Koehler brings a malfunctioning technoid monster to Skudge via an out of the blue white label.
001.Features
Noleian Reusse – Airborne [BKTK002]
Noleian Reusse is back with his second EP, Airborne, on his own imprint Black Tekno. Three modern techno tracks that reflect Reusse’s own style, while echoing the rich musical history of his hometown, Chicago
Chasing Voices – Awoken By Tears [PRESERVEDINSTINCTS005]
Preserved Instincts maintain their intermittent schedule of Chasing Voices transmissions with Awoken By Tearss. The usual Preserved Instinct traits are maintained here; a one sided 12″ with little extra information housed in a sumptuous sleeve depicting some rather haunting imagery from centuries gone by. “Awoken By Tears” proves to be as memorable and equally resistant to the notions of beat matching. Swirling mists of laser guided synths slowly emerge and form a hypnotic pattern that teases your full attention before a rough jack hammering drum joins the fray. This signals the emergence of an ever growing crescendo of cacophonous rhythms and thick bass stabs that threaten to explode under pressure of their sheer intensity before out of nowhere the elements recede and all that’s left is your heart in your mouth.
Kyle Hall @ Studio Martin (Bucharest) 20.04.2013
Reavis Mitchell – Soul Beats Volume 1 [DS12001]
Scientist/Producer/Artist Reavis Mitchell breaks the sound barrier again. Though he recently became prominent as a co-founder of BKE Technology and an architect of the Beat Thang Mobile Music Production System, Rev has been manufacturing beats for years. On Soul Beats Volume 1, the Soulbeat Scientist concocted a collection of signature soul-infused hip hop and funk for your sonic toolbox.
Apoena – Dourada (Remixes) [UQ049]
DJ/producer Henrique Casanova strays back & forth the line separating house & techno. This EP features a track from his CD album, with two remixes from Jus-Ed and one from Esteban Adame.
VA – Boe XX [BOEXX]
2013 is the year of milestones for the ever understated and under the radar Boe Recordings. This year the imprint turns a grand 5 years old and celebrates a 20th release in the form of BOE XX. Fans of the previous celebratory release BOE X will be familiar with the format of 4 artists and 4 track each having its own style and groove but easily slotting into the boe ethos of preserving the integrity of the past and pushing forwards into the open realms of future house music. Tracks by Outboxx, Perseus Traxx, Machinesleet and Kammerton.
J Dilla – Lost Tapes, Reels, and More [MM032]
Moodymann’s Mahogani label releases another posthumous J Dilla release, titled ‘Lost Tapes, reels + more’. Despite his untimely passing in 2006, J Dilla’s legacy has remained strong thanks to the enduring qualities of his back catalogue, the endeavours of the J Dilla Foundation and the Yancey Media Group, not to mention the countless Dilla themed reissues and projects that have surfaced in the wake of his death. Moodymann’s Mahogani imprint have of course played their own part in ensuring J Dilla’s enduring legacy with the release of the Dillatroit EP last year, a 12-track release of previously unreleased J Dilla material done in collaboration with the aforementioned Yancey Media Group and J Dilla Foundation.
Seba – Identity [SECOPSLP001D]
After 16 years releasing on the most influential labels in Drum&Bass, label owner and musician Seba is proud to announce his first album release on Secret Operations, “Identity”. For over a year, Seba has been writing a follow up to his first album “Return to forever”, released in 2008. This was no easy task, as Seba believes an album must be consistent and reinforced by a clear artistic approach and direction. A single is easy, Seba wanted to create an album and not a compilation of singles. The album is designed to display Seba’s musical “Identity” and the mechanics of his inspiration, as well as showcasing the production skills and confident musicality, which has had him releasing music for 16 years. Seba’s Drum&Bass productions are heavily influenced By Techno, House and even elements of Alternative Rock. “Identity” shows you Seba’s ability to work in other genres of music as well as alongside talented vocalists. A listening experience, carefully designed for a listening audience as well as a nightclubbing crowd.
