SAM GOKU — Explorations 04

Sam Goku – Explorations 04 arrives on Permanent Vacation as catalogue PERMVAC349-4, a 12-inch vinyl that continues the label’s recent focus on forward-thinking dance music. The fourth entry in the Explorations series brings four new cuts that expand Sam Goku’s evolving blend of disco and italo house, a sound the producer has been shaping across a string of releases on different imprints. Within Permanent Vacation’s 2026 output, Explorations 04 follows a series of EPs and collaborations that have reinforced the label’s reputation for genre-bending club records. Earlier this year the label issued the Permanent Vacation XX EPs (catalogues PERMVAC380-3, -4 and -5) and the DMX Krew 10-inch “Voices Inside My Head” (PERMVAC380-2), while the Fort Romeau / Gold Panda collaboration “El Fantasma / El Espíritu” (PERMVAC368-1) and Rhode & Brown’s “Multitudes” LP (PERMVAC379-1) all arrived before this release. Sam Goku’s own “Explorations 02” (PERMVAC349-2) from 2025 also precedes the new record, establishing a clear line of development for the series. Side A opens with “x-plor13 (nothing blue)”, a track that immediately sets a shimmering, groove-laden tone, inviting DJs to layer it into the early part of a set. It is followed by “x-plor14 (gardens)”, which sustains the momentum while offering a slightly more spacious atmosphere, making the two A-side cuts a complementary pair for building a warm, dancefloor-ready mood. On the flip side, “x-plor15 (second thoughts)” introduces a subtle shift in texture, providing a reflective pause that can work as a bridge between peak moments and cooler sections. The record closes with “x-plor16 (resonants)”, a final statement that reinforces the disco-italo house aesthetic with a resonant quality that can serve as a closing groove or a looping element for late-night mixing. Sam Goku’s recent output includes the Dekmantel 12-inch “BLISS DRIFT” (DKMNTL117, 2026) and the Paryìa release “Yulun” (PARYIA008, 2026), both of which explore similar melodic territories, while the 2022 “East Dimensional Remixes” on ATOMNATION shows a longer-term engagement with experimental club sounds. The Explorations series itself, now at its fourth chapter, marks a consistent thread in the producer’s catalogue, each installment adding a new facet to a personal sound universe that has been described as “profoundly adding something” to dance music’s canon. For DJs, the record offers a versatile toolkit: the A-side tracks are suited to warm-up or peak-time moments, the B-side provides a more introspective vibe that can be used for transitions or deeper set sections. Collectors will appreciate the continuity of the Explorations series and its placement within Permanent Vacation’s bustling 2026 roster, making the release a notable entry in both the label’s and the artist’s discographies. The record is pressed as a 12-inch vinyl, matching the format of the previous Explorations entries and the label’s recent output. Its physical presentation aligns with Permanent Vacation’s consistent aesthetic for 12-inch dance releases. Sam Goku – Explorations 04, Permanent Vacation, catalogue PERMVAC349-4, 12-inch vinyl, four tracks. Tracklist: A1. Sam Goku – x-plor13 (nothing blue) A2. Sam Goku – x-plor14 (gardens) B1. Sam Goku – x-plor15 (second thoughts) B2. Sam Goku – x-plor16 (resonants)