Wicked 3 part in the series… slightly dark EBM-tingled techno by Caltrop, Vault, Frak & Heinrich Dressel.
Ekman – Synaptic Feedback Loops [SHIP031]
Nijmegen electro imprint Shipwrec shows us how its done yet again, with Roel Dijcks aka Ekman keeping the Dutch west coast spirit alive with 4 dramatic and haunting acid voodoo tracks certain to draw a new generation to the beauty of the dark side.. “Autapse” begins proceedings in haunting fashion; spooky church organs provide the backdrop for an epic, soaring acid lead while “Uncertainty Principle” is sub-aquatic, Drexciyan electro for freaks. On the flip is the title track; keeping on like before but with a four to the floor beat for added dancefloor dynamics. Finally “Antinomy” delves into deeper terrain; its razor sharp and morphing synth line leading you further into the darkness of the abyss.
DMX Krew – RAM Expansion [TRAJECTORY1016]
DMX Krew makes his debut on the quality Last Known Trajectory. “RAM Expansion” is a heady electro tune with a sunken load of synths at its disposal, while ‘Experiment 5″ is classic DMX – mad modular-like patterns surrounded by menacing drums. You also got the weird and wonderful bleeps of “Quantum Computer” on the A-side, whereas the flip kicks off with a fiery techno punch in “Division By “Zero”, heads to more AFX territories via “Rubout”, and ends on high-tec electro stroll of “Bad Vibes”. This is no nonsense dance music at its finest.
NOFACE – Warrior Charge [J102]
Creme Organization label off shoot Jericho One serves the second release, this time from NOFACE. This is a moniker of Mella Dee. Here he offers three new pieces that show a passion for high energy, lo-fi tracks with inventive grooves. ‘Saturate’ is littered with old school signifiers but is essential a brutal, high power techno banger with immovable kick drums, slithering percussive patterns and fiery vocal ad libs that imbue the track with a sense of afro-futurism. ‘Polar’ is a similarly physical track with massive, monstrous kicks, reverberating synth lines and a barreling sense of groove that washes over you like a braking wave. Finally, ‘Warrior Charge’ is another physical and functional cut with robust drums, oversized hi hats and woodpecker like hook that demands you stomp and head bang from start to finish.
Quick Culture @ Control Club (Bucharest) 30.10.2015
Discos Capablanca label showcase @ Control Club (Bucharest) 06.11.2015
VA – Africa Airways Two: Funk Departures 1973-1982 [ASVN010]
Africa Seven Records presents volume two of their Africa Airways compilation, featuring 9 pure african funk tracks.
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Japan Blues – Stoned Bird [BH023]
Given the undoubted quality of Howard Williams’ first release for Berceuse Heroique under the Japan Blues moniker – the superb Brasserie Heroique Edits Volume 2 – you’d expect this second 12″ for Kemal’s imprint to be equally inspired. It is, of course, with Williams’ digging deep in his near bottomless crates of obscure Japanese releases for inspiration. He begins with “Spurned My Colour”, a delightfully jaunty and cheery fusion of chiming synthesizer melodies, broken electro drums and sampled vocal stabs. He goes dense and tribal on “Stoned Bird”, brilliantly cutting up, manipulating and rearranging a killer, African-inspired percussion track. As for closer “Beak”, it expertly joins the dots between wonky, undulating live percussion and the weighty pulse of contemporary techno, via some thrilling backwards drum hits.
La Mecánica Popular – Noche Triler [NYCT7023]
La Mecánica Popular takes to the night for a much anticipated follow-up to their critically acclaimed, self-titled album. This special edition single features a natural modification of their signature psychedelic style – a time capsule of 1970s Afro-Peruvian roots gone American Rock & Soul. Noche Triler (Thriller) takes the form of an uptempo instrumental stunner, a unique combination of styles from guaracha and cumbión, and a refreshingly thrilling flip of Michael Jackson’s iconic masterpiece. Already a staple in the band’s live performances, Mótame En La Tormenta (Riders On The Storm) transforms the Doors’ cowboy-jazz road saga into a brilliantly versioned Amazonian cumbia, a beautifully dark and shadowy trip into the heart of la selva.
Saab Knutson – Electronic Music From The Faroe Islands 1993 [NW005]
The second tape on Legowelt’s Nightwind Records Cassette series. Through his remote viewing powers Danny Wolfers channeled the music of Saab Knutson of Faroe Islands circa 1993. 60 Minutes of Nordic Ambient with a disturbing undertone of dark melancholia with vague notions of distant happiness. Saab Knutson is a man with many issues, but on the Faroe Islands there is no time for issues. To stay of sound mind, Saab plays his synthesizers in the few spare hours he manages to find, unmistakenly influenced by Faroe’s spellbinding landscapes and grim climate. Though Danny has never been to the Islands he has a definite puzzling calling to them, a ‘luring’ force, so to speak. Hopefully he will sell enough Saab Knutson albums so he can fund an expedition and find out more about this mysterious destiny… Played on Yamaha DX100, Roland JX3P, Alpha Juno 2, EMU 16 bit digital sampling keyboard. Ruby metallic cassette tape in luxurious faux plastic case.
