Ghost Culture returns to Phantasy with ‘Safe/Multiply’. An unashamedly club-rooted double single, both tracks find Ghost Culture’s expert electronic manipulation in more direct mode. Killer openings track somewhere between bleepy UK rave techno, Detroit techno and mid90’s trance, flip side is a heavy pulsating trancey cut that will cause damage on the dancefloors.
For the latest missive on her ever-impressive Love On The Rocks imprint, Paramida has turned to Detroiter Sharif Laffrey. “Key Jam (A.C.I.D)” is something of a sleazy, late night treat, with Laffrey expertly combining proto-house style drums and bass, with wonky, pitched-down vocal samples, freestyle synth refrains, the alien pulse of electro, and – of course – some ragged acid lines. There’s a lot going on across the nine-minutes, but Laffrey’s focus on the power of the groove remains in tact throughout.
To celebrate Kontra-Musik Records hitting the ten-year mark, founder and label owner Ulf Eriksson has put together a collection of some of our finest releases. This has been a daunting task, for we are happy to announce that we could easily have made several very different compilations that we would have been equally contented with – there are so many superb tracks we had to leave out. This has, however, been a labour of love. Much like the label itself. Eclecticism has always been a lodestar for Ulf Eriksson, as we hope this collection gives testimony to. The label has always been moving freely between techno, house and more experimental sounds. Kontra-Musik intends to show different angels of perspective, not to convert you to a new Religion or Ideology. Being open to a broad variety of sounds and rhythms – judging them not solely by their functionality but rather by their personality – has been the Kontra-Musik way from day one. While it has been a crooked and sometimes exceedingly hard road to follow, we’re hoping to carry on for several years to come. After 10 years, the label still feels meaningful and current to us – in short: it’s still worth it. Kontra-Musik would like to thank everyone – from contributing artists to faithful friends of the label who have supported us all these years. None of this would have been possible without you.
For the 5th installment in the Planet Rhythm White series, Spanish hardware icon ”Eduardo De La Calle” returns to Planet Rhythm with his ”Adept to the light EP”. ”TR3B Conspiracy” serves as the opener which combines odd rhythmic arps and subtly placed drum sequences to make a somewhat uncanny atmosphere. On the B side we find ”Ranchor Will Cut The Mood” which is a repetitive techno cut that should be useful for after hours. The Doubt Of The Unknown (B2) has a somewhat foreboding title. It’s a FX heavy synth jam that uses oddball synthesis and nicely placed FX chains that evolve throughout.
The Motech label has been building a high reputation of late but it’s actually been three years since co-owner, Detroit’s DJ 3000 (Franki Juncaj) released a 12inch of his own. Putting that to rights, he delivers ‘Take Me Away’ and featured is a deadly remix by Truncate.
Dutch power duo Doms & Deykers a.k.a Steffi (Steffie Doms) and Martyn (Martijn Deykers) step up to the plate with a brand new action packed offering. Following up their “Fonts for the People EP” and their track “Whirling” on Ostgut Ton’s Zehn LP, the two take their continuous collaboration to a new level. The three tracks on “Dedicated to those who feel” see Steffi and Martyn recognizing their respective strengths, combining their 90s heritage with a vision of the future, modern techno soul with all its flaws and bright euphoric moments. “Dedicated to those who feel” serves as the introduction to a full length Doms & Deykers LP, scheduled for later this year.
Anom Valley follows Damcase’s recent outing on Bunker and positions the Greek producer as a leading light in hard techno. There is a rough, raw feel throughout this release for Bas Mooy’s label; “Delete Scene” is mired in distorted kicks and noisy, barb wire percussion and both “Rusty” and “Towards Them” resound to titanium-powered steel drums. “Interlogon” is probably the most extreme track, thanks to its grisly, punishing rhythm, but Damcase also has a funkier side. He showcases this on “Rn 45” and “X Gun”, where hypnotic electronic pulses, although encased in weeping layers of white noise, see him get his groove on.
Italian analogue techno and noise worship from MEZE, who constructs 4 heavy bangers with his modular gear. One of the talents to watch, this guy, blending industrial rhythms with dark melodies.
Details Sound presents ‘Illumination Through Feedback Distortion’ EP a three-track release of irresistible rhythms, vibrant analogue workouts, displaying the intuitive DIY compositional approach of talented Dutch artist Maarten Epskamp, under his Klankman pseudonym.
Flesh For the Living is HIDE’s vinyl debut. This 3-track EP contains 3 soon-to-be anthems. Showcasing top-notch production values, these tracks have a physicality that matches their live show. The title track provides a bracing adrenaline rush that will have listeners on their feet, fists in the air. The remix of that track by WATTS (for American Primitive) slows the pace, evoking a cinematic, dreamlike atmosphere. Limb From Limb’ is a sinister side-long stomper that menaces with ethereal vocals, ghostlike percussion and a gut-wrenching low-end hook.
