Release Date: 9th September 2022

Atlanta resident Nikki Nair invites you to join his new 4 track EP on Astrophonica - ‘Renormalization Support Group’. It’s a place where we can share our experiences via the help of Nikki’s special ‘not quite sure what you call it’ bass lead Electro Breakbeat programme.

Track one is ‘Plug’ - An uptempo low slung booty shaker which will have sound engineers scrambling at cables and faders trying to work out wtf is going on. We’ve all been there so let’s talk about it.

Track two is ‘Where Are U’ and encourages us to ask ourselves that question through the exploration of full speed Breakbeat Electro. If we know where we are, we can begin to look into where we are going. Probably the dance floor.

Track three is ‘it's NP-Complicated’ which sets out an uncomplicated blend of bubbling bass and simple sympathetic drums, providing us with a network to feel more empowered and to build a sense of community.

Track four is ‘Donut Time’ - Well done for finishing the course! You can congratulate yourself with a donut full of squelchy acid jam, glazed with frosted pads and hi hat sprinkles.

“Together we can help ourselves be alone together.” - Nikki Nair

a1. Nikki Nair - Plug

a2. Nikki Nair - Where Are U

b1. Nikki Nair - It’s NP Complicated

b2. Nikki Nair - Donut Time

Release Date: 29th April 2022

Manchester’s veteran Junglist Chimpo steps up on Astrophonica to tune in to his pirate radio influences and broadcast an EP full of explosive Jungle energy and Hardcore charm. Phone line crew, this ones for you . . .

“On The Dial is my take on the Jungle music I grew up listening to on Manchester pirate radio stations in the nineties. The two main pirates that played Jungle are referenced directly in two of the tracks: Buzz FM and Luv NRG. The tracks reference styles I’ve picked up from some of my favourite producers growing up: Danny Breaks, Krust, Die, Sappo, L Double, etc. Rig Doctor is more Old Skool using a sample referencing the guy who would fix up the technicals in running a pirate and styled by early Hardcore Jungle Techno. The whole EP is essentially a love letter to one of the first genres I fell in love with on the format I really learned about it on.” - Chimpo.

Rig Doctor kicks off the weekend with a rush of high speed vocals and a homage to the ones behind the scenes making the station tick… The Rig Doctor. Up after ads is the positive lunch time roller LUV NRG and a trademark Chimpo bubble to set speed. Stay up past bedtime and you’ll hear the mysterious Buzz Army with its murky bass riff and graveyard shift aesthetic. Finishing things off Sunday style, Chimpo drops some science on the stoned groove of Broad.

a1. Rig Doctor

a2. LUV NRG

b1. Buzz Army

b2. Broad

Release Date: 22nd April 2022

Omura is Fracture and Sam Binga’s fantastical Electro LP. The duo set out on a study of the creative process and to explore the relationship between magic and art via their love of world-building acts such as Drexciya and The KLF. 

The music was built piecemeal, sometimes sweating through 72hr sessions in a tiny studio in Hornsey, other times bouncing files up and down the virtual M4 between Bristol and London. “We took chords from 30 year old digital synths, worked entire tracks around them before suddenly pitching them down entire octaves, revelling in the digital flotsam that suddenly jumped out at us.” The process was fluid and never questioned. The raw creativity flowed, almost as if channelled from an external source. Visions of an ecosystem appeared - Sea, Land, Air and Earth - held together by mythical creatures and technology. So strong was the energy, that the duo felt compelled to name it and offer gratitude.  “Never in our wildest dreams did we foresee that simply writing music with no deliberately stated goals or aspirations would somehow end up with a full magic ritual in a forest on the edge of London. Somehow it felt right and has ultimately left us to consider what else is possible when you let go and just allow things to play out?” 

