Author: hipodrome
Djedjotronic @ HÖR (Berlin) 23.04.2022
Alessandro Adriani @ HÖR (Berlin) 22.04.2022
Borusiade @ HÖR (Berlin) 22.04.2022
Transpac – Ezzential Electro 002 – Telecommunication [ERZZ002-36]
Transpac’s new album could be his best work to date. All sounds, sequences and beats are created with heavy analog machinery, including the classic EMS AKS. Highly addictive album! ”Ezzential Electro” is the biggest project Electro Records has done so far. It consists of 36 vinyl records produced by artists they consider essential for the current underground electro movement. The first six parts of the series come in beautiful white silkscreen printed sleeves on recycled cardboard and include a real puzzle piece on the front cover, indicating which part of the series you have in your hands.
J.S. Zeiter – Universe EP [LPY05]
25 years ago, one of the most essential deep & dubby techno projects put forth its roots in the form of the ‘JS’ and ‘MCMLXV’ labels. Two decades later the consistency & quality of James’ output is as solid as ever. The aptly titled Universe EP showcases the breadth of his talent; from the atmosphere-skimming feel of ‘Refracted’, to the melodic vibes of ‘Cyclic’. The flip sees more familiar territory in the abrasive ‘Gravity Waves’, and the expansive & soaring ‘Blueshift’ has future classic written all over it.
Answer Code Request – Shattering EP [149DSR]
Delsin welcomes a true pillar of the contemporary techno scene, Answer Code Request, for his first EP in six years. As an integral part of the Ostgut Ton family since breaking through some 10 years ago, Patrick Gräser has shaped a patient but potent discography which embodies the hybridised nature of techno in the 21st Century. His distinctive style of melodically embellished, subtly fractured body music helps define the contemporary zeitgeist, but it also moves with enough emotional maturity to stand on its own terms as compelling, artist-led electronic music.
G-Prod – One Trice EP [FE003]
The French G-Prod brothers debut on Fluid Electronics with the lavish, Detroit-flavoured “One Trice” EP. True to the Motown house scene’s idiosyncratic engineering of raw throb and velvet touch, this four-track slab pays tribute to that classic sound which still infuses far and wide in today’s musical landscape. On the menu, two original hot cakes from the Gaugain siblings complemented by a pair of remixes courtesy of Irish vibist Derek Carr and UK-based deep grooves manipulator, John Shima.
Interlect 3000 – The Return Of Intelligence [CHILDFIFTEEN]
Childhood Intelligence 15th release presents ‘The Return Of Intelligence’ by UK duo ‘Interlect 3000’. Far ahead of its time, the two artists composed these futuristic timeless pieces, unknowingly, for generations to come. The album pays homage to the early days, fusing aspects of Techno, Trance, House, Electro, Ambient. Truly a hypnotic journey from beginning till end, live recorded & dedicated to the journey itself. Traxx which were written and recorded at Spare Room Studios, Essex and Phantasm Studios, London, between 1992 -1996 have now been rediscovered and released in 2022. Interlect 3000 as the architects of their own world are driven by passion and dedication for electronic music. A testament of skill and imagination only known to masters of their art.
Vernon Felicity – Days Of Leisure [ASS002]
Boris Bunnik with a Vernon Felicity debut album. “Days Of Leisure” is a very well produced warm and analogue sounding house album. Think Metro Area vs. Larry Heard and you are almost there.. This is the sound of the summer and a future classic in the making.
Josh Caffe – Do You Want To Take Me Home EP [PH117]
Introducing Josh Caffe’s second single on Phantasy, ‘Do You Wanna Take Me Home?’ is a sensual yet gritty return, a keen document of just one of the many stories of desire always occurring in the shadows, just beyond the strobes. Produced in collaboration with Quinn Whalley, one half of Paranoid London, ‘Do You Wanna Take Me Home?’ also features a headsy interpretation from Steffi & Virginia, marking their first ever collaborative remix.
VA – Peraceamid EP 1 [RL41]
Big week for Manchester’s Red Laser, with label chief Il Bosco serving up the label’s first installment of Peraceamid. Terry Perace gets into some Typhoon club style tribal on “Trip Pop 2020”, followed by his Inslaved mix of Kid Machine’s “SDM” getting some vintage Italo vibes in effect. Over on the flip, you’ll be ushered aboard the acid express on the strobed-out groove of Marcus Paulson’s “Wrecked In Utrecht” followed by the classic Chicago house throwback vibes of Ste Spandex’s “Examples Of You”.
