Steaua de Mare – Steaua de Mare [ABR012]

April 7, 2013November 7, 2023 hipodromealbum, ambassador's reception, andrei dinescu, bogdan stoian, eugen imecs, gypsy, horatiu s, ion dumitrescu, outernational, romanian, steaua de mare, turkishLeave a comment

Ambassador’s Reception label present the Romanian band Steaua de Mare, with their unique Smokey psychedelic sound. The whole concept of Steaua de Mare was founded on past sounds and the bygone entertainment rituals which existed before the 1989 revolution (that atmosphere extended well beyond and into the nineties). Steaua de Mare was a sixties seaside complex in one of the now fading Black Sea resorts Eforie Nord. As people relaxed in the sun and ate good food, traditional songs were played by restaurant bands which gave Steaua de Mare the idea to pay homage to this way of life by combining the sound of that era together with the new recording techniques of today. The band: Bogdan Stoian (violin, synths) Andrei Dinescu (percussion, drums, violin, synths) Ion Dumitrescu (bass, synths, drum-machines, drums) Horațiu Ș (synths, electric piano) Eugen Imecs (drums, percussion) came together after many years of jamming and decided to pool all resources together in two different studios around Bucharest. Their unique sound comes from many directions. They bring elements of Prog, dub, psychedelic rock, Turkish and contemporary gypsy music mainly from Romania and Bulgaria into the mix. If you then add that they are irreversibly contaminated in analogue and early digital sounds then maybe you have a passing image of this hybrid sound. Steaua de Mare add a unique twist on local standards with the help of Roland Juno 60, Yamaha CS-5, Elektronika EM-25, Junost-21, Poly 61 and their beloved Wurlitzer electric Piano. A wide range of influences from Can to Ork Universal, from psychedelic attitudes, kraut adventures to outer national delights like Bulgarian Chalga.

Alessandro Parisi – Draconia [LXRC012]

April 5, 2013March 16, 2018 hipodromealbum, alessandro parisi, cold wave, lux rec, synth waveLeave a comment

New album on Lux Rec. Alessandro Parisi recorded this album just with a Roland TR-707 and a Roland JX-3P. The heritage from his home in the northeast of Italy is clearly present in the music of Parisi. Back in the late seventies and early eighties Pordenone was an industrial city with a vivid underground post punk and wave scene. Cold weather electronics. Fog and darkness surrounds the place to this day and deeply pervades this record: the history of a city called Draconia. Who will do wrong shall not be forgiven.

In Trance 95 – Shapes In A New Geometry [MW043]

April 5, 2013May 27, 2025 hipodromealbum, alex machairas, cold wave, dark wave, electro, in trance 95, minimal wave records, nik veliotis, synth waveLeave a comment

Minimal Wave announce the release of a cassette of new music by Greek legends In Trance 95. After last year’s successful Cities Of Steel And Neon album release, In Trance 95 came together once again and have been working diligently in the studio on all kinds of new material. Aside from their recent raved about shows in Europe, this cassette is a taste of what they have been up to at Airdawn Studio in Athens, Greece. Quite dark, industrial and sometimes experimental (with glimpses of smokey dance floor atmosphere), these tracks are stark, heavy and cold.

Q4U – Q1 (Deluxe Edition 1980-1983) [DE040]

April 5, 2013July 17, 2024 hipodromealbum, dark entries records, dark wave, electro, minimal synth, new wave, q4uLeave a comment

Q4U was born the winter of 1980-1981 in Reykjavík, inspired by the British punk movement. It’s original members were Elínborg Halldórsdóttir (Ellý) (vocals), Berglind Garðarsdóttir (Linda) (vocals), Steinþór Stefánsson (guitar), Gunnþór Sigurðsson (bass), Helgi (drums) and Már (synthesizer). Helgi and Már soon left the band and Helgi was replaced by Kormákur Geirharðsson (Kommi) on the drums. By early 1982 they self-released a full length cassette, “Skaf Í Dag” and appeared in the documentary “Rokk í Reykjavík,” which showcased the Icelandic punk scene. This version of the band ended and only two members continued on. In the summer of 1982 Ellý and Gunnþór recruited Óðinn Guðbrandsson (guitar) and Árni Daníel (synthesizer) from the band Taugadeildin. Their drummer was replaced by a Roland TR-808 drum machine they named “Elísabet II”. signaling a change in the group’s sound toward synthesizer-driven post punk. In August 1983 Q4U reinstated Kormákur to record a final set of demos and then called it quits. This compilation collects 16 songs from 1980-1983. SIde A features the original six songs from the “Q1″ EP, plus 2 songs from the “Rokk í Reykjavík” soundtrack. Side B collects 4 demos from 1982 and 4 demos from 1983, all presented on vinyl for the first time ever. Q4U began with a stylish, aggressive punk image before experimenting with drum machines and synthesizers, which almost nobody did in Reykjavík at the time. The later sound had gothic leanings,often compared with Siouxsie and the Banshees and Xmal Deutschland. Their body of work is united by the powerful vocals of Ellý, who mostly sings in Icelandic about controversial, political experiences, much like Ari Up of The Slits.