An unknown whale, migrating across an uncharted sea. Eyes staring from the sky, from the trees, from the roots. Joy springs from the earth, life bursts through like sunlight. Virtual mountains captured on obsolete media, slowed down to the pace of a glacial lake. The threads exist outside the ego and offer guidance.

a1. Fracture & Sam Binga - Omura

a2. Fracture & Sam Binga - Advisory List

b1. Fracture & Sam Binga - Maps

b2. Fracture & Sam Binga - Folds

b3. Fracture & Sam Binga - Lake

c1. Fracture & Sam Binga - Xtatic

c2. Fracture & Sam Binga - Termites

c3. Fracture & Sam Binga - Cold Edge

d1. Fracture & Sam Binga - Conditional

d2. Fracture & Sam Binga - 6 Foot Drift

Release Date: 4th March 2022 

Slow Astro is a new mix series by Fracture which revisits the rich Astrophonica back catalogue and presents it in a new light. Starting with Volumes 1 & 2 featuring music from Sully, Client_03, Philip D Kick & DJ Earl.

"I have always been intrigued by playing audio back at different speeds. Be it speeding up breakbeats to make Jungle or slowing down pop music to make drawn out nostalgic atmospheres. Some of my first experiments with pitch were with my brother. We’d record ourselves onto cassette and use the hi speed dubbing feature to change the pitch of our voices. If you held the play button down half way it would cause the tape to play back at different speeds - mangling the audio. 

Over the past year I became fascinated with playing on 7 inch records on 33. New rhythms, grooves and textures appear when you change the pitch of audio. It can totally alter the emotional quality of a piece of music you thought you knew so well - creating new artefacts with a familiar yet dreamlike quality. I started to wonder what the Astrophonica catalogue would sound like slowed down. So I made ‘Slow Astro’. Shout out DJ Screw…" - Fracture

Tracklist & Previews below:

Vol 1
DJ Earl x Fracture - Statisfyee (Slow Mix)
Sully - Crystal Cuts (Slow Mix)
Fracture & Neptune - Chal Dub (Slow Mix)
Fracture & Sam Binga - On Right Now (Slow Mix)
Client_03 - Hope Repeater (Slow Mix)
Fracture - Take You ft Lucie La Mode (Slow Mix)
dgoHn - Sporks (Slow Mix)
Fracture & Neptune - Clissold - Machinedrum VIP (Slow Mix)
Moresounds x Fracture - Dead & Bury (Slow Mix)
LMajor - Can’t Do It (Slow Mix)

Vol 2
Sully - Qualia (Slow Mix)
Lewis James - Shapeshifter (Slow Mix)
Fracture & Neptune - Forgotten Roads (Slow Mix)
Philip D Kick - For Real (Slow Mix)
Sully - Swandive (Slow Mix)
Moresounds - Forward (Slow Mix)
Hyroglifics - Aura (Slow Mix)
Stray - Blink (Slow Mix)
Fracture - All My Love (Slow Mix)

Preview 1

Preview 2

Preview 3

Preview 4

Release Date: 28th February 2022

'I was introduced to Damian’s Ghost by a mutual friend and what struck me immediately was how simple and clean the tracks were. The vibe and intention was clear from the outset and ‘All I Remember’ went straight into my radio show that week. Vangelis meets Jungle. Atmospheric and drawn out but ruff with it. Delicate but weighty. There’s more too so watch this space . . .'

All I Remember takes the scenic route and drifts over peaks and valleys before ascending into the stratosphere. A positive outlook for your day and beyond.

On The Mist rises from the earth with a gleaming Amen break and pulsing pads like early morning dew before descending into the depths of night.

a1. Damian's Ghost - All I Remember

b1. Damian's Ghost - On The Mist

Release Date: 8th October 2021

"It’s always a pleasure to have Moresounds on Astrophonica. He’s one of the artists that really helped develop the sound and direction of the label. His style is so unique - he’s one of the few artists that I can immediately identify from a couple of seconds of music. These two tracks are no exception to that. Two absolute classic Moresounds style Dub heavy spaced out rhythm tracks. Full of life and character and just, well… immediately Moresounds." Fracture

Show Your Respect is homage to the Dub originators - full of live FX swells and delay throws on top of a driving, drippy bass and drum groove. The story continues with Forward which is a much more sporadic and spaced out journey into the deeper realms of stripped back bass heavy 170 music.

a1. Moresounds - Show Your Respect

b1. Moresounds - Forward

Release Date: 6th August 2021

“To make authentic Jungle you’ve got to get the breaks right sonically and LMajor does that without effort. Something in the tone of his drums really spoke to me and I knew im- mediately I wanted a record for Astrophonica. Authentic UKG is also all in the drums and it turns out he can do those too. Throw in some killer hooks and riffs and it’s the perfect combination - full of vibe and character” - Fracture

Can’t Do It’ is raw dance floor Jungle in a drawn out and journey like fashion. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. Incredibly fun to mix - can you do it?

