El Khat’s 3rd album ‘Mute’ belies its title as it careens out of the speakers with a raucous intensity. Formed in the garages and warehouses of Jaffa and now based in Berlin, the group’s ever-expanding vision makes a defiant stand against complacency, conflict and division. Skittering drums and brass, a jagged organ, hypnotic Yemeni melodies and one-of-a-kind DIY percussion and string instruments, all meld together in an infectious, heady soundscape. Sometimes wildly raw, sometimes lush and enveloping. Always uncompromised and adventurous.
Doctr is no stranger to the Bordello. ‘Now You Can Fly’ is his third visit to the label, his first with company. Paired with Julia, the offering is pure peak-time elation. Bending bars are cut through by beats and synth stabs, Doctr building a palpable energy with vocals synergising perfectly. Daring key shifts unveil the full track, inspirational words and melodic wizardry waltzing arm-in-arm. Flying ever higher, electrical pulses of hi-nrg jolt this dancefloor burner. Julia’s vocals are parred back for the flip, leaving those sun-kissed synthlines to soar above calypso-infused percussion. Two works of sheer happiness; just what the Doctr ordered.
Finally the mystery is solved. After seeing air time by jocks like Harvey and Orpheu the Wizard and causing an absolute frenzy amongst diggers world-wide going into a hopeless hunt for what was thought to be a rare unearthed Cantonese version of “Spacer Woman” from back in the day. Only to find out that it was actually a newly produced cover version by Romain FX. Here it is, finally, after tumultuous negotiations with the original rights owners, Hong Kong raised Romain FX’s skilful efforts to give the absolute classic Italo-disco bomb a new facelift “Spacer Woman”, but now in Cantonese. Subtle but effective, he presents a new rendition with Cantonese lyrics by Cheung Yuen Tung along with a very respectful “Acid Trip Version”.
Sound Metaphors’ archeological excavations into the cult Interactive Test label continues with a 4 track EP originally released by the label’s Don, Franco Falsini, in 1991. Generously brought back to the bins, 3 decades later and still highly applicable to any tasteful dancefloor, a timeless expression of early italo-house.
Trust the Rust is back with a vengeance. The second compilation by Kri Records takes up where the previous one left off: rusty electro, occult wave, distorted acid and melancholic EBM. Alonzo opens the release with his signature 808 bass, Hayter pushes pitched-down vocals and filthy electro vibe further, while Chino delivers a diabolical ravey EBM banger. Serbian duo YusYus marches on with an authoritative synth anthem Masters Of The Future and Disco Morato finishes the A side with a hypnotic slow burner Ultime. B Side opens with a bang by Parand, followed by arctic electro mist crafted by System Disorder (aka Dj Nephil). Marco Segato smoothly blended electro and jungle with the track Subconscious, Zagreb collective Lab Personnel’s dark stomper might evoke fist pumps on the floor, while E.L.I.’s nostalgic piece Atonal Being rounds the release.
As the darkness creeps in from the depths of the north, the restless spirits of the underground rise from their eternal slumber. Like a chilling reckoning, the creatures of the night emerge from their graves, summoned by the pulsing rhythms and haunting melodies of Up Norths’s latest offering. This cassette tape release unleashes a malevolent force of EBM and dark electronics, conjuring an unholy alliance of sounds to possess your soul. Let the shadows consume you…”
Years of Denial’s ‘Suicide Disco Vol. 2’ album is receiving a well-deserved remix treatment from some of the dearest and most important artists in their circle. Featuring The Hacker, NEVER & Maenad Veyl, Phase Fatale, Kris Baha, Velvet May, Codex Empire, Geistform & Years of Denial’s very own Supreme Low, some of the most influential figures in the genre are offering their unique takes on their favorite tracks from the album.
Dark Entries calls on Philadelphia experimental duo The Ghostwriters to resurrect their 1981 LP of minimalist mayhem, ‘Objects In Mirrors Are Closer Than They Appear’. The late Buchla maestro Charles Cohen and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Cain joined up in 1971 to craft electroacoustic chaos as Anomali, later renaming themselves The Ghostwriters. Their collaborations with choreographers and visual media artists led to their singular style, straddling improvisation and composition, the oneiric and the immediate. 1981 saw the release of their debut album, ‘Objects In Mirrors Are Closer Than They Appear’, a whirling, messy, telepathic slipstream cascading across an imaginary landscape. Recorded in Don Buchla’s childhood home, Objects offers 8 cuts of minimalist electronic bliss, equal parts icy and quirky, with standout cuts including the grooving havoc of “Fix it in the Mix” and the otherworldly hymn “Moon Chant.” Proceeds from the album will be donated to SOSA (Safe from Online Sex Abuse), a nonprofit that combats online child sex abuse and trafficking.
