For the third Syntetyk release the Warsaw crew has compiled the work of 13 modern artists, from Poland and the world, in attempt to present the variety of contemporary wave. Artists in order of appearance: Mala Herba, Exhausted Modern, Pluto Junkies, NGLY, Fade Accompli, Bianco Negativo, Radiation30376, Mchy i Porosty, Fallbeil, Dyktando, Retrograde Youth, Joshua Cordova ft. Zoya Zerkalski, Astma.
Ecdisis Vol 3 is fresh and ready to wreak some havoc. Up first is Vinilette’s rework of Flux of Pink Indians’ “Nothing Is Not Done.” A brood of beats, this rhythmic romp is inspired by the 1986 piece on Uncarved Block. Layers of kick drums, bongos and toms echo and judder as a cold line circles and closes ever tighter. Following we have the head honcho, Juanpablo with his extended edit of Mac Blackout’s “Do The Dance In Your Head”. The intro is given room, adopting a doom disco march, before the fearsome crash of strings. The lyrics, a lurid tale brimming with menace, are sweetened with twirling notes in this grisly stomper. The final attack sequence comes care of Mick Wills with his amazing cut of an unreleased track by Argentina’s great producer NGLY. Dark and looming this distortion streaked encounter will leave bodies and speaker cones raw.
The latest in the synth-heavy sludgedown from Public System Recordings, invites a new cast of characters into the dungeon dance. The common theme throughout this sampler of titans of industrial the world over, seems to be wide, slowed down melancholy. Some tracks take a floor-friendly jump, while others demand the attentive consumption of a more serene setting. These two discs are packed with dynamic, chugging, and forward thinking jams that make you mesh all things PSR is passionate for.
Science Fiction shifted from their early deep territories of house to the current broken beats of electro, keeping the characteristic classic analogue warmth. This EP is made by various artists, and it comes under the signature of an obsessive majestic presence of the 808 beat, that sounds like an accidental tribute to the creator of this drum machine, founder of Roland Corporation, that has died on april the 1st as a fool that changed the way to make music since early 80es. Tracks are mostly sustained, from synched sequences of Hinode to the final atmospheric obscure modular landscapes of Exterminador, chromed by Ngly distortions in track 02. DJ Nephil on the B side introduces a solid visionary Chicagesque mellow atmosphere.
The Argentinian based NGLY had seemingly appeared out of thin air landing on the Brooklyn based L.I.E.S. label in 2014 with an untitled four track white label ep. On this ep, the unsuspecting track “Speechless Tape” ended up becoming a cult hit with select djs in the scene (I-F, Mick Wills, Intergalactic Gary…) eventually leading to it being voted as Intergalactic FM’s #1 track of the year in 2014. On the heels of his successful debut Rudolfo could have stayed the path and produced an easily digestable follow up dance record or two, instead he chose to take his time and reflect. Sitting back in the studio tweaking his live act, recording endlessly, transforming and refining his sound. In the end we get his debut eight track lp, Cities of Illusion, a record that walks a fine line between many of the original strains of the electronic realm. The elements are all there to be picked apart, to be used, to be abused, thrown against the wall smashed to bits…played in the club or on the late night mix shows, it’s magic you heard in the past and crave in the present. To say the music on the lp is one thing or another is an injustice…it pays reverence while at the same time turns a corner; held together by a loose yet cohesive thread. It is a full presentation that is unafraid to challenge or confuse, with no concern for genre imposed limitations.
Max Ravitz has made a name for himself with his hazed dance not dance productions over these last couple of years appearing on a handful of different labels under a handful of different monikers. Here on the 15 track, ”Common Purpose” cd we get Ravitz in all of his different forms as he teams up with numerous artists from his local Brooklyn scene and beyond, serving up unheard cuts from numerous recording sessions done over the last years. Through the record we hear the producer’s versatility from tripped out downtempo vibes, to mid-paced acid, to high bpm dust burners, as Ravitz and Co. explore almost all possible avenues while in the studio. Collaborators include Huerco S., Jahiliyya Fields, NGLY, Terekke, Bookworms, Cloudface, and Josephine.
NGLY makes a return to L.I.E.S. following his highly lauded “Speechless Tape” ep from 2014. Since then we have seen Argentinian producer taking his live act around the world to much acclaim. Luckily he’s also been in the studio recording and finally delivering this new three track ep. Here we get his signature dusty low slung sound full of basslines, creeper strings and driving drum programming. These are subtle yet effective funk-ridden club tools that are sure to move the floor and a precusor to even more from the in demand producer.
L.I.E.S. XMAS special number 4, coming with one track from Swere (AKA Florian Kupfer & NGLY) and two Marcos Cabral tracks.
Ron Wilson’s 777 label delivering a strong EP with 3 spaced out techno tracks with layers of deep strings and warm bass lines. A fierce jacking rhythm with a rolling bassline and a contrasting atmosheric synth on top.
Cult label Nous with a mystery release… tracks from the NOUS catalog you might recognise re-flipped by producers you most certainly would.
Fans of L.I.E.S. couldn’t have failed to notice the Russian Torrent Versions label, a highly limited vinyl-only operation that shares many artists with Ron Morelli’s imprint. While we’ve yet to prove a direct link between the two labels, the latest piece of compelling evidence comes in the shape of this L.I.E.S White Label from NGLY, an anonymous artist who recently debuted on the Russian Torrent Versions label. Fans of dank basement techno will be in their element with this record, with “Service Cost HH2” offering a muddy jack track featuring an uncommonly melodic touch, but “Some Relationships” offers a track in more of a submerged experimental hip hop mould. On the flip, “Speechless Tape” is a dark 303-led track whose copious reverb and spoken word vocal sample puts it somewhere between classic synthwave and acid, while “I Don’t HAve A Soul” harks back to classic Chi house sounds, albeit glimpsed through that gauzy L.I.E.S. filter.
Four tracks of gritty club ammo straight outta the East side torrents… from bleep era warehouse vibes to sweaty dub to all out jak madness.
The Hipodrome Of Music 