Quadratschulz – WW303 [SHIPLP006]

Quadratschulz delivers his debut album “WW303”. Ten tracks make up this vision, a vision of lazers, pulsing neon and gleaming chrome. Arcade game memories. Curls of acid. Electrofunk vocals. Synth wave chic. And even some past greats. All are lovingly folded together in this rich and diverse collection. Styles are juxtaposed. 303 bars throb and strings soar in the lilting “Der rasende Roland” whereas “Robotic Dancer” struts to a future-world funk. Quadratschulz sculpts his sound with a wonderfully warm and autumnal quality, as in the cascading synth showers of “Ferrofluid.” Yet there are colder moments, the frigid flows of “Kran” sprouting into the chilly house tones of “Piloten.” a Tribute to the groundbreaking LFO is also included. Bleep festooned chicanery is the offering as “Ring The Bell” takes you back to the infamous warehouse parties of 90s Britain.

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Quadratschulz – WW303 [SHIPLP006]

Phase Fatale – Redeemer [HOS494]

‘Redeemer’ is the brutally seductive debut album by Phase Fatale, a key player in the recent charge of EBM and post punk-informed industrial techno infecting ‘floors from his home city, NYC to his DJ residency at Berghain. In Dominick Fernow’s Hospital Productions, Phase Fatale finds a fitting home for his personalised brand of clinical, rictus rhythm programming and searing synth and guitar lines, adding a vital streak of black and blue electric energy to the legendary label in its 20th year of cultish operation. In seven parts, ‘Redeemer’ follows the direct, his deeply personal realisation of weaponised sonics, upholding a strong tradition of techno as a prophetic exercise or ritual to gird dancers and listeners for the onset of future war. It presents Phase Fatale as an ultimate emissary of electronic violence and domination in the process, steeling the limbic system and muscle memory thru a fine-tuned disciplinarian approach to pharmacokinetics and biomechanics.

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Phase Fatale – Redeemer [HOS494]

Group Rhoda – Wilderless [DE186]

Group Rhoda is the solo electronic music project of Mara Barenbaum, based out of Oakland, California,  one half of Max and Mara. The project started around 2009 with a debut album ‘Out of Time, Out of Touch’ in 2012 on Night School Records. ‘Wilderless’ is Group Rhoda’s third full length and first for Dark Entries Records. Each of the these 7 songs draw forth tones of tropical darkwave and soft industrial, while negating the sound of conformity and control. The album explore themes of societal and spiritual displacement, contemporary serfdom, the depths of empathy, regeneration through destruction, and the tyranny of claiming recognition and power. Lyrics are poetically expressed through allegory and explore archetypes rooted more in abstract observation rather than hard line experience. Through transgression and imagination, Group Rhoda explores the arc of songwriting interwoven into stark electronic environments, and creates a bridge between the corporeal and the dream worlds.

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Group Rhoda – Wilderless [DE186]

Patrick Cowley – Afternooners [DE185]

Dark Entries and Honey Soundsystem Records have teamed up once more to release the final volume of gay porn soundtracks by San Francisco-based musician and producer, Patrick Cowley. One of the most revolutionary and influential figures in the canon of disco, Cowley created his own brand of Hi-NRG dance music, “The San Francisco Sound.” Born in Buffalo, NY on October 19, 1950, Patrick moved to San Francisco in 1971 to study at the City College of San Francisco. He founded the Electronic Music Lab at the school, where he would make experimental soundtracks by blending various types of music and adapting them to the synthesizer. Featuring 70 minutes of music never before released on vinyl.

vinyl / CD

Patrick Cowley – Afternooners [DE185]

Benedikt Frey – Artificial [ESP048]

There is a sense of urgency increasingly infecting the human condition, fragmenting our attention span, accelerating our needs and often influencing our motives when making creative decisions. The result is a lack of dynamics, there is no ebb or flow, its “go” time, all the time. Electronic music is one of the clearest examples of a widening division between great art created in a deeply imaginative vaccum and the soulessly formulaic and branded product that serves the impatient masses. What draws the ESP Institute to Benedikt Frey is his ability to operate on the fringe, outside the constructs artists constantly channel themselves into—his art speaks a pure language that is realized by any means necessary, a process devised solely to articulate his own message, one delivered with patience, never rushed nor dictated by the outside world. Artificial was written and produced over two years, tirelessly sculpted into a sequence abstract pieces that are fiercely independent but accumulate layers of meaning when collaged. It is electronic and rhythm-based, but never reliant on any prescribed instrumentation, arrangement or expecatation. This is our idea of well conceived and executed album; not simply a collection of tracks but a complex narrative that unfolds over peaks and valleys, pulling the listener into emotional corners before leaving a residual impression. Some may describe music very well in words, but there is always something lost in translation—a story only the music itself can tell.

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Benedikt Frey – Artificial [ESP048]

Juju & Jordash – Sis-Boom-Bah [DKMNTL052]

Prolific and always inventive live pair and studio wizards Juju & Jordash are back with another fantastic album on their home label, Dekmantel. Called “Sis-boom-bah!” it features nine tracks that once again showcase their musical maturity and free thinking. The pair say it is an album “steeped in traditionalism” and to us it sounds spiritual, musical and beautifully thought provoking.

