Continue reading “Charlton Ravenberg – Midlight Sessions #8”
Month: January 2013
Johannes Volk – Aquanautic Tales [EXP005]
Since launching his own Exploration imprint, Johannes Volk’s output has hit a confident stride which allows him to continue extolling the virtues of creative, imaginative techno in the classic sense of the word. With the colorful flair of earliest Detroit, “Submarine Funk” makes this point the clearest, but certainly there are rich melodies and weighty rhythms to be enjoyed across all three tracks. “Aquanautic Tales” is a more stripped and brooding slow burner, while “Newborn” glides on a thick bed of synth, but it’s the last track that brings all the elements together for a sci-fi jam.
Old and Young – Gamma Ray EP [OY005]
Old and Young Records chooses to release two tracks that explain its style and mind, produced by the entire crew (Alessandro Gambo, D-Vince, Sergio Pace, The Acid Music Band), between dark moods and powerful grooves, the tracks explain what is Old and Young Records, while Santiago Salzar comes with as remixer of their fifth release.
Anthony Naples – Moscato EP [MSN003]
Second release from Anthony Naples on Mister Saturday Night Records and this one is a beast of a techno track. On his second 12″ he brings two mixes of this tune with the A-side holding down a sweet deep house mix while the flip bangs out a relentless techno mix.
Hinode / Marieu – Punch In the Face [ENW003]
Enlightened Wax returns with a fistful of kick drums to the face and a whole load of crunchiness to boot. Marieu makes a return to his own label alongside Berlin’s rising analogue fiend, Hinode who makes himself heard right from the start of A1, submerging us into a shuffling, funked-out frenzy of samples and ruthless percussion. The A2 is another brutal monster, where bursting toms, cascading synths and analogue rawness align to form an irresistible peak-time burner; but it’s on the B1 that things turn really nasty – some seriously off-kilter percussion moulds seamlessly with gorgeous strings only to fall back apart into a winding bundle of slicing drums. Not much can be said about the B4, it’s just a classic “MG” (Marieu-Groove) bomb: dusty drums, shredded vocal samples and those jagged piano keys grinding their way into that seductive Enlightened Wax vibe.
Plant43 live @ Up Digital presents the Sedna Sessions NYE 2012/13
Plant43 – Frozen Monarch [FR026]
UK based Emile Facey joins the frustrada familia bringing a heavy, ice cold and highly emotive 3 track EP. Much in the vein of ERP and the likes but with a sharper sounding more abstract approach. This makes Plant43 a unique and welcome addition to the Frustrated Funk label.
E.R.P. – Pith [FR024]
New Frustrated Funk release by E.R.P. aka Convextion aka Gerard Hanson, the man with the tear-jerking string electro-techno.
In Aeternam Vale – La Piscine [MW041]
Fans of mechanical techno-not-techno sounds will be all over Minimal Wave’s latest transmission from 80s French underground heroes In Aeternam Vale. Having reissued several essential lost works from the outfit last year, most notably the proto-Sandwell sound of “Highway Dark Veins”, Veronica Vasicka delivers another two tracks from the vault on limited fluorescent yellow vinyl. Stylistically mirroring that previous two track release the title track is an equally brilliant synth-techno beast which could easily pass for a Function track today, while B-side “Calling Somewhere” sounds like a cold wave version of proto-halfstep. Needless to say, the fact that these tracks are 22 years old literally left us speechless.
Intergalactic Gary @ Altes Wettbüro (Dresden) 22.12.2012
Healing Force Project – Hybrid Furrows [SEQ005]
Presented in two parts, “Hybrid Furrows” marks the second transmission of the mysterious Healing Force Project from Treviso, Italy. The first part is a dense, introspective overture. A ceaseless minor key drone lays the path for deep thrumming gong-like pulse and shuddering percussive textures. A song without a coda, a dream without resolution, it simply dissipates like fog—never revealing it’s center. The second part is similarly monolithic in nature, but crafted more for movement than meditation. It is vicious arpeggiated psychedelia, sharp enough to cut into the deepest recesses of your psyche.
Ian Martin – Swamp Modulator [PANZER1002-2]
Ian Martin delivers five brand new tracks of paranoid intensity and cruel insanity on Panzerkreuz Records with full-on dark ambient and sinister soundscapes.
Paul Mitchell – An Expedition [TABR016]
As a trusted source of high-grade leftfield analogue electronics, the Tabernacle label is at it again with the shimmering wares of Paul Mitchell. An Expedition explores various approaches to ambient and beatless compositions through decaying synthesisers, and it’s quite astounding just how well realised these pieces are. Moving ever forwards with a dynamism that seems suited to soundtrack work, the complexity and accomplishment of all four tracks of mournful machine soul is undeniable. From lingering pads to expressive arpeggios, this EP runs the gamut of engrossing classical electronica, all the while keeping you hooked on where the instrumental tale will head next.
RA.346 Jerome Sydenham
Donnie – Olmec Save Us [NDATL009]
Kai KZR Alce of NDATL announces the upcoming release of Olmec Save Us by R&B powerhouse Donnie. The original mixes produced by Alce is marked by high-end tones and layered, multitracked vocals. The musicality conveys an otherworldly, high-frequency vibration and is generally more percussive, with greater emphasis on the keyboards (played by Ricky Corey). While listeners are treated to the full-length orignal versions of Donnie’s epic tale, the Yoruba Soul Mix by noted house producer Osunlade allows for a deeper interpretation of the overall message. Also included are instrumentals of both versions that will have house heads anticipating personal and creative transformation through the sound and on the dance oor.
Rick Wade – Night Addiction EP [HY005]
Detroit’s original underground groove-maker comes on board with a 4-track package of goodies. Mr. Wade brings back the deep and soulful vibes of his famous ‘night series’ with the Night Addiction ep. The A-side title track kicks off with dark keys winding through a thumping bassline and sultry horns, while Enter Dawn plunges deep into an ocean of warm pads and hypnotic bass. Flip over to the B-side for the obscure sounds of Hold Youth’s modern rework of Night Addiction, plus S3A’s disco-house interpretation, full of funky sampling, that will surely have hands up in the air.
Scott Grooves – BitterSweet [MS003]
Innerspace Halflife – Post Industrial EP [LTNC001]
Metallic sequences, hypnotic pulsations, groovy rhythms and deep raw chords. Innerspace Halflife delivers with this three tracks Ep an authentic piece of Chicago’s finest electronic music.
Marquis Hawkes – Higher Forces At Work [DABJ1204]
Tom Joyce – Brume De Pomme EP [SPRB002]
Superb Recordings announce the second vinyl only release introducing Tom Joyce from Paris with his debut EP. ‘Brume de pomme’ and ‘Out of bounds’ are the result of his determined work, two deep house tracks. The EP include remixes by Lerosa and Carlos Nilmmns.
The Hipodrome Of Music 