Police des moeurs- Dédales LP [MNQ110]
Police des moeurs is a synth pop band formed in Montreal in 2010. Their debut full-length, after some quicky old out singles, is permeated by a cold, melodic and nostalgic music for broken hearts and dark minds. Police des moeurs is the soundtrack for the nuclear night, a transition moment between the end of utopia and the final ecological disaster. The world after the future. Police des moeurs main influences and interests are underground aestheticisms (1979-1981), industrial transformations and the process of electrification, norms and deviance, nuclear and environmental anxiety as well as paranoia, secret agents, spies and political extremists.
Nacht’Raum / Band Berne Crematoire – Expanded 1982-1984 LP [MNQ096]
Mannequin Records to presents a LP compilation of Michael Antener (Swamp Terrorist) early 80’s minimal synth/industrial projects Nacht’raum (with Michael Stämpfli) and, as solo, Bande Berne Crematoire. Michael Antener made his first recordings in the basement of his parents house in a small village nearby Bern, Utzensdorf. He started BBC in 1980, a hybrid of Neue Deutsch Welle and noise/experimental, making a household name in the international home recording scene of the time and participating to many tape compilations. Teaming up with Michael Stämpfli as Nacht’raum, he self-released the untitled mini-lp in 1983. Coming out from the same town of Grauzone, the duo moved into the darkest minimal electronic sounds, choosing German as main language for the lyrics and a Roland Tr-808 as main drum machine, bringing the sound to a proto-electro dimension. Nacth’raum will be historically a real gem in the 80’s Swiss underground electronic music, together with Mittageisen, Grauzone, Liliput, The Vyllies. Michael, by the way, later teamed up with Ane Hebeisen and they went by the name of Swamp Terrorists, releasing seven albums and touring throughout the world until the end of the nineties. At the end of the nineties he sold all his instruments and became independent as a graphic artist.
Atelier Du Mal – Noblesse Oblige [MNQ069]
Brilliant comet of the Italian New Wave scene. Real deal. Atelier du Mal were formed in Florence in 1983 by Lapo Pistelli (synths, electronic drums), Iacopo Ficai Veltroni (bass, synth) and Ignazio Matteini (drum programming, percussions). Recorded in 1984, ‘Noblesse Oblige’ was the first and subsequently the only demo tape by the group, self-released using classic gear like Korg Ms-20, Roland Tr-606, Roland Tr-808, Roland Juno 60, Roland TB-303.
Bézier – Primes [DE171]
Dark Entries presents the latest offering from Bézier, a 3-track EP titled ‘Primes’. Bézier is the moniker of San Francisco based musician Robert Yang, who is also part of the Honey Soundsystem crew. ‘Primes’ represents the theme of primordial origins and creation with three tracks that explore disparate, sonic environments in each song. The title track flows and ebbs like currents in an oil slick. Out of something messy (like primordial ooze) arises organized chaos. ‘Stranger’ is a moody dark electro/wave track for a sweaty night cruising on the west coast of Holland. Set against an underwater sound canvas the song features seductive guest vocals and lyrics by Nicole Ginelli. Doc Sleep of Jacktone Records provides additional production duties. The final track, ‘Imperial Tranz Am’, is an airy, ethereal slow burner clocking in at over 13 minutes.
Adapta – Vohx Continues [FR038]
The phrase “Fire in the hole!!” is used as a warning that an explosive detonation in a confined space is imminent. Just so you know…
Cron – Fragmented Identity [BKR001]
New imprint Bogen Konzept Recordings first release comes from Todd Sines under his Cron alias. Two previously released cuts from 1994 and two immaculate productions from 2017 coded and compiled by this well known artist.
Cli-N-Tel – 2030 [GC004]
Hailing from the first wave of American West Coast Electrofunk, Cli-N-Tel—a member of the legendary World Class Wreckin’Cru—released the song ”2030” on Unknown DJ’s label, Techno Hop, in 1986. More than 30 years later, it has become an essential of the genre and is now celebrated with this overdue rerelease. Along with the remastered original version, the German label, Ground Control, is proud to present a package of fresh remixes from renowned artists of the current international Electrofunk scene—including Sweden’s Blotnik Brothers; Dynamik Bass System out of Germany and dutchman DJ Overdose.
CeeOnic – The Sound In Your Ear [GC005]
German Electrofunk purist CeeOnic checks in with Ground Control. Originally released on the label of Miami Bass legend Debonaire, the two crisp and powerful productions perfectly catch the vibe of 1980s Electro classics taking it into the 21st century. The Sound In Your Ear and That’s My Fantasy, which is included as a new Extended 12” Mix, are CeeOnic’s overdue debut on vinyl.
Juan Atkins & Moritz Von Oswald present Borderland – Angles [TRESOR296]
Juan Atkins and Moritz von Oswald – the two vital proponents of Detroit-Berlin axis, return to the mothership following their 2016 full length effort Transport. Angles is the result of a new conversation between the founding father of electronic music and his German counterpart. The serene source of captivating musical ideas that is Borderland, keeps on flowing and vibrating with subtle energy. Two versions form here a new set of studio-refined sequences. Both parts of “Concave” are the ungraspable manifestation of the wild quietness in which the duo finds itself. Predicting at once, possible outcomes for the craft of electronic sound, while respecting their profound origins.
