Beats News

LP version comes with free download card.

Radio support from Benji B & B Traits (BBC Radio 1), Nemone (BBC 6 Music), . DJ support from Ben UFO, Joy Orbison, Caribou, Tessela, Mosca, Kowton, Ron Morelli, Bok Bok

Print features confirmed in Groove, Beat Mag, Faze (DE), Tsugi (FR), DJ Mag (IT), Volkskrant (NL), The Gap (Austria)

Print reviews confirmed in Mixmag, The Wire, Crack, DJ Mag, Uncut (UK), Blow Up, Rumore, Rockerilla (IT), Irish Times (IE), Musikexpress, Doppelpunkt, Westzeit (DE), Exclaim (CA)

Online features / premieres: The Fader, NPR, XLR8r (USA), The Quietus, Dummy (UK), Wasabeat (JP),

Hessle Audio are excited to announce the release of the self-titled debut album by Pearson Sound, aka label co-head David Kennedy. Characteristically minimalist in approach, its nine tracks use a handful of elements to craft mesmerising, self-contained worlds, alive with motion and near-subliminal detail: from vast and inky landscapes, to electrifying rhythm tracks, where layers of percussion and bass tumble over one another like rocks in a landslide. Recorded between 2013-4, Pearson Sound documents a distinct phase of Kennedy's studio explorations. "I had a signal chain set up that I was really happy with, and I started sending my machines through the same processes" he says. Expanding upon the techniques underpinning his recent REM and Starburst 12"s, its tracks emerged swiftly through improvised jam sessions, some were captured in a minimum of takes, while others later took shape through extensive sculpting and post-processing. "A lot of it was made by feeding the the same sounds between two different pieces of equipment and they'd end up feeding back between each other and snowballing. On some tracks it's about harnessing that and taking it to the brink before it disintegrates, and some of them are about just letting it go full-blown out of control." The result is a record of striking contrasts: bold, stark and visceral, yet also subtle, harmonically complex and deceptively playful. While Pearson Sound's livewire percussive energy remains inextricably rooted in the club, this exploratory studio process has created Kennedy's most wide-ranging yet coherent body of work to date: a suite of thrillingly impulsive, expressive and open-ended music, untethered from restrictions of form.

Young Bristol based artist Rise delivers an outstanding two track 12” for the Liondub International | Uproar Audio sub-label showcasing technical drums, refined sound design, deep bass lines, and a pinch of jungle flavor. ‘Analysis’ & ‘Feline’ are already getting wide raging support, and will be lasting additions to your coveted vinyl collection. We know you will love this!

"The Best Driving Music in the World Ever" was written and recorded during a 48 hour lock-in session, having never left the studio until completion. The artist stated, "This all came together due to a bout of loneliness and depression that swept over me one Friday evening. Being lonely sometimes can render positive results, something I am learning. I decided to go and make a guitar-based record and not leave the house until it was done. I succeeded and this is what was made." The tracks were then sent over to be mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri at his incredible studio, Black Knoll in New York, US.

"The Best Driving Music in the World Ever" was written and recorded during a 48 hour lock-in session, having never left the studio until completion. The artist stated, "This all came together due to a bout of loneliness and depression that swept over me one Friday evening. Being lonely sometimes can render positive results, something I am learning. I decided to go and make a guitar-based record and not leave the house until it was done. I succeeded and this is what was made." The tracks were then sent over to be mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri at his incredible studio, Black Knoll in New York, US.

Klasse Wrecks' 'Junglish Massive' sub-label started years ago in 2017 as way to release Junglistic music that was ever so slightly left of center, music that employed the usual Jungle tropes but was not strictly traditional. Four years later and the label is back with its second release and its safe to say its been worth the wait. MASSIVE2 is a pan-Asian affair, taking in tracks from Mogwaa (Seoul, South Korea), Mr. Ho (Hong Kong) and Sumo Jungle (Tokyo, Japan). Proving that Jungle is now a truly international medium, the music here represents the outer-sphere of the universe and provides an insight into each artist's interpretations. Originally released in 1996 on Far East Recording label, 'Grand Senshuraku' is an example of the classy perfection of the original 'Sumo Jungle' album. Now long out of stock and highly sought after, this re-issue serves as a little taste of what might be yet to come from the relationship of Sumo Jungle and Klasse Wrecks. Mr. Ho's 'Championsound' sounds as authentic and bonafide as you can get, with perfect chord changes and depth-charge Amen breakbombs. Rounding up the EP Mogwaa supplies a futurist and relentless track in 'Been So Long', its rigid and frantic drum programming accompanying a backing that sounds equally at place on an early 2000's computer game as it does on vinyl.

Birds of a feather flock together. Christian Coiffure and Comic Sans Records is a long story made out of plenty questionnable jokes, third rate movies on Netflix and "Aperobass". Musically speaking, we’ve followed the same path, interested in absolutely anything, serious on the substance but never on the form. This common culture quickly gave us the willing to work together, but it’s paradoxically the first time - except two tracks on our infamous compilations - that this idea comes to fruition, ‘cause we gotta say we share a common point, that of being stricklers for details, to the point of never being satisfied.

This EP, instead of not being subjected to the rule, is perhaps the most striking example. Even though the skeleton of those tracks have been composed in barely a day, the final versions are the results of several months of torture that turned into a quest to the holy grrrraaaiil (s/o Tim the Enchanter) through which Christian aimed to reach flawlessness without ever succeeding. But old Italian wise men once said "Perfect is the enemy of good", and people coming from a country that invented pasta alla carbonara must have a relevant opinion on the subject. Therefore it’s time to rely on this latin wisdom and to release those Left Undone tracks, which without necessarily being perfect still sound as good as a record would deserve.

The idea behind those 3 tracks was to build a bridge between Mr. Coiffure’s previous releases and the UK Club Culture by portraying emblematic elements of British electronic music in more mental and industrial frames. Syncopated Techno rhythms of "Sketches", stretched vocals from "Mere Karma Patters" and the 2-Step drums on "Bassbenderz Theme" are arranged around a particular sound design which can be found in old appearances of our boy, especially on Worst Records.

As a whole, the EP is to be apprehend as an exploratory work more than the outcome of reflective period. Nevertheless, the result sounds fresh as hell, and original as f***,so it proudly takes its place in our Comic Sans Catalog.

Coco Bryce dons his DJ Y alias for his debut on Unknown To The Unknown’s Dance Trax series - 3 tracks of "off the wall” breakbeat-electronix taking in everything from gabber, jungle & tekno.

Brooklyn based drummer/producer Jason Nazary (of Anteloper) makes his We Jazz Records debut with "Spring Collection", released on 25 June. The album sees Nazary crafting some deliciously sparkly solo cuts plus working long disctance with choice collaborators Jaimie Branch, David Leon, Ramon Landolt, Matt Mitchell, Grey McMurray and Michael Coleman. This is essentially a collection of home recordings and the whole operation has an infectious feeling of immediacy to it. The result is improv adjacent electronic music, with modern production aesthetics transposed over spontaneous compositions.

Jason writes:

"With Spring Collection, my aim was to capture the spirit of spontaneity & collaboration lost in the absence of live music. Like most everyone else last spring, I suddenly had a lot of time on my hands and with all my work cancelled, and with an indefinite lockdown in effect, it became immediately apparent that most of my time – save a walk or two a day around the neighborhood – would be spent in the tiny one bedroom apartment I share with my wife and two cats.

What kind of music does one make during lockdown? I would begin my days with a cup of coffee and all the cables of my modest little modular set up in my lap, slowly discovering new sound worlds as I connected one cable after another – these became the beginnings for the pieces in Spring Collection. With these unformed sketches, I would record an improvisation, an exploration of sonics: a small kit of bells, shakers, pans, pots; their resonance captured in fine detail with ultra sensitive microphones. These became, in effect, a conversation first with myself, but later one I knew I had to open up, make social. In the desire not to diminish my collaborative impulses, I felt compelled to involve some of my favorite musicians in the process alongside me."

"Spring Collection" is released by We Jazz Records on 25 June on vinyl (neon orange & black vinyl editions), tape and digital formats. The vinyl edition comes with a booklet including original artwork and poetry by Todd Colby.

Dedicated to the city dwellers who live with the rats and crows in the gaps of the city where the giant capital tries to control everything.

With love.

