Dirk Serries - The Might Of Stars Sublime [Audiophob]

Put out on the circuit via the German Audiophob label on April 25th, 2k25 is "The Might Of Stars Sublime", the most recent album by long standing producer Dirk Serries who has - according to Discogs stats... - more than 130 solo album releases under his belt using his real name alone, with a multiple of multiple involvements in groups, bands and projects as well as other aliases used since the 80s not accounted for. An impressive discography which sees its latest sequel, a five tracks and roughly 45 minutes spanning CD album, venturing into emotional, highly dramatic Synth Ambient landscapes with the opening tune "A Soft Glow" which moves to and fro like bright beams of sunlight over harsh, mountaineous terrain on a stormy, semi-clouded day followed by the deeper, more nocturnal, yet not less dramatic "Evocation" which, despite being less spiralling, for us evokes faint memories of Tangerine Dream's score work for the 1977 movie "Sorcerer". Furthermore "Carved Into" Oscillation" brings forth a calm take on post-apocalyptic Dark Ambient melancholia with fine morning mists floating over scarred landscapes and future battlefields whereas "Form Reversal" enters a realm of shimmering Ambient hopefulness and ethereal beauty before the final cut that is "The Stars Sublime" waves goodbye in a most comforting, and probably most classic and soothing Ambient manner with its soft ebb and flow of tonal shifts and a basically naturalistic overall feel which also might speak to fans and followers of (Neo)Classical music for a reason. A highly recommended journey into Ambient and Deep Listening Music as well as classic Synth compositions for those who know. Go check!

Sascha Müller - T8CID Traxx Vol. 03 [Psychocandies 127 Promo]

Released digitally via the long standing Psychocandies imprint on December 31st, 2k24 is "T8CID Traxx Vol. 03", the next chapter in Sascha Müller's new and ongoing series of digital releases. Opening with "T8CID A5" the Uelsen-based producer caters a dry and stripped down Techno vibe with ever shifting, rolling and meandering drum percussions evoking memories of classic Plastikman tunes before a positive, ever cascading and AcidTrance-reminiscing motif steers the course into an entirely different direction whereas the subsequent "T8CID A6" leans towards raw, deep and rather unprocessed Electro Acid for heaving late night dancefloors and therefore turns out to be our favorite cut on this single for a reason.

Jerzz & Sascha Müller - Nuke Vol. 21 [Nuke The Planet 021 Promo]

Put out on the digital circuit on March 4th, 2k25 is "Nuke Vol. 21", the latest one track single cooked up for the label by Uelsen's underground master Sascha Müller, this time in collaboration with Dutch producer Jerzz. Together the duo caters a heavy, relentless and hyper-compressed Gabba x Rave fusion banger sporting expertly abused vocal samples, well thought out micro-breakdowns as well as Acid-loaden sequences especially speaking to those who've witnessed the rise of Hardcore as a genre from the get go. If you do remember early compilation series like 'Thunderdome' or 'Rave Massacre' this is one to check out for a reason.

Andrea Ciceri x Esatomic - Fisse [Aut Records 127]

Released via the ever buzzing Italian imprint that is Aut Records on April 16th, 2k25 is "Fisse", the most recent album by the six piece ensemble operating under the name Esatomic, led and operated by composer x saxophone player Andrea Ciceri. Presenting a menu of seven pieces rolled out over the course of approximately 56 minutes total playtime the group explores a surprisingly classic and traditional angle on Jazz in direct comparison to the labels oftentimes rather free floating, Improv-oriented and at times experimental releases of late and even touches base with elements harking back to the Swing era in the opening piece "Chiuso, Il Pensiero" followed by the complex, dramatic and undeniably dark, grating and restrained sonic landscapes brought forward by "E L'Abisso - Discesa" whilst "E L'Abisso - Sul Fonda" presents thundering drums and intense piano rolls on hyperspeed as a foundation for yearning, sustained brass pulses with an undeniably melancholic undertone before "Delle Solite Cose" is back at a more traditional, easy and late night suitable Jazz vibe once again. Furthermore "Fisse", the albums title track, sees the Esatomic ensemble not only cross the 15+ minutes mark in one single composition but also indulge in tender Jazz romanticisms slowly working their way up to a lively, multi-layered finale sporting a multiple of interwined melodies responding to one another whilst the follow up "Miraggio" shines like polished chrome in terms of execution and presentation of a certainly vintage-informed vibe, adding surprisingly muscular drums to its recipe in its final quarter whereas "Blue A La Monk" waves goodbye one a swinging note once again for a closing. If you're in for a quite diverse Avantgarde Jazz album you need to check this one out for a reason.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Alessandro Sgobbio - Piano Music 3 [AMP Music & Records Promo]

