Emotions Electric presents the Planetary Highways compilation, a deep journey thru Interplanetary sounds in a beautiful Gatefold sleeve with artwork from the legendary Detroit visual artist Abdul Haqq.
XDB – Inspiron [DIALLP044]
For almost three decades now Kosta Athanassiadis aka XDB has been involved in the constantly changing world of dance music. His curiosity and dedication to electronic music spiral deep into the depth of House Music and Techno and where ever he appears he generously shares his unique knowledge in this field with equally dedicated crowds. Now he presents “Inspiron” actually his debut album, coming out on Dial.
Orlando Voorn – Internal Destination [KOM426]
Kompakt welcomes 2021 with a new member in the person of Dutch techno legend, Orlando Voorn. Orlando brings his extensive knowledge of Techno and House to the forefront for his Kompakt debut “Internal Destination”. Spacial sounds connect perfectly together – the playfulness of the track feels like each moment is caught in mid-air but the beat keeps it all moving forward without hesitation. “Ride The Wave” rounds out this EP – an electro loop is serenaded by a funked up synth melody that jams to the drum in the most soulful of ways.
Mirror Touch – Balancing EP [MET038]
Metamorphic is announces a new EP from Mirror Touch, a new project from London-based producer Tim Van Zandyke. The sound of Mirror Touch can best be described by a moment in time when mid 90’s trax records from the US Midwest combined techno’s brutalist grooves with layers of emotive harmonies harking back to Detroit’s funk, soul and jazz legacy. Then techno sound hurtled forward, blazing new paths of experimentation, minimalism and hypnosis. Mirror Touch points back to that magic moment when Techno emerged from Detroit, with a series of hardware tracks that combine emotional rawness with the flow of 21st century techno.
VA – Arts V: Disc 5 [ARTSBOX001DISC5]
Originally released as a box set and now available as individual records. The label has become synonymous with quality and consistency with a wide range of timeless sounds from Techno, House, Dub Techno, Electro, championing some of the most respected names in the scene and pushing the youth and putting this same youth at the very top of the chain, the label philosophy keeps rotating on a different level of orbits trying to reach always the best result and never be influenced by anything in the scene. This EP includes tracks by Shlømo, Subjected, Truncate and Dead Fader.
Truncate – DTW 2 LAX [TOKEN098]
Truncate arrives on Token. David Flores’ raw, jacking sound refines the best bits of modern production whilst staying true to the core proponents of the Techno genre. His upcoming appearance on the label shows him in great form, channelling classic sounds in an elegant, reduced fashion.
Romanian Artists to Watch in 2021
2020 was a tough year for almost everyone and definitely a year to forget for our scene. Events and gigs canceled, venues closed, artists lacking a way to earn a decent living and club culture facing a threat like never before. Without the interaction on the dancefloor all this seems pointless, but we have to stay resilient and hope for the better.
Looking at the local scene in Romania, during these times of hardship with movement restriction and curfew for almost the entire part of the year, with people fears and anxiety, there was almost to nothing happening in terms of events. But, the Romanian artists proved to be fairly active in the studio. We have here a summary of releases from Romanian artists that caught our attention in 2020 and a sneakpeek in what’s to come in the first part of 2021.
Transient Visitor – TV1 [SUBEX00024]
Transient Visitor are Alex Cargill and Martin Jensen. Formed in March 2020 when most of Europe was deep in lockdown due to Covid-19, Alex and Martin decided that the music should still flow, thus forming Transient Visitor and setting out on a mission to record a collaborative album together-apart in Kent, UK, and Luxembourg on the continent. TV1 is the first instalment from this process. Eight tracks unlocked and now being released into an uncertain world in the humble hope that it might help bring smiles to ears. TV1 is dedicated to Ray Cargill (1951-2020), Alex’s father who sadly fell victim to Covid-19 and passed away earlier in the year.
Ultramarine – Folk [FMOAW001]
For their first outing, new London-based reissue label Foam On A Wave resurface the remarkable debut album from one of the UK’s foremost artists of ‘ambient techno’, Ultramarine’s ‘Folk’. Like the surrealist collage of the sleeve designed by Benoît Hennebert, Ultramarine weave together unique instrumentation and sonic influences into rich, ethereal soundscapes, now fully remastered for its 30th anniversary. Conceived at a time when technology began reshaping the process of recording and production, the band’s interest in fusing the organic and the electronic is apparent, and one that has remained with them throughout their career. ‘Folk’ both sits apart from and serves as a precursor to the ‘pastoral techno’ sound Ultramarine went on to pioneer.
P. Lion – Happy Children [ZYX1049-12]
An Italo Disco rarity from 1983 now available again as a 12 “maxi single, P. Lion – Happy Children. On Side-A there are the original versions and as a highlight on Side-B two new and exclusive remixes by Flemming Dalum and van Edelsteyn.
Toys For Boys - Your Body, Your Feeling [IDL047]
This song from 1989 is not well-known for the masses, but sought after by many. Very nice melodies and vocals in this Carlo Oliva production. On this 12” you can find a proper extended remix by Sergi Elias. This song deserved such a remix and it is exclusively available on I.D. Limited Records.
