Top 100 Chart placements for Electronica
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Fellow Rome techno figurehead Adiel debuts on Spazio Disponibile with some heavy heavy low frequency cuts. Exploring bass weight in multiple tempos, its one of the most experimental releases on the label to date, still the main focus here is making dancefloors move. With Bristol icon Pinch contributing to the mix its made sure these steppers are soundsystem proof and will wiggle both mind and body.
NS/NC is a collection of tracks produced at high tempos, exploring new speeds and pulses. The hectic patterns turned into its more abstracted versions trying to relax the vibrational research to more familiar, personal sound. There is / Dubs and Beats, / Glitched Percussions, / Melodic Drives, / Pseudo-Beats, and / Unknown / Unanswered Matters that influenced all this music. Distributed by Label Engine - www.label-engine.com
Los Angeles-based video artist and producer Laskfar Vortok makes his first appearance in the EVAR catalogue with "Erbsat Esrhosc." An unusual title that reflects the artist's interest in the bizarre, whether he's making music or producing videos and visuals, "Erbsat Esrhosc" bristles with erratic patterns, anarchic atmospheres and glitchy soundscapes. The Mexican-born talent explores ideas based on the hypothetical concept of a planetwide city, otherwise known as an ecumenopolis, weaving such ideas against a cinematic backdrop, nodding to his long-running love for cinema. Across the five-track EP, he also draws inspiration from the heated and hectic energy of L.A, where he's resided most of his life. Produced in memoriam of Michael Gregory Harrison, aka Bad Timing, and following a period of introspection and creative and personal challenges, Laskfar Vortok began work on "Erbsat Esrhosc" in 2018. The EP honours Michael's brilliance as an artist and a friend;the title being an anagram of a phrase that they shared between them. "Eclipse" opens the EP on a haunting note. A spidery melody and chilling pads punctuate the witchy soundscape before syncopated sequences collide with snafued textures, signifying a sharp left turn into breakcore. With its nebulous atmosphere, this track offers the first glimpse into the concept of an ecumenopolis. On "Hyperdrive", frenetic percussion dominates while zappy noises and a doomsday melody slink in and out of earshot. Bursts of broken wub exacerbate the uneasy mood while cinematic, almost ethereal chords twinkle in the background. "Base" offers a moment to recover one's brain cells after the nosedive into the near future. A lugging kickdrum and broken, woody percussions swirl around the troposphere while creepy pads convey a sinister aura. "Mutation" catapults us back into chaos with claustrophobic polyrhythmic structures, smatterings of kickdrums, and a sporadic mad-scientist-type synthline, adding a jittery layer. An unexpectedly orchestral outro completes the bizarre nature of the track. Closing out on "Send Off", Laskfar Vortok blends freezing-cold chords with snaggy synth notes and a tangle of drum constellations tied up with a gossamer melody and splattered across an eerie terrain. Using Bitwig Studio, orc?, TidalCycles and Renoise as his modus operandi, Laskfar Vortok produces a trip that intrigues but disturbs, serving a shimmering yet terrifying squint into a technoid-led utopia. And we're only just getting started.
Broken Chair - Zero Gravity EP + Slipping Rhythms & Don't Be a Fool Foxtrot Alpha are proud to Introduce their new artist: Broken Chair, a dynamic force in the progressive breakbeat scene, known for crafting electrifying tracks that push musical boundaries. With a distinctive sound that is engaging and hypnotic, Broken Chair continues to innovate within the progressive / melodic breaks genre, establishing a unique presence in the industry. Formerly known as Dj Solrac, he has a long history of rocking dance floors, but now he's found mostly crafting beats in the studio. With releases on Capital Heaven, tracks upcoming on Morphosis Records and now Foxtrot Alpha Recordings, the future is looking bright. and Broken. 1. Zero Gravity - Is an enthralling journey through sound, characterised by its warm, deep bass and melodic, floaty atmosphere. The track features infectious arpeggiated synths that create a sense of weightlessness and euphoria. It's both uplifting and emotional, designed to elevate the listener to new heights. The track captures the essence of progressive breaks with a powerful and heartfelt touch. 2. Slipping Rhythms - Starts with cool, well-programmed progressive breakbeats that set a hypnotic tone. As the track progresses, ethereal pads evolve into gated melodic synths, providing an uplifting atmosphere. A warm synth bass complements the harmony, adding depth to the composition. The main breakdown is warm and heavenly, seamlessly integrating all melodic elements during the build-up. This track perfectly blends energy and emotion, making it a standout in the progressive breaks scene. 3. Don't Be A Fool - Begins with powerful drums that set an energetic tone, accompanied by haunting vocals and a warm bass line. The track progresses into a deep, melodic breakdown, creating an immersive atmosphere. Uplifting synth arpeggios add an exhilarating layer, continuously building the intensity. The culmination is a dynamic and emotional journey, blending epic elements with progressive breaks, ensuring a memorable and captivating listening experience from start to finish. Thanks for appreciating and supporting this special release! https://foxtrotalpharecordings.co.uk/ Release Date:31-07-2024 Label:Foxtrot Alpha Recordings Catalog Number:FAR030
On Albacete Knife Al Wootton offers up four hardware tracks of raw percussion and ambience dubbed out to infinity. Drawing on the Post-Punk elements of his Holy Tongue project and transmuting them for the sound-system deejays, the EP covers low slung steppers, trance inducing percussion trips, psyched out Goa beatdowns and mutoid hardcore reductions. Raw and bristling psychedelic techno dubs for out there heads and feet.
Intended to be performed live, on muscular and multi-channel soundsystems whether gallery or club, this computer music is not only meant to be heard but felt by the listener: its brutalist vibrational polyrhythms make it impossible to stand still, its directive to move standing in contrast with the more academically rooted computer music and sound art that has explored the same sound synthesis techniques used on the album. It's not for the faint hearted. Strap yourselves in!
Specimens by Mare Monstrum, aka Darkduction. This experimental work completely recorded in an improvised take, consists of three tracks that will transport you to the abyssal confines of the ocean, where light fades and mystery reigns. Inspired by the sounds and frequencies of the creatures that inhabit the bottom of the sea, Specimens is an aural exploration of a hidden and fascinating world. Track 1: Specimens I. The journey begins with Specimens I, a composition that captures the vastness and solitude of the ocean depths. Using dark drones and deep reverberations, this track evokes the constant murmur of abyssal currents and echoes of distant sounds. Elements of underwater percussion and ethereal synthesizers mimic the hidden language of deep sea species, creating an immersive atmosphere that invites introspection and wonder. Track 2: Specimens II. The second track, Specimens II, explores the phenomenon of bioluminescence in abyssal creatures. With sonic textures that glow and sizzle, this piece plays with rhythmic pulses and twinkling melodies that represent the luminous and chemical signals used by marine organisms to communicate in the dark. Electronic whispers and layers of white noise simulate an environment where the visible and the invisible intertwine, creating a mesmerizing and enigmatic sound tapestry. Track 3: Specimens III. The journey concludes with Specimens III, an immersion into the deep, resonant sounds of the oceanic trenches. This track combines vibrant low frequencies with slow, pulsating rhythms, evoking the sensation of tectonic movement and the presence of hidden giants. Processed sound effects simulate the creaking and groaning of the earth's plates and the strange songs of abyssal creatures. Specimens is a sonic odyssey that captures the essence of the unknown and celebrates the richness of abyssal life. Mare Monstrum aka Darkduction invites you to dive into these sonic depths and discover the secrets that the ocean jealously guards. played, produced and recorded by Mare Monstrum aka Darkduction Artwork by Staticflood
For the past few years it seems like summer hasn't really kicked off until Detroit legend John Beltran drops a Back To Bahia release on MotorCity Wine Recordings. For the Volume 4 7', John goes even extra deep. 'Laguna' takes up the A-side, with plenty of uplifting Afro-Brazilian drums and live bass from James Simonson, synth swells, and keyboards for those beautiful soundsystem moments. On the flip side is 'Just Beyond The Sun', a super-extra-Balearic number for sunset sets and more. We think this is the perfect end to the Back To Bahia series from John, and per usual it's produced and manufactured in Detroit.
Udacha family band Zdehvedo Gob channel the lysergic energies of their summer just passed with this debut release from the project. Employing an organic music approach to instrumentation combined with subtle electronics, the group go wild for various combinations of off-kilter percussion, organ, chant and birdsong in full ceremonial swing. Tracing a path through the various branches of 20th century minimalism, pan-global folk-ism's and the harmonious collective consciousness that My Life In A Bush Of Ghosts encapsulated, these Moscow studio sessions add further to the vision of the city's contemporary underground Udacha & associates are championing. Zdehvedo Gob consists of label boss A5, Anton Dvoenko and Stas Mitrofanov from Gamayun and Roman Shestaev, a newcomer to the physical world of Udacha. The group blend multiple layers of cosmic space synth and funk bass on 'Harp Phantasma', each member intuitively understanding their position in the alchemy. Roles are fixed but not strict, much like their approach to tempo and rhythm across the LP. Things get properly freaky on 'Alliluya to Love', which sits somewhere between the dissonance of Moondog and the experimental future jazz / downtempo grooves of Jimi Tenor. A real head-scrambler and another example of the creativity of the modern day Russian scene away from the Instagram business techno.
