Chicago mainstay Mark Grusane partners up with Eric Schwab of metro Detroit to co-produce five diverse tracks that channel some of their Midwest dancefloor influences. The pair developed the tracks over several studio sessions during a Chicago winter, combining their respective sonic inspirations with assorted gear, sounds and samples that they each brought together.
The Italian producer Simoncino is back on Skylax Records. You already know his ability to create sounds that are deeply imbued with the Chicago sound, you sometimes might think you ‘re hearing some lost gems from the great Armando. In short, no need to add more, this item is essential for any normally constituted dj. The release comes with a remix featuring the great Larry Heard aka Mr Fingers.
This collection contains 4 spiritual folkloristic tracks, in very different vibes and tempos. The first track is a beautifully extended edit by Dion Monti of a traditional song from Rosa María (Ecuador) which feels like ‘House Music’: the bassline, the 4 to the floor kick, the strings… then wait for the singing to come in. Carmen is Private Dancers’ rework on a track from the 1983 movie score with the same name, pure heat. BORȘ, dj and producer from Moldova created an uptempo floorfiller using traditional samples that she is giving some more space in the breaks… and Robotic AF edited some instrumental parts of a Bollywood song into a 152 BPM acid banger.
Alan Strani returns to Bordello with a remix package of his album title track ‘Apocalypso’ featuring I:Cube, Lauer, In Flagranti and himself on remix duties.
First 7” release from Dressel Amorosi, the duo of Federico Amorosi (bass) and Valerio Lombardozzi (keys, synth & programming). Halfway between cosmic-funk and Italo-disco, the two tracks on this release are infused with the fusion- and electronic-oriented spirit of late ’70s and early ’80s Italian soundtracks and library music. “Synthporn”, on side A, is a midtempo instrumental with a voluptuous electronic feel, a mixture of glamour and retrofuturism driven by Amorosi’s pulsating bass and Lombardozzi’s elegant oscillators. “Cargo”, on the flip side, brings infectious ’80s dance vibes to the table with a warm slice of synth-pop that can fit any scenario and filmic mood, from action to comedy.
XY0815 wraps up his magnum opus with an additional collection of eight tracks. The second volume of ‘Gates Need Inputs’ blends crafty, melodic electronica with intricate rhythms.
After a short hiatus, Distorted Sensory Perception returns in the form of a 5 track various artists release featuring music from Vertical Dimension, Encrypted Theory, Fly Insect, Anitta & Lerosa.
Although sound is his medium, what is seen is central to Larionov’s new 12”; I Want To Believe. After scanning the heavens, the Russian producer lands with six tracks that encompass a spectrum of electronics. A glistening dawn of bright melodies and murky basslines introduces “Morning Light”, crisp percussion adding balance and ballast. Aquatic lines and soulful arcs are at the core of “Across the Sky” before the bold synth stabs and rasping rhythms of “External Twilight.” Illuminating the flip is the sci-fi inspired “Strange Lights” with the eclipsing shades and tones of “Shadows” darkening speakers while igniting floors. The close is the future gazing “Space and Time.” Fluid strings, reverberating arpeggiators and vocoder lyrics are kept in check by incising snares in this superb finale.
Cybotron has re-emerged in our contemporary cybercultural age when artifactual futures begin a transition into a new era of ”Meta”. Cybotron’s return demonstrates a studied engagement with what techno was and should be with a peerless update of Juan Atkins’ initial inventive idea of do-it-yourself electrically reengineered music xeroxed onto both sides of the 12” – uploaded directly into the alleys of your mind.
The real Robotron has been active since the 90s and now back on track to refresh some “Pornographix” action with serious 80s power by The Egyptian Lover – delivering pure egyptian sexiness on V1.0 and lo-fied cybersonic harassment via V2.0 on the third release out of Robotron’s home base called Skynet Cybersonix. Skynet T.3 is a juicy object of desire – limited to 200 x 12″ on black or silver marbled vinyl.
“My Brutal Life” delves into the profound aspects of our artistic endeavors encompassing brutalism, the environment, and humanity. Throughout our ongoing creative journey, we consistently gravitate towards these themes, documenting and exploring the human experience within these environments. Our unwavering fixation on Symmetry, Synchronisation, and Repetition are the driving force in our artistic expression. Moreover, we strive to peel away superficial layers to expose the underlying emotional strata of the human aspect, unearthing the often overlooked beauty within the ordinary. Although frequently disregarded, the human aspect resonates with echoes from the past, enlightening and guiding our artistic process. Even the failures encountered serve as poignant reminders of the delicate structures we construct. My Brutal Life constitutes a pivotal component within an enduring exhibition, meticulously crafted to delve into the aesthetic and human facets of brutalism.
On his fifth album as VC-118A, Samuel van Dijk is using his evolved electro practice to explore the notion of change – a universal constant which keeps us barreling towards unknown futures. 2021’s Spiritual Machines found van Dijk edging his sound into downtempo and experimental pastures. On the follow-up, Waves of Change, crooked machine rhythms and richly developed tones and textures spool from his trusted bank of outboard tools, while a subtle drop in tempo widens the space for the atmospheric sound design to weave its magic. Balancing the disciplines of machine-powered sequencing and hand-shaped sound to render his ideas in sonic form, the continued evolution of VC-118A results in another mesmerizing record steeped in craft and loaded with intention.
Back in 2017 Tear Apart Tapes released “Run”, a song by Shakkatam. John Talabot immediately connected with it and played it as the closing in many of his dj sets. Hivern Discs now presents “Run” in a new context, with three covers from artists we admire: Cucina Povera, Céline Gillain and Dania.
Adlas joins the a.r.t.less family with his debut called Convergence EP. Here he presents four more four-to-the-floor driving and mesmerizing Techno tracks that tick all the right boxes. Think swinging Dub Techno, DJ Power Tools with a tribal twist and an undeniable deepness factor.
Artefakt’s De Stijl imprint presents a new EP by Metropolis. Metropolis, an alias of Nick Lapien—half of Artefakt. With his “No Reason” EP he reboots this guise and presents an unpolished and rough take of his wide techno repertoire. The A-Side includes two smokey warehouse-proof acidic techno jams, where title track No Reason on the B-Side leans more towards an off-beat EBM affair with vocals by Thuraya Shi. To round it off, Artefakt production partner Robin Koek delivers an immersive remix as Cyspe.
New album from Theo Parrish & Maurissa Rose arrives on his own Sound Signature label. Hard to define, rule breaking and game-changing producer Theo Parrish is back with another of his challenging and superlative albums. This one is a collaboration with Maurissa Rose that true sooth the soul. It’s full of his usual deadly grooves, shamanistic percussive layers and jazz energies with plenty of his famous luscious, meditative loops. Add in the smooth vocals of Rose – which come in the form of a soulful stream of consciousness – and you have yet another unique album from this true maverick of the form.
Manabu Nagayama’s ‘Light & Shadow’ was released back in 2015 but never really got picked up. Rush Hour co-founder Antal Heitlager knew it had more potential than it had shown so asked Masalo to remix it. He elevates the track to new levels with subtle tweaks of the arrangement.
Roy Davis Jr. & Byron The Aquarius and Jamie 3:26 & Danou P remix Radio Slave’s disco house hit “Wildlife”.
The Hipodrome Of Music 