Suche:the beautiful

London-based label Dancing With Strangers is back, after a brief hiatus, with the third edition being served up by none other than head honcho Oliver Moon.

On his third solo outing as an artist, Moon delivers two solid tracks in the shape of ‘Downstream' and ‘Drifting’. Both of which exercise his signature raw take on production and showcase an ability to carry a consistent groove whilst weaving deep, dreamy sounds into classy percussive work.

Dancing With Strangers Co-founder Agile Kind returns on remix duties to tackle ‘Downstream’ and does so wonderfully. Following the lead baseline, he layers lush pads around crisp skippy drum programming and lands on pure euphoria.

Last but certainly not least, the inimitable Carl Finlow (2020 Vision) rounds off the EP with a stellar electro remix of ‘Drifting’. Leading with a thick, growling bass and fusing cinematic synth work with playful acid stabs, Finlow captures the essence of the original. The end result is a beautifully emotive track entwined with stunning melodic elements destined for the dancefloor.

Lee Holman's forthcoming release, 'NECH026,' marks his return to NECHTO, following his 2022 EP on Nastia's imprint. With an uncompromising underground ethos, Holman has built a solid international reputation through his distinctive techno sound. His performances as a live act and DJ have taken him to prestigious venues like TRESOR Berlin, Khidi Tbilisi, and Corsica Studios London. Known for his vast record collection and dynamic performances, Holman's productions have earned international acclaim.
The upcoming EP evolved organically, with three of the five tracks being part of Holman's live shows for NECHTO events. The lead track, "Wave upon Wave," was recorded live after an event in Kyiv, while the other two were from a session at Khidi Tbilisi. Holman initially did not plan to release these tracks, keeping his live performances unique for each night. The bonus track, "It's Not Over," features a beautiful vocal piece and soulful techno accompaniment.
Inspired by nature, particularly the sea surrounding his island home, Holman channels this inspiration into his music. The five tracks of 'NECH026' reflect his signature deep, raw, and energetic techno
sound.

We are thrilled to welcome PROFF to the Melody Of The Soul family with a stunning 4 track EP entitled "Three Sisters".

A-Side is an amazing collaboration with folk singer Taisia Krasnopevtseva called “Three Sisters” as well as a captivating solo track “Reverie”, showcasing an extremely detailed groove.

B-Side features an exciting collaboration with M.O.S. called "Namtso". This track showcases gorgeous groove and mesmerizing soundscapes filled by delicate melodies and sensual voxes.

Beautiful ambient version of "Three Sister" is the last, but not least on the EP.

Body Mechanic has been turning out definitive Motor City techno on solid labels like Cryovac, and GASS for several years. This time out he lands-on Detroit Techno and serves up, well, some electro. It's classic 313 tackle though - heavy on the kicks, snappy snares and filthy dirty basslines that make you want to move. Ghoulish vocals add extra grit to the opener and from there 'Dance' gets more playful with jittery drum funk and scratching, 'Beautiful Bum' has a gorgeously tender and reflective vibe thanks to the minor chords and smooth electro rhythms, 'Magic (feat Tay) ' slips into a deep and soulful house groove and 'Househead' is jacked up, loopy and well swung amongst several more timeless cuts. All in all, a killer double 12".