Steaua de Mare – Steaua de Mare [ABR012]
Ambassador’s Reception label present the Romanian band Steaua de Mare, with their unique Smokey psychedelic sound. The whole concept of Steaua de Mare was founded on past sounds and the bygone entertainment rituals which existed before the 1989 revolution (that atmosphere extended well beyond and into the nineties). Steaua de Mare was a sixties seaside complex in one of the now fading Black Sea resorts Eforie Nord. As people relaxed in the sun and ate good food, traditional songs were played by restaurant bands which gave Steaua de Mare the idea to pay homage to this way of life by combining the sound of that era together with the new recording techniques of today. The band: Bogdan Stoian (violin, synths) Andrei Dinescu (percussion, drums, violin, synths) Ion Dumitrescu (bass, synths, drum-machines, drums) Horațiu Ș (synths, electric piano) Eugen Imecs (drums, percussion) came together after many years of jamming and decided to pool all resources together in two different studios around Bucharest. Their unique sound comes from many directions. They bring elements of Prog, dub, psychedelic rock, Turkish and contemporary gypsy music mainly from Romania and Bulgaria into the mix. If you then add that they are irreversibly contaminated in analogue and early digital sounds then maybe you have a passing image of this hybrid sound. Steaua de Mare add a unique twist on local standards with the help of Roland Juno 60, Yamaha CS-5, Elektronika EM-25, Junost-21, Poly 61 and their beloved Wurlitzer electric Piano. A wide range of influences from Can to Ork Universal, from psychedelic attitudes, kraut adventures to outer national delights like Bulgarian Chalga.
Cosmin TRG interview
Alessandro Parisi – Draconia [LXRC012]
New album on Lux Rec. Alessandro Parisi recorded this album just with a Roland TR-707 and a Roland JX-3P. The heritage from his home in the northeast of Italy is clearly present in the music of Parisi. Back in the late seventies and early eighties Pordenone was an industrial city with a vivid underground post punk and wave scene. Cold weather electronics. Fog and darkness surrounds the place to this day and deeply pervades this record: the history of a city called Draconia. Who will do wrong shall not be forgiven.
In Trance 95 – Shapes In A New Geometry [MW043]
Minimal Wave announce the release of a cassette of new music by Greek legends In Trance 95. After last year’s successful Cities Of Steel And Neon album release, In Trance 95 came together once again and have been working diligently in the studio on all kinds of new material. Aside from their recent raved about shows in Europe, this cassette is a taste of what they have been up to at Airdawn Studio in Athens, Greece. Quite dark, industrial and sometimes experimental (with glimpses of smokey dance floor atmosphere), these tracks are stark, heavy and cold.
Q4U – Q1 (Deluxe Edition 1980-1983) [DE040]
Q4U was born the winter of 1980-1981 in Reykjavík, inspired by the British punk movement. It’s original members were Elínborg Halldórsdóttir (Ellý) (vocals), Berglind Garðarsdóttir (Linda) (vocals), Steinþór Stefánsson (guitar), Gunnþór Sigurðsson (bass), Helgi (drums) and Már (synthesizer). Helgi and Már soon left the band and Helgi was replaced by Kormákur Geirharðsson (Kommi) on the drums. By early 1982 they self-released a full length cassette, “Skaf Í Dag” and appeared in the documentary “Rokk í Reykjavík,” which showcased the Icelandic punk scene. This version of the band ended and only two members continued on. In the summer of 1982 Ellý and Gunnþór recruited Óðinn Guðbrandsson (guitar) and Árni Daníel (synthesizer) from the band Taugadeildin. Their drummer was replaced by a Roland TR-808 drum machine they named “Elísabet II”. signaling a change in the group’s sound toward synthesizer-driven post punk. In August 1983 Q4U reinstated Kormákur to record a final set of demos and then called it quits. This compilation collects 16 songs from 1980-1983. SIde A features the original six songs from the “Q1″ EP, plus 2 songs from the “Rokk í Reykjavík” soundtrack. Side B collects 4 demos from 1982 and 4 demos from 1983, all presented on vinyl for the first time ever. Q4U began with a stylish, aggressive punk image before experimenting with drum machines and synthesizers, which almost nobody did in Reykjavík at the time. The later sound had gothic leanings,often compared with Siouxsie and the Banshees and Xmal Deutschland. Their body of work is united by the powerful vocals of Ellý, who mostly sings in Icelandic about controversial, political experiences, much like Ari Up of The Slits.
