Cuthead – Total Sellout [UVLP002]

Cuthead got known to the wider public via his releases on Uncanny Valley but his roots reach way back before the label’s start. There was a time when Cuthead and his brothers from another mother threw wild parties at abandoned industrial locations or in the woods around Dresden. The crew, which was known as Kunst:stoff Breakz, also established a label where Cuthead released two albums and one EP as free downloads between 2006 and 2010. Over the years the calls for vinyl versions of those early joints were getting louder and so Uncanny Valley decided to give the best tracks from that era a new life on physical sound carriers and start the ”Total Sellout”. Through refinement and rearrangement 51 tracks were boiled down to a selection of 18 and ended up as an album full of catchy bass lines, heavy beats and sampling excesses. Among the tracks are party starters like the strings-infiltrated ”Scissorhands”, ”The Poncho” or the ever devastating ”Iron Lung” which still kicks like Dubstep has never faded. Since Cuthead has always been heavily influenced by Rap music, there are of course lots of great Hip Hop beats on ”Total Sellout”. Either in the form of funky sample studies like ”Painquilizer” and ”VibraSkit” or in true fashion with Raps by crew member Alibi on ”Hidden Track”. Also included on the album are ”Rock My Soul” and ”All Night Long”, some early examples of Cuthead’s knack for well tempered and super catchy House tracks, while the double-bass driven ”Rythmus ’78” shows another jazzy side of him. Once again, the artwork was conceived and designed by Till Hohmann who already did a brilliant job on last year’s ”Everlasting Sunday”.

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Cuthead – Total Sellout [UVLP002]

Annanan – Lyser [FP006]

The sixth release on Jurg Haller’s excellent Forbidden Planet sees the Berlin-based newcomer Annanan at the helm. Lead track “124” booms and bristles in all the right places, with an intoxicating dub techno pulse at its core which resonates brightly with sonic intensity as the A side run out groove draws ever closer. On the B side, “ACIDz x2” fluctuates superbly between grizzled acid and saturated deepness, whilst the appropriately named “Satin” reins in the madness for a supple, widescreen journey into techno loaded with atmosphere.

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Annanan – Lyser [FP006]

D’Marc Cantu – Some Kind Of Strange [SEQ011]

Cantu’s electro-heavy sound is fleshed out here and while still lean enough for dance floors, it makes bolder moves into atmospheric and melodic territory. The A side, “Some Kind Of Strange…,” begins with long synth strains before one of his signature overdriven drum workouts immediately punches through the lush spectral melody. Cantu runs through the patterns on his 808, weaving a sort of broken beat track that cruises through acidic space time. On the flipside you’re treated to the electro/freestyle jam, “A Space Age Function.” There aren’t many surprises here nor is there any need for them: just pure and grimy electro joy…right down to the pitched down vocal sample and octave-hopping bassline. “September,” the beatless coda, is an echo from a childhood spent in dark cinemas with the sounds of Carpenter and Howarth. Tinkling FM bells dot the layers of rich ethereal pads and you can practically hear the clattering of the projector somewhere behind you in the dark.

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D’Marc Cantu – Some Kind Of Strange [SEQ011]

Jordan GCZ – Digitalis EP [FT023]

Jordan GCZ, aka Jordash from Juju & Jordash delivers for Future Times! ‘Swingonoguitaro’ hits a very unique place. Far from chopping up typical disco guitar licks, J runs a fierce house rhythm through varying six-string zones, from rainy day Slippertronics and Cocteau strums to the dusted, poly-rhythmic bends that warp the song’s ending. ‘Digitalis’ starts as cold, snake-charmer funk that gets washed away in outrageous keys and hovering, molten electronics. ‘Fusionfuk’ closes the EP with a barrage of library gusto. Jordan showcases his amazing synth work on this one, destroying and rebuilding melodies at will.

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Jordan GCZ – Digitalis EP [FT023]

Invisible Menders – Porn Wax Eight [PW008]

The Porn Wax releases can always be counted on to be some psychedelic, tripped out disco and this release does not disappoint. “Affected” is spaced out disco goodness, while “To Be Discontinued” has more of an Italodisco throwback vibe to it.

