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Hidden in the middle of the desert was a mysterious old barn, a place in which ancient rituals had once been held in a bid to bring down the sun from up above so that it might be extinguished. It was damn hot. This place had been known as Umbra. It remained as it was, a mere shell of a building in which wild dances, wild songs and wild chants had beckoned and bellowed between the four walls. Little did they know that the sun would never fall from the sky up above - let alone that it might never be extinguished. If anything it might only get hotter and Umbra would be all that was left to burn. La Pointe is a a trio formed by Geneva-based techno pioneers Crowdpleaser and Entlet alongside New York City’s Jonny Sender. Together they are set to release a new EP on Secret Teachings featuring remixes from Jonny Rock & Nathan Fake. Jonny's caught our ear - we all know when the rock is in the house.

It had been ever so lonely out there, deep in the darkness of outer space. There were tall tales which he might be able to one day relive and reconcile but those were not to be told now. Those were to be kept firmly secret, locked away in the confines of his mind. For he had returned but what was out there must not. Down here everything was normal. Life was normal. The people were normal. Every day was just the same. Not like out there... Occasionally he'd see flickers and flashes of the wild, alien like faces he'd left behind amidst the stars. Had they ever been real? Returning was bittersweet. Innate Editions are set to breathe life into a rare gem, a lost classic if you will. They are set to revive Connective Zone's 'Palm Palm', a millennium-era cult classic and Ben UFO favourite. Intelligent dance music, at its very very best.

She was all that he'd ever dreamed of, a perfect picture in his mind, a vision in red dancing amongst the skies. You never quite knew when one day you might stumble upon her, for she might be lurking just around the next corner or in the glimpse of a window passing quickly by.  Things come and go so quickly in this life. You could be anyone, perhaps. Yet still, the same face continued to dance up there, smiling down, enticing him onwards through the weight of the morning fog. Dj Balduin is set to release a new EP on Lola Haro's record label Small Steps. The record is a dreamy, ethereal affair which sits within the realms of melodic House and Breaks. Perfect for those cold January mornings.

The city was quiet in the warmth of the morning sun. It was the height of summer and soon the cafes on every street corner would be crowded with onlookers and tourists taking in the sights and sounds of this great, dense place. It was hot and dusty. As he wandered from block to block, corner to corner, he could not help but think how about how grateful for his freedom he was. It had been long coming and well fought. That was all that anyone ever wanted really, freedom. A place in which to be truly free. Nesa Azadikhah is set to release an EP via tape on Kulture Galerie. The music is progressive in the sense that it channels futuristic elements of dance and club music culture. However, the message it promotes and the cause it rallies behind is equally so, with proceeds from the release going to support women prisoners in Iran.

Inhabiting the delicate space between immersive ambient soundscapes and experimental fieldwork. For this week’s Monday Is OK mixtape we welcome Zurich-based artist Philipp Stolberg, whose new album “The Dog Under the Lantern” (released his month), us a multimedia project exploring ambient, liminal spaces with cyanotype prints. The album focuses on themes of light and darkness, solitude and movement, wilderness and domestication through minimal, textured compositions. While Stolberg’s roots lie in house music, this work concentrates on recycled church music and field recordings, influenced by artists like Nicolas Jaar, Fennesz, and Tim Hecker. The project represents “a deliberate exercise in minimalism, where each element serves a specific purpose.” Full interview: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/philipp-stolberg-the-monday-is-ok-mix/

Our friends Kiara Scuro, the London-based duo made up of Rosie Ama and Nadia Harris, have built up a repertoire of spooky tracks over the last few years for the likes of fabric Originals, Ritmo Fatale and Accidental Meetings. After hunkering down in the studio last year, they're now joining the Faux Poly family for their debut EP, Night Crush. Layering their own vocals with samples, the pair deliver three percussive, rolling club tools that draw inspiration from late, hazy nights spent together in the club; the place where their friendship blossomed.