This record is for fans of ambient, dub techno, and atmospheric music. Reawarding on second listen, this LP demonstrates the remarkable capabilities of relatively unknown artists Mallard (Rhythm Section INTL), and Human Resources (Devil's Work/Idle Hands).
P1 "I is another (Je est un autre)," a notion articulated by Arthur Rimbaud, underscores the inherent impossibility of observing oneself with one's own eyes. All reflective mediums drive us to construct our ideal self within a realm of illusion, much like Narcissus enamored with his reflection in the water. Thus, the inevitability of the subject's alienation raises the question: how should one coexist with the ideal self? P2 When I observe my skin condition, I feel torn, fearful, ashamed, and nauseous. I realize what is in my sight is no longer distorted or altered by any medium, and I am truly observing myself. In that moment, freedom is seized, and I am held captive by my gaze. "Pierce me with your gaze," he said. P3 At times, I find myself resembling my father. Despite my aversion to certain parts of him, I have unconsciously inherited some of his traits. This realization dawned on me during a moment of inaction in an intimate relationship. On that day, I sat in silence, just like my father. Thus, when I reflect upon myself through intimate relationships, I am overwhelmed with tears, attempting to project all my hostility towards my father onto myself. Occasionally, I experience a profound aversion to my masculinity. P4 Ooh ha, ooh ha, what would you say confronting the mirror? Ooh ha, ooh ha, what would you see confronting the mirror? "These bits are as much a part of me, as I am of them," I said. After confirming it was not him, he stopped crying. "DICA" represents Rev's inaugural art project focused on sound design and collage, emerging from profound self-reflection. Drawing inspiration from personal experiences, dermatological conditions, and acts of self-loathing, Rev delves into intimate emotional issues such as sensitivity, inferiority, and anxiety, centered around the theme of "how to give oneself unconditional love." —REV
Electronic music composer David Morley returns to De:tuned with the live recorded Fashion EP. In the early 90s Belgian fashion designer Dirk Bikkembergs reached out to David Morley to ask if he could create a special piece of music for the Paris Fashion Week. The Fashion - Show DAT tape recording radiates the energy of Davids thrilling live performance and captures an exciting synergy of art and music during an era that shaped an entire generation. Kevin Foakes (Openmind, DJ Food, Ninja Tune) created all the graphic work. Mastered by Matt Colton at Metropolis. A separate digital release will also be available at the usual digital shops. Stay tuned!
Next up on co:clear a somewhat new direction for London-based producer, Box5ive. Perhaps an artist more usually associated with trudging, UK-bass divagations (via contributions to Panel Audio and Well Street Records), his debut LP ensues a wistful gear change that speeds straight through the apex of your serotonin receptors. Caressed by synths that cry euphoric tears, Grey Space is a full-length trip that fuses adept drum programming with serenading melody, offering a majestic listening experience that glides amongst emo-bient clouds and free falls into dazzling electronica.
Immerse yourself in the ethereal soundscape of Serpentine Waters' self-titled debut album, a sonic exploration set to release in June 2024 under the Moodmusic imprint. This album is an invitation to a journey through experimental electronic and ambient realms, where each composition is a delicate interplay of shadow and light, texture and silence. The tracks unfold like chapters in an enigmatic narrative, drawing listeners into a world where sound paints vivid pictures and evokes deep emotions. With this release, Serpentine Waters is not just delivering an album; they are offering an experience—a chance to wander through the labyrinthine corridors of sound and emerge transformed. Prepare to be captivated by a musical voyage that promises to linger long after the last note fades.
SPEZIAL Manifest EP SPEZIAL returns with another bold experiment in the art of epic pop songcraft and restless sonic exploration, once again pooling creative minds sharpened in some of the UK's most influential alternative music. As the previous KIDS EP series showed, the SPEZIAL project has a whirlpool effect which draws in close collaborators from many different corners. It's a studio project which revels in the process and seeks out the best tools and the best people to use them. Whipped up by musical director and relentless energy Shahab Notghi, the Manifest EP finds core SPEZIAL composer and player Stew Jackson (Massive Attack, Phantom Limb) once again lending his multi-instrumental touch to seven new original tracks, backed up by drums from Clive Deamer (Portishead, Radiohead, Roni Size). A new figure in the SPEZIAL story is Joe Jones, the esteemed head engineer from the world famous Rockfield Studios in the Wye Valley, who injected vintage warmth and cosmic textures into the sound with reel-to-reel tape loops, Nagra tape machines, old BBC oscillators and more besides. This bursting, vital mix was then glued together once again by the legendary Ewan Pearson. In keeping with the crossover between established visionaries and brilliant new artists, on Manifest we're introduced to the vocal talent of Poppy Mâché, discovered by Notghi and spurred on with a copy of Ableton Live to embrace the SPEZIAL mode of creating on pure instinct and chasing inspiration before the ideas start stalling. Snarling and cooing in equal measure, she sounds old beyond her years across Manifest, weaving a lyrical web that's relatable and compelling in equal measure. In keeping with the SPEZIAL tradition, the grandiose vision of the original tracks is cast off into the dancefloor realm through a sharply curated set of remixes. On this occasion, the undisputed baron of UK techno Dave Clarke applies his mighty legacy to a bruising half-tempo electronica version of 'Bad State' while Frankfurt legend Roman Flügel creates a seductive strain of noirish electro-pop out of the component parts of 'Love'. That leaves it to Notghi to don his Paradise Circus cape and lay down a heavy, distorted backbone to 'Lady' which channels turn-of-the-millennium cyberpunk as much as the cutting edge of hardware-rooted sound design. It's the crackle of energy and restless momentum which brings so many vibrant ideas to the fore on Manifest EP, yet again widening out the SPEZIAL scope while solidifying the core creative team invested in the project, wherever it might lead.
Plafond continues, taking center stage after the mother label BAKK ceded. Here, two long-time collaborators, Ekolali, originating from Sweden, and Tala Drum Corps, from the Netherlands, await their returns. The former reappears with a characteristic approach earlier heard on 'Doggerland'. The latter did multiple dance releases yet now debuts for this series, expanding on his stylistic spectrum. Despite shared tempo, the energies of the track are each of their own. Pulsating with energetic urgency, Ekolali, towards hypnotic movement, Tala Drum Corps. 'Totem Mollusca' shoots for the sun, like a budding landscape, yellow rays, waterdrops kraut-inspired yet club-like without seeking a climax. 'tokyo subway' has a marimba-ridden, timeless feel a clock-ticking, crude atmosphere, as a dream long passed, slowly ascending. Known for its two-sided, two-songs format, Plafond offers two artists or artist combinations the freeform room for exploration and elongation of their respective sound and practices. This is the eighth in the series.
Ready for the next flight out of Sofa Beats? Buckle up for Gnōthi Sauton, where Sob takes us on a mind-bending journey through the shoegaze cosmos. This four-track release is a testament to Martin's unyielding love and dedication to the genre, but with a twist—brace yourself for a more guitar-driven, deep trip-hop, and delightfully noisy incarnation of Sob than ever before. The enchanting vocalist and poet Orakull joins the flight on 'Loosers Keepers', a dark, melancholic masterpiece, wrapping haunting lyrics in a cocoon of ethereal sounds that are thought-provoking and hauntingly beautiful. Finally, trancy guitar sounds weave a tapestry of reflective melodies and introspective vibes, inviting you to lose yourself in intricate layers that are unmistakably Sob.
Dedicated to My Mother The one who guided me to embrace my uniqueness, reminding me "there are plenty of others." Steadfast in her authenticity, imparting invaluable lessons. She possesses a blend of indifference and utmost concern. From continual learning under her wing to experiencing childhood's genuine awkwardness. She is both my greatest love and frustration. Every melody carries a narrative. This is my tribute to her, my extraordinary mother. Today marks her 75th journey around the sun. This is my offering to her, love, L.
