Cerca:man machine
His compositions cleverly anchor stark, machine-like percussion in unprocessed field recordings and abstract noise sources, toying with the conventional boundaries between sound and music. The mixture of impromptu organic recordings and pin-sharp manmade elements simultaneously humanises and adds an air of detachment to the work; a testament to Manni Dee's command of texture and flair for sound design.
After two in as many years, low-key German producer Yør returns to similarly low key Dutch imprint Purple Maze for his third full outing on the label in the form of the 'Sublimation EP'. Across the four tracks Yør continues to explore the same frayed and decayed, abstract electronics as he has in the past, with distant kins like Kassem Mosse and Morphosis still resonating.
The opener and title track is an intense and moody, nerve jangling affair where huge searching synths pan in the background of grinding drums and dense percussive clatter before 'Gravity', with its heavyweight and churning drums, trudges on through sonic scuzz and lo-fi blizzards as a backlit melody keeps things from growing all too dark and abstract.
The many different contrasting surfaces and counterpointed moods make Yør's sounds as arresting as they are. The dystopian, tortured industrial funk of 'Parallels' with its slapping claps and decaying percussive lines are proof of that, where through chaos comes beautiful order.
Closer 'Trust' holds its head a little higher, more spiralling synths and bleepy fax machines tones add a sense that the apocalypse is coming and machines will take over, but there's enough organic beauty in the deeply hidden melodies to keep the track from being all too hostile.
If the "Parquet" album saw them delivering a unified vision of dancefloor purity to massive acclaim, "Cashmere" now takes ELEKTRO GUZZI's signature man-machine sound up a notch. It is moving their rock-solid base towards ecstatic moments of techno bliss. In the title track layers of circling angular chords cause goose bumps, while a warmly pulsating foundation of bass and drums locks in
the groove. The "Reverse Mix" does exactly what it says: reversing the arrangement and re-building the track back to front. In "Crack Fox" it is then the interaction of shifted bass line and countering melodic scraps that pushes the whole thing forward. All set off against ultra-steady drumworks, only swelling in lengthy waves towards eerie peaks, the result is sheer madness. Essential material from
the band that reinvented "live techno."
Following up his EP 'String Theory' on Simple, Julian 'October' Smith has teamed up with label head Will Saul, for 'Light Sleeper', Aus Music's final release of 2012. The EP comes with a remix from Kompakt boss Michael Mayer. Jules & Will met last year when Will relocated to Somerset and they seemed to click instantly in the studio. A natural division of labour emerged which proved to be both effective and fun whilst also playing to both's strengths. Jules mans the drum machines and outboard FX and Will controls the synths....they hit record and see what happens. Look out for another 12 from them in Feb next year with a remix from Fred P. October's profile has been steadily rising since the launch of his first label, Caravan Records in 2007. In the last few years, his brand of off-kilter house and techno has also appeared on Skudge, Misericord, Jack Off and Applepips, and been championed by the likes of Ewan Pearson, Skudge and Appleblim. Smith's label 'TANSTAAFL', has been widely praised by the music press, and sets the course forv more of the jacking dancefloor house and techno he is known for. This year Will Saul revealed he was behind Close, a project he's created as a vehicle for his forthcoming album 'Getting Closer' and a A/V show which will feature Will on various machines and Al Tourettes on drums all backed with lovingly crafted visuals created & mixed by Silent Studios. The A/V show debuts at Fabric on the 23rd February and the album will be released in May 2013 on !K7 and features vocals from Joe Dukie of Fat Freddies Drop, Peacefrog artist Charlene Soraia and Paul 'Tikiman' St.Hillaire as well as collaborations with Scuba, Appleblim, Ewan Pearson, and of course October. In the eight years since Michael Mayer released his debut album 'Touch', he's maintained a tightly packed schedule of DJ gigs and remixes.
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Aroy Dee's MOS Deep returns with a new EP from Italians Ksoul & Muteoscillator, both of whom have appeared on labels like Uzuri and Ksoul's own Kinda Soul with a gauzy, dense sound somewhere between techno, acid and full on electronica.
