Ransom Note

Ransom Note

Ransom Note is an online music, arts and culture magazine. We provide a home for readers and writers with boundless enthusiasm, esoteric knowledge, fierce opinions and impeccable taste. With our core team immersed in all aspects of dance music, we publish news, articles, and interviews covering the greatest in innovative, underground culture from across the globe. We offer regular, exclusive music and mixtapes from our favourite artists, and publish features shining a light on everything from the freshest new artists to the untold tales from rave history. Alongside this we offer musings on film, books, life, and art, generating some context and controversy as an antidote to the reheated PR that clogs up the internet. Our office is fuelled by Tunnock’s Bars, cat memes, hangovers and a ridiculous, never ending love for our culture. We're always interested in getting new writers on board – feel free to get in touch if you’ve got a story to tell. With love until the grave.

  • 1 hour 25 minutes
    Double Body - The 'Alternate Currents' Ransom Note Mix
    We recently released the most excellent debut EP from the mysterious Double Body. Four scuzzy, Lo-Fi dance floor destroyers that brim with hypnotic patterns and mesmerising, looped samples. Even though they won't tell us their real identity, we thought we'd see what a mix from them would sound like... from early Photek that sounds "like an abandoned factory on Mars" which gives you a sense of the vibe the mix reflects their approach: a bit of an outsider, but definitely still plugged right into the world of the electronic. https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/double-body-the-alternate-currents-ransom-note-mix/
    10 December 2024, 12:00 am
  • 49 minutes 33 seconds
    Seeds Mix #1: A Walk In The Woods With Woo
    Organic exploration with our first Music To Watch Seeds Grow By signings… Some musical journeys begin with a whisper, a gentle rustling of leaves, and a breath of sound. For brothers Clive and Mark, aka the legendary Woo, this journey has been unfolding since the 1970s through a four-decad long sonic odyssey of discovery… Their latest output on our very own Music To Watch Seeds Grow By imprint is an ode to Sweet Peas. One of a series of five unreleased albums from their archives, it’s a thoughtfully curated collection of ambient, minimalist, and new-age soundscapes designed to be the perfect soundtrack for moments of sowing these seeds, which accompany every release in quiet reflection. “To our surprise and delight, Sweet Peas can be planted in the autumn and they’ll blossom in the coming spring” notes Clive. To accompany this creation, they’ve created “A Walk in the Woods with Woo” mixtape, where Stevie Wonder’s forest-infused melodies dance with Marlene Dietrich’s vocals and Schubert’s transcendent strings paint aural woodland landscapes. Each track is a seed, carefully planted, slowly unfurling its own unique narrative. It’s a meditation on growth, on patience, on the delicate art of nurturing something beautiful from the smallest of beginnings. FULL INTERVIEW HERE: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/seeds-mix-1-a-walk-in-the-woods-with-woo/
    8 December 2024, 12:00 am
  • 6 minutes 48 seconds
    PREMIERE: BùLù - Silicon-Shepherd (E-Talking Remix) [Nummer Music]
    The clouds were scattered, a delicate array of colours illuminated in pinks and blues from the late evening haze. The sun was setting in the distance casting strange shapes and shadows on the land below. At times it was hard to assess where the sky began and the fields ended, for they met somewhere in the middle in a myriad of shades. Who knew what sort of god might live above their hollow might. Up in the heavens there had to be some sort of shepherd which watched over them all. For if there wasn't, what else was there? Nummer Music are set to reissue material from Paul Mahoux’s seminal BùLù project. The release comes with new remixes which reimagine the ethereal, dream like states of the original and rework them with prowess for discerning dancefloors and clubs.