Mars89

In this compelling debut release, NETSH takes the listener on a one-way trip to his world with his own unique take on acid, braindance, electro, jungle and even a dash of hardcore. Frenzied breakbeats, thick and melodic 303 sequences, ass-shaking drum programming along with deep and lush pads are the constant on this record, coherent and diverse a the same time, which tells a lot about the young producer's musical maturity.

This is the fourth of the Legends Vs Legends series. These very limited 10" Legends Vs Legends series aim to pit the finest in old skool artists against other old skool artists to see who is the best ever...haha, no. There is no best. But these little 10"s have BIG tunes by BIG artists and as we have some absolute shockers lined up. This time in the orange corned is Dj Ham, aka Hamilton, and in the blue corner old skool master New Decade. Both bring their A game to these remixes of classic tracks…unmissable…

Earlier in the year, we heaped tons of praise on the booming, breakbeat-driven first EP from Pilot, which showcased a quartet of killer cuts from Johannes Kolter. He returns to action on this EP, taking control of the B-side to offer-up the funky, sample-heavy electro/breaks fusion of 'B2R' (think Layo & Bushwacka's classic material and you're close) and the more spacey, electro-focused bubbliness of 'Systematic'. While they're both very good, we'd argue that North Phase's A-side tracks are even better. Choose between the dubby and hypnotic breakbeat-house roll of 'Feel It', and 'Escape From Planet X', a deeper, more bass-heavy chunk of breakbeat pleasure that comes complete with fizzing electronic noises, deep bass and some suitably trippy synth sounds.

Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore / Goth ASMR Hardcore /

The first release on Jugaar Records is from Karachi boy Rudoh and brings together five slabs of electro-breaks architecture primed equally for the dance-floor and headphones - including a remix from Australia-based, Salt Mines Records honcho, Shedbug. Enjoy!

Visual Art and Music have historically shared an important, entwined relationship; often posing questions of which provoked which in a project? What about when the imagery is a medieval surrealist, hyper coloured XTC wonderland? Genre-blurred and stirred, daring and dynamic dance music for the twistedly imaginative minds and bodies! The Tapestry of Sound is an audio tribute to the liquid lockdown Tapestry of 2020, a wall-size mixed media art piece originally intended for a live-stream backdrop; despite not being completed in time, it became the epicentre of communal creative junction & release - no limits or logical sense. The result, a sonic terrarium cultivated by longtime partners in crime D. Tiffany and Roza Terenzi; with the help of friends, weaving their sapphic magic into something wicked and new for STEP02, Tapestry of Sound.

A maypole is a tall wooden pole often erected as part of late 19th century European Midsummer folk festivals, around which a dance often takes place; coinciding with Summer Solstice, or in Corona-era... Scrollstice. The A-side presents two contrasting offerings of the Maypole Theme, opening with the Surrealist Piano Roll Mix; an effortless euphoria gliding and twirling amidst a rolling 2-step garage routine, playfully anticipating melodic ecstasy via black and white keys. A complementary contrast offered by the Looming Giant Mix; sleek and deep. A hot-femme fiasco, driving and deviating between 4/4 and a freaky broken plot-twist; evoking imagery of the night, skipping fiercely round the pole; which was often considered a symbol of the union between masculine and feminine energy.

Wasp Of A Woman initiates the B side blowout, stripped back and sensual, but don’t be fooled; this is a straight-up b0mb. Low end throbbing underneath ferociously swung drums, topped by microphone assassin Kaylin with the fire lyrical content, a true upcycle of genres to set the mood for a flammable dancefloor. Cooling off, only slightly for a cigarette break, is Inhale, Exhale the final track from the EP. The tempo finally settling down but bumping up the groove with thumping toms guiding a playful party-starter, rhythmic and melodically inspired; infectiously cheeky with subliminal naughty memos teasing their way in through the backdoor.

Let your mind run wild with this effortless collaboration, two minds sharing the same obscurely forward-thinking visionary, the Tapestry Of Sound; a Meta Musical Time Capsule.

Gonzen, uminari or retumbos. Perhaps you've heard these sounds? They're known to occur all over the world and, as one might expect, humans have strained to offer various explanations for these unsettling emissions that materialise unbidden from the sky.

We like to say that we've understood what's happening so that we can move on. Tidy up the loose ends and don't scare the horses. Nothing wrong with that in good measure, but there's something to be said for the Haudenosaunee peoples' explanation. They pointed out that the Great Spirit hasn't finished their work of shaping the earth and is making a fair bit of noise while they're at it.

If you accept that many questions never truly get answered, in fact can or should never truly be answered, you may be able to tune your mind to this collection of lingering sonic detonations. If you accept that the work is ongoing, our labours seldom done, that there's not much point talking about the end of anything, you may be ready to join us. It's not our task to finish it, nor are we free to desist.

We welcome back the sub frequency specialists from Brussels for their second LP on Samurai Music. Peppered with a sizzling selection of like-minded collaborators, Grassroots continues the enhanced exploration into dub infused, stripped back Drum and Bass, deftly splashing breakbeat shards over their rolling grooves.

Presenting ‘Migi EP’ from Los Angeles-based producer Tsuruda. We are very excited to welcome his first standalone release on the label showcasing his avant-garde electronics in this 4 track EP.

green marbled vinyl

Moonshine Recordings teamed up with the legendary Zion Train to deliver a brand new EP with four remixes of tracks from their recent album 'Illuminate'. On the remix duties you can find such talents as Baodub, Bukkha, DUBBING SUN SOUNDSYSTEM and last but not least the mighty Radikal Guru. Out November the 5th on limited edition 12" coloured / black vinyl and digital.

Limitierte Vinylauflage des Remixalbums "Faded Now", das 2020 kurz nach dem letzten Chromatics-Albums "Closer To Grey" digital erschien und neben Remixes von "Closer To Grey" Songs auch brandneues Material enthält. Die limitierte LP erscheint auf farbigem 180g Vinyl, das per Zufallsprinzip (rot, weiss oder klar) sortiert ist und entsprechend per Zufallsprinzip ausgeliefert wird.

"...I'm doing time where the dreams are for sale..."

2x12"
Cinthie marks a milestone in her career this June with her debut album ‘Skylines – City Lights’ on Aus Music. Berlin’s Cinthie has grown to become one of the most respected purveyors of house music, both as a DJ and producer, in Europe and across the globe over the past few years. Through the numerous imprints she’s headed up, her productions, her soul-infused DJ sets and even her own record store Cinthie has become a driving force in the contemporary electronic music scene. Here we see the culmination of Cinthie’s career, which spans more than two decades, pieced together to make up her debut long player, a tribute to all the things that have inspired her over the years, from Chicago House to New York Garage, European rave, Nu-Disco and years of experience behind the booth and keeping dance floor’s moving. Across the project tracks like ‘Houze Muzik’, ‘Concentrate’, ‘Morning In Melbourne’ and ‘Bassline ‘shine a light on Cinthie’s true love, authentic, soul drenched and raw House music. ‘2k Garage’, as the name would suggest, also nods to her love of the UK Garage sound and cuts like ‘City Lights’ and ‘No One Can Take You From Me’ lean towards Disco influences old and new. Further additions see Cinthie exploring new territories for the album format, experimenting with a downtempo aesthetic on opening track ‘Skylines’, textural electronica on ‘Flashback’ and Acid House nostalgia on ‘Calling’ and ‘Horizon’. ‘Skylines – City Lights’ beautifully showcases the life and inherent passion for electronic music Cinthie has, all perfectly weaved together across twelve compositions.

The 2nd 3AM Eternal EP brings 2 tracks from Huddersfield based artist Duburban, who has been releasing an impressive amount of quality EP's on a variety of labels the last couple of years. Both tunes expertly blend the ruff with the smooth. Rare groove infused jungle with soundclash mentality at its finest! FFF returns to the label with 2 tracks on the B-side. Both are a bit more subtle than his usual output but still plenty of choppage, vibes moving between dark and light, euphoric and energetic.

Splatter Vinyl

Shall Not Fade welcomes Rotterdam based producer Kessler to the family with six weighty jams for their "Basement Tracks" series. Rising Rotterdam based producer Kessler has been bubbling over the past 12 months with a string of high quality releases on labels such as Yellow Island Records and his own KESSLER TRAX imprint. His first full vinyl outing sees him serve up a bass driven masterpiece for Shall Not Fade's new "Basement Tracks" series. Ambivalent EP is nothing short of spectacular, weighty breaks meet dreamy synth patterns on this killer dance disc.

