Re-mastering by: Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London
John Gordon, a trombone master, brings us another gem from that most renowned of 70's record labels, Strata-East. The trombone is a difficult instrument. In the hands of an artist like John Gordon, however, it can create vivid images and conjure up beautiful music. And when the cohort of other players includes the likes of Charles Tolliver & Stanley Cowell, you know you're in for an extra treat.
LP,180g, 2018 REISSUE - REMASTERED FROM ORIGINAL TAPES, CAREFULLY REPRODUCED ORIGINAL ART
James Clarke's Mystery Movie was released in 1974 as modern, small group compositions in various moods. Ideally suited to the new Americanised style of T.V. and cinema flm where music is used to create the mood and carry the action'.
So this collection covers a lot of bases, but it does so brilliantly and has absolutely no right to be such a fantastic listen from start to fnish.Mystery Movie is best known for the slick drum breaks underpinning the top-notch jazz-funk chase theme Car Patrol', the fuzz rifng and ARP soloing of The Heavies' and the slow-mo strut of Mystery Moll'. Study In Fear' and Empty Streets' are horror soundtrack fodder of the fnest sort.
However, it's the understated, plaintive pieces that we fnd the most rewarding.
Ambient feels and strung-out fried-folk treats, full of cyclical naïve melodies.
Music that evokes the 'downlifting' Ronnie Lane and Ron Wood instrumentals from their great Mahoney's Last Stand LP, as well as the beautiful soundtrack work of Jack Nitzsche and Ry Cooder. You might also recognise Waiting Game' from being sampled by melodic downbeat masters Express Rising.
Check Relaxed Theme', Quiet Girl', Routine Procedure' and Quietness Sustained' for a melodic, melancholic set, with the last three performed on just acoustic guitar and harp. Gorgeous work.
As with all ten re-issues, the audio for Mystery Movie comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. We've taken the same care with the sleeves, handing the reproduction duties over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM's brand identity.
LP,180, 2018 REISSUE - REMASTERED FROM ORIGINAL TAPES, CAREFULLY REPRODUCED ORIGINAL ART
Piano Viberations' 'small group jazz featuring piano and vibes with rhythm' makes for a gorgeous Francis Coppieters showcase, surely one of Belgium's best-kept musical secrets. Released in 1975, and arguably the most low-key of the KPM and Themes records we're re-issuing, this is easily our current favourite.
'The Open Highway' is the appropriately-named opener, and immediately demonstrates Coppieters' dexterous interplay between piano and vibes in assured, joyous fashion. The shufing bossa of 'Sales Notes' is a jaw-dropper, well-mined by samplers with impeccable taste. The mellow head-nod drum-break
that is 'Funky Chimes' brilliantly demonstrates Coppieters' quiet majestic side with its slow-motion funk rhythm with beautifully refective notes throughout.
The upbeat and joyful 'Cross Talk' closes out side A. Vibes and piano are defnitely at the heart of the arrangement here. The quick cut movement of 'Piano In Transit' is another gem, driven principally by piano but those vibes along for more than just the ride. On a more gentle, elegiac note, 'To Shearing With Love' is a warm, slow, romantic piece in the style of George Shearing. It's
plaintive and sublime.
Piano Viberations is one of those rare library records the original description of which makes as much sense now as it did when it was frst released. Piano and vibes with rhythm indeed.
As with all ten re-issues, the audio for Piano Viberations comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. We've taken the same care with the sleeves, handing the reproduction duties over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM's brand identity.
Bastard Jazz is proud to present the next installment of our long running Tempo Dreams compilation series. As with previous volumes of the compilation, we've tapped an established artist that we're big fans of to shine a light on their personal favorite producers, and compile an album up of all unreleased music from emerging & underrated young talent. And with Volume 5, we're happy to welcome in the Los Angeles based but globetrotting selection of Free The Robots.
Rooted in Santa Ana, CA, Chris Alfaro aka Free the Robots has spent over a decade taking his craft to audiences around the globe. Known as one of the pioneering artists to come out of LA's infamous beat movement, the energy and technical skill behind his live performances have landed him among the greats, sharing stages with Dj Shadow, Prefuse 73, Flying Lotus, to Afrika Bambaataa. Crafting stories to tell with his ever-evolving solo project Free the Robots, he has always had the ability to jump in and out of other worlds inspiring a unique signature sound that hints at jazz, psych, electronic, and hip hop, while remaining un-genre-fiable.
Staying almost permanently on the road, Chris has come across an array of artists and scenes around the world. Different tours and temporary living situations have landed him in the middle of both the DIY underground and more mainstream clubs and stages. Some artists he's connected with have either kept it proudly local or breached international borders. Underrated, unknown, or already on the brink; these are just a few of the people that have crossed paths with Free The Robots. He's chosen these songs as a representation of some of the vibes that inspire his music: Jazz, Psychedelia, Dirtwave, Beats, and a little bit of Future Funk make up Volume 5 of his Tempo Dreams series.
As with all previous volumes, the compiler has produced a track exclusively for the album, which Chris delivers in the bass heavy, South East Asian vibes of "Nasi Goreng" (also available on a limited edition 7" with another unreleased FTR track). Other producers included on the album include Mophono, Never Ending Echo, Kuromoji, RSI-MSK, The Breathing Effect, Cazal Organism, Lefto, Chubby Boss, Caliph8, TITLE, Nois IV, The Heavy Twelves, Mu. and Markey Funk.
Since the inception of Cyberfunk one artist in particular has really taken on the core values and ethos of the label and has been working extensively with us.
After his debut release on Cyberfunk "Cold Steppin" gained heavy rotation on the dnb circuit from some of the scenes heavyweights. We gave Bournemouth based duo Ulterior Motive a chance to remix "Cold Steppin" and released it as part of our first ever Remix EP - Remixed Vol1. This dominated the charts for several weeks in a row.
Other than the aforementioned, the West London based producer has kept mostly quite bar one release - "Gorilla" which was part of the first in a series of various artist LP's from us: VA:LP-001
This EP has been in the works for quite some time, with some parts taking in excess of 3 years! (Yes we know but he's worth the wait we promise) this is a project we have been working on closely with Freddie and although he has kept us waiting we are happy to be releasing such a diverse and unique EP from an equally diverse and unique beard, sorry... - artist! Excuse me. (You'll see what I mean...)
We feel this is the truest and purest representation of Simple Technique as an artist. With a strong mix of tempos and styles all of which have been filtered through his unique outlook on music and rave culture. From bass house to Drum and bass to hiphop and trap influences with beautiful soundscapes in-between. This EP has flavours from all over and the raw signature sound that our fans have come to expect from a Simple Technique set.
We hope you enjoy the music. <3
If you are feeling it, please let us know
If you hate the music please still let us know so we can further promo the EP.
