Some strong timeless trippy techno tracks on the classic Synewave label by Italian producer Andrea Belluzzi.
001.Features
Exium / Elyas – Specifics in Realism EP [MODULARZ014]
The Spanish duo Exium and french artist Elyas present a special split EP presenting a funk fused space journey and go deeper into the sound of functional grey area techno. Sonically the release pushes the listener into what currently identifies the label’s sound introducing various works that are made for a wide range of facilities and situations and continue to shed light on what is ahead.
Cleric – Delivery EP [CSF054]
New release on Coincidence Records with Cleric providing some proper techno anthems and a Dario Zenker remix.
Kovyazin D – Winter District EP [CHIWAX010]
Miltiades – Stmete EP [EVR013]
Following his debut on the Greek label Nous, Athens based producer Miltiades resurfaces on the also Greek imprint Echovolt with a new four-track EP, deep and shadowy house affair that likes to go slow and purposeful. Comes with a remix from GB aka Gifted & Blessed under his lesser used alias The Reflektor. This is deep, immediately aged house music that takes you deep down underground and allows you to wallow in its beautifully warm open spaces.
VA – J.A.M. Traxx 005 [JAM005]
J.A.M. TRAXX back with a various artist ep from the gothic atmosphere, a mixture of Acid – Horror disco – Electro – Wave by Punknown, Andreas Gehm, Yus Yus, Mystic Mirror and Cornflake 808.
Yan Cook – Morse EP [ANN4X4]
Ukrainian techno producer Yan Cook is back with four uncompromising and dance floor focussed tracks on his Morse EP. ‘Morse’ itself is like a blizzard-y radio transmission of techno from Cold War era Russian – it’s a fine grain and grimey tack with big thrusting kick drums and rusty synth lines that just roll and roll. ‘Lighthouse’ is a little less stormy, instead focussing on a paranoid and insistent synth hook as cantering kick drums rumble below. ‘Nylon’ on the flip is an aggressive an arresting offering once again. It’s a spacious thing with mysterious bell sounds off in the distance, jarring drums and angry percussion all rattling along at a quick and inviting tempo, before closer ‘Suspense’ keeps you hanging on a knife edged with its loose and jangling melody lines and thumping kicks. This is austere yet atmospheric techno at its finest, just as Ann Aimee likes it.
R-Zone – R-Zone 08 [RZONE008]
The 8th outing on the mysterious R-Zone series. Opening this EP’s account is ‘Percept’, a kinked techno rhythm drowning in scraping percussion, grainy synths and gallivanting basslines. Once you penetrate the textural mist that shrouds the whole arrangement, it’s a heady place to be. ‘We Sad II” is a gurgling acid jam with rattling machine sounds, rubbery basslines and plenty of sonic grit and grime, whilst closer ‘303909’ makes plenty of use of the machines mentioned in its title to conjure up a weighty, dubbed out vibe that’s thick with mystic ambiance and propped up by well swung drums.
Achterbahn D’amour / Albert & Albert – Heart Warming Hard Hitting [FM12012]
Frank Music drops another double bomb on wax. Achterbahn D’Amour is back with a bouncy track called JX3. It is Techno-Yes-Techno Music with all ingredients needed for a bumpy ride. Imagine fog machine and strobe lights over the top. Another 9 minutes and 31 seconds into XTC. Fasten your seatbelts. Flipside comes with Albert & Albert and a song that goes on … well … Forever. You will feel good along those strings.
Phil Asher – Need In Me / Madnite [MAMSW005]
Jeff Mills – Chronicles of Possible Worlds [AXSN001]
The theme of “Chronicles of Possible Worlds” is exoplanets, new planets discovered starting in 1995 which revolve around a star outside our solar system. Mixing music, dance and visuals, this creative work testifies to the advances of science and hints at the existence of possible other worlds. Following a period of investigation and a meeting with researchers from the Marseille Astrophysics Laboratory, Mills chose to focus on six planets (Wasp 12b, 13b, 14b, 15b, 16b and 17b). Their specific physical and structural properties were then translated through music, sound, images and dance. Together with Mills, the choreographer Alexandre Roccoli created a roaming choreography spread out across the Vasarely Foundation that explores the correspondence between the physical properties of these planets and choreography’s own body states. The show’s soundtrack, composed by Mills, is broadcast by the dancers costumes (designed by Berlin designer Anke Bruns) that are equipped with speakers. The music, the different sonic trajectories, the dancers and the public ambling freely through the halls can spatialize, orbit, or even fuse in the naves of the Foundation.
