NEP – Decadance [FOX002EP]

NEP - Decadance

NEP was a loose multimedia collective formed in 1982 Zagreb, ex-Yugoslavia. The founder Dejan Krsic collaborated with various artists in a quest of re-thinking the stale concepts of art history, position of the author and the barriers between pop and elitist high culture. Deeply immersed in pop-culture, politics and art theory Krsic’s search for perfect pop music with cutting critical edge peaked in 1989, the year Decadance track was conceived in studio, but has never been published. Pumping Roland 808 beats, with sampled vocals from Linda Cooper asking herself “How do I dance to this music?” were chosen by Fox & His Friends label owners Leri Ahel and Zeljko Luketic for a 12″ opener of the unknown NEP’s pop history. All material is restored and mastered from original reel-to-reel tapes and presented on wax for the first time and for this occasion, deconstructed and reinvented in a remix B-side by Snuffo. Snuffo splitted the title vocal into a new cut-up, now telling “Dance to this music” to its audiences.

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NEP – Decadance [FOX002EP]

Dempa – Charter Of The Forest [LBDAUDIO002]

Dempa is back with a four track EP that remains faithful to his particular brand of deeply twisted beat-smithery. Trusted into the hands of Little Beat Different, there was no way these ruff and ready dance floor ready demos were going to slip away.These four tracks delve deep into techno territory . Built for the dancefloor and dancers who possess a somewhat acquired taste. Both sides of the record are perfectly balanced. The first is quicker in tempo, with the second one focusing on the more psychedelic side of things. Dempa cooks with the finest ingredients and naturally the results are full of the right flavours.

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Dempa – Charter Of The Forest [LBDAUDIO002]

Daniel Araya / Marcos Cabral – Split 02 [ENDILL011]

The second release in Endless Illusion’s series of Split EPs comes from Marcos Cabral & Daniel Araya and features two tracks from each artist. New York’s Cabral is known for his experimental IDM and techno on labels like L.I.E.S. while Daniel Araya has recently released an album of acid, techno and industrial on the Classicworks label. Araya’s ‘We Almost Lost Detroit’ is first and is a truly haunted deep techno cut with sparse acid undulations and a real sense of manic in the rasping synth lines. Softer pads in the background only add to the spooky nature of the track. ‘Ghost Bass’ is the other Araya cut and this one is more up on its toes, with mid tempo kicks down low and wonky chords up top. It’s a mind melting tune that trips deep into the night. ‘Live At The Egg’ is Cabral’s first effort and is a lonely and icy techno track that is supple and seductive in its long lines and paddy drums. After getting you into a state of hypnosis, some freaky vocal sounds only add to the unsettling nature of it all later on. ‘Cuts & Bruises’ rounds things out in squelchy and depraved techno territory. Muted acid stabs are off in the distance as swampy drums suck you in from the front. It’s a brilliantly odd tune that close out a fine EP.

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Daniel Araya / Marcos Cabral – Split 02 [ENDILL011]

Ursa’s Reef – The Ninth Gate [EYE007]

Ursa’s Reef is a late 80’s traveller and surfer wandering endlessly in the secluded raves of Goa, searching for his own soul while dancing in abandon to the proto-Trance journeys of Goa Gil. Brought up in Sintra, Portugal, by a family of uptight catholic hypocrites, UR goes rogue in his early 20’s, seduced by the esoteric teachings of Levi, Pessoa, Crowley and Israel Regardie while keeping an unhealthy obsession with Roxy Music. He is also a fictional, made up persona – a musical heteronym – of Lisbon-based DJ and producer Marco Rodrigues, mostly known for his work under the name Photonz. Together with his friend Jose Acid – a musical heteronym of Joao Ervedosa AKA Shcuro – he makes one last trip to Goa that could prove fatal.