'Criminology' comes in two parts on the a-side: the first is a fizzing, almost impenetrable network of analogue lines with acid buried deep below sharp percussion and behind a mysterious little melody phrase, whilst the second features a different sort of acid: it's brighter and seems to twist and turn with a life of its own.The b-side is 'Aphrology' as edited by Aroy himself. The underlying vibe here is house, though a squealing world of ticking machines, squirming synths and jangling percussive rhythms make it a heady and intense listen.Finally, the same track appears in its original form where tumbling drums, bleeding acid and a steppers rhythm join the dots between many different worlds: the heady results are sure to make dancefloors go cerrrrazy.
Until now, David Mayer needs to be on every radar as a young producer, breathing new life into classic Techno-virtues. Within his productions it seems to be the men-machine pulling the strings. They are grooving through plant floors, they are pumping blood into boilers and with just subtle manoeuvres, they are altering the soil temperature from stonecold to sweat inducing, depending on the current requirements.
Mayers new offering is directly taking on those qualities, while entitling it 'Celsius'. It is indeed glowing floormaterial. It's taking a rampant Techhouse-beat into a well heated Techno-basement, to add more and more condensing arrangements and finally open up for the instantly catching synth-hook. While he's at it, Mayer controls a whole lot of scenes on the side. What he is offering here as particular finetunings and detailed soundmanipulations might lead into hourlong journeys under headphones. At the same time, the floor-efficiency of this tune couldn't be more in your face.
Then there's the synth-tool on the flipside, leaving the kickdrum's thickness behind, opening the door a bit more into the crystal clear synth-arrangements. Without a doubt, it'll equip you with a tool, that's letting the crowd feel save in the believe of having a little breather, to finally cook them in their own excitement in almost no time.
The Cryovac machine is maintained and operated by A. Garcia. The components that make this machine function are the artists that push their creations forward to seal off their own vision of the now. What is preserved is the character of a craft that follows its own path. Cryovac believes sound vibration released from vinyl has the proper disposition to express the true nature of the Cryovac approach, and only selects the best vinyl when manufacturing and inspecting its' product. The Cryovac machine's purpose is to keep an independent view of the Detroit sound.
Jason Garcia is an international D.J., producer, and house music aficionado. His production runs the gambit of genres with a knack for injecting his smooth character into each work. For this effort Garcia has chosen to represent himself with a house style that is truly pimp heroic. Jason Garcia will forever have people in the Detroit underground.
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Wir wissen wirklich nicht, was alles im dänischen Trinkwasser landet, doch irgendetwas muß verantwortlich sein für den reißenden Talentstrom, der diesem Land entspringt. Man denke an WhoMadeWho, Jatoma, When Saints Go Machine oder Kenton Slash Demon: sie alle teilen einen ähnlichen Sinn für strukturale Komplexität, erlebbar gemacht durch Emotion und puren Willen zum Floor. Diese Leute haben ihre Scheren im Kopf schließlich schon vor längerer Zeit im Altmetall entsorgt und lassen nun umso befreiter die Hookline kreisen. Tatsächlich gehören zwei der oben genannten Acts bereits zur Kompakt-Familie, die anderen beiden sind Klassiker der täglichen Bürobeschallungsmaßnahmen, da war es nur
eine Frage der Zeit, bis wir die nächste Trüffel im skandinavischen Unterholz aufspüren. Womit wir zu Taragana Pyjarama kommen, dessen Output als gleichermaßen raffiniert wie chaotisch wahrgenommen und von manchen schlicht als Märchen mit Bass beschrieben wird.
freshly repressed!
