SECURE SHOPPING
While her previous releases have stood strong on their own, when listening to Sheela Rahman’s music it’s hard to avoid that connection she has to her regular partner-in-sines, Danny ‘Wolfers’ Legowelt. Beyond the simple fact that they are a couple, with their continued touring together and shared outings as Trackman Lafonte & Bonquiqui and Xamiga last year, it’s perhaps not surprising that Wolfers’ extensive back catalogue is the most logical point of reference when mentally placing Rahman’s music in your own internal musical shelves.
Aardvarck is primed for a two track return to Rush Hour’s No Label series – stream it in full here.
Xosar returns to Rush Hour with a new “desert dancing” release entitled The Calling.
Gerd Janson is an old hand when it comes to curating interesting and worthwhile compilations. Back in the late 2000s, he impressed with two collections of odd progressive disco, synth-wave and electronic jazz-funk, 
Familiarise yourself with Rush Hour’s next reissue project, a little-known house and techno album from 1990 from UK producer N.A.D.
Peaking Lights’ Aaron Coyes will provide the latest Rush Hour released “No Label” release, with a 12″ of edits.
WT Records boss William Burnett will adopt the Black Deer name on a forthcoming record for Rush Hour’s No Label series.
As befitting a month where record companies applied the brakes on their release schedules, December saw a marked downturn in records worthy of inclusion in our monthly feature.
The fact that this collection of previously neglected tape oddities from the mid nineties still manages to evoke visions of the future is something remarkable in itself. From a purely logistical perspective, it isn’t all too surprising that these recordings have only seen the light of day nearly twenty years on, given the recent resurgence of reissues and the general upheaval of attention to vintage house and techno. However, there exists a fine line between the common resuscitation of old music and the discovery of something that might’ve just been ahead of the game at its time of conception.
Record labels are the bricks and mortar of the independent music industry, the foundations upon which artists and scenes flourish and grow. During 2012 there seemed to be a glut of new labels popping up across the board, and though some made strong statements with their initial releases, our list largely acknowledges the imprints who continue to lead the way for others to follow. The people behind our top labels are individuals we – and many others – willingly place our trust in; their curatorial abilities are integral to ensuring they stand tall amidst a sea of samey musical dross.
Surprising, but welcome news from Rush Hour arrives with details emerging of a double LP compilation of early Jorge Velez recordings entitled MMT Tape Series – Home Recordings 1996 – 1999.
Typically for Rush Hour, their recent Elbee Bad retrospective project uncovered more material than they could fit on one compilation – stream the tracks from a forthcoming addendum 12″ here.
Running Back chief Gerd Janson has compiled a compilation of “ambient not ambient” music for Rush Hour, with tracks from Âme, Move D, Tom Trago, Tensnake, Roman Flügel and Motor City Drum Ensemble all set to feature. 
It’s an all Detroit affair on a forthcoming Rush Hour release which sees Andrés and Oliverwho Factory remix tracks from Recloose.
Juno Plus Podcast 47 is an exotic blend of music curios from across the globe, courtesy of ESP Institute regular Young Marco.
Anyone with a firm grasp of the law of averages would understand that in a month where there was far too many good records, a fair proportion also came wrapped in excellent sleeve art.