Pablo’s Eye – Dark Matter [STRLP022]

Given that the Axel Libeert-helmed Pablo’s Eye project has been running continuously since the late 1980s, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Stroom has found it hard to put out just one retrospective of the Belgian collective’s work. In fact, “Dark Matter” is the third (and final) part of a retrospective trilogy that has brilliantly shed new light on Libeert and company’s work. Experimental, atmospheric and largely creepy, the showcased material variously touches on high-minded percussion music, slowly shifting ambient, Berlin school soundscapes, neo-classical-tinged global fusion, smoky downtempo grooves, the kind of intensely paranoid fare we’d expect from Dominick Fernow, and scattergun electronic dub. More than anything, Pablo’s Eye is a temporary atmosphere, like a taste or a dream.

listen

Pablo’s Eye – Dark Matter [STRLP022]

Villa Åbo – Carpet Proof Of Daily Reports [IDEAL168]

It’s a Swedish house thing. Börft boss Jan Zwarre Svensson a.k.a Frak returns to his early project, Villa Åbo, for six deep and rude acid rub downs. Villa Åbo is more than a band name. It is a former bank buliding in Johannishus in South East Sweden which was where Börft Records was founded and where the boss Jan Zwarre Svensson grew up. It was where the original location of Studio Styrka was and where the first important years of recordings by FRAK and Alvars Orkester was done. It was a creative volcano, and also a social meeting point for likeminded, teenage weirdos into electronic music. Villa Abo is the foundation for a lot of stuff still resonating today. FRAK has been active for a long time now releasing tons of records, Alvars Orkester is asleep but about to be awaken, and Villa Abo is the output for his addiction to deeper electronic dance stuff.

listen

Villa Åbo – Carpet Proof Of Daily Reports [IDEAL168]

Passarani – W.O.W. [OFFEN010]

PASSARANI - WOW

Offen Music presents ‘W.O.W’, Marco Passarani’s first solo album in 14 years. Passarani is one of the most influential artists from the Italian underground. Active since the ‘90s he was responsible for bringing rave sounds from Detroit and the UK in and out of Italy. The album puts together influences from proto-house, dystopic electronica and classic Detroit Techno, as Passarani says “I was trying to bring order to my creativity, going through the pieces of the puzzle that I’ve been lost in. Before, I could concentrate on some areas of the puzzle, while now I can see the final picture when I look at all those pieces”. Masterclass business from the Roman machine wizard – another special one for Dusseldorf’s OFFEN.

listen

Passarani – W.O.W. [OFFEN010]

Stratis – New Face LP [DE241]

Stratis is an electronic duo from Cologne, Germany, formed by Antonios Stratis and Albert Klein in 1981. They took inspiration from the progressive electronic synthscapes of Tangerine Dream & Vangelis and the proto-techno of Chris & Cosey and Yello, as well as jazz and funk. The duo recorded 5 cassette-only albums between 1982 and 1986 – Exotic, New Face, Musica da Ballo, Film Musik, and Raging Beauty – which were released on their own label Creative Tapes (later called Temporary Music), and which were also licensed to Colin Potter’s Integrated Circuit Records (ICR) label. We are pleased to announce the first ever standalone vinyl reissue of their sophomore album “New Face’, which was recorded and released in 1983. It consists of eight future-fixated tracks that could have been composed for movies like Blade Runner or Tron. A wide range of minimal electronics are presented, from robotic synth pop to melancholic cold wave to Neue Deutsche Welle electro.

listen

Stratis – New Face LP [DE241]

Victrola – Born From The Water (Demos 1983-85) [DE235]

