Olivia @ Unsound Toronto 11.06.2016
acid
Chino – Hiss [HOLGER010]
Holger #10 introduces yet another new face to the ever growing label crew: Chino has been one of the most busy live performers in Poland for the last decade – playing all-hardware sets in clubs and at festivals on a weekly basis. His »HISS« EP is a true Acid treasure and Holger’s most decisive step into proper club territory. »Worker« and »Paper Rider« are two bass-heavy dancefloor belters, with strong kickdrums and synapse-tickling 303 lines. The flipside shows two more of Chino’s many facets: While »31.08.« is a slow-burning Dubtechno hypnosis, »Shifter« closes the EP with moody Electro.
Mick Wills – DJB Podcast #398
Five O’Clock Traffic – Distorted by Fantasy [BORFT136]
M. Rav – Common Purpose [LIES088]
Max Ravitz has made a name for himself with his hazed dance not dance productions over these last couple of years appearing on a handful of different labels under a handful of different monikers. Here on the 15 track, ”Common Purpose” cd we get Ravitz in all of his different forms as he teams up with numerous artists from his local Brooklyn scene and beyond, serving up unheard cuts from numerous recording sessions done over the last years. Through the record we hear the producer’s versatility from tripped out downtempo vibes, to mid-paced acid, to high bpm dust burners, as Ravitz and Co. explore almost all possible avenues while in the studio. Collaborators include Huerco S., Jahiliyya Fields, NGLY, Terekke, Bookworms, Cloudface, and Josephine.
Skatebård – Forgotten Woods EP [VIVOD012]
New EP from Skatebård on Vivod. A mixed bag from the prolific Norwegian producer showing us why he’s still at the top of his game. “Maskindans” kicks things off with some speak & spell funk followed by “Hissige Helger”, a brooding Chicago style banger sure to tear up some discoteques across the planet. On the flip are “Langbolgen” and Gloymde Skogar. The former is an acid style work out, the latter is more of a subtle, hypnotyizing opus. All very strong tracks.
Rouge Mechanique – All Will Be Changed [DISCODIEZ]
Rouge Mecanique delivers a stone cold classic EP for Discos Capablanca. The psychedelic steady muscle of ‘All Will Be Changed’ aims to destroy visionary dance floors. ‘Sans Scrupules’ is the most surprising acid banger you will likely hear this year. ‘Ampedusa / Xaver’ defies description and its mutant sound could evoque ecstatic early minimal house references, kraut and concrete music. ‘Can I Say’ is simply put the most elegant, languid way to say goodbye to an EP that exudes sheer brilliance and character.
Valent – Amon EP [BAO058]
Be As One welcomes Valent as their new exclusive signing to the imprint. The German producer debuts on the label with this 4 storming acid tracks EP, acid meets techno again on the Be As One catalogue.
Faces of Drums – Popping Off [MATH089]
Returning for another spastic floor beating with jack tracks and Gherkin acid experiments from Steve Poindexter and Jamal Moss aka Hieroglyphic Being, this 3rd Faces of Drums EP on Mathematics does not disappoint.
Frak – UH006 [UH006]
Since 1987, Frak have been everyone’s favourite, premier Swedish synthesizer-touching weirdos. Even if most people hadn’t heard of them until 4 years ago. And yet, world of Frak is as long as it is wide. As blue as it is black. As ominous as it is glorious. As dirty as it is hairdryer. Sweet it is as yellow paper As. All of the above is a perfect example of how trying to convey what Frak is in the crass form of words is ultimately fruitless. Here is a double 12” vinyl product from Ultimate Hits featuring eight audio recordings from Frak: three men who have known each other since at least 1987. The sleeve was lovingly hand screen-printed at the studio of House of Traps, and features the colours commonly known as pink and black.
Seixlack – Bed Bug Bites EP [XK004]
Hot off the back of his debut LP for Delroy Edwards’ LA Club Resource as alter-ego Innyster, Seixlack serves up an EP of trademark, super raw, machine funk. Spanning the full gambit of dredged up acid, synth stacked daydreams and straight up 4×4, the breadth of this EP showcases a real talent.
Head Technician – Zones [E022LP]
Ecstatic label catch Martin Jenkins (Pye Corner Audio) in Head Technician garb for a slippery set of slow, plasmic acid workouts that were originally issued on a super-limited tape, and now sit heavy on wax. Over the years Jenkins has used the Head Technician alter ego as a sort of evil engineer Hyde analogous to his day-to-day Jekyll, a sort of hyperstitious studio partner in a time-honoured tradition of sleeve credits ghost chasing. Where Pye Corner Audio’s pieces may tend to be lustrous, optimistic, the Head Technician’s Zones LP hems to the shadows of the ‘floor with a furtive, noirish quality that works a treat in the right situations, whether soundtracking gaslamp-lit raves or midnight street patrols seeking out ne’erdowells and laudanum dealers.
