nous disques

O. Xander – From Antartica With Love [US010]

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When he made his debut on Nous Disques last year, there was much discussion about whether O.Xander – AKA DJ Rei Ayanami – was actually from Antarctica, as his sparse Soundcloud profile claimed. Either way, he’s decided to roll with the theme on this fine follow-up, From Antarctica With Love. The EP’s five tracks variously touch on icy electro (“Snowspeeder Blues”), windswept acid (“Thru Our Veins”), glacial electronica (“A Perfect Balance”), and clanking, mechanical techno (the deep but metallic “Full Spectrum”). The latter track is also featured in Juniper Dub form, with the Smallville and meandyou duo excelling at combining cut-up melody snippets with rolling, drum machine rhythms.

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O. Xander – From Antartica With Love [US010]

VA – #3 White LP [US012]

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3 Year Compilation LP. There’s something undeniably old-fashioned about this latest missive from hyped imprint Nous Disques. By gathering together seven unheard tracks on one slab of wax, they recall thoughts of classic compilations from early techno labels. Musically, it’s undeniably forward thinking, gathering together a range of dancefloor-friendly cuts from label artists old and new. Highlights are plentiful, from the flexible disco bass and new age chords of Mutual Attraction’s “Track 2”, to the stripped-back, drum machine thump of Moodcut’s “Sleep In 808”, via the cybernetic techno fizz of “Azoui” by Fetnat. Elsewhere, you’ll also find some fine Larry Heard style deep house revivalism from Breakin Moves, and a mid-tempo blast of colourful synthesizer love by Cofaxx.

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VA – #3 White LP [US012]

Dreams – Off The Grid EP [US011]

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For their first release of 2016 Nous Disques takes up where they last left off with another impeccably crafted release, courtesy of the L.A. based Jesse Pimenta’s work under the Dreams aligns, who serves up 5 tracks of gritty goodness on his ‘Off the Grid’ EP. The project kicks off with ‘Chain’, a hissy, analogue, Detroit-scented monster before moving seamlessly into the more stripped down and minimal ‘Voyeur’, closing out side one ‘Red Veil’ glides in mellifluously, immediately reminiscent of Stacey Pullen’s trailblazing forays into that space between house and techno. Over on the flip the title track leads with a jubilantly squelchy tribute to Chicago before the fittingly titled ‘Night Cap’ closes out the EP with a woozy, slo-mo skitter through eerily sparse electronica.

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Dreams – Off The Grid EP [US011]

O. Xander – Less Is More [US007]

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O Xander’s debut for the Berlin-based Nous imprint is opening with “Lovers Theme” wrapping ghostly chords and woozy, electronic bass around an ’80s electro-influenced deep house groove. The electro influence continues on the drum machine handclap-heavy “Jupiter Jam”, while “Integrity & Intensity” and “Dirac Sea” both sound like the handiwork of Legowelt. Opal Tapes type Karen Gwyer remixes the latter cut, delivering a brilliant fusion of stuttering drum machine rhythms, drifting chords and fizzing electronics.

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O. Xander – Less Is More [US007]

Moodcut – Tame Cats EP [US005]

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With prudent timing comes yet another artful release from Greece’s Nous contingent, this time courtesy of Manchester’s Moodcut who muses succinctly on the invisible overlap of Chicago and Detroit’s aural heritages. The Tame Cats EP delves deep into the industrial overtures of each with the melancholy sparseness of sound that characterizes the brutally beautiful aspects of man-machine-music.

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Moodcut – Tame Cats EP [US005]

Spoiled Drama – Black Drama EP [US004]

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Nous #4 is here featuring 5 moody, tracky cuts by Berlin’s enigmatic Spoiled Drama. The show stealer comes courtesy of NY’s Patricia who takes the lead track’s disembodied vocal sample and proceeds to intertwine it around an at once sinister yet beatific piece of atmospheric po-mo techno.

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Spoiled Drama – Black Drama EP [US004]

Route 8 – Eleda EP [US003]

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The third release on Greek imprint Nous comes from Hungary based producer Route 8, offering five cuts of serious house music. It makes subtle allusions in places to 90s era minimal masters such as Carl Craig, while at other points paying judicious homage to UK trailblazers from Sheffield’s golden era; beyond the canny reference points however each track on the Elada EP is underpinned with an obvious love for the slow-burning soul of deep house.

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Route 8 – Eleda EP [US003]

Miltiades – EPK.X [US001]

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Expansive, discordant, deep house from Greeces newest electronic imprint Nous. The labels name hints at what to expect from this stable, exploring its own cultural heritage (the word means Mind in Greek) whilst looking at a future in which commonality and harmony need to take center stage. This debut release from the label navigates a curiously melancholy space in which the Motor Citys dissonant influence melds with a robust club sensibility, to construct a late night, eyes down, dance floor narrative. As well as a quartet of original cuts from the EPs author, Chicagos Hakim Murphy contributes a subterraneous take on the lead track that will no doubt charm fans of Theos Sound Signature or Rick Wades Harmonie Park.

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Miltiades – EPK.X [US001]