E.R.P. / Duplex – FR-DPX [FR-DPX]

Texan bandpass thrills and some harbour city sorrow on this split Frustrated Funk / DPX twelve. Frustrated Funk’s latest missive boasts cuts from two of electro’s most reliable artists: Convextion man Gerard Hanson (under the deep electro E.R.P. guise) and Rotterdam scene stalwarts Duplex. Hanson handles the A-side, delivering a punchy, club-ready electro workout rich in intergalactic electronics, Egyptian Lover style synth flourishes and restless drum machine cowbells. Interestingly, it’s a far bolder and retro-futurist affair than we’ve come to expect from the dreamy and emotion-rich E.R.P. project. Ironically, Duplex’s atmospheric and spacey “Molecular (Ovatow Reclock)” is undeniably deep and sumptuous, matching Hanson’s most melodious and evocative moments.

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E.R.P. / Duplex – FR-DPX [FR-DPX]

E.R.P. – Afterimage [FFLP001]

Convextion man Gerard Hanson may have been releasing spacey and atmospheric electro E.Ps as E.R.P. since 1996, but “Afterimage” is still the project’s first full-length outing. It is, of course, superb. Few can make this kind of deep, emotive and melodious electro quite as well as Hanson, and “Afterimage” arguably includes some of his finest material in this style. Highlights include the bustling rhythms, lilting chords and bubbly electronics of “Overcast”, the deep, slow and poignant bliss of “Wishing Still”, the deep space dancefloor shuffle of “Remembrance”, the crystalline melodies and hard-hitting drums of “Noetic” and the ultra-dreamy rhythmic ambient closing cut “Forlorn”. It is, though, all utterly beguiling.

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E.R.P. – Afterimage [FFLP001]

Elecktroids – Elektroworld [C#CC035LP]

Clone Classic Cuts reissue of the illustrious ‘Elecktroids’ one and only album from 1995. “Based in Flint, Michigan, USA the four young sons of an electrician welded together their debut album. This album, titled Elektroworld, is a personal tribute to the well known pioneers of the electro-disco-beat; Kraftwerk.”

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Elecktroids – Elektroworld [C#CC035LP]

VEF 317 – VEF Radio [YUY-PT-RM]

VEF 317 - VEF Radio

This is the story about a love affair with once modern technologies. It’s told by Soviet drummachines and Sci-Fi synthlines arranged in playful minimalism and mixed with Detroit futuristics. A Leipzig label collaboration between YUYAY, PossblThings and R.A.N.D. presents this multifaceted music by Kirill Junolainen.

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VEF 317 – VEF Radio [YUY-PT-RM]

Carl Finlow – Boolean EP [CKNOWEP12]

Carl Finlow’s Beckoned EP was the first EP on Craigie Knowes back in 2016, since then he’s seen a string of releases under various guises on some of the world’s most prolific electro labels. The Boolean EP is stacked with 5 UK electro tracks that embody a lifetime dedication the genre, untouchable technicality and superior sound design. This record is a trip through clouds of stellar dust with the power to rumble any dancefloor exposed to its radiation.

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Carl Finlow – Boolean EP [CKNOWEP12]

Djedjotronic – Cruising [CPU01000010]

DJEDJOTRONIC - Cruising

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.

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Djedjotronic – Cruising [CPU01000010]

Ectomorph – Subsonic Vibrations [IT001]

The debut record from Ectomorph that launched it all — the project, and the label Interdimensional Transmissions in 1995. This is the first time it has been repressed in over a decade, and it’s using the original masters complete with 3 lock grooves cut by Ron Murphy.

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Ectomorph – Subsonic Vibrations [IT001]

Ectomorph – Stalker [IT-42]

Ectomorph occupy a unique and strange place within Detroit Techno history. Founded in 1994, they released their first 12″ singles in 1995 as an attempt to make Detroit music for Detroit itself, rather than exclusively for export. The mystique of their early singles led to mythic status and a strong underground cult following, which they have continued to develop through releases on their own Interdimensional Transmissions label. Their live shows are legendary for their ability to fluidly incorporate improvisational techniques into synthesized music (and for the sheer amount of hardware that they bring to the stage). The Ectomorph show is all analog, no computers or samplers or even drum machines: all sounds come from the modulars and the mountains of Moogs. Ectomorph (now officially comprised of BMG & Erika) reconvened in 2016 to write new music, which led to a series of live shows where the new material was tested via performance and allowed to evolve in form. To capture the energy of these performances, the new material was recorded in the studio totally live, multitracked for further engineering, but with no editing whatsoever. The entire album was recorded live in one or two takes in the Interdimensional Laboratories in Detroit. This is the sound of the idea that is Ectomorph, presented in its natural and organic format, live and improvisational.

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Ectomorph – Stalker [IT-42]

Dopplereffekt – Athanatos [LSR022]

Detroit electro legends Dopplereffekt return to Leisure System for their fourth release on the Berlin based imprint. Athanatos is named after the angel of the planet Mercury in ancient Greek mythology, but that isn’t so much the theme. Here the duo again explore subjects related to genetic conditions and chromosomal influences that define mortality across the EP’s five tracks. After the brooding sonic landscapes of the title track , it’s classic Mitchell & Nhan all the way on the majestic electronic funk of “Hayflick Limit” while devilishly enchanting slow burners like “Telomere” or “Mitosisin” lock you in with their hypnotic grasp. Raster-Noton founders Carsten Nicolai (who did the artwork) and Olaf Bender are said to have collaborated with the pair on this release.