Sandra Plays Electronics – Her Needs [MW042]
Minimal Wave label presents a 7” release of primitive D.I.Y. electronics by Sandra Plays Electronics, a project founded by Karl O’Connor (Regis) whilst he was a teenager living in Birmingham, England in the 1980s. O’Connor, mostly known for his pioneering work in the techno field (as Regis, Sandwell District, British Murder Boys, Ugandan Methods and various other entities) as well as his Downwards label, began playing and recording his own music when he was 16 years old. He collaborated with friends performing in short-lived bands such as Family Sex and also recorded on his own as Sandra Plays Electronics. He was heavily influenced by D.A.F., Liaisons Dangereuses, Cabaret Voltaire and Soft Cell, to name a few and would eventually collaborate with Robert Görl and also Chrislo Haas in the late 90s. The tracks we are presenting here are two versions of the same song, Her Needs, both recorded in Birmingham, England. The first was recorded in 1988 during soundcheck at the College of Food And Domestic Arts and the second was recorded in 1999 (from the Man Has Responsibilities session) at the Ice House. Pressed on heavy weight 70 gram ultra clear vinyl, the 7” is housed in a matte double sided printed foldover sleeve. Limited to 999 hand-numbered copies.
Ike Release – Dream Sequencer EP [MOSDEEP015]
Following on from his increasingly essential work as Innerspace Halflife, Ike Release steps out on his own for a new three tracker on MOS Deep that finds the Chicago producer in a bullish mood. Opener ‘Cosmic Supreme’ is a moody march across the surface of a planet far from here – typically raw, bobbling drums set the tone as a frazzled and drawn out synth line winds right through its core from start to finish. ‘Spells’ is backlit with an ethereal synthy glow as another thick analogue line takes the main focus of the track, all the while as nebulous percussion floats about like a cloud of dust in the background. Finally, ‘Westview’ is a little more propulsive, driven as it is by a lashing, rubberised bassline that sprays about freely, contained only by the itchy and more regimented hi-hats that slice up and down around it. Despite there being a sonic denseness to all three tracks here, a certain emotional gravitas always lurks with in: be it one of introspection or reflection, they are difficult to ignore.
Lost Trax – Hidden Agenda [TABR018]
Pepe Bradock – Lifting Weights [ASD021]
Acid Test’s first release of 2013 features two acid tracks from the French professor Pepe Bradock (his first release outside of his own Atavisme imprint in 10 years). Lifting Weights / Mujeres Nerviosas Recorded in LA, assembled in Paris.
VA – Introduction [AC001]
Anunnaki Cartel is the newly launched sub label of Amir Alexander’s Vanguard Sound operation and this first release sets the bar high; Alexander himself features alongside cuts from Joey Anderson and Chris Mitchell. The latter producer leads the way with “Illuminescent Invasion” a relentlessly rewarding concoction of fierce snares, deviant saw tooth synths and almost criminal abuse of the 303. Amir Alexander is growing into a personal favourite of the Juno review team and “Ostinato” demonstrates why in abundance. It’s a direct and druggy assault on your sensibilities based around discordant square synths and a undeniably funk heavy groove. Things get even weirder on the flip as Joey Anderson drops the kind of off-kilter, off the grid house production where all the elements appear to be pulling in separate directions but somehow combine for a unique cohesive groove. Mitchell and Alexander join forces to close this excellent 12″ with the cosmic techno of “Dark Memories” which has got the best snare sound since “Set It Off”.
Sleeparchive – A Man Dies In The Street Pt.1 [TRESOR260]
After spending five years stealthy developing the project through a series of bi-annual and hand- stamped set of releases, eked via his eponymous imprint, in 2011 Sleeparchive joined Tresor with ‘Ronan Point’— an EP of tracks constructed directly from material from Semsroth’s live set. Now comes more fresh works from the master of haunting, compelling minimalism in this first instalment of a two-part EP for the label.
