quête:pol on

Atemberaubend, wie die zierliche Pianistin konzentriert Ton an Ton setzt, den zarten Klängen ausreichend
Raum und Zeit lässt. Souverän webt Gary Peacock seine Basslinien ein, und Paul Motian schafft jenseits
aller Beats einigende Strukturen. So gerät Amaryllis zu einem beeindruckenden Manifest musikalischer
Freiheiten: In blindem Verstehen entfaltet sich ein mild changierendes Feuerwerk brillanter Ideen, die bei
aller Ernsthaftigkeit doch herrlich unbeschwert erklingen. – Sven Thielmann, Stereoplay
Mit Amaryllis folgte die Rückkehr jenes großartigen amerikanischen Jazz-Trios, das 1997 mit Nothing Ever
Was, Anyway in Spitzenpositionen zahlreicher internationaler Jazz-Polls geführt worden war. Das Material
auf dem Album ist abwechselnd nachdenklich, berührend, ausgelassen und spannungsgeladen. Einige der
Stücke sind wohlbekannt – fast schon Klassiker des neuen Jazz –, darunter Crispells ”Rounds”, Peacocks
”Requiem” und ”December Wings“, Motians ”Conception Vessel”. Es gibt auch eine Reihe von inspirierten
frei improvisierten Balladen. Marilyn Crispell, die Bandleaderin, meint: ”Die Kommunikation ist profund
und von seltener Raffnesse.,” und die Interaktion zwischen den Musikern ist tatsächlich außergewöhnlich.
Das Magazin The Wire nannte die Gruppe in seiner Besprechung zum Album von 2001 „sicherlich eines
der großen Klaviertrios von heute.“ Amaryllis erscheint mit dieser Luminessence Reissue erstmals auf LP
und wird in einem 2-LP Tip-on Klappcover präsentiert.

Why the Eye is an experimental masked quartet from Brussels that propels bodies into trance during its live performances. All instruments are DIY and played in real time, without loops or sequencers. Fans of The Residents, Société Étrange, Autechre, Boards Of Canada, The Meridian Brothers and Fulu Miziki could easily relate to their sound. Describing their music as "Prehistoric Techno", Why The Eye are set to release their new album ‘Inspirex’ on the 4th of October via Exag Records. Opening with the fidgety JNSP, the vindictive summons La Machine is a brash, abstract experience with a deep yearning to set us free from everyday political confinement while the raw Où cours-je explodes into a wild rage of disorder and mayhem. At the heart of each track are the DIY instruments band member DjP (Jean Paul Domb) has assembled over the years, some of them directly inspired by the African sanzas. With names such as ‘radiocaphone’ and ‘castabignettes’, the instruments are cleverly connected to different effects pedals and are the heartbeat of Why The Eye. Elsewhere, the album title track reveals a snappy rhythmic quality with skittish sounds while Prairies and Animal are tribal-like in delivery with a deep-lying punk ethosele

Selection of all winners from the Music Team label - mid 80s to early 90s gems on here!

One of South Africa’s biggest independent labels for more than a decade, Music Team offered working musicians a shot at fame via access to top studios, producers, songwriters and session musicians, as well as distribution via a number of imprints: CTV, Red Label, Solid, Spinna, Mambo Music and others. Artists in the stable who tasted success would typically release a few albums over as many years before moving on to other labels or falling off the radar as times changed. At their peak, according to label boss Maurice Horwitz, Music Team was selling a million records a month, and was at the forefront of South African pop music as it evolved from soul to disco and beyond.

Afrosynth Records’ ‘Music Team Sampler’ dusts off six rare and long-forgotten gems from the Music Team catalogue, originally released between 1986 and 1992. Four are typical of the label’s take on the popular ‘bubblegum’ sound of the day — Isaac ‘Cool Cat’ Mofokeng’s ‘Candy’, ‘I Won’t Let You Go’ by Linda Oliphant, Jappie Lebona’s ‘My Love is Yours and ‘Instant Love (Eyami Lendoda)’ by Thandi Zulu (aka TZ Junior). Two instrumentals — Mr. Ace’s ‘Ace 1’ and ‘Axe Chop’ by The Hard Workers, a studio project by Music Team’s in-house producer Tom Mkhize — meanwhile hint at the imminent rise of kwaito and house.

