Our New In series is back – with a new name: New In The Bag!
After we in the New In editorial team recently focused more on playing and verbally exchanging music with the New In Radio on Radio Blau, which was launched in spring 2025, the classic written review should also have a place with us more regularly again. But now in a streamlined form, with new gimmicks and equipped with monthly playlists on Bandcamp, Spotify and Tidal for listening. Interested in new release input?
Here we go with our review of the best Leipzig releases from December, January and February. What's new in the bag?
Plate of Winter:
Alcohols – “Ttimeshare” (Kann Records)
Even though this album was officially released in December 2025, it deserves our full attention now. There are two reasons for this: Firstly, the vinyl in a plain white sleeve only ended up in the record stores with a slight delay and thus in my shopping bag. On the other hand, it is a very courageous and different release on the Kann Records label founded in Leipzig.
The Alcohole project first appeared with a contribution on the label compilation “Family Horror II” in 2015. And that’s about all the information you can gather about the project. For a while now, Kann and its sublabel Long Vehicle have stood for an (often progressive) house sound that is very modern and always of high quality. This record is somehow different from the series of recent releases. But as with the last album from Innere Türe, Kann now and then ventures into ambient realms.
The music is sometimes reminiscent of 90s/00s electronica à la To Rococo Rot, März or acts from the Morr Music environment. There are guitars that sometimes sound a little off, atmospheric piano chords and voice samples; sometimes a few beat-like sounds. This is not new and anything but fashionable. But that's exactly what makes the difference here. Where other labels rely on security and uniformity, Kann sets an example for more variety in the label catalog. The surprise effect of releasing an album like this in 2026 on exactly this label was a success!
Stbr & Davy – „RM12039“ (RAND Music Recordings)
Four super groovers from Leipzig producers Stbr and Davy. At the end of January, RAND Muzik released an exciting EP from part of the DJ duo Submod (Stbr) and a co-founder and curator of the house event series Creme Club (Davy) Muzik. With strongly bassline-driven (prog) house tracks for the floor with vocoder and synth snippets. Quality as usual on RAND!
Ninze & Niju – „Magic Roads“ (Feines Tier)
Magic ambient and slow house sounds from Ninze. We always enjoyed discussing Ninze on New In Radio, and not just once. We also remember a very nice and organic house record under his alias DJ Balaton. He produced the present album on the Cologne label Feines Tier together with Niju – and it is obviously not the first joint production. “Magic Roads” reveals an ethereal downbeat/ambient/slow house sound with special guests such as Ringo Chamber and Raz Ohara on vocals. Look at the artwork – this is exactly what the music sounds like. With its Time & Space theme, it's also a bit reminiscent of the last release by Sonnenstadt. Fantastic record for fans of these genres.
V.A. – „It’s All About House“ (O*RS)
Special vinyl issue on O*RS – a lovingly produced record for the “It's All About House” event series. Hand-cut vinyl and manually made covers by Florian Seidel. Each plate is unique and the edition is limited to 40 pieces. Musically, we are promised “good tracks, good vibes” and “no bullshit” – and the promise is kept. Luvless, Filburt (with son Lou), RSS Disco and Zacharias all deliver their own definition of house. Classic stuff on a classic label. By the way, it's also available digitally.
Hard Ton & Amy Douglas – „Fill The Hours“ (Riotvan)
90s alert on Riotvan. The “Track Fill The Hours” breathes the spirit of early dance floor tracks from the 1990s. The vocals of New York singer Amy Douglas in particular awaken these associations. At the latest when the metallic piano chords start, the track is absolutely rousing. The arpeggio synths, strings and hit sounds do the rest. Three further remixes made it onto the EP, with the Massimo Pagliara remix in particular being as exciting as expected and a vocal house track being put together from the material.
Discover even more new Leipzig releases?
Source: https://www.frohfroh.de/45628/new-in-the-bag-winter-edition