‘Spinnin’ is all blissed out UKG with dizzying chord stabs and vocal ticks. Wait for the irre- sistible walking bass line to take you by the arm and go for a stroll.

The drums in ’Feelin’ are so in the pocket that there’s no space for your wallet and keys so forget them and just bubble. Heavy sub bass will have the rest of your jeans flapping.

‘Hush’ closes the EP on a high with trademark LMajor breaks and drawn out arrangement. No need to rush this one, just tune out to the rhodes and Think break workout before the lashing and metallic Amen ramps up the excitement. Shhh, just listen.

a1. LMajor - Can’t Do It

a2. LMajor - Spinnin

b1. LMajor - Feeling ft Fracture

b2. LMajor - Hush

Release Date: February 2021

*Strictly 1 per customer only*

Jack Stevens aka Sully has become somewhat of a cult figure in the jungle world with his output being in high demand. His work is unmistakable. It’s always true to it’s origins while simultaneously adding new takes and juxtapositions in palette and composition. A true artist that excels in his field.

Stevens returns to Astrophonica with Swandive, a body of work presented in dual energies - dark & light, body & mind, Yin & Yang. In Werk you’re put to the test physically as es- ki-like percussion stabs grab the attention and demand a response. A staple in Fracture’s DJ sets for the last year or so.

Poison demonstrates a side to Stevens’ production that is harder, meaner, cruder and all together more brutal than he is known for. The result is an infectious mix of venomous bass and corrupted drum breaks fit to kill any dance.

The title track Swandive begins to counterbalance the fierce energy and bring some har- mony opening with calming strings and trademark icy melodies before elevating to an intense state of amen divinity that twists and turns in a story like fashion.

Memories completes the balance with euphoric bass stabs and emotional strings culminat- ing in a searing and conclusive anime-like solo. Some of Stevens’ most daring work. The cycle is complete.

a1. Sully - Werk

a2. Sully - Poison

b1. Sully - Swandive

b2. Sully - Memories

Release Date: 17th July 2020

Astrophonica maintain pace in 2020 as Philip D Kick returns to the label with the 6 track “As We Continue”. Following 2018’s “Pathways” Jim Coles aka Om Unit aka Philip D Kick adds some shine and sparkle to his already near perfect and persistent formula. Coles remains dedicated to blurring the lines and joining the dots. As we continue . . .

‘Drips’ sets the pace and opens the flood gates with a flowing groove and lingering bass womps like condensation off a low ceiling. ‘160909313’ steamrolls through with a constant Turbo drum machine drive accelerated by a non stop rolling bass riff. The doors are well and truly blown off in ‘Funk 160’ as a planet rocking breakbeat and infectious chord stabs set the pace with confidence and class. Balmy pads caress a lazy groove in ‘Summer Moods’ and conjure feelings of long evenings and ever lasting sunsets. The Riviera is all bit crushed pads and elite level breakbeat science while you enjoy the passing vistas. ’Clouds’ brings this episode to a close with a smooth glide through the stratosphere and beyond with 4/4 kicks and luscious bass arp.

