Downwards Records present a full circle label showcase featuring the noisier, leftfield end of Techno.
compilation
VA – LGBT Rights for Russia Now!
Russia’s official policy and attitude towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people has fallen down a slippery slope. This is a compilation by 24 left-field techno producers to raise money, awareness and show our support to the Russian LGBT people.
VA – Acid: Mysterons Invade The Jackin’ Zone Vol.2 (Record B) [SJR266B]
Super-loud supreme audiophile 180gm double-vinyl housed in deluxe gatefold sleeves and polyethylene inners, complete with full graphic novel inside, contains complete full-length 12” original fully-remastered heavyweight Chicago acid at its loudest and best.
VA – Italia Synthetica 1981-1985 [SPITTLE034LP]
This LP + bonus CD features the entire track listing, plus 5 bonus tracks from the Italia New Wave LP. This album represents the musical mutation that occurred after the post-punk hangover gave way to more frigid emotional shores, in-line with the synth-wave moment that was sweeping Europe and the white cliffs of Albion. This scene flourished in Italy between 1981-1985, and the musicians that came out of it are still revered today (particularly in the US). Robotic rhythms and intuitions that, besides sharing common ground with the electronic movements that had come before, also knew how to fill up the dancefloor! Featuring four previously unreleased tracks by Der Blaue Reiter, along with tracks by Modo, Actor’s Studio and La Maison, as well as the still fresh sounding contributions by true pioneers of the genre Neon and Naif Orchestra.
VA – Various II [030LP003]
The second comp on Holland’s 030303 shows the beauty, depth and variety of the Roland TB-303 more than ever in the history of the label. Moving away from IDM and braindance this time, all that’s presented to you is gorgeous dancefloor mayhem with great personality. Contributions by Elec Pt.1, Jonny 3 Snares, Automatic Tasty, Cosmic Force and Dexter all have a classic yet leftfield feel to it. About half of the 10 tracks diverge a little from this excellent recipe. Roy of the Ravers’ track ‘Acid Hors d’Oevre’ stands out for it melodic raving ecstacy; the track may well be the main hit of the Bangface-style rave community this year. Further down the line, Kid Machine’s ‘Mirage’ brings impressive synth-wave-disco madness on a distinctive 80s tip – this one is for fans of Legowelt. Then Jared Wilson’s cut – amazingly – brings us back to the time we first heard Choice’s ‘Acid Eiffel’: classic stuff that will never bore the ones who feel it. Another BIG one is for Drvg Cvltvre who delivers some down-to-midtempo sickness, distantly reminiscing of 33 1/3’s ‘Searchin”, but then on acid.
VA – Circuit D’Actes Vol. 3 [LFL008]
The third installation of the Circuit D’Actes series from Belgian-French label La Forme Lente. In keeping with the spirit of its acclaimed predecessors, this new release offers a focus on modern acts (2 tracks each) as much as an overview of all things synth-based. From Position Parallèle (Geoffroy D of Dernière Volonté) and Kline Coma Xero’s dark romanticism to the self-described “No future pop” of Illustration Sonore (feat. members of Dolina, Âme de Boue, Jeunesse Fantôme and Froe Char) and Új Látásmód Fúzió /Post-Festum minimalistic soundscapes or Shiny Black Mater’s (former Le Syndicat Electronique) take on 19th century nursery rhyme, every track is striking evidence of the creative forces within the synth wave scene.
VA – Datafunk v1.0 [AFSLP001]
Adventurous electro project featuring a what might be regarded as a who’s-who in the current electro scene, reeling-in names such as DJ Stingray, DMX Krew, Ian Martin, Shemale, Elec Pt.1; with perhaps lesser known talents such as Linear Synthesis, Federico Leocata, Koova and Das Muster. A fine selection of tracks which successfully presents fresh sounds by tried-and-tested names, while simultaneously introducing upcoming and arguably lesser known, but by no means any less talented artists.
DJ Sprinkles – Where Dancefloors Stand Still [MM158]
Who knows better about revealing emotions on the dancefloor then Terre Thaemlitz worldwide known writer, public speaker, multimedia producer, dj, audio producer, and head honcho of Comatonse Recordings. His deep house alias DJ Sprinkles began life in the gay clubs of midtown Manhattan and New Jersey in the late eigthies and early nineties a time when deep house began to take air. The mix grooves with DJ Sprinkles’ trippy mixing signature that playfully melts tracks who are built of flying piano notes, arresting tactile basslines, straight kicking drums, and magnetic layered samples. a deeply cathartic piece of a DJ mix that transforms dancing into a ritual in which dancers do rhythmic body painting that amalgamtes the indivual identity into a collective.
