Peter Westheimer – Cool Change LP [LER1008]

WESTHEIMER, Peter - Cool Change

If you walk into a record store you might discover Peter’s recordings filed under the usual headings: Electronic, Ambient, Experimental or New Age. Peter has long loved blending sounds from around the globe, with both Asian and European classical influences often finding comfortable spaces beside his synth pop sensibilities within his soundscapes. In the record stores of our minds you might also file some of Peter Westheimer tracks like ’Walking On The Edge’ or ‘Elastic Smiles’ under Mutant Disco or Divergent Dance Music.

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Peter Westheimer – Cool Change LP [LER1008]

Denis Mpunga & Paul K – Criola [MFM019]

MPUNGA, Denis/PAUL K - Criola

The last Music From Memory is a mini LP of works by Denis Mpunga and Paul K. Combining elements of traditional African music with experimental electronics, the Belgian/Congolese duo released only a handful of tracks, scattered across a few rare LP and cassette compilations that were put out in the mid eighties by obscure european labels . This release also includes a few previously unreleased songs that were found on the original master tapes.

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Denis Mpunga & Paul K – Criola [MFM019]

Shankar Jaikishan – Raga Jazz Style [OTR001]

Never before reissued, this legendary 1968 EMI recording is a revered Indian jazz rarity; a collectors’ holy grail. Raga Jazz Style is an original Indian excursion into Indo-jazz fusion. A one-away recording from the almost unknown Bombay jazz scene, it is among the few jazz LPs to hail from the subcontinent. Raga Jazz Style takes the melodic, scale-based raga system of Indian classical music and marries it with a swinging jazz rhythm section assembled by Bollywood’s most highly acclaimed musical directors, the soundtrack composing duo Shankar Singh and Jaikishan Panchal. Singh and Panchal were a dominant force in Hindi film music from the late 1940s onwards. Shankar had been trained in classical tabla, while Jaikishan was an expert harmonium player. They worked together on well over a hundred films, and their innovative compositions and orchestral scoring revolutionised the music of the nascent Bollywood industry.

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Shankar Jaikishan – Raga Jazz Style [OTR001]

Alek Lee – Sfarot EP [ATN034]

In a very “fourth world” manner, Alek Lee brings together middle-eastern influences in his music with ease and without ever having it sounding cliché: on Harabait and Sfarot (and its dub version), his friends and him play the violin, the bass clarinet and the accordion in a way which reminds of Klezmer music, putting the three songs on the EP in line with both his musical education and his cultural background.

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Alek Lee – Sfarot EP [ATN034]

ASOK – Inner Circle [MORK013]

Stu Robinson aka ASOK returns with a quick fire reply via Lobster Theremin sub-label Mörk. Applying a similar template of contradictory elements, cobbled into a melded, half-melted mass of aquatic techno, proto-rave and depth-charged deep house, Inner Circle is the transformation complete. A step into the unknown without a shadow of doubt.

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ASOK – Inner Circle [MORK013]

VA – Various 01 [NRML021]

The first Normals Welcome V/A 12” sees some familiar faces as well as some freshies to hit the label. The A side represents two Vancouver, BC based projects: ESB and Ambien Baby (a new collab group from Sophie Sweetland aka D. Tiffany, and Daniel Rincon). The Paronomasiac aka Nik Kozub, head honcho at NW starts off the B side, with London, UK duo Metropolitan Soul Museum rounding it all off.

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VA – Various 01 [NRML021]

Rhythm Of Paradise – State Of My Mind EP [CHIWAX026]

Rawax prouldy welcomes Rhythm Of Paradise to the Family. It happened last autumn when our label head Robert Drewek was traveling to Bari to play a gig with his friend Nico lahs. He met this very symapthic & crazy guy and felt in love with the music he showed him.

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Rhythm Of Paradise – State Of My Mind EP [CHIWAX026]

Move D / Reagenz – Roll Split / 460 Melrose Ave [AWAY004]

Ave Berlin collective AWAY ready the 4th release in their catalogue. They present a split 2-tracker from label mainstay Move D and his pairing with Jonah Sharp under their collaborative guise of Reagenz. Natural in their progression, both tracks spark ardour as they steadily develop adding another fine addition to a blooming catalogue.

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Move D / Reagenz – Roll Split / 460 Melrose Ave [AWAY004]

Aleqs Notal – Ascending Nodes [SISANOTAL]

Sistrum welcomes Aleqs Notal to the family with Ascending Nodes. Arriving as yet another unique thread in the ever-expanding fabric of the Sistrum sonic tapestry, the EP is a statement on deep, warm vibrations for those in search of soul cleansing sounds. Listen often, listen loud and dance abundantly…

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Aleqs Notal – Ascending Nodes [SISANOTAL]

VA – In The Dark Again 7 [DARK007]

The first release in 2017, from In The Dark Again, is the seventh Various Artists EP on my label for dark and trippy sounds. This time Ka§par, Lectromagnetique, Vault and Synkronized bring the noise.