Visceral, elemental, electronic funk, conjured from scraps of sound, breath, mutterings, dubwise remembrances, scuffling, sweat and blood, thin air — ‘crawled out of the slime’, as the opener puts it, self-engendering like the baddie in Terminator — all harnessed to cruelly grooving earthquake bass and b-boy drum science.

Rhythmically it has ants in its pants and it needs to dance, with an improvisatory, streetwise nervous energy and uninhibited, purposeful rapture, crossed with on-song Pepe Bradock and stripped-to-the-bone, mongrel hip-hop.

It’s unruly and edgy, a bit off its rocker, emotionally ranging — typically anxious, often nostalgic — and riveting dance music.

clear purple vinyl
Repress


After the MASSIVE Coco and the Cat EP for PRSPCT RVLT, the one and only Coco Bryce is back with his first solo EP for PRSPCT Recordings. At once lush, dreamy, soulful and dark, Sound Dimensions taps four nostalgic jungle rollers from one of Holland's greatest modern junglists.

Repress


Side A: Edit on Cutter
Side B: Edit on Future

Francesco Cavaliere and Tomoko Sauvage embody a tactile audio visual display, radiating the color green into sounds and painting meditative music. By transforming collected objects into invented instruments and scenography, each motif becomes a dedication to a specific situation, an anecdote or a symbol, sometimes real and other times absurd, that the artists have encountered through their travels and conversations: the Chinese myth about a man wearing a green hat, naming convention of Japanese traffic lights, or even the imaginary chants of frolicking twin dolphins. This inspired the duo’s personal research on experimenting with raw and synthesized idiophones, stage landscape design, spontaneous field recording and organized improvisation.

For their installation and performance, Cavaliere and Sauvage assemble a green cabinet of curiosities - instrumentarium combining water, glass, clay, bamboo xylophones, metallophones and synthesizers. Tomoko describes in an interview: “When you are actually surrounded by green musical instruments, it has a calming effect as if you were looking at a forest or mountain.” Surrounding themselves with amulets and fluorescent fluids, the duo transcend into a musical imagination that connects scores, choreography and sculpture. Motions like crisscrossing the stage, feeling the presence of a perfectly plump leaf as it strikes a glass bowl, minerals slipping through fingers, all resonate to the soothing sounds of splashing water. There’s an intuitive yet methodical nature to this conceptual approach to composition reminiscent of the fluxus art movement. The pair’s initial motif was to play Henning Christiansen’s Green Music, whose score turned to be nonexistent. By then, their green dream was already flourishing in their mind, retracing the path of so-called environmental music from Walter Tilgner, Knud Viktor, to the likes of Kankyo-Ongaku and Hiroshi Yoshimura.

Since there is a strong visual element to their work, witnessing this captivating site specific performance may be imperative in understanding the range and influence of the color green and the impact on the sounds they create together. On ‘Viridescens’, the first release by Cavaliere and Sauvage, we are invited to experience these recordings in a more musical context. Acting like an intermediary, the duo transport us to their special planet, enlivened by animal voices, wind, and aquatic creatures dancing across a luminous aurora.

I know it sounds completely obvious and all that but it really does feel like a bit of a landmark to be putting out the 10th Holding Hands record. What started as an outlet to release my own music has become so much more already, namely small family of artists who I believe are writing some of the music exciting dance floor slammers in the world. Almost everyone on the label is a long time friend of mine, often reaching back 10-15 years and it is a real privilege to be able to put out this amazing music and to watch it get such a great reaction from all you legends out there!

The 10th release comes from two of my best mates, Gallegos who I have known since he came up for a weekend of ridiculousness in my second year at Leeds to stay at another close friend Conor’s house. He is one of the best story tellers I have ever met and if you ever get to know him then you can look forward to many a riveting tale. He is also a criminally under appreciated producer and I hope that this release will do something to help get his name onto many more people’s lips.

3 Tracks of explosive Hardcore. Ruff and rugged just like back in 1992
Plus 6 tools for the real Deejays. Vinyl cut LOUD.

Martina Topley Bird and Robert “3D” Del Naja (Massive Attack) have collaborated on a limited run of MTB’s previously digital only ‘Pure Heart' EP release. The 4 track EP, including a vinyl exclusive track “Collide”, is now presented with 3D’s artwork, released via his Battle Box imprint.

Each 12” sleeve will be individually hand silk screen printed using 2 colours on 350gsm reverse board to create a collectable and unique piece of art.

Martina Topley-Bird's distinctly creative relationship with Robert Del Naja, the artist also known as 3D can be documented through a long history with Massive Attack and rooted in those very first visits to Bristol that lead to Topley-Bird appearing on Massive Attack’s 2010 album Heligoland with tracks "Psyche" and "Babel".

Commenting on the significance of the collaborative project and artwork release, Del Naja;

"We are proud to be releasing this special 12 inch MTB X RDN edition of the Pure Heart ep on the Battle Box label. It's a symbolic way to celebrate our first musical collaboration since Heligoland.”

Battle Box is Robert "3D" Del Naja’s limited edition vinyl imprint which has released collaborations with Guy Garvey, Tunde Adebimpe, Jupiter, James Massiah and Noel Gallagher.

A true highlight of the early ‘00s melodic IDM scene makes a welcome return, released in full on vinyl for the first time! (a now highly sought-after 5 track sampler was the only vinyl version originally produced) This release also includes 3 previously unreleased bonus tracks, all made during the same era.

Released by Merck in 2004, after acclaimed releases on Toytronic and Parotic, Sinking’s unique amalgam of crystalline sound design, blissed-out atmospheres, and gorgeous melodies made for an instant classic, inspiring euphoria and music nerd procreation around the world. A supremely deep record, nobody has made anything quite like it, before or since.

“Just know that it’s huge, meaningful and smart…and stunningly beautiful.” - XLR8R

As is often the way, this new one Instinct is as rude as flicking the bird in a pair of Nike TNs and a full tech fleece. It comes from Soul Mass Transit System, a Leeds based duo made up of D. Jason and Baby J known for their retro tinged garage bangers. 'Wine' is all naughty bass, slamming drums and jungle samples, while 'Babeh' gets more down and dirty on tightly programmed kicks, dark bass and echoing vocals that are all made for the peak time. Last of all, 'I Know' is a cluster of percussive hits and reversed effects, warped bass and twisted rhythms that make for perfect body music.

Vinyl re-issue of Future Sound of London’s seminal album, Dead Cities. Marking 25 years since its original release this cult album is pressed on vinyl for the first time since its 1996 release.

“Herd Killing” and “We Have Explosive (Herd Killing mix)” both feature several samples from the Run DMC album Tougher Than Leather.

Title track “Dead Cities” contains a vocal sample at the beginning of Laurence Fishburne from the film Deep Cover.

Single “My Kingdom” features A vocal sample of “Rachael’s Song” (aka “Rachel’s Song”) by Vangelis, from the Blade Runner soundtrack .

The album charted in the UK top 40 with “My Kingdom” & “We Have Explosive” both entered the UK singles chart in the top 15.

Cejero present a limited edition cassette from Roc Jimenez de Cisneros & Stephen Sharp aka Evol (Editions Mego, Diagonal, New York Haunted).

