Author: hipodrome
Lazercat – Void Droplets EP [VTX014]
Vortex Traks presents the return of Lazercat. ‘Void Droplets’ showcases the Canadian artist’s love for old-school electro, while the B3, “Take Me To Your Discothèque”, pays tribute to the 2000s italo-revival sounds of her youth. Features a moody remix from French electro wizard KafkaCtrl.
VA – Acid Explorations [EUDEMONIA014]
First Various Artists EP on eudemonia with four electro tracks by Sound Synthesis, Hermeth, Caramel Chameleon and Larionov each exploring the acid side of the universe.
VA – MRG014 [MRG014]
Marguerite Records announces its first release of 2023, MRG014 a New Wave, EBM and Electronic compilation composed of six tracks. Side one features artists who already appeared in Marguerite discography. A1 opens up with ‘Noi Non Ci Saremo’ a bruise of nostalgic, new-romantic and dreamy 80s vibes from Diana Berti, followed up by Black Dot’s ‘Recurrent Disorder’ with occult spoken-word intonation of Le Chocolat Noir reminding of John Balance, over acid bassline, electro beat and syncopated noises by Christian Kroupa. ‘Unknown Faces’ close up the A side – an EBM track with a killer raw beat and distorted bass ready for sweaty dancefloors from the label heads duo Bianco Negativo. Flip side is unwrapped by one of the synth pioneer and UK based artist Timothy J Fairplay with ‘Love Boat For Four’ that drags you straight into a sci-fi movie fiction with the 8 bit electronic synths. B2 is Highest Bidder from Harlem Electronics, a seductive minimal rhythm with a dark undertone. The journey ends with ‘Svart Magi’ an hardware industrial jam by the Swedish producer Celldöd.
Sinusoidal – Moral Decay [Free Download]
Sinusoidal returns to Pinkman with five adventurous tracks that bow to the downtempo domain. From the gloomy mind trips of Le Liminal, Liber Novus and Mind Killer to the lumbering menace of Arrogance Heights and Hoax Bureau. Moral Decay is a fever dream induced by the waking life.
This release is offered as name-your-price by Pinkman. More than a year after Russia’s full-scale invasion to Ukraine the help is still needed for those affected. All profits of this release will be donated to the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund: crisisrelief.un.org/t/ukraine
VA – Ethniques Psychedelics [PLA032]
Platform 23 returns to where it began, working the Vox Man Records to bring their compelling and unique archive to light, to create again a compilation from their cult cassette releases. Offering more than the sum of their parts, the best of two cassettes is compiled here in “Ethniques Psychedeliques”, a snapshot of contributions from far and wide, based on the warm expanse of ethnic world music with an idiosyncratic psychedelic nature throughout the selections, from the early 80s DIY post-punk scene.
Years of Denial – Suicide Disco Vol. 2 [VEYL036]
Years Of Denial is back on Veyl with their second LP ‘Suicide Disco Vol. 2’. The follow up to 2019’s ‘Suicide Disco’, the duo makes a triumphant return, elevating their distinct sound which fuses dark wave, goth, new-beat, post-punk, EBM, and techno. The LP features 12 tracks all written and produced at Ark of Noise studio, located miles away from the polluted noise of social turbulences, immersed in isolation, creative indulgence, and poetic writing.
Ambassade – The Fool [OMLP25]
Optimo Music presents Ambassade’s new album ‘The Fool’. Following hot in the heels of the acclaimed ‘Young Birds / Palette’ 12″ on Optimo Music, ‘The Fool’ is destined to be another Cold Wave, Synth, New Industrial, Experimental …whatever you want to call it …classic. “Born from several years of research and contemplation on the human mind ‘The Fool’ can be understood as a reflection to the dark energies – natural, political, human and otherwise – that are released when it comes to religion, greed and power.”
The Exorcist GBG – III [HNRLP030]
Höga Nord Rekords presents the third album of The Exorcist GBG, an analog disco/psych band from Gothenburg, Sweden.
