Mikron return to CPU with their second album ‘Severance’. The Corcoran brothers refine their critically acclaimed sound which has evolved to be more haunting than the last release. This album is a nostalgic affair with synthetic landscapes washing over you, before propelling you into the distant future. The ambient moments draw parallels with Boards of Canada, Burial and Selected Ambient Works Vol. 2.
Jensen Interceptor & Assembler Code deliver another four tracks of deep hitting electro on CPU. Dancefloor electro, gleefully sprinting between dark, angular and angry fare (punishing but brilliant opener “Abstract Model”), rush-inducing peak-time anthems (the glassy-eyed, fuzz bass-driven bliss of “Kinematics”), Drexciya style workouts (“Extraction”), and buzzing, late night contortions (“VR Escort”). In other words, it’s another killer collection of cuts that should be on every electro head’s shopping list.
Djedjotronic Aka Jérémy Cottereau drops an icy 4 track Electro cut for CPU. There’s a clear Drexciyan influence here with plenty of dystopian drama but things are disrupted with the likes of ‘Tunnel’ serving up raw 4/4.
Modular synthesis wizard Eddie Symons, aka Nullptr [null pointer], lands on CPU with some fine laid back analogue electro. After his debut LP ‘Optical’ on Detroit Underground, Symons has firmly established himself as a class act to follow. Expect spacey wavetable pads, step sequencer conversations and killer modular bass.
From another analogue basement, amidst paranoid conspiracy theories and wild youtube truths, the heat of a Tr-808 and Juno-60, and dreams of forgotten utopias, comes the first Secret State EP, an attempt to rise above the all pervasive, vacuous, decaying culture.
French producer and RAAR co-founder Maelstrom makes his debut on CPU with ‘Alph4’, a seven track electro-leaning mini LP of one-take recordings. Maelstrom’s sound on Alph4 is comparable to Aphex Twin’s more restrained Analord output. Focussed, highly detailed production alongside an abundance of evocative synth melodies will ensure these tracks become firm favourites with forward thinking DJs and electronic music fans.
CPU’s homage to the Roland TR-808, the drum machine ubiquitous on binary imprint. CPU label boss Chris Smith has meticulously rebuilt the drum tracks of classic electro funk records known for their pioneering and influential use of the 808. Strictly for DJs and MCs, this is an essential tool for remixing, looping or laying vocals over. Cut loud and ready for battle.
CPU and dance music’s polymath Neil Landstrumm share a love for classic bleep techno, hence Landstrumm has brought to the table four superb reminders of the criminally short lived genre. With spine tingling melodies reminiscent of 808 State’s best work, and sub-bass worthy of LFO’s bass-bin shaking reputation – A Death, a Mexican and a Mormon perfectly encapsulates not only Landstrumm’s influences but also his deep seated love for bleep. A labour of love which the Sheffield based imprint has been only all too happy to encourage and hopes will keep the genre alive for generations to come.
AB2088 aka Andy Brown emerged from the shadows earlier this year with his critically acclaimed debut album ‘Sagittarius’ on Computer Club. TX0 follows up in the form of a mini LP and 7″ single on CPU. Brown has already shown his knack for crafting beautiful red planet-esque techno and this album galvanises his reputation. A number of different tempos and dystopian soundscapes can be found throughout, all held together with jacking TR style sequences.
Following their 50th release milestone CPU celebrate 5th anniversary with a 2×12 LP remix compilation. CPU has been reticent in regards to remixes, with a grand total of zero during its first five years of existence. This all changes with this dedicated remix compilation celebrating the label’s 5th anniversary. The exalted roster have chosen their favourite tracks to remix from the label’s back catalogue and are brought together in a very special 2×12 gatefold sleeve. B12, Jensen Interceptor and Morphology all make an appearance alongside some of the label’s seldom seen artists. There is also a posthumous Microlith remix of Tryphème – Mélodramatique. Electro has again proven its staying power and CPU has played a key role in championing some of the genre’s greatest: bringing new artists to the front line and cementing the status of the established. This five year celebration showcases the diverse tastes and backgrounds of the roster, crossing many genre boundaries – all executed with precision and attention to detail that the label is known for.