Featuring Squirrel Flower and Liam O’Neill (SUUNS). Recommended If You Like: Mount Eerie, Low, Richard Swift, the Weather Station, Lomelda, Fleet Foxes, Squirrel Flower, L’Rain. Cedric Noel is a songwriter, bassist, collaborator and producer currently based in Montréal, Québec. The newest longplayer from Tio'tiá:ke/Montreal staple Cedric Noel lands with a stunning sense of surety and self. Hang Time stands as a high water mark for a songwriter who's spent the past decade quietly expanding the borders of his music. Longtime fans will recognize the fluid elements of the album’s open-ended rock formations: reflective strumming, soaring choruses, searing guitar lines, subtle bass grooves; all occasionally dissolving into pools of pure ambience. New listeners will find surprises throughout: threads of folk pop, ambient and sound collage fasten the foundations of this expressive whole. However, what’s most striking on Hang Time is Noel’s newfound sense of voice, both literal and metaphorical. Written primarily in 2017-18 during an intense period of self-reflection, this collection of songs finds Noel wrestling profoundly with his sense of identity, self and place. The album’s material was captured faithfully at The Pines, a beloved downtown Montreal studio whose doors shuttered shortly after amidst the strain of the pandemic. Noel worked closely and patiently with friend and engineer Steve Newton, ensuring the songs had the time and space needed to come fully to fruition. Hang Time features subtle rhythm work from drummer Liam O’Neill (SUUNS) and guest spots from Brigitte Naggar (Common Holly) and Tim Crabtree (Paper Beat Scissors) among others. The album opens in mid-air with ‘Comuu’, a song that implores a becoming-more while hovering triumphantly. Then follows a suite of songs (‘Headspace’, ‘Keep’, ‘Stilling’) that recall the heart-rending power of y2k-era Low, albeit with a more vigorous beat. On ‘Bass Song’, an intimate duet with musician Ella Williams (Squirrel Flower) that explores the depths of interpersonal constriction. At the crux of the album sits ‘Born’, a deceptively pleasant-sounding song that explores the confounding emotionality of adoption before fading into a distended soundfield. Throughout the back half of the album, Noel double’s down on this commitment to his genuine, proud, Black self. The most confrontational track, ‘Allies’ finds him refraining “Are you on my side?” as a trailing guitar solo interweaves a Malcolm X soundbite, eventually engulfing the composition. Glorious lead single ‘Nighttime (Skin)’ traces the artist’s sense of ancestral dissociation through to a triumphant moment of pride in self-acceptance. Throughout Hang Time, Noel finds a way to ask hard questions (both of the listener and himself) in ways that are compassionate, open and honest. The ebb and flow of tension and tenderness that moves within these tracks helps to grow the heart and redefine what Black music can be in 2021.

Repress

Analogue Attic is back mid-March with the debut album from Alex Albrecht.
The ten-track project is entitled 'Campfire Stories' and features collaborations with label / production partner Sean La'Brooy, Allysha Joy (30/70), Thomas Gray and more.

Here Albrecht delivers his debut solo album which "explores dreams, the unconscious and the intertwining of feelings and memory.
Interspersed field recordings lend to the fragmented way people recall experiences. It is a narrative in which the listener is encouraged to attach their own thoughts and impressions to the soundscapes."

Since 2014, Alex Albrecht and Sean La'Brooy, better known as Albrecht La'Brooy, have released an array of material on Apollo Records, their own Analogue Attic Recordings and more, always leaning towards the deep, hypnotic and emotive side of House, Techno and Ambient.

The project was designed as a gapless album, intended to be listened from start to finish and welcomes a number of collaborations throughout with the likes of 30/70's Allysha Joy and Ziggy Zeitgeist (ZFEX), Thomas Gray, Carla Oliver (Badskin) as well as long-time musical partner and co-label head, Sean La'Brooy.

An introspective dive into an ethereal atmosphere, "Glimpses of anEternal Bloom" is the debut album of Turkish producer, composer and pianist Berk Icli. The album is an attempt to frame certain moments of "being" no matter the emotional state concerned, whether euphoric, sentimental or dark and contemplative. At times, this is done through orchestrations of strings, brass and woodwinds. Other times with solo piano, field recordings, electronics and the use of samples.

Imagine Prometheus, the thief of fire, the father of civilisation, had been spellbound by the sirens chanting and never felt pain, when the eagle bit his liver. Total enchantment, created by sound to overcome the pain of existence. A sound, styled by the ideal harmony of body and soul. And yet, the pain is still there, hidden between the notes, driving a romantic vision of salvation.

If Prometheus could have translated his fictitious epiphany into singing, it might sound like Ghédalia Tazartès’s chanting in “White Layers Over Black Paper”, one of the eight snake dance tracks-not-tracks by German producer Detlef Weinrich aka Tolouse Low Trax and French singer, hurdy-gurdy, spinet and harp player Emmanuelle Parrenin. During some days of intimate plays in Paris they created “Jours de Grève”, a bouquet of music full of mirrors, eyes, statues, secret doors, rooms, and blood. With the offhanded help by friends and like-minded souls like Versatile aura mystic Gilbert Cohen, French avant-garde saxophone player Quentin Rollet and his fellow countryman, experimental voice artist Ghédalia Tazartès, they transformed in Cohen’s studio impulsive emotions into a kind of medieval cult sound that dances with tribal dub layers in search for a higher ground.

The session took place during an intensive time of public strikes in the French capital, that tied up the public life of Paris and gave birth to the album’s title Jours de Grève. After the jam, Weinrich drove back to his old hometown Düsseldorf, sat down with his friend Jan Schulte aka Wolf Müller and mixed the captured notes, sounds, rhythms and singings into pristine tripping music, that avoids stylistic categorisations. As rather architecture, sculpture, painting, performing or film could express what Parrenin’s hypnotic hurdy-gurdy performances, Tazartès’s ancient deeply emotive ululations, Rollet’s almost religious saxophone notes and Weinrich’s toting grooves evoke in the psyche, it might be better to go back to Prometheus and the fire, that brought us light and warmth. Jours de Grève does too.

And it is a stolen one. A borrowed one. Affected by art and life outside of sound. Lent from a forgotten monument in a random city around the world. Swayed by an afternoon glass of wine in a Parisian street café. Affected by music of all ages. Unconsciously developed in the spirit of Philippe Doray and Les Asociaux Associés, Théâtre du Chêne Noir d'Avignon or Areski Belkacem’s collaborations with Brigitte Fontaine. Above all Emmanuelle Parrenin extramundane voice swings, mutating between speech and chant, while Ghédalia Tazartès mourns like a wise illusionist. In tunes like “Caltec’s Dance” you even feel the airiness of early Fun Boy Three recordings. All that is rooted on Weinrich’s Tolouse Low Trax magnetic signature grooves, this time floating between dark tribal upbeat sexiness and dubbed-down bass sculpturalism.

If it is true that illuminating music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects and feelings which motivated it, then “Jours de Grève” is an in impulse composed primitive state of rhizomatic paranormal psychic phenomenon, that incorporates all the worlds, that the naked eye cannot see.

Herb Rhythm graces Rhythm People after his last EP on Plastik People with 4 more cuts of proper underground House & Garage. Ease Up George on the remix duties. The underground garage movement.

Set your phasers to wobble - Instinct is back with some of the most potent dark garage weapons they've carried to date. Rising star Holloway's "Acme" is not to be messed with, with a ludicrous, dexterous bassline to get everyone flexing like crazy. Ease Up George is taking no prisoners either with "Wicked", which sounds like it would be right at home on a classic Ghost 12". Daniele Temperilli brings a dense, experimental tint to the shuffled 2-step funk of "Smog", and Raynor seals the deal with the low and growling menace of "Round Off". If you need any proof the UKG scene is in rude health, look no further than this 12".

Downbeat lives up to its name and step by step, is slowly making its way. The new release of the label from Madrid is signed by one of the label's honchos, Jose Rico. Influenced by the US sound, he has achieved a unique and special sound. Jose's trajectory for more than a decade as a producer is impeccable. The list of labels where he has released is endless: Freebeat, Semantica, Eleve, Aesthetic Audio, Into the deep, Sound reflection, Off minor, Neroli, Chubby!, Ten lovers music to name a few... but above all Downbeat where he has left genuine jewels of slowed down house.
Now he returns with a release that is quite different from that "Yagoba Itzoiten" or his recent "Déjà Vu". The label begins a new stage, opening up to new sounds unexplored until now, as can be seen in tracks like "Astrolenguaje", "Future jazz" (with Specter and Anthonius) or "Star dreams" which gives name to the album as a declaration of intent. Downtempo, Nu jazz, broken beats and of course, House music, is what we can find in this instalment number 13.

Born and raised in Indonesia, Omar Joesoef built this EP with samples of old records of ethnic music that he has found in an abandoned radio station on Java island. Named Lokananta, it is one of the first radios setting up in Indonesia in the 50’s. The recordings in Omar’s EP come from rituals and meditative chants of one of the last tribes still living in the ancient way, completely disconnected from the modern world.

Chants of Gorontalo opening track is named after a province of Indonesia located on the island of Sulawesi. Over there lives the Dayak tribe who still follows its ancient traditional way of life. They practice rituals to communicate with their ancestors using chants and meditation. This first track is about a prayer for harvests, fertility and prosperity. Dayak is a very intimate and enclosed tribe, keeping themselves away from modern society. These recordings of them singing found by Omar in Lokananta radio station are very rare and special. Lokananta is also the first record label of Indonesia, releasing recordings of wayang performances, speeches, Javanese orchestra. It is a great source of inspiration for Joesoef’s work.

