”Looking back in hindsight to the activity and accomplishments of Axis is with much pride – to witness the relationship between the music and listener evolving to this point. The Director’s Cut reissue project is about manicuring detail. It’s about a rare opportunity to enhance what we’ve done so that the relationship strengthens for the long term” – Jeff Mills
Originally released in 1994, Tresor Records is proud to announce the reissue of Robert Hood’s ”Internal Empire”. A masterwork, then and now. ”Internal Empire” marks a point of transition for Robert Hood moving on from his previous collaborations within Underground Resistance. Robert Hood advanced uncovering the power of true minimalism. Deep soul through a simplicity that showed how much could be done with so little. The devastating rhythms of this album forge the unmatched spirit of this sound, influencing generations to come.
Delusion presents its first conceptual solo release by Mateo Hurtado. Psychedelic modular sounds form a deep and gloomy mood that perfectly affects on impulsive drums and basslines.
The first release of a new Axis sub-label by Jeff Mills entitled ‘Star Marked’ with 4 tracks of Jeff Mills trademark techno tracks.
All things come from and return to the same source – such is the theory of Monism; an ancient philosophy, but also accounting for the music of Jeroen Search. Dictated by an ethos of exclusively recording live takes and the only ever editing happening while a tune is being created, each finished track is imbued with that unique magic of the moment. Such too is the nature of Monism, Search’s first LP in over two decades of electronic explorations and personal as well as artistic growth. As with any of his music that has been released so far, the tracks on here hold a timeless quality, existing within their own frame of reference than – that is their immediate experience. Across a carefully arranged course, the album naturally unravels its many ideas, ranging from moments of pensive ambient pieces to thick washes of dub echo and layers of modulated synths, all while providing an endless array of hypnotizing bare-bone grooves in the process. A true Figure mainstay, Jeroen Search upholds his artistic relevancy without any reinventing or switching up the formula – rather by simply keeping true to his accomplished craft.
Ben Sims delivers Sampler 2, another four incredibly artists taken from his Tribology compilation. From the 808 driven hypnotics of Berghain’s Steffi through to ROD’s strident ‘Embase’ via Jeroen Search’s masterful, bleeping ‘Ostinato Pattern’ and Sims’ own punchy edit of unreleased Robert Hood cut ‘Gun Talk’ this is an unmissable 12″. A total of 5 samplers will drop as part of the Ben Sims pres Tribology mix compilation project.
Closing out the year, Ben Sims’ Symbolism Ltd returns with an ultra limited vinyl VA which further explores the hypnotic yet squarely dancefloor focused side of modern techno and features a cut from Synewave legend, Damon Wild.
Echelon aka Jeroen Search presents a deep mood-driven entry point to ovular subterranean techno on the latest Key Vinyl release.
Waveform Transmission Vol.3 initially came out in 1994 on Tresor Records. The eight titles on the album marked a turning point for Jeff Mills. It indicates a transition from the straightforward sound he had created through the early 1990’s, into the different facets and sound pallet he will develop through the remainder of the decade. It is a significant piece within Jeff Mills’ masterwork.
Mike Parker on Float Records with two originals he steals the show. Known for his iconic sound which is much imitated, never bettered. Just listen and enjoy both pieces of craftsmanship. On the flip side is Cirkle. With two successful releases on Float so far he now gets the chance to present himself on the magic black wax next to his personal hero Mike Parker.
Outer Zone is the label from Glasgow’s La Cheetah Club and this is their second release, coming from Glasgow’s very own Modus, who himself is a resident at Edinburgh’s legendary techno night Substance. Refracted through the sound of Detroit’s second wave, Modus, steers ‘Triple M’ across a spectrum of discordant pulsations and contorting energies towards enthralment.
30drop debuts on Token with a six-track journey that evokes an excommunicative sense of splendor from the outer reaches of worlds beyond. Beginning with Surrender an immediacy pulsates from the outset and dances towards the playful exuberance of The Informant — calibrating the gears for what frequencies are to be heard in the interim. Space Beacons delights with elegant pads and wry rhythmic evocations, while Mathematical Language bursts with energies that have been long dormant since the days of Jeff Mills’ The Purpose Maker. In that same vein, Visitors From The Stars is an entropic message from above, seeking out a communicative line that’s emotive and conductive — leading towards the last track of this journey. Sagan’s Implication is an adroit homage to the legendary astrophysicist; leaning into melodics that are both marvelous and mysterious all at once — similar to finding the answers that lie above us. All in all, a journey that begins by looking past what’s diegetic and looking for answers past the narrative presented.
The sound recordings for Jimi Tenor’s “Sähkö: The Movie” got lost in mid 90s. It was only last spring Warp Records returned all the demo tapes Jimi sent them in 90s. Happily the Sähkö soundtrack parts were on those tapes too. This is a compilation of soundtracks (both solo, as Ø, and alongside Ilpo Vaisanen and Sami Salo as Pan Sonic) made for Mika Vainio’s memorial in Oslo in September 2018. All the tracks are from the actual movie scenes.
Fracture has always tried to support upcoming and interesting newcomers, people they believe in. Chevel is one of them, and in 2014 came his first EP for Fracture under his alias Signalweiss. He returns now for round two. In 4 years, he has managed to establish himself as a prolific and talented artist with a steady stream of records. Chevel is an artist who likes to mix things up, always striking an interesting balance between experimentation and more dance floor oriented tunes. With “Feelings” and “Forbona”, he creates quite abstract but still effective dance music. It is for the club, but it is not mindless bangers. In the hands of Pablo Mateo, “Forbona” turns into a more mental piece of techno. All in all, this new Fracture release provides great tools for the smarter selectors out there.
Eternal is the new VA series that celebrates the 10th anniversary of Attic Music label and the city where it was born: Rome. The first episode of the series is signed by Insolate, Abstract Division, Claudio PRC and Allen.
Neel returns to Token with Transition. Conceptually based around four elements in the group known as the transition metals and recorded live in one take, each track is a mind-bending trip through the periodic table that retains the human touch of a live performance.
Reissue of the legendary debut album “The Silicon Dawn” by the US producer Dan Curtin, which appeared in 1994 on Peacefrog. In the best Detroit-style, Curtin managed to set melodies and harmonic levels over complex percussion, which at that time in an innovative way broke the usual techno standard.
Symbolism Ltd kicks off with four strident, hypnotic but powerful Mike Storm tracks, all featuring the unquestionable editing skills of Ben Sims. Super limited pressing.
Jonas Kopp presents his new own platform Tremsix, created by the inspiration of his 3 iconic labels from Detroit to continue the legacy of underground techno and electro movement. This EP Called Tremsix shows the vision and concept of the label, a perfect balance between minimal techno and electro represented by the creator of this new platform.
Eduardo De La Calle with a showcase of electronic music. Four tracks with four different styles of electronica: deep and marvelous keys in ‘Wondrous Punia’, a mastely detroit house lesson in ‘Knockout Sakshi’, the minimal techno monster in ‘Great Manojar’, and the psichodelic electronic cult song ‘Georgeous Shiama’.
The Hipodrome Of Music 