Having founded a town more than big enough for the both of them, Cowboy Rhythmbox mine a shared love of esoteric popular culture spanning from Dance Mania to eighties video arcades, broken hard drives and obscure TV theme tunes, transforming the luminous debris of their crate digging passions into club music of diverse tempos and musical persuasions.

A twelve-track capsule, this extensive digest of the Cowboys’ roadmap includes proven hits long optioned in the record boxes of a wide range of DJs including Seth Troxler, Lena Wilikens, Dixon and Gerd Janson, with all 5 singles originally issued on vinyl with colour-coded artwork by Will Sweeney.

‘Rattle’ promises to shake down any self-respecting party with hissing, fizzing expertise, stuttering percussion and an ecstatic Greek vocal chant. ‘Mecanique Savage’ confidently hammers out an industrial beat alongside all other available bells, whistles and even the occasional yelp, while ‘Soda Jerk’ explodes with frothy filter house pleasure, like menthol in cola. 'Tanz Exotique’ throws down an equally powerful bassline and expands towards a culmination of all that’s good and granular in the Cowboys’ stable, where Kraftwerkian programming meets Morriconiesque guitars.

Also present and correct is ‘We Got The Box’, the first Cowboy Rhythmbox single on Phantasy, hailing from 2014 and prying open the lid on an equal measure of slower-crawl, haute-tension curiosities, perfect for adventurous selectors attempting to conjure the great tempo reset. Mystery serials for heads-down dancers, the likes of 'Hands Inside The Car' and 'Children Of The Monolith' each ooze with offbeat ideas that extend far beyond mere chug.

Bolstering - and opening - this fine collection is ‘Rock Music (Erol AlkanRework)’, a previously unheard track cut for shapes and purpose by none other than Alkan himself. Originally a demo, left tragically languishing on a hard drive for years, who better than the Cowboys’ foremost ally to hop in the saddle and deliver a worthy addition to this canon of psychedelic dance pleasures?

We need a helping hand 👋

Phantasy are looking for an intern to assist part-time with our social media platforms. We are looking for a young, creative and dynamic person with a strong interest in social media, content creation, fashion and music. Photoshop and copywriting skills are essential. Must be based in London! 

This position is paid.

If you’re interested in gaining experience working with a small but dedicated team and are equally passionate about music, then please reach out. Let us know some details about yourself and send a CV here.

Three years since a debut volume, ‘A Psychedelic Sensibility II: The Remixes’ digs further into the diverse back catalogue of Erol Alkan’s esteemed London label, bringing fresh focus to a collection of transcendent remixes of Phantasy’s key artists, reinterpreted by some of the most iconic and creative names in electronic music.

Download via Bandcamp here

Mirroring A Psychedelic Sensibility’s initial 2020 edition, this expansive sequel has been curated and mixed live by John Loveless, the DJ, producer and writer who has been creatively involved with the label since 2014. The Bandcamp exclusive compilation also features an exclusive new remix of PYTKO 'All Pretty Wishes Of Mine' from John Loveless and his regular production partner Gramrcy, their first release on Phantasy since 2022’s rave hit ‘Highdive’, and a euphoric addition to a mix that plots a course through unexpected and esoteric corners of Phantasy’s history as a proudly independent label.



Stream or download PYTKO 'All Pretty Wishes Of Mine' (Gramrcy & John Loveless Remix) here

Polish songwriter and producer PYTKO first appears remixed by Bullion, whose glorious melancholy pop take on ‘Silent’ opens the curtains on a deep, lower tempo chapter that also features I:Cube’s luxurious take on Future Four’s ‘Connection’, long since a gamer’s favourite having featured in Dixon’s radio playlist for Grand Theft Auto. Mano Le Tough ably squeezes wide-eyed wonder from Erol Alkan’s propulsive ‘Spectrum’, while Tornado Wallace turns TERR’s hopeful harmonies into electro ecstasy with his remix of the Brazilian artist’s ‘Wings of Time’.

Loveless’s live mixing then transfers potential dancers from washing in acid to tripping on electro, as Nicola Cruz’s reimagining of Cromby’s ‘Que Sientes’ places collaborator Tee Amara’s voice in a cybernetic, sensual web, blending with the high camp and high tension of Marlene by Joshua James, dubbed out here by Swiss maestro Deetron. A pioneer of minimal techno, Ricardo Villalobos generates rare hypnosis for his bewitching take on Jay Duncan and Ben Vince’s dissonant In Limbo, while Sharif Laffrey indulges nocturnal ravers with a confidently menacing mix of Cowboy Rhythmbox’s ‘6AM Cowboy’.

