Daniele Ciullini – The Double Face of the Zero [TIF008]

‘The Double Face of the Zero’ revolves around the progressive crumbling of the human condition, trapped in a Babel of toxic languages, hypnotised by seductive as much as false myths. The traversed architectures are empty or abandoned; inside, only faint echoes of mechanical rhythms reminiscent/incubus of models destined for passive consumption and the reproduction of consensus. Babbling, bare syllables are all that remains of a one-way communication. The new alphabets of communication systems do not need expressive space but consensus time. This journey is closed, however, by a text that is, in its own way, full of hope and that, like a compass, indicates a possible escape route from this mortal spiral of spectacular-media-political consensus. The sound sources from which the work originates are multiple. All electronically processed so as not to show their origin, in order to place themselves in an “other” space. All this not out of sonic sadism but out of a desire to elaborate a sound palette that is as personal as possible. A palette of sounds that tries to place itself outside the fences and categories that delimit even the area of research music, which instead, by definition, should be as model-free as possible.

Daniele Ciullini – The Double Face of the Zero [TIF008]

VA – Yarrow Ballet V.A. 01

Introducing Yarrow Ballet’s V.A. (Volume 01) featuring 10 beautiful tracks. The essence of this compilation its best describes as a listening experience that aligns perfectly with Yarrow Ballet’s musical aesthetic. It captures a balance of darkness and softness, all underscored by a sense of melancholic beauty. The V.A. also embodies a sense of community, similar to that of a close-knit family.

VA – Yarrow Ballet V.A. 01

Disappearer – Counterfeit [MMS004]

META MOTO presents the fourth solo artist tape, “Counterfeit” by Disappearer, recorded and produced by Johan Skugge, half of Harlem Electronics. The album showcases a fluidity between electronic sounds and genres, characterised by a deliberate elusiveness. Oscillating between eerie atmospheres and funky beats, the artist constructs an enigmatic sonic landscape, evoking a sense of hiding in the shadows while emitting smoke screens. With its electrifying compositions, this album promises to captivate audiences with its bold electronic aesthetic.

Disappearer – Counterfeit [MMS004]

System Disorder – Random Report [SOT012]

Sons Of Traders Records presents DJ Nephil’s side project “System Disorder” with this latest collection entitled “Random Report”. He is continuing the experimentation and sound research in the studio and in his artistic compositional form connected both to the machines and to his own vision. He is presenting here eight acid-electro variations on a more minimal theme around a sort of contemporary dark novel.

System Disorder – Random Report [SOT012]

Timothy J. Fairplay – Convictions That Stick [PNKMN54]

Timothy J. Fairplay finally lands on Pinkman, furthering his sonic excursions into raw, jacking, yet evocative house music. ‘Convictions’ rattles through drum-machine workouts topped with soaring synthlines, inviting you to spiral in the club’s darkest corners. Between the shuffled claps, ominous melodics and delay-laden syncopation, ‘Convictions’ playfully evokes both the mechanical exploration of urban space, and the claustrophobic intimacies encountered within it. There’s even a nod towards 1980s’ cult cinema hit ‘The Bronx Warriors’ at the end. Naturally, these six tracks find a perfect home on Pinkman.

Timothy J. Fairplay – Convictions That Stick [PNKMN54]

Body Habitat – Cala Lilly [LIES204]

New release from the mysterious Body Habitat project, allegedly associated with the equally elusive German Army project, this is a 15 track tape full of broken industrial rhythms and seething sonic soundscapes, unrelenting California desert music.

Body Habitat – Cala Lilly [LIES204]

YE GODS – No Albion [LIES203]

YE GODS returns to L.I.E.S. with a new fill length, “No Albion”. Seven tracks of haunting ritualistic electronics, coming from the darkest realm of your psyche. Chilling ambience, voices from your nitemares, wishing to escape this world.

YE GODS – No Albion [LIES203]

Ofelia Ortodoxa – Basics For Sadness [DYSTATIK]

Ofelia Ortodoxa is one of the most interest and expressive producers of the Colombian electronic music scene. Ofelia Ortodoxa return’s to Athenian label Dystatik with “Basics For Sadness”, a cassette release inluding rescued tracks and ideas from old cassette recordings and new collaborations with Valanais (track 1&3) and Ferdinand Carclash (track 4). “Basics For Sadness” is a uses a powerful Minimal Synth and Dark Wave aesthetic with a certain nostalgic feel.

Ofelia Ortodoxa – Basics For Sadness [DYSTATIK]

Tradecraft – The Body Needs Purpose [BHT006]

Absolutely killer darkside mutations from Tradecraft, aka Carrier aka Shifted, a stunning hour-long session of dank, highly atmospheric technoid alchemy that plays from the Pan Sonic/Vainio/T++/Actress songbook. Key tech­noid shapeshifter Guy Brew­er chas­es a trio of aces under his Carrier alias with the murky arrival of his Trade­craft project, forg­ing heav­ing down­tem­po slugs and vapours from a sig­na­ture palette of iri­des­cent elec­tron­ics deployed some­where along the line between Actress, Bur­ial and Mika Vainio, on a cyber­goth bent.

