‘Artful Rifle’ is a new record label dedicated to ‘non-serious techno music’ founded by Berlin based producer Pablo Mateo. The first release “Tentlover” EP comes up with 4 atmospherical, psychedelic techno trips – paying an homage to Octavia E. Butlers ‘Xenogenesis’ trilogy.
Echovolt’s lost and found 10th release is finally out. A beautiful mosaic of six tracks produced by new and old friends hailing from six different parts of the world. From the no-reason unreleased Terekke’s “Sun Salutation” remix, the new Greek producer but old friend of us under the (for the time being) name “Old Man Talkin'”, the first hip hop jam ever released on the label by West Coast’s “Tlim Shug” to the mysterious one-off alias of Sydney’s “Indreamz”. However, this compilation could never be more complete without our new loves that are Australia’s Hugo Gerani (aka John Tanner) and Shea from overseas both of them to be seen in future solo releases!
Glueped is the collaborative alias of Mihai Mihalcea and Cristi Tudorache, better known as Teluric and Melodie. Already having released with their solo projects on some of the scenes most distinguished imprints, they have joined creative forces once again to put together an EP for Vade Mecum, an already familiar output for Teluric. The result will set you sailing in shifty winds – going from nostalgic to ecstatic, from mystery to comfort and warmth, without losing touch with the dancefloor.
Macadam Mambo is launching a special compilation of adjustments made by friends and members of the label (Kilian Krings, Sneaker/Dunkeltier, Obermannkind, Panoptique, Mori Ra, Shiny Boots, Misha Geylen, Smagghe & Cross, Guillaume des Bois, Johan Ressle). Mostly very obscure tracks in Sacha’s ‘Metalic vibe’, from post-punk to synth-pop, experimental and more.
The second volume from Discos Del Quebranto continues to explore the deranged end of electronics. A-side finds Colours of Infinity AKA Andy Donnelly, who runs the Hidden Waves label, delving into slow, sludgy territory while on the reverse, obscure wave digger BLΔCKMOON77 takes the production reins for a full industrial immersion.
More dead bears for the masses! Unreleased/never heard before material by Newworldaquarium. Trancendental disco fever straight from the aquarium.
First release by Rotterdams young entrepeneur Offset. 3 electro cuts and an dub techno track on the flip.
Alek Stark’s attention to detail in everything he does is particularly apparent in his music – his tracks are all first class analogue electro. He pulls no punches on this E.P. with heavy 808 percussion alongside a myriad of modular noise and synth workouts. Cold, robotic and reminiscent of early Psyche / BFC with deep chorused pads creating an off-world dystopian theme that runs throughout this release.
Fresh from contributing from The Glowing compilation Vertical67 AKA Thomas Pahl is back on brokntoys with Morphed Reality. BT18 shows his versatility as a producer switching between gnarly, acid flecked electro to more introspective, IDM influenced brooding techno.
For its ninth release, Italian label Spazio Disponible looks to countryman Marco Shuttle for a first full length. ‘Systhema’ comes three years after his last album on his own Eerie label and finds him again focussing on an absorbing ambient techno style across eight enthralling cuts. Shuttle layers sound in subtle ways and has a meticulous attention to detail that results in a cinematic techno style that is cavernous and hypnotizing. Always operating in a region where ambient, techno and heady soundtracks become one, with this album Marco Shuttle once again confirms he is one of the finest sonic sculptors out there.
Biosphere is the main recording name of Geir Jenssen, a Norwegian musician who has released a notable catalogue of ambient electronic music. He is well known for his works on ambient techno and arctic themed pieces, his use of music loops, and peculiar samples from sci-fi sources. His 1997 album Substrata was voted by the users of the Hyperreal website in 2001 as the best all-time classic ambient album. The Petrified Forest mini-album is inspired by the movie of the same name, released in 1936 and directed by Archie Mayo.
Robert Henke aka Monolake returns with P A N which is the sixth and last record of the VLSI series. How he finds the time when not premiering such awe-inspiring audiovisual experiences such as Deep Web and Lumiere II? We will never know! This is the height of modern electronica with immaculate sound design created with the cutting edge technology within its sonic architecture. The guy invented Ableton so go figure! Across its three auditory experiences you will plug into a stunning dimension. “Pio” features female:pressure founder Electric Indigo, in addition to studio assistance from the legendary Mark Ernestus.
