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Launched in 1996, PLOINK has been a core brand in Norwegian techno for two decades now, booking the likes of Jeff Mills, Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Carl Cox, Radio Slave and Richie Hawtin, as well as launching a
record label that champions Scandinavian artists. With the likes of Prins Thomas, Mental Overdrive, Nordenstam, Mind Over MIDI and label founder Thomas Urv appearing thus far, 96-16#3 is the third and final
instalment in the 20-year celebratory releases.
One of Norway's well established electro/techno artists over the past 15 years, Skatebård begins proceedings with the sinister 'Kapitalsystemets Belastning' featuring menacing bass and otherworldly synths,
before Bergen's Kahuun demonstrates a concoction of keys, effects and atmospherics with 'Sherlock'.
Next, Kristiansand's +plattform, who's just launched his Graatone imprint, introduces powerful kicks and eerie drones in 'Reluctant', making way for the percussive and rhythmic 'Helle Farben' from analogue-loving duo Dormund. Faarikaal Records founder Henrik S' 'Phobos' then ventures into sci-fi realms with spacey aesthetics and echoing stabs until Krill Music boss Espen Lauritzen ties up the release with the intricately produced 'Tromsø'.

Three years on from the release of the critically acclaimed debut album, Undergrass, Mushrooms Project return to Leng with a two-track taster or their forthcoming follow-up full-length.
In the intervening years, Giorgio Giri and Marco Lentano have hardly been slacking, further exploring their unique blend of glistening Balearica, dubbed- out disco, Italian Afro-cosmic and psychedelic nu-disco via EPs for Horn Wax, Uber and Hell Yeah! Recordings. Their latest two-track missive is undoubtedly amongst the Italian duo's strongest work to date. The A-side boasts 'Dirty Bolas', an effortlessly summery groover destined to soundtrack sultry evenings and sun-baked afternoons. Its' rolling, percussive funk groove and undulating electric bassline keep the action moving, but it's the tumbling guitar solos, toasty
keys, humid electronics and atmospheric feld recordings that catch the ear. Flip the 12' for 'Sunset Ballad', a near ten-minute epic that more than lives up to its' name. Soft, delay-laden acoustic guitar passages and yearning electric piano fourishes set the tone, before the Parma-based production duo
gradually ups the pressure via a shuffing groove, whispering acid lines and quietly bubbling synthesizers. It's undeniably rich and life affrming, but best appreciated while lying fat on your back.
Dirty Bolas will be featured on the duo's second album, which is slated for release in the fnal quarter of 2016. For now, you'll have to make do with these two slices of seductive, sun-bright brilliance.

Arttu presents CYBLO!

The Berlin-based producer is kicking off his label with a four-track single.

While he is perhaps not as name-checked as some of the hardware hawking house heads of modern times, Arttu Snellman has been working hard at gritty box jams for a good few years now. He first appeared under his Arttu guise in 2011 with the Nuclear Funk and Fear Diluted singles on Royal Oak and Philpot respectively, and then proceeded to wheel out tunes for 4 Lux and Chiwax over the ensuing years. Prior to the tough-edged pump of his current ventures, you could find Snellman indulging in a more laptop-centric kind of practice under the name Lump. This more minimalistic, glitchy house fodder could be found on labels such as Karloff, Morris/Audio and Süd Electronic amongst many others. Back in the here and now though, Arttu was last spotted on Clone Jack For Daze earlier this year with the Rave Dogz 12', and next up he's taking matters into his own hands.

Existing fans of Arttu will be more than pleased with the heavyweight, crunchy tackle that inhabits CYBLO01. This is dynamic business with same heft found on previous releases from Snellman, mixed in with the cheeky flair that has always marked his productions out in a crowded marketplace.

O.D.D., Modini and Casio Royale team up to wreck clubs across the galaxy! I glanced at the wrinkles on my hands as they worked the controls on landing pod. I'd aged considerably since we left Earth to track the alien. Taking an extremely dangerous short cut via the rim of a black hole allowed me to get to the outer regions of the universe before I turned geriatric and was too decrepit to navigate the ship. Now, as we approached Planet Simila, excitement burned within me. It wasn't just about meeting an extra-terrestrial, I was lonely. It had been many years since I'd spoken to anyone other than the ship's computer and here I was about to meet the first known life form outside our planet. I bumped the pod down on the terra firma as gracefully as I could. Intel confirmed Simila had an almost identical atmosphere to earth and that I'd be able to breathe on it unaided. However, precautious as always, I put the large dome shaped breathing apparatus over my head and pulled on the silver safety suit. I took my first step out of a spaceship in 14 years and there it was only yards away from me; a small green creature with large white goggle eyes on the end of two spindly antennas. If you'd asked a 5-year-old earthling to draw a spaceman it would have looked exactly like the thing stood before me. I had no idea whether it could comprehend English or not but nerves made me blurt out: 'Greetings from Planet Earth, I have travelled many light years to meet you, I...
'Here, never mind that pish, ya space helmet, you got the new DABJ Allstars Vol 3 on ya, it's got new stoaters fae O.D.D, Modini and Casio Royale. I've heard it's oot o' this world.'

Misanthrope CA is the Black Metal influenced formation by artist and photographer Robert Kulisek and David Lieske aka Carsten Jost, co-owner of Dial Records. After their first limited tape redition "Amerika" (2015), Deathbridge is a full-length album recorded in the Hamptons, New York, in collaboration with the Oslo gallery "VI, VII".
As mentioned in early interviews, David Lieske always had a huge fascination for true Black Metal, reflected now in the wonderfully dark Misanthrope CA recordings. After extraordinary releases and contributions by Dirk Von Lowtzow, Queens, Momus, Christian Naujoks and James K, Dial Records proofs once more the intensity and variety of the label's output.

