Baaz – Two (For You) [OFFICE011]

Baaz from Berlin gives us further insight into his diverse musical interests with his ‘Two (For You)’ EP on Office. As the title suggests the talented producer splits his musical activity into two genres on this record: One is deep and moody Techno with a knack for strong sub bass and soft pads. And the other one is striking Ambient with a wonderful appreciation of moving melodies and mellow chords combined with touching vocal parts. What is remarkable how well these four carefully building tracks go together and how effortless they further underline Baaz’ artistic vision of reduced and understated electronic music which unfolds slowly but emphatically. A respectable new record which is well worth opening yourself to.

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Baaz – Two (For You) [OFFICE011]

VA – Musica Per L’Immagine [FBNMLP001]

With Fly by Night Music now celebrating their fifth year of operation, Lorenzo has marked the occasion by assembling his biggest project to date – an impeccably curated collection of obscure Italian production music circa 1974 – 1985. The project, nearly a year in the making, has been very close to Lorenzo’s heart – beginning unexpectedly in the record fairs of Buenos Aires and leading him on several trips to Rome and Milan, tracking down the original musicians and licensors. ”In this compilation, I have tried to include some of the most interesting cuts I have collected over the years. Tracks like the entirely electronic ”Nitrogen” from Alberto Baldan Bembo’s ”Sound Orchestra” LP on Star Track Records, featuring a wild evolving bassline leading us through frantic rhythmic experimentations. ”In the Space”, by French born composer Albert Verrecchia and taken from Italian poliziesco drama ‘Il Tempo Degli Assasini’ (Season for Assasins), tells the tale of wistful longing, played out with serenity on strings and keys, but unexpected interruption from its stop-start arrangement brings an unforeseen tension into the mix… And how could I not include the wonderfully charming ”Screw Driver” by Fabio Fabor, from his collaborative album ”Superman” with a young Antonio Arena. Featuring an orchestra of beautifully programmed ARP and Oberheim sonorities alongside the Commodore 64 programmed graphical artwork by Antonio Arena himself.” The music itself was partly sourced from Lorenzo’s own collection, archived and then restored especially for this release. Where possible, tracks (such as ”Vision”, ”Nitrogen” and ”Blue Magnolia”) have been lifted directly from the original master tapes kindly lent by the repertoire owners. Every track, however, has been carefully restored, remastered and cut for vinyl by the cautious hands of Andreas [LUPO] Lubich at Calyx Mastering, Berlin.

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VA – Musica Per L’Immagine [FBNMLP001]

Joao Donato & Seu Trio – Muito A Vontade [GB002LP]

Go! Bop! present a reissue of Joao Donato & Seu Trio’s Muito À Vontade, originally released in 1962. Joao Donato is a legend of Brazilian jazz and Latin music and this is his legendary debut album. The well-skilled performance speaks of a great routine each musician has, but there is so much fire and hunger to be found within the compositions. The listener will experience rather relaxed slow jazz tunes with an obvious bossa nova groove and a leading piano that takes off from the backing rhythm of drums and standing bass. On the other hand, there are tunes with wicked piano staccato lines and a powerful rhythmic drive that is rooted in Latin music, but shoots forward on a ray of energy. The tunes are well composed and have a memorable structure that distinguishes them from the beginning free jazz hype back in the day. Joao Donato and his mates in the trio were jazzy boys, but they were also songwriters. Catchy melodies were as important as a great and skillful performance. The combination of both sides of jazz, and the crossover with Latin sounds, makes Muito À Vontade a special album, with other greats to follow. Muito À Vontade stands out as a landmark. If you feel that it is time for an equally relaxed, but exciting jazz record to enchant you, here you go. A sweet reissue of a classic from the early ’60s. Joao Donato and his trio play it rather smoothly but their passion hits you automatically after a short while listening. Even the slower tunes offer twists and turns that leave you feeling amazed.

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Joao Donato & Seu Trio – Muito A Vontade [GB002LP]

Marvis Dee – Midnight Dreams [VG003]

Although best known for producing alien electro, Jeremiah R also makes evocative deep house under the lesser-known Marvis Dee alias. Here he pops up on Voodoo Gold with a mini album’s worth of woozy goodness. The Rotterdam based producer brings us again a record full of warm, tape driven tracks. Highly recommended for lovers of a mixture of lo-fi 80’s cassette machine funk and groovy synth boogie.

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Marvis Dee – Midnight Dreams [VG003]

CCO – Road To The Stars [PF014]

Photic Fields usher a new name into the fold, Switzerland’s Contra Communem Opinionem aka CCO. The Lux Rec and Mathematics alumni arrives with The Road to the Stars, five tracks of his trademark acid elegance. The ferocity of the 303 has been sheathed, percussion pared down with lush chords and deep warmth being the focus. House is the foundation from which CCO builds. Those time honoured sounds support cascading melodies and fragile keys for a 12″ that borders between armchair abstraction, floor funk and the night sky.

