/DL/MS/ are Daniel Lodig aka Lok44 and Martin Sovinz aka Dibek, two of Vienna’s electro elite.
electro
VA – NDFT002 [NDFT002]
One year after its first release, Nagual Drift is back on the radar, exploring a panel of emotions and a wide range of sounds and feelings. This Various Artists compilation features contrasting atmospheric shades of the dance floor. From acidic house tools to blooming ethereal soundscapes, bright and buoyant breakbeat to melancholic cuts from the left field of house to deep, dark and sorrowful techno. NDFT002 is a drifting, shifting landscape of collected emotional music from a pool of talented producers.
Lab Rat XL – Mice or Cyborg [CAL011/C#31LP]
For those not schooled in Drexciyan history, Lab Rat XL was a short-lived alternative alias of the legendary Motor City electro duo. Mice or Cyborg, the project’s only release, originally appeared on Clone in 2003, just months after member James Stinson passed away. It remains a superb example of timeless, otherworldly electro and techno fusion, with Stinson’s penchant for ethereal melodies, atmospheric chords and fizzing drum machine rhythms – such a regular feature of his work with both Drexciya and the Other People Place – rightfully coming to the fore. Naturally, the inherent positivity of some of the tracks is counter-balanced by clandestine creepiness in others, making Mice or Cyborg a brilliantly balanced and hugely entertaining collection of cuts.
VA – Element: Earth [EL001]
Electronic Leatherette is the new label from Riga based producer Dmitry Distant. After years of making electro and wave music he decided to create a new story and run his label. With a first release label provides a series of 4 basic nature elements. As a fundament of everything this release is dedicated to element Earth and can bring you though atmosphere of esotoric electronic music within guides from Vessel in Distress, Heinrich Dressel, Franck Kartell and new comer name from same planet MSRG. Enjoy your travel and sound scape.
Mark Knekelhuis @ Dekmantel Selectors 25.08.2017
Sonar Base – Sonar Bases 4-10 [DPTX-009]
Twenty years after the Sonar Base 4 – 10 release on the legendary Dutch record label U-Trax, it is now time for an official high quality remastered vinyl re-issue on Deeptrax Records. The rare original was very hard to find and is considered as one of the highlights of Dutch electro and techno. The Dutchman Frank de Groodt a.k.a Sonar Base is hitting hard with a perfect blend of 70 minutes of aquasonic electro, intergalactic boogie and deep techno. This bass oriented, mind bending album is considered one of The Netherlands best kept secrets and has been a fave amongst connaisseurs, selectors and DJs around the globe for many years. A real post apocalyptic gem from Utrecht that is as fresh and sharp as it was originally released 20 years ago. The tracks are full bodied, muscular pieces of electro and techno with hidden melodies and savage beats upon clever bass lines. This is just the first one of a series by Sonar Base released on Deeptrax Records.
SCB – Old Media New Society [HF047]
Scuba drops another four cuts as SCB on Hotflush Recordings this December. Paul Rose first launched his SCB moniker in 2010, going on to appear on labels like Ostgut Ton, Aus Music and Nonplus until 2014. This year saw the pioneering British producer revisit his darker alias with a dystopian themed release on Hotflush – he now returns with four more twisted and ominous productions.
Z.I.P.P.O & Hiver – The Age Of Singularity [FIDES007]
Another excellent soulful record on Fides. This new collaborative project by Z.I.P.P.O & Hiver contains four special cuts: Dub Techno, Electro, IDM inspired.
Juanpablo – DW Podcast 36
Muzikalist – Nightshade #71
VC-118A live @ Temple (Athens) 25.11.2017
Cignol – Hidden Galaxies [CC06]
Cignol fires up the blasters and sets a course for ‘Hidden Galaxies’ – a 303 fuelled electro trip into the outer reaches of the unknown universe. Delving through throbbing gristly bass lines, pounding, intricate ‘click clack’ drum programming and aquatic, electric cool.