Return of the UK producer Allen Saei aka Aubrey on the mighty Barba label is another bold statement in the discography of this well-versed artist. Building on the relationship with the Burek/Barba/Pomalo family established through remixes of Information Ghetto's "Inspiration" track (Burek 2013), DJ Stingray's "Communication System" (Barba 2015) and his solo "Clock Funk EP" (Barba 2017), for this record Aubrey presents us with a continuation of his previous Barba release, simplistically titled "Clock Funk 2" EP. As is to be expected from a guy who's been spending time in the studio for better part of the last three decades, this 12" is pure techno, in the best sense of the word. As mature and consistent as the previous record of the series, we have Aubrey building on that ground and expanding the range into more abrasive and rough on one side, and even more subtle and humane on the other. A1, titled "Clock Funk 2" is among the subtle ones. Beautiful cascading keys, glitchy synth bleeps and lead lines intertwine into a gorgeous composition grounded by a driving bassline and counterpinted with distorted ride cymbals. Uniquely sounding track which draws influences from many corners of the planet. A2, titled "Sel Moulo" sets a point for the other side of the spectrum. The heaviest and roughest, it locks the frame in which this EP works. Direct, abstract and firmly aimed towards the dancefloor, this cut is for the peak moment of the night when its combination of jacking beats and trippy leads will just push the craziness off the edge. B1, the most humane and gentle track on the EP, "Triads" is a perfect match for the A1 cut, although slower and calmer. Again, the similar approach is used, where the perfectly tuned combination of small synth and keys elements form a complex image which will stay ingrained into anyone's mind once you play it in the right moment. Again, it's hard not to reach for the word "beautiful" when describing this one. B2, Ghost Mist, is on the other hand a match for the heavy A2, but also not as intense. A repetitive affair, with abstract synth lines and disharmonic pads serving as an emotion injection just when they're needed. Common thread moving through all four cuts is an infectious groove intertwined with synth lines that would not be misplaced amongst the best examples of space-influenced techno music firmly grounded on the floor. All that, pressed onto a heavy duty 180 gram vinyl and beautifully packaged in an original artwork by local artist EmaEmaEma.
The New York Downtown Producer/Composer Returns With His First New Album In 3 Years
EIGHTEEN: the year of release, 2018. EIGHTEEN: the age at which I first used a synthesizer.
In creating EIGHTEEN I worked independently in the studio, initially building up tracks with synthesizers and found sounds recorded in my daily comings and goings. After working with the tracks over a period of months,I shared them with a few musicians, who added their own instrumental layers. Though working independently, we all shared a similar working process: working in our personal recording spaces, as opposed to larger recording studios.
The musicians are: Gabe Gurnsey (drums) of Factory Floor, with whom I collaborated on the Beachcombing EP and performed live at London's ICA. I appear on Gabe's newly released album Physical;
Larry Saltzman (guitar) has played in my Love Of Life Orchestra since the 1970's. Well-known for his work with Arthur Russell ('Kiss Me Again', Flying Hearts), he is in high demand in NYC by acts such as Simon and Garfunkel;
Paul Nowinski, (bass) has played with LOLO since the 1980's. Paul has an impressive list of credits, including Les Paul, Keith Richards, Bernard Purdie and the Boston Pops; Matt Mottel, (electric piano), is the newest addition to the Love Of Life Orchestra. He is half the duo Talibam!, a leading act in the noise jazz scene; Lewin Barringer, (guitar), is a talented guitarist and producer in Philadelphia.
After mixing the final tracks, I brought the mixes to Berlin. There I worked with the brilliant mastering engineer Mike Grinser who helped to give the album a unified sound.
I think of this album as electronic music. It was created in my home studio, using analog and digital synthesizers, found sounds recorded on my phone, and instrumental parts contributed by friends. Finely crafted melodies and harmonies are set against subway noises, street construction, and distant foghorns. Sometimes there are sustained clusters, generated by my leaning against the keyboard. Deliberateness paired with randomness: this is what guided the artistic process.
This album is atypical for me as I am not playing saxophone. (I do play one reed instrument - a harmonica.) I grew up with the sax as my primary instrument. Yet my father was a radio journalist so the reel-to-reel tape recorder was a ubiquitous presence in the family home. From an early age,
I experimented with the tape machine: recording, overdubbing and splicing tape. I learned about Varese from Frank Zappa liner notes; I read John Cage's 'Silence.' Electronic music was on my radar.
My first exposure to an actual synthesizer came when I recorded my first single at the fabled Sound City Studio in Van Nuys, CA. The studio had a custom Neve board, but it also had a firstgeneration Moog modular synthesizer sitting unused in the maintenance room. I asked and they kindly let me experiment with it. Soon, I enrolled at the University of California - San Diego after I discovered they had separate studios for their Moog and Buchla systems. These large modular synthesizers were affordable then only by institutions and rock stars. But these would be soon eclipsed by smaller, cheaper synths in the 70's and early 80's. In the same way, recording studio technology became accessible in the 90's. . And thus the personal computer and digital audio allowed studio quality production in the home studio. Electronic music had become democratized.
Handmade music by way of digital technology: this is the music of EIGHTEEN
Moscow Is The City Full Of Posh Decorations. Like A Black Hole, It's Gorging Clouds Of Chaotic Ideas. Madly Fast, It's Flooded With Shallow Hippies, Jealous Dealers And Susceptible Artists. Everyone Desires To Have Its Own Piece Of Luck, Looking For The Shortest Way To Some Easy Life. Most Of The Nomads Arrive From The Capital Suburbs And Other Big Cities Of Immensely Corrupted Russia. Everyone Can Tell A Tale From Outskirt. Senseless Rivalry And Art Falsity Together Make The Special Demands: Your Tale Has To Amaze, To Inculcate, You Must Do Something Notable, Freaky One And Truthful. To Dare To Let It. There Are No Any Rules. Your Voice Has No Matter, The Only Important Is A Sales Skill. The Local Scene Is Tired Of Identical Copying Outside World's Standards. Thereby The More Your Approach Is Unacceptable, The More Valued Is It. But The More It's Valued, The Faster It Will Depreciate. The Glossy Shell With Cheap Content Is The Way To Survive In Such A Tight Plexus Of Cruel Love, Substance Abuse And Electronic Music.
When the new Halloween movie hits theaters in October 2018, it will have the distinction of being the first film in the series with creator John Carpenter's direct involvement since 1982's Halloween III: Season of the Witch. Carpenter serves on the new David Gordon Green-directed installment as an executive producer, a creative consultant, and, thrillingly, as a soundtrack composer, alongside his collaborators from his three recent solo albums, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies.
The new soundtrack pays homage to the classic Halloween score that Carpenter composed and recorded in 1978, when he forever changed the course of horror cinema and synthesizer music with his low-budget masterpiece. Several new versions of the iconic main theme serve as the pulse of Green's film, its familiar 5/4 refrain stabbing through the soundtrack like the Shape's knife. The rest of the soundtrack is just as enthralling, incorporating everything from atmospheric synth whooshes to eerie piano-driven pieces to skittering electronic percussion. While the new score was made with a few more resources than Carpenter's famously shoestring original, its musical spirit was preserved.
