Australian wunderkind’s Jensen Interceptor & Assembler Code step for CE024. Four tracks of dark driving electro with a robotic stomper of a remix from Cultivated Electronics head Sync 24.
001.Features
Margenrot – Zangezur [KLAMM14]
The debut album by Siberia-born, Moscow-based artist Margenrot aka Lusia Kazaryan-Topchyan – a dark and mesmerising journey into the subterranean, inspired by her Armenian roots and murky sounds of 80-90s industrial music. The album shares its name with a conflict-ridden historical region in southeast Armenia. Margenrot’s inspiration, however, goes beyond geopolitics, and is rooted in the myth of the region’s name. According to Armenian folklore, the name Zangezur came into use after Timur’s conquest, who conquered the Syunik province after a renegade Armenian prince sabotaged the area’s alarm bells. As the province fell, its inhabitants wondered why the bells never rang, giving birth to the phrase “the ring is in vain,” or “zange zur” in Armenian.
VA – Cititrax: Tracks Volume Three [CITI024]
Cititrax presents the third in a series of four song samplers showcasing the talents of some of the most innovative producers of the moment. Cititrax: Tracks Volume Three features the a powerful new collaboration between Amato (aka The Hacker) and Mariana Saldana (Medio Mutante, Boan), the brutal industrial techno of Barcelona based British producer The Sixteen Steps, a Polish mastermind based in Miami known as His Dirty Secrets, and the NYC underground duo Further Reductions (Shawn O’Sullivan and Katie Rose). The overall sound can be described as modern, uncompromising and guttural. Each artist reinvents dance music by bringing their own unique vision to the floor.
V-Sor X – Authors 2 [PM22]
Coming to Peripheral Minimal is a classic of the synth-pop scene. V-Sor X (pronounced VEE-SORE-EX), originate from the midlands town of Lichfield (known as, rather disturbingly, ‘field of the dead’, in Latin), an important (historically speaking) but unremarkable place. V-Sor X was founded in 1979 as a vehicle for Morgan Bryan, who influenced by the post-punk protagonists and the new-wave of electronic musicians, formed a band. This is a reissue of the first single by, ‘V-Sor,X’ entitled, ‘Authors 2’, originally released in 1982 on DOX Music, in a very limited edition of 300.
Virgo – Virgo [TX2018002]
Released on TRAX in the golden year of 1989 Chicago’s Virgo aka friends Eric Lewis and Merwyn Sanders, gently pushed House music towards a more musically sophisticated realm that hadn’t been explored previously. Across 8 tracks Virgo took us on a deep exploration of sound that was both masterfully arranged and produced and in direct contrast to a lot of the rudimental and jacking drum tracks that were the flavour of the day. There are few debut albums in the electronic sphere that can claim the title of ‘classic’, but this is surely one of them. A defining turning point in dance music, the dawn of what would later be referred to as the ‘deep house’ movement and sound is all evident with the grooves of this legendary record. Often listed as one of the ‘greatest LP’s of all time’, this self-titled odyssey remains an essential, must have record that never loses it’s magic, flawless in every way and still trailblazing today.
Betonkust & Palmbomen II – Leo / Mirjam [DKMNTL057]
Taken from the forthcoming Dekmantel LP Center Parcs by esoteric Dutch production duo Betonkust & Palmbomen II, comes the ‘Leo/ Mirjam’. The track is a rendition of upbeat-melancholic, future- retroism, and a slice of saturated house music. The flip features a special, unyielding, acid-tempo rework by Legowelt.
Undo – Disconnect Remixes Part Two [FC054]
Factor City presents the second and last 12” with remixes from Undo’s “Disconnect L.P”. It’s time now for Marvin & Guy and Zombies In Miami with two outstanding reworks of “The Arptist” and “Disconnect”. The fantastic italian duo Marvin & Guy take on “The Arptist” is an 11minutes lisergic journey through magic pads, sparkling arpeggios and distorted guitars. On the flip Zombies In Miami work there magic on “Disconnect” using the original pads and Undo’s voice to create a totally new track with their own trademark.
Clive Stevens and Brainchild – Mystery Man [DRIVE003]
The third release on Midnight Drive takes us back to the heady days of 1984, New York City, while doing a re-issue job on this classic anthem by Clive Stevens.
