Horn Wax 10 features a split release from Antoni Maiovvi and TX Connect.
techno
RA.502 Eric Cloutier
Hieroglyphic Being – Dekmantel Podcast 052
Metropolis – Unify [CHAR006]
Dark machine music by Metropolis on the Pinkman offshoot label Charlois. The EP starts with the German vocalized protest song “Uberall Polizei, Nirgendwo gerechtigkeit”, an EBM inspired track which reminds us of the early 80s Belgium artists like The Neon Judgement and Nitzer Ebb. On the flip the riot continues with “Kriegdienstverweigerer”, a hypnotic neo-electronic jam with rattling synths, psychedelic baselines and a repetitive robotic vocoder on top. The EP ends with the title track “Unify”, a deep cold cinematic floor burner. Limited to 300 copies, with silkscreened sleeves.
Detroit Diesel – Dimension [DUM033]
DUM Records has been a fine purveyor of minimal techno ever since 1992. The label run by Kim Rapatti—himself a long serving Scandinavian techno pioneer who has released on labels like Skudge and Forbidden Planet deals in analogue gear, sleek and stark sound and, after a long sleep, is now back with a great new EP. It comes from the label boss under his Detroit Diesel alias and perfectly encapsulates the label, and artist’s, perfectly reduced sound. The first cut is a new re-written interpretation of the ’93 acid classic ‘Dimension’, previously released on DUM011. An intense, nerve jangling and engagingly dark acid workout. Many supple synths gurgle next to huge and ice cold hi hats and the whole thing keeps you on edge throughout. The original ‘Dimension’ on the flip is less aggressive but is just as intense, with a thick acid line the main feature above cantering drums and explosive claps. There is no letting up in any of the tracks here and closer ‘Freestyle’ is no different. It was recorded in ’94 in Finland and has never been released on vinyl before. It is a lithe, elastic track that twists and turns with big stabs, pummelling drums and machine gun fire synth that will fill any warehouse with irresistible sound and energy. DUM Records is back, and back in style.
Qnete – Grey City Anthem [ZCKR012]
Daniele Cosmo – Phormix Podcast #33
VA – Made With Black Energy EP [CHIWAX009LTD]
Timothy J. Fairplay – My Etherealrealness [CHAR007]
Pinkman follows on his blooming imprint Charlois with another addition from label favourite Timothy J Fairplay. ‘My Etherealrealness’ kicks things off with tape saturated drums propelling interweaving sequences and nostalgic lead lines before ‘Phantom Trap’ sets springing kicks bounding under tense and sweeping melodies. Pressure builds behind a wall of coiling synth lines before ‘Flying Saucer Review’ lays a reverberated thud under playful percussive flashes and more adroit synthesis. Fluttering textures and gentle tape purrs persist throughout as the tracks dismantlement gives way eerily flickering tones that cap off another prime addition to the Charlois catalogue and another solid 12″ from artist going from strength to strength. Limited to 300 copies, with silkscreened sleeves.
Xosar – Holographic Matrix [FREE DOWNLOAD]
Techno mystic Xosar witha self-releasing 11-track album on Bandcamp. Holographic Matrix is filled with some of the murkiest and most sinister tracks of her career.
Rezzett – EP 2 [TTT040]
London duo Rezzett make it three for Will Bankhead’s Trilogy tapes with this exquisitely packaged. As with their previous output the pair focus in on hazy outsider house texture –all tape hiss, distorted kicks and detuned keys- but what sets them apart is an unheimlich reading of the ‘ardkore dream captured not by drug-addled nostalgia but an exciting future, the thrill of possibility; this is rave music for 2016.
Coni – Imaginarium Essai EP [TTT041]
You could never accuse Parisian artist Coni of releasing too much music; to date, the ClekClekBoom-affiliated artist has released just three EPs in four years. Clearly, these releases have impressed The Trilogy Tapes founder Will Bankhead, as he’s snapped-up a four-track EP from the talented French producer. It’s the A-side that sparkles the most immediately, beginning with the curious looped sound effects, slashed jazz chords, swinging rhythms and bubbling electronic hits of “Into The Silly World”. Arguably even better is “Zex Plongeon”. While not as thrillingly unusual as its’ predecessor, it feels more obviously tailored to club play. It’s creepy, deep, drowsy and tense, with slowly pulsing chords and ghostly textures stretching out over a tidy techno groove.
Dimi Angélis @ Planet Rose, Doornroosje (Nijmegen, NL) 11.12.2015
Alexandru Jijian @ Maschine, Control Club (Bucharest) 21.11.2015
Voices From The Lake / Wata Igarashi – Stealth 2/3 [T2XS302]
The Stealth triple vinyl series presents six tracks taken from Peter Van Hoesen’s ‘Stealth’ mix compilation. The same philosophy is carried across: it marries Peter’s music with the sounds he is influenced by. The result is a powerful selection of vibrant techno, with a warm, almost spiritual, feel to it. Both Donato Dozzy and Neel have appeared individually on Time to Express before, here they appear for the first time together as Voices From the Lake. The Italian duo offer more evidence of their distinctive brand of hypnotic techno with ‘Zulu Vortex’, a spiralling percussive workout. This is paired with a track from Wata Igarashi, a rising Japanese DJ and producer. ‘Night’ is a glowing, radiant piece of techno that has become a regular feature in Peter Van Hoesen’s recent DJ sets.
Maddermodes – Dark Dust EP [NDM035]
Lena Muir / Profil Horizontal – Untitled [EFAE001]
Produced somewhere between a basement in Brussels and an attic in the outskirts of Paris, back when tape reel to reels, primitive rhythm boxes and analogue synths still carried a vague promise of the future, this music translated a certain atomic paranoia fuelled by the cold war industry. Lo-fi music, abrasive, high pressure, dense, clipped to the max, like it was intended to punish any woofer that gets between it and the air.
Black Patterns – Black Patterns Vol.1 [LT020]
Black Patterns is a new alias from Lobster Theremin regular Snow Bone, launched to allow him to explore more obviously experimental techno pastures. In truth, Black Patterns Volume 1 is thoroughly in keeping with the fuzzy, distorted and generally bleak material that the hyped label has been putting out of late. Variously creepy, unsettling and freakishly intense, it’s a collection that rarely steps back from the dusty darkness of the crumbling warehouses and basement spaces most readily associated with this style of balls-out techno. As a collection of club tracks, it can’t be faulted. Given that it’s DJs that will be most interested in its’ throbbing charms, it would seem churlish to criticise.
VA – Invisible Darning [BT009]
Invisible Darning brings together 4 unique acts, covering a wide spectrum of techno and electro. Crystal Maze’s Crossroad Blues kicks off the EP with slow mo tripped out techno. Dez Williams’ Hand on Mouth follows up with spaced out, stargazing electro. On the flip we have Switzerland’s Echo 106 – 100M Splutter bringing stuttering arpeggiated synths for an epic showdown. Closing the EP Albert Van Abbe resurrects his dormant The Pulse Projects for the brutalist crunching Grounds.
Privacy – Default Query [VV019]
Privacy debut on Valcrond Video. Mr. Privacy would hang around all day eating stuff and listening to Siamese Dream with Luke until the office manager who keeps things in line was forced to ask them both to leave. A deal was struck: In exchange for a continued flow of free snacks and treats, Privacy agreed to provide these 4 tracks. In the same way Privacy is unable to resist a warm chocolate croissant, no one who plays records in public for a living will be able to resist these audio delights.
