Crossroads explores the mysterious terrains of contemporary deep minimal techno with the Feral’s distinct and inimitable tribal sound.
Feral – Crossroads [HYPNUS034]
Serge @ RSO Berlin 23.09.2022
Marcel Dettmann – Fear Of Programming LP [DKMNTL095]
Nearly 10 years on since his last solo LP, Berlin techno icon Marcel Dettmann arrives on Dekmantel with an expansive album captured in a flash of inspiration. In many ways Fear Of Programming is a reflection on the artistic process – the critical hurdles one has to overcome, the constant strive for originality, the ability to capture inspiration in its pure moment of inception. Bar the closing title track (and we all know Marcel loves a surprise closing), these 13 tracks came together during a period in which our hirsute host was able to immerse himself in studio practice and set the intention to record an album’s worth of material every single day. From the resulting mass of work there were many options to choose from, and Fear Of Programming stood out as one of the most complete statements on Dettmann’s approach in the here and now.
John Shima – The Empty Lands [FS028]
John Shima has proven himself to be a natural disciple for the kind of emotive techno sound B12 were pioneering in the early 90s, and so it makes sense to see him working closely with Steven Rutter’s FireScope label now. More than meeting a pre-meditated formula, the focus here is on expression through the machines, and Shima is a dab hand at getting his synths and sequences to sing. After 2019’s The Lonely Machine, he’s back with The Empty Lands, an engrossing long player which journeys through enchanting, interwoven synth lines and delicate drum machine patter that will keep you invigorated and inspired for aeons.
Jeff Mills – Extension [AX109]
The Detroit techno master is back with a continuation of the series from ”Growth” (AX010, 1994) and ”Expanded” (AX039, 2004) under the same concept. An attempt to bring forth the notion that the Future could provide more than what we are doing now.
Jeroen Search – Controlled Impulses [KEYLP04]
”Controlled Impulses” presents Jeroen Search’s first solo debut on KEY Vinyl. Known for his bleepy mind-bending sound signature, the Dutch artist once again proves his mastery in the art of production. With this album, Search exposes his creative versatility by delving into an exquisitely dreamy reality. Rather than a dance floor oriented selection, ”Controlled Impulses” contains a more cinematic, melodic inclination- an ode to the capacity of music to transport the listener to other worldly dimensions.
Curious Kees – TAFKAMP presents Curious Kees [TAR010]
Space Drum Meditation – SDM005 [SDM005]
The new EP on Space Drum Meditation comes with 4 vigorous, percussion-heavy cuts for a powerful ceremonial dance ritual.
Audition – Percussive EP [ADT04]
Phat grooving hypnotic techno tracks with an analog feel to it. Proper dj tools. Audition records is building up that momentum for their project.
East-West – Can’t Face The Night [ERC132]
Completing a trilogy of reissues from the Indipop label, Emotional Rescue celebrates its 10th Anniversary by looking again at the ground-breaking music of Steve Coe and his label. Having worked with Steve right at the start of Emotional Rescue, it’s fantastic his special mix of Indian Classical and Dance Pop under the spotlight once more, highlighting his role in helping to kick start the 1980s huge interest in world music, while achieving considerable commercial success and cross-appeal.
Aroy Dee & Spaventi – Sorrow [BAP168]
Bordello A Parigi’s latest release brings together two heavyweights for something particularly special. Aroy Dee, founder of M>O>S Recordings, has been at the coalface of machine music for more than twenty years; Marco Antonio Spaventi, an exceptional composer with over a decade’s experience. The pair offered the tear-stained vocoder ballad of “Desire” two years back, now they return for “Sorrow.” Crisp rhythms and considered synth scales form the bedrock from which J.C.’s emotion wrung lyrics ensnare. A tale of lovelorn pain, a psychological journey of lamentations and mistakes, the track adopts the heartache of wave romance and contrasts it with clean musical lines. The “Space Dub” of the flip transforms those powerful lyrics to give space for brightness to enter. Cascading chords and sunlight break through as arpeggio quivers introduce vocoder vocals in this superb re-interpretation that balances warmth with frigid shades.
Morgan Geist – Duper [ENV042]
20 years after he released the superb (and subtly eclectic) “Super EP”‘”, Morgan Geist has prepped a follow-up of sorts – or at least a new three-tracker that takes the same ‘mixed up’ approach. “Duper” is a not-so-subtle callback to his 2001 EP, “Super.” On “Twilight Express,” the playful OSCar synth riffs and sweeping disco strings (courtesy of Kelley Polar) echo the palette of Geist’s cult classic “24K” and early Metro Area. “Black Test Car” is a unique collision of minimal, Krautrock-style drums, sound library textures and spacey percussion. Wrapping things up, “Feeling Is Mutual” is a rare acid outing that pushes beyond the usual comfort zone, the 303 acting more as feather than hammer above major-key modulations. Weird acid meets “quiet storm” R&B? Super-Duper!
VA – Sneaker presents Give’n’Take 2 [UVGNT02]
Eight years after Cuthead’s “Give’n’Take”, it’s Sneaker’s turn to put together four of his favorite tracks for Uncanny Valley’s compilation series. Besides L.B. BaD’s wonderful “Late In The Evening (Music’s Seeping Thru)” you’ll get three absolute bangers on top. The Optimistic Misanthropes are Mystic Bill, VeXaTioN and Sneaker himself. One of the most influential Chicago House DJs, true to the underground for over three decades now, and once part of the Trax Records roster… Mystic Bill. VeXaTioN already got to know him back in the days but is currently hailing from Mexico City. His track was born in Los Angeles and remixed by Sneaker in Berlin. Also, Left Unknown’s “Maedchen” got the jacking Midas touch from Sneaker, a touch you’ve come to recognize. Behind the one-off project is Saxonian Gnista aka DJ Detox and somebody who wants to remain incognito. Jacob Korn however is well-known since the early days of Uncanny Valley and is above all Sneaker’s best buddy at TailOut Studio, Dresden.
VA – Flight Mode 002 [FM002]
The second release of Flight Mode has landed with four artists from four different countries. On the A-side, Dawl delivers ‘Microbe’, a sleek acid slow burning that truly stalks the listener, before Kiddmisha ups the speed and the eerie moodiness with ‘Anxiety’. Acid Charlie’s ‘Por La Paz’ has the most old school favour of the quartet – even before sirens hit – underpinned by a thunderous drum machine. Then the mysterious producer SPAC closes the single with more cunningly employed acid shenanigans.
Ten Lardell – Anterspace 02 [ANTERSPACE02]
Larionov – Italo Moderni Mix 96
Gravitational Effect – Passenger 1982 [MTROND011]
Gravitational Effect debuts on Mechatronica, and blasts through the cosmos with an extraterrestrial blend of emotive electro funk, alien basslines and quirky rhythms, soaked in intergalactic ambience. One for the travellers.
Olivia @ HÖR (Berlin) 18.11.2022
CYRK (Live) @ HÖR (Berlin) 09.11.2022
Ombra 2022
The 2022 edition of the Ombra Festival will start tomorrow in Barcelona, with a location change. The festival program was suppose to take place for the last time at UTOPÍA 126, but the new owners of the location canceled in September Ombra’s reservation. Probably this beautiful industrial relic will make space for something more modern and cost efficient construction.
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The Hipodrome Of Music 