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DJ Overdose – Bizarro World 2LP [CRECLP001]

April 2, 2013January 20, 2014 hipodromealbum, creme organization, dj overdose, elipse, jeroen warmenhovenLeave a comment

The bomb that should have dropped way back when. After a career spanning almost two decades DJ Overdose debuts on Creme with his first full length album, upon which we remark with carefully considered understatement: ‘A veritable tour de resistance in film noir electronics, Bizarro World is a dank and dark alley made flesh. Overdose’s heavy soulful beats and soundscapes snatch your dreams right from under you like a shadowy kleptomaniac, masterfully pairing melancholy and ennui with fear and voyeuristic tiger-lurking-in-the-bushes paranoia. So lock up your future plans or you might very well find yourself without any’. For those who don’t know, DJ Overdose is one of the OG’s of the La Haya underground, one half of Novamen and the other half of The Hasbeens with classic and sought after releases on Bunker, Viewlexx, Murder Capital, Clone and Strange Life to name a few. In his spare time he doubles as a hand model for Bruce Willis.

Vatican Shadow – It Stands To Conceal [HOS369LP]

March 24, 2013November 7, 2018 hipodromealbum, dominick fernow, hospital productions, industrial, leftfield, techno, vatican shadowLeave a comment

In it’s third year of operations Vatican Shadow became an unavoidable issue on the international noise and techno agenda. Following Type, Blackest Ever Black and Modern Love editions, Dominick Fernow aka Prurient aka Vatican Shadow ploughed forth with his project, resulting in three tapes ‘Jordanian Descent’, ‘Ghosts Of Chechnya’ and ‘Atta’s Apartment Slated For Destruction’, collected here on vinyl for the first time. Disc one features both sides of his extended ‘Jordanian Descent’ meditations, some of his longest in this guise and given to incredible, unfurling loop repetitions; Disc two holds ‘Ghosts Of Chechnya’, one of his most concise and varied issues, eight tracks wide and tending towards gloomy, urgent, cinematic arabesques including the outstanding ‘Voices Came Crackling Across A Motorola Hand-Held Radio’; Disc three comprises the four parts of his amazing ‘Atta’s Apartment Slated For Destruction’ including the impeccable darkness of ‘Once This Fire Gathers Strength’.

John Beltran – Amazing Things [98DSR]

March 23, 2013January 25, 2018 hipodromealbum, ambient, delsin records, electronics, experimental, john beltranLeave a comment

Amazing Things

John Beltran returns on Delsin with a brand new album entitled Amazing Things. As a life long pioneer of ambient soundscapes, blissful downbeat and stirring techno, Michigan born John Beltran already has his place in history assured with a bulging back catalogue that takes in influential releases on vital labels like Peacefrog and R&S. This new 17-track album sees the man draw on his lifetime in music to craft an immediately timeless body of work that’s stuffed with genuine musicality, pregnant with emotion and laden with organic blissfulness.

Polysick – Daydream LP [AUDIOMER011]

March 23, 2013November 10, 2017 hipodromeacid, album, ambient, audiomer music, egisto sopor, electronics, experimental, polysickLeave a comment

These last few years Rome based producer Egisto Sopor has been turning heads with a steady stream of most excellent releases. A cdr on Legowelt’s Strange Life Records, a tape on 100 % Silk, a double LP on Planet Mu and an evergrowing series of jams that are put on soundcloud or on his youtube channel. All of which offer atmospheric acid tinged techno laced with idiosyncratic touches. He has thus developed quite a cult following among lovers of lo fi electronic music who eagerly await his next grainy video, that feel like lost transmissions from an early nineties MTV broadcast. Polysick doesn’t get out much and keeps a low profile which adds to his rather enigmatic standing.With his new LP ‘Daydream’, Egisto has created the perfect soundtrack to a midnight trip through darkened cityscapes. Starting out like a confused jam session it slowly takes off and twists into uncanny shapes conjuring up images of a futuristic nightlife that plays out under neon lights, with a feeling of dread constantly lurking in the shadows. This is techno that tells a tale; a storyboard that comes pushing through in muffled flashes. A chase scene through deserted back alleys, executed while hunter and prey are both in a half-awake state, stuck in an infinite loop. And when the ambient synth twirls unravel and a 4/4 pulse kicks in and tears through the dreamy state of conciousness, it never signals a reassuring release of tension. You might dance to it, but not without anxiously looking over your shoulder.

