DMX Krew – 100 Tears [FR005]

November 3, 2014March 19, 2019 hipodromealbum, dmx krew, ed dmx, edward upton, electro, fundamental recordsLeave a comment

Spanish label Fundamental come through with a ltd edition of their highly prized DMX Krew LP. Ed Upton’s been on prolific form this year for sure, with 100 Tears his fourth DMX Krew long player of 2014 following outings on Shipwrec, Mystic & Quantum and Luke Eargoggle’s Stilleben Records. The twelve tracks here really demonstrate that Upton is a grand master of electro whatever the tempo, and are apparently the result of him working with just a few synths and a drum machine as opposed to his full studio whilst in the midst of moving house. For most people this would be a stressful process, for Ed Upton the situation has resulted in a sublime, masterful album.

Ulwhednar – 1520 [NE013]

November 2, 2014June 8, 2023 hipodromeabdulla rashim, album, industrial, jonas ronnberg, northern electronics, techno, ulwhednar, vargLeave a comment

Abdulla Rashim and Varg’s collaborative project are back for another quest in sonic experiments and northern tales. Even if they do release obscure drone from time to time Northern Electronics continues to up hold its reputation as record label worthy of the tag: ‘buy on sight’. That can definitely be said about Varg and Abdullah Rashim’s second full length as Ulwhednar. For some dirty Rashim loops look to “De 92 Vita Stenarna” while for some Nordic drone splashed with Varg’s trademark space echoes check out “Kattarens Dom”, and if you want to experience what the crash landing of Star Trek’s USS Enterprise sounds like there’s “Askan Fran Balet”.

2562 – The New Today [DOUBT003]

October 31, 2014October 29, 2014 hipodrome2562, album, ambient techno, dave huismans, deep techno, techno, when in doubtLeave a comment

Dave Huismans (A Made Up Sound) returns under his 2562 codename with the oneiric ambient/concrète dancefloor states of ‘The New Today’, his 4th solo album in this guise. Where its predecessor, ‘Air Jordan’, also for his When In Doubt label, took inspiration from the arid landscapes of the Middle East, ‘The New Today’ draws upon ideas sketched out whilst 2562 was in New York, late summer 2013, and was later finished at his home studio in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Rather than disco samples, as with his last LP ‘Fever’, he sources from and splices together an enviable library of European synth experiments, new age tapes, avant-garde, post punk, pop and long forgotten aces, offering an entirely different palette of textures and tones. Ambient is a keyword here, taking inspiration from the feeling of drift of utopian/dystopian novels, as much as the sublimation of electro-acoustic processes. Between the humid concrète drone sphere of ‘Arrival’ and the sweeping celestial space of closer ‘New Life’, there’s a keen sense of momentum through dreamy time and space, taking in the airborne melodies and syncopation of ‘Vibedoctor’ and ‘Utopia’ along with killer Afro-centric gyrations in ‘Terraforming’. Inarguably, it’s the the most diffuse yet cohesive and involving album in his celebrated cache.

Skanfrom – Postcards [SUCTION028]

October 30, 2014December 18, 2017 hipodromealbum, electro, electronics, roger semsroth, skanfrom, suction records, synth waveLeave a comment

Skanfrom is Roger Semsroth, best known for his purist minimal techno project Sleeparchive. Skanfrom first appeared in the late-90s, releasing limited edition 7”s on his own A.D.S.R. label, part of a small movement of DIY labels influenced by the melodic, experimental electronica output of labels like Rephlex, Skam, and Warp. Skanfrom found a likeminded home in Suction Records, who were releasing records by Solvent and Lowfish with many of the same musical references. In 2002, Skanfrom released his debut album on Suction Records, ‘Hand Picked Fragments.’ A lot has changed since 2002, but in Skanfrom world, 2014 is very much the same. ‘Postcards’ is full of the same pure and melodic electro(pop) that made Skanfrom so special from the start.

