Cerca:lathe

After a pleasing start to the New Year, 2 same night sell outs on lathe cut 45s and a single afternoon sell out of the recent Gabe Knox LP, Polytechnic Youth continue their relentless release schedule with 2 more awesome full lengths. In their own ways, both totally unique but very much befitting the tried and trusted synth / electronic PY blueprint.

First up is the fabulous 'Where comes the Dark' debut full length from shadowy, underground producer The Slow Engineer. 'An album of sculpted synthsonics and Eldritch electronics originally released on a limited run, blink and you'll miss it cassette which sold out in 24 hrs. Heavy on basslines, with driving rhythms and tweaked synthesisers, it's a record which openly acknowledges it's nod to horror scores and the work of the Radiophonic Workshop whilst pulling off something uniquely and freshly new, with an assembled array of wayward equipment stored at his Analogue Hades base.'

British horror actor Laurence R. Harvey adds suitably menacing narration in places, and across 10 fabulous tracks this is a richly, deliciously diverse electronic record which comes hugely recommended to fans of John Carpenter, not to mention label mates The Heartwood Institute and Dream Division.

A one time pressing of 300, destined to sell out pretty swiftly.....

Following 1 or 2 small run / mailorder lathe cuts, Polytechnic Youth follow it's hugely successful 'Popcorn Lung' label compilation LP, with it's first full length of the new year, and man... this one is just wonderful! A mighty record to kick off what promises to be another hugely productive, constantly busy year for the Crouch End based synth label.

PY often likes to quote the artist directly in it's press releases, and this one is no exception. Gabe's own words, more than adequately explaining the path leading to this killer set for 2019; 'It feels a little ridiculous to pretend that the person introducing you to Gabe Knox is some kind of bigwig press agent and not just Gabe Knox himself, so let me, Gabe Knox, tell you a little about myself in that hopes that you'll give my music a listen.

In 2014, after years of moderate success as a local musician and club DJ in Toronto, Canada, I looked at my collection of barely functioning analogue synths and drum machines and said to myself 'Instead of trying to unsuccessfully make music you think other people will like, why don't you make something that you'd actually want to listen to for once' I wanted to make music that had the drive shaft of Neu!, the punishing low end of King Tubby, the interleaved melodic lines of Vince Clarke, the melancholic, otherworldly whimsy of Raymond Scott and Delia Derbyshire, the hypnotic drone of Spacemen 3, and the analogue intimacy of Le Car. I wanted to bring the euphoria and hypnosis of dance music to the rock kids, and the energy and excitement of rock music to the dance kids.

This was going to be a tough sell in the clique-y Toronto music scene, so I figured the best way to get the music out there would be by recording when I can and self-releasing a steady stream of EPs online. They would all be a series, a snapshot of the evolution of that initial idea. ABC represents a compilation of the best songs of the first three EPs, subtly remixed and remastered to best suit vinyl. I hope you love listening to it as much as I loved making it.'

This really is a remarkable record. Displaying all the PY traits of icy cool blasts of minimal synth, motorik grooves, melodic pop via passing nods to early mute and sky records. Never before did label head Dom think he'd get the chance to namecheck 2 musical heroes from wildly differing poles -Vince Clarke and Spacemen 3- into one LP PR sheet, so he's understandably excited for this one's release!

250 copies on yellow wax in hand numbered, reverse board sleeves. Sure to go real quick....

Long time scene stalwart Darren Price is stepping out on brand new label, Kilsha Music, with a fantastic EP of monster house tracks arriving on both vinyl and digital.

Opener 'Charm Offensive' is a fantastic ten-minute trip into loose limbed techno. Drums, bass and percussion all wrap and weave around each other and melt your mind in the process. A rasping lead synth eventually becomes the focal point as background chords bring real soul.

The brilliantly bristling 'Everybody Jack (UW Live Maschine Mix)' is a full fat track with busy textured synths, sci-fi effects and old school jack vocals that will really work the dance floor into a lather. It's dynamic and ever evolving, with plenty of tense peaks and troughs throughout to keep the 'floor on its toes.

The final vinyl track is 'This is House Music', a deeper cut with warm, warbling bass and a muted acid line spraying about the mix. It slowly builds the pressure in heady fashion and is one to really hypnotise.

