Ostgut Ton presents ‘Unknown Origin’ the debut album from Luke Slater’s L.B. Dub Corp moniker. The ten tracks recorded at Spacestation Ø form a hymnal intent on transporting you back to the roots. Digging deep into the history of dance music, ‘Unknown Origin’ dares to ask the big questions and offers noeasy answers. Instead, deep spiritual dubs are side- by-side with slices of piano house, and handsome slabs of techno contrast with the words of the silver-tongued poet Benjamin Zephaniah.
Atom™ & Tobias. deliver their first tracks recorded for Ostgut Ton on the “Physik 1 EP”. For this collaboration they opted for two classic Acid jams. On the first side “Physik 44A” builds a steady sweep with its continually modulating Acid line and relentlessly driving percussion. Luscious beats are propelled through an intricately crafted hi-hat construction until the filter cut-off signals a break, only to allow the track to strike back in full force. On the B-side “Physik G321V” focuses on the groove. The same subject with a different approach. A surprising balancing act between the serious mood layed down by the track and the combined playful vocal stabs that are comfortably bathed in Acid as though they always belonged there. A thoroughly timeless record.
Marcel Dettmann releases his second full length album on Ostgut Ton. Following the 2010 self-titled debut, Dettmann II combines techno with ambient, experimental and even house influences on an expertly paced album with a carefully rising narrative and wide scope. Also features a collaboration with Emika amongst contributions from other kindred artists and hints at new directions in the Dettmann sound.
Earlier this year, Nick Hoppner stepped down from his role as Ostgut Ton label manager, handing the reins to Jenus Baumecker without a hint of self importance or grand standing. The reasoning behind this decision was apparently so Hoppner could dedicate more time to creative pursuits and this has delivered some swift results in the form of Red Hook Soil, a three track 12″ for the label he no longer oversees. The release is Hoppner’s first for Ostgut since 2011, though he’s been active in the interim period gracing Kompakt Extra and Echochord with aplomb. All three tracks on the Red Hook Soil see Hoppner in a four-four mood, with the title track venturing into uplifting, and in parts, melancholic fields of production that share a similar, only more textured feel to 2010?s “Brush Me Down” from the EP of the same name. The B-side is met with strains of Italo on the verging-on-epic “Bait & Tackle”, though Hoppner does move into tougher techno territory with a dryer and regimented track in “Decal”.
Berghain resident Marcel Fengler has enjoyed a long and productive relationship with the club’s label Ostgut Ton, putting out his first 12″ on the imprint – the shuffling carnival techno of “Playground” – way back in 2007. Despite this pedigree, Fokus is his debut album. It is, in many ways, like an extended love letter to electronic music, and techno in particular. Across the album’s 11 tracks, Fengler turns his hand to atmospheric ambience (“Distant Episode”, “High Falls”, the dreamy “Break Through” and Pete Namlook-ish “Liquid Torso”), eyes-wide-shut Detroitisms (the pleasingly melodic “Jaz”), basement-bothering early morning fare (the paranoid “Sky Pushing”) and, of course, balls-out techno wonkiness (“Dejavu” and the impressively robust “The Stampede”).
Esteemed selector, producer and Panorama Bar resident Steffi presents the fifth mix CD in the series, showcasing the variety and depth of sound to be found during her sets at the club. In ‘Panorama Bar 05’ we find a mature and confident Steffi channeling her years of experience as a record collector, DJ and beat-maker into 80 seamless minutes. Reflecting all the angles of her classically inspired, raw and profoundly warm sound, we are guided through a rather grand lesson in House music. Steffi shows off her talents here with a captivating and classy mix of underground House and Techno. All the tracks she included, and the producers she invited to contribute, help to define part of her identity – much like the culture of DJing with records, that she brings to clubs with love, intensity and passion.
An esteemed selector, producer and Panorama Bar resident DJ, Steffi presents the fifth mix CD in the series. Reflecting all the angles of her classically inspired, raw and profound sound, we are treated to a rather grand lesson in House music. To accompany the CD release this 12” features 3 new and exclusive tracks selected for the mix, from New York’s Fred P (a.k.a Black Jazz Consortium), Amsterdam’s Juju & Jordash, and Detroits’ Big Strick. Each track contributes its own special element to the equation, helping define the sound of Steffi’s Panorama Bar DJ sets.
Len Faki is no stranger to Ostgut Ton having mixed the label’s third Berghain CD back in 2009. The Basement Trax Vol 1 12″ signals Faki’s return to Ostgut Ton in impressive and diverse fashion. Lead track “Btx1” is dominated by the heavily processed treatment of some orgasmic sounding female vocals which are submerged deep in the mix and smeared greedily across the channels chased by whip cracking percussion. The flipside accompaniment “Btx2” is a tougher version with the tribalistic percussion gradually consumed by the vastness of Faki’s string arrangements and the final version “Btx3” sees Faki present a swirling mass of ambient calm.
Function aka Dave Sumner presents “Incubation”, his first solo album on Ostgut Ton. Over nine tracks we are guided through the varying moods and scenes of Function’s musical temperament. Be it through writhing layered club tracks, soaring string-led atmospheres, or melodic pieces founded on classic electronic traditions, ‘Incubation’ marks a new level of maturity for the Berlin-based producer.