Korrupt Data – Korrupt Data [PLE65366-1]

October 27, 2014January 13, 2022 hipodromealbum, detroit, electro, korrupt data, planet e communications, technoLeave a comment

KORRUPT DATA - Korrupt Data

Surfacing earlier this year with two 12″s on Planet E, the anonymous Korrupt Data now deliver a debut album for Carl Craig’s label. Korrupt Data’s music straddles the divide between Kraftwerk and Model 500 without the crazy frenetics of Drexciyan electro. Said to be made with ‘old kit’ this 11-track album is spread across two discs and it’s very much geared for the dancefloor and sounding distinctly Detroit. Highlights include the vocoder electro space pop of “Inter Arrival”, the glitchy tones and rigid beats of “Photons, Protons, Microns, Mutrons” and the emotional techno acid of “Memory Loss”.

John Barera & Will Martin – Graceless [DOLLY020]

October 25, 2014September 29, 2022 hipodromealbum, deep house, dolly, house, john barera, will martinLeave a comment

Boston based production duo and room-mates John Barera & Will Martin continue their journey into sculptural, storytelling House music, with their debut album on Dolly – ‘ Graceless’. The pair’s work has found a wider audience since the success of ‘Reality’, which found its way into the hands of Berlin’s Steffi, and acted as a central gear and in her 2013 Panorama 05 Mix. John Barera has been a firm disciple of the House and Techno world for the past 10 years, and after launching Supply Records in 2011 has brought an elegant, resoundingly universal mixture of underground club tracks to the fore. A fresh and fruitful partnership with close friend Will Martin grew out of the pair’s rapidly growing studio, and the latest results can be found here over the 8 cool, classy and refined contemporary House tracks.

Beau Wanzer – Beau Wanzer [BW001LP]

October 22, 2014January 30, 2020 hipodromealbum, beau wanzer, electro, experimental, technoLeave a comment

Beau Wanzer delivers a 12 track LP of archival material culled from tapes stored away from years past, the tracks in question being plucked between 2002-2008. Wanzer has stuck to his grotesque guns over the years, keeping his music personal, grating, and down right bizarre. Each track takes a narrative of its own, from the languidly vocaled, yet uncannily catchy ”Mob Boss” to the possessed murmurs of ”Love Tone,” Wanzer has created a completely unique collection of music which engages the listener all the way through.

Tin Man – Ode [ATCD004]

October 22, 2014November 2, 2021 hipodromeabsurd recordings, acid, album, house, johannes auvinen, techno, tin manLeave a comment

California-raised Johannes Auvinen made his name blending hypnotic techno with the distinctive electronics of acid house. His most recent album, 2012’s Neo Neo Acid, moved further towards the sounds of Phuture. Ode, his seventh full-length, sits somewhere in between, delivering a sequence of deep, hypnotic grooves that utilise acid lines not to create energy, but as melodic hooks. With the addition of his own half-whispered vocals on a number of cuts, the result is an atmospheric set that feels like the soundtrack to a hazy after party. For the most part, it’s very impressive, and has a genuinely weary, late night mood that’s strangely attractive.

Jeff Mills – Emerging Crystal Universe [AX065]

October 20, 2014February 1, 2018 hipodromealbum, axis records, detroit techno, jeff mills, minimal techno, sleeper wakesLeave a comment

Axis Records present the 8th chapter of Jeff Mills Sleeper Wakes series. After the previous release of the exotic expedition to The Jungle Planet, his continuing science fiction story makes a significant turn to a Parallel Universe.

SHXCXCHCXSH – Linear S Decoded [AVNLP002]

October 19, 2014May 16, 2019 hipodromealbum, ambient techno, avian music, deep techno, drone, hannes stenstrom, SHXCXCHCXSHLeave a comment

Rich sounding dark techno from this swedisch duo delivering their second album. Despite their impenetrable name and previous releases, SHXCXCHCXSH’s second album is strangely accessible. It seems that the Swedish duo has learnt the value of subtlety, but without losing their edge. From the eerie ambience of “Entering The S-Cloud” through the distorted, noisy electro of “Elo-cution”, the atmospheric techno sounds of “The Roots” and the snapping percussion and repetitive machine riffs of “Drain the Lord”, Linear S Decoded is one of 2014’s best techno albums.