Unlocked is the debut album on Pheek's Archipel label by William Jourdain, known under the moniker of Automatisme. He began the project in 2011 and has been publishing since on various labels, such as Constellation, Mille Plateaux, and Outlines, while simultaneously being active as an art historian and curator. His generative ambient dub techno music is continually reshaped in the studio. This album is a compilation of post-produced sound archives, including stems, presets, and templates dating from 2011 to the present day. Jourdain and Pheek met in 2017 and made two albums together via their Viatorism duo. Unlocked was mainly produced during a residency at Pheek's studio in August 2023. William Jourdain was going through a life transition at that time, which marked the end of his use of an artistic moniker and the beginning of creating under his own name. In his day-to-day life, he seeks out the semi-wakeful-sleepy state. A non-conscious transit space of lucid dreaming. It is a fictional location influenced by both the conscious and subconscious minds. For him it can be likened to an improvisation that follows us. This record mainly contains Audialab's artificial intelligence deep sampling tools and K-Devices out-of-the-grid and generative MIDI sequencers and audio modulators. The tracks were exported using a hard drive that was malfunctioning and producing errors when calculating file states. There's also a reference to 'locked groove', minimal house scores plus the addition of constant mutations in the surrounding elements. This creates an interesting dichotomy of two opposing worlds, as the music is both catchy and modulatory. Could this be a way of traveling through our roots? In short, it's a collaboration with the help of his double, an artificial intelligence, which learns by remixing the artist's work. The risk-taking of this project results in the restriction of the extended format of the pieces, following a basic theme that must take three or four directions maximum. This is where worlds merge together as one part ends and another begins. The titles of the pieces entitled Levels symbolize the small steps we climb, one at a time. The album also addresses how to be nuanced in noise, which is a sound source that masks all others. The result is a collection of storms between sublime and chaos. William Jourdain thinks it is the natural context for everything and that we are learning to live in it.
Presenting their 3rd release, 'Some Sacred Grounds,' the Berlin and Lisbon-based event series Art Bei Ton focuses on showcasing diverse forms of ritualistic sounds. Inviting 8 international artists to illustrate their vision of the genre, these 7 tracks span a range of intensities from Ambient to Deep Techno. Guiding the listener through a meditative journey, the Swedish artist Fjäder opens the compilation with some drone and dark atmospheric Ambient. The collaboration between the Russian producer Toki Fuko and the Belgian-based artist Adhémar offers a hypnotic interpretation of ritualistic drums at 105 BPM. In her track 'Arrimer,' Tilda immerse the listen into some trippy and psychedelic patterns, followed by some bright hypnotic techno sounds from Japanese artist Kai Galactic and 'Neuromance' from the Indian producer Midnight Traffic, bringing some powerful positive vibes. Wrapping up this release, the French artist VBK embraces some deep and trippy sounds with her track 'Demon Days,' while the Italian producer Surt takes us on a dystopian journey with some dark and driving sonorities.
Fjader, Toki Fuko, Adhemar, Tilda, Kai Galactic, Midnight Traffic, VBK, Surt
Martyyna's debut album Written In The Scars is an ironic play on the cliche that our destiny is written in the stars. More likely, our life's stories are influenced by the scars we carry within us and by our coming to terms with them. Martyyna looks for such confidence on the single This Time, where a reverberating clock chime intertwines with her hazy vocals submerged in sampled water droplets, owl calls, or birdsong. Emerging at times only to repeat a hopeful wish: "This time... don't make me cry." A music video for the track, shot in the Canary Islands' desolate and burned-out land, serves as an inspiration for the album's visual design and the future AV set with Igor Lorok presented at the Lunchmeat Festival in September 2023. The album cover views the body as a similar landscape, recording the imprints and bruises of past happenings and absorbing them into itself. The story of finding the strength to keep going continues on the second single, Distorted, inspired by data loss after Martyyna's first live-set. Past feelings of anger and misery melt into a complex and stuttering production, her deepened vocals intertwine with jittering synth arrangements, slowly rising in pitch and gaining courage. Distant, muffled echoes are trying to break free, regressed traumas are coming to the surface, demanding attention. After a process of healing, overcoming and getting lost in a dream, the voice of Martyyna fuses with that of the Czech producer Oliver Torr on Sunshine Girls and with the musician Portento's on the closing track Invitation. The album ends with light, calming duets - two voices finding harmony at last, extending a euphoric invitation. An invitation to breathe in. To rest. To finally not be scared of one's own self. On Written In The Scars, Martyyna delves deeper into her work with vocals, first introduced on her EP AWAKEN, and perfects her layering of textures, tonal shifts, gradation of rhythms and deconstruction of string instruments. Rather than awaking, however, she's now plunging into more atmospheric dreamscapes. Crafted with both chaos and care, Martyyna's tracks are made of diverse building blocks reflecting her mood shifts and despairs as well as her meticulous craftswomanship gained working as an architect. Only here, forming physical structures in her waking life is interchanged with sonic worldbuilding of her dreams.
Oferendas is a unique record in our catalogue. A record where a certain rituality and avant-garde seem to want to build a hypnotic, tense and troubled emotional landscape. Serpente's tracks are constructed through a programming of very free and somewhat dispersed drums that, based on polyrhythms, create an image of a rhythm in constant mutation. In it, the accidents caused by the clash of different rhythmic patterns generate moments of richness that keep the tracks in a fine balance between their rich identity and aesthetic ease, and the eventuality of their own disintegration. Perda Outra opens the record with a feeling of emptiness that is accentuated by the stereo image that focuses heavily on the extremes, leaving the center free for the punctual presence of the synthesizers and the somewhat dissonant flute of Kelly Jayne Jones that adds a certain tension and discomfort in a landscape that is already somewhat dubious, disorienting and hallucinogenic. In the following two tracks Em Vida Traz and Sombra de Ra the energy is accentuated, without ever ceasing to feel a certain melancholy, evidenced by Maxwell Sterling's double bass and the somewhat sinister pads in the theme that closes side A of the split. . Shadow (Sombra) of Ra... To what extent will the exuberant shadow of Chicago's cosmic star be circumscribed here? In side B, CZN present themselves in the way we have become accustomed to, entangled in the force of an intense, constant and metronomically rigorous rhythm whose hypnotic tendency results from the insistence on its own repetition. If in Serpente we spoke of a freedom in the rhythm that could lead to its fragmentation, in CZN this same fragmentation seems unimaginable. Dense, heavy and concentric, the rhythm and its constant mutations seem to be able to repeat themselves indefinitely, like a vector. In fact, when we asked CZN to leave us a few words about this record, this is how they referred to it: "Every point of a vector field is associated with a scalar; at one of these points some cutlery has been discarded. Looking to score political points? Score them at The Redline! Even if you're preparing for school in the morning or comforting a stranger in the road be assured that somebody somewhere is enjoying a drink and a snack on your behalf" Cryptic? Perhaps. But wont, total and complete understanding of the world, be also denied to those who commit themselves to the ceremonial act of the offering?
Moodmusic Records is thrilled to announce the much-anticipated re-release of Klas Lindblad's (aka Sasse, Freestyle Man) groundbreaking "Weekends" EP, originally released in 1998 on Neuton Music from Offenback Am Main. This seminal work, known for its innovative blend of Detroit Techno, Deep House and Minimal vibes, will be available once again in July 2024, remastered and ready to inspire a new generation of electronic music enthusiasts. The "Weekends" EP has been a pivotal release in the electronic music scene, featuring timeless tracks such as "Weekends," "Tokyo 5 A.M.," and "Gamla Stan." These tracks not only defined the late '90s club soundscape but also showcased Lindblad's exceptional production skills and musical foresight. Klas Lindblad, the Finnish producer and DJ behind the EP, has been an influential figure in the electronic music community for over two decades. His contributions to the industry as a producer, label owner, and curator have been instrumental in shaping the sounds of house and techno music in Scandinavia and beyond.
"Listening to Ship Sket feels like being dragged to hell and back." - DAZED You cannot separate pleasure from pain. Grotesque drums hiss and boom inside drill's stricture, voices utter shattered phrases to each other in a darkening chain of whispers, synthetic violins mourn their last and rush towards singularity. Drawing upon the 'self indulgent, purple prose' of Angela Carter, the staggering works of composers Villa Lobos and Xennakis, the fissure between pagan mysticism of England past and its feckless, soul consuming present; 'England as a Succubus' is a lustful spirit that writhes and vibrates against a backdrop of lurid sonic pressure.
As a two-part album project, 'Beginning' is a creative vision recorded by Spanish artist NIN3S to reflect his interpretation of the story of creation. A counterpart to the piano-led originals, 'The Revisions' draw on NIN3S' extensive history in electronic music to create a mirror image of each track, exploring vast soundscapes with growling basslines and exquisite synth work to convey the sheer scope of one of humankind's biggest questions.