Jensen Interceptor aka Mikey Melas returns to CPU with another brutal electro storm. The dance floor is never far from his mind with each track building upon his signature thunderous kicks and android basslines. Melas demonstrates his meticulous knowledge of the genre on this E.P. as he jumps between aquatic synths and no nonsense UR science.
Ahead of their 5th anniversary CPU announce 50th release with rebuilds of 2 rare bleep techno tracks from 1990. Originally released on white label, ‘Move’ was written by Dean Marriott aka D.Ramirez and Lloyd Douglass and recorded in Sheffield in 1990. Only a small run were pressed which is reflected today by their high price on discogs.
Nadia Struiwigh is an electronic music DJ & producer from Rotterdam, Netherlands. Sitting somewhere between Biosphere and Boards of Canada, Struiwigh’s refined downtempo electronica takes you on a journey full of synthesized soundscapes that flirt with ambient techno. Awash with melody and warm electronics, Lenticular is an expertly crafted piece from an artist who has found her sound and is now effortlessly outputting inspiring compositions. Reminiscent of Warp’s Artificial Intelligence series, this is electronic listening music for quiet nights and club drowsy dawns. Both tracks are taken from her forthcoming album of the same name.
Alek Stark’s attention to detail in everything he does is particularly apparent in his music – his tracks are all first class analogue electro. He pulls no punches on this E.P. with heavy 808 percussion alongside a myriad of modular noise and synth workouts. Cold, robotic and reminiscent of early Psyche / BFC with deep chorused pads creating an off-world dystopian theme that runs throughout this release.
The recent passing of Rhys Celeste, the young producer behind the Microlith alias, adds extra poignancy to this posthumous EP. Given the tragic circumstances of his death, it’s hard not to hear a touch of melancholy amongst the yearning synthesizer melodies, fizzing electro beats and “braindance” style TB-303 work of “Acid in a Church”. It’s also true that the chord progressions and melodic structure of electro shuffler “Remember Members” are undeniably poignant, as are the outer-space electronics and sweeping synth-strings at the heart of “8oh8 Freight”. “Backwards”, an eyes-wide-shut chunk of 4/4-electro bliss, feels a little more positive, but is still laden with poignancy. Regardless of the connotations, Subtle Variance is a superb EP. Rest in peace, Rhys.
Intergalactic Lover is the first release on CPU’s new 7″ vinyl series and is the debut single from Daddy Long Legs aka Tom Parker, one half of City Guys and all round ‘FM’ synthesis maestro extraordinaire. Side A’s ‘Intergalactic Lover’ is new wave Kraftwerkian electro funk, with added vocal not too dissimilar to the great Edwyn Collins circa Orange Juice. Side B’s ‘The Club’ could be mistaken for a 1980’s breakdance anthem, poised with casio orchestral stabs, scribble scratches and electro bass designed for the dancefloor, more specifically poppin’ and lockin’.
Following his stunning box set on Fundamental Records, Ed Upton aka DMX Krew makes his third outing on CPU, increasingly becoming home for his darker side. Space Cucumbers contains a wealth of expression with Italo disco arpeggiators, seldom heard time signatures, Hi-NRG, and bass heavy electro funk. Featuring the usual aquatic tendencies mixed with echoes of darkwave. Vintage analogue strings, overdriven acid and Upton’s favourite drum machine all make an appearance riding on his signature funk laced arrangements.
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.
Federico Leocata is an italian audio-visual artist who has exhibited in Athens, Thessaloniki and Catania. Later expanding his art into the field of sound based analysis of the human psyche. First discovered by Heinrich Mueller (Dopplereffekt, Drexciya), Federico released his first EP in 2010 for the Belgian imprint WeMè Records, attracting further interest from labels like Frustrated Funk and Last Known Trajectory. Zunächst vocals by Beta Evers.
Seattle-based electro artist 214 (Two Fourteen) aka Chris Roman has made a welcome, if not inevitable debut on CPU, with 4 tracks of icy beats, bass and bleeps. He begins with the panicked electronics, bubbling synths and snappy rhythms of “Overbridge”, before diving deep into purist electro pastures on the funk-laden brilliance of “Fuel Cells”. Flip for the similarly funky 303 lines, intergalactic melodies and hissing electro beats of “Keep Right”, and the darker, spacier and punchier “Greenbelt”. If you’re on the hunt for some “proper electro”, look no further.
The Hipodrome Of Music 