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IMA (Intense Molecular Activity) is the duo of Don Hunerberg (synthesizers) and Andy Blinx (drums and percussion). Based in New York City and active between 1979 and 1982. Don, a studio Sound / music engineer and musician, Andy an electronic clothing designer, drummer and sound reinforcement engineer at downtown clubs like Max's Kansas City, Mudd Club and CBGB. In between doing sessions at Radio City Music Hall Studios for groups such as Ramones, Richard Hell, Sonic Youth, Liquid Liquid, John Zorn, Glenn Branca and many others, IMA took advantage of off hours to create their own music. As far as influences go, Don's background was in electronic music and Andy's in prog rock. To produce the songs, Don used his own method of creating patterns from 2-track tape loops and then edited them together on to a 24-track recorder adding more tracks of overdubs, In a very similar way that sequencers are used today. By 1980 the duo honed their own unique sound and version of Post Punk and No-Wave with the tools of the trade of the early 80s. Situated above the proscenium of the Radio City Music Hall stage, the studio was outfitted with a variety of orchestral instruments (timpani, bells, xylophone, etc). They self-released a 4-song EP titled 'IMA' on an 8' flexi-disc which was distributed by Ed Bahlman of 99 Records. The music bridges the wild psychedelic-rock of the 60s, the synth-punk of the late-70s and the elaborate constructions of progressive-rock. There are nods to the freak-outs of Chrome and the super neurosis of Suicide, but IMA takes a more clinical approach which also takes notice of Hawkwind and Pink Floyd's interstellar overdrive. We've added 4 bonus tracks recorded during the same studio sessions and included them here for the first time on vinyl. DJ Hell lifted elements of IMA's song "Blurb" virtually intact and uncredited for his electroclash club hit "Keep On Waiting" 20 years later. All songs have been remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The record is housed in an exact replica of the original jacket featuring a spray painted IMA tag a top a red dashed 'Do Not Enter' sign. Each copy includes a double-sided postcard with notes. This Album Is dedicated to the memory of Andy (Blinx) George.

Finnish visual artist and filmmaker Hannu Karjalainen's music draws inspiration from ambient, drone, modern classical and dream pop. His first album Worms In My Piano was released in 2007 on Osaka Records and the second album, Hintergarten in 2009 on Simon Scott's Kesh Recordings. A Handful Of Dust Is A Desert, his third album - and the first under his full given name - arrives after a prolonged break.

Hannu Karjalainen's association with Karaoke Kalk started with his remix of Dakota Suite's The End Of Trying Part III on The Night Just Keeps Coming In in 2009 which also featured remixes by the likes of Hauschka, Deaf Center, Loscil and many more. Now, luckily for all concerned, Hannu is releasing a full length album on the label in the form of the exquisite record A Handful Of Dust Is A Desert.

The album opens with the track Angel which is a truly heavenly composition reminiscent of Boards of Canada's finest work. The Emigrant makes effective use of sinister synth-lines and delicate glockenspiel patterns to invoke a kind of science-fiction soundtrack atmosphere. Throughout the record, our ears are graced with truly sublime sound-scapes and transcendent textures.

The title track is actually the shortest tune on the album, but in no way less evocative. It's looped piano melodies are comparable with Susumo Yokota's later recordings in their minimalism and poise. A Year In a Day continues to walk the fine line between ambient and electronica - which is one of the albums great virtues: it shows how lively and eventful ambient music can be. Certainly ambient music benefits from having a strong pulse as Karjalainen demonstrates in various tracks on the album. The song Love Is A Black Lion features a sample from the afore mentioned Dakota Suite tune The End Of Trying Part III, and therefore somehow closes a circle.

This powerfully contemplative album comes to a controlled landing with the majestic Breaks My Heart She Aria, another in a long line of mesmerizing drifts, with a floating choral voice delicately enveloped in strings and pitched percussion.

A Handful of Dust Is A Desert is instantly captivating and for lovers of ambient music, dream listening. As an artist who trained in photography and is mostly active in the world of visual art, Hannu Karjalainen clearly enjoys a great deal of creative freedom in his music. This is the kind of desert you won't mind getting lost in and even take pleasure in roaming through the expansive sonic landscapes and horizons it embodies.

Ike Yard recombine their music looking across decades of post punk, electronic, soundtracks and come out with some of their best yet and enough to last the next 20-30 years (in Ike Yard´s very own words). Originally founded in 1979 New York City, members Michael Diekmann (keyboard, guitar, vocals), Kenneth Compton (programming drums, synths arrangements, bass, guitar, vocals) and Stuart Argabright (programming drums, synths arrangements, distortion bass, keyboards, metal perc) reformed the band once in 2007 and again in 2010. Each time different and with new ambitions. This time 'Sacred Machine' EP is defined by detailed drum layers supported by multiple basses and keyboards, some off-timing beat patterns that turn in a second of synchrony into a straight four on the floor kick and first time vocal collaborations.

Composition wise 'Sacred Machine' EP is recorded as a 'rehearsal'. As for Ike Yard songs would not be done so very many times in their existence, all threw in on each piece as they came into being. It sounds like a group that could have been doing records in Anthony Burgess and Stanley Kubrick´s 'A Clockwork Orange'. 'Night Klub' revisits Ike Yard´s original 'Night After Night' from 1981 EP. 'Sacred Machine' might be familiar to those who caught Ike Yard dates in Europe between 2007-2014 as one of the extended jams prepared for the dark ambient shows. 'Tear Drop' night airport music with sweet vocals by Camella Lobo of Tropic Of Cancer is followed by 'Spit' that explores Ike Yard NCR style with jittery beats, clomping, stomping cross cut beats. 'Slaves Of Janet' featuring Erica Belle brings to mind scenes in an S&M parlour with unused lyrics from the Factory America LP recordings.

Berlin based producer ''Synthek'' is a renowned name within contemporary Techno. Besides succesfully running his label Natch Records, he has been also a resident at the infamous Tresor.

For the seventeenth installment in the string of Attic Music releases, Synthek (Luca Landolfi) comes up with a staggering EP that contains a lot of adventurous drum patterns, bold arrangements and swells of daring FX.

On the A side we find ''Loser'', which is a brave cut of spherical yet moody techno that uses a buldging percussion line and otherwordly fx to create an ominous vibe. ''Uneven Mind'' is an exotic cut with tough drum sounds that uses a hypnotic synth swell that cuts throughout to create an alarming atmosphere. French producer and Concrete resident Antigone comes up with an uplifting (eight minutes long) remix for ''Uneven Mind'' on the B side which is beautifully orchastrated throughout.
''Faithless''is a percussive cut with intense FX blips.

