Planet Underground – Shtum 015 [SHTUM015]

May 2, 2018May 2, 2018 hipodromeacid, planet underground, shtum records, techno, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

The new shtum comes from Planet Underground, a veteran Dresden resident who already contributed to the fact that the city was called “Little Detroit from the East” back then in the middle of the nineties. Since then, he has constantly been producing stripped to the bones tracks mainly for his own Elektrokuehlung label in his legendary place of retreat in Dresden-Striesen. Recorded between 1996 and 2010, the four tracks oscillate between raw Acid, classic Basement House and artful distortion. Bouncing and scrappy stuff at the same time. “Elektromat” was previously released on an obscure Dresden techno compilation and it took a while to find the master tape in the dust of the past.

Credit 00 – The Metal Beat EP [RAT14]

April 18, 2018April 17, 2018 hipodromecredit 00, electro, industrial, minimal synth, new beat, rat life records, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

From Conrad Schnitzler in the 1960s to the pioneers of Detroit techno in the 1980s, experimental sonic artists were often inspired by the metallic noises of industrial factories. Schnitzler wanted to recreate the sounds he heard in his apprenticeship as a locksmith with musical instruments, and the sons and daughters of the midwestern automobile-industry generation programmed the motown soul into Japanese electronic music equipment. With his new piece The Metal Beat EP, Credit 00 wants to get in line with this tradition of transforming factory sounds into music. Each of the three tracks reflects on the role of the human being in an industrial environment. The never-ending movement of the machine becomes the rhythm, while the melody embodies our forlorn voices in the vastness of the factory site. The blues played by machines–modern work songs for a post-industrial society.

Iron Curtis – Sweet Romancer [UV045]

April 3, 2018April 3, 2018 hipodromedeep house, iron curtis, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

For the first time Iron Curtis enters the ring over the full EP length for Uncanny Valley. There hasn’t been much of a discussion whether or not this is something for Uncanny Valley when Iron Curtis approached the four label heads with this new pile of dance floor material. These tunes are too good. Iron Curtis must have been particularly inspired by the muse while producing these four outstanding House tracks. You’ll feel a comprehensive knowledge about Dance music’s history when listening. No doubt, the Franconian who is now based in Berlin has spent a good time of analysing House music’s techniques. “Sweet Romancer” is the best example for his studio eloquence. Modulated synths, a classic bass line and a whole batch of drum ideas are combined into a wonderful track. The interplay between subtlety and vitality characterizes “Nixdorf Danse”. Plus, you won’t forget those strings. On “Triroom” he proves that he has a knack for melodies as well. Finally, “Take Me Home” should provide a lot of emotional moments on the dance floor with its dramatic piano and crescendo-like synth line.

Serial Error – Drum Abuse [RAT13]

January 23, 2018July 20, 2020 hipodromecredit 00, house, jacob korn, new beat, rat life records, serial error, sneaker, techno, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

Rat Life Records presents Serial Error a Project by Credit 00, Jacob Korn & Sneaker. This outfit was brought to life in 2013 when Red D called for some New Beat style tracks for his “Our Beat Is Still New” Compilation. Flying a bit too low under the radar ever since Rat Life decided to reissue Drum Abuse on a Super Sound Maxi Single. The Track was made in Jacob Korn’s headquarter studio / synthesizer museum. The task distribution was hit quickly: Jacob squeezing the acid out of his huge Formant modular system, Credit 00 beating the drums on the Boss DR 660 and Sneaker throwing his unique vocals on top.

Perm – Shtum 014 [SHTUM014]

September 30, 2017October 20, 2023 hipodromeminimal techno, perm, shtum records, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

Perm has turned just the right knobs to give you the perfect soundtrack for your personal journey into Techno wonderland. The Leipzig based wizard simply knows how to leave dancers both dizzy and beatific. When those strings in “03-VIII” come together to its climax you’re more than ready to embrace the night. The focus in “03-IV” is more heavy on the drum work with just the right amount of subtle tripping hazards. “03-III” builds and builds without ever bubbling over while the mighty “03-VIII” comes with a Boom-Tschak-Electro feel to it.

