Yarrow Ballet returns with a temperamental twelve track VA compilation traversing from moody experimental electronics to dark industrial sounds, post punk and gloomy synth wave.
VA – Yarrow Ballet V.A. 02
experimental
La Serpiente – Elaphe Dione [RN026]
Random Numbers continues its presentation of La Serpiente’s immersive output with Elaphe Dione: The first full-length album of the multifaceted producer and a matured imprint of his distinct sound. The record includes five tracks and a digital bonus exhibiting a sonorous marriage between post-industrial esotericism and club-ready psychedelia; A labyrinth of elaborate sound design coiling around sharp rhythms, adorned by fractured voices spawned in obscure worlds. With sensibility towards granular detailing amidst a powerful cascading flow, La Serpiente’s versatile sonic arrangements coalesce into music that always breathes – A drifting current of enchantment materializing as a release that is both ornamental and symbolic in its vision.
Sunfear – All At Once LP [DE332]
Sunfear returns to Dark Entries with ‘All at Once’, her sophomore LP. Sunfear is the project of Turkish multidisciplinary artist Eylül Deniz. Her music blends intense guitar feedback with layers of noise, creating vast, textured compositions and vocals that evoke a sense of both chaos and beauty. Since 2017, Sunfear has carved out a niche in the experimental music scene, using her guitar and her voice to explore the boundaries of sound and emotion. Her work often feels like a journey through dark, expansive sonic landscapes, reflecting her deep connection to the power of sound. Her aim is self-expressive; these experimental tactics are her narrative and worldbuilding tools. ‘All at Once’ shows Deniz deepening her connection to the guitar, her voice, and the Sunfear project as whole. All at Once is a darker album than its predecessor Octopus. ‘All at Once’ reflects the dark times we live in, but it does not only live in hopelessness; it recognizes that while loss and trauma may change our forms, we must continue to move forward.
S. English – Impossible Furniture LP [LIES215]
The return of Texas heavy electronics, S.English is back on the label with a new 10 track tape of tense, metallic textured sci-fi slowbeat At this point English has honed in and perfected his own style of reaching some sort of unreal middle ground sitting between muslimgauze, s-core, and seico corp. Absolutely mindbending, headcrushing outsider electronics.
Heinrich Dressel – Reflected Skies [LRCINDEX005]
Heinrich Dressel presents Reflected Skies: a tribute to Dressel’s distinctive style of cinematic ambience. The scenery in Reflected Skies is not the protagonist but rather the details, that hint at a larger picture, like the sky as it appears in everyday reflections. Dark, expectant and mysterious where the listener is left to awe at the subtle questioning of an untold story.
Borusiade – THE FALL: A Series of Documented [DE326]
Borusiade lands on Dark Entries with their triumphant third LP, THE FALL: A Series of Documented Experiences. The Romanian producer and DJ Miruna Boruzescu aka Borusiade has a track record of genre-bending releases on tastemaking outlets like Cómeme, Pinkman, Cititrax, and of course Dark Entries, who unleashed their stunning 2020 sophomore album Fortunate Isolation. THE FALL builds on Borusiade’s mythos with its 9 brooding and sophisticated tracks investigating the contours of memory and embodiment – the “fragile bridge between body and mind” in Borusiade’s words. Moody basslines and melancholy synths wrestle with muscular rhythms; this is electronic body music for the heart and head. This is their most diaristic work to date, as well, chronicling love and loss through the gauze of reflection. Tracks like “Save Me”, “Recovery and Redemption”, and “The Fall” sprung from painful breakups, periods which Borusiade identifies as some of their most creatively fruitful, finding themselves “making the best music when I was brokenhearted.” There are odes to musical titans we’ve lost: the minimal electro producer Porn Darsteller is comemorated on “Darsteller”, while industrial legends Genesis P-Orrige and Lady Jaye are honored on “Pandrogyne.” THE FALL comes housed in a sleeve using Gautier D’Agoty’s “Essai d’Anatomie,” an anatomical work from 1745, and also includes a lyric sheet. Trauma, from lost love to pandemic isolation, informs THE FALL, situating itself as a gap that can only be accessed through sound and the creation of art. “What can I add? When life gives you drama, make music.”
Unknown To Known – Lightship LP [UTK005]
In the Summer of 2023, Unknown To Known recorded their first studio album onboard a ‘Lightship’ in the docklands of East London. Sculpted through long form improvisations, this music reflects their personal transformations as well as the rapidly evolving world in which we live. With its gradually unveiling intricacies and soundscapes rich in colour and depth, we sincerely hope this album can provide some moments of calm and joy. Moody, gliding, ranging improvisations, fronted by the closely-knit harmonies and melodies of woodwind duo Idris Rahman and Tamar Osbourne, and under-pinned by the propulsive, layered rhythms of Yusuf Ahmed’s drums and Jihad Darwish’s sitar and bass.