FALK Records will be releasing 'Spaces' from Icelandic experimental producer AAIIEENN this August.
AAIIEENN is the solo project of electronic musician Hallmar Gauti Halldórsson. Halldórsson first came to
music though being a mover and shaker in Iceland's punk and hardcore scene where he was the 'harsh
noise guy' with local band Distill the World. With AAIIEENN however, Halldórsson moved away from the
guitars and screaming to a fully electronic world of experimental synth music and gorging on the
mathematical possibilities and expanses of arpeggio/sequencer driven ambient music.
'Calab-Yau' and 'Continuous Property 1' drip shards of pure crystalline sound into deep crevasses as
harmonic droplets ping of gleaming surfaces coated with spongiform bass. The light and effervescent
'Euclidean' evokes classic Ambient Works Aphex Twin, while 'Manifold' is more direct with a muscular and
sturdy bassline. Spaces closes with the fluttering and lush ambient sounds of 'Zariksi' that are carried into
the skies by a pulsing and gliding techno beat.
After more than a decade of deep, expansive productions on labels such as Detroit Underground and CPU, Annie Hall arrives on MUSAR for a record typically rich in texture and understated grooves.
Opening track 'Linium' immediately seduces listeners with a complex drum pattern that somehow feels spacious, subtly twisting and turning its way around Hall's analogue world. Dutch artist Mattheis maintains this understated feel but adds a soft, compelling kick in response on his suspenseful remix of 'Lavandula'. The original, moodier version of this cut the follows to open the B side, gradually erupting around a killer distorted bassline. The EP continues to hit a more urgent note with the tense machinations of 'Silene', where dense layers of stuttering, frenetic drums interweave with Hall's trademark, melancholy keys. The record concludes on a weightless, transcendent note with 'Santolina', taking each visceral element featured thus far and slowing each down, with affecting results.
Indebted to vintage electro and IDM, Hall's music is no throwback, always looking forward and moving dancefloors in the most unexpected ways.
DJ FEEDBACK
Early support from
Michael Mayer (Kompakt) : Nice vibes from Mattheis... will play for sure!
James Zabiela (Born Electric) : Linium is a nice one, thanks.
Arnaud Le Texier (Cocoon / Chronicle) : Nice music. Thx!
Marcel Dettmann (Ostgut Ton/MDR) : Thx!
Carl Craig (Planet E) : Thx!
Gonno (Beats In Space Records / Endless Flight) : I like Mattheis' :)
Thomas Hessler (Index Marcel Fengler) : Nice one! Thank you!
Tom Lye (Melodic Distraction - Liverpool) : Big fan of the whole EP. Strong, building electro with different moods. Essential!
Afrodeutsche (NTS / LuckyMe / Skam) : Glitchy melodica... Right up my Strasse...
DJ Shiva / Noncompliant (Valence / Detroit Underground) : Stellar music here. Moving beyond "DJ music", this is just really fantastic to listen to in headphones. Gorgeous stuff.
Lonya (Asymmetric Recordings) : Great stuff here!
Nori (Posivision) : Cool work.
Cinnaman (Rush Hour / Naked Naked) : Lavandula and Santolina are my favorites! thanks
Dj Windows XP (E-Beamz) : Dope E.P. Will play Lavandula.
Ambivalent/LA-4A (Delft/Cocoon/Ovum) I'm a huge fan of Annie Hall and Mattheis!!! This is a FANTASTIC release!! One of my favorites of recent months just on first listen!!
Benoit C (Tsugi) : Linium for me
Ian Blevins (ESP Institute / Sulk Magic) : Linium and another bit of top work from Mattheis. Santolina is pushing my buttons too. Aphexy vibes.
Joe Europe (Ransom Note) : Very nice!
Azterisco: Very interesting record. Nice remix!
Oded Peled : What a fantastic release! Was hard to choose a favourite between Linium and the Mattheis Remix of Lavandula. Both will come in handy in my sets. ....Thanx a lot and keep em coming.
Naduve (Cocktail d'Amore / Disco Halal) : Both A1 and A2 are great!..Thanks.
Anastasia Kristensen (Nous) : I dig this a lot, it's a crazy well produced record.
Demia E.Clash (Darknet) : Such a good ep-.i love them all,quality production yess.
Pedro Martins (Karakter Records) : Nice EP overall. Linium, Silene, and Santolina are my favorites. Thank you so much!
Xinobi (Discotexas) : Great record. I'm specially enchanted by the original version o Lavandula. Congratulations.
Scan Mode (DJ Mag Spain) : Lavandula in both mixes for me
John Osborn (TANSTAAFL) : Can't pick a fav. it is all Devine. thank you.
Madloch (Sound Avenue) : Nice EP, Linium & Lavandula original are my favs, thanks.
DVS NME (Transient Force) : The standout track is Lavandula.
out of Stock
Last delivered 5 years ago available to reorder, subject to availability
Dancing With Fireflies From Sanderson's Second Long Player Urban Mosaic Gets The Treatment Courtesy Louis Haiman, Minimal States And Off Land. Louis Once Again Shows His Flare For Soulful Detroit Influenced Tech, Putting A Fwdthought Spin On Sanderson's Original Arrangement. Minimal States Leaves An Equally Strong Mark With His Rich Idm Techno Flavoured Rendition. Stasis Recordings Stalwart, Off Land, Reworks Just Beyond Into A Gorgeous Piece Of Chill Out Bliss.
Wild Style Lion feat. Kim Gordon how the fuck did that happen
Or better ask: how did this young band end up on a record box-set called Psych Box with Hawkwind, MC5, Nico and Kim Fowley out on Cleopatra Records
And if that was not enough they toured Europe with Dinosaur Jr. in Beyoncé's custom made night-liner for a whole freakin' month.
So you would think these guys sit back and get their hard-disks sucked but instead they keep partying and drop ecstasy at Berghain where Khan used to host a monthly party called Smegma with DJ Nd Baumecker presenting bands like The Gossip, GusGus, Opal Bastards or even Lady Gaga.
Wild Style Lion is Philipp Virus and Khan Of Finland a hard working producer-duo from Berlin. Tallmen 785 responsible for the B-side remix who already reworked for the likes of Little Dragon or his good fella Scuba.
Wild Style Lion currently working on a transgender Hip Hop project with mc BIG T shooting to drop a 12' in fall 2018 and a new full length album in spring 2019.
Die Beta Band war eine britische Musikgruppe, die ihren
eigenen Stil als Folktronic bezeichnete, was eine Mischung aus
Folk, Rock 'n' Roll, Trip Hop und hemmungslos
experimentellem Jammen darstellt.