Scheduled for release on May 23rd, 2k25, once again via AMP Music & Records, is "Piano Music 3", the - obviously... - third part of an album trilogy envisioned, produced, written and recorded by Italian composer and piano player Alessandro Sgobbio over the course of five years. With the final part of this series, an eight pieces and 35 minutes spanning longplay piece performed on an Pianoforte Fazioli F278 piano alongside live electronics, Alessandro Sgobbio is opening on an airy, spatial and innately hopeful tip with the floating "De Dei Dono", a piece in which the electronic textures and processed background choirs are way more pushing to the forefront in comparison to previous works and even evoke memories of early Synth masters whereas the subsequent "Red Gold" is as dreamy an inward looking Jazz piano miniature as it gets before "Echoes" provides rather dramatic textures and widescreen panoramic build-ups and "Dogs On 5th Avenue" presents a lively, frolicking and emotionally rich outlook on contemporary solo piano performances whilst triggering pictures of lush green meadows - and swamps, mostly due to ever present underlying electronic resonances. Furthermore the subsequent "Dawns" dives deep into ever cascading late night Jazz pianos whilst the 12+ minutes spanning "Veils" is not only the most extended, but also most the dramatic, dynamic and sonically groundbreaking composition and expertly executed core piece of "Piano Music 3", perfectly amalgamating probably modular electronics with complex and effortless shifts in tempo and temperament, "Forte Rocca" lives off a contrast of sparkling melodies and a rather percussive, sometimes even brooding and danger-heralding playing technique whereas the closing cut named "Alang" fuses hovering tender pianos with slightly retrofuturist space age-leaning background electronics hidden deep within the mix. If you're planning on buying only one solo piano album in 2k25 this might be the one you need.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Pulverin - II [Bloodshed666 Records 026]

Put out on the circuit via the Austrian label that is Bloodshed666 Records as a limited edition run of 300 vinyl copies on May 1st, 2k25 is "II", the second - duh! - full length album release cooked up by Otto Horvath and Daniel Schatz under their shared sonic nom de guerre Pulverin - a project described as an outfit for an '...eclectic, sophisticated form of contemporary hard dance musc, garnished with hypnotic horns and complex polyrhythms...' in the accompanying press sheet. With this description in mind we see the duo, occasionally supported by the likes of Rieko Okuda, Teresa Riemann and Antti Virtaranta, provide a fascinatingly decaying amalgamation of DarkJazz, Illbient, slightly Morricone'esque melodies, brooding basslines and otherworldly vocals with the opening tune named "Fetter Löwe" only to follow up with the fever'ish whirlwind of "Masina Place" which seems to draw inspiration from Blues, Mardi Grass and wildly ecstatic electro-voodoo rituals executed on the dancefloor and therefore needs to end up in a Tarantino-score at some point whereas "Blad Dracula" gets as creepy and nocturnal as its name suggests in its fusion of mind-numbing hyperminimalist Illbient, indecipherable whispers and fading echoes of FreeJazz improvisations alongside claustrophobic atmospheres and raw, spine-tingling bass pulses emerging from subsurface vaults. Furthermore we see "Write Wrong" catering a menu of sluggish, Noize-infused Dope Beats, a dramatic piano hook and deep, almost Industrial- x Goth- x Neue Deutsche Todeskunst-like despair before Pulverin enter full-on Hardcore Industrial x Rhythm Industrial madness mode with the introduction of "Octopus Woman" whilst "The Walt" brings forth influences of NoisePunk and probably even echoes of Psychobilly, wildly spiralling brass instruments, destructive feedbacks, a maelstrom of electric guitars and, once again, heavy Illbient x Chemical Beats for those who still remember the absolute havoc wreaked on dancefloors by acts like 16-17 Soundsystem and the likes of. This IS intense!