Robert Leiner – Analog Days LP [ASGDE050]
Belgian independent label De:tuned, founded by Ruben Boons and Bert Hermans, celebrates its 50th release with the long-awaited 10-track studio album ‘Analog Days’ by Swedish electronic music pioneer Robert Leiner. During the first years of De:tuned, Robert Leiner (aka The Source Experience) played a vital part in kick-starting the label. He also graced the De:tuned parties with his outstanding dj sets and captivating live acts. Continuing the label’s 15th anniversary celebrations, De:tuned and Robert Leiner mark the occasion with an extraordinary collection of mostly hardware productions recorded between 2005 and 2015. These diverse jams have now been mixed and completed for this momentous milestone. On offer a unique interplay of rhythmic movement and soothing sounds, each presenting Robert’s distinct characteristics.
Nacho Marty Meyer – Half-Forgotten Digital Dreams: Selected Works 2010-2023 [SOSR032]
First compilation album by Argentine synthesizer maniac Nacho Marty Meyer. Since the 80’s, Meyer has been interested in synthesizers and electronic music, and started making demos. The compilation includes the Italo disco track Magical Journey, previously released under the name Xarion, which is now a hard-to-find record.
Flock – Flock II [STRUT331LP]
UK supergroup Flock return with their anticipated sophomore album ‘Flock II’. Comprising an exceptional line-up featuring Bex Burch (fresh from her debut solo album on International Anthem), Sarathy Korwar, Tamar Osborn (Collocutor, Dele Sosimi, Unknown To Known), Danalogue (The Comet Is Coming / Soccer96) and Al MacSween (Kefaya), the new recordings showcase Flock’s ability to push the boundaries of the composition process and craft unique tracks based on their collective spirit. Recorded amidst the serene landscapes of the Welsh countryside during 2022, ‘Flock II’ emerges as a compelling departure from their debut album, which was captured in a single day at London’s Fish Factory. Nestled within the enchanting environs of the Druidstone, a mystical coastal retreat in West Wales, the group embarked on an immersive week-long recording session. Here, they crafted unique “jump-off” devices for each musical piece, drawing inspiration from unconventional structures and atmospheres.
Space Drum Meditation – Four Tusks LP [SDMLP01]
Space Drum Meditation unveils ‘Four Tusks’, their debut album and seventh release on the label. This 12-track journey blends tribal rhythms, atmospheric textures, and electronic elements, interweaving darkness and light. The album un- folds like a ritual, revealing a murky, immersive soundscape shaped by primal beats, ethereal ambience, rumbling thunder, and the whisper of rain, reminiscent of a primeval marshland and drawing one into its depths. Featuring a wide array of instruments including deep percussion, traditional flutes, throat singing, and field recordings – Four Tusks crafts a mysterious tapestry that feels both ancient and futuristic, resonating with nature’s elements.
GǼG – Jack EP [SOV022]
GAEG is the production pair of Tokyo’s Monkey Timers and Okayama’s Keita Sano and now they present a heavyweight release on Sound of Vast. The EP opens with ‘Jack’ with its powerful bassline, sharp synths and ACID voices from Ron Hardy’s Jackmaster Hater tapes. ‘Yamato’ follows with percussion inspired by Curt Cress’ 80s jazz-rock drumming, while ‘Central’ reimagines The S.O.S. Band’s funky bassline with roaring guitars and cosmic synths. Blending disco, krautrock and Chicago house influences, the EP showcases Monkey Timers’ club music expertise alongside Keita Sano’s experimental, leftfield production style.
Constant Agony – Reflex [GRTW013]
A deep dive into the raw, unfiltered experience of modern life, this album blends Ambient Noise Experimental with the relentless agony and struggle of societal pressure. Yet, through the chaos, a glimmer of freedom emerges—an unapologetic expression of self, breaking through the limits that confine us. A soundscape that’s both haunting and liberating.
