Your weekly cheat sheet.
The experts behind the counter of London’s Phonica Records are some of the most dedicated diggers and DJs we know, so every week we tap their insider knowledge to get a tip-off on the latest essential releases.
From killer DJ picks and leftfield dance gems to vital reissues and obscurities from around the world, here’s your guide to the best new vinyl on the shelves.
Leron Carson
Lemonlime 12″
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(Sound Signature)
Theo Parrish’s Sound Signature drops another rare release from late Midwest producer Leron Carson. The featherlight Fisher Price piano jam that is ‘Lemonline’ might actually be the heaviest track we’ve heard in a while – the perfect curveball to wake up a driftin ‘floor – but flipside ‘Sofnthik’ is the tip, with its vintage, loved-up chords swirling around a clattering drum machine groove. Who knows if these were made three months ago or three decades ago? They’re just timeless.
O’Flynn
‘Oberyn’/’Spyglass’ 12″
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(Blip Discs)
Another strike for the relatively new Blip Discs with a 12″ from young producer O’Flynn, who heads down two very different paths; clattering Latin percussion clears a path through the sub-heavy ‘Oberyn’, while ‘Spyglass’ is all sweetness and light on blissed out jazzy keys.
Keyboard Masher
Kendo Rocks 12″
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(KM Editions)
Keyboard Masher is back in business with the seventh addition to the Editions series. The new 12″ contains three massive tracks which range from spaced-out disco to dubby slow-mo chuggers with some bluesy keys mixed in between. Story goes that this EP is a tribute to they mysterious Kendo Nagasaki, don of the ‘70s UK wrestling ring.
Manmade Science
Chitown 12″
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(Philpot)
Manmade Science, the trio of Philpot boss Michael Baumann (aka Soulphiction), Nik Reiff (aka DJ Phlegmatic) and Benjamin Lieten, had a healthy run of tactile, jazz-tinged house and techno 12″s in the mid-00s, and here comes their first release in four years on lush clear vinyl. Space-age phasers and perky percussion lead the deep ‘Chitown’, while ‘Housekeeping’ on the flip pairs irresistible skippy drums with a dirty bass line.
The White Man & The Arab
The Sword Dance EP
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(The White Man & The Arab)
The White Man & The Arab are back with The Sword Dance EP. Phonica’s very own Souhail (aka Soho) and Fear of Flying boss Ben Micklewright (aka BLM) drop five varied tracks ranging from dancefloor workouts to deep melodic house jams and mystical Levantine vibes. Hear the title track in full on Phonica’s SoundCloud.