Morning World track is a reading of a Java old story about a mythical creature called Gatot Kaca. Searching old records in his storage room, Omar accidentally found somewhat of a scripture in ancient Javanese. The meaning of it came from his family. The script was released by Kraton, an ancient Javanese royal palace, and was passed down on Omar’s mother’s side of the family. The story is a simplified folklore called Wayang, a traditional form of puppet theatre play from Java island. Omar found a Latin version of the script and asked his friend Sasha Alatas to read it in the way he used to hear it at Wayang plays when he was a kid. To complete the track, Omar made some minor manipulations of the voice and added a few samples of Lokananta records such as bird sounds and environmental soundscape.

“It’s the Heat in the Room” track conveys a strong and powerful energy with consistent heavy bassline, snappy snare, groovy percussion ensemble and vocal samples of the Dayak tribe. The song emulates the adrenalin rush one might feel in the middle of a night hunt. Some of the sounds chosen reminds of the echoes that may be experienced in a dark cave when a single stone breaks on the floor.

Introducing Pruvan to Tectonic and to the world, with this debut EP of soundsystem smashing beats! Think – expertly crafted productions that effortlessly bring together some of the best elements from techno, D&B and dubstep. The US-born, Czech-based producer has carved a fresh space, bringing next level sounds together with finely tuned production skills.

Lead track Pozor sets the pace, just simple and effective, followed by a pick-up in tempo with Beastwoman; fiddly fun with Buckets and a vinyl exclusive tech-workout with All My Mites. The digital EP comes with 2 extra tracks, Raw Dawg & Yoji, providing bonus extra fire.

1st solo album in 5 years, recorded, produced and written by Richard H. Kirk, founding member of Cabaret Voltaire, the album was constructed at Western Works, Sheffield, over a three-year period. Work began with recording on midi and analogue synthesisers before guitar and vocals (Kirk's first use of vocals in 10 years) were added. Kirk explains, A lot of time was spent on post-production, editing and then living with the material and I think it benefited from stepping back and then revisiting after doing other things.'
Although not an overtly political album, it's hard not to hear a reaction to recent years' world events in the overwhelming urgency of 'Nuclear Cloud' or '20 Block Lockdown' or in 'New Lucifer / The Truth Is Bad'. When questioned Kirk admits, It's not really a political album, but over recent years - during the recording - all manner of horrorshow events have cropped up and now we seem to be in a rerun of the Cold War with Russia back as the Bogeyman.' The album's title, Dasein (a German word meaning being there' or presence', often translated into English as existence'), is a fundamental concept in existentialism. Kirk explains culture succumbs to nostalgia in much the same way that an individual looks back wistfully to adolescence or childhood - the nostalgia is partly for a time when he or she wasn't nostalgic, just lived purely IN THE NOW.' In 2014, during the recording period, Kirk began work on Cabaret Voltaire live and so the two projects coexisted in tandem. Although Kirk's varied projects have always existed separate to one another, says Kirk, in the past some solo works served as a blueprint for what I did later with Cabaret Voltaire'. Billed as a performance consisting solely of machines, multi-screen projections and Richard H. Kirk, Cabaret Voltaire recently announced the first UK performance in over 20 years at the Devil's Arse Cave (aka Peak Cavern) in Castleton, Derbyshire on Saturday 29 April. Kirk will perform entirely new material for a performance relevant to the 21st Century with no nostalgia. RECENT PRAISE FOR RICHARD H. KIRK One of the UK's pioneering electronic agitators' - Electronic Sound In five decades of key-bashing and knob-twisting, Richard H. Kirk has remained at the vanguard of electronic music' - FACT ...decades of electronic innovation, forged in Sheffield' - Uncut
Kirk was toying with distorted realities from 1970s onwards' - Record Collector

This collection of 12 luk thung* songs from the 1960s-70s, all produced by Surin Phaksiri, is a superb showcase of cross-genre/multi-national fertilization, with Latin, jazz, western pop, Indian and Japanese music seamlessly melding with the musical culture of Isan (northeast Thailand), which is strongly rooted in Laotian culture; indeed, the Isan language, as featured in these songs, is a form of Laotian. Esteemed producer Surin Phaksiri, an Isan icon, always strove to drive Thai music forward, with innovative techniques and open ears, introducing international elements as well as Lao influences, including the use of the khaen. Many of the singers here, all famed and respected, have Lao roots, and it is predominantly through music that the Isan Lao-Thai culture has entered the Thai national consciousness. These lovely and joyous songs are, for the most part, previously unavailable outside of Thailand; more than half are first-time reissues. The wide range of songs here includes covers of Japanese folk and pop songs, a paean to marijuana, proto-Thai funk, a ramwong-style** dance tune, a cover of a Bollywood classic, some straight-ahead luk thung, a unique Indian-style luk thung, and a gorgeous answer song to a movie hit. An array of gems, available on vinyl and CD, with English translations of the lyrics and Soi48’s liner notes. Cover art by Shinsuke Takagi (Soi48)

* Lukthung: A musical genre whose name means ‘country person’s song’ or ‘children of the field’. The name became established in the latter half of the 1960s and now has the status of a national genre of popular song unique to Thailand. The lyrics of luk thung songs deal mainly with the rural idyll, comparisons between the city and the countryside, life in the big city and current affairs. There are certain typical traits to the music, but no official musical form.

** Ramwong: A unique form of Thai dance music, fostered as a means of promoting national pride and unity. Similar to Japanese Bon Odori, participants form a circle and dance together. The term can refer to the particular style of music, or the actual dance.

Brooklyn-based musician and producer Varsity Star makes his Small Pond Records debut with ‘More Than Anything’, a mini-album of deeply moving and emotive electronic music.

Varsity Star is an electronic musician and upright bassist who grew up in Boston and spent time playing with various bands as a multi-genre sideman. After deciding to go it alone and produce music on a synth and Ableton, he had a spell living in Berlin. Now back in Brooklyn, he has become a prolific artist who, in just a couple of years, has put out various singles, remixes and LPs. As a programmer by day, he has put together high spec live shows involving 3D printers, soldering together LEDs and writing his own programs that read Ableton and output light patterns, he is a truly creative mind.

There is a soft and warm late-night melodic glow to the beautiful opening ambiance of 'Christmas Lights' which then makes way for the prickly live drums of 'Mixtape.' Littered with off-grid hits and detuned synth sounds, it's a modern and electronic take on jazz that is deeply absorbing. 'Bedroom' is a gorgeous affair that floats on airy pads and scuffed up, organic drum sounds while the most innocent of melodies play out.

'Yet today is all we have In silence she speaks The rivers below Valleys and peaks As a pale shelter once cherished The shadows we mourn Have all but perished '

'A Pale Shelter' is a trio collaboration between zake, City of Dawn, and Ossa. Two tracks feature close friend Benoît Pioulard. Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri.

Superb Mental sound digger !

Fredfades and Jawn Rice call on the extended family for a remix package. Featuring material from their sizzling 2019 LP Jacuzzi Boys, a track from their upcoming swelter Luv Neva Fades, and some previously unreleased pieces, the Norwegian House duo gets the remix treatment from Chmmr, Deep88, and Hugo LX while Fredfades & Jawn Rice goes OG on a demo version from their highly anticipated LP.
Basking in the warmth of the duo’s analogue sounds, Chmmr transports Show me How to the farthest recesses of the galaxy with some spacy synths and cool reverbs blowing through Dreamcast’s sensual vocal before Fredfades & Jawn Rice tempers Travels through Air with an OG lean on the A side.
Meanwhile on the B-side; Deep 88 carve a yawning a trench for Stimulator Jones’ airy vocal before Hugo LX puts a bounce in the step of Mutual Love to close out the exciting remix package.
The sound of Fred and Jawn peek through consistently, with each artist putting their own distinctive stamp on the originals. Elements of Jazz, Soul and Hip Hop create a heady fusion of sounds breaking loose from the House foundations for this series of heavy steppers.

Superb Mental sound digger !

Originally released back in 2008, now repressed!

Mika Vainio (1963-2017) was best known as half of Finnish cutting edge experimental electronica duo Pan_sonic.

Ø is Vainio's original solo pseudonym dedicated to his native label Sähkö Recordigs since 1993. Where Pan_sonic uses pure, industrial and sometimes harsh sound elements, Ø reveals Mika Vainio's deeper, passionate and sometimes even romantic side.

Cosmic Chronic Records, in association with Peoples Potential Unlimited & Gangster Groove America, presents Psychic Mirrors' debut LP, "Nature of Evil."

Vinyl Only

Iranian artists matter!