A haunting reimagining of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game,” in honour of the late David Lynch recorded for the Beta Biennial of Architecture. The release arrives as a tribute to David Lynch, featuring visuals from his recreation of the Trinity nuclear test as seen in Twin Peaks: The Return. “The Biennial originally commissioned the track, and I closed my show with it there, but it felt like the right time to finally share it with the world. David was a big influence on a lot that underpins Fantastic Twins and this is my swan song to an amazing person.” Following her acclaimed 2023 album, “Two Is Not A Number,” the great Julienne Dessagne’s Fantastic Twins project continues to surprise; in this instance, transforming the original into something entirely new. DOWNLOAD HERE: https://fantastictwins.bandcamp.com/track/wicked-game-fantastic-twins-trinity-version @fantastictwins

Zeynep Erbay is a Turkish producer and dj who has released music on the likes of Soul Clap Records, Fool’s Gold, Nu Northern Soul and Exploited. She tends to blur the lines between traditional house music and that steeped in a more italo lead, cosmic influence. As a DJ she is commanding, her taste informs sets which tend to weave and wander, telling a broader story rather which soundtracks long nights on the dancefloor. They are often highly energetic, yet packed with feel good influence. Now based in London, she has worked tirelessly, cementing herself as a key figure in the eclectic underground.

Watching from his penthouse he gazed out over the city, taking in the view and wondering whether those down below ever thought much of him up high amongst the clouds. He could see it all, the city in all its abject disarray and chaos. The clouds as they came and went overhead might affect the mood or the tone, yet the underlying themes remained all the same.  This was his empire. His kingdom.  Up here he was safe and free.  Perhaps one day he would retreat down to the streets, take in the sights and sounds, the people below. Perhaps one day he would be one of them. Goose Down releases a wicked assortment of dusty, groove focussed house and downtempo. A splendid assortment of mood music which will soundtrack many a pensive, peaceful moment.

On the 20th September 2024, we hosted a joint party with Spezialmaterial at Zukunft in Zurich. True to form, the night brought together Tia Cousins, Matt Cowell, and Princess P for a session that lived up to the Spezial ethos. For a taste of what went down, check out this 2-hour snippet from Tia Cousins and Matt Cowell’s b2b, capturing the essence of the evening in full swing.

Stormy waves for January, direct from Donegal courtesy of Harri Pepper’s brother. Raised amid the rhythms and canvases of his family’s jazz bar and art gallery on the wild Welsh coast, Jac Pepper’s journey began in the creative crucible of Peppers in Abergwaun. Brother to DJ Harri Pepper, featured on these very pages for time, Jac has spent over a decade crafting vinyl-only residencies from Ireland to Australia. Now settled in the surf town of Bundoran, Donegal, where the raw beauty of the Dartry Mountains meets the Atlantic waves, you’ll find him holding court at George’s Bar and Treehouse Live events. What started as a few months chasing swells turned into finding his spiritual home – a place where music and the ocean merge. Spanning continents and decades with the raw energy of post-punk to ‘global rhythms’, meditative downtempo and euphoric disco, and from classic house to sideways acid this mix is a deep slice of his musical cake (yup I made that all up on my own) and reflects the ethos of his upbringing: creating spaces where people feel “comfortable and free to dance” – or music “checking some stormy waves.” Nice curveball for January, let’s go…

We recently released the most excellent debut EP from the mysterious Double Body. Four scuzzy, Lo-Fi dance floor destroyers that brim with hypnotic patterns and mesmerising, looped samples. Even though they won't tell us their real identity, we thought we'd see what a mix from them would sound like... from early Photek that sounds "like an abandoned factory on Mars" which gives you a sense of the vibe the mix reflects their approach: a bit of an outsider, but definitely still plugged right into the world of the electronic. https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/double-body-the-alternate-currents-ransom-note-mix/

Organic exploration with our first Music To Watch Seeds Grow By signings… Some musical journeys begin with a whisper, a gentle rustling of leaves, and a breath of sound. For brothers Clive and Mark, aka the legendary Woo, this journey has been unfolding since the 1970s through a four-decad long sonic odyssey of discovery… Their latest output on our very own Music To Watch Seeds Grow By imprint is an ode to Sweet Peas. One of a series of five unreleased albums from their archives, it’s a thoughtfully curated collection of ambient, minimalist, and new-age soundscapes designed to be the perfect soundtrack for moments of sowing these seeds, which accompany every release in quiet reflection. “To our surprise and delight, Sweet Peas can be planted in the autumn and they’ll blossom in the coming spring” notes Clive. To accompany this creation, they’ve created “A Walk in the Woods with Woo” mixtape, where Stevie Wonder’s forest-infused melodies dance with Marlene Dietrich’s vocals and Schubert’s transcendent strings paint aural woodland landscapes. Each track is a seed, carefully planted, slowly unfurling its own unique narrative. It’s a meditation on growth, on patience, on the delicate art of nurturing something beautiful from the smallest of beginnings. FULL INTERVIEW HERE: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/seeds-mix-1-a-walk-in-the-woods-with-woo/

The clouds were scattered, a delicate array of colours illuminated in pinks and blues from the late evening haze. The sun was setting in the distance casting strange shapes and shadows on the land below. At times it was hard to assess where the sky began and the fields ended, for they met somewhere in the middle in a myriad of shades. Who knew what sort of god might live above their hollow might. Up in the heavens there had to be some sort of shepherd which watched over them all. For if there wasn't, what else was there? Nummer Music are set to reissue material from Paul Mahoux’s seminal BùLù project. The release comes with new remixes which reimagine the ethereal, dream like states of the original and rework them with prowess for discerning dancefloors and clubs.