VA – Mosaic Reshaped & Unreleased [SUSH023]
A long-overdue reappraisal of Steve O’ Sullivan’s efforts as a producer is underway with this bumper release from Sushitech. Collating the myriad aliases of the Mosaic boss and drawing on some on his co-conspirators such as Mark Ambrose and Jorge Zamacona, this triple vinyl beast of a package is overflowing with high-grade house music powered with the attitude of techno. There’s a classic feel to all the tracks here as they carry the torch for Basic Channel and the original dub techno ethos, but attaching the spacious, mysterious tones to a funkier template. That possibly oversimplifies the majestic quality to this breed of techno, but then of course the devil is in the details.
VA – Panorama Bar 05 [OSTGUTCD025]
Esteemed selector, producer and Panorama Bar resident Steffi presents the fifth mix CD in the series, showcasing the variety and depth of sound to be found during her sets at the club. In ‘Panorama Bar 05’ we find a mature and confident Steffi channeling her years of experience as a record collector, DJ and beat-maker into 80 seamless minutes. Reflecting all the angles of her classically inspired, raw and profoundly warm sound, we are guided through a rather grand lesson in House music. Steffi shows off her talents here with a captivating and classy mix of underground House and Techno. All the tracks she included, and the producers she invited to contribute, help to define part of her identity – much like the culture of DJing with records, that she brings to clubs with love, intensity and passion.
VA – Dark Matters Too: Tales Of Enlightenment [LSD010]
The superb Light Sounds Dark return with perhaps our favourite release so far in the shape of Dark Matters Too: Tales Of Enlightenment. This 13 track collection was allegedly compiled with the august help and knowledge of Intergalactic Communication Network, a group said to include the following individuals; Rick Strassman (M.D) and Slawek Wojtowicz (M.D), Mutant Beat Dance and Beppe Loda. Whether we believe Light Sounds Dark or not, Dark Matters Too: Tales Of Enlightenment remains a superb compendium of rare and obscure dark wave, primitive electro and cosmic slop with not a artist the Juno review team recognises! The opening two tracks demonstrate the sheer variety here with ramshackle shamanic underworld funk of Dementia Precox followed by ultra-rare vocoder jam of Popsong’s Factory (think a Japanese Felix Kubin). Beyond that CHBB’s “Go Go Go” sounds like the pummeling prototype to the superb recent Streetwalker LP and “Giving Head To Kilian” could be mistaken for White Savage Dance era Karl O Connor.
Sandwell District – Fabric 69 [FABRIC137]
Over the course of ten active years, Sandwell District were responsible for disarming and destabilizing the structures that gagged free-form expression, drawing upon tenets of DIY-post-punk culture to disrupt accepted ideas of exactly what it meant to be an artist, label, DJ or producer. During this time, the collective’s core members, Function (Dave Sumner) and Regis (Karl O’Connor) (along with label partner, Silent Servant), played a key role in broadening the link between early electronic, post-punk, and noise; an influence which continues to resonate in the burgeoning, and shape-shifting, modern-day techno scene. With this mix, another genuine artefact has been added to the Sandwell legacy, a document of their skewed presence and existence, a treasure guaranteeing the kind of quality that electronic music compilations rarely achieve. In 1 hour 15 minutes, the pairing of Regis and Function succeed in presenting and executing some of the most potent flourishes in the Sandwell catalogue, distilling them into a coherent body of work that masterfully defines the current techno zeitgeist. Few contemporary producers have bettered the merciless techno blueprint laid down by this collective, and few ever will.
Continue reading “Sandwell District – Fabric 69 [FABRIC137]”
Petre Inspirescu – Fabric 68 [FABRIC135]
The Romanian Petre Inspirescu has exclusively used his own unreleased productions for fabric 68 makes. Petre’s recent and newfound love and appreciation of classical music permeates the deep structures and rhythms of fabric 68. Everything about the music that makes up the mix is long and liquid, silky and sinewy, with myriad different bass, instrumental and percussive threads wobbling and scurrying their way along.
“I recorded the mix at home and arranged only from my own productions, as I wanted to try to offer a more classical touch to the music I make for the dancefloor and to present it to people. Some of the songs were recorded more than one year ago, maybe two, and some recently. The songs include recordings with a trio (violin, cello, piano) in my studio, other instruments, voice (soprano) and modular sounds.”
