Back in stock: All genres

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


&Me and Black Coffee make for something of an Afro house dream team here. The latter has long been this sound's pin-up and has gone from playing in South African townships to producing with Beyonce and winning Grammy Awards over the last decade. Now deep in his latest Ibiza season, he unveils collaborative track 'The Rapture' (Pt III), a deep rolling cut with spine-tingling chords and a rich atmosphere. &ME then goes solo for 'LIFE', a shuffling percussive groove with spoken words and enchanting chords to make for a classy two-tracker.

Review: Since returning to action in 2016 after a seven-year break, 1990s techno survivor Lee Renacre AKA 100 Hz has released some of the best music of his career. This fine four-tracker marks the long-serving Londoner's first outing on Romanian imprint Amphia, who are best known for serving up sparse, minimalistic tech-house. As you'd expect, there's a slightly fuller sound here, though sonically it's as pleasingly druggy and mind-mangling as much of the imprint's output. Renacre brilliantly flits between trippy, arpeggio-driven, house-tempo techno (the otherworldly 'Machines of May'), dubstep-influenced UK bass/techno fusion ('Gadget', which echoes the ethos of his early 100 Hz releases with James Chapman), intergalactic tech-house ('Dark as Night'), and frankly filthy low-end wobblers ('Swiss').

Review: 49th Floor is a pseudonym for Stefano Curti from The True Underground Sound of Rome, originally applied to a sole 1992 release Night Passage. Vibraphone always do a fine job of folding time in on itself from these glory days of Italo house up to the present day, and so it feels natural for a new 49th Floor 12" to arrive despite more than 30 years since the last one. 'Zamani' comes on four different versions which give plenty of options to deep diving DJs, from the full-spectrum, pad-soaked propulsion of the 'Body Mix' to the raw acid throwdown of the 'Magic K Dub Remix', a straight up dreamy 'Deep Mix' and swirling, splashy 'Dub Mix'. The quality never dips, whichever twist in the tale you opt for.

Review: Stamina crew represent - the 4AM Kru are back with more of their life-affirming jungle workouts for the tail end of the night when the ravers need a little extra juice. This is their fifth drop on Embrace The Real, and once again they've done a bang up job of bringing some fresh ideas to a classic approach. 'Nobody Else' does wonders with a sample which sounds like it could belong to 80s soul diva Stephanie Mills, bringing a powerful dose of melody into the mix before cutting into needlepoint drum funk. '4AMK4' is a relatively chill roller, while 'Fire Is Our Friend' dices up jazzy breaks at a mean clip and dances nimbly on top of the subs and 'Hurt Me No More' swerves directly towards hardcore euphoria, pianos n' all.

Review: 700 Bliss are DJ Haram and Moor Mother, and together they've come together to deliver a guttural take on noise rap. Packed to the brim with fuzz, like gravel clogging a phone line, Haram and Moor's vocal deliveries are clownish and playful, and hear back like mere fragments of thought, pushing against the notion of a sustained narrative. Lafawndah, Muqata'a, Alli Logout and M. Tellez all feature on various vocal and production appearances, while techno is even ticked off on a few Afro-diasporic dance music forays ('Anthology'). A postmodern revisionist history of dance music in LP form.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight scratch on vinyl surface, doesn't affect playback ***


The mighty Defeated has got a fun package on its hands here with some fat disco and house anthems primed and ready for big room summer fun. A'Studio's 'SOS' (feat Polina - Skylark remix - Nic Fanciulli edit) is chunky house with a hooky vocal and rolling groove designed to sweep you up and away. Chloe Caillet then remixes Tensnake's classic 'Coma Cat' into a hands-in-the-air house stomper with epic strings. Harry Romero's sweaty 'Revolution' gets its drums buffed up and well swung by a House Master's Edit and Prunk & Rona Ray steal the EP at the last with their lush vocal house cut 'Keep It Simple.'

Review: Neil Anderson's Original Gravity loves to look back and revive forgotten classics and that is what it does again here with a quick reissue of something it dropped back in March. This time out it is two more massive slices of tasty Latin funk getting served up. The first is Abram & Nestor's 'Four Minutes Of Funk' which is indeed four minutes of funk that will unite dancefloors from here to eternity with its big organ magic. Nestor Alvarez' 'El Trombonista' is as you might guess denied by its big trombone and also boasts some great horn work. Do not sleep.

Review: FJAAK is of course the powerhouse behind spandau20, a record label, mixtape series and events that, they say, "revolves around the connection between people and the dancefloor." This new drop on the imprint is a potent one first brought to life by Elli Acula with his ravey and edgy 'Bff.' Claus then goes for something that aprs the mind with its twisted leads and unrelenting linear funk on 'Vape Nation' and finally FJAAk themselves step up with 'Tek Tek Tek'. It's tense and dense techno thumper with the biggest kick drums you've ever heard all cut up by razor sharp hi hats and booming bass. Add in some clipped vocal stabs and you have an all out techno party starter.