Llewellyn – San Junipero [RVN014]
Not that long ago, one had to introduce Llewellyn as Martin Enke’s House- and Disco-bound sideshow to his main-moniker Lake People. That’s kinda obsolete these days, as Llewellyn has been cranking out enough high quality material over the last months to be on everybody’s radar anyway. “San Junipero” is already his second proper EP release on Riotvan in less than one year, not counting compilation tracks and remixes. It is the successor to his “The Other Side Of You” EP, the actual “Other Side” so to say, if not his prime moment so far.
Fakundo – Telo [WE006]
The sixth instalment of Slow Motion’s retro-futuristic international-sister label is the debut release of mysterious Russian producer Fakundo. This record sits at the heavier end of our musical spectrum and is brimming with hard-hitting electro swagger that conjures up a dystopian video-game underworld, the best bits of Alien Sex Fiend and comes atop a whole bunch of wobbly baselines. Not for the faint of heart this record is a total dance-floor destroyer.
Gallo – Orange Stripe [SLOMO038]
Slow Motion’s 38th release comes courtesy of Berlin-based Gallo who you may know as part of Balearic Gabba Soundsystem. Joining the family for his debut solo release Gallo drops the tempo for three deep-cuts of blissful Balearica. Backed up with an acidic, chugging re-rub of ‘Faron’ from Fabrizio Mammarella which is perfect when the sun goes down, Orange Stripe arrives just in time for Summer. How to get the most of this track: combine it with blissful and dreamy beach-excursions or with a sunset aperitivo.
Tomaga – Music For Visual Disorders [MEA023]
Tomaga’s Music For visual Disorders comprises nine tracks of intuitive automation, compiling compositions that have been used by different artists and curators within the context of works of visual art, dance and exhibitions. Tomaga members Valentina Magaletti and Tom Relleen use a multi-instrumental palette, conjuring up a musical sphere that touches on industrial music, minimalism, ambient and a gentle, at times inward, at times outward, take on krautrock’s motorik. Tomaga’s music is deceptively moderate as its core revolves around intuitive and gentle pulses. Its experimentation lies in its development as it is often driven by abstract images and intentions and even allows moments of soft-spoken absurdity. Music For Visual Disorders is a highly contemporary take on avantgarde and classic contemporary music.
Velocette – Afterimage & Belle Du Jour [STYRAXVELOCETTE]
Fluxion – Strands [SOLAR08]
Solar Phenomena’s fourth EP of 2018 is a four tracker from Fluxion. The Greek producer’s warm dub techno comes on labels like his own Vibrant Music and Echocord and over the last 20 years has given rise to some of the genre’s most essential material.
Donato Dozzy – Mindless Fullness [EE13]
Tom Trago – Bergen [DKMNTL056]
Bergen is the next, and natural step in the expanding career of Dutch producer Tom Trago. The acclaimed producer behind Voyage Direct will release his fourth LP, with the label and crew he’s built a close relationship with over the past ten years – Dekmantel. With a new studio and approach to music, Bergen is Trago sounding at his very finest, returning to his roots with a focussed, and dedicated production ethos.
Rick Wade – Cognitive Ecstasy EP [ATR002]
Here is Another’s second release, a 3 tracks EP from Chicago’s iconic house producer Rick Wade, who has reinvented himself in the recent years. This is quite obvious on this record which oscillates between old school and modernity, especially with the track Be The One on B2, a futuristic deep house anthem.
Earth Boys – Destination Heaven [FM002]
The second offering from the Fruit Merchant label is the official re-issue of Earth Boys – Destination Heaven. The highly sort after musical collaborative of Roy Davis Jr & Jay Juniel.
Midnight Tenderness – Refresco EP [KEN007]
Midnight Tenderness serves up a dreamy first solo offering with a fire-cracker of a four-tracker for Sydney’s Ken Oath Records. As heard on the title track and the emotive nu-jazz of “Terme” (reminiscent of early Atjazz) rounding up the A side. On the flip, we have the slo-mo, neon-lit boogie down jam that is “Hydra” brining this fine EP to a close.
The Hacker & Jensen Interceptor – Trigger Zone EP [INTLC001]
Continually innovative French artist The Hacker has linked with Australia Jensen Interceptor to release on the latter’s new label, International Chrome. The three tracks fuse serene electro and rugged EBM, sleek Kraftwerk rhythms and synths, and plenty of futuristic and cinematic Drexcyian influences into truly cinematic soundscapes.
The Hipodrome Of Music 