2022 Repress

HQ Gatefold, 3x12 140g Vinyl, black innersleeve, download code
EXTRAWELT are back! Although in fairness, they were never gone. On the contrary, since their first release on James Holden's Border Community Label dropped in 2005, Arne Schaffhausen and Wayan Raabe have been responsible for a plethora of classics including "Schöne Neue Extrawelt" and "In Aufruhr", their two seminal albums on Cocoon Recordings. The duo are one of the most booked live acts worldwide, commanding a huge fan base. Their performances are the stuff of legend, making them the absolute highlight at every club and festival they play. So it's with great pride and respect, that we can announce the release of Extrawelt's third album for Cocoon Recordings. "Fear Of An Extra Planet" completes the Cocoon trilogy and the excitement growing among their fans represents a new high in the history of EXTRAWELT!
Musically, of course, there's enormous pressure on EXTRAWELT to deliver, but this is dismissed with a playful disregard and they are clearly focused on the job in hand. The album title "Fear Of An Extra Planet" sounds cinematic, like some art-house science fiction film, without giving too much away.
However, from the first seconds of the opening track "Superposition", the album title makes 100% sense and sets the scene for the rest of the trip. We are immersed in wide open spaces and invited to explore dark and dusky worlds that transport us back to their Border Community years. Timeless and elegant, "Superposition" perfectly captures the epic, dream like quality that made James Holden's label so influential.
New Release Information Second up, "Gott ist Schrott" takes a much more minimalist approach with its retro 80s drum programming, monster bass lurking in the breaks and playful Rhodes/synth riffs that span the divide between early German techno and deep Detroit electro with a distinctive film soundtrack aesthetic. "Oddification" continues this theme, adding extra spice reminiscent of the techno-synth vibe of Detroit with a punchy, almost Prodigy-style breakbeat complete with shredded vocal samples that gives us a taste of what's in store. "Gentle Venom" then takes the breakbeat motif to the next stage. The main focus here is the classy sprinter of a bassline, peppered with a flurry of intricate and subtle effects and modulations, that immediately trigger an intense, movie-like 'in pursuit' feeling.
With - Das Grosse Flimmern" we cautiously approach the album's high point. It's still in keeping with the soundtrack aesthetics, but faster and with more urgency. Almost hypnotically, Extrawelt invade us with an energy and impetus that always radiates from their music. Next in line is "Silly Idol" and here Arne Schaffhausen and Wayan Raabe opt again for a more minimal tack, focusing even more intensely on the dance floor to reveal a pulsing, twisted heart to the album.
"Punch The Dragon" is the hidden gem of the collection, utilising and melting together the most bombastic and playful elements. This one is totally off the hook, a sensory overload in an acoustic widescreen format! Then we have the title track "Fear Of An Extra Planet" which perfectly sums up the album concept. It opens up like a film score, with minimal passages following dark sequences that morph into dreamy melodies, all grounded by cool, constantly alternating analogue drum patterns. If you're not listening closely, you might get the impression that three or four different titles are mixed together; such is the effortless flow of the album.
As we near our destination, "The Friendly Coroner" really does honour its name. The morbid charm of the title is captured by a fluid bassline and melodic arrangements that border on the absurd, until the funky drum beat finally drops. In our mind's eye we see a cheerful medical doctor removing his bloody gloves, hanging his smock in the closet and vibing out in his neon drenched workspace. And there we sit, glued to our cinema seat, submerged in the different textures EXTRAWELT have conjured up on "Fear Of An Extra Planet". Over the course of the last title, the strings usher in the final acknowledgments as the credits roll. The dramatic end of "2084" leaves us transfixed in front of a black screen in a large, dark room safe in the knowledge that we've just witnessed a science fiction epic.

Greenlight by DJ Manny is the fifth release from TEKLIFE Records. This 10 trackLP is a masterclass in footwork production by one of TEKLIFE's leading figures. Born and raised in Harvey on the South-Side of Chicago, DJ Manny has been footworking since the age of ten. The Footwork sound has developed in unison with the dance style that accompanies it, and Manny embodies this synergy.DJ Manny is without doubt one of the best dancers on the scene, harnessing control, grace and power in every movement. So when he steps into the studio, he knows instinctively how to create tracks that make you want to move your feet.Instead of relying on chopped up samples, DJ Manny is more inclined to pickup the microphone himself, and this gives Greenlight an original and individual personality.On the opening track titled Way you Move, his flow is soulful and almost vergingon melodic. His laid back drawl sounds equally great on club bangers like Life in This Bitch and If U Want It. As a young man, DJ Manny was the protégé of the late great DJ Rashad, and Rashad's influence reverberates through classic - sounding footwork tracks like Boop Me Down and I'll Hurt Ya Baby.Elsewhere on Greenlight, DJ Manny explores different moods to great effect.Ghost Out is atmospheric and menacing, with a sparse, minimal rhythm and fearsome lowend pulsing through siren synths. Life In This Bitch is a defiant statement of self-affirmation, and Zancrash feat. DJ Taye is uplifting and dreamy,with complex rhythmic patterns evocative of vintage jungle records.DJ Taye makes a significant contribution to this record, collaborating with DJ Manny on 5 productions including the title track. A fellow TEKLIFE squad member, Taye is a highly accomplished producer in his own right, Expect to hear more from him very soon on HYPERDUB Records. Greenlight also features guest appearances from DJ Lucky, Gant-Man and Sucia.

"Berlin based Cocktail d'Amore Music and Ene Tokyo join forces for Greenvision's debut - The Italo-American duo formed by Trent and Juan Ramos. pENE d'Amore Pt.1 is the name of their first 12 inch. This is one of those records that makes you start questioning matters of genre and music construction. Sit back, press play and enjoy this ultra-cosmic adventure. The different rhythm patterns included in Surdinia melt organically with the acid lines, the high UFO whistles and spaceship-like sound effects, exploding into an unexpected and comfortable piano house line, solving the puzzle and leaving you thirsty for more. Meccanica is a slow tempo gem, It combines elements of industrial and Balearic with a touch of submarine-like soundscapes. Ramos and Trent's music-making philosophy is as special as unique. The multitude of elements that compose each track has its own life cycle, its own ecosystem.

Edanticonf's music feels perfectly crafted for the brooding atmospheric venues he so often performs in. Both the aforementioned adjectives can be attributed to his style of techno too, one that places the focus less on the technical side and more onthe human one, aiming to reflect his emotions and state of being through the hazy soundscapes that draw influence from the natural scenery around him.His concise back-catalogue features releases on revered labels such as M¦REC LTD, Trolldans, Phorma and Silent Season - the imprint which released his debut LP, 'Forest Echo', in 2012. On each release, Edanticonf's work sonically varies, from the more ambient compositions present on his 'Planet' EP for Silent Season to his dub-infused techno release on Italy's M¦REC LTD, but each offering never compromises on its quality, something which sits at the core of this project.

