Michael Klein delivers some four trippy modern techno tracks on Odd Even.
Audition – Sync EP [ADT02]
Audition is now back with another hard-hitting, no compromise EP. Things kicks off with Sync a prime time banger track, while Altered Vision has a more soft side to it with its squelchy synth lines while remaining very playable. On the flip side, The Dictator goes back to more relentless rhythms and heavy sequences, and the EP ends up with In Substance with its ghost-like melodies.
Adrian Marth – Galactic Funk Podcast 022
Badge Époque Ensemble – Future Past & Present [TER074]
The Badge Époque Ensemble group came out with a surprise album on Telephone Explosion Records, the fittingly titled “Future, Past & Present”. A compilation of sorts, the album collects instrumental, alternate mix versions of all BÉE songs which originally featured guest vocalists. In practice this results in a pseudo-greatest-hits survey of the Ensemble’s catalogue to-date, touching on highlights from all three releases while emphasizing the group’s strength as versatile mood-conjurors. Where these songs once featured vocal heavyweights like Meg Remy, Jennifer Castle, James Baley and Dorothea Paas, they are now strung together instrumentally in a sequence which represents the purest distillation of BÉE’s collective musical chemistry to date.
Loui$ – Magic Dance [BSTX058]
Compared to some of the ultra-obscure releases buffed up and reissued on Best, Loui$’ “Magic Dance” is something of a perennial classic, but that doesn’t diminish its value in getting another airing. Loui$ released a modest wedge of killer party anthems in his 80s peak, but this debut 12″ in 1985 was the glittering prize. Of all the versions of this release, the rare Blow Up Records edition is the one that gets a look in here, and it’s all about that special disco mix of “Pink Footpath”. From gutsy analogue bass to shimmering lead pads, it’s a dreamy dancefloor jam in every way.
G.A.N.G. – Incantations [BSTX056]
G.A.N.G. was a short-lived studio project from Giorgio Giordano, Giorgio Dolce and Roberto Zanetti (Savage). In 1983 they released “Incantations”, a plush cosmic disco burner that rides a slow tempo but hits heavy with its rich layers of synth and slick guitar licks. Best are giving it a fresh airing with this on-point reissue, bringing the chugging bass arps back into the fold of a sympathetic scene that celebrates just this kind of evocative, sensual slow-mo party fodder. The original mix elevates in the second half with a soaring vocal from Stefania Dal Pino, but if that doesn’t appeal there’s a purely instrumental take on the B side that focuses purely on the groove.
VA – Underground Dance EP IV [HM027]
Another quality release on Hotmix Records, featuring tracks from Fabio Monesi, KMTR, NLXLP, Ricardo Baez.
Gene Hunt – Volume One [CTX010]
Chiwax presents “Volume One” EP featuring some unreleased 90’s treasures from Gene Hunt. Furthermore there will be another two releases out in 2021 from the Chicago Master.
London Modular Alliance – Stray EP [CELTD004]
London Modular Alliance make their CE debut with the ‘Stray EP’ for Cultivated Electronics Ltd. The EP includes three intricately crafted modular Electro tracks, featuring soaring melodies and dappled beats that manage to extract depth and soul out of machines, alongside a punchy remix by Sync 24 that delivers a tough metallic groove to close the release.
Die Gestalten – Kämpfen und Gedenken (Live) [DIEGESTALTEN013]
Arnaud Rebotini – Shiny Black Leather [MNQ144]
Mannequin Records presents a new killer release from the legendary French producer Arnaud Rebotini. Whether as one half of Black Strobe or in his own material or just busy receiving a César prize 2018 for best film music, Arnaud Rebotini devotes his career to mindblowing electronic productions. Passionate about analog synthesizers, and with a strong taste for electronic music of a dark and brutal hue, the new EP ‘Shiny Black Leather’ pushes to the limit his EBM-influenced electro-goth side, making the most doomy goth clubber happy.
Sepehr – Crown Jewel [SHAY001]
For it’s inaugural release, label boss Sepehr provides the first electrified soundtrack for Shaytoon records with “Crown Jewel”. Listeners should expect visions of monoliths, obsidian mountains underneath blood-red soaked skies and freaky soundwaves while listening. “Crown Jewel” EP should be listened to while hitchhiking across the country with only a bottle of wine in a knapsack, dreaming of dancing to the drum.
