Legowelt – Crystal Cult 2080 [CRCD010]

February 11, 2014March 25, 2019 hipodromealbum, creme organization, danny wolfers, house, legowelt, technoLeave a comment

New album by the irrepressible Dutchman… The ‘2080’ part of the album title is taken from the Roland JV2080, a legendary digital synthesizer from the nineties that was used a lot in the making of the album. Bought second-hand in Tokyo for a couple of hundred dollars, it lends the record a very dewy eyed soul, whilst the ‘Crystal’ part of the title stands for the self-made ‘DIY germanium crystal compressor’ Legowelt used throughout the writing process. The album itself features ten new tracks of pure Legowelt music mainly recorded in De Hague in the past year, but also on the road during tours of LA, the Californian desert, Tokyo (which spawned ‘Crystal Cult 2080’) and Tejada Gran Canaria (where ‘The Future of Myself’ was written.) Where his last album The Paranormal Soul was an organic trip into misty forests, this one seems more concerned with medieval spirits; it’s deeper, darker and the whole thing is tied together by a more coherent sense of ancient alchemy. Given the use of a DIY germanium crystal compressor during production, it’s no wonder everything feels warm, fuzzy and mystic in a way that draws your attention in like that fabled philosopher’s stone… glare too long and you might just turn to stone. Right from the opening track the mood is so encapsulating you are drawn right into Danny Wolfers’ mysterious electronic world. From there various different tempos are explored and plenty of famed synthesiser work comes to the fore, wrapping grooves in trippy themes, impish spirits and plenty of organic lushness.

Achterbahn D’amour – Odd Movements [ATLP003]

February 10, 2014November 2, 2021 hipodromeabsurd recordings, achterbahn d'amour, acid, album, house, iron curtis, jurgen albert, technoLeave a comment

ACHTERBAHN D'AMOUR - Odd Movements

The debut full-length by Achterbahn D’amour (Johannes “Iron Curtis” Paluka and Jurgen “Jool” Albert), captures two artists coaxing the most emotional sounds to date out of classic Roland boxes. The album is the natural extension of the duo’s live-rooted sound, further defining the oblique dance moves contained on their three Acid Test EPs. They demonstrate a true reverence for the 303 and 606. On “Odd Movements”, lush pads and abrupt toms create a literal pedestal for the bassline machine. The duo have hit on a sound well-suited for dark rooms and towering sound systems.

Actress – Ghettoville [WDNT006]

February 9, 2014November 9, 2023 hipodromeactress, album, ambient, darren cunningham, experimental, werk discsLeave a comment

Ghettoville is the bleached out and black tinted conclusion of the Actress image. Where the demands of writing caught the artist slumped and reclined, devoid of any soul, acutely aware of the simulated prism that required breakout. Four albums in and the notes and compositions no longer contain decipherable language. The scripts now carry tears, the world has returned to a flattened state, and out through that window, the birds look back into the cage they once inhabited. Spitting flames behind a white wall of silence. The machines have turned to stone, data reads like an obituary to its user. A fix is no longer a release, it’s a brittle curse. Zero satisfaction, no teeth, pseudo artists running rampant, but the path continues.

Terrence Parker – Life On The Back 9 [PLE65361-1]

February 7, 2014February 6, 2014 hipodromealbum, detroit, house, planet e communications, terrence parkerLeave a comment

Classy Detroit house tracks drenched in funk. Soulful tracks ranging from downtempo to more classic Detroit house tracks and disco injected cuts. ”This album is about moving forward through hard times in life to see something beautiful on the other side of difficulties.” quote Terrence Parker.

Exploit – Event Horizon LP [MUXLP001]

February 6, 2014February 5, 2014 hipodromealbum, exploit, mutex recordings, technoLeave a comment

First full length album by Exploit combines punchy techno grooves and mature melodic electronic passages. You are taken on a real deep space journey: from strict techno in Utopia and UFO, through dubby chords of Time Slowdown and Visual Distorion, to electronic works like Shifted Reality and No Escape.

Morphology – Identity Component [ZYNTAXMOTORCITY009]

February 3, 2014April 4, 2024 hipodromealbum, detroit, electro, matti turunen, michael diekmann, morphology, zyntax motorcityLeave a comment

Exiting Morphology aka Matti Turunen, Michael Diekmann album with 8 stunning tracks in their signature style.

Roladex – Anthems For The Micro-Age [MR031]

February 2, 2014February 18, 2019 hipodromealbum, electro, medical records llc, roladex, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

Medical Records presents it’s second contemporary artist release with Roladex. Using an arsenal of analog instruments, Roladex nostalgically borrows ideas from music of the past to carefully craft a unique brand of futuristic-mechanized pop, with an emphasis on songwriting and layered production. Weaving sparse, sequenced arpeggios into fuzzy bass and bubbly melodies to create a bed of sound where they layout a somehow bright melancholia. Part minimal synth-wave, part dream pop. The opening track “Anthem For The Micro-Age” sets the tone with dreamy atmospheric synth textures and interwoven male and female vocals. “Love Surgery” is chock full of pop hooks and synth leads interspersed with angular guitar accents. “Empty Streets” has an almost minimal John Bender bedroom aesthetic. Fans of early Wire (esp 154), Drinking Electricity, Fad Gadget and even noisy 90s shoegaze are sure to enjoy. Presented on high-quality 180gram heavyweight electric blue transparent vinyl and features a bonus LP insert with lyrics.

