Beau Wanzer – Untitled LP II [BW004]

October 9, 2016January 30, 2020 hipodromealbum, beau wanzer, electro, experimental, industrialLeave a comment

Beau Wanzer returns with another LP of archival material plucked from the mutant mounds of shitty coughs and smelly feet. Wanzer digs deep and delivers twelve tracks in his inimitable style, with some dating as far back as 1999. The brutal electronic punk productions like ‘Something Stinks’ are balanced with moldy movements such as ‘Staring at at Fish’. This LP takes a more vocal heavy and menacing approach, but it’s not without moments of respite. Undoubtedly another oozing outing from the Chicago deviant.

Vatican Shadow – Media In The Service of Terror [HOS472]

October 9, 2016November 7, 2018 hipodromealbum, dominick fernow, experimental, hospital productions, industrial, techno, vatican shadowLeave a comment

Dominick Fernow presents another dark and confronting opus entitled Media In The Service Of Terror. Read between the lines of the titles then listen and learn via these harsh textural abrasions on offer. The sombre and brutalist opener “Ziad Jarrah Studied Mathematics” sets the scene well, the tunnelling slo-mo techno of “Take Vows” is great and follows the same path as Vactrol Park or L’estasi Dell’oro have in recent times. “Interrogation Mosaic” shows Fernow still has the knack for some chilling imaginary soundtracks while “More Of The Same (Tunisia)” has the classic outsider techno sound that Fernow has honed on previous efforts like Remember Your Black Day or Ghosts Of Chechnya.

Johannes Volk – Mutual Codes [EXP010]

October 8, 2016September 30, 2019 hipodromealbum, detroit techno, exploration records, johannes volk, technoLeave a comment

After 5 years of Exploration, it’s time for the first album on the label. Johannes Volk proudly presents Mutual Codes, a conceptual album which contains 12 tracks between detroit infected techno and experimental classical compositions. Colourful synth adventures which take you on a journey to far away galaxies and beyond.

Acronym – Entagled In Vines [SEM077]

October 8, 2016October 8, 2019 hipodromeacronym, album, semantica records, technoLeave a comment

Hypnotising drone techno from the other world. Entangled In Vines is an intricate collection of tracks that span across the entire techno realm, from slow-burning hypnotics to high-tech warehouse blasters. “Enter” is the perfect example of this man’s style, a largely beatless tune that still drags plenty of movement across the groove, and “Getting Closer” quickly ups the tempo with a fine layer of bass and kicks. “Escape” transports us across a deep techno wormhole, and “Wrapped” delivers Acronym’s inimitable swarm of hollow tones in the same vein as artists like Donato Dozzy.

Kid Machine – Space Elite [RL020]

October 5, 2016March 30, 2022 hipodromealbum, cosmic disco, disco, electro, kid machine, mark wilkinson, red laser recordsLeave a comment

Red Laser presents a unique double gatefold LP from Red Laser original Kid Machine. He delivers a 5 star upgrade to the signature sound that people worldwide have fallen in love with. 808 kicks and DX 7 licks bubble under the atmospheric chord changes creating a soundtrack which is just as comfortable on the dance floor as it is on a midnight drive. Alien Dance darts around to irregular delight. The dramatic score of Asteroids builds until it soars high above the grid. The bassline on Beast drills a blackened dance floor in preparation to be replaced with 80’s discotheque neon squares. Beyond Cygnus takes flight and drifts across a Martian plane. The 808 kicks and orchestral synth stabs of Conquest crush all known reality into a space the size of a photon and the weight of its gravity is unbeatable. Standing out amongst the pack is the apply titled ‘Forever Machine’. A proper Manctalo synth anthem guaranteed to deliver speaker destruction.The LP closes with classic Machine style bangers ‘Flight Manoeuvres’ and ‘Seconds From Oblivion’. They bring this galactic odyssey to a confident end. This is a cracking journey through the outer rim and back.