Do!! You!!! radio host and selector steps up for a round of Ransom The great Sarahtonin is a selector who’s not one to fit into boxes. Less about genre boundaries and more about pure, unadulterated feeling – crafting sets that are part emo-odyssey, part dance floor magic built of rare disco through to techno Sarah’s is one for the journey… Her Do!! You!!! radio show has already garnered her a cult following, with listeners all over the world. Whether she’s lighting up the sweaty confines of Corsica Studios, festival stages like Gala, or curating mixes Sarah brings an infectious energy that’s impossible to ignore. Buckle up, and let Sarah be your guide. “Take off all your clothes… I feel the beat… come and dance with me…” FULL INTERVIEW: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/sarahtonin-the-shine-a-light-on-mix/ @sarahtonindj

For those who've been paying attention, Wes Baggaley isn't just another DJ—he's a selector who has meticulously explored the underground electronic landscape across Europe for many years. From the hallowed decks of Panoramabar to Frankfurt’s seminal Robert Johnson and in the sweaty depths of Glastonbury's NYC Downlow, Baggaley has cultivated a reputation as a vinyl obsessive who treats records like a primary language. He's not one to pull punches either; in real life and on his Instagram, he offers a refreshing take on the absurdity of the state of the music world—from lamenting the current popularity of "garbage pop remixes" masquerading as "cool" and "underground," to poking fun at the disconnect between an artist's public persona and the commercial realities behind the 'scene'...there's definitely a reason Dave Clarke's FUSE is his favourite mix! Drawing from a deep well of experience—eight years on Rinse FM and residencies that span from London's Dalston Superstore at the most excellent queer house music party Bottom Heavy to the world's most revered underground spaces—Baggaley delivers a journey that's both intense and unpredictable. This mix captures the restless spirit of someone who refuses to be confined by genre boundaries. Dark ambient textures collide with driving techno, industrial edges spark against electro. It's a mix that reflects Baggaley's current Narr Radio remit, and it certainly refuses to sit still... FULL INTERVIEW HERE: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/wes-baggaley-the-alternate-currents-ransom-note-mix/ Follow here: @wes-baggaley

“Like nature, our approach has always been quite random,” Renowned duo Woo on Music To Watch Seeds Grow By There once was a Woo on a musical spree, Who sang to Earth Angels beneath a tall tree. With tunes of delight, they made seedlings grow, Their “Music To Watch Seeds Grow By” did glow! The Woo danced a jig with a cucumber cane, While the Earth Angels hummed a melodious refrain. “Seeds sprout in time!” they chirped in their glee, And the Woo clapped along, as happy as can be. So now when you hear that harmonious tune, Think of the Woo and a sunny afternoon. For Earth Angels and melodies make gardens thrive, And nonsense like this keeps the whole world alive! A thoughtfully curated collection of ambient, minimalist, and new-age soundscapes designed to be the perfect soundtrack for moments of sowing these seeds, which accompany every release in quiet reflection. Composed by the renowned duo Woo—Mark and Clive Ives — this is one of a series of five unreleased albums from their archives. The release combines soothing tones from clarinet, guitars, percussion, and electronic elements, creating the perfect soundtrack for gardeners and music lovers alike. Featuring tracks like “Golden Hours” and “Earth Angels,” this album is an ode to the slow, rewarding process of growth and new beginnings. https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premieres/premiere-woo-earth-angels-music-to-watch-seeds-grow-by/

Marking a quarter-century of, Swiss duo In Flagranti present a mix steeped in their patchwork aesthetic, stitching together threads of 70s disco, 80s post-punk, and 90s US house. Full interview here; https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/in-flagranti-the-altered-currents-ransom-note-mix/