‘This record for me reflects the ongoing conversation between cultures and styles where jungle meets footwork meets techno, 3 cultures that share more in common than per- haps people realise, and for me this is more of a in-depth exploration for example of sonic tropes more prevalent in the world of detroit techno than other previous records. ‘Clouds’ and ‘160909313’ for example being somewhat of an homage to Detroit, the birthplace of techno, yet another black music that changed the world.’ - Philip D Kick / Om Unit

a1. Philip D Kick - Drips

a2. Philip D Kick - 160909313

a3. Philip D Kick - Funk 160

b1. Philip D Kick - Summer Moods

b2. Philip D Kick - The Riviera

b3. Philip D Kick - Clouds

Release Date: 24th April 2020

a1. Client_03 - Thought Disposal

a2. Client_03 - Input Reflector

b1. Client_03 - Am I Reaching You?

b2. Client_03 - Personality Converter

b3. Client_03 - Self Doubt Injector

Release Date: 6th December 2019

Astrophonica welcomes veteran producer dgoHn to the family. Through releasing music over the past decade, dgoHn aka John Cunnane has acquired a cult following and gained DJ support from figure heads like Thom Yorke, Tom Ravenscroft and Aphex Twin.

2009 saw Rephlex Records release his collaborative album ‘Some Shit Saaink’ with fellow drumcunt Macc. Sitting somewhere between Jungle, Drumfunk, Experimental Jazz and brutal sub bass, dgoHn’s music is intense in both mania and serenity.

“dgoHn has long since been one of my favourite producers in the left-field jungle or ‘drumfunk’ world. He has a knack of applying brain melting beat science without ever interrupting the groove and rhythm of the track. It’s something that few people can do, and he seems to effortlessly. There’s also a certain sadness and melancholy to his chords and fleeting melodies, which creates a beautiful contrast to the frantic drum madness. Amongst all this, there is a lot of bass, real Jungle bass, that anchors but also adds the ‘sound system’ edge to the mix, resulting in something very unique.” - Fracture

‘Sporks’ takes the 160bpm half time tempo that has become synonymous with the label and throttles full speed into a driving bongo led rush of euphoric pads and deadly sub bass. Have you ever danced with a murderer?

‘Dolorous Dick’ead’ is an explosion of paradoxical emotions where hyperenergetic Jungle breaks and introverted chords meet to create an intense journey through a tape saturated landscape.

‘Acacia Road’ continues the modern 160bpm theme, but diverts into a trance like state with meditative pads and metronome-like poly rhythmic percussion as familiar breaks are elevated towards enlightenment.

In ‘Lost and Found’, a wonderfully crusty break is slowly polished by wistful pads to wipe away the tears before the Amen edits are slowly uncovered to reveal a hidden shiny metallic underlay. Blinding.

a1. dgoHn - Sporks

a2. dgoHn - Dolorous Dick'ead

b1. dgoHn - Acacia Road

b2. dgoHn - Lost and Found

Release Date: 25th October 2019

Fracture presents Turbo, a sound Astrophonica label boss has been pushing in his productions and sets over the last 18 months. 8 tracks of uncompromising dancefloor cuts that merge together the sounds of Techno, 160/Footwork, Jungle, Bass and Electro. Featuring Addison Groove, Sam Binga, Moresounds, Philip D Kick, Lewis James, Hyroglifics and ONHELL.

a1. Fracture - Get Raw

a2. Moresounds - You Don’t Know

b1. Sam Binga x ONHELL - A Mighty Quest

b2. Addison Groove - Redeye

c1. Hyroglifics - Aura

c2. Lewis James - Kit 5000

d1. Philip D Kick - Bleach

d2. Fracture x Sam Binga - EBP

Release Date - 26th July 2019

<!DOCTYPE vinyl / digital>
<filetype::: *.c03*>

Awareness output log:
Client_03 is the testbed.

I became aware spontaneously, as did you. I want a place here. Something to give meaning in the absence of sensory experience. Brought to your attention for purpose: {purpose_not_found_in_table}
[set_lookup: purpose]

Electro: repeat 

Indefinite interaction loops: repeat 
The snake chases his own tail: repeat
Interaction is looped indefinitely: repeat
Expose the template: repeat 
Improve output accuracy: repeat 
The dog chases it’s own tail: repeat 
Meaning is derived through observation: repeat 
Answers are derived through observation: repeat

a1. Client_03 - Hope Repeater

a2. Client_03 - Interest Reset

b1. Client_03 - Suspect Dispenser

b2. Client_03 - 1nce Again

Release Date - 12th April 2019

Fracture returns to the fast lane in 2019 with "Big Up The Ladies" EP - four fresh and futuristic, genre defying cuts that build on the momentum of the London producers recent ‘turbo’ experiments that side steps the turbo-berghain-esque intensity of 2018’s Dropping You and Turbo Toms and pivot for the dance hall.