Unio Mystica: Absorbed from my room onto a triangle ship, by an alien wearing blue scaled bio-armour, to travel instantaneously across vast folds of time & space. The alien occupied the pinnacle of the triangle, the other two points by myself and an unknown human female, respectively. The ship, at least for this type of journey, was powered by harnessing the coalescent, universal force of LOVE. This truly hierogamic union acted as a sort of inter-dimensional transcendence driver, which allowed us the defeat of all material boundary and therefore, time itself. It was a keen insight into the ultimate conciliation: that love permeates and binds together an otherwise cold and hostile universe. And perhaps it was not an ''alien'' but an angel. Angels are traditionally understood to be preternaturally photonic (of a type), lacking physical densification, and which manifest themselves as various imaginal forms in the human psyche... What is known: the starship is ours; a portal of two souls combined. - personal log, entry #3073, 07/14/2017
The debut two-track EP from Dim Fumes allows listeners to immerse themselves in a sea of vulnerable, powerful moments. Bright Spots can be taken as the North Star for the sonic direction this new name is heading, with gnarled but clear drum work and angelic vocals that feel as though they are embedded in fields of lush, warm pads and atmospheres. Moved By You completes this debut releases with a delicate pop ballad, framing abstract impressionist lyrics within a nuanced and fragile soundscape.
Returning to Meanwhile, Navar's career now blossoms with a debut full-length album in the shape of "Bloom". Eelko Wijnia's contribution to the world of underground electronic music is hard to overstate. Through his Navar production moniker, the Dutch artist has been at the vanguard of the progressive house scene for 15 years with occasional forays in the deep and tech house, techno and electronica. Able to turn his production skills to a raft of genres and styles, it is no surprise to see Navar's debut full-length album representing a kaleidoscopic range of music. Already celebrating more than 150 production credits across such esteemed labels as Eelke Kleijn's Outside The Box, Guy J's Lost & Found and Hernan Cattaneo's Sudbeat Music, Navar's presence on Meanwhile has been equally impressive. A remix of fellow countryman, Alex O'Rion, opened his account in early-2022 before the 3-track "Return of the Sun" EP took centre stage towards the end of the year. A single Meanwhile appearance in 2023 saw a remix of Jamie Stevens future classic "Circles", before 2024 witnessed another original gem through "Zoom Out", in collaboration with Golan Zocher. Now returning with a debut full-length album, Navar's "Bloom" is a true magnus opus in every sense of the term. 15 extended tracks weave a rich and detailed story across a magical 90 minutes. From the atmospheric opening of "A 1000 Times" and its subsequent powerhouse breakbeat rhythms, to a quintet of luscious electronica gems, the first half of the album gently coruscates through a selection of largely beatless arrangements with the melancholy phrasing of "Glow's" and rippling delayed synths of "The Time We Have" blending easily with the gentle piano and plucked strings of "No Other Remedy" and the beautiful uplifting mood of "Verbena". Evolving easily into the shimmering percussive groove and huge bassline of the sultry "That Summer Night", Navar begins to move into more traditional progressive house territory with the heavy beat of "Paradise Lost". The huge pulsating bass sequence of "All Around Us" provides a floor-filler of the highest order while "A Moment in the Mirror" builds from a beatless and spine-tingling 3-minute opening to driving club-friendly powerhouse in the second half. With a wonderfully atmospheric narrative flooding the latter stages, driving rhythmic energy and iridescent trance stabs underpin "Heliopause" alongside the vibrancy of "Seeing You Again" while an "Airdrawndagger" vibe from Sasha's seminal work pervades the delayed synths of "Staying in Bloom". Reaching a powerful and commanding finale, huge sub-bassline grooves permeate "Late Blooming Flowers" and "Interference", providing a dark energy and masterful production technique. Evergreen after 15 years of electronic music mastery, Navar is still in full "Bloom" with a debut album of the highest order. Directed by GMJ & Matter Mastered by Cid Inc. Design by Matter Text by James Warren
Jaw dropping album from Egypt's Dijit, featuring his own vocals for the first time alongside a star studded roster! A vast array of moods fluctuate throughout the album, from gnarly drill & trap with the help of Brodinski, to wayward folk & ambience with vocals from Lella and Sarah Shedid, encompassed with tinges of pop and Kelesh's own trip-hop style. It's also the first time Dijit uses his own vocals, which creates an introspective and deep feel to the LP, with his voice being a constant throughout. Kelesh has exuded everything in to this piece of work, a true culmination of his personal experiences over the last five years, which ultimately converts into a supremely diverse but beautiful album.
2024-07-10 UMAY
MEDS Recordings, Hassan Abou Alam, Muskila, rRoxymore, ASAAS أساس, ASAAS أساس, rRoxymore, Estoc, Oldyungmayn, Oldyungmayn, Estoc, PSL, Yazzus, Kettalynne, Kettalynne, Yazzus, kamunts, al asli, Nene H, Juman, Juman, Nene H, Alinka, Sarv, monixa, sarv, monixa, Ræga, Ibrahem D, elayn, Ræga, Ibrahem D, elayn, Kareem El Morr, Sofia Fatuma, Mohajer, Sami Zreik, Haya, Sami Zreik, Haya, ncx3, Adam Rajab, Big Murk, big murk, Adam Rajab
Dark and deep tones with a sober texture arise from "Coven", a rousing electronic single by Asphere, the duo from The Netherlands, who have been very skillful to create a magnetic atmosphere. The ID ID's vision of "Coven" goes in the opposite direction, where the producer uses new elements, to leave the more intimate journey of the Original, transmitting an atmosphere of sharing on the dance floor.
Eszaid imagines the sonic paranoia of discovery with Brumes, a 9 part movement for FELT that coalesces industrialised murmurs from the currents of cavernous creep. An electronic complexion shaded dusk haunts Eszaids output. Previous releases on L.I.E.S., Worship and his own Collapsing Market label exemplified a shutters-closed style of rhythmic and melodic variance that teetered on techno-related realities with the lights kept firmly off. The Avignon-based artist lands at Fergus Jones's FELT stable to further the imprints unpredictability, coaxing some of his most perturbed oddities yet with Brumes. The mythologized voyage of Pytheas to the island of Thule provides the abstracted blueprint for Brumes 9 parts. Each movement is born of soundscapes inspired by envisaged scenes of his trip to the North, an aural construction of interpretation. Eszaid unwinds tense metronomic rhythms within sparse sound environments, sprung with globular textures of motorik warbles and darkside atmospherics. Its minimalist beat complexions are buoyant by an abstracted fear of the unknown, tracks defined by bobbling industriale, Gregorian dub and atonal menace. Its an alternative experience to the often faux-jubilance of expeditious revelation, and something that will resonate long after Nords beatless modulation fade out.
Taking cues from balearic, old-school hip-hop, breaks and cosmic, Telephones keep the vibe strong whilst delivering the first non house- or techno-related release on his label. This 5-track EP conjures up a nostalgia-fueled hypothetical mutation of early eclectic influences from Pal Joey, Sade, Ace Of Base and Bone Thugs n Harmony to Lil Louis, Baldelli, Weatherall and N.W.A.. Reports from sources familiar with the material claim "..it sounds exactly like today-Telepohones, just minus 20 BPM, plus skateboard-mushroom-hairdue (think Louie Barletta) and baggy Droors". A special one for the real heads.
2024-07-12 K7 Records
Anthony Naples, Patrick Holland, Surgeons Girl, Thomas Fehlmann, Oscar Jerome, Rampa, Matisa, Sally C, Teqmun, Beste Hira, Burnski, Cameo Blush, DJ BORING, Shanti Celeste, Hertz, Bambounou, Jennifer Loveless, Regal86, Thor 54, Tim Taylor (Missile Records), Odymel, Leo Pol, Ede, Deckert, Sargland, Moktar, Saad El Soghayar
Time Distortion" Latest electronica project from Michael Kohlbecker, which underlines his preference for deep, chill out music, as he already showed as one of the producers of the legendary "Mystic Cigarettes" album by the Saafi Brothers & more. First created as a visual and DJ performance project, now the first release "Time Distortion". Take off in the new age way, through valleys of ambient over psybient hills to the deep dub side of electronica music, to bring you safely home with a sunrise ambient dub ending. This is a place to rest and reboot. Recommended for any chill out zone or after hours. 114 BPM 16:45min
This collaboration between Spanish producer Nueen and Manc vocalist / rapper Iceboy Violet - who has previously sprinkled their magic dust across Hyperdub releases from aya and Loraine James - traces the arc of a four year relationship, memorialising its highs and documenting its lows, processing, reflecting, and then ending with the ecstatic spark of new love. It's a magical, intimate and heartfelt album, sometimes anguished but often enchanting. Nueen's music responds with foggy, but richly detailed, production. Smudgy drill-laced beats contrast with curdled, spiralling chords, at times drawing out a malevolent ambience. 'You Said You'd Hold My Hand Through The Fire' is an immensely affecting and lucid album, powerfully wrought, ultimately hopeful.