This is a fresh EP from one of the techno scene's most enduring and essential talents.

Having previously featured on Comb and Razor's popular compilation 'Brand New Wayo', Caribou's 'The Longest Mixtape: 1000 Songs For You' (twice) and remixed by numerous DJs including Kornél Kovács. It has long been over due that Nigerian synth-funk legend Dizzy K gets the reissue he deserves, teaming up with London based record label Sticky Buttons for a very special double LP compilation.

Dizzy K Falola is one of Nigeria's most adored disco funk artists form the early 80's. His career was propelled by EMI Nigeria who brought him to notoriety with his first album 'Excuse Me Baby', released in 1982. Excuse Me Baby became an instant success in Nigeria and within 3 months he was back in the studio recording his second album and touring with international superstars such as The Whispers. The success of his work came both from the creative collaboration of musicians and their progressive style of synth-funk and disco influenced heavily by western artists. The team included Nkono Teles, Felix Liberty and Dizzy K's mentor and manager Tony Okoroji amongst others who together formed the disco funk that infected the homes, streets and clubs of Lagos. Noted in 'Hip Hop Africa: New African Music in a Globalizing World', Dizzy K's song titled Saturday Night Raps which features on Excuse Me Baby is thought to have been on of the earliest examples of commercial African Rap music. It was examples like this that showed Dizzy K was bringing something new to the Nigerian boogie scene.

With careful restoration by Colin Young at See Why Audio, (who's expertise and talents have graced some of the most iconic reissues of recent years, including "Who Is William Onyeabor" and Charanjit Singh's "Synthesizing: Ten Raga's to a Disco Beat") and vinyl mastering conducted by The Carvery, cutting the masters on a Neumann VMS70 mastering lathe originally used in Nashville's CBS studio to cut Motown classics. This is an uncompromising vinyl package covering Dizzy K's first 3 albums from '82-'84. Compiled for the dance floor and offering Sticky Buttons take on the bright boogie goodness of Dizzy. With personal liner notes from the artist and fresh artwork by the team this is a record that cuts to the point.

The second of Polytechnic Youth's ace new LPs for July, sees a mighty set from Austria based synth pop duo Mitra Mitra. Following previous releases on Peripheral Minimal and their own Micromort label, not to mention a lathe cut right here on PY that sold out in 20 minutes in Dec. 2015.



The band was formed in Vienna in late 2014 by Violet Candide and Mahk Rumbae. Originally from New Zealand, Violet Candide is a founding member of the Crazy Hospital DJ collective, and one of the organisers of the legendary 'Future Echo' club night in Vienna, and is one half of 'Anesthetic Hairpins'; whilst British musician Mahk Rumbae is known for his work as a member of the industrial/experimental project 'Konstruktivists', 'Oppenheimer MkII' (with Andy Oppenheimer of Oppenheimer Analysis) and his solo techno project 'Codex Empire'.

After working together on one of Violet's solo songs, 'Heat', the pair decided to continue working together and formed Mitra Mitra as a more full time project, with the aim of writing electronic songs not tied to any particular influence or style. However, if there was such a thing as a signature PY sound- arguably this LP (alongside last year's Vorderhaus full length), encapsulates it most. Beautifully icy cold synth pop straight outta' early prime era Mute / Blackwing studios output. Serene yet melodic, edgy, dry icy hooks and delicious grooves aplenty all over this record. Eight wonderful tracks where quality and sheer melodic guile of the song writing never dips and attention truly is held across the whole set, ....no mean feat indeed.

Available as a 300 pressing LP only, destined to sell out rapid style as have all previous releases by both artist and label.

N8noface Was The Vocalist For Underground Synth-punk Legends Crimekillz. He Is The Younger Brother Of Tucson-bred Modern Boogie Rocket Man Zackey Force Funk, Both Now Residing In Long Beach, Ca.in 2017, Hit+run Released N8's Visceral Debut Album Stories Of Those, As Well As Demos And Demons Vol. 1, A Ten-track Collection Of Home Demos Recorded Between 2015-2016. On Dia De Los Muertos 2017, Noface Also Unleashed The First Single From His Forthcoming New Album True Story, The Haunting Double A-side Lathe Cut idgaf / Say Goodbye.'
True Story, The 14-track Lp Due This August, Reads Like A Collection Of Compelling Mini-narratives, Brief Yet Honest Tales Of Personal Struggles, Anti-establishment Rants, Dead End Loves, And Real-life Tragedies. N8's Minimal Wave Sound Is Not About Nostalgic Lo-fi Nor Home-recorder Formulas, But His Own Instinctive Style That Defies Categorization And Comparisons. The Result Is A Distinct Sound Of Rapid-fire Hardcore Punk Moshing With Awkward Pop Music. Standout Tracks On The Dense 18-minute Album Include not Like You', bad Day', men Who Dress Well' And glasgow Smile'.