Neil Landstrumm and The Horrorist – The Strange Self EP [DMX06]
Domina Trxxx welcomes two legends to the Family. Mr Neil Landtsrumm and The Horrorist. Their great collaboration comes around with an additional remix by Tobias Schmidt.
Volta Cab – Johnny 320 EP [FRV027]
Frigio is hooking up with Russian electronic explorer Volta Cab for a four tracker of shadowy disco darkness. Thick drum patterns are shot through with strobe as “Johnny 320” enters the room. Swaggering onto the floor, this greased thug means business. Samples mutter intent as grooves grind and twist their way into the late hours. Juanpablo lowers the lights for his remake. Rhythms richochet and basslines loom in this lewd and dramatic track, a piece born in the grit and sweat of the floor under a haze smoke. The lights are kept low for the flip. “Immortal Fix” spikes and spins, laser beam synthlines cut through rumbling chords with snares that do more than just bear teeth. Italy’s Hesperius Draco closes Johnny 320 with giallo horror grandeur. Beats and words are shrouded in lilting strings for this sinister curtain fall.
Josh Cheon – Dark Entries: RA Label of the month
VA – Snow Robots Volume 4 [SUNCTION043]
Formed in 1997, and inaugurated that year with a split 12” from newcomers and label founders, Solvent and Lowfish, this year Suction Records celebrates it’s 20th anniversary with the reintroduction of their famed Snow Robots series of compilations. While originally started as a North American answer to UK electronix labels like Rephlex, Skam and Warp Records, a sound that is still a staple of the current Suction Records catalog, Suction’s sound has also swerved into new territories, reflecting our love of dark ‘80s electronic music synthpop, EBM, and beyond…. Snow Robots Volume 4 features an international array of artists, from Suction Records mainstays like Digital Poodle, June, Celldöd, and Ceramic Hello (with their much sought after 1982 vocoder anthem), to label favourites appearing on Suction Records for the first time: Beau Wanzer, Morah, and one of Skanfrom/Sleeparchive’s lesser known aliases, Civil Defence Programme.
VA – No Return Vol.1 [RTTD008]
Helena Hauff’s label is back, this time presenting a various artists 12″ that heralds the start of the No Return series. The release starts on a mystical bent with the Eastern-tinged death electro of “El Carmel”, sounding ripe for a Hague-friendly warm-up session. Neud Photo then take over with a dystopian trip through rich synth tones coloured in dark hues for the bleakest of robotic fantasies. Antoni Maiovvi fills the B-side with the slow grinding bombast of “The Dig”, bleeding out a noirish take on coldwave for the darkest hearts to swoon to.
Sam De La Rosa – Earth Wart [MNQ109]
Sam de la Rosa, best known under the alias Samuel Kklovenhoof of the band Led Er Est and with Karen Sharkey of The Coombe, is back on Mannequin Records for a stunning 4-tracks electro-wave-experimental release. Texas born but strongly connected with the New York cold wave and disco scene from mid 2000, and the Wierd Records family, Sam’s music is a clever mix of post punk, electronic hybrids, experimental pop and catchy melodies.
Second Story – Lucid Reworks [HTH082]
Houndstooth presents 4 remixes for Second Story by Marcel Dettmann, Radioactive Man and The Exaltics.
Ceephax Acid Crew – Acid Fourniture [WEME047]
Acid Fourniture is a journey into the darker recesses of Ceephax’s acidic mind. Simple 303 lines pulsate alongside sinister chords and detuned synths. Berlin Trip is a classic acid 4 to the floor track along the lines of Flow Coma by 808 State. Alligatored is a tight 808/303 groove made for the dancefloor. The Zone is a slower more introspective Acid, conjuring up lost warehouses and derelict minds. Alien Beacon takes a more electro acid slant, inspired by sinister lights in the sky and paranoia.
