Sure Thing Podcast

London & Liverpool duo Dual Monitor join our series with a stunning showcase of their hypnotic and heavyweight sound, a recipe they've all but perfected through releases on SPE:C, Hardline, Rinse and so many more to come. A full-spectrum mixture of their wide ranging influences builds to eye-watering effect, a parallax vision of dynamic rhythms and deepest hues, comprising work from so many label favorites and a hefty dose of unreleased material from the duo. Thanks Fliss & Zebb! @dualmonitor Artwork by Angelina Nikolayeva.

Basel's Timnah joins our series with a long-anticipated recording from last year's inaugural pe:rsona, an intimate gathering from the minds at Positive Education. Over the years Timnah has established a reputation for expansive and visionary selections without equal, lending her voice to the beloved Amentia and A Walking Contradiction collectives and leading audiences into captivating unknowns worldwide. Recorded live in the French countryside at the peak of summer, Timnah's set smolders with delicate tension, lacing outward like tendrils upon shattering glass. An intense, inward-folding moment graciously shared. Thanks Timnah! @timnah-sommerfeldt Artwork by Mei Oele - Boser Tritt.

Contributing our latest episode is London's ANNX, a regular figure within the city's cutting-edge undercurrent whose many contributions include co-curation of the Whomp, Perspectives, and once-shrouded Magick events, and a residency at the beloved Above Below festival. Anna's tireless dedication to the scene goes hand-in-hand with her unmistakable talent behind the decks, as evidenced by an impressive repertoire of mixes and set recordings, and which I was fortunate enough to witness first-hand last summer in the Chilterns. Here Anna demonstrates her well-honed craft over the course of two meticulously plotted hours, diving seamlessly into manifold forms of deep, heavy psychedelia before emerging in a wave of euphoric bliss. Thanks Anna! @annx-anna-whomp Artwork by Angelina Nikolayeva.

Berlin's Refracted has been a name dear to us for some time, having contributed a remix to our inaugural label release nearly six years ago. The Paral·lel co-curator and resident has cultivated a devoted following over the years for his uncompromising vision developed through a remarkable catalog of releases for label such as Silent Season, Bitta, Sublunar and his own Mind Express. For our series Refracted contributes a mix true to his signature style, crystalline and patiently layered with unwavering intent, drawing across decades and genres to invite us into a divine state of mind. Thanks Alex! @refracted-music Artwork by Mei Oele - Boser Tritt.

London's Basic Chanel conjures a liquid mist for the latest entry in our series. Chanel's work documenting the scene through Untitled 909 and her numerous other endeavors - including the Draaimolen podcast and a residency on Refuge Worldwide - will surely be known to many, yet discovering her distinct voice as a DJ and the warm personality behind it all was a revelation even still. Chanel distills her boundless passion for full-spectrum psychedelia into this enchanting mix, which paints verdant and hypnotic hues while maintaining an effortless sense of buoyancy throughout. Thanks Chanel! @basicchanel Artwork by Angelina Nikolayeva.

Utrecht's Vand delivers an elegant mix comprised entirely of unreleased work from the artist and ISOTOOP curator (including several yet-unearthed collaborations with close contemporaries & label favorites) alongside selections from his recently released Trialism EP. Vand's mix envelops as it unfolds, an eidetic, dawn-hued journey of carefully kinetic sound, showcasing a true craftsman in top form and offering a captivating glimpse at the future to come. Thanks Viktor! @vandmusic Artwork by Angelina Nikolayeva.

It's an honor to welcome Amsterdam's Loek Frey to our series, whose meticulous attention to detail and eminent experimentalism command the mind's attention like no other. The OQAD label head and Omen Wapta collaborator invites us to peer delicately beyond the edge, unveiling a hyperintense, subsonic blur through which a primordial palette begins to emerge. I've been looking forward to sharing this episode for quite some time, and to revel in this blend of artistry and precision was truly worth the wait. Thanks Loek! @loekfrey Artwork by Sofia Lambrou.

It's a rare treat to share this recording from two of my favorite powerhouse selectors, Rotterdam's Nelly and Oslo's Marius Bø, who linked behind the decks at Nantes' renowned Macadam last December for a night curated by club resident Bambi. The result, as expected, soars. Witness a three-hour cyclone of blistering, mind-shattering divinations capturing these two in their finest element, an uplifting of the psyche leaving no layer unturned. Thanks Nelly & Marius! @nelly_dj @mariusbo Artwork by Mei Oele - Boser Tritt. Mastered by Loek Frey.

