Deep space electro by French producer Franck Kartell. Known for his releases on labels such as “Bass Agenda Recordings”, “Transient Force” or “New Flesh”, just to name a few. This time he makes his debut on Between Places the sublabel of SolarOneMusic. Enjoy his journey into dreamy electro and sience fiction worlds.
Essential supplies of lethal dancefloor munition on the first release on Artificial Horizon label. Opening up the compilation is Antoni Maiovvi’s android lullaby ‘The Wolf Void’ followed by the pulsating analog rhythms of Das Ding’s epic (almost) 9- minute synthetic trip ‘Insect Apocalypse’. On the flip, Itako carries forward the sinister momentum leaving us in a dark state of hypnosis with its spectral synth and acid lines. Last but by no means least, Timothy J. Fairplay closes off the release in classic Fairplay style with an FX laden soundtrack for dystopian dreams that ascends to ethereal heights.
The bandcamp includes a free download of a Mick Wills cut for M Track.
Banlieue Records presents Dupla Rítmica EP. On the A-side, Banlieue’s own Benoit B delivers a track entitled 100%. It’s a 107 bpm affair, between pristine drum programming, a bassline at the forefront, oldschool textures a-plenty, stabs galore and some digital pan-pipes added for good measure. Here’s a compelling tune with a constant and tireless groove, like one of those obscure B-sides created several decades ago that still sounds forward-thinking. On the flipside, a track by Buenos Aires-based producer Cándido, who is here joining the dots between the sounds of classic European EBM and of US freestyle under a common latinx thread. With hard hitting percussion, pitched and gated drums, triggered samples, slapped FM bass and Spanish spoken word, this 115 bpm tune is a skilful and dance-inducing nod to oldschool vibes that haven’t lost their dance-inducing power.
Vienna-based DJ and producer, Heap, lands on Mechatronica White with a radiant and hypnotic vision of forward thinking dance music, assisted by Gamma Intel’s menacing slow-burner on the flip.
Having debuted on the label with Drama in Decay, Gamma Intel returns after having become a regular fixture across European basements. His third outing sees the Rotterdam-based producer building on his previous output while incorporating an increasing wider palette of sounds. Automatic Illusion delivers his signature restrained and swaggering productions tapping into slow acid, breakbeat and electro.
Borusiade’s ‘Misfits of Broken Dreams’ puts a futuristic twist on industrial electronics, fusing it with spaced out drones and detached, yet bold spoken word by the artist herself. Rugged tribal rhythms and rumbling bass complete the picture, and you’re left with an immersive ride leaving you somewhere inbetween fight-or-flight and gloomy despondency.
Versalife’s second release for 20/20 Vision sees Dutch producer Boris Bunnik aka Conforce return with another slab of signature electro. ‘Clandestine Development’ serves up dark tones and melodies layered within insistent electro beats and growling bass, that sounds huge on big room systems. ‘Aegis’ delivers a double dose of mechanical funk, played over atmospheric strings and auditory acid delights. On the B side ‘Lamba’ continues to impress with a moody laidback bass line holding the groove down over a solid rhythm & dystopian keys. Wrapping things up the title track ‘Asimov’s Code’ plays out like war drums from space pounding away after a blissful intro of building synths.
Fundamental Records’ interesting electro music project called ”Electric Eclectics” comes with the additional ”Ghost Series”. Each record is a picture of the electro music released in the line that Fundamental Records has us accustomed, each sleeve silkscreen printed by hand in the same color of the vinyl record. Talk about the music itself is something that Fundamental Records try to avoid in each release, if you want to know why you only have to check the project Music for The Other People Place to understand this philosophy.
Kuldaboli is part of the Stilleben family and has helped define its sound with his searing take on electro. This time around he dials back the crazy and offers up some more thoughtful and mysterious electro that kicks off with the bottom-wiggling boom bap and gurgling bassline of “Eolileg Mannvera”. Things slow down on the more eerie and unsettling “Kaldir Straumar” then its an all out computer game assault on “Lazer Tag” which is pristine digital perfection. “Where Are You” is a real floor wrecker and last of all alien life forms inhabit the haunting “Vakan Endalausa”.
DALO aka Nadia D’Alò emerged at the ESP Institute in 2018 with a brutal remix for Benedikt Frey’s Private Games. Having been floored by her sinister aesthetic and stripped-back approach to production, as well as being long time fans of INIT (her collaborative project with Benedikt), the ESP institute was compelled to commission a dedicated solo work. Across four beastly tracks, Nadia pulls from a gritty palette of instrumentation, combining ritualistic drums, industrial percussion and scratchy acid lines with a blurry montage of demonic sighs and whispers. The result is deeply hypnotic.
DJ Richard’s first release of 2019 sees him drop four invigorating electro tracks on Flexxseal titled ”Eraser”. Emerging from the Providence noise scene, DJ Richard forges a path of disciplined selectiveness as a producer and DJ with his idiosyncratic style allowing him to make impressive, self-assured connections between 80s EBM, new beat and Italo disco, electro, techno and ”post-minimalist” house. DJ Richard’s feral approach evolved from the roots of his White Material imprint which quickly achieved cult status after early releases from himself and co-founders Galcher Lustwerk and Young Male.
Prague based duo Fractions presents their full EP for Rotterdam Electronix. A true breakbeat alliance counting down till the end of times. Comes with Lenson reclock on the flip.
Giallo Disco welcomes one of the absolute O.Gs of the 2nd wave of horror synth, the one and only Kansas City Warrior turned Mr Dr Hollywood himself… Umberto, who’s new EP ‘Outskirts Of Reno’ takes us deep into the seedy underbelly to tell the tale of a kidnapping. From the EBM dancefloor darkness of The Basement to the ascension-like arps of Repeat. Five brand new tracks from the master of mood destined to work it’s way into the record bags of discerning DJs across the globe… and into the nightmares of the weak…
Glad to rescue this authentic lost treasure from music genre. Templebeat, Italian group now extinct which moved between EBM and Industrial. The formation created in 1990, is part of the self-named second generation of EBM groups. Originally published on cassette in 1992 by label also Italian, Energeia.
Schwarze Schweiz is a compilation, split in two records, which gathers together Swiss active musicians working in those obscure territories that have been Lux Rec playground for so long. Trostlosigkeit, Elend und Isolation. Ärger, Schwermut und Dunkelheit. Their statement to this country.
New release by Chris Davis who is one of the founding members of 80s cold wave legends Shoc Corridor. On Travelling Light, his first solo release on vinyl, Chris Davis moves within the space between minimal wave and dark ambient. The three original tracks on side A are emotionally rich, melodically strong and leave you with a sense of nostalgia. On side B, the tracks are remixed by Electronic Emergencies’ finest in various styles: dark electro by Rude 66, disco noir by Machinegewehr and industrial ambient by Yabibo Hazurfa.
The Hipodrome Of Music 