One Day In Metropia – Rat Life 11 EP [RAT011]

September 21, 2017June 29, 2021 hipodromecredit 00, daniel krupop, electro, one day in metropia, rat life records, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

ONE DAY IN METROPIA - Rat Life 11 EP

Rat Life is back with more unheard material from the hidden bedroom studios of East Germany. One Day In Metropia – is a project that was active around the year 2008 – operating out of the concrete suburbs of Dresden. Its main focus were live appearances in the citie’s underground electronic music circle. Just a few signals of its enormous creative output were published on various sound carriers to this day. So it was time to release some more of this large bulk of data that has been lurking on storage devices for years. Rat Life’s operator Credit 00 is proud to be allowed to contribute a remix version to this sonic document.

Credit 00 – Game Over [UVLP005]

March 20, 2017June 29, 2021 hipodromealbum, alexander dorn, credit 00, electro, house, techno, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

CREDIT 00 - Game Over

Credit 00 delivers his debut album “Game Over”. After four EPs for Uncanny Valley the Leipzig based musician is now ready to let loose his electronic visions on full length. As everybody can confirm who saw him playing live or DJing, the head behind Uncanny Valley’s sub label Rat Life is a slave to the rhythm on a full-time basis. Obsessed with sound, he can’t stop pushing the buttons of his synthesizers and drum machines like someone torturing the controls of an Arcade machine. “Game Over” is an electronic love letter to the romantic fantasy worlds of classic video games and their bleepy and clonky sounds which used to be common also in repetitive electronic dance music.

Collecting tracks from the last six years, “Game Over” is also a passion project that channels all his influences. You can get a glimpse of the ingredients that make up his record collection. Whether it is Hip Hop,Techno, Electro Boogie, New Beat, Italo, Jungle, Reggae, House or Chill Out. Though, all those different sounds and styles do not tear this album apart. It’s a bit of a miracle that it feels so flawless for what happens between the appetizing “Level One” and the final track “The Last March”. Those beats on “Game Over” can be brutally effective like the fatalities in Mortal Kombat while the overlying sounds can be smooth like the lemmings’ animations in the eponymous Amiga game. Just listen to the title track. Or the instant hip shaker “Breakers Revenge” that comes with a little help from friends like Sara Stammburg on vocals and Max Rademann on Rhodes.

Without losing sight on the dance floor Credit 00 creates an electronic wonderland that delights dancers and connoisseurs at the same time. To top things off the wonderful artwork was created by Alexander Dorn a.k.a. Credit 00 himself.

Credit 00 Interiew

February 28, 2017February 27, 2017 hipodromealexander dorn, credit 00, interview, inverted audio, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

Lake People – Break The Pattern [UV041]

February 20, 2017October 20, 2023 hipodromeelectro, house, lake people, martin enke, techno, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

Lake People, the man with a knack for aural subtleties, is spot-on with his first EP for Uncanny Valley. Over the course of four tracks he showcases a quiet different approach compared to the sophisticated House music the Leipzig based artist released on labels like Permanent Vacation or Connaisseur Recordings. On “Break the Pattern” he relies heavily on the good old Boom Tschak-paradigm of Electro, without completely giving up his trademark sound. “Level Msk” combines staccato-type chords with a stuttering beat that stick in your mind. The acidic “September Futuristic” with its stoic drumming has almost a Krautrock feel to it. On the flipside, the playful “Chords In Chorus” feels like an early contender for this year’s summer anthem with chords and acid lines from heaven. The EP closes with “Pull Off”, a perfect example for Lake People’s ability to compose tracks with an emotional depth.

Inga Mauer – Shtum 012 [SHTUM012]

February 6, 2017October 20, 2023 hipodromeelectro, inga mauer, shtum records, techno, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

Shtum is very happy to welcome Inga Mauer to the family. The Russian born but constantly travelling artist delivers the goods in form of four dust-dry and psychedelic Techno tracks that celebrate the obscurities. Starting with “Dno” she sets the tone with an anthem for dark skies and basements. “Silences” is captivating with its dysfunctional sounds. After the whirling dance of “My Flights Without You” you can’t help but feel a little dizzy. And “Dystopia” feels like hypnotic Techno with a punk attitude.

