Beats News

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.....

- 180 GRAM AUDIOPHILE VINYL
- LIMITED EDITION OF 1.000 INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED COPIES ON WHITE VINYL

'60s icon Marianne Faithfull released her commercial album Dangerous Acquaintances in 1981. The album, whose title refers to the French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses contains amongst others the song 'For Beauty's Sake', which she co-wrote with Steve Winwood. She moved back to the mainstream rock territory and released some incredible tracks, like 'Truth, Bitter Truth' and 'So Sad'.

There are few people who can say they were discovered by The Rolling Stones, had a relationship with Mick Jagger, had several songs either inspired by or written about her, such as 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' and 'Wild Horses' by the Rolling Stones and 'Carrie Anne' by the Hollies. On top of that have overcome some serious drug addictions. And despite - or maybe thanks to the fact - that she has an impressive body of work, it's never quite clear what Ms Faithfull's roots are or what she's going to do next.

Dangerous Acquaintances is available as a limited edition of 1.000 individually numbered copies on white vinyl.

Chances are if you are reading this, you are probably already familiar with Dinosaur L's Go Bang' and danced countless times to Loose Joints' "It's All Over My Face". A prolific musician, Arthur Russell produced an abundant amount of recordings over the course of his career. Although a classically trained cellist, he released a number of successful underground dance hits under various monikers and collaborations. As a solo artist however, his inability to complete projects resulted in a limited amount of official releases, World of Echo (1986) being his only full-length solo effort to see release in his lifetime. After releasing a number of Club singles on labels like West End & Sire, Russell went on to form Sleeping Bag Records with Will Socolov as an outlet for a sound not as restrictive as his "disco" material. The initial concept was that Russell would provide the musical direction while Socolov handled the business side. The label had huge success early on with Class Action's Weekend' remixed by Larry Levan, and Russell's seminal Go Bang,' credited to Dinosaur L and remixed by Francois Kevorkian. Although Russell and Socolov shared a lot of musical common ground, the difference in vision began to show. Russell's avant-garde sensibilities and perfectionism were not compatible with an industry standard to release singles in quick succession, and his "work in progress" approach began to be financially draining, ultimately resulting in the dissolution of their partnership around 1983. With Arthur's departure, Sleeping Bag moved away from the experimental and towards a successful hip-hop route with the growing involvement of Kurtis Mantronik and leading to propel the careers of artists like Todd Terry, Just-Ice and EPMD. By the mid-80s, Russell's health began to deteriorate after contracting HIV. Although the business partnership did not work out, Socolov and Russell maintained their friendship. Aware of the time he had left, Russell reached out to Socolov to record what was to become Indian Ocean, his last release on Sleeping Bag and the last great collaboration between Arthur and his old friend Walter Gibbons. Unlike the rest of Russell's Dance collaborations, School Bell/Treehouse' is very intimate composition, putting to the forefront all the elements that defined him musically, with his own voice and cello as the anchors to a piece that keeps growing in intensity, melding the tribal rhythms of Mustafa Ahmed's conga with percussions that sound like distorted drum machines. There is a lot of beauty in this piece, with Peter Zummo's melancholic trombone lines and Arthur's keyboard playing. Adequately "mixed with love" by Walter Gibbons, "School Bell/Treehouse" really synthesizes the energy and soundscapes of Arthur's dancefloor.

Some of the most beloved music comes from heartbreak and loss. This 5-track EP by Honey Soundsystem's Be´zier was recorded in a vacant apartment unit in his grandmother's ('Amah') property in Tainan, Taiwan. Having to make the 15+ hour journey from SF to Taiwan multiple times in 2018, Be´zier set up shop in Amah's house surrounded by his live touring setup, a microphone, and the memories of loved ones recently passed. Away from his San Francisco analogue synth-based studio, Robert Yang (aka Be´zier) manipulated samples of his own vocals and mobile mono synths to tell his stories about returning home, honoring ancestry, and embrace life's hardest challenges. The result is a deeply personal release with track titles named after landmarks surrounding Amah's building, and songs both short and long, free of genre and tempo restrictions.

'World Crime League vol I' is available on a small number of audio cassette
tapes.

Listeners will find inside 14 tracks of 1980s tinged synth and drum machine
workouts.

World Crime League hail from various locations around the world. They first
appeared in 2008 and have since spent time honing their approach. Their first
outing consists of three albums each composed and recorded in a day.

'World Crime League vol I' is the first of these recordings.