Forged in the fire of a cruel and volatile political system that was gradually unraveling, instead of addressing political realities these indelible pop songs sought to provide an escape to a world where love and music were all that mattered.

‘Ayo Ke Disco’ (meaning ‘Let’s go to the disco’ in Malay
and Indonesian) celebrates the musical identities
emerging from the newly independent countries in
South-East Asia during the 1970s and 80s.
Soundway general manager Alice Whittington, aka
Norsicaa (DJ), selects 10 deep cuts from local labels,
officially reissued on vinyl for the first time – forming a
snapshot of the vibrant discotheques and live scenes
across Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong
Kong and the Philippines.

The artists featured here were known for exploring
traditional sounds alongside funk, disco, city-pop and
even political psych-rock, genres that were indicative
of the exciting but often turbulent period. But despite
the post-war backdrop of instability there came
unprecedented levels of economic prosperity. With a
hopeful buzz filling the air, the music scene was helping
lead the way in reshaping the new identities of the
region.
OVERVIEW:
FOR FANS OF:
Sound of Siam compilations, Priscilla Chan, Lovin’ Mighty
Fire compilation, Tanamur City compilation

'Hollywood' is Andreas Raser debut album. After their single releases 'Willow' 'Reignite' and 'Spent' the LA-Hamburg band will release their first vinyl on Polly Records.

Andreas Raser consists of Camille Clair, from Los Angeles, and Albert Dietrich, from Hamburg, who first started making music together in 2020 while studying art in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Their debut album "Hollywood" was recorded in the school, and realized simultaneously with a collaborative visual arts practice. Andreas Raser is currently based in Vienna, Austria. They recently had their live debut opening 3 show for Bar Italia.

Fat Freddy"s Drop hit the ground running with new studio album SLO MO, a bass-heavy blast of redemption and resolution. Described by Fitchie as "afro rhythmic soul music, an exploration of Black music from Polynesia", this heady mix creates the undefinable Freddy"s sound. Renowned worldwide for euphoric live shows, the Aotearoa band stepped inside their BAYS studio in Wellington, sunup to sundown, to craft a sixth studio album. SLO MO is the strongest studio representation yet of a Freddy"s live show", says Chopper Reeds. "Usually we take the stage to the studio and this time, we"re excited about taking our studio creation on to the stage."

Fat Freddy"s Drop hit the ground running with new studio album SLO MO, a bass-heavy blast of redemption and resolution. Described by Fitchie as "afro rhythmic soul music, an exploration of Black music from Polynesia", this heady mix creates the undefinable Freddy"s sound. Renowned worldwide for euphoric live shows, the Aotearoa band stepped inside their BAYS studio in Wellington, sunup to sundown, to craft a sixth studio album. SLO MO is the strongest studio representation yet of a Freddy"s live show", says Chopper Reeds. "Usually we take the stage to the studio and this time, we"re excited about taking our studio creation on to the stage."

The Proclaimers, formed by twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reid emerged in 1987. The duo are renowned for their singing style with a distinct Scottish accent and their infectiously melodic songs about love, politics, and life in Scotland. Well-known for their most memorable songs "Sunshine on Leith", "I'm On My Way", "Letter from America" and of course, the hit single "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)”.

This Is the Story is the debut studio album from The Proclaimers, originally released in 1987 and celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. It contains the Gerry Rafferty-produced full band version of "Letter from America", which reached number 3 in the UK Single Chart.

Coming together as Raz & Afla, Raz Olsher and Afla Sackey converge worlds through their dynamic fusion of electronic and traditional African rhythms, forging a path that is as bold as it is innovative. Rooted in their deep-seated passion for music and cultural exploration, they seamlessly blend their distinct musical backgrounds to create a unique sonic landscape that captivates audiences worldwide.

Raz Olsher is a visionary producer and composer known for his boundary-pushing electronic soundscapes, bringing his expertise in blending diverse musical elements to the duo. His meticulous attention to detail and penchant for experimentation form the foundation upon which Raz & Afla's sound thrives.