Kicking off the EP is the title-named track, 'The Mind Power', a hypnotic techno number that blends atmospheric textures and arpeggiated synth patterns with industrial-inducing pad tones, gradually introducing further elements throughout its eight minute duration.

'Interlude' follows, a song that much like the rest of the EP focuses its attention on the refined nuances of the analogue synthesiser, blending this with more delicate synth passages and other shadowy digital effects.

Closing this excellent three-track EP is 'We Dance Together', a dazzling, almost trance-like closer that fuses these soaring atmospheric elements and delicate synths with gritty, lo-fi drums to great effect.

Mysterious new outfit Glasstalk Records start as they mean to go on with their debut release, showcasing some heavy-hitting techno from Kettering via Leeds upstart, Wilhelm. At the ripe age of 21 and with only one release to his name prior to 38thParallel, this producer has already attracted a lot of support from a stellar cast of tastemakers including Bruce, Midland, Batu, Avalon Emerson, Tasker and A Made Up Sound as well as landing recent radio plays from the likes of Skream, B. Traits, Moxie, George Fitzgerald, Batu and Via Maris.

Wilhelm kicks off the EP with the haunting 'Our World.' This dancefloor heater is jam packed with frenetic percussion, overtly time-stretched whispers and ambient samples of mechanical scrapings. Next up is the title track of 38thParallel EP, a distinctly more off-kilter affair than its predecessor due to its quick-fire drum patterns. Rounding off the release is 'Assignment,' which was quite literally made as an assignment for the producer's university course! This slowed techno roller would be perfect as a set opener.

No musician embodies more the dramatic transformation in the British jazz scene over the past thirty years than Courtney Pine. His debut album, Journey To The Urge Within in 1987, was the first serious jazz album ever to make the British Top 40, notching up sales to qualify for a silver disc.

Aside from being the preeminent figure in the resurgence of British jazz, Courtney became a renowned presenter and broadcaster, best known for his long running radio show for BBC Radio 2, 'Jazz Crusade'. He was also awarded an O.B.E in the 2000 New Year's Honours, and was also made a C.B.E in 2009 for services to Music.

As an artist always looking to work outside of and across established musical genres, it is easier to list the musicians and artists he hasn't worked with, but now in 2017 Courtney releases brand new music featuring another British music legend of equal repute, his Freestyle Records label mate and an artist also honoured for his own creative endeavours, Omar Lyefook M.B.E.

Both tracks of this single are taken from Courtneys' forthcoming album Black Notes From The Deep - the 19th of his stellar career. The exciting and fresh interpretation of Herbie Hancocks' Butterfly demonstrates straight away that this is a dream team combination. With Alec Dankworth laying down the bass, Rod Youngs' drumming underpinning the groove, the song also gives the outstanding keyboards of Robert Mitchell space to stretch out - Omars fantastic vocal performance rides sweetly on top of the dreamy backing vocals of Charleen Hamilton - and of course Courtneys' flowing, imaginative and creative solo perfects this modern version of a much loved classic.

Rules is a brand new, collaborative composition by Courtney & Omar - the punchy drums and bass line patterns hints simultaneously at classic jazz and funkier club-centric sounds. Courtney cooks on tenor saxophone and also the organ - whilst Omar marinades the super catchy melody with that unmistakable voice.

As an introduction to the forthcoming album Black Notes From The Deep this single points the way to what 2 British legends, both exemplary in their own right - can come up with when joining forces.

My Favorite Robot welcome the collaborative outfit of Rodion & Local Suicide for their next EP, which comes boosted by
remixes from Los Mekanikos, Moscoman and Fairmont, as well as artwork that is made up 3D prints of the act.
Rodion is an Italian classical piano player and acclaimed producer whose albums and EPs for the likes of Gomma, Nein
& Nang have helped to reshape modern disco. Also one half of Alien Alien and boss of the Roccodisco label, he is a real
studio visionary who for ten years has mixed up classical, trance and psychedelic sounds. He makes everything from
chamber music to computer game soundtracks, has remixed Giorgio Moroder and counts the likes of Tim Sweeney, Erol
Alkan and DJ Hell as fans. Berlin-based duo/couple Brax Moody and Vamparela aka Local Suicide have been
collaborating together since 2007, either as a DJ duo, in bands, or as remixers and producers. They have played all over
the world and are in favour with the likes of XLR8R, Thump and Mixmag for their fusions of slow techno, post disco and
acid.
These original analog tracks were recorded between 2014 and 2016 in Rodion s vintage studio in Berlin. They came about
when they all met following one of his gigs just after he moved there, and after being in touch online for a while. During
one of the nights, Rodion brought friend, producer and singer Ali Bey (part of the Belgrade DJ collective Beyond House
and a famous record digger) to contribute.
Impressive opener Abu Dhabi includes samples from field recordings from all over the world. The most prominent is the
recording from an airport in Bangkok where Brax Moody and Vamparela were waiting to catch their plane to Saigon
and it ended up being the main vocal hook. The alluring track is a wonky feeling number with gurgling synth lines and
gentle releases of white noise lulling you into the groove. A searching synth line and distant siren add urgency and the
whole thing feels urban and futuristic.
Comprised of Mexico City producers Max Jones and Eddie Mercury, Los Mekanikos combine raw hypno-rhythm tracks
with pumping grooves that pay homage to Chicago, Detroit and Berlin. Their special remix is another late night and
unhinged number that encourages you to freak out amongst the panning and paranoid synth patterns and robotic grooves.
Then comes the brilliant True Love Floats with Ali Beys singing and Vamparela s vocoded vocals. The interplay between
the two is tense and alien and makes for a perfectly inhuman groove with popping bell sounds, undulating pads and spooky
deep space ambiance.
Remixing this one is Berlin via Tel Aviv artist of the moment and Disco Halal label head Moscoman, whose raw machine
grooves have impressed on labels like ESP Institute, Correspondant and I'm a Cliche. His slow and purposeful version is
deep and psychedelic with disorientating vocals and blistered synths wallowing in a menacing urban landscape. Buy it
digitally and you will also get a fine remix from label regular and Canadian Fairmont. He runs the Beachcoma label, has
worked with cult outlet Border Community over the years and mixes up dark disco and goth into his own fresh sounds. His
remix here is more direct and driven, with powerful drums and well sculpted synths making it another great rework.
This is a unique sounding package featuring plenty of heavyweight names and marks another cultured outing from the
always considered My Favourite Robot label.

Astray is the Sublabel of Away, Berlin.