Die Beta Band wurde 1996 in der Nähe von Edinburgh von
den Musikern Steve Mason (Gesang, Gitarre) und Gordon
Anderson gegründet. Als sie gemeinsam Songs für ihre Debüt-
EP Champion Versions verfassten, stießen mit Robin Jones
(Schlagzeug) und John MacLean (DJ, Sampler, Keyboard-
Pianist) noch zwei weitere Mitglieder hinzu. Im Juli 1997
veröffentlichten sie die von Nick McCabe produzierte EP
Champion Versions, die von Kritikern vor allem aufgrund des
innovativen "Cut'n'Paste"- Sample-Konzepts umjubelt wurde.
Zwei ähnliche EPs folgten bald darauf: The Patty Patty Sound
im März des folgenden Jahres und Los Amigos del Beta
Bandidos im Juli. Alle drei erschienen im September 1998
unter dem passend gewählten Titel The Three EP's in einer
Kollektion.
(incl. Jp Enfant Remix) Legendary Dj/producer And Long-time Friend Of The Mary Go Wild Family - Joel Mull - Returns To Our Label With 3 Mesmerizing Tracks. The Title Track Sounding Like The Growling Of A Beast. Roundabout Is A World Of Its Own And Syncopate Pulling You Into The Unexplored Depths Of The Dark And Deep Unknown.
Standards & Practices is proud to present the inaugural release on its new sister imprint, Double Standards, from NYC-based producer Jake Reif (Device Control). His third release working under this alias, Reif manages to amalgamate his dance music obsessions (EBM, bleep techno, Chicago house) in a totally unique way that feels fresh and idiosyncratic, avoiding simple genre exercises or nostalgia for the sake of it.
Lead track 'Spirit Module' is perhaps the finest summation of Reif's aesthetic yet: a mixture of bleepy, raw techno that, with its wild vocal samples and wide, 808-driven groove, comes across like a tougher, more modern take on the classic Sheffield/Richard H. Kirk/Robert Gordon sound. Label partner Ken Meier's first outing here as a remixer is a smashing success his version strips things down, keeping most elements of the original intact, but adds a driving, almost double-time metronomic machine rhythm that's aimed squarely at the dancefloor. On the flip, 'Tension' and 'Symmetry Obsession' row the boat further out, with their synapse-frying tones and jagged, randomized sequences reminiscent of Freddy Fresh at his best. All in all, a future classic destined to find favor with adventurous house and techno DJs alike.
Into the Light is launching a parallel and limited series with contemporary material from both Greek and international artists. First stop is the album 'Postclub Prism' by the German producer Cass. offering ten gorgeous ambient pieces about light and romance.
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Since 2012, Niklas Rehme-Schlüter aka Cass. has released albums of varying styles, from the rather organic and loop based ambient pieces on 'Loops & Farewell Sketches' and the 'Red Atlantic' EP on Throne of Blood in 2017, influenced by 80's pop sonics, to the more balearic and percussive recordings on 'The Sound of Glades' together with Wolf Müller in 2016. On his new record 'Postclub Prism' Cass. explores his affinity to calm and atmospheric ambient music at the threshold to the reverberant sound of club music.
Drum & bass pioneer and Hospital Record's crown jewel Danny Byrd is back! He's set 2018 ablaze with monolith anthems 'Devil's Drop', 'Salute' ft MC GQ and 'Hold Up The Crown' ft Ky Lenz, now he proudly presents his first album in five years.
A 15-track funk-fuelled compendium of rolling dancefloor-fillers that tributes to the jungle foundation moulding his early discography. Collaborations with the likes of I-Kay, Maduk, Ownglow, Times x Two and MC GQ, fuse with powerful
doses of Danny's hip-hop and R&B infused 174BPM productions. 'Atomic Funk' is undoubtedly Mr Byrd's finest work to date and includes one of the biggest future D+B anthems 'Holy Star' that's brought to life with vocal delights from MC Foxy.
'Just A Step Away' (ft. Ownglow) has become a silver bullet for the Byrd, taking a spotlight in his DJ sets as his finishing move. With its gorgeous vocals, volatile rave synths and humming sub-bass, it's not hard to see why. However, that's
far from the only weapon in this legend's locker. 'Roll The Drums' is a certified sub shaker bringing a fierce bassline and thundering percussion, plus there's raw jungle madness with 'In The Meantime' (ft. Hannah Symons). With fifteen incredible tracks from Hospital Records' longest standing signing, 'Atomic Funk'
is Danny Byrd at his best. Crafted for the dancefloor and Feel-good from start to finish, a must-have for a true Hospital fan.
Kinobe scored one of the biggest chill-out club hits of the Noughties, the deathless 'Slip Into Something More Comfortable'. Known from dancefloors, club backrooms, bars, radio spins, Café del Mar compilations and TV spots the world over - most famously the 'femme fatale' Kronenbourg beer advert - 'Slip...' established the duo at the forefront of a scene that still includes Groove Armada, Air, Röyksopp and Zero 7. Now Kinobe are back in a big way. Founder member and songwriter Julius Waters is now joined by Chuck Norman, multi-instrumentalist, producer and programmer who has worked with the Pet Shop Boys, Peter Gabriel and Robbie Williams. Norman has beefed up the classic Kinobe sound, while adding a pop sensibility to a raft of sparkling new material destined to soundtrack 2018 and beyond. On August 31st 2018 comes Golden Age, the first Kinobe album in 9 years. Lead single 'Little Words' might just be one of the tunes of year, a Donny Hathaway-esque, soulful slice of too-slow-to-disco that nods towards 60s hipster groovy. At once instantly familiar and brand new, a heartfelt three-and-a-half-minute pop-dance floorfiller - with a hook once heard, never forgotten. Elsewhere the Stephen Hague mixed 'End Of The Road' is a huge gospel-tinged ballad destined to own daytime radio, 'Skyhigh' is a gorgeously haunting sundowner, 'Heartstring' is all cosmic soundtrack strings while 'Sunray' is Kinobe at their very best, with its irresistible hooks, washes of melody and downtempo beats. Golden Age is shaping up to be the chilled album of the year, a thirteen-track soundscape of sparkling songs and idiosyncratic instrumentals that is vintage Kinobe. With live shows and festival appearances planned through the rest of the year, the return of Kinobe is only just beginning. Welcome to the Golden Age.
Universalist is the first album by ACT! Baroque, kaleidoscope electronics; material sound for a disembodied world. The energy is optimistic and posi - even naive - a statement of unity in the age of psychic dislocation.
10 Tracks of phosphorus midi and brittle digi textures feel indebted in spirit to the masters of psychic jazz as much as the physical euphoria of the club. Above all, this album belongs to the catalogue of Halocline Trance, yet subtle references connect it to a larger lineage of free sound. The empty, divine heaviness of songs like Ecstatica / On Patrol invokes Yusef Lateef's Little Symphony, while the computerized spontaneity of Lava Valley feels somehow connected to Yasuaki Shimizu's Music for Commercials. Non-musical sounds and evocative melodies sit side-by-side - new psychedelia for love and life in the digital jetstream.