Matching breezy, Bossa nova-tinged sophistication with softly spiralling psychedelia, Testbild! arrive in the Quindi lounge as though they've always been there. On their 12th album, Bed Stilt, the Swedish collective cast their attention back to the earlier days of their 25-year trip through sweetly mysterious pop-not-pop rendered in warm tones and shot through with surrealism. It's tricky to get a precise fix on the story and structure of Testbild! The project was spearheaded by Petter Herbertsson in his hometown of Malmö in the late 90s, although the story on their website credits the inspiration and source material to a chance meeting and unpublished manuscript from a retiring scientist. The collective's evolution since then is a tangled web of facts and fiction spun by a revolving cast of collaborators including Siri af Burén, Katja Ekman, Rikard Heberling, Douglas Holmquist, Mattias Nihlén and Petter Samuelsson. Along the way, their music has touched on chamber pop, post-punk and modern jazz with the elaborate harmonies and catchy songwriting charm of the Canterbury scene. The tracks which make up Bed Stilt were in fact track recorded in Malmö back in the mid- 00s, lying in wait for the right opportunity to be brought to light with some delicate overdubs and finishing flourishes in the here and now. The core musicians working on the record were Herbertsson and Douglas Holmquist on a similarly expansive list of vocals, guitars, bass, synths and keys, Siri af Burén on lead vocals and Mattias Nihlén on synths and additional mixing. Meanwhile Tomas Bodén - better known as Civilistjavel - lent some additional synth work as well as mastering the record. Musically, Testbild! stay true to their idiosyncratic approach on Bed Stilt with six immaculately rendered sojourns through lilting harmonies and brushed rhythms, feeling nostalgic but beguiling in equal measure. Theirs is a luxurious sound, not least on the opening strains of 'The First New Years Eve,' which purrs to life draped in silky Rhodes and chiming vibes. Behind this comfortable veneer the enigmatic lyrical themes unfurl through Herbertsson, Holmquist and af Burén's vocal harmonies like fractalized puzzles waiting to be solved. The finger-picking delicacy and languid harmonica of 'Streams' strike a pastoral mood neatly countered by the elegant slide into dislocated ambience for the track's final stretch. By contrast, 'And Her Eyes Are Red' surges with a big beat urgency which plays beautifully with the mellow jazziness of the chord sequences, boldly toying with song structure to dart down curious tangents without losing the immediate impulse of a great pop record. Somewhere in this tension between clarity and chaos we can understand the addictive charm of Testbild! - a band steeped in the considerable craft of making accomplished and unconventional music so very easy to sink into. If that doesn't make for a perfect addition to the Quindi catalogue, we don't know what does.

After a duo of floor-stomping releases, Rhythm by Nature is back for its third release with one of the most prolific producers in the game — Tommy Vicari Jnr. The Sheffield-based musician went from being an enigmatic figure to becoming a true example of musical discipline, boasting a seemingly endless musical output under several aliases. With "Francis Bacon Size Hangover EP," Vicari presents a diverse four-track EP that showcases his ability to traverse various soundscapes without ever losing grip on rhythm.

'Francis Bacon Size Hangover' (A1) opens the EP in pure Vicari style, plunging atmospheric dub-infused pads, delayed drums and competently edited vocal breaks on a cosmos of shifting sound signatures. The result is an infectious dance floor weapon drenched in mind-boggling groove with funky, light-hearted undertones. 'B Doll' (A2) goes a bit jazzier, delivering an analogue-driven, breakbeat-tinted track with intricate percussion and deep, resonant synth work. B1: "Newdays" finds Vicari immersing himself in the essence of house music, powerfully rooted in Chicago's disco and proto-house aesthetics: punchy drums and propulsive basslines keep the track in constant motion while atmospheric textures forge an irresistible soundscape of skillfully layered, ingeniously sampled sounds. Originally crafted in 2004, 'Vommer' (B2) closes the EP by showcasing Vicari's longstanding dedication to his craft — a slow-burning, minimalistic dub track that's as beautifully understated as it is gracefully spaced out.

"Francis Bacon Size Hangover EP" is a testament to Tommy Vicari Jnr's enduring influence in the electronic music scene and proof that Rhythm by Nature is perfectly capable of continuing to build momentum.

Throughout their lifetime and a handful of releases, the trio have carefully fostered and perfected a style of music that is technical and beautiful but doesn’t shy away from any avant-garde, noisy, or punishing moments.
While you’re able to discern sounds brought from noise rock of the 80s and 90s, post-hardcore of the 90s and early aughts, as well as multiple waves of emo and screamo, Abandoncy’s affinity for abstract structure, strange time, and dramatic pause gives them a style all their own.
At its end it is breathtaking, addictive, and harrowing to experience.
On their third full-length, Assailable Agonism, you find the band pushing even further. All six songs boil over with masterful instrumentation and crushing composition.
Clocking in at just under 19 minutes, it feels like a brief but brutal haunting of all of your personal spaces.
Paranoid, blistering, and all-consuming, coated with the grime of drying riverbeds and dust storms. Through its juxtaposition of melodic and noisy elements, it has a presence that will draw in fans of all different styles of music.
"Assailable Agonism" is released by Vina Records (Italy), The Ghost Is Clear (USA), Learning Curve (USA).