Welcoming Marco Maldarella to the series, the Bologna-based artist whose multidimensional work spans a solo album on Omen Wapta, collaborations with Christian Duka as MARMO, and visual projects for collectives such as Oakland's Endzeit, all close to our heart and tied together by Marco's creative thread. It was a pleasure finally meeting Marco and witnessing his blistering Scene 3 closing at last year's Positive Education Festival, and an honor to share this eagerly awaited episode. Enter the submerged echo of a long remembered dream, fall into the mirage of a mirror image within the mind. Thanks Marco! @marcomaldarella Artwork by Mei Oele - Boser Tritt.

Honored to welcome Morocco-based Karim to our series, dear friend and founder of the beloved Tikita label, who I finally met at Monument Festival in 2022 after watching him open the weekend in beautiful fashion. The path Karim charts through this set mirrors that of his label's truly inspirational and decade-spanning journey, one of prophetic timelessness and stalwart vision revealing a curatorial prowess like no other. Enter a valley of orphic rhythm and embrace this tonic for the body and mind, a rare and long-awaited mix from the artist to cast light upon a new year. Thank you Karim!

 @karimtikita @tikitarec

 Artwork by Artwork by Mei Oele - Boser Tritt.

Our latest mix welcomes TOMO, the Florence-based producer, DJ, and co-founder of the DE RIO label and event series. Agile, softly eroding soundscapes drift alongside prismatic textures unfolding upon themselves, a compelling showcase of the precise, laser-cut sound associated with the artist and a glimpse at the label's unreleased material, a collective fervor for the long-armed reach into the amplified unknown. @tomo_sound @derioflorence Artwork by Mei Oele - Boser Tritt.

London-based and Rinse FM resident Alicia joins the series and offers us a glimpse into the vibrant ecologies of Terra Obscura, the experimental club night she runs alongside fellow series favorite Avsluta. A rare live recording from the multitalented musician, Alicia's set captures a dynamic and thoughtful soul at play, mapping cleverly between moments of shimmering suspension and blanketing bassweight, accumulating pressure with deliberate, veteran intensity. Solid ground, in the spirit of the captured evening, from which to leap into the night beyond. @aliciasteanson Artwork by Mei Oele - Boser Tritt.

MIST008 - Various Artists - Fountain of Reason Release Date: October 29, 2024 (12” & Digital) Buy: https://surethingrec.bandcamp.com/album/fountain-of-reason A1. Vardae - Pahlevan A2. Kick21 - Bright Interface A3. Porter Brook - Three Things You Can Watch Forever B1. Ayū - Light & Reflection B2. Atàvic - Subconscious B3. Tammo Hesselink & DYL - Accent Award B4. Plebeian – Gowanus Sure Thing continues its label excursion into unwound, blurred-edge territory with Fountain of Reason, a 12” compilation of kaleidoscopic, tempo-spanning tracks aimed squarely at the far reaches of the dance floor. Mastered by Neel at Enisslab Artwork by Sofia Hjortberg

Recorded live at Above Below 2024, Chiltern Hills, UK. Earlier this summer I had the pleasure of finally visiting Above Below, a magically warm and inspiring festival tucked intimately within the Chilterns which I had heard so much about over years. What I discovered there was a community that immediately felt like home, a weekend full of moments both immaculately deep & breathlessly exuberant, and a true sense of independence and discovery in the spirit of the festival. Playing in the UK will always be a special honor for me, and I wanted to capture my appreciation for such a pivotal scene while pushing myself in ways that are distinctly my own. This set helped me find more than a few footholds in my own practice and I'm so happy to share the recording, one from a lineup full of friends & inspirations. Hope you enjoy it! @abovebelowfestival Artwork by Malte Schumann.

Alkaanet's Kaisei joins our series with an extended and immersive set, capturing the multifaceted producer's dedication to mind-bending atmospherics while rooted in the deepest shades of contemporary techno, a kaleidoscopic and beautifully paced delight from start to finish. Thanks Kaisei! @kaiseikitada Artwork by Mei Oele - Boser Tritt.