Nueen, Iceboy Violet, Harriet Morley, Dawuna, Bennettiscoming
Marking Axel Helios' return to Shabu Recordings, As The Void Stared Back is the second single of his upcoming audiovisual album, Cerebral Wastelands. Shifting his focus from music to Media Art around 2018, Axel presented Cerebral Wastelands as part of a residency at Societe des Arts Technologiques in 2022 in the form of an innovative interactive audio-visual performance where the public can change the music and the visuals in real-time. Played at Mutek, ACT Festival, and Imersa, Cerebral Wastelands garnered attention and hype for its innovative concept, as well as its music. As The Void Stared Back is the main pillar of the Cerebral Wastelands project as it was the first track created for the project : a 13 minutes-long Ambient piece that slowly incorporates elements from IDM like polyrythmic beats, and tape-distorted harmonies from Vaporwave. This piece was first created as a way to soothe the soul during panic attacks, slowly fading into the listening space, calling to be focused on. As the first piece of the performance, As The Void Stared Back's imagery is associated with crashing ocean waves in front of tall skyscraping monoliths, and underwater caves.
UK artist David Duncan recorded only one EP as Ability II and it has since been sought after and re-issued many a time since its initial debut, recently being reissued in collaboration with Juno records and soon snapped up. Now, much to the delight of fans of the man behind the classic tune 'Pressure Dub' he is back and will be releasing a whole range of new and previously recorded material. Firstly, this album features an exclusive collection of tunes made back in his heyday in various home studios in the early 90s, none of which were related at the time, and none of which you will have ever heard before anywhere. Often said to be ahead of his time, they feature his signature sound designs across seven cuts that sound as futuristic now as they ever could be, combining jacked-up house, techno and tech into scintillating and dub-weighted sounds for the club. Finally this little gem gets to see the light of day!
Ability II, Sara Garvey, Jason Pennycook, Mi Come, Steve Johnson
Christian Naujoks returns to Dial Records with his new single Nocturne, the long-awaited follow-up to his last album on the label, Wave (2016). With the support of his longtime collaborator Tobias Levin, Naujoks unfolds three masterly excuted instrumental pieces of atmospheric allure.
"The new avant-garde isn't about creating something that doesn't yet exist, it's about abandoning and confusing rigid genres. I want to open up, in order to both abolish and reconstruct the musical past." -- Noemi Buchi Noemi Buchi's album 'Does It Still Matter' completes a series of releases whose titles - 'Matiere', 'Matter', and 'Does It Still Matter' - place the physicality of music in the center of attention. Buchi's specific sound structures and aesthetic choices question the state of materiality in a world that is becoming more and more fluid and intangible. From 'Matiere' to 'Matter', Buchi subtly transferred from a focus on substance to questioning the enigmatic core of being, passing from a noun to a verb, and from a single word to an inquiry. 'Does It Still Matter' weighs in on the importance of questioning. Her pieces juxtapose multi-layered analog synthesizer textures, crystal clear sounds and almost brutalistic noises, while they unfold in compositional structures akin to pop songs. Driven by an orchestra of myriad parts, her music creates transcendent intonations that resonate deeply with the listeners' bodies. A daring blend of complexity and accessibility are molded into captivating sound sculptures that challenge and intrigue listeners alike. Deviating from conventional time divisions, 'Does It Still Matter' immerses listeners in a discordant succession of elements, and guides them towards an eternal present that erases the past with each new revelation, while maintaining it through recurring themes that serve as intimate memories. Buchi's electronic maximalism questions our linear perception of time, offering a glimpse into a world where the past, present, and future converge into a singular moment. Her avant-garde approach rejects predictability, inviting listeners to immerse themselves fully in the present. Everything starts anew at any given instant. Each musical idea exists for one precise moment, rendering the future unpredictable. 'Does It Still Matter' unfolds against a backdrop of collective disaster and biocidal urgency, challenging the very essence of time. Buchi explains: "The world appears to have gone mad. It's all but impossible to reflect on the meaning of avant-garde in music, considering the future in this sepulchral kind of stability of the human condition." Her compositions resonate like an infernal machine, questioning the instantaneous dissipation of everything. Finally, echoes and fragments of sounds remain, haunting memories like ghostly companions. 'Does It Still Matter' is an immersive experience that invites listeners to contemplate the impermanence of our world and the enduring power of sound.
For over a quarter of a century, sound artist and composer Richard Chartier has interrogated an ever deepening thread of minimalist sound that meshes questions of stasis, pulse and timbre. The results of this work is some of the most quietly intense compositions of this century. His is a music of subtle variation, unwavering concentration, and also patience. This five-part work created between 2020 and 2022 is dedicated to his friend and fellow sound artist Steve Roden. "I first became friends with Steve Roden (and later his wife, Sari) back in 1998 when my first album 'direct.incidental.consequential' was released. He was one of the first group of artists to whom i sent the album. Almost instantly he had been there on the other side of the phone (or email) and ever since. His way of listening and attention to details (no matter how small) was inspirational -- the clarity and complexity of his understated and only seemingly simple compositions, engaging. Underneath it all, 'the less' truly opened your ears to 'the more.' Steve saw and heard everything between the noise, no matter how faint. Some of the last times I was able to see Steve were right before the pandemic. The effects of his advancing Alzheimers were present, still somewhat subtle, but increasing. I am still regretful that we were unable to spend more time together prior to his succumbing to his condition's cruel effects. Another regret is not engaging in the collaboration we had both talked about for YEARS. 'We should really start on that sometime soon' Steve and I would say with each passing year. I worked on the compositions included on this album as Steve gradually slipped away from communication. He was not in my life like he had been before. During this time it became apparent that these pieces were for Steve. A reflection of his ability to find beauty in the most minute details. Even when finally reviewing the final masters after his passing, I tried to think about how Steve would listen. What would Steve hear in the details? His effect on this album is strong... the accumulation of influence and inspiration. This album feels organic and warm and was developed during a time when his absence in my life increased. That warmth is reflective of the nature of who Steve was himself, his friendship, and his visual & sound work. on listening... on loss... on leaving... As Steve and I mutually suggested... for quiet amplification or headphone listening."
Mike Paradinas, veteran producer and Planet Mu label owner has written a new album called 'Grush' and it's full of weird bangers that reclaim the 'dance' part of the woeful term IDM. A back-to-first-principles record, inspired in part by the group of artists IDM was coined for; melodic dance music that didn't come out of urban scenes, but interpreted them from a distance. The tracks on 'Grush' are all road-tested live favorites developed with feedback from Mike's touring partner and visuals guy Mora (Jan Moravec). It's a detailed and energetic journey which replicates the flow of a live gig. A lot of the tracks have been made in hotel rooms in response to shows, 'Imperial Crescent' is named after a Japanese Hotel, as is 'Belvedere' in Prague, while some tracks such as 'Hyper Daddy' were created specifically to play live. Drums are confidently at the fore here and the album feels like it traces Mike's musical history and interests neatly around his sweetly nostalgic melodies, with atmospheres and structures which twist and turn with a charming softness which contrasts with the tension in the drums. Take 'Hyper Daddy's' spiralling notes and twinkling piano which remind one of early Black Dog or Omni Trio rushing alongside splashy jungle drums, or the aquatic acid footwork of the title track with its drums softly bubbling and kicking. Elsewhere there's territory which harks back to his Tusken Raiders pseudonym, like the heads down Drexciyan funk of 'Windsor Safari Park,' which transforms from moody electro into a sunny hardcore track midway. The album is interspersed with Reticulum A, B and C at the start middle and end of the album which suggest a theme which carries across the music in an effortless and joyful way. 'Grush' is a strong album that works both for listening and DJing and a great snapshot of where Mike Paradinas musical head is at in 2024.
Pianeti Sintetici presents AI-37, entitled Space Opera. Conceived by Italian artist Davide Perrone, the Pianeti Sintetici (Synthetic Planets) project hypothesises the creation of future synthetic worlds as told through sound. Although split across two parts, the album is a singular organism that narrates a journey of boundless cosmic exploration. A sonic tapestry woven of intergalactic atmospheres, Space Operas imaginative sound design contributes to a richly spatial and haptic experience. Taking place in the dimly lit crevices of deepest space, a swirling pool of chemical abstractions and extraterrestrial transmissions spumes out from the darkness. Elements weave through broad washes of drones and scintillating textures, contrasting a sparse backdrop with dense and multilayered passages. Composed with the use of modular synthesisers and intense audio manipulations, Space Opera comes to life as an entity that transports the listener on an immersive journey into the mysteries of alien worlds.
