quête:mental overdrive

Massive oldschool hardcore.
Industrial, progressive and oldschool... Defenitly a Deejay weapon !!
Very Limited.

Following well-received releases from Annie Hall, J. Wiltshire, MANASYt and Ricardo Tobar, MUSAR continues with another distinct slice of hugely satisfying, leftfield dance music, this time courtesy of legendary Norwegian producer Mental Overdrive.Limited to 150 copies!

Part 1 of Mental Overdrive Album Remixes ! This Time by Kowton and Subtil!

Mental Overdrive, Norwegian gran ol wizard of techno, owner of Love OD Communications starts of with 'Clocked', a colorful and moody track with a touch of grittyness. Thomas Urv, Ploink Label head and one of Norwegian techno's main protagonists, brings a signature raw high energy techno track '6.24 Con Dao'. Per Hammar, Swedish producer and DJ based in Berlin, the captain behind Dirty Hands and 10Years labels delivers a steady dubbed hypnotic house track 'Blank Space'. Thomas Skjaerstad from Trysil, Norwegian winner of Burn Residency 2017 finishes the EP with a punchy, dark spaced out techno track titled 'Space X (Sommeroya Edit)'.

"For Christian H" is a compilation album from the Arctic Norwegian city of Tromsø, dedicated to the memory of Christian Hollingsæter - the director of the Insomnia festival - who died unexpectedly in May this year, only 35 years old.

All 11 tracks have been gifted exclusively for the album, which is available as a digital download, a CD, and as a LIMITED EDITION LP. Only 100 copies made. All proceeds will go to Christian´s son Julian.

"Mixes Of A Lost World", konzipiert und zusammengetragen von Robert Smith, ist eine neue Remix-Sammlung von Tracks aus The Cure's gefeiertem #1 Album "Songs Of A Lost World", das im November 2024 erschien. Das neue Set enthält 16 brandneue Remixe von Künstlern wie Four Tet, Paul Oakenfold, Orbital und vielen anderen. Die Deluxe-Edition enthält zusätzlich Remixe und Reworks von Chino Moreno (Deftones), Mogwai, 65daysofstatic und vielen mehr. Bei den Künstlern handelt es sich um Freunde von Robert, die die Songs in einer atmosphärischen und stimmungsvollen Art und Weise kreiert haben. Sie sind es, die diesem unglaublichen Album ihre Tiefe verleihen. Die meisten von ihnen stammen selbst aus Bands und begeben sich mit ihren Kreationen auf einen neuen Weg der Entdeckung.

"Mixes Of A Lost World", konzipiert und zusammengetragen von Robert Smith, ist eine neue Remix-Sammlung von Tracks aus The Cure's gefeiertem #1 Album "Songs Of A Lost World", das im November 2024 erschien. Das neue Set enthält 16 brandneue Remixe von Künstlern wie Four Tet, Paul Oakenfold, Orbital und vielen anderen. Die Deluxe-Edition enthält zusätzlich Remixe und Reworks von Chino Moreno (Deftones), Mogwai, 65daysofstatic und vielen mehr. Bei den Künstlern handelt es sich um Freunde von Robert, die die Songs in einer atmosphärischen und stimmungsvollen Art und Weise kreiert haben. Sie sind es, die diesem unglaublichen Album ihre Tiefe verleihen. Die meisten von ihnen stammen selbst aus Bands und begeben sich mit ihren Kreationen auf einen neuen Weg der Entdeckung.

2026 Repress
Oscar Mulero keeps busy in his studio facilities as usual. His musical output keeps growing and always wandering into new directions and flavors while preserving his artistic integrity. For this Ep on his very own Pole Group imprint he showcases his combative side after some excursions into more profound and intricate territories.

Poisonality EP is about the wise use of distortion on techno, is about non conforming with the seasonal standards, about investigating new rhythms, new types of arrangements and new boundaries in sound design, always remembering the roots.

Aroma de Falso Amor is the first exercise, exploring the abrasive power of broken distorted beats, overdriven drones and textures and hyper dynamic song structures. The result is a non conventional techno workout, essential to give spice to any set.