After making some massive claims regarding electronic music last year which caused a stir in the dance music community, Mat Zo had a lot to live up to with his long awaited second album "Self Assemble". What didn't help was the fact that his first album, "Damage Control" was critically acclaimed by many within dance music and is now considered a modern-day masterpiece with mesmerising tracks such as The Sky and the massive Easy with Porter Robinson.Blending genres and sounds in a way only Zo can achieve, this record flows incredibly well as the tracks move from one to the other almost telling a story of the different styles of electronic music. At times the album is reminiscent of Zo's incredible Essential Mix from back in 2013 in the way that it progresses and constantly surprises the listeners. A lot funkier than Damage Control, it's no less incredible.
Beginning with the beautifully atmospheric "Order out of Chaos" which starts with an absolute wall of sound that boggles the mind in how Zo even went about designing something so complex, this sets the tone for the rest of the record in a cracking way. The melody soon crescendos and we're introduced in to the meat of the album with "The Enemy". Bringing out all the good funky vibes on this track, again Zo exhibits his insane production talents which are a staple of the album. Featuring vocals from the wonderful Sinead Egan, this is a great uplifting tune that'll no doubt have you dancing in your chair or in the club.
'Sinful" acts to continue the funky good-time vibes and transports us to a cool summertime drive. It has us yearning for happier times and again the guest vocals from I SEE MONSTAS go a long way in getting across this happy vibe. Featuring an uplifting almost french house inspired bassline and squelch synths that wouldn't look out of place on a Daft Punk or Madeon record, this is another stunning track from the record. "Patterns Emerging" feels like a bridge into the next section of the album and is unfortunately short. The orchestral element really brings out the emotion on this track and we only wish it was longer. "Killing Time" has those classic chopped up vocals that Zo uses to great effect and some nicely programmed drums that could be a nod to the drum and bass he used to put out under MRSA.'Smacked up on Jack" features some cool middle eastern sounds and a wacky vocal sample that helps to progress the album and keep the listener interested, again though we feel like it's a bit too short and are left wanting more. The next tune "Ruffneck Bad Boy VIP" is an absolute mammoth and one of our favourites off the record. Opening with an immense rhodes melodic sequence and after some nice vocals, the track rips into the electro house and dubstep infused banger that it really is. Some dirty, dirty sound design and drum production will have the dance floors going wild and shows us again why Zo is so good, it's a far cry from the funkier elements of the earlier stuff on the album and shows how Zo can show off a range of electronic sounds. "Lights Out" is a straight up hard hitting electro banger with an infectious vocal sample that only needs to be heard to be understood. Not much more needs to be said about it! Coming into the last section of the record, "Soul Food" returns us to the groove with an astonishing house beat and bass line that have us questioning how Zo makes it so hard not to smile listening to this album."Stereo no Aware" starts sounding like it's taken straight from a space movie epic and soon transforms into a goose bump inducing melody with a driving growling bass line that bring back the epic dubstep we all used to love a couple of years ago. Skrillex eat your heart out. Finishing off this record on a more emotional note, "Too Late" starts off like a guitar ballad and then transforms into something totally different. Egan's melancholic vocals enhance this track to great effect and is all backed by Zo's lovely downbeat production until we're treated to a monster of a climax around half way through the track which will surely blow the cobwebs right off you. Zo says goodbye to us with the phenomenal "The Last Transmission" and what a way this is to close out an incredible sophmore album for the English producer. The melancholic piano chords are a subtle and pleasing way to close out this journey of a record. Mat Zo really has outdone himself here and we're really looking forward to hearing some of these bombs dropped live. Surely a contender for album of the year at such an early stage, yet again it's only the best delivered by Mat Zo.
Latest album, Damage Control was Grammy-nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album last year

In 1989 Oumou Sangare, a young singer from the Wassoulou region of southern Mali, went to the JBZ
studio in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire to record her debut album. Except for electric guitar and bass, the
line-up was traditonal - kamalengoni or 5-string 'youth's harp', karinyang (iron scraper) and violin
(substtutng the local one-string fddle). The music they recorded was exactly the kind of music per-
formed by hunters to charm the wild animals and invoke the protectng spirits, but with updated lyrics
refectng the concerns of young women living in African cites today.

The music of Wassoulou, with its funky beat and strong melodies has become increasingly popular
in Mali over the last few years. But no one could have foretold the wild success of Oumou Sangare's
recording, which within a few months had sold over one hundred thousand copies in West Africa
alone - not countng bootlegs. This was Mali's best selling cassete ever. And not a drum machine or
synthesizer on it!

What is the secret of Oumou Sangare's astounding rise to fame Partly the sheer force and beauty
of her voice - she frst trained with the Mali Natonal Ensemble and then lef to join the independent
group Djoliva Percussions (with whom she toured France and the UK in 1986). And undoubtedly, be-
cause of her powerful lyrics, which address the problems of young Malian women - torn between the
old values of the countryside and the modern ways of city life. But it's also the brilliant arrangement
of the typical Wassoulou sound - with its slow-driving rhythm punched out on the bass strings of the
harp and its soaring melodies. 'Moussolou' ranks among the best recordings of Malian music of all
tme.

Now for the very frst tme World Circuit are releasing this iconic album on deluxe single vinyl.
Mastered at Abbey Road the vinyl is pressed on 180 gram heavyweight vinyl and presented alongside a
beautful 10 page booklet and download card.

Toms Due is talented duo from Etruria Beat crew , they re now back once again on their home label with two bangers ' Urania ' and ' Caliope ' and two remixes . One from Nina Kraviz´s Trip label young protégé Nikita Zabelin , the second from Micol Danieli , italian newcomer artist and owner of 030´s vinyl record label. On the A side sit the two original tracks . Urania is composed of a powerful techno groove on a simple but strong chord fitting perfectly on the climax of the middle of the track . Second comes ' Calliope ' , a Toms Due signature heavy rhythm with a happy techno synth melody , a must try for all dancefloors . On B side , Nikita Zabellin shows once again his minimal approach , pure analogue sounds with a bit of darkness. Mico Danieli´s chose to use a never ending rhythm that won´t ever leave you alone , a very elaborate arrangement . Keep an eye on this Italian lady producer !

Stefan Robbers is one of the most known and respected non-U.K.-based European techno producers, and (along with Speedy J) one of the only Dutch techno artists to reach a wide audience outside of Holland. Recording as Terrace, Florence, and under his own name, Robbers has been responsible for some of the most memorable moments in experimental dance music in the last few years, from the first release on the now-commanding D-Jax label (Terrace's 1990 EP 916 Beuna Avenue) to recent Terrace and Florence full-lengths released on his own Eevo Lute imprint. Although tracks have appeared through GPR and New Electronica as well, his focus since 1994 has been on Eevo Lute, likely in an effort to raise awareness about Dutch techno artists and which also prompted the astablishment (by Robbers and Speedy J's Jochem Paap) of a Dutch remix network. Most often cited in connection with the sort of "listening techno" associated with the Warp, GPR, and New Electronica labels, Robbers' recent releases have moved increasingly toward the incorporation of du jour electronica hybrids such as trip-hop and ambient jungle, although his trademark mixture of intricate, off-kilter rhythms and sweet melodies has remained. Along with Robbers' own releases, Eevo Lute has also issued material from David Caron, Max 404, and Wladimir M., as well as two label compilations (Agenda 21 and Agenda 22). A remixed version of Terrace's 1996 Konnekt LP, entitled Re-Konnekt, was released in 1996, featuring Speedy J, Global Communication, Sean Deason, Kirk Digiorgio, Orlando Voorn, and Thomas Heckmann.

