J. Tijn embarks on the eleventh expedition into the exotic lands of palm trees and blue skies with the dark and gritty ‘The Deluge’ EP. Expedition eleven features four jams packed of heavy drum rhythms, moody synth lines and ambient soundscapes.
techno
Hipodrome Podcast 021 – Scoro
Scoro aka Bogdan Scoromide is a constant presence in the clubs of Bucharest in recent years. He started his DJ career in 2009 by approaching an experimental style through various small locations in Bucharest. He was known for his rather difficult style, mixing electro-acoustic improvisations, modern psychedelic and free-jazz, later becoming a Control Club resident. This experimental approach was then channeled towards club music, and today Scoro mixes in his one style house, techno, post-industrial & jakbeat, all the time trying to create polyrhythms.
VA – The Midnight Manual [MNSX5Y]
5 years since Midnight Shift’s first release in 2012, the label assembles a collective of artists, most of them are in advance of their full EPs releasing later. Representing the sounds of the label is this manual of secret moves, up in the sleeves. The mystic motley crew also comprises the alternate sides of familiar faces — Amato (The Hacker), Terry Lamborgini (Marco Bernardi), INNYSTER (Seixlack), Hodge in a new formation with Gramrcy, and an electro moniker from an undisclosed artist: Thermocline. From abstract acrobatics to the abrasive and the ultimate gob smack to the floor — The Midnight Manual.
Black Meteoric Star – No More White Presidents [MOM011]
Gavin Rayna Russom palms out a loose and wiry jag for Barcelona’s Modern Obscure Music, leaning heavily on a knackered acid bent (and seemingly many of the buttons in her keyboard at once) for the soundtrack to a self-made film about transition in a broader context of capitalism and death.
Jayson Wynters – Industrial Espionage [DBA037]
Jayson Wynters returns to Don’t Be Afraid with four more strident constructions. Rooted in classic machine funk and loop craft we take off with the gradually pummelling percussive hypnotiser “Beta” and crash land to the soothing synthesis and deep acid textures of “The Kansei Method”. In between we’re treated to the soft-but-stern swoons of the white knuckle “One Hundred N Forty” and bashed senseless by the warehouse crumbling jacker “Into The Void”.
Unbalance – Unbalance #10 [UNBALANCE010]
Seven years ago, Unbalance created his own label as a base for his musical ideas; a platform to play around with the conception of what ”techno” is and would be alongside his own creative progression. Come to present day and the label is now at its ninth release, reaching a point where the line of accumulated experiences must be drawn in the sand — and the experiences of previous projects and releases lead to venerable conclusion. Enter Ten, an album of internalized strife that was created during a period of big changes in the artist’s life. Between enduring personal experiences, his creative output veering between his straightforward club eccentricities and subdural sensibilities; Unbalance cultivates a symbiotic link between sounds played and sounds portrayed — whilst paying tribute to the essence of groove, vibration and the hypnotic unknown that exists to balance the scales. This album will be the final point in the label’s journey into the depths of multifaceted techno music.
VA – Waves Of The Future [MNQ100]
Mannequin’s 100th – a compilation looking forward featuring an international and serious cast. The modern synthwave scene would be significantly poorer without the keen ear and tireless efforts of the Mannequin label run by Alessandro Adriani. Mannequin continues to go on exploratory missions to find the best and most relevant aspects of genres like acid, industrial, EBM, post-punk, coldwave and still more. Which brings us to Mannequin’s newest project and 100th release overall: the Waves of the Future double LP compilation, which itself is not a conventional retrospective collection. Case in point – none of the artists appearing on this collection have put out their own releases on Mannequin yet, despite acting as Mannequin’s unofficial ambassadors (via DJ sets and other means). This makes the set even more compelling rather than less so, since it shows how Mannequin fits into a larger picture that includes other scene leaders and label owners including Beau Wanzer, Willie Burns, Silent Servant and Ron Morelli.