Fired on a classic trinity of Roland TR-606 drum machine with an MC-202 (a beast to program, he admits) and TB-303 to sequence his baselines, it clearly makes explicit reference to the early days of Detroit techno and UK bleep ’n bass, but the vibe is more anachronistic, out-of-time, possibly thanks to his patented, lagging basslines and slowly unfolding arrangements, bridging that imaginary, dilated gap between fuzzy dancefloor head melt and curtains-drawn next day gouch out.
Echo 106 – Shifting Multiverse EP [AF004]
Analogical Force is introducing Echo 106 to the family. The Swiss duo serves up more hard-wired fare for those who like their dance music intense and rugged. Opener “Frontal DN-2” sets the tone, layering ragged acid lines, psychedelic electronics and creepy chords atop a crispy TR-808 rhythm. There’s more 303 abuse to be found on the more electro flavoured “Shifting Multiverse” and “Myrtle Acid”, with the latter arguably being the pick of the bunch. Naturally, the most banging contribution to the EP comes from remixer Ceephax Acid Crew, who turns “Myrtle Acid” into a trippy stomper.
VA – We Are New York Haunted [NYH050]
Compilation featuring 11 exclusive tracks from the New York Haunted family. Banging and distorted techno and electro tracks from young producers like Foil, Kluentah, MEZE, Leonardo Martelli and many more. Blending EBM style industrial with modern experimentalism, compiled by Drvg Cvltvre.
L/F/D/M – Offal & Sellotape [MNSX006]
Antonio – Antonio EP [UNTO004]
Not so many things to say about this five all killer, no filler trax – except that this Antonio EP is the perfect business card for the Pescara guy in order to confirm himself as one of the most talented young-bloodied, rawness manufacturer around right now. From 130 bpm ghetto acid madness to a surf-house summer anthem such as “Untitled” and the electro standout track “Clara”. Fasten your seat-belts and enjoy this ride provided by UNintelligent Trax Outsourcing, Milan.
Bill Converse – Warehouse Invocation [DE129]
Immersed in the early days of the 90s midwest rave scene, Bill Converse began DJing at a young age in Lansing, Michigan. Luminaries such as Claude Young, Traxx, and Twonz were key early influences. Since moving to Texas in 1998, he has experimented with analog techniques in varied studio bunkers. Early techno, noise, ambient, tape, and paranormal processing are all part of his uncanny sound palette. “Warehouse Invocation” is Converse’s debut 12? release, collecting material from a cassette release on Obsolete Future plus a new unreleased song. Three of the tracks, “Warehouse Invocation”, “Senys Magick” and “Consulted Acid”, were recorded in Austin TX between 2012-2013 at home and direct to tape with no overdubs or multi-tracking. “Riverbank” was also recorded at home in early 2014 in one take with a mic placed outside of the window to record the the sounds of the river late at night. Bill is informed by his surroundings, influenced by scenes of desolation in nature, the sea, the desert, and places of industry, like power stations, old factories, and warehouses. The songs on this EP length reveal a sublime influence from Detroit techno, early Chicago house, and Acid.
Retrograde Youth – Earth Disorders Part 1 [RAM-X-08]
Raw electronix all the way from Medellin, Colombia. It’s Retrograde Youth making his debut on Radio Matrix. By serving us three different kind of tunes, he shows us he is definitely an artist to keep your eyes and ears focused on. Where the first track shows his more melodic side with a grimy twist, the darkness really starts to unfold on the flip. ‘Love Fantasy’ will fill the room and leaves no escape with its haunting bassline, flanged hihats and Earth shattering leads. And on the B2, ‘No Time’ is the one for the dark basements, straight up acid for the tough kids! And this is only part 1…
VA – In The Dark Again 05 [DARK005]
Another well selected wavey release on In The Dark Again, with tracks from Kline Coma Zero, Lvrin, June and Dmitry Distant & Igors Vorobjovs.
Dircsen – Encounter [ENDILL008]
A German cooperation. The still quite undiscovered Dircsen has delivered three diverse tracks, ready for all occasions. Credit 00, rolling stone of the east German underground club scene has taken the record to another level with his more experimental rave-ish tape-echoed remix work.
The Hipodrome Of Music 