Blue Maxx – Private Life EP [DRIVE001]
DRIVE001 sees us step back to 1998 and into the hands of the duo of Damon Wild and Mederic Nebinger, recording together as Blue Maxx they quietly unleashed some of the finest futuristic widescreen Techno and Electro to emanate from NYC in the late 1990’s. Utilising a small sub-label of Wild’s seminal Techno imprint Synewave called Deja Vous the pair embarked on a slew of EP’s released over the space of a couple of years with ‘Private Life’ being one of the last. Across 3 tracks ‘Private Life’ opens up a new sound world, from the driving, tool-like qualities of the A-Side cut – all swinging drum programming, synth stabs and deranged metallic percussions to the deeper, more clandestine leanings of the B-Side tracks, mining a more musical and Electro infused vein, the whole EP stands out as something truly original. A hallmark of the Blue Maxx sound. This is the first time ‘Private Life’ has been reissued, almost 20 years has passed and somehow Wild and Nebinger’s style remains utterly fresh and contemporary.
Lisière Collectif – LSR No. 01 [LSR001]
Lisiere Collectif represents the collaboration between the three members: Andu Simion, Dan Gheorghe and Bogdan Ardeleanu. The “Lisiere” was the place in the suburbs of Ploiești where they gathered together all the time. LSR No. 01 a collection of tracks following 3 different ideas and a reinterpretation from Priku.
Antal & San Proper Interview
Mekine U Teksi – Postanatolische Hybride: Die Steppenroboter LP [TFGC013]
Themes From Great Cities’ latest chunk of inspired, hard-to-define goodness comes from Mekine U Teksi, a fresh outfit formed by Murat Goktas and Irfan Derin. Dedicated to legendary, currently closed Dusseldorf venue Salon Des Amateurs, the mini-album – the duo’s debut release – is shot through not only with the arpeggio-driven pulse of vintage ’80s new wave, but also the chugging attitude of psychedelic nu-disco and the exotic, intoxicating melodies of traditional Arabic music. Of course, there are other influences that make their presence felt throughout – krautrock, dark Italo-disco, punk funk and dub disco – but these merely serve to enhance the duo’s core sound, which is rarely less than enthralling.
Shamnos – YO 2TH [YO2TH]
The 2nd release on Youth comes from London artist Shamos. He comes with a heavy 4 tracker bringing the punkier dregs of new wave, dreamy abstract house and tripped out hardware jams, on limited red vinyl.
Byron The Aquarius – Leaving This Planet [EGLO56]
Byron The Aquarius makes his Eglo Records debut. The Alabama producer once again delivers something truly special, journeying through disco, jazz, acid, house and crashing 808’s. ‘Leaving This Planet’ is an EP of two halves. The A-Side bumps, with two bubbling house jams. whilst the B-Side sees Byron get loose over two freestyle jazz odysseys. Music for the mind, body and soul.
Rahaan – Grapes [LIH025]
Sandboards – Miami [TONIC008]
Cold Tonic presents the debut EP from the New Zealand wonderboys, Sandboards. Four sun drenched bangers merging the elements of Larry Heard-esc sounds with Shep Pettibone style basslines.
Jason Fine – Moonscapes [DBA031]
Jason Fine makes his full DBA debut with the Moonscapes EP after remixing Typesun for the DBA Dubs series.
Delusion Men – Stuck On The Border [FN007]
The founders of Future Nuggets are delivering their debut full LP as Delusion Men, marking the peak of almost a decade long conspiracy. Ion D (Utopus) and Camil Dumitrescu (aka The Holy Fix) have amassed on this album tracks and bits spreading over many years, raw gems and shiny nuggets resulted from intensive electronica fusions. After the smash EP of Delusion Men in collaboration with Khidja (on P-Balans sub-label), this LP comes as another irrefutable proof of Bucharest’s already mature -partially under the radar- scene of electronic psychedelic hybrids, fittingly represented by Future Nuggets and P-Balans.
K.Bytes – I Adore Commodore: Computer Music Flash [MGLP104]
After the creation of Computer Disco, Marcello Giombini produces the year after I Adore Commodore – Computer Music Flash, which was mainly made with a Commodore 64. Giombini was a veteran of music applications with personal computer, started with an Apple II Europlus and then converted to the Commodore 64 thanks to the presence of 3 independent music generators that allowed him to make more elaborate music easier. The record was inspired by the VideoGames of the time, so that the titles of the 10 tracks are inspired by the names of famous games. The music was created using four to eleven Commodore 64 programmed and synchronized with an external audio interface. At the time, Giombini, in his studio in a basement just a few steps from Nomentana, Rome, had organized a small school with courses of basic and computer music. The graphic is the same of original LP with inner-sleeve dedicated to Commodore 64.
Lemonade – Dancer On The Shore [AU005]
Since 2009, New York three-piece Lemonade has released a string of fine records, between woozy Balearic synth-pop and leisurely downtempo grooves. “Dancer on the Shore”, their first release for three years, inhabits similar sonic territory, offering a fusion of Peaking Lights style dubbed-out synth-pop grooves, glassy-eyed vocals, tumbling acoustic guitar flourishes and humid steel drum melodies. Fellow NYC resident Jex Opolis provides two stellar remixes: a chunky, rolling, acid-flecked nu-disco dub and a drowsier vocal interpretation that’s as ear pleasing as they come. The other interpretation comes from Justin Strauss and Bryan Mette under the Whatever/Whatever alias and strays further towards acid-driven Italo-disco/deep house fusion territory.
Detromental – Move [CPU00110001]
Ahead of their 5th anniversary CPU announce 50th release with rebuilds of 2 rare bleep techno tracks from 1990. Originally released on white label, ‘Move’ was written by Dean Marriott aka D.Ramirez and Lloyd Douglass and recorded in Sheffield in 1990. Only a small run were pressed which is reflected today by their high price on discogs.
CEM3340 – Polaris 1° [LOP01]
New Electro-focused label drops it’s first release. CEM3340 at the helm of the Lunar Orbiter Program’s first mission : Polaris 1°.
DJ Overdose – Mindstorms EP [CKNOWEP4]
Datassette – Mannequin On The Run EP [RI005]
Rebel Intelligence return with a new 4 track EP of electro from John Davies aka Datassette. The tracks were composed using a vintage Japanese analogue setup, delivering a warm sound reminiscent of 80’s wave with the title track paying homage to Mr Flagio and I.M.S The B side “Metropolis Light Transport” brings a strong Drexciyan influence matched to the signature sound you’ve expect from a Datassette release.
Terrence Dixon Interview
Julia Pé – Black Summer (716 Exclusive Mix)
Juju & Jordash – BP/M035