Leisure System, the collective, label and famed Berghain club night of four years standing, is back with their third release from co-founder and resident, Sam Barker. Known for its genre-defiant lineups, Leisure System's quarterly residency has consistently brought together artists with varying styles. Flying Lotus, Autechre, Afrika Hitech, Jackmaster, Surgeon, Jimmy Edgar, Blawan, 808 State, Dopplereffekt, Clark, Machinedrum, Surgeon, Venetian Snares, Objekt and Egyptian Lover have all graced the decks, showing off the collective's commitment to the exploration of new and experimental sounds in EDM. The development of the label, and now this release from Barker, is no exception. After discovering computers and raves in the late '90s, Barker began making tracks at age 13, building up a sizable collection of vintage analogue synths, paving the way for his future solo work and collaborations with artists like Tim Exile, Clark, Shitmat, Scotch Egg, The Field, Leafcutter John and Jimmy Edgar. Shortly after his 2007 move to Berlin, Barker began collaborating with fellow Berghain resident nd_baumecker, resulting in their ongoing project Barker & Baumecker. Their first EP 'Candyflip', was released on Ostgut Ton in 2010, followed up by a live show tour throughout Europe. The duo is currently readying their second EP and have a long player due out in August 2012. For this new solo EP, mastered by electronic music legend Pole, Barker presents a creative three-track lesson in diversity and highlights Leisure System's ever-evolving aural curiosity. The opener and title track 'Like An Animal' is a number that builds and builds, quickly changing course and mutating into a percussive and texturized melting pot of sounds. Up next the hypnotic 'I Feel', which is filled with moody pads and syncopated breakbeat rhythms, paving the way for the mechanical, yet smooth half-step rhythm of 'Hot Lover'. Siimilar to the collective, this offering pushes boundaries and mirrors the progressive ideals of the collective. Just like Leisure System's first two 12's from Pixelord and Eprom in 2011, Barker's 'Like An Animal' EP is a clear statement of the label's simple and distinct commitment : to be a platform for timeless, thrilling and soulful dance music in the fields of house, techno and electronica, disregarding media hype and genre borders. In keeping with this clear sonic manifesto, Leisure System's design aesthetic is equally individual, with all vinyl releases housed in deluxe die-cut jackets.
We celebrate our number 30 with a double pack, featuring one of the creators of techno in Spain: Groof.
Roberto Gemelin, from Madrid, is Groof. He's Robert Calvin too. No matter which of his alias you know him by, he's one of the most active producers in the Madrid arena.
Aka Robert Calvin, he released materials with Turbo (Tiga's label) in 2004, having previously collaborated with Star Whores in a joint release with Alek Stark (2002).
Also important are the remixes he did for Disko B or for Sindicato Records and MSX, paying tribute to Megabeat with his recreation of the great classic Strange.
His background as Groof is even more extensive, as his early steps go back to the times of Minifunk (the cheeky and shameless label from Barcelona that was then managed by Omar and Dj Loe). With them he recorded Mambo! (1999) and I want you (2000). He has also recorded with WarmUp, Fieber, Rainwaves or Shareware Records.
At the end of the ninetees Groof shared Quite Unusual with Oscar Mulero: the start of a deep friendship that nowadays brings us WU30 mini-album.
'Angel exterminador' is on the A side; modern and dark techno, based on cemented beats and deep synth work. A track that is constantly growing and evolving; quality and punch in one track.
'Diagrama esporadico' goes next: relaxed BPM, 909 beats, spacey arpeggios, and analogue synth percussions for a mental feeling.
'Gummy' starts with weird flanged noises, fed with distorted drums and drones that create an elastic feeling, hence the gummy name. Scientific techno.
'Amb' goes back to darkness, subtle ambiences and drones, fixed sequences and a clever arrangement.
'Vac 04' continues on the same mood: obscure synths, classic drum machines, sharp hats and white noise.
Closing the release, 'Islands' is a liquid track based on lush keyboards, and a dubby feeling with those endless delays. A classy number.
A nice mini-album which is diverse, complex, classic and futuristic at the same time.
The new album will be released across a series of 4 limited edition 12" vinyls. This is the 2nd 12 inch From Tronic Jazz The Berlin Sessions. A Guy Called Gerald has spent the last couple of years flitting through shadows, turning up on labels like Perlon, Beatstreet and Sender like a peripatetic prophet of the Berlin underground, seeding the scene with cryptic singles that return to the past to suggest alternate futures. Now he returns to Berlin's Laboratory Instinct label with the follow-up to 2006's Proto Acid: The Berlin Sessions, the album that re-established Gerald as an acid hero and techno auteur. Tronic Jazz: The Berlin Sessions builds upon the foundation established by its predecessor to create an even more powerful statement of intent, one that communicates more persuasively than ever Gerald's vision for techno in its third decade of existence. One immediate difference stands out, this time around. Where Proto Acid offered a seamless mix of 24 cuts, recorded in one epic session, Tronic Jazz collects 13 standalone tracks. That's welcome news to DJs. After so many years of digital anything-goes, you might have forgotten the kind of sounds that are possible with "old" machines: the way a lead stacked against tuned percussion and shrouded in pads can evoke still other sounds, hidden in the mix, or maybe not really there at all. It's a ghostly, suggestive presence, a kind of evocation of infinite possibility within the context of a limited set of inputs. In that sense, Tronic Jazz follows a certain minimalist impulse, but it's far too lush ever to be mistaken for the dread "mnml" of recent years. This stuff is wide-eyed and full of life. When it funks, it funks hard, and when it smoothes out, it can be as intimate as a hand-written note left on a lover's pillow. As "class ic" as Tronic Jazz may be, the album refutes any notion that "class ic" equals "retro," that the ideas have all been expressed before. Tronic Jazz takes the foundations of house and techno as though they were a kind of language, and speaks volumes with them.
