Two long and cranium expanding adventures beyond… Psychedelic analog techno excursions from Maxmillion Dunbar & Steve Summers as Activated.
Activated – Confused House 5 [CH005]
001.Features
Kryptic Universe – shtum 007 [SHTUM007]
Kryptic Universe is back on track with his second EP for Shtum. And it’s a return in full glory with Kryptic Universe doing his Future Jazz thing like nobody else can do. Just listen to the seemingly never stopping “Skala”, which is building and building into twirling Techno madness. Then we have “Drifter’s Garden”, a pretty dark affair with fizzing synth effects getting out of control. “Bodies They Came Out Of” is no less gloomy and hits hard with an attitude that reminds of those glorious days when Techno was played in rough basements and ravers couldn’t see each other through the smoke. Finally, “Alphazerfall” in the Lockertmatik Remix shows off his funky side.
Ø [Phase] – Tunnel Vision / Internal Conflict [TOKEN052]
The 52nd release on Token Records is a steely and mechanical two tracker from Ø [Phase]. ‘Tunnel Vision/Internal Conflict’ 12” captures perfectly the grainy, oddball approach which has garnered Burchett’s productions so much attention in recent years. This is techno for the small hours – frantically paced, disorientating and charged with adrenaline.
SP-X – Moving Through Mirrors 1-3 [T2XS201]
Big release again on Peter Van Hoesen’s Time To Express label. A set of 3 releases by SP-X. The Moving Through Mirrors series showcases lean, contemporary techno. Part 1 kicks off with E.T.A. and Return To Function, both prime examples of the stripped-down sweatbox grooves SP-X excels at. For adult dancefloors only.
DC – Space Pressure EP [MET028]
Dan Curtin relaunches his Metamorphic label with “Space Pressure EP”. Deep, immersive and engaging techno that always maintains the funk and groove, so take time to absorb this beauty in all its glory.
Entro Senestre – Surface [DKMNTL025]
Connecticut’s Jon Beall, recording as Entro Senestre, makes his debut for Dekmantel. Beall has taken his signature vintage flavors of techno and electro and pushed them into news spheres of the frightening, combining chalky, continuous drum tracks with an ear for emotionally challenging melodies. Championing timeless electro-techno that breathes real soul, this four tracker does Senestre proud and alters a dynamic EP that is ear-piercing and contemplative, nifty and evocative.
VA – Test Pilot Volume 2 [V027]
Contributions by the likes of Panama Brown, Roberto Auser, Gesloten Cirkel and I-f staple hit by Tandy Ogmo.
I-F / Jungian Archetype – Test Pilot Volume 1 [V012/2A]
Eecee – Cosmic Trigger [DBA017X] FREE DOWNLOAD
Don’t Be Afraid have released the latest album from US based artist Eecee(a.k.a. Doubt), called Cosmic Trigger. The album has been released as a cassette and free download via Don’t Be Afraid’s Bandcamp page and as expected, it’s an experimental leaning affair and a beautiful, mostly ambient journey through mesmerising textures and atmospheres.
Varg – Ursviken [NE019]
Sophomore album from Jonas Ronnberg aka Varg with icey electronics live recorded. Ursviken is, unsurprisingly, a largely icy and atmospheric affair, with occasional bursts of throbbing, techno-influenced intensity (see the relentless loops and murky textures of “Vitberge”, and industrial freakiness of “Guldstaten”) punctuating the otherwise downbeat, largely ambient mood. As usual, there’s much to admire, from the bleak, dubbed-out oddness of “Raggarsvin” and overwhelmingly dreamy “Ohn”, to the understated grooves and spaced-out chords of “Skaeliptom”.
Kevin Arnemann – Lumiere EP [TA001]
Kevin Arnemann is beginning a new chapter in his career with his own record label, Taped Artifact. The first release will come from Kevin Arnemann himself featuring three excursions in the deeper side of techno.
Sarr Band – Double Action [BOOM7002]
Super hot reissue of the original Portuguese Boom Records release of the Sarr Bands sought after 1979 Double Action LP. The title track, a heavy chugging Cosmic gem, is a bit of a holy grail among disco aficionados, but the rest of the LP is equally as good. Other standouts include dark slo-mo instrumental Soul Machine, a wonderful cover of Vince Montanas classic Nice & Nasty, the dirty drugged up disco groove of Mefisto Boogie and not forgetting the highly in-demand Magic Mandrake, a great slice of off-the-wall dancefloor madness with pumping bass, searing horns and sleazy vocals.
