Datura Dilema with the second installment on Drama Universal label. Out with a bang and staying tuned to the already known repetitive sweeping electronics that his sound embraces. Addicted to hardware, bringing deep and dark euphoric modular techno trance type excursions reminiscent of the early Ambient Techno days. Heavy synth lines, flowing patterns, running baselines and solid rhythms suited for the night or early morning.
The timing couldn’t be better for Frak to return to Kontra-Musik with this remarkable synth and acid flavoured release. Machines drifting away is an intriguing piece of music; straightforward and multi-layered; futuristic and old school. The first half of the track molds itself around an ebm-like bassline which seems to be moving through a desolate landscape with hard hitting kicks, claps and drums marching on beside it, while the sky above is filled with the wails of brooding synths. The second part introduces a mean 303-bassline as the intensity of the journey heightens. The sound of an echoing metronome sets the tempo at the beginning, soon to be joined by heavy kicks and toms. Several analogue synths then joins in; bending, distorting and moving through the soundscape, almost battling for space. Everything is kept on the right path, though, thanks to an ingenious use of hi-hats – a trademark trick and treat from Frak.
Weekend Circuit return for the second release of the year, this time welcoming London based debutee Rommek to the imprint, with two suitably noteworthy remixes to accompany the 12”. Delivering 2 cuts of his individual brand of weighty atmospheric Techno, Rommek’s first ever EP, ’Thought Patterns‘ is a sign of promising things to come. Remixes by Adriana Lopez and The Plant Worker.
Rismu’s “MST (The Plant Worker rmx)” focuses on functional beat patterns until the chords breaking into. On with a dub techno interpretation of Advanced Human’s “Open Air” by Joachim Spieth. On the flipside we’re happy to introduce Exos from Iceland (known from Thule, Force Inc. & Mosaic) with “Stargate 7”. Massive subs meeting cloudy dub chords. “The Zenith” from Roberto & Chris Page is closing this 12”, by the way, it’s their first cooperation tune appearing on Affin.
Imagine the early 80ies, cold war is on its peak, you are a young lad in american occupied Germany and don’t feel like joining the army. What you gonna do? There is not much choice. you could crash your dads car into the next bridge and get invalided out or you just move to the island of west berlin and buy a drum machine. ”Neue Wohnkultur” is one of those bands started by renegades hiding from military service in the american sector of the german capital. Writing songs about what its like to be a soldier is definitely more fun than taking extended field trips with the comrades to the country side. “Wir sind Soldaten, Wir sind Soldaten!” M.o.m.O. Cut it! So here we are, decades later, the wall came down, east and west germans are shopping peacefully together, you are reading the press text of some record label called Rat Life. Does all this make any sense? Well you are the customer, it’s your choice, you could click your mouse now and skip to the next item before i tell you about the flip side of this record which is nothing but a repetitive loop goin on for 9 minutes. You might say “Enfant Terrible (M.W. Cut)” is not a big pleasure for home listening but its on you to make it interesting, you could mix it with your dads old records or crab a mic and rap over it (please don’t rap over it.
“Shortly after the Dust Under Bridges ep was released, Henri sent us nine tracks which he had previously recorded to tape, not thinking that they were worthy of release. On the contrary, these are nine tracks of beautiful, brooding, leftfield house and techno, and we decided immediately that they ought to be available to the public, and that they formed a perfect appendage to Halvtrak’s debut 12″ release, Dust Under Bridges, written, as they were, during the same period.”
We Play House’s Our Beat Is Still New series has been something of a soar-away success, introducing a new generation of DJs to the distinctive, heavily electronic midtempo pulse of Belgian new beat via a constant stream of tribute tracks from contemporary producers. Predictably, there’s more to admire on this fourth and final 12″, not least the bass-heavy throb and rubbery electronics of Locked Groove’s tribute to Belgian new beat/techno legend Frank De Wulf, “El Rio Negro”. Elsewhere, young rave revivalist Innershades drops the moody and intoxicating “Massive Overdose”, while Lauer impresses with the winding synths, juddering drums and saucer-eyed pads of “Planet Barty”. FCL’s stomping “It Began in Belgium” – all cheap electronics and proto-acid tweakery – is also pretty darn good.
Spontaneity, simplicity and playfulness, combined with the warmth and solitude of an Ibizan hideaway, not to mention the cold, industrial minimalism of Manuels Ruhr Valley Essen roots all make for an interesting fusion on Es Cub. Take opener Ara Anam for example, we could just as easily be on the Space Terrace as we could at Panarama Bar. Tracks such as Werk and Flux combine hints of clipped minimalism with the driving, analogue synth sounds of say Ame or Baikal whilst About To Fall and El Soplo contain both depth and a certain majestic beauty gained from the simple, stripped back, rolling beats and flowing pads. Far from being the throwaway sketches that Manuel modestly implies, we hear strong melodic motifs and hooky samples appearing throughout the entire LP which brings a unique identity to each track as well as adding a cohesive gel to Es Cub.
The Stuttgart papi Michel Baumann alias Soulphiction aka Jackmate presents three new power generators on – Treat Your Dj Right’ equipped with the right measure of steam and courage. On Halios EP he’s getting the juices flowing, however manifested as a compulsion to move. Beyblade’ is a glossily illuminated, sensory-enhanced modern club production which shows that Chicago and Detroit could be sister cities, in the heart of Trollinger-Town! Juan is soaked with pure chi-town pads, and applied, frenetic subterranean bass. Through a fully conscious, shifting rhythm and hi-hat that whispers as if a drum is being stroked with a brush, it manages a compelling groove. Length doesn’t play a role here, answering the question of why anything should be extended when the moment of euphoria has been reached. Sunbeams demonstrates how a ‘whitey’ can produce the same velvety, soulful sound of black music, and with the same understanding to boot.
Defeating apathy by creating his own world, Abdulla Rashims music thinks before it speaks. Untangled energy and drive breathes life into the rigid rhythmic structures, where the wild, almost primal, core illuminates the heartfelt and soulful layers within in his music. This musical contradiction between thought and letting go, acts as the base foundation in Abdulla Rashim’s music. As a celebration and as a aural development, Abdulla Rashim releases his ‘Unanimity’ LP on Northern Electronics.
The release features three abrasive noise workouts. Thud of drums and ritualistic rhythms define the opener Luarica on the A-side alongside a near-melodic whine that stays present throughout the tracks. Orapa (An Interview) on the flip swallows and evokes scuffed voices of a conversation, striving into isolation, while Venetia resumes the haunting rhythm and layers of distortion.
A legendary name in techno, Lory D is back and as strong as when his vinyls were cherished all over the world as his SNS (Sound Never Seen) was printed by Rephlex of Aphex Twin. MT100 is a timeless and genre-free track: it’s just music. The melody is sound-track material for a high profile film with a rhythm which however recall the first drum machines of the eighties.
Rawax welcomes 2 friends to the family – Rhythm Factory aka Arno Völker aka Einzelkind & Robin Scholz.
Mysterious, dark & distorted heavy hitters on 7”. Definitely not for everyone. Limited press which won’t last. ”Shout out to Matilda & the Paris regiment.”
Like a noisy hound in your neighborhood – keeping you awake.. awesome stuff on this fresh U.S. house label! Jackin beat tracks and psychedelic discofied mixers from Robert Crash. Beatin’, jackin’ and rockin’ the house.
Part six of the Nonnative Series featuring Par Grindvik, Adriana Lopez, Etapp Kyle & Israel Vines.
