Artefakt – The Fifth Planet EP [DSR/C4]

Next on Delsin’s deep and house leaning series of releases is Artefakt with a new three track affair entitled The Fifth Planet EP. The Dutch duo are experts at conjuring up atmospheric grooves that seduce your soul. Opener ‘Transit’ is a thick, heavy and heady track with rubbery kicks tunnelling deep. Above it, smeared, sombre synths gets stretched and skewed into trippy forms and the whole thing has you as a slave to the groove. ‘From Our Minds To Yours’ is quicker and more overkill, but is again rooted in rolling rubbery kicks. Hypnotic once again, the synths here are lighter, more airy and more uplifting and induce trance like states of mind. Lastly, ‘The Fifth Planet’ steps it up another gear, with celestial melodic patterns, heavy synth daubs and spine tingling pads all expanding around a ticking techno groove. This is expertly crafted, serene and supple stuff that will sound perfect in the dead of night on some intimate and spaced out dancefloor.

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Artefakt – The Fifth Planet EP [DSR/C4]

Lapien – Days Lost [FS024]

Finale Sessions brings another fine release from Nick Lapien. “Lost Days” has such movement to it with its rolling pads and its systemmatic keywork and deeep basslines. “Pigment” is a mid tempo dream come true with it acidy pad synthed structure and lush keys and wicked drum work. “Motif” is a peek time killer with its nice key work and its nice pads layering into a nice kick perfect for a B side jam.

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Lapien – Days Lost [FS024]

VA – Far & Beyond: Selected by Dubbyman & Above Smoke [DEEPEX030-2]

Ten years of Deep Explorer… The celebration started with “The Capsule remixes 10” that was released 2 months ago, now is closed with this “Far & Beyond”, a double pack vinyl where the brothers and heads of the label (Dubbyman & Above Smoke) make their own selection of exclusive material into groove and dark deepest house tunes from artists worldwide.

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VA – Far & Beyond: Selected by Dubbyman & Above Smoke [DEEPEX030-2]

Lapien / Metropolis – Marchland EP [PF006]

Nick Lapien has been sharpening his music sound a number of monikers; Metropolis, Nepal and his own name. On labels like Other Heights and Sequencias the Dutch man has moulded smoke stained Chicago, textured Techno and drifting Ambient. For Photic Fields this homegrown talent brings together two of his nom de plums under the banner of Marchland. Basslines bulge, pressing against dampened claps for “Ballad of a Man.” Banks of harmony drift off an analogue ocean, arcs of string dawning into a rich radiance. Submerged notes bend and blur with “Bobby Konders”, streams of synth flowing past columns of carved percussion. Rolling chords see Lapien don his Metropolis mask for “Black Motor Boogie.” Acid vultures circle with beady eyed intent, claws writhe and flex amidst a flurry of beat and pad. The shimmering keys of “The Gatekeeper” takes the listener throw a winding pass. Curving 303 contortions fold and reform under pressurised bursts of tom, cymbal and snare to end this journey into Marchland.

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Lapien / Metropolis – Marchland EP [PF006]

Nepal – Drift [SEQ009]

And here we are, just as promised, exploring the dark corners of Nick Lapien; the man otherwise known as Metropolis. This time around, he comes back with a pair of extended cuts that veer off into heretofore unexplored terrain, relishing in detail with a sharp focus on momentum and lyricism. ‘Glow’, the A side, uses a basic 2-note sine wave bass line and a 136 BPM kick as the backdrop for a 13+ minute descent into a thicket of static and clattering modular craftiness—a pathway into the unknown through auditory hypnosis. On the flip side, ‘Rebuild’, a milder 4/4 beauty, uses a soft bass riff for its duration as shuffling synth experimentation stretches the stereo field. A long trumpet solo by Mark Nieuwenhuis casts a soothing, mournful light into the piece. Immerse yourself into the sounds and let yourself be guided, let yourself be found.

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Nepal – Drift [SEQ009]

Metropolis – A Machine Of Desire [SEQ007]

Nick Lapien’s debut release as Metropolis garnered little attention when it materialized last year. A skeptical yet dedicated network of underground heads built up a subterranean buzz that has yet to spread into the daylight. That initial transmission was thick with the raw analogue flavors that have become ever-present in dance floor fare recentlybut his is a sound that is dedicated to the emotive, narrative aspects of electronic music rather than simple fetishization or passing curiosity in the days of yore. This, his second release as Metropolis, shows a more focused and patient hand at work. The titular track on the A side is a deep, psychedelic groover. Melodies, textures and sequences undulate and intertwine within a lightless atmosphere guided by Lapien with optimum restraint. Equally pensive and gorgeous, The Flood serves as a Machine’s beat-less foil on the reverse. Made up of little more than feedback and two slow, echo laden arpeggiated sequences, this is reminiscent of Jean Michel Jarre’s more sinister moments: a brilliant paradox of economy and indulgence.

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Metropolis – A Machine Of Desire [SEQ007]

Lapien – Anvers EP [BLIQ004]

‘Anvers’, the French name for Belgian port Antwerp, starts in unassuming manner, synths swimming, bass pondering, a gentle cymbal tapping. It’s the sound of thoughtful admiration, as if Lapien is standing in front of the city’s towering gothic cathedral, motionless in the midst of a now modern metropolis. But then, as loops spring uncomfortably back and an insistent beat thunders into the fray, one realizes that this is no time for admiring architecture; this is a night drive through the city – coarse orange streetlamps, chrome blue reflections, droplet-stained window panes. Remixes by Conforce and Fred P.

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Lapien – Anvers EP [BLIQ004]

Metropolis – Guardian of the Heartmachine EP [OHWL#Six]

https://imagescdn.juno.co.uk/300/CS448806-01A-MED.jpg

Dutch millipede Nick Lapien offers a view of one of his intriguing projects, this time as Metropolis. This alter-ego, inspired by the 1927’ cultfilm, gives his idea of how the city would look like if it was created out of musical waves. Neo-electronic, mechanical, raw and as dark as a film noir.

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Metropolis – Guardian of the Heartmachine EP [OHWL#Six]