Victrola is the duo of Antonio ”Eze” Cuscinà and Carlo Smeriglio from Messina, Italy. The band formed in 1979 but shortly thereafter relocated to Florence take part in a rich musical scene alongside Neon, Pankow, Alexander Robotnick, and Diaframma. Beginning as a 4-piece (two guitarists, bassist, drummer) they slimmed down to a synthesizer and guitar-based duo by 1982. Their sole release was the now classic ”Maritime Tatami”/”A Game Of Despair” EP from 1983, which we reissued in 2012. ‘Born From The Water’ is a 12 song collection of unreleased demos recorded between 1983 and 1985. The band sent us over 100 cassettes, through which we dug to compile the first volume of their archival darkwave ballads. They used an array of Roland synthesizers (TR-606, TB-303, TR-909, Juno 6) plus a Korg Polysix, Yamaha DX7, Casio VL-Tone VL-1, DR-55 Dr. Rhythm, and Fender Stratocaster and Jazz Bass. Some of the songs would later appear on various compilations, but the versions presented here are unique. Victrola engulfs the listener with trance-inducing synth lines, oblique minor-key bass lines, angular guitar riffs, and melancholic vocals. The songs tell tales of youth, love, karma, and the decline of civilization in modern times.

listen

Victrola – Born From The Water (Demos 1983-85) [DE235]

Jacky Giordano – Timing Archives [FR02LP]

‘Timing’ is a collection of sixteen records intended for audiovisual and media professionals which came out between 1975 and 1977, and initiated by Jacky Giordano who took care of the first six albums. The ten others were developed by Pierre Arvay and nearly all published in partnership with Music De Wolfe. 14-tracks LP with plenty of funky breaks and hard grooves, including afro-cuban rhythms, wild jazzy sounds, fuzz guitar, strings, sax, clavinet, flute…

listen

Jacky Giordano – Timing Archives [FR02LP]

Nubya Garcia – Nubya’s 5ive [JRF0012LP]

Nubya fearlessly threw herself head first into this 5ive project, her debut recording, with a clear vision of what she wanted and was meticulous in her pursuit of her sound. Enlisting the help of fellow musical comrades from an exciting new wave of London based talent, Nubya tapped into well-seasoned, harmonious relationships with players that know and understand her – and this joyful union radiates through her compositions. Beautiful music, thoughtful and passionate playing.

listen

Nubya Garcia – Nubya’s 5ive [JRF0012LP]

Anthony Naples – Take Me With You [ANS2000]

Anthony Naples returns with his second full length album, “Take Me With You”. Originally conceived as a D.J. mixtape dedicated to friends and the time spent with them in the morning hours after the parties over (or beginning) – it quickly morphed into a soft focused meditation on all things warm and intangible. “Take Me With You”‘s message is undoubtedly about escapism, given away by its happy-abductee cover art done by the legend Biscuit— but first and foremost it reflects on that lingering feeling one gets when walking away from the ones they love.

listen

Anthony Naples – Take Me With You [ANS2000]

Nocturnal Emissions – Spiritflesh [MNQ103]

NOCTURNAL EMISSIONS - Spiritflesh

Mannequin Records starts a series of re-presses dedicated to the legendary Nocturnal Emissions, one of the best kept secrets of the industrial genre since the 1970s. Led by Nigel Ayers and Caroline K, the band was one of the first to use tape cutting, avant-garde art, and underground video works to create a stage experience that was being cultivated by like-minded artists like Throbbing Gristle, SPK and Cabaret Voltaire. Originally self released in 1988 on Earthly Delights, ‘Spiritflesh’ is a masterpiece and a major reference for the early drone/dark ambient minds.

listen

Nocturnal Emissions – Spiritflesh [MNQ103]

Dead Husband – Luxe Kondo LP [W06]

Boston duo Dead Husband are responsible for the new and captivating release “Luxe Kondo”. Six varied and punchy tracks made up the long-awaited debut 12″ which as usual go hand in hand with a well prepared design and a white colored vinyl. Doubtless, this uplifting work is abounding with old and up-to-date influences and make clear that these tasteful guys share their love for Minimal wave, Electropop and Techno.

listen

Dead Husband – Luxe Kondo LP [W06]

Octavian Nemescu – Gradeatia / Natural (1973-83) [SR467]