Steffi & Virginia translate the spirit of a Panorama Bar closing set to their bumping remix of Josh Caffé’s yearning house burner ‘Do You Want To Take Me Home?’, before Erol Alkan returns to the mix with his equally Chicago-tinted version of Chilly Gonzales’s legendary piano rap, ‘Never Stop’. A different kind of jack unfolds as LH, aka Laurel Halo, unspools Wilted Woman’s Lon Lon Night Vision with typical depth and vision.

Signalling an emotive final stretch, Gramrcy & John Loveless return to PYTKO and switch ‘All Pretty Wishes Of Mine’ from outsider oddness to intense pop techno, as the ultra-versatile AceMo twists Fort Romeau’s hymn to hardcore ‘FWD NRG’ into even stranger rave shapes. The first ever remix under his since prolific Special Request moniker, Paul Woolford’s hardcore reimagining of Daniel Avery’s ‘Taste’ remains an analogue wonder electronic, creeping up the tempo before the heavyweight emotional punch of Denham Audio’s ‘Melodic Mix’ of James Welsh’s blistering ‘Cold Land’.

With a second to catch a breath, ‘A Psychedelic Sensibility II: The Remixes’ concludes at the very beginning with Erol Alkan’s own ‘Transonic’ edit of LA Priest’s Engine. Phantasy Sound’s first-ever single in 2007, its celebratory energy and inherently playful nature serve as the perfect ending to a collection reflecting sixteen years of creativity and experimentation in electronic music.

Tracklist:
PYTKO - Silent (Bullion Remix)
Future Four - Connection (I:Cube Remix)
Erol Alkan - Spectrum (Mano Le Tough Remix)
TERR - Wings of Time (Tornado Wallace Remix)
Cromby - Qué Sientes (Nicola Cruz Remix)
Joshua James - Marlene (Deetron Filter Dub)
Jay Duncan ft. Ben Vince - In Limbo (Ricardo Villalobos Remix)
Cowboy Rhythmbox - 6AM Cowboy (Sharif Laffrey Remix) 
Josh Caffé - Do You Want To Take Me Home? (Steffi & Virginia Remix)
Chilly Gonzales - Never Stop (Erol Alkan Remix)
Wilted Woman - Lon Lon Night Vision (Laurel Halo Remix)
PYTKO - All Pretty Wishes Of Mine (Gramrcy & John Loveless Remix)
Fort Romeau - FWD NRG (AceMo Remix)
Daniel Avery - Taste (Special Request Remix)
James Welsh - Cold Land (Denham Audio Melodic Mix)
LA Priest - Engine (Erol Alkan’s Transonic Re-Edit)

We are proud to introduce ‘Poppa Zesque’, the debut album from Josh Caffé, out now digitally. Taking its name from Caffé’s hedonistic, liberated alter-ego and a distillation of influences from raw Chicago house to sensual RnB, ‘Poppa Zesque’ is an eleven-track exploration of nocturnal pleasure, co-produced with Quinn Whalley of Paranoid London and featuring Al White of Fat White Family.

Stream or download here

Accompanied by a new video for the scintillating lead track, ‘Mania’. Conceived and co-directed by BAFTA-nominated creative Dawn Shadforth (Kylie Minogue’s ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’, HBO’s ‘I Hate Suzy’) working alongside Jay Oliver Green, ‘Mania’ pairs captures Caffe in spectacular motion with dancer Jeanie Crystal, who also serves as choreographer. Shot after several months of intense training by Caffe, ‘Mania’ pays tribute to the the work of influential choreographers such as Paula Abdul and performers like Janet Jackson.




For the already initiated, this might come as something of a surprise. 'Poppa Zesque' follows a temperature-raising run of singles for Phantasy Sound, beginning with sophisticated club filth of ‘According To Jacqueline’, through to the underground house hit ‘Do You Want To Take Me Home?”, and most recently, ‘You’, remixed by Phantasy’s own Erol Alkan and immediately championed by LSDXOXO.