Iori – PHONICAWHITE007 [PHONICAWHITE007]
Phonica welcomes back Iori for its 7th Phonica White release. Vril and Raimo offering remixes of previous Iori tracks. Occupying the whole of the a-side, “Wave” is Iori at his best; just under nine minutes of no nonsense techno. Raw and dark material built around a strong syncopated beat, layered trippy flourishes and a hypnotic groove that sucks you in until the last bar. On the b-side are Vril and Raimo remakes.
Skudge – Surface / Inversion [SKUDGEFD01] FREE DOWNLOAD
Two free tracks from Skudge.
L.A.S.’s Crime – Mutatio (Modified) [JAMTRAXSPECIAL002]
This is not your ‘usual’ L.A.S.’s Crime album, as if something had gone wrong in cloning, and what came out is magically different and at the same time deeply consistent with the productions of the 80s … with the participation of bands, artists and DJs from all over the world, the result is a beautiful mutant vinyl…7 songs remade as extended versions, a ‘size’ of song so diffused in ’80s, half way pop and dance.
VA – Light Sounds Dark [LSD012]
Light Sounds Dark continue their impeccably curated endeavours this year, with a self titled compilation put together by their ‘International Communication Network’ adding a sense of accomplishment to previous 2013 transmissions such as that collection of archival Mutant Beat Dance material and the superb Dark Matters Too compilation. Those whose pants were charmed off by that latter release will find much to enjoy and investigate on this double vinyl selection. An undisclosed international cast of record diggers from San Francisco, Chicago, London and Manerbio (that’s in Italian province Brescia in case you were wondering) have selected 16 tracks that feature Dutch tape experiments in sound, murky industrial punk, proto techno, abstract synth pop and more. Not quite sure about the fluorescent pink cover art though…..
Xiu / Spatial Relation – Split! [PM002]
This release will be the second one from Peripheral Minimal, which is a split in between Oksana Rodinova (Xiu) and Spatial Relation (Lisette Schoenly and Jacob Schoenly). It demonstrates two vividly different, but equal tracks from the minimal synth uprising.
Theo Parrish – Black Jazz Signature [SDGBJ1303LP]
Arguably one of the world’s most important underground dance music producer/DJs lends his hands to selecting and mixing a set of jazz and funk records licensed from and originally released on the Black Jazz label 1971-1976. World renowned for his DJ sets, productions, and record label (Sound Signature), this Chicagoraised DJ is near impossible to pigeonhole. Revered by a wide spectrum of dedicated music fanatics, he is known for his edits of artists such as Minnie Ripperton, Roger Troutman, Nightlife Unlimited, as well as his otherworldly DJ sets, and his serious approach to DJ’ing as an art form. Theo gives special attention to fellow Chicago musicians The Awakening (3 consecutive tracks, 4 total on the mix), one of the best funk/fusion groups that the Black Jazz label released, and whose only output was on that label. The set itself is a masterful “2 turntables all vinyl” execution, a format that Theo is dedicated to – no mp3, no CDr, just the vinyl palette for the true aural experience. Sit back and be drawn into his world, hear things his way.
The Trash Company – Modern Love [THUG015]
There’s a really interesting story behind The Trash Company. A synaesthesia-affected solo artist who’s worked reclusively since the late 70s, his creations have only just begun to be discovered. Sitting right on the fringes of electro, funk and experimentalism; he is genuinely unique. Highlights across this collection of six previously unreleased tracks include the far away croons and whimsical trumpets on “Modern Love”, the sexual rhythmic moans and Dilla-style beats on “Hot Stripper” and, of course, the fuzzy lo-fi bar room blues of the title track.
VA – Omega Supreme presents Raw Silk Vol.1 [BT1008]
A bona fide boogie buzz that whisks us right back to the synth-worshipping 80s, Raw Silk Volume 1 is a celebration of electronic music’s most formative flavours. Everything about this collection screams smoothness: from the bending synth lines and mooching squidgy bass of “Saturday Jam” to the smouldering falsettos of “Wanna Play Hooky” via the likes of “In Gear” and “Peak Of Summer”, two talkbox jams so sexy and funky they’d make Roger Troutman blush. A confident set that guarantees to warm your soul, the 80s is alive and well at Omega Supreme.
Benedek – Unititled LP [PPU053]
Benedek unititled debut release on the Peoples Potential Unlimited promo series. Some stellar modern electro funk and forwardthinking dance grooves.