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Invisible Menders – Porn Wax Eight [PW008]

Tokyo Matt / Mori Ra & Asn – Balearico Cosmico Edit [MME3003]

Tokyo Matt from the Otaku Soundsystem and Mori Ra & Asn from Tokyo Oyama Edit presenting 4 edits out of this world. All very atmospherics, they are the ideal combination of space disco, Balearic rock, jazz, pop and fusion.

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Tokyo Matt / Mori Ra & Asn – Balearico Cosmico Edit [MME3003]

Japan Blues – Brasserie Heroique Edits Pt 2 [BH010]

Berceuse Heroique label deliver the second 12″ from the Heroique Edits series, coming form Japan Blues, aka Ethbo Records founder Howard Williams takes an altogether more eccentric approach. Opener “Half Dead Pulse” is dreamy, melodic and, well, rather odd, with vocal chants and fluid melodies riding a skittering drum machine rhythm and long, drawn-out chords. “Baroque Mutiny” sounds like post-punk-meets-chiming synth-pop (with a dubwise beat), but is almost certainly an edit of an obscure new wave track. Finally, “Mysterious Satsuma” delivers an attractive blend of exotic, Eastern synth lines and curious, experimental Italo rhythms.

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Japan Blues – Brasserie Heroique Edits Pt 2 [BH010]

Melja – Steady Mobbin’ EP [MSN011]

For this release the New York label has exhumed from Melja three cuts of bottom-end heavy, lo-fi and distorted techno music that will beef up a house set or nestle into a rhythm section of a long haul techno session. “I Won’t Forget” is the heaviest, industrial track on this 12″ while “Steady Mobbin” is body rhythmic, but with out the slam and assault you might hear from say.

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Melja – Steady Mobbin’ EP [MSN011]

Emile Strunz – North Sea Body Music [FLR010]

‘Merck 274350’ With its propulsive mechanical basslines, industrial-strength percussion, and a Germanic vocodered mantra, this Teutonic Panzer Tank of a track takes absolutely no prisoners – an electronic matter of fact statement inspired by the passing of time, fate, circumstance, and synchronicity. Holland’s misanthropic high priest of psychedelic, doomy, dark house & techno, Drvg Cvltvre, delivers a trippy interpretation, turning the track into a lysergic love letter to this iconic chemical catalyst, maintaining the dynamic bassline of the original but adding a nagging 303 line to deliver an explosive 3am dancefloor device. One Step Closer to Heaven begins with a metronomic, rhythmic New Beat stomp and a nagging insidious synth refrain that recalls the more electronic side of New Order. Muscular synth riffs then drop in and out of the mix, taking the track into dark EBM territory and ramping up the pressure before the influences of Giorgio Moroder and Cerrone come to the fore, propelling the track into a rapture of hypnotic celestial electronic disco.

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Emile Strunz – North Sea Body Music [FLR010]

SW. – Reminder Part 2 [SUED008]

SW - Reminder Part Two

The second Reminder from SW. on the Sued label. The minimal yet driving percussive sounds of “Track 1” are complemented by the most delicate of synth backdrops, while “Track 2” sounds like the essence of Chicago house distilled down to the atomic level. “Track 3” is a much more straightforward deep house jam, and “Track 4” may call Mr Fingers to mind, but there’s enough mathematical oddity in the rhythms to please the fans of more experimental fare as well.

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SW. – Reminder Part 2 [SUED008]

Chicago Skyway – EP Fall Down [MDREAMS014]

New release on Machining Dreams, this time from Chicago Skyway who is rocking with a 6 track release called EP Fall Down. Five beat tracks and 1 deep house tune that has come to be Skyway’s signature sound over the years. Classic in the sense that beat tracks have formed the glue between styles in many djs bags. Skyway use of arrangement and familiar drum kits will sure to bring the nostalgia back to the djs who were in it before the technology revolution and interest to the djs who came after it.

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Chicago Skyway – EP Fall Down [MDREAMS014]

Shanti Celeste – Universal Glow [BW009]

Bristol-based but Chilean born, Shanti Celeste has previously released on Idle Hands, as well as working behind the counter at the record store in Stokes Croft. Making her debut on Broadwalk with 3 slices of melodically rich techno, electro and house.

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Shanti Celeste – Universal Glow [BW009]