Berlin's party series and the eponymous vinyl label celebrate the launch of its sublabel ASTRAY with the 'Road Force EP' by Discrete Circuit. While AWAY with previous contributions from Joe Claussell, Mr. Ties, and Move D leans more to the housier side of things, ASTRAY will take a different path by taking some darker, techno-centered steps. Following the idea only to release productions by both label founders, Discrete Circuit and H4L, as well as unique collaborations which either of them will form with outside artists, ASTRAY's second EP will premiere the joint studio work of Discrete Circuit and DJ/producer Blind Observatory. EP INFO After releasing on labels such as DVS1's Mistress Recordings, Mark Broom's label Beard Manand Darko Esser's Wolfskuil Records, Discrete Circuit's new EP provides four progressivetracks mirroring his interest in a steadily growing techno narrative as well as mind manipulating onomatopoeia. On the A-side he's evolving his floor-aimed capabilities in two different ways: Starting with subtly quoting the infamous Motor City, the title track's on-edge techno design quickly accumulates into some kind of hounding; not knowing if you're the hunted or the hunter. 'Stress Resultant' increases the pace, whereby the restless vibe is contrasted by melodic synth patterns embodying a sort of playful corrective. The flip side introduces Discrete Circuit's experimental facet: 'Controlled Error' exhibits the dialogue between harmony and chaos in which shrieking, yet claustrophobic shades play hide-and-seek ultimately unfolding a gloomy funk, while the EP's last 'Circuitry' is completely carried by shape-shifting, pulsing soundscapes.

When it comes to the music of Miajica, there is always a variety of influences, shameless sampling and me- lodic patterns involved that touches our hearts. His love for records is a never ending story and this makes him a fantastic DJ and selector. Miajica's passion for the extraordinary is what made us at Light of Other Days fall in love with his music when we first met him several years ago.

Miajica might mostly be known for his work with Alma Negra but he is a prolific producer of his own and had some amazing releases in recent months. He also just launched the label Fleeting Wax with Mehmet Aslan - which is already getting some great attention in the balearic scene all over the world.

Miajica's first EP on Light of Other Days «Drive Down» was created from some of his recent and most striking influences: «Breathing Again» indicates the feeling after he stopped smoking and discovered this whole new world of intense emotions and sensual experiences. «L'Ae´roport» was created in one of those lost moments when you're overtired at the airport and have to wait to board another delayed flight to your next destination while the third track «Mediterraneo» is an uplifting homage to his heritage and roots in Spain.

Ekoplekz returns with his fourth album for Planet Mu, in the shape of 10-tracker "Bioprodukt". The unique lo-fi, woozy sound of Bristol's Nick Edwards stays intact while he veers towards the nineties for inspiration: the bleep and bass sound of the north of England is one touchpoint and the acid gurgles of the 303 are another. While the murky lo-fi production levels and evocative melodies remain, they are now bolstered by a more muscular rhythmic chassis. Snappier kicks and snares mingle with dense layers of percussion and deep undulating sub-basslines adding a funkier edge, as typified by opening track "Elevation" where playful beats interlock with breezy keyboard flourishes to create something uncharacteristically upbeat. Similarly, the gentle, fluid motion of "Slipstream" and "Calypzoid" represent some of the most appealingly chilled grooves in the Ekoplekz canon to date. But the darker-edged material remains. "Expedition" has a pensive, percussion-heavy feel whilst "Acrid Acid" is a dirt-encrusted slow-mo techno meltdown. "Transcience" displays the Ekoplekz trademark dub-fx in full flight over a driving lo-end, before "Descent" leads down to the final section, where the beats fade out, replaced by rippling layers of spectral ferric ambience on the epic "Low-X Over", before finishing with the radiant looped stasis of "Denier Daze". The albums shifting, mperfect patterns and muted colours are visually mirrored in the beautifully realised sleeve by the Print Project.

Fresh off the back of his debut as Cucumb45, Bjarki presents another outstanding release. 'Slysó EP5 Cyclops í poka' is a 5-track, vinyl only EP on bbbbbb records, the label he runs alongside Johnny Chrome Silver.
Whilst the recent 'Something Weirdcore' challenged our understanding of genre, the latest release takes things further, playing with our perception of acousticspace.
Immersive textures are introduced without warning, just as quickly as they are withdrawn, never to be heard again. From the nostalgic harmonies of 'Cyxlobblobs5' to the unnerving glitches of the title track, high velocity drums of 'Aqua Elba' and mangled juke patterns of 'CATpitchd5', the EP darts its way through a range of new territories without hesitation.
Never one to conform, Cucumb45 rejects familiar structures, rapidly jumping between ideas whilst manipulating the physical properties of his sound.

Schmer-007 "Smoking is Still Bad for You - Volume 1" is here and contains old school and new cool tracks from all the original Schmer culprits plus some loops from our new friends. Dietrich Schoenemann and Prototype 909 dug their tracks out of their vast archives of unreleased originals. DJ RX-5 and BPMF delivered some hot new Schmers to get us moving again.

For the last 20 years we've all been tormented by the great issues facing mankind and most vexing among them of course was "When will the next Schmer record finally come out" I am happy to say that the answer, my record distributing friend, is NOW!

Prototype 909 demands that you ( redacted ) ... "The Volume"! A track recorded in 1997 and finally getting released for the first time here. Prototype 909 was a "group" from "New York" that made "techno" in the "90s". Since then, the three members of this group all went on to do things. #TrueFacts

Dietrich Schoenemann has been so busy being one of the last men cutting all the records in the world that he hasn't had time to organize his catalog of unreleased gems. I distracted him with the old "look over there" trick and stole "8 Feet" from him while he wasn't looking. ( Hopefully he didn't recognize it while he was mastering it )

The last Schmer vinyl was DJ RX-5 "A Taste for Crap EP" from the then Moscow based very underground DJ Compass Vrubell. Nina Kraviz thought it was so crappy she put a track from it on fabric 91: Nina Kraviz; so I asked Alexey to make some more crap. He did it His Shway and this is the result. ( PS He still has all the patterns for the RX-5 from the original release so remaster, remixes and rereleases are in Schmer's future, HUZZAH!)

BPMF - The original Schmer artist had nothing better to do so he kommt back and gave us this track.

We love to torture the engineer so we just had to include some loops:
Rhizome is the alter-ego of Moscow wunderkind Nikita Zabelin.
Philly based Hero/Victim has been victimizing soundsystems up and down the East Coast with his mad live performances.
The Wise Caucasian is a pseudonym for some super famous London based producer and label owner, or at least that's what he claimed when I picked up his bar tab.

For 20 years, the Geophone label has been Mike Parker's most personal musical project. This time, Parker offers a solo 10" EP with two tracks of immersive and hypnotic techno. "Night Calling" is the stomping A side with sizzling acid patterns and a booming kick drum. The B side, "2_gated EXP" explores the darker regions of techno with an odd time signature that cycles over the beat with precision, already a favorite in Cio D'or's recent dj sets. As always, the hand printed jacket features Parker's bold and dynamic artwork (limited edition).

