Analogical Force welcomes Pye Corner Audio for its 10th release. 4-tracker of raw acid jams from the oppressive mind of Martin Jenkins, the man behind the operation. ‘Island of Ghosts’ includes a wild electro remix by Finnish duo Morphology. Needs no introduction: brutal and beautiful.
Among many of the producer’s aliases and side monikers, Black Zone Myth Chant is surely Maxime Primault’s finest accomplishment as an artist. Having come through via Low Jack’s unfailingly pleasing Editions Gravats over the last few years, he has now begun to establish himself as our go-to man for sounds that truly lie on the periphery of what is deemed normal or sane. Feng Shen is his new LP, once again coming out through Editions Gravats, and it’s a wild, ethereal journey from start to finish. The frameworks are loose and cavernous, but most tracks going further than ambient or drone do contain plenty of rhythmic flow, making them playable on the more open-minded of dancefloors. “Spiritual Decay Dub” perfectly reflects the diversity of sounds on here, their mysticism, and Black Zone Myth Chant’s ability to construct meaning out of sparse sounds.
Berlin’s Mechatronica with a new VA compilation featuring The Exaltics, Drvg Cvltvre, Le Chocolat Noir and Kluentah. The Exaltics and Drvg Cvltvre pack the A-side with gritty, hypnotizing acid burners, relentlessly paced and bound to induce frenzy. On the flip, Le Chocolat Noir and Kluentah (50% of Hamburg duo Fallbeil) dive deep into analogue driven electro trips, culminating with Kluentah’s 9-minute journey ‘Nightliner’.
Dj Richard returns with another stunning release on Dial Records: Path Of Ruin. Inspired by the rather harsh magic of New England in winter – the place where the three tracks have been recorded – Dj Richard creates a wide and dark raving beauty.
Umwelt returns to Shipwrec for his third 12″ on the dutch label in as many years. Encoding the Future sees the French pioneer deliver five tracks of on point electronics. Umwelt is known for his trademark sound of piercing percussion, serrating synthlines and industrial strength bass. These elements are all present on this latest EP but have been carved back to allow strings to soar and pads to resonate. New plains are explored. Frigid elegance is juxtaposed by coarse chords, deep basslines countered by lilting lines. Encoding the Future opens a new chapter for the Lyons based producer as he dives into new textures and tones whilst remaining tethered to his cold electro roots.
Closing the Vivod map series is Alessandro Parisi with this stunning EP, ‘Belmont’s Revenge’. 3 tracks in his slo-mo horror jak trade mark style. ‘Crossfire’ kicks things off nicely with it’s pulsing groove followed by ‘Ravens’, a slower, brooding type of soundtrack. Flip over for a remix of ‘Sages’ by the mighty Mick Wills who has done some nice work here. It builds and builds, perfect for getting lost in the fog and strobe. B2 is the original version from Parisi, a much slower, majestic cathedral horror affair.
PossblThings Records return with the debut single of Leipzig-based Milium. This record contains your blend of Lust & Angst, compiled for and dedicated to the club. “Addis Abeba” equals Side A – a collocation of groaning machines, bittersweet strings and seducing bass synths, defined with the aid of befriended producer Kator. Side B equals “Lord Stanley’s Cup” – a cloudy hike into that weird place where EBM and Electro meet.
New long player from Manchester’s Claro Intelecto. Entitled ‘Exhilarator’, the 13 track album marks a return to action for the esteemed producer. A cinematic album of icy techno, weighty bass and poignant melody. From plaintive keys and slow motion drums awash with melody to corrugated industrial drums that don’t let up, this is a diverse album in both mood and texture. Moments of ambient celestial beauty exist next to breezy and summery grooves while skewed and sludgy acid sits next to serene underwater dub. Stewart’s mission to step outside his usual self has resulted in another landmark electronic album.
‘Lesser Mysteries’ brings together 5 up and coming acts to present a widescreen view on electro. Ben Cohen opens the EP with the atmospheric, hazy Entrance, Monotoxine uneases the ride with the squelchy, demented Positive Thinking. On the flip Tharsis Shelter Unit’s Start Transmission unfolds the B side with a sharp blow, before Stratowerx steps up with the impassioned Zero Hour Dispatch. Furious Frank closes the EP with the resonant Night Rider.
A high-profile collaboration between rising star Vectorvision (AKA Dallas producer Brian Bishop) and all-round legend Convextion (AKA Gerard Hanson). In its original form, ZY Clone is something of a beast, sitting somewhere between the heavy, angular, acid-laced Dutch electro sound and the melodious, synth-laden, deep space bliss of Hanson’s usual Convextion fare. Bishop goes solo to provide the obligatory flipside remix, layering waves of glacial, cascading synthesizer lines and spacey chord progressions over an action-packed drum machine workout. Naturally, both sides are rich in bustling analogue drum machine hits and vintage synthesizer motifs.
Continue reading “Vectorvision vs Convextion – ZY Clone [LWK6]”
Late Night Approach debuts on Klakson with a hyper funky electro twelve. The two tracks on the A side both show machine music that’s simultaneously human, whether it’s the melancholic shards of melody buried under “Clarence Mews” commanding rhythmic pulsations, or the beautifully striking chords on “Luvquest”. However, the b-side takes us to gloomy subterranean pastures with the uptempo banger “Primo”, while A2 “Kit” crosses over into broken beats but still keeps the same shadowy atmosphere.
Spoiled Drama reemerges exhibiting their darker side on “This is Our Mission”, their debut on the label embodiment of Berlin’s Fleisch collective. The five track EP exhibits a unique range and dexterity, blurring lines between the realms of techno, EBM, acid and electro with a touch of maladjusted pop and post-punk. From the anxious beat and shimmering tones of “Another Death Experience” to the ritualistic war drums and heavily distorted vocals of “Kisses Are Out of Fashion”, expect to feel dizzied, unnerved, yet beckoned to move. The eponymous track closes out the EP in an undeniably Drexciyan fashion, low-pitched vocals emerging from watery depths in lush sweeping pads and dissonant melodies. A mission accomplished with style.
Tranceonic is the duo of Carlos Perón and Boris Blank of Yello who met in 1971 in their hometown of Zürich. From 1973 to 1976 they played in the New Wave group Urland. After the split of the group Perón founded the Tranceonic studio with his equipment in his private flat. Carlos invited Boris over to his studio and a concentrated work began. The idea was to make experimental new music with the hopes of having a hit in the United States. Everybody at this time was into punk, but Tranceonic loved industrial and electronic sounds. Their foresight and innovation created new ideas. Perón and Blank made electronic avant-garde music informed by the Berlin and Cologne schools. By 1978 the two had enough material to record an album and made a trip to San Francisco to visit Ralph Records. The Residents promised to release the music if the duo removed all the tape hiss, which never materialized. ‘New Crime’ is the first ever vinyl compilation of material produced, recorded, performed and mixed at Tranceonic Studio between 1976-1979.
The Hipodrome Of Music 