ACT! is a project from Toronto-based musician David Psutka. Building on a diverse body of releases as Egyptrixx, Ceramic TL, Anamai and various other collaborations, ACT! denotes a new chapter of creative output from Psutka and the Halocline Trance label. Universalist follows a prolific string of releases in 2017 with Anamai - What Mountain; Ceramic TL + Ipek Gorgun - Perfect Lung; and Egyptrixx - Pure, Beyond Reproach, and synthesizes recurring themes of materiality and the unifying potential of sound.
Patterns Of Consciousness is the powerful second full length from analog synth composer Caterina Barbieri. Highly recommended to fans of Alessandro Cortini and Eleh, Barbieri can be seen/heard/felt live at major electronic music events across Europe and beyond.Gorgeous high resolution analog textures and algorithmic melodies unfold under Barbieri's careful control, exploring the basic nature of sound and consciousness. These pieces are minimal in arrangement but maximal in presence asserting Barbieri as a unique voice in contemporary electronic music composition."Patterns Of Consciousness finds Caterina Barbieri at her best, elegantly moving between melodically pleasant yet twisted sequences and comforting, reassuring sonic spaces. Every piece, while given a singular identity, is part of the bigger picture: a work of art that will push you, pull you, and then eventually leave you with your back against the wall once you get to the last track. " Alessandro Cortini (Nine Inch Nails)"A pattern creates a certain state of consciousness. Once it is created, the pattern stands as an object exactly like the sound waves which generate it. We are at the same time inside and outside of the object. While being it, we observe it. Over time we become familiar with the inner structure of the pattern. We decode its gravitational centres, where our psychomotor attentionis attracted, where everything seems to be drawn. When a change in the pattern occurs it causes a perturbation of the previously established field of forces. This causes consciousness to fracture, potentially unfolding layers of perceptions we weren't aware of or simply suggesting that we access only a fraction of our psychic potential.The layered nature of consciousness and the relativity of perception are some of the biggest secrets we can experience through sound." Caterina Barbieri
First taste of the upcoming Tempo Dreams Vol. 5 album, compiled by LA based beatmaker Free The Robots. Coming in with a seperate vibe all it's own, the 7" features the exclusive track "Nasi Goreng", a lo-fi psychdelic beat heavy romp through South East Asia, complete with Gamelan vibes. On the flip, "Marano" is a downtempo ultra bass heavy joint with sparse production, vocal chops and swirling synths.
'Time flies' as the saying goes and indeed it has as Quintessentials celebrates its 10 year anniversary. For a decade this mighty label has been getting some true love and support from all quarters. Listening to the back catalogue now, most of the tunes still sound fresh and keep the label's famous "deep, raw and real" motto alive.
Quintessentials has always been a platform for new talents as well as established artists, and with he likes of Anton Zap, Vakula, Baaz, The Zohar, MCDE, Nicolas, Ugly Drums, Toby Tobias, Borrowed Identity, Mat Chiavaroli, 4004, Soul of Hex, S3A, Los Goddard, Felipe Gordon, Javonntte......to name but a few, it's an enviable back catalogue.
This "Ten Years Quintessentials" compilation offers a wide range of styles: Detroit inspired Techno and House, a ruff Chicago stomper, some proper deep House, a discoish tool, and crafty beats and basslines all over! We hope you enjoy this compilation as much as we do. We are ready for the next decade! Are you
Dais Records Is Proud To Announce The Official Reissue Of "elph Vs Coil - Worship The Glitch". Remastered By Engineer Josh Bonati And Supervised By Coil's Drew Mcdowall, The Vinyl Release Is Pressed Onto Double 12" Lp Vinyl (from The Original 10" Release), And Is Packaged In A Gorgeous 24pt Stock Matte Gatefold Lp With Sticker And Vellum Track Listing Insert. . Also Available On Digipack Cd And Digital.
"unexplainable" May Well Be The Best Explanation For The Members Of The Uk Based Electronic Outfit Coil. Making A Radical Shift From Intentional Accessibility, By Means Of Traditional Pop Songwriting, To Abstract Happenstance, Coil Had Entered Into A New Phase In Their Career...uncharted Waters Utilizing What Was Then The Newest Computer Technology, Digital And Analog Synthesis And The Newly Formed Ideas That Something Outside Of Themselves Was Steering The Ship.
During The Studio Sessions That Developed Into What Would Become 'worship The Glitch'. Coil Became Aware Of Random Compositions Emitting From Their Gear, And Were At Odds With Constant 'accidents' That Were Perpetually Plaguing The Recordings. The Band Called These Unintentional Emissions "elph": A Conceptual Being That Is One Part Physical Equipment, One Part Celestial Being...constantly Playing The Role Of Trickster, Throwing A Wrench Into Coil's Methodology. Eventually, These Accidents And Mistakes Were Embraced By The Band, And The Process Of Misusing Audio Software To Create Intentional "errors" Was Adopted As A Musical Technique. The Acceptance Of The "mistake", And The Use Of Discovered Mistakes As Intentional Elements Slowly Became The Drive And Concept Behind The Album, Thus Birthing The Title 'worship The Glitch'.
Originally Released In 1995 On Coil's In-house Imprint Eskaton, Worship The Glitch Was Coil's First Proper Album-length Attempt At Conceptual Ambient Composition, With A Radical Focus On Chance. Seamless Vignettes Of Shattered Electronics (though Ebbing Softly And In Delicate Balance With Each Other) Provide An Underlying Uncertainty And Discomfort To The Listener.
Originally Hailing From Columbus, Ohio, Where He Was Born In July 1948, Bill Mason, The Son Of A Baptist Minister, Had First Learnt Music In Church. Starting Out On Piano He Switched To Organ In His Late Teens. Mason Had Come To Bob Porter's Attention When As Part Of The Bryant Group He Recorded At Prestige On Two Sessions In 1971. Bill Mason Proves Himself A Formidable Leader With His Solo Album, The Aptly Titled Jazz-funk Outing gettin' Off'. The Album's Physicality Is Astounding, Mason Is An Extraordinary Soulful Hammond Organist, Conjuring Spiraling, Spellbinding Grooves That Seem To Grow Deeper And More Relentless With Each Successive Track. He Also Proves His Talent As A Composer With Originals Like "mister Jay" And The Scorching Title Cut Standing Tall Alongside Covers Highlighted By Al Green's Immortal "let's Stay Together".
Gettin' Off Features Idris Muhammad On Drums, Which Means A Frenzy Of Funky Jb-influenced Over-the-top Soul-jazz Drumming. Featured On Bass Is The Legendary Gordon Edwards (known For His Work With James Brown, Weldon Irvine, Funk Inc., Aretha Franklin, Etc.) And Saxophone Duties Are Handled By Hubert Laws (quincy Jones, Gil Scott Heron, Moondog).