Leyla's 'Parallels & Influences EP' brings together Mondkopf, Positive Centre, Codex Empire & Yuji Kondo for an assaulting 4 tracks of power infused and industrial strength techno.
Mondkopf starts things roling with militaristic snare rolls and off-kilter analog synthesis into a climatic fervor of dystopian scene-scaping. This then is followed upu energetically by the pounding pressure and liquid 303 squelches of Positive Centre's 'Rub'. Crushed out cymbals battle against booming sub bass as a foghorn call rides high above the tempestuous patterns.
Codex Empire's 'Hessdalen' is as slick and detailed as it is ruff and raw. Huge sweeping backgrounds with intense high end percussion lick over a stomping, staggered kick pattern. Yuji Kondo (one half of the excellent Steven Porter project with Katsunori Sawa) brings things to a close with 'Whip Blow'. Bringing his signature refusal for traditional percussion sources - this peaking track pits high level technicality against deeply hypnotic and brooding rhythm.

A year after their impressive last album Burn It Down, Detroit techno legends Octave One are back with a nine track double EP that again shows they are masters of big hypnotic grooves.

Entitled Love by Machine, the album's name is a nod to the fact that the Burden brothers are such revered masters of their hardware. Both in the studio, where they cook up atmospheric house and techno with soaring synths and vocals and also in the live arena, where they are celebrated as one of the most accomplished and forward thinking performers in the game today. That is all the more impressive when you bear in mind they have been active since the '80s, most often releasing on their own 430 West label, which is where they appear again here.

Say Lenny: We've been exploring the theme of connection with this project. How technology gives us the illusion that we are closer to each other more than ever. At some point humanity crossed a line where the devices that we created to bring us together are the same devices that are blocking us from organic experiences.'

Technology is only a tool, which we also had in mind during the recording process.' Adds Lawrence. We decided to go back to how we used to make our records, when we didn't have so many 'sophisticated' audio devices. Back to when we interacted in the studio together as musicians.'

Things open up with the loose metallic percussive line that is In Mono, which sets the machine made tone and is filled with promise. Locator then immediately gets to action with a gallivanting techno kick and various synth lines wrapping round each other as you get sucked into the groove. Just Don't Speak (Midnight Sun Redub) is a more deep and house leaning track with big feel good piano keys and slithering synths that will get hands in the air. Proving they have real range, 7 B4 Dawn is a moody and reserved cut with subtle acid pricks, hip swinging claps and a spaced out dead of night feel.


The second half of the album offers peak time business in the form of the spectacular Bad Love II, the whirring and cosmic Sounds of Jericho and the big loops and fluid grooves of (Where) Time Collides. Pain Pressure is a wonky number with big bassline and a focus on percussive patterns as well as some vocals with real attitude and last cut 8 B4 Dawn ends things in a downbeat and sombre way with sad chords and emotive strings. It is pure Detroit, much like the whole album, and rounds out another fine release from these most revered veterans.

Berlin based Adam Marshall and Christian Andersen collaborate as Graze. In the latest installment of our UFO series, the Dekmantel Records offshoot dedicated to experimental and futuristic electronic music, the Canadian veteran producers serve up a 50/50 lethal/dreamy drum trax package. Many have applauded the versatility of Graze, and their Xup EP is yet more proof of their original minds.Xup' is an abstract 4/4 jugular, beating out devious percussive patterns and rattling hi-hats over a grizzled and arpeggiated synth mortar-fire. 'Vast' on the other hand is an esoteric slow-burner, a hallucinatory trip to the depths of analog synth paradise and a perfect intro, outro or home listening gem. On the flip, the hyper-lean gearshift of 'Tryptch' pumps energy through off-kilter and plunderphonic basslines, while 'Shadow Play' is a classic piece of breakbeat bliss including a celestial synth arrangement that makes a perfect soundtrack for slow-speed sci-fi rides.

An intense introspection of sound deconstructionism and spacial dissonance presented in this 4 track (plus 2 lock grooves) EP entitled Nonharmonic Beautifault. The A Side is introduced with the track 'Blank Hand', a sludge fuelled walk into dusty audio bites and asthmatic rhythms, topped with screaming hoovers and TV static that at once builds up, collapses into beautiful cacophony. Leading us into the 'Body Molecule' - A rushing pad and sparkling percussion pinned to a rolling kick pattern that drives this track toward a central point of attacking synths and swarming soundscape. The run out locked groove features a deep distorted kick that loops into infinity. The other side starts with 'Angular Beautifault'. Acidic Rhythms and Buzz Saw Synths all washed together into a shimmering reverberated cavern that explodes with high powered clap patterns and bubbling 303 lines. Following this we have 'The Burin' - an uncompromising, high paced assault of power kicks and slanted percussion. Incessantly driving and unyielding towards the final lock groove of distorted sub loop. Nonharmonic Beautifault represents a shift in Positive Centre's work that aims beyond the delicate ambience into harder and darker sound territories.

Consider this a warning - tearing out of 2015 on the gale of our compilation with the legendary duo of Jeroen Search and Dimi Angeli´s carrying us on their winds into 2016, Chronicle steps into the eye of the hurricane for its second release this year, by the mighty Mike Storm. A xture in the Dutch techno scene since the late '90s, it was when Michael de Winde moved to hardware live sets that he found his true inspiration, continuing to this day
to use only analogue equipment in his restless search for techno perfection. Consistently released since 2012, initially on Subsist, a label notable for
early work of SHXCXCHCXSH and Stanislav Tolkachev, he then moved on
to respected underground sources such as Ars Mechanica, Orbis Records, and Belief System, where he released his 2014 album 'Pulsars'. Supported by Mills, A&S, Arnaud Le Texier, Tadeo, Antigone, and others, we are proud to give Mike Storm the twelfth entry in the series with 'Where the WolvesCome From'.

It begins 'At Certain Points', channeling the jazzy mid-2000s Mills of his most abstract era with subtle string swells, cosmic bleep patterns and equally subtle Detroit-style percussion lls. 'The Day We See' moves into morning, with its complex, melodic bass gures and shimmering strings taking
the nocturnal intro into morning following a tense lead line that enters.
Again referencing Detroit but falling closer to the dystopian feelings of contemporary Terrence Dixon, 'New Light' is an exercise in tension between taught drum lines, dissonant keyboards, and a metallic sequence pattern. Stripping down for the hunt, the title track stalks more aggressively, razor- sharp hats and growling bass accelerating as the predator closes in on its prey, an eerie forest wind bringing terror in its path until the final struggle.

RAAM is back with a killer EP where he moves deeper into his gritty and heavy soundscape.  
RAAM 004 is solid release with influences from both Detroit and Chicago. Alvar is a straight up chord driven banger, with classic 909 drum patterns.
On the flip you will find Unfold, which is a warm, spaced out Chicago track, reminiscent of Boo Williams.
Brink has that magic disco flair; woofing basses and sparkling pads create a shimmering atmosphere. This track is perfect to play whenever, wherever.

