Introducing the next release on Highlife – our secret weapons by the mysterious Tanzania Sound System. If you’ve caught us playing anywhere this year, you’ll have heard at least one of these. Now it’s time to share the goodness…
001.Features
Aviador Dro – Cromosomas Salvajes [MEC019]
One of the most influential Spanish techno-pop bands from the 80s is finally taking back to life one of their most successful albums. Originally released in 1985, ‘Cromosomas Salvajes’ marked a big step forward on the career of El Aviador Dro y sus Obreros Especializados. While keeping their message in support of the working class, nuclear energy and futuristic vision, this work had a top production, more dynamic compositions and included some of the fans favorites: ‘Himno Aéreo’, ‘La Ciudad en Movimiento’ and ‘El Color de tus Ojos al Bailar’.This new pressing has been restored and remastered from the original tapes. LP edition comes in yellow vinyl with gatefold jacket with an exclusive postcard, one sticker and includes all tracks from the original issue plus the b-side ‘Tejidos’ and the unreleased track Europa Arde en mi Interior’ that was originally composed for the famous Eurovision Song Contest.
Alain Neffe – An Introduction Into The Insane World Of Alain Neffe [STRLP002]
Beautifully put together and deeply personal comp of pioneering Belgium New Wave / DIY enigma, Alain Neffe (Bene Gesserit, Psuedo Code, Subject etc). Highly reccomended – includes Folded Inner with Liner Notes (Biography).
Staccato Du Mal – El Mago En Ti [NOSTILEVO061]
Miami is a Geministic outpost of complimentary halves: subtropical rainforest and art deco cityscape; unmitigated wealth and staggering poverty; limitless sunshine and equally limitless thunderstorms. From this outpost, culturally and geographically isolated from a state teeming with hillbilly abjection, composer Ramiro Jean-Carlo entertains a unique decadence under the guise of Staccato Du Mal, a project perhaps something of an anomaly in Miami, but no less at home. At turns gauzy and drugged, energized and electric, SDM is analog electronics that would be best heard in a blacklit dance club or a mouldering mansion against the background of any given tropical depression. “El Mago en Ti” shows Jean-Carlo keeping things as sinister as ever, with classic SDM sawtooth baselines and rickety clattering rhythms (Spherical Aberration), “La Gran Evasion”), with the requisite amount of reverb (lots), but with a few surprises: opening track “Drowning Feathers” integrates Jean-Carlo’s affection for classical music into the project, with its complex and sullen chord structure reminiscent of a J.S. Bach organ piece, while the songs “El Mago en Ti” and “Fistful Questioning” showcase an industrial aggression unexplored in the context of SDM.
Mace. – Four Things Everyone Will Be Talking About Today [LXRC029]
Mace. appearances are scarce. As his music is. Scarce, dirty, brown and miserable, as the Bunker guys would say. A mechanical reflection, not a choice of soothing harmonics. Not melodious structures. The survival of the fittest, harsh economics, suicidal stock brokers, piling up as much as possible before leaving. These are four things everyone will be talking about today. And so Lux Rec does. The last piece is a joint venture together with Diana Berti of ‘Veleno Viola’.
Haeken – Oracle EP [MORD034]
Obsidian mornings, sniffing quivering needs. Dawn keeps falling, entraps me as before, But from thy solitary grace Thou comest now no more.
Agonis – Visionquest [AMEN003]
214 – Talus Loop [LDR019]
Seattle’s Chris Roman aka 214 joins ranks at Lunar Disko to present the ‘Talus Loop’ EP. 214 has developed into a true master of the atmospheric electro sound, and once again showcases this talent on the ‘Talus Loop’ EP. A fusion of intricately textured techno and electro, combined with lush ethereal soundscapes transport the listener to a far away and otherworldly dimension. Futuristic Hi-Tech electro and techno from a producer of the purist form.
DJ Skull – As One EP [CHIWAX012LTD]
Amazon Club – Guyana [VG001]
Amazon Club opens the new Rotterdam based ‘Voodoo Gold’ imprint with a 7 track mini album. Operating from the depths of the South-American jungle, Amazon Club brings us a collection of tropical, 70s disco-influenced house tracks combined with some dreamy, cinematic soundscapes. Let the upbeat vibes and rich instrumentation of these tracks carry you away on a journey to the rainforest and the hazy shores of the Amazon river.
Bezier / Fort Romeau – Cin Cin 005 [CINCIN005]
Its been 12 months since Cin Cin’s inaugural release and to celebrate co founder Fort Romeau give us 2 cuts of arpeggio-house ready for the dance floor while Honey Sound System’s Bezier delivers that top tier Hi NRG sound that has become his signature.