Originally recorded and privately pressed in 1973 on Jazz-Men records, featuring Leon Ndugu Chancler (Drums), James MTUME (Congas) and Larry Nash (Piano), Bobby Rodriguez leads this
stellar line up to perform the seminal 16 minute Latin variation of Freddie Hubbard's 'Little Sunflower'.
This extremely rare and sought after record is re-released for the first time on 180g Virgin Vinyl and presented in heavy weight 'tip-on' sleeves. Pressed and produced in the UK, using the mastering genius of Frank Merritt (Carvery Studios) and cut on the original Neumann Lathe used by Motown Records. Covered in heavy weight 'tip-on' sleeves and presented in screen printed paper counter bags with foil seals. Strictly limited to 1,000 hand numbered pieces, this special collector's edition will be available
through the Jazz Detective Records website and from select records stores worldwide for a limited time

Next up on the influential Artreform Records label is the boss himself, aka Kyiv-based DJ and producer Yevgeniy Joss. Often turning out tracks that sit high in the Juno and Decks charts, Joss has a high-quality sound that ranges from slick tech to deep house and now he proves that once more.
Up first is Smooth, an infectious groove with lively synths scurrying about and bringing lots of dynamism to the drums. The percussion is crisp and the whole thing feels spaced out and futuristic. It's busy and brimming with energy and will get any floor on its toes. Sharp is a darker number with more menace in the drums. They are rubbery and supple and run through with edgy little synth lines. The track grows wilder as it unfolds and will really work dance floors into a lather.
Once again the master Joss shows just why he is such a tastemaker in the underground dance scene.

- Warren Hampshire from The Bees teams up with pianist Greg Foat

- Recorded with full orchestra all anolog to tape

- Mixed down on fully analog desk from tape direct to the old Sun studios 1/4 Valve tape machine.

- Hand made paste back sleeve with 60s style gloss finish.

- Mastered from Tape direct to lathe at Timmion Cutting Studios Finland.

- Sleeve notes by Bob Lind

Multi talented UK Jazz Pianist Greg Foat has teamed up with Mercury Award nominated "The Bees" member and multi instrumentalist Warren Hampshire to collaborate on a new LP drawing on their diverse musical influences. Classic British library music, 60s Italian soundtracks & lost Americana combined with touches of modern classical, minimalism, Jazz and Folk. Featuring many members of Greg and Warren's previous bands and one of the U.Ks finest Jazz drummers, Clark Tracy, the LP also features an Edinburgh orchestra and soloists hand picked and scored by the boys. Recorded all analogue onto 2" multitrack in Edinburgh, mixed down by Mattias Glavå at his studio in Gothenburg, Sweden then mastered and cut in Helsinki, Finland, it's truly a European affair flying in the face of the brexit nightmare. Release June 2017

Ben La Desh may hover above radars despite his extensive back catalog for the likes of Sleazy Beats/Black Ops, Dirt Crew, Outernational and a recent contribution to the Young Adults House Slippers compilation.

One of the unsung modern forefathers of gradient chug, the Rotterdam native has carved out a niche for engulfing body movers that organically unfold like subtle origami.
Wondering What We Are explores the ever expanding spectrum of the Ben La Desh aesthetic in a compact 4-track capsule.

'Afrodesia' soundtracks a high speed chase through tropical back roads with swirling synths and pulsing drops.
'Your Love' has a slinky half-tempo bounce that skates along an infectious horn loop and vocal refrain.
'We Are' finds La Desh in his signature groove wheelhouse - buttery builds and smoothed-out repetition.
'Why Don't You' may very well be his deepest moment yet, a driving baseline is lathered with clattering percussion and sultry female croons to devilishly sinister effect.