MLK presents Soul Storm (MLK1) by Mystic Letter K (aka Cari Lekebusch), the first release in the new MLK series. The EPVcontain 2 extraordinary electro sonic experiments that will continue the story of a mystery in sound architecture science.
Redshape returns to his own label with a retrovisionist release that looks back in time as much as it looks forward to the future. Revving up on the A side is ‘Shift’, a propulsive hurtle to the final frontiers. Starting off ominously with just drums, bass and a Pollock splatter of toms, the track is soon overrun by an army of relentlessly running basslines, let loose to steer in and out like searching headlights on a dark and endless highway. With a heavier kick, the track shifts into top gear with pensive pads soaring overhead, mesmerising squeaks and his signature attention to percussive detail. On the flip is ‘Drive’, which switches gears down a notch as an astrospace cruise along intergalactic coastlines – from summery California to shiny Coruscant. A rounded pounding beat with heavy sub bass bounces along to a breezy tropical melody and spacious percussive work, before riding off into a cinematic sunset that is as nostalgic as it is hopeful of the coming dawn. Once again on the edge of spatial sound but grounded in analog warmth, Redshape has presented a revision of classic record productions that truly punches as it is meant to be felt and heard – on wax.
Basic Soul Unit returns with another deadly EP on Dolly, further investigating the thin dividing line between techno and broken beats. A-side “Wallow” is a menacing big room stormer with a delicate pad breakdown, with Voiski providing an alternate more driving techno version of it with a splendid melodic twist midway through the track. “Radiate” and “Joyride” on the B both have BSU’s signature rhythmic ideas and fresh energy with “Radiate” even going full-on Broken Rave! “Joyride” is that upbeat funky techno nugget that’s going to sit in your DJ bag forever.
The Dutch label Balans Records returns with it’s twenty-first instalment to the series. This time Darko Esser’s imprint presents a collaboration between Z.I.P.P.O and Kalean, under their 3KZ moniker. ‘Not From Here’ opens the EP with its flowing grooves & eerie pads to create a beautiful techno track followed by ‘Nature Of Motion’ that offers an astral like immersion to the listener with its haunting melodic rhythms. On the flipside ‘Circles’ & ‘Times’ switch up the vibe in a more intense & playful mood, resulting in a finely balanced EP of atmospheric driving techno.
Classic yet fresh, part of the pantheon but exploring new forms: Module Werk continues where last year’s Interdimensional Traveler EP left off with a new stand-out four-tracker on Portuguese label Helena. Gravitational Tugs comes on in a Detroit rush of hi hats, claps and snares over an offbeat bassline, as stardust synths spin off into space overhead. Minor harmonies and a sparse breakbeat take Moment Of Inertia into darker territory, preparing the ground for the vintage Ismistik-style squiggle-and-stomp of Ritual Dance Machine. The mood lightens finally with Awakening, the kind of contemplative analogue electro to put on at an afterparty at your place, once you’ve changed into your comfiest pyjamas.
Dekmantel has wheeled out the big guns for this third volume in their 10th anniversary vinyl series. Mr Consistency himself, Leon Vincent, kicks things off with “UK Spring Vibes”, a pleasingly deep and softly spoken shuffler piled high with attention-grabbing analogue bass, stretched-out chords and twinkling piano flourishes. Legowelt excels himself (as usual) on the darting, synth-heavy intergalactic fun of “Blue Astral Techno”, while Joey Anderson is an ultra-positive mood on the melodious, slightly melancholy, synth-heavy deep house of “Opened Gate”. Central’s “Six Five Two”, a wavy and Balearic-minded trip though gentle, sun-kissed sounds and bubbling electronic rhythms, draws a fine EP to a close with an intoxicating flourish.
DMTR DSTNT & LVRIN join forces for a killer slice of dark techno and wave on Crimes Of The Future with the Blasphemy EP. Side A kicks off with a slice of heavy Russian techno mayhem with driving acid, synth and heavy percussion. Over on side B we have two different moods starring with more heavy duty acid on B1 and completing the side with some peak time dark wave action on achromatic.
The Hipodrome Of Music 