Review: Here's a blast from the past for Decca and Adam & The Ants alike. Many people have many ideas about what Adam & The Ants sound like, but they confounded expectations from their very first single when they shared 'Young Parisians' with the world in 1978. As Adam Ant later described, their sole single for Decca confused everyone who thought they were a punk band, which was entirely their intention. As a lilting, swinging slice of jangle pop, it's not at all what most would expect of the band, but it's brilliant in its own unique way.

Notes: ***B-STOCK: Box opened, product in perfect working order***


One of the most impressive granular synthesis approaches in Eurorack, combining looping and granular effects with buffer sizes up to five minutes. Hugely creative and powerful dual-module setup.

Supplier's Notes:
There's a long history behind the granular concept and many reinterpretations of it's core principles, this is ADDAC's take on it.

In a loose description digital Granular refer to pieces of sound files being played at the same time with slight or completely different parameters originating what is commonly referred to as granular clouds. Normally there's a buffer size from which the granular engine snips it's pieces from and plays them according to the parameters set. This buffer size is normally small in size where grains are so small that can reach the hearing spectrum and be heard as a sort of ever changing complex wavetable, this is the principle behind granular synthesis.

ADDAC have added the possibility of long buffer sizes up to 5 minutes, allowing "softer" approaches to the granular principle using it as an effect that can generate from "accidental" effects like slight "stutters" to extreme processing and transformation of any incoming audio signal.

This module is conceptually deep but easy to grasp and operate as all controls are in its dedicated panel, all jack inputs and outputs have its own separate panel to allow no compromise when playing it's controls.

There are three main sections in this module:
Looper Engine: The Looper is where all the Real-Time recording happens. The audio input feeds the recording buffer, multiple controls allow to record and play loops into a list so that any sample in the list can be accessed at ay time and more acting as a standard looper
Granular Engine: The Granular acts upon the buffer of whatever LOOP is selected.
Output Mix The output mix allow individual control for the Dry Input, Looper Volume and Grains Volume.
Besides these main sections there's also a simple strip down MENU mainly used to LOAD and SAVE Banks, no Menu diving guaranteed.

For more detailed info, please refer to the User's Guide.

Audio Specs:
Audio input: Stereo, 16bit 44.1Khz
Audio output: Stereo, 16bit 44.1Khz

Tech Specs:
32HP + 13HP
4.5cm deep
240mA +12V
70mA -12V

Review: There's no rock frontman quite like Greg Dulli, and even in middle age his melancholy and morally ambiguous loverman persona appears to be maturing like the proverbial fine wine. Moreover, the blend of soulful heart-on-sleeve balldeering and gritty rock-outs finds new vistas and moments of intensity on 'In Spades' - lurking somewhere between the testosterone bluster of Springsteen and the slinky grooves of Motown, yet with the addition of noisy electronic grooves, as on the opener 'Birdland,' only bolstering their arsenal. It's a treat to have this louche rogue back.

Review: Italian label 4Weed Music is all about music you might want to smoke to, as the title suggests. It's an ever-expanding indie that deals in serious sound system, dub and bass tackle. This new one 'Wonderful was originally produced on the Japan riddim which was composed and arranged by Dread Lion Hi Fi following Japan's 2011 T?hoku Earthquake and the ensuing tidal wave that struck. He wrote it in Italy and it features the line "From Milano Italy to Tokyo Japan" in honour of that over hefty low ends, steely mid-range leads and ricochetting hits. A fat dub is found on the B-side of this release which was for years thought lost until a hard disk turned up the treasure.

Review: For their latest essential primer on Sudanese music, Habibi Funk has chosen to focus on singer Sharharbil Ahmed, an artist whose desire to update Haqiba, a popular secular style of vocal-driven music, made him a pivotal figure in the 1960s. In his home country, Sharharbil became known as the "king of Sudanese jazz", a distinctive style that melded local instrumentation and vocals with jazz horns and heavy, guitar-driven grooves that drew much inspiration from rock and roll, surf-rock and rhythm and blues. The compilation does a great job in showcasing this insatiable, effervescent sound, showcasing the very best of Sharharbil's golden period output, most of which has never before been released outside of Sudan.

Notes: Coiled black 1.5m thermo plastic cable with soft touch surface. Extends up to 3.2m. Perfect for DJing or small studio use. Comes with 1/4 to 1/8 screw-on adapter.

Notes: ***B-STOCK: Box opened, slight surface marks, foot missing on unit, product otherwise in perfect condition***


Always wanted to play and record keyboard parts without the tangle of annoying wires? The new LPK25 Wireless takes the portability and feature-rich performance of the original LPK25 to the next level. Introducing Bluetooth MIDI connectivity! Now you can control your plug-in instruments from anywhere in the room, providing the ultimate in studio setup flexibility.

MIDI, Liberated:
Powered by 3 AA batteries for a truly untethered experience, the LPK25 Wireless is optimized for long battery life. No batteries? No problem. The LPK25 Wireless can also be powered via USB connection to keep your production moving.

Light as a Feather, Heavy on Features:
At the centre of the controller is a solid, 25-note mini-keybed, octave up and down buttons, and a powerful Arpeggiator mode which turns chords into exciting and complex music phrases. You're looking at the little Swiss army knife of production!