Vigilant electronics and desolated soundscapes by Lundin Oil aka Abdulla Rashim with the first long player under this moniker.
As both a producer and the helmsman of the Outis Music label, Dino Sabatini has carved out a distinctive musical style that shows a great reverence for both ancient archetypes and future possibilities for change. With one foot planted in a mysterious past and the other foot planted in a world yet to arrive, Sabatini’s works are carefully realized emotional journeys that intertwine shimmers of optimism with undercurrents of poignancy or nostalgia. His latest full-length offering, ‘Omonimo’ (that’s ‘homonym’ for non-speakers of Italian), brings all of this to fruition on a record that demands (and rewards) deep listening.
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With his fulminant debut ep “Untitled Dubs”, RAWAX became over night an incredible focus in the techno scene worldwide. Unbroken Dub aka Denis Safiullin was let’s say the co-founder of it and still a very close friend of the label. No wonder that now comes Denis’ 7th release and follow up to the first one called “Untitled Dubs 2”!
Jeremiah R has been responsible for some of the finest electro to be released over the past few years. Here he launches the Distant Wave label with eight more chunks of atmospheric, far-sighted futurism. As usual, he flits between ambient style interludes and more expansive dancefloor fare. In the latter category you’ll find the Motor City techno futurism of “Bermuda Triangle”, the glistening IDM loveliness of “Streaming To Arcadia”, the Larry Heard-in-space deepness of “Cruiser”, and the Drexciyan throb of “JAR (Jamming Avoidance Response)”. All are, naturally, both luscious and pleasingly melodious, whilst retaining an intergalactic sense of atmosphere.
Five tracks of Electro gold. Some names you have heard before (Cygnus and Convextion in ERP mode for instance) and some newcomers Vectorvision and Textasy who’ve have been honing their craft for quite some time now.
E.R.P. aka Convextion returns and he take us back the “Ancient Light” of deep electro/techno. The release includes also a massive Exaltics Remix. This stunning Ep is the second part of Solar One Music’s Hubble telescope Series. As homage to the Hubble Telescope and all the great scientists and engineers at the NASA and ESA each part of the series comes with a cover print picture taken by the Hubble Telescope. The series consists of 3 releases featuring E.R.P., Heinrich Mueller, Rudolf Klorzeiger, The Exaltics, Luxus Varta and more.
From the depths of the dark net come Telkhin, the latest addition to the Shipwrec roster. The Argentine project is debuting on vinyl with five tracks of off-world electronics. The chilling atmospherics of “Body Container” meet the needle before an electro iciness takes hold. Spiking snares and echoed radiowaves orbit the moody “Walk In”, that same frosted futurism central to “Level Above Human”. Telkhin melts man and machine, giving the computer age a humanoid form. Processors whirr in the bassy bleeps and residues of “Brithomber” before the final statement. Leaving the human world behind “Flight 19” is a fast and future funk driven piece of 2050 music.
Having already released on MOS Recordings’ sub label MOS Deep before now, Stephen Lopkin is now back with a second four track effort. The Scottish artist has been making prickly house and techno for almost a decade now, and on the four cuts here he once again showcases a serene and slick style. Opener ‘Och Aye’ is Detroit styled cut with rich synths dancing about above rubber drums. It makes for a shiny, electrified atmosphere that is clean and sleek and emotive. ‘Weegie in Wigan’ is a much more peak time cut of cackling percussion, sombre chords dampening down raw drums and a wild FM baseline that adds an old school feel. On the flip, ‘Ball & Chain’ is another busy house effort that has hi hats spinning like plates, thudding kicks and whole eco systems of synths darting about while ‘Meall’ ends the EP on a masterfully melodic and heavenly groove that journeys through the starry night sky, wired up with electronics and stuffed with machine made soul.
Chinaski’s first solo EP for Uncanny, the Dresden based label. “Rivers Edge” is one hell of a ride through the nightmarish and schizophrenic side of House and Disco music. “Disaster” is a journey through Dark House territory with its Italo-sounds and that catchy synth spiral along the way while “Cash” leans more to the Chicago side of things to merge into a true dance floor killer. The flipside starts things off with “Lifetime” and an uncompromising bass line. When the beat finally kicks in you’re in the game for anything. “Street” hits the same atmospheric spots but with a slightly sweeter topping over it. Finally, the stomping “Never Look Back” is a fun example for that typical neon-shimmering flavour that shines through all of Chinaski’s productions.
Fabio Monesi makes a return to his own Wilson Records after last year’s album “Parasol Dance’. From the raw beat of Mirage’ to the smooth and jazzy sound of Pipe Dream’, this EP encloses the versatile approach of Fabio Monesi to the music, in which analog recordings and warm sounds are a must.
The Hipodrome Of Music 