Cuthead – Return Of The Sample Jesus [UV040]

August 28, 2016May 10, 2023 hipodromealbum, cuthead, funk, hip-hop, house, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

In a world without hope, a world with no appetite for sonic adventures, there’s only one man who can save us all. He is… the Sample Jesus! From behind the enchanted pyramids of Egypt comes a man that has nothing to prove but a lot to give. Taught by a legendary Pharaoh, he has lived the life of an eremite for decades. Exhausted after years of asceticism there was only one goal on his mind: to blow all the misery out of our heads. On the constant search for the perfect sample he listened to the finest Mongolian folk to experimental Tuvan Throat singings. It was only recently that he was returning from his self-imposed exile to come up with a record that hits deep in everybody’s soul. Hallelujah, House-heads and Hip-Hop-kids, be prepared. Listen to the word of the Sample Jesus!

Massimiliano Pagliara – Connection Lost Pt. 2 [UV038]

June 19, 2016October 20, 2023 hipodromedisco, house, massimiliano pagliara, matthew morris, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

For the second part of his “Connection Lost” series Massimiliano Pagliara teaches a lesson in how to translate Disco music in a modern language of sound. Without further ado “Trying To Hide But Then I Cried” comes across as pure dance floor material. Above a drum-fueled foundation various synths swell up and down while the bassline is pumping steadily for an irresistible groove. “If You Were Here” on the other hand benefits from similar ingredients but has a rather dreamy feel to it. Thanks to its elegiac pads and pensive synth melodies. “Ukulele Groove” takes its time to build things up but when the bassline and those distinctive synth stabs come in you can’t help but hope for a never ending summer. The final word here is “No More Love To Follow” featuring the vocal talents of Matthew Morris, a slow progressing, gloomy Disco ode to the ups and downs of love.

Konstantin Tschechow – Alpha Omega [RAT008]

June 18, 2016October 20, 2023 hipodromeacid, house, konstantin tschechow, rat life records, techno, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

Little is known about Konstantin Tschechow, the first and last time we met was around the turn of the millennium in the small city of Koenigsbrueck in the far east of Germany. It was during one of my regular night strolls through the countryside, when I ran into him accidentally. He was standing there in the middle of nowhere leaning on the fence of a train yard where he was, as he said “recording silence”. I found that very interesting and we got to talk to each other. After a long conversation about everybody and his dog we found out that we were both Grandsons of Afrika Bambaataa. We planned to hang out more often so we exchanged phone numbers and he gave me a CDR with some of his recordings before he disappeared. A couple of weeks later I called him up to ask if we could meet, but he told me that he had to leave the country because the local authorities found out that he illegally immigrated from Aldebaran. Before I could say “to hell with this fascist state!!!” the connection was interrupted. I tried to call again, but he must have dumped his phone to make sure nobody could track him down. That was the last time I ever heard from him. A few years ago, there were rumors of him being the sound man for reincarnated John Lennon on various tours around Galaxy Mt23, unfortunately I could never afford tickets to find out. One lucky day in 2015 I found the CDR that he gave me on our first and only meeting ever. I discovered 5 tracks and instructions to release them in the year 2016 during a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse.

VA – Shtum 010 [SHTUM010]

June 1, 2016October 20, 2023 hipodromechino, house, jaures, leibniz, perm, shtum records, techno, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

The first compilation on the Dresden based label shtum unites three label regulars and one newbie with four tracks suitable for rampant basements. “Motorcity Racers” has been on rotation for quite some time amongst the label heads and is the first sign from Poland’s Chino on shtum. It floats somewhere between dirty Detroit and the rough corners of the Netherlands. Leibniz delivers the “Real Life”, a relatively straight follow-up to his latest EP, while Jaures hit their drum machines like there is no tomorrow. Perm’s cut is all loopy and succeeds in creating an irresistible atmosphere with just a few elements.

