Thomas Xu is a producer and DJ based in Highland Park, MI. This is his debut solo EP and will be released on his label, Steady Flight Circle.
001.Features
Ali Berger – The Protector [CLAVE-004]
Preface – Palace Hôtel [DISCOMAT005]
Tthe Parisian crew Discomatin picked a real classic of the French boogie era, Palace Hôtel by Preface. Expect shiny synthesizers, percussive drum sounds, catchy and irresistible bass riffs and vocals. The EP reunites here all 3 versions: the extended ‘Version Longue’, with its great electronic introduction, the shorter ‘Version 45 Tours’, if you’re in a hurry and, last but not least, the ‘Instrumental Version’ for those too shy to play the vocals – we certainly are not.
SunPalace – The Lost Songs 1982-1984 [CHUWANAGA004]
SunPalace (Mike Collins and Keith O’Connell) produces back in 1983 “Rude Movements”, an early dance music classic, that brought together proto-house, balearic beats and funky vibes. Thanks to Mike Collins, the studio veteran still in the business after more than 35 years, more material from the archives has been ‘surfacing’ over the past few years. Now, the Parisian label Chuwanaga presents four unreleased songs produced between 1982 and 1984. Bringing together eighties influences and futuristic sounds, the result covers a wide range of genres, from jazz-funk to new wave: it captured a unique moment in British musical history, a smooth transition to a more electronic sound.
VA – Hereos II EP [TMCREC002]
The French label Too Many Cars Records is back with some fresh house, breakbeat, italo, electro and acid stuff. As always, perfect for club use.
Mr. Flagio – Take A Chance [DR-002]
Originally released in 1983, “Take A Chance” is a classic Italo-Disco classic anthem, now officially reissued in the same shape as the first vinyl release.
VA – Material Eléctrico Vol. III LP [BFE051]
Great compilation on Spanish wierdo label Burka For Everybody. The third volume of the series Material Eléctrico, a compilation of international mutant electronic underground. A tour around experimental electronics covering abstract rythms (Santiago, Black Zone Myth Chant), industrial EBM / new beat (Celldöd, Klack, Violet Poison, Bässt), minimal wave (Circa Tapes, Sam de la Rosa) and the great collaboration between Sam De La Rosa & Kyle Dixon.
Dead Husband – Luxe Kondo LP [W06]
Boston duo Dead Husband are responsible for the new and captivating release “Luxe Kondo”. Six varied and punchy tracks made up the long-awaited debut 12″ which as usual go hand in hand with a well prepared design and a white colored vinyl. Doubtless, this uplifting work is abounding with old and up-to-date influences and make clear that these tasteful guys share their love for Minimal wave, Electropop and Techno.
Kris Baha – In Your Arms [SLK007]
No stranger to the darkness, Kris Baha takes us by the heart this time for the 8th She Lost Lontrol’s release. The sound of this 12 extended EP is sad as it is romantic filling the void of most things that are present in our lives albeit momentarily. ‘In Your Arms’ is not the defeat but the endless struggle, the serendipitous celebration of loss. Within the lyrical confines as dark as the period that brought them to light, he screams about fighting and resisting in a cruel present through a selfless in-look for a outsiders perspective into what it means to him and us to have lost to love , lost to lust and lost to death. Every end has a beginning.
Octavian Nemescu – Gradeatia / Natural (1973-83) [SR467]
Originally issued in 1984 by Electrecord, the only record label in communist-era Romania. Sub Rosa brings these two fantastic avant-garde electronic compositions back on vinyl in their Early Electronic Series. Octavian Nemescu was born in Pascani (Romania) in 1940. He studied composition with Mihail Jora at University of Music in Bucharest. As he was still a student, he imposed himself as part of avant-garde movement in Romanian compositional music. After 1965 he achieves works of the “open creation” type, of conceptual and environmental music. He involves himself after 1967 into the Romanian spectral trend. Starting with the work Concentric (1969), his creation has got archetypal vocation by cultivating an aesthetic of the essentializing. Gradeatia was composed in 1982. This piece was commissioned by the Electroacoustic Music Studio in Gent (Belgium) where it was elaborated. It was conceived as ambient music for Voronet Monastery (Moldavia), as an electronic-audio fresco paralleling the existing one, of mural-visual consistency. It happened in a historic moment when the communist regime in Romania demolished many churches. And this piece was conceived as a protest to these actions. Natural was composed in 1973 but finalzied in 1983. This music has a spectral aesthetic orientation and at the same time, processual and archetypal orientations.
