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LAD 075LP
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In a world of division, BĘÃTFÓØT's second album is as an invitation to unite at a utopian celebration of life. Originally scheduled for release in October 2023 but postponed due to the ongoing Israel/Palestine war, the intrinsically-political Too Cute has taken on more prominence than the Tel Aviv duo of Udi Naor and Adi Bronicki could have imagined. While both Naor and vocalist Bronicki have been active in protests, charity work and community efforts over the past year -- explicitly against the current government in Israel -- such values of peace, acceptance, coexistence, inclusiveness and anti-hate from all sides are further instilled in the songs that form Too Cute. Too Cute is a refreshingly-ridiculous dark-rave rollercoaster which careers between hard-dance, big-beat, post-punk, techno, hyperpop, country and everything in between. Things blast off at breakneck speed with the chaotic title track's hyperpop snares, instantly-catchy lyrics (which feel ominously striking considering the war) and a stadium-ready chorus that erupts into rolling breakbeats, punishing EDM and even a nod to The Bloodhound Gang's "The Magic Touch." While their first record's experimental explosion captured the pure carnage and energy of the BĘÃTFÓØT universe in a conceptual fashion (though remaining polished in its own way), album two is primed to connect with a bigger audience thanks to its pop melodies, structures and songwriting. BĘÃTFÓØT -- who have found a home among the LGBTQIA+ community -- are fighting back against oppression. "We want everybody to come to the party and celebrate life together," says Naor, setting out his and Bronicki's mission -- "and our goal is to widen that party as wide as it can go." Featuring Princess Rani and Bugle Boy.
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12"
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LAD 070EP
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The brothers Fognini aka Mind Against return to Life And Death with their new single "Love Seeking" with a remix from friends and fellow masters of the emotional dancefloor Âme. It's fitting that techno storytellers Mind Against should revisit the home of their first EP with a revamped sound and turbo-charged take on current-day disco. Their history with DJ Tennis and Life and Death is almost as old as the label itself, harking back to their days living together in Berlin. Now the brothers leave behind their signature hypnotic techno palette for a boogie-fied stepper that's equal parts pop breeze and deep synth trip, full of hopeful anticipation. For the remix, Innervisions duo and cultural tour-de-force Âme twist the knobs and stretch out the heartstrings for an extended slice of big room goosebumps. In the words of Mind Against themselves: "10 years after releasing our very first EP Atlant on Life and Death, we're excited to come back to our first imprint with such a special track and remix by Âme. We've stepped out of our usual comfort zone and done something that can be both linked to our own musical world and to the sounds that Life and Death have evolved in recent years. Our friendship with DJ Tennis is about as old as the label is, bringing us back to the times we used to share a flat in Kreuzberg. One may say this release is both an ode to the past and to a bright future, full of promises."
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12"
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LAD 077EP
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After a six-year break, a poignant love affair between Life and Death and Marvin & Guy resumes with two catchy but effective tracks that breaks a two-year hiatus from releasing original music. Minimal and purposefully crafted for dancefloors, a departure from their usual emphasis on melodies. This record emerges organically during playful experimentation with just a bass on a synthesizer, preserving its distinctive rhythmic and harmonic changes. The girlfriend's continuous request to play "Who Dis" underscores its contagious allure. Both songs incorporate sounds like shattered glass, opening doors, a whip, and an authentic Formula 1 engine roar -- all meticulously recorded specifically for these ideas. There's not really specific creative process beside having fun with synthesizers; it's simply music crafted for the joy of dancing.
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12"
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LAD 072EP
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Detroit-based duo Ataxia and Mister Joshooa come together on Life and Death with their new EP Mastermind. The record marks a new installation of Ataxia's punk forward house vibe; however, this time the group has their blinders on -- this mini album is 100% dance floor oriented, all suited up to scratch the insatiable itch of the worldwide dance. Starting off strong with "Mastermind," the collaboration delivers from the second we hit play. The A-side maintains similar elements such as a resonant kick and skipping percussive beats masterfully intertwined with vocals that echo and stutter. Record scratches, cowbell, and classic vocal hits can all be found on the B-side, bringing old-school sounds to the forefront with dynamic, rhythmic grooves.