Poisonality gives name to the EP and works with asymmetry combined with the right dose of crispiness, creating a super shuffled hi tech jam. Chaotic, hypnotic and mental.

Iris Malicioso opens the B side with an eye on the funkier Detroit tradition combined with the power of the best British influences from the nineties. Here drums and stabs are the main ingredients, interleaving, mutating and constantly evolving. Hi tech funk in its purest expression.

Dos Pequeños Zorros closes the tracklist, again focusing on the dancefloor and keeping the ingredients minimal, continuous and obsessive with a rugged, constantly twisted sequence running over a precise groove, keeping things busy through all the structure

Limited

Michael Forshaw is a techno, breakbeat and experimental producer and DJ from Blackpool, U.K. who’s known for his mastery of producing gritty, rough ‘n’ tumble techno music where every sound is almost overdriven to the edge of chaotic distortion. He refuses to abide by any rules, playfully smashing his music around like a cat toying with a mouse. He’s the ultimate example of why parents hate techno.

Continuing with the ‘Limited As Fuck’ series of releases, on our fiercely independent techno label based in Scotland, we’ve got our Wonk-O-Vision meter turned up to FULL WONK and we’re wearing our spankin’ new, made especially for dancin’ and prancin’, high heels and big boys boots on, because Michael Forshaw ‘& His Dance Floor Disaster Show’ is about to smash into a night club near you.

On this ‘Big Titted Hit’ of a release you’ll learn how to ‘Shake What Your Mama Gave Ya’ in more ways than one as not only have Forshaw’s ‘Amish Numanoids in Space’ trax finally been printed on vinyl, but those Swedish farting wasp keepers TSR and Scotland’s own melodious mental menace Fear-E, along-with the vocal talents of he that should be King, Tunnan, have well-wonked out a pair of the most uncarpeted surface-slippin’ remixes you’ll have a difficult time not to do a group wonkin’ Watusi too. WONK ON.

Superb Gatefold printed sleeve...

Conceptual inside brain travel...

To express the mental acid sounds to check...

First track announces the style with a long Break intro... mental tune... Superb ambiances... very Cinetic and good to mix.

Second track goes 128 BPM acid progressive techno... Excellent Dj tool at a rare speed... flirting with the Trance.

Last track of the A side grow the speed up to 150 BPM with a long break intro tunring after a while more/less 4/4... The sound is very acid and industrial. A big tune !

B side goes up to 160 BPM : Minimal acid sound.

...And finishes in a dark 170 BPM progressive acid track. Mentalcore aera starts here....

Second record opens with a 146 BPM techno mental acid stabilizer. Deep.

Second track is mentalcore big acid overdrive dancefloor pearl from Mr Gasmask !

Last Track of C side from Emetic is a Hardcore splendid exciting tune... maybe the best of this record. Quiet minimal and banging at 170 BPM it reminds the A*Symetric Spivey style:)


... Last side, opens with Minus Polaris and a pure mental acid grower

Last tune of this jewel is from Scandal Orchestra, a Hardcore frontier Hardtek acid track in the classic french good vibe style... Enjoy !

Kessell is back at home with a powerful EP plus a bonus digital track on the digital edition. There is no need to remind everyone that Valentin Corujo is one of the most experienced producers on the techno scene. And this new work is the sonic proof.

Nothing left to say opens fire with distorted broken beats soon aligned by a solid 4/4 groove. The harsh sounds run across the stereo field wisely while the beat goes relentless. A powerful and raw peak time tool.

All that matters is the second cut, beginning with a bass heavy groove, sibilant and distorted at the same time until the additional percussive parts appear and the subterranean bass turns into distorted hypnosis as the bars go on. An intense and obsessive piece of rugged techno.

On the B side, Descending Darkness, an industrial funk workout made of continuous distorted sequences and an enforced drum beat. No sign of breakdowns or epic moments, just a continuous drill for your neurons.

Cyclical Nature goes scifi and mental, with reverberated sequences running over a solid cemented pattern the spiral sequence turns into overdriven madness as the track goes combining aggression with futurism.

Inside Trauma uses broken beats as a basement, one of Kessell's personal signatures when working on his side project Exium.