John Shima – Renegade EP [DWT001]
Brand new label out of London receiving transmissions from across the celestial sphere and translating them into beautiful techno for the good people of Planet Earth. Proud to report that the first transmission comes courtesy of the mighty John Shima. 4 beautifully melodic and timeless tracks with nods to the golden age of Detroit and UK Techno.
Julion De’ Angelo / Thomas Xu – Roots That Talk [SS069]
A strong debut on Sound Signature by young Detroit-based artists, Julion De’Angelo and Thomas Xu.
RA.582 Steve Bicknell
VA – Raw Raw #12 [RRR012]
Ukrainian techno stable Raw Raw has pushed the boat out on this 12th release, in the process delivering a double-pack full of tried-and-tested dancefloor movements. Amongst the eight tracks you’ll find numerous highlights, including the distorted drums and Drexciyan melodies of Sleeparvhive’s “Hide”, the kick-drum driven alien funk intensity of Eric Fletcher’s “Transcendent Wisdom”, and the energy-packed hypnotism of Joton’s “Diagram”, which comes on like Brown Album-era Orbital dragged kicking and screaming through Berghain at eight in the morning. Best of all, though, is the TB-303 driven techno psychedelia of Petter B’s “Isgrus”, which is almost capable of triggering vivid dancefloor hallucinations.
VA – An Introduction Part 3 [DIREC003]
With its festival, International Series, DJ Directory and Soundsystem: Dimensions has become a leading name in the underground. In only a mere six years of existence thus far, that’s quite impressive we must say! Now, they extend their influence with the start of a new label: Dimensions Recordings. It launches with a 12 track compilation across three separate discs. Where the first disc delved into the exotic and explored world music and soulful vibes, this edition features some cutting edge electronics from legends and new heroes of the scene alike. Electro heroes London Modular Alliance appear with their best impression of purist Detroit electro on “Crosstalk” while the A side also features the glacial dub techno tones of Upwellings’ “Soft Shadows”. On the flip, Fachwerk boss Mike Dehnert gives us the very Robert Hood sounding “Tokio”and Windy City legend Steven Tang aka Obsolete Music Technology appears with something harder than you’d usually expect from the man: on the gnarly analogue techno of “Comb Freq”.
Karen Gwyer – Rembo [DBALP003]
Karen Gwyer returns to cement her reputation as one of the most individual and daring voices in dance music with ‘Rembo’, her first full LP for Don’t Be Afraid. Reflecting the sheer energy of Gwyer’s improvised, undulating and unpredictable live shows, ‘Rembo’ captures Gwyer in her element as a techno producer not afraid to smudge both the physical and emotional edges of what we may have come to expect in the club.
HYV – HYV 002 [HYV002]
Tracks from Hyvinkää, Finland. Written by Juho Kahilainen and Tomi Kesäniemi. Both boring family men, middle-aged and middle-class. However, they’ve been here long enough to learn a trick or two. Nods to Detroit, nods to acid. A mid-tempo track Tape Loader sounds like a 909 trapped in swamp. Fast and jazzy R Train Funk pays a tribute to Detroit-legends with a decent 303-line to drink beer to. The Tower That Stands In The Woods is a dubby slow-down before Suomi 100 Acid celebrates Finland’s 100th anniversary with lyrics that deal with recession and the Finnish government’s fair deal to cut everyone’s wage.
Ben Penn – Spare Hobby [ST004]
Old Coroner – Inside Us LP [W03]
Terrific 12inch purple vinyl and as Waste Editions crew are really into emotive and personal sounds ,on this occasion this new release ‘Inside us’ by Old Coroner can’t be otherwise. We can’t talk about a trend since the producer from Barcelona Victor Safont ,who is the man behind this project ,started producing synthwave music in 2003. Yes siree! Powerful beats ,dark textures and touching melodies which are perfect for a diabolic dance floor or a meeting at a lodge.
Robotiko Rejekto – Rejekto [OT030]
Optimo Trax 30 celebrates a double 30 year anniversary: the original release date of Rejekto’ and 30 years since Twitch started dj’ing. In 1987, Twitch, who wasn’t known as Twitch yet, picked up a copy of Rejekto’ at Glasgow’s then numero uno import shop, 23rd Precinct. Shortly after that he got his first ever dj gig and played Rejekto’ in his first ever dj set. Nobody danced to it. He kept playing it and still nobody danced to it. Eventually he gave up playing it, but never stopped loving it. A few years ago he felt the time was right to try playing it again, and this time, people danced to it. In fact, people loved it and would ask about it and shriek in delight when they heard it. From Germany, written and produced by Ra-Hen and Talla 2XLC, Robotiko Reject’s Rejekto’ was the inaugural release on the Techno Drome International label. With a powerful and seductive vocal sung in Romanian it has latterly been categorised as EBM/Techno but at the time didn’t really fit into any convenient genre. Twitch called it electrobeat.
The Hipodrome Of Music 