Balkan Vinyl is kicking off a new run of 7″ vinyl releases – the “Kanlab series” – focused on celebrating underground artists from the label roster, is Suddi Raval. He makes his Balkan debut here with two deep-space hardware electro jams.
Larry McCormick’s Exzakt brings back that sleazy electro as well as unreleased material. Bringing back classics such as Speaker Breaka and Citi Of Bass, and a new remix by Jensen Interceptor. Putting Monotone Records back on the map.
NYC based Ulysses is a master at his craft when it comes to abstract and experimental electro sounds. ‘The Most Successful Algorithm’ showcases just that as he goes through many flavors of his mindset when it comes to making long lasting and thoughtful electronic music. On the remix of ‘Noodles’ is NYC electro and techno legend John Selway.
Following several reported sightings, a time travelling biplane from Galaxia has arrived on planet earth. The pilot on board was transporting a USB stick containing cryptic code from an artist by the name “Bladymore Galaxy”. Having received the data in Italy, Free Voyage owner SMS(IT) got straight to work decoding the data. Inside he found a selection of timeless melodic music, with clear influence taken from travels to the past and future. Now converted to vinyl format, the music is ready for release on Earth.
Marcela Dias Sindaco’s music captures the essence of Gated as a label, sitting half way between so many genres: bass-heavy electro, funky breaks, squelchy synth-boogie… but driven by Marcela’s breathy Portuguese vocals, expressing the depths of her carioca soul. Marcela grew up in Rio de Janeiro, and as a classically trained pianist and cellist, music was in her blood, but it was her dad’s obsession with Krautrock that influenced her early music taste. Later, travelling around Europe as a model, she discovered the clubs of Berlin, Paris and Milan and incorporated what she heard into her own music, using a studio filled with analogue equipment. The result joins the dots between heads-down club stompers, electrofunk, Prince, and Brazilian samba.
Mannequin Records presents a 2xLP compilation of System 01, the legendary techno project of Johnny Klimek & Paul Browse. Moving from acid basslines, 808/909 minimalistic reminiscences and hidden movie samples, the core of the compilation is covering Johnny and Paul whole activity as System 01, spanning from their 1990 debut EP “From Psychodelics To Cybernetics” on Interfisch with Timothy Leary, father of the LSD generation, to 1994, with the release of their most acclaimed album “Drugs Work” on Tresor, naturally placing them in the “Der Klang Der Familie”.
Channeling her innermost depths, Oshana reveals her widest body of work to date, “Disciples of Dystopia;” a multi-faceted expression of the emotions, influences, and sounds that have guided her on her musical journey. The album aptly marks the fourth release on her very own, Psionic label, and is the first double 12” in the catalogue.
A smokey hookah lounge lies nestled amongst Saturn’s outer rings – for those who know where to look. Its sole occupant for a thousand years, the being known as Planar Traits. Lick the cosmic toad and strap yourself in for a fourth ride on the Magic Carpet. Propulsive breaks and mystical atmospheres send us crashing through the waterfall, deep into the velvet jungle beyond.
Tracing Xircles return to base after debuting ‘Gaia’s Requiem’ back in 2017. During that period the duo contributed to Air Texture VI curated by Steffi & Martyn and have been quietly readying their new record ‘Air Lock’. The 4 track EP develops their signature sound palette into new territory with references to timeless UK & Detroit flavours, sealing the record with a retro futuristic collage of ambient techno and timeless electronica.