Gadi's gi presents a tapestry of uncontained sound and a truly enchanting contribution to our series. A braided chorus of otherworldly artifacts and the swell of a straining tide form a vessel for the radical disassembly and reimagination of our present reality. Thanks to gi for entrusting us with the core of their singular world. @gistrung Artwork by Mei Oele - Boser Tritt.

Our latest episode welcomes a massive link-up from two French producers currently making waves of seismic proportions, Beatrice M. & Trois-Quarts Taxi System. An hour of ground-shattering bassweight and ear-catching percussive flurries, including plenty of unreleased material from Beatrice's Bait label, captures the pair in their primal element and demonstrates exactly why these two names are seemly on everyone's minds at the moment. Their captivating and technical approach to low-end driven psychedelia puts them each in a category of their own, and together they're a force beyond reckoning. Thanks Eloi and Beatrice! @beatricemasters @troisquartstaxisystem Artwork by Mei Oele - Boser Tritt.

Welcoming Nak to the series, whose repertoire of mixes and recordings makes a strong case for the Naarm-based DJ as a truly standout selector of the moment in any locale. Showcasing her ability to weave tracks—each stunning in their own right —into something truly celestial, Nak's set is boldly psychdelic, a constellation of rhythms that stretch and simmer, held together by a gravitational warmth and felt in every inch of the body. Thank you Isabel! @isabel-nak Artwork by Mei Oele - Boser Tritt.

Staccato, evaporating textures and rippling tendrils course through this set from Seoul-based K.O.P. 32, comprised entirely of unreleased productions and live improvisations from the Beyond the Bridge label head. Channeling the producer's tremendous body of released work and offering rare insight into his ever-evolving practice of subconscious exploration, this one commands an undivided attention and rewards in equal measure as it meticulously picks apart the layers of the mind. @pyramidofknowledge Artwork by Mei Oele - Boser Tritt.

It's such a privilege to welcome one of my favorite producers to the series, Amsterdam's Human Space Machine, whose brilliant productions are a constant source of inspiration and a presence in so many of my favorite dancefloor memories. The De Lichting affiliate shares an hour of pure magnetism, surging beyond the clouds and rendering a steady build of atmospheric pressure. A stunning cartography of storm and thunder. Thanks Mike! @humanspacemachine Artwork by Sofia Lambrou.

MIST007 - Various Artists - Well of Sand Release Date: October 23, 2023 (12" & Digital) Buy: surethingrec.bandcamp.com/album/well-of-sand A1 Command D – Half Blue (Violet Mix) A2 DYL – PJ2 A3 Beats Unlimited – Burn Your Theremin B1 Foreign Material – The Living Planet B2 Tammo Hesselink - Petse B3 Third Space – Push (Part 2) Sure Thing presents Well of Sand, its second compilation. Six tracks from label friends and favorites, each new to the roster and offering bold, untempered explorations of tempo and weight, a concise yet expansive collection recalling the deliberate cadence of rippling sand and the sheen of shimmering oases. Mastered by Neel at Enisslab Artwork by Sofia Hjortberg Additional design by Nathaniel Young

So excited to welcome BLNDR to the series, a long-awaited delight after observing the French producer develop his magnetic and kaleidoscopic sound over the years. BLNDR's mix is glimmering and atmospheric, reflective of the patient and meticulous nature inhabiting his work as both BLNDR and his more-recent Traevor alias. Voiced in a heartfelt tone and assembled with a poet's touch, this set is a soft yet spry landing to an intense season, breathing a new air, fluttering to a new rhythm, earnest to the very end. I enjoyed this one immensely and I hope you will too. Thanks Tom! @blndr Artwork by Sofia Lambrou.

Honored to welcome UK-based Caldera to the series, a talented and multi-dimensional producer affiliated with several of our favorite labels along with his Well Street-associated Loop LF alias. Caldera's mix is volcanic, true to form, simmering and vaporous in its first half before igniting in thunderous bloom in the second. From headiness and haze to full-blown percussive workouts, an unparalleled sense of rhythm lies at its core, seismic in its swell. Thank you Caldera! @caldera-caldera Artwork by Angelina Nikolayeva.

Our latest mix is a remarkable live set from The Hague-based producer Harald Uunk, who guides us through an exploration of the psyche from which we emerge anew. Harald calls upon self-made instruments, field recordings, and experimentation with hardware and software to reach the furthest limits of his sonic vision, and what we discover there is breathtaking. An immediate and compelling sense of urgency finds itself fractured, recomposed, and through the fragments we glimpse the primordial. I've been eager to hear more of Harald's work for quite some time, so the opportunity to share this set for the series feels truly special. Enjoy the journey, and thank you Harald! @haralduunk Artwork by Angelina Nikolayeva.