    4 December 2024, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 28 minutes
    Sarahtonin - The 'Shine A Light On' Ransom Note Mix
    Do!! You!!! radio host and selector steps up for a round of Ransom The great Sarahtonin is a selector who’s not one to fit into boxes. Less about genre boundaries and more about pure, unadulterated feeling – crafting sets that are part emo-odyssey, part dance floor magic built of rare disco through to techno Sarah’s is one for the journey… Her Do!! You!!! radio show has already garnered her a cult following, with listeners all over the world. Whether she’s lighting up the sweaty confines of Corsica Studios, festival stages like Gala, or curating mixes Sarah brings an infectious energy that’s impossible to ignore. Buckle up, and let Sarah be your guide. “Take off all your clothes… I feel the beat… come and dance with me…” FULL INTERVIEW: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/sarahtonin-the-shine-a-light-on-mix/ @sarahtonindj
    1 December 2024, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 24 minutes
    Wes Baggeley - The 'Alternate Currents' Ransom Note Mix
    For those who've been paying attention, Wes Baggaley isn't just another DJ—he's a selector who has meticulously explored the underground electronic landscape across Europe for many years. From the hallowed decks of Panoramabar to Frankfurt’s seminal Robert Johnson and in the sweaty depths of Glastonbury's NYC Downlow, Baggaley has cultivated a reputation as a vinyl obsessive who treats records like a primary language. He's not one to pull punches either; in real life and on his Instagram, he offers a refreshing take on the absurdity of the state of the music world—from lamenting the current popularity of "garbage pop remixes" masquerading as "cool" and "underground," to poking fun at the disconnect between an artist's public persona and the commercial realities behind the 'scene'...there's definitely a reason Dave Clarke's FUSE is his favourite mix! Drawing from a deep well of experience—eight years on Rinse FM and residencies that span from London's Dalston Superstore at the most excellent queer house music party Bottom Heavy to the world's most revered underground spaces—Baggaley delivers a journey that's both intense and unpredictable. This mix captures the restless spirit of someone who refuses to be confined by genre boundaries. Dark ambient textures collide with driving techno, industrial edges spark against electro. It's a mix that reflects Baggaley's current Narr Radio remit, and it certainly refuses to sit still... FULL INTERVIEW HERE: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/wes-baggaley-the-alternate-currents-ransom-note-mix/ Follow here: @wes-baggaley
    25 November 2024, 12:00 am
  • 6 minutes 19 seconds
    PREMIERE: Woo - Earth Angels [Music To Watch Seeds Grow By]
    “Like nature, our approach has always been quite random,” Renowned duo Woo on Music To Watch Seeds Grow By There once was a Woo on a musical spree, Who sang to Earth Angels beneath a tall tree. With tunes of delight, they made seedlings grow, Their “Music To Watch Seeds Grow By” did glow! The Woo danced a jig with a cucumber cane, While the Earth Angels hummed a melodious refrain. “Seeds sprout in time!” they chirped in their glee, And the Woo clapped along, as happy as can be. So now when you hear that harmonious tune, Think of the Woo and a sunny afternoon. For Earth Angels and melodies make gardens thrive, And nonsense like this keeps the whole world alive! A thoughtfully curated collection of ambient, minimalist, and new-age soundscapes designed to be the perfect soundtrack for moments of sowing these seeds, which accompany every release in quiet reflection. Composed by the renowned duo Woo—Mark and Clive Ives — this is one of a series of five unreleased albums from their archives. The release combines soothing tones from clarinet, guitars, percussion, and electronic elements, creating the perfect soundtrack for gardeners and music lovers alike. Featuring tracks like “Golden Hours” and “Earth Angels,” this album is an ode to the slow, rewarding process of growth and new beginnings. https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premieres/premiere-woo-earth-angels-music-to-watch-seeds-grow-by/
    21 November 2024, 12:00 am
  • 58 minutes 46 seconds
    In Flagranti - The 'Altered Currents' Ransom Note Mix
    Marking a quarter-century of, Swiss duo In Flagranti present a mix steeped in their patchwork aesthetic, stitching together threads of 70s disco, 80s post-punk, and 90s US house. Full interview here; https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/in-flagranti-the-altered-currents-ransom-note-mix/
    20 November 2024, 12:00 am
  • 6 minutes 34 seconds
    PREMIERE: Capes & Adult Hits Feat. Dick Ensalada - Rush [Human Endeavour Records]