The Master Scratch Band was first break-dance / hip-hop / electro funk band in Yugoslavia in 1984. The band members were Zoran Vracevic, Zoran Jevtic and Milutin Stoisiljevic, previously known as Data and Sizike. Jugoton, the biggest label in Yugoslavia, published Data 7” and MSB’s ‘Degout’ 12” with limited edition cassette containing two bonus tracks. Impossible to find on the collectors market, Fox & His Friends team in collaboration with Jugoton / Croatia Records is releasing a full, complete version of the rare “The Breakwar” tape, with tracks “Tonight” and “Pocket” never pressed on vinyl. All tracks are sourced from original studio tapes. With the kind help of Zoran Vracevic on credit list and liner notes, this is now the ultimate Master Scratch Band album, released originally in a year 1984 when break-dance was in the peak of its popularity in Yugoslavia. This release is pure breaks and hip-hop electro, done old-school way in one of the best studios in Yugoslavia, Enco Lesic’s ‘Druga maca’ in Belgrade.
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Atlanta artist 30303 debuts on Vault Wax with five cosmic, space-influenced live acid jams. The far-out journey begins with ethereal, spaced-out breaks and trips into darker, grittier techno turns.
The mysterious DJ Slyngshot has stayed rather low key since debuting in 2014, but his music has an alluring and unique charm that has made him a real underground favourite. He now debuts on the cult Workshop label with four dreamy, drifting breakbeat tunes for those in the know. The raw and rugged opener is simple but effective, A2 has thumping kicks and old school pads and B1 is a dreamy, acid laced groove full of physicality. B2 closes out with jungle samples and warped synths that cry to be played loud on a huge system. These cuts all sound at once retro but also as if beamed back from the future.
The latest release on Private Possessions finds itself landing in the embrace-inducing, euphoric, yet tear-worthy Bermuda Triangle of the proverbial DJ vibeboard: the cathartic response to over two years of album-dedicated studio time. The release also begs of a more existential question bleeding into the social consciousness: “Where do we belong?”, to which the answer is simple: “Together”. ‘Reveries Of A Solitary Dancer’ was inspired by an article of the same name by Artforum’s David Velasco. The piece details the legacy of artist Adrian Piper and her extensive body of work, most notably in the field of dance. Velasco reveals Piper’s desire to “transform the mechanisms that divide people into groups” and highlights her belief in dance spaces as conduits for reunification during times of segregation.
Nice Girl returns to Public Possession with her second EP “Whistling Thorn”.
Organic, psychedelic, percussive music with hints to early forms of communication that involved chants and rhythmic movements. Naturally these activities were strongly connected to earth, taking place under the open sky often involving plants to enhance spiritual transmission. Repetitive rituals creating a sense of community & togetherness.
Supreems returns to Lobster Theremin with a hazy, dream-state inducing EP so do as the title says – close your eyes and feel the soaring pads, scattered breakbeats and percussive synths pulse right through you.
Dawn dissevers the earth and skies, Dragonflies twirl into the light of the sun’s world; No vapour dims the air, twinkling lightness buoys the eyes, During the night; I can see leaves flying on the tree branch and settle like tiny butterflies.
Answer Code Request returns with his sophomore album Gens on Ostgut Ton, entering darker but equally bass-heavy territory. Today the musical vision offered by Berghain resident Answer Code Request, real name Patrick Gräser, has proved far-sighted. While at first glance electronic music in 2018 seems increasingly balkanized, borders between genres have once again become fuzzier. Now, on his follow up LP Gens, Gräser looks beyond the bass euphoria of Code toward darker horizons and a desolate atmosphere befitting of current global circumstances. It’s electronic music free from genre constraints – one where a broad palette of broken rhythms, varying speeds, different colors and sound design draws listeners into a synthesized world of its own.
Dominick Martin aka Calibre contributes 3 different tracks on the “Renaissance EP”on Footprints. While “Plugs” runs on a bass heavy Drum N Bass mode, it is the title track that offers deep atmospheric dubbed out house music. The soulful uptempo version on “Reach” round off this recommended package.
Gareth Clarke delivers his long awaited sophomore release, underlining his reputation as one of the brightest lights and best-kept secrets in electronic music today. Oozing elegance and sensory richness throughout; subtle, playful and visceral often in the same moment, somehow. GC has elicited the perfect pleasure amalgam for body and brain.