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CCO – Road To The Stars [PF014]

Massiande – Freedom EP [PHONICAWHITE016]

Phonica’s white label series returns with a real deep house excursion by Chilean producer Massiande in the form of his ‘Freedom EP’. The title track ‘Freedom’ launches the EP attempts to recreate an aural scenery of flying exploration centred on a spacey synth line and an almost Detroit techno bassline. ‘Be With Me’ starts with an almost Mr Fingers-esque groove before melodic elements take over.’Straight’ is more of a straight-up dancefloor track with obvious elements from US house from the 90s, clipped Chandler-esque beats, nagging stabs and a vocal sample ‘Gonna take you to another land, where there is no race’, going straight to a place where you can allow yourself to be free on the dancefloor. Many ’90s U.S. American House and Garage influences go through this track, which brings us to the final track, the epic ‘Ode To A Tortured Soul’. Deeply melancholic with an end-of-night feel with its own flute solo, channelling Frankie Knuckles ‘The Whistle Song’ or Flow’s Bottom Line classic ‘ Another Time’.

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Massiande – Freedom EP [PHONICAWHITE016]

Florian Kupfer – Post Present [PRIVATEPERSONS003]

Florian Kupfer returns with a three track EP on Private Persons. This 12inch tells us the story of the beginning of Florian’s career – his travels, dreams and of course love. Title track ‘Post Present’, recorded for the first time five years ago get’s its first cut into wax. Eerie, other-worldly voices reach over a kicking, distinctively Kupfer-esque rhythm track. ‘ I Can’t Love Life Without U’ is a dub drive through retro-futuristic heartbreak and ” an ambient tip into the subconscious.

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Florian Kupfer – Post Present [PRIVATEPERSONS003]

Jasen Loveland – Acid Series Vol.1 [IT038]

Jasen Loveland is a doctor of medicine, with interests in house music and computer dating. This is his recorded debut. Recorded in LA and mixed in Detroit at the IT studios. To celebrate 10 years of No Way Back (a regular party in Detroit…and beyond), the label is launching the Acid Series, a series of records on Interdimensional Transmissions inspired by the No Way Back parties.

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Jasen Loveland – Acid Series Vol.1 [IT038]

DMX Krew with Yuri Suzuki – 7777-013 [7777013]

DMX KREW with YURI SUZUKI - 7777 013

7777 presents its 13th release featuring DMX Krew and Yuri Suzuki. Side A brings you straight house attitude. B side strips it down and adds the acid. These songs are perfect for your record bag.

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DMX Krew with Yuri Suzuki – 7777-013 [7777013]

VA – Import Export [CHALICE002]

After a long hiatus the Fasaan Recordings crew finally emerges from their basement to break out a second volume of their Chalice imprint. Functioning as a looser side vehicle to Fasaan, Chalice is a home for rawer and more uncompromising side projects of the Fasaan crew and their extended family. Honing in on a murky zone of cheap-sounding machine rhythms and punchy boogie-influenced proto-house sounds, the Chalice style is in your face and then out the door “just like that”: take it or leave it. As the title “Import/Export” suggests, the contributions for this installment have been gathered from such foreign places as Copenhagen, Bandung, Tallinn, Manchester and Dublin.

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VA – Import Export [CHALICE002]

Black Devil Disco Club – Berlin Disco Club EP [CTC369.002]

BLACK DEVIL DISCO CLUB - Berlin Disco Club EP

One of the most unconventional techno tracks which were released during the last years. Catchy pop like and unbelievable dark at the same time. H-Friend starts at the peak and then progressively reduces itself into an intro that is actually the outro of this song. (Black) Devil like totally reverted – the start could be the end, the end could be the start. Remixed by Benedikt Frey. A typical project by Berlin based label Private Records that results in a lot more than the single ingredients. A fantastic follow up on the new Closing the Circle label. Get some magic as long as it is available.

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Black Devil Disco Club – Berlin Disco Club EP [CTC369.002]

Elitechnique – Disco D’azur / Riva Riviera [BAP094]

The Rotterdam duo Elitechnique arrive at Bordello A Parigi with two cuts of groove dipped electro disco. “Disco D’Azur” starts as it means to go on. Juddering bass and crystalline synth lines open into astral avenues, chords cascade and flow before they build into triumphant highs. The flip keeps the party fires burning. “Riva Riviera” takes its cue from “Disco D’Azur”, bold and broad bars with clean percussion with just a touch more mirrorball romance. Keys intertwine, embrace and twirl away as Elitechnique lead you from dusk to dawn.