Not one to be pigeonholed, highly respected DJ and producer WILL SAUL has always run the gamut of electronic dance music: from deep house to techno and UK bass, his sets and tracks like to rock the boat of any given genre, taking in contemporary impulses as well as classic inspirations. As label honcho for iconic imprints like Simple or Aus Music, he further honed his ear for the perfect groove and was invited to bring his expert selection to the revered DJ Kicks mix series in 2014. A remix collaboration with fellow UK producer October for Michael Mayer's MANTASY REMIXE 2 (KOMPAKT 272) turned out to be a fine first foray into Kompakt territory - now to be succeded by the LOST IN TIME EP, for which he teamed up with Bristol-based soundsmith KOMON. Komon & Will have been collaborating for many years, resulting in tracks on Will's DJ Kicks and remixes for labels such as Ninja Tunes (Kelis) and Houndstooth (Throwing Snow). Komon has been a mainstay on Will's Aus Music imprint, with solo releases and regular collaborations with Appleblim. For Kompakt, they turn in a swooping trio of floor-versed cuts that are no strangers to atmosphere and experimentation, but like to keep the crowd in check with outbursts of pressurized funk. Leading the pack is the title cut featuring quality vocals from BEN WESTBEECH (aka Breach), flanked by the introspective DRONE and immersive mover DIGITAL PARADISE - a versatile and powerful outing from two artists that know perfectly well how to set the scene.
(de) Als einer, der sich nie leicht kategorisieren ließ, hat der hochrespektierte DJ und Produzent WILL SAUL stets die gesamte Bandbreite der elektronischen Tanzmusik zum Thema gemacht: von Deep House zu Techno und UK Bass findet alles den Weg in seine Sets und Tracks, jenseits von Genregrenzen und gerne inspiriert von zeitgenössischen wie klassischen Impulsen. Der Macher hinter gefeierten Labels wie Simple oder Aus Music ist bekannt für sein feines Ohr am Groove der Zeit und hat seine Expertise in 2014 für die berühmte DJ Kicks Mix-Reihe zum Einsatz gebracht. Eine Remix-Kollaboration mit dem befreundeten Klangschmied October für Michael Mayer's MANTASY REMIXE 2 (KOMPAKT 272) entpuppte sich als grossartiger erster Ausflug in Kompakt-Gefilde - nun der Schritt zum eigenen Release mit der LOST IN TIME EP, für die er sich mit dem Bristol-Produzenten KOMON zusammengetan hat. Komon & Will arbeiten seit vielen Jahren zusammen, was bereits zu Tracks auf Will's DJ Kicks and Remixen für Labels wie Ninja Tunes (Kelis) und Houndstooth (Throwing Sbow) geführt hat. Dank seiner Solo-Releases und der Kollaborationen mit Applebim ist Komon ein gern gesehener Gast auf Will's Aus Music. Für Kompakt liefern die beiden ein bissfestes, tanzflur-erprobtes Track-trio ab, das gerne in experimenteller Atmosphähre badet, den Tänzern aber auch gerne mit Hochdruck-Funk Beine macht. Der Titeltrack brilliert mit wundervollen Vocals von BEN WESTBEECH (aka Breach), flankiert vom introspektiven DRONE und dem mitreissenden Schieber DIGITAL PARADISE - eine vielschichtige und kraftvolle Darbietung von zwei Künstlern, die ganz genau wissen wie man den Beat in Szene setzt.

When Kompakt came across Amsterdam-based Harm Coolen and Merijn Schotte Albers aka WEVAL back in 2014, we were blown away when we heard their slow-burning, darkly emotive tracks.

Their debut EP 'Half Age' on Atomnation featured painfully intimate and surprisingly kinetic electronic chamber pop that convinced us they were a perfect fit in Kompakt's family. Following two widely acclaimed EPs for Kompakt and playing numerous festivals including DGTL, Reeperbahn, Iceland Airwaves and Piknic Electronik, we now see the two tackle their self-titled debut full-length WEVAL. What you have before you is not a mere collection of tracks, but a complete listening experience with organic flow, emotional heft and a narrative thread.
Smitten with WEVAL's uniquely personal and catchy approach to producing dark electronic music, it didn't take much to win us over... and so came WEVAL's acclaimed 2014 label debut EASIER EP (KOMPAKT 318), followed by the bold and beautiful 2015 offering IT'LL BE JUST FINE / GROW UP (KOMPAKT 344) which saw the two soundsmiths digging deeper into the granularities of electronic funk than ever before. However, Harm and Merijn's music - while astonishingly fully-formed even in its earliest stages - always seemed destined for more, a bigger format, more space to explore the nooks and crannies of their rapidly evolving sound cosmos. Simply put, they needed to think about an album and their beloved living room studio wasn't cutting it anymore.
An old school building became WEVAL's new home, repurposed to house small creative businesses - but in the summer of 2015, it was abandoned most of the time, with everybody out in the sun while our heroes turned the building's attic into a sweet spot to make some noise, have 24-hour access and lose track of time. And apart from a sketchy tenant being evicted, the occasional soccer game with friends and live gigs across Europe, there really was no interruption to the focussed vibe. It's not like they were looking for distraction anyway: "working on the album all by ourselves in this bloody hot attic was all we had on our mind", the artists admit. And they decided that their album shouldn't sound too clean: "We try to find the beauty in imperfection. It makes things sound more human".
Weval draw their inspirations from no single genre of music but a cumulation of music that inspires them. The results present an astonishingly coherent vision - cuts like the dramatic THE BATTLE, bass growler I DON'T NEED IT or the trippy epic MADNESS share the same DNA of zestful nostalgia, a knack for immersive sound-sculpting and that certain kink in the groove. They also feed on deeply personal experiences and moods, as exemplified by the haunting electronic ballad YOU'RE MINE, the carefully layered, polaroid-tinted JUST IN CASE or the beautifully voiced closer YEARS TO BUILD. And sometimes, it's just an old, out-of-tune piano that stands in the hallway: "Whenever I'd pass by it, I couldn't resist playing it", says Merijn, "so Harm decided to start recording and it became an integral part of YOU MADE IT (PART I)". No doubt about it: this is WEVAL's most powerful and organic material yet - which means a lot, considering the amount of skill already on display in their small, but weighty portfolio.
(de) Als sich 2014 in Amsterdam Kompakts Wege mit denen von Harm Coolen und Merijn Schotte Albers aka WEVAL kreuzten, waren wir sofort Feuer und Flamme für ihre schwelenden, emotional aufgeladenen Tracks. Ihre Debüt-EP "Half Age" auf Atomnation präsentierte intimen und überraschend kinetischen, elektronischen Kammer-Pop, der wie angegossen zu Kompakt zu passen schien. Nach zwei vielbeachteten EPs auf dem Label und einer Reihe von Festvialgigs (inklusive DGTL, Reeperbahn Festival, Iceland Airwaves und Piknic Electronik) nehmen Weval nun mit dem gleichnamigen Release ihr erstes Album in Angriff. Und legen dabei nicht einfach nur eine Ansammlung von Tracks vor, sondern kreieren eine komplette Hörerfahrung mit organischem Flow, emotionalem Gewicht und einm roten Faden.
Angetan vom einzigartig persönlichen und mitreissend düsteren Klang WEVALs brauchte es nicht viel um uns zu überzeugen... und so kam es 2014 zum gefeierten Labeldebüt EASIER EP (KOMPAKT 318), gefolgt vom kühnen und wunderschönen 2015er Release IT'LL BE JUST FINE / GROW UP (KOMPAKT 344), für das die beiden Soundtüftler tiefer denn je in die Granularitäten des elektronischen Funks abtauchten. Nichtsdestotrotz - und obwohl sie schon von Anfang an ausgereift klang - schien die Musik von Harm und Merijn auf dem 12"-Format stets bestimmt für mehr: mehr Freiraum um auch die äussersten Winkel ihres rapide expandierenden Soundkosmos zu erkunden. Sie mussten schlichtweg zum Langspielformat wechseln, und ihr heissgeliebtes Wohnzimmerstudio konnte da nicht mehr mithalten.
Ein altes Schulgebäude wurde schliesslich WEVALs neues Zuhause, umfunktioniert für kleine Kreativunternehmen - doch im heissen Sommer 2015 stand es zumeist leer, da alle draussen in der Sonne badeten, während unsere Helden im Schweisse ihres Angesichts das Kellergeschoss in ein lärmfestes Aufnahmestudio verwandelten. Mit Studiozugang rund um die Uhr liess es sich bestens die Zeit vergessen. Und abgesehen von der Räumung eines zwielichtigen Nebenmieters, dem gelegentlichen Fussballspiel mit Freunden und natürlich Live-Gigs in ganz Europa, gab es auch keine Ablenkungen vom hochkonzentrierten Kreativfluss. Ablenkungen, die das Duo ohnehin nicht suchte: "ganz allein in diesem verdammt heissen Keller am Album arbeiten war alles, was wir im Sinn hatten", geben die Künstler zu. Und sie entschieden sich, dass ihr Album nicht zu sauber klingen sollte: "Wir versuchen die Schönheit im Makel zu finden. Es lässt die Dinge einfach menschlicher wirken."
Weval beziehen ihre Inspiration nicht aus einem einzelnen musikalischen Genre, sondern eher aus einer Akkumulation von Musik, die sie inspiriert. Die Ergebnisse zeichnet eine beeindruckend kohärente Vision aus - Aufnahmen wie das dramatische THE BATTLE, der Bassknurrer I DON'T NEED IT oder die Trip-Saga MADNESS teilen diesselbe DNA aus schwungvoller Nostalgie, einer Schwäche für immersive Klangschnitzerei und einer gewissen Delle im Groove. Sie nähren sich auch aus zutiefst persönlichen Erfahrungen und Stimmungen, wie zum Beispiel bei der eindringlichen elektronischen Ballade YOU'RE MINE, dem vorsichtig geschichteten, polaroid-gefärbten JUST IN CASE oder dem wunderschön gesungenen Schlussakt YEARS TO BUILD. Und manchmal ist es nur ein altes, verstimmtes Klavier, das im Flur herumsteht: "Immer wenn ich dran vorbei lief, musste ich darauf herumklimpern", erklärt Merijn, "also wurde es ein zentraler Bestandteil von YOU MADE IT (PART I)". Kein Zweifel: dies ist WEVAL's stärkstes und organischstes Material bisher - was durchaus was bedeutet, wenn man das Talent bedenkt welches bereits in schmalen, doch gewichtigen Portfolio der Band steckt.