MIST006 - Various Artists - My Own Mirror To Stay Release Date: March 6, 2023 (12" & Digital) Buy: https://surethingrec.bandcamp.com/album/my-own-mirror-to-stay A1 Lukas Urban - A Glass of Empty Rooms A2 Soreab - The Boy And The Beast A3 Sanguine - Fake Leaves B1 McGregor - Clean Lines B2 ENA - Arkadia Blue B3 Will Alfred - Pattern Static With its first label compilation, "My Own Mirror To Stay," Sure Thing invites six new voices into the fold. Each provides an acutely personal reflection of the dance floor suspended in a singular crystalline moment, from wide-eyed to weightless, together seeking new horizons inward and out. Mastered by Neel at Enisslab Artwork by Nicola Tirabasso Additional design by Nathaniel Young

With purest delight, I'm so excited to welcome Pjenné of Passing Notes Radio & Companion (@companionmelb) for the latest episode in our series. Penny's curatorial expertise and long-standing dedication to the Naarm/Melbourne scene have established her as a pillar of the city's sonic landscape, and both her love of musical discovery and unmistakable influence are felt deeply from afar. Pjenné's mix is a enchanting trip through fields of wonder, equal parts honey and gossamer, moving and blissfully sublime. Tender hues paint the air while fervent warmth fills the aching heart. There are few selectors out there with a repertoire as consistently profound as Penny's, and yet one feels we've barely scratched the surface of what's to come. Thank you Penny! @pjenne Ikebana by Katherine Frazer www.katherinefrazer.com

Clear as spring water, the memory of Shoal's beautiful live set echoing through the Norwegian mountains, finally sharing the stage together at Monument (@monument-podcast) after meeting in Amsterdam several years ago. Those familiar with our dear friends at Harmony Rec (@harmony-rec) will be undoubtedly familiar with Kenny's impeccable body of work, and for the rest an eye-opening treat awaits. Here, Kenny gathers highlights from his recent live sets and newly recorded material, arranged and refined into a perfect contemplation of the crisp arboreal air, a vivid composition of body and sound entwined tightly beneath the earth. Thanks Kenny! @shoall Artwork by Angelina Nikolayeva.

From Naarm's Zara, a seismic dawn to the new year. Halftime rhythms tremble, atmospheres kiss the wind, valleys of unbridled emotion nestle in-between. A colossal mix of sincere gravity, cleaving a path forward, brimming with new light. Thanks Zara! @zaraolsen @kinesis-recordings Artwork by Angelina Nikolayeva.

Our final mix of the year welcomes Ute.Rec co-founder Marius Bø, whom I had the distinct pleasure of meeting in the Norwegian mountains this summer. Comprised entirely of unreleased material from the collective, Marius' composition is slow-burning alchemy, pure oneiric fire, unforgettable from first spark. "Space does not exist," instructs Louise Bourgeois, "it is just a metaphor for the structure of our existence." Listening, we dissolve, recalling the somatic wisdom of those who would sculpt the physical to capture the invisible. @mariusbo @ute-rec Artwork by Kenny Kneefel.

An encounter with a wayward dragonfly formed the memory upon which London's Amphybian (fka Harry) stitches this exploration of flight and form. Reliving the scene in its microscopic splendor, we find ourselves wandering along the living, breathing riverbed, set free amidst the realm of the naiad. Our ears attuned, we hear a divine flutter, discern the whisper of a living dream. @amphybian Artwork by Taylor Trostle.

With studied and meticulous elegance, Sa Pa summons a Dionysean tempest, a writ to harness the coming storm. It's humbling to share this and more so to listen, a fervent tour de force recorded live at Paral·lel Festival, a call to convergence under the boundless Catalonian sky. @absurdlustre @parallelfestival Artwork by Taylor Trostle.

We ease into a new season with Conna Haraway, co-founder of the immaculate INDEX:Records & Appendix.files catalogues. 

Recorded in Glasgow alongside mutual favorite Perila, Conna's contribution astounds, filling the air with skin-soft static, awash with the flush of tender rebellion. @connaharaway @indexrecords @appendixfiles Artwork by Taylor Trostle.