These records, each bolder and more confident than the last, are the result of a breathless ten year trip through the fringes of London’s shifting house and techno continuum. As a DJ, vocalist and activist of British-Ugandan descent, Caffé’s influence has been felt everywhere from institutions such as Dalston Superstore and Adonis to his own Love Child party at Fabric. Collaborating with international icons of dance music and fashion such as Honey Dijon, he has become an even more visible and respected presence in recent years, appearing with frequency at Panorama Bar and commanding the legendary Genosys soundsystem within the hedonistic confines of Glastonbury’s Block 9.

On his debut album, once again in collaboration with Quinn Whalley and featuring additional production from saxophonist and vocalist Alex White of Fat White Family, Caffé offers the most undistilled representation of himself yet. But, in order to embrace Josh Caffé, we too must first spend a night with 'Poppa Zesque'.

“Poppa Zesque is a fictional character, but it’s also me”, explains Caffé of his alter-ego, a hard-partying, hedonism-positive trouble magnate navigating East London’s darkest corners. “It’s like this voodooesque being or entity, what I wish I could have been in my twenties; an extroverted, mythical, into-the-night kind of person.”

“Writing this record was a way for me to step out of a previous version of myself and into sexual liberation, and especially sexual queer liberation”, Caffé elaborates. “I grew up listening to artists like Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown, who were so vocal about sex, especially for the time. I listened to those records to death and they remain an inspiration. With previous singles, I’ve been told they wouldn’t get played on the radio, and that pissed me off. Why can’t I discuss my sexuality?”

'Poppa Zesque' wastes little time in transporting listeners into the dark, fast-beating heart of the dancefloors on which Caffé has often found that liberation. Timeless, Chicago indebted house music offers the appropriate background for his witty vocal play, paying tribute and pushing forward a sound that both he and Whalley have long been obsessed with. Wiithin minutes of opening track ‘Justify My Sex’, as White commands his saxophone to conjure a dissonant, orgasmic accompaniment to the hypnotic 303s and Caffe himself, it becomes clear that ‘Poppa Zesque’ is no standard-issue, throwback acid LP.

Instead, Josh Caffé mines the fluid facets of his sexuality to manifest his own brand of jack. On ‘Meine Leaderjean’s, the role is that of a performatively cheeky hero in denim chaps, a tongue-in-cheek Germanic voice flirting with a parallel vocal that pays tribute to one of Caffé’s major heroes, Prince. In contrast, ‘Do You Wanna Take Me Home?’ flips the dynamic, leaving Caffé pleading sensually for resolution from an unrequited club crush. Despite the confidence Caffé exudes throughout, it was once a typical story.

“This record is based on my experiences developing my sexual confidence and gaining experience”, explains Caffé. “Because I didn’t have a lot of Black queer friends when I was first going out, but also because the queer community can be quite racist in itself, I felt put in a box. I also came out quite late, in my twenties to myself, and then to my family in my thirties. Like most younger gay people, there was a lot of shame to deal with, especially if you grow up in a more conservative environment. And I am lucky enough to have quite an open-minded family, but at the same time, they are quite religious.”

Josh Caffé’s father was a DJ in Uganda, specializing in congolese and funk music. Just as the record collection he grew up alongside bears influence on his work, the echo of the Church is reappropriated throughout. A preacher is juxtaposed over an unwieldy synth on the album’s title track, whereas ‘Sermon’ finds Caffé referencing his lifelong OCD and racing thoughts across the spiritual organ sounds of the belief systems that failed to provide solace.

Caffé himself preaches a different kind of healing. 'Poppa Zesque' is a visceral explosion of high-energy, high-pleasure sensations. On ‘Mania’, the tempo suddenly rises to mimic the breathless, addictive sensation of scrolling through dating and sex apps, looking for the next human-chemical high (“I’m a sexual maniac, give me what I want”.) ‘The Rent Boys Want Their Money Back’, initially redolent of Kraftwerk on poppers, reveals a wistful melody and a tender backstory.

“When I was growing up, I used to hang out a lot in Soho and knew a lot of trans sex workers and gay sex workers”, recalls Josh Caffé. “We used to have just the most fun at clubs like Ghetto and Astoria. One of these guys got found to be doing sex work, and people were bitching about it. It was taboo, but it was so common, I’m surprised I didn’t end up doing it myself.”

“The idea persists that gay sex is ‘dirty’”, underscores Caffé. “But there shouldn’t be any shame about it.”