Najem Sworb brings us the thirty-fifth edition of Wolfskuil Records adding the Strasbourg-based artist to it's roster. Previously releasing on labels such as Clone Basement Series, Technorama, Metis Recordings and the now defunct Ai Records, Najem Sworb has been transforming through various genres of techno since his debut release in 2007.

Rad.Velc EP brings us 4 original tracks playing upon the themes of house and techno. 'K-159' opens the EP with a fierce relentless bass and squeaky pads ending in a harmonic disarray while 'K-166' follows in a smiliar suit rather with a dub inspired rhythms. On the flipside, Najem Sworb switches up the vibe with 'K-abL' which illustrates the artists more house influences with mystical synth lines. However, 'K-177' demonstrates his knack for techno, delivering an explosive device fit for the dance floor. Together in all four tracks Najem Sworb shows his expertise in unique synth work providing a quirky cadence to his beats.

DJ FEEDBACK
early support from
Answer Code Request: Interesting stuff here!
Rødhåd: Downloading for listen.
Anthony Parasole: This is quite good!
Ben Sims: B2 doing it for me.
A.Mochi: A2 is for me!
Angel Molina: K-abL/K-177 as my fav track on here, especially the last one, killer one.
John Osborn: Really strong release - loving A2 & B1.
Isolated Lines: Very cool tracks! I really like A2 and B2. I'll play them.
Jeff Derringer: Sounds very nice! I'll try this in Detroit.
Phone: Love hypnotic tribal sound of K159.
Truncate: Solid tracks all around... but really digging that B1 track.
Orde Meikle: Great release.
Ekserd: Another excellent one on Wolfskuil. Super nice!
Echoplex: Fresh.
AWB: Long time fan of Laurent's work.
Invite: Another great ep on the label! Keep them coming!
Jeroen Search: Yes!
Blawan: Very nice ep! Full support.
Joseph Capriati: Downloading for Joseph Capriati.
Mr. Jones: Always a surprise what new sound Wolfskuil will bring.Like this funky and fresh EP.
Richie Hawtin: Downloaded for Richie Hawtin.
Marcel Heese: Killer!
Randomer: A side bangs.
Robert Lamart: Support.
Svreca: Feeling specially K-177.
Mosca: Love that K-166 synth!
Tensal: B2 is my pic here, nice stuff as usual in Wolfskuill.
Markus Suckut: 166 & 177.
Sinfol: Will try b2.
Ame: Thanks.

Heavyweight soul providers Fat Freddy's Drop are about to take flight once again with the worldwide release of new album Blackbird on 24th June 2013. Blackbird is the third full-length release from the New Zealand band and will see Fat Freddy's Drop exceed half-a-million album sales worldwide, the result of playing over 800 shows in their career-to-date, clocking up 412 appearances in Europe, 27 Australian Tours and over 300 shows in their homeland.

Fat Freddy's Drop celebrate a decade of European touring by releasing Blackbird in East London. The already sold-out show at Village Underground attracted over 4,000 hopeful ticket ballot entries in just 24 hours for only 500 lucky spots.

Featuring nine tracks, Blackbird was written and recorded at Bays, the band's own studio, which was one of the last vinyl pressing plants in New Zealand and then an apostolic church. Fitchie says, 'What you hear on the album is the sound of Bays, the room itself, the vibe of the place and the performance we can get out of the band in there.'