LA-based artists and Sensory Signal co-founder Capes and Adult Hits join forces for the tenth release on Ransom Note offshoot Human Endeavour Records. Mirroring the sonics that the pair champion at their parties, ‘Stellar Bodies’ explores visceral acid, electro and breakbeats that stimulate the mind, body and soul. The release launches with single ‘Rush’, a collaboration with fellow Los Angeles artist and vocalist Dick Ensalada. His gruff, raunchy vocals marry perfectly with a driving bassline and squelchy acid to create a pumping acid house track built for sweaty dance floors. The following three tracks journey across the electro spectrum. ‘Move Your Body’ is powered by plenty of low end, crisp breaks and robotic vocal samples, while title track ‘Stellar Bodies’ lets a haunting synth and bubbling 303 take centre-stage, before ‘Four’ brings the EP to a high octane close with stomping breakbeats and dark, moody pads that swallow you whole. Read More: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premieres/premiere-capes-adult-hits-feat-dick-ensalada-rush/

A New Wave mix from jungle pioneer, hip-hop cult figure and dancefloor alchemist, Ayman Rostom aka @maghreban Doctor Zygote and Strange U. under his new alias Mystery Tiime... With latest album, 'Maudlin Tales of Grief and Love, ' he examines lo-fi dance, post-punk, and new wave. With all that hyperbole in mind we asked him to put together a New Wave mix, recorded with the same spirit of experimentation for the album... https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/mystery-tiimes-new-wave-ransom-note-mix/

This week’s Monday Is OK mixtape is an immersive experience into the world of YANA, the alias of Polish composer and multi-instrumentalist Joanna Bieńkowska. YANA’s latest album, Daydreamer, released on Ólafur Arnalds’s OPIA label, continues her journey into emotional landscapes shaped by lush string arrangements and atmospheric electronic textures. A graduate of the Academy of Music in Gdańsk, YANA’s music blends classical training with a flair for modern, ambient soundscapes. For YANA, music creation is almost a ritual—an intense, organised practice. “Constant work is a kind of ritual for me. It strengthens me and organises my life,” she reflects.  Daydreamer’s journey flows from darkness to light, mirroring the human experience. Interview here: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/yana-the-monday-is-ok-mix/ TRACKLISTING Keaton Henson - Dorma 3:42 The Smile - Open The Floodgates 4:29 So You Are Tired - Sufjan Stevens 4:50 Vega Trails - Love Your Grace 2:32 Thom Yorke - Knife Edge 3:20 Nonkeen - that love 7:46 The Hum II - The Vernon Spring 2:05 Colin Stetson - Rain Song 3:01 Yana - Tender 4:22 Sofi Paez - Everywhere 3:53 Valentin Hadjadj - Closer from „Close” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 4:13 Claude Debussy, Alain Planes, Reverie, L. 68 3:53 Jean Kapsa - Dernière Fete 3:08 Yana - All Alone 2:08 Chilly Gonzales, Jarvis Cocker - The Tearjerker Returns 3:33 Robot Koch, Viktor Orri Arnason, Foam and Sand - Star as Eyes - Foam and Sound Rework 4:00 Jóhann Jóhannsson, Jonas Colstrup - Be Forgotten 1:36 Ólafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm - Life Story 5:41 Jóhann Jóhannsson - Flight from the city 6:31 @olafur-arnalds

"Think Pachanga Boys’ Time…but with soul." The register chimed loudly. He glanced up at the queue of customers steadily gathering and took a deep breath. It was going to be a long hot day. The shop was small and crowded, outside in the street it was scorching, the block was on fire in the midst of the summer and everyone and everything was looking for relief. He would be their answer… He wasn’t sure how it had come to be this way, that he was the one to serve. Yet here he was… From time to time he’d have to check himself, check anything, check something. Then the chime would ring out again… The made ace, insanely brilliant Brian d’Souza aka Auntie Flo, releases ‘Aker The Lion God’ on 31st October, a precursor to his upcoming album ‘In My Dreams (I’m A Bird and I’m Free)’, out on 21 November.  PRE-SAVE ALBUM ~ Inspired by field recordings from New Zealand and Brazil, the environmental sounds of a conch shell and a bassline influenced by Charanjit Singh’s proto-acid house work is worked into some altogether more ethereal.