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Juju & Jordash – Sis-Boom-Bah [DKMNTL052]

Itadi K. Bonney – Inye [HC052]

Afro funk and Political Soul from Togo. Recorded in the beginning of the 80’s and self-produced by Itadi in 1983 , this obscure album contained deep soul and controversial rare grooves backed by the 5 band members called the “Afro Funk Band de Lomé”. Itadi’s music is unique, in his second album, he kept the same recipe: a mixture of soul, reggae, hi-life and Funk, with heavy lyrics which sounds like slogans and caused him big trouble after its release. He was obliged to escape the country to USA. A real definition of a revolutionary musician.

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Itadi K. Bonney – Inye [HC052]

Jo Tongo – African Funk Experimentals: 1968-1982 & 2017 [ASVN048]

Africa Seven is on fire recently, and this new compilation of rare and untapped material from Cameroon’s Joseph Ekambi Tongo Mpondo has to be the pick of the lot. The talented multi-instrumentalist was famously studying medicine in Paris throughout he 60s, but it’s clear that down the music path was the only sensible option for this man. African Funk Experimentals brings together some of his most obscure material from the years 1968-1982…and some new gear from 2017! Aside from the absolutely killer artwork featuring on the sleeve, this is a ten-track masterpiece, reaching all corners of the afrobeat heritage, while still retaining something very personal and symbolic of Cameroon’s often underrated influence on African funk and boogie.

vinyl / CD

Jo Tongo – African Funk Experimentals: 1968-1982 & 2017 [ASVN048]

Conforce – Autonomous [124DSR]

Dutch producer and live act Conforce is back with ‘Autonomous’, a fifth artist album and the latest in his long relationship with Delsin Records. Conforce is Boris Bunnik, a producer who explores the deepest realms of dub, house, techno and electro under many different names. His Conforce alias is where his most club orientated material comes from and this new nine track album finds the Transcendent label boss producing dark syntheses inspired by his hometown and harbour city, Rotterdam, and its automated industries. A masterfully conceptual album that really paints a vivid picture of a harbour as heard from deep down in the depths.

vinyl / CD

Conforce – Autonomous [124DSR]

Rhys Celeste – Microlith [FR016]

“Rhys Celeste aka Microlith passed away 26th February. 24 years old. The fatal weekend when Rhys lost his life I was mastering the tracks for his release in Fundamental Records. Rhys sent me the tracks only a few days before. He kept about forty untitled tracks for Fundamental Records and together we selected a perfect track list for the album. I was with all these melodies in my head all that weekend, I remember perfectly that feeling. Today I still have that special sensation that you can feel in all tracks composed by Rhys, something nostalgic with a big doses of happiness and hope in every note. When I was mastering his tracks I was like a young kid with a new record in my hands, each track is great, even the interludes are very special compositions.I am sure the people who support the projects we release in Fundamental Records will support this album not only for the circumstances but mainly because the quality of the tracks from someone with only 24 years… this is sad. I feel a deep emptiness inside of me because Rhys never listened the final tracks mastered… we released each track with the original references Rhys used for his tracks, except two tracks included in the very special 7. This feeling is something I can’t explain in words, and it is very difficult to carry within me. The next monday after his death I was like out of my body, we had a mountain of work with the shipping of the 808 Box but I felt totally paralyzed, my wife Anais and I could hardly speak, we were speechless for some minutes, looking to the screen of the computer trying to understand what happened, then I decided I have to do what I said to Rhys only two days before, and I opened the player in my laptop and I started to work in the design for the cover with the music of Rhys in repeat mode. I was in front of the screen all day, printing many sketches and color variations. I called Fundamental Records to our label for a very good reason and this project deserves this adjective in full effect. For the same reason I also decided to release this album under the real name of the artist, Rhys Celeste and use his music name, Microlith, for the title.”

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Rhys Celeste – Microlith [FR016]

Deniro – Mendoza [TRP016]

Rising Dutch talent Deniro (aka Reynier Hooft van Huijsduijnen) returns to with a  double EP of original works. ‘Mendoza’ is an 8-track quest into the spheres of polarity and tension. Anxious distortions jitter in controlled spaces, angular melodies disfigure warm tones and frenetic cross rhythms flutter through minimalist forms. Contrasting messages are weaved together with precision to facilitate a dialogue where dancefloor function and cerebral stimulation interact. Deniro navigates his way round vintage gear with a meticulous accuracy, held together by an intuitive ear for timbre, an ingrained passion for Detroit soul, and a firm understanding of sonic balance.

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Deniro – Mendoza [TRP016]

Jasss – Weightless [IDEAL160]

Jasss makes her head and body-turning album debut with Weightless, an absorbingly stark and spiky set of industro-dub concerns riddled with heavy inspiration from African rhythms, jazz and concrète electronics. iDEAL give Jasss room to consolidate and expand her grizzled dancefloor structures to a full length episode that brutally dovetails with Joachim Nordwall and co’s unforgiving but compelling take on contemporary noise and industrial musics.