Another stepping stone on a solid and long career for this excellent creator.

Full Pupp is 15 years old and we’re marking the occasion by inviting old and new friends to contribute a track each. Henning Severud aka Telephones returns to Full Pupp with this beast of a track. Marius Våreid contributes with this lovely ditty that fell between the cracks some years ago. In preparation of a promised forthcoming album Christian does what Christian does best - four on the floor. Norwegian techno’s grand old man Per Martinsen most likely recorded his parts during the northern norwegian summer. The shutters couldn’t keep the sunlight out.

orwegian techno institution Ploink launches annual series entitled Affinity with its debut release featuring names like Skatebård, HndS, Roeglin, Fraunhofer, and Priq. Based in Bergen, Ploink has been flying the flag for Norwegian techno for well over two decades, organising some of the country’s best events and festivals. Co-founded by Thomas Urv and Miss Mostly, the label was born five years ago and has since released music from an array of home-grown talent including Mental Overdrive, KSMISK, Prins Thomas, +plattform, Joaquin Ruiz, Christian Tilt, and more.

Launching the label’s new Affinity series, Berlina Für Techno’s Roeglin is first with “Norm” which opens with glitched stabs, vocals and a tight drum pattern. Picking up the pace, Fraunhofer- formerly known as Dortmund -returns to the label bringing a shuffling rhythm, crunchy cymbals and spacy synths in “Saturn”. Bergen dance music royalty Skatebård remixes “Wake Up” by London-based Scandinavian duo HndS, maintaining the energy with thumping bass and bouncing chords. Tying it all together, Norwegian producer and drummer Priq’s “Area” sweeps in with decayed keys, pulsing percussion and a gripping atmosphere.

Norwegian techno label PLOINK returns with ‘Kambodsja Work’ EP from co-founder Thomas Urv.
With over two decades of experience running techno events in Norway, Thomas Urv and Miss Mostly’s PLOINK set up as a label in 2014 and has since acted as a platform for an array of talent hailing from Scandinavia. Artists like Prins Thomas, Mental Overdrive, KSMISK, Christian Tilt, +plattform, and more have all made contributions to the imprint, which releases mind-bending techno out of its base in the idyllic city of Bergen.
Erratic subs, floating pads and unearthly vocals form ‘Trump Is Cartman’, leading into the pumping kick and metallic FX of ‘Sockets Below’. Next up, ‘Cambodian Chipher’ reveals industrial drums and electric piano before moving into the shuffling beat, rolling bass and rhythmic drones of ‘Ustaoset2019’.

With brand new interest in beats and rhythm once again coming into play, Puzzlebox label owner, Keith (K-1) Tucker, has now decided to revise and revisit the music from his catalog as "Puzzlebox Classics." The very first release is a valued gem of an EP called, "Atomaton", featuring:

"Nemesis" - An instant classic, which brings on Tucker's signature Electro/Techno beats (Aux88), a tough as nails funky bassline, and his trademark eerie strings. Robo-vocals recall us to remember that "The future of the electro movement is upon us"... Believe it.

"Oscillator (bonus beats)" - Brings us the perfect beat, a dramatic bassline, and swinging percussion attitude to the fold.

Sure to be a hit with new ears as well as "heads" from its mid-90's release. Additionally brought to popularity in Detroit by WGRP TV's, "The New Dance Show", as a favorite go-to party recording. Made with the intent of DJ's, by a DJ.

"(Techno) On My Mind" - Mind-bending arps and clicky pecussion shoot this off-world thumper into overdrive for your ears. While the relentless hard snare battles for attention against a triggered piece of electrofunk provided by a 'K-1' bassline, weaving itself around anything constant in the tune, listeners are guaranteed transport to a realm within an alternate universe and the urge to move their feet. A mental-mover, indeed.

#thetimeisnow
#getthisenjoythis'AUX QUADRANT' for what it is.