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Ursa’s Reef – The Ninth Gate [EYE007]

Innershades – Kerrebroek Memories [AAL006]

After inaugurating the label with a first EP in december of 2014, Innershades returns home to deliver what will be the 6th release on 9300 Records. Kerrebroek Memories is the self made soundtrack of his childhood memories in the shared hometown of Aalst (Belgium). Expect to hear a homage to early Dutch electro with a modern twist and Innershades well known trademark for dancefloor injected house tracks. Rising Dutch star and new BFF of the Belgian 9300 family ‘Betonkust’ polished the A1-listed ‘Darkness Fades’ track into a melodious electro classic.

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Innershades – Kerrebroek Memories [AAL006]

John Heckle – Memories Of Kamerlengo [MR002]

Moondance Records present their second release with UK’s talented John Heckle. John delivers brand new 3 track EP for Croatian imprint. He delivers “warm analog” but yet powerful and raw techno EP with his “in your face” TR707 drums, lush Juno pads, mean and distorted.

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John Heckle – Memories Of Kamerlengo [MR002]

PRZ – Somar EP [BH001]

PRZ - Somar EP

Bursting from the bubbling underground club scene of Tel Aviv, Bauhaus Records is a record label headed up by veteran scene originators and world renowned The Block club first residents DJ’s Amichay Matyas and Yogo, in partner with well-experienced label and artist manager, Udi Niv. Buahuas Records aims to provide a creative ground for a collective of local underground electronic producers & DJs, emphasizing the art of organic & analog sound and down to earth house music. Their experience of nearly 20 years of playing for Tel-Aviv’s underground dance floors, regularly rubbing shoulders with pioneers and leaders of house, disco and techno as well as their vast milage in the DJ booth, enables them to cherry pick the hidden treasures and unknown local gems of their scene whose highly secretive to many others.

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PRZ – Somar EP [BH001]

Lone – Ambivert Tools Volume Two [RS1708]

LONE - Ambivert Tools Volume Two

Lone AKA Matt Cutler delivers the second instalment of Ambivert Tools, breezy atmospheric house, stacked with ‘floor ready trax, inspired by his red hot Magic Wire imprint. First up is the tropical percussion and telescoping arpeggios of ‘A Mind’s Eye Melody’, displaying Cutler’s talent for a nagging melody it comes on like Tangerine Dream remixed by 808 State – pulsating drums, hymnal chords and gooey sub bass. ‘Looking Glass’ calls to mind a Mood ii Swing dub – truncated stabs and jacking rhythms overlaid with shimmering resampled piano chords that give way to a slashing FM riff that contrasts sweetly. In the B2 slot Cutler unfurls a hushed, 6 minute balearic reprise of the ‘A Mind’s Eye Melody’, heartstopping Emulator ii chords and harp glissandi wash over a wistful flute figure pedal to sweetly memorable effect.

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Lone – Ambivert Tools Volume Two [RS1708]

Warp Factor 9 – The Atmospherian [ESP056]

WARP FACTOR 9 - The Atmospherian

Warp Factor 9 is a one-off project by John and Russell Kilby of esoteric post-rock bands The Crystal Set and Bhagavad Guitars respectively. The Atmospherian originally appeared on their self-released 1993 album Five Days In A Photon Belt. Carpentaria made an edit of the track linearly and replayed certain elements from scratch along with some re-recorded vocals from John. During this process, Tamas and Paul generated elements that would subsequently be used for a remix by fellow Aussie producer and prodigy Tornado Wallace.

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Warp Factor 9 – The Atmospherian [ESP056]

Harmonious Thelonious – Abel [VER117]

Stefan Schwander aka Harmonious Thelonious is definitely not a newcomer. He has been around for a long time and has already released lots of amazingly varied music on labels such as Emotional Response, Italic, Meakusma and Diskant. He’s also an integral part of the infamous Duesseldorf / Salon Des Amateurs axis that is an obvious hotbed of talent. He describes his style as “American minimalism vs. African drumming vs. European sequencing”, a heady mixture which is clearly evident on this EP though with a definite Middle Eastern twist. Here at Versatile HQ we were introduced to this clutch of tracks by one of the members of Acid Arab and we were totally blown away. Stefan has a very unique production style, fusing all of the above elements with a hint of Gamelan, a dash of tweaked FM synthesis type sounds with a dose of warm ambience and finally his own singular touch on the mix. We are very happy to present you these 4 tracks to you, an essential EP from one of European music’s true originals.

