Facit – Mandag Mon Amour [WH010]

Hailing from Goteborg, Sweden, Facit is the project of Joakim Karlsson. For almost a decade, he has been producing tearful synthesizer music under various aliases, often teaming up with compatriot Mai Nestor on vocals. Smartly drawing a line between Swedish chanson and minimal synth, ‘Måndag Mon Amour’ is Facit’s second EP. Picture two passengers with paralyzing hemophobia, riding a sad carriage and smiling with tranquil melancholy, endlessy playing early 80s analog gear through some spring reverb. It doesn’t take long to remember « notre amour était dans un igloo » and never forgetting it.

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Facit – Mandag Mon Amour [WH010]

Ma Spaventi – Isola Sommersa [MOSLP4]

SPAVENTI, Ma - Isola Sommersa

A year after his debut album “Viaggi”, Amsterdam based italian Marco Antonio Spaventi is back with another fine full length statement. Entitled “Isola Sommersa” and landing on M>O>S Recordings, it follows up after many great EPs on the label over the last five years. Spaventi has a passion for old school house but always brings it up to date. Using hardware tools like a natural extension of his body, he cooks up rugged grooves, nostalgic moods and smoky atmospheres that cocoon you in sound of its own. Long the way here, Spaventi dips his toes into various waters with equal success. There are spaced out and invitingly warm grooves such as the rubbery ‘Tape Noodles’, blissful ambient interludes like ‘Undisclosed’ and serene synth passages filled with retro future beauty such as the closer ‘Titanic Moments.’ Cuts like ‘Simple Mind’ prove this artist can conjure up genuine feelings of internal reflection as well as raw physical drum lines, and ‘Best Regards’ is a tantalisingly go slow bit of cosmic house that erupts into a fluid acid track. Though Chicago and Detroit are obvious reference points, Spaventi always develops his own ideas with a refreshing vibe. It makes for an album that is house at its heart, but also one that is ambitious, absorbing and widescreen in the way it is executed.

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Ma Spaventi – Isola Sommersa [MOSLP4]

Steve Poindexter – Classic Collection Vol.1 [MUZIQUE012]

Limited edition reissue compiles 3 much sought-after classic tracks from one of the true Chicago House pioneers, Steve Poindexter. Original uncut versions of ”Jam The Body” and ”Short Circut”, as well as ”State Of Shock”.

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Steve Poindexter – Classic Collection Vol.1 [MUZIQUE012]

Ron Trent – Electric Moods & Long Play [MAP003]

Music And Power is home to Ron Trent’s contemporary material, and by that we mean the best deep house around; music that is ultimately for dancing but that champions a deeply musical style akin to jazz and soul. “Liquid Love”, for instance, is a gorgeous meandering of synths and smooth vocals riding high over a chunky house beat, complete with a reprise mix full of Balearic edge as a follow-up. “Sound System Prevail” is a bumpier, more hard-edged and spewing delicate pianos left, right and centre beneath another wave of masterful synth solos. 10 out of 10 from the master of Chicago sexiness.

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Ron Trent – Electric Moods & Long Play [MAP003]

Christopher Rau – Yamato [SMALLVILLE047]

Christopher Rau is one of Smallville’s steady mainstays, with “Yamato” he is delivering four tracks, that perfectly describe the seductive cosmos of Smallville’s sound. There is nods to the past as well as a paved way to a timeless future. Carefully evolving melody, voices and something caressing from somewhere far away- but within your heart in just a moment. It’s bubbling and telling stories from the inside but it’s still targeted straight to a dancefloor- dedicated to the sweetest ones of the world.

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Christopher Rau – Yamato [SMALLVILLE047]

Effetto Joule – Mechanic Soldier [MR059]

Medical Records in collaboration with Crispy Nuggets returns to Italy for it’s 59th release. Hailing from Bologna, Italy in the late 80s, Effetto Joule were brothers Flavio and Valero Biagi , Massimo Chericoni and Valerio Tassinari. Drawing on influences of the early 80s new wave and synth pop scene and armed with an arsenal of synthesizers (Korg Poly-800, Roland alpha juno-1 and juno-2, etc) from the mid 80s, Effetto Joule crafted their own sound. With the exception of the few of the tracks, almost all were home recorded during the years of 1988-1990. Effetto Joule self released a couple of cassettes entitled Ultraviolet A and B as well as one 12″ single in 1989 on Top Sound Record (recently reissued by Mannequin Records with bonus material). The rest of their music has been unreleased demos from which thee tracks were hand selected. The tunes can best be described as densely new romantic with unquestionably catchy hooks and lovely vocals to boot. Standout tracks include Active Ray and Stars Your Memory.