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Best known for their ska, grime and indie blend, Man Like Me's brazen lyrics are less self-conscious than their musical counterparts and revel in the realities, perks and calamities of being a young Londoner. They reflect the melting pot that is the London scene, combining genres and entering into creative collaborations, cementing their reputations as one of the most exciting bands in the UK. The tracks on this EP have been produced by Clanger and Charlie Andrews (Madness, Micachu), and Charlie Hugall (Florence and the Machine, Crystal Fighters). The EP includes stellar remixes by rising French stars DeBRUIT and QOSO.
Farron Gets Back On Shaw Cuts With His Fourth Record, 'invincible Shaolin' - A Tale Of Double-dealing, Rivalry, Royalty And Bad Blood. Manchu General Pu's Evil Quest To Eradicate The Shaolin Tradition Unfolds, Cunningly Pitting North And South Shaolins Against Each Other. 'spring Break Ya Neck' Opens The Clash With Its Rhythmic Shifts And Whirling Synth Pads. The Northern Masters Prevail.
After Pu's Henchmen Secretly Kill The Southern Shaolin, The General Blames The Masters From The North, Unleashing Chaos. 'cosmicaph' Restores Order, Its Pounding Drums And Floating Melodies Giving New Strength To The Southern Shaolin. Revenge Must Be Taken.
To Prepare For Conquer, The Southern Master Sends Three Of His Disciples To Three Masters To Learn Their Secret Weapons. 'sir Hatch' Sets The Pace With Rolling Punches, Dirty Synths And Sharp Percussion As The Three Disciples Transform Into Lethal Fighting Machines.
Just Before The Final Encounter Between The Shaolin, Leibniz Lands On The Scene With His Fresh Interpretation Of 'spring Break Ya Neck', Revealing To Both Schools That They Have Been Deceived. Joining Forces, North And South Battle The General And His Men, Led By Leibniz's Funky Drum Patterns And Turbulent Synth Action.
And The Shaolin Spirit Lives On...
The unstoppable Spaziale Recordings set their sights on an absolute Paradise Garage classic from 1982 - the much sought after and instantly recognisable ‘Together Forever’ by Exodus. This fully licensed, remastered reissue comes housed in a full picture sleeve and contains a killer DEF Mix from Stefano Ritteri alongside the original extended vocal and dub versions.
Bursting with passion, ‘Together Forever’ is a record that was destined for greatness. A Larry Levan favourite, and for good reason. Produced by Errol Mattis and featuring one of the most sampled vocals in house music, there’s a triple threat of plucked basslines, clavinet power and joyful horns backed with the kind of percussion that ignites a rarely witnessed tribal energy within. It’s had crowds in fits of frenzies ever since its release and every collection deserves this gem nestled within it.
As well as the original extended vocal and dub versions, Stefano Ritteri steps up to add his own special touch, giving it some proto house power. He echoes and manipulates those fiery vocals, introducing each element gradually from the acid tinged topline to the layers of drum machine heat, gradually building the suspense to pure fever pitch.
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DJ Slip's amazing Discography counts more than 30 releases on well-known lables like Missile, Music Man, Kanzleramt and his own Creation Rebel imprint. His productions are always this little bit different and sets them apart from the rest. Again DJ Slip surprises even those who know. Born and raised in Midwest America he started his music productions with Woody Mc Bride and DBN from Milwaukee. Slip's Homebase is nowadays Brooklyn NY where his Creation Rebel label and the studio are placed too. His brand new album "The Machines Will Know Who You Are" is his first real album and another groundbreaking step that shows his dissimilar sound creations based on electro, techno and instrumental hip hop tunes. The LP contains 12 stories told by the tracks and the guide Slip leads us through the world of strange percussion grooves, post-acid-times, electro bass soundsystems, bangin' techno club memories, chillin' nightflights, Brooklyn and the rough street-life sounds from New York.
