Acid beast and young hardware wunderkid, Lou Karsh, packs four belters into X-Kalay’s latest EP.
001.Features
Marvis Dee – Alpha [OA006]
Organic Analogue’s time-slipping journey into classic/future-gazing electronics continues with the arrival of Marvis Dee. This new 12″ is in fact the brainchild of Jeremiah R, the Dutch electro maverick. As Marvis Dee he’s been equally busy over the past two years, with a spin on deep Chicago house. On the Alpha EP, Marvis Dee has ample space to explore the boundaries of his sound across six original productions that strike a unique, curious chord even as they display the comforting hallmarks of hardware house music. With jacking 707 drums, punchy basslines, tumbling toms and soaring pads notes with sweet-natured harmonic. This is not house music to spell out how you should be feeling. Orgue Electronique is the perfect match for the woozy tones of Marvis Dee, and so the Dutch mainstay takes to “I Can See It In My Dreams” and delivers a powerful revision to the original production. It’s a respectful approach to the remix tradition that aligns with the overall ethos of the Alpha EP.
Donarra – Chienne D’humanit [CDH007]
La Chinerie’s CDH007 Chienne d’Humanité comes from Metaphore Collectif, Marseille based artist Donarra. A delicate mixture of greased synthesizers, Balearic pads, strong Chicago beats & subtle Detroit Electro.
Armonics – Look Alive EP [MMR003]
Dublin’s Modern Magic welcomes Bari’s Armonics for the label’s third release. A trained pianist and resident DJ/curator of the We Talk event series in his home city, Armonics draws influence from electronic music across the past 40 years: Chicago & acid house, italo- & electro-disco, new wave, synth-pop and vaporwave. His ‘Italowave’ style is a fusion of these retro-futuristic and cosmic styles, forged through Armonic’s production processes which include cassette recordings, vintage synths & modern Korg/Roland gear. Accompanying the EP’s three original tracks is an anthemic, piano-led remix of ‘Red Eye’ by International Feel act Black Spuma, aka Phillip Lauer and Fabrizio Mammarella.
Marcello Giordani – Orrizonte [SLOMO037]
This 6 tracks LP travel through again into the unique sound of the early 80’s Italo Disco built with spacey analog sounds, some cheesy atmospheres and a touch of primitive Trance chords. Marcello’s taste is very clear and specific when we speak about Electronic Disco and this LP is totally inspired by artists like Farina/Rago, Sangy, Alexander Robotnick, Alessandro Novaga, Doris Norton and also from his experience collecting and playing this shit during the last 20 years.
Barnes & Wobble – Sans Algarade [EDP003]
Skyrager – Beat Girl / Wonderful [HITD001]
Skyrager presents the first in a series of dance floor edits designed for optimum peak set destruction.
Intense Molecular Activity – I. M. A. [DE198]
IMA (Intense Molecular Activity) is the duo of Don Hunerberg (synthesizers) and Andy Blinx (drums and percussion). Based in New York City and active between 1979 and 1982. Don, a studio Sound / music engineer and musician, Andy an electronic clothing designer, drummer and sound reinforcement engineer at downtown clubs like Max’s Kansas City, Mudd Club and CBGB. In between doing sessions at Radio City Music Hall Studios for groups such as Ramones, Richard Hell, Sonic Youth, Liquid Liquid, John Zorn, Glenn Branca and many others, IMA took advantage of off hours to create their own music. As far as influences go, Don’s background was in electronic music and Andy’s in prog rock. To produce the songs, Don used his own method of creating patterns from 2-track tape loops and then edited them together on to a 24-track recorder adding more tracks of overdubs, In a very similar way that sequencers are used today. By 1980 the duo honed their own unique sound and version of Post Punk and No-Wave with the tools of the trade of the early 80s. Situated above the proscenium of the Radio City Music Hall stage, the studio was outfitted with a variety of orchestral instruments (timpani, bells, xylophone, etc). They self-released a 4-song EP titled “IMA” on an 8” flexi-disc which was distributed by Ed Bahlman of 99 Records. The music bridges the wild psychedelic-rock of the 60s, the synth-punk of the late-70s and the elaborate constructions of progressive-rock. There are nods to the freak-outs of Chrome and the super neurosis of Suicide, but IMA takes a more clinical approach which also takes notice of Hawkwind and Pink Floyd’s interstellar overdrive.
Siekiera – Nowa Aleksandria [MNQ118]
Nowa Aleksandria was Siekiera’s debut album, which crept its way into the back-end of the post-punk scene back in 1986 – an important year which seems to have marked the step-change which later led to the early dawns of rave culture. Out originally on the fledgling Tonpress, it has been repackaged here from the excellent Mannequin, an imprint which is fast becoming the hype beast of post-punk reissuing. As expected, the sound here is moody and direct, verging on the EBM end of the scale; harsh beats weave their way through distorted guitar bass, analogue fuzz, and a crestfallen sort of aesthetic that has taken much knowledge from the likes of Joy Division et al.