Plant43 – Scars Of Intransigence [SHIPLP002]

October 16, 2014May 3, 2021 hipodromealbum, detroit, electro, emile facey, plant43, shipwrec records, technoLeave a comment

Plant43 is releasing his next album, Scars Of Intransigence, on Shipwrec. He has a strong artistic vision and that plays out in this carefully crafted album, which has been written as a coherent story that unfolds from start-to-finish. Rather than being purely a collection of DJ tools, Scars Of Intransigence has also been made with the home listening experience in mind so that the album works in both contexts equally well.

Lab 80 – 7 Class A Songs [TAT011]

October 14, 2014October 12, 2023 hipodromealbum, cassette, electro, lab 80, minimal synth, tear apart tapesLeave a comment

Originally to be released in 1985. Finally released in 2014. Straight from Das Dang on his excellent cassette series. Handmade covers and cassette labels, these are very limited edition items.

Guyer’s Connection – Portrait [MW056]

October 14, 2014July 19, 2023 hipodromealbum, electro, guyer's connection, minimal synth, minimal wave records, philippe alioth, re-release, reissue, tibor csébitsLeave a comment

Minimal Wave presents a reissue of the seminal first album from Swiss Wavers, Guyer’s Connection. Tibor Csébits and Philippe Alioth formed Guyer’‘s Connection in Basel, Switzerland when they were only 14 and 15 years old. At the time they were in a new wave rock band called “Kurtzschluss” which they decided to break from in order to make purely electronic music. They began with two synthesizers, a drum machine, a 4-track tape recorder and a multitude of ideas. They channeled their unique and humorous vision into their first album, entitled Portrait which they produced themselves and self-released in 1983. Over the years, the album became a highly sought after minimal synth cult classic. It stands alone as one of the strongest examples of Swiss Minimal Wave, and probably the only one that is in Baseldytsch.

IKO – ’83 [MR038]

October 14, 2014February 18, 2019 hipodromealbum, electro, iko, manhattan formula, medical records llc, minimal synth, re-release, reissue, synth popLeave a comment

Medical Records is beyond elated to finally present to the world the first official reintroduction and reissue of the iconic IKO “83” LP. This coveted album by minimal synth aficionados around the globe has been out of print and very rare since it’s original release in 1982. Hailing from Montreal, Canada, IKO has always been shrouded in mystery. All 3 members come from an academic background (electroacoustic composition, etc), and they met at the University of Montreal in the music department. Taking from their collective influences of 60’s pop, prog and minimalist composers as well as early industrial, they played in a few early bands before solidifying the all-synth incarnation of IKO in it’s definitive lineup. The LP was originally released on Manhattan Formula.

Dar Embarks – Fleer [STILOVE4MUSIC043]

October 13, 2014April 25, 2019 hipodromeacid, album, chicago, dar embarks, still music, stilove4music, techno1 Comment

Hailing from Chicago’s South Side, the duo Dar Embarks lives in a world of underground techno and machines. Their debut album ‘Fleer’, was recorded live on hardwares, no keys were played, just the pressing of buttons and turning of knobs. Gathering its inspiration from records on the shelf, sci fi and comics, Dar Embarks remains steadfast in technotic efforts to interpret the future…our future.

Cuthead – Total Sellout [UVLP002]

October 12, 2014May 10, 2023 hipodromealbum, cuthead, hip-hop, house, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

Cuthead got known to the wider public via his releases on Uncanny Valley but his roots reach way back before the label’s start. There was a time when Cuthead and his brothers from another mother threw wild parties at abandoned industrial locations or in the woods around Dresden. The crew, which was known as Kunst:stoff Breakz, also established a label where Cuthead released two albums and one EP as free downloads between 2006 and 2010. Over the years the calls for vinyl versions of those early joints were getting louder and so Uncanny Valley decided to give the best tracks from that era a new life on physical sound carriers and start the ”Total Sellout”. Through refinement and rearrangement 51 tracks were boiled down to a selection of 18 and ended up as an album full of catchy bass lines, heavy beats and sampling excesses. Among the tracks are party starters like the strings-infiltrated ”Scissorhands”, ”The Poncho” or the ever devastating ”Iron Lung” which still kicks like Dubstep has never faded. Since Cuthead has always been heavily influenced by Rap music, there are of course lots of great Hip Hop beats on ”Total Sellout”. Either in the form of funky sample studies like ”Painquilizer” and ”VibraSkit” or in true fashion with Raps by crew member Alibi on ”Hidden Track”. Also included on the album are ”Rock My Soul” and ”All Night Long”, some early examples of Cuthead’s knack for well tempered and super catchy House tracks, while the double-bass driven ”Rythmus ’78” shows another jazzy side of him. Once again, the artwork was conceived and designed by Till Hohmann who already did a brilliant job on last year’s ”Everlasting Sunday”.