Thomas P. Heckmann – Body Music LP [MONNOM013]
Body Music LP produced by a man who needs little introduction. Thomas P. Heckmann has flexed his prowess across all shades of electronic music, but it’s his contributions to EBM-techno, acid, industrial, and experimental that has earned him his notoriety. Heckmann has utilised 30 years worth of acquired knowledge to create a hard-hitting album which bears all the grit he is known for – harmonising analogue and digital wares to create an utterly immersive 14 track album.
St. Theodore – Mortal Strike [LOD011]
Romansoff – Halo [SOLAR06]
After a first EP of the year from STL, the Solar Phenomena label now welcomes Romania’s Romansoff. The Raw Tools label boss hails from Bucharest and has also released his gritty, stripped back house and techno on Creme Organization and Sportiv. Here he offers four new tracks, with one remix from Timedance man Ploy completing the package. ‘Halo’ epitomises Romansoff’s style with its slow, heavy drums and sparse, scattered perc sounds. A lo-fi melody adds colour, while ‘Coach Jacket’ ups the ante with busier claps and crashing hits laid over a turbulent, unsettled bassline. Increasing the pressure further, ‘Graded’ grows manic with punchy drums, layers of fuzzy synths and bass and distant cries that are dark and unsettling. Ploy flips this one into a prickly and atmospheric drum track that keeps you on edge and Romansoff’s digital exclusive ‘Michigan Lake Tapes’ is a slow motion workout with unsettling synths and tortured pads that grows ever more unhinged. It rounds out a leftfield house EP in style.
RA.614 Sync 24
PNKMIX-08 | Daze – Louisiana Slowcast
Ernestas Sadau – Cxemcast 050
Lvrin – SBZ005 [SBZ005]
Jenya Lavrinov is a young rising musician from Russia and LVRIN is the alias for the gloom side of his productions. All six tracks for this EP were made during last year under the red lights of Jenya’s home studio. As before LVRIN adheres to the one take method of recording as the best technique of dealing with the sound and with the moment. Setup for this EP in particular consisted of Akai MPC 1000, Yamaha AN200, Analogue Solutions TBX-303, MFB-Synth II, Polivoks and a couple of effects pedals.
TV.OUT – Further [LIES107]
Tel Aviv based two man project TV.OUT has been making a name for themselves these last years putting on impressive live sets, djing around the world, and running their Paralaxx imprint releasing various strains of rugged, well informed electronic music. On their debut for L.I.E.S. we get a smoking three tracker spanning styles that would not seem out of the place being played on the West Coast of Den Hague in the late-90s.
Serge @ Shelter Amsterdam 20.01.2018
Shedbug – Destination Love [LT047]
Lobster Theremin dig back down unda’ to bring another fresh salty Aussie experience to the table with well seasoned young talent Shedbug aka Geordie Elliot-Kerr at the helm for this one. As Shedbug he makes entrancing house, acid-tinted techno, cosmic electro and heavily stepped UK-influenced jams. On Destination Love, Shedbug harnesses the emotive, pad-heavy sound showcased on previous outings whilst mixing in blend of interstellar synths, jagged breaks and crusted-yet-cutting drum work – all mixed down with some serious studio finishing.
VA – Limits Of Existence Vol.1 [FEXELVN001]
Falling Ethics starts a new Various Artists series: Falling Ethics Eleven , with an open approach ranging from Ambient experimental to proper techno adventures. First volume features music from Steve Bicknell, Reeko, P.E.A.R.L. Three pieces aimed directly for the adventurous dj’s out there, no jokes, no easyness, just techno essence.
Com Sin – Fiere EP [SOV013]
Com Sin is Cosmin TRG’s alter ego for the experimental, minimal project. Although he is one of the grand figures of the techno scene, under his Com Sin alias he presents a different side of his musical inclination.
Philippe Petit – Rhino EP [INV018]
Philippe Petit releases his debut EP on Involve Records. The Belgian artist delivers a three cut weapon full of melodies and acid spirit. Serious damage for the dancefloor in this exploration on the grooviest side of techno.