Already part of the Wah Wah 45s family with his band Afrik Bawantu, Afla Sackey is an esteemed percussionist and vocalist with roots tracing back to Ghana. He infuses the duo's music with rich traditional African rhythms and melodies. Afla's virtuosity on percussion instruments and his soulful vocals add a visceral, organic dimension to their compositions, creating a mesmerising auditory experience that transcends cultural boundaries.

Together, Raz & Afla defy genre limitations, seamlessly weaving together electronic beats, Afrobeat grooves, and intricate percussive textures. Their music resonates with a deep sense of cultural authenticity and a forward-thinking approach that pushes the boundaries of contemporary music.

Following on from their critically acclaimed full length debut The Cycle, and its subsequent remix project, their sophomore LP, Echoes Of Resistance, finds the duo remaining committed to exploring new sonic territories and creating music that speaks to the universal language of rhythm and melody. Once again, they invite listeners on a journey that celebrates the beauty of cultural exchange and the power of music to inspire and unite.

From more politically conscious cuts like the singles What's Going On? and We Taya, and On Da Phone, which deals with addiction to social media, to dealing with more personal and social issues on songs like ENo Be Me and Ano Be Mumu, Raz & Afla's music is something for the mind, body and spirit, as well as the feet.

There are moments of pure euphoria and unadulterated joy too though, as tracks like Mon Ni Fere, Voodoo Zeezee and Baby Moo inspire elated, tribal dance floor pleasure, and there's still time for a little, good old fashioned loving as Shikor Shikor conjures up the raw emotions of care and affection whilst delivering a hypnotic beat and instantly irresistible vocals from Afla Sackey.

With a growing discography that includes critically acclaimed releases and collaborations with musicians from around the globe, Raz & Afla continue to carve out their place in the international music scene. Their electrifying live performances are celebrated for their energy and the profound connection they forge with audiences, making every show a vibrant celebration of musical diversity and harmony.

The Blessed Madonna began with three magic words, scrawled in shoe polish on a broken - down box and hung on the wall at a small sweaty party: We Still Believe. “I think you have to give up completely to really understand what hope is. It was like 2011? I had spectacularly, monumentally failed. I left the label. I wasn’t DJing. I wasn’t putting out records. I was divorced and living on my Dad’s couch so naturally my friends and I decided to throw an illegal rave. We didn’t have any decorations, so I took a box and wrote, ‘We Still Believe’ on it. I needed to believe that something better was possible and that’s how it all started.” After years of $50 gigs, strung together by gas money and surfed couches, The Blessed Madonna cemented her reputation as a sublime technician behind the decks with a legacy of fluent and dynamic sets, spanning from disco to techno to house and back. One room sweatboxes, circus tents, theatres, massive festival stages and entire city blocks have all served as the canvas for her shows. After a jam packed 2023, from Glastonbury to Sonar to Boiler Room Bali, The Blessed Madonna has been filling the dance floor everywhere she goes and is now releasing her debut album.

Black Truffle is pleased to announce a tenth anniversary reissue of Oren Ambarchi’s Quixotism, originally released on Editions Mego in 2014. Recorded with a multitude of collaborators in Europe, Japan, Australia and the USA, Quixotism presents the fruit of two years of work in the form of a single, LP-length piece in five parts. Quixotism takes the driving rhythmic aspect of works such as Sagittarian Domain to new levels, with the entirety of this long-form work built on a foundation of pulsing double-time electronic percussion provided by Thomas Brinkmann. Beginning as almost subliminal propulsion behind cavernous orchestral textures and John Tilbury’s delicate piano interjections, the percussive elements (elaborated on by Ambarchi and Matt Chamberlain) slowly inch into the foreground of the piece before suddenly breaking out into a polyrhythmic shuffle around the halfway mark, and joined by master Japanese tabla player U-zhaan for the piece’s final, beautiful passages.

The pulse acts as thread leading the listener through a heterogeneous variety of acoustic spaces, from the concert hall in which the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra were recorded to the intimacy of crys cole’s contact-mic textures. Ambarchi’s guitar itself ranges over this wide variety of acoustic spaces, from airless, clipped tones to swirling, reverberated fog. Within the complex web Ambarchi spins over the piece’s steadily pulsing foundation, elements approach and recede in a non-linear fashion, even as the piece plots an overall course from the grey, almost Nono-esque reverberated space of its opening section to the crisp foreground presence of Jim O’Rourke’s synth and Evyind Kang’s strings in its final moments. Formally indebted to the side-long workouts of classic Cologne techno, the long-form works of composers such as Éliane Radigue and the organic push and pull of improvised performance,
Quixotism is constantly in motion, yet its transitions happen slowly and steadily, often nearly imperceptible, the diverse elements which make up the piece succeeding one another with the logic of a dream.