If you can judge an artist's quality by the company they keep, then FaltyDL is up there with the best of them. The label history of the producer known to his friends as Drew Lustman reads like a "who's who" of 21st century electronic music imprints - Ninja Tune, Unknown to the Unknown, Planet Mu, Studio Barnhus, the list goes on. WithIn the Wake of Wolves, we can now add Central Processing Unit to this illustrious roster. The Sheffield label joins the party at a notable juncture - while FaltyDL has kept up an impressive clip of releases throughout his career,In the Wake of Wolvesis both the NYC-based producer's first LP for two years and his first full-length release away from his own Blueberry Records for almost a decade. In the Wake of Wolvesproves to be both a great match for CPU and also further evidence of the label's burgeoning sonic palette. While CPU has built its reputation on top quality electro joints, recent releases have delivered adventurous electronica experiments (Proswell'sPeople Are Giving And Receiving Thanks At Incredible Speeds), hard-wired breakbeat techno (Baby T'sI Against I) and golden-age synth explorations (twenty-fifth anniversary reissues of Bochum Welt'sDesktop RoboticsandFeelings on a Screen, both of which first emerged via the legendary Rephlex Records).In the Wake of Wolvestakes things further still - this is a brilliantly genre-voracious record, one which marries the rhythmic cut-and-thrust that we have long known FaltyDL for with all manner of adventurous stylistic choices. Those familiar with the FaltyDL experience will recognise the trademark blend of synthetic grit and harmonious softness in album opener 'I Need You'. This could pass for Four Tet or even Hannah Diamond at points, the steady build of pulsing synths and looped vocals recalling a more mysterious version of the PC Music sound. 'I Need You' stands shoulder-to-shoulder with any of FaltyDL's other great atmospheric album openers - no small feat given the competition. 'Further', the following number, is yin to 'I Need You's yang. This is a pulsating track which gleefully skitters between machine-funk, tubing darkside bass and breakcore-adjacent drum programming, all of which is peppered with some genuinely beautiful work in the higher synths. 'Further' sets the scene for several of the more club-facing cuts here. 'Minds Protection' similarly features all manner of strange percussive sounds to surprise the ear, and it also boasts a thrilling mid-section in which the bottom falls out the track to incorporate a short snippet of blown-out junglism. With its tunnelling low-end and clattering drums, 'Full Spectrum' kicks off a delightful run of grime-influenced joints which take cues from Mr. Mitch, Logos and many of those other producers who took the Eski sound to exciting new places in the 2010s. 'Forget Me Not', the album's longest track which is placed three spots from the end, feels like the record's climactic point - a pitter-patter post-house joint that has a hint of Caribou in its DNA, it'll take the clubs by storm. But as much as FaltyDL may consistently bring the heat in terms of the beat programming, the thing which has long marked Lustman out as a special talent is the musicality of his compositions. No matter how much drums clatter or bass bangs, FaltyDL always hooks the ear back in with a sonorous synth or pleasing nugget of melody. Nowhere is this more apparent than onIn the Wake of Wolves' more weightless numbers, each startling in their prettiness. 'Half Spectrum' is a new-era beat track packed full of ear candy; the keening keys of 'GasGas' are potent with feeling; and on the album's closer, the evocatively-titled 'Mila Stans In A Meadow For The First Time Eating Strawberries', we get a gorgeous synth vignette that joins the dots between the modern mastery of Yung Sherman and the most emotionally affecting moments of Aphex's Twin's catalogue. At once wistful and hopeful, archival and futuristic, FaltyDL's brilliantly unpredictableIn the Wake of Wolvesis a feather in the cap for both this seasoned producer and the Central Processing Unit label. RIYL: AFX, Bochum Welt, Mark Fell, Mrs Jynx, Boards of Canada
Following up from work on Björk´s 'Fossora', Icelandic trio 'sideproject' debut on SVBKVLT with their new full-length album 'sourcepond'. Taking influence from the fog-covered wetlands of their native island, sideproject transfigure influences from the low-end frequencies of grime and bass music, and reshape it into a haze of transient-smeared beats accompanied by breathy synths that grow ever wetter till they slip beneath the surface tensions of their harmonic stratum. Compared to previous output, 'sourcepond' opts for a more concise approach to their music, stacking up their influences of experimental electronic, Icelandic punk and contemporary club music, and builds a sound that oscillates between melodic hooks and experimental rhythms. Each track carves through the sensuous material, pulling the listener into the dank sourcepond as though magnetic forces were guiding a bird's beak towards misty horizons.
Facta & K-LONE's Wisdom Teeth imprint continues its busy schedule of 10 year celebrations with the debut LP by H TO O: a new collaborative project by Japanese ambient artists H. Takahashi and Kohei Oyamada. Set across six distinct movements, the LP maps the different stages of the cosmic cycle through a series of dynamic ambient set pieces: from the exponential expansion of the universe in its infancy - here invoked by the bright, chiming album opener 'Inflation' - through to it's inevitable collapse and rebirth, captured by the record's driving, ominous closer, 'Ever'. The record started life in Takahashi's hands, initially intended as a solo follow-up to his acclaimed 2018 LP, Escapism. The Kankyō Records founder shared his early sketches with friend and collaborator Oyamada, who began to play with the arrangements, taking the work in an experimental new direction. Naturally the project evolved into a cooperative effort, and its final form is the result of an honest and fluid back-and-forth between the two artists. The collaboration marks a considerable shift in energy to the artists' previous works - most of all in its foregrounded use of rhythm. Where Escapism was built from a series of gently lilting, dream-like vignettes, each movement of Cycle has a clear sense of forward momentum and purpose. Each composition builds from a set of sparse, meandering elements into something dense, cinematic and, at points, discordant. Although Cycle is at heart an ambient record, there is a club-informed feeling of forward motion running through the record, placing it in a similar sonic world to the beatless-but-rhythmic ambient techno of artists like Barker, Lorenzo Senni and Sunareht. Delicate and dramatic in equal measure, Cycle is a vital and exciting debut dedicated to the building of worlds - and to their eventual and inevitable dissolution.
Nuron continues to make his mark on De:tuned with the long-awaited new 3-track EP Blanchimont. Nurmad Jusat aka Nuron, one of the key figures from the golden era of 90s electronic music and UK techno, extends his legacy by swinging back into gear. On Blanchimont Nuron combines his signature drum programming with uniquely lush and highly emotional synth arrangements. Futuristic aesthetics and mystic sounds to take over your senses. New and essential material! Ian Anderson at The Designers Republic created all the graphic work. Mastered by Matt Colton at Metropolis. A separate digital release will also be available at the usual digital shops. Stay tuned!
From one of the pioneers of the Autonomic genre, one half of instra:mental, Kid Drama collects up all his influences from 80's tv and video, 90's Warp records and wraps it all in an Autonomic package reminiscent of the 2008- 2010 era. From the heady Miami nights of the past, Sorrow Skyline, 4am dimly lit hotel bar conversation of last night to the beautiful melancholy of Boarderline, Kid Drama's debut album - Keys to Kill Time, has you covered for the hit of nostalgia that you didn't know you needed.
Social Engineering brings together thirteen text fragments from so-called phishing emails. Using speech synthesis, they are spoken, sung, and/or transformed into abstract textures. The result is a 36-minute language and sound collage devoted to the dark forces of phishing.
After a five year hiatus Luke Slater reanimates his L.B. Dub Corp alias for a dynamic, vocal-led ode to the club featuring Robert Owens, Paul St. Hilaire, Miss Kittin and more. Slater is responsible for some of the most enduring electronic music of the past 30 years, including his grandiose ambient techno project The 7th Plain and the trailblazing machine funk of Planetary Assault Systems. He debuted the L.B. Dub Corp alias in 2006 as an outlet for a broader, looser kind of club music. His third LP the name, Saturn To Home also marks his first appearance on Dekmantel. The result of more than a years exacting work, here we find Slater reflecting on his formative influences and funnelling them into eight incisive tracks that range from the feverish passion of Your Loves infectious chord stabs to the star-scraping breakbeat techno of Only The Good Times via the smoky soundsystem tendrils of Golden Star and the elastic drums and mutant synth funk of Krank. As well as celebrating the intersectionality of club culture and the vibrant vocals of his invited guests, its also the first time Slater has committed his life-long love of playing drums onto a record just listen to the sizzling rhythmic tension of Cloak And Dagger and youll instantly understand where hes coming from. From every syncopated groove to the spine-tingling rush of the melodic hooks, Slater tells the story of his life in music, which means his life overall, without ever being stuck in the past.
Miss Kittin, L.B. Dub Corp, Robert Owens, Mortimer, BAAL, Paul St. Hilaire
Respected Leipzig based multi-instrumentalist Panthera Krause arrives on KANN with New Age appeal! Delving into a more mysterious sound than the label is commonly known, the artist draws from the dark side of the pool, taking in Baltic choir inspirations, 80s cinema themes (Tarantino's favourite) and lyrical GDR rock for good measure. Produced in secrecy over the past 12 months, Krause gets in touch with his inner Stereolab by creating an enchanting new full length entirely on headphones. Drip fed to those close to him over the past year, he was convinced to share these 'audiobooks' to a wider audience, now resulting to: Aside The Aeons. Adding almost only sounds from Korg M3R, Roland Aeorophon and a JX 03 synthesizer to the action - the record explores an unique musical universe and head trip for the astral plane.
