The tenth volume from Jeff Mills’ series “Something In The Sky.” Cosmic rhythms from a master of his craft.
001.Features
Skudge – Fingers / Vessel [NONPLUS021]
Nonplus imprint looks to Sweden for its next release, with one of Skudge’s rare appearances outside of their own imprint. Lead track “Fingers” is as simple as techno gets, as peak time chords filter through a strong 909 kick in a fashion reminiscent of Shed’s most effective Equalized moments. “Vessel” meanwhile is a more slow burning affair, building up its mechanistic arpeggio over swelling analogue pads and stray claps, combining classic Detroit sci-fi moods with a Berghain scale.
Marcel Fengler – Frantic EP [OSTGUTTO060]
Marcel Fengler returns with a solo EP for Ostgut Ton. Consistently providing quality over quantity this long awaited new 12“ surprises yet again as Fengler develops his funkier side further for the label. The A-side track „Frantic“ then immediately brings the essence of peaktime energy to the point. Bathing in melodic synth stabs, it mixes with wide open fields of euphoria. Instantly moving and memorable, it’s a track that crosses borders and unites different territories of techno and house. „6 In A Row“, the first track on the B-Side, tries to deceive with a simple & mellow arrangement but soon enough grabs the listener from behind with it’s cleverly built architechture that mounts with subtle waves to an addictive groove, a lesson in how to use a less-is-more approach to maximum effect. As if this wasn’t convincing enough the Berghain Resident now ventures further into spaced out dub structures & melodies and immerses the listener into sheer silk with the smooth „Mosaique“, a side of Marcel that he has only hinted at before but a pleasure to hear it fully realized on this track.
Abdulla Rashim – Endasilasie [ARR003]
Abstract deep pulsating and hypnotizing Nordic techno from Abdulla Rashim. Slowly building and well executed tracks that stand out. We can make some sonic links to groundbreaking labels such as Detroits Strobe label, dark and acid driven introvert techno tracks.
Reeko – Ella Episodio 3 [MD016]
Juan Rico aka Reeko presents the Episodio III of Ella. Featuring two tracks “Segmento 5” and “Segmento 6” and this EP is on the dub side of techno. In terms of his quality and skill, these tracks show that he must be brimming with ideas.
Mock & Toof – Temporary Happiness [TINC007]
After 2010’s ‘Tuning Echoes’ Mock & Toof return with their second album entitled ‘Temporary Happiness’, featuring the young Swiss artist Ghostape who features on half of the 10 tracks, the remainder being instrumentals. Their sound isn’t easily pigeon-holed & this album continues in the same tradition. Stylistically there are the occasional nods to today’s & yesterday’s myriad of electronic genres, but it is concocted in such a way that the resulting tracks can’t be easily slotted in with this gang or that scene. ‘Temporary Happiness’, as the title suggests, is darker, deeper & perhaps a little less accessible than its predecessor, but it does have its moments of light where the energy & drama of dance tracks ‘Snowball’ & ‘Walking the Streets’ shine through, contrasting with the murky & more melancholic ‘Confusion Time’ & ‘Don’t Work, Don’t Care’. There is also plenty of space and a dub-funk mottled vibe running through a good number of the tracks, which could be said to be a bit of a trademark. At its core ‘Temporary Happiness’ is made by a combination of old machines & new computers, where Ghostape’s vocals and the emphasis on hooks & melodies constitutes the more human side.
Marcello Giordani – Comin’ Down [EF049]
Endless Flight presents the first the first two tracks from the upcoming debut album by true Italian disco artist Marcello Giordani. Classy & smooth disco house tunes from Marcello.
Das Volt – Rose EP [LNA004]
Late Night Audio Records presents “Rose” EP, Das Volt’s new work on the label, which includes 4 dangerously hot tracks, as well as a remix by Mark E. Das Volt’s musical influences and background vary from house to boogie, helping his sounds change playfully from track to track. Combined with precise sound engineering skills and his great taste of rhythm. DJ/producer Mark E also adds his touch of class on this EP, with a dreamy and essential remix, aiming to satisfy all your senses.
Mock & Toof – My Head [TINC006]
Mock & Toof are back with a new album “Temporary Happiness”. The first material to emerge from the new album is called ‘My Head’& it features vocals from young Swiss artist Ghostape. In a nutshell it’s one little catchy chugger with a heavy analog sound. The beats of the Boss DR-55 & the inimitable bass of the TB-303 lay the foundation. Clavs, bell lines and synth sweeps combine with Ghostape’s repetitive dubbed out vocals for a unique sounding electro-dub-funk inspired cut. Juju & Jordash take snippets of the vocal & weave them into an amazing raw, deep, techno remix that only they seem to be able to do at the moment. Lauer takes on the album track ‘Confusion Time’ and transforms it into a killer deep house number.
Lauer – Mascat Ring Down [BIS004]
Lauer’s “Macsat Ring Down” follows an elliptic pattern fit for infinite play on any space floor. On “Mascat”, analog space junk flies in and out of an orbital framework built upon nearly nine minutes of bubbling bass and peripheral percussion. Space boogie at its finest. An anti-gravity exercise in repetition, Lee Douglas remixes “Macsat” for the flipside. Reaching a zen state through mantra-like looping, Douglas reworks Lauer’s sounds from a delicate and pensive place to a muscular and propulsive groove. Most if not all of the synthesized glitter from the original is eventually forgone in favor of blasted percussion and an unrelenting bassline.
