electro
VA – Machine Funk Is Our Game [KJ029]
New York Electro residents meet Latvia. Diverse comp. EP with hot machine-funk tracks for real freaks only. Alonzo, a New York resident and Miami native brings the sub-bass and pocket calculator sounds. Dmitry Distant and Starpliktuve deliver eastern European hot, traditional electro. New York’s Chase Smith brings back a funky version of late 1990’s electro-disco. New York’s Kid Ginseng brings a combination of mid-1980s New York/LA electro to the table. This is a very diversely packed compilation EP with the loudness and depth typical of Kraftjerkz.
Khidja – XLR8R Mix August 2017
Parrish Smith – Esplendor [LIES095]
Parrish Smith has quietly been making a name for himself over these last years with releases on Knekelhuis and Contort Yourself as well as with his projects Volition Immanent and Sige Bythos. We see him appear on L.I.E.S. in a strong fashion through four varied dense tracks. From slowbeat EBM to Belgium klang to classic Den Hague crushers this ep forges its own path taking these cues and putting Smith’s unqiue spin on them. Heavy yet still possessing groove and hypnotic rhythm, damage will ensue if used correctly. Fresh stuff from this up and coming talent.
Jeals – Flux [LT042]
From Poland to the UK via the USA, Jeals delivers a full journeyman debut EP for Lobster Theremin spanning ambient, racheting break-y house, lucid techno and heartbreaking electro. Five slices of thought-provoking electronic music, rich with emotion and sincerity, each one a crucial momentum in time, sonically cemented once and for all.
VA – And Silently Vanish Away [SFR004]
Science Fiction shifted from their early deep territories of house to the current broken beats of electro, keeping the characteristic classic analogue warmth. This EP is made by various artists, and it comes under the signature of an obsessive majestic presence of the 808 beat, that sounds like an accidental tribute to the creator of this drum machine, founder of Roland Corporation, that has died on april the 1st as a fool that changed the way to make music since early 80es. Tracks are mostly sustained, from synched sequences of Hinode to the final atmospheric obscure modular landscapes of Exterminador, chromed by Ngly distortions in track 02. DJ Nephil on the B side introduces a solid visionary Chicagesque mellow atmosphere.
Interstellar Funk – Diggers Directory
Bézier – Primes [DE171]
Dark Entries presents the latest offering from Bézier, a 3-track EP titled ‘Primes’. Bézier is the moniker of San Francisco based musician Robert Yang, who is also part of the Honey Soundsystem crew. ‘Primes’ represents the theme of primordial origins and creation with three tracks that explore disparate, sonic environments in each song. The title track flows and ebbs like currents in an oil slick. Out of something messy (like primordial ooze) arises organized chaos. ‘Stranger’ is a moody dark electro/wave track for a sweaty night cruising on the west coast of Holland. Set against an underwater sound canvas the song features seductive guest vocals and lyrics by Nicole Ginelli. Doc Sleep of Jacktone Records provides additional production duties. The final track, ‘Imperial Tranz Am’, is an airy, ethereal slow burner clocking in at over 13 minutes.
Adapta – Vohx Continues [FR038]
The phrase “Fire in the hole!!” is used as a warning that an explosive detonation in a confined space is imminent. Just so you know…
Cron – Fragmented Identity [BKR001]
New imprint Bogen Konzept Recordings first release comes from Todd Sines under his Cron alias. Two previously released cuts from 1994 and two immaculate productions from 2017 coded and compiled by this well known artist.
Cli-N-Tel – 2030 [GC004]
Hailing from the first wave of American West Coast Electrofunk, Cli-N-Tel—a member of the legendary World Class Wreckin’Cru—released the song ”2030” on Unknown DJ’s label, Techno Hop, in 1986. More than 30 years later, it has become an essential of the genre and is now celebrated with this overdue rerelease. Along with the remastered original version, the German label, Ground Control, is proud to present a package of fresh remixes from renowned artists of the current international Electrofunk scene—including Sweden’s Blotnik Brothers; Dynamik Bass System out of Germany and dutchman DJ Overdose.
CeeOnic – The Sound In Your Ear [GC005]
German Electrofunk purist CeeOnic checks in with Ground Control. Originally released on the label of Miami Bass legend Debonaire, the two crisp and powerful productions perfectly catch the vibe of 1980s Electro classics taking it into the 21st century. The Sound In Your Ear and That’s My Fantasy, which is included as a new Extended 12” Mix, are CeeOnic’s overdue debut on vinyl.