Baltra – Sophia EP [STEP011]
Step is the new vinyl-only label from the founders of Pets ” Catz n Dogz” with a focus on the rawest forms and root functions of dance music. Step searches for the fundamentals with under-theradar house and techno that’s not afraid to be rough around the edges. The New York Producer, Baltra, who’s quickly made a name for himself with deep, tape hiss-ridden slices of decent lo-fi, comes to this release on Step. Soulfull but rough around the edges House.
Cosmic Garden – Sealaconda EP [HAPSKL011]
Cosmic Garden continues to grow root and flourish for his release for Happy Skull. The Bari based producer offers up two tracks for his Happy Skull debut, drawing influence from decades of hazy Italian deep house, the vibrancy of Rimini disco and the utopian sensibility of vintage ambient ‘Sealaconda’ slithers it’s way deep in to the psyche, distinctly italo but with a firm nod to 90’s Detroit. Preoccupata’ draws on darker elements with a wave inspired bass line and clipped vocal snippets. On the flipside, Happy Skull regular Creta Kano offers up his interpretations of Cosmic Garden’s kaleidoscopic productions. His version of ”Preoccupata” retains the deep and colourful fluidity of the Italian’s original version, whilst introducing a spacey, electro-inspired rhythm and gently undulating acid lines. To round things off Creta Kano turns down the tempo and ups the intensity on his wonderfully screwed dub, a fittingly beautiful end to the EP.
Andreas Gehm – Involve 012 [INV012]
Rest In Peace Andreas. Your music will live on forever. Andreas Gehm, before his untimely death, announced on his Board he wasn t coming back on stage but he had releases in the pipeline of important labels. Two of these tracks were meant to Involve. Tribute to the master of German acid.
M//R – Professor EP [JACKDEPT002]
Jack Dept welcomes M//R to the label. Philadelphia’s Billy Werner is an all-around musician with rich experience and taste, someone who knows the game inside and out. A dynamic force, his talent for production is quite clear. This EP is titled Professor and it shows – M//R is a professional of the highest caliber. His music is exacting, performed & arranged with care. Each track on this EP has much to offer and will reward listeners and dancers. Contained here is a mix of perfectly timed acidic tracks with fine tuned, restrained and ominous themes. The title track ‘Professor’ is a dark club workout in true Jack Dept style. ‘Exums’ takes us on a late-nite drive, ‘Browz’ hits us repeatedly with a bubbling lead and ‘Shtoops’ touches upon icy techno to great effect.
TX Connect – Farewell To Arps EP [JACKDEPT001]
Dallas-based Gavin Guthrie, better known as TX Connect, is a DJ and Producer that is one of the finest the North American underground has to offer. He features on Jack Dept’s first release. The “Farewell To Arps” EP contains absolutely smoldering, jacking, acid-tinged rippers. This is dance floor material through and through, burning stuff. The Jack Dept label is born from the monthly party run out of Brooklyn by Volvox and John Barera.
Slim Steve – Bedroom Jams EP [XK005]
Produced on an array of hardware in Slim Steve’s bedroom in Rome, this is a refreshingly honest EP and takes X-Kalay into somewhat nostalgic territory. 90’s ballads meet sampled Italo percussion, skittish pitched up vocals pierce dangerous basslines and lung busting breakdowns give way to searching lasers in smoke filled rooms. English born Italian Steve Langrish accomplishes all this with a level of effortlessness that belies his astonishingly young years.
Vessel in Distress – Distress Call [KONDI017]
Kondi Records gives you the first glimpse into the mind of the mysterious artist, Vessel in Distress. A full spectrum minialbum to suit robots and humanoids alike with it’s remarkable twist of classic electro vibes blending the dry and the evocative, going both backward and forward in time.
Juanpablo / ArD2 – Gliptolito [FRV021/STR002]
Gliptolito sees Frigio return to its beginnings whilst making a bold statement of future intent. This time in collaboration with Seti Recordings for a split release by the heads of both labels. Juanpablo shares the platter with ArD2, the team of Ekis and Penélope Martín (of NSRB-11 and Zwischenwelt.) Label boss Juanpablo opens with his ever evolving sound. Rasping beats and subtle key changes are warmed by basslines in the cerebral “Ica”. “There is a Silence” comes from a similarly esoteric place, gentle chords shimmering against glitchy undercurrents and clean drums. ArD2 follow up their 2010 appearance on Frigio with two tracks of complex machine funk. Sidelined is their trademark electro sound as the pair lean towards electronica and broken percussion for “Winter.” Colder tones arrive with “Utopia”, sublime string work warming them through to bring “Gliptolito” to a close.
Komarken Electronics – Expanded Consciousness [BT015]
Komarken Electronics makes his debut on Brokntoys with Expanded Consciousness. He serves up shimmering neo electro with Early Mornings following up with the fidgety Bubble Theory. On the flip, the title track runs deep into ether before Delta Funktionen steps up with a heavy remix of Early Mornings to close proceedings.
The Hipodrome Of Music 