Morphology, back where they began on Abstract Forms. Killer aquatic electro born out of cold, dark and long winters in Finland.
techno
Vactrol Park – II [ESP026B]
Vactrol Park, the collaborative endeavor between Kyle Martin (Land of Light) and Guido Zen (Brain Machine), returns to the ESP Institute with II, rounding out the second half of their EP series. For this installment, a sojourn was made to Stockholm to record at the computer music mecca, EMS (Elektronmusikstudion), where the artists had the opportunity to experiment extensively with the legendary Buchla 200 Modular and Serge Modular, two of the rarest and most pornographic modular synthesizers in existence. While both instruments originate from California (Buchla in Berkeley as a commission from pioneer Morton Subotnik, and Serge at the California Institute of the Arts), the music Vactrol Park draws from these machines is far from warm and sunny. Akin to their predecessors on the 2015 debut I, these works materialize a level of taste and measure of craft that’s unattainable by most, each retaining an individual cinematic approach yet working collectively toward one consummate goal—paralysis.
Adapta – MKS-50 Tracks [FR034]
The in 1986 produced MKS-50 synth is a rack-mount version of Roland Corporation’s Alpha Juno. It has the same synth engine and architecture, but with added features like 16 programmable chord memories, the ability to store velocity, volume, panning, de-tune, portamento and other similar parameters within each patch you create. The optional PG-300 gives traditional slider type control of all editable tone parameters which include DCO (digitally controlled oscillators) LFO, bend, ENV, pulse, waveforms, noise, PW/PWM, high pass filter, VCF (filter) with freq/env/res/LFO/kybd, VCA envelope, chorus, and more. Adapta delivers a project based on this legendary MKS-50 synth. Tracks created with technology from the past, aimed for the future.
Xenogears – Second Room EP [PM014]
Machine soul Hi-techno funk rooted cuts from the Berlin based Analogue Cops as Xenogears. Included a space acid solid remix by Mattia Trani.
Inter Gritty – Islands [RINO001LP]
Album debut from Inter Gritty. This island-hopping adventure takes us from the quirky depths of Ictis through the 303 workout of Stac Lee and the brutal pounding of Swona, to the lush electronics of Cijin. The Norrköping, Sweden-based producer has taken his sound one step further from his previous EPs and painted a bigger picture, covering an archipelago of sound that offers both rough seas, jagged cliffs and serene forests.
Aiken – Boundary [TL002]
After a successful launch of his own imprint last year, label owner Aiken is now back with the second EP. His first release of 2016 and the second release on the Timelime imprint counts four four-to-the-floor techno bangers in his own signature style. Warehouse proof peaktime.
Drafted – Frames From The Lake EP [BALANS020]
The first installment of Balans Records in 2016 brings the debut of young, talented Italian artist, Drafted, to the Dutch label. Beautifully opening the EP, ‘Frames from the Lake’ fills the air with a thick suspense, reminiscent of a mystical fairytale before ‘Frequency Graven’ dives straight into a persistent kick and coordinated with fluttering chords. On the flip side, ‘Shaded Impacted’ delivers a deeper bass which introduces a progression into a climax of heavenly dissonance and relentless hi-hats. ‘Vortex Empire’ on the other hand features contradictory rhythms which dance atop stirring atmospheres. Each track is able to emphasize that naturally opposites do attract as the confronting rhythms compliment any dark dance floor.
Mick Wills @ We Are Monsters, Monarch (San Francisco) 12.03.2016
Marvin & Guy @ Gewölbe (Cologne) 16.04.2016
Intergalactic Gary – Dekmantel Selectors Podcast 002
UFOCUS – Guidance For The Puzzled [NW009LP]
Danny Wolfers aka Legowelt with a new project UFOCUS on his own label Nightwind Records. 11 Tracks with a mix of electronix and more club ready tracks, typical Legowelt style. A double-album set that explores the paranormal themes that were once a major part of the early ’90s ambient techno scene. Musically, much of Guidance For The Puzzled recalls those halcyon days, with Danny’s drawing inspiration from a mixture of classic Detroit techno, intergalactic electronica, intelligent techno, stargazing ambient house and – on the fine “Archetypes & Myths” – dreamy deep house/acid house fusion.
Svengalisghost – Digital Tsunami 099
Parrish Smith – Virgin Of The World [KH002]
For the next Knekelhuis chapter, there is Parrish Smith. In his wicked game of creation and demolishment he’s working on combining organic and mental material which brings him to his first full-length EP. His melted personal stories convey through rough mechanics and exuberant expressionism. This tells the story of fulfilment, development and setbacks. Mixing up illusional layers of metal drums with harsh and rough moving synthesis. Polyrhythmical electroniczzz for the mind.
Umwelt – State Of Matter [SHPRMX1]
Shipwrec rolls out its new remix series with a serious slab of electro red meat. The main course is served by a machine music master, Umwelt. And what else would the serving be but the rawest of electro, coarsened by surging acid and slicing snares. Accompanying the original are a triumvirate of talent: Ekman, The Exaltics and Eomac.
VA – Tusk Wax 20 [TW020]
Tusk says “I wanted to go back to the way the label started for the 20th release, so I’ve put together a VA which captures the way the label has moved in the past couple of years and will continue to shift”.
Delta Funktionen – Dekmantel Podcast 066
Paul du Lac – The Attic Podcast 36
Hunee – Hunch Music (Mick Wills / DJ Fett Burger Remixes) [RHM021]
Lengthy and weighty “Hunch Music” remixes by Mick Wills and DJ Fett Burger. After Hunee’s celebrated debut album “Hunch Music”, it’s time for these two remixes here… DJ Fett Burger inserts “Crossroads” into Boss Brian’s computer and takes it to an extraordinary new level, Mick Wills transforms “Hiding The Moon” into a throbbing and grinding floor cracker.
ASOK – A Mind Forever Voyaging Album Sampler [CR1291]
As an introduction to his upcoming debut album ‘A Mind Forever Voyaging’ Liverpool artist ASOK brings a teaser for what to expect.
Milton Bradley – Tragedy Of Truth [DNRTB010]
The German producer Milton Bradley presents his full-length debut on his own Do Not Resist The Beat label. Bradley has been one of techno’s key names for much of the past decade. “Tragedy Of Truth” incloses in 10 tracks, the full range of Milton Bradley Techno sound: dark, Industrial leaning to 1990s style Acid.
The Hipodrome Of Music 