What came up and started with an idea of having 4 seasons show became a yearly tradition and now a record label too, if you are a regular listener of Markus Schulz’s weekly radio show Global DJ Broadcast then you already know what it is about.

In his weekly radio show, apart from playing regular 2 hours episode every week, 4 episodes are dedicated to some special events and occasions which Markus describes as 4 season show like The Classics Showcase (Broadcasts in the month of January and dedicated to Trance classics), In Bloom edition(Broadcasts in the month of April and dedicated to nice melodic and progressive tunes), Sunrise Set(Broadcasts in the month of July and dedicated to the tunes which you can easily connect with Sunrise or After Hours) and yes last but not the least After Dark edition (Broadcasts in the month of October and dedicated to deep and dark tunes just around Halloween).

Markus’s record label Coldharbour Recordings is already known for its amazing releases and with this year’s After Dark edition containing very darker tunes, it was the perfect time for Markus to curate a new label and that’s how Coldharbour Black is born.

Born out of Global DJ Broadcast’s Afterdark show, the fourth edition of Markus’ annual winter-wave-in, aired last week. Premiering over the course were three new creations, that today form up as the ‘Afterdark Volume 1 EP’ making the debut of the label.

Markus Schulz & Jam El Mar – The Lotus: The second collective studio spawning (after ‘Hymn Of The Replicant’) from Markus & Jam this year, ‘The Lotus’ hastens ‘Afterdark’s arrival. It dials up the night with a drive-shaft inexorably turned by riding perc loops and open hi-hats. At its drop point there’s a sultry vocal intermission from a highly recognisable singer, before the black lightning of its doubly-Deutsch mainline splits the tree.

Markus Schulz pres. Dakota vs. Arkham Knights – Something About You: Where (you’re asking!) would a Coldharbour Black launch be without a Dakota submission?! Masks donned Markus enters the ring alongside Arkham Knights for ‘Something About You’. The trio pressurise the track with stalking drums and rimshot percussion, compressing moodier-yet frequencies in with its bassy prowl. Ethereally indistinct vocals swirl the waters deeper, before a few shafts of synth light finally release its Olympic-levels of tension.

Arkham Knights & Jam El Mar – Wake Up: linking up with Jam El Mar, Arkham Knights complete ‘Afterdark’s first circuit. The most tech-noir of the pack, ‘Wake Up’ thematically connects Frankfurt with the north of England. Staging industrial FX and mechanized drive against its prominent reverb-heavy percussive rhythms, its mainline surges, recedes, but keeps coming at you, and every time stronger than the last.

Music to lose yourself in, ‘Afterdark Vol 1’ paints the clearest of portraits of the coming sound of Coldharbour Black.

Stream it here: https://coldharbour.choons.at/afterdarkvol1

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