This is a mix of stuff that either makes me feel like I want It All Levels Out to make people feel, or music that made an impression on me years ago and inspired it. Hopefully it provides a soundtrack for thinking, maybe while walking the dog around in the rain. Lots of instrumental stuff, so it’s blank for your own message. Out last week on Bytes; It All Levels Out, is album no 10 from Minotaur Shock, aka the Bristolianelectronic multiinstrumentalist/producer David Edwards. The album is a hopeful meditation on getting older and Edwards’s most personal and reflective album yet. Full interview here: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/minotaur-shock-the-monday-is-ok-mix/ 01 waltz (in memoriam old ways of living) - More Eaze 02 Milkweed - Holly Waxwing 03 Another Haunted Mirror - G S Schray 04 some days felt like home - mu tate 05 Die Dinge des Lebens - To Rococo Rot 06 Drive My Car (The Truth, No Matter What It Is, Isn’t That Frightening) - Eiko Ishibashi 07 Each Dream is an Example - Gastr Del Sol 08 Overbraid - 7038634357 09 Cryptic Reserve - Wim Mertens 10 Surface Pan - Sofie Birch 11 Side Lengths - Grand River 12 Appalachian Grove III - Laurie Spiegel 13 Dub One - Egil Kalman 14 Overand - Autechre 15 Blink - Hiroshi Yoshimura 16 Echo’s Answer - Broadcast 17 8:07 - Global Communication 18 Pendulum Man - Bark Psychosis 19 Plays John Cassavetes 2 - Ekkehard Ehlers @Byteslabel @minotaur-shock

“It fits every situation. From sailing to baptism to weddings and name days. Not ideal to listen in the sewer.” Jaakko Eino Kalevi returned at the end of last year with new album, Chaos Magic (the Greek concept of “kháos”) – a double album of elemental pop and baroque electronics. It was a wild, immersive experience written and recorded largely in his new home of Athens. Navigating a kaleidoscope of styles of cosmic jazz, neon synthpop, disco and space-rock journeys, it featured contributions from artists like Alma Jodorowsky, Jimi Tenor, Faux Real and Sigurlaug Gísladóttir. Full Interview here: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/jaaako-eino-kalevis-heaven-and-hell-ransom-note-mix/ Tracklisting 1.⁠ ⁠Gina X Performance: Nice Mover 2.⁠ ⁠R. Stevie Moore: Pink Litmus Paper Shirt 3.⁠ ⁠Les Rita Mitsouko: Un Soir Un Chien 4.⁠ ⁠The Passions: I´m In Love With A German Filmstar 5.⁠ ⁠Orange Juice: Flesh Of My Flesh 6.⁠ ⁠Selda Bağcan: Yaylalar 7.⁠ ⁠Gnonnas Pédro: Dadje Von O Von Non 8.⁠ ⁠Klaus Weiss: Survivor 9.⁠ ⁠Egg: Fugue In D Minor 10.⁠ ⁠Cindy: Never Let Me Go 11.⁠ ⁠International Music System: Mojave 12.⁠ ⁠Marxist Love Disco Ensemble: Dust 13.⁠ ⁠Scribble: Silly Girl 14.⁠ ⁠Dizzy K: Omoge 15.⁠ ⁠Maximum Joy: Searching For A Feeling

"The mix is all over the shop but a common theme is exploration, expansion, deepness." Respected New York-based DJ and co-founder of Singapore’s Darker Than Wax label, Marco Weibel has quietly built a loyal following through his wide-ranging sets, which seamlessly blend everything from spiritual jazz to house and UK garage. Known for his deep, genre-spanning selections, Marco’s approach emphasises rhythm, texture, and flow. Interview here: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/marco-weibel-the-wednesday-alternative-mix/ As a resident at The Lot Radio, Marco has built a solid reputation for curating diverse and exciting music. His work also includes ‘Various Channels Vol. 1,’ a compilation featuring NYC-based artists, which highlights his passion for supporting local talent. This mixtape captures Marco’s ability to blend genres "all over the shop" @marcoweibel @thelotradio

It’s funny how something so wrong might feel so right. It wasn’t supposed to be like this, the deck stacked against you and the rules all askew. Yet these were the cards that he had been dealt, perhaps dealing was healing after all? As he wandered through the city streets, a wildcard in the night, he wondered what people back home might think of his predicament. They’d always doubted him anyway so maybe this was nothing new after all? He tucked his hand deep into his pocket to check everything was nice and tight. It was all there, closely wrapped, ready for the evening. Gråzon features on a new split EP from Amsterdam based record label Pintai. This track is a classy, understated affair with floating ambient tones, a beautiful dancefloor moment.