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2020 - 20 [2020 Records 020 Promo]

Released via the mysterious and supposedly artist-run digital imprint that is 2020 Records on December 24th, 2k24 is "20", the latest in a series of full length albums crafted by the labels head numeral. Sporting one single track, the 48 minutes spanning "Autokinetik", the album takes us on a journey beyond our regular perception of space and time, presenting an unchanging, somewhat mind-numbing and near static stream of steadiness based upon ever present, yet subtle low end rumblings right on the edge of the audible spectrum as well as a subdued midrange drone bringing forth an astounding lack of high frequencies even though the layers of gaseous non-movements presented seem to be ever thickening over the course of roughly 31 minutes before the rumble nearly fades and all that remains is a washed out cloud of Ambient nothingness. Quite a fascinating release for die-hard fans of Drone and other forms of hyperminimalist Deep Listening Music.

Jordi Cassagne / Barbastelle - Vestige Etesien [Aut Records 125]

Another fresh album release on the ever expanding Aut Records label put out on the circuit on March 29th, 2k25 is "Vestige Etesien", the eight compositions and roughly 50 minutes spanning longplay outing by the Jordi Cassagne led five piece ensemble operating under the name of Barbastelle. Inspired by geological formations shaped over the course of aeons by the immanent forces of nature we see the ensemble embark on a journey into immediately dramatic, yet melancholia-inducing and somewhat maritime atmospherics with "Asphodeles" which sits somewhere in between Chamber- and DarkJazz with its subdued, yet rumbling percussions embedded way in the background of the overall mix with the subsequent "Satori" focusing on airy, tender and romantically floating bass clarinet movements, vintage vibes and a touching Deep Jazz attitude whilst "Nef" brings forth a deep, yet rather playful and explorative late night Jazz vibe which certainly should be paired with top shelf high end spirits whereas especially the intro sequence of "Limon D'Eclat" comes full circle with the albums dramatic beginnings, yet adds lively, slightly nervous rhythms and brooding tension to the mix and therefore evokes memories of classic crime scene score works from pre-synthezied era before, in its final minutes, even touching base with echoes of EthioJazz grooves just to name a few. Go check.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Low Frequency - Ghost FM EP [Dancefloor Socialism 031 Promo]

Put out on the digital circuit as cat.no. 031 of the Dancefloor Socialism imprint on December 10, 2k24 is the "Ghost FM EP", the third musical outing cooked up for the label by the Low Frequency project. Whilst the title track "Ghost FM" sees Low Frequency on a pumping and well elastic ClubTechno x Intelligent Techno tip sporting sparkling clouds of gaseous synth plinkerings alongside a soft, dubbed out and moving pad sequence evoking memories of endless visual rides through colourful computer-animated tunnels in the first half of the 90s - X-Mix-3 anyone? - the subsequent cut that is "Iron Curtain" provides more of driving approach to deep atmospheric Techno backed by dry, expertly sculpted bass drums, raw hi-hats and underlaying percussions as a foundation for yearning harmonies, early morning panoramas and lively, playful and colourful synth motifs alongside eerie, undecipherable and slightly unsettling non-vocalisms seeping through what could be described as a meta-dimensional rift. Trippy.

