This long awaited debut album offers a cross-section of songs, previously performed live multiple times, where Oliver Decrow provides insights into his life and emotions, attempting to process experiences. Themes such as the suicide of a friend, self-doubt, grief, courage, love, fear, hope, the subconscious, letting go, escaping, and numerous emotional highs and lows are explored in his album.
The Spy is on a mission for the 8th Kri release and it ends with a bang. Hhis signature sound keeps evolving by melting electro, EBM and wave into a hypnotising dystopian soundtrack. His Kri debut is named ‘Halt and Hack’ and it ranges from melancholic EBM-ish slow burners to mutated wave-meets-electro anthems, rounded with a nostalgic remix by the mighty Zement operator Kluentah.
A much needed release essential to any respectable New Beat record collection. The second and last single for the Zsa Zsa Laboum project, originally released in 1989, shortly after the prolific impact of ”Something Scary”, although a different formula, ”Tu Veux Ou Tu Veux Pas?” is deep in tune with the Belgian Acid aesthetic, but with a more industrial edge to it. Simplistic but effective use of vocals, streamlined to the basics of maximum club efficiency, dark and not trying to make friends – De Smet is here to sell records, and with much success at the time with his honed production experience from years in the studio. Own a very relevant piece of club history from a special time in rave culture. Topped off with a new remix by Anatolian Weapons.
“Something Scary” is probably one of the most representative examples of Belgian New Beat as the genre shifted to Hard Beat, by one of the key figures in the explosion of the early Belgian rave scene Rembert De Smet. Starting with the first few seconds of the track, the listener is presented with what could arguably be one of the most unforgettable New Beat acid bass lines to attack the human ear. Very much in your face, characteristic of a genre that emerges from studio experimentation during a time when Chicago Acid was establishing itself and already contaminating the UK. Although relatively simple in terms of production, the way De Smert employs all the elements at play is ingeniously effective, from the simple vocal sample placement to the bassline, propelling it timelessly throughout decades to follow as an iconic example of the Acid sound in Europe. Re-released with two new remixes by the masterful Anatolian Weapons.
Legowelt returns to L.I.E.S. Records with a new album full of ultra-RAW hypnagogic lo-fi electrofunk. Classic, murky, cold as ice Hague-style slammers from the king of Smack. These eight tracks go back to the essence of the Legowelt sound, cutting through the noise of modern dance music charlatans, taking them to school with his undeniable signature stamped all over this release. A dancefloor classic in the making.
Human Rebellion premieres on Science Cult with an absolutely effective dance floor stormer. Four solid electro cuts dominate with an excellently crafted remix by The Exaltics.
The 9th release on Nocturbulous Records. Mascarpone explores the darkest side of Electro, experimenting analog sounds just like in a scientist lab in the 1960’s. Features remixes by Arpatronic and CT Kidobó.
Klakson drops another hot various artist EP with an ultra fresh team; Wachita China & DJ DISAPPOINTED, Driven By Attraction, Shcuro and Decent Damage & Shawn Cartier on duty. A heavy electro machine funk 4 tracker with serious weaponized fuel on your acid playa this summer.
The Curtis Electronix saga follows up with new material from its head and curator CEM3340. Despite keeping its roots firmly into the deepest depths of electro, Future Tribe EP moves slightly away from his usual purism and across the four tracks manages to strike a careful balance between beauty and austerity, harmonizing elegance and restraint with the booming energy of techno and funk.
Ian Martin arrives on Shipwrec with four tracks that make up Future Dawn. Cosmic Garden opens. A piece that blurs genre lines; soft synth-lines are coupled with ruffled rhythms that immerse the listener in gentle orchestral ebbs and flows. Sounds of isolation introduce Future Dawn, modulations reaching over an ever-widening expanse before strings descend. Drums arrive late in this atmospheric journey, one that pulses with a primal energy while conjuring vivid images. The ominously titled Dead Calm opens the flip. Soundtracks have always been an inspiration for Martin and the scores of the silver screen are at the forefront of this work. Brittle beat patterns are the bedrock on which melodies whirl – a bitter acid bass bubbling as tension builds to paranoic peaks. Darker skies loom with the marine chop of Phantom Machine finishing. A flotsam and jetsam of hi hats swirl in the liquid undulations of distorted bass and aquatic echoes, rougher rusted rhythms providing ballast to the eddies and maelstrom of Martin’s machines.