KMFH – The Boat Party [WO013K]

March 22, 2013August 23, 2022 hipodromealbum, detroit, house, kmfh, kyle hall, techno, wild oatsLeave a comment

Wild Oats is proud to present the KMFH debut album The Boat Party. After a year of collaborative releases, Kyle Hall, under the alias KMFH, has produced a debut album; a fusion of original work, sample tracks, and raw edits. The Boat Party album artwork pokes fun at European summer boat parties and juxtaposes the destitute state of Detroit and its recent proneness to discarded luxury in financial crises. Mainly, the inability to leave and the sometimes pleasant isolation of a boat party is what the album exudes. The listener has a certain commitment to the material which definitely has its place on the dance floor. You can find tracks that have soulful, funky, and organic feels, while others have a more abstract, mechanical, and robotic sentiments. The Boat Party was carefully constructed which makes the album a cohesive mix of soulful etherealness and roughly raw sounds; KMFH’s cueing into the true aspects of Detroit.

Belaboris ‎– Once Upon A Time LP [DE041]

March 19, 2013April 20, 2021 hipodromealbum, belaboris, dark entries records, electro, fresh good minimal, kimmo miettinen, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

Belaboris was born in 1982 as the brainchild of Finnish producer Kimmo Miettinen. He would put together an all-girl band that looked great in photographs but were backed by professional musicians. The first line-up was Vilma Vainikainen on main vocals, Sisko Vainikainen and Rita on back-up plus Jake and Mari who did not sing at all. The backing band behind Belaboris was a local New Wave group called Tyhjät Patterit ( which translates to Empty Batteries). The main songwriter was Esa Ijäs (guitar, synthesizer) along with his bandmates Ari Ijäs (bass) and Martti Jalonen (drums). Belaboris’ debut 12″ single “Kuolleet Peilit” was released in November 1982. “Once Upon A Time” collects songs from all three EP releases and the “Olipa Kerran” mini-LP as well as two unreleased demos never before on vinyl. In Finland the synthetic Futurist/New Romantic pop was simply called “Futu”. Belaboris were in their own peculiar, undefinable no-woman’s-land, in between the Finnish Futu and Gothic scenes. Between 1982 and 1984 Belaboris crafted catchy, melodic synthpop with the occasional guitar. Their lyrics were stylistically “kitchen sink melodramas” with occasional Gothic elements inspired by movies. The name Belaboris, is a combination of the horror actors Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff.

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Medio Mutante – Eadem Mutata Resurgo [MR019]

March 19, 2013October 19, 2015 hipodromealbum, electro, medical records llc, medio mutante, minimal synth, synth pop, synth waveLeave a comment

Medical Records present it’s first “modern” release showcasing a full LP compilation of material by American minimal synth band Medio Mutante. The band’s sound is also a mutation of their 1980’s influences, using vintage analog synthesizers and drum machines in creative and unexpected ways. Drawing influence from such acts as El Aviador Dro, Absolute Body Control, Front 242, Duotronic Synterror, Oviformia SCI, Yukihiro Takahashi, Medio Mutante integrated it’s childhood love of late 80s/early 90s Hip Hop, Latin Freestyle, and New Wave into a hybrid concoction that is truly unique. This full LP is composed of the band’s long out of print 6 song limited EP from 2007, their limited 7″ from 2009, and 4 previously unreleased tracks.

Ancien Régime – The Position LP [MNQ032]

March 19, 2013March 26, 2014 hipodromealbum, alessandro adriani, alessandro gavazzi, ancient regime, bad news, mannequin records, post punk, synth popLeave a comment

The Italian band Ancien Régime with theoir first album on Mannequin Records. “The Position” evokes new wave and synth-pop memories, delivering epic vintage sounds and wrapping them all with catchy riffs and melodies. Still, despite this fascination with the past, the band’s work stands out as a distinctive, highly personal take on the genre. The album is opened by the single “Negative”, with its dark gloomy vocals and war-like drumming. “Negative” is, in fact, the quintessential Ancien Régime composition: wave, biting snare, interweaving synths and guitars, reverbs, delays.

Streetwalker – Future Fusion [CITI007]

March 19, 2013July 19, 2023 hipodromealbum, beau wanzer, cititrax, cold wave, elon katz, minimal wave records, streetwalker, synth waveLeave a comment

Chicago duo Streetwalker, comprised of molecular biologist Beau Wanzer and electronic music aesthete Elon Katz, wrote their debut album ‘Future Fusion’ over the course of two years. Through endless experimentation and analog improvisation, they have constructed an entirely new sound showcasing vibrant hand-played synthesizer, vulnerable vocals, and serpentine drum lines. Streetwalker’s distinct song structures are characterized as much by restraint, timing, and subtle shift as by the cyclic abandon of the loop.

