new beat
Reda Saiarh – Let’s Dance [08PM]
Let’s Dance – 08PM – by Reda Saiarh is a 10” release on AM Records. Four oddball “New Beat – not – New Beat” tracks produced by this young dj from Geneva (of the duo Ramin & Reda) for renewed appetite for dancing after the lockdowns… title track Let’s Dance is Reda’s 2021 take on the classic Bowie song, followed by an original new production Quinz Lord, in which he samples his girlfriend’s cat. On the flip he worked with Thomas Lavanchy on E-O, a song constructed around traditional Gabonese chanting before finishing off with an ode to Yello medley, mashed up to the deepest kick of the record.
Andi / Randolph & Mortimer – Torque Force [MEC073]
The concept behind this split 12” is simple. Two artists who are divided by the Atlantic Ocean but unified by a love of classic New Beat sounds. Andi, boss of the New York City-based Synthicide record label/club night and Aufnhame + Wiedergabe recording artist, combined forces with Sheffield’s Industrialist and lover of underground Body Music, Randolph & Mortimer, to present their own interpretation to the unmistakable Belgian genre.
Stigma AKA Steve Marie – Nuclear Device [MAHRES001]
Nuclear Device / Mahres 001 is a mini-album with 6 hot tracks produced by STIGMA the first time use alias of Steve Marie. The tracks are written during pandemic, it’s a mixture of some slow industrial influenced compositions, late night club bangers and 2021 revisited synth pop 80’s sounds.
RA.804 Oriana
Ton Globiter – KITNL Dark Hour Reprise [OR94]
Oráculo Records joins forces with Wrong Era to release the vinyl debut of the Lithuanian young act Ton Globiter. In between techno, ebm and new beat, his sound is fresh and overwhelming, ready to fire up any dance floor. It includes remixes by Kris Baha and Synths Versus Me to complete a ballistic weapon EP.
Vinilette – Hypnotic Groove Mix #366
VA – Frigio All Stars Vol. 4 [FRV037]
Summer 2021 sees the fourth in the Frigio All Stars series hitting all respectable shelves. Jack Carel opens the 12” with the acid burning grunge of “Fuck This Shit” followed by Sons of Traders with the chugging 4/4 nastiness of “A for All.” A trippy, dark industrial streak runs in the snares and swagger of Rambal Cochet’s “Doomsday Scenario Interface” and in the powerful introspection of Daniel Holt’s “The Recluse.” Neud Photo arrives on Frigio with a menacing debut, “The Split” which pierces a haze of smoke in this late-night floor-filler. Honored Matres who appeared on the first volume of these series, returns with the blackest of the compilation. Machine gun percussion close the 12” with Chris Mitchell offering the chopped and gnawed “Alsina”.
Black Light Odyssey – The Beat [OR95]
Oráculo Records presents Black Light Odyssey, new beats recorded in L.A. by Anton Floriano and Craig Degraff.
MKS – Musical Keyboard System [STREP-041]
Stroom bring to our attention this naïve overlooked New Beat / New Age project from 1989. Sometimes in life, a certain incentive is needed to convert talent into productivity. As for the case of MKS, the enigmatic and musical disguise of Nicolas Aubard, it was a merely coincidental encounter at the end of the 80s that set the stone rolling.
Kid Machine – Italo Moderni Mix #69
Rambal Cochet – Volt Thrower EP [AH009]
Russian producer Rambal Cochet aka Volta Cab, an artist very much influenced by Goa Trance brings three new tracks with a sound that captivates us to that time, adding New Beat and EBM waves close to ‘Valencia Sound’ and its legendary ‘Ruta Destroy’. The record includes an absolute banger: a Kris Baha remix to burn the dancefloor, as usual.
!Bang Elektronika – Aktivierung! EP [MEC067]
!Bang Elektronika started in 1986 as a solo project of Dave Rout to develop his electronic music wanderings. He recorded material off an on, but most of his time was spent working on Techniques Berlin, a band which he started with Andreas Gregor in 1985. The first !BE release was the “Audio Beat Warfare” cassette on Bombshelter in 1989. For the second !BE tape, “The Rhythm Screams Electronic”, also released in 1989, Andreas contributed with some vocals. After these releases Dave was moving into more EBM / industrial sounds and wanted some harsh German vocals for the new tracks so he asked Andreas to sing on some of them and join permanently the project. Their first release as a duo was the cassette entitled “Aktivierung!” on Shadow Records in 1991. Time after, the project was put on hiatus with just some sporadic releases and a few shows, until 2011 when they did their first and only show in Berlin and release a compilation CD. This year the band is celebrating their 35th anniversary releasing their dance floor stomper “Aktivierung” for the very first time on vinyl. This release includes, along the original version from 1991 and the b-side “Ich Bin So Ätzend!”, two new killer remixes crafted by Randolph & Mortimer and The Horrorist.
