U – Ecstacy [PH102]

U - Ecstacy

An infrequent but invigorating contributor to Phantasy, U returns with a beguiling new single entitled ‘Ecstasy’. The first side of the artefact portrays ‘Ecstasy’, a wide-eyed and spectral incantation rich in intimacy, whispering voices and earthy psychedelia. Somewhere between machine funk and folk canticle, a sonic gift perhaps for a field in England bathed in moonlight, else a dire basement dripping in energy, ‘Ecstasy’ leaves the system almost spiritually. On the contrary, ‘Morpheus’ presents a tougher meditation, a creeping jam with an analogue consciousness, ghostly rave echoes and a conundrum at its heart. The dream seems so real, but what if you can’t wake from it after all?

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U – Ecstacy [PH102]

Artefakt – Days Bygone [DSR/INT1]

Nick Lapien and Robin Koek’s latest collaborative album, Days Bygone, helps launch Delsin’s Interstellar series as they continue to explore beyond the dancefloor trappings of conventional techno to create a body of work steeped in mystery. Although not totally devoid of percussion, Artefakt shift their focus away from dominant drums and lean on the keys and pads to map out the landscape each track traverses. Sometimes furtive and suggestive, elsewhere pearlescent and diffused across great expanses, it’s these striking, sublime formations which define the atmosphere Lapien and Koek have created – a textured, dynamic exercise in techno as internalized listening music.

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Artefakt – Days Bygone [DSR/INT1]

Franck Kartell – Electric Sheep EP [LDI002]

Newly launched Dutch electro label LDI Records follows up their first release from T/Error with a deep and dark four track EP by French producer Franck Kartell. In a homage to masterful science fiction writer Philip K Dick – Side A of Electric Sheep EP evokes scenes from future mechanized worlds. Electric Sheep kicks the 12″ off with a melancholic and contemplative moment followed by a steel cold and brooding venture in Voigt-Kampff. On the B side of this release, there is a live mix of Kartell’s track Electro Music, a futuristic electro work out with kicks for the dancefloor. The EP completes with Victoria – an ode to the electronic musician Victoria Lukas who passed away in 2020 – with a beautifully poised and contemplative track steeped in synths. Franck Kartell is a French producer who has releases on Between Places, Transient Force, Ukonx Recordings, New Flesh, Bass Agenda and others. Since 2005 he has been producing well thought-out Electro music filled with dark atmospheres and driving rhythms. Specializing in moody, atmospheric electro, LDI Records (Lloyd’s Dark Imperium) are an essential label to watch.

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Franck Kartell – Electric Sheep EP [LDI002]

Chemise – She Can’t Love You [SPEC-1817]

Chemise’s 1982 boogie classic ‘She Can’t Love You’ is back on repress as part of Unidisc’s 40th anniversary series of releases. Backed with an exclusive new Purple Disco Machine re-edit as well as the original dub and the killer 1986 Marc Hartman remix. An essential release for all disco / boogie heads, officially reissued and remixed by the Unidisc / Emergency records family, fresh for 2021.

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Chemise – She Can’t Love You [SPEC-1817]

Emilio Van Rijsel – Tendre Furie [IM0XX]

Highly influenced by early 1980’s electronic music and classic 90’s trance, Emilio Van Rijsel from Lille, France, debuts on Italo Moderni with energetic Moroder-esque propelling bass lines next to epic synth patterns and hypnotic sounds. With “Tendre Furie EP”, Emilio van Rijsel offers a glimpse of the wide array of his influences, embarking us on a synthful romantic & melancholic journey, depicting the nostalgia of missed blissful raving nights.
Remixes duties fall to Raw Union man St. Theodore, who replaces those italo trance flourishes with the strobe-lit pulse of Giallo and master producer Daniel Monaco the layers of well-informed 80s synth wave sends us into another dimension with high energy vibes.

Emilio Van Rijsel – Tendre Furie [IM0XX]

Armonics – Nuovi Orizzonti Reworks [SLOMODIGIT015]

Originally released towards the end of 2019, Armonics synthetic dream album ’Nuovi Orizzonti’’ (translated: New Horizons) is now getting a refresh by Slow Motion’s most established artists. Slow Motion presents these six sophisticated remixes as: “Nuovi Orizzonti Reworks”. Remixes by Alessandro Parisi,  Altieri, Daniel Monaco, Sauvage World and label heads Franz Scala and Fabrizio Mammarella.