All Of The Above Is Carefully Overseen By Engineer Rudy Van Gelder & Producer Bob Porter (known For Their Work With Herbie Hancock, Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis...and Many Others). Bill Mason's First (and Only) Album Was Originally Released In 1972 On Eastbound Records, Super Rare And Fetching Large Sums On The Collectors Market, Now Finally Back Available As A Limited Deluxe Vinyl Edition (500 Copies). This Album Also Comes With The Original 1972 Art By Prestige Records Photographer Al Johnson.
Underworld And Iggy Pop Announce Details Of A 4 Track Ep, Teatime Dub Encounters, Due For
Release On July 27th Via Caroline International.
While Overseeing The Soundtrack For T2 Trainspotting, Underworld's Rick Smith Arranged A
Meeting With Iggy Pop In A Room At The Savoy Hotel On London's Strand To Discuss Working On
Collaborative Music For The Filmhe first track from Teatime Dub Encounters - Bells & Circles - was premiered live as part of
Underworld's recent headline performance at the BBC Biggest Weekend Belfast. A second track -
I'll See Big - is streaming everywhere now. Something of a flipside to Bells & Circles, I'll See Big is a
wash of gorgeous ambient sound that features Iggy recounting how friends - however
dysfunctional - have saved him from a lifetime of bad decisions. The lyric for I'll See Big was
inspired by a conversation Iggy had with Danny Boyle about the subtext of both Trainspotting films.
Dais Records is proud to announce the official reissue of "ELpH vs Coil - Worship the Glitch". Remastered by engineer Josh Bonati and supervised by Coil's Drew McDowall, the vinyl release is pressed onto double 12" LP vinyl (from the original 10" release), and is packaged in a gorgeous 24pt stock matte gatefold LP with sticker and vellum track listing insert. . Also available on digipack CD and Digital.
"Unexplainable" may well be the best explanation for the members of the UK based electronic outfit COIL. Making a radical shift from intentional accessibility, by means of traditional pop songwriting, to abstract happenstance, Coil had entered into a new phase in their career...uncharted waters utilizing what was then the newest computer technology, digital and analog synthesis and the newly formed ideas that something outside of themselves was steering the ship.
During the studio sessions that developed into what would become 'Worship the Glitch'. Coil became aware of random compositions emitting from their gear, and were at odds with constant 'accidents' that were perpetually plaguing the recordings. The band called these unintentional emissions "ELpH": a conceptual being that is one part physical equipment, one part celestial being...constantly playing the role of trickster, throwing a wrench into Coil's methodology. Eventually, these accidents and mistakes were embraced by the band, and the process of misusing audio software to create intentional "errors" was adopted as a musical technique. The acceptance of the "mistake", and the use of discovered mistakes as intentional elements slowly became the drive and concept behind the album, thus birthing the title 'Worship the Glitch'.
Originally released in 1995 on Coil's in-house imprint Eskaton, Worship the Glitch was Coil's first proper album-length attempt at conceptual ambient composition, with a radical focus on chance. Seamless vignettes of shattered electronics (though ebbing softly and in delicate balance with each other) provide an underlying uncertainty and discomfort to the listener.
On Video Age's forthcoming album Pop Therapy, out June 22nd via Inflated Records, longtime friends and songwriting partners Ross Farbe and Ray Micarelli conjure up a thrilling assortment of experimental pop songs. Using a palette of vintage synthesizers and the propulsion of a Sequential Circuits Drumtraks drum machine, the New Orleans-based group's buoyant synth-pop echoes from some imagined vision of the past, leaning on an invented nostalgia to soundtrack an ideal future that never arrived. Video Age brings that future fully to life on Pop Therapy. Emerging from New Orleans' DIY scene and label collectives, Farbe and Micarelli were intrigued by each other's songwriting among several curiously satisfying guitar pop bands. As a producer and prolific engineer, Farbe has helmed some of the most exciting releases from genre-pushing New Orleans artists, whose singular visions are made possible with his gifted ear and love of tape recording. Micarelli's talent for crafting simple, tangible melodies complements Farbe's studio world-building, letting ideas drift until they emerge into impressive arrangements. The pair's seemingly effortless gift for crafting earworm hooks was glimpsed on their 2016 debut Living Alone, a gorgeous collection of guitar-driven melancholy. On Pop Therapy, they're joined by Duncan Troast, Nick Corson and Jordan Odom, taking inspiration from the limitless possibility on sonic canvases of the late 1970s and early 1980s (Yellow Magic Orchestra, McCartney II, Donald Fagen's The Nightfly). Where Living Alone catalogued the solitude of reflecting on what was and could have been, the sentimental love songs on Pop Therapy gaze longingly at the likeliness of a brighter tomorrow.
After recently playing host to established names such as Fabe, Nima Gorji and Michael James, Pathway Traxx returns to its roots by introducing a new artist, but long time friend Wiremu. This pure club record, and vocal infused EP is set to light up a dance floor near you very soon. Wiremu brings his unique chugging sound by the bucket load while label boss Niko keeps it smooth on the B-side.
Heady, astute, deep techno and ambient from Blue Veil, a new musical project from Danny Clancy. Blue Veil's debut EP reveals gorgeously textured techno on tracks like 'wherethetimegoes' and 'Citizen Score', as well as crafting some tender ambient passages on cuts like 'Night Czar' and 'A Kind Of Adventure'.
The EP will be released on Dichotomy Records, a new imprint, dedicated to refined electronic music. The label's ambition is to allow artists to explore dichotomies through their work, as they span sonic landscapes from pure ambient to techno, and other abstract dance sounds in-between. There will be a strong attention to the visual presentation of the label, with all artwork and photography also created by label boss Danny Clancy.
With the next release lined up from Ahu, and more to follow from there, the agenda for Dichotomy Records looks hugely promising indeed.
Red Hare's roots run all the way back to the Washington D.C. music scene of the 80's and 90's, where Shawn Brown, Jason Farrell and Dave Eight immersed themselves in the braids and tangles of that city's unique strain of hardcore.
In 1987, Brown (the original (and current) singer of Dag Nasty) and guitarist Farrell founded Swiz— a harsher take on melodic hardcore released via Dischord's sister-label Sammich and their own freshly-minted label Hell- fire. Eight joined Swiz on bass in 1989 and remained until the band wrapped it up in 1990.
By 1995, Farrell and Eight reconvened to immerse themselves in the angular post-hardcore stylings of Bluetip, yet found enough juice to again tap Brown for the short-lived Swiz reboot, Sweetbelly Freakdown. Meanwhile, Joe Gorelick was living a parallel existence drumming in the band Garden Variety. A fortuitous string of circum- stances led him down the Jersey turnpike straight into Bluetip's empty drum chair. Although Gorelick did not record with the band, his prowess was nonetheless noted and cataloged for future missions — first in 2002 with Farrell in Retisonic and now with Brown, Farrell, Jason and Eight in Red Hare.