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VA – In The Dark Again 7 [DARK007]

Exhausted Modern – Hellenistic Thoughts [EIDE001]

EXHAUSTED MODERN - Hellenistic Thoughts

Eidetic is a new project from the brokntoys camp, focusing on the deeper side of techno. To kick off the project, Eidetic welcomes Exhausted Modern – an alias from Layup, the co-founder of Endless Illusion, for a 4-track EP of grimy, grubby, eerie electronics suited for the early hours on the dance floor.

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Exhausted Modern – Hellenistic Thoughts [EIDE001]

Dj Spider – 1 Degree EP [GV007]

Green Village turns to DJ Spider for a new 12 inch. The NYC artist is now a respected member of the Big Apple’s contemporary house and techno wave, and it’s an absolute must for him to be represented on the city’s bubbling scene, especially when he’s up for firing off tunes like “Space Jungle” and Satsang”, two mean, club-minded house bangers with a prominent lower-end. “Divide & Conquer” turns things darker and more ominous thanks to its icy, minimal approach – a cold blend of stripped-back beats and circling bass tones – while “Urantia Of Nebadon” displaces the traditional house framework in favour of a dark, molecular selection of electronic sounds guided by a simple pattern of 4/4 beats.

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Dj Spider – 1 Degree EP [GV007]

Salomon Dunkan – Tacchi A Spillo [COSMOS004]

SALOMON DUNKAN - Tacchi A Spillo

The next COS_MOS release comes from Salomon Dunkan, a mysterious and unknown producer who serves up two tantalising tracks.’Android (Adamantium Mix)’ is a slow and percolating house track with a rugged acid line and sharp percussive knives cutting up the rubbery kick drums below. Swirling pads add a cosmic atmosphere and there whole hits slowly but surely builds to a raging and intense peak of bristling hits and gurgling synths. It’s controlled chaos and then ‘Tacchi A Spillo’ treads a more direct path. Again the high hats are bright and sharp, the mood is very sci-fi and the bass lines rumbled down low. Like a deep space odyssey this one travels far and wide and grows ever more physical and jacking as it goes on.

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Salomon Dunkan – Tacchi A Spillo [COSMOS004]

Jeroen Search – Time Signature EP [FIGURE084]

A regular contributor to Figure SPC, it was Jeroen Search who both started the series and also put an end to its story. With this creative chapter neatly closed, he is now bringing his ever-impressive work back to the main label. Across the EP the Dutch artist doesn’t stick to one style, instead he lets his infamous machines roam about freely. They take us for a smooth ride along swaying dub chords and gentle ripples until bellowing eches slowly rise above a hypnotic groove.On the B-side Search then pulls out all the stops and barges right in with fidgety claps and whirling bleeps, leaving the track itself gasping for air. This is the renowned ferocity of his live act – carved into wax! Ensuing the sonic assault, a simple synth figure emerges stoically over an almost housy bounce as nostalgic rave strings bring the EP to an epic ending. Firmly rooted in the past while always looking forward, Jeroen Search clearly is still on the top of his game. He simply keeps coming up with timeless techno – time and time again.

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Jeroen Search – Time Signature EP [FIGURE084]

Șerb – Qui Vive [FIZIC006]

SERB - Qui Vive

Cosmin TRG’s Fizic is proud to present its first 2017 release, from an exciting new name. Șerb is born and raised in Craiova, Romania, where he spent his youth playing guitar in Nihilistic, a local punk band. In 2014 he released his debut 12 on Transient Recs. His sophomore record is a prime example of his unique, cerebral take on dance music. “Qui Vive” is a somber, syncopated elegy of rugged elegance, with fizzy drums and percution filtering in and out over the fragile melody. “Feet Locked” is analog honey poured into your post-rave ear. After-glow synths follow an expertly modulated bass. Finally, “Persistent Prick” echoes the esotheric explorations of Actress, with added twisted funk. Șerb’s impressive talent and exuberance flow through his music, expect more from our new signing in the very near future.

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Șerb – Qui Vive [FIZIC006]

Oliver Deutschmann – In The Moment Of Death We Have No Regret [HFT054]

Foreboding title, foreboding sounds. Berlin’s redoubtable Oliver Deutschmann joins the Hotflush roster with “In The Moment of Death We Have No Regret’. 3 club-ready weapons, one blissed-out ambient cut.

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Oliver Deutschmann – In The Moment Of Death We Have No Regret [HFT054]