Detobeat – Cliffs EP [LURID006]

March 15, 2017November 4, 2021 hipodromechirs macintyre, cold wave, detobeat, electro, gene kouzouka, khidja, lena platonos, linus booth, lurid music, marie davidson, todd nickolasLeave a comment

DETOBEAT - Cliffs EP (remixes)

The name DETOBEAT. derives from the home cities of all parties involved in this project: DE/nver (Todd Nickolas), TO/ronto (Linus Booth and Chris Macintyre), BE/rlin (Gene Kouzouka) and AT/hens (Lurid Music). Their debut release features a reworked female vocal version of Ciffs by Marie Davidson, an assaulting techno rework from her Essaie Pas partner Pierre Guerineau, a psychedelic guitar excursion from Khidja, as well as the first ever remix commissioned from legendary greek electronic composer Lena Platonos.

Le Cliché – Consumer Manoeuvres LP [CBR011]

January 5, 2017March 7, 2023 hipodromeadn' ckrystall, cold beats records, cold wave, compilation, delayscape, effetto joule, electro, gay cat park, gerard ryan, john costello, jonteknik, kline coma xero, kremlyn, kubo, ladyslaw, le cliche, mark lane, mick milk, minimal synth, moss garten, post punk, red fetish, shoegaze, spatial relation, synth pop, this is the bridgeLeave a comment

“Consumer Manoeuvres” by Le Cliché is the latest release on Cold Beats Records. Le Cliché is the electronic music project of Gerard Ryan, professor of marketing at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili. The music takes a critical view of the malaise of marketing and its effect on our postmodern consumer society. It deals with serious issues as diverse as consumer privacy, identity, fad diets, fast fashion and the hyper-reality of contemporary advertising. Yet it does so always with an optimistic sarcasm and playfulness. This new collection of songs on Cold Beats Records, entitled Consumer Manoeuvres, started out as a remix project but very quickly turned into an all-together different record, a series of collaboration, covers and reimagining’s of the original music. Cold Beats Records presents some of the most influential electronic artists from the underground, minimal synth and coldwave scene from the last 35 years in an all-together darker record Le Cliché’s other records. Collaborators include Mark Lane, Mick Milk, Kline Coma Xero and Spatial Relation (USA), ADN’ Ckrystall (France), Red Fetish, John Costello, This is the Bridge and Jonteknik (UK), KuBO (Ireland) Moss Garten (Sweden) JJ Ibañex of Kremlyn, and Wladyslaw Triejo (Spain) Delayscape (Denmark), Gay Cat Park and Effetto Joule (Italy).These artists have appeared on many of the most influential darkwave, coldwave, italo and minimal synth music on a host of leading labels including Minimal Wave, Mannequin, Medical Records, Peripheral Minimal, Anna Logue, Domestica, Obscure Identities 1980, Vinyl on Demand, La Forme Lente and Kernkrach.

VA – 3375.1969 [FLEXI019]

November 16, 2016November 8, 2021 hipodrome:codes, cassette, cold wave, colouroid, compilation, electro, flexi wave, futility, marcel wave, ortrotasce, post punk, revigorators, silent em, ssleeping desiress, tannhauser gate, xiuLeave a comment

FlexiWave returns with the follow up to the acclaimed 2012 cassette 290.625”. This new 60C cassette boasts 14 freshly vetted tracks of finest obscure electronica. From the shimmering, pearlesque sounds of Lisa & Kroffes’ “Rönnbär” to the dark and pensive Colouroids banger “Shove” and a new moniker from Silent Em & Portable Morla, Alta Dosis, 3375.1969” gathers a new clutch of artists set to earn FlexiWave another round of praise for their stellar compilations. Also on offer are Scottish/Icelandic duo Revigorators’ Joy Division-inspired Post-Punk/New-Wave excursion “Black Out City”, Black People’s one-of-a-kind textures and caterwauling rhythms on “White Man Is The Devil”, and nine other handpicked, finely crafted sonic gems.

