While some may know Luke’s 90s-rooted Techno as Blue Hour and the label of the same name, most are unfamiliar with A-JX, who acts as a mysterious figure behind their collaborative ventures. The project began as a vehicle to showcase dance music on the label that deviated away from four-to-the-floor beats in favour of downtempo breakbeat-led rhythms with a dreamy and colourful atmosphere. In a review by Resident Advisor, they described ‘Gaia’s Requiem’ as “the flip-side of the '90s sound Blue Hour has previously explored—the chill-out room's yin to the rave's yang.” It was a welcome left-turn for the label, which started its sonic diversification, exploring new areas with a growing roster of artists, collaborators, and label projects. Since releasing their first EP, the duo has gone on to experiment within a wider range of club music. ‘Kaieteur Falls’ appeared on New York label Air Texture in a compilation curated by Berghain and Ostgut affiliated artists Steffi & Martyn before releasing their second EP ‘Air Lock’ in 2020. This record saw the duo combine Detroit Techno, UK Bass, and IDM with uptempo and cosmic character while maintaining the thread of colourful atmosphere that defined their debut record. As more output from the duo surfaced, it became clear that Tracing Xircles’ ability to transcend and reimagine sub-genres was increasingly part of their sonic identity, bringing a retro-futuristic twist that nods back to electronic dance music history and its many forms. Back with another outing on Blue Hour Music in 2022, ‘Xenolith’ took the duo’s sound further into the ether, but this time in darker and stranger territory. Dense breakbeats and stepping energy with themes of sci-fi and mystery “move with a sense of impending doom” and “feel like a mirror of this increasingly dystopian moment in technological history” according to Niamh O’Connor’s review. Released at a time of uncertainty with events surrounding the pandemic, ‘Xenolith’ synchronised with the current world mood, translating those moments and revealing their impact on how the environment influences their musical concepts and artistic vision. Tracing Xircles are now set to embark on their first release outside of their home on Blue Hour Music with their new EP ‘First Contact’ on Steffi and Virginia’s label and Candy Mountain. Their new record takes the listener on a journey with lighter footing, melding electro-influenced rhythms, melodic percussion, and evocative atmospheres backed by a remix from UK legend dBridge. Celebrating the announcement of their release, the duo will play a rare and extended DJ set at Bassiani’s venue Horoom in Tbilisi, Georgia on 19th May.