"We made this mix foryou with some previously unpublished material. Cocaine Sex was originally recorded & included, Sub Aqua Overdrive Dub for Rhythm King Records(Mute Records dance subsidiary) in 87. Later reissued on Mute Records. Cocaine Sex has spawned many children over the years through various recordings & I've included some of the many including Dragonbass Soundsystem & Renegade Soundmachine to exemplify its broad impact & bookended with a vocal & instrumental versions of our most recently released recording A.D.I.D.A.S... for the Hua Hua, Compilation album." Step forth the mighty Renegade Soundwave with all the wit, cheek, and chaos that defined RSW, Asquith dips deep into their archives, pulling out tracks from the seminal Cocaine Sex sessions, Rhythm King’s dancefloor dubs, and RSW’s back catalogue, offering a true taste of a time when dub, industrial, and raw attitude collided. It’s a celebration of that unmistakable renegade spirit that never quite fit into any box – and wouldn’t have wanted to. @renegade-soundwave-official

Eluard’s LP track “Dirty Hall” receives a remix treatment from Slow Motion Label head Fabrizio Mammarella… https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premiere-eluard-comic-bad-fabrizio-mammarella-remix-slow-motion/ @mammarella @slow-motion-records

Rough digi-dub and bass-heavy pulsations. Love Song's Thomas Korf and Sebastian Kokus and the prolific Ulf Schütte aka Cloud Management bring forth a ray of sunlight through the February clouds. https://www.theransomnote.com/music/cloud-management-the-monday-is-ok-mixtape/

London-based artist, producer, Rinse FM host and all round polymath ELLES reimagines her Anthem, infusing it with a rave-ready UKG energy: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premiere-elles-anthem-angel-of-rhythm-refix-pt-2/ @e_l_l_e_s

Dropping self-releases via his own bandcamp and Kulture Galerie following his contribution to the labels NFTS 999 compilation his musical interests took a sharp turn when he discovered artists like Gene on Earth, Sweely, Black Loops, and many others in the realm of the good electronic. His new EP ‘Witless Q&A’s via the Filippo MSM helmed Kulture Galerie this February with five original cuts. You  can also find Nate working as a Barista at Berlin's new listening bar Anima. It's that vibe which forms the basis for this Wednesay Alternative mix, let's get it on and ask him a few questions eh... https://www.theransomnote.com/music/natebytheway-the-wednesday-alternative-mix/

High-energy remix banger alert. Chloé Robinson & DJ ADHD take on Matisa on Correspondant. https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premieres/premiere-matisa-dj-adhd-chloe-robinson-remix-baby-correspondant/

The magnificent Bawrut returns to Ransom Note Records with an incredible new collection of interpretations of his music from the past couple of years, Remix Pack EP. Featuring a cast of the finest producers the underground currently has to offer, this four track whirlwind of club pounders exhibits everything that is great about electronic music in 2024. First up on remix duties is the magnificent Marc Romboy, taking Que Quiere Usted by the scruff of the neck and straightening it out into an absolute dance floor stomper! Originally a hand clap laden, frenetically jolly, five minute romp, Marc has taken the original concept and upped the techers chug factor by 200%!

Airhead retains a relatively low profile, to an extent this seems to be out of choice. Emerging in 2010 his sound was deep and introspective, paired alongside counterparts from the UK bass scene such as Pariah, James Blake, Joy O, Peverelist, Shackleton and others. Some of his music worked well in the newer school of clubs, for those keen to challenge preconceptions and conventional constraints of dance music. However, a lot of what he has released over the years is also a perfect accompaniment to a late night walk home or a view from the bus window. It’s always atmospheric and tinged with a sense of poignant nostalgia. Earlier this year he returned to Hemlock Recordings, the imprint run by Untold. He released an extended collection of music which dances and weaves between broken beats, delicate melodies and synth laden experiments. It’s arguably his most accomplished to date and having been released digitally will be followed up by a vinyl version in the new year. This mixtape showcases his versatile approach to selection, spanning an array of styles and sounds.

Low-slung Polygon Window-esque acid from Tramic on Kulture Galeri’s Metropolitan Soul Museum round 2: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premiere-tramic-lanterns-kulture-galerie/ In a Tramic town, lanterns aglow, Kulture Galerie, where nonsense does flow. Dancing Tramic with lanterns in hand, In a whimsical world, oh, so grand. Pigs recite news, cows wear polka-dot, Lanterns paint rainbows, a peculiar lot. Kulture Galerie, a surreal decree, Where whimsy and folly dance merrily. Elephants strum guitars, as snails scribe verse, A tale of Tramic, lanterns, and whimsy diverse. In this fanciful land of peculiar spree, Kulture Galerie, a nonsense jubilee.