Berghain resident Norman Nodge presents the sixth installment in the club’s mix series. Since 2005 Norman has played the Berghain floor once a month and has become an integral part of the Berghain crew. He knows how to create a journey and so it’s not surprising that his Mix for Ostgut Ton is also built from many different elements. Classic Tracks like Jeff Mills? “Keeping Of The Kept” feature alongside the work of younger producers like Patrick Gräser. His “From Foreign Territories” is one of three exclusive unreleased tracks on this mix. Nodge also remembers that established artists like Keith Tenniswood as Radioactive Man are still producing powerful music today and includes a few recent tracks from such well established names. Showing that his palette of taste goes far beyond what you might expect to be the typical Berghain sound, much lighter tracks like Legowelt’s remix of the incredible “Rainy Day Juno Jam” by Xosar are also included. With probably the most varied tracklisting for a Berghain Mix CD yet, Norman Nodge is convincing us with his courage to try new combinations.
Marcel Fengler returns with a solo EP for Ostgut Ton. Consistently providing quality over quantity this long awaited new 12“ surprises yet again as Fengler develops his funkier side further for the label. The A-side track „Frantic“ then immediately brings the essence of peaktime energy to the point. Bathing in melodic synth stabs, it mixes with wide open fields of euphoria. Instantly moving and memorable, it’s a track that crosses borders and unites different territories of techno and house. „6 In A Row“, the first track on the B-Side, tries to deceive with a simple & mellow arrangement but soon enough grabs the listener from behind with it’s cleverly built architechture that mounts with subtle waves to an addictive groove, a lesson in how to use a less-is-more approach to maximum effect. As if this wasn’t convincing enough the Berghain Resident now ventures further into spaced out dub structures & melodies and immerses the listener into sheer silk with the smooth „Mosaique“, a side of Marcel that he has only hinted at before but a pleasure to hear it fully realized on this track.
Steffi returns with a 12” for Ostgut Ton and shows a much tougher side to her ever-evolving sound. Steffi proves that there is much more to come from her as she produces a fine heartfelt techno sound for this EP, reminiscent of the favorites from not forgotten Warehouse parties where techno and house met on one united floor. On the A-Side “Schraper” combines a clean beat structure and scraping percussion with an epic synth arrangement to hypnotic effect with energy levels cranked right up. The string version of the B-side track “Tank” creates a mellower mood with a deeper bass and subtle bells added for a joyous ride, rounded off with bouncing metallic hi-hats. The beat version of the same track builds with fewer elements, a pumping tool to heat any dancefloor up to boiling point.
Hypnotic Berlin techno by Tobias. on Ostgut Ton. Freeze is a darkly shining jewel that scoops its hypnotic energy from a rolling synth- sequence. Charged by repetition, Perfect Sense has a similar tractive force, but turns the inward looking, dark mood of the A-side into a subtly euphoric, outgoing direction.
Second release on new Ostgut Ton imprint. Gerd Janson (head of Running Back) and Phillip Lauer (DJ, producer and 50% Arto Mwambe) step out of remix mode and release their first 12“ of original tracks as Tuff City Kids.
René Pawlowitz aka Shed returns to Ostgut Ton under the new moniker The Traveller and delivers the first 12′ of this new project. Under his new guise Pawlowitz picks up at his roots and delivers a deep techno record made for the floor.The beats on the A-Side ‘A 100’ are fierce, the melodic synth line lifts you up while everything around appears to be burning down. The experimental first track on the B-side ‘BER’ meanders without beats and full of broken chords around thatmoment of ecstasy without ever reaching a break. On the B-side’s second track ‘Bypass’ René says hello to the techno-heroes, rolls out a red carpet and shows them what he has learned.
Ostgut Ton presents two remixes for PAS. Silent Servant transforms Bell Blocker to a slow burning hypnotic techno ride. For their remix The Black Dog combines their brooding melodics and dancefloor oriented production skills to create the perfect counterpart to the flipside of this 12”, somewhere between plain scary and profoundly deep.
Luke Slater maintains his prolific output with “The Messenger”. His new album on Ostgut Ton stays very true and honest to the Planetary Assault Systems goal: a journey of discovery, to create new sounds which are not otherwise present in club music at this time.
Dettmann’s unique textured sound design sets the scene for new moments of discovery. Launching us into the space-race, “Barrier“ documents those tense moments of discovery as we reach into new territories. “Translation One” is a frantic, quivering and snaking snapshot into the kind of techno the producer stands for these days. Metallic bass spins sideways, while evermodulating percussion drives forward. The sinister sci-fi tones of “Translation Two“ warble and jive in glorious syncopation as a systematic heavy kick and hat program works the bass frequencies and rhythmic zones. Open and spacious, its meandering theme hangs deliciously between paranoia and positivity. In “Planning“ Dettmann further explores his inclination for intricate, tripping synth patterns. A staggered, wonderfully immersive theme builds from delayed staccato notes in a classic analog sequence, underpinned by rumbling dub bass pressure.
Selections from Marcel Fenglers Berghain 05 Mix, Reagenz (Move D & J.Sharp), Peter von Hoesen and Vril have produced exclusive tracks for Berghain 05.
Unmissable modern House groove from Ostgut Ton’s co-founder Nick Höppner. ‘A Peck And A Pawn’ is pure groove science, augmenting the crisp and spacious aesthetic of Berlin-style House with a subtly accentuated Funky swing to exceptional effect. Flipside, ‘She Parked Herself’ is Detroit-influenced, with classic-sounding and sweeping melody guided by shook square bass and drums.. ‘Swivel Flick’ is slower, more intimate and involved with sensuous atmosphere and supple, kinky flow.
The Hipodrome Of Music 