Norway's PLOINK imprint returns this April with a four-track EP from production duo Dortmund titled Sauerkraut featuring a remix from Christian Tilt.
Hailing from Bergen, Thomas Urv and Miss Mostly's PLOINK events have been championing the Norwegian techno scene for over two decades. Launched in 2014, the PLOINK label has hosted a string of
versatile twelves from the likes of Prins Thomas, Christian Tilt, SkatebÂrd and most recently Mental Overdrive, whoís innovative ëHardwareí album dropped in March. Returning to the label since providing a
track on PLOINKís 20th anniversary release last year, hardware specialist Dortmund, real name Karl Markus Zavodny, is also well known for releases on Montrealís Turbo and Leipzigís Vocabula Recordings.
ëSauerkrautí opens the release with rolling synthetic percussion that builds into an earworm groove, laced with chattering hats in tandem with echoing claps and fuelled by a vibrant acid loop. ëAcid Over Osloí then
motors along, utilising a razor-sharp 303 line within the frame of a crisp drum machine riff with a warmly distorted glow. Christian Tilt then morphs 'Sauerkraut' into an energetic pulsating cut, employing subtly swinging hats bathed in reverb before further processing the acid lead into fresh areas of the stereo field. Echoing bleeps then dissipate in Karl Krankenhaus underpinned by a bone shaking drum groove alongside moments of IDM tinged synthscapes and dubbed out chord stabs.
Dortmund ëSauerkraut EP' drops on PLOINK on 21st April 2017.

* Mastered and lacquer cut by Mike Grinser @ Dubplates & Mastering, Berlin

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

Thomas Urv and Miss Mostly's Norwegian techno imprint PLOINK drops the second in its trilogy of releases celebrating the brand's 20-year anniversary.
Following on from the first release that featured renowned Scandinavian artists such as Prins Thomas, Mental Overdrive, Urhaug, Nordenstam, Christian Tilt and Hutmacher, the label's next outing sees five more
members of the local scene make appearances.
First up, promising newcomer Saftronic drops the chuggy 'Exit', incorporating soaring synths and spellbinding atmospherics, before PLOINK founder Thomas Urv, who's also preparing the label's debut album, delivers a dense low-end and infectious whirrs in 'Set Lucky'.
Known for his longstanding contribution to ambient and techno with releases on Beatservice, Club Craft, Berserk Fabric, Diametric and Silent Season, renowned Norwegian producer Mind Over MIDI crafts intricate
arpeggios and echoing effects in the arctic inspired 'Ice Plains'.
Releasing on PLOINK before, KSMISK, who are also known as Trulz & Robin, conjure up a sinister production named 'Yme' that features dusky aesthetics and twisted nuances, until Argentinian born CementO concludes the package with the undulating 'Nordisk Skjønnhet'.

Finale Sessions is really pleased to launch new series Finale Sessions Limited with Berlin up and coming act Arcarsenal. Duo comprised of Alan Mathias and Etienne Dauta, both founders of Bass Cadet Records and its dedicated vinyl store located in the heart of the german capital, they are also active members of the large Underground Quality family. Arcarsenal have already started to establish themselves as proponent of a crossover sound, mixing many influences from jazz, house, ambient to dub and techno. They are always giving a prominence to jam, improvisation and textures work in their studio routine. This EP called « Dark Skies & Wetlands », even if slightly grittier than usual, is no stranger to the rules of the duo. The opening track « Different Planet » is an epic dark deep house cut which develops itself over a course of 8:40. Starting with a stamping ground bassline and hazy atmosphere, the track opens up with synth attacks, dub echoes and slowly brings in a blissful melody that ends up linking all the elements. « Substance Of Arjuna », the following track on the A-side, is a-contrario a short but intense ambient work. Shot in one take, this subtle cut showcases the kind experimentations that Mathias and Dauta can end up doing late at night in front of their machines. The b-side of the EP leaves all the space to « Racoons », one of the weirdest and yet most powerful work of the duo to date. Tribal techno could be a short try to define what they achieved here, but the track goes far more than this. Built on a gritty mental acidic bass and a huge drum kick, the frenchmen bring over aggressive synth work that could sound like an orchestra on rehearsal, pachydermic screams or an overdriven guitar larsen. Underlined by a complex percussion pattern recorded live in their nest and chopped up to the best effect, the track ends up in a looping transe from which the listener might not leave in a normal state.