Friedrich Micio - Retrospektive Zur Punkammermusik Der Ersten Hälfte Des 21. Jahrhunderts [Aut Records 123]

Another fresh release put out on the circuit via Aut Records, this time on March 10th, 2k25, is "Retrospektive Zur Punkammermusik Der Ersten Hälfte Des 21. Jahrhunderts" - a new collaborational release by Enrico Milani, Matteo Minotto and Pietro Pontini all working together under the shared artistic alias that is Friedrich Micio which is an interesting approach and disguise for what ultimately is a trio effort. With roots in Classical Music as well as in Punk, Klezmer and Improv the group caters a menu of seven brand new pieces rolled out over the course of 38 minutes, opening with astoundingly klaxon'esque and maritime chords only to immediately progress into a vintage-infused, rapidly changing and highly dramatic, albeit tongue-in-cheek conglomerate of anarchist, oftentimes off-kilter dance music infused by both Avantgarde, Classical and Jazz improvisation as well as score works of yore in "Aßaßinio Sull'Ovovia Express" which in itself holds a multiple of ideas which would've been turned into one or two entire albums by other artists. This being said, the barrage fire of musical ideas, at times seemingly only roughly linked and therefore probably the 'Punk'-reference in the imaginery genre of 'Punkammermusik', doesn't stop at any time throughout this longplay piece - even evoking memories of Hillbilly Country in certain sequences, bringing forth Blues-leaning elements in others, amalgamating innate melancholia, score'esque tension, uplifting positivity and straight up madness, arabic x oriental elements and old-time Jazz, intense quasi-Folk and many things more, resulting in a fascinating, yet also somewhat demanding audio collage works that leaves quite a few layers to unpack even for the most Avantgarde-savvy listeners out there. Intredasting.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Listen Again: baze.djunkiii presents Beyond Techhouse Volume 16 @ Radio Flouka / Paris (01.05.2025)

Radio Flouka راديو فلوكة · baze.djunkiii presents Beyond TechHouse Volume 16 - 01/05/2025

Victoria Jordanova / Jerome Descamps - A Second Orb [Aut Records 122]

Released via the ever busy Aut Records imprint on February 26th, 2k25 is "A Second Orb", the new collaboration album by Victoria Jordanova and Jerome Descamps who, over the course of nine brand new pieces and a total runtime of roughly 35 minutes, fuse and amalgamate the sounds of harp, trombone and cello and therefore present a quite unusual instrumental setting for a duo. With the accompanying press sheet mentioning both Free Jazz improvisation and 21st century Classical Music as reference points for their work, the duo opens on a both enchanted and foreboding tip with the aptly named "Introduction" which immediately transports the listener back into ancient times whilst the chiming "Summer" follows up on a more positive note at first glimpse, yet presents quite a bit of a brooding undertone in its deeper layers and yearning sustained trombone expressions which are even touching base with DarkJazz at times. With this being said for an initial direction laid out we see pieces like "From Nowhere" embarking on a journey into eerie, cold and fascinatingly ghostly beauty, presenting a sense of subtle tension and innate unease which makes this one a major favorite on this album alongside its direct follow up "Interlude II" and its cascading harps alongside a creeping otherworldly low end whereas the title track "A Second Orb" seems to be meandering between chiming, score'esque vintage harmonies and dreamstate non-vocalisms, dramatic trombone outings and short fever'ish percussive sequences, shifting between worlds -... or: orbs - and altered states of consciousness and therefore bringing forth a certain kind of un-reality perfectly reflecting the slightly washed out imaginative artwork by label owner Davide Lorenzon featured on the album cover just to name a few. Recommended not only for fans of Improv, floating organic Deep Listening Music and explorations of one's inner realm of psychedelic imagination. Go check.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Brooklyn Station - The Bounce [Pharmacom Records 106 Promo]

Another fresh one released via the revived Pharmacom Records label on April 3rd, 2k25 is "The Bounce" which marks the very first musical outing for a new project named Brooklyn Station. The digital one-track single sees Brooklyn Station catering a short, yet uplifting, Pop-oriented and piano-driven take on Drum'n'Bass even sporting ethereal non-vocalism which would be well suitable for TV advertisement or score use even though the overall mid-range mixdown seems a little messy and needs a bit of a cleanup - or at least a redistribution within the stereo field. Library'n'Bass anyone?

