Second issue of Function’s recompiled series on Ostgut Ton’s reissue label A-Ton.
album
Claro Intelecto – Exhilarator [127DSR]
New long player from Manchester’s Claro Intelecto. Entitled ‘Exhilarator’, the 13 track album marks a return to action for the esteemed producer. A cinematic album of icy techno, weighty bass and poignant melody. From plaintive keys and slow motion drums awash with melody to corrugated industrial drums that don’t let up, this is a diverse album in both mood and texture. Moments of ambient celestial beauty exist next to breezy and summery grooves while skewed and sludgy acid sits next to serene underwater dub. Stewart’s mission to step outside his usual self has resulted in another landmark electronic album.
Oscar Mulero – Pattern Series Compilation [WUPSD1]
It’s time to celebrate, nothing less than 50 releases spreaded along 17 years of existence. For this very reason we have planned an awesome remixes pack, splitted in two EP’s based in the limited clear vinyl Pattern Series originals and with an amazing digital release including all original cuts of the series not available digitally until now. If you weren’t lucky enough to get the translucent limited vinyl pattern series, now you have the chance of having them in your digital crate via the online version of the release.
Legowelt – Legendary Freaks In The Trash Of Time [CWCS009LP]
Five years after the illustrious Paranormal Soul LP, techno derelict Danny Wolfers aka Legowelt returns on Clone with “Legendary Freaks In The Trash Of Time”. A vivid collection of twelve genre-defying tracks: from late-night hermit house to Memphis rap influenced slowjam electro, from Amiga 1200 technorave to cosmic spaceweed trance, including the whole universe in between. All blended together in a mix of subdued sensuality and psychedelic splendour, this album is flavoured with Legowelt’s typical crunchy LO-FI sampler and synthesizer aesthetic. Wolfers’ own hand-drawn sleeve artwork illustrates the album’s mood without the need for much further promotional blurb… colourful stories embodying societal malaise and its dwellers – yet with a dash of aspiration. Music for misfits, witches, dreamers, cyberpunks, outsiders, geeks, and freaks. Legowelt’s people.
Ian Martin – Bheal [NYH035]
Masterful electronics and industrial tinged ambient workouts by expert and SEER head Ian Martin. Some of the darkest vibes this side of Lustmord, some of the wildest electronics this side of PAN…
Alessandro Cortini – Forse 1 [IMPREC373LP]
Alessandro Cortini (Nine Inch Nails/How To Destroy Angels) composed the Forse series using a Buchla Music Easel. Forse, meaning ”maybe” In Italian, is a series of 3 double LP releases Cortini recorded for Imprec to release in 2013. ”All pieces were written and performed live on a Buchla Music Easel, in the span of one month. I found that the limited array of modules that the instrument offers sparked my creativity. Most pieces consist of a repeating chord progression, where the real change happens at a spectral/dynamic level, as opposed to the harmonic/chordal one. I believe that the former are just as effective as the latter, in the sense that the sonic presentation (distortion , filtering, wave shaping, etc) are just as expressive as a chord change or chord type, and often reinforce said chord progressions. Of all the years with Nine Inch Nails the period spent writing and recording the instrumental record Ghosts I-IV is probably the one which changed my approach to music making the most. After that record I started getting more into instrumental composition, although I tried to approach it in a different way. While we had a vast array of tools and instruments at our disposal then, I decided to approach my pieces limiting myself to one instrument only, as I found myself being more decisive when faced with a limited creative environment.”
Trancesonic – New Crime LP [DE175]
Tranceonic is the duo of Carlos Perón and Boris Blank of Yello who met in 1971 in their hometown of Zürich. From 1973 to 1976 they played in the New Wave group Urland. After the split of the group Perón founded the Tranceonic studio with his equipment in his private flat. Carlos invited Boris over to his studio and a concentrated work began. The idea was to make experimental new music with the hopes of having a hit in the United States. Everybody at this time was into punk, but Tranceonic loved industrial and electronic sounds. Their foresight and innovation created new ideas. Perón and Blank made electronic avant-garde music informed by the Berlin and Cologne schools. By 1978 the two had enough material to record an album and made a trip to San Francisco to visit Ralph Records. The Residents promised to release the music if the duo removed all the tape hiss, which never materialized. ‘New Crime’ is the first ever vinyl compilation of material produced, recorded, performed and mixed at Tranceonic Studio between 1976-1979.