Bocal 5 – Musique Electronique LP [DE137]

October 4, 2016September 21, 2023 hipodromealbum, bocal 5, dark entries records, doc pilot, evy tinguette, florian guillou, mickey lepron, synth pop, synth wave, zouka dzazaLeave a comment

Bocal 5 were a No Wave art group composed of Doc Pilot (synths, vocals), Zouka Dzaza (bass), Florian Guillou (synths), Mickey Lepron (electronic drums, bass) and Evy Tinguette (lead vocals). The project was born in November 1980 in Tours, France as the brain child of Doc Pilot. Between 1981 to 1986 Bocal 5 recorded one 7” single and a cassette-only album before taking a year off in 1984 to launch X-Ray Pop. Influenced by Erik Satie, Brigitte Bardot, Suicide and Young Marble Giants, they call their music ”minimum naive new wave.” “Musique Électronique” is a 19-track compilation of songs recorded across 1983, most of which have never been released on vinyl before. 16 tracks appeared on the “From Bocal 5 To X-Ray Pop” album originally released on cassette by Sound of Pig in 1984. Both tracks from their debut 7” originally released in MB5 1984 are included and show a progression in sound as a result of newer recoding equipment and techniques. Also present is a song from the tape compilation “Andreas N°3 L’Animal” released by Fraction Studio in 1984. Armed with a Korg 770, MS-10, Prophet Pro-One, Roland TR-707 and TB-808 they crafted their own brand of quirky synthesized electronic pop. Songs are short, concise and well structured; richly textured, moving at a quick speed with hardly a pause. Evy’s pouting, tongue-in-cheek vocals (sung in French) come together for a catchy, sensuous, danceable, eccentric psychedelic ride. This collection shows the group’s sense of humor, vitality and carefree playfulness.

Die Form – Zoo LP [DE136]

October 4, 2016July 17, 2024 hipodromealbum, cold wave, dark entries records, die form, electro, experimental, philippe fichot, post punk, re-release, reissueLeave a comment

Die Form is a French post-industrial and electronic band formed in 1977-1978. The name ‘Die Form’ means ‘(the) form/shape’ in German and is a play on the English homonym ‘deformed’ and on the French homonym ‘difforme’ (deformed). Die Form is the primary project of electronic musician and multimedia artist Philippe Fichot. He began by recording a number of experimental cassette releases in the late 1970s and formed the Bain Total label to release these early cassettes, as well as various side projects such as Krylon Hertz, Camera Obscura, Eva-Johanna Reichstag, Hurt and Fine Automatic. In 1982 Die Form released their debut vinyl album, “Die Puppe” in a limited edition of 1,000 copies. “Zoo” is a compilation of 10 tracks recorded during the “Die Puppe” sessions from 1980-82. These were the first esoteric electronic experiments, often improvised. Underlying themes of eroticism, death, and other ‘taboo’ subjects become apparent in both the music and the album artwork, which Philippe also produced. The album was recorded with entirely analog equipment, including a Roland MC4 Micro-Composer, TR-808 Rhythm Composer, ARP 2600, and Kawai 60F recorded to a Revox B77 reel to reel tape machine. Songs range from hypnotic, minimalistic proto-IDM to daring experimental sound manipulation. 4 of these songs were featured as a bonus 7” to accompany the 1989 vinyl reissue of “Die Puppe” but remixed for the project. The remaining 6 songs were also remixed and released on CD in 2001.

Black Deer – Nowhere Man [RHD028DEER3]

October 2, 2016June 18, 2024 hipodromealbum, ambient, black deer, experimental, rush hour, william burnett, willie burnsLeave a comment

The return of the returner. 6 track Mini LP. Esoteric electronix produced By William Burnett, New York

Flaty – New Suggestions [NII001]

October 2, 2016January 16, 2019 hipodromealbum, ambient, experimental, flaty, gost zvukLeave a comment

More mystery on the Russian label Gost Zvuk, with a 13 tracks album from Flaty.

Planetary Assault Systems – Arc Angel [OSTGUT023]

September 30, 2016November 1, 2019 hipodromealbum, luke slater, minimal techno, ostgut ton, planetary assault systemsLeave a comment

With Arc Angel, Planetary Assault Systems departs to new musical frontiers by focussing on melody, but staying rooted in the purist values of techno that Slater shaped over his decades- and generations-spanning career. Techno album of the highest order.