At the time of its first release, Quixotism was clearly a summation of Ambarchi’s work in the years leading up to it. Now, listening back a decade later, it also seems like an arrow pointing to the future, suggesting paths that would be explored further in works to come: the pulsating guitar layers of Hubris, the album-length collaboration with Jim O’Rourke and U-zhaan on Hence, Shebang’s joyous layering and percussive drive. Now sounding better than ever in a new remaster by Joe Talia, the time is ripe to rediscover its quixotic charms.

mindSET is the ninth album from enigmatic producer SW., directly following this summer’s excursion into his trademark techno, IDM and bleep soundscapes, on the myDEFINITIONS Vol II album. But with his mindSET album SW. takes a left turn, as pioneers often do, and we find ourselves on the lesser traveled side roads of electronic music history. Or in SW.’s own words: “the more abstract leftfield elements.”
It’s in these less-defined areas that SW. finds his sweet spot, building dancefloor soundtracks that defied definition. And with mindSET the sounds and the machines might have changed, the methodology remains the same.
“It draws from what was more generally seen in leftfield as a term for the slightly off-kilter house and broken beats that didn’t fit neatly into classic genres, whether that was Chicago house, French garage, drum and bass, or broken beat. It’s more about those in-between sounds that never really took off, only appearing briefly in the early to mid-90s and then quickly disappearing. There was a certain magic in that moment, which I wanted to capture. Also, the entire album was produced using classic analog equipment, with old machines that were used during that era. That’s the approach I’ve taken.”
The eight tracks on mindSET are shaped out of de-tuned techno pop synths and heavy, syncopated drums, grooving along chopped-up polymeters to create an eerie mood, as if orbiting an undiscovered planet for the first time. The harmonic movements are often bent out of shape, sometimes veering towards Gherkin Jerks or Cristian Vogel territory. But in the end, the sounds are less important than the atmosphere, and the tracks represent an attitude or an approach - to creating the music as well as experiencing it. mindSET is a nod to those dancers sharing an oddball moment, and for those of us on the same wavelength, it's a vibe we can all get inside.

LA SACREE GROLE is a tale by the TAMERANTONG company, set to music by LUDWIG VON 88.

TAMERANTONG! is a theatre company based in Mantes-la-Jolie, Paris-Belleville and Saint-Denis that puts on shows with children and young people from these neighbourhoods.

LUDWIG VON 88, road companions of the great hours of alternative rock (Bérurier Noir, Parabellum...) is also the only rock band capable of rhyming in ‘ong’.

TAMERANTONG! had long been plundering their repertoire for their shows. In retaliation, the Ludwigs decided to compose the soundtrack to ‘La Sacrée Grôle’: a Gallic legend told and sung by twenty kids from Paris-Belleville.

In the heart of the land of the Arvernes, reigns a valiant free people. Their village lies on the edge of a dreadful forest where no one ever ventures. But the time has come for all the peoples of Gaul to enter the fearsome forest and set off in search of the Sacred Pole!

La Sacrée Grôle premiered at Paris-Belleville and was performed from 1996 to 1998 in Paris (Café de la Danse, Palace, Trianon, Café Éphémère / Les Halles), Mantes-la-Jolie, Briançon, Rouen (Festival Débarquement Jeunes) and Montreal/Quebec.

This record, released for the first time on vinyl by the Archives de la Zone Mondiale label, includes 7 previously unreleased songs by LUDWIG VON 88.