Guidance is the new label from Bay B Kane (Ruff Guidance) and Kniteforce Records. The follow up to "I See The Rain" featured Bay B Kane on a slightly more introspective tip. Alpine Echo is hauntingly beautiful, with eastern leaning vocals playing over beautiful strings and a euphoric, thoughtful atmosphere. The drums and bass are of course perfectly executed. Meanwhile, When Tears Fall is a wonderful rolling jungle workout, with gorgeous vocals and dance friendly drums!

Celebrating thirty years of collaboration, Loren Connors and Alan Licht performed for two nights at OTO on May 5 and 6th, 2023. The shows celebrated a new release titled “At The Top of the Stairs”; a document of the pair's reunion in 2018 after a period of 8 years not playing together. It’s a dark, swirling two-sided spectral noir session, put out by the duo’s home label, Family Vineyard, and we expected a similar kind of atonal abyss to appear at the OTO residency. On the second night however, with the stage lit in blue, Connors took up a seat on the piano stool whilst Licht picked up the guitar. What followed was the duo’s first ever set with Connors on piano - one of only a few times Connors has played piano live at all - here captured and issued as The Blue Hour. Its spacious warmth came as a total surprise live, but makes complete sense for a duo whose dedicated expressionism takes inspiration from a vast spectrum of emotion. Both opening with single notes to start, it doesn't take long before a surface rises and begins to shimmer between the pair. A run up the keys, the drop of a feedback layer on a sustained and bent note. When the two begin to exchange notes in tandem, brief touches of melody and chord hover and the hush of the room is palpapale. After a while, Connors picks up the guitar, stands it in his lap and sweeps a wash of colour across Licht’s melody. Sharp, glassy edges begin to form, open strings and barred frets darkening the space. When his two pedals begin to merge, Licht finds a dramatic organ-like feedback and it’s hard not to imagine Rothko’s Chapel, its varying shades of blue black ascending and descending in the room. When Connors goes back to the piano for the second side, the pair quickly lock into a refrain and light pours in. It’s a kind of sound that Licht says reminds him of what he and Connors would do when the duo first started playing together 30 years ago. It’s certainly more melodic than some of their more recent shows, and the atonal shards of At The Top of the Stairs seem to totally dissolve. What is always remarkable about Licht is that his enormous frame of reference doesn't seem to weigh him down, and instead here he is able to delicately place fractures of a Jackson C Frank song (“Just Like Anything”,) amongst the vast sea of Connors’ blues. Perhaps it's the pleasure of playing two nights in a row together, or the nature of Connor’s piano playing combined with Licht’s careful listening, but the improvisation on The Blue Hour feels remarkably calm and unafraid. There’s nothing to prove and no agenda except the joy of sounding colour together. Totally beautiful.

Review: Sade's Lovers Rock marks a significant evolution in the band's sound and image. Departing from their signature luxuriance, the album embraces a sparser, knottier sound that beautifully balances past influences with contemporary trends. Adu's vocals, thick and low as ever, blend seamlessly into the breezy landscape of acoustic guitar, reggae bass, and simple percussion, creating an atmosphere of understated sensuality. The album's themes range from new love to motherhood to societal issues, showcasing Adu's lyrical prowess and her ability to navigate the complexities of human emotions. Lovers Rock also pays homage to the cultural influence of Caribbean Britishness, both in its title and its musical style, adding depth to Sade's sonic palette. While the album was released amid a pop landscape dominated by shiny, slick productions, Sade remained true to their sound, avoiding obvious trends and opting for a more introspective approach. The album's impact reverberates through contemporary music and allowed Sade to maintain their unique identity and continue evolving with each release.

Markus Guentner returns to his longstanding label, A Strangely Isolated Place following the triptych of ‘Theia’, ‘Empire’, and ‘Extropy’, presenting eight inspiring collaborations on ‘Kontrapunkt’.

