Celebrating a Decade of Dark Entries with a compilation titled ‘Tens Across The Board’. We revisit our roster and chose 10 songs from 10 bands from 10 different countries spanning the years 1981-1993. The songs flow in chronological order and have never appeared on vinyl, with 7 of the songs previously unreleased.
Schwarze Schweiz is a compilation, split in two records, which gathers together Swiss active musicians working in those obscure territories that have been Lux Rec playground for so long. Trostlosigkeit, Elend und Isolation. Ärger, Schwermut und Dunkelheit. Their statement to this country. Part two includes an insert with pictures by Kleio Thomaïdes (Geneva), Max Zeckau and Dominik Schmid (Zürich).
12H is a two hours long summa of the very best material produced for the eponymous sound installation, specifically designed by Donato for the Music Bridge – Armando Trovajoli in Rome under the curation of MAXXI Director Bartolomeo Pietromarchi. The original piece translated in music the architecture of the bridge and its surrounding life, layering samples and field recordings in the language Donato knows best: the repetition, rhythm and harmony of different building blocks. The work was originally reproduced by 24 speakers spread along the bridge colonnade, escorting the visitor through different musical places in their crossing. It now takes its final stereo form in this continuous mix version: a dense, enthralling flow akin to Tiber’s murky waters. The original installation was set up by sound engineer Giuseppe Tillieci / Neel, a frequent collaborator of Dozzy in the “Voices from the Lake” project, with Funktion One support.
Emotional Rescue reissue ‘Into Dark Water’, the second album from UK post-industrial ambient pioneers O Yuki Conjugate (OYC).
The willfully obscure OYC formed in Nottingham in 1982 and have had a sporadic career on the outskirts of musical culture ever since. Initially associated with the early 80s post-industrial scene OYC quietly forged their own brand of ambient music at a time when it was distinctly unfashionable to do so. ‘Into Dark Water’ was recorded in 1986 over four days in an eight-track garage studio in Nottingham. Produced and engineered by John Kaukis, the result was a blend of flutes, percussion, electronics and loops that focused their sound and became for many the definitive OYC album. Originally released in 1987 on the Leeds-based Final Image label, ‘Into Dark Water’ quickly sold out and has been highly sought after ever since. The re-issue, featuring a lovingly recreated sleeve, makes a vinyl version of this classic available again for the first time in over 30 years.
Parisian Larry Quest has been slowly but surely paying his dues, promoting, DJing and generally immersing himself in the underground House Music scenes of Paris and then London after moving to Hackney eight years ago. Growing up playing in punk bands, then studying Jazz at music college has given him the attitude as well as the skillset to create music which is both intensely raw and rugged whilst still being musical and deep. For his debut EP he delivers four drumheavy cuts which bring together elements of Detroit techno and house to form a forward-looking sound which will make an impact wherever you play them. This his debut release coming out on Delusions Of Grandeur.
The fourth from the mysterious ‘Edits From’ Series. Three no-bullshit disco versions designed for euphoric moments on any dancefloor.
This is the second EP on Nick Höppner’s Touch From A Distance imprint by Melbourne based duo, Donald’s House, continuing on with their signature 90s house meets Paradise Garage era disco sound.
It might sound far fetched but here goes: Circadian Rhythms aka Dj Deg brought techno to Belgium before anyone was ready for it. The 1990s collective “Bad Woofers Posse” formed with lifelong friend Mike DMA and their “PK” warehouse parties served as fertile ground for the young producer.
Steeped in this new atmosphere, Deg locked himself up in his bedroom studio at his parents’ place and started developing his interpretation of the freshly imported techno/house sound. In the Belgian way. Combining emotional synth play with neck-breaking drum patterns, sequenced like dreams forever chasing the climax. BM11 collects six unreleased takes from this almost forgotten period (1989 – 1994).
Written and produced in a country house surrounded only by vast, empty landscapes and an endless sky, ‘Suicide Disco’ is the fruit of a 3-year long collaboration and Years of Denial’s debut LP for Veyl.
Urged to escape from crowded cities and information overload, the duo sharpened their sound and working process through isolation and introspection, crafting 11 songs filled to brim with enormous hooks, New Wave nostalgia and razor-sharp production details. Barkosina’s voice echoes and oscillates against Jerome’s snares, profound and wounded at once. Her expressionist narrative take us to unknown yet familiar places, amplified by dub delays and otherworldly reverbs. Each track tells a story based on the intensity of relationships, a touching and distorted invitation into intimacy and complicity.