Snowmelt is a new record by Australian artists Seaworthy (aka Cameron Webb) and Matt Rosner, the long awaited follow up from their 2010 collaboration Two Lakes. Matt Rosner continues to explore the natural world to inspire his work based out of remote Western Australia. His most recent release being No Lasting Form (Room40). Webb's output as Seaworthy has been sparse in recent years as he continues to pursue a career in environmental research, focusing on urban wetlands and their ecosystems. This marks the first substantial release since Wood, Winter, Hollow, a collaboration with Taylor Deupree in 2013.

Alpine Sound is a new production unit based out of Withington S.Manchester. Heavily inspired by the rich lineage of militant steppas producers that have come from the UK and beyond, they put their own unique take on the genre - keeping things heavy, meditative and ready for any dance. Their first eponymous single starts with Withy Step, a bouncy, sub-loaded and locally-inspired weapon designed to shake up the dancefloor. On the flip is All Bases, which gets heads down and legs gliding with the submerged atmosphere it creates. Both clock in at 140 BPM - rude DJs better get 2 kno!

Color of Time is a long distance, ambient and drone project featuring Kevin Sery (From Overseas) and Nick Turner (Tyresta). Created with guitar, synthesizers, Mellotron and effects, their music focuses on themes of impermanence, loss and the impact that humans have on each other and the planet.

Color of Time is a long distance, ambient and drone project featuring Kevin Sery (From Overseas) and Nick Turner (Tyresta). Created with guitar, synthesizers, Mellotron and effects, their music focuses on themes of impermanence, loss and the impact that humans have on each other and the planet.

Color of Time is a long distance, ambient and drone project featuring Kevin Sery (From Overseas) and Nick Turner (Tyresta). Created with guitar, synthesizers, Mellotron and effects, their music focuses on themes of impermanence, loss and the impact that humans have on each other and the planet.

For ONO Records’ debut release we are incredibly excited to present to the world the illusive Perth producer e-Plume. Wafting through from the suburbs of Perth, e-Plume conjures floaty breakbeat science, rantzenian digi-dub and twisted illbient manipulations to create five mystical yet utterly unique tracks.

Side A embarks on a tripped out subaquatic voyage, discovering a flurry of liquid breaks and swirling organs on Fountain Trip. Eventually docking on a concrete mainland with the trip-hop induced End of Voltaire.

Side B ventures further in-land at a breakneck speed with the frenetic soundclash junglism of Channel 3, before launching into the atmospheric slo-mo breaks n’ bass of Lorizon. Ending up well into the outer-rim with the otherworldly melodic communique of Kiki’s Gambert.

Congestion EP is Frak's killer collab with the unconventional Go! Finger music platform. The Swedish trio shows off athletic skills producing fresh modern techno bangers, on the heels of a three decade trajectory, filled with countless highly appreciated releases. Some kind of "glorious habit", captured this time by the catchy Madrid label on vinyl. Bizarre 4/4 analogue-treated techno madness at its best! A brilliant vinyl slice of yesterday and today's nastiest Scandinavian floor-destroyer-dance-punk weirdo science.

Time for the host to show up: HomeMadeZucchero co-founder Giesse gets in the game with a one track EP plus Demdike Stare's rmx able to fully scan one composition from two absolutely different perspectives. Main track Goji is a deep and overwhelming embrace among decadent IDM sounds, grooves oscillating between jungle and drum'n'bass, and rarefied atmospheres based on vague hip-hop reminiscences turned into echoing and saturnine shards.

The remix brought by Demdike Stare, strips the original piece to its bare bone by subtracting elements and shaping everything in three different blocks, working like independent acts that climax in a stunning drums maelstrom and resolves into a dramatic ending tending to a relentless sonic collapse.

Repress!

After the release on Helena Hauff's label Return To Disorder earlier this year, the Hamburg based producer turns to Eye For An Eye to release his awaited EP "Zerstore Eine Stadt". A well crafted piece divided in 5 different moments that portrait the mind state of L.F.T. living in an industrial city with mechanical and optimized routines. Sharing the A side is the punchy and muscular "Alles Was Du Hasst "and "Atomic Enigma", the last an introspective and misterious slow tempo ebm-ish piece. "Zersto?re Eine Stadt" featuring vocals from Rosaceae is an emotive piece expressed through distortion pedals, revealing the poetic side of rage and trauma. "I Don't Like Your Party" plays around a playfully sinister melody and charmingly offbeat vocals that give this track a unique groove. "Dead Rat Under The Table" cools the whole EP down, ending it as intense and mesmerazing as it started.

Playful hi def murk from married outlaws

collecting orders for repress
Black Vinyl
Nuron returns to De:tuned for the highly anticipated 2nd chapter of La Source. The sequel is another timeless slice of warm emotive techno with melodically rich sounds, much in the vein of his exceptional comeback EP on the label. "La Source 02" opens with 2 new productions which heal back to a particularly strong mid 90s period influenced by Detroit's blossoming second wave of producers, yet composed with a very peculiar writing style and distinctive depth: the Nuron touch! On the flip, highly experienced producer Kirk Degiorgio applies his As One remix skills to "La Source" from Nuron's debut on De:tuned. Be prepared for a classical journey of pure bliss!

The impeccable Ian Anderson at The Designers Republic created all the graphic work. Mastered by Matt Colton at Metropolis and pressed on 180 gr vinyl. A separate digital release will also be available at the usual digital shops. Stay tuned!

8 years after DJ Sotofett’s last visit to our label(FPST1) we received some tracks perfectly timed AND perfectly primed for that elusive number 75 release. This time teaming up with Rex Ronny, we’re stoked to have him back and even more stoked about the music engraved in these grooves. DJ Sotofett and Rex Ronny embodies a solid 7 track EP for Full Pupp with a strong Sci-Fi pallet of Cosmic-Italo racers. “Epidermis” is not another conjectural Nu-Disco record but a strong Disco-Dub infused travel in rhythm and melody. The entirety of the EP is bound together by four Galactic synth tracks and three driving Disco cuts, all with an individual approach. It’s a solid nod to the excellence producers of Italian Disco and UK left-of-center dance music has taught us since the late 70’s. Rex Ronny (aka Ronny Nyheim from PsyPal fame) was challenged by DJ Sotofett to play all synth parts live in the studio, for Sotofett to mix the material in his new studio set up for ultimate Cosmic, Dance & Dub sonics. To perfect the rhythm suction, congas by Stiletti-Ana (from Jesse) was added in the mix, and LNS contributed with a harmony-bridge for maximum pathos. Full Pupp HQ May 2021

20 YEARS OF MUSIC FOR MARCEL ODENBACH

Richard Ojijo’s music for the films of german video artist Marcel Odenbach not only underscores and accentuates the imagery and motion, but also serves to propel the narrative too. The compositions are auditory distillations of the visual and create a synergy between music and image that draws the observer ever deeper.

With Odenbach’s and Ojijo’s collaboration now entering its 3rd decade, Ojijo was recently inspired to revisit and remix some of the themes contained within the extensive body of work.

— Matt Karmil, Aug 2021

Die Musik von Richard Ojijo für die Videoarbeiten des Künstlers Marcel Odenbach sind eindrucksvolle Beispiele dafür, wie Klänge Filmbilder nicht nur untermalen oder deren Wirkung atmosphärisch verdichten können, sondern neben dem Visuellen ein gleichberechtigtes Eigenleben entwickeln, das auf das Gesamterlebnis des Films zurückwirkt: plötzlich auftauchende innere Bilder oder Assoziationen, die das Gesehene mit noch größerer Komplexität und Mehrdeutigkeit versorgen.

Wenn sich etwa in „Innerer Sicherheit“ oder „In stillen Teichen lauern Krokodile“ sphärische Flächen und Soundeffekte ausbreiten, erinnert dies zuweilen an elektronische Stimmungen der späten 90er Jahre, obwohl die Thematiken der Filme in gänzlich andere Richtungen weisen. Dabei wird nie der Spannungsbogen der filmischen Dramaturgie vernachlässigt. Vielmehr kommt es zum Wechselspiel von dienender und freier Funktion, in dem die Musik nicht nur ihre schöne, sondern – den Themen der Filme angemessene – beunruhigende Wirkung ausbreiten kann. So tauchen wie aus dem Nichts Stimmen auf oder Geräusche, etwa von Stiefeln in „Beweis zu nichts“, die parallele Narrationen auf die Audiospur legen, um die zum Teil bedrohliche Wirkung der Bilder zu verstärken und womöglich Bereiche des Unterbewussten zu berühren.