Collaborations are nothing new to Markus, but it’s hard to see beyond his strong singular presence as a pioneer of long-form ambient and drone. Collabs have punctuated his albums in various places over the years, and he is no stranger to working as a duo amongst other projects, with such a strong conceptual thread throughout his prior ASIP releases, Kontrapunkt represents a literal pivot and counterpoint in his production approach. Instead of music encapsulating a strong conceptual narrative, Kontrapunkt sees Markus create a dialogue between himself and a collection of inspiring production partners.

Kontrapunkt opens with ‘Vanish’, a widescreen cinematic odyssey created in collaboration with fellow German and Affin label-head Joachim Spieth, forming the perfect opener with its modest subtleties. Australian-born Karen Vogt, renowned for her voice layering and looping, brings a beautiful, and natural addition to ‘All Light Will Remain’.

Sonae, who appeared on ASIP’s early digital releases, demonstrates her evolution into experimental flourishes with ‘Farbe Der Nacht’, adding pulsating techno tendencies and a menacing, metallic approach to Markus’ foundations. Multi-instrumentalist Pepo Galán harmonizes beautifully with Markus on ‘Ancestral Images’, adding complex nuances to a slowly evolving euphoric piece.
A master of synthesis, Arovane delivers a powerful display of supercharged electronics and coils of energy on ‘Utopian Fragments’. Benoît Pioulard's renowned expertise with guitars and tape distortion become a perfect counter to the electronics of Markus, blending styles seamlessly on ‘Father Of Waters’.

‘An unstoppable force meets an immovable object’ on ‘While Hunting Nightmares And Dreaming For Peace’, as Abul Mogard adds powerful restraint in a meeting of two drone titans. The album concludes with ‘Presence’, where Hollie Kenniff’s uplifting vocals provide a shimmering finish, perfectly bookending an album of perfected counterpoints and evolutions on the Markus Guentner sound.
Kontrapunkt will be available on Gatefold Black/Grey/Blue marble 2LP, digital and streaming on August 30th 2024. Mastered by Gio at Artefacts Mastering, Berlin, and featuring artwork by Noah M / Keep Adding.

Yuzu Music is a Brooklyn, NYC based deep and minimal house record label operating under the direction and creative vision of label boss Coral O'Connor. A long time friend of the label, Gunnter serves up four beautiful tracks with his signature futuristic, yet timeless deep house sound. We immediately fell in love with these cuts, which are thoroughly buoyant, thundering, groovy and of the highest quality.

Quintessential compilation of early collaborations by Silverlining (aka Asad Rizvi) with other artists between the golden years of 1996 and 2001. The album reinvigorates several timeless tracks—some known, others rare or unreleased—across a beautifully packaged 3LP with extensive sleeve notes and exceptional analogue mastering. The album includes sought-after and rare works by Two Right Wrongans, Impossible Beings, Appleheadz, Southern Comforters, and Bluegoose vs. Silverlining. The compilation includes one previously unreleased Impossible Beings track rescued from DAT archives. Moving from blissed-out listening into up-tempo underground grooves and then back, the anthology serves both headphone and heads-down-on-the-dancefloor listeners alike.

25 killer library music cuts by the German film music maestro on audiophile pressing in deluxe 2x10" set. Uberrare and never released before material from 1968-1976, sourced from Peter Thomas' personal reel-to-reel tape archive. Limited edition of 500 pieces.

From brassy big band funk, space jazz, krauty synth experiments to proto-hiphop, cosmic schlagers, heavy easy listening, soulful soundtrack moods and absurdly dreamy LSD ballads, this compilation encompasses the composer's most obscure and yet most transcendent work.

Peter Thomas is widely acknowledged as Germany's most inventive film music composer of the 1960s and 1970, best known for his iconic soundtrack work. He scored over 600 films and episodes, from the crime blockbusters of Jerry Cotton and Edgar Wallace to indie arthouse films like Playgirl, Bruce Lee's The Big Boss and the extraterrestrial Space Patrol and Chariot of the Gods.

His recordings for music libraries often provided an even more leftfield approach. Their visionary 'dope beats' appeal provoked a keen interest from vinyl aficionados, beatmakers and rare groove DJs alike. Unavailable for the public, the original "for professional usage only" albums are now sought-after collector's items that fetch astronomic prices on the 2ndhand market.