VA – The Lifesaver Compilation [PLAYRJCCD010]
After a string of twenty plus 12-inches, various high-flying mix-compact-discs, other audio-visual eccentricities and even books, she is finally ready to make a collection public that embodies the very character of Live At Robert Johnson and its affiliated club in Offenbach am Main. During this collection of 11 tracks, you will meet old and new companions; hear withdrawn songs and extrovert composi- tions, experience Frankfurt skyline techno-soul, hobo house and divergent disco. Starting off with new kid on the block Chinaski and an extended mix of the fragile “Lunch”, Live At Robert Johnson old hands Massimiliano Pagliara and Lauer are on top of their respective games, Roman Flügel sends warped and gifted droid funk, The Citizen’s Band precedes him, while newcomers Benedikt Frey and Orson Wells set good examples of their own. Not too shabby either: San Laurentino in his state of overjoy, Portable and Lcio bring their flutes of mellow madness, while the Tuff City Kids close of with “People Is A Crackhead” and some blue-eyed steppers business. Modern, old-fashioned, post-nostalgic, history-addicted and future-ridden all at the same time, “The Lifesaver Compilation” is exactly that: a life saving apparatus.
Rick Wilhite – Connecting The Compass [RS007]
This bumper 3×12″ release sees Joe Babylon’s Roundabout Sounds imprint enlisting the help of respected Detroit house artist Rick Wilhite to curate a compilation of unreleased house tracks from like-minded contemporaries under the appropriately titled Connecting The Compass. Highlights out of the 11 track compilation, which includes the likes of Theo Parrish, Baaz and Sean Tate are numerous, but there are several standout moments; Karizma’s “I Think” lays tracky breakbeats over a sonorous synth melody, Marcellus Pittman’s “Wolf & Moonbeams” pairs otherworldly synths and an improvised analogue melody with a low-slung bass led groove, and Norm Talley’s “Track From The East” is a devastingly simple combination of driving claps and pitched organ chords.
Calibre – Fabrivlive.68 [FABRIC136]
Dominick Martin’s a little bit of an anomaly in terms of contemporary drum & bass. Having been active and continually releasing music under his Calibre alias since 1998, it feels a little odd in a modern world so besotted with over sharing to think that he’s never had a remix made of his material, nor has ever released a commercial mix CD or ever managed an online presence. He’s one of those artists whose reputation simply precedes him; thanks in a large part to his incredible body of work that covers seven artist albums and countless 12”s, EPs and remixes. It’s an outlook Calibre draws on quite heavily for the duration of FABRICLIVE 68, using his own music and that of his peers to create a mix that’s both reflective of the way that he plays when he DJs and the bafflingly bountiful body of work he’s produced.
VA – The Thing From The Crypt [DE036]
Dark Entries is proud to present “The Thing From The Crypt,” a 16-track compilation of UK DIY/Synth/New Wave/Post-Punk originally released in 1981. Showcasing the thriving post punk sound of Watford, a town in Hertfordshire, England, located 20 minutes northwest of central London. “‘The Thing From The Crypt’ neither attempts to sell a ‘Wotford sound’ nor claims to be a comprehensive guide to the area’s best beat bands. Like all good compilations, its essence is variety: some tracks will make you come whilst other will make you vomit.” – original liner notes by Robert Dellar.
This compilation features 8 bands with two songs included by each group.
VA – Exploitation [ENFANTET017]
‘Exploitation’ is the new film by Dutch independent filmmaker Edwin Brienen. Enfant Terrible produced the soundtrack for this gothic-noir satiric fresco. 90 minutes of music to be enjoyed both as true soundtrack as well as a sequel to previous Enfant Terrible compilations… but more dramatic and ritualistic in the way the record is building up. It will please fans of minimal electronics and (post) industrial music but also moves into different styles such as idm, tekno, angst pop and chanson, while always keeping a dark and cold mood and/or dream state feeling throughout.
VA – Dead Cities Vol.1 [EYED001]
Portuguese duo Photonz curate Dead Cities compilation – whose title is inspired by the Future Sound of London album of the same name – which is the most articulate expression yet of their love of warped electronic music. Limiting the selection to a group of artists who are close, local Portuguese talent is prominent and due to this tightly-knit approach, there is a cohesive sound on the compilation, but it could never be called smooth or polished.
Sadar Bahar – Soul In The Hole [BBE165CLP]
Few can match BBE when it comes to the funk and disco compilation stakes – the label’s been issuing killer compendiums curated by some of the finest and most eminently knowledgeable DJs and diggers since the mid 90s. Soul In The Hole sees them hand the controls to Sadar Bahar, Chicago based DJ described by BBE as the city’s “best kept secret”, one of the most sought after DJ’s in the world of soul, funk and disco. Together with Lee Collins he selected 12 tracks for this compilation, all rare treasures, traversing through a colourful range of funk, soul, disco and boogie, with Frederic Mercier’s “Spirit” a real gem.
The Hipodrome Of Music 