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12"
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LAD 069EP
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Semi Delicious label boss Demi Riquísimo is set to release his latest EP via DJ Tennis's renowned Life & Death imprint. The release, entitled the Proto Call EP, features a double helping of cross genre, hands in the air jams sure to set the day party and club scene alight this coming summer. The release opens with the titular "Proto Call". A thoroughly diverse track "Proto Call" melds disco percussion with elements of vintage Italian house, squelching acid and progressive all whilst chugging along with propose, a key feature of many efforts in Life & Death's back catalog. On "Talk To Frank" sensual vocals set the tone for this bonafide hip shaker. A rhythm that implores you to dance, an inviting organ top line gives way to subtle acid grooves with both then working in unison over a classic house bass line. DJ Tennis has long been known for his impeccable taste in music and his ability to spot talent. The pair have shared the stage in a series of recent back to backs and the Proto Call EP is another touch point in the burgeoning creative relationship between the pair.
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12"
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LAD 071EP
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Sicilian musician Luigi Orofino delivers his debut single Amsterdam for Life and Death records. The song features regular Erlend Øye collaborators La Comitiva, and comes together with a dancefloor friendly remix by DJ Tennis. Amsterdam might sound effortless, but the laid-back groove and easy atmosphere that Luigi has conjured up isn't something you can just pluck out of thin air. It's taken everyone involved several years of playing together to get just the right marinade of Brazilian rhythm and Mediterranean musicianship. It's a flavor they've mastered while on the road with Erlend Øye as La Comitiva, and their touring schedule has become a way of life. When the travel ban was finally lifted, Luigi headed straight to his friends in Amsterdam, and that freedom to travel once more inspired this song. That trip put the color back into life, and the result was this timeless slice of sunny samba rock. The song has many collaborators, all operating under the gentle guidance of Luigi. Players from La Comitiva and I Calafatari gelled in the studio, also accompanied by Lucio Aquilina (NuGenea) and Luigi Scialdone (Fitness Forever), while the lyrics were written together with Alberto Locatelli. A breezy piece of Brazilian-tinged funk and easy soul, Amsterdam is more than the sum of its parts - it's the sound of friends playing together and simply enjoying life. The single is topped off with a remix by Life and Death chief Manfredi Romano aka DJ Tennis, who boosts the kicks while keeping the loose samba magic. The pair met in Mexico, and the kindred spirits immediately hit it off. After bouncing versions back and forth between Siracusa and also a studio in Paris, the final version was realized, full of floaty Rhodes chords and cavaquinho thrills that will lighten any dance. It's a testament to Amsterdam's catchiness that many of Luigi's friends are involved -- the song is reflected in the people it brings together, and in this sense, it's as much about the art of encounters as it is about the city.
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12"
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LAD 068EP
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Turkish-Italian multi-instrumentalist and rising music icon Carlita joins forces with German DJ and production duo Andhim to release their debut EP, Life.