'Blackbird is truer to FFD's musical philosophy than anything else we've done', says Chopper Reeds. 'The song structures are open and unruly - just like our live shows - whilst we've pushed ourselves to deliver rich and deeply layered arrangements that showcase Joe Dukie's exceptional voice. We feel totally at home melding together this unholy mix of disco, rootsy dub, blues, soul and electronic funk - it's what we do.'

Fat Freddy's Drop have released two studio albums, 'Based On A True Story' (2005) and 'Dr Boondigga & The Big BW' (2009), two live albums, 'Live At The Matterhorn' (2001) and 'Live At Roundhouse' (2010) and a stash of limited edition vinyl singles, including the now legendary 'Midnight Marauders' and 'Hope For

he second time around: fred p aka fp-oner is back on mule musiq with another record that demonstrates the many cosmic qualities of his deeper shade of soul.
it is the second part of a trilogy that features his detailed sonic landscapes that are full of mystery and power. while his last fp-oner album 5' was leaning more to the jazzier, relaxed and atmospherically side of his artistically deep house expressions, the runner-up grinds even deeper into spherical worlds that enhance deep meditative highs.
they are not made for club use only. in fact all eleven compositions work also massively without big speakers. again the new york city native that is working on his very own music for almost 20 years produced a journey inwards that is compelling, mesmerising and enchanting.
you find cosmic dust in it as well as dark entropies, percussive power, sweet seducing melodies and rolling bass power that shakes your inner and outer profoundly. the tracks are listening to names like awakening co creator', alternate reality' or adjusted perception' and the album title 6' stands for a meaning,
that fp-oner describes like this: 6 represents the number of man and his or her limitations, weakness and imperfections.
this body of work examines and looks towards one awakening. adapting to a new way of being creating an alternative and reaping a higher state of mind and being. enhanced by love and serenity, satisfaction and joy.'
all tunes are produced around the world, as he is a guy who never stops feeling in sound. that is why he caries his studio around to get up in the middle of the night or right in the morning after a sweaty party to transfer his emotions directly into sound. the result is massively powerful music with slow, intimate passages for treacly melodies, stirring synth-lines and little rhythmical quaintness.
an almost lyrical house journey that works like a musical sculpture in which organic machine grooves float along keys on air. the evolution of the each track is impeccable and their power grows with any new listening session. fp-oner himself characterizes his art like that: 'my music is designed to enhance deep meditative, or altered states, to allow the listener to personally connect to the creator of all that exists in the universe.
my music style is to first create a foundation using cyclic, polyrhythmic music, then build several layers of improvised leads and rhythms that allows you to transcend time and space... we have memories of past lives that reverberate in our hearts like echoes from ancient caves'.
there is nothing more to add, except that those who do not know fp-oner so far should know that he danced in his younger years in legendary new york city clubs like the red zone, sound factory or tunnel to dj sets of larger-than-life selectors like david morales, frankie knuckles or danny tenaglia.
during those nights he learned that sometimes less is more. and that he should rather listen to your heart and soul, then to the susurrus of the music market. most of the eps and albums that he produced under his other monikers like fred p or black jazz consortium have been released via his very own label soul people music, which exists since more then ten years.
as fred p he also dropped 12inches on jus-ed's underground quality imprint as well as on toshiya kawasaki's mule musiq label. for the latter he now is working on a trilogy under the fp-oner alias. this little paper introduces the second part of it. the final one will hit your heart and soul in an unwritten future. whatever circumstances of life will be around by then: you can be sure that fp-oner will transfigure them into a dynamic emotional and spiritual terrain.

Every now and then there comes a record designed just for djs and the dance floor In the series of :no questions asked) we've gone back to basic with simple offering Tools for the dj. We also tried to put back the mystery of great dance music. This is one of 4 volumes. For all offerings there are no artist names or titles.
We thank you for understanding.

'Nothing' is Kode9's first solo album and is about nothing. The album throws horror soundtracks, sampled library and j-pop records into a no man's land between grime, early dubstep and Chicago footwork. Mostly instrumental, it zigzags between hypnotic, downcast loops, growling drones, and jagged cut-ups of androids gone haywire, threaded through twitchy, transatlantic rhythms and sub-bass inaudible through your laptop speakers. Building slowly, but more upbeat than previous albums, many of these tracks have more in common with Kode9's recent singles from the last few years than they do with his two previous albums with collaborator The Spaceape, 'Memories of the Future' (2006) and 'Black Sun' (2012). Yet 'Nothing' is haunted both by The Spaceape's presence (he died in 2014 after a prolonged battle with cancer), on 'Third Ear Transmission', a communiqué from a zone of digital immortality, and his absence, on 'Void', whose spaces were originally intended for the vocalist, and 'Nothing Lasts Forever', which closes the album with a 9 minute silence. Now confirmed for release as a double-LP, the initial run will be a limited edition pressing on glass-effect translucent vinyl, housed in a high quality gatefold jacket and inner sleeves displaying Optigram's remarkable artwork to its fullest effect. Also included is a complimentary mp3 download code.

Kez YM made his debut in 2010 on 4lux. He released great music through labels such as Yore, Faces and City Fly after. The Japanese producer now returns to 4lux with what he does best and delivers 4 amazing deep house tracks.

- A collect phone call is a form of communication based on the understanding that the receiver pays the cost of the message sent
- A collection agency buys debt at a fraction of its balance based on the reduced likeliness of the debt being recouped
- To collect is to gather, to source and to inventory


18+ return with their thirteen-track second second album, 'Collect', which explores the duo's aggressive evolution as musicians. Frequently radical and genre-defying, together Justin and Samia have produced their most ambitious and powerful work to date. On 'Collect', the duo explore the relationship of public vs private in a more invasive style, exemplified by the sampling of phone calls and personal field recordings intertwined between tracks.

Recorded collaboratively between Justin and Samia's respective Berlin and Honolulu residences, the album is a product of their physical geographical distance and autobiographical individual growth: the fragmented meeting of displaced minds, reflecting on the way we now interact in a variety of contexts, from platonic, to professional, to economic.

In 2006, Tim Arndt released the first Near the Paren- thesis album "Go Out and See". Arndt had intended to follow up that release with a more beatless ambient album, where percussion was left to the side and com- position took center stage. A shelved Idea that we now get the benefit of a full ten years later.

This new album Helical is the realization of Arndt's stripped down ambient concept. Helical features Arndt's characteristic experimental modem classical instrumentation and compositional style, but slows things down and stretches them out. The focus on the organic is clear, but moments of ethereal breath weave in and out and prevent the album from becoming too self aware.

Helical, as a loose reference to the geometric structure of our very DNA and it contains themes that are driven by a recent discovery of Arndt's past and ancestry. The release seamlessly stitches all of these concepts together and marks an unique release and new direction for Arndt's Near the Parenthesis.

Helical will be available in limited transparent coke bottle green and opaque grey vinyl flavors as well as compact disc on May 20th.