Mahoney's voice vacillates smoothly between ghostly and falsetto, while McNany's arrangements and instrumentation bump, click, and whirr like a lovingly tuned Rube Goldberg jukebox. Not too surprising, perhaps, considering they named the band after a song by schizophrenic outsider favorite Daniel Johnston, and they cite Harry Nilsson and Roxy Music as influences. - VIBE

Restored from the original analogue tapes, presented on
HD audio.
Pressed on dark green vinyl.
Originally released in 1982, 'I, Assassin' is Gary Numan's
sixth studio album and fourth under his own name.
Combining fretless bass with heavy rock drumming,
Numan further refined his dark, sparse, funky-electro style,
mixing it with impenetrable, slurred vocals.
Numan recorded and wrote most of the music between
January and March 1982, following his infamous round
the-world trip in a light aircraft and a near-death crash
onto a British road while co-piloting a spiralling Cessna.
Three of the album's songs made it into the UK Top 20.
According to Numan, who was still only 24-years-old at the
time, 'the round-the-world flight, the plane crash, these
were big things that helped me shape a new opinion of


myself. Those experiences gave me a self-confidence, a
genuine strength that I hadn't had before.' Twenty years
later, the singer enthused, 'I still think it's one of the best
albums I've made.'
I, Assassin's heavily percussive approach led to several
tracks becoming unexpected intruders on American
dancefloors, notably the 12' single of 'Music For
Chameleons' and a specially remixed US version of 'White
Boys And Heroes'.
'I, Assassin' stands out as a record fiercely propelled by
powerful rhythms in songs laced with an earthy cynicism.
''I, Assassin' also utilizes the warped elasticity of fretless
bass lines underneath his customary monotone vocalising
and abstract lyricism. Highlighted by the upbeat synthetic
funk of 'We Take Mystery To Bed' & 'White Boys', 'I,
Assassin' is an in-depth examination of genuine dance
music roots.' - URB Magazine

In support of their forthcoming documentary 'Subotnick - Portrait of an Electronic Music Pioneer', Waveshaper Media — the same team behind the wildly-popular, acclaimed modular synthesizer documentary 'I Dream Of Wires' — presents a special reissue: a deluxe, 50th-anniversary-edition vinyl LP of Morton Subotnick's landmark 1967 debut electronic release, "Silver Apples of the Moon." Here are some of the features that make this 50th-anniversary-edition vinyl LP special:

All-new, full-colour gatefold jacket.
Vinyl edition is strictly limited to 1,000 copies.

Audio has been REMASTERED from the original, pre-mastered digital tape transfers. Unlike previous reissues of this LP (both vinyl and CD), remastered for Wergo's 1994 CD edition and narrowing the recording's stereo field, our reissue has been remastered maintaining the full stereo field of the original recording.
Brand new liner notes by Morton Subotnick.

The original, iconic liquid-light cover artwork by Tony Martin has been re-scanned for full-resolution clarity.
Featuring rarely-seen, newly-scanned photos of Morton Subotnick in his Bleecker Street studio where "Silver Apples..." was recorded.

Also includes a scan of the LP's original Nonesuch-edition liner notes

After the acclaimed double album on Organic Analogue, Aleks is back again with a Sci-Fi banger called 'ground control' on a very limited Deeptrax pressing. Heavenly septic breaks over big analogue rhythms, starting with the trippy rave vocals over massive beats, 'NYM' is delivering for the packed floors. One that should always stay in your bag!

DPTX 014 is limited to 300 copies all uniquely colored with a black label and black sleeves. Pressed at their own pressing plant Deepgrooves on 180gr vinyl!

Emotional Response is delighted to present elsewhere LVI. The 4th of soFa's compilation series, this double LP takes us to the darker side of the elsewhere ouvre, via another 12 artist / 12 track travelogue.

With certain future-retro feelings, this is club music for the open minded. An album that roams from dreamy ambient territories to rhythmic patterns - internationalism for the adventurous DJ.

Rusty slow-mo bangers and post-industrial synth-wave kidnap the listener to a dystopic and shady wasteland. Elements of ethnic folk, vintage vocoders and Gamelan samples all united on one homogeneous selection.

With artists now known to welcoming new brethren, this is an audio trip to leave reality behind. Exotic, hypnotic, tactile, trance-inducing meditations, washed down with a spoonful of magick.

