VA – Never Trust A Mirror [STRD-III]

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Three artists discover the wider field of dark electronic dance music. Although young, these producers already have a big understanding of sound. A sound which is past-oriented but every track has a certain twist which makes the music contemporary and timeless. On A1 – Dein Letztes Hemd – Nicola Toma from Berlin combines acid cuts with German Vocals (by Camila Strasdas) and a pushy bassline. Nothing else needed. Zurich’s Prioleau opens up a totally new world on A2. ‘Never Trust A Mirror’ is an energy driven tune without compromises. A dark new wave-y and kraut influenced masterpiece. On the b-side are two tracks produced by Hesychia369, a well-known producer from Zurich under a new alias. With ‘Dmbrisded’ and ‘Diffspherez’ he shows his love for acid basslines and fast rhythms.

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VA – Never Trust A Mirror [STRD-III]

Captain Mustache – Special Friend [BAP136]

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Captain Mustache is a DJ and producer with some fifteen years as a label manager. He arrives on Bordello A Parigi with a unique blend of electro spiked disco. The Parisian lands with a four tracker guaranteed to leave bodies and speakers aching with joy. Teaming up with Paul Play on vocals, “Special Friend” is a purely nocturnal affair. Smokey words sail above crisp percussion as laser beam synthlines lance a haze of early morning light. “Rhythm 55” is built on bold beats, the Captain slowly unfurling a sparkling melody that glimmers and shines next to burbling acid-tinged bass. A generous introduction gives way to toms and snipping snares for “Jean-Michel”, a beautiful tribute to synthesizer master Jean-Michel Jarre. Bright and clean, the track is steeped in a future-gazing optimism that palpably echoes through its vocoder. “Space Jowblob” brings our odyssey with Captain Mustache to a close, astral chords and beaming bars washed in starlight.

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Captain Mustache – Special Friend [BAP136]

Key Clef – Mental Groove [IPNE001]

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Key Clef launches her own imprint Ipnotica Erotica with ‘Mental Groove’ EP. In her own world music is a continuous dialogue between styles and hybridation. Her music productions as well her live performances include synth, drum machines and analogue effects reflecting her ethereal trajectory while her dj sets show the full prism of her music taste and knowledge of the dance floor.

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Key Clef – Mental Groove [IPNE001]

Schwefelgelb – Aus Dem Gesicht Remixed [AWXLVI]

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Remixes by Crystal Geometry, Kontravoid, Accuracy, Cardopusher and Broken English Club for Schwefelgelb. Originals appear on the EPs “Dahinter das Gesicht” and “Aus den Falten”, both released on Aufnahme + Wiedergabe.

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Schwefelgelb – Aus Dem Gesicht Remixed [AWXLVI]

Traxx – Passage (tHe dAnCe TunneL SeLeCtion)

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A segment from Passage, a party at Danny’s in Chicago curated and programmed musically by Traxx on the last Wednesday of every month. Passage focuses on the new wave/new beat era with a personal collection of music fashioned to alleviate your senses discovering different outtakes and unknown songs from far off countries.

Traxx – Passage (tHe dAnCe TunneL SeLeCtion)

D.K. – The Goddess Is Dancing [GMV05]

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Pivotal Parisian producer Dang-Khoa Chau aka D.K. pays sublime tribute to ancient Vietnamese spirit possession ritual, Hau Dong, on a fresh first vinyl edition of his 2019 cassette for Good Morning Tapes. ‘Goddess Is Dancing’ is a 40 minute trip that revolves around a handful of pieces of lilting, thmelodic percussion and aqueous atmosphere expressing D.K.’s imaginary interpretation of music used in Vietnamese ritual music. It unfolds as a ceremony in five parts honouring the mystical goddesses of Forest, Water and Heaven, with music both relaxing and energising in a way that’s intended to aid dancers’ transmogrification from human vessels into spirited beings.

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D.K. – The Goddess Is Dancing [GMV05]

Artefakt – Icarus [143DSR]

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After launching their own De Stijl label last year, Artefakt are back on Delsin with Icarus, a sparkling new four track outing. Known for their intricate sound design and deep yet hard hitting grooves. Always serving up atmospheric music that is artful and filled with rich detail, they continued on their own path once again here. Starting with the smooth and hypnotic, stripped back grooves from Icarus. Followed by the cavernous and immersive ambient trip Ganzfeld Effect. The darker Vapour is still heady and meticulously crafted with deft little details, a rich sound field and supple techno drums getting you in the zone. Delphic then offers crisp breakbeats, dubby drums and electrically charged synths that are physical but emotional. It’s another perfect fusion of light and dark, thoughtful and physical techno from this ever impressive pair.

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Artefakt – Icarus [143DSR]

Nexus 21 – Made In Detroit [NEXUS21-2]

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Of all the Network treasured relics set to be released this year to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the label there’s nothing as appropriate as the Nexus 21 “Made In Detroit” EP – it was recorded in the 1990 starter year and has been stuck In the vaults gathering dust ever since.

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Nexus 21 – Made In Detroit [NEXUS21-2]

Versalife – Manifold [VIS320]

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Following two well received releases on 20/20 Vision – ‘Machine Life’ & ‘Asimov’s Code’ Versalife returns to the label with his latest album ‘Manifold’ serving up futuristic electro with signature emotive synth work to trigger the imagination. The Dutch producer Boris Bunnik aka Conforce continues his dystopian journey with auditory echoes of a cosmic abyss. Peppered with moody tones, deep bass lines and robotic funk, ‘Manifold’ navigates the future landscape in true Versalife fashion.

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Versalife – Manifold [VIS320]

VA – Exit Planet Earth: Carbon [EPE01]

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Exit Planet Earth by 20/20 Vision is a new series of various artist vinyl releases, selected and compiled by Ralph Lawson. The first edition ‘Carbon’ leads with contributions from two of the most influential electro producers of all time The Hacker and 214, who both deliver unforgiving hard hitting excursions to future worlds. On the other side Reedale Rise sheds some light with ‘Lux’ before the record is beautifully closed with an uplifting composition for space travel – ‘The Gap’ by Derek Carr.

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VA – Exit Planet Earth: Carbon [EPE01]

E.R.P. – Evoked Potentials 3/3 [SEM016(2020)]

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Second time around for the third and final part of electro hero Gerard ‘ERP’ Hanson’s “Evoked Potentials” series, which first hit stores way back in 2011. A-side “Repose” is (quite literally) classic ERP, with Hanson peppering Egyptian Lover style drums and funky synth-bass with chiming lead lines, starburst chords and deep space chords. It’s tuneful and picturesque, but will also have you on your feet and throwing shapes in no time at all. Over on the flip, Plant43 (London electro veteran Emile Facey) turns in a very Drexciyan take on “Sensory Process”, in the process wrapping Hanson’s bittersweet strings and 33rd century electronic motifs around a suitably deep sea electro rhythm.

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E.R.P. – Evoked Potentials 3/3 [SEM016(2020)]