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Harmonious Thelonious – Abel [VER117]

Lisière Collectif – LSR No. 01 [LSR001]

Lisiere Collectif represents the collaboration between the three members: Andu Simion, Dan Gheorghe and Bogdan Ardeleanu. The “Lisiere” was the place in the suburbs of Ploiești where they gathered together all the time. LSR No. 01 a collection of tracks following 3 different ideas and a reinterpretation from Priku.

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Lisière Collectif – LSR No. 01 [LSR001]

Mekine U Teksi – Postanatolische Hybride: Die Steppenroboter LP [TFGC013]

Themes From Great Cities’ latest chunk of inspired, hard-to-define goodness comes from Mekine U Teksi, a fresh outfit formed by Murat Goktas and Irfan Derin. Dedicated to legendary, currently closed Dusseldorf venue Salon Des Amateurs, the mini-album – the duo’s debut release – is shot through not only with the arpeggio-driven pulse of vintage ’80s new wave, but also the chugging attitude of psychedelic nu-disco and the exotic, intoxicating melodies of traditional Arabic music. Of course, there are other influences that make their presence felt throughout – krautrock, dark Italo-disco, punk funk and dub disco – but these merely serve to enhance the duo’s core sound, which is rarely less than enthralling.

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Mekine U Teksi – Postanatolische Hybride: Die Steppenroboter LP [TFGC013]

Byron The Aquarius – Leaving This Planet [EGLO56]

Byron The Aquarius makes his Eglo Records debut. The Alabama producer once again delivers something truly special, journeying through disco, jazz, acid, house and crashing 808’s. ‘Leaving This Planet’ is an EP of two halves. The A-Side bumps, with two bubbling house jams. whilst the B-Side sees Byron get loose over two freestyle jazz odysseys. Music for the mind, body and soul.

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Byron The Aquarius – Leaving This Planet [EGLO56]

Delusion Men – Stuck On The Border [FN007]

The founders of Future Nuggets are delivering their debut full LP as Delusion Men, marking the peak of almost a decade long conspiracy. Ion D (Utopus) and Camil Dumitrescu (aka The Holy Fix) have amassed on this album tracks and bits spreading over many years, raw gems and shiny nuggets resulted from intensive electronica fusions. After the smash EP of Delusion Men in collaboration with Khidja (on P-Balans sub-label), this LP comes as another irrefutable proof of Bucharest’s already mature -partially under the radar- scene of electronic psychedelic hybrids, fittingly represented by Future Nuggets and P-Balans.

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Delusion Men – Stuck On The Border [FN007]

Lemonade – Dancer On The Shore [AU005]

Since 2009, New York three-piece Lemonade has released a string of fine records, between woozy Balearic synth-pop and leisurely downtempo grooves. “Dancer on the Shore”, their first release for three years, inhabits similar sonic territory, offering a fusion of Peaking Lights style dubbed-out synth-pop grooves, glassy-eyed vocals, tumbling acoustic guitar flourishes and humid steel drum melodies. Fellow NYC resident Jex Opolis provides two stellar remixes: a chunky, rolling, acid-flecked nu-disco dub and a drowsier vocal interpretation that’s as ear pleasing as they come. The other interpretation comes from Justin Strauss and Bryan Mette under the Whatever/Whatever alias and strays further towards acid-driven Italo-disco/deep house fusion territory.

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Lemonade – Dancer On The Shore [AU005]