Credit 00 – Tribal Rhythm Machine [UV037]

June 1, 2016June 29, 2021 hipodromealexander dorn, credit 00, house, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

CREDIT 00 - Tribal Rhythm Machine

Credit 00 strikes back with four cuts between Jungle Funk and sublime Party bombs. “Tribal Rhythm Machine” starts off with subtle but effective drumming that works on the dance floor as much as it could be the soundtrack to your road trip to Utopia. Then there is “Curse Of The Medusa”, a pretty rumbling track that takes full advantage of its super-funky vocal samples and almost explosive percussion action. “Voodoo Soup” fishes in muddy waters with Credit 00’s distinctive drum work and tribal sounds from outer space. The final track “Snake Charmer” is building things up nice and steady. But when the hypnotizing synth melody breaks ground neither serpents nor dancers can resist. The artwork was created by Alexander Dorn a.k.a. Credit 00 himself.

Chinaski – Rivers Edge [UV035]

April 15, 2016October 20, 2023 hipodromechinaski, deep house, house, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

Chinaski’s first solo EP for Uncanny, the Dresden based label. “Rivers Edge” is one hell of a ride through the nightmarish and schizophrenic side of House and Disco music. “Disaster” is a journey through Dark House territory with its Italo-sounds and that catchy synth spiral along the way while “Cash” leans more to the Chicago side of things to merge into a true dance floor killer. The flipside starts things off with “Lifetime” and an uncompromising bass line. When the beat finally kicks in you’re in the game for anything. “Street” hits the same atmospheric spots but with a slightly sweeter topping over it. Finally, the stomping “Never Look Back” is a fun example for that typical neon-shimmering flavour that shines through all of Chinaski’s productions.

Mono Junk – State of Funk EP [RAT007]

January 22, 2016October 31, 2017 hipodromeelectro, kimmo rapatti, mono junk, rat life records, synth wave, techno, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

Mono Junk delivers four pieces of pure Finnish melancholia for Rat Life’s 7th release. This guy is a true European techno originator and like no one he reflects the darkness of the long, cold and lonely winters of suomi in his music. While listening to these tracks you will find yourself wondering: are these voices coming from the speakers or are you listening to your own morbid thoughts? Perfect soundtrack for your winter depression. Can’t understand what you say!

Credit 00 @ Boiler Room (Dresden) 17.11.2015

December 24, 2015June 1, 2016 hipodromeacid house, alexander dorn, boiler room tv, credit 00, house, minimal synth, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

Massimiliano Pagliara – Connection Lost Part 1 [UV034]

December 12, 2015October 20, 2023 hipodromedisco, house, massimiliano pagliara, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

Synth wizard and disco don Massimiliano Pagliara is the latest addition to Uncanny Valley’s roster. From the first bass drum it is clear that “Connection Lost” pulls out all the stops. There is an urgency in its drumming and synth work that shouts “dance floor anthem” right from the get-go. “I Am Running All My Drum Machines At Once And Dancing” plays out like a percussive orgasm triggering pretty much all the drum sounds you could imagine. On the sleazy Disco affair that is “Don’t Give Up On Love” Massimiliano gets vocal support from Sigrid Elliott. This is a oh-so-sexy alliance that would have shined bright even in the heydays of Boogie. Finally, “I Enjoy Myself While I Am Here” shows off once again that when Massimiliano Pagliara is at the keys he creates glorious vibes like nobody else.

Sneaker – Algerian Rai [RAT006]

December 4, 2015August 26, 2021 hipodromehouse, rat life records, sneaker, techno, uncanny valleyLeave a comment

SNEAKER - Algerian Rai

Sneaker is going deep with his interpretation of Rai music on RAT 6. “Rai is a type of Algerian popular music that arose in the 1920s in the Algerian city of Oran, back then known as “little Paris”, it was a melting pot of various cultures, full of nightclubs and cabarets, it was the place to go for a bawdy good time. Out of this milieu arose a group of Male and Female Muslim singers, who rejected the refined, classical poetry of traditional Algerian music. Instead, to the accompaniment of pottery drums and end-blown flutes , they sang about the adversity of urban life in a raw, gritty, sometimes vulgar, and inevitably controversial language that appealed especially to the socially and economically disadvantaged.” sounds like the definition of Rat Life! Put some drum machine patterns on top of it and here we go: long overdue Sneaker solo EP on Rat Life Records!