Red Hare are set to release their second album Little Acts of Destruction on May 11th through a joint effort with Dischord and their own label Hellfire. Like their debut Nites of Midnite (2013) and their stop-gap 7', Lexicon Mist (2016), the album was recorded and mixed by longtime collaborator and friend J.Robbins. These 14 songs are a heady/hearty mix of the familiar and new that bristle with the energy of the hometown sound they helped shape.
On A side, electronic music wizards Kompozyt team up with a Dub Legend Lee 'Scratch' Perry to bring you a heavy-hitting and instant bounce-inducing Dub Techno track 'Hidden Force'. Lee Scratch Perry's amazing and charismatic Dub poetry blends superbly with the neat fusion of spacey and subterranean sounds of Kompozyt productions. The single is not to be missed this summer.
On B side, Kompozyt brings you a 7' version of 'Homesick' - Dub and Trip-hop inspired Experimental Electronica with Olgierd Dokalski on the trumpet. Olgierd's incredible performances of real haunting beauty further reinforce the analog, live and improvisational aspect of Kompozyt's music.
Both tracks come from Kompozyt's debut album: 'Synchronicity' - out everywhere now on CD and DL.
Selected Reviews of Kompozyt's Debut Album and the Single
5/5 Decoded Magazine: 'Incredible album 10/10'
4/5 Lars Berhenrot (Deepershades): 'LOVE THIS .. never-ending deepness ..'
5/5 Pierre Ravan: 'Amazing work from the heart'
5/5 Queensradio.org: 'I'll definitely be playing these guys on air'
4/5 Garth Trinidad (KSRW Radio) 'Exquisite score without a film'
5/5 Hoxton FM (London): 'Incredible release!'
4/5 Stereo MCs: 'Nice vibes refreshing'
4/5 Robert Babicz: 'I love dub. in all forms'
5/5 Adam Hannibal (Balanced) : 'Neat fusion of spacey and subterranean sounds. Reminiscent of the Beyond Recs Ambient Dub compilations with some freshness... Well done'
5/5 Al Bradley (3amrecordings): 'This needs full love because it's excellent :) I can really picture myself just letting this play from the first sound to the last & becoming utterly immersed as it flows through! Gorgeous.'
5/5 Bartlomiej Blesznowski- 'One of the best electronic music albums this year'
4/5 Neil Brown (RMFM; Pro Mobile Magazine): 'Some nice tunes to get your head in gear to.'
5/5 Jorn Kirk (DJ Jay Kay) (Faith Sundays): 'very nice album !!! a joy to listen to'
Bruno Pronsato hat schon länger erfolgreich Erwartungen in der Techno- und House-Szene untergraben. Im früheren Leben war er Schlagzeuger einer Speed-Metal-Band mit einer ernsthaften Leidenschaft für Zwölftonmusik. 2005 zog er nach Berlin und eroberte die Aufmerksamkeit der elektronischen Musikwelt mit seiner LP "Why Can't We Be Like Us". Pronsato kehrt nun mit seinem neuen Album zurück ins Rampenlicht. In Zusammenarbeit mit Yonatan Levi hat er "A Face Wasted On The Theatre" geschrieben und produziert. Diese Verbindung ist bereits bestens eingespielt: Seit 2014 arbeiten die beiden immer wieder zusammen. Das neue Album entstand in zwei verschiedenen Studios im Prenzlauer Berg, der Wahlheimat des Texaners Steven Ford, wie Pronsato bürgerlich heißt, - und zwar meist nachmittags und nicht etwa in tiefer Nacht. Auf sechs der acht Songs ist Levi alias L.A.Teen erneut am Bass zu hören, weitere Gäste sind der Komponist und Produzent Peter Gordon und der israelische Saxofonist Yonatan Yudkowitz. Auch Levi stammt aus Tel Aviv und ist klassisch ausgebildeter Gitarrist und Bassist. Er ging einst in die USA und machte sich in der New Yorker Jazz-Szene einen Namen.
'Turquoise', that is Turkuvaz, is a French-origin word inspired by the color of the Mediterranean, located within the borders of Turkey. Meaning; blue is the color that plays the green. At the same time it is relative. Because both colors are in it, if you love blue you will see blue, if you love green you will see it green. It means heaven and earth. The eternity is turquoise... The eternity is infinite. At the same time; the boundary between the earth and the sky. Some will find love in it , some will find serenity, some will remember the loneliness and find sadness, embracing some with zeal and reminiscent of the return to the nest, the power of holding hands tightly with two hands.And according to my opinion, the concept of life, the mortal world, is how we see these lands curtained until the last breath of life that we have been living on for centuries.There are billions of beings in our sky and on Earth that do not attract our attention, We can not see, can not hear, can only feel, there are enough lights to count and never disappear in the stage. This EP that you hold in your hand is a reflection of it.
Music was the easiest way to reach you. In doing so, the motto was 'never disappearing at the stage'. I know, because if nobody hears me, God, the real dominion of light the true owner of all the darkness will hear me.
Each sound I created, I filled it with a light and I added a little more sand to the clock. Sounds I created is to show you your own technique of finding your way to light, to make you understand that you are not alone, and that there is someplace really there for you. Without much effort, resting and reviving.
I believe that every one of us who lives on earth has a specific, holy purpose. The important thing is to find and catch it. Our inner journey is to be able to complete our enlightenment as spiritually as possible. And I still believe that we always need music to do that. Because the sounds; they will never disappear.
Turquoise, which is the work of this enlightenment period, which I have lived and found to be my self, will be a source of light for you and help you find God who lives in you.
After welcoming Saule with an appearance on SUBALT015, the incredibly talented producer steps up for a full EP on Subaltern - a tour de force of distinctive, dark and original productions.
*A: Gorilla Glue
Starting off the EP with a bang is 'Gorilla Glue', a heavy-hitting collaboration with original Subaltern badmen D-Operation Drop - pressure is the name of the game. A sinister intro paves the way to a stomping bass-line topped up with growling synth layers, which culminate into a captivating melody that will stick with you. Get ready for the ride!
*B1: World 8
'World 8' dives into a video game-like vibe through quirky 8 bit synths playfully matched with a massive wall of bass. Gnarly breaks round off a masterful execution of sub and space alternating in a trippy scenario: Super Mario had a little bit too many mushrooms this time...
*B2: Close Chatter
Moody dark pads set a bewitched vibe in 'Close Chatter' a goose-bump inducing drop will leave you constantly hungry for more. An oddly pleasing journey, this is the typical b side-that-could-have-been-a-side track.
Never one to be constrained by musical genres, multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Adam Gibbons (aka Lack of Afro) has taken it up several notches with his sixth studio record 'Jack of All Trades', a multi-genre tour de force that combines soul, funk, hip-hop, disco, rock and everything in-between, all wrapped up in his signature chunky production to create arguably his finest work to date.
The album is blessed with some incredible vocal performances. Regular collaborator Elliott Cole, Nick Corbin (formally of New Street Adventure), ex I Am Giant vocalist Ed Martin, Wax & Herbal T, Alyssa Marie, Camila Recchio, Juliette Ashby & Emma Noble are all on scintillating form on an album that is crammed full of infectious hooks, top musicianship, and more importantly, vibe by the bucketload!