Originally issued in 1984 by Electrecord, the only record label in communist-era Romania. Sub Rosa brings these two fantastic avant-garde electronic compositions back on vinyl in their Early Electronic Series. Octavian Nemescu was born in Pascani (Romania) in 1940. He studied composition with Mihail Jora at University of Music in Bucharest. As he was still a student, he imposed himself as part of avant-garde movement in Romanian compositional music. After 1965 he achieves works of the “open creation” type, of conceptual and environmental music. He involves himself after 1967 into the Romanian spectral trend. Starting with the work Concentric (1969), his creation has got archetypal vocation by cultivating an aesthetic of the essentializing. Gradeatia was composed in 1982. This piece was commissioned by the Electroacoustic Music Studio in Gent (Belgium) where it was elaborated. It was conceived as ambient music for Voronet Monastery (Moldavia), as an electronic-audio fresco paralleling the existing one, of mural-visual consistency. It happened in a historic moment when the communist regime in Romania demolished many churches. And this piece was conceived as a protest to these actions. Natural was composed in 1973 but finalzied in 1983. This music has a spectral aesthetic orientation and at the same time, processual and archetypal orientations.

listen

Octavian Nemescu – Gradeatia / Natural (1973-83) [SR467]

Oceanic – Live At De School [DNW01]

Almost three years after opening its doors, De School will launch their new label De Nieuw at the end of this year. For their first release, De Nieuw presents the first ever recording to surface from between the walls of the venue. On this LP is one of the first live concerts by Oceanic, recorded at the auditorium of De School on October 21st 2017. This was in the middle of a 64-hour event that lasted from Friday evening until Monday lunch. This LP contains a 40-minute recording of Oceanic’s concert, performed on his custom-made string instrument connected to a modular synth. The concert was performed for 200 people laying on pillows, surrounding Oceanic and Warping Halos, a light installation by Children of the Light.

listen

Oceanic – Live At De School [DNW01]

E.R.P. – Afterimage [FFLP001]

Convextion man Gerard Hanson may have been releasing spacey and atmospheric electro E.Ps as E.R.P. since 1996, but “Afterimage” is still the project’s first full-length outing. It is, of course, superb. Few can make this kind of deep, emotive and melodious electro quite as well as Hanson, and “Afterimage” arguably includes some of his finest material in this style. Highlights include the bustling rhythms, lilting chords and bubbly electronics of “Overcast”, the deep, slow and poignant bliss of “Wishing Still”, the deep space dancefloor shuffle of “Remembrance”, the crystalline melodies and hard-hitting drums of “Noetic” and the ultra-dreamy rhythmic ambient closing cut “Forlorn”. It is, though, all utterly beguiling.

listen

E.R.P. – Afterimage [FFLP001]

Elecktroids – Elektroworld [C#CC035LP]

Clone Classic Cuts reissue of the illustrious ‘Elecktroids’ one and only album from 1995. “Based in Flint, Michigan, USA the four young sons of an electrician welded together their debut album. This album, titled Elektroworld, is a personal tribute to the well known pioneers of the electro-disco-beat; Kraftwerk.”

listen

Elecktroids – Elektroworld [C#CC035LP]

VEF 317 – VEF Radio [YUY-PT-RM]

VEF 317 - VEF Radio

This is the story about a love affair with once modern technologies. It’s told by Soviet drummachines and Sci-Fi synthlines arranged in playful minimalism and mixed with Detroit futuristics. A Leipzig label collaboration between YUYAY, PossblThings and R.A.N.D. presents this multifaceted music by Kirill Junolainen.

listen

VEF 317 – VEF Radio [YUY-PT-RM]

The 7th Plain – Chronicles I-III Box [A-TONLP08]

Essential re-issue project of Luke Slater’s alias The 7th Plain. Cosmic, analogue, orchestrated, they still represent some of the most emotionally intense music ever to come out of the techno realm. Aside from the special vinyl boxset (6×12“ LP), which includes Chronicles I – III, limited edition stickers, an essay by Joe Muggs and a complete download code. All releases are available individually on CD, 2xLP and for the first time in digital formats.

the box / part I  / part IIpart II

The 7th Plain – Chronicles I-III Box [A-TONLP08]

Mitsuaki Katayama Trio – First Flight [STUDIOMM11LP]