-7th album from bay area experimental composer Tim Arnt.
-Limited Grey and Coke bottle Clear Vinyl
-Near The Parenthesis has 3 tracks with over a million plays on Spotify.

Michigan's ambient and soundtrack specialist John Beltran introduces a new LP that will be co-released by Delsin and his digital only label Dado Records. Entitled Through the Blinds, it features ten tracks by Blair French (who also appeared on his Music For Machine compilation on Delsin last year) and will be released on January 18th 2016. Blair French aka Dial.81 is an experimental producer and visual artist who won an award for his score of Detropia--a documentary about his home city of Detroit--and now makes his ambient debut. As you would expect of such a project, it boasts suspensory and near spiritual pieces of ambient music with angelic chords and glassy textures. There are also more frosty cuts that sound like a chilly Autumn walk, tracks that feature emotive neo-classical piano pieces and suggestively rhythmic compositions that sooth your mind. The second half of the record touches on church like passages of synth heavy sounds, strikingly sad violins and lo-fi arrangements that sound, one hopes, a little like what you might hear as you pass from this life to the next.

Trani has been representing the Detroit sound in Italy for some years now, with releases on Minimal Soul Recordings, as well as his own Pushmaster Discs (a label that has also hosted the likes of Ilario Alicante, Myles Sergé and Percyl). His latest outing will be his first full-length, an album inspired space travel, that continues to push Detroit sounds, as well as venturing into some jungle rhythms.

DJ FEEDBACK
early support from
Jeff Mills: I like the Alien Pattern Track!
Robert Hood: nice tracks from Mattia.
Dimi Angelis: Like this! Thanks!
Marcel Dettmann: Thanks.
Thomas Hessler / IMF: Nice one! Thank you!
Darko Esser aka Tripeo: Excellent album, right up my alley!
John Heckle: Thanks, some stuff I really like on here.
Marco Zenker: Sounds really dope! Thank you.
Jonas Kopp: Great stuff, will check carefully! Thanks.
Ben Sims: Plenty of great moments here, nice to hear some Detroit/real techno flavours on an album. Thanks!
Milton Bradley: Very nice tracks, 'Traffic 2 Traffic' is my fav.
Truncate: Downloading, thanks.
Donor: Really looking forward to giving this a good listen after download. Thanks.
Marcelus: Wow that's pretty... Very nice one, great tracks and the all thing makes sense, congratz!
Ben Gibson: Looking forward to having a proper listen to this.
Zadig: Really into electro stuff here, and 'Alien Pattern' is also great. Thanks.
Radio Slave: Great sounds here.

With their next carefully curated release, the Opilec Music label begins to shine a light on the roots of Italo with the reissue of an ultra rare and obscure synth Italo disco track by A. Avenue from 1984.

This is a special Record Store Day 2016 release and of course, Opilec Music has remastered the original vocal and instrumental versions and here include I-Robots reconstructions and two Flemming Dalum's reworks.

This is a track many labels wanted, but only Opilec Music have been granted official rights to this cult re-release. Originally released on Discover Records, this is the only EP

A. Avenue (aka Dario Ancona and F. Feleppa) ever put out and it now fetches high prices on Discogs. Once you hear the music, you can understand why: The lovably naive and innocent vocal version is seven minutes of cosmic and psychedelic grooves with perfectly retro melodies and pixelated chords that take you into outer space.

Mid tempo drums are full of funk and drive and the two part vocal—one crisp and clean, one filtered and dehumanised—really lend the whole thing a special robot feel that is second to none. As well as a stripped back instrumental, there is a fine I-Robots Reconstruction that is quicker and more driving.

The vocals are also more prominent, soaring up top above reflective synths and rainy xylophone style melodies. It is a real Italo disco gem that is followed by a spacious and tripped out version from Danish DJ and producer Flemming Dalum, who has been devoted to Italo all his life and works with labels like Mothball, Bordello A Parigi and Disco Modernism.

He also layers in more cowbells, punchy drums and claps that refresh it for a modern club, and buy the EP digitally and you will get a second Dalum edit that is the deepest of the lot - 100% true to the original.

This reissue will make many record collectors and Italo disco fans truly happy, and is just the start of some brilliant new projects to come.

Hailing from a small village near a mountainous place where the borders of three nations encounter, the machine loving Jens Tozzberg now arrived at Fachwerk Records. With his background as club and festival promoter and wih travels through different musical experiences in the wide range from Drum & Bass to Dubtechno his newest project at Fachwerk contains an eclectic live act with influences from Germanys earliest rave culture, chain reacting echoes and heavy bass techno. Also after many years as world traveling DJ he keeps on searching for new ways of DJing, channeling his approach as a producer into his peaktime nightclub performances.

Supernovas originally formed the basic chemical elements which subsequently merged in a myriad of variations, creating life as well.
All the components of our world descend from that single original replicating molecule.
In a primitive stage, a functional distribution of energy was regulating the self-selection as the only workable explanation for the design and variety of all life on this planet. Such harmony meant prosperity of hearth as a whole unique entity, a perpetual thriving of life cycles.
Meanwhile, humans developed their own ego to the point to think that they were fallen angels rather than risen apes. Their unique highly developed intelligence made humans the only rational beings on the planet, but it is by rational choice that they consciously keep inflicting pain and humiliation, a planetary torture running through the ages.
Proliferation of humans doomed the dynamics, tampering with the energy fluxes and distorting the relationships amongst the entities. By rationally choosing to ignore their native compassion, humans become guilty and they self-sentence their own end. We have gone too far and sacrificed too much to disdain the future that we designed now, while the metastasizing process of the planet grows, the past increases and the future recedes.

In autumn 2015, Swedish dream-pop duo Korallreven bid us all farewell by releasing the "round-the-world-in-a-day" sounding final single Here In Iowa, alongside memorable shows in New York City and Scandinavia. Now, they return for one last time with a disco dub dream remix of said song by the mighty Peaking Lights. This forms part of a 12" EP released by Be With Records. The record - limited to just 500 copies - will see its worldwide release for Record Store Day on 16th April 2016.

The 12" will also, for the first time on vinyl, include Korallreven's breathtaking cover of Guns & Roses' November Rain from 2014 as well as Shine On, the duo's rework of their own 2010 single Honey Mine, featuring Taken By Trees' Victoria Bergsman.

From the guys:

"Hard to say if Here In Iowa was an end or a start of something new. You'll see! Whether or not, we hold it as one of our highest heights and, after this beautiful season, we truly deeply madly felt that it was worth some extra limelight. And hey! Thanks for the remix, Peaking Lights! It's so wonderful! Life surely is."

