The second-to-last chapter of this year’s Staff Picks is here!
While curating the selections for this 11th edition, we noticed an abundance of outstanding various-artists releases — a clear sign that shared, collective creation continues to resonate deeply. Many of this month’s works also carry a strong political dimension: a reminder that music, at times, must act as a manifesto.

We close this edition with the new various-artists compilation from Aurora, whose proceeds will be donated to organizations supporting children’s welfare, medical aid in Palestine and Sudan, and research on Alzheimer’s and ovarian cancer. A powerful and meaningful contribution to a cause that deserves attention. Full support!

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☉ Aris Kindt – Now Claims My Timid Heart [Quiet Time]

“Now Claims My Timid Heart” the new LP from the duo Aris Kindt, released on New York’s Quiet Time label, plunges into the depths of an intimacy as raw as it is profoundly human, directly echoing the nuances of Franz Kafka’s correspondence. Aris Kindt, the “post-structuralist pop” project of Francis Harris and Gabe Hedrick, continues the experiment begun with “Swann and Odette,” constructing closed sonic systems that foster a subtle correspondence between their sonic influences—ranging from Basic Channel to drone metal—and literary ones, with references to Kafka, Sebald, and Pynchon. The result is an ambient-dub album that defines a journey of rare emotional coherence, capable of being simultaneously alienating and deeply rooted in the human experience. It’s a work that, while minimal, is extraordinarily evocative, ideal for those seeking contemplative electronic music rich in subterranean tension.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ Dan Bean – Bassduets [Old Technology]

“Bassduets” by Dan Bean, released via Old Technology in cassette format, presents itself as a radical sonic experiment. Here, Dan Bean exclusively employs the electric bass and a 303 to explore the almost ritualistic potential of pure sound, outlining a sonic territory that is both primitive and brutally effective.
The result is a dark, pulsating soundscape, woven with hypnotic vibrations. The electronics offered are deliberately raw, distant from immediate melodic structures or complex arrangements. This is not a work to be relegated to “background music”; on the contrary, “Bassduets” demands total immersion, a patience and attentive listening that are amply rewarded. The EP delivers a density of tension, mystery, and depth, configuring itself as an experience that challenges conventions and pushes the listener to confront the elemental power of low frequencies and the acidic textures of the 303. It is an exploration that celebrates the intrinsic force of sound in its most essential and enveloping form.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ Djalo – Interact [Tustance]

Djalo‘s “Interact” EP, released on the Tustance, presents itself as a dense and hypnotic offering situated at the crossroads of deep techno and dub sonorities. This four-track work stands out for its remarkable versatility, seamlessly integrating influences ranging from deep techno to tech-house and abstract techno, creating a rich and dynamic sonic panorama. Through a skillful interplay of textures evoking “mineral” suggestions and “tribal” rhythms, Djalo shapes an ever-shifting soundscape. The EP is further enriched by EBL‘s personal vision, who contributes their own interpretation with a remix of the track “Ear De Sound,” adding another layer to Djalo’s articulate sonic narrative.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ Big Hands – Anti Militarist Dubs [Upstairs//Downstairs]

Melbourne collective Upstairs//Downstairs proudly announces the launch of its record label, entrusting the first release to Italian-born, London-based producer Big Hands. The debut EP, titled “Anti Militarist Dubs” stands strong in both its message and sound, presenting four cuts built for deep listening and heavy sound systems. On the side B, “Stolen Land”—a collaboration with Melbourne heavyweight Pugilist — takes the sonics into more assertive club territory, showcasing spaciousness, weight, and rhythmically twisted compositions, woven with polyrhythmic grooves, distinctive “wubs,” and a gritty percussive drive that demands focused attention. “Anti Militarist Dubs” is an incisive project that masterfully intertwines dub, techno, and bass music through deep grooves and penetrating percussion. This EP not only resonates with body and soul but also projects towards a more direct and engaging physical experience on the dancefloor.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ SND & RTN – Vortex EP [Planet Rhythm]

Planet Rhythm welcomes SND & RTN project with “Vortex” one of Frenk Dublin‘s most prolific incarnations and key figure in the dub techno landscape. This six-track EP marks a significant milestone for the artist on the label, solidifying his reputation for production that stands out for its depth and consistency. “Vortex” once again highlights SND & RTN’s multifaceted approach. The compositions reveal an innate ability to forge versatile works that, while exploring diverse nuances within the genre, never descend into triviality. The artist successfully maintains a coherent stylistic line, deeply rooted in his dub techno background, while consistently innovating and proposing fresh sonic solutions. “Vortex” is a testament to SND & RTN’s artistic maturity, capable of offering a listening experience that is both familiar and surprisingly fresh for enthusiasts of the genre.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ Various Artists – 5 Years in the Wild V [YUKU]