Delivering us the nineteenth edition of Balans Records is Benny Rodrigues aka ROD, a well-versed and talented producer who has had a strong relationship with the Dutch label and its owner after releasing its fourth release back in 2011.

Opening the EP is '3yr', a mellow track that steadily climbs into a euphoric blend of dub-inspired chords and refined symbols to form an elegant composition. Taking an unexpected turn, 'Float' is reminiscent of a nostalgic voyage Eastbound into the unknown as a traditional flute whistles a techno lullaby.

On the flipside, 'Kloduba's composition cleverly corresponds with '3yr' as its gentle patterns gradually develop to harmonize together. To close out the EP 'Lego' engages the listener as the sounds of watery blips enthusiastically scatter throughout. This four-tracker finds itself a perfect home in the Balans collection, filled with masterly Dutch artists taking a stab at timeless techno tracks.

Jose Rico launches the new Le Disque Record Store's project: Ambiwa Records, a label dedicated to abstract House music.

"Declaration of Intent EP" is a collection of songs with a history, 4 pieces of his life talking about hypocrisy referred to poverty, the trivialisation of music as money source, the days in the studio with Ron Trent, and the night music-workers.

Beyond any related stories, here you can find all the Jose Rico's Music standards: Impossible Mpc percussion patterns, black keys, vocal textures, distorted kicks and tons of suspense and tension. This just means ... music for the most demanding dancefloors and open minds. As it could not be otherwise, mastered by Jose Rico.

Drew McDowall's back story reads like a primer of psychedelic fiction woven into statements of the unbelievable, superhuman and outright insane. Somewhere in the chaotic madness, comes an artist such as McDowall with total control and absolute calm within his songs and artistic method.

Growing up in the gangs of 1970's Scotland, Drew McDowall started to shy away from the daily violence once punk took hold of the counterculture youth. Drew McDowall quickly scrambled to form his own punk band in 1978 with his then wife, Rose McDowall, called The Poems. Shortly lived, the Poems released a single and various tracks but more importantly, the band allowed McDowall to network with other local musicians in Glasgow, such as Orange Juice, and allowed him to travel down to London thus forming friendships with Genesis P-Orridge, David Tibet and countless others, bringing Drew into the fold of the experimental revolution happening in the UK brought upon by Throbbing Gristle and executed by bands such as Psychic TV and Current 93.

During the 1980's, McDowall found himself in the ranks of P-Orridge's Psychic TV and collaborating with the mysterious duo comprised of former Throbbing Gristle creator Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson and the enigmatic John Balance who had been creating esoteric and progressive electronic music under the title of Coil. It was during his formative collaborations with Coil that McDowall saw himself shift from occasional contributor to austere full-time member of the arcane outfit. McDowall's impact on the band's sound was apparent as the releases transformed from their previous avant pop signature to a more complex and methodic electronic imprint accompanied by even more abstruse subject matter than previous years. McDowall would continue honing his compositional skills with Coil until the release of the band's two most broad-minded albums, Astral Disaster and Musick to Play in the Dark.

The past decade, Drew McDowall found himself living in New York City and re-appropriating himself within the local music scenes he found himself contributing to. In 2011, alongside his friend and collaborator, Tres Warren (Psychic Ills), McDowall found himself exploring his passion of meditative drone and abstract sound patterns in their project Compound Eye. In recent times, McDowall's production work has provided the music world with some of the most outstanding remixes for bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Azar Swan and Long Distance Poison as well as his well-received scores he composed alongside artist Tamaryn for the works of Bret Easton Ellis. Outside of his collaborative duties, McDowall formed an audience as a solo artist, playing countless performances and showcases around New York's electronic music haunts.

Dais Records approached Drew to solidify his standing as a leading electronic musician with the recording of new material neatly wrapped up in his debut album entitled 'Collapse'. Recorded in 2015 in Brooklyn, NY, McDowall's synonymous modular synthesizer compositions are augmented by obtuse sampling cut-ups and contributions from Nicky Mao (Hiro Kone / Effi Briest) rounding out the lumbering sequential knot work that has become synonymous with McDowall and craft.

Trabet Records is proud to presents his first release on vinyl and digital: 'FIBRA 01 EP'. In this release we can find 4 track of pure techno.
The first track is 'Enter' by Elektrabel (Czech Republic): a hypnotic track with extensive development of sequences and patterns.
The second track is 'Interferencial 2P' by Josh Larue (Spain): strong techno track with a surround sound full of nuances.
Luis Ruiz ( Argentina ) signs the third track named 'Tetramorph' A solid track with classical percussion together with an organic transition.
The last track is 'Cities Of Tomorrow' by Migueru Anheru (Spain): In this track we can find a sound that is rooted in the American techno

Over the last sixteen years Moods & Grooves has amassed a staggeringly impressive label family that includes names like Theo Parrish, Mr G, Kyle Hall, Rick Wade, Andres & Kenny Dixon Jr. aka Moodymann. This May the legendary Detroit label returns with a seminal thirteen-track album from veteran DJ & producer Joe Le Bon entitled 'House Music Love Music'.

With this new LP Jarno Eerola aka Joe Le Bon demonstrates his inimitable production prowess, garnered from a musical career spanning more than twenty years and encompassing releases on labels such as International Deejay Gigolo Records, Pro-Tez, Plastik.FM and Blumenbeat. Alongside his own output the Berlin-based artist has written tracks and remixes for numerous producers, most notably composing DJ Hells chart- smashing remix of Tim Deluxe 'Transformations' which saw six continuous weeks at number one on Beatport.

Jarno's polished production ability and aptitude for exploring diverse sounds and rhythms whilst maintaining a resolute warmth and depth to every cut is the most prevalent footnote across the course of the album. For 'Ghosts On Cassette' the Berlin-based producer works whirring space-like atmospherics over hypnotic beats and shuffling snares to dish up a smooth and captivating opener. 'For Yasuni' and 'The Road Is Under Repair' get worked over subtle synth patterns and crisp percussion to offer up some of the more emotive provisions on the album. This in contrast to the deep driving beats of 'House Music Love Music' and the more club-ready tracks like '82 Degrees' or 'Like Cotton Deep Orchestra' truly exemplifies the wide-ranging nature of the album.

All in all Joe Le Bon has structured a sublime body of work that can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home or the middle of a dance floor, each and every track oozes depth and sits as a true testament to his abilities in the studio.

Composer, improviser, and Buchla Music Easel master Charles Cohen returns to Morphine with a suite of new material.
In keeping with the timbre spectrum of his semi-modular system, Brother I Prove You Wrong is built around pointillist analog tones—Cohen's cosmic "beeps and boops"—that swarm and scatter in mesmeric patterns across four sides. Moving through surrealistic textural overlays and industrial miasma, the album's nine tracks reveal a more introspective and personal side of the artist, following from a retrospective LP trilogy released via Morphine in 2013. Those assembled works, dating back to the late '70s, quickly became essential listening and brought Cohen—at the time largely unknown outside Philadelphia's experimental circuit—to critical renown.