VA – Red Laser Records EP 12 [RL40]
Manchester’s Red Laser Records returns with a four track various artists EP curated by label chief Il Bosco. 12 features Mark Wilkinson aka Kid Machine returns to the label with the neon-lit ’80s mood of “Only Machines Allowed” going for that Axel Foley vibe, followed by Count Van Delicious doing his best impression of the Centre Neptune man on “I Wonder How Flemming Dalum Is Doing?”. Over on the flip, things get pretty Balearic on Ste Spandex’s “Edit 2” (2021 Re-Pop) and Ernesto Harmon gets stuck into some electro beat synthpop on the infectious “Search For”.
Hassan Ideddir – Atfalouna EP [DE287]
Hassan Ideddir’s 1989 single “Atfalouna” sees an expanded repress courtesy of Dark Entries. Born to Berber parents in Morocco, Ideddir began making music at the age of 10 after being discovered singing in the stairwell by his school’s headmaster. Encouraged by his peers, he began playing concerts, and his status grew. In 1987, he played a string of sold-out concerts in Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakesh, in support of a children’s charity. The success of these concerts secured him a record deal, and he went to Paris to record his debut single “Atfalouna” in 1988. Released in 1989 on WEA, “Atfalouna” is a dense slab of multi-genre pop. An opening wash of digital synths and reverberant vocals quickly falls away to a cascade of orchestra hits and pulsing electronic drums; the monotone chant-rap of a female chorus collides with Ideddir’s soaring melismatic vocals, pleading against the injustice and hunger in the world. While Hip-Hop and New Beat borrowed tropes from Arabic music, “Atfalouna” inverts the gesture, resituating orchestra hits and sampling techniques within a Moroccan music framework. A shorter instrumental version follows, which preserves the female vocals. Also included are two tracks not on the original 12”. “Ibina” is a moody, downtempo instrumental that sounds like a cult Italo B-side. The record closes with “Ydouchababe”, an electro number driven by funky guitars, electronic claps, huge horn riff. Here, Ideddir sings of a youth festival honoring Hassan II, former king of Morocco.
VA – The Fifth Quarter [Brokntoys]
Brokntoys presents “The Fifth Quarter”, a digital compilation featuring music from Livid Husk, Timothy J Fairplay, MetaComplex, Lloyd Stellar, The Spy, Errorbeauty, Morken, user404 and Ex.Hale. All proceeds from the release will go to Haringey Welcome, a local campaign group to help migrants and refugees.
Exzakt – Essential Cuts [MON023]
Larry McCormick’s Exzakt brings back that sleazy electro as well as unreleased material. Bringing back classics such as Speaker Breaka and Citi Of Bass, and a new remix by Jensen Interceptor. Putting Monotone Records back on the map.
Ulysses – The Most Successful Algorithm [SC023]
NYC based Ulysses is a master at his craft when it comes to abstract and experimental electro sounds. ‘The Most Successful Algorithm’ showcases just that as he goes through many flavors of his mindset when it comes to making long lasting and thoughtful electronic music. On the remix of ‘Noodles’ is NYC electro and techno legend John Selway.
June – Window Of Time [AD017]
On his new album for Artificial Dance, Tsampikos Fronas aka June takes a departure from his dance orientated earlier work. Recorded between 2018 and 2020, Window of Time sees the Berlin-based producer explore sparser arrangements than his previous releases. The record unravels like a dystopian cyberpunk novel, something akin to William Gibson’s Neuromancer. Both the title track and ‘Stratagem / Predator’ create an increasing tension that builds through repetitive sequences. The arpeggiated synths on ‘Year 2092’ evoke images of sprawling metropolitan city scapes, while the claustrophobic mood of ‘The Master of Electricity’, the first track written for the album, wouldn’t go amiss on a soundtrack to a sci-fi thriller like Blade Runner. Created using modular synthesizers, analog sequencers and analog polyphonic synths, Window of Time eschews melody in favour of cold, pulsating rhythms. Combined with haunting choral toplines and minimalistic flourishes, such as those on album closer ‘Elegy’, June invites the listener on a free dive into their subconscious; to navigate boundless, unexplored territories.
Acid Ernst – Ehre [MRT009]
Acid Ernst is the alias of Konstantin Unwohl. He’s reviving the MRT series with four tracks of different qualities. The A side is pushing in every direction, relentless rhythms, depressed melodies coming in waves and sombre lyrics. As to bring sadness and frustration in an otherwise angry techno room. The B side is rather sombre, with a masterpiece that goes by the name Ehering and a dark number called Deine Stiche taten Weh. The perfect starting point to close the MRT chapter, the first of 4 releases that will conclude this adventure.
Lola Kumtus – This Modern Slave [OR103]
Oráculo Records presents “This Modern Slave” by Lola Kumtus from Finland. This is extracted from 2017 “The Leftovers Tape” and 2016 “Mirror Use” cassette recorded in Helsinki.
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