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Dopplereffekt – Athanatos [LSR022]

Heinrich Mueller – False Vacuum [WEME313.20]

This is the first time any of Heinrich Mueller’s highly sought after remodels/reworks have been compiled together. Many have been previously available only on limited releases and have patiently been awaiting discovery by a wider audience. These 9 specially selected examples embrace all facets of his approach. First up is the ultra smooth and minimal ‘Fadin’ Away’ by The Hacker from 2000, probably one of his most sublime and timeless creations. Then jump forward to 2011 when he serves up an infectious and sparse slice of robot funk for Albert van Abbe’s ‘NCS_0009121010’. By the time of Alek Stark’s ‘Halo 6’ (2014) he’s still got the dance-floor on his mind, but it’s located on an alien or perhaps underwater world in some dimension parallel to our own. In 2009 he works for the first time with fellow Drexciyan traveller DJ Stingray and delivers the hard edged but still quite delicate ‘Drone FX’. Jump to 2005 and he conjures the playfully disjointed ‘P.O.M. (Time Dilation Mix 2)’ for Duplex. In 2000, when he had a close relationship to the label, International DeeJay Gigolo, who were releasing Dopplereffekt and the first fruits of Der Zyklus, they commissioned him to make a series of groundbreaking mixes. On one of which he got to mesh his own futuristic vision with that of Stanley Kubrick on ‘Dave’ by Station Rose. The other closes this collection and is another of his most accessible works, with the best bassline, ‘What Use’ by the legendary ’70s San Francisco band, Tuxedomoon. In 2011 he also produced a darkly atmospheric and relentlessly mechanical interpretation of DJ Stingray’s ‘The Sadist’. In 2003, another of his best production efforts, again aimed off-squarely at yet another form of mutant dance floor, came out of a total revamp of an untitled track by The Advent. Fittingly this was originally included on Recreations, an album where artists were invited to do what Heinrich Mueller does best.

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Heinrich Mueller – False Vacuum [WEME313.20]

Spiral Deluxe – Voodoo Magic [AX076]

As Electronic Music knows no creative boundaries, Spiral Deluxe is clearly a profound and convincing example of what is possible in the times we live in today. Traditionally, they would be considered a musical quartet. Each of the 4 members contributing to make a special joint effort – the meeting of minds from different spectrums of the musical sphere, but if you move in closer to examine how each have modified the way they communicate in order to play with each other, its astonishing because it shows a entirely new platform on how collaborating can be from now on. A longtime vision of their drummer/percussionist and Jeff Mills – yes, that Jeff Mills! Before becoming the world renown and groundbreaking DJ, producer and artist he is recognized for, he was a drummer in his youth, which carried on up until he began DJing in the late 1970s. Since then, he had always carried idea to get back to his musical roots. This longtime dream began to surface a few years ago when Mills was bestowed a “white card” residency at the Museum du Le Louvre in Paris. It was there that he found the opportunity to form a band for one night and it opened the doors to a chance to materialize his dream. Since then, the formation has carefully evolved into one might describe as a “super band” – a group of highly skilled musicians, working together to reach a higher level of creativity. For example, although members are using electronic instruments, there is no MIDI syncing connection. Each plays their instrument un-attached as if any Jazz or Rock band would play together. Each having a vast amount of experience in live and studio projects, this release displays their wealth of skill and musical knowledge that comes from Jazz, Funk, Pop, Gospel, Detroit Techno and all forms of House Music. Yumiko Ohno – Keyboard, Gerald Mitchell – Keyboard, Kenji “Jino” Hino – Bass Guitar, Jeff Mills – Drums and Percussion.

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Spiral Deluxe – Voodoo Magic [AX076]

Nullptr – AFTRMTH [CPU01000000]

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.

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Nullptr – AFTRMTH [CPU01000000]

Reedale Rise – Luminous Air [KONDI019]

Kondi welcomes Reedale Rise to the imprint with his debut album. The Liverpool wonder AKA Simon Keat has impressed almost everyone with his unique take on classic house and techno compositions in a wide range. Beautiful synth pads, punchy, crunchy and groovy electro beats arranged around a good old fashioned analogue synth bass with a characteristic bending synth lead sound on top is really hard not to love and pretty much sums up what Reedale Rises electrofunk journeys are all about. Luminous Air is one big lush, joyful and emotional ride throughout the late summer breeze and is a sure hit whether you go for a party on the beach, a nighttime drive on HWY1 or just need an easy night with a drink on the balcony.

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Reedale Rise – Luminous Air [KONDI019]

VA – NDATL 10 Year Special Edition 2018 [NDATLSE2018]

NDATL celebrates ten years with a compilation featuring label boss Kai Alcé, Kyle Hall, Mike Huckaby, Omar-S and others.

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VA – NDATL 10 Year Special Edition 2018 [NDATLSE2018]

Posatronix – Danz EP [DBC4W-030]

Released in 1997, the sound of electro / techno came to a point where it had to evolve into a new and more grounded entity, keyed into funk / space & rooted origins that reflected an ever-changing landscape throughout Detroit and the ‘Aux-Quadrant’. The bouncy bass line soul of ‘Posatronix’ project emerges in silence among several platforms without hint of a proper biography or introduction. Now in 2018, we re-introduce these dance floor/ dj crate mainstays that have continued to be cherished classics from the very men that not only too rhythmically-funky electro by storm, but raised the bar and took matters into their own hands. 100% Mechanical Electronic Funk.

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Posatronix – Danz EP [DBC4W-030]