VA – Steeplejack V/A II [STPLJCK004]
VA – RM241218 [RM241218]
The yearly compilation by R.a.n.d. Muzik Recordings, this time with the lizard wizard Reptant, his close friend Lou Karsh, Leipzig newcomer, Tim Schlockermann and a very special re-release of CRC’s ‘Influence Device 001’, originally released on the amazing Leipzig label, Zyntax Motorcity in 2009.
VA – SVEMIR 003 [SVEMIR003]
Slovenian imprint Svemir is the new offshoot on imprint Kanja and they are back with their third various artists compilation. This time round they come with three emotional electro tracks from Leipzig’s Eoism, the enigmatic Hawaiian Surfer, Bassik Grooove and Zagrebacki Elektric.
Jeff Mills – Str Mrkd [AX077]
The first release of a new Axis sub-label by Jeff Mills entitled ‘Star Marked’ with 4 tracks of Jeff Mills trademark techno tracks.
The SECT3000 – Basic Moves 08 [BM008]
The SECT3000 is Remco, little-known mid-nineties Swiss proto-techno producer, the younger brother of the synth player from Swiss new wave band Les Rêveurs Artificiels/Die Künstlichen Träumer. Once in a while, he would make a sporadic tune on his brother’s gear, recording it on 8-track tape, without ever mixing it down, then just archiving it in a closet at his parent’s house. Basic Moves got these tapes, made the mixing and mastering and not these two tracks are out for put listening pleasure.
Kluentah – ZMNT 001 [ZMNT001]
First Release of this new imprint by the owner himself, Kluentah, half of Fallbeil. He delievers four diverse tracks that hailing on Side-A from electro (“The Return”) to some kind of New Beatish Territory (“Higher Level”) while the B-Side takes us on a tour of his own version of the EBM-Electroish Track “Enter Mars” and “Circle of Power”.
Aquarius TX – Monica Groove EP [EVR032]
UK duo at the forefront of the 4core scene, pushing to recreate the sound of acid summer ’89. Particularly influenced by European pool parties, ATX combines house music with classic acid and floated euphorics, intended to submerge listeners in hot waves of summer daze. Featuring the “Breaky Baby MixX’ by Dj Normal 4 on the flip-side.
Low Tape – Road Valley [XK015]
Low Tape debuts on X-Kalay with a massive 5 tracker of emotive electro and acid. The Russian producer showcases a real talent in creating a versatile and diverse EP; expertly balancing functional club weight and subtle melodic sensibility. Title track Road Valley is a case in point; carried by a wistful melody line, the track is underpinned by flickering percussion, deep pads and a warm rumbling bass. Red Lights in ma Eyes utilizes a punchy, swung electro groove whilst celestial pads play out under a dripping acid line. Acid Television switches things up with a hammering sawtooth bass, whilst the sharp percussion and cold synths lend a distinctively mysterious, almost noir-esque feel… On Technovia the 303 makes a return – driving acid, urgent percussion and tense pads combine for another slick club cut. Finally, the drifting pads and soaring melodies of ‘Why is Life so Strange’ conclude things perfectly with shimmering melancholy and introspection.
Kadajane – Rostok [PA03]
Estonian electro, perfect for the club or walks home on snowy cobblestones on dark winter nights. Kadajane balances hard hitting dance floor tracks with 6am existentialism in his latest EP ‘Rostok’ for local imprint Päästevest.
Exhausted Modern – Happy Hertz Club Banned [RET004]
Exhausted Modern part of the Endless Illusion crew from Prague joins Rotterdam Electronix with a 5 tracker ranging from Electro to wave-ish Techno. The EP kicks off with an extended acid injected electro track called ”All Things Are Possible”. Second track ”Transgas” continues this threatment for the A side. The flip has a more darker perspective with flanged hi hats and eerie atmosphere. ”Defenestrace” contains a strange vox going over the track from the beginning, it then quickly gains power by its dubbed out framework. The days of EBM and newbeat comes to mind when we hear ”Straight Folded” which sounds like its recorded straight on a tape in the mid 80’s. Last not least ”Very Fake News” closes things of, with a driving kick-bassline and shattering snares causing pleasure on the dancefloor.
The Hipodrome Of Music 