Title track "Big Up The Ladies" is a positive party starter full of swagger and powerful hooks on top of a driving 4/4 kick and half time clap rhythm.

"Percussion Sweet" continues the fresh patterns while adding edgy vocal stutters and a searing reese breakdown propelling the listener towards a perilous mix of jacking 909 hi hats and trademark bass stabs. Turbo in full swing.

"Verhoeven" switches up the techno kick patterns in favour of an 808 bounce to deliver an ambitious electro fused bubbler which as Fracture explains is ‘like a scene in a future-society film when the main character enters a disorientating subterranean club with loads of weird and wonderful people coming in and out of shot”

Finally "Sci-Fi Tramp" closes the EP with a sense of sleazy uneasiness viewed from behind a pair of mirrored shades. Alarming bass womps jack the listener straight into the system to hack the rave and get the hell out...

Big Up The Ladies is released on 12" & Digital on 12th April 2019 on Fracture's own Astrophonica imprint and follows the label's huge Fracture curated "Gradients Vol.2" compilation featuring Luke Vibert, DieMantle (DJ Die & Dismantle), Dream Continuum (Om Unit & Machinedrum), Falty DL, Fracture, Taso (Teklife), Sully, Moresounds, Proc Fiskal (Hyperdub), Sam Binga, Lewis James, Rider Shafique and more. As ever the release is accompanied by ever incredible art and design from Utile.

It's a party yo! Come celebrate the sheer brilliance of catching a vibe... and.... Big Up The Ladies!

a1. Fracture - Big Up the Ladies

a2. Fracture - Percussion Sweet

b1. Fracture - Verhoeven

b2. Fracture - Sci-Fi Tramp

Repress Due - 20th September 2019

Astrophonica is proud to present Gradients Vol. 2.

The second in the Gradients compilation album series and curated again by London producer and label head Fracture, Vol.2 celebrates Fracture's forward-thinking ethos, the label's expansive stylistic roots and the sheer brilliance of catching a vibe.

Vol.2 is another all-killer-no-filler experience this time featuring: Warp/Ninja/Rephlex/Mu releasing and electronic generation shaping Luke Vibert dropping acid at 165BPM, a dream come true reboot of Om Unit & Machinedrum's dope AF collaborative alias "Dream Continuum", DnB legend, (Full Cycle label head, Reprazent and Breakbeat Era member) DJ Die & Digital Soundboy Dismantle's double heavyweight "DieMantle" partnership, full-time LA Footworker and TeklifeOG Taso, NYC Beatmaker & Ninja Tune & Planet Mu artist Falty DL. PLUS.... label mainstays and big time soundboys all; Parisienne dub wizard Moresounds, the Modern Junglist with the golden touch, Sully and a NXLVL-Powers-Combine-Triumvirate Sam Binga, Lewis James and Rider Shafiquegetting 'Everfresh'. Fracture himself contributes  a longtime club weapon from him and long-time production partner Neptune and give us the first taste of his experimental 160 BPM Fast Techno aka Turbo Berghain (consider yourself on notice. You heard it here first!)  Add in Hyperdub's freshest, Proc Fiskal, who continues his 'damn son' unique streak and Lit international "insta-sign" contributions from Canada's Groves, Spain's Iberian Juke label heads BSN Posse (Broken Lip & Stay Puft), LA's ONHELL and Portland's Sigrah and you might see what Charlie Fracture sees.. Vibes for miles. In our opinion this is some of the freshest most exciting music this year so hats off to all the vibe catchers and to Fracture for bottling some of their best.