Brother I Prove You Wrong was recorded in Berlin in September 2014 using the Buchla Music Easel, with production help and support from Rabih Beaini. Mastered by Neel and curated and designed by Tank Boys; cover art by Nathalie du Pasquier.

Hot on the heels of his last outing for the Delsin house series comes this, another essential new offering from German producer Erdbeerschnitzel. The experienced producer has many skills in his arsenal and this new EP proves that once again. The title track The Ample Waters is a joyous and lively concoction that fuses curious melodies with busy little piano stabs and more trilling, sunny melodies. It's busy house for bustling dancefloors and next up, Never Tilt slows things down with jumbled, woody percussion falling over lazy drums and stretched, yawning synth smears. Colourful and effervescent, it's a track that makes you want to shake your limbs. With Level Hopes is again characterised by melodic colour, with pixelated patterns stretched over a funky, gooey bassline and clacking percussion. There's a beautifully DIY feel to the loosely assembled track that gives it a life all of its own before closer Yet Unfulfilled pairs slo-mo beats with neo-soul vocal snippets, lazy and stoned summer chords. It's the most emotive of the lot, but all four tracks are truly feel good jams that have come just in time for some serious summer action.

Freestyle Records is immensely proud to announce the release of this new single from new signing Kalbata & Mixmonster - Prisoner In Love, which is taken from the forthcoming stunning album Congo Beat The Drum.


Kalbata & Mixmonster went into their home studio ago in Tel Aviv, Israel with the purpose of recording a 100% analogue dub album in the spirit of the late King Tubby and the early dancehall era of the late 70's and early 80's. A 16-track tape machine and an old analogue mixing desk were their main instruments, with musicians playing live all throughout the album.


A year after recording the instrumental backing tracks, they travelled to Kingston, Jamaica and started tracking down their favourite singers and deejays from days gone by. The stunning and totally authentic results evoke the heyday of Jamaican music - and on 'Prisoner In Love' legendary vocalist Little John, regarded by some as the first dancehall vocalist, hits just the right feel on this mellow, down tempo number. His voice floats alongside the ethereal piano and on the money drum patterns and deep bass lines perfectly.


On the flip - special guest Kutiman drives the CRB organ on this instrumental version excursion of Prisoner In Love - proper old school JA style!

This is the year of Peder Mannerfelt's rebirth. After seven years he's laid The Subliminal Kid to rest. With this new 12", the chains have been locked in and the road map has been obliterated. EP1 is focused like a laser etching out intricate patterns in massive, humming machines. Mannerfelt's ideas have been reduced to a razor's edge and he balances these freeform compositions like a master.
This EP could be seen as a prelude to Peder Mannerfelt's debut album under his own name that will be released by Digitalis Industries in February and at the same time is the first part in a ongoing series of self released records by Mannerfelt.
Opener "Hook (end)" crashes like waves from a metallic ocean bearing down on the shore. The bass craters beneath, digging its way to the listener's core. Each idea is stripped down and simplified to the point of near exhaustion, resulting in tracks that are relentless and infecting. "Psalms and Songs and Voices" is propelled forward by crushing kick drums and rhythmic bass pounding. Somehow, though, Mannerfelt works unsuspecting hooks in between the peaks. It's incredible. "With Psalms and Songs and Praises," the final track on this 12", everything is pushed to the limit. This is absolute maximalism; an overload of the senses that cannot be escaped. It's the opposite of everything else on the EP, combining everything into a single, massive escape.
This is the sound of machines humming. This is the sound of the factory floor in rebellion. And yet, this is only the beginning; the first chapter of a novel yet to come. This is the sound of Peder Mannerfelt finding his voice.

The third in the Modular Techno series from live analogue artist and Freerotation organiser Steevio.
After 15 years of producing techno live on hardware, in 2009 Steevio began building a dedicated machine on which he could totally improvise an entire techno performance from a blank canvas that far surpassed anything he could do with his previous setup of drum machines and synthesizers. Steevio's modular is 100% analogue; there is no computer involved, there are no memories to save sounds or sequencing patterns, and everything is improvised in real time..
Volumes 1 and 2 of the series were just a taster of what was to come, and were the early experimentations on Steevio's newly built machine. Steevio records everything he does, especially during the intense practice sessions for live gigs. All the music in the series are out-takes from these practice sessions, and the tracks from Volume 3 and the forthcoming Volume 4 all come from a three day period in practice for a recent live gig at Delete, Bournemouth, UK.
Volume 3 continues from where Volume 2 left off but delivered with more confidence and a deeper more hypnotic feel. Steevio continues to develop his skills and fine tunes his unique instrument in this dedicated 'for life' project.

Once again Danse Club Records have unearthed a forgotten and sorely overlooked house track here, then they have enlisted a fine pair of contemporary producers - Sqim and Deepchild - to remix it and bring it right up to date. The original, 'Who's Dick Is This' is a 1994 kicking house bomb by the mysterious Princess Di, who released but three EPs during the 90s on Music Station with this track being the pick of the bunch. German producer Sqim is associated with labels like Exploited and Play It Down and firstly offers up a Ghetto Mix of the track. The result is a big and physical house track with sleazy samples, heavyweight drums and a kinetic energy throughout The warm up mix by the same man is a much deeper affair, as you'd expect from the name. This one resides in a much warmer and more inviting groove and is coloured with deft synths as it slowly builds in phases. The elastic vocals dart about above the drums, bringing with them a lively sense of soul and funk before Deepchild offers his own two unique versions.From quirky, stripped-back techno injected with soul to deep, dub-inflected excursions, Berlin based Australian Deepchild can do it all. Here he offers his 'Cockumentary Retug' a ragged and raging techno version riddled with spoken word samples culled from a documentary about penis size. Its dark and involving and sure will get great reactions on the floor. The final version is a straight dub that journeys in a heavy groove, has some weird spoken word snippets melted into it and is lit up with some celestial synth patterns in the latter half.

Second part of this two episode series on Subnet records. Following the same flavour as before... dark textures and mental synth lines driven together by hard drum patterns and groovy percussion. These two ep reflect the creepy and insane behaviour caused by experiments in the field of invisibility applied in the human being. All the tracks were recorded live! Just using analog sequencers, mpc, analog mixer and synths... Directly to a recording device. In the same way as you could record a live set, to keep all the vibe as fresh as possible. 220 copies limited vinyl release.