The BTRAX records label is back after few years off, and we are sure that new EP will not disappointed you. We are very proud to put out 1 stunning track made by one of the label artist : Camille Rodriguez from Paris - France.Electronic music drives his life for over 10 years now, he has developed his own style incorporating all his influences. He is passionate about the live, and create that way with synthesizers, sequencers, BAR and samplers... He likes pushing himself sweating behind his machines, improvising at every moment, keeping control of every sound in order to play more intuitively, getting a better communication with the crowd...
'Andalusian 2.0' comes in two guises, the Original Mix which delivers some perfect techno keys and claps over its stomping techno beat, giving it live performance style flavor. The Traumer Remix takes it into darker warehouse territory but still retains the warmth and groove. Kaine's Remix delivering some tough dub techno workouts that still have just the right amount of funk and groove.

James K is a stranger to obviousness. Over the past few years the New York native has quietly honed her sound and peculiar aesthetic. Equally organic and electronic, her sound is a combination of odd dreams, industrial beats and vocals, both incomprehensible and appealing, with a thick layer of glitter on top of it. James K is a concentrated dose of emotion mixed with sorrowful iciness, which in turn ties together ripped, broken, morphed and enchanted samples. James K stands for a fusion of visual and sonic elements, deeply rooted in conscious art practice and downright freak-out. James K creates a mythology of her own.
'PET,' her first LP due out in early 2016, will be a co-release with Dial and her own label, She Rocks! A special edition of the album with added bonus tracks and interludes with be released on cassette through Canadian label 1080p.
In James K's words: 'The underlying desire of 'PET' divides into two parts: an escape into ethereality and a mischievous denial of my own experience. It narrates my search for honest expression by means of the premature denial- a childish excursion into a world of monstrosity and innocence.
PET reflects my mental state during its production - as a person, I was owned, objectified and hurt by other, and that wound I then unwillingly internalized. I turned to my music as a way to dissect these thoughts. The product became my possession, or 'pet.' In retrospective, this process gives me strength over myself; love—knowledge and wisdom enacted. The arrangement of the music and the PET itself relates to my endless struggle, namely, my attempts to reclaim myself.'
Her 'Sokit' 7' is a double track single for her album, which she released last Spring. James K is featured on the recent compilation released by Dial Records for their 15-year anniversary, and a mini LP of her noise pop project SETH (along with producer Gobby), was also recently released by label 1080p in June, in cassette and digital form. She rocks.

Anyone who knows Soul Intent's music will know he loves to dig into the hardcore, rave and jungle archives. Now he's taking it a step further by launching Dope Plates, the second sub-label to his Lossless Music imprint. Expect early 90s influenced Drum & Bass and Jungle, drawing from the foundations set by legendary labels such as Metalheadz, Reinforced, Moving Shadow and Good Looking. As for the logo (yes we know it's awesome) it was designed by Art Jazz from Genaside II... see, we really went in on this!

Eleanore Mills is a classic Soul singer with a sweet and sophicated voice, who recorded her debut album 'This is Eleanore Mills' for the Sylvia Robinson's All Platinum subsidiary Astroscope in 1974. The album has a broad range of Soul and early Disco/Soul cuts. It did not sell in vast numbers on its initial release but has become heavily in demand in the last 20 years and appeals to a broad spectrum of Soul and Disco collectors and DJ's.. Original copies are highly collectable and in mint condition now sell for around £300- £400. Eleanore went on to record with Norman Connors on his 'This Is Your Life' album in 1977 (recently issued on CD by Soul Brother) and then developed into singing Soulful house having a huge record with 'Mr Right' in the late 80's.

Gari Romalis and Lello Di Franco - Dreamin For the uninitiated, our man Gary Romalis is the unsung master of Detroit's house and techno scene. Having DJed across the motor city's top venues for the last three decades, Gary is somewhat of a seminal figure for many of Detroit's DJs currently at the forefront. Following a slew of high quality releases on various labels over the past few years, Gary now unleashes that special flavour on us for SKYLAX 142! He is not alone though. With him, he brings all round Italian partymaker, and top selector in his own right, Lello Di Franco. Let me tell you, this duo's collaboration is something to behold. Throughout all 3 tracks on the record, Gary and Lello maintain the essence of what the Detroit underground is all about; stripped back tracks with soul that never feel like they go 'big' for the sake of it. While Dreamin (Wanda Mix) may be packing a big kick and power clap combo, it's the elegantly filtered, jazzy sample that will leave you wishing that the track lasted forever. The vibe takes a dip right into the deep in Detroit Underground (Beat Dat Mix). Spacious pad synths alongside a mesmeric vocal carry us through. Taking a step back up, Afrobeat rounds off the EP, made with a solid toolkit of afro-centric samples.

DUBWAX is proud to present the LP of Star_Dub called "A space in Between". He caught our attention after releasing strong dub techno ep's on his own STARDUB Imprint in the last 4-5 years. In 2015 we signed him for DUBWAX and he delivered the "DUBADU FILES" EP (DUBWAX005). Now it's time to present a overview about his productions in LP format. These days its hard to stand out between all those "basic channelish" Dub copys artists so we are more than happy that there are a few guys like him out in the scene who deliver their own interpretation of modern dub tech music. More infos soon!

After his first EP on For Those Who Know ...Malvito is now on Syncrophone Recordings with Conforce remix.

Art thou ready Straight fire coming from Total Science, Phaction and Fokuz Recordings stalwarts Malaky, Satl and Silence Groove. On the A side long time drum & bass veterans Total Science flip Phaction's ''Stratos'', released early 2015 into a hypnotic, soulful groove with a bopping bassline, delayed piano cuts and vocals.

Next up are Fokuz Recordings regulars Malaky, Satl & Silence Groove. Already making a name for themselves individually they now team up on ''Skyfall'' delivering an infectious, heartfelt slice of soulful drum & bass. Good vibes all around but then again, would you expect anything different from us We think not, go and cop that!

The immaculate Omar S resumes his Side Trakx series: released on his own Detroit imprint FXHE Records that he has been running for more than a decade now, Side Trakx Vol 4 is comprised of three rather soulful pieces.

Over the past 7 years WOLF Music have steadily blossomed into a bonafide platform for both auspicious and established producers of classically-minded House and Disco catering for listeners and DJs alike.

Having amassed a catalogue of EPs and LPs including the likes of Frits Wentink, Medlar, KRL, Mr Fries and Inkswel they are now ready to release their 4th full length LP this time from long term label friends Nicholas Church and Joseph Spencer a.k.a Casino Times.

Having first appeared on WOLF for the label's 23rd release - Casino Times have since released music through their own Casino Edits imprint, Futureboogie and Permanent Vacation.
Across each release the duo have built a musical identity that's characterised by subby electronics and off-kilter sampling.

Now they get chance to stretch their legs across 10 tracks, delving into an array of new territories, which pieces together their début LP, Familiar Circles.
Ranging from the beautifully breezy Oddity to the break-laden Love In Time the album begins to take shape as a masterclass in arresting sampling.

Continuing with the subtly mournful I Hope This Find You Well featuring Desert Sound Colony, followed by the potent, burly drums of Overcome. Panning out across its entirety as an album that achieves something rare in deftly dialing a broad spectrum of moods, adding further facets to WOLF's ever-expanding catalogue.