Staccato Du Mal – El Mago En Ti [NOSTILEVO061]

November 12, 2016November 11, 2016 hipodromealbum, cold wave, electro, experimental, minimal synth, nostilevo, ramiro jean-carlo, staccato du malLeave a comment

Miami is a Geministic outpost of complimentary halves: subtropical rainforest and art deco cityscape; unmitigated wealth and staggering poverty; limitless sunshine and equally limitless thunderstorms. From this outpost, culturally and geographically isolated from a state teeming with hillbilly abjection, composer Ramiro Jean-Carlo entertains a unique decadence under the guise of Staccato Du Mal, a project perhaps something of an anomaly in Miami, but no less at home. At turns gauzy and drugged, energized and electric, SDM is analog electronics that would be best heard in a blacklit dance club or a mouldering mansion against the background of any given tropical depression. “El Mago en Ti” shows Jean-Carlo keeping things as sinister as ever, with classic SDM sawtooth baselines and rickety clattering rhythms (Spherical Aberration), “La Gran Evasion”), with the requisite amount of reverb (lots), but with a few surprises: opening track “Drowning Feathers” integrates Jean-Carlo’s affection for classical music into the project, with its complex and sullen chord structure reminiscent of a J.S. Bach organ piece, while the songs “El Mago en Ti” and “Fistful Questioning” showcase an industrial aggression unexplored in the context of SDM.

Synths Versus Me – 1987 [MEC024]

October 17, 2016August 31, 2021 hipodromeboy harsher, cold wave, dirk da davo, electro, mecanica records, minimal synth, nico cabañas, synths versus me, vanessa asbertLeave a comment

SYNTHS VERSUS ME - 1987

Synths Versus Me is a prolific duo formed by Vanessa Asbert and Nico Cabañas. This 12” EP includes two brand new tracks and two exclusive remixes. The original version of 1987” is an atomic bomb of pure vintage EBM in the vein of Signal Aout 42 and Front 242. The remix done by Dirk Da Davo from The Neon Judgement keeps the feeling of the track but adding some drums, guitar samplers and sequences trademarked by this Belgian legend. On the b-side there is the original mix of Aimless Device”, an electro-pop tune with catchy melodies, analogic bass lines and female voices. The remix prepared for this track by the new american sensation Boy Harsher is a surefire dancefloor full of hypnotic beats and dark atmospheres.

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.

VA – Wosto / Kilian Krings Edits [SBZ002]

September 14, 2016December 2, 2021 hipodromeblue garden, cold wave, edits, industrial, kilian krings, l'eponge synthetique, new asia, nocturnal emissions, post punk, s.m. nurse, sign bit zero, suicide commando, wostoLeave a comment

BLUE GARDEN/NOCTURNAL EMISSIONS/SUICIDE COMMANDO/SM NURSE/NEW ASIA/L'EPONGE SYNTHETIQUE - Wosto/Kilian Krings Edits EP

Sign Bit Zero strides onwards with a set of punishing dancefloor interpretations of forgotten industrial gems handpicked by Hamburg’s Wosto and label head honcho, Kilian Krings. While Wosto’s previous output as half of Fallbeil is as much informed by Chicago house as EBM, his contributions to SBZ002 focus on the C90 experimentation which roughens the edges of the duo’s past efforts for Contort Yourself and New York Haunted. Kilian Krings explores his passion for Neue Deutsche Welle and its various offshoots in his edits here, setting a bold statement for the future of both his own and Sign Bit Zero’s no-compromise approach. SBZ002 sheds light on crucial yet often overlooked aspects of 1980s industrial experimentation. Wosto and Kilian Krings morph their discoveries into club-ready headspinners, assured to prove a highlight of any adventurous DJ set.

Ian Hicks – VIY [CDRTP036]

September 6, 2016March 22, 2023 hipodromeacid, cassette, clan destine records, cold wave, experimental, ian hicks, industrial, technoLeave a comment

After crafting the deconstructed synth-pop of Soft Metals for the past 6 years, Portland OR – based synth artist Ian Hicks has resumed his solo output and has delved deeper into exploring the darker, weirder, more mutant alleys of his mind and studio. Inspired by the capricious winter of the Pacific Northwest, early industrial gear experiments, science fiction, horror and the explosion of the modular synthesizer scene in Portland, Ian presents VIY as his initial post-Soft Metals work. VIY is a snap shot of an ever-changing configuration of equipment, textures and moods captured with minimal processing and editing to preserve the original idea in the purest form.

Bernardino Femminielli – L Enfer Et Ses Fils [MINDCS002]

June 6, 2016April 12, 2018 hipodromebernardino femminielli, cassette, cold wave, industrial, mind records, technoLeave a comment

Edition of 100. Cover printed on Curious Metallic Perle Akoya paper. Red transparents tapes.

HIDE – Flesh For the Living [MW005]

April 18, 2016October 6, 2020 hipodromecold wave, hide, industrial, midwich productions, techno, wattsLeave a comment

HIDE - Flesh For The Living

Flesh For the Living is HIDE’s vinyl debut. This 3-track EP contains 3 soon-to-be anthems. Showcasing top-notch production values, these tracks have a physicality that matches their live show. The title track provides a bracing adrenaline rush that will have listeners on their feet, fists in the air. The remix of that track by WATTS (for American Primitive) slows the pace, evoking a cinematic, dreamlike atmosphere. Limb From Limb’ is a sinister side-long stomper that menaces with ethereal vocals, ghostlike percussion and a gut-wrenching low-end hook.