VA – Balearica 20 [BLC020]
Wonderful new compilation of unearthed gems from Balearica. Kicks of with the indemand full 12-minute version of the Chaplin Bands definitive take on Lucio Battisti’s classic Il Veliero, a hypnotic druggy bass and guitar-driven dancefloor opus that tears the roof of every time. Followed by the short but sweet sun-drenched gem Flying Cloud by The Doobie Brothers. Next up comes Boule Noires Aimer DAmour a superb beefed-up French version of Leo Sayers Balearic favorite Easy To Love and then rounding things of is the gorgeous mellow groove of A Touch Of Temptation by Japanese multi-instrumentalist Masaaki Ohmura taken from his impossible-to-find You Gotta Chance soundtrack LP from 1985.
Elias Rahbani & His Orchestra – Liza Liza [GVDL304501]
Reissue of Elias Rahbani & His Orchestras super rare Arabic Disco holy grail Liza Liza on the original Lebanese Voix De L’Orient label back in 1978. Recorded pre-Civil War at a time when Beirut was known as the Paris of the Middle East, a luxurious holiday destination and flourishing trade centre. The title track is totally out of this world, perfectly blending Eastern & Western vocals, instruments and musical influences with a driving disco bassline to create an irresistible floor filling cosmic odyssey. The flipside features the even more out-there From The Moon a fantastic tripped out psychedelic disco funk monster, followed by the dreamy accordion-led Summer Love. Also boasting one of the sexiest covers in disco history further illustrating the liberal thinking and western influence in Lebanon at the time.
VA – Lunes De Fiel Vol. 2 [BM003]
Bitter Moon has criss-crossed Europe to gather a trio of heavy House hitters for Lunes De Fiel Vol. 2. Creme Organization prodigy Innershades gets the show on the road with the synth slamming groove of “Moments of Euphoria”. New Beat memories bounce alongside rumbling rhythms in track guaranteed to ignite speakers. Next stop is Germany with Snuff Crew and “Your Hands”. The Jack experts fillet their trademark raw edges for a smooth and soulful piece of late night Chitown. Smoke curls around chords, claps are softened as samples turn in a twilight haze. The final destination, Italy, is bathed in the 303 sunshine of “#Acid”. The White Rabbit Recordings founder uses the building blocks of Chicago to produce a fluid floor filler. Cymbals, cow-bells, toms and snares are soaked in a devilish brew of Acid. Bohemian body jerk to a 4/4 beat to bring down the curtain on this latest instalment of Lunes De Fiel.
Sven Weisemann – Fall Of Icarus EP [DSR/C3]
Delsin’s C-Series welcomes Sven Weisemann. Known for his deep, atmospheric and cuddly house and dub, he draws on the heritage of Detroit and Chicago at the same time as imbuing tracks with his own sense of smoky, jazz infused soul. Fall Of Icarus contains it all, heavenly pads accompanied by rasping basslines, blissful ambient chords, buried deep drum lines and beatless dub excursions. A slowly churning current drives things along as you are left suspended in the midst of it all and this one closes out another superlative EP from both Delsin and Weisemann.
Four Walls – Observe The Heavens EP [EMH002]
L Neils – Beta EP [EVR017]
First release of the year on Echovolt’s regular catalog comes by the somewhat mysterious ex Ireland and now Australia based artist L Neils, with four stripped down and uncompromising cuts forming a worthy sophomore release.
Man Power – Trans EP [TOB049]
The anonymous Man Power makes his debut on Throne of Blood with the label’s first release in 2015. With “Trans” Man Power turns in a peaktime monster with soaring, frankly uncharacteristic optimistic rushes. Berlin’s Discodromo strips things down a bit delivering a version reminiscent of something that would have smashed up a Wicked party in San Francisco circa ’96. Man Power returns to familiar dark and driving analogue territory on the flip with “Blue Suite.” WT Records mainman Willie Burns closes out the 12” with tearing, arpeggio-heavy mix that pumps things up for the dancefloor.
Masanori Nozawa – Medium EP [ME001]
Epic and emotive tracks by Japanese producer Masanori Nozawa on his vinyl debut. Featuring quality remixes by Hiroshi Watanabe aka Kaito and Yuuki Hori. Another sign that Japan has a lively scene with talented producers.
