BOA & Mathieu Deranlot – Merci Pierre [FS021]

Freshly-formed French trio BOA – aka Behzad, Ohes and Amarou – wrap themselves around the new decade and squeeze tightly. Joining forces with decorated French musician Mathieu Deranlot, they present four far-ranging deep electronic and ambient techno explorations that range from the dramatic-yet-beatless “Nitro” to the brooding, swampy slo-mo electrofunk of “Lumiere Electronique”. Elsewhere “Merci Pierre” teases and squeezes even tighter with its trippy triplets and sudden dive into deep dream synths before “Bonne Nuit” closes on another ambient tip, this time switching the urgency for lullaby arpeggios. Sweet dreams.

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BOA & Mathieu Deranlot – Merci Pierre [FS021]

Stanislav Tolkachev – Be Careful & Nobody Dies [SEM112]

“Be Careful And Nobody Dies” is Stanislav Tolkachev’s first release of 2020 and debut for Spanish imprint Semantica. Super nice versatile EP with a stunning electro cut (the title track) and some sick adventurous techno tunes.

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Stanislav Tolkachev – Be Careful & Nobody Dies [SEM112]

Solitary Dancer – Postlude [PP01]

‘Postlude’ is the second release on Solitary Dancer’s new imprint, Private Possessions. Private Possessions was borne out of a desire to control all aspects of output pertaining to the development, creation, and dissemination of their music, video, and other media. Following their debut LP ‘Rites Of Passage’, ‘Postlude’ is a three-track affair which juxtaposes two of the album’s floor-focussed cuts with an extended version of ‘Test Dream’. The latter has been processed into a 15-minute “Devisualization” using degradation techniques that slowly destroys the piece over time, harkening the ever-changing lucidity and memories of our own dreams.

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Solitary Dancer – Postlude [PP01]

Ian Martin – Neo Modernist [PNKMN035]

Ian Martin’s Neo Modernist is an exercise in introspection, where things aren’t always rosy. Confronting your anxieties and fears may not be pleasant but sometimes necessary to escape deterioration. Ian Martin’s music channels these feelings, and gives beauty to something that expressed in words can seem depressing. One of Rotterdam’s best kept secrets comes through with maximum emotion and prowess. Take notice.

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Ian Martin – Neo Modernist [PNKMN035]

Retrograde Youth – Mass Asphyxia [PNKMN034]

‘Mass Asphyxia’, Retrograde Youth’s new record comes in the form of 6 tracks to satisfy the escapist desires of troubled minds and souls. The Colombian artist operates in a sphere of his own where the lines blur between different styles, fusing oddball techno with deranged acid, industrial elements, ethereal synth and haunting vocal samples. The sound aesthetic is just as diverse with atmospheres meandering between sci-fi, disaster and retro-futurism. Retrograde Youth once more shows his nonconformity and ability to surprise in great style.

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Retrograde Youth – Mass Asphyxia [PNKMN034]

Itako – All Human – No Conditions [RAS003]

‘All Human – No Conditions” is the first solo EP by the French producer Itako. The opener “The Country That Does Not Exist” is a slow burning and bass-driven tune in which hypnotic synth and acid lines merge with North African vocal pieces. Thereafter, Itako shows with “Freehands Desire” his darker side. A mid-tempo composition with massive drum patterns and forward-moving melodies. On the flip side, “Groove That Dust” is screwing the tempo back down. Six minutes based on a 90s Hip-Hop sample with an irresistible groove where we assume no one can stand still. The release is rounded off with a remix by MR TC. The Glasgow based musician stretched “The Country That Does Not Exist” into a tribal workout with breaks in which he lets the machines speak for themselves.

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Itako – All Human – No Conditions [RAS003]

Gnork – Lost In X [EPZ002]

Introducing Earth Plates’ second pressing, Gnork’s latest EP, Lost in X. The Budapest based producer takes his signature sound further, deeper, and more refined. Wonder how that would sound like? Imagine underwater infused with outer space, chunky electro beats with dusty organs, dark wharehouse vibes with soul wrenching satellite bleeps, 707 drums with cheesy synth solos.