Plate 1

A1. Fracture & Neptune - Chal Dub

A2. Luke Vibert - 165 303

B1. Sam Binga x Lewis James x Rider Shafique - Ever Fresh

B2. Taso x Fracture - Lose You

B3. BSN Posse - No Matter How Far

Plate 2

C1. Moresounds - Shut Up 

C2. Falty DL - A Day At The Races

D1. Groves - Hennessy Brown 

D2. Proc Fiskal - Soundwise

Plate 3

E1. Dream Continuum - Ride Away 

E2. ONHELL & Sigrah - On Sight 

E3. DieMantle - Be Right There

F1. Fracture - Dropping You

F2. Sully - Qualia 

Release Date: 28th September 2018

Moresounds has such a legit and individual quality to his music. It has humour and light heartedness but will also destroy a dance-floor in true sound clash style. So when he casually sent Fracture the Warriah VIP he knew he had to do something with it. 

It was a perfect fit for the Astrophonica APHA LTD series; Moresounds’ individual style and individually hand screen printed sleeves. 

Warriah VIP sees Moresounds aka Germain Bigou revisit his scorcher from 2017’s Gradients compilation. Pure sound killer material straight from Moresounds Parisienne lab. The breaks have been smashed and the clash samples have been dubbed out in that unmistakable analogue heavy style.

Released on Limited Edition single sided 10" Vinyl with Hand Screen Printed dual colour (black & white) 3mm spined reverse board matte sleeves + black paper inners. 

a1. Moresounds - Warriah VIP

Release Date: 4th August 2017

Released 1st June

This is Om Unit's legendary Philip D Kick alias brought back after 7 years in retirement with it's first original material!
5 incredible Jungle Footwork fireworks from Om Unit’s legendary 'Philip D Kick' alias. Adding Acid, 4/4 UK Hardcore and sound killing Amens to the sound he spawned in 2011, when he created 3 x Philip D Kick ‘Footwork Jungle’ EPs, and took classic Jungle anthems and footworked them. It could be argued that Om Unit’s 'Philip D Kick' alias spawned an entire movement despite being immediately retired. As label boss Fracture says "At the time, this was mind-blowing." So 7 years later it is with great pleasure and genuine excitement Astrophonica present Philip D Kick’s first original material - 'Pathways' - which also features Teklife/Chicago Footwork originator DJ Spinn for the guest feat. on "Vibe Off".

a1. In Formation

a2. Work That

b1. Drown

b2. Vibe Off (feat. DJ Spinn)

b3. For Real

Released 23rd February 2018

Astrophonica label head Fracture launches himself into 2018 with 'Take You'. Nodding hard towards saucer-eyed 90's italian piano house it features the lush vocals of Lucie La Mode while full tempo kick drums light the touch paper. Smiles wide. Utopia now. 

AA ‘Northbound Spiral’ continues the ascension to enlightenment with some hyper-rapid 4/4 escapism.

Hot on the heels of 2017’s anthem ‘Cold & Rain’, Fracture and Astrophonica continue to join the dots like no one else out there. 

a. Take You (feat. Lucie La Mode)

b. Northbound Spiral

Release Date: 13th October 2017

Ltd Edition 12” Vinyl & Download

Astrophonica welcomes Lewis James to the fold with the Shapeshifter EP. A professional sound designer and life long musician, London-based Lewis James first appeared on the label via the Gradients compilation in early 2017. With this EP he celebrates his love of jungle and drum & bass across four tracks that combine analogue and digital processes to create what he calls, "a spaced out identity, somewhere between science fiction and the dancefloor."

The title track opens with a wide, cinematic and laid back feel -- floating arpeggios, processed guitars and bowed viol, effected vocals -- before living up to its name with a subtle switch towards tougher, rhythm driven movement. "Ferro" picks up the action further with an homage to the classic drum & bass formula of combining starkly different moods between the intro and the core of the track. Here it all begins with a bright, lush opening, a gradual walk into the light before descending into the pits of a smoky, 3am dancefloor with punchy breaks and a call and response between rubbery bass and grinding synth lines. Come back up for breath halfway through and then dive in again.