Die Zusammenarbeit von Ojijo und Odenbach dauert mittlerweile über 20 Jahre an. Ojijo hat nun seine Arbeiten für die Filme Odenbachs neu zusammengestellt und neu gemischt. Die Platte erscheint im Herbst 2021 aus Anlass der großen Odenbach-Retrospektive im Düsseldorfer K21-Museum. Dort werden auch sieben Videoarbeiten zu sehen sein, von denen fünf in Zusammenarbeit mit Richard Ojijo entstanden sind.

— Michael Kerkmann, Aug 2021

In March 2020, the Omakase team decided to gather some producers, musicians and singers they knew around a collective project, having the large electronic music spectrum as principal axis. From this idea was born, a few months later, a multiple opus, varied, rich of textures, shapes and influences going from trip-hop and bass to ambient, breaks, beat, house, lo-fi and jungle. This compilation, first record of the label, regroups several talented artists from the modern electronic
music scene who try to question sounds of today and tomorrow.

Russian Producer Alexander Lay-Far told us he missed DJing a lot during lockdown in Moscow and so he tried to channel the energy that he missed from clubs into these simple yet effective sample-based tracks which are a great mixture of funky breaks, soulful loops and vocal chops with heavy sub bass and bleeps, created with a BIG sound-system in mind!

The man even made special half-jocular term for this music - Soulful Hardcore - a fusion of rough banging rhythms on the edge of UK Hardcore, Electro, Breaks, House, Techno, early Jungle with prevailing Soulful feel and melodies. All the songs on this EP are dedicated to his better half Natalie and LOVE in general!

One of the songs get a remix by another Russian Talent ''Raw Takes'' the Saint Petersburg producer and photographer strips back the Original and makes it into a Ravey Dance Floor ready cut!

Soundclash or romance? Androo versus Bony Fly have composed six tracks finely balanced between the care given to sound experimentation and the explosive ardor of the dancefloor. Love Affair EP was born from this particular research, the fruit of a common passion for dub music, dancehall and its infinite variations. Radical and popular, the EP carries within it this generous and spontaneous quest for dance, naturally provoking body movements. It is also combined with a particular attention to sound textures, subtle and harmonious, whose multiple references (to jazz in particular) testify to an overflowing curiosity.

Nick Lapien and Robin Koek's latest collaborative album, Days Bygone, helps launch Delsin's Interstellar Series as they continue to explore beyond the dancefloor trappings of conventional techno to create a body of work steeped in mystery. Although not totally devoid of percussion, Artefakt shift their focus away from dominant drums and lean on the keys and pads to map out the landscape each track traverses. Sometimes furtive and suggestive, elsewhere pearlescent and diffused across great expanses, it's these striking, sublime formations which define the atmosphere Lapien and Koek have created - a textured, dynamic exercise in techno as internalized listening music.

Die weltbekannte Band aus Island ist mit ihrem elften Studioalbum, dem hoch emotionalen "Mobile Home", zurückgekehrt und veröffentlicht damit ihr erstes Album seit 2018. Das Kollektiv beweist einmal mehr die Meisterhaftigkeit, seine künstlerischen Grenzen zu erweitern, indem sie eines ihrer ambitioniertesten und kraftvollsten Alben seit Jahrzehnten veröffentlichen. Für ihr neuestes Album holten sich GusGus die VÖK-Sängerin Margrét Rán zur Hilfe, um ihren Stil zu erweitern und den Sound des Kollektivs so frisch wie immer zu halten. Das 9-Track-Album bietet eine Mischung aus elektronischem Rock, Ambient, Darkwave, Downtempo und Synthpop. GusGus besser denn je!

World-renowned group GusGus have returned with their 11th studio album, the highly emotive Mobile Home, marking their first album release since 2018. The collective once again prove their commitment to pushing their artistic boundaries as they release one of their most ambitious and powerful albums in decades. For their latest record, GusGus call on VÖK’s lead singer Margrét Rán to help expand their style, keeping the collective’s sound as fresh as ever. The 9-track album features a concoction of electronic rock, ambient, darkwave, downtempo, and synthpop.

After announcing a new album in October 2020, GusGus wowed fans with their first single “Higher,” offering a first taste of how VÖK’s impactful vocals mesh seamlessly with GusGus’ intelligent and powerful electronic production. “Higher” was soon followed up with the darker, downtempo “Stay The Ride” and the bright and energetic synth work on “Our World.” The three captivating singles each received equally remarkable music videos courtesy of founding members Arni & Kinski, the directing team known for working with the likes of Sigur Rós, Kiasmos, Ólafur Arnalds, Of Monsters and Men, and more.

Every track on Mobile Home doubles as a window into a futuristic dystopian world that has been overtaken by machines. A nod to the rise of technology and ever-growing uncertainty surrounding automation, the album explores themes of solitude, rebellion, science fiction, hedonism, pleasure, and anger. Swirling within this world is a disconnected, aching soul who is on the verge of slipping into complete dementia. Forgotten purpose and goals but continues to be driven by the hedonistic default program of material consciousness; sensually self-indulgent and engaged in the pursuit of pleasure alone. In Mobile Home, GusGus challenge themselves like never before, resulting in a wonderfully chaotic reflection of the ongoing war between soul and machine.

With Mobile Home, GusGus show the quality and sonic diversity of the singles pervades throughout the full LP, while preserving the melodramatic themes that tie its 9 tracks together. “Simple Tuesday” showcases the group’s aptitude for blending contemporary electronic production with pop sensibilities while keeping an optimistic tonality at the forefront. Meanwhile, “Love Is Alone” and “Original Heartbreak” offer a slower, more pensive take on synthpop, and evoke feelings of solitude and deep melancholia. “Silence” and “The Rink” boast some of GusGus’s more experimental production, each alternating between radio-ready vocal verses with inventive and exciting synth elements. GusGus closes Mobile Home with “Flush,” an instrumental score that leaves the listener riding high as they finish the LP.

Space Tours embarks on its third voyage. Mitch Wellings and Youandewan are at the controls to guide your trip.

Side A dispatches two rockets for take-off. The pacey and spacey grooves of ‘Playing Our Game’ deliver a wild ride. Youandewan expertly steers the remix through peak-time turbulence with signature, masterful production.

On the flip, ‘Dubby Proggy Spacey Thing’ effortlessly glides the cosmos, absorbing views only visible when cruising the deeper realms of space.

‘Plan B’ signs off the mission with a playful, intentionally kitsch take on UKG.

2021 Repress in Red Vinyl

The LP edition will contain 2x180gr-vinyl Navigate between dreamlike electronica, hypnotic ambient and melodic techno. No doubt this is one of key electronic albums of 2012. Despite the many years still ahead of him, Rone has already come a long way, being one of the most acclaimed young French musicians on the electronic scene.

His videos have spread all over the World Wide Web with the speed
of light and his powerful liveset has been appreciated from Sonar Festival to Panorama Bar. Three years have passed since the release of 'Spanish Breakfast' and now his next album, 'Tohu-Bohu' (hurly-burly), is coming out 5th November 2012 via InFiné.

Limited repress
Limited edition album issued for the Colundi Benelux Tour from 23-10 till 26-10-2015! 10/23 eve to 10/26 eve: Thesmophoria - Old Greek festival commemorating the transformation of Goddess Kore (Queen of the Living) into Persephone (Queen of the Dead), when She eloped to Elysium with Her partner, God Dionysos/Plouton, accompanied by Goddess Hekate and spirits of the dead. At Eleusis, Dionysos was considered the life aspect and Plouton the death aspect of the same Deity, just as Kore was considered the life aspect and Persephone the death aspect of the same Deity. Dionysos was wild, and subject to excess drinking, dancing, and sex. While Kore, Gaia, Zeus, and Helios considered Him to be a marital prize, Demeter thought otherwise. Consequently, She mourned their union by striking the Earth with famine. Small batch available for the local record stores.

2021 Repress

Erstmals auf Vinyl erhältlich: das hochgelobte Debütalbum "Spanish Breakfast" aus 2009 des französischen Produzenten Rone, u.a. auf #17 in den "Top 25 Records of 2009" bei Electronic Beats. Eine fantastische Melange aus Electronica, Ambient und Techno, gemastered von Rashad Becker, Dubplates & Mastering (Berlin), die massiven Support von Laurent Garnier, Optimo, Jean-Michel Jarre und Sasha erfuhr.