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Jasss – Weightless [IDEAL160]

Daniel Andréasson – LP 1 [SKUDGE-WLP03]

This is the debut album of Swedish producer Daniel Andréasson, an artist that has both a sonically and artistic resemblance to the Skudge family of labels and artists. Pushing his eighth year of releasing records, Andréasson has accomplished the task of creating a debut album that seem to tie together the sound of his previous EP’s. Andréasson’s sound is in line with a more outsider approach, but with a dance floor focus. A sound that he has been pushing since the beginning. This approach shines through at the most on the tracks such as ‘Mc35I# Rushup’, ‘Stay’ and ‘Dreams’ as these specific tracks shows Andréassons more accomplished style. In between, the album keeps a perfect concept throughout. Taking breathers with its interludes and in general “shorter” tracks that hints of a ambient leaning urge to express himself, he never loses focus.

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Daniel Andréasson – LP 1 [SKUDGE-WLP03]

Chino – Old Practices [AST079]

Chino is Krakow, Poland’s Artur Oles. Artur is into Polish Brutalist architecture, poster art, 80’s drum machines, FM synthesis, tape hiss, obscure eastern electronics, Tatra mountains. Following a series of impeccable records, this is Chino’s debut on cassette. Eight tracks of perfectly studied techno with edges of the abstract.

Chino – Old Practices [AST079]

Ross 154 – Fragments [ART-EL1]

ROSS 154 - Fragments (remastered)

Originally released on Stefan Robbers’ Eevo-Lute label in 1993, Ross 154 aka Jochem Peteri – now best known for his productions as Newworldaquarium – released four tracks of deep, dark, mysterious hybrid techno interspersed with four delicate ambient interludes.

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Ross 154 – Fragments [ART-EL1]

Trenton Chase – Deadlock [JUNE012]

Trenton Chase returns on June Records with a bold solo LP marking his departure from the sound of his previous releases on the imprint. For his first album attempt, Trenton embarks on the search for everything and manages to encapsulate the whole essence of the June Records ethos within 43 minutes of music. Although initially not planned as an album, Deadlock was conceived organically as it only took a few months for its completion during the artist’s most abundant 2017 studio spring sessions. This body of work transcends formulaic attempts to showcase a very refreshing and uncompromising take on synth music. Chase followed a crude approach to songwriting, rehearsing and improvising live until the best take would eventually become the final track.

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Trenton Chase – Deadlock [JUNE012]

Severed Heads – Come Visit The Big Bigot [DE180]

Dark Entries present the deluxe 2xLP reissue of ‘Come Visit The Big Bigot’ by Severed Heads, one of the longest surviving bands to emerge from the Australian post-punk independent music scene. They began in Sydney in 1979, incorporating elements of ‘industrial’ noise-generation, tape cutting & looping and electronic sound synthesis. As the project developed song-structures and vocals were employed in a more-or-less recognizable mutant electro pop style. After many line-up changes featuring Garry Bradbury and psychedelic guitarist Simon Knuckey, Severed Heads was the vehicle for composer Tom Ellard. ‘Come Visit The Big Bigot’ was Severed Heads’ first record to be released commercially simultaneously in Australia, North America and Europe in 1986. It was a prime period for this ‘industrial dance music’ and Bigot was a respected album that did well from the tour they did with Skinny Puppy that same year. Quite a few people still define the band by this period. ‘Come Visit The Big Bigot’ was made on a Fostex 16 track recorder in Tom’s bedroom, employing the newly acquired AKAI S612 sampler and Roland SH-101 to create most of the drum sounds. The album signaled a new direction, flirting with the dance floor and the pop song. Presenting the Heads at their most cohesive, while retaining their distinctive musical stamp. Tom’s vocals are harmonized, slowed down, sped up, run through fuzz boxes, backwards, drum machine rolls, sampled guitars, horn sections, and voices but with a subversive rather than malevolent intention. Tape loops are more subtle and define their own space and texture. Like the original Australian version of the album, we’ve included a bonus disc featuring three extended remixes by Sydney DJ Robert Racic (who produced the edited 7” version of “Petrol” we reissued in 2015), plus three B-sides from the ‘Twenty Deadly Diseases’12” and two additional tracks from the same recording sessions. All songs have been remastered by Tom Ellard, who worked very slowly and methodically with much better equipment over two years, letting each track have its own breath.

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Severed Heads – Come Visit The Big Bigot [DE180]

Franck Kartell – Alaska [BA060]

French artist Franck Kartell returns with Alaska, his fourth full length release on UK imprint Bass Agenda Recordings. Critically acclaimed for his masterful blend of low bpm heavy beats and signature deep atmospheres Kartell moves from the fascination with the work of film maker Chris Marker’s that powered his last two albums to the drama of Alaska. Like its geographical namesake the album spans ethereal beauty, drama, light and darkness and similarly provides a very individual landscape.

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Franck Kartell – Alaska [BA060]