Metropolitan Soul Museum
Bleu EP

XI is back on SUED with this four track EP of brand new material. XI, SVN and PE's (DJ Fett Burger) long running left-field house project keep on exploring the deeper sound of house and techno. Deep analogue cuts recorded on tape in the now well known Neues Deutschland studio, with this duo’s true and familiar sound of theunderground. Not to sleep on!

A stylish selection of city pop, funk and modern soul from Japanese label Nippon Columbia, selected by DJ Notoya and featuring cult classics and rarities by Hiroshi Sato, Hatsumi Shibata, Hitomi 'Penny' Tohyama & many more.Annotated by Notoya with journalist Nick Luscombe and artwork by Optigram.Newly remastered audio.The selection on ‘Tokyo Glow’ starts with 'Kimugare' a relaxed mid-tempo track by Kumi Nakamura, actually a famous actress who only recorded one album in 1980 for Columbia.The set continues and flows effortlessly with the sunshine grooves of Miyuki Maki, Hatsumi Shibata and cult keyboard player Hiroshi Sato before the pace starts going faster and funkier with New Generation Company, Kengo Kurozumi - with his superb boogie, 'Juggler'- and one of the queens of the genre, Hitomi 'Penny' Tohyama with 'Tuxedo Connection'.Another fine example on the set is the mid-tempo groove of "I Wander All Alone Part III" by New Generation Company, an aggregate group of some of the best Japanese session musicians led by arranger Katz Hoshi and including Hiroyuki Namba (key), Kazuo Shiina (gtr) and Yutaka Uehara (ds) who all played with Tatsuro Yamashita among many others.There are many other excellent examples in 'Tokyo Glow', showcasing the diversity and specificity of Japanese City Pop during the late 70s and 80s.Nippon Columbia opened their much-guarded vaults to curator DJ Natoya. Tracks were remastered in Tokyo and the result, ‘Tokyo Glow’, is a unique insight into a most creative period in Japanese music.

Shall Not Fade make a very warm welcome to the original tropical cyber-punk, Ruf Dug. The Manchester veteran joins the label for it's 51st release, 4 tracks brimming with Ruf Dug's wigged out, balearic energy, one of which is a gorgeous remix from the unstoppable, Shanti Celeste. With a sound that's hard to pigeon-hole, his roleas vibe purveyor is impossible to deny. Over a decade of producing as Ruf Dug, aside from releasing on his own sought-after Ruf Kutz imprint, he's graced Unknown To The Unknown, Rhythm Section and Music For Dreams, and many moreesteemed labels with his midas touch.'Addicted' is a feel-good bubbler - sun-soaked keys, bubbly synth and velvet vocals from the talented vocalist Danielle Moore mixed with a tinge of Ruf Dug's love for retro sounds glimmering through Peach Disc's boss and party-starter Shanti Celestegives 'Addicted' a glistening euphoric rework; pacey, wigged out and a bunch of fun - a sound with which she is synonymous. Next up, 'Manc Sunset' is a stripped back broken beat number - ravey notions meet dream house vibes. Bringing 'Manc Sunset' EP to a close, 'Lo-Fi Roller' is a brain-melter - bugged-out vox and kickin'beat summon that deep in the dance tingling feeling, one to get lost in!"Manchester is renowned for its grey skies but it's also home to some of the mostgorgeous sunsets; the light gets in more often than the cliche-mongers would haveyou believe".

Part 1 of the Needs (not wants) retrospective, comes with an insert with a collage of archival photos and liner notes by Gerd Janson. Re-mastered by François Kevorkian.Sometimes, three words are enough to tell it all. Accordingly, the core story of Needs – the musical adventure of brothers Lars and Marek Bartkuhn and their partner Jan “Yannick” Elverfeld – can be understood from the inspiration behind this compilation’s title. Paying homage to the title of a lesser-known Marshall Jefferson and Ce Ce Rogers production for Strictly Rhythm, Needs (not wants) typifies their aesthetic, ethos, innovations and modus operandi.Materializing in this collection are some of the outfits’ best takes (from 1999 to 2006), moments of glory and predictive flashes of genius paint a beautiful picture of what can happen if devotion and imagination are paired with moxie and skill.