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Gnork – Lost In X [EPZ002]

Reka X Imperial black Unit – Todo Avaricia [F//016]

‘Todo Avaricia’ by Reka and the duo Imperial Black Unit is the result of an immediate and natural connection forged between the three artists, through a jam session that swiftly and intuitively yielded three tracks of stylistically diverse yet demonstrably cohesive sounds. Featuring the sampled voices of Che Cuevara, Pablo Neruda and original vocals by Reka herself, the EP plays the role of an urgent call to action against political and environmental injustice, conveyed via the musical substrate of new beat, industrial and EBM, fused into a landscape of techno and undeniably constructed for the dancefloor. The EP is rounded off with a heavy-hitting remix of the title track by the prolific Umwelt, in his signature dramatic style.

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Reka X Imperial black Unit – Todo Avaricia [F//016]

Men With Secrets – Psycho Romance and Other Spooky Ballads [BK041]

Donato Dozzy collaborates with Retina.it on a new dark and sleazy electro project, Men With Secrets. After Dozzy’s first project with Retina.it (aka Lino Monaco and Nicola Buono), under the moniker Le Officine Di Efesto on Spazio Disponibile, fresh ideas would fast unfold. “They quickly discovered a shared love of classic post-punk, wave, and synthpop, and not long after, Men With Secrets was born.” Drawing influence from the likes of Richard Bone, Cabaret Voltaire, The Human League, New Order, and even Dopplereffekt, the trio stamp out their own sound with ‘neither imitation nor rehash.’ Their debut thirteen track album, titled Psycho Romance and Other Spooky Ballads, will land on none other than The Bunker NY.

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Men With Secrets – Psycho Romance and Other Spooky Ballads [BK041]

Tassilo Vanhofen – War Manual Of Gear EP [BAU013]

Tassilo Vanhöfen with his first ever solo EP on Neubau. Three subtle but dancefloor-aimed tracks that many have been waiting for will be included on the much-anticipated ”War Manual Of Gear EP”

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Tassilo Vanhofen – War Manual Of Gear EP [BAU013]

Borusiade – Fortunate Isolation [DE266]

Dark Entries Records presents ‘Fortunate Isolation’ the sophomore album from Borusiade. Born and raised in Bucharest, Romania, Borusiade aka Miruna Boruzescu started dj-ing in 2002 as one of the very few female DJs in the city’s emerging alternative clubbing scene. Influenced by a classical musical education, a bachelor in film direction and fascinated by raw electronic sounds, Borusiade first combined these universes in the construction of her DJ sets and starting 2005 also in her music production. A sound of her own has slowly crystallized, often dark with poignant bass lines, obsessive themes and by all means melodic. ‘Fortunate Isolation’ is perhaps Borusiade’s most personal release to date. Eight songs that capture a bystander witnessing the world as it undergoes drastic changes. We have disconnected ourselves from ecology, humanity, preservation, care for what surrounds us, for what is still alive. Borusiade adds, “| know that this place, our home has went through so many other extinctions, but | believe things will find their own way on this planet only once we are gone. Entropy creates a time-line but also a transformation – a new beginning.” The album’s sound is gloomy and powerful mixing sonic film sequences, rhythmic excursions and soothing yet obsessive vocals that touch one’s deepest senses. Lyrically the songs tackle themes of forgotten memories, spirituality, mortality, and destruction.

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Borusiade – Fortunate Isolation [DE266]

L.F.T. / Raymond D. Barre ‎– Acid Avengers 014 [AAR014]

Both noted for their powerful and inventive electro tunes, L.F.T. and Raymond D. Barre are two of the most interesting producers of the moment. On that new split EP, the punk sensitivity from Hamburg meets the braindance influence of the parisian : here are five fucked-up acid bombs for all the 303 trainspotters.

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L.F.T. / Raymond D. Barre ‎– Acid Avengers 014 [AAR014]