Nour Mobarak’s Dafne Phono is an adaptation of the first opera, Dafne, composed and written by Jacopo Peri and Ottavio Rinuccini in 1598. Drawing on the myth of Daphne and Apollo from Ovid’s Metamorphoses—a story of unrequited love, patriarchal possession, conquest, and transformation—Mobarak’s multimedia and multispecies reimagining splinters the opera’s Italian libretto. Alongside English and Greek versions, it is translated into some of the world’s most phonetically complex languages—Abkhaz, San Juan Quiahije Eastern Chatino, Silbo Gomero, and !Xoon. In this process, the narrative—and an artifact of Western culture—is dismantled, metabolized, and rendered into unruly utterances that shape the sensorium as much as they do the capacity for sense-making. These voices are given material form by a cast of mycelium sonic sculptures whose rhizomatic compositions and broadcasted recordings resemble the formation and mutation of language over time, reconstituting speech into a new, polyphonic body politic, composed of voices whose striking, poetic utterances transfix and transcend meaning.

The A-Side of the record presents a stereo version of Mobarak’s 15-channel sound installation, Dafne Phono. The B-Side uses a recording of a portion of the translation process the libretto underwent in Namibia, live-processed by the artist.

The LP is published on the occasion of Nour Mobarak’s exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art, New York (October 26, 2024–January 12, 2025), with support from Sylvia Kouvali.

Artist Bio:
Nour Pamela Mobarak (Lebanese-American, b. 1985, Cairo, Egypt) lives and works between Los Angeles; Bainbridge Island; and Athens, Greece. Her works have been shown at Sylvia Kouvali (formerly Rodeo), London/Paris; Schinkel Pavillon, Berlin; MIT List Visual Arts Center, Cambridge, MA; Amant, Brooklyn; JOAN, Los Angeles; Kim? Contemporary Art Centre, Riga; Miguel Abreu Gallery, New York; Hakuna Matata, Los Angeles; and Cubitt Gallery, London. Exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and Castello di Tivoli Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Turin, are forthcoming. She has performed at Western Front, Vancouver; 2220, the Hammer Museum, and LAXART, Los Angeles; Cafe OTO, London; Renaissance Society, Chicago; the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego; and elsewhere. Her music has been released by Recital (Los Angeles), Cafe OTO’s TakuRoku (London), and Ultra Eczema (Antwerp), and she has had sessions on BBC Radio 3, NTS Radio, and Dublab Radio. Mobarak’s writing has been published in Triple Canopy, F.R. David, The Claudius App, and the Salzburg Review, and her first catalog, Sphere Studies and Subterranean Bounce was published by Recital (2021). She received a BA in English and Media Studies from Sussex University and did further studies at Université Paris-Sorbonne, Paris IV. She has held residencies at Denniston Hill, New York and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and was the recipient of the 2023 FOCA fellowship award. Mobarak was a 2024 faculty at Bard College MFA program.

Dafne Phono Vocalists:
Apollo: Renato Grieco (Italian)
Cupid: Arnou Argun (Abkhaz)
Dafne: Agnes | xaye (!Xoon)
Ovid: Olivia O’Dwyer (Latin)
Venus: Don Eugenio Darias (Silbo Gomero)
Abkhaz Chorus: Liana Ebzhnou, Murman Guaramia, Fatima Kharzalia, and Gunda Osia
Chatino Chorus: Felix Daniel Peña Mendes, José Vasquez Canseco, Catalina Candelario Matias, and Claudia Garcia Baltazar
!Xoon Chorus: Franco Tsame, John Djujui Klosi Barase, and Charity Tsame
Clarinet: Steve Kado

MLiR is one of those rare creative partnerships where personalities and talents perfectly match, an exquisite balance of similarity and polarity leading to ingenuity. In the case of MLiR, this dynamic has resulted in the form of consistently vibrant takes on current, past and future global dance music, an artistic expression
fuelled by equal parts tireless record digging and masterful studio wizardry.
Their two previous EPs on Studio Barnhus count among the label's most played and loved, and the forthcoming debut album Pulpo Fiction, released this October on the Stockholm label, takes it to the next level with a staggering tracklist of 16 new recordings featuring vocal talent as diverse as Kenyan rapper Nah Eeto, American
poet Oliver Grimball and Swedish soul singer Cosima Olu.

The music is as wild a ride as ever with MLiR at the controls – ranging from the nostalgic to the futuristic, the deep to the poptastic – with a firm base in the kind of high-powered, light-footed dancefloor material the duo is so beloved for.

The Well is the second album by the duo So Sner, composed of Susanna Gartmayer (bass clarinet) and Stefan Schneider (electronics). Recorded over nearly two years in various studios and spaces, the album reflects So Sner's extensive touring across Europe. The final mixing took place in Vienna at the studio of Martin Siewert, who served as both co-producer and mastering engineer. Known for his meticulous attention to sonic detail, Siewert brings his unique techniques and distinctive sound enhancements to the album, resulting in a work that is both stylistically cohesive and daringly uncompromising.

So Sner’s critically acclaimed debut album REIME (TAL26, 2021) was celebrated for its innovative fusion of bass clarinet and electronic sounds in unexpected and surprising ways. With The Well, the duo explores both fluid and dissonant sonic landscapes, embracing different structural and sonic challenges. The result is a quieter, more introspective set of compositions than many might have anticipated. The album is a statement of two confident collaborators crafting complex, spatial musical moments in their own distinct manner.

The music on The Well generates a multiplicity of effects that transcend conventional oppositions such as hand-played versus programmed, composition versus improvisation, or analog versus digital. The album suggests a re-articulation of these categories, allowing the ten tracks to gradually blend one musical idea into another, and one musician into another, in a circular and complementary fashion. The polymetric permutations and exploratory reed components create a soundscape where all elements coexist harmoniously, without compromising or diminishing each other’s presence.

With its sparse sound architecture, The Well invites listeners into a space of effective emptiness, offering room for the mind and body to explore—a sonic island where one can develop sensuality through patient movement.

For So Sner, live performance is a passion of the mind, and since they began working together in 2020, their music has taken them to many different places. The live experience has deeply influenced the recorded music on this album, with the interplay between live performance and studio work informing their creative process. The Well captures the genuine act of exploring new territories, serving as a storage place for the time and space shared by the duo, re-filtering their experiences of performing and traveling together.

The Well is a lucidly playful and ambitious album by two contemporary musicians who are continually learning to create and respond to the subtle and significant changes in their music, maintaining momentum throughout the entire work.

In addition to her work with So Sner, Susanna Gartmayer has recently collaborated with artists such as Joe McPhee and Maria Portugal, and remains a member of her long-running band, the Vegetable Orchestra. Stefan Schneider, founder of the label TAL, has recently performed with Garth Erasmus from Cape Town and fine art luminary Katharina Grosse.

Edgar Allan Poes zeitlose Poesie, gelesen von Künstlern, Schriftstellern, Dichtern, Musikern und Magiern, im Dienste des Werks und auch im Gedenken an einen großen Freund und Weggefährten auf den musikalischen Wegen, Hal Willner. Kramer hat eine eklektische Liste von Stimmen zusammengestellt, um den alten Worten eine neue Vision zu geben. Mit dabei Joan As Police Woman, Edgar Oliver, Thurston Moore, Britta Phillips, Lydia Lunch, Rick Moody, und andere. Die von Kramer geschaffene Musik, die jede Lesung begleitet, lässt das Licht auf den Interpreten scheinen und poliert den Raum zwischen der Poesie und der Aufführung. Den Abschluss des Albums bildet eine Archivaufnahme von Allen Ginsberg, der ,The Bells" lebendig vorträgt. Die unbegleitete Lesung vom Juni 1981 ist ein Auszug aus seinem Studienkurs ,Expansive Poetics" an der Naropa School of Disembodied Poets in Boulder, Colorado.

Das beeindruckende Modern Past-Album von Maximilian Schindler, besser bekannt als Flawless Issues, erblickte bisher nur digital und in je kleinsten, persönlichen Auflagen auf Kassette sowie auf CD das Licht der Welt. Nun hat das Stuttgarter Label Treibender Teppich Records sich mit Max zusammengetan, um dieses famosedes Synth-Post-Pop/New Wave-Werk endlich auch auf Vinyl erhältlich zu machen. Begonnen hat Flawless Issue zusammen mit Edwin Rosen und einer Split-12" in 2020. Und für Fans von Edwin Rosen, Steintor Herrenchor, Levin Goes Lightly oder Betterrov ist Moder Past ein Muss. Die limitierte Erstauflage (300 weltweit) erscheint in einem transparenten Gelb, jede Platte kommt mit einem exklusiven Polaroid, das Max in den Straßen Berlins aufgenommen und signiert hat. Der künstler selbst sagt: "I recorded this album 2022 in june in berlin neukölln at okerstrasse 5. the album represents one week in berlin. what else can i say ? listen to it in one piece. because that's what i designed it for."

Das neue Album des Rephlex-Alumnus Bogdan Raczynski ist eine Sammlung warmer, melodischer, elektronischer Skizzen, mit Tracks, die abwechselnd beatlos im Wind dahintreiben oder von Lo-Fi-Drums untermalt werden, manchmal gerade mal zusammengehalten von einer filigranen Konstruktion aus merkwürdigen Synthie-Patches und Ping-Pong-Percussion. Jedes Stück ist kurz und auf den Punkt, eine Platte perfekter Miniaturen. Auch wenn diese Beschreibung utopisch klingen mag, ist das Album um Themen wie spätkapitalistische Brutalität, Hyperkonsumismus, Online-Untergang und algorithmische Apokalypse herum konzipiert. Schönheit angesichts des planetaren Zusammenbruchs und des rund um die Uhr live gestreamten Mordens.

Gerüchten zufolge wurde Raczynski von Aphex Twin entdeckt, als er auf einer Parkbank in Tokio schlief. Er erschien erstmals 1999 auf der Bildfläche, direkt im ersten Jahr mit 3 Alben. Er erkundete u.a. halluzinatorische, basserschütternde IDM, Aussenseiter-Junglism und traditionelle polnische Volksmusik, arbeitete mit Björk zusammen, produzierte den Soundtrack für ein PlayStation-Spiel und remixte Tracks von u.a. Autechre, Jonsi und CLIPPING. 2019 begann das Label Disciples, sich um seinen Katalog aus der Rephlex-Ära zu kümmern, stellte die "Rave 'Till You Cry" Compilation mit unveröffentlichtem Gold aus den Archiven zusammen und veröffentlichte seinen Klassiker "Samurai Math Beats" neu. Sein letztes Studioalbum "ADDLE" erschien 2022 bei Planet Mu.

The Intima led a chameleon-like existence from 1999 to 2004, confounding critics who struggled to describe their distinctive sound while sharing stages with everyone from The Rapture to The Mekons. Hailing from Olympia and Portland, the postpunk quartet utilized sharp rhythms, prescient lyrics, and a collaborative compositional approach to conjure forth a sound that manages to be explosive yet detailed, experimental yet propulsive and melodic. Featuring a classically-trained violinist, custom-tuned guitars that careen at odd angles, and an imaginative and powerful rhythm section, the band explored the intersection of art-punk and agitpop with a spirit and tenor uniquely their own. In 2017, the Polish website More Noise summed up their sound by saying that "the first association that comes to mind is The Ex and the Dutch avant punk scene of the 1980s, but fans of the bands Dirty Three, Godspeed You Black Emperor and Unwound may also be intrigued."The group toured the States extensively during the 4+ years that they were active, including one grueling six-week tour undertaken just after 9/11 and another one in 2003 during which the US began bombing Iraq. The group's live sets are remembered for their combination of unbridled intensity and tightly-coiled musicianship, as well as their chaos potential, whether that chaos was performing in the middle of an illegal street party or causing a PA to burst into flames immediately preceding a headlining set by Deerhoof. A memorable show in DC with Q And Not U was mentioned by Dischord group Black Eyes in their Speaking In Tongues booklet last year, with Hugh McElroy describing the Intima as "a really aggressively-beautiful and poetic punk band with a violin where a guitar normally would be...pushing genre barriers in a way that helped me see a vision of how we might want to do that ourselves."Peril and Panic was recorded in Olympia over eight months in 2002 and was released in 2003 on LP (Zum/Collective Jyrk) and CD (Slowdance). In 2022, in the midst of the pandemic, the group commissioned Jason Powers to remix the original tracks from the ground up, which turned into an 18-month endeavor that included some compositional edits, significant work to improve the sound of the drums, and the uncovering of unreleased songs. Today, a fully remixed and remastered Peril and Panic is finally being released into the wild sounding much closer to how it was originally meant to be heard. Sounding more relevant than ever, it seems increasingly clear that the ideas and feelings that informed both band and album are no longer so "radical" - if anything, they've become the zeitgeist of today, as a confluence of global crises points to a fraught future long predicted.