Linea Aspera – Linea Aspera LP [DE031]
Dark Entries is proud to present the debut album of contemporary British band Linea Aspera. Linea Aspera is the London duo of Ryan Ambridge (Synths/Programming) and Alison Lewis (Vocals/Synths). They began the project in November 2011, technically drawing inspiration from electronic music from the early 1980s. For their debut album they utilized small, simple analog synthesizer set up: Roland SH-09, Roland Juno 6, Vermona DRM MKiii, Korg Poly 800 and Analogue Solutions Semblance. Linea Aspera’s sound includes clear influences from early electronic body music, classic synth-pop and, in some instances, industrial and noise. Lyrically the band incorporates the sciences of osteology, neuroscience, and anthropology weaving a new medical language around themes of desire, despair and renewal. Linea Aspera serve up an icebox of dark doom riding on Alison’s powerful vocals with a soft but sharp touch.
ADN’ Ckrystall – Jazz’Mad LP [DE030]
Dark Entries is excited to release the 30th anniversary edition of ADN’ Ckrystall’s debut album “Jazz’Mad.” ADN’ Ckrystall is the moniker of synthesizer wizard Érick Moncollin from Tarbes, France. In 1977 Moncollin spent time in Paris experimenting with synthesizers, jamming alongside composers Vangelis and Tim Blake. It was here that he obtained a prototype of the Korg MS-20, a legendary synthesizer. The entire album was recorded over a 4 day period in 1980. The sound of “Jazz’Mad” revolves around the synthesizer, utilizing the instrument to all its capacities. ADN was Influenced by New Wave bands that incorporated keyboards into their songs like Gary Numan/Tubeway Army, and Simple Minds, as well as Prog Rock and Krautrock bands such as Hawkwind, Heldon, Gong, and Neu!. The result is an unconventional and discordant conglomeration of synthesizers, drum machines, and vocals that cradle the edge of the brain. Most of the songs are long instrumental pieces but when Érick sings his lyrics favor love, drugs, and science fiction themes.
Zsa Zsa Laboum / HNO3 – Something Scary / Doughnut Dollies [DONT021]
The new release from Don’t imprint features two sublime 1988 Belgian New Beat classics from Zsa Zsa Laboum and HN03. Laboum’s “Something Scary” is perhaps the archetypal New Beat track, commencing with a sample lifted from the dodgy 80s B Movie “The Entity” and displaying some excellent percussion and a powerful and obscure acid line – it still sounds excellent some twenty four years later. On the flip is the R&S classic “Doughnut Dollies” from New Beat icon Eric Beysens under his HN03 moniker features. It’s grubby industrial arpeggio sounding equally vibrant today – especially pitched way down to -8 like the New Beat guys used to do!
Hardrock Striker – Into The Grove #1 [LAXC002]
Skylax Records brings, for this new release serie, a very hot project : one of the most influential & mysterious producer from now : Jason Grove teamed up with Hardrock Striker, delivering 4 heavyweight Hardrock Striker classics revamped by deep house master Jason Grove.
Joe Drive – Revelation EP [HOTMIX007]
HotMix presents the new release by Joe Drive. Joe offers an excellent EP with shades dark and deep . The EP also contains some fantastic downtempo cuts.
Ricardo Miranda presents Latin Soul Brothas – The Smooth Beatdown EP [NERO021T]
Ricardo Miranda returns to Neroli with this fresh 4 tracker mixing the deepness of house with his Latin origins. ‘808 Signatures’ is raw and deep as it could get, ‘Voices’ features once again fellow Chicago star Glenn Underground for a classic Latin Soul Brothas jam. On the flipside Ricardo’s homage to the classic ‘Faces’ drum track, and finally a deep and long journey into sentimental house called ‘Mental Samurai’ featuring Hernan Cronner.
Life Recorder – No Look Back [AES015]
Purpose, Musical Integrity, Limitless Depth & Fearless Exploration are the basic principals for timeless music, and are the focus of Aesthetic Audio. Listen to “No Look Back, and it’s all there within this wonderful 4 tracker. Hailing from Marseilles, France, Aesthetic Audio proudly introduces the artist, Life Recorder.
Two Dogs In A House – Eliminator EP [LIES016]
Two Dogs in a House, aka Steve Summers & Ron Morelli, took to a secluded studio in Stockholm Sweden during spring 2012 to record while on the road. Here we have the result of uninhibited access to machines with no time constraints and no distractions from the outside world. This freedom allowed the duo to expand upon their ideas of deconstructing conventional song structure and harnessing the power of what immediately surrounded them in the moment. Two full side tracks that will absolutely crush and/or isolate anyone who crosses through the sonic pathway of them. Perfect sounds for the apocalyptic world we live in.
Hieroglypic Being – The Lost Transmissions [DOSER014]
Jamal Moss is back on Morphine, although you wouldn’t think it by the sounds of these tracks. Both tracks clock in around the 13 minute mark and totally go there. Clued up sickness again on this excellent label.
Jorge C. + Hieroglyphic Being – El Effekto EP [OJO008]
Ojodeapolo presents the second Ep from Jorge C. who made his debut some years ago on Sean Deason Matrix label. The track ”El Effekto” opens the A side with freaky filtered jumping nu-disco treatments plus delicious horn sections. A2 Track Creation gets into deeper underwater sounds with a dubby feeling. B side is a peculiar rework of ”El Effekto” by the legendary producer Jamal Moss aka. Hieroglyphic Being who takes us into a long journey through pure Chicago noise.