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LP
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LAD 064LP
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Veteran artist Sebra Cruz releases his debut album Don't Worry Psy Happy on DJ Tennis's revered Life & Death imprint. The daring eleven track LP is as experimental as it is definitive and encapsulates the Italian spirit in perfect style. The LP follows two previously teased singles; "Margaret", an ode to Cruz's girlfriend which is a deeply passionate and expressive melodic house offering and album title Don't Worry Psy Happy a hedonistic, tripped out soundscape. The lead track "Sunfish" is a mélange of powerful synths overlaid with sporadic vocals and a swinging breakbeat which make the record the perfect soundtrack for early morning dancefloor euphoria. The album continues its genre-less motif and is hard to pin down. It broaches a variety of styles including cinematic and ambient leaning sonics such as "Optimist" and "Poliziesco", the latter which includes Gabriele Fabbri's atmospheric guitar riff throughout. "The Siebel Road To Mars" is a similarly powerful yet emotive record which samples current Italian President Sergio Mattarella between the piano and the extraterrestrial sound palette. Continuing with the more abstract tracks "Flying Junior", which was named after Cruz's own sailboat, emulates the peacefulness and tranquility of the sea. It's yet another reflection of Sebra Cruz's artistic personality. Juxtaposing the calm and serene records from the album, "Altre Cose", inspired by the energy of the Neapolitan people during Sebra's DJing residency in the '90s, is a more high-energy, disco-infused record. Similarly, "When Life Was Slow", released on Life & Death back in 2020, is another upbeat dance interpretation and a tribute to Cruz's passion for Italian composers from the '60s and '70s. Speaking about the album Sebra says: "What emerges is in my opinion an album with predominantly Italian spirit, disco, house with both edgy and gentle influences. I never decide what to do first, I simply follow my spur of the moment instinct. Releasing an album for Life & Death is cool because I've always had huge respect for Manfredi." Sebra Cruz and DJ Tennis have a long lasting and trusting collaborative relationship exhibited by the former's numerous releases on Tennis's Life and Death label. DJ Tennis's encyclopedic musical brain and shared passion for Italian composers perfectly complements Sebra's stylings. Striking an impeccable balance between abstract and obscure sonics and more methodical and conventional melodies, Don't Worry Psy Happy is a body of work that exquisitely expresses Sebra Cruz's personality via different worlds and mediums.
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12"
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LAD 067EP
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The Cobblestone Jazz trio team up with kindred spirit The Mole for a double single of cascading grooves and stretched-out club burners. It's been over 20 years since the first Cobblestone Jazz EP, and Danuel Tate, Mathew Jonson, and Tyger Dhula continue to unravel expectations, creating outside-the-box rhythms and shifting, explorative musical structures for the dancers. It's an approach that has seen them play countless shows at festivals and clubs around the world, while reinventing their style on the fly, and whipping up a timeless blend of classic and modern sounds. For this single they're joined by friend, bandmate and hypnotic discotheque collagist The Mole. "Hip Waders" comes from one of the group's long studio sessions, and this gem of a jam was laid to tape after a couple days of playing. Usually, the group likes to set the studio up first (tuning the room, picking their instruments and setting up the patch bay), before exploring and recording musical ideas over the rest of the week. Although bouncing along at 120bpm, "Hip Waders" still strides into deep waters, courtesy of jazzy, tremolo chords that ripple across its skittish electronic groove, which constantly unfolds across a full 13 minutes. In contrast, the B-side isn't so meditative, but rather more classically arranged, and sprinkled with some live passes over the top. "Does Yo Mama Know" ups the tempo and rolls along on a broken, garage rhythm, before a sweet descending organ progression pulls the pulse into tighter focus. The title is in fact a nod to the Hollywood club that West Coast house pioneer Marques Wyatt did in the mid '90s -- all about the music and sound, no lights except for those of the 1200s, and a killer vibe. In this way, the 12" is split along true Cobblestone fault lines -- a contrast of long-winding and concise, macro and micro, vintage yet (re)inventive. Cobblestone Jazz and The Mole find the pocket as they always do: those coordinates somewhere between the dance music of the past and the present, while adding a twist to create new, forward-looking versions.