Johnny’s Disk Record is an independent jazz label run by the owner of Jazz Cafe Kaiunbashi No Johnny located in Rikuzentakata City in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The legendary label released a string of albums of high quality but down-to-earth music, spanning from modern jazz, avant-garde jazz to left-field pop. Albums such as “farewell my johnny / left alone” and “Aya’s Samba” has reached cult status among fans as some of the best works to come out of the Japanese jazz scene. This debut album by drummer and actor Mitsuaki Katayama is a Japanese jazz masterpiece, put out by Johnny’s Disk Record. Consisting of 5 original compositions, the no-filler album includes the tracks “Unknown Point,” a danceable jazz samba with tight and powerful drumming; the melancholic “Arizona High Way,” a tune that perfectly epitomizes what Japanese jazz is about; “It’s Over,” which features beautiful piano work by Kichiro Sugino—a promising pianist who tragically succumbed to a chronic illness and couldn’t fully realize his potential; “Louis” and “First Flight,” a jazzy dance cut with a funky bassline.

listen

Mitsuaki Katayama Trio – First Flight [STUDIOMM11LP]

Jazz Community – Revisited [SONOL109]

A compilation of lost tracks by the Zurich based ”Jazz Community”. One of the most important Post-Bop and Modal Jazz bands from Europe. The Sextet featured the exceptional brass section of Hans Kennel (tp, flh), Paul Haag (tb) and Heiner Althaus (ts). The three were members of ”Magog” and here they are working with various rhythm sections, using original compositions. For the first time, their most celebrated tracks from the rare LP’s ”Jazz Community” and ”Il Topo” are on one album. The tracks were produced in 1979 at the studio of Bruno Spoerri and in 1983 in concert at The Club in Rubigen, Bern.

vinyl / CD

Jazz Community – Revisited [SONOL109]

Vercetti Technicolor – Black September Tape [GDLP001TAPE]

Vercetti Technicolor’s fictitious soundtrack to the 1972 Munich Massacre, is a bleak, cold and somber work. Partly inspired by the 1999 Documentary by Kevin Macdonald, Vercetti creates a tense and brooding approach to this, the most darkest of subject matter. This is far from dancefloor material, this is doom-electronics at it’s most frightening. Giallo Disco is proud to present our first LP, Vercetti Technicolor’s Black September, closer to minimal wave than Moroder and all the better for it. Remixes come from Mexico’s PLAYTONTO and Creme Organization signing’s Francesco Clemente. Limited to 100 copies, first time on cassette for our very first LP by Vercetti Technicolor. Pro duplicated with re-edited artwork by Eric Adrian Lee.

listen

Vercetti Technicolor – Black September Tape [GDLP001TAPE]

Bourbonese Qualk – Laughing Afternoon [PLA030/MNQ111]

Mannequin Records and Platform 23 come together to start a series of stand-alone reissues of the music of post-punk / industrialists Bourbonese Qualk, starting with their 1983 album Laughing Afternoon. Formed in Southport during the late-70s, the band came to prominence out of South London’s squat scene via their own Recloose Organisation. Early releases including the band’s first experiments put to tape and the now highly sought after Sudden Departure compilation featuring luminaries Colin Potter, Eg Oblique Graph (Bryan Jones) and Lol Coxhill, laid the foundations of their burgeoning sound. Recorded and produced at the Recloose Studios in Camberwell in 1983, Simon Crab, Julian Gilbert and Steven Tanza infused their music with politically charged atmospherics, instrumental exploration, heavily laden reverb and dub, all projected by drum machine rhythms to assemble a musical collage which encapsulated strands beyond contemporary music. Track titles decipher little, as with the music, a discourse not belonging to a set style or movement, but crossing boundaries of supposition, pushing distortion and outernational leanings towards something else, a primordial discant. While tape loops warp the ears and spoken vocals propel songs like Blood Orange Bargain Day and To Hell With The Consequences and contrasting guitar acoustics pierce the mood on Qualk Street and Spanner In The Works, the overall embrace is claustrophobic, embedding a foreboding for the times. This unique, indulgent, cross genre melting pot where pounding rhythms, wailing trumpets, mournful melodica and electronic pulses all spiral in a contagious dissonance that heralded Bourbonese Qualk to the wider world.

listen

Bourbonese Qualk – Laughing Afternoon [PLA030/MNQ111]