LAC Trio - L'ala Incerta Della Farfalla [Aut Records 124]

Put out on the circuit via the ever expanding Aut Records label on April 9th, 2k25 is "L'ala Incerta Della Farfalla" by the LAC Trio which derives its name from the first letters of its members first names - Leonardo Franceschini, Andrea Leone and Carlo Longo. Employing a musical arsenal of guitar, tenor saxophone and drums as well a little help on the vocal side of things from Hanna Marieke on "Beau Soir" the trio embarks on a rather lush and beautiful journey with the dreamy and romantic opening tune that is "43" which sets the path and vibes for things to come like the timeless deep Jazz cut "Bucaneve", the subdued and tender, certainly playful and in parts off-kilter Improv approach of the title track before "Beau Soir" once again harks back to floating, somewhat Balearic hyperharmonics in combination with hovering non-vocalisms and expressive Spoken Word sequences for epic sunsets experienced on Mediterranean shores whereas "Rifiorisce" travels back in time to hit us with a sunny 70s Beat x Exotica Jazz variation only to work its way up to a sort of Free Jazz infused climax just to name a few. A lovely one, this album is.

baze.djunkiii Charts 05/2k25

01. Eva - Take Me... Mr. Love [Mothball Record]
Italo Disco galore and a re-release of a 1987 gem then put out on the circuit via the Technology label with original copies fetching three digits on Discogs. And this one has it all when it comes to Italo Disco - simple, yet catchy and uplifting vibes, naivety, broken english, innocent sounding female lyrics and on top of it all a cover shot of Eva which displays her as an absolute bombshell of a redhead which in itself is a work of art in its own right. A hit record par excellance, both in its original iteration as well as in its newly crafted, slightly The Hague Electro leaning remix form cooked up by Luca Dell'Orso.

02. Kaval - Pistolaser [Sneaker Social Club 055]
The Sneaker Social Club label has become a staple in all things Bass Music over the past years for a reason and seemingly is on a mission to bring a short-lived and oftentimes overlooked variation of urban UK music back to the forefront. We're talking UK Funky here with its distinct swing, dry, yet complex percussion riddims, Tribal references, occasional 4/4 sequences, bleepy synth warps and repetetive vocal snippets - all ingredients present in the four cuts on this 12" vinyl release, albeit infused with a microdose of junglistic sexiness and a truly seductive vibe for a new audience grooving away on dark, low end-driven dancefloors.

03. The Strangler Of The Swamp / Bande Berne Crematoire - Eine Aufnahmen Voller Widerlicher Verderbtheit [Lux Rec 050]
The 50th release for the Swiss Lux Rec label takes a deep dive into the early Tape Industrial / Minimal Wave works of Michael Antener a.k.a. The Strangler Of The Swamp and Bande Berne Crematoire, later also member of Swamp Terrorists, Hellsau, Nacht'Raum and others. All released on tape or self-released and quite impossible to get vinyl throughout the 80s this triple vinyl album offers a fascinating glimpse into the early development of a rather isolated and insular pioneer of the countries scene, crafting both dark, stripped down and fascinating Industrial dance tracks like "Animals", wonky, somewhat even PostPunk-informed songs like "Get Up! (Ripley Sucks)" whereas live recordings like "Driver" fuse intense Industrial x EBM with a certain subtle complexity also to be found in productions by bands like Cabaret Voltaire whilst "Hard Core Bodies" showcases Industrial in its most brutal, demanding and noisiest form. Furthermore cuts like "Days Of Tears" serve hyperseductive material for peaktime goth dances, "Creepshow", despite being rather minimalist, is as creepy as its name suggests, "Rosa Bernet" turns out to be a precursor of what would later become Industrial Techno whereas "Example Of BBC" brings forth the most brooding and ominous side of Michael Antener's sonic universe. Raw and heavy stuff, this.