Plastic Mode – Baya Imperial [DR-005]
Originally released in 1985, “Baya Imperial” is a classic Italo-Disco classic anthem, now officially reissued by Discoring Recordings on 12 inch vinyl.
Aroy Dee @ Unlimited Nation 2020
Liquid Son – Garden Of Eden [BLOW05/MDP030]
Cold Blow has once again dipped into Jason Adkins’ archives – this time to deliver a compilation of his turn-of-the-‘90s UK techno works as part of cult Bedford-based trio Liquid Son. Released in collaboration with fellow archival electronic music specialists Musique Pour La Danse, “Garden of Eden” gathers together tracks made and released by Liquid Son in 1991 and ’92, as well as a previously unheard demo version of the trio’s best-known track, ‘Tone Float’, which Adkins made in his bedroom way back in 1985. The compilation contains a string of sought-after gems that frequently blur the boundaries between Detroit techno, early UK bleep & bass, electro, EBM and the industrial funk of Cabaret Voltaire, while also boasting the kind of slick technical polish and musical depth so often missing from British club tracks of the period.
VA – BND Project Vol. 2 [BND008]
Jovonn’s Body N’Deep label sets the bar high for 2021 with a heavy hitting various artists release featuring the talents of Kai Alce, Javonntte, Alex Arnout and Alfonzo Bottone.
Pluto Junkies – Flying Spaghetti Monstership [MIN301]
The birth of Mindri, a new Pinkman sublabel run by Afra & Marsman. The first release by Pluto Junkies, a collab project between Ernestas Sadau, Rapha & PRZ goes straight into the alley of mind bending and stomach swirling releases. Drenched in 90’s retro-futurist electro spirit, Flying Spaghetti Monstership is what you would call a secret weapon at a rave. Fuelled with ferocity and seasoned with nostalgia, it feels like hedonist nights and forgotten conversations in crammed basements.
Gamma Intel – Generatie Desinteresse [PNKMN41]
Rotterdam’s local player Gamma Intel returns to Pinkman with his signature slowbeat electro bizz. Menacing with militant kicks and filthy curling baselines that go straight to one’s stomach when ingested, ’Generatie Desinteresse’ inspects the blasé youth of the concrete jungle. Inspired by the boundless pursuit of pleasure, numbed minds & ever-changing cities, the six tracker takes you to the place where anxiety is always lurking for its prey, even if the veil of indifference sets the simmering turmoil off the heat for a moment.
VA – Dalmata Daniel x EXILES x Farbwechsel [DDC03/FARB037][FREE DOWNLOAD]
After a heavy year that shocked the music scene all over the world, three fellow labels, Dalmata Daniel, EXILES and Farbwechsel joined forces to kick off 2021 with a massive 43-track compilation album. Contributed by 12z, Adam Krasz, AGA2L, A I W A, Alley Catss, Alpár, Carla Under Water – Máté Tulipán, CT Kidobó, David Harleydson, Dj Faktor X, FOR., Grabosky, ICR, Imre Kiss, J. Mono, Jeremiah Soft, Kobanya3000, Kokum, LAU, MA’AM, Maks, Marcibagoly, Max Sinclair, Mike Nylons, Microbeat, n o a h s t a s, Nemerov, Normal Tamas, Norwell, obwigszyh, OOO, Palmovka, Panoramic Barrier, Prince Matt, qvirk, ritual abuse, Roh Yugen, S Olbricht, Saint Leidal The 2nd, Sematic4, SILF, Sipowicz, SVR101, Tsering, Új Bála, Új Látásmód Fúzió, Wedding Acid Group This bold selection of contemporary Hungarian electronic music producers represents the three labels’ roster, including their core members and latest signings, alongside with other crews’ members and independent artists. The compilation ranges from experimental and ambient compositions across industrial, electro and acid bangers through the current techno sound of Budapest.
The compilation is available for download as name-your-price on bandcamp.
DMX Krew – Loose Gears [HYPELP019]
Self-styled ‘house husband, record producer’, DMX Krew, continues his effortless stretch of releases that date back to the early 90s, with a new album for Hypercolour. His deft melodies and mechanical, electro-tinged beats have made for some classic albums in his repertoire, from his incredible run of albums for Rephlex Records, up to 2020’s ’Ghost Bubbles’ long player for Terrestrial Funk. And so ‘Loose Gears’ marks DMX Krew’s fourth album for British stalwarts, Hypercolour, and fans will not be disappointed. Armed with an arsenal of hardware, and a head full of futuristic visions, ‘Loose Gears’ collects eleven tracks of the customary quality we have come to expect from DMX Krew. From the funk laden ‘Solar Transit’ to bleepy chugger ‘Dejected Ambient Twerp’, the vibrant synths and spongy rhythms of ‘Torpedo Tube’ to the beatless wiggle of ‘Xpansion 2’, there’s much in store to be savoured on ‘Loose Gears’, as DMX Krew serves up another fine selection of electronic goodies.
The Hipodrome Of Music 