Classic soul ('Back To The Day', 'Reach Out'), hip-hop ('Back In Business', 'Take It Up A Notch'), disco ('Only You & Me'), rock ('Over & Out'), modern soul ('Baby Be Mine'), folk ('Home') and a healthy dose of funk ('The Messin' Around Intermission', 'Good Love'), all combine to create an album that is stuffed with gorgeous phonic gems of all varieties and represents a definite step up from anything he has done before.
Packed full of beautiful horns and lush strings (and all recorded onto tape through a 1970's mixing desk), 'Jack of All Trades' is Adam doing what he does best and then some - blending the old and new to come up with a crossover classic that's entirely his own, whilst all the while ensuring that the songwriting takes centre stage.
Lack of Afro continues to go from strength to strength. 2016's 'Hello Baby' picked up a BBC 6 Music 'Album Of The Year' nomination & appeared in the Top 10 of the iTunes R&B / Soul chart in 21 countries worldwide.
His music also continues to be in high demand across all aspects of film & TV by networks such as ABC, Fox, NBC, Sony Pictures & the BBC. More recently he has signed to licensing label A Remarkable Idea, an imprint of Universal Music alongside artists such as Maximo Park, Pulled Apart By Horses, Alt J & label boss Benson Taylor. A remix of his 2011 song 'P.A.R.T.Y' by French duo Ofenbach (released on Warner Music in March) is all set to be one of 2018's tracks of the year, whilst his debut album 'Press On' (2007) has just been given 'classic' status by Future Music Magazine.
'Jack of All Trades' is supported by a live band UK tour in May & also at various festivals throughout the summer.
Moral Fiber sub-label Souzou is back with it's second release. 'Freedom (SZ002)' is an exclusive EP by Sander Ellerman (Jelly Beast Recordings). As a regular on Souzou's counterpart Moral Fiber, Sander Ellerman is known for his delicate tunes, subtle changes and well thought-out transitions. With three brand new original tracks he perfectly displays the label's bass-driven, minimalistic techno sound. Nima Gorji delivers a penetrating remix for title track Freedom.
Factory Benelux presents a new vinyl edition of Swimming, the debut album by Belgian new wave group The Names, originally issued in June 1982, and now issued in a limited edition of 300 copies on clear vinyl.
Between 1979 and 1982 The Names recorded a string of excellent records for Factory, Factory Benelux and Les Disques du Crepuscule, all helmed by legendary producer Martin Hannett. Recorded at Strawberry Studios in Manchester, Swimming has come to be regarded as a European cold wave classic, combining strong songwriting from Michel Sordinia and poised, tasteful delivery by guitarist Marc Deprez and keyboards player Christophe Den Tandt.
"Exhibits many of the fine qualities of early 80s avant-rock: icy brutalism, spectral reverb, tormented vocals, techno-tribal rumbles" (Uncut, 12/2000); "Swimming retains a gorgeously shrouded, sepulchral mood" (Mojo, 12/2011); "Intelligent and imaginative" (The Face, 7/1982)
Bonus tracks include the popular singles Calcutta, Nightshift, Spectators of Life and The Astronaut, as well as the band's John Peel session from February 1982 - the first ever recorded by a Belgian band. The gatefold sleeve features original artwork and poster design by Benoit Hennebert, and photographs by Marc Portee.
This ridiculously soulful Summer-House EP is the first installment by Peter on Big Bait since 2015. We baked the essence of 3 years of studio work on 12 vinyl. Amongst two brilliant solo tracks, Peter brought in two coops with some exclitingly interesting producers:
Arpeggio Funk' is the first co-production by the Columbian shooting star Felipe Gordon with Big Bait label boss Peter Clamat. The guys met up on soundcloud and immediately started working out some tunes together.
She hates Getting Photos' and Tanzflächengebet' are solo productions by Mr. Clamat. Outstanding, colorful, perfect work as usual. Last but not least track no. four is the uplifting, 90's flavored remix of an unpublished Clamat-gem by Ugly Drums and Chesney. The two guys are old-stagers of the German House Culture and well known for their releases on Kalakutta Soul, AVA, Quintessentials etc.
Prairie is the project of multi-instrumentalist and producer Marc Jacobs, hailing from Brussels with roots in The Netherlands. He previously released an EP (I'm so in love I almost forgot I survived a Disaster - 2013) and an LP (Like a Pack of Hounds - 2015) on the Berlin imprint Shitkatapult. On stage, Prairie plays with two or three musicians and together they re-create a free association of musical ideas and atmospheres. Prairie has played in selected venues and festivals across Europe and toured with Apparat in 2016.If the apocalypse was painted in several layers of pastel gouache, its soundtrack might be PRAIRIE's Flash Flood. Listening to the album, we drift through a series of frozen landscapes that gesture at a post-apocalyptic ambience. This is a kind of blackened music that has been left to sediment, excavated from traces in ice core samples. Flash Flood showcases a deep sensitivity to narrative and rich cinematic textures as Marc Jacobs returns with palimpsestic sonic layers. It has been three years since PRAIRIE's last release—the 2015 Cormac McCarthy-inspired Like a Pack of Hounds—and it is clear that it has been several years of pensive reflection. Now, PRAIRIE takes the sentiment of his 2012 debut, I'm So In Love I Almost Forgot I Survived A Disaster, several steps further: it is after the apocalypse, and no one has survived. And yet with Flash Flood, we can hear the hum of this impossible future.
'After the Flash Flood' introduces the sonic ruins of distorted guitars, field recordings, drum programming and synths that create the textures of the entire album. The melancholic and subdued black metal churn of 'Raindeath' becomes the cold backdrop for unnerving, paranoiac speech. The third track, 'Sisters', foregrounds this coldness while slowly moving away toward alternate vistas where the acoustic timbres of the saz-driven 'A Permanent War Economy' take over. 'Underwater Body Hunting' and 'Rabid Ibrahim' are hard hitting beat-oriented tracks that insist on burning slow. There is a patience with PRAIRIE's FLASH FLOOD that is difficult to deny. The lamentation of 'Elephants Will Rise Again' perhaps signals that it is not only the human that is lost after catastrophe. The album closes with 'Hard Water: Cracked Ice' and 'Hayashi Clock'. The former is a beautiful coalescence of clean harmonious tones and softly overdriven drums, while the latter brings us back to a meditative state, drifting through the final pastel tapestry.
"... his cosmos is located somewhere between Bohren & der Club of Gore and Sunn O))), ambient is as familiar to him as brachial sounds, and he is as much acquainted with guitars as with synths and modern technology" (GROOVE)
"... Like Ben Frost, (Prairie) exudes a certain harshness while tempering his work with moments of sublime beauty. This isn't club material, it's music for the hammer in one's hand, the confrontation of the demon, the soul-shattering revelation." (A Closer Listen)