Tri Fire – Tri Fire [TFTAPE]

January 26, 2014January 23, 2014 hipodromealbum, disco, funk, peoples potential unlimited, robbie m, terry patton, tri-fireLeave a comment

Following the success of the Midnight Express single Danger Zone, Robbie M and Terry Patton continued to search for new sounds. Over the next few years the duo would produce dozens of instrumental sketches. Terry always recorded these backing arrangements to cassette tapes so they could easily listen to them later in the car. Cruising the streets of Rock Island IL, vocalist Robbie M would write the additional melodies and lyrics. The plan was to release a full length studio album, combining all parts and adding vocals, but the group dispersed in 1985 before their dream was realized. The Terry tapes, which were never intended for commercial release, are all that remain. When we first heard them, they were inaudible with almost no tones left to preserve, but thanks to a few small miracles and genuine science the shroud of noise has been lifted to reveal an unexplainable haze of funk.

Obergman – Cyclic Multiverse [AFS017]

January 25, 2014November 27, 2017 hipodromeabstract forms, album, electro, obergman, ola bergmanLeave a comment

Mid-paced, fresh ‘n’ funky electro gear on this eight track EP from Swedish artist, Obergman. All very nicely produced while maintaining the quirky factor throughout which results in an EP that gels perfectly from start to finish and a respectable follow-up to the recnt DMX Krew release on Abstract Forms.

Kenny Dixon Jr. – Moodymann [KDJ044]

January 24, 2014October 30, 2019 hipodromealbum, andres, detroit, house, jazz, kdj records, kenny dixon jr., mahogani music, moodymannLeave a comment

New material from Kenny Dixon Jr. aka Moodymann along with two tracks produced by Andres. This long awaited album features twelve songs over 4 sides of vinyl, a poster, all in custom sleeve with the best album artwork since 1979. A journey further into the weird and wonderful world of the Moodymann…Straight from Detroit!

Cuthead – Resteessen [UV019+] FREE ALBUM

January 19, 2014January 17, 2014 hipodromealbum, cuthead, deep house, downtempo, free download, free tracks, hip-hop, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

UV019+ / Cuthead - Resteessen cover art

“When we selected music for Cuthead’s Everlasting Sunday LP we had to leave out several great tracks due to the limited space on the record. So Cuthead decided to give it away for free as digital only album via our bandcamp site. Enjoy!”

DJ Spider – Nemesis Rising [PBR035]

January 16, 2014October 18, 2023 hipodromealbum, boyd jarvis, dj spider, dub poet, house, plan b recordings, sly scott, technoLeave a comment

Here is the full length LP from DJ Spider. It is a mix of deep house, deep down tempo beats and some darker house tracks. This record will take you on a journey from beginning to end, just like a full length should. Every piece has it’s place in the selection & much thought has been put behind them with meaning & intent to invoke higher listening. Spider has worked with some great musicians over the years & added some of their pieces to the mix as well. Sly Scott threw down some amazing Saxophone parts on The opening track “Prison Planet” & he also did some playing on the fifth track “Crack Factory”. The one & only Dub Poet, Infinity gave a dope voice piece to Spider for the eighth track “S O S” & Boyd Jarvis lends a gorgeous keyboard solo on the final cut, “Flee To Agartha”

Elitechnique – Intrusion II [CLSS009.1]

January 14, 2014April 19, 2023 hipodromealbum, clone loft supreme series, clone records, disco, elitechnique, italo-discoLeave a comment

Intrusion II, the follow up of the magnificent Elitechnique EP of last year. Another 8 stunning tracks. Ranging from their own brand of disco to 70’s porn funk.

Lè Travo – Erring And Errant [DE056]

January 13, 2014July 17, 2024 hipodromealbum, cold wave, dark entries records, dark wave, lè travo, patrick bollen, post punk, synth popLeave a comment

Lè Travo is the brainchild of Patrick Bollen from Tienen, Belgium. As a teenager in the early 1980s, Patrick would visit ”DeAtelier”, the infamous coldwave/gothic club in Leuven. He would be inspired by Joy Division and other Factory releases, The Danse Society and Cocteau Twins. He gathered a some session musicians and a female backup vocalist. Eventually Patrick bought a Greengate DE-3 sampler, using the brains of an Apple 2E with a keyboard bolted onto it. He crafted loops made from a deconstructed upright piano, hitting the strings directly with a drum stick. Lè Travo made their first appearance on a split LP with Fred A in 1984. ”Erring and Errant” is their debut 7 song LP originally released in 1985. For the reissue 3 bonus songs from the split LP have been added. The songs are coldwave in the vein of Weimar Gesang, Opera Multi Steel, and Clan of Xymox. Guitar, bass and sample interplay with piano and synthesizers with dark and forbidding crescendos in the fast numbers, and elegaic melancholy in the slow tracks. The vocals are delivered with a sense of urgency, while the lyrics are inspired by avant-garde movements such as futurism and constructivism, as well as science fiction and existentialism.