Alessandro Adriani – Montagne Trasparenti [MF111LP]

April 2, 2016June 21, 2024 hipodromealbum, alessandro adriani, cold wave, electro, monofonus press, synth waveLeave a comment

Alessandro Adriani has become a trusted source for all kinds of beyond-the-grave coldwave delights, from Maoupa Mazzochetti to The Neon Judgement. Aside from his work in releasing forgotten gems and up to the minute synth incantations, Adriani has also been quietly issuing out his own music as well. Primarily this has taken the shape of Newclear Waves, having surfaced on split tapes and 7″s on Mannequin as well as an album on Desire back in 2012. Under his own name, production has been less forthcoming, although Adriani did pop up on Nico Fidenco’s 2015 album Zombi Holocaust with a remix of the track “The Magic Is In The Process”. Now though it’s time for the Mannequin boss to delve back into the long player game with Montagne Trasparenti, which is scheduled to land on Monofonus Press in late March. Adriani in fact collaborated with Willie Burns as Interbrain and delivered a track to the IXTAB compilation on the Austin, Texas-based label last year, but now he returns with nine tracks that further expand on his own interpretation of ghoulish body music. According to the label, the album was recorded between Adriani’s native Rome and adopted Berlin, “in various years of travelling, composing, fighting with cables and machines.”

Neugeborene Nachtmusik – Komme, Was Kommen Mag [PETITENFANT013]

March 24, 2016October 18, 2022 hipodromecold wave, enfant terrible, mauritius hermes, neugeborene nachtmusik, petit enfantLeave a comment

Neugeborene Nachtmusik has come up with two rather weird pieces. Dancefloor friendly, playful and bold. Call it Dada pop or anti-pop music or whatever.

Das Ding – Missing Tapes [MW061]

March 19, 2016February 16, 2022 hipodromealbum, cold wave, danny bosten, das ding, electro, minimal synth, minimal wave recordsLeave a comment

DAS DING - Missing Tapes

Minimal Wave presents an album of long lost tracks by Dutch electronic music pioneer Das Ding, entitled “Missing Tapes”. Danny Bosten formed Das Ding as a solo project in the early 1980s and released his music and friends’ music via his own cassette label called Tear Apart Tapes. At the time, he was studying graphic design at art school, and in turn he ended up designing the artwork, cassette-sleeves and illustrations for the label himself. Meanwhile, he recorded his own music as Das Ding. Powerful dark electro, he made several addictive and danceable tracks which later become Minimal Wave hits. Danny made all his music in his bedroom which essentially turned into a small recording studio. He went on to release many of his own tapes and also played some live gigs. Old tapes were uncovered around 2010, and Minimal Wave released a remastered version of “H.S.T.A.” and select other tracks. A wave of renewed interest followed the record’s release and soon people were in touch to propose live shows. Twenty years later, and after some deliberation, Das Ding was reincarnated under its old moniker but now with a revised line-up and a working set-up that reflected inevitable technological change. Recently, Danny came across further tape archives from those early days. And from the batch, we selected our favorites to present to you in vinyl release form.

Momentform – Lapse [EE008RTM]

March 19, 2016May 16, 2025 hipodromecold wave, electro, electronic emergencies records, ianis lallemand, momentform, synth waveLeave a comment

Momentform is the musical project of Ianis Lallemand, a multitalented artist from Paris. After three cassettes and two twelve inches, Momentform has landed on the Electronic Emergencies platform. “Lapse” is a four track 12 inch that is best described as a dark and melodic piece of neo synth wave. The sound is unmistakably analogue. The atmosphere is emotionally charged, haunting and dreamy.

VA – Domestic Landscape Vol 2: Underrated Synth Classics 1982-1990 [DOM026L]

February 25, 2016April 15, 2020 hipodromecold wave, compilation, domestica records, electro, handful of snowdrops, industrial, minimal synth, post punk, robert lawrence, s.m. nurse, synth pop, tranquil eyesLeave a comment

Spain’s Domestica are up to their usual antics, and this time it’s the second instalment of their excellent Domestic Landscape series, a varied and much-coveted collection of perfectly contemporary post-punk and coldwave oddities from the 1980s. We’re in love with every track on here, and we’re not exaggerating, this gear is of the highest calibre, and all very much relevant in a DJ nowadays. Think Optimo in the midst of a smokey, mid-morning set in a dark basement, and you’re almost there. Track upon track of solid gold discofied industrial music. Killer; highly recommended.