Canadian based label Eternal Drive Recordings is proud to present it's first vinyl release by Jay Zoney titled "Workhorse" with remixes by Audio Injection & Axkan.

This is the label's eleventh digital release and first to be cut on vinyl featuring two original tracks from label boss Jay Zoney. Jay's productions have picked up previous support from artists including Ben Sims, D.A.V.E. the drummer, Bas Mooy, Speedy J, Sam Paganini, Joseph Capriati and Gary Beck.

On remix duty is Los Angeles native David Flores, who takes on the EP's title track under his Audio Injection alias, where many people will also know him as Truncate. Between his two aliases this heavyweight producer has racked up an impressive back catalogue of labels including CLR, Mote-Evolver, Affin, 50 Weapons, Figure and Gynoid Audio to mention only a handful.

Also featured as a remix artist is Federico Sánchez aka Axkan originally from Mexico, now calls California his home. His dark, experimental and edgy sounds have landed his tracks on the likes of Morgan Tomas' Reloading Records to Israel Toledo's Assassin Soldier and many more.

First on the EP is the title track 'Workhorse,' which true to its name is steady and relentless. A kick drum that stamps like heavy hooves on concrete gives it a powerful sound. The fast flowing percussion is brought to life with startling rips and synth stabs that grunt with determination and grit. This industrial workhorse delivers the goods every time with expert precision and perfect timing.

The second track is titled 'Mr. Ed' shows Jay Zoney's acid roots. Industrial like the first track, it's hard hitting with a rolling acid line that wriggles and twists as the track progresses. It has an intensely powerful clap with sharp hi-hats and a shuddering bass sound that when combined give it an infectious throwback groove.

Third on the release is the Audio Injection remix of Workhorse, and although dark like the original, it's less industrial overall. Opting for his own spacey percussion and bassline David (Audio Injection) creates a rolling groove packed with forward momentum. With the addition of a half bar synth hook and rising pad sound, this remix is powered by a prominent off beat hi-hat which makes it both hypnotic, euphoric and menacing.

Finishing off the release is a rework of Workhorse by Axkan whose rippling remix is both eerie and mysterious. Loaded by a grinding synth sound which echoes round the mix to create the feeling of open space, his remix starts off four to the floor, but with an unexpected shift morphs into a more broken rhythm. Building in intensity, this pulsating masterpiece has mechanical qualities and a truly individual sound.

You can call them a »supergroup«, but Moderat understands that it's the »group« aspect that makes them interesting.

Gernot Bronsert, Sebastian Szary (aka Modeselektor) and Sascha Ring (aka Apparat) have been working together as a trio almost as long as their two separate projects have existed. We've seen their collaboration grow from »laptop boy-band,« (as Ring playfully puts it) in 2003—with computers synched using software Ring himself had written, because at the time, »there was just no live performance software around.«

Ring confesses that Moderat wasn't »really meant to be a recording act ,« with Bronsert agreeing that, »it was really just about fun.« This maybe explains the six-year break that followed Moderat's first EP before they finally returned in 2009 with their selftitled debut album. Intent on creating something that contrasted with their own projects, the group started the cycle which blossoms on their second album, aptly titled II, culminating now in the trilogy's completion, III. Whereas I was the combination of two separate entities, II brought the members closer together, and in III, the final chapter in the trilogy, Moderat sounds like one band.

Both Szary and Ring will tell you that Moderat moved progressively from making tracks towards a more traditional writing approach of making songs - a process more fully realized on III. That's partly why the vocals have become more prominent. Mostly, you hear Ring singing (there are no guests this time), as he so often does as Apparat, but listen closely to »Ghostmother« to hear Bronsert and Szary backing him up. Stepping out of their comfort zone is the kind of thing that helped create their interplay between pop and electronics; doing it right won them the Resident Advisor Best Live Act honor as early as 2009, and they continue to gain popularity while remaining independent and underground.

Szary describes the idea behind Moderat as, »imagin(ing) yourself sitting in the cinema and watching a movie with an incredible soundtrack.« This is true with Moderat in general, but III in particular pairs an emotional pull with sensual imagery, creating dynamic sound and depth with lyrics such as »the calming scent of lavender fills the air,« or »burning bridges light my way.« You'd have
to ask them whether they're intending to manipulate the listener in the same way that John Williams or Hans Zimmer might with traditional orchestras.

One of the best parts of Moderat is their use of electronics to achieve orchestral diversity. They update the songwriting tradition with an intriguing palette, borne of careful attention and skill, informed by their »experiences with sounds of nearly 25 years of suband club culture.«
Let's not forget that these three were brought together by Berlin's now legendary rave scene. With this as their common foundation as individuals, III signifies Moderat's maturation in modern pop — an achievement shared under their collective belt.

Bronsert explains that, »the new album isn't based on jams. We went into the studio and knew exactly what we needed to do.« This is reflected in the sophisticated themes explored in the music. Take »Ghostmother,« which ponders inner peace, acceptance, fear of the unknown and how facing that fear often reveals something not so scary. Or »Running,« which is about being part of a mass that constantly needs to move to function, but doesn't have the power to decide the direction of motion. Or how about the wisdom of »Reminder,« which recognizes the world for its flaws and our role we've each played in that, but choosing to act differently and light the way to something better.

Given that, it's a bit of an understatement when Bronsert says, »I'd say our music has definitely matured.« Successful in their own endeavors, now they've mastered the »group«. It doesn't mean the end of Moderat, but it does mean they'll have to find something else to excel in.

Minimal Wave present an album of long lost tracks by Dutch electronic music pioneer Das Ding, entitled 'Missing Tapes'.

Danny Bosten formed Das Ding as a solo project in the early 1980s and released his music and friends' music via his own cassette label called Tear Apart Tapes. At the time, he was studying graphic design at art school, and in turn he ended up designing the artwork, cassette-sleeves and illustrations for the label himself. Meanwhile, he recorded his own music as Das Ding. Powerful dark electro, he made several addictive and danceable tracks which later become Minimal Wave hits. Danny made all his music in his bedroom which essentially turned into a small recording studio. He went on to release many of his own tapes and also played some live gigs.

Old tapes were uncovered around 2010, and Minimal Wave released a remastered version of 'H.S.T.A.' and select other tracks. A wave of renewed interest followed the record's release and soon people were in touch to propose live shows. Twenty years later, and after some deliberation, Das Ding was reincarnated under its old moniker but now with a revised line-up and a working set-up that reflected inevitable technological change.

Recently, Danny came across further tape archives from those early days. And from the batch, we selected our favorites to present to you in vinyl release form. 'Missing Tapes' is a limited edition LP pressed on 180 gram creamy yellow vinyl, and housed in a heavy weight printed glossy black and white sleeve featuring one of Danny's original illustrations from 1982.