Chem Club Records News

Identity Theft is the solo electronic music pseudonym of Michael Buchanan, who is one half of the project Abandoned Footwear, and also a founding member of Nommo Ogo. Utilizing an arsenal of analog and digital synthesizers alongside rhythm machines and effects, he continues to explore themes of paranoia, surveillance and shadow psychology; prevalent in Identity Theft's catalog since the release of his first effort, 'Night Workers' in 2010. He has previously released music on various European labels such as Oráculo Records and Treue Um Treue, as well as domestically via the Record Label Records and Katabatik imprints.


Chem Club's fifth EP, The Wrong Side of History, builds on Identity Theft's divergent production style, showcasing a mix of heavy sub frequencies, plucked modulars, tight delay, broken percussion and chuggy basslines. The A side, with tracks Johari Window, Climate Denial and No Response demonstrate the record's more rhythmic leanings. A1 and A2 use a forward moving sound palette rooted in heavy kicks, modular stabs and sequenced bass. A3 cleverly chops it's drums up while a throbbing sub and sharp synths create movement. The B Side with tracks Say Something and Vault7 opens the door to a darker room. B1 uses a fragmented arpeggiated bass that coincides with an array of plucks and melodies to create something uniquely catchy. B2 is the real low end face melter on this record where the drawn out bass notes, sonar like synth work and metallic pads conjure up thoughts of a lost submarine never making it home

Jonra & e:machinery are an electronic music performance and
recording duo comprised of long time Los Angeles based Designforms
Research label boss Jonra Babiracki and electronic music artist Eric Cowden aka e:machinery.

Combining analog hardware, software and processed vocals in a live performance setting, their music spans many styles including techno, house, acid, darkwave, and electro. Their improvisational technique results in tracks that twist and turn, keeping the listener's ears perked while always encouraging the dance floor. With releases on Designforms, Blaq Records, Superfreq and now Chem Club, this veteran duo plans to continue on their path of proud abnormality.

Frenzied and unhinged, the Ritual Casting EP by Jonra & e:machinery is the third vinyl release by Oakland based label Chem Club Records. The title track, Ritual Casting, coils into a bottom heavy head spinner that takes a left turn towards the end. The second A side track, Take A Trip, is indeed just that, a roller coaster ride using their signature vocal style paired with classic bass and percussive sounds. The DJ friendly B side kicks off with Douchebag Frog, a bubbling bass sequence centered track with pad stabs that get bounced around by those eerie vocals again. Lastly, Catch Me If You Can, with a heaving acid bassline, is a sure way to end the EP with a bang.

RELEASE

'The Practice of Pseudoscience', a three track EP by M Parent, is the second vinyl release from the US based label Chem Club Records. Having been inspired by peripheral thoughts about pseudosciences, this EP is washed in steady emotional build ups using airy reverb, scattering percussion, throbbing stabs and solid kicks. The title track (A1) uses these elements to move towards a piercing synth peak while 'Cycle of Intellect' (A2) spaces out these features as it creeps to a dubby impactful end. The B side 'Temazcal Rites' was directly motivated by a scorching summer day when the intensity of the sun sparked an idea for a sizzling percussive experiment. What we're left with is a funky but emotive soundscape that tops off the EP in a unique fashion.


ARTIST

M Parent, the artist behind Chem Club's second vinyl release entitled 'The Practice of Pseudoscience', is a Brooklyn based animator who uses his background in this story-driven medium to further express himself musically. His storyline approach to producing makes for an attentive listening experience full of arcs and plot twists that still maintains it's focus on the dancefloor. Using hardware exclusively, M Parent's aim is to produce emotive tracks that exist somewhere between a continuously evolving song and a fully functional track. M Parent DJs regularly at Bossa Nova Civic Club in Brooklyn and has a monthly residency at Jupiter Disco called Modal Form with fellow Blankstairs artist, Nathaniel Young.