Citirax introduces the debut LP from the Los Angeles-based duo OP-ART, a project born out of the creative isolation of the lockdown era. The band, the brainchild of Andrew Clinco – known for his work with Drab Majesty – was originally named using the acronym “Oblique Pleasures Amidst Rough Times,” a nod to the challenging times that inspired its formation. In Andrew’s own words, the album “represents a sonic analog to the visual art movement of the 1960s,” meaning it is both densely layered and psychedelic, yet aims to capture a sense of minimalism in its tradition, theory, and conceptual approach. OP-ART’s sound is heavily influenced by the New Wave genre, drawing inspiration from artists such as John Foxx, Martin Dupont (with whom Andrew has collaborated on a track), Experimental Products, and early OMD. True to their commitment to authentic analog sound, OP-ART eschews digital plug-ins in favor of a wide array of analog synthesizers and outboard rack effects units. The album features a diverse collection of synthesizers including the EML 500, Arp Odyssey, Arp Omni2, Jupiter 6, SH-02, SH-101, Moog Rogue, and Roland Promars. Each piece of equipment contributes to the album’s lush, rich soundscapes, creating a tactile and immersive listening experience. ‘The Final Act’, the title of the LP, is a testament to the duo’s ability to blend catchy melodies with profound emotional depth. The album offers an introspective journey through themes of time passing, romantic entanglements, and existential reflections on an apocalyptic scale. With its evocative sound and thoughtful lyrics, ‘The Final Act’ promises to resonate deeply with listeners, making it a compelling and significant debut from OP-ART.
Subject To Restrictions Discs and Default Mode Records are joining forces to release “Unbändige Kinder”, the debut album by Angelo Repetto and Nicolas Balmer, under the alias Konstant. Both have been active in the Zurich scene for a long time and have come together to create their own language. “Unbändige Kinder” blossoms from the burdens of days gone by and describes their world in a phase of change and new beginnings. They define their own musical form by constantly looking ahead, driven by New Wave, Kraut and Post Punk. The album is characterised by rawness, bluntness and the syllables from the heart.
As we approach the threshold leading us back to the Black Lodge on our transformative 8th journey, we are escorted through and beyond the mystical portal by the vigorous and fierce forces of Sneaker. ‘Portrait in House’ is a collection of 3 resonant works, which are unified into a singular vision within its uncanny language that is rooted deeply in the foundations of Jak, New Beat, EBM, and Wave. Existing inside the liminal spaces of where light meets dark, we are presented with a documentation of dissonance and harmony.
Still Music Chicago presents the reissue of Jiraffe’s ”Out’A The Box,” a legendary dance record from New York City. Originally released in 1988 on Goldqwest Records, this track emerged from the collaboration between Richie Weeks and Al Smith. The track blended post-disco, dance, latin, and proto-house elements, achieving cult status among DJs worldwide.
10 years after hist last release on Chiwax, Perseus Traxx is back with “A Diffrent Approach”. Detroit flavoured tracks all the way. With slight touches of Dreamy Italian house aswell. Pumping kicks and shattering drums.
Porridge Bullet connects with Rio De Janeiro don Gabriel Guerra aka Guerrinha, who clearly has patent on the deeper side of all things funky, jazzy & housey. “Prédio Avenida Central” is free flowing & instantly gripping equipment as you’d expect, full of expertly layed down instrumentation & arresting atmospheres – muy perfecto for hypnotizing the dancefloor. The title pays homage to the Avenida Central building in Rio’s rustling & bustling downtown, where Guerrinha is a frequent visitor to buy his much needed electronica.
Boo Williams continues to hone and refine his very particular ”cosmic house” sound. As usual you’ll hear masterfully crafted deep house cuts that take you on a journey thru outer (and) innerspace.
The Hipodrome Of Music 