A profound musical package from the Dutch-Turkish artist, Okitap - Sis, is a cultural clash between his Turkish roots and his affinity for industrial, techno, gabber and earnest sonic exploration. EP opener Cicek Suyu plays out like Vangelis moved Blade Runner to Istanbul and replaced his Yamaha CS-80 with a Tulum, a traditional bagpipe known to Turkey. Its dense, dark and intimidating. Luring you in to listen closer. Track 2, Batarya haunts and engulfs, breathing down your neck as you press in closer to make out the whispers before Karsiyaka punches you in the face. A virulently potent 90s goth sludge groove featuring the slicing Okitap vocals that challenge you to listen up. The EPs closers Nefes Al and Sis lul you back out as you crawl away, a canvas for Okitaps transporting, cinematic sound design adeptness.
Composed between 2020 and 2021, these three pieces have lain in waiting ever since, maturing like a fine wine, and now ready for consumption by musical connoisseurs the world over. Triptych as the title suggests features three tracks, the opening title track being a Triptych in itself; a musical journey that flows continuously through three interconnected sections that elicit three distinct atmospheres as we weave our way through the full 13 minute of its length. Touch Air, is a rhythmic odyssey, a trance-like production masterpiece for spiritual enrichment. Pythagoras in Japan is an ambient trip to the far east. Drifting on a tanpura-like drone the piece floats off to infinity as waves of sound enmesh one another while spoken-word poetry transports us to Pythagoras' final destination.
Invisible Inc once again presents another incredible full-length album from the talented Double Geography. Following on from 2020's The Indoor Gardener, the new LP Open Water is bathed in a similar blissful atmosphere...it would be appropriate to describe it as rather sublime. Double Geography aka Duncan Thornley (one half of Weird Weather and studio engineer at MAP Studios), following the success of his debut album The Indoor Gardener (also on Invisible Inc) had sent Invisible Inc label boss GK Machine demos of his second and third album, which the label reluctantly declined on the basis that the music didn't sound quite right for the label. However, this fourth studio album fits the bill perfectly. Leaning towards the label's more ambient and laidback output, the album is themed around water, transition and escape and sounds as unshackled and free-flowing as you'd expect...you can almost feel the breeze in the air and the sun on your skin. The album is a progression from his previous releases, this time featuring several additional musicians to compliment Thornley's electronics with live instrumentation...adding a complexity and depth to each of these compositions and an overall 'organic' quality that makes these new pieces sound like quite a departure from the first album. But departures of another form is what this album is all about. Fretless bass, clarinet and saxophone decorate the music with refrains and melodies that have been enchanting our reveries since first hearing them. _________________________ I wanted to incorporate some live musicians on this release so called upon some of the talent I'd worked with as an engineer at MAP Studios...that was the main drive behind the music for this release. The tracks are named after things that relate to either leaving behind canal boat living, e.g. Goodbye Great Escape (Great Escape was the name of our boat) or memories from a trip to Hydra, Greece. All sorta water related On one of our walks around the island we ended up sharing a beach with Pierluigi Collina hence Famous Italian Referee! That track felt like the weirdest of the bunch so it got designated the weirdest name / memory! (Duncan Thornley, March 2024) Duncan Thornley - synthesizers, programming, percussion Adam Hayes - drum kit, roto-toms (A1, A3, A5) Pike Ogilvy - congas (A2, A3) Jasper Osbourne - fretless bass (A1, A3, A5) Kaidi Akinnibi - tenor and soprano saxophones (A1, A5) Simeon May - bass clarinet (A2, A3, B2, B4) Greg Foat - piano (B1)
Following the release of All Is Well's "A Break In Time" album last November, we bring you a new EP of alternate versions and unreleased from the album. Starting with a remix from up and coming Japanese artist Yuu Udagawa, whose recent work on labels such as Cyphon, Razor-N-Tape and Compost has been turning heads as of late. She puts a slightly more dance floor twist on Tranquility, a highlight of the album for us. Another high moment on the LP is Cosmic Winter, here in its original form and with an unreleased Dub. Closing out the EP with one more exclusive - Isol8, a dubby track that has been featured in All Is Well's live sets but didn't make it on the album.
Gerry Franke lands on iideo with three signature cuts of rhythmic wisdom. Concise in length while expansive in spirit, these songs pull the listener into Gerrys unique world of motive abstraction. A gift to home listeners and adventurous selectors alike.
Ayjay Nils doesn't really know what he wants to hear. As a classical musician (practically since birth) who writes experimental electro beats on the side, it's hard for him to decide on one kind of sound: Viola, synth, harpsichord, bird sounds, synth again, piano, vintage drum breaks, wait, maybe no drums, electronic, acoustic.Without being able to commit to anything for more than 2 minutes, Ayjay Nils presents 6 microdoses of what's going on in his head and ears, none overstaying their welcome, everything coming to an end in a flash.
We are excited to present the debut of Martin Allin on Circular Limited. In this first EP we can appreciate a deep roots in ambient sound with Bass touches and subtle melodic notes, offering an immersive and captivating experience. The album features remixes by two great artists in the field, 'Warmth' and 'Polygonia' that complete an exciting journey towards nostalgia and reflection. Martin Allin SC: https://soundcloud.com/martinallin Polygonia SC: https://soundcloud.com/polygonia Warmth SC: https://soundcloud.com/w_a_r_m_t_h Distributed by Pressology - www.pressology.net
Minimum Syndicat (also known as MS or M-Syndicat) are two musicians from Paris who have been making electronic noise and live performances for decades. They are known for their very unique mix of acid, rave and industrial on the one hand and cinematic, psychedelic, sci-fi landscapes on the other. S.C.H.O.R.L. is their first full length album. Like some kind of bleak space opera it tells its story of lonely subaquatic outposts, Soviet droids and mantis-priests gathering. The core is spaced out electro, but it also has elements of techno, doomcore, breakbeat and industrial, one could say. "At this point subgenres are less important than in the past, it's more like the alternative electronic scene against the industry turning techno into moronic money-driven entertainment., they say, and right they are, so let's end this here. The album features two collaborations with French heavyweights Umwelt and Voiron, the artwork comes from the legendary Belgian artist Elzo Durt, who made some of our strongest artworks in the past and who is a fan of Minimum Syndicat himself. The 2x12 is limited to 100 copies, hand numbered and comes with a silk-screen A2 poster with a version of the artwork. MS will also be releasing a special series of digital releases called "Mutant Signal on their own label.
Having released her debut EP on the label in 2022 with the Daydreamer EP, a collaboration with Fossil Archive, Stevie Cox returns Remmah with her latest solo EP. Following on the heels of Februarys Expansion EP for Optimo Music, Jecht Shot is a JRPG-influenced dose of melodic drum & bass that combines her burgeoning production talents with the rhythmic sensibilities shes honed through her residencies at Glasgows Sub Club and La Cheetah. Packaged with the title track is the trancey deep space acid roller Midnight With DC, and a remix of Jecht Shot by Cooper Saver, the Canada-based Californian producer with prior releases on Live At Robert Johnson, Hivern Discs and Internasjonal. His rework moulds the originals breaks into a hypnotically meditative cut that would have felt perfectly at home on Warps Artificial Intelligence compilations. Really happy to be back on the label with something a wee bit different. Even happier to have one of the best about - the ridiculously talented Cooper Saver - on board too! Stevie Cox
In a formidable display of freeform techno from two masters of the art, STOOR present the first recorded work from Speedy J and Surgeon as Multiples. Fully improvised, unedited and fuelled by raw instinct, this extended album captures two heavyweight synth explorers going deep into their assembled tools, holed up in the STOOR facility in Rotterdam for two days letting their intuition lead into distinctive, daring sonic territory. This 51st release in STOORs series is also the first time they are pressing the album in a plant for wider distribution, marking a departure from the limited edition lathe cuts they produced in-house for the first 50 releases. There will, however, be a deluxe edition of Two Hours Or Something produced at STOOR with a bonus lathe-cut disc of additional material for the die- hard fans. As pioneers of European techno from their respective starting points in the early 90s, Jochem SpeedyJ Paap and Anthony Surgeon Child have pushed the envelope in tandem. Its only more recently theyve come together as kindred spirits with a love of live, improvised techno, resulting in scattered festival and club appearances as Multiples. With decades of expertise in their toolkit (along with some highly desirable gear), theyre the kind of artists who can hit record, fire up the sequencers and jump right into the unknown for an audience of thousands. Without the limitations of an hour-long set or the expectation of a dancefloor, Two Hours Or Something showcases what happens when two such artists can cut loose for days on end and test the limits of their imaginations. There was no overarching plan when they entered Paaps STOOR lab, just a desire to jam and see where they end up, and the untampered results pulled from the sessions are as surprising as they are accomplished. As you might expect, there is space for expressive ambience and sound design. The title track is a mesmerising, dissonant chamber of sustained notes and pin-prick ripples which give way to a labyrinth of needlepoint electronica. The Dogs Name cycles through delay- soaked synth figures and grandiose pad tones steeped in implacable emotional intensity. And from two learned scholars of the kick drum, there are of course some propulsive dancefloor moments as well. Spirit is a pummelling slice of electro drum pressure which blooms into a melodic masterpiece over the course of 11 minutes. System Down revels in atonal half-time techno, and Coffee Nerd captures the tweaked mischief and twitchy tempo of braindance. Tracks rarely finish where they started, and they evolve with a dexterity which speaks to the minds involved and the machines in front of them. As 15-minute closer Train To Hoofddorp exclusive to the deluxe lathe-cut edition confirms, letting Multiples roam free will take you to very unpredictable, intriguing spaces indeed.
