2020 was a tough year for almost everyone and definitely a year to forget for our scene. Events and gigs canceled, venues closed, artists lacking a way to earn a decent living and club culture facing a threat like never before.
In the midst of these events were several people / organizations who tried to ease the pain, offering out some comfort by releasing music to people for free or by pay as you want download. This was always done, but this year I noticed that more and more artists are doing this.
Here is a selection of albums and compilations I came across this year and that I think is worth mentioning again.
perseus traxx
VA – Machine Funk Volume 1 [WOD015]
A various artist ep with electro, acid and techno by by Rennie Foster, Type-303, Drvg Culture, Iron Blu, Bad Outfit and Perseus Traxx.
VA – 20 Years Crème Organization [FREE DOWNLOAD]
“Here’s a free compilation to celebrate our 20th birthday, which fittingly falls right in the middle of the biggest crises the world has faced this century. This is not a retrospective, in times like these it important to look to the future. It features exclusive tracks by label mainstays and some up and coming artists from the West Coast and beyond. Up to you to figure out which is which.”
Perseus Traxx / Mantra – Acid Avengers 015 [AAR015]
For that 15th Acid Avengers split EP, Tripalium Corp welcomes two providers of acid music who know each other very well, as they’re also associated in the duo Nite Vision. On the A-Side, English producer Perseus Traxx, known for his raw house & electro bombs on Bunker, Solar One, I Love Acid or his own imprint Future Flash. On the B-Side, Barcelona-based producer Mantra, also know under his aliases Myriadd or Acid Phreex, and responsible of several ravey bangers on Pinkman, Creme Organization, Bunker and Polybius Trax.
VA – Innate 003 [INN8003]
Bristol-based dancefloor futurists Innate return with a third multi-artist EP – shot through with melody, warmth and soul. A quartet of timeless-sounding tracks full of stargazing sounds, undulating acid lines, far-sighted electronics and crackling beats. Tracks by Perseus Traxx, Ewan Jansen, Reedale Rise and label co-founder Owain K.
Perseus Traxx – How the Mighty Fell [SBOX009]
Perseus Traxx makes his Schrödinger’s Box debut with a 4-track EP of experiments forged in the depths of Northern England. Pristine plateaus and eerie sweeps cover the entire first side, a Perseus Traxx from 2090, shimmering in and out of phase within a murky acidic landscape. Introspective and thoughtful throughout. Timothy J Fairplay finishes off the final quarter with a summer-garden Techno banger.
Northern Powerhouse – Northern Powerhouse [NP006]
Northern Powerhouse kick things into gear on their sixth release with snarling and grizzly analogue bass on the A and machine heavy percussion and distorted tones on the flip. One for dark rooms and deafening sound systems
Perseus Traxx – Simulacra [DWT004]
Distant Worlds present their fourth transmission from the multi-talented, Perseus Traxx. He delivers four deep, warm and fuzzy takes of analogue goodness that fit the Distant Worlds aesthetic perfectly.
Northern Powerhouse – Slapdash Bass [NP003]
The full range of frequencies have been lovingly captured and set for eternity into nice and solid, hand pressed plastic before being bound in gorgeously minimal white paper ”inners”. Adding individual nuance to each and every record, is a stylised image of the visionary York philanthropist, Joseph Rowntree. Details of which tracks are which are lovingly incorporated into this image using a black ink to stand against Mr Rowntree’s brilliance. The hand screened label, uses the latest in dual pizza/kitchen table printing technology™ with a tried and tested lounge floor drying system to ensure any moisture is gone before the vinyl is shipped, so that transport weight can be kept to a minimum and savings passed on to you.
Northern Powerhouse – House Of York / Bell Pit [NP002]
Alex Handley (Auto Sound City) and Nigel Rogers (Perseus Traxx) catch up on a regular basis to casually jam out on various machines in a Kippax basement, then edit, twist and re-jam them in a York flat. Housed in a white paper sleeve, this is a fantastic example of beautifully handcrafted Yorkshire electronics, with a distinctively raw and rustic feel. The label, screen printed on a kitchen table, is a reflection of the punk ethic of the duo just doing as they please to please themselves.
Perseus Traxx – Drowning In Your Eyes [GNOSIS003]
Following well received EPs from Myriadd and Q-Chip, Gnosis are ecstatic to have prolific UK producer Nigel Rogers (aka Ellis De Havilland, Operator Tracey, Orpheus, Pagan Ritual, Sir Leon Greg etc.) on board for their third release. ‘Drowning In Your Eyes’ is a four track EP recorded under his Perseus Traxx handle.
Snuff Crew – I Love Acid Fifteen [ILA015]
A poignant and thoughtful EP from Berlin duo Snuff Crew, dedicated to their friend, collaborator and labelmate Andreas Gehm who passed away in summer 2016, just after his own I Love Acid release. Four analogue acid hardware tracks. Remix duty falls to fellow hardware aficionado Perseus Traxx.
Perseus Traxx – More Songs About Girls [LVNO011]
A great pairing here as the rugged basslines, emotional melodies, and vintage percussion of Perseus Traxx seem right at home on the Love Notes stabel, who seem to be taking a quick break from showcasing artists from their homebase of Brooklyn, as they have on their last 4 records. More Songs About Girls is a cohesive EP of 4 original tracks and neither fans of this artist nor fans of this label will be disappointed.
Timothy J Fairplay – Revenge Fantasy [ERS031]
The return of Timothy J Fairplay sees tracks from his 2 EPs on Emotional Response remixed on one special release. Four favourite producers chosen to bring new dimensions to his brooding, shuffling electronics, featuring Scientific Dreamz Of U, Alessandro Parisi, Perseus Trax and Antenna.
Heinrich Dressel – The Styx Swamp [BAR014]
Roman producer (and a force behind MinimalRome label) Valerio Lombardozzi known as Heinrich Dressel returns to Barba with a second release for our label, titled “The Styx Swamp”. Heinrich has a unique way of combining classic techno and electro sounds with elements from the beloved Drexcyan universe and John Carpenter leitmotifs, and making them come together in a manner that both moves your body and pushes your mind beyond the point of awareness. “Gray Slope”, “Sailing The Nether Waterways” and “The Styx Swamp” are all quite moody and deep, rich with sound and thick with vibe. However, the tracks feel equally at home in 4 am techno situation and a heady afterhours affair. He truly is a master of crafting hybrids whose influences get so flawlessly embedded that it’s hard to point them out. If that’s not enough, “The Styx Swamp” got a treatment by Nigel Rogers aka Perseus Traxx, a multi-faceted producer and a mighty live act performer. Nigel stayed respectful to the original but made the original’s bouncy groove into something more direct and reduced, while retaining the same feel conditioned by lead synth’s hypnotic quality.
Perseus Traxx – Creatures From The Edge [HM010]
Perseus Traxx makes his debut on Hissman’s Hardmoon London imprint with a unique set of acid-free sonic experiments.
Perseus Traxx – Hypnotic Groove Mix 118
Perseus Traxx – Take Your Chance [BAR008]
Killer old school analogue hardware jacking acid tracks by Perseus Traxx. Expect those raw bunker/acid planet vibes on this new Barba release.
Perseus Traxx – 716 Exclusive Mix
VA – Mutant City Acid 3 [BV019]
Third part in the Mutant City Acid Series. Four new takes on the sound of the TB303 by Cardopusher, Perseus Traxx, Posthuman and Paul Mac.