Reeko – Urmah LP [SMDELP12]
Samurai Music presents Urmah, the first LP exploring the 170 tempo from acclaimed Techno/Electronic producer Juan Rico aka Reeko, aka Architectural. For Urmah, Reeko delves even further into sound and psyche with a richer, more enveloping exploration into his distinct interpretation of the tempo. Reeko’s production prowess shines brightly on Urmah with the warmth and weight of each track leaving an indelible impression. Urmah focuses on heady fathomless grooves that tease shards of breakbeats like delicious icing, binding themselves to a gentle psychedelia with celestial textures. This is dexterous, meditative journey music from a producer who has an intimate relationship with groove creation. With Urmah, he further showcases his expertise, expanding his palette to display a refined command of the 170 BPM tempo. The LP is a testament to his ability to innovate and redefine, solidifying his reputation as a pioneering force in electronic music.
The Ghostwriters – Remote Dreaming LP [DE325]
Dark Entries summons Philadelphia synthesizer scribes The Ghostwriters to rouse their ambient masterwork ‘Remote Dreaming’. The late Buchla maestro Charles Cohen and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Cain joined up in 1971 to craft electroacoustic chaos as Anomali, later renaming themselves The Ghostwriters. Their collaborations with choreographers and visual media artists led to their singular style, straddling improvisation and composition, the oneiric and the immediate. Following their debut album, Objects in Mirrors, they were approached by ambient outlet Mu-Pysch. Remote Dreaming would take shape in various studios over nine months. Jeff Cain’s instruments on this project included electric and acoustic pianos, the Juno 106 synthesizer, and a Mirage sampler, while Charles Cohen used his signature Buchla 200 Series Electronic Musical Instrument. A stark departure from the tightly wound first LP, Remote Dreaming shows the duo unfurling with soothing pianos and psychoacoustic textures, its somnambulant drones just skirting the edges of the uncanny. Although ignored in its time, Remote Dreaming is now heralded as a landmark in 80s experimental ambient music. Proceeds will be donated to SOSA (Safe from Online Sex Abuse), a nonprofit that combats online child sex abuse and trafficking.
The Ghostwriters – Objects In Mirrors Are Closer Than They Appear [DE297]
Dark Entries calls on Philadelphia experimental duo The Ghostwriters to resurrect their 1981 LP of minimalist mayhem, ‘Objects In Mirrors Are Closer Than They Appear’. The late Buchla maestro Charles Cohen and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Cain joined up in 1971 to craft electroacoustic chaos as Anomali, later renaming themselves The Ghostwriters. Their collaborations with choreographers and visual media artists led to their singular style, straddling improvisation and composition, the oneiric and the immediate. 1981 saw the release of their debut album, ‘Objects In Mirrors Are Closer Than They Appear’, a whirling, messy, telepathic slipstream cascading across an imaginary landscape. Recorded in Don Buchla’s childhood home, Objects offers 8 cuts of minimalist electronic bliss, equal parts icy and quirky, with standout cuts including the grooving havoc of “Fix it in the Mix” and the otherworldly hymn “Moon Chant.” Proceeds from the album will be donated to SOSA (Safe from Online Sex Abuse), a nonprofit that combats online child sex abuse and trafficking.
DYL & Senking – Diving Saucer Attack [KALK134LP]
Senking and DYL team up again. ‘Diving Saucer Attack’ is the first full-length record by the German artist and his Romanian collaborator, released through the Berlin-based Karaoke Kalk label. The six pieces, two of which were produced individually, both showcase the duo’s shared interests for dub-heavy, adventurous electronic music while also emphasising the productive friction generated by the subtle differences between their respective approaches.
Siamak Amidi vs hm505 – Crack A Love Ball [SYNAPSIS-019]
After a brief hiatus, Synapsis Records returns triumphantly with a captivating 12″ release by Iranian artist Siamak Amidi, accompanied by reinterpretations from hm505. Synapsis-019, titled “Crack A Love Ball,” showcases two original tracks from Amidi on the A side, while the B side features two mesmerizing reinterpretations by hm505.
GǼG – Anarcho Disco Vol. 2 [OM60]
The project “GǼG” was started by Disko Klubb boss Monkey Timers, who leads Tokyo’s underground disco scene, and Keita Sano. Using a variety of sampling and unique FX, thier music has created a unique GǼG sound that is psychedelic and anarchic, dance music for the open-minded and genre-free crews. Optimo Music unleashes now their second volume from Anarcho Disco into the world.
LAB Personnel – Break Apart [SOT016]
Lab Personnel is an electro / EBM producer team from from Zagreb, Croatia, including Ivona Ivkovic, Marijan Katic, Nikola Kos, Luka Kurjan, Goran Lautar, Jasmin Mahmic, Dominik Sesek and Paul Genetik. Sons of Traders present “Break Apart”, an improvisation recorded live at “Synth Jam” improvisation session in Zagreb at Surogat Club, December 2023.
The Hipodrome Of Music 