Ultra Random Analog Orchestra – EP3 [3ELP2020013]
Ultra Random Analog Orchestra is a new project by Brendon Moeller. Starting by sculpting an audio collage in realtime, using a eurorack modular system, Brendon Moeller keeps randomness at the front of his methodology. Whether inputting found samples or designing sounds from scratch using oscillators and/or noise sources, he begins haphazardly sequencing, filtering, modulating and arranging the randomness. A spirit of experimentation and spontaneity drives these productions.
Knowone – 2.5 [KNWN2.5]
KNWN 2.5, the latest release from the Berlin-based label and artist Knowone, is a stunning exploration of atmospheric techno and ambient soundscapery. Deep dubby Basic Channel inspired techno tracks.
Luke Hess – Psalm EP [200-045]
Luke Hess’ latest EP ‘Psalm’ is a captivating journey into the deeper and more chord-heavy realms of dub techno.
Function – HATE Podcast 326
Peter Van Hoesen – A Swing Is Not A Throw [T2X38]
A Swing Is Not A Throw, released on Time To Express, is Peter Van Hoesen’s latest EP. The five track release is the indirect result of his decision in 2022 to fully focus on live shows. This shift allowed him to create hours of new material, which he later refined and shaped into modular building blocks. These musical components were designed to be combined in various ways, allowing for real-time experimentation during his shows. Following his shows, he began the process of analysis. Whereupon he would take notes on successes and decide how to enhance the overall sound. What we know now as A Swing Is Not A Throw is the result of six months of live material, transformed into complete tracks.
Halvtrak – Digital Dawn [BLOW12]
Halvtrak returns to Cold Blow with techno-romantic rave escapism, riding Chi House-leaning rhythms and intergalactic Techno sculptures. If his previous “Images By Night” dealt with things nocturnal, Digital Dawn opens the curtains to a blue-eyed retrofuturism, bursting with colour and spark.
King Sporty / Fashion Funktion – Sun Country [ERC147]
Here comes Emotional Rescue and Konduko’s last in their series of Noel Williams/King Sporty reissues, this time looking at later electro productions and the hip-hop/boogie influenced ‘Sun Country’. Vocals and co-production come from Williams’ long-time partner Betty Wright and as well as a vocal and instrumental mix there’s a longform remix by Bay Area disco dub stalwarts, 40 Thieves.
Bôkaye – Ethno Groove [ERC140]
As one of the finest and most stylishly eclectic labels out there, you never know where Emotional Rescue will go next. This time out they head into a world of Afro-cosmic. Bôkaye’s 1990 gem ‘Ethno Groove’ stands out as a classic of the genre and joins the dots between the early house and techno sounds that were sweeping Italy with new age ideals, Afro drums and chunky tribal percussion next to Balearic synths. It features syncopated analogue beats and live percussion and as well as the original, this 12” features two of the further mixes that came in 1994.
Antoni Maiovvi – Birds Of Paradise EP [BAP178]
It’s been nine years since Antoni Maiovvi released Trauma on Bordello A Parigi and now, he returns with “Birds of Paradise”, his latest musical incarnation. This avian themed four tracker is beyond anything you’ve heard from this synthesizer wizard. Complex, deep and layered, the EP is testament to a talent rarely heard.
Mike Tansella Jr. @ OUTSOUNDER, Sameheads (Berlin) 04.03.23
VA – Machine Funk Is Our Game Volume 6 [KJ068]
Kraftjerkz solidifies itself as america’s east coast electro label with the 6th volume of the popular series. Brooklyn’s ALONZO gets the party started with a bass-heavy track which picks up where Pretty Tony left off. Daniel Savio’s contribution is perfect for street dance or cruising the highway. Deroboter comes with a hard, distorted kraftwerkian production. Kid Ginseng delivers an electro/scratch song featuring Questosahn reminiscent of Knights of the Turntables. Finally, the UK’s Cybereign concludes with a passionate, melodic banger that blends nicely with a technobass record.
The Hipodrome Of Music 