Nik Dawson, better known as Bookworms, releases the follow up to his African Rhythms single. This three song 12″ titled ‘Japanese Zelkova’ is a divergence from his last record in some sense, whereas the former was based around dusty crunched out samples and programming, this release is more focused on the man/machine element. That is not to say there aren’t pieces of his past work in there. If you let the title track play on you’ll see what we mean.
Producer Greg Beato follows up his blazing ep for Funkineven’s Apron Records with another killer three tracker. Beato somehow just knows how to get it right combining all the crucial electronic elements, creating three absolutely monsterous tracks that will crush the dancefloor. Sure it’s been said before, but the music does the talking and this ep is a pure unharnessed example of such.
A huge departure from his known works, Marcos Cabral appears on L.I.E.S. with his most dynamic and experimental work to date. Compiled from various cassette tape recordings spanning the years of 1998-2000, here we have the early experiments from an accomplished producer, which showcase the unharnessed energy of youth when it crashes head on with the technology of the day. The songs created by Cabral reflect his attempts of the music of the time falling somewhere in between techno, dub techno, IDM, and even noise. An engaging and timeless listen the whole way through.
“I recently found about three hours of my unreleased tracks from 1998-2000 on old cassette tapes. The collection that I set aside for LIES is pretty much all from 1998. During that time, I lived in upstate New York in a 3000 square foot loft with just one other friend. Both being DJ’s we would use our loft for fairly large parties… Cajmere from Chicago definitely being a highlight. I knew nothing about ‘making’ music at this time and was using this fairly primitive wav. looping program called Acid. I just started recording my crappy Roland MC-303 into my computer and would just mash loops together over and over. Listening to these tracks now, I have a really vague memory of making them, and feel that their naive nature and the happy accidents that happened here are pretty exciting to listen to.”
Ron Morelli has also become a specialist in finding unknown producer and releasing it to the world with only little informations. The newest addition follow the same rule and comes from “an unknown NYC producer” named Gunnar Haslam with a Double LP called Mimesiak.
Straight and to the point high bpm club ready tracks from the world of Delroy Edwards. No one is left standing with the clap, whistle, and warble of this ghetto funk. Rough and tough beat tracks made for mixing and getting the fuck out, just like in the old days. Nothing flashy here, hard working tracks for the working dj.
After emerging from years of seclusion below the Chicago underground last year, Marquis Cooper aka Svengalisghost, returns with all new material recorded this winter somewhere between the woods of North Carolina and the streets of NYC. An advocate in creating what he calls the “Anti-Beat”, Cooper takes what he’s learned from the traditional machine experimentation of the early pioneers, reconstructs and retransmits the sounds which lie somewhere in the realm of unhinged synth punk or industrial forward-thinking beat electronics. These tracks are truly the essence of house, and a vicious circle it is.
Man of many identities, Steve Summers comes back out of the gate with his strongest and most dynamically engaging material. Twisting the formulaic pattens of modern electronics and finding the gray area where melody meets noise, where noise subsides to jacking arpeggeations, eventually pushing the tracks forward and opening them up. Through the chaos of the music there remains an enjoyable balance which effectively works wonders in a club setting.
Debut release by new artist Florian Kupfer. On this four song 12 inch we’re taken through a wild journey of a man and the story of his machines. Very emotional and human feeling, these lovingly saturated tracks move through the worlds of techno and house in subtle, unassuming fashion though totally distinct in their own right as each song possesses its own personality regardless of the man/machine relation.
White label ‘blink and you miss it’ business from LIES… Willie Burns and Entro Senestre in this out there duo guise, previously unveiled on Gerd Janson’s ‘Musik For Autobahns’ compilation.
Narrative, breathing, basement house with subtle morphing chords, heavy tape hiss, and an undeniable character that has been lost in much dance music. Again this record will be equally satisfying for home listening or calculated club play. Record comes complete with beautiful full color cardboard cover of some outerspace shit for you to zone out to while listening to the record, a bonus to say the least.
More twisted dome-wreckers from Samo again surfacing on the L.I.E.S.-BLK sublabel. One track throws down a Latin vibe somewhat in keeping with his first effort for the label, while the other two deploy sample-heavy, smoked-out production over slamming bass for something that goes a bit outside of the norm.
Second EP from Vereker picks up right where the last one left off starting with the track Fear Eats the Soul which somehow reminds us of Nitzer Ebb meets techno meets your face in a meat grinder. Chock full of paranoia, deceit, and all things bad that happen that you wish never would, the remainder of the ep continues on in a bleak and unforgiving manner painting
a grim picture of the decaying present and lost future. Heavy music for the dark hours.
Originally from the UK, now San Francisco based artist Oliver Vereker makes an amazingly strong vinyl debut with three crushingly tense and off-kilter techno tracks. All three tracks contained within are designed to rip the listener apart like a sickened animal on the loose.
Better late than never: Special X-mas edition from the L.I.E.S. camp, Delroy Edwards comes in hitting hard with this 2 track piece of vinyl
After three fruitful years of existence and daily careful surveillance of the electronic music scene, I’ve decided, for the first time, to draw a line and make a review of the year that is just closing.
I will make the review in two parts, the first is dedicated to our followers and their choices from this years. So, I will make a list with the most successful post on my blog, the releases that gathered the most likes and clicks in 2012 for our visitors. The second part of the review, will include my own picks and I will present some of my favorite albums of different genders. Also I will make a review of the best parties and acts I’ve attended this year.
After two years of existence, New York’s L.I.E.S. Records has transformed itself from a bedroom label into one of the more interesting and diverse labels in the world of modern underground electronic music. Disc one, of this double cd compiles and documents some of the labels early moments showcasing out of print tracks by Legowelt, Terekke, Steve Moore, Two Dogs in a House, and Bookworms to name a few, showcasing the broad yet cohesive spectrum of styles the label has worked within. The second disc is comprised of almost all new and unreleased material from the labels current pool of talent, with tracks by the likes of newcomer Delroy Edwards, Mutant Beat Dance’s Beau Wanzer, cult figure Terekke, early label contributor Marcos Cabral and more. Through and through this compilation captures where the label has been and where it is going in the future.
Three track vinyl sampler EP from the upcoming L.I.E.S. “American Noise” 2xcd compilation. This sampler expands upon three completely styles reflective of the diverse L.I.E.S. catalog to date. Torn Hawk pulverizing the entire a-side with his most unclassifiable material to date, Marcos Cabral returning to the label with a sinister 110 BPM techno track, and Delroy Edwards doing a blown-out Barney’s workout.
The Hipodrome Of Music 