Omar-S – Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself [AOS7000CD]

March 15, 2013March 14, 2013 hipodromealbum, alex smith, detroit house, fxhe records, house, omar s, technoLeave a comment

Alex Smith aka Omar-S with his new album on FXHE. The fourteen tracks on this disc demonstrate Smith’s studio prowess and his dynamic range as a producer – from uplifting house to raw techno beats and acid.

Hieroglyphic Being – Imaginary Soundscapes #9 [MATHPLUS09CD]

March 13, 2013November 13, 2013 hipodromeabstract, album, chicago, experimental, hieroglyphic being, jamal moss, mathematics plus, mathematics recordingsLeave a comment

Long awaited album, “Imaginary Soundscapes”, from Jamal Moss brings nine breathtaking compositions of raw electronic goodness that only he can concoct. From soft atmospheric sound environments to banging warehouse beat tracks, this is pure sonic bliss.

Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50 [RS1303]

March 11, 2013March 17, 2022 hipodromealbum, electro, funk, jack hamill, r&s records, space dimension controllerLeave a comment

Space Dimension Controller is in the cockpit, preparing to land his sophomore album thru R&S. A robot pilot announces imminent landing on the intro to the hyPer-Funk of the title track, and ‘While I Was Away’ wistfully gazes starboard to lush neo-soul vibes – imagine OPN doing slo-mo electrosoul. ‘It’s A Cold Planet Without You’ keeps a tense slowfast vibe with fluctuating drums and strobing cyber-dub FX, and the Eno-esque ‘Music For Spaceports’ decelerates the whole thing to lush ambient bliss mode upon reentry to orbit. listen

Cuba Gooding – The 1st Cuba Gooding Album: Love Dancer [EXP2CD22]

March 10, 2013March 9, 2013 hipodromealbum, cuba gooding, expansion records, funk, soulLeave a comment

Former Main ingredient leader Cuba Gooding recorded two albums for Motown in the late 70’s produced by Lambert and Potter. The 1st album is the strongest and includes the dancers ‘Mind Pleasers’ and ‘Hold On To What You Got’, the mid tempo floater ‘Fool of The year’ and a good cover of Patti Austin’s ‘We’re In Love’. The highlight though is the 2 stepper ‘All I Can Give You is Love’. Expansion Records includes the two classic albums on one CD. The first Coba Gooding album Love Dancer.

Zhao-ski – The Anti Scene EP [BOR001]

March 10, 2013February 7, 2014 hipodromealbum, black operation records, detroit, hip-hop, rafel, submerge, zhao sky pouncy, zhao-skyLeave a comment

Detroit DJ, producer and MC, ZHAO-SKI is proud to present his first vinyl release via Submerge’s new label Black Operation Records. As part of the track-e-zoid production team and the “keep it classic” movement, Zhao-ski has been involved in the production of some of your favorite hip hop songs from Detroit. No Vocals. Hipnotech style.

Usio – Kuwa Huru LP [BARN012]

March 1, 2013July 3, 2023 hipodromealbum, house, studio barnhus, usioLeave a comment

Years after rumors of the mysterious Usio first started spreading, Studio Barnhus are finally ready to release the project’s debut outing, an LP called Kuwa Huru. This is emotional, intricate electronic blues for the modern dance floor, with 8 tracks ranging from afro-beat influenced house jams to starlight spangled techno compositions.

N.A.D. – Dawn Of A New Age [RHRSS007]

February 28, 2013May 3, 2022 hipodromealbum, chicago, detroit, house, mustafa ali, n.a.d., new age dance, reissue, rush hour, rush hour reissues series, technoLeave a comment

Sometimes, through a combination of misfortune and bad timing, a fine record will go largely unnoticed on its original release. If it’s good enough, though, it will be rediscovered and reappraised through the hard work of record collectors. N.A.D’s The Dawn of a New Age, an unheralded British deep house classic, is one such example. Originally released by Tony Thorpe’s short-lived house label BPM Records in 1990, The Dawn of a New Age was on sale for little more than a week before it vanished from record store shelves, the victim of Rough Trade Distribution’s demise. BPM folded shortly after, consigning N.A.D’s first and only album to the annals of history as a little known and little-heard obscurity. The misfortune that beset the project arguably denied listeners more material from its hitherto unheralded creator, an English producer called Mustafa Ali. Before recording The Dawn of a New Age, he had created an early UK house classic, 1988’s “Close Jack Encounter”, as L.E Bass. Unlike much similar material of the period, The Dawn of a New Age still sounds fresh, futuristic and far-sighted. listen