Punctuality Welcomes Ciel & Mathis Ruffing on New Hot Squid EP

Toronto-based producer Ciel has teamed up with Berlin’s Mathis Ruffing for a new five-track EP titled Hot Squid, set for release on February 27 via Punctuality, the imprint run by UK artist Spray. The project also features a remix from Australian DJ and producer Roza Terenzi.

The collaboration has been in development since 2022, with both artists bonding over a shared love of ’90s Detroit techno, golden-era tech house, and early-2000s progressive house. Those influences are woven throughout the EP, which was created between the summer of 2022 and 2024 through a series of studio sessions in Berlin.

The duo’s connection began with a spontaneous jam session in Ruffing’s Berlin studio, which quickly revealed a natural creative chemistry. Over the following years, the pair continued to refine their ideas, resulting in five tracks that blend muscular low-end, shimmering synth work, and groove-forward percussion tailored for late-night dancefloors.

The title track ‘Hot Squid’ leans into dubbed-out textures and metallic percussion, pairing sci-fi atmospheres with syncopated drum patterns and rolling basslines reminiscent of late-’90s UK tech house. Roza Terenzi’s remix reimagines the original as a stripped-back, low-slung roller, placing greater emphasis on the vocal groove and razor-sharp sound design.

Lead single ‘Little Voice’, which is available to stream now, features Ciel’s own vocals layered over glossy synth lines and tightly wound drum programming before giving way to a driving bassline built for peak-time energy. The track offers an early glimpse into the EP’s blend of hypnotic atmospheres and club-focused momentum.

Elsewhere on the record, ‘Late Summer’ explores a more electro-leaning side of tech house, combining woozy low-end with introspective melodies that nod toward classic IDM and Detroit techno influences. Closing track ‘Bong Bong’ introduces a more meditative tone, weaving ASMR-style field recordings and psychedelic textures into a steady, groove-anchored framework.

Reflecting on the project’s origins, Ciel shared that the EP stemmed from an unplanned studio session that revealed unexpected creative alignment between the two producers. Spray, founder of Punctuality, added that the release represents a natural fit for the label, praising both artists’ longstanding contributions to underground dance music and welcoming Roza Terenzi back for remix duties.

‘Hot Squid’ follows previous releases from Ciel on labels such as NAFF, Peach Discs, and !K7, while Mathis Ruffing has released music on International Chrome, Transatlantic, and his own label Infinite Drift.

The full EP arrives February 27, with ‘Little Voice’ available now via Bandcamp and streaming platforms.