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Effetto Joule – Mechanic Soldier [MR059]

Metropolis – Angstpolitiek [PBD001]

Introducing Broken Dreams, a new series of white label releases on Rotterdam based Pinkman label. First up is Metropolis, who returns with four Wave, Electro and Body Music hybrids. A quartet of tracks that draw on Lapien’s diverse catalogue, this is undoubtedly some of his darkest music to date. Acid, New Beat and Post-Punk influences bubble and churn throughout. Crisp beats crash, strings lament, vocals sigh and synth stabs squirm for an EP that refuses to conform to norms. A hoarse and harsh cry to open a new Pinkman chapter.

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Metropolis – Angstpolitiek [PBD001]

Outernational Days @ Bucharest 1-3.07.2016

out

The Attic Magazine presents the first edition of OUTERNATIONAL DAYS, a new music festival happening in the heart of Bucharest, in July 1-3.

Continue reading “Outernational Days @ Bucharest 1-3.07.2016”

Outernational Days @ Bucharest 1-3.07.2016

Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids – We Be All Africans [STRUT144]

IDRIS ACKAMOOR & THE PYRAMIDS - We Be All Africans

Those turned on by Spiritual Jazz should already be aware of West Coast combo Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids. They’ve been playing and recording together since the 1970s, though We Be All Africans is only their sixth full-length outing. Predictably, it’s a fine set, effortlessly fusing their spiritual roots with elements of jazz-funk, soul and, of course, Afro-jazz. Highlights are plentiful, from the swinging, Tony Allen style rhythms, swirling vocals and punchy horns of “Rhapsody In Berlin”, and the clarinet-sporting sweetness of the brilliantly percussive “Epiphany”, to the stretched-out drum workout “Traponga”, which sounds like the work of three drummers and a whole troupe of percussionists.

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Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids – We Be All Africans [STRUT144]

Decent International 01 – Leaving You / When Koaa [DC001]

From the Going Good camp. The drums smack. The bass is too loud. Liberia, Ghana, all the way across to Uganda. 1970’s tinpot dictatorships birth colourful sounds. Magnetic tape, Linn drums and Bucket Brigade delay units confuse the mix. Sub-cultural colonialism to destroy the dance. Still, it sounds good. And it looks nice as well!

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Decent International 01 – Leaving You / When Koaa [DC001]

P.E.A.R.L. – Trees Of Eternity [FEX007]

Falling Ethics label owner P.E.A.R.L. comes up with the 7th instalment in the Falling Ethics series. This time, the slice of vinyl comes packed with 3 mechanic Techno cuts + one atmospheric bit to close things down. Trees of Eternity is a worthy addition to the series which continues to showcase P.E.A.R.L’s visions of modern day techno.

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P.E.A.R.L. – Trees Of Eternity [FEX007]

John Osborn + Tallmen785 – The Curfew EP [TANSPLAN010]

The final, 10th, release on the Tanstaafl Planets series from John Osborn & Tallmen785. Machine grooves crafted with trippy, pulsating bass lines, alien synth leads, whipping jungle snares, and skipping high hats that sound as though they have all been produced by an alien lizard race from the constellation Draco.

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John Osborn + Tallmen785 – The Curfew EP [TANSPLAN010]

Qindek – Through Time EP [SNBLCK004 ]

Romania’s Snejl Black teams up with Qindek for its 4th release. What we get are 3 tracks, carefully sculpted, ultra-pure visions of techno. Each is thoroughly uncluttered, and given just enough color to be compelling. Simple kick drum, undulating sounds that provide something distantly related to melody, and very subtle backdrops that pair a soothing hiss and quiet drones. Nothing is superfluous, everything is essential.

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Qindek – Through Time EP [SNBLCK004 ]