E.M.U. – Electro Music Union, Sinoesin & Xonox Works 1993 – 1994 [BLOW02/AVA.LP007]

Reissue of rare UK ambient techno from ’93-‘94. Cold Blow has joined forces with Berlin’s AVA. Records in unearthing some of the finest ambient techno from the Artificial Intelligence era in a beautiful double LP package. The compilation covers essential cuts from the back catalog of J. M. Adkins’ releases and includes 2 tracks available on vinyl for the first time. Aside from Descent, a previously unreleased track, the material was previously released on the short-lived Metatone Recordings which was founded by Adkins himself together with Damon D’Cruz known from his preceding Jack Trax label. Compiled from the original DAT tapes and remastered by Andreas “Lupo” Lubich at Calyx Mastering, “Electro Music Union, Sinoesin & Xonox Works 1993 – 1994” reintroduces Adkin’s work as some of the era-defining classics from the early years of techno.

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E.M.U. – Electro Music Union, Sinoesin & Xonox Works 1993 – 1994 [BLOW02/AVA.LP007]

John Talabot / Khidja – HVN C/D [HVNcd]

The new installment of the Hivern split series features John Talabot and Khidja. Both tracks have slowish tempos, are built around obsessive motifs and make an outlandish use of delays. An unsettling and menacing atmosphere, fruit of masterful exercises on tension building, that seems tailored for those early moments in a set when you feel the need to rise the pressure without causing too much of a blast. These tracks are prime examples that’s there’s space for functional tracks away from the most obvious paths. And that’s the ultimate purpose of the series.

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John Talabot / Khidja – HVN C/D [HVNcd]

Dreams – Beacon Of Power [PNKMN032]

Private Selection Records founder and curator Dreams comes crashing in with a 6-tracker falling between thick body music and gnarly, frenzied electro. With ragged rhythms, reverberating synths and heart-wrenching vocal elements these tracks tie together a dystopian journey beginning with sheer rampage, leading to devastation and ending in hopeless ruin.

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Dreams – Beacon Of Power [PNKMN032]

VA – Universe [MSQ005]

The fifth release of the label returns us to the first compilation universe. This time in orbit you can hear (as in the first release) the French producer Umwelt with the apocalyptic doom core track ‘Fallen Empire’. Also a collaboration of the Mosaique label owner Moralez and the legendary American EBM/ Hard Core artist The Horrorist. They were joined by a hypnotic composition from the Mannequin label owner Alessandro Adriani and accidentally surviving track (after the death of the artist’s music storage) from Greek artist Morah, who’s was released on Helena Hauf’s label Return To Disorder.

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VA – Universe [MSQ005]

Dimitris Petsetakis – On Shores [ITL011]

Into The Light Records has worked with the Greek composer Dimitris Petsetakis to compile a follow-up album that takes an even deeper dive into his archive of previously unreleased material. Like its predecessor, “On Shores” draws on music recorded in the 1980s and early ’90s. It contains just two previous released tracks, the humid ‘Clearance (Part 2)’ and poignant ‘On Endless Shores’, both of which first featured on Petsetakis’s cult 1991 album Missing Links. “On Shores” offers another unparalleled insight into the picturesque and atmospheric soundscapes created in the Piraeus-based composer’s basement studio using a mixture of electronic and acoustic instruments, a wide range of global influences and a keen interest in both minimalism and new age ambience. Listeners will encounter a range of stunningly beautiful and beguiling compositions, from the creepy, slow-burn exoticism of ‘Pythia’s Dance’ and rhythmic, otherworldly escapism of ‘Violated Asylum’, to the gentle bliss of ‘Like a Knife’ and sun-bright joy of ‘Nearxi (Minimal Marimba Edit)’.