A serene and narrative vision from Georgia's HVL, key Bassiani resident and celebrated producer whose remarkable output is a universe unto itself. Both eloquent and understated, HVL re-frames the present in a parallax moment, a vast trembling stasis, one scene falling upon the next like settling snow. @hvl Artwork by Taylor Trostle.

An entropic and otherworldly episode from Taiwanese and London-based sound artist Jin [靜], whose contribution draws parallels between classic, exploratory electronica and modern hyper-sensory techno. Gathering like a humble storm, Jin's mix is compounding and ravenous in its accumulation of material energy, a distillation of sonic pressure, a volatile crush to the senses. @jinsynth Artwork by Taylor Trostle.

MIST005 - Polygonia - Bloom (inc. Forest Drive West Remix) Release Date: March 8, 2022 (12" & Digital) Buy: https://surethingrec.bandcamp.com/album/bloom A1. Dreaming Trees A2. Bloom B1. Coleus B2. Dreaming Trees (Forest Drive West Remix) Polygonia's deftly enchanting "Bloom" EP unravels with the melancholic blur of a waking dream. Conjuring the vivid echoes of a phantom forest, fluttering atmospheres swirl amidst shimmering voices as they compel the mind to wander. A remix from Forest Drive West deepens the spell, stretching the punctate rhythm of "Dreaming Trees" into a siren's call, a beguiling echo rippling beneath the flow of time. Written and produced by Polygonia. Remix by Forest Drive West. Mastered by Neel at Enisslab. Artwork by Sofia Hjortberg.

In collaboration with our friends at Mostra (@mostrabcn), our latest mix highlights a personal favorite from the upcoming festival's roster. New York's Vicki Siolos (@vickisiolos) is an eminently thoughtful curator whose mindfulness shines through in her deliberate, insightful track selections and the programming of her Bright Patterns show on The Lot Radio. In fact Vicki and I have been discussing this particular contribution for over two years now, and through that conversation it became clear how deeply Vicki's artistic expression ties into her lived experiences and the process of meaningful reflection. Vicki's timely contribution speaks volumes and simple truths: a gasp, an ache, a salve. Vicki will be joining Patrick Russell & Ulla from the US at the first edition of Mostra, a new small-format festival taking place April 11-17 in Barcelona. The lineup hosts more than a few friends & favorites of the label, and the festival promises an experience that is local, inclusive, and sustainable. More here: www.mostra.barcelona/eng Artwork by Taylor Trostle.

A luminescent vision from London's o.utlier, whose meticulous and uncommon approach sets the stage for a new year of discovery. A sanguine moment recorded live among friends in Scotland, a scrying of shrouded futures, a promise cast beneath a clairvoyant sky. @o-utlier Artwork by Taylor Trostle.

I'm elated to welcome Hamburg's Space Drum Meditation to the series, whose gorgeous productions channel intricate, percussive techno while drawing cues from hazy, left-field psychedelia. Glowing at the edges, this thunderous and fiercely effective set from the duo occupies spirited territory and moves at steady pace, daring the sun to rise, compelling our bodies to flutter. @spacedrummeditation Artwork by Taylor Trostle.

Hyperreal sonic hallucinations and unsettled rhythmic pulsations from Vector Trancer, the talented producer and @mirrorzone affiliate who carries us across the threshold with this breathtaking hour of jagged, unbridled intensity. Stretching the observable world beyond its limits, a plasmic burn straight to the edge. More from Vector Trancer: @vectortrancer_aasudd Artwork by Taylor Trostle.

MIST004 - Archivist - Psion (w/ Claudio PRC Remixes) Release date: October 26, 2021 (12" & Digital) Buy: surethingrec.bandcamp.com/album/psion A1. Psion A2. Psion (Claudio PRC Remix) B1. Stone Eater B2. Stone Eater (Claudio PRC Remix) Sure Thing welcomes two new additions to the label with a long-distance collaboration between Seattle's Archivist and Berlin's Claudio PRC. Two original productions from Archivist recall dense, billowing fog and the gentle shimmer of waves, each re-imagined through Claudio PRC's exacting lens into novel forms that spiral with steady, monolithic intent. Brought together, an expansive double vision, an exploration of the compelling nature of movement and air each within the other. Written and produced by Archivist. Remixes by Claudio PRC. Mastered by Neel at Enisslab. Artwork by Sofia Hjortberg.