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12"
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LAD 066EP
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High-flying global house and techno torch-bearer Jimi Jules returns with a new Free Bird EP on Life and Death Records. The four tracks on Free Bird were written during the same sessions as Jimi's album + on Innervisions in 2022, and collected together they're a summary of what Jimi's all about -- hands-in-the-air anthems, chaotic house bangers, deep burners, and contemplative moments all rolled into one release. Jimi Jules has been turning dancefloors inside out for over 20 years, from festival stages to intimate redlight basements. He's brought his free-wheeling creative spirit and masters in music to bear on collaborations with Dixon, Âme, Joy Tyson, and Tugg The Drummer for labels like Defected, Innervisions, Zukunft, Watergate, and many more. Jimi's Free Bird EP switches seamlessly from anthemic mood and all-out party to self-reflection and brooding rave noir across 25 transformative minutes. The title track is an acid-tinged floor filler, imploring dancers and the public at large to question the status quo, and "break the rules, in everything you do". Then Jimi follows his own advice and hands over the controls to his Swiss Latino accomplice Lil Dirty, who embraces the chaos with delay effects, scratches and saw waves, for a house grinder that's full of fun and filters. The euphoria of the A-side is balanced out on the flip with two deeper cuts. "Speed Meditation" delivers a zoned-out atmosphere over a bouncy percussive groove, while poking fun at the West's adoption of spiritual practices to deal with the stress of modern living. "Touched By Silence" rounds off the EP, as Jimi channels his inner dancing Thom Yorke for an urban hymnal complete with a haunted falsetto, on top of a driving beat inspired by the ghost town that was Zurich during the pandemic. Free Bird is an EP only Jimi Jules could make, operating at the height of his powers after over two decades of making people dance all over the world, where he rips up his own rule book and gets creative on four tracks packed with personality and character.
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2LP
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LAD 059LP
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The Detroit duo Rickers and Ted Krisko, AKA Ataxia, present their debut long player Out Of Step. Featuring guest spots from close peers DJ Minx, Andrés, and Mr Joshooa, they twist house, techno, electro, breakbeat, and rave into revitalized new shapes; embellished with a touch of soul, funk and hip-hop. Out Of Step is a standout record that's big in character, bringing to mind the renegade spirit of Underground Resistance, and the bombastic brilliance of The Prodigy and Chemical Brothers. Defiantly optimistic despite the state of the world, a "life is good" vocal sample meets minor chords sliding over 808 hats on the exemplary house/techno pumper "Detroit Gospel", before a lighter moment on the album, but no less impactful with its hefty low-end thump, is "Pine Island" featuring Motor City hero Andrés. Together they cook up a Motown-inspired house cut awash with horn swells and backup singers, bouncing to wide swung funk bass, in classic 313 style. "Language" turns the club on its head -- busting out one of the most distinct basslines in recent times, and bristling with buzzy, undulating chords, whilst "Maxia" features influential Detroit royalty DJ Minx. The high-tech funk of "Spit In Your Percolator", is laser-guided in its efficiency, with a strobe-like, increasingly intensifying energy, peppered with clever, tripped-up vocal chops. With the next cut, conveyor belt noises and fast churning low-end gives way to a dubbed-out breakdown, on the deep breakbeat roller "98 Degrees". Charged with a blistering, rave intensity, "Number Streets", is a futuristic distorted techno workout that booms through the subs, whilst "The Formulator" mixes filtered snippets, abstract synth noises and melodic bleeps. Closer to the UK definition of hardcore, combining 4/4 and breakbeat, "The Pusher" evokes the spirit of late '80s orbital raves. "Feels Like" sees Rickers and Ted team up their studio mate and fellow TV Lounge resident and club booker, Mister Joshooa. Inspired by Photek but also almost UKG in style, this breakbeat session is stamped with MJ's signature chopped vocals and intricate rhythmic interplay. The bubbling, wobbly loose swing of "WM" is constructed around a classic chopped-up MTV cribs sample, with a filtered vocal creating a far-out psychedelic effect -- all of which is propelled apace by a huge bruising LFO. The LP concludes in fine style with "Dance The Bridge", where bouncy beats and wigged-out keys meet bright, gently uplifting synth chords that bring a clear-skied mood; ending the record as it began, on an optimistic note.
