Evolving from their debut album—which featured ambient and “kosmische Musik” sounds reminiscent of Klaus Schulze and others—they seem to have transitioned toward dance beats after being influenced by New Beat, the Second Summer of Love, and post-rave UK sounds. This double pack features remixes by Romania’s current scene standouts Romansoff and Cos ...Read moremin TRG, as well as Flore—one half of the Romanian duo Khidja—along with Swiss producer Tankwart, a specialist in EBM and synthwave sounds, remixes by both Benedikt Frey from Berlin, and “Sexy Thing (Boysonic’s 2026 reVamp)”—all included in this double pack. A vinyl release crafted with all their might by 〈Ondes HXCX〉, which continues to forge ahead on its niche path. (Saito)

▫️information▫️
『The tracks on the upcoming Boysonic release are a snapshot of a period largely absent from the discussion around Romanian electronic dance music: the first half of the 1990s. Boysonic’s music was made in the face of considerable adversity, in a Romania still reeling from the aftermath of the 1989 revolution, spiralling inflation of over 200%, and the violence of the early-1990s Mineriads. In the gatefold photos, one of the band’s members can be seen performing live wearing a miner’s safety helmet, a piece of stagewear, but also a charged symbol of the period. The original music on Madhouse was made in Bra?ov during 1993–1994. Situated away from Bucharest’s political and cultural centre, Bra?ov gave the project its own slightly detached rhythm. Classically trained in piano and active in local radio, Mihai Barb developed Boysonic as a largely one-man act, often joined live by a changing cast of dancers and vocalists. In the absence of a developed club circuit, early performances took place in pre-1989 concert halls, seaside resorts and local entertainment circuits organised around regional radio stations. Agnostic in genre and unusually fluid in approach, Madhouse moves through downtempo pop burners, KLF-type UK house, boomy breakbeat, new beat and acid-leaning experiments. The material reflects a shortlived moment before the Romanian mainstream/underground divide had fully taken shape, when electronic music lacked infrastructure but not imagination. Sampling was used generously, with drum loops, vocal fragments and preset banks repurposed through software such as ProTracker and further processed outboard. The release comes as a 2xLP gatefold. Remixes are from Benedikt Frey, Boysonic, Cosmin TRG, Flore of Khidja, Romansoff, and Tankwart.』

James Johnstone and Mark Smith, former members of PIGBAG and Instinct. A 12-inch reissue of tracks from the 1994 CD album by The Infinite Wheel, who also released on R&S. A sound where the essences of dub, tribal, progressive house, trance and trip-hop intersect, in a vein that recalls the likes of THE SABRES OF PARADISE. (Original Japanese text by Saito)

SLO MOSHUNのBells Of N.Y. 。トライバルビートの前半、徐々に、のぼりつめ、アンセム「Strings Of Llfe」に強くインスパイアされたような煽るリフ、２度目のブレイクでヒップホップビートへと展開する最高な一曲(House To House Mix) 。ドープなベースラインからブレイクビートの「Bells Of N.Y. (Summertime Mix)」、オールドスクール、シンセリフ、ROOTS OF GARAGEな「Bells Of N.Y. (Xen Mantra Beefy Bells Mix)」もヒップホップビートへと展開。パワフルなVOCALをフィーチャリングしたガラージハウス「I Feel High」も名曲で持って降りて間違いのない一枚だと思います。 (サイトウ)

ナイジェリア出身のTony Addisとともに〈Warrior Danceを〉立ち上げ、ストリートソウル、ハウスが芽生えたUKダンス黎明期に重要な役割を果たしたKid Batchelor、One On One Crewの音源。Rushhourから先行して再発されているLeslie Lawrence、ロンドンのアンダーグラウンド・カルチャー伝説のクラブTHE WAG CLUBでレジデンツを務めたDJ KCCことKeith Franklinの３人によるプロジェクトBang The Party。Warrier Danceからの「I Feel Good All Over」「Jacques Theme」、Transmatからリリースされた「Release Your Body」、アルバム「Back To Prison」収録の「Let it Rip」。 (サイトウ)

UK STREET SOUL、Special Touchの再発で幕開けたHEELS & SOULS RECORDINGS第2弾。フランクフルトの様々なプロジェクトを手がけたCapony=Manfred Holz、Jürgen Blömke, Michael Buchner達によるプロダクションチームによる2つのプロジェクトTHE SOUNDSTEALERS / AMAZONIA。擬似エキゾチカ、セルフリリースが注目されてきたロンドンのデュオGood BlockのリミックスB-SIDE「Amazonia (Good Block Remix)」(sample2)を筆頭に、MISTER SATURDAY NIGHTのEamon Harkin、Mr. Scruff、Tim Sweeney、Yu Su、Ruf Dug etc...がプレイ、アーリーフィードバックを返している一枚です。 (サイトウ)