04. Meat.Karaoke.Quality.Time - Paradice [Umland Records 066]
See review for details...

05. Acopia - Be Enough [CWPT 011R]
Quite an interesting and for the most part info-less 10" remix release on the CWPT label. On the A-side we see Daniel Avery taking care of Acopia's "Be Enough" remixwise, delivering a surprisingly atmospheric, yet super washed out deep Atmospheric Drum'n'Bass roller featuring ethereal vocals and therefore evokes distant memories of 90s Drum'n'Bass meets Pop excursions - Everything But The Girl, anyone? -, whereas JD Twitch's take on "Holding On" named the 'JD Twitch Dub' enters similarly gaseous atmospheres on top of stumbling, rather complex slow motion beats touching base with both the realm of Post-Dubstep as well as heavy Industrial-infused Electronica backed by intense waves of synth bass.

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Sascha Müller - T8CID Traxx Vol. 02 [Psychocandies 126 Promo]

Released as a two track digital single via his very own Psychocandies label on December 27th, 2k24 is Sascha Müller's "T8CID Traxx Vol. 02", a new release and sequel in what seemingly is to become a new series in the ever growing back catalogue of the Uelsen-based studio wizard. Opening with "T8CID A3" we see Mr. Müller on a pumping, muscular and well uplifting Acid tip, bringing forth hyper-elastic modulations and jacking percussion grooves for those who still remember the first wave - and vibe! - of the UK TechHouse scene for a reason whilst "T8CID A4" presents a similar, yet slightly darker variation of ever spiralling, moving and hypnotizing Acid for the darkest hours of the night after the first night out. Pure vibes.

2020 - 21 [2020 Records 021 Promo]

Released on January 14th, 2k25 via the artist run 2020 Records label is "21", the latest full length digital album cooked up by the operations head honcho 2020. Featuring one sole track, the roughly 50 minutes spanning "Modul (380)" presents a blurred, mind-numbing, rather structureless and disorienting Desolation Ambient whiteout backed by tectonic low frequency rumbles which sucks one in like a levitating maelstrom removed from the boundaries of space and time and regular dimensions only to suddenly spit one out into a familiar, yet probably slightly altered realm of reality after the sonic transmission ended. This is Deep Listening Music touching base with the fundamental questions like 'Are we really here?', 'What is time?', "Do we exist?', 'Why?' and 'Where the fuck is my mind?'. Go check.

01.05.2025 baze.djunkiii presents Beyond Techhouse Volume 16 @ Radio Flouka / Paris, France

Get ready for another decade-spanning 60 minutes all vinyl experience straight from the decks of Hamburg-based Radio Flouka-resident baze.djunkiii who's digging up contemporary re-edits of alltime early Techno and Trance favorites, pumping underground TechHouse cuts, BootyHouse references as well as classic vocal cuts from the ElectroHouse x ElectroClash spectrum. 100% dancefloor pleasure guaranteed.

decks: baze.djunkiii [Intrauterin Recordings / Carsharing Tapes]

file under: Techhouse / Electroclash

transmission time: 22oo - 23oo GMT+1

get locked via Radio Flouka
Paris

No Hay Banda / Steven Kazuo Takasugi / Huei Lin - Il Teatro Rosso [No Hay Discos 005]

Released via the core trios own No Hay Discos outfit on April 18th, 2k25 is "Il Teatro Rosso", the new album by No Hay Banda which sees the ensemble collaborate with composer Steven Kazuo Takasugi and film director Huei Lin for an extended mixed media project which, in its score'esque form, spans a total of seven scenes a.k.a. musical pieces and a total runtime of roughly 49 minutes. Opening with a chiming and highly detailed arrangement of loose, spatial and sparse sonic structures in "The Red Theatre" No Hay Banda creates a vibe vaguely and more atmospherically reminiscent of Ekkehard Ehlers' influental "Plays..." series of the early 2000s without defining the overall playing field too much we see the layers of sonic events thickening with added struck and plucked strings and intensifying dynamics in "The Spasms Of Trapped Animals" which works its way up