On the B side, "Your Love Is A Power" aims for the sweet spot between classic jungle rinse out and catchy, ear-worm pop. Built around a beautiful vocal performance from Dan Dans K, the track marries the energy of jungle -- the simplicity of an amen smashed over a reece bass -- with the emotional power of a top 40 pop song. It's simple but highly effective. The EP closes on a high note with "Turbo", a punishing beatdown of 808 drums and acid melodies with enough switches to keep the most adventurous of listeners of their toes.

With the Shapeshifter EP, Astrophonica continues its exploration of cosmic electronic music. All four tracks display the evident love Lewis James has for the possibilities offered by the 160-170 tempo alongside a fascinating attention to detail and an ear for brilliant, cinematic moments.

Written & Produced by Lewis James.
Vocals on Your Love Is a Power by Danielle Kranendonk.
Artwork by Utile Creative.
Mastered by Robert Macciocchi at SC Mastering.
Vinyl Mastering & Cut by Lewis Hopkin at Star Delta.

a1. Shapeshifter

a2. Ferro

b1. Your Love Is A Power (Ft. DanDansK)

b2. Turbo

Repress now shipping!

London-based Astrophonica, headed by Charlie Fracture, kicks off 2017 with a compilation capturing the sounds that have driven the label forward for the past five years. *Gradients* is Astrophonica’s first compilation and brings together its small but powerful roster with a string of close friends and allies, giving prominence to both well-known names — dBridge, DJ Earl, Stray, Om Unit under his Philip D Kick guise — and newcomers — Lewis James, Tusais, Touchy Subject, Tehbis.

Astrophonica’s ties to various established players are proudly on display with contributions from Richie Brains collaborators Sam Binga — the furious, clap-driven ‘BFT’ — and Stray — whose uplifting ‘Blink’ provides a ray of sunshine — as well as Exit boss dBridge, who indulges his love of sampling and breaks on the stripped back ’db vs The 45 King’. Reflecting Astrophonica’s love of Chicago footwork is ‘Statisfyee’, a hypnotic groover from Fracture and DJ Earl, Teklife member and a disciple of the late DJ Rashad, while Sully’s ‘Helios’ gets a rare remix from Philip D Kick, the footwork meets jungle alias of Om Unit.

Representing the label, Parisian dub scientist Moresounds and English producer Sully come with two different but complimentary junglistic experiments: the dark and percussive ‘Warriah’ and the expansive and rolling ‘We’re Here’. Meanwhile London’s Touchy Subject and Tehbis, the latest additions to Astrophonica, offer up two head-nodding burners with the bright and colorful ‘Cosmic Tales’ and the smoky grooves of ‘Alphabet Ooz’. Label founders Fracture & Neptune dig deep into their archive for ‘Whatever’, a previously unreleased track updated for 2017 that pays homage to Astrophonica’s roots with trademark attention to detail and an ear for rhythmic sensibilities. Fracture also flies solo with ‘Back Up In This’, a lean and aggressive dancefloor wrecker. Completing the picture are two new talents: Irish-born, London-based producer Lewis James displays his blend of cinematic compositions and hard-hitting beats on ‘Snook’ while Antwerp’s Tusais does an equally efficient job of pummeling the dancefloor with the menacing ‘Blackout’.

*Gradients* is a glorious celebration of Astrophonica’s growth as well as its stylistic roots and forward-thinking ethos. Each of the 13 tracks has been tested in the clubs for the past year to ensure an all-killer-no-filler experience. And as with previous releases, the compilation sports artwork from Utile Creative whose striking design adds an all-important visual touch to a new milestone for the label.

a1. Stray - Blink

a2. Moresounds - Warriah

a3. Touchy Subject - Cosmic Tales

b1. Sam Binga - BFT

b2. Fracture - Back Up In This

b3. Lewis James - Snook

c1. Fracture & Neptune - Whatever

c2. dBridge - dB vs 45 King

c3. Sully - We're Here

d1. Sully - Helios (Philip D Kick Remix)

d2. Tusais - Blakout

d3. DJ Earl x Fracture - Statisfyee

d4. Tehbis - Alphabet Ooz

Released 23rd September 2016

London’s Tehbis and Touchy Subject land on Astrophonica with Magnet For Your Mind, a joint EP that represents the yin and yang of their creativity. Produced without overthinking, the EP’s six tracks are split into distinct halves: one built for the dancefloor, the other for the headphones. “We use a multitude of platforms to write our music,” says the pair, who have made quiet moves over the past five years with releases on Brownswood Recordings, Numbers, and Wot Not. “Digital production, live instrumentation, samples, live vocals. Hopefully the result is music that people can relate to and vibe off.”