The brilliant DOMENIQUE DUMONT's second long player for Antinote Paris. TIP!
.
August 2018: It's already been three years since Domenique Dumont made its entrance in the music world with a debut EP named Comme Ca. Despite a seemingly very quiet musical activity (the opening song to Antinote's compilation Five Years Of Loving Notes was the only song released by the band in 3 years) a few things have changed in-between these two summers: Domenique Dumont is no more the mysterious lone French producer we introduced last time but a Latvian duo, Arturs Liepins and Anete Stuce, which has been collaborating with 'an enigmatic French artist whose existence cannot be confirmed nor denied' (sorry, but it sounds like there's still some mystery in the air, and, again, we're just as clueless as you might be), the duo have been touring live and, most importantly, they kept on broadening their musical palette experimenting in a definitely pop field. Eight of these experiments are now tied together in Miniatures de Auto Rhythm.

The record probably begins where Comme Ca ended: frantic but light drum programing backbones a solar and slightly melancholic melody on Le Début De La Fin ('the beginning of the end'). However, the scope gets enlarged as soon as one reaches the second tune, Quasi Quasi, or Quand, on the flip side, perhaps the most overtly pop-rock oriented song on the record with its Mediterranean guitar and emotional bridge.

The road towards the apex of the record, Le Soleil Dans Le Monde, is a narrow and windy one, punctuated by toy instrumentals like Ono Mambo Haiku or the Donkey Kong Country-friendly Message Of The Diving Bird; however it never departs from its original tongue-in-cheek attitude. It's quite pleasant to imagine these eight 'miniatures' as field recordings from an enchanted world of pop music designed by some Pierre & Gilles' disciples - or are there
musical interpretations of half-mechanical, half-organic creations from a certain Otto Rhiesem (who might have inhabited the Locus Solus villa) There might be no definitive answers to this second set of riddles by Domenique Dumont.

Although Itta (Vocals, Harmonium) and Marqido (Analog Synthesizers) have been regular fixtures in Seoul's experimental music community for years, the vinyl release of Spiritual reflects the growing international recognition of their singular sound, described by The Wire as 'meditative synthesized vistas.' Spiritual certainly embodies the meditative element of their music, layering hypnotic modular synth with Indian harmonium drone and Itta's transcendental vocals. This is more than functional music for the metaphysically curious, however. Perhaps more than any of their previous releases, Spiritual offers an open accessibility, owing at least partly to the channeling of krautrock-influenced rhythms. Tracks like 'Luft' and 'Morgen Tempel' wouldn't sound out of place in any DJ set with kraut or psychedelic leanings, while 'Barabonda' and 'Dodeuri' dig deep into a more meditative place, serving as perfect expressions of the album's title and intent. Fans of Neu!, Kraftwerk, Laraaji or Klaus Schulze might find themselves in a comfortable yet unexplored place.

Spiritual was originally released in 2017 as a limited-edition cassette of 250 copies, produced in collaboration with Seendosi, an arts enterprise in Seoul Euljiro district, the city's heart of printing, packaging and electronics manufacturing. The cassette sold out within a year of its production, prompting Extra Noir, who had previously released Tengger's 'Breathe In, Breathe Out' on their Extra Noir Vol. 1 compilation, to propose reissuing Spiritual on vinyl. Working with Seendosi once again, the result is a beautifully produced piece of work. Closely attentive to the band's vision, the gatefold sleeve features rich landscape motifs that evoke Tengger's commitment to earthly travel and the less accessible places beyond. Pressed onto clear vinyl, the design of Spiritual has been carefully constructed to reflect the entirely unique music within: heavy ephemerality, dense transcendence and grounded wanderlust.

BELLADONNA GRAVE is a new solo project from L.A, California. Past august 2018 has been released 2 mindblowing albums at the same time, 'Behind Despair' and 'Spiritual Death'. This double EP put together the best of the best of those majestic works. At ORACULO RECORDS we strongly think that we are more than probably in front of the cold synth / electronic record of the year. It arrives on ultra deluxe 2×12 EP format and produced in a ONE-OFF truly ultra extra limited edition of 200 copies lacquered pressed on 180 gr. high quality solid black vinyl, including inner big postcard with tracklist and a POSTER of BELLADONNA GRAVE's scan/copy based art. All tracks have been specially remastered for LONG CUT vinyl by Eric Van Wonterghem.

Multi-platinum selling Australian alt-electro pioneers Empire Of The Sun (Luke Steele & Nick Littlemore) celebrate the tenth anniversary of their multiple-ARIA-award winning debut album 'Walking On A Dream' with the release of a limited edition vinyl product on Captiol Records/EMI Music Australia, the first vinyl release of the album in over three years. The product includes:

A gatefold, 180 gram heavyweight vinyl of Walking On A Dream on transparent blood orange vinyl.