Sound artist and designer Mattia Onori steps into the spotlight, illuminating the expanse with his debut solo album, "Tra Vento E Oscurità" ("Between Wind and Darkness") on Naarm's Southern Lights. "Tra Vento E Oscurità" guides us through the interplay of sound and silence, inviting listeners on an odyssey that pushes the boundaries of music's significance in the contemporary world and marking a moment of full-circle for Onori: A harmonious balance between experimentation and sound art, deeply rooted in an expansive understanding of sound engineering.
Heralding spring in an April shower of effervescent synth flair and crooked beat science, PM+ welcomes the first buds of Ralph Bass Clef Cumbers new project, Myriad Myriads. Anyone who has been keyed into Cumbers sound from his early maverick dubstep cuts through the modular manifestations via love letters to rave and beyond wont need to be sold on checking this release out. Hes got a masterful style which is raw and dexterous in equal measure, not least when it comes to the synth voices he sculpts. Strapped to acutely angled, heaven-sent kicks to maximize the energy in the club, Revelation Waves spirals around the most uplifting of FM synth licks a chrome plated tone which positively commands pure joy without a lick of saccharine on its surface. As a counterpoint, Whos yr imaginary friend? dials back the drums and weaves together more luminescent melodic threads over some positively rude bass spasms. Both cuts guarantee giddy emotional responses and endorphin rushes aplenty, both on and off the floor.
OUR man Quantec is nothing if not versatile. An aficionado of many styles including ambient, deep house, Detroit, dub, dubby electronics, experimental and roots reggae, he can turn his hand adeptly across the musical palette. For this his latest release on Neighbour Recordings it's all about the 'D'; deep ambient, drone and dub techno that's dope with a capital 'D'. Not for nothing is his album titled Journey of Mind. It's a personal and self-assured trip from first note to last - not surprising for a producer with almost 25 years in the game - drifting as it does through contemplative sonic worlds and ethereal soundscapes. And while the label co-owner's handiwork here is from the 'less is more' school of production, it's nonetheless big on atmosphere with an undercurrent of drama or melody never too far away. Notable destinations on this journey include Depth of Immersion, Mind Wandering, Motionless and Perfect Stranger. Bon voyage.
Facta & K-LONE's Wisdom Teeth imprint continues its busy schedule of 10 year celebrations with the debut LP by H TO O: a new collaborative project by Japanese ambient artists H. Takahashi and Kohei Oyamada. Set across six distinct movements, the LP maps the different stages of the cosmic cycle through a series of dynamic ambient set pieces: from the exponential expansion of the universe in its infancy - here invoked by the bright, chiming album opener 'Inflation' - through to it's inevitable collapse and rebirth, captured by the record's driving, ominous closer, 'Ever'. The record started life in Takahashi's hands, initially intended as a solo follow-up to his acclaimed 2018 LP, Escapism. The Kankyō Records founder shared his early sketches with friend and collaborator Oyamada, who began to play with the arrangements, taking the work in an experimental new direction. Naturally the project evolved into a cooperative effort, and its final form is the result of an honest and fluid back-and-forth between the two artists. The collaboration marks a considerable shift in energy to the artists' previous works - most of all in its foregrounded use of rhythm. Where Escapism was built from a series of gently lilting, dream-like vignettes, each movement of Cycle has a clear sense of forward momentum and purpose. Each composition builds from a set of sparse, meandering elements into something dense, cinematic and, at points, discordant. Although Cycle is at heart an ambient record, there is a club-informed feeling of forward motion running through the record, placing it in a similar sonic world to the beatless-but-rhythmic ambient techno of artists like Barker, Lorenzo Senni and Sunareht. Delicate and dramatic in equal measure, Cycle is a vital and exciting debut dedicated to the building of worlds - and to their eventual and inevitable dissolution.
Facta & K-LONE's Wisdom Teeth imprint continues its busy schedule of 10 year celebrations with the debut LP by H TO O: a new collaborative project by Japanese ambient artists H. Takahashi and Kohei Oyamada. Set across six distinct movements, the LP maps the different stages of the cosmic cycle through a series of dynamic ambient set pieces: from the exponential expansion of the universe in its infancy - here invoked by the bright, chiming album opener 'Inflation' - through to it's inevitable collapse and rebirth, captured by the record's driving, ominous closer, 'Ever'. The record started life in Takahashi's hands, initially intended as a solo follow-up to his acclaimed 2018 LP, Escapism. The Kankyō Records founder shared his early sketches with friend and collaborator Oyamada, who began to play with the arrangements, taking the work in an experimental new direction. Naturally the project evolved into a cooperative effort, and its final form is the result of an honest and fluid back-and-forth between the two artists. The collaboration marks a considerable shift in energy to the artists' previous works - most of all in its foregrounded use of rhythm. Where Escapism was built from a series of gently lilting, dream-like vignettes, each movement of Cycle has a clear sense of forward momentum and purpose. Each composition builds from a set of sparse, meandering elements into something dense, cinematic and, at points, discordant. Although Cycle is at heart an ambient record, there is a club-informed feeling of forward motion running through the record, placing it in a similar sonic world to the beatless-but-rhythmic ambient techno of artists like Barker, Lorenzo Senni and Sunareht. Delicate and dramatic in equal measure, Cycle is a vital and exciting debut dedicated to the building of worlds - and to their eventual and inevitable dissolution.
Nuron continues to make his mark on De:tuned with the long-awaited new 3-track EP Blanchimont. Nurmad Jusat aka Nuron, one of the key figures from the golden era of 90s electronic music and UK techno, extends his legacy by swinging back into gear. On Blanchimont Nuron combines his signature drum programming with uniquely lush and highly emotional synth arrangements. Futuristic aesthetics and mystic sounds to take over your senses. New and essential material! Ian Anderson at The Designers Republic created all the graphic work. Mastered by Matt Colton at Metropolis. A separate digital release will also be available at the usual digital shops. Stay tuned!
Experimental Japanese operator Lemna returns to Mantis with another five intricately sculpted cuts that toy with tension, release and the mysterious atmosphere of the forest at dawn. Lemna adopts a considered, patient approach to her music practice, creating interlocking rhythms which take cues from Autonomic fragmentation as much as techno hypnosis, but its the spatial pressure and textural sound design which makes her music truly fly. Taking predawn walks in woods at the foot of the mountain she calls home, she drew inspiration from five different organisms within the vibrant ecosystem around her to create a collection of tracks she aptly refers to as Nocturnal Assembly.
On Board Music returns for its sixth installment of the Various Artists EP series, but this time with a different approach. Five fresh remixes breathe new life into Point C, originally released in 2021 and consisting of tracks from Foreign Material, Hironori Takahashi, Hiver, Sylve and Alan Backdrop. For the 2024 update, On Board enlists five of the finest deep techno practitioners to twist the originals into bold new forms. US artist Patrick Russell dives deep into his signature, tripped-out zone, with dub and half-time sensibilities grounding the remix in an eyes-down headspace. Estrato Aurora, who remixes Hiver's cut, goes equally subterranean, perfectly setting up the nimble drumming and bright melodies of Polygonia's contribution. On the B-side, Forest On Stasys melts the synths of Alan Backdrop's "Oelo" into an ever-evolving slice of dance floor psychedelia, before Detroit luminary Erika focuses on a syncopated, shuffling rhythm. Together, the five tracks cover extensive ground, all bound by the uniquely hypnotic sound that On Board is well known for. Mastered at Enisslab Studio in Rome Visual by Natascha Mankowski Designed by Sophie Vaillant
Foreign Material, Hiver, Sylve, Alan Backdrop, Hironori Takahashi