Tradecraft – The Body Needs Purpose [BHT006]

Dimanche Midi – CONDé [NB04t]

Chronicles of the wasteland, an ode to those who remain in the shadows, a nod to the wild beauty of 40 rue Marceline. Looser solo project, Dimanche Midi goes quickly, it can be listened to in one go, fully on your bike. Drum machine, electric bass, synth, guitar, cassette loops, samples, radio archives and dirty stories from CONDé!

Dimanche Midi – CONDé [NB04t]

Taru – Ipnagogik [DM09]

Confused Machines unleashes it’s first release for 2024 and it’s a mesmerizing journey led by Ruggero Lambo aka Taru, utilizing minimal synths, squeezing beats into tiny fractures and exploring syncopations to a certain visionary degree where the tension between self-consciousness and unconsciousness arouse, a vague memory of a near future becomes present.

Taru – Ipnagogik [DM09]

Foreign – Strange World LP [EFAE]

“Strange World” is not merely an album; it’s a sonic expedition that probes the aberrations of a society shaped by the strange and transformative influence of technology. The music industry, a microcosm of this surreal universe, has become an intricate web of formatted reactions and impersonal interactions. Foreign, the musical observer, takes the audience on a solitary journey through the night—a time of introspection where raw feelings and emotions are eclipsed by the numbing shadows of social media and the relentless march of technology. The album resonates with an unmistakable romanticism, shrouded in a dark, mysterious atmosphere. Each track is a testament to the disquieting beauty found in the synthesis of opposites—the warm, pulsating beats of EBM intertwining with the ethereal melodies of synth-pop. The result is a musical landscape that is simultaneously haunting and alluring, much like the strange world it reflects.

Foreign – Strange World LP [EFAE]

Timothy J Fairplay – Rule The Streets [DGMD005]

‘Rule The Streets’ is Timothy “J” Fairplay’s latest album on his label Dungeon Module. After 2021’s ‘A Snowstorm In The Tropics’, 2023 has been a busy year for the label. In February Timothy released ‘Dungeon Module Volume 1’ followed by ‘I Lay Awake At Night Scheming’ in August. This album was recorded in Timothy’s current studio, with his Casio RZ-1 central to the set up. 8 raw jack tracks inspired by the early days of house music, and catches Timothy at his most minimal. The early days of the Chicago and Detroit and how they drew influence from Europe in their stripped back sound is an endless influence on Timothy’s work. The bumpy opener ‘Rule The Streets’ has a vocal refrain which sounds like something from a 70’s gang movie. ‘Insufficient Funds’ is a playful jam based around a junk shop delay unit. ‘Pleasure Beach’ an 8 bit house/funk beat track. ‘Back To The Stone Age’ with its flanger heavy percussion and a booming Adonis style vocal. Side B starts with ‘Instant Replay’ with its rolling 808 toms and white noise intro. ‘Safety Patrol’ has a deeper Mr Fingers feel, followed by the stalker-ish ‘Gang Bass’ with its sampled live bass and strings. Last of all is ‘Livin’ It Up’ made entirely with the sampler on the RZ-1 sounding like a Lil Louie demo.

Timothy J Fairplay – Rule The Streets [DGMD005]

Weith – Intimate Entropy LP [Brokntoys]

Weith returns to Brokntoys with “Intimate Entropy”, a new exclusive album comprising sixteen tracks. The result of two years of composing and research, “Intimate Entropy” traverses a wide sonic landscape, ranging from drone pieces to tension-filled meandering journeys. Dense and rich in details, Weith presents an introspective, melancholic, and immersive listening experience.

Weith – Intimate Entropy LP [Brokntoys]

E.L.I. – Built To Thrill [PBD23]

E.L.I. debuts on the Pinkman Broken Dreams series. Prepare to be entranced by the mesmerizing hardware jams that reverberate through your consciousness. As the shadows lengthen and the night embraces you, immerse yourself in ‘Built to Thrill,’ where darkness and euphoria collide in a symphony of madness.

E.L.I. – Built To Thrill [PBD23]

V​A – Northern Nightmares III [UNR012]

Northern Nightmares returns for a third instalment. Alongside the usual suspects, Up North welcomes some new blood to the party. NN III also has the honour of lifting the veil from Parrish Smith’s latest project, METAL! From Antonio’s blistering basselines to Eindkrak’s twisted rhythms, this intoxicating compilation will shatter speakers and clench fists.

V​A – Northern Nightmares III [UNR012]

E​.​L​.​I. Feat LBEEZE – Mort À L’int​é​rieur [UNR011]

Through a haze of global paranoia and hostility, continents collide! While laying down coarse rhythms and relentless basslines, E.L.I. passes the microphone to Up North’s LBEEZE. Loaded with stirring strings and dejected vocals, this collaboration will have you weeping or screaming.

E​.​L​.​I. Feat LBEEZE – Mort À L’int​é​rieur [UNR011]