The Smoke Clears – S/T [ACTSCLPX1]

September 18, 2016February 8, 2018 hipodromealbum, all city records, ambient, cian finn, electro, john daly, the smoke clearsLeave a comment

The Smoke Clears is the abstract ambient project of producer John Daly. He debuted this alias with an eponymous LP in 2013 on Further Records and this is a part 2. Following up his 2013 LP of the same name, this record builds upon it’s predecessor’s ambient abstractions while adding another layer of nuanced melodic contemplation. Kicking off with “Fathoms” a deceptively calm track but with a paced sense of urgency which is evident throughout the LP, belying it’s calm undertones. Continuing at this pace for the rest of the first side the LP takes a side turn with the lush “Slipstream” melting into the only vocal track of the LP – the dubbed out bliss of “Oh My Days” featuring Cian Finn. Showcasing a side that might not be so familiar, this is lush downtempo machine music equally as at home cranked up one louder soundsystem style, or for late night home listening.

Monadh – Muara [FUR103]

September 18, 2016March 28, 2024 hipodromealbum, ambient, experimental, further records, jake muir, monadhLeave a comment

Everyone’s looking for inner peace of some kind even warmongers. As most intelligent people know, music is one of the most effective ways to achieve that blessed, blissed state. The debut album by Seattle producer Monadh (Jake Muir) offers yet more crucial aid in the war on stress. Muara is an ambient album in the purest, chillest meaning of the term. Its seven tracks are awash in aquatic signifiers and textures; each one is a rejuvenating dip in healing, icy waters. (Muara is Javanese for “estuary.”) Which isn’t to say that Muara should be filed in New Age sections of record shops (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Rather, what the album most resembles is the ambient output of artists like Biosphere. Loscil, and The Sight Below—musicians who uncannily make you warm to cold tones. “The way I make music is really stream of consciousness,” Muir says. “My friend calls it ‘slow improv.’ I happened to be watching a lot of older Japanese cinema, especially samurai stuff, from the ’50s to the ’70s while making the album.” Natural habitats also played a significant role, Muir notes. “My favorite music is informed by mood and place.” This deep into the 21st century, it’s not easy to create ambient music that sounds vital and untainted by hackneyed tropes. Monadh succeeds in this difficult task, through a combination of his field recordings from the Pacific Northwest and meticulously chosen samples mostly lifted and pitchshifted from library records of a pastoral and romantic bent. He also cites Andrew Pekler’s Sentimental Favourites and Biosphere’s Shenzhou as inspirations.

Ryo Murakami – Esto [BDNLP002]

September 18, 2016September 20, 2017 hipodromealbum, ambient, bedouin records, drone, experimental, ryo murakamiLeave a comment

Eleven, deft, darkly-lit, sometimes despairing soundscapes by the Osaka-based producer, for his third album. ‘The thoughts of a rebellious spirit are always accompanied by music,’ he says. Esto, existence.

Blixaboy – Humanoid X [CPU00100011]

September 16, 2016February 7, 2022 hipodromealbum, blixaboy, central processing unit, detroit, electro, mwanza doverLeave a comment

BLIXABOY - Humanoid X

Humanoid X is CPU’s deepest foray into Detroit techno so far, from Blixaboy aka Mwanza Dover – Texas based artist, friend of Cygnus and very much part of the local electro scene. Dover presents an album influenced by the pioneers of the hypnotic groove. On first pass you’ll find elements of krautrock through to the Belleville three, all with finely crafted arrangements that reveal themselves in more detail on each listen. A cyberpunk theme runs throughout as Blade Runner-esque synths wash over the album evoking late night electric-city noodle restaurant contemplation. Blixaboy has selected 4 of the more DJ friendly tracks from the album for the vinyl E.P. treatment.

Not Wawing – Redacted [ELP023]

September 14, 2016February 1, 2023 hipodromealbum, alessio natalizia, ambient, ecstatic recordings, electronics, industrial, not waving, post punkLeave a comment

Forever a label willing to revisit previous tape-only wares if the demand is there, Sam Willis and Ale Natalizia’s Ecstatic turn their gaze to one of the latter’s earliest Not Waving documents. Originally issued on highly limited, gold cassette way back in 2012, Redacted was produced during Walls downtime by Natalizia and expanded on the “classified” themes of his Remote Viewing-inspired debut LP Umwelt. Fans of the most recent Diagonal-released Not Waving LP, Animals, should be thrilled to see how far Natalizia’s project has developed in just four years with the prevailing mood on Redacted a sort of murky and brutish EBM that is wholly satisfying.