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Armonics – Nuovi Orizzonti Reworks [SLOMODIGIT015]

Wladyslaw Trejo – Nuestra Voz / Tranzyt W [LI-05]

Wladyslaw Trejo comes with a 7″ single dedicated to Warsaw. “Nuestra Voz” is a poem wrapped in sharp synthesizers about the silent threat of totalitarianism. The accompanying video clip amplifies its meaning and serves as a metaphor. “Tranzyt W” is an instrumental that portrays the walk of an inveterate observer, Wladyslaw himself, through the streets of modern Warsaw.

Wladyslaw Trejo – Nuestra Voz / Tranzyt W [LI-05]

Terrence Dixon – Reporting From Detroit [RHM035]

DIXON, Terrence - Reporting From Detroit

Seven years after the classic ‘Theater of a Confused Mind’ (as Population One), Detroit techno phenomenon Terrence Dixon is back on Rush Hour with a new album, this time under his own name. ‘Reporting from Detroit’ is another prime example of the distinctly unique sound language Dixon has developed over the last three decades – defiant, forward-thinking afrofuturist techno that could only have been made in the Motor City.

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Terrence Dixon – Reporting From Detroit [RHM035]

AX15 – Moon Landing [METIER003]

MÉTIER is the new label from Jack! Who? and his UK based deathtechno.com project that is set to journey into deep, dreamy, dub, techno, acid, electro and ambient that will surprise and delight from release to release. AX15 is a new alias of the veteran Alex Dolby. “Ascension” is a wonderful, bleeping cut that uses uplifting chords and modular licks over soft drums to create a lighthearted, ethereal atmosphere. The second track “Orbital” uses a spacey funk to turn the energy up to a level. Delayed electronic sound effects and abstract synth parts make up the main hook of this understated masterpiece. Closing this release with “Moon Landing”, a track that instantly takes off with a classic electro beat from pulsing, acid stabs and crushed claps. Fuelled by astronaut vocal samples, there’s a moody vibe locked into the stellar groove.

AX15 – Moon Landing [METIER003]

Dmitry Distant & Norwell / Cute Heels – Parallels EP [SBOX014]

DMITRY DISTANT/NORWELL/CUTE HEELS - Parallels

Schrödinger’s Box have collected three juggernauts of wave tainted electronics for the latest. Dmitry Distant teams up with Norwell for a partnership of serious intent. The pair deliver a trio of blackened tracks, opening with the ghoulish caverns of “Transient State” before the long shadows, acid stains and painful echoes of “Visionary.” The duo venture into brighter territory with the computer funk of “On A Verge of Veil”, crisp beats and bubbling melodies changing the tone. Following Beyond the War, Cute Heels returns to occupy the flip. The Colombian is immediately on it with the swirling mirrors of “Kuriyaki Horizons,” a kick drum offering solid footing in this entrancing piece. An aloof, yet alluring, disco hook takes hold for “Litua”, a low thump keeping time. The finale arrives with the clipped industrial gait of “Determinated In Order.” Marching to a military beat, this work is industrial inspired with Cute Heels keeping a close ear to the pressure release gauge.

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Dmitry Distant & Norwell / Cute Heels – Parallels EP [SBOX014]

VA – Death Decay Magic Remixes Vol. 1 [DDM05]

Death Decay Magic Remixes Vol. 1 draws on the first three releases from the label: Black Light Smoke “Lines & Shadows”, Daniel Holt “Traveler”, and Man 2.0, Black Light Smoke “Holy Hammer”. With remixes from The Hacker, Cardopusher and others, DDM05 hits hard with EBM and electro vibes.

VA – Death Decay Magic Remixes Vol. 1 [DDM05]

Umwelt – Fear On The Dark Planet [MNSX023]

UMWELT - Fear On The Dark Planet

Umwelt is back on Midnight Shift, with another scorching 5-track EP designed to be listened in continuity. Ascending chorals, acidic swirls and horrific echoes rise above a mash of abrasive, caustic electro/breakbeat chaos with shapeshifting moods. Ambient track ‘Gate of Nothingness’ echoes and feeds back into ‘Fear On The Dark Planet’ with its arpeggiated refrain.

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Umwelt – Fear On The Dark Planet [MNSX023]