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Elitechnique – Disco D’azur / Riva Riviera [BAP094]

Holy Ghost Inc – Walk On Air [ISLE003]

Originally released in 1990 the Sun & Moon Mix of ‘Walk On Air’ has taken on near mythical status as a benchmark record that brought together strands of Ambient, Deep House, Techno and Trance. The B side sees the original Amphibious Carbine mix joined by two previously unreleased Dubs unearthed from the original DAT tapes.

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Holy Ghost Inc – Walk On Air [ISLE003]

Philipp Gorbachev & The Naked Man – I Don’t Give A Snare LP [ARMA016]

Arma presents the debut Philipp Gorbachev & The Naked Man album. Philipp Gorbachev, the Russian musician and DJ, has been throwing killer parties and making some of the most innovative and exciting electronic music to come out of Moscow in years. In 2014 he released his debut album Silver Album but when invited to perform a live Boiler Room he had something else in mind: a band scenario. The resulting concoction was not something locked into a 4/4 beat but rather a much more organic, groove-based sound with funk-strutting bass lines and live drums that rolled and flurried around the beats that jumped around leading the charge of the songs along with Gorbachev’s Damo Suzuki-like vocals. Taking that experiment into the studio, ‘I Don’t Give A Snare’ is a wild ride that jumps genres, switches paces and alters tones frequently. The opening ‘Goodman’ exploding in intense rhythms and heavy, spiralling riffs that at times recall Sabbath but the ever-shifting drums and gargling electronics give a wonky freshness that feels impossible to place into genre. Whilst Gorbachev cites a range of influences from Beck to Blind Willie Johnson as being core to him, the primary motivation is the live nature of the project itself. ‘The main influence is the constant live experience we have as music players and performers. I want to get the most out of every party, every jam, and every dancefloor.’

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Philipp Gorbachev & The Naked Man – I Don’t Give A Snare LP [ARMA016]

Borusiade / The Sixteen Steps – Promises & Infatuation [CITI022]

BORUSIADE/THE SIXTEEN STEPS - Promises & Infatuation

Cititrax present a split EP by two massive talents, Borusiade and The Sixteen Steps. Borusiade, originally from Bucharest, Romania began as a DJ in the early 2000s and then started producing music in 2005. With a background in classical music, she combined her love of raw electronics, obscure themes and melodic lines to create her own signature sound. She has released on the Cómeme label as well as Corresepondent. Infatuation and Confutation are dark, moody and intense tracks that catch you upon first listen. The flip side of the Promises and Infatuation EP features The Sixteen Steps, the brainchild of George Lanham who cut his musical teeth DJing and running events in the south of England. We have been listening to many of his tracks endlessly for a while now. Signals From The South and Promises On The Run are both immaculately produced, hypnotic, dance floor killers. They are sparse ebm meets smoky warehouse techno, and offer a wonderful contrast to Borusiade’s layered emotive tracks that reminisce of an East Village club in the 1980s. Themes of infatuation, appearances, and anonymity appear throughout this EP from the music itself right through to the cover art.

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Borusiade / The Sixteen Steps – Promises & Infatuation [CITI022]

Delta Funktionen – Junior High School Excursion To The Parallel World [RAM-X-10]

Following a near two-year hiatus, Delta Funktionen resurfaces in order to invite us on his Junior High School Excursion To The Parallel World. While the title evokes images of bad 1980s teen movies, musically the Dutch producer has delivered a double-pack full of what we would describe as “proper” techno and electro. That means thrusting rhythms, bold and restless basslines, intergalactic electronics and melodies that sound like they’ve been beamed down from, well, a parallel world. There’s naturally plenty of subtle variation – compare and contrast, for example, the booming rhythmic intensity and creepy melodies of “Torpedo” and the winding late night acid trip that is “Stingoperation” – but Delta Funktionen keeps his eyes firmly fixed on the dancefloor throughout.

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Delta Funktionen – Junior High School Excursion To The Parallel World [RAM-X-10]

Techno Bert – Neue Dimensionen [MNQ094]

Originally released in 1990 on Doremix Records, Techno Bert was the studio project of Robert Passera and Stefano Cundari, co-owner of Memory Records and mastermind behind some italo disco classic names like Hipnosis, Koto, Faxe. “Neue Dimensionen” was developed on Siouxsie & The Banshees’s well-known guitar riff of ‘Happy House’, in a techno crescendo, where the duo would have enjoyed inserting as many samples as possible by stopping only when the capacity of the sampler Akai S1000 memory would be full.

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Techno Bert – Neue Dimensionen [MNQ094]