Polito are a group of musicians who have just released a new album called ‘Collapse Phase’. The record is self described as “a meeting of improvised contemporary dance and live improvised techno music, working together to create entrancing performance experiences”. Drawing upon a broad array of influences the music has a number of multifaceted touch points – Dub, Techno, IDM, House and the spaces in between are all explored through a unique approach driven by live improvisation and collaboration. Polito is a collaboration between musicians Robert Downie and Finnian Langham, and dancers Arabella Frahn-Starkie and Hillary Goldsmith. This mixtape showcases their diverse approach to sound design and helps to build a narrative around the group and what their music means.

The machines had been turned off. It had been many years since anyone had ventured into the old warehouse, there was only some slim hope that it might still even work. Once upon a time this place had been a paradise, a kingdom and a place in which revellers came to let loose and be free. This was back in the old days, back when the dance was all innocent and little did we know about what might lurk around the corner. The bans, the trouble, the crime, the chaos. Yet after all this time, the machinery was still here. The speakers, the towers, the noise. He wondered for a moment, dreamt even, whether they might still have the unction to function. DJ ojo is back with another release, following on from the well received outing on Blank Mind, things get deep and introspective on a new EP which features odd electronics and dusty, moody sounds.

Luke Hess remains one of the most innovative, underground producers and DJ’s out there. Not one to seek the limelight or the fame, his focus remains in the present what it has in the past. He is committed to spotlighting and showcasing deep, thoughtful, pensive Techno and its ability to transcend space and time. Representing Detroit, he weaves moody ambient textures throughout shuffling percussion and dusty drums to create an atmosphere which is as eerie as it is for the dancefloor. This mix reflects that. Over the years he has released material on the likes of HotMix Records, Echochord and Visionquest amongst many more. He remains spirited and committed to the music born and raised in Detroit and is a keen ambassador for Techno in the purest, truest sense of the word.

There was a strange feeling lingering in the air, an eerie sense of tension which hung thick and left a bitter taste in the mouth. Why would it be that there was so much stress? Where had this come from? Why now? What caused the pinch? He sighed as he wandered through the quiet city, it was dead, the people of the week had left town to return to their families leaving nothing but empty streets and still puddles. There were no sirens, no cars, ho beaming headlights. Yet still it was noisy where he was. Preference releases a new EP on Ayeland – a futuristic extravaganza which lends a nod to the early days of Bass music alongside the deconstructed improvisations of the genre which later followed suit.

He watched from the window, at the world passing by below. From the fourth floor he considered what his world might look like if he were to be one of them, busy and on the way to and fro. Perhaps they were going to work, some might meet friends, others were simply taking in the brisk air of an Autumn morning. Not him… Here in this room he simply looked on, a distant figure on the periphery of a world which was not his. For he needed to be here, to be away, to be alone. At least that’s what they said… Kepler delivers futuristic House cuts on X-Kalay. This track ‘Need’ is a wicked, grooving Dub infused track reminiscent of 90’s/ 00’s Berlin. Excellent, high brow material for the discerning dancer.

"Think of it as a double-sided cassette with earlier & more recent, from established & emerging, at least seemingly like-minded colleagues & friends." The award-winning, East Berlin-born, Potsdam-based, polyinstrumental composer duo Brueder Selke aka Sebastian Selke on the cello and his piano-wielding younger brother, Daniel Selke, are not your average siblings fighting over the TV remote. An open-minded start to the week, buckle up, hit play, and let the Selke brothers be your musical co-pilots through this week's adventure. Read the full interview here: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/brueder-selke-the-monday-is-ok-mixtape/ @bruederselke

Collaborating with a 16-voice choir Von Oswald delves into the interplay between the human voice and electronic synthesis. https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premiere-moritz-von-oswald-luminoso-tresor/ In the realm of Moritz Van Oswald’s delight, Luminoso at Tresor, a surreal flight, Twinkling stars in the techno night, Where beats and dreams take their curious height. Electronic wizard, with a hat so tall, His tunes enchant, and the walls do crawl, Through the dancefloor, we heed the call, Luminoso’s magic, we surrender to all. In the land of nonsense, we find our way, Where melodies and rhythms start to sway, Moritz Van Oswald leads the play, In Luminoso’s world, we’ll forever stay. Moritz von Oswald’s album “Silencio” due out on Tresor Records, November 10th, 2023, is an exploration of the differences and similarities between human and artificial sound. Collaborating with a 16-voice choir he delves into the space between these sounds, drawing inspiration from composers like Edgard Varèse, György Ligeti, and Iannis Xenakis. Combining elements of repetition and reduction, reminiscent of techno and minimalism it showcases the interplay between the human voice and electronic synthesis. The compositions for “Silencio” were created using classic synthesizers in von Oswald’s Berlin studio and then transcribed for the choir by Finnish composer Jarkko Riihimäki. Out Nov 10. Listen below and pre-order here: @tresorberlin