VA – So Low [VF170]

February 16, 2016May 16, 2019 hipodromecold wave, compilation, industrial, jd twitch, keith mcivor, post punk, synth wave, the vinyl factoryLeave a comment

Optimo’s prolific DJ/producer/label boss JD Twitch aka Keith McIvor has curated a compilation of early ‘80s synth, industrial and cold wave classics and undiscovered gems in collaboration with The Vinyl Factory, titled So Low. The 16-track collection had its genesis in McIvor’s irregular club night of the same name in his hometown of Glasgow. “So Low is an occasional night at The Poetry Club in Glasgow where I play some of the music I played when I first started DJing back in 1987,” McIvor explains. “At that time the audience I played to mostly loathed what I was playing and rarely danced but then shortly after, when House music arrived I found a different audience who actually liked to dance. In response to my wife’s deep love of this music and requests from some friends who were too young to hear it in a club at the time, or indeed were not even born when most of this music was made, I was persuaded to revisit a lot of records I still loved but rarely played out, and So Low was born. It has an extremely enthusiastic audience, a joyous atmosphere and is the antithesis of what a club in Scotland playing this music nearly 30 years ago would have been like.”

Visonia – Opals Sunflowers [TRAJECTORYLP3]

February 3, 2016February 3, 2016 hipodromealbum, cold wave, dark wave, electro, last known trajectory, nicolas estany, synth pop, visoniaLeave a comment

The second Visonia album out now on Last Known Trajectory. Stunning cold-wave influenced techno and electronics, ‘Opal’s Sunflowers’ continues the new-wave/cold wave theme combined with inimitable romanticism. Coupling emotive elegance with eighties synth-pop influences and the result is quite simply splendid.

Stabat Stable – Ultrissima On The Junk’s Moon [CACHE014LP]

February 3, 2016February 3, 2016 hipodromealbum, cache cache, cacophonic, cold wave, jean-luc aime, minimal synth, stabat stable, synth popLeave a comment

Incredible, idiosyncratic and obscure early 80s French futurist DIY project led by Jean-Luc Aime (Univers Zero) this feature-length album of elusive recordings marks the bone fide axis point where Zeuhl-Skool meets synth pop, dark ambient and early electro culled from rare vinyl and disparate cassette co-op releases for this first ever LP release.

Move – Move [MNQ074]

November 13, 2015July 17, 2019 hipodromealbum, cold wave, mannequin records, move, new wave, post punkLeave a comment

Long sought after by collectors and originally released in 1986 by a small independent label, the sound of this stellar full length is driven by sharp post-punk guitars, tribal rhythms and ghostly synthesizers, following the UK cold wave and post-punk tradition. A forgotten classic, strongly recommended for fans of Joy Division, New Order, Section 25, Killing Joke, Bauhaus, Gang Of Four.

Night Court – Law & Order [NNF313LP]

August 8, 2015April 14, 2021 hipodromealbum, christopher hontos, cold wave, experimental, night court, not not fun records, synth waveLeave a comment

NIGHT COURT - Law & Order

The origins of these enigmatic VHS-scrambled prog-techno explorations are so true and tripped they’re worth quoting in full from co-chairman Christopher Hontos: “Night Court was recorded in July two summers ago (’13) in a remote cabin on Lake Namekagan (located on national forest grounds in northern Wisconsin). We usually do these ball-busting weeklong recording sessions up there with a good group of folks and a grip of mushrooms. For this one we had this idea of setting up our synths on the deck and doing a trippy somnabulistic overnight open-air recording sesh that would be called “Night Court.” However when the time came and the crew got together we interpreted the name literally and ended up jamming out an album of legal system-themed tracks. We recorded the entire album in one day every song in one take and with very little post-production. Track after track flowed and we never drifted from the theme nor spent time diverting our focus (with the exception of Farstad being vetoed after trying to start up a footwork-style track). After the session we were all so burnt-out and fried we thought little of the recordings. But as time passed we went back to them and realized we had struck gold. Italics ours – this is rare ore. A freaked fusion vision, flowing cold city collectivist synths interlaid with executioner guitar, ambulance/TV samples, alley haze, and flashing sirens sax. Insane music for insane times. Its meanings are manifold: political (a sweeping overview of the nothing-specific nature of humanity via the American legal system), metaphoric (tongue-in-cheek turns to fist-in-air, and we realize that life imitates fiction less than fiction imitates life), realistic (at the time of recording none of us had ever seen an entire episode Law & Order).”