The oldest Finnish electronic music organization (est. 1993) is back with another killer vinyl release. Once again they have put out a compilation of 12″ featuring fresh tracks from fresh Finnish talents Funktor, Arre, Doswon and Vapor. Music varies from tight electro tracks to acid house, certain to make every floor burn.
SCART records begins its journey with music from the mind of Trontsephore. Hailing from the wild side of Dublin, Trontsephore cites influences such as Skee Mask, Om Unit, and Al Wooton as inspiration, and his music is certainly crafted with the kind originality and quality those artists are known for. The Elephant EP exudes breakbeats of finesse and sonic electro experiments, as we journey deep into the realms of the subconscious. On the B-side, ‘Elephant’ is twisted into a heavy techno mammoth, with remix from the mysterious INVNTR.
Sound Synthesis returns to eudemonia with another stellar acid-infused Electro EP. This time the Maltese delivers four wonderfully crafted tracks that send you to the outer space.
Pioneering electronic artist Legowelt delivers a sonic masterpiece with his latest EP, “The Sad Life of an Instagram DJ”, released on Barcelona’s imprint Selvamancer. This 5-track release offers a captivating glimpse into how Legowelt’s ideal rave would sound, blending techno, acid, and electro elements into an immersive and fun sound journey full of trippy bangers. Each track on the EP is meticulously crafted to evoke euphoria, showcasing Legowelt’s unparalleled creativity. Like a tear rolling down a cheek in a moment of nostalgic introspection, only to spiral towards the dancefloor.The moment the tear hits the floor, together with the heavy kicks and smooth synth action, it launches your mind back into the ongoing rave.
Type-303 returns to ProForm Series with a blast. This four tracker offers something for everyone. A-side starts with a solid acid banger named “Abso-Funking-Lutely!”. Second take on A-side is “Bad Moms”, a nice percussive track to make every dancefloor to jack. On B-side the mood goes to late 80’s/early 90’s italohouse-balearic-flute-Ibiza style with a track named “Midnight Sun”. This is pure niceness with everything essential in right place showcasing the talent of Type-303. The record ends with Kalle Karvanen remix of “Midnight Sun” which replaces flutes with saxophones and adds more acid into mix.
‘The Double Face of the Zero’ revolves around the progressive crumbling of the human condition, trapped in a Babel of toxic languages, hypnotised by seductive as much as false myths. The traversed architectures are empty or abandoned; inside, only faint echoes of mechanical rhythms reminiscent/incubus of models destined for passive consumption and the reproduction of consensus. Babbling, bare syllables are all that remains of a one-way communication. The new alphabets of communication systems do not need expressive space but consensus time. This journey is closed, however, by a text that is, in its own way, full of hope and that, like a compass, indicates a possible escape route from this mortal spiral of spectacular-media-political consensus. The sound sources from which the work originates are multiple. All electronically processed so as not to show their origin, in order to place themselves in an “other” space. All this not out of sonic sadism but out of a desire to elaborate a sound palette that is as personal as possible. A palette of sounds that tries to place itself outside the fences and categories that delimit even the area of research music, which instead, by definition, should be as model-free as possible.
Identity Theft is the solo electronic music of Michael Buchanan, commencing in 2011 with the album Night Workers. Rooted in Düsseldorf-school electro with strong leanings towards the more abstract Krautrock origins of the genre, “Omnia Vanitas” presents the listener with a narrative arc moving beyond the ‘modern problems’ which previous Identity Theft work was concerned with (e.g. themes of surveillance and paranoia).
Two powerfully effective club tracks by one of Berlin’s most talented Juan Ramos. A clear cut exposé of his vastly amassed knowledge in dancefloor experience throughout over a decade of dedication to the craft of steering some of the most significant contemporary underground dancefloors. Can’t really go wrong here, mandatory for any club focused record bag, with an entourage of 125 BPM percussion sample based mayhem on the A side and a slower industrial 115BPM chugger that grows into a tripped out narrative of playfully galloping transient elements.
The Hipodrome Of Music 