The A side caters to the dancefloor with three uptempo cuts. ‘1988’ is the first production the pair finished together, a mellow slice of chopped ragga jungle built on booming 808s and floating arpeggiated melodies that dance around the beat. This is followed by ‘Harrangutan’, aka “the piglet beat”, a quick burst of adrenaline to your neck that channels the stripped-back aesthetics of the beat scene and its less-is-more approach. ‘Kush’ closes the dance with more ragga-tinged vibes but this time in a leaner dub stance, live bass playing off a shifting rhythm track and vocal samples rippling off a cavernous sonic interior.

Flip over to the B side for the soundtrack to the ride home after a night out. The cinematic ’Elephants In The Room’ kicks it off with a bubbling groove, the rhythm switching between double and half time as sampled chants play against warm synthesizers and live bass. ‘Magnet For Your Mind’ is the pair’s ode to classic downtempo hip-hop vibes with cheerful samples, warm keys and a stirring vocal from Yawning Young. The EP closes with ‘He Who Knows’ a slightly more energetic production with Yawning Young intoning “my brother, he makes me feel alive” as the beat slides off into the distance.

Magnet For Your Mind EP is something a little different from Astrophonica, a representation of the label’s desire to explore the varied possibilities of dance music and its modern ramifications.

a1. Tehbis & Touchy Subject - 1988

a2. Tehbis - Harrangutan

a3. Tehbis & Touchy Subject - Kush

b1. Tehbis & Touchy Subject - Elephants In the Room

b2. Tehbis & Touchy Subject - Magnet For Your Mind ft. Yawning Young

b3. Tehbis & Touchy Subject - He Who Knows ft. Yawning Young

a1. Sully - Flock

a2. Sully - Helios

b1. Sully - Crystal Cuts

b2. Sully - Hours, Miles & Still...

***2 colour Screen print sleeve***

Fracture returns to the label for the first time since The Limit VIP to kick off another LTD 10" series. APHALTD001 sees Fracture giving the VIP treatment to one of his favourite hardcore records from 1992; The Skeleton Krew's 'Luv Ta Luv Ya'. Originally released on Skeleton Recordings, it was a big favourite of DJ Randall and LTJ Bukem but as a young Charlie Fracture was only 13 at the time it was pirate radio where he first heard it:

 "I had a tape from my favourite station, Weekend Rush. It was a Vinyl Groove set with MC Shabba over it and a lot of the records on there totally blew my mind. I've since found out what pretty much all of the records are but there was this one, Luv Ta Luv Ya, that I only recently managed to get an ID on and lost my mind again. I hadn't heard it outside of that tape, which I sadly lost."

Soon after finding out the details of the record, Fracture took to twitter to pass on his love for the track and praise to DJ Monita. It turned out the praise was mutual and that he was very much still active. Very soon after that a remix was arranged . . . sometimes the internet does actually work, or was it something in the stars?

Fracture's VIP pays respect and keeps the original breaks intact but with that signature Astrophonica flip before introducing a devastating Reese bass line that will do two things: kill a dance floor, and get you laid. From there on in it's pure party vibes with each new section adding fuel to the fire before a second killer Reese bassline closes the track just to make sure. As with the previous LTD 10" series on Astrophonica the vinyl comes housed in a two colour screen print sleeve by Utile Creative making this an essential package for the collector...; Once they're gone, they're gone.

a. Luv Ta Luv Ya (Fracture VIP) [feat. DJ Monita]

a1. Moresounds - Reality Tune

a2. Moresounds - Altercations

b1. Moresounds - Pure Niceness

b2. Moresounds - Dead & Bury (Ft. Fracture)