Sam Goku returns to Atomnation with a stunning debut album titled East Dimensional Riddims. The 11 tracks record is a journey into his hugely characterful club sound complete with ambient and subtle use of instruments from his Chinese heritage. Sam Goku - born Robin Wang - was born in Düsseldorf, yet his upbringing was Chinese for the most part. It is the contrasting influences of those two cultural backgrounds that play out in his music and lend it a truly unique character. The album is a fine fusion of East and West, house and techno, power and emotion that really showcases the unique production talents of Sam Goku. Following up on the EPs Tanggu, Every Step and Paradise Drum, this new album is the sound of an artist evolving, maturing and finding his own sound. It’s a cohesive work that is as emotional as it is physical and thought provoking.

Instead of rain I bring a hat is a long-distance collaboration between the UK's Aaron Moore (Volcano The Bear, Gospel Of Mars, duo with Alan Courts) and Norwegian Erik K. Skodvin (Svarte Greiner, Deaf Center, B/B/S). It developed gently, taking its full form over the space of nearly 6 years.

The project began with e-mail exchanges of fragmented sounds and ideas - on the piano, cello, drums, harp, vocals, homemade and electronic instruments. Their experimental correspondence eventually blossomed and grew into an exquisite, fully-fledged album of brooding cinematic compositions.

Through 7 songs, Moore and Skodvin lead us through complex, haunted, minimalistic pieces. They are surreal, sonically fascinating and deeply moving. A very special and original album in both its conception and result - definitely one of a kind in the HITD discography.

This release on Next Phase Records sees label boss Infest continuing to explore the expressive world of atmospheric sound design, this time without the aid of drums or bass.

“Barriers From Within” is the follow up to his second album “Time Will Tell”, it contains two fifteen minute compositions of opulent synths and lavish guitar melodies. Cinematic in feel, both tracks have a bewitching spellbinding quality, starting enigmatic and ambiguous they swell with optimism as they begin to unfold.

Although more commonly known for intricate drum and bass releases these productions highlight a natural talent for crafting free-spirited and captivating soundscapes. Infest’s most personal work to date, “Barriers From Within” was recorded using only a guitar, FX pedals, synths and a loop station.

This mini-LP will be released on digital formats and cassette tape limited to only fifty copies worldwide

We are not sure if this was ever done before: We asked the legendary German illustrator duo Bringmann & Kopetzki, mostly known for their comics Hotze (Groove Mag) and Wild Life (Faze Mag), to "remix" the artwork of "Rebellion der Träumer" by Kollektiv Turmstrasse. This limited edition was so far only available in antique white vinyl via Connaisseur’s Bandcamp page and is sold out now.

Part 3 of the Melody As Truth Studio vinyl documents

First release of the French producer Palma Soto, Shuno is composed of 7 tracks that distinguish the release of a single EP. The mini-album The mini-album contains unexpected combinations that could illustrate a movie score if some drum machines and experimental textures were missing.

When 'Push Comes To Shove' is the seventh studio album by Artist 'Soft Riot', he's the stylised musical alter-ego of Glasgow-based Canadian artist JJD.

Resonating with references from all corners of the synthpop’s origins (DAF, Fad Gadget and John Foxx to name a few), Soft Riot’s latest release nonetheless manages to retain its own individual voice, melding and reinterpreting its antecedents with a personal twist and an impressive demonstration of synth-craft and programming. Following on from 2018’s The Outsider in the Mirrors, these eight tracks represent a change in themes and an evolution in production and sound.

The forthcoming single and album opener “Taking The Edge Off” sets out the Soft Riot manifesto, a propulsive future-synth tale of forging ever-forwards in an increasingly noisy world.
“It’s No Laughing Matter” is a hedonistic yet propulsive dance-floor slammer — shades of minimal synth and metallic Belgian new beat condense in side one closer “Fate’s Got A Bone To Pick With You” and the dizzying italo-matic muscle workout “Don’t Get Yourself Bent Out Of Shape” is the ultimate self-help smack down.

The outcome has been a sideways step into more new wave pop aesthetics, and a looser sound (underpinned by the warmth of the production). This overall makes the album groove into a more dance-floor orientated full sound, thawing some of the cold-wave angularity The Outsider In The Mirrors.

Soft Riot has previously released six studio albums, including a wide range of remixes for other artists including Lebanon Hanover, Keluar, Celebration and Attrition.
He is also regularly touring the European underground synth/wave/post-punk circuit and sometimes beyond -

(Possession Records with UPC 'PSSN04').

44 Tours Records kicks off with its first release. A gathering of local talents, who turned to become friends by hanging out at the 44 Tours record shop. One would say that fresh ideas bloom out of hard work. We believe that drinking beers on breezy afternoons, while debating on the last pieces of wax imported at the shop surely helps in the process.

« Six Ponts », literally « Six Bridges ». Like the ones that connect the city of Nantes to its isle. A creative and forward-looking district where 44 Tours is located.

Early support by Laurent Garnier, Stenny, Justin Cudmore, Kris Wadsworth, Renaat (R&S), Ciel, Jacques Renault, James Zabiela, The Burrell Connection, Worldwide FM, Rinse France..."

FAKE #1 – THE ABSENCE

The deaf noise of the socialmedialism thrills misery. The hate array, the dreams of profit spurt a modern ideology made of science and technology for a factory shaped city. The user worker, the content product. Login. All in. Proletarian Romance - Life in sharing. Love by the hour. Idealism motel. Sexual class conflict. Moral hierarchy.
Fast Sci-Fi, Internet Overdose, Gourmet overexposition; Speed depression. Ethical inquisition. Wellness preservation. Right patrol. Afflicted soul. The information, the information - the information...
The new verbs of the power. To like, to be Liked. The followers - the swollowers. Mobile addiction.The window on the wall. The beginning of the century. Political correct. Business coma. Social Warming. Open Sea - freedom breakdown. West civilization sunset - block express. External Memory. Extra limb. Grim... Tough solutions required, the destruction of meaning. Emergency exit, only.

New Japanese label "amidst" debut EP by up-and-coming Colombian-born Canadian producer and DJ, Cosmic JD. The tracks stand somewhere amidst solid Techno with a Garage twist, cosmic funky Deep House, trippy Downtempo and epic Ambient.

Celebrating the Old Skool and the New, this EP will take you on a journey through time; revisiting some of the origins of drum and bass. We start by breathing new life into original tracks from the “DJ Syko - Be Alright EP Candidate Records (CAT004)”; re-mastering and re-engineering these 1994 classics.

Incienso is excited to announce ‘basement, etc…’, the debut album from Brooklyn producer downstairs J a.k.a. Josh Abramovici.

Combining elements of Trip-Hop, Acid House, Dub, Korg Triton timbres and a healthy dose of the most chilling beats of the ‘20s, J steps out into the world from down below with an entrancing set of seven songs that warmly elude to his previous releases under the aliases snacs and VOSE 106, but taken in new directions and heights - strangely familiar but fresh, friendly, and uniquely J…

House head, soul man and jazz aficionado Envee is back on Local Talk with 'Gotta Work' featuring Nick Sincklair on vocals.
Packed to the rafters with high quality deep and soulful house, Gotta Work has a both the US garage style with an edge and the uplifting sound of a modern track. Trev, a producer bringing some of the freshest sounds in broken beat in recent times delivers two versions, both with ultra-deep bass and wonky time signatures.
Trev can do no wrong.

Fluxion continues to carve his own musical path, taking us all together to a personal journey in his inner world, moods and moments, showcasing the importance of being influenced by none other than real life moments, people, expectations, joy, dreams and disappointments. Expressing what comes from the inside, instead of the outside, creating a more intimate work, is at the main focus of the artist since his previous album Perspectives that came out on May 2020.
Artistic development happens from within, not from repeating formulas of the past, but embracing and mixing life events, alongside different styles of music culture, and creating personal stories, outside of trends, that's what keeps the music interesting.
On Parallel Moves Fluxion flows through various emotional states, and through blending of styles and expanding the borders, he manages to create variety listening to the album which is essential on an LP. But even with the variety the music bears the Fluxion sound aesthetic making it it an enjoyable listening experience, that requires more listens.

New album by french producer Joakim on his label Tigersushi. Through 16 tracks, he explores a world of sounds that blur the line between the natural and the artificial, a psychedelic journey on a modern Noah's Ark, back to his roots in IDM, Classical music, avant-garde Pop and Ambient.