I'm thrilled to welcome Milo Bragg to the series, expert curator and founder of the Future Primitive label and Club Rooted mix series. We connected over a shared love of music occupying the space between genres and adjacent to the dance floor, and of tracing the paths these sounds have taken over the years. True to form, Milo's contribution is a lesson in atmospheric refinement, a spacious selection taking its cues from far corners and uncommon hours, at times paring to a single thread yet holding taut until its final note. It's a pleasure to share this one, elegant and elusive all at once. Thanks Milo! Tracklist: Klaus - Cry Tuff (Tanum) Valentino Mora - Membrane (Spazio Disponibile) Forest Drive West - Time (on 33RPM) (Whities) Forest Drive West w/ Percussion by Lucky Pereira - Scorpion (Livity Sound) natural/electronic.system. - Libeccio (Tikita) Biosphere - Birds Fly By Flapping Their Wings (v2) (Biophon Records) Black Merlin - MIEA (Bitta) Panasonic - Untitled (Zoviet France remix) (Sähkö Recordings) Terrence Dixon - Minimalism II (B1) (Background) Thomas Brinkmann - Olga 2 (Ernst) Closer Musik ‎– One Two Three (No Gravity) (Kompakt) Steve O'Sullivan - Rubber Lover (Bluespirit) Flexible - Emphasize (Offshoot) More from Milo: @clubrooted @future-primitive-records Artwork by Taylor Trostle.

People who dedicate themselves fully to creating transcendent experiences for their audiences are a rarity, and Van Anh is no exception. Our friends acquainted with the Netherlands' thriving ambient & techno scene will undoubtedly be familiar with Van Anh and her ISOTOOP collective, who together have built events ranging from 12-hour overnight ambient excursions to 'Under the Desert Stars,' a one-off festival in the Moroccan desert. For those of us dreaming of her events from afar, the expert curator shares this dive through her record collection, and in it I hear that boundless creative spirit, the simmering anticipation, the drive to create memories that connect us for a lifetime. @vananh @isotoop Artwork by Taylor Trostle.

We're tumbling in and out of the haze again, swept up in an afterimage blur. Lying on the grass & breathing against the sky. I'm so happy to welcome Mallorca's @nueen (INDEX:Records, Good Morning Tapes) to the series, who channels the charged coastal air into a gorgeous sunset transmission I could stay and watch forever. Tracklist forthcoming. Artwork by Taylor Trostle.

A space to fall into again and again. A start that feels like an ending and an end that feels like a beginning. A wistful recollection of our motions, an invitation to share ourselves as we have before. A dawn letter written in a shade between sky and stars, echoing gently and begging to be whispered aloud. From Sweden's @martinou3000 (Sewer Sender, UntilMyHeartStops, AD 93, Appian, Cong Burn), a perfect cadence. Thank you! Artwork by Taylor Trostle.

I've been a huge fan of Bas Dobbelaer's concise but immaculate record of releases on AD 93, Appian, On Board Music, and his superb collaborations with Vand for Something Happening Somewhere, and I'm excited to welcome the Amsterdam-based artist to the podcast. The subtle rhythm and gentle beauty in Bas' music captures perfectly the spirit of what I'd like to hear when I'm back on the dance floor, yet accompanies a quiet moment just as well. Here Bas layers curtains of low morphing frequencies, cycling syncopation, and glacial tension, constantly skirting the edges of harmonic perception in a brilliant expansion of his own sonic palette. This particular mix has been a long time coming but it was certainly worth the wait, and has me looking forward to the days ahead. Thanks Bas! @bas-dobbelaer Artwork by Alyce Currier.