Jeff Mills – Chronicles of Possible Worlds [AXSN001]

January 4, 2014August 31, 2021 hipodromealbum, alexandre roccoli, ambient, axis records, detroit, jeff mills, minimal technoLeave a comment

The theme of “Chronicles of Possible Worlds” is exoplanets, new planets discovered starting in 1995 which revolve around a star outside our solar system. Mixing music, dance and visuals, this creative work testifies to the advances of science and hints at the existence of possible other worlds. Following a period of investigation and a meeting with researchers from the Marseille Astrophysics Laboratory, Mills chose to focus on six planets (Wasp 12b, 13b, 14b, 15b, 16b and 17b). Their specific physical and structural properties were then translated through music, sound, images and dance. Together with Mills, the choreographer Alexandre Roccoli created a roaming choreography spread out across the Vasarely Foundation that explores the correspondence between the physical properties of these planets and choreography’s own body states. The show’s soundtrack, composed by Mills, is broadcast by the dancers costumes (designed by Berlin designer Anke Bruns) that are equipped with speakers. The music, the different sonic trajectories, the dancers and the public ambling freely through the halls can spatialize, orbit, or even fuse in the naves of the Foundation.

L.A.S.’s Crime – Mutatio (Modified) [JAMTRAXSPECIAL002]

December 27, 2013June 26, 2019 hipodromealbum, dkmd, ferdj, j.a.m. traxx, l.a.s.’s crime, maria elena brogi, minimal synth, sandro marchetti, synth popLeave a comment

This is not your ‘usual’ L.A.S.’s Crime album, as if something had gone wrong in cloning, and what came out is magically different and at the same time deeply consistent with the productions of the 80s … with the participation of bands, artists and DJs from all over the world, the result is a beautiful mutant vinyl…7 songs remade as extended versions, a ‘size’ of song so diffused in ’80s, half way pop and dance.

The Trash Company – Modern Love [THUG015]

December 22, 2013October 18, 2023 hipodromealbum, electro, funk, the trash company, thug recordsLeave a comment

There’s a really interesting story behind The Trash Company. A synaesthesia-affected solo artist who’s worked reclusively since the late 70s, his creations have only just begun to be discovered. Sitting right on the fringes of electro, funk and experimentalism; he is genuinely unique. Highlights across this collection of six previously unreleased tracks include the far away croons and whimsical trumpets on “Modern Love”, the sexual rhythmic moans and Dilla-style beats on “Hot Stripper” and, of course, the fuzzy lo-fi bar room blues of the title track.

Benedek – Unititled LP [PPU053]

December 21, 2013September 3, 2019 hipodromealbum, benedek, electro, funk, house, nicholas benedek, peoples potential unlimited, soulLeave a comment

Benedek unititled debut release on the Peoples Potential Unlimited promo series. Some stellar modern electro funk and forwardthinking dance grooves.

Traumprinz – Mothercave [GLGLP003]

December 18, 2013December 17, 2013 hipodromealbum, ambient, deep house, experimental, giegling, traumprinzLeave a comment

… In a soft night of confusion the ape was born into his lion mother’s lair. As he grew older, he danced in countless circles around his father’s fallen empire. Spent by fires of ecstasy, the departed reptile king appeared in his sleep and told one love will show you how to fly, and he sang forget the world, ’cause no man will ever wake up from that insubstantial world of cycles…

Shifted – Under A Single Banner [NAIL007LP]

December 15, 2013January 26, 2024 hipodromealbum, bed of nails, experimental, guy brewer, industrial, shifted, technoLeave a comment

Cover art - Shifted: Under A Single Banner

It’s been a busy couple of years for the producer behind the Shifted project. On top of an extremely well-received album for the Mote Evolver label, the producer has edged further out into the fringes of electronic music under a number of aliases, taking in noise/ambient variants as Covered In Sand, as well as more distorted, technofied productions under the Alexander Lewis moniker, a sound described by the Blackest Ever Black label as “S-M techno.” His new album as Shifted, Under a Single Banner, finds the producer converging these strands into a lucid re-imagining of techno, starting off from the toughened, purist templates honed down by the likes of Sandwell District and Marcel Dettmann, and stretching out into more textured, sometimes noisy, often introverted and melancholy signatures. It’s a perfect fit for Bed Of Nails, a label that’s given a platform for the more direct dancefloor mutations of Dominick Fernow’s own productions as Vatican Shadow, Rainforest Spiritual Enslavement, and Christian Cosmos, as well as familiar Hospital Productions affiliates such as Kris Lapke under the Bronze Age guise. There’s a rich and earthy warmth to Under a Single Banner that’s perhaps at odds with the puerile fixation on all things noisy at the fringes of techno these days, but for the most part, the tension and momentum keeps the album definitively aimed at the floor without ever resting on its laurels.