Acid Jesus – Flashbacks 1992-1998 [AERO030]
Acid Jesus, the first of many collabs between Roman Flügel and Jörn Elling Wuttke. Situated in Germany’s then blistering techno scene and especially a mirror of Frankfurt at the time (and it´s holy label trinity of Playhouse, Klang and Ongaku), Flashbacks are also a feedback loop to what was happening in the UK and the USA. Flügel and Wuttke succeeded with their own and unique take on it, that owned as much to Underground Resistance and the Belleville Three as it did to Sven Väth and Andrew Weatherall. Including 3 (+1 more on MP3) unreleased tracks.
O Yuki Conjugate – Scene In Mirage [ERC053]
Emotional Rescue returns to the music of “dark ambient” pioneers O Yuki Conjugate (OYC) with the reissue of their debut album, ‘Scene in Mirage’. Released in 1984, it’s post-industrial; cold wave overtures mixed with an ambient oeuvre created a compelling album that has gained cult status. Quickly selling out in its original pressing, inexplicably their record label decided not to re-press, so an expanded cassette version called ‘Scene In Mirage/Soundtracks’ was re-released on the band’s own Final Image label with an accompanying video. Here, Emotional Rescue’s re-issue combines the best of both versions in a lovingly recreated sleeve taken from the original design templates. Based around original members Roger Horberry and Andrew Hulme, OYC is now returning in its fourth incarnation with live shows and hopefully, new music to come. Watch the horizon.
The Hacker – Le Théâtre Des Opérations [DE184]
Dark Entries announce the latest album from Michel Amato aka The Hacker, ‘Le Théâtre des Opérations’. Michel’s new live project sees the enigmatic artist go back to his roots, performing a 100% analogue set directly inspired by his first true loves of New Wave and dark, powerful techno. ‘Le Théâtre des Opérations’ features 8 new tracks spread evenly across 2×12’s cut at 45rpm for maximum sound quality and DJ utility. The title comes from a metaphysical journal by French-born Canadian science fiction writer Maurice G Dantec. Passionate about avant-garde techno, The Hacker has taken his influences and crafted a potent homage to the power of the synthesizer. Songs veer from gritty, raw EBM to dark, subterranean electro, effortlessly channeling the strains of the Michel’s musical DNA. The only vocal track features an appearance by longtime friend and collaborator Miss Kittin, named Time X’ after the French science fiction television series Temps X.
Mr. Eff – The Parallel LP [GD028]
Introducing Mr. Eff. Part myth, part man. Dragging by the arm to safety through digital swamps and haunted houses, The Parallel stands as a singular vision of Miltonian proportions. Small vignettes and passing scenes give way to grandiose and beautiful moments, from the wave-sleaze of Midnight Predator to the pre-credits Suicide-tribute of H E A R T T H R O B, The Parallel works as much for drive time as it does for drifting off to a far off land that is both wonderful and strange.
Playgroup – Previously Unreleased Volume 2 [YW002X]
Following the success of last years Playgroup ‘Previously Unreleased’ album and its critically-acclaimed run of nine weekly 12′ vinyl EPs, Trevor Jackson has compiled a second volume of 20 tracks (11 unheard and 9 previously vinyl only) released as a Limited Edition Double CD and 6 track vinyl sampler on Nov 3rd via Yes Wave records. The music featured is a collection of reworked demos and unreleased recordings. A hedonistic mix of raw Disco, Dub, Funk, Dancehall. Electro, New Wave & Post Punk that all still sound as relevant today as they did when initially recorded for the debut PLAYGROUP album during 1997 – 2001.
J.C. & Kastil – No Spiritual Surrender [CBR010]
J.C aka Jose Cabrera and Kastil collaborate and come with the exciting results. A fresh blend of fierce techno, ambience, industrial, noise and found sounds recordings. A full length captivating album that pushes and pulls you through an edgy and engaging world of sound. Part 1 mixes up trance-inducing deep techno with punishing drum programming. Synths have a life of their own as they whip and snap about and bring a post apocalyptic sense of foreboding. Some tracks are abstract modular gurgles and others are lo-fi, heavily textured affairs that are beguiling beautiful. The use of modular synths lends the whole thing an unpredictable and analogue feel that makes is bristle and brim with life throughout. Part 2 focuses on more suspensory ambient sounds. It means tracks zone you out and get you thinking, with distant melodies drifting next to warm solar winds. When drums do appear they are deep down below and dubbed out affairs that unfold slowly.