Omnibus – Israels / Rhythmus (1980 – 1985) [JUP001]

September 14, 2016January 18, 2022 hipodromealbum, endless illusion, jarda zajpt, martin bauer, minimal synth, omnibus, pavel zvolensky, petr dikanLeave a comment

OMNIBUS - Israels/Rhythmus (1980-1985)

The Omnibus Band was founded by Jarda Zajpt and Petr Dikan in 1979 in Czechoslovakia. Having met at the Electronic High School, electronics was their field of expertise. Over time, Petr Dikan constructed several sound devices such as the Sileny Fridrich (SF, Crazy Frederick) Keyboard and the VSD (vsude samy draty/wires everywhere) Generator which he operated during the recordings and also at concerts. At that time, heavily influenced by Brian Eno and Robert Fripp from the King Crimson band, Jarda Zajpt played the guitars, using all kinds of effects, pre-recorded tapes, and one or more interconnected tape recorders. The first record, ‘Israels,’ was produced between 1980 and 1982. In 1985, Jarda Zajpt swapped a guitar for a keyboard and a new member arrived – Pavel Zvolensky – who programmed and played the automatic percussions. Martin Bauer, playing the bass guitar, completed the trio. They have produced a second album, ‘Rhythmus,’ in this assembly. Remastered from unreleased tape recordings. This is the first release in the framework of the project Jupiter 08 – Archeology of the Slavic electronic sound.

EYE – Sabine LP [KH005]

September 14, 2016October 9, 2023 hipodromealbum, eye, knekelhuis, laurene exposito, minimal synth, synth popLeave a comment

EYE is a project from Laurène Exposito from Rennes (France), where she runs the intimate label Waving Hands. EYE’s debut album ‘Sabine’ takes us into Laurène’s silk-covered dreamworld, at once mad and serene, sounding like a breeze and a blast at the same time. Bedtime stories or lucid nightmares? You decide…

Ian Martin – Clairvoyant [27DIAM]

September 11, 2016May 10, 2023 hipodromealbum, ambient, diametric music, drone, experimental, ian martinLeave a comment

Known for his diverse releases on labels such as Bunker, Panzerkreuz, Further or Shimmering Moods Ian Martin has developed his very unique own brand of electronic music. To categorize his music is difficult which adds an immense appeal to his approch on his releases. Clairvoyant is no exception to this. It is an uplifting and beautiful album based around three of Ian’s favourite synthesizers: Waldorf Microwave I, Ensoniq ESQ-1 and Korg M1. Ian describes this album as an emotional collection of tracks with a lot of fantasy.

Silent Harbour – Silent Harbour [TRSDLP001]

September 11, 2016November 8, 2022 hipodromealbum, ambient techno, boris bunnik, conforce, echocord, silent harbour, transcendent recordsLeave a comment

Originally released on Echocord on 27 August 2012. Transcendent Records finally releases this much wanted ambient techno album by Conforce aka Silent Harbour, completely remastered for vinyl. Boris Bunnik expresses “music for an imaginary deep mental abstract excursion” under the Silent Harbour moniker for Transcendent/Echocord. As his multifarious operations have shown, Boris is a dab hand in the studio, and Silent Harbour is the place to find those machine emissions which would never quite reach the ‘floor. Operating on the cusp of ambient Techno and electro-acoustic music, he shapes sheer scapes from elemental source material, rendering his sounds diffuse until we glimpse hallucinatory tones in the gloaming dissonance. 4/4 anchored rhythms are fractured, percussions sent to scout the perimeters while the vast space between becomes playground to radiant metallic timbres and strafing electronic apparitions. Music for Techno heads to fall into when the kicks are too much.

Zandvoort & Uilenbal – Geruis Uit Somberdorp [NW010]

September 11, 2016May 2, 2020 hipodromealbum, ambient, danny wolfers, drone, experimental, jimi hellinga, nightwind records, zandvoort & uilenbalLeave a comment

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Geruis Uit Somberdorp’ (Rustlings from Somberville) is a concert for Harmonium, Mixtur Trautonium & Synthesizer, originally commissioned for the dutch classical Concertzender broadcast corporation in early 2016. Zandvoort & Uilenbal are Danny Wolfers and Jimi Hellinga.