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12"
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LAD 062EP
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Ashee's music fires on all cylinders. Not preoccupied with subtlety, the music punches you on the nose and won't be ringing you the next day to apologize. A punk ethos pulls together sinister '90s techno energy, rave goosebumps euphoria, and face-twisting garage basslines from the subwoofer of a modified Vauxhall Corsa skidding past a kebab shop. Country classic, Ashee's second EP, holds on to all with an injection of dead-pan fist-pumping EBM on the A-side. "Rampage" the B-side is a DJ's Swiss Army knife -- extremely versatile, from floor-filling warm-up to keeping the dregs in the room at afterparty.
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12"
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LAD 058A-EP
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Over recent years Rome-based DJ and producer Whitesquare has earned a reputation for his eclectic and expansive DJ sets and his cosmic approach to his house, techno, and disco productions. Following releases on labels including Toy Tonics and 20:20 Vision, along with his own Whitesquare Series and Versione Lenta imprints, he returns to Life And Death with a fresh EP that's bursting with summer positivity. Life And Death's first release of 2022, Discreet Moment Thing is split into two parts. Whereas Whitesquare's previous offering, 2020's Seventy Days Of Déjà Vu, was a laid-back affair created during the first lockdown period, this latest pair of tracks have been clearly created with the dancefloor in mind, drawing on influences from classic house music of the late '90s/early 2000s era when the genre was at its peak dominance of popular culture. Pt. 1 opens up with "Carte Blanche", giving a taste of much-needed optimism and dancefloor bliss. On the flip side, euphoric piano chords and a feel-good bassline shape "Lux Interior", an ultimate summer jam.
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12"
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LAD 058B-EP
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Life And Death begins 2022 as it did 2021, with a new 12" release from Whitesquare. Discreet Moment Thing Pt. 2 follows part one with another pair of undeniable dancefloor cuts that draw from the classic electronic music that has influenced the Rome DJ and producer throughout his career. On the A-side, "Discreet Moment Thing" is a modern update of '80s electronic disco, with inspirations from the synth pop pioneers of its time especially prevalent through the track's cut up vocals and bassline. On the flip, "Lady Cherry" draws from the more glamorous purveyors of the '80s synth sound, with its Euro-pop piano melodies, Balearic pads, and insistent synth basslines.
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LP
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LAD 057LP
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Have you ever wondered what would happen if the Spice Girls smoked crack and joined forces with the Power Rangers on acid? Meet BĘÃTFÓØT. These punk-infused electronic poltergeists and big-beat acid trio are Udi Naor, drummer and founding member of electronic duo Red Axes, Adi Bronicki (fronts Israeli garage-punk-folk band Deaf Chonky) and ace-of-all-trades, guitarist Nimrod Goldfarb. The band have been launching warped stoner-acid-pop out of Tel Aviv with maniacal intent and are producing post-punk rave bangers that will scorch every dancefloor with a huge lethal smile. BĘÃTFÓØT are a DIY supergroup who describe themselves as sitting somewhere between Aqua, Beastie Boys, and The Prodigy. Their music endeavors feel akin to being hurtled through a kaleidoscopic waterslide, overflowing with the spirit of '90s youth culture. The radioactive trio are DJs, musicians, songwriters and producers with a diverse range of individual projects and talents, their combined sonics map your journey across the hazy astral spectrum of hip-hop, big beat and rave music. Morph these radioactive pieces with the no nonsense attitude of punk-rock and the venomous spitting flow of golden-era rap and you might just come close to fabricating the freakish sound of BĘÃTFÓØT. The band's self-titled debut is set for release on Manfredi Romano aka DJ Tennis's Life and Death. Founded in 2010, the imprint curates soulful dance music with a post-rock aesthetic. This refreshingly original and experimental LP from BĘÃTFÓØT marks a new direction for Life and Death this year and beyond. BĘÃTFÓØT takes unsuspecting listeners on a wild ride of unprecedented musical madness (firmly without seatbelts). Fizzy synthesizer programming stimulates you effervescently through the album like the welcomed sting of sour sweets, surprising accompaniments appear in the form of manipulated vocal lines and quirky samples, all jovially mixed together in a gummy melting pot of wild conceptualization and starry-eyed rhythms. Thirteen tracks of unprecedented dancefloor mutations send us triumphantly into the candy-covered kingdom of BĘÃTFÓØT with open arms and infinite imagery of fanciful gutter-glam escapades. This project fulfills the role of a musical bulldozer, flattening all previous conceptions of what it means to belong to a genre and leaving behind a hot mess trail of anarchic musical fragments in its wake. The undying spirit of the nineties. With fans that include legendary Irish born singer, songwriter and producer Roisin Murphy, BĘÃTFÓØT are a breath of fresh air set to be igniting dancefloors this summer. Green vinyl.