Apps Unleashed:
The LPK25 Wireless can also connect to any iOS device, giving you a truly portable workstation. Rip the keys on countless available music apps for on-the-go performance that leaves the lightest of footprints.

Box Content:
- LPK25 Wireless
- USB A to B Cable
- Software Download Card
- Safety and Warranty Manual
- Printed User Guide

Notes: ***B-STOCK: Box opened, product unused & in perfect condition***


The next generation of Ableton Live controller from Akai, the APC64 is designed for seamless integration with the software, or as a standalone step sequencer and controller. The 64 velocity sensitive pads handle playing, recording, clip launching, sequencing and much more, while eight assignable touch strips offer extensive hands-on control.

Supplier's notes:

APC64; Next generation Ableton live controller.

Touch the future

Leap into a new world of musical possibility in the studio, on stage, and anywhere creativity leads you with the powerful APC64.

Ableton live controller; with sequencer and touchstrips

The new Akai Professional APC64 is a powerful next-generation Ableton Live controller for studio and live performance.

It features 64 RGB velocity-sensitive pads with poly aftertouch, and 8 fully assignable Touch Strips for instant hands-on control of devices, pitch, modulation, and much more. APC64 also works as a standalone 32-step 8-track Step Sequencer and controller with 3 MIDI ports and 8 CV/Gate outputs to take full control of synths, drum machines, or modular rack devices.

In-depth control of Ableton Live

Enter the matrix

APC64 features a vibrant 8x8 pad matrix of 64 velocity-sensitive RGB pads with poly aftertouch for playing chords, synth leads, Ableton Live's Drum Racks and of course launching Clips in Session View.

Touch the future

Add a whole new level of expression and control to your music production and live performances with 8 fully assignable Touch Strips with RGB LED indicators. Get control of Ableton Live's devices - including Auto Filter, Delay, Reverb, Impulse, Simpler and more - right at your fingertips. Adjust macros, mixer volume, pan, and effects sends as well as writing automation.

Visual feedback and control

APC64 includes a smart colour LED screen with a fast push encoder for real-time visual feedback of your parameters. Move around Ableton Live's devices and mixing environments while keeping track of each parameter on the screen. APC64 also features dedicated transport control with Play, Stop, and Record for capturing your ideas along with 8 Track Mute and Solo buttons for mixing and live performance.

Standalone step sequencing

APC64 features an internal 32-step 8-track Step Sequencer enabling completely DAW-less control of your favourite synths. With 8 CV/Gate outputs and 3 1/8" MIDI ports, you can connect, sequence, and capture your favourite modular racks, keyboards, classic drum machines, and more. Add continuous control and expression using the 8 Touch Strips for a whole new level of performance. Apply additional creative dimensions to MIDI notes using the Probability, Velocity, and Mutate functions for further experimentation.

Powerful production and performance

APC64 facilitates a seamless workflow within Ableton Live; from triggering samples and loops in Ableton Live's Drum Rack, all the way to writing expressive melodies using the Notes, Scale, and Chord modes. Use the onboard Step Sequencer to generate inventive melodic patterns that can be instantly transferred to Ableton Live using the Send To Clip function. Apply swing and quantize to your beats or use APC64 to arm and record vocal tracks directly in Ableton Live sessions.

Ableton drum rack/simpler control

APC64 features a dedicated Drum Mode allowing you to play and record beats, loops, and slices using an Ableton Live Drum Rack or Simpler device. Capture additional inspiration using the 8 Touch Strips to control Ableton Live's FX racks during beat making and performance.

Included software bundle

Ableton Live Lite 11

APC64 Includes Ableton 11 Lite for all your software music production needs in one package to produce, perform, arrange, record, edit, mix and master your music. Live Lite includes sounds, instruments, and sequencing, recording, and arranging capabilities.

Air music instruments/plugins

APC64 Includes a collection of professional plug-in instruments and effects so you can start producing out of the box. Included are the following plugins: TubeSynth, Electric, Ether, Halfspeed, Vocal Tuner, Flavor, and the Sonivox Essential Keyboard Collection.

Custom editor software

Create your own custom layouts with the included desktop software editor for Mac/PC to personalize and store pre-sets for quick recall in standalone.

Key specs

Display
Graphical full colour LCD
Connections: USB-C, 8x 1/8" (3.5 mm) CV/Gate, 2x 1/8" (3.5 mm) MIDI Output, 1x 1/8" (3.5 mm) MIDI Input
Dimensions (width x depth x height): 10.7" x 14.6" x 1.4" 272 x 371 x 34.5 mm
Weight: 3.5 lb/1.6 kg

Review: Spoken word artist and saxophonist Alabaster De Plum has been involved with some fantastic album projects in recent years such as his To Cty & Lee solo album and a collab with Danalogue - a producer best-known for his work with Snapped Ankles and the Comet is Coming - on Total Refreshment Centre. Now he lands on Chicago's revered International Anthem with Gold, which here is presented as a deluxe version on heavyweight gatefold. It's a tender album that "celebrates the spirit of being unconventional" and does so well.