Autumns – Suffocating Brothers [CDRLP023]
Autumns is the solo project of Christian Donaghey, from Derry, Northern Ireland. 2017 sees the eagerly anticipated release of his debut full length record “Suffocating Brothers”. On “Suffocating Brothers” Autumns presents a resolute nine track culmination of the fierce audacity that has come to define and distinguish the project since an assured first emergence in 2013. Written and produced over the course of six months, between July and December 2016, it’s an album that comes as a momentous and devastating fulfilment of what the Autumns project has outlined with increasingly ruthless intent over the last few years.
John Beltran – Moth [ASGDE015]
After a career spanning more than 25 years John Beltran lands on the Belgian De:tuned label with the long-awaited follow-up album to his widely acclaimed classic 90s masterpiece ”Ten Days of Blue”. On ”Moth” Beltran opens his heart by combining melody, emotion and soul with infectious grooves. As such he lays down the definitive and timeless Detroit sound with a clear nod to the early innovators. From 4/4 dance floor burners to tribal shufflers and ambient interludes, ”Moth” is a well-balanced journey full of blissful atmosphere for both the mind and feet.
Henry Keen – 70’s Baby [MJR002]
Debuting under his given name for Maddjazz Recordings’ second offering, is DJ, producer and synth enthusiast Henry Keen. Henry’s music was discovered after a long night of online digging, and after several exchanges, it was apparent that Henry was making music that defined exactly what Maddjazz is striving to achieve; honest music that’s free of form and not constrained by any genre or tempo. 70’s Baby is a raw and honest record. A collection of uptempo grooves written in various locations around hectic inner London. It’s spirit is born out of the freedom of the CDR sessions at the now defunct club Plastic People, where many of Henry’s productions were first shared, and where tempo and genre were irrelevant. It references Henry’s love for the instrumentation, recording techniques and sounds of the 1970s, the decade of his birth. Featuring a tasteful blend of worldly and otherworldly sounds, It owes itself to modern and ancient dance themes alike.
Funkadelic – Reworked By Detroiters [SEW3158]
Funkadelic have created an enduring legacy, and the power of their impact is visceral in Detroit. Their records not only played with genre, but possessed a diabolical sense of humour that led to music domination by the late 70s with Parliament, Funkadelic, Parlet, Bootsy’s Rubber Band and the Brides Of Funkenstein all releasing albums the same year for two years in a row. The music itself is beyond stereotype, but equally huge is that they were a black band not allowing themselves to be limited by anyone else’s notions of who they could be, having a massive impact on the next generation of Detroit music, Detroit Techno. But more than just Techno, it is a freedom of thinking that extends beyond boxes, so we included all sorts of today’s generation of Detroit musicians and producers to show the wide range of music that was Funkadelic and how these ideas are still contemporary, they endure and inspire.
30/70 – Elevate [RS020]
30/70 are the latest collective to emerge from Melbourne’s buzzing scene. ‘Elevate’ is a sublime statement; at once a cry for help and a call to arms, it balances delicate poetry and potent aggression with ease – all of this done with a beguiling pop sensibility. This collection of songs, their second studio effort after their debut LP, ‘Cold Radish Coma’, is set to elevate them to the international stage.
S. English – Eris [LIES102]
Following up his self titled 12 inch earlier this year Austin, Texas based Shane English continues in his path exploring the deep and bizarre edges of the American DIY electronic world. Over these eight tracks we get English’s wide spanning take on the music touching upon elements of industrial on “Invasion Threat” darker ambient with opening track “Sanctuary” and even hints of Stinson on “Bilocation Drift”. English’s signature sparse and melancholic tone is present throughout again using minimal percussion and voice to glue it all together in a haunting fashion. Another engaging listen direct from the depths of the American underbelly.
Renart – Fragments Séquencés [CRACKI038]
This album is the result of a long personal journey and is conceived as a series of small tales.On stage or on CD, the dreamlike world of Renart will take you away. Between solitary experimentation and acclaimed electronic performances, he keeps surprising us.Renart weaves melodic and melancholic atmospheres through tales which give free rein to our interior wanderings. At the crossroads of repetitive musics, 70’s psychedelic rock and modern techno, Renart creates powerful nagging rhythms and sharpens his future tracks in his misty castle of Malpertuis.
The Hipodrome Of Music 