Top 10 vinyl-only releases from Brooklyn’s Halcyon record shop

When an avid record collector gets their hands on a coveted vinyl-only release it feels like striking gold. For a DJ, it’s the key to unlocking a brilliant mix. As the vinyl boom continues, the culture surrounding it is as strong as ever with vinyl-only labels serving up nothing but quality, unique releases.

Fueled by a passion for wax, labels like Perlon, Beste Modus, White Material, Mood Hut, Waxtefacts, Deconstruct and a host of others are showcasing dedication to the craft and propelling the medium into the future.

With the growing number of vinyl-only releases surfacing in recent history, it’s time to check out a batch of noteworthy records that would be a solid addition to any collection. Mixmag linked up with our good friends at Halcyon Record Shop in Brooklyn to dig through some twelves that surfaced recently and showcase the current state of the scene.

White Material, the record label launched by Young Male, Galcher Lustwerk and DJ Richard, has been a strong outlet for a variety of raw styles since it emerged in 2012. The most recent release on the NYC/Berlin-based imprint comes from someone who is obviously no stranger to the catalogue, label co-founder Young Male. Serving up a stack of quality tunes, Halcyon describes them as three “stripped back no-nonsense club cuts built on hypnotic grooves and dramatic atmosphere”. Sounds about right.

Austrian-based record label TRUST has been delivering the underground’s finest since 1998 and continues to pump out top-notch releases. In 2016 alone, it’s seen newcomer Lok44 and veteran Alex Cortex release standout electro gems on the label and now Dutch mainstay Boris Bunnik assumes his Versalife guise to release ‘Self Replication’, four subtly-clad electro tracks with hints of acid, broken beat percussion and a haunting motif. This is also the third release in the TRUST's Covert Systems series following the other two releases to surface this year.

Frequently releasing on his Children of Tomorrow imprint, Arnaud Le Texier steps up on Chronicle Records with a release that showcases the many sides to his musical persona. A vinyl-only six tracker is always worth a look and Arnaud’s 'Hybrid Destination' is packed with moody techno bits where atmospheric and rhythmic meet in blissful harmony. The Brooklyn based label is known for delivering a sci-fi motif, but this recent release is as cosmic as they come.

Landing on the Canadian imprint Booma Collective, this dark and eclectic self-titled release from the mysterious Sector Y consists of rough and gritty techno made to rattle the walls. Little is known of Sector Y, but his debut release is creating buzz in the underground due to both quality production and a strong sense of creativity with rhythms. It’s safe to say he’s one to watch moving forward.

Back in 2003, MOS Recordings label boss Aroy Dee released 'Kiss / The Planets', two bassy tracks of a bygone era. Today they produce nostalgia like no other and have been remastered and repressed by the label that brought us the original, Newworldaquarium's NWAQ imprint. With prices for the original as high as $50 on Discogs, it’s safe to say this is a highly sought-after release, but now it can be enjoyed by more people looking to get a taste of a timeless motif.

Having only launched the label one year ago, Italian producers Giovanni Verrina and Germano Ventura have quickly established their Howl imprint as an important rising vinyl-only label. A particularly intriguing bit about the label is that each release is simply titled by its number in the series, with the first release titled ‘Uno’, the second release titled ‘Due’, the third titled ‘Tre’ and so on. Now with Howl’s sixth release, Berlin-based producer Dana Ruh delivers ‘Sei’, three deep house and techno cuts possessing an infectious feel and unique arrangements. This one is not to be overlooked.

Since 2012, the INSTRUCTION label has had a minimal release schedule, but its focus on a distinctly mind-bending motif has attracted many in search of a unique underground output. With only 300 pressings per release, it’s safe to say these are coveted records. Now Rotterdam’s own Jeremiah R. steps up with his 'Interstellar' EP that, as Halcyon perfectly describes, “features more of the fierce and futuristic electro with clear nods to the classic Motor City pioneers”. It’s a diverse four tracker that pays extra attention to bass laden grooves.

As just the second release on the Altiorem imprint, Barcelona's Dafoe & Amin Ravelle step up with a grooving, minimalistic dancefloor cut while Concealed Sounds label owner Martinez serves up a disparate remix, stripping back the title track to deliver his own distinct sound profile. Not much is known about this mysterious label, but if they continue to release quality tunes like this, it will be turning heads in no time.

Fresh off releases on highly touted Drum and Bass labels Renegade Hardware and Paradox Music, DJ Ink and Gremlinz link up for a vinyl only release on the rising Tempo Records. The label has been climbing the ranks of the underground since launching in 2012, but its most recent release could be regarded as the culmination of its catalogue. As Halcyon describes, these “wickedly rugged and raw Drum and Bass” tracks are the cream of the DnB crop at the moment. Limited edition vinyl only release, get it while you can.

Vis Rev Set is the baby of the bunch on this list as it only just launched in 2016, but if ‘Playground Vol.1' gives any indication, we can expect to see a strong output building in the near future. For the label’s first release three artists come together on a vinyl only record featuring Hello?Repeat Soundsystem, comprised of Daze Maxim and Jan Krueger, DeWalta and DJ PI-GE. These deep, techy and at times minimal tracks offer a prime introduction to what hopes to be a label to watch moving forward.

All records on this list can be found at Halcyon Record Shop here

Harrison is Mixmag's East Coast Editor. Follow him on Twitter here