consistently off-kilter approach, tinged with acid-jazz influences and emotional flights.

Electro Break and Downtempo 2xLP by Daniel Anselmi. 10th label’s release.From the label SEQUALOG run by TC80.

American DJ and producer PTHGN joins the Fides Records family with his debut EP Binary Operation, marking the 17th release for the label. The 5-track Binary Operation EP underscores PTHNG's profound grasp of classic Detroit electro. With his lively basslines, pulsating drum breaks, long and dreamy pads, and unique urban vocal snippets, he crafts timeless dancefloor anthems. His use of retro-futuristic electronic leads and SFX adds an edgy dynamism into the EP, further establishing PTHNG as a fresh force to be reckoned with in the electro scene.

Argentinian DJ, artist, and label head DJ これからの緊急災害 also known as Wachita China makes his debut on Fides Records with the EP T.A.K.E.O.V.E.R, marking the 16th release for the label. Five energetic tracks showcase Wachita China's scholarly knowledge of influenced Ghetto and Electro Music. With his driven 808 beats, fierce basslines, extraterrestrial vocals with a metallic edge, and a blend of sci-fi melodies, the artist proves once again his ability to create timeless dancefloor weapons. The EP also include an electro-infused upbeat track featuring DJ Disappointed, injecting a energy burst into the release.