Never-before-heard psychedelic acid techno and ambient compositions from beloved Japanese producer Susumu Yokota. Recovered from a collection of DAT tapes.
Susumu Yokota – Unreleased Works 94′ – 97′ [TM028]
transmigration
J.P. Energy – Prima Dell’ Alba / Forbidden Planet [SMI-019]
A new collaborative release by labels Transmigration and Sound Migration, featuring a reissue of Italian sonic polymath J.P Energy. ‘Prima Dell’ Alba / Forbidden Planet’ are two sophisticated and sinister percussive tracks from 1997 that sit at the boundaries of Techno & Trance, indicative of the fruitfulness of creativity in underground dance music from Italy during this time. The release is completed with with a modern revision of Forbidden Planet by J.P Energy himself.
J.P. Energy – I Have A Pessimistic Outlook Of Life EP [SMI-015]
The second release to come out of Sound Metaphors’ collaboration with the Italian electronic music Don, Gianpiero Pacetti aka J.P. Energy. “I Have A Pessimistic Outlook Of Life EP” showcases a considerably more mature and polished sound relative to the previous release as the artist moves into the end of the 90’s. Here things get more serious and even more “industrial” with a darker and perhaps more cynical tone, not unlike the title of the EP. A 3 track record, very much oriented towards the dance floor. The EP was fisrt released in 1999 by the Italian label Spectrum (Civiltà Del Suono).
Zsa Zsa “La Boum” – Tu Veux Ou Tu Veux Pas? [SMI-013]
A much needed release essential to any respectable New Beat record collection. The second and last single for the Zsa Zsa Laboum project, originally released in 1989, shortly after the prolific impact of ”Something Scary”, although a different formula, ”Tu Veux Ou Tu Veux Pas?” is deep in tune with the Belgian Acid aesthetic, but with a more industrial edge to it. Simplistic but effective use of vocals, streamlined to the basics of maximum club efficiency, dark and not trying to make friends – De Smet is here to sell records, and with much success at the time with his honed production experience from years in the studio. Own a very relevant piece of club history from a special time in rave culture. Topped off with a new remix by Anatolian Weapons.
Zsa Zsa “La Boum” – Something Scary [SMI-012]
“Something Scary” is probably one of the most representative examples of Belgian New Beat as the genre shifted to Hard Beat, by one of the key figures in the explosion of the early Belgian rave scene Rembert De Smet. Starting with the first few seconds of the track, the listener is presented with what could arguably be one of the most unforgettable New Beat acid bass lines to attack the human ear. Very much in your face, characteristic of a genre that emerges from studio experimentation during a time when Chicago Acid was establishing itself and already contaminating the UK. Although relatively simple in terms of production, the way De Smert employs all the elements at play is ingeniously effective, from the simple vocal sample placement to the bassline, propelling it timelessly throughout decades to follow as an iconic example of the Acid sound in Europe. Re-released with two new remixes by the masterful Anatolian Weapons.
VA – Amphibious Carbine [SMI-008]
The Sound Migration label takes another trip back in to the CATT articles to explore the proto-trance and early bleep techno sound they were pushing from 1988-1991. Another five essential gems from the modestly sized catalogue get an airing here, kicking off with Confidential’s haunting ‘Amphibious Carbine’ followed by the boxy pressure of Exocet’s ‘Nitrogen’. This is astounding stuff throughout, not least the freak-zone trip of Holy Ghost’s ‘Walking On Air’, which sounds like the common denominator between Ibiza and Goa in their nascent days as party destinations. Don’t sleep on the clattering funk of Exocet’s ‘Overdose’ either, a seriously snappy groover with all kinds of oddball sampling going on.
Exquisite Corpse – Anatolian Weapons Remixes [TM017]
Following up on last year’s acclaimed Integration 12″, Robbert Heynen unlocks his incredible back catalogue for four acidic reinterpretations from Greek maestro Anatolian Weapons. Proceeds of the record will be donated to Legacy of Hope foundation, an Indigenous led charitable association which educates and raises awareness about the history and on-going impacts of Canada’s residential school system.
Confidential – Psychopath / Synergy [SMI005]
Sound Metaphors and Transmigration take another dig at the CATT Records catalogue with another EP comprised of two cuts that have been part of the secret weapon arsenals of many seasoned DJs and collectors. A side investigates what might come across as a British response to the Belgian New Beat contingent that had been brewing for a while at the time, serious bass lines and synthetic Gregorian chants echoed over solid four on the floor action. B side unfolds the rhythm in half beat with a breaky electro/freestyle indulgence with Led Zeppelin samples unexpectedly sprinkled about.
Confidential / Primea Facey – Jam The Frequency / Jet Black At Birth [SMI005]
Early 90’s UK Balearic infused deep semi-Acid House EP with two tracks from the mysterious CATT Records label, now reissued on Sound Migration.
Sacred Stones – Sacred Stones 02 [TM-XX2]
The second outing from Transmigration’s anything goes sub-label Sacred Stones. Four DJ edits covering repurposed free techno, extended proto trance and a cosmic jam with Cocktail D’Amore resident Trent.
Danton’s Voice – Danton’s Voice Selected Works ’89 [SMI001]
Although his released body of work is relatively small, Dirk De Saever’s EPs come with a rather unique aesthetic in sound. Once New Beat was established and exploded as a dancefloor craze in Europe, there seems to have been a bit of a flood of attempts at making “a hit” within the style, filter through most of that and you’ll eventually land on Dirk’s mini catalogue of top grade Belgian New Beat. This 12” is a compilation of De Saever’s 3 EPs combined in one, featuring original mixes on the A-side and instrumentals on the B-side.
Ebi – Space Teddy Collection [TM-XS001]
Ebi was a pseudonym used by Susumu Yokota who was a Japanese techno and ambient composer, producer and house music DJ. Transmigration presents now a one double LP of 2 previously re-issued EPs by the Japanese artist. This is Susumu Yokota’s vision of techno – house, lovingly collected in collaboration with Space Teddy and the Yokota family.
The Hipodrome Of Music 