Hieroglyphic Being & The Configurative Or Modular Me Trio – The Seer Of Cosmic Visions [ZIQ349]

October 10, 2014August 25, 2023 hipodromeacid, album, chicago, experimental, hieroglyphic being, jamal moss, the configurative or modular me trioLeave a comment

Crazy etherial collection of some previously released and some unreleased tracks presented in album form. The album is hugely varied within it’s basic drum machine and synths template; from the psychedelic blowout ‘The Seer Of Cosmic Visions’ and the distorted, ruptured crunch of ‘How Wet Is Ur Box’, to more delicate meditations like ‘Space Is The Place’ or ‘Letters From The Edge’. From the the shimmering rhythmic noise of ‘A Genre Sonique’ to the the woozy tribal funk of ‘134340 Pluto’ or the rough darting strings of the off-kilter ‘Calling Planet Earth’ and finishing on the relaxing gaseous drones of ‘Strange Signs In The Sky’, the album never fails to transport the listener to another state of mind.

Hesperius Draco – Cathar Rhytms LP [FRV016]

October 10, 2014September 8, 2021 hipodromealbum, alessandro parisi, disco, electro, frigio records, hesperius draco, technoLeave a comment

HESPERIUS DRACO - Cathar Rhythms

Few newcomers have created that stir that Italy’s Alessandro Parisi has caused. Following releases on Lux Rec, Minimal Rome and Flight Recorder this young producer has captivated audiences with his textured electronics and vivid soundscapes. It is to this bright talent that Frigio Records have turned to proudly introduce the label’s first full vinyl full length: Cathar Rhythms. Soundtracks have always been a focal point for Parisi, a core of his inspiration. This love of the analogue movie score permeates the six track album, fortified with a new toughened rhythmic edge.

Violet Poison – Force [HAR004]

September 28, 2014March 20, 2018 hipodromealbum, francesco baudazzi, haunted air records, industrial, obtane, violet poisonLeave a comment

Violet Poison is the dark, enigmatic and esoteric side-project of Francesco Baudazzi, already known as Obtane, co-owner with Giorgio Gigli of the defunct techno label Zooloft. The new project is focused on analogue proto-techno with influences from 70’s Italian progressive bands like Goblin or OST composers like Fabio Frizzi and earlier Downwards records from 1994-1995.

Herva – Instant Broadcast [DSR/E4]

September 28, 2014January 25, 2018 hipodromealbum, ambient techno, delsin records, electronics, hervaLeave a comment

Returning to Delsin after 2013’s What I Feel EP, Italian producer Herva aka Herve Atse Corti is now serving up a double EP offering, Instant Broadcast. Instant Broadcast, the 12 tracks to be released on 2 x vinyl, proves that in spades, combing as it does intricate electronic stylings with an off kilter sampling style, organic instrumentals and plenty of rough hewn charm. The album kicks off with ‘And The Crunch Goes On’, a fractured, sample heavy track with sensuous piano notes floating above barrelling techno drums. It evolves through many different forms across its 6-minute duration and from there the kaleidoscopic journey really begins. ‘Slam The Laptop’ is deep and lo fi techno, ‘Pitch Business’ is glistening IDM and ’01 (Edit)’ is scuzzy dystopian ambiance of the sort LIES has become famous for. Elsewhere there is blissful and heavenly ambiance, sketchy sound collages that put dusty old soul vocals next to trilling melodies and pounding broken beat that is awash with spring like rays of sunshine. Sometimes dark, sometimes beautiful, but always unpredictable, Instant Broadcast is a refreshingly original, sketchy album that shuns the usual Chicago and Detroit reference points and instead conjures up a truly idiosyncratic style that puts Herva in a class of his own.