MIST003 - Atoloi - Inflorescenze Release date: March 23, 2021 (12" Vinyl / Digital) Pre-order: https://surethingrec.bandcamp.com/album/inflorescenze 1. Fioritura 2. Felce 3. Umida Superficie 4. Forma e Cammino 5. Sulle Sensazioni 6. Chiusura 7. Soffusa (Diurna) 8. Richiamo (Notturna) 9. Il Da Farsi (Tracks 7-9: Digital Side) Sure Thing’s third release, Inflorescenze, comes from Milano-based artist Atoloi. He’s offered the label a meditative work that reflects upon the tension that arises from polarity: nature and the city-bound sphere of clubbing, weight and levity, the internal world of the artist and his external environment. Inflorescenze moves like a living, breathing organism, or like one undifferentiated process: a circuit with no end and no beginning. The sequence of the tracks—and the arrangements themselves—suggest a logical flow: mood and texture gradually intensify through a process of natural unfolding and flourishing. The ambient “Fioritura”—a space-setting arrangement replete with buzzing drone and subdued melody—prepares the mind for what’s to come. “Felce,” then, ushers in a journey of rhythm. It begins simple enough: a hand drum over reverberating synth that lingers in the backdrop like mist. Another rhythm, and another, enters, leading only to a deeper hypnosis. These polyrhythms touch the primordial mind. “Umida Superficie” and “Forma e Cammino” only add potency to the rhythmic environment. Even tracks for the club sphere aren’t disconnected from the work’s conceptual purview; they remain situated within it, catalyzing the deepest state of immersion yet. As the release slows and re-enters the ambient sphere with the spacious, ethereal “Sulle Sensazioni” and the chiming bells of “Chiusura,” we sense we’ve reached the final stretch. Undoubtedly, though, Atoloi’s world will resonate long after we’ve left it. Written and Produced by Matteo Ghiringhelli. Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri at Black Knoll Studio. Artwork by Sofia Hjortberg.

Naarm/Melbourne’s Lily Dalton caught my ear with an impressive series of mixes for @city-bleus and @chomleychomley among others, and I’m so glad to welcome her as she prepares to launch her upcoming label @irregularforms. Lily’s mix is infectious and brilliantly paced, all while highlighting a solid dose of Australian music, and it’s clear she’ll soon enough be bringing entire crowds to their knees. This one sounds like a rush to the front, a shared inhale, a collective dream of dancing beneath a florescent sky. @lilydalton

Next on the podcast is this full-field wonder from Naarm/Melbourne's Citizen Maze, member of the beloved Analogue Attic family and curator of the Mirror Tapes series. This set is a boundless horizon, a mix overflowing with so much pure, radiant feeling that you'll swear it was twice as long. Its density is staggering, yet moments of gentle and poetic bliss coalesce like visions in the fog. As melody burns into afterimage and heartbeat becomes rhythm, our senses give in completely. Enjoy this one, and thanks Citizen Maze! @citizenmaze @mirrortapes Artwork by Alyce Currier.

A new season begins with a warm welcome to Joachim Spieth, founder of the Affin label. A true veteran of the scene, Joachim's first release dates back 1999 via Kompakt, and his own label narrates an impressive and storied history from 2007 onward. Recent years have seen quite the community grow around Affin's beloved output of ambient and techno, including recent stellar works from Einox and Toki Fuko, and last month's beautiful "Ousia" LP from Joachim himself. This mix is blanketed by a calm, snow-bound serenity yet its nature is far from laid-back. As ethereal as it is energetic, this mix drives forth the clarity of Joachim's vision — a brisk inhale of the coming storm, an idyllic wind lifting us into the gale. Thanks Joachim! @joachim-spieth @Affin Artwork by Danielle Kaidanow.

One last mix to end the year. When Svreca sent me this set, he could not have known what it would mean to me. I have spent so much time looking back lately, reliving old discussions and re-imagining moments passed, often lamenting how much was lost along the way. In just under three hours this mix communicates the flow of years. An archived recording from a special memory, it reminds me that the passage of time is beautiful even in what it fades away. Listening to it, I become lost completely, as though I am everywhere at once. Thank you to everyone who listened this year, who sent warm messages and left comments, who supported us and kept us feeling connected. Thank you to the artists who continue to give their time and trust to the podcast and label, and keep us moving forward. Finally, thank you Svreca for this gift and for being an inspiration from the very beginning. We're all here listening. Let's dive in. @semantica-records Artwork by Clara Cortes.

Many of you will need no introduction to the music of Primal Code, the Italian duo who have conjured up a storm of stunning releases on labels such as Hypnus, The Gods Planet, and Konstrukt in relatively short order. We first connected over their gorgeous, then-unreleased track "Morgana," and since then it's been a pleasure watching them develop their natural and introspective sound, each release as polished and inspiring as the last. I'm so happy to welcome them to the podcast and what they've sent is pure delight, an emerald evocation of sun-pierced woods and the clearing of the morning mist. Enjoy! @primalcodemusic Photography by Angelina Nikolayeva.