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Dimitris Petsetakis – On Shores [ITL011]

Kris Baha – My Master [PNKMN033]

Kris Baha is back on Pinkman Records following up his ‘Can’t Keep The Fact’ EP last year with another great release rich in energy, rhythm and under the influence of his Master. In ‘My Master’ Kris expertly fuses the past and present amidst sonic aesthetics of 80s new-wave, minimal synth and post-punk – all this in amongst fierce percussion, wired sequenced baselines and his vocals up front, revealed and out of the dubby shadows. The result is 6 tracks dribbling with nostalgia in a 2019 context and in classic Kris fashion, can be played on the dance floors of your mind right through to dance floors of reality. In this release Kris submits himself, wholly to his master, which is himself. Who is your master?’

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Kris Baha – My Master [PNKMN033]

VA – Human Abstracts Vol. 1 [BT36/ENDILL012]

Having collaborated over the years in several projects, Endless Illusion and brokntoys join forces for a trilogy of EPs to showcase unique talent across the globe. Meeting somewhere across both label’s middle grounds, the first volume of Human Abstracts captures an array of international players operating at the fringes of the ‘floor’. Colombian duo Vltra Delta Drive kick off the EP with the tense, body-propelled El Complot. Santoine builds up the drama with the uneasy, percussive Transmission. Closing the Aside, Outermost brings his trademark ominous sounds in Mystic River. On the flip, cult favourite Konsistent weaves narcotic grooves on Paranoid Humanoid. After his knockout contribution for Move’s launch EP, Black Propaganda brings the EP to a close with the utopian Instrument Of Liberation.

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VA – Human Abstracts Vol. 1 [BT36/ENDILL012]

L.F.T. – ZMNT 002 [ZMNT002]

Kluentah recrutes for the next number on Zement the underground prodigy L.F.T. straight out the sewer. All four tracks are neckbracking belter on its own class. Murderous acidlines and floorshaking basslines plus dirty drums that will blast your pants off.

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L.F.T. – ZMNT 002 [ZMNT002]

Cosmin TRG – SPORTIV 005 [SPORTIV005]

Cosmin TRG with a new release on his label Sportiv. “Romanian Deadlift” celebrates the spirit of acclaimed Olympians with resolute, floor-shattering kickdrums and a superset of corrosive arps and leads. The tempo picks up with “Exuberant Gambit”, a jungle-tekkno hybrid that flexes a rugged, mutant “Think” break under porous beats and an eerie aerobic melody. “Mae Geri” delivers the final forward thrust with abrasive percussion underlining a paranoid sequence reminiscent of ’90s era NYC warehouse material. Packed with olympic energy, Sportiv 005 is a high-intensity, dance floor-optimised escapade.

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Cosmin TRG – SPORTIV 005 [SPORTIV005]

John Daly – Safe EP [CKNOWEP16]

John Daly resurfaces with an outstanding 4 track house record on Craigie Knowes. Daly has reached an almost mythical status within the house music community; his tracks have been adored by record collectors, DJs and dance floor enthusiasts since the mid-2000s. This record is the embodiment of everything we love about John Daly’s sound, and a bit more.

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John Daly – Safe EP [CKNOWEP16]

Marcus Paulson / Böhm – Commuter EP [PURE001]

Bohm (030303 Records) and Marcus Paulson (aka Kid Machine) deliver four classic cuts of quality house. Inspired by Manchester and Utrecht commutes, the EP sets the tone for future things to come on their Purewaxx label. Paulson and Bohm share a side each, both using the 707/101/303/106 to good use, layering pads, square basslines and deep moody pads and strings.

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Marcus Paulson / Böhm – Commuter EP [PURE001]

Andreas Gehm / Elec Pt. 1 – Cosmic Interrail Vol. 2 [SBOX006]

“It’s with a pride filled, yet heavy, heart that Schrödinger’s Box bid a welcoming return to the uncrowned King of Acid, Andreas Gehm. After Cosmic Interrail come four tracks of acid scorn, corrosive jack and twisted spite. Under his own name, and the time honoured mantle of Elec Pt 1, Cologne’s 303 contortionist serves three works dripping in bitter bars and skewered by claps and snares. “Captain Future” sits outside of the quartet, a carnival outake of whirling lights and crashing cymbals. Pure quality from the Acid King.”

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Andreas Gehm / Elec Pt. 1 – Cosmic Interrail Vol. 2 [SBOX006]