Chino @ 20ft Radio 22.01.2021
OorsprongPark – Dark Marble [MTROND008]
Drenched in gloom and gloss, OorsprongPark’s soundscapes hexed our minds once again, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome back the Utrecht-based producer for his second release on Mechatronica. Dark Marble is bleak, gleaming and doubtlessly fluid, a sublime followup to his 2019 debut album Velvet Curtain.
Moist 96 – S/T [LIES166]
NYC by way of Miami, Moist 96 is a new project of Rene Nunez, mostly known through the years for his work under the name, Horoscope. Culled together from decaying tapes, bled out and dubbed one too many times over, Nunez took pieces from these 4 track demos drawing back on the music of his youth; Miami bass, freestyle and coked out funk to create this record. The LP being a raw in your face snapshot which is the musical equivalent of a pit bull being locked in a car for hours during a heatwave with the afternoon mix show on full blast.
As the artist says, “This is not trying to be some jokey-ironic-funny-costume-campy bullshit. It is trying to be on some real illegal pre-internet bootleg rush-hour mix; 808’s on blown-out car systems; cassette tapes melted in the center console speeding by Hot Wheels and Club Madonna’s neon signs; pants-shitting bass frequencies, like a roundhouse kick to your chest type shit. If you’re tired of all this cum fast video game techno you might enjoy this project. And if you don’t, that’s cool, too. I hope everyone keeps their head up, Releasing music right now can feel stupid and unimportant, but hopefully this record can take your mind off shit for a second and have some fun. Thanks for taking the time and listening. ”
PRZ – Red Material [HIL009]
PRZ reports for duty for the 9th release in the Hilltown Disco series with six no-nonsense, commanding, electro-cuts, delving into intergalactic territory with “Red Material”. Chateau Royal boss, Tel-Aviv based, PRZ aka Gal Perez spent over a year finely-tuning ‘Red Material’, flexing his rich and extensive production levels. The 12″ features some of the most intense and twisted, bass-heavy tracks the label has released to date. With fizzing drum machine beats, deep, space acid-lines, and the occasional disgruntled cyborg, Gal creates certified future-classics for the Hilltown Disco imprint.
Mantris – Souvenirs From Imaginary Cities [SFIC001]
It has been almost 30 years since Mantris, real name Dirk Eggermont, shared music with the world. A driving force of pioneering Belgian house outfits The Black Sun and Brown Hardware Inc, Mantris had a productive music career forecasted, but he vanished into thin air and no more music was ever heard of him. Mantris is now transmitting again from his small apartment in Bombay, India. Completely insulated from hypes and scenes, these 10 rich, phantasy provoking cinematic jams are the inauguration for the Souvernirs From Imaginay Cities label, started by Kong DJ and Hill Men.
Amandra x Mattheis – Lettre Ouverte [NOUSLP005]
Two artists who have carved out their own niche in todays techno universe join forces for their first collaborative full length. Ten tracks across two vinyls demonstrate the unique synergy between these two friends. In their collaboration they each focus on their own expertise, combining best of both worlds. Amandra on drums and Mattheis on synths – creating overlapping, constantly shifting patterns, like an endlessly captivating moire effect as result.
Steven Rutter – Riddle Me Sane [FS027]
B12 was originally a duo before Steven Rutter took over the alias as a solo artist, but after a string of, he decided to start producing under his own name. Steven Rutter kept his sound the same, but shed the skin of B12 to mark a new point in his musical career. Battling with personal demons, the B12 sound had become dark and introverted, and the Steven Rutter style keeps that same moody atmosphere, while adding upbeat rhythms and more jovial chord progressions without losing focus of the core sound that’s made his music so influential. “Riddle Me Sane” is the third album Steven Rutter has done under his own name. Cosmic melodies and sci-fi influenced textures with dystopian sound design, the thought provoking album paints pictures of alien landscapes, while its down tempo grooves also have the key elements needed for the dance floor.
Mohlao – Cut [SERUM4]
For the fourth edition of the Serum series Hypnus Records shares three pieces of deep dubbed out techno by Mohlao (aka Multicast Dynamics, VC-118A). The record is then completed by an atmospheric tribal interpretation by Dorisburg.
The Hipodrome Of Music 