VA – An Introduction Part 3 [DIREC003]
With its festival, International Series, DJ Directory and Soundsystem: Dimensions has become a leading name in the underground. In only a mere six years of existence thus far, that’s quite impressive we must say! Now, they extend their influence with the start of a new label: Dimensions Recordings. It launches with a 12 track compilation across three separate discs. Where the first disc delved into the exotic and explored world music and soulful vibes, this edition features some cutting edge electronics from legends and new heroes of the scene alike. Electro heroes London Modular Alliance appear with their best impression of purist Detroit electro on “Crosstalk” while the A side also features the glacial dub techno tones of Upwellings’ “Soft Shadows”. On the flip, Fachwerk boss Mike Dehnert gives us the very Robert Hood sounding “Tokio”and Windy City legend Steven Tang aka Obsolete Music Technology appears with something harder than you’d usually expect from the man: on the gnarly analogue techno of “Comb Freq”.
Old Coroner – Inside Us LP [W03]
Terrific 12inch purple vinyl and as Waste Editions crew are really into emotive and personal sounds ,on this occasion this new release ‘Inside us’ by Old Coroner can’t be otherwise. We can’t talk about a trend since the producer from Barcelona Victor Safont ,who is the man behind this project ,started producing synthwave music in 2003. Yes siree! Powerful beats ,dark textures and touching melodies which are perfect for a diabolic dance floor or a meeting at a lodge.
Robotiko Rejekto – Rejekto [OT030]
Optimo Trax 30 celebrates a double 30 year anniversary: the original release date of Rejekto’ and 30 years since Twitch started dj’ing. In 1987, Twitch, who wasn’t known as Twitch yet, picked up a copy of Rejekto’ at Glasgow’s then numero uno import shop, 23rd Precinct. Shortly after that he got his first ever dj gig and played Rejekto’ in his first ever dj set. Nobody danced to it. He kept playing it and still nobody danced to it. Eventually he gave up playing it, but never stopped loving it. A few years ago he felt the time was right to try playing it again, and this time, people danced to it. In fact, people loved it and would ask about it and shriek in delight when they heard it. From Germany, written and produced by Ra-Hen and Talla 2XLC, Robotiko Reject’s Rejekto’ was the inaugural release on the Techno Drome International label. With a powerful and seductive vocal sung in Romanian it has latterly been categorised as EBM/Techno but at the time didn’t really fit into any convenient genre. Twitch called it electrobeat.
Alessandro Adriani @ We Are Radar 02.06.2017
Negative Response – Oblique Angles [MR073]
Hand-picked selection of tracks by UK’s Negative Response in this initial limited run of 300 discs. Negative Response is a DIY minimal synth project that formed in 1980. They self-released 3 cassettes from 1981-1983 as well as playing a number of gigs from 82-85. The tracks embody a very melancholy atmosphere reinforced by their arsenal of early electronic analogue equipment. This collection will certainly appeal to fans of early bedroom synth artists such as John Bender and other DIY home recording moguls of the era.
Circa Tapes – Love & Venom [MR069]
Third full length album by Circa Tapes (solo project of Adam Killing of Kill Memory Crash). Following excellent previous releases on Romance Moderne and DKA, this third album displays the evolution of Killing’s spot on ability to masterfully blend dark early 80s synth, industrial and cold wave into a completely new entity. Much heavier and wonderfully darker, this LP will appeal to fans of classics like Skinny Puppy, as well as cutting edge EBM contemporaries such as Broken English Club, Boy Harsher and other cold wave / industrial hybrids.
Orbe – Uniformity [HVN042]
The idea of purity is always recurring when talking about techno. Although purism has long been relegated to a mere excuse for fear, when understood not as vindication of a certain dogma, but as a way of approaching creative expression, purity is, as a matter of a fact, inseparable from the genre. After all, techno is something like the pursuit of transcendence – either visceral, cerebral or spiritual – through the strictly necessary means only. The search of the truest forms by just outlining them. All of this brings us to the story of ‘Uniformity’, Orbe’s first release for Hivern.
Ian Martin – Rites Of Passage [ET051]
Ian Martin should be no stranger to people who are into electro and trippy electronics. With releases on Bunker, Panzerkreuz and Strange Life his reputation is quite settled. For Gooiland Elektro he came up with four tracks filled with dark beats. From pounding to spacey, elektro and EBM influenced with industrial tendencies.
The Hipodrome Of Music 