As a producer, performer and DJ, Josh Caffé effortlessly captures and documents the energy of queer, Black life in London. With the completion of 'Poppa Zesque', he delivers a potent and personal reminder that no pleasure should remain guilty.

Erol Alkan further expands on his production for Duran Duran’s acclaimed 2021 studio album, ‘FUTURE PAST’, with a ceremonious, widescreen rework of the single ‘GIVE IT ALL UP’.

Recorded in London with founding members Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor, as well as Blur's Graham Coxon on guitar, ‘GIVE IT ALL UP’ also features contributions from Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo, whose soaring vocals anchor the dramatic progression of Alkan’s sensitive reinterpretation.

Blossoming in unison with Le Bon’s own iconic voice and an insistent bassline that recalls the band’s innovative ‘Night Versions’, Alkan draws closer together Duran Duran’s legendary instinct for both pop music and the dancefloor alike. Expanding on this, the 12” includes a ‘Stripped Vox’ version which appears exclusive to the vinyl edition, arranged by Alkan for his own DJ sets and proven to be a powerful tool at clubs and festivals over the past few months.

As with Erol Alkan's previous reworking of 'ALL OF YOU' released on Phantasy in 2022, 'GIVE IT ALL UP' is also available in two pressings, a limited-run of 500 blue coloured vinyl exclusive to Rough Trade, as well as classic black vinyl which can be ordered directly from Phantasy, Bandcamp and all good record stores.

Order 12" vinyl here

PYTKO returns to Phantasy following 2022’s debut LP ‘The Way We Blush’ with a new intoxicating new single, ‘Knees’. The Polish-born, South London-based artist continues to develop her distinct blend of deeply personal pop songwriting with experimental electronics, building on the success of singles ‘Save My Day’ and ‘Silent’, remixed by DJ Python and Bullion respectively.

Stream or download here

‘Knees’ captures an atmosphere of yearning with unusual sophistication, layers of ethereal instrumentation providing the foundation for PYTKO’s universal, impossible plea to change the course of unfulfilled desires.

“To begin, at the beginning…”

Phantasy returns to the very start for a new compilation revisiting key releases from the formative years of Erol Alkan’s sonically diverse label. Founded in the wake of the closure of Alkan’s legendary party Trash at the peak of its influence, ‘To Begin At The Beginning: Phantasy Singles 2007-2010’ captures the energy of a decade of partying and creativity evolving into something new. As well as introducing releases from LA Priest, Late Of The Pier, Boys Noize and Babe, Terror this collection features remixes from Four Tet, Soulwax and Erol Alkan himself.

Stream or download here

Alongside this retrospective, we’re pleased to announce a new, limited edition shirt, ‘Est. 2007’, the first drop of Phantasy's 2023 collection. Ethically manufactured, it’s threaded and printed with nothing but good vibrations.

Order t-shirt here

Some exciting news from us at Phantasy...

We are pleased to announce that we are now working with Ochre in order to deliver our music, clothing, prints, merch and more directly to you, in the most cost effective and environmentally conscious way. Ochre is part of the Bleep.com family, who also collaborate with other independent labels and friends such as Heavenly, Rough Trade, Warp, Because, Ninja Tune and XL.

Phantasy and Ochre are committed to making sure all items are packed securely, and avoid using plastics. Together, we want to ensure all ordered items arrive in perfect condition, and with the least possible impact on the environment. In fact, 99.9% of packages leaving Ochre’s warehouse are shipped with 100% recycled packaging.



We can now also offer greater flexibility in how your orders are posted. In moving to Ochre, Phantasy’s customers on our web store and Bandcamp can now take advantage of lower postage and packing prices than before, despite the reported price increases earlier this month. You can select track or untracked Royal Mail delivery for all worldwide deliveries, and UK orders now include a 2 day courier service with DPD. As always, you can save even more when you buy multiple items to be delivered at once.

For our European customers, all taxes are collected at checkout so you do not need to worry about your order being held up at customs.

Following the difficulties around COVID and wider postal delays, we are pleased to be able to offer a normal service again, as well as a dedicated team who can help you with your order via email, in the advent of any issues.

All items in the Phantasy online store can now be purchased using Klarna and Apple Pay, as well as many other localised payment methods.

We have lots of exciting new releases and drops to share soon, and can’t wait to get them into your record collections and wardrobes as quickly and conscientiously as we can.

Erol Alkan & Phantasy Sound Team