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LP
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LAD 055LP
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What is techno? It's a question that might be worth considering in our current world away from the dancefloor, and that which is proposed by DJ Tennis on Anthems For No State, a new compilation commemorating ten years of music from Life And Death. A number of the label's most trusted associates offer their sonic answer to Tennis's query on this propulsive yet thoughtful compilation. "Not all of the artists here are exclusively associated with 'techno', whatever that may be, and everyone took a different direction," explains Manfredi, the international DJ turned-lockdown bicycle repairman. "But in producing something outside of your comfort zone, or experimenting with something you'd never thought about experimenting with, it takes you right back to when you started, and so you have nothing to lose. And it's liberating." Although Anthems For No State focuses on the potential within one particular sound, it's the perfect anniversary accompaniment to a decade of one of electronic music's more unpredictable institutions. As Tennis himself puts it, "sometimes we failed, sometimes we were successful without ever expecting it, but we always want to keep things interesting within the manifesto of the label." In this instance, techno is truly a matter of Life and Death. Features Schwarzmann, Prins Thomas, Byetone, Gera Akaté, Red Axes, Fango, Vivian Koch, and Luciano Esse. 140 gram pink vinyl.
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12"
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LAD 048EP
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Life And Death's standout release schedule continues with a special new single from Swedish innovator Mr. Tophat that comes from his album Dusk to Dawn, while label boss DJ Tennis also steps up to add his own spin. Mr. Tophat always makes a big splash, whether crafting epic, disco-licked house adventures, putting out strictly limited vinyl on his own Junk Yard Connections or collaborating with pop sensation Robyn. Next to an EP with the Swedish star, he also co-wrote and produced two songs on her latest album Honey. His taste and style straddles various musical worlds and that means you can never predict his next move. A true original, this year alone he's put out a magnificent three-part album of house, ambient, and leftfield electronics and now aims for the dance floor on this latest massive. At over 12 minutes long "Time Lapse" is another Mr. Tophat masterclass in musical tension and narrative that is embellished with smart filter tweaks, dreamy vocals, and pixelated melodic rain. It is driven along by rubbery and propulsive kick that form an inviting bed from which you can gaze at the cosmic and sinewy chords that constantly shape-shift towards the heavens. This is a track that will have you lost in space and time and utterly enchanted by the majesty of it all. DJ Tennis then steps up with a remix and is himself having a busy year that sees him release the Redrago album with Red Axes (LAD 045LP). Here he ups the dancefloor clout with crisp percussion and more upright drums. Gorgeous arps will have people reaching for the skies and utterly lost in amongst the stars. These are two terrific journeys that make for moments of magical dance.
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12"
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LAD 047EP
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Italy-born Bawrut makes warm, heartfelt electronic music that crosses the musical spectrum, doing so with a true left-of-center perspective. First up is "Rollin'", almost ten minutes of synth-based excellence that takes the listener on a real sonic adventure. The drums are firmly rooted and hypnotic while the various pads up top unfold like aural fireworks. It's a tense track that never lets up and keeps the listener locked in for the epic duration. Equally fantastic is "Terza" with its twisted, tortured synth lines and vocal yelps all bringing real drama to the deep and rolling drums. It's a turbulent track to bring real edginess to the club. Lastly, the grinding "Drum Beat" has a menacing bassline and tribal vocal stabs cut up with rave sirens. It's a sweaty, strobe lit monster that takes one to the heart of the dance floor.