Giorgio Gigli – The Right Place Where Not To Be [EDLX045LP]
“The Right Place Where Not to Be” is the title of Giorgio Gigli’s first full-length “sonic movie”, a work emerging from the depth of his soul and which properly filters every musical input he’s developed over the years. The album takes its outset in a scenario where all human and animal life-forms have perished and only plants and minerals have survived. Giorgio performs that concept writing an ultra-detailed soundtrack to an imaginary movie, using rich textures that reveal new acoustics, enhanced by alienating atmospheres that captivate the listener. The album is focused on obsessive rhythmics cut on low frequencies, a persistent motion, and a stable tremor. The world is justifying its life-forms in detail. The sky is darkened by laden clouds and stratified sonics that electrify the sound of space. Blooming sensations that cover a wide spectrum, alternate from a feverish tension to the lightness of faith. Confines are rejected, techno meets ambient, purging our body of consciousness. A sonic bubble from a faraway era, a timeless atmosphere that describes a vision that seems to answer to the most important question: why? The task of creating an album is brilliantly managed in a manner that cinematically depicts a surreal concept without the loss tension. The experience of the music is enhanced by the intricate artwork with an evocative artwork that expresses Giorgio’s concept: The sequence of mountains dominated by clouds on a clear sky and the depths of flowers are tinged with the memory of a wonderful past.
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Abdulla Rashim – A Shell of Speed [NE024]
Last year, Abdulla Rashim took time out to develop his alternative Lundin Oil project, delivering two EPs of in-your-face noise and industrial techno textures for Northern Electrics. Here, he switches back to his main creative name for a second Abdulla Rashim set that joins the dots between intense, beatless ambience and modular techno box jams. Despite the general bleakness of his sounds and method, A Shell of Speed is surprisingly picturesque and melodious in parts, with the brilliant “Crossing Qalandiya” delivering the kind of trippy, delay-laden electronic soundscapes that recall the halcyon days of IDM and ambient. Even so, it’s his more surging, rhythmically intense compositions – see “Red Pool” and “Ador Tracers” – that arguably stand out.
RA.489 Basic Soul Unit
VA – Consider This A Warning [EVENT010]
Bolstered by the unshakable body of work behind it, Brooklyn-born Berlin-based techno label Chronicle reaches its milestone tenth release with its gaze fixed dead ahead. Ten releases in, it pays to make a strong, defiant statement of intent, toasting to what the label has been about so far. More important though is to remind those tuned in to take heed, because the next step is always the most significant. Joining in on this behemoth project is; Aiken, Arnaud Le Texier, Ben Gibson, Hironori Takahashi, Imugem Orihasam, Echoplex, Mike Storm, Staffan Linzatti, & Zadig. The forward-thinking nature of the music in this collection sums up the ethos of Chronicle as a whole. Each artist has a distinct identity but they all strive to push techno into unexplored realms, placing the emphasis on atmosphere and psychological impact. In such an approach can the most affecting sounds be found, and there will surely be few listeners left unmarked by this record.
Inland – Wayfinder [NONPLUS032]
Ed Davenport aka Inland steps up on Boddika’s Nonplus; and delivers the goods as always. “Overpass” is a full frontal peak time weapon that reflects his experience playing in the worlds best techno club and brilliantly executed in all its nine minute glory. The title track is more suited for the pre peak time moments; a hypnotic slow burner but still retaining some intensity. Finally “Dromolaxia” is a sturdy and slowly evolving stomper with some real sinister dub chords lurking in the background.
Masha – Ghost [LAMA#01]
New imprint Lama come charging out of the blocks with this single sided plate of gold. Atmospheric, and relentless, prepare to be submerged in moaning pads, shimmering hats and laser fire.
RA.490 Florian Kupfer
Tuff City Kids – Underground House Research Vol. 2 [POTION003]
This is Potion number three. The Tuff City Kids have spent some time in the lab and created four fine potions to ease our ailments. Like memories of a Nexus 6, these tracks are machine made but feel organic, familiar and timeless. Programmed to make us dance, they reach straight for our brain’s motion centre. “Carden Eden” has been included in Prosumer’s fabric mix and we are proud to finally present it on vinyl, together with three brand new companions as “Underground House Research Vol. 2″. Philipp Lauer and Gerd Janson have built an excellent reputation for the Tuff City Kids moniker in the three years they are releasing together. And if you got this far into reading this, you surely know already what absolute legends they are.
Leonid – Otherworld [ELEVE006]
Eleve welcomes Leonid into the family with Otherworld EP. He brings a three-track EP whose amazing sound and percussion, trademark basslines and detroitish leads and pads promise to transport many dancers to other worlds. A side starts with ‘Xana’, an esoteric house excursion with a mechanical edge. Next track is ‘Púca’, in the spirit of his deepest previous work with a characteristic syncopated bassline. B side long track is ‘Embarr’, an adventurous imagination trip across the sea; classic Leonid elements such relentless percussion and heavy bassline meets acid elements to create a one-way ticket to universal sub-conscience.
Pascal Viscardi – Wise Man’s Decision EP [TULTD003]
Pascal Viscardi brings his gritty mellow tones and extra shuffled patterns to the Traxx Underground familly. Strongly routed into jazzy vinyl samples, black speaches and spatial atmosphers, the 3 tracks composing “Wise Man’s Decision EP” take inspiration from the past to showcase a true vision of what Slow-Deep-House should be in 2015. At last but not least, the great Fred P came to make his hands dirty, delivering a true reshape of “Wise Man’s Decision”, offering us a tunnel from where it aint easy to escape.
The Hipodrome Of Music 