Calendar Crowd – Perfect Hideaway [DE199]
Calendar Crowd was the duo of Alan Heaton and Terence Tiernan who met in their hometown of Widnes, Cheshire as schoolboys and played together in various bands in the ‘70s. In the ‘80s they formed a 6-piece band called Room For Humans and recorded one single“Telephone Telephone / Girlfriend”. When the band split and Alan and Terence continued as Calendar Crowd in a more experimental direction. In 1982 they released their debut single “Perfect Hideaway/Perfect Hideaway Dub” on 7”. Guitarist David Knowles joined them as they toured the UK and recorded and released their follow up EP “Listen in to the Heart” in 1985. A reviewer at the time called Calendar Crowd “A Moody Merseyside trio with strong atmospheric tunes and haunting lyrics.” For this reissue we’ve compiled both singles on one EP featuring all four songs. Perfect Hideway is a evocative and dreamy, the music escorts you on a tour of icy landscapes, with Terrance’s deep, rich vocals guiding the way accented by bright brass stabs. Meanwhile the Dub has stripped back the vocals, added delayed samples and heavy pounding drums. On the B-side “Listen in to the Heart” and “Questions Answers” are darker electronic rhythm tracks with layers of ethereal keyboards and guitar melodies.
VA – Metro Jaxx Vol. 1 [BV24]
Six tracker of jacking acid house and warehouse rave music for dancing to. Four to the floor goodness from Planet Mu hardware don Chevron, Granary 12 (new Scottish duo featuring Steven Simpson of 10 Pills Mate fame), Heka Trax boss Nightwave, UK electro rave heavyweight Matt Whitehead, Balkan label owners Posthuman, and Han Do Jin – new moniker of Rag & Bone’s Warlock. No need for more blurb, just listen to the tracks.
VA – Unknown Data Set [PHZ001]
Nice collection of adventurous electro and dreamy house tracks. The unlikelihood of being alive warrants expression. In the increasingly digital universe we are tangibly intertwined yet phenomenally disconnected. This creation of soundscapes defines dream-like iterations of a post-Internet reality and is uncanny in its ability to quintessentially emulate potential futuristic states of being. It induces the uniqueness and highly emotive aspects of undefined existences. It is raw and purposeful. Potatoheadz is a Melbourne-based, DIY label created by Nipuna, Leon Wan & Sam Sedgwick. It is dedicated to the dispersion of local and international music focused on innovative artistry. “Unknown Data Set” is their first record and third release featuring the music of various artists.
Helltown Acid Militia – Spaced Out In Sweden EP [RE30302]
The jam starts with “Orange Sunshine” (doesn’t it always) Of course as usual it takes a while to kick in and by the time it does it’s obvious Helltown Acid Militia are back with their time warping spaceship. By the second track “Still Turning” the fog clears a little, but there are still echoes of a time past, what is it can’t quite put my finger on it… On the flip we are met with chunky 909 rhythms in “More Important”, because what’s more important than a 909 rhythm track For the final outing “Broadcast” (which may be the real hidden gem here) the tempo drops and there’s chord stabs, strings and talk of UFOs. Its at this point that you realise that the label on the record has a picture of Mitzi the cat, in a space suit, holding a white 303. This acid really is a trip.
Timothy J. Fairplay – The Way Is Opened And Closed EP [WFL002]
On his second release for Work For Love, Timothy J. Fairplay continues the journey into dark spaces with four more deep synth freakers from his Fish Island School of Synthesis Studio.
Ekman – Primus Motor [SHIPLP08]
“Primus Motor” sees Ekman return to many of the sounds that gained him a reputation as an artist on labels like Bunker and Berceuse Heroique. Although harsh bucking acid lines, pockmarked notes, brutal beats and eerie echo are all present, a new tone has been added to the caustic palette. A psychological nuance, an undercurrent of the inchoate has been investigated and exploited to chilling effect. Crippling psychoses. Debilitating neuroses. Physical pain. Suffering stalks this first full vinyl album. Sinister sounds encircle the eight offerings, hovering like vultures over inhospitable plains of ashen grey, jagged peaks and dark sweeping swamps. Hope is all but drawn away in this bleached audio landscape, drained by sheer synthlines and reduced renderings. Amidst the sorrow and strain there are pin pricks of joy, albeit bleak and pallid ones. An album that unnerves as it engages, a collection of icy radiance and industrial indifference from a dutch master.
DeFekt / Maelstrom – Acid Avengers 006 [AAR006]
On this new split EP, we welcome two knights of the European electro scene. On the A side, the Irish man DeFeKT, who already released several bombs on Earwiggle, Solar One Music or Newflesh. On the B side, the french killer Maelstrom, who shows us his darkest face here, after some strong releases on RAAR, Zone or Cititrax. One EP, two buddies, four heavy tracks for the bangers.
Patrice Scott – Reborn Goodness [SOTCPS01]
Patrice Scott’s works make Sistrum, his label, designing the shapes of what a classic house record must sound like. Not only a nice guy, Patrice is one of the most talented producers of the planet House and he naturally is respected for that. Sounds of The City continues to put out the music of the Originators’ sons and Reborn Goodness is probably one of the most important addition to the label’s catalogue.
VA – Italo Disco Legacy (Soundtrack) [369.047]
A journey into the past and the future of Italo Disco music through the stories of the original 80’s heroes and cult DJs and the voice of the new generation of artists, radio broadcasters and fans ready to carry on the Italo Disco Legacy.
Borgie – Kosmostrator On Venus EP [EE020RTM]
Electronic Emergencies kicks off 2018 with its 20th release. On the Kosmostrator On Venus EP, Bosnian DJ and producer Borgie has rocketed himself into deep, deep space, far beyond planet Italo. The sound of the four tracks on Borgie’s second EP for Electronic Emergencies is deep, has dark edges and is extremely danceable.
VA – RDY #43 (Ron Hardy Edits) [RDY043]
Cappuccino – Hell dance with me, Man Friday & Jive Junior – Picking up sounds, Kleeer – Taste The Music.
The Hipodrome Of Music 