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12"
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LAD 045-2EP
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Two choice club ready extended versions taken from Life And Death label boss DJ Tennis and Red Axes new collaborative debut album project Redrago. 12" blue splatter on white vinyl.
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2LP
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LAD 045LP
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Life And Death label boss DJ Tennis works with Israeli duo Red Axes as they express themselves with total freedom and explore the similarities and differences between their respective sounds. DJ Tennis and the Red Axes duo were first introduced to each other by The Pachanga Boys at a festival in Corsica. "Their faces, their expressions and their attitude -- gentle, smart, loving and funny -- impressed me at first sight," remembers Tennis. They have deepened their personal and musical connections since. Around a year ago, they were having a discussion and decided they should attempt to combine their "love of psy and Mediterranean influences" and scheduled a week of recording sessions together. After making at 9am and having a proper Israeli breakfast, the artists went to a studio on top of a decadent old shopping mall in the Centre of Tel Aviv. Each of them then set up in one corner of the studio with their own instrument (including Tennis's Pearl Syncussion, a small modular setup, a Juno and bunch of guitar pedals, while Niv and Dori "used their usual weird cheap instruments including bass and guitars" and they began playing, experimenting and jamming, recording everything they did then swapping stations and repeating the process. They then took all the recordings into various editing sessions and finalized the adventurous, multi-genre exploration that is Redrago. "The aim was to find a kind of Italian-Israeli connection in our musical approach," explain Red Axes. "The album journeys from psychedelic Italo disco to Israeli trance rock with a lot of rave elements. We call it falafel disco mixed with a 1/4 of spaghetti sauce." The album opens with the freaky synths and punchy drums of "Rave 'N Roll", which has layers of exotic instrumentation and beguiling sound design. "Redrago" is a Balearic track with expansive pads and sun-kissed melodies, while "Il Veliero" is a complexly woven tapestry of intoxicating leads and drunken tabla drum sounds with a psyched-out vibe. The soft rock licks and conversational synths of "The Kohlrabi Session" make for a chugging disco groover while "Plastelina" is a deep and late-night cosmic exploration that continues through the star gazing ambiance and long-legged drums of "Shalom Alanation". Acid squiggles and tropical vocals make "Ventilo" another fantastically fresh track while "Phantom Rag" closes out with a flurry of wild synth patterns, techno drums, and intergalactic feels. Four-color splatter on clear vinyl.
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12"
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LAD 045EP
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Life And Death label boss DJ Tennis works with Israeli duo Red Axes as they express themselves with total freedom and explore the similarities and differences between their respective sounds. DJ Tennis and the Red Axes duo were first introduced to each other by The Pachanga Boys at a festival in Corsica. "Their faces, their expressions and their attitude -- gentle, smart, loving and funny -- impressed me at first sight," remembers Tennis. They have deepened their personal and musical connections since. Around a year ago, they were having a discussion and decided they should attempt to combine their "love of psy and Mediterranean influences" and scheduled a week of recording sessions together. After making at 9am and having a proper Israeli breakfast, the artists went to a studio on top of a decadent old shopping mall in the Centre of Tel Aviv. Each of them then set up in one corner of the studio with their own instrument (including Tennis's Pearl Syncussion, a small modular setup, a Juno and bunch of guitar pedals, while Niv and Dori "used their usual weird cheap instruments including bass and guitars" and they began playing, experimenting and jamming, recording everything they did then swapping stations and repeating the process. They then took all the recordings into various editing sessions and finalized the adventurous, multi-genre exploration that is Redrago. "The aim was to find a kind of Italian-Israeli connection in our musical approach," explain Red Axes. "The album journeys from psychedelic Italo disco to Israeli trance rock with a lot of rave elements. We call it falafel disco mixed with a 1/4 of spaghetti sauce." This 12" provides club versions of two tracks from the album (LAD 045LP): "Redrago", a Balearic track with expansive pads and sun-kissed melodies and "Il Veliero", a complexly woven tapestry of intoxicating leads and drunken tabla drum sounds with a psyched-out vibe.