YUKU has reached a significant milestone, celebrating its first five years of activity with the release of a series of five “various artists” compilations. Our focus is on the fifth chapter of this series, “5 Years in the Wild V” while acknowledging the intrinsic value and coherence of the four preceding volumes.
This concluding edition features eight tracks, resulting from the contributions of artists such as PRAYER, Chewlie, POL100, Lakker, Oblaka, Soreab, Lucika, and Obeka (feat. Frederic). Each contribution seamlessly integrates into the sonic mosaic that YUKU has meticulously constructed, highlighting careful curation and a well-defined artistic vision. Among the diverse offerings that comprise this compilation, Oblaka’s “Hazelight” emerges as a particularly distinctive moment, capable of capturing the essence of the sonic direction explored within this volume. “5 Years in the Wild V” is not merely a celebration but a consolidation of YUKU’s sound and identity within the electronic music landscape.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ Anthony Linell – In the Place of Harmony [Northern Electronics]

“In the Place of Harmony” by Anthony Linell, released on his own Northern Electronics, emerges as a work rooted in a past decade, specifically 2013. The album, distributed as a limited double cassette, features twenty tracks that fully embody Anthony Linell’s distinctive sonic language. Every single sound feels deliberate, occupying its space with quiet, profound significance, even when its perceptibility is almost at its limits. The choice to employ a solitary synthesizer for the entire creation further underscores the purist and focused approach, transforming instrumental limitations into a source of concentrated and contemplative expression.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ Alien D – Mediterranean Blue [Kulture Galerie]

“Mediterranean Blue” the new EP by NYC producer Alien D, stands as the third release in Kulture Galerie‘s “Digital Artefacts” series, offered in cassette format. This work presents itself as a companion piece to his recent Theory Therapy output, “For the Early Hours of the World in Bloom” while exploring similar states of mind with a hazier, more fluid sensibility. The six tracks comprising the EP trace their origins back to a week spent several years prior on the Puglia coastline. Visual and conceptual elements are interwoven with fragments of slow, pulsing low end, wafting synth elements, and a range of processed samples dwelling on states of transition, life, and love.
“Mediterranean Blue” is a sonic journey imbued with reminiscence and contemplation, an intimate exploration of both physical and emotional landscapes.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ 69db / Gen Unit – [BTB007] Split EP [Beyond The Bridge]

The seventh release from Beyond The Bridge, the label curated by K.O.P. 32, takes shape as a cross-generational encounter that decisively reaffirms the most authentic roots of freetekno. This split EP places two distinct yet convergent expressions in dialogue, offering a profound perspective on the contemporary facets of the genre. On Side A, 69db delivers two improvisations with an abrasive character, deeply charged with political and cultural tension. These tracks are not mere stylistic exercises, but true sonic reflections: starting from an echo of the genocide in Palestine (Free Palestine!), and culminating in a sharp critique of the pervasive theatricality of the contemporary world. On Side B, the duo Gen Unit — the collaborative project of Kaisei and Scam Artist — responds with two dense and hypnotic tracks. Constructed in the rough and uncompromising spirit of old-school, these compositions are physical, direct, and free of compromise, highlighting a dedication to the pure kinetic energy of freetekno.
[» listen and support here]

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☉ Various Artists – Beta [Aurora]

“Beta” the latest release from Aurora, presents itself as a refined and incisive overview of the contemporary sound universe. The compilation gathers twenty-five carefully selected tracks, produced by artists from every corner of the globe, offering a true journey through the multifaceted expressions of ambient, techno, IDM, and experimental sonorities. This vast compendium invites the listener on a path of imagination and self-discovery, where each contribution adds a distinct nuance to a global mosaic of musical sensibilities and languages. “Beta” is not only an invaluable curatorial project, capable of charting the coordinates of a vibrant and continuously evolving scene, but it also configures itself as a concrete gesture of solidarity.
All profits generated from this release are entirely dedicated to supporting organizations working for child protection, providing essential medical support in Palestine and Sudan, and promoting scientific research on Alzheimer’s and ovarian cancer.
[» listen and support here]