Iz & Diz
Mouth (Pépé Bradock Remixes)

The project of Julien Huynh and Will Holden, Hybrid Man returns after releasing four spacious cuts of downtempo breaks and house in 2019. This time debuting on Butter Sessions, the tracks on Shapeshifting feel like a natural progression, equally well-crafted with the DJ in mind but with a slightly more trance influenced modus operandi.Opening with ‘Virtual Language’, the duo seemingly nods in the direction of Richard H. Kirk’s seminal Virtual State album, inspired by the futurism and warm robotic soundscapes of the 90s ambient techno scene. Dub FX and swirling basslines underpin the stylistic make-up of the EP, sharp breaks on the title track recalling 5AM catharsis in a pre-lockdown state of loved up rave bliss. Combining propulsive sequences with melancholic pads and melodies that are as easy to grab onto as they are lost the morning fog, the pair show a talent for holding the attention of the keen listener as they might the dancer. Indeed, those already attuned to the contemporary Australian underground might recognise Holden’s name from his slower paced work with Low Flung (also previously on Butter Sessions).Mixed and Mastered by Corey KikosArtwork by William Schmitt

Back in 2021, when Volodymyr Gnatenko agreed to work on his debut album, none of us could have predicted it would be released, post-pandemic, against the backdrop of war. At the time, the 23-year-old producer from Lutsk was riding high on a string of well-received 12s for labels such as Where We Met and Animals On Psychedelics, besides local Ukraine labels such as LSS557 and Rhythm Buro. He was, between covid closures, playing live at Kyiv clubs such as Closer and Kureni, looking to tour in Europe, and spending every spare second making music.How things change. When missiles began to rain on Kyiv, Gnatenko, alongside a few friends from Closer, hid in his studio. For a while, the bombings did not stop. But for the producer, neither did the music-making. Choosing to stay in the city, he continues to make beats, managing only to mix down between bombing raids. He changed his first name to match that of his president, ditching the previous spelling of his name because it was the same as the aggressor, “[the same as] my worst enemy, I am ashamed and disgusted that I started my career with it”. The album speaks of softer, easier times. A combination of rich ambience, and laidback breaks alongside loose progressive and trance-fused dancefloor tracks, this debut brings together all the strands that Gnatenko plays with. The process, he says, was exhausting and long. Yet the results are lighter, fresher. Maybe because, he says, “it is dedicated to my future wife. All the tracks are my words of love for her". Deeply hypnotic and freely moving between ideas, it feels like it was made a lifetime ago, not a matter of months. Now, it resonates with a new defiance. It is a debut with an extra layer of meaning.

Ripping its way through the space-time continuum, Tel-Aviv based producers Asphalt DJ and Gzardin surface on Oddysee for the release of their anticipated debut outing, ‘Now & Zen’. The 4-track opening salvo embarks on a transcendental trip of deep and propulsive club bouncers. With the cuts firmly landing on the intersection of the 90s spectrum and fresh-minded sound design, the package offers a clear view of where the two newcomers are headed, as well as the Oddysee label.

Introducing PUCA002 | Murrin - King Puck.Calling out all enchanted wayfarers and those with the desire to wander off-trail, licking the back of any psychoactive toad en route.For your next expedition into the realm of psychedelic balearia, indulge in the rhythmic tappings, pleading plucking and general propulsion of King Puck by Murrin, his first solo release.With 3 tracks for the slow connoisseur caravan, and 1 for the vital essence of arpeggiated hysteric euphoria, this is essential listening for the next time you take a lick.