    LA-based artists and Sensory Signal co-founder Capes and Adult Hits join forces for the tenth release on Ransom Note offshoot Human Endeavour Records. Mirroring the sonics that the pair champion at their parties, ‘Stellar Bodies’ explores visceral acid, electro and breakbeats that stimulate the mind, body and soul. The release launches with single ‘Rush’, a collaboration with fellow Los Angeles artist and vocalist Dick Ensalada. His gruff, raunchy vocals marry perfectly with a driving bassline and squelchy acid to create a pumping acid house track built for sweaty dance floors. The following three tracks journey across the electro spectrum. ‘Move Your Body’ is powered by plenty of low end, crisp breaks and robotic vocal samples, while title track ‘Stellar Bodies’ lets a haunting synth and bubbling 303 take centre-stage, before ‘Four’ brings the EP to a high octane close with stomping breakbeats and dark, moody pads that swallow you whole. Read More: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/premieres/premiere-capes-adult-hits-feat-dick-ensalada-rush/
    18 November 2024, 12:00 am
  • 44 minutes 37 seconds
    Mystery Tiime's 'New Wave' Ransom Note Mix
    A New Wave mix from jungle pioneer, hip-hop cult figure and dancefloor alchemist, Ayman Rostom aka @maghreban Doctor Zygote and Strange U. under his new alias Mystery Tiime... With latest album, 'Maudlin Tales of Grief and Love, ' he examines lo-fi dance, post-punk, and new wave. With all that hyperbole in mind we asked him to put together a New Wave mix, recorded with the same spirit of experimentation for the album... https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/mystery-tiimes-new-wave-ransom-note-mix/
    12 November 2024, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 13 minutes
    YANA - The Monday Is OK Mixtape
    This week’s Monday Is OK mixtape is an immersive experience into the world of YANA, the alias of Polish composer and multi-instrumentalist Joanna Bieńkowska. YANA’s latest album, Daydreamer, released on Ólafur Arnalds’s OPIA label, continues her journey into emotional landscapes shaped by lush string arrangements and atmospheric electronic textures. A graduate of the Academy of Music in Gdańsk, YANA’s music blends classical training with a flair for modern, ambient soundscapes. For YANA, music creation is almost a ritual—an intense, organised practice. “Constant work is a kind of ritual for me. It strengthens me and organises my life,” she reflects.  Daydreamer’s journey flows from darkness to light, mirroring the human experience. Interview here: https://www.theransomnote.com/music/mixes/yana-the-monday-is-ok-mix/ TRACKLISTING Keaton Henson - Dorma 3:42 The Smile - Open The Floodgates 4:29 So You Are Tired - Sufjan Stevens 4:50 Vega Trails - Love Your Grace 2:32 Thom Yorke - Knife Edge 3:20 Nonkeen - that love 7:46 The Hum II - The Vernon Spring 2:05 Colin Stetson - Rain Song 3:01 Yana - Tender 4:22 Sofi Paez - Everywhere 3:53 Valentin Hadjadj - Closer from „Close” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 4:13 Claude Debussy, Alain Planes, Reverie, L. 68 3:53 Jean Kapsa - Dernière Fete 3:08 Yana - All Alone 2:08 Chilly Gonzales, Jarvis Cocker - The Tearjerker Returns 3:33 Robot Koch, Viktor Orri Arnason, Foam and Sand - Star as Eyes - Foam and Sound Rework 4:00 Jóhann Jóhannsson, Jonas Colstrup - Be Forgotten 1:36 Ólafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm - Life Story 5:41 Jóhann Jóhannsson - Flight from the city 6:31 @olafur-arnalds
    10 November 2024, 12:00 am
  • 5 minutes 55 seconds
    PREMIERE: Auntie Flo - Aker The Lion God (Club Mix)
    "Think Pachanga Boys’ Time…but with soul." The register chimed loudly. He glanced up at the queue of customers steadily gathering and took a deep breath. It was going to be a long hot day. The shop was small and crowded, outside in the street it was scorching, the block was on fire in the midst of the summer and everyone and everything was looking for relief. He would be their answer… He wasn’t sure how it had come to be this way, that he was the one to serve. Yet here he was… From time to time he’d have to check himself, check anything, check something. Then the chime would ring out again… The made ace, insanely brilliant Brian d’Souza aka Auntie Flo, releases ‘Aker The Lion God’ on 31st October, a precursor to his upcoming album ‘In My Dreams (I’m A Bird and I’m Free)’, out on 21 November.  PRE-SAVE ALBUM ~ Inspired by field recordings from New Zealand and Brazil, the environmental sounds of a conch shell and a bassline influenced by Charanjit Singh’s proto-acid house work is worked into some altogether more ethereal.
    29 October 2024, 12:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App
© MoonFM 2024. All rights reserved.