Cititrax presents a full length LP by a new duo called Tornische. Julio Tornero and Hanna Chamiarytskaya (aka Anneq) got together in Madrid after having met through mutual friends. Immediately, they bonded and found a musical chemistry between them. They went into the studio and began revisiting Julio’s unreleased archives, incorporating what he had already recorded years ago with fresh sounds and Neu Deutsche Welle style duets. The result is a modern, chaotic, take on 80s European new wave, 90s detroit electro, and contemporary indie pop. The energy level is always high, the melodies are catchy and the vocal delivery and lyrics futuristic, subversive, italo-disco / punk, and surreal.
EYE is back. Metamujer marks the third installment on the Knekelhuis label and we’re extremely happy to release this document of another chapter in Laurène Exposito’s life. Recorded on various locations ranging from the Swiss mountains to the chalky coasts of Brittany, Metamujer is an 8-track ode to salty love and closeness to nature, a tribute to a modest lifestyle à la Henry David Thoreau. Far from being praise for self-sufficiency, this new LP is deeply influenced by Laurène’s environment. We can hear Korg MS-10 created synthetic waves (Sanatorium) and birds (Luscinia), but one can also catch her singing in Italian, one of 3 languages spoken in Switzerland. Still minimalist and yet more aesthetically diverse, her new sounds are on the edge of EBM and synth pop, between classic minimal wave tunes and rustic ballads on acid.
Fundamental Records’ electro music project called ”Electric Eclectics” comes with the additional ”Ghost Series”, that literally fit perfectly in the remaining space of the ”Electric Eclectics” box. Each record is a picture of the electro music released in the line that Fundamental Records has us accustomed. Talk about the music itself is something that Fundamental Records try to avoid in each release, if you want to know why you only have to check the project Music for The Other People Place to find out more about their philosophy.
Fundamental Records’ electro music project called ”Electric Eclectics” comes with the additional ”Ghost Series”, that literally fit perfectly in the remaining space of the ”Electric Eclectics” box. Each record is a picture of the electro music released in the line that Fundamental Records has us accustomed. Talk about the music itself is something that Fundamental Records try to avoid in each release, if you want to know why you only have to check the project Music for The Other People Place to find out more about their philosophy.
After the sold-out first edition of Correcciones, Mexican label Calypso returns with Volume 2 of the series, unveiling four strong contenders for Edit of the Year. Starting things off, Calypso co-label boss Thomass Jackson has his way with a weirdo Polish jazz/fusion/funk track that keeps turning left while continually finding the right direction. Russian label regulars Simple Symmetry join forces with co-label boss Inigo Vontier to deliver a ”monster peak-time mantra” that’s as perfect for morning rites as it is for nocturnal adventures. On the B-side, New York’s Facets slows down the tempo of an old goa gem. Volume 2 closes out in the hands of Italian dandys Marvin & Guy, who offer a magnificent take on a forgotten disco classic.
Low Tape is being on a roll lately with his unique interpretation of electronic music and a vast amount of outstanding releases. This time he joins Eudemonia with the ‘True Dayz For Confessing In Luv’ EP and continues his work where he left off. The EP is a perfect blend of different electro tracks with emotional as well as forward thinking moments. Profits will be donated to Musicians Without Borders.
Umwelt allies with Midnight Shift for the release of the mini-LP Superior Life Forms, featuring six devastating tracks on the vinyl release. Limited edition marbled vinyl with full printed pencil-drawn artwork on thick cover. Artwork by Aeropalmics
Assembler Code & Jensen Interceptor a dynamic duo you’ll never get wrong when it comes to strong and forward thinking dancefloor music. The guys from Australia smash four tracks of strong hitting Electro with a heavy dose of Wave. The floor will be on fire.
Piska Power plunges us right into modular territory with some heart beating material and thus the tests have come back positive… or negative, which ever way you want to look at it. ‘Eiter Mit Stulle’ is a 6 track EP/ Mini LP – A nod to the working class, the ones building our society, for the better.
Linking the ancient and the modern across time and space, the Sokratis Votskos Quartet presents ‘Sketching the Unknown’ – a modern jazz journey into the folk and modal music of ancient Greece. Playing rich original compositions, the Quartet draw freely on Greek and Balkan folk sources, jazz idioms, and the classical makams of the near East. Returning to ancient Greek modes such as Dorian, Phrygian and Lydian, a fresh perspective is brought to the modal style. ‘Sketching the Unknown’ links today’s jazz back to the ancient modes and microtonal folk music of Greece and the Near East. Deep modal jazz sounds from an ancient source.
The Hipodrome Of Music 