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12"
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LAD 046EP
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Life And Death welcomes Italian artist Whitesquare for a fantastic debut on the label that includes a remix from boss DJ Tennis. "Visual Distortion of Reality" kicks things off with a brilliantly rugged bassline underlining loose hits and drum fills. "Not Moving" is a spaced-out, electro-styled cut with lithe drums and sleek synths. "Jasmine" is another trip to the stars, with a squelchy bassline and crisp snares impossible to ignore as they ride on perfectly programmed drums. This one gets a subtle Re-Match from DJ Tennis who layers in a little more synth drama and darkness as a result.
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12"
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LAD 044EP
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Juan MacLean and Man Power debut as Juan Power for Life And Death. "Crescendo" is a nine-minute masterpiece with rickety house drums making you move while the shuffling percussion builds the pressure. Gorgeously warm chords eventually join the fray and have a blissful effect that sets you off dreaming and keeps you in a trance until the end. DJ Tennis steps up with an edit of "Excuse Me Daddy" that is deep and cavernous. "Praise The Toad" then picks up the pace with more live sounding drums and a sparkling lead synth that rises and falls to cosmic effect.
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2x12"
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LAD 043EP
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Life And Death looks to Mexican artist Paulor for a new EP that includes two of the fast-rising artist's journeying originals, plus big remixes from dance luminaries JD Twitch, Vitalic, Superpitcher, and Fango. Paulor is an associate of The Pachanga Boys' You And Your Hippie Friends label and resident DJ at Mexico's celebrated Topaz Deluxe club in Monterrey. Sunshine, synth craft, and dramatic guitar licks characterize his deep-cut motorik grooves on the likes of Kompakt and DGTL, and he shows those skills off once more here. Opener "Spaceship" is an expansive track with a pixelated lead that takes you on a trip through the cosmos as heavenly pads add a subtle sense of uplifting euphoria and surely get the club under their spell. The superb "Planet Gold" is slower and more mysterious, with drums that are just as inviting and well set, but an eco-system of pads that shimmer and shine in the night sky above and lock you in a dream state. A wandering bassline finishes the whole thing in fantastic fashion. French techno legend Vitalic does his thing on the "Spaceship" remix, layering in more rugged and angular synths and a flabby bassline that results in absolute lift off. Fango is another fast riser who has been tipped for big tings by Michael Mayer and his "The Suppa Robot Dancer Remix" is a raw electro version with slapping hits and brain frying bass that underpins off kilter percussion to body popping effect. Optimo's JD Twitch is one of the most eclectic and widely informed names in the game and his take on the track is unhinged and unpredictable. Metallic percussive hits, intergalactic tension and big drums all coalesce into something both serene yet unusual. Long-time Kompakt affiliate Superpitcher closes things down with two of his trademark remixes: the first is a zoned-out, ten-minute cosmic opus and the second is six escapist minutes of deep space ambience. This is set to be a breakout EP from Paulor, and one that comes with an adventurous set of remixes from some of dance music's most inventive artists.
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12"
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LAD 038EP
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DJ Tennis's Life And Death welcomes electronic innovator Moscoman for a label debut. Right from the off "Wave Rave" is an unusual but effective offering that pairs hands-in-the-air, trance-inducing chords with more reflective melodies and rugged drums. After that one packs a truly emotional punch, "Dinner For One" is downright dirty. Wild, detuned synths spray about over snares and rolling drums and the whole thing works you into a lather. "550" is a dreamy and zoned-out house track. "Space Comfort" is playful number with sci-fi keys bleeping up and down the scale while harmonic keys and withering retro synth chords.
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