New music on our radar this week: Barry Can't Swim, AQUTIE, Josh Caffé

Welcome to Mixmag’s round-up of upcoming music releases that you should take note of

‘25 Years Of Eskimo Recordings’ are celebrated in this 50-track compilation  

Athens-hailing artist NTEIBINT, real name George Bakalakos, has curated a new 50-track compilation celebrating 25 years of his Eskimo Recordings imprint, which lands on July 3.

The label emerged from legendary parties held at the abandoned Eskimo Fabriek warehouses in Ghent. 

Contributions come from the likes of Lindstrøm, Prins Thomas, Sébastien Tellier, Todd Terje, Aili, Kasper Bjørke, Ray Mang, Ewan Pearson, Massimiliano Pagliara, LSB, Satin Jackets, Theo Kottis and many more.

“Back in 2001 I started visiting friends that studied in London. We used to go into Soho, to record shops like Vinyl Junkies. It was there, in the spring of 2002, I saw the first Eskimo album, ‘Mangled’, by an English producer called Ray Mang. He was one of the first people that was doing what would become nu-disco, and that album caught my eye: it had this beautiful cover, like a couple dancing in this kind of avant-garde Tropicalia style. I was blown away by the samples he was using, his whole approach to disco… this album could have been released today! From that moment I was hooked and always looking out for the label’s release,” says NTEIBINT.

“Still, there’s also so much more to the label than just the nu-disco sound, that’s one of the great things about Eskimo: they’re always out there looking for new stuff,” he added. “Looking at this compilation you can see how Eskimo has kept evolving, kept moving with both the times and how the industry has changed. I can see them still being there in another 25 years, still innovating, still inspiring but never compromising their sound.”

Pre-order it here

DJ Koze announces new double A-side single release on Pampa Records

DJ Koze has shared a new track ‘Spiralen’, the lead track of a new double-sided single on his Pampa Records imprint.

Grand origin stories have been weaved to accompany the outing, with release notes stating: “It is said that DJ Koze creates musical universes. Yet what many do not realize is this: the universe itself was created 13.8 billion years ago by DJ Koze, before he condescended to become physical matter. He was the force of gravity that held everything together.”

The full release lands on June 12, backed with ‘Wo’s Patric?!?’ on the flip.

Pre-order it here

ear drop new album ‘Rumspringa’ on A24 Music

New York-hailing duo ear have released their new album on A24 Music.

‘Rumspringa’ is named after the Amish tradition of allowing teenagers to have experiences outside of the community's strict rules. 

The 10-track offering blends influence from styles such as IDM and electronic pop.

Buy/stream it here

Skrillex, Blawan, MC Dricka and Randomer join forces on ‘Thistle’

‘Thistle’ is an almighty new collaboration from Skrillex, Blawan, MC Dricka and Randomer.

The punchy club cut features hallmarks of each collaborator’s style.

It landed ahead of Skillex’s new event platform CONTRA debuting in collaboration with Berlin Atonal across May 30 to 31 at Kraftwerk in the German capital.

Buy/stream it here

Barry Can't Swim marks next era with new track ‘Return To Bhibo’

Barry Can’t Swim is back after almost a year, marking his next era with brand new single ‘Return To Bhibo’ on Atlantic Records, a summery track leaning into French touch and jazz.

The new single is described by the Scottish producer as his “own version of those golden era dance records” inspired by French house, with an aim to “capture the feeling of nostalgia for that beautiful time”.

Buy it here

Karen Nayme KG drops new five-track EP, ‘Epiphany’

Returning to her roots in UK funky, Karen Nyame KG is back with a new five-track EP titled ‘Epiphany’, a record that spent the last two years in the works across Australia and Japan.

The EP combines elements of UK funky with Afro tech and percussive-forward rhythms, pieced together with her own “call-and-response vocals that make it spiritual”.

“I love deep, ancestral South African Afro House and Afro Tech, and felt driven to create something along those lines infused with my own essence,” she explains.

Pre-order it here

Josh Caffé to land on dh2 with new ‘The Velvet Hour’ EP

London’s Josh Caffé is set to land on Dirty Hit’s dh2 label this summer with a new five-track EP titled ‘The Velvet Hour’, due for release on July 17.

Ahead of the record’s release, Josh Caffé has debuted the first single, ‘Limousine’, a club-ready house cut featuring his recognisable vocals and punchy production.

“‘Limousine’ is basically a song about infidelity and the emotional mess that comes with it, which is something a lot of people can relate to in one way or another,” he explains.

Pre-order it here

Funk Tribu shares details of forthcoming EP 'Life'

Bogotá-born, Berlin-based producer Funk Tribu has shared details of his forthcoming EP, 'Life', which is set to land via his imprint TRIBE on August 7.

Written during a "period of intense touring", the four-track project explores the concept of "growth" within club culture, with the producer exploring his own eye-watering rise since the release of his 2021 smash hit 'Phonky Tribu'. 

To give a taste of what is to come from 'Life', Funk Tribu has shared the first single from the record - 'reborn (alma)' - alongside a concept-driven music video, placing the producer behind moss-laden DJ decks. Watch it below.

Pre-order it here.

ring noord share details of bass-heavy new EP ' Everything Is Still To Come'

Netherlands-based duo ring noord, AKA former Noisia member Nik Roos and producer/visual artist Jasper Scholma, are set to share a new, five-track EP via Anetha's Mama Told Ya imprint on June 26. 

'Everything Is Still To Come' marks the 20th release for Mama Told Ya, and features the label head as a collaborator on the EP's lead single 'Voicetrack Generation' — a fiery techno banger that weaves together buoyant percussion and silky-smooth vocals.

Pre-order it here.

AQUTIE launches label and cultural platform PELE PELE with new single ‘Obey The Drum’

AQUTIE has launched a new label and cultural platform PELE PELE, with the imprint's first release 'Obey The Drum' - a collaborative single between the New York-based DJ and producer and Oakland-based spoken word artist Tenesha The Wordsmith. 

PELE PELE, which is Zulu for "chilli pepper", is described as "more than just a label", with plans for release, parties and "cultural moments rooted in rhythm" to take place under its umbrella. Listen to 'Obey The Drum' below.

Buy it here.

Ezra Collective share details of forthcoming album 'Here Because Of Hope'

The fourth studio album from Ezra Collective has been announced for release this autumn on Partisan Records, titled 'Here Because Of Hope', landing on September 18.

The long-awaited record features a link up between the five-piece and Pa Salieu with 'Only Love', a euphoric new single that brings their jazz prowess together with Pa Salieu's bold lyricism.

"Pa Salieu has been a musician that we have long admired in Ezra Collective," say the quintet. "Not just because of his incredible lyricism and storytelling but also his ability to weave in his Gambian heritage and roots into such a distinctly UK sound."