Struments Records starts 2013 launching Nuevo Dia EP, second release of the label from Barcelona. In this occasion the reference is signed by the Catalan duo Aster, which counts with high quality remixers such as Benjamin Damage and Dexter. Nuevo Dia, the homonymous topic that starts and gives name to this second reference Struments Records, backs seven minutes in which multiple and varied melodies of different natures mix up with rhythmic patterns coming from a dynamic bass and evoking feminine vocal samples. A cut treated with strong dynamism in which the allusion of movement is constant. In Placido Domingo an acid bass line goes along the minutes transforming into the main character. The theme goes on for five minutes at a slower pace responding to the classical patterns of acid-house, introducing initially percussive rhythms, followed by dynamic involving notes and ending with a fantastic melodic take-off. The remix brought by Dexter increases and decreases during seven minutes, converting the original melody into an easily adapting scale to the first hours of the night. Using vocal samples it gives a surrounding perspective and introduces a powerful bass perfectly suitable for this newer clubber version of Nuevo Dia. Benjamin Damage bends Nuevo Dia with frequencies and filters, darkening brief melodic spaces to introduce a powerful and raw drum which reveals a postindustrial background through the late hours of the night. The monotonic rhythms of this reconstruction include in itself a progression of a surrounding physical and mental dance.

The time has come. The funky nerd and knob-handler Erdbeerschnitzel alias Tim Keiling is releasing his first physical album on Mirau. The young producer, who has moved from his hometown of Mittelfischbach to Bonn, tapped into the lode of versatility early on, and has been extracting one surprise after another ever since. After single-handedly releasing a first digital album that was obviously bursting with ideas ('Pathetik Party', 2009), Erdbeerschnitzel rapidly made himself a name with first-class single releases in the following years on 3rd Strike Records, 4 Lux and Mirau - a name not easily forgotten. The release of the much-celebrated single 'To an End' on Mirau made clear that this was but the beginning of a work together. In the wake of anticipation created by the digital single 'Through the Night', the album 'Tender Leaf' is now available on beautifully packed double vinyl. 'Tender Leaf' is a collection of 12 wonderful tracks, splashing at the edges with Erdbeerschnitzel's signature deep, driving vibe throughout the entire album, pulling us into a pool of swinging, iridescent oomph. Each elaborate audio-bouquet is full of spirit. Sometimes weirdly romantic and introverted, then breaking out into raucous assemblage, flaunting sonar reverb. Keiling's production makes these gems sound like an essence of all the music around us today, which calls out to us in echoing vocal traces. In 'The Mattress Excursions', guest singer 'The Drifter' steers his soulful voice through the escalating arrangement and broken beats as we remember from early Jamie Lidell tracks. Erdbeerschnitzel frequently gives things a humorous turn, flashing us winks from the midst of the fray. His characteristic beat programming, clever and exulting, makes otherwise bland patterns swing into pulsating vivacity; picking up on contemporary styles and aesthetics, he re-animates sounds within his own parameters. Multifacet-flow

Up and away / To your journey to the sun / Drink your rocket juice / Fly away (Hey, Shooter).
High up in the skies, amongst the clouds, Rocket Juice & The Moon was born. Literally. It happened back in 2008, when Damon Albarn, Flea and Tony Allen convened on the same Lagos flight, to play and exchange musical ideas in that city as part of the Africa Express collective. Relishing a shared enthusiasm for one another's work, and bonding immediately, there and then the triumvirate laid down the blueprint for Rocket Juice.
Still, more than a year passed before conditions were set for three weeks together at Albarn's West London studio, recording and refining two-dozen startlingly out and deeply funky instrumental grooves. The next stage was to invite onboard some extremely talented friends, with further sessions in Dallas, New York, Chicago and Paris... Erykah Badu, no less, queen of contemporary soul. Three companions from Africa Express: Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara, whose debut album has topped World Music charts since its release last Autumn; her multi-talented compatriot Cheick Tidiane Seck, whose prodigious keyboardism has lit up releases by artists ranging from Youssou N'Dour to Hank Jones; the young, Ghanaian rapper M.anifest, quizzically existential, switching seamlessly between Twi and English. And the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, long-time stalwarts in the Honest Jon's set-up — since one of the team discovered them busking near the shop in Portobello Road, on his lunchbreak — with a second album for the label due in May... Finally, the tracks were dispatched for mixing to Berlin, to be meticulously honed, polished and envenomed by Mark Ernestus, one half of the legendary Basic Channel and Rhythm & Sound partnerships.
The result is Rocket Juice & The Moon — out March 26, 2012, on Honest Jon's Records — a triumphant exploration and proliferation of kinetic Afro-funk rhythms: organic, exuberant, communal music-making, evidenced by the project's live debut on stage as part of the Honest Jon's Chop Up in late 2011, which hit London, Marseille, Dublin, and Cork to such great acclaim (witness the flurry of smart-phone film-clips uploaded in the days thereafter).
From the inaugural bars — that absurdly funky slice of instructional timekeeping, 1-2-3-4-5-6 — the liquid pulse of Fela Kuti's classic recordings drives the action through a suite of 18 shape-shifting compositions. The greatest drummer in the world has never sounded so good as he does here. His intricate cross-patterns jostle and lock with Flea's nimble, rumbling bass riffs. Joined by Seck on There and Extinguished — 'when you dispose of something burning, be sure it's out' — Albarn's keyboards spray synth fusillades up top, over, and under... splicing into the mess of wires running between the freaked Afro-disco of William Onyeabor and the space-jazz-moog of Sun Ra. The HBE brings extra intensity and drama to Leave-Taking — likewise Flea's trumpet to Rotary Connection — teasing out the haunting melody coiled in the mix.
Where the best of vintage Afrobeat sides sustained their concentrated energies over the course of sprawling, marathon jams, RJ & TM manages something altogether different: the group bottles the idiom into capsules of funk... and real songs. Beautifully buoyed by Erykah Badu's unmistakable vocals, Hey, Shooter brilliantly traverses metaphysical spaceways sans any semblance of noodling. Lolo and Follow-Fashion — featuring the open-hearted sensuality of Diawara's singing, M.anifest's quick, brawny science, and more brass blasts — play like its musical cousins or codas. Indeed, the album's shrewd sequencing creates the composite effect of tracks working both individually or within the context of an extended song-cycle.
The lovely ballad, Poison, is bittersweet and ruminative: 'If you're looking for love, beware the signs / They will paralyze you one by one / Poison, it will only break your heart.' Down-tempo and dubby, Check Out and Worries amplify the range of styles and moods. And by the time of Fatherless — a chugging Afro blues that evokes John Lee Hooker lost in Lagos, one gets the sneaking suspicion there's very little outside the reach of this collective's inventive musical grasp.
There is, in fact, a palpable openness pervading Rocket Juice & The Moon — the sense of a limber willingness to follow creative impulse — right down to how the group acquired its name. When Ogunajo Ademola — the Lagotian commissioned to do the album's cover artwork — dubbed his submission 'Rocket Juice & The Moon', it quickly morphed into the formal name of the project, like trying to hold onto mercury.
Surely, the stars above also approved.