Harlem – Bait [VEYL025]
VEYL welcomes Harlem to the label for a new seven track album titled ‘Bait’. The Stockholm-based duo of Martin Thomasson and Johan Skugge bring a vast history of production behind them, operating since the early aughts and known for their work in dub and minimal techno. ‘Bait’ ventures into new territory for the project, delivering infectious strains of body music, new beat, industrial and beyond coupled with soul-stirring vocals which quickly dig beneath the skin. The release is about everyday manipulation, soft power and persuasion. We exist in a world in which corporate management techniques are deployed in our everyday lives, nudging each other for short-term gain, slowly hallowing out any lasting trust while ultimately all being crushed by a hyper-capitalist system. From the opening synths of the title track to the ominous ending notes of ‘Night Vision’, we also uncover funky grooves and diabolical floor shakers which remind us of something from the past but exist perfectly in this corrupted new world.
VA – Curses Presents: New Wave Acid Punx [541416 512334/541416 512335]
‘Next Wave Acid Punx’ is a journey across nearly 40 years of dark club music compiled and curated by Berlin-based Musician and DJ, Luca Venezia aka Curses. The first part takes early tracks from bands who came directly out of the punk and new wave scenes, that played a major role in forming Luca’s musical taste. The second part celebrates current music influenced by these early pioneers and exclusive tracks made for this compilation, with the passion for these genres in mind.
Sed Blava – Nit Sublim EP [WE09]
Sed Blava is the Barcelona-based solo project of Daniel Boix, well known as Dj.Simplexia or also Ciutat Solitud, his ambient-industrial project. “Nit Sublim” is his first album as producer and may evoke the dark sounds from Valencia in the 80’s. But if you dive deeper, you will uncover a trove of intricate details elaborated with Sed’s touch. Ranging from catchy tunes and emotive passages to powerful dance-floor tracks, his vast music background and his long-time membership to the underground music scene should be highlighted. Both of these elements give rise to a broad spectrum of genres and influences in his music, bringing together a timeless mixture of old-school Electronic Body Music, New-Beat, Electro, Synth-Wave and even Ambient.
An Anomaly – Decadent Skies [OFFEN017]
TPPM and AtB aka Mr fLooDs are turning on the research machine taking the listener on a extraordinary tripped out ecstatic journey through timespace where spirits of Liaisons Dangereuses Radio and the legendary Boccaccio are summoned with inspiration in order to find a New Beat Soul for the 21st Century. What was born and initially exploded in 1987, went supernova (in Belgium) in 1988, declared dead in 1989, was slow and initially all about atmosphere with industrial strength beats – the main form of rhythmic propulsion being the pounding kick and heavy snare. The sound was mainly instrumental and when there was lyrical content, it often became more about slogans and giving commands. On „Decadent Skies“ An Anomaly bring back the atmosphere, beats, the essence off the beaten commercial track, and combine it with the knowledge of tomorrow.
VA – AVI 001 [AVI001]
The first Avidya release. Starting with The Proposal by A Strange Wedding, this Lyon based producer, builds on their “modern style” slow trance to create a label anthem, a template. Stretched Arp, hypnotic bass and searing melody, underpinned by ocean wide kick. Datasal are next, as this Gothenburg’s trio’s debut arrives. Acoustics (Miyazawa flute / Fender bass) and electronics (Roland RS-09 / Korg Mono) collide; prog rock meets post punk meets dance; outside organised compositions to improvise to the beat. Side two leads back to the origin. 84PC, the dormant Tel Aviv collective (featuring Katzele, Naduve, Asaf and Yovav), return with a previously unreleased remix from Khidja. Their “Welcome To The Pleasuredome” moment is peak time perfection. To close Barcelona’s Iro Aka arrive with another debut. Their bubbling 303 is a tender dreamtime finale that points ahead.
The Hipodrome Of Music 