The original artwork from the initial 2009 vinyl release.

A unique code to download the previously unreleased track 'Chrysalis'.

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....

After the melancholic, heart-melting Nem Kaldı, the quintet delivers a light upbeat piece, Oy Oy Emine, a traditional Turkish song interpreted in the spirit of the group: the
BaÄŸlama (Turkish lute) introduces the melody before a warm and dynamic rhythm section kicks in, over which Derya's superb voice jousts with wah-wah guitars and acid
synthesizers.

Seven Dials Records enlist the expertise of Hugo alongside Fiona McMartin on vocals for their fourth release - the heavyweight UKG tinged, 'Cold Fingertips'.

There's a dark UKG flavour to the 'Vocal' mix, reminiscent of the transition from UKG into early dubstep yet softened with those silky tones. Layers of sub bass and wonky synth lines intertwine, with the skippy, 2-step rhythm providing the perfect basis for Fiona's alluring voice. Label boss Seb Zito takes it more US in style, switching to a 4x4 swung beat, chopping the vocals into a mesmerising melodic element, and adding a host of spin back samples for full garage enlightenment.

Take to the flip for a dubbed-out version of the original, allowing those killer sub synths to come to the fore whilst echoing out the vocal refrains. Closing out the EP the 'Ethereal' mix ventures deep into the realms of dubstep with monstrous undertones, glitching stutters and celestial pulsations, ready-made to cause damage in the dance.

Hollow Earth is the new album from Pye Corner Audio aka Martin Jenkins, his third for Ghost Box. It's conceived as a sequel to 2016's Stasis. Where Stasis played with notions of outward cosmic exploration and the idea of suspended animation and sleep, Hollow Earth takes subterranean exploration and submerged psychologies as its theme.

It draws on Berlin school synth improvisations, New Age reveries and the ghosts of 90s house euphoria to summon up images of vast, awe inspiring spaces and claustrophobic chambers. It sustains an atmosphere of wonder and adventure throughout, and like its companion piece, Stasis, it works equally as a soundtrack to physical as well as mental exploration.

Pye Corner Audio specialise in majestic, cinematic electronica that evokes sci-fi soundtracks, dystopian futures and the sound of haunted dance floors. The discography to date includes eight full length albums and many more singles and EPs across several labels. There are also remixes for John Foxx, Mogwai, Mark Lanegan, Stealing Sheep, Knightstown, Not Waving and most recently Dolphin Midwives.

Pye Corner's Martin Jenkins (aka The Head Technician) is a veteran live performer, and has played shows and festivals all over Europe, Canada and the USA. Most notably he has supported Mogwai on several tour dates, played the Mutek festival in Montreal, the Mugako Festival in Spain and Barcelona's Primavera Club.

Pye Corner Audio pieces appear in the soundtrack to Adam Curtis's 2016 film HyperNormalisation and the 2018 Shudder TV series, Deadwax. More TV soundtrack appearances are due to appear in 2019.

2018 Vinyl Remaster. Von Jan Jelinek kompilierte Werkschau der legendären musizierenden Pharmazeutin.
Die Geschichte der Entdeckung dieser Aufnahmen klingt abenteuerlich. Es soll Ursula Bogners Sohn
Sebastian gewesen sein, der auf einem Flug seinem Sitznachbarn, dem Elektronikmusiker Jan Jelinek, vom
ungewöhnlichen Hobby seiner Mutter berichtete. Ursula Bogner, 1946 in Dortmund geboren, dann in Berlin
als Pharmazeutin bei einem großen Pharmaunternehmen beschäftigt, hatte ein Faible für elektronische Musik
und die Musique concrète. Ab Ende der 60er-Jahre nahm sie eigene Stücke auf, die sie jedoch nie
veröffentlichte. Bogner war stark von den pseudowissenschaftlichen Energietheorien Wilhelm Reichs
("Orgon") beeinflusst und bastelte sich einen eigenen Orgon-Akkumulator. 1994 verstarb Ursula Bogner.
2008 veröffentlichte Jan Jelinek unter dem Titel "Recordings 1969-1988" eine erste Werkschau Bogners, die
jetzt als remasterte Vinyl Version wieder veröffentlicht wird.

One of the first techno-pop songs made in USSR. Written and produced in his Kiev home studio in 1985 by Ukrainian composer Vadim Lashuk. Source audio from master tapes discovered in the attic were kindly provided for this release by the author's family. Limited to 300 copies vinyl edition.