Next up on Paradise Palms Records, two remixes of Ukrainian artist ID_UA’s “Dyakui”. https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premiere-id_ua-dyakui-fausto-remix-paradise-palms/ ID_UA and Dyakui, in a wild parade, Fausto’s Remix, where dreams cascade, On Paradise Palms, the music’s crusade, A nonsensical groove, our senses persuade. Dancing through the night, in a cosmic trance, ID_UA’s beats make our bodies dance, Fausto’s remix takes a chance, With electronic rhythms, we all enhance. In this surreal world, we’ll forever dwell, In a realm of sound where time can’t quell, ID_UA and Fausto, the stories they tell, On Paradise Palms, our spirits swell. Next up on Paradise Palms Records, two remixes of Ukrainian artist ID_UA’s “Dyakui”. We’re premiering Los Mochis’s Fausto who’s had releases on Turbo Recording and Tom Tom Disco. Swirling, distorted synth lines give way to innocent melodies bringing it out into the light. Out Nov 10. Listen below and pre-order here:https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premiere-id_ua-dyakui-fausto-remix-paradise-palms/

Synth-heavy, breakbeat banger from Kristy Harper on Ten Eight Seven: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premiere-kristy-harper-u-silver-bear-recordings/ Kristy Harper – U Ten Eight Seven, In a land where llamas danced in heaven, With disco unicorns and leprechauns aplenty, Grooving to beats that made them feel so trendy. The music was magic, the rhythm so sweet, As they moved their hooves and tapped their feet, Kristy’s premiere was a wild, wacky ride, With a mix of tunes that no one could hide. So grab your shades and put on your vest, Join the llama dance, be their special guest, In the world of U, where fun never ends, With Kristy Harper, our musical friends! Listen below and pre-order here: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premiere-kristy-harper-u-silver-bear-recordings/ @silver-bear-recordings @kristyharper

"An overview of recent productions and remixes of mine interspersed with some offbeat inspirations from fellow producers." Read the full interview here: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/thomas-fehlmann-the-umdrehen-ransom-note-mix/ @thomasfehlmann

This series has seen us team up with Pirate Studios to spotlight artists and challenge them to a quick fire mix showcasing as many blends, transitions, tips and tricks as possible in a short time.  Next up is ELLES, a familiar face in the London underground music scene who has released music on the likes of Naive and Love On The Rocks. A wicked DJ and a talented producer, she is set to release new music and has just launched her own new label, Emotional Intel. Her music sits precariously placed between a number of styles and genres, yet cannot necessarily be pigeon holed. At times it's dark and pensive, at others it's light and euphoric. It's all mood based and as reflective as much of ELLES own character and emotion as it is in an attempt to be one thing or another.  This mix and interview was recorded at Pirate Studios in Dalston and showcases a playful, versatile approach to DJ'ing - something which ELLES is keen to cement in the idea that the role of a DJ is to soundtrack a moment or experience in time. The dancefloor is the place to let loose and this mix celebrates that.

@prettymuchtribe @koneliunas Elephants tango, and flamingos break free, Underneath a disco ball on a mushroom tree. Momoko and Koneliūnas, a curious pair, In a realm where the animals dance without a care. Their track “Fauna (Original Mix)” in the air, On “Pretty Much Records,” an atmosphere rare: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premiere-momoko-koneliunas-fauna-original-mix-pretty-much-records/

“I am a mildly confused individual not trying to fake like he knows what is going on, with relatively mild existential qualms, a dabbler, an aspiring jack-of-all-trades: This week's mixtape for a Monday has been put together by Mr Patrick Larkin: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/p-larkin-the-monday-is-ok-mixtape/

Operating under a number of guises @Jan-Shulte has made some of the most exciting and interesting music of the past ten years… As Jan Schulte he has compiled compilations and material for the likes of Safe Trip and Music for Dreams whilst as Wolf Müller he has appeared on Themes For Great Cities, International Feel and Growing Bin. As Bufiman he has released on the likes of Dekmantel and Warning and now on the ever-excellent @Comeme with the ace Switch Beats EP. His output is wild and far-reaching, his passion for music unrivalled and it’s a pleasure to have him in his Bufiman guise deliver this week’s Ransom Note mix. Listen and read the interview here: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/bufiman-the-ransom-note-mix/

Laid-back, late-night "AfreakA" featuring the vocals of Giara. Read in full here: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premiere-cristian-croce-feat-giara-afreaka-ruvido-records/