This double 10" album is the definite selection of Thomas' best library cues from the Golden Ring Records, KPM and DeWolfe catalogues, many of them available publicly for the first time - plus four recently unearthed "lost" tracks from Warner Chappell's CPM Archive series that have never been released on vinyl before. All music was carefully transferred from Peter Thomas' private master tapes and cut in full dynamics, housed in a beautiful fold-out cover with liner notes and private pictures. The compilation was realised in cooperation with Peter Thomas' son Philip who takes care of the Peter Thomas Sound Orchester catalogue after his father's death in 2020.

Red Rack’em returns with a surefire summer smash ‘Italo Disco Banger’ which immediately evokes the most euphoric festival vibes ever.

The feedback has been INSANE with Gerd Janson immediately responding ‘Sounds like a hit!’ and huge support from a wide range of artists including DJ Harvey, Crazy P, Roman Flugel, Luke Una, Leon Vynehall, Avalon Emerson, Jamie 3:26 and many more.

Italo Disco Banger does what it says on the tin and more. Tailor made for Tisno and Adriatic vibes, from the first few bars of the heart tugging, eyes closed intro, you’re locked into a beautiful, sun kissed joyous ride.

Hotline is another party starter anthem. No soft B sides here. A heads down filtered disco sub bass club wrecker.

Phyr Records, owned by Pyramidal Decode, is a techno Vinyl/Digital label focused on dark, hypnotic and strong Techno.
The label's name "Phyr" originates from the Greek word "pyro", meaning "fire", reflecting the intense and fiery energy that defines the label's sound.

'Compounds' is the debut release from Pyramidal Decode's Phyr Records.
This various artist compilation kicks off with a thought-provoking and intricately textured track, 'Resistenza', courtesy of Pyramidal Decode himself.

The A2 comes from Spanish Pwcca, label owner of Hardtools Rec. and Inducted Waves.
His track, 'Half Human', is a masterclass in building tension, crafting a sense of unease that's sure to leave listeners on edge.

On the B side, Irazu & Unkle Fon, both hailing from Madrid, bring their unique brand of modern techno to the table with a sprawling and atmospheric track that's sure to get lost in its sonic landscape.

Finally, the B2 is a hauntingly beautiful closing, courtesy of German producer Oliver Rosemann.
His emotive and atmospheric soundscapes provide a moody ending to this exceptional release.

It is on dark and sweaty dance floors that we get inspired, connect and leave our differences away to live in the present. With this compilation of music pressed in two parts and written by a set of artists from very diverse horizons, it is Polychrome’s perspective on the rave that we want to share. One where sound and light are the only points of reference, opening the space for liberating experiences.

The dance floor is also a space of self-reflection. The A-side is catered by two artists from one of our favorite collectives, De Lichting. With “A Reflection”, RDS opens up and shares a beautifully crafted house gem, providing for a soft and introspective yet groovy “eyes closed” dance. Nathan Kofi takes on the A2 with his unique deep house sound, layering sweet and cinematic synth sounds over an Afro-induced drum sequencing, creating a warm sonic envelope. On the B-side, James Free mixes acid synthesis, roaring bass line, and breaks to create a progressive and subtly melodic dance floor track, one that leaves you positively triggered. With the final track of the record, Rotterdam’s Mata Disk offers a glowing light over polyrhythms and very electronic noises, offering this body of work a deserved radiating curtain close.

We are proud to welcome Myungho Choi to the family of Sakskøbing for our twenty-third release. Residing in the big apple New York and baptised in the early 90’s of the warehouses of the Midwest we can safely say the man has seen and experienced the music first hand. Boss of Transit records with the first official vinyl release dating to 1999, Myungho has acquired a ton of knowledge through the years of digging and listening to the music on any medium it came on. Having an opportunity to witness his heroes and get inspired by them sufficiently to create his own story within the sound frequencies.

The EP is a boat of smooth sailing but with the turbo jets attached to it, to get to any needed destination as comfortable as possible. Heavy influenced by the sounds of Detroit and Chicago, having grew up with an abundance of the music that comes from there resulted in JET, the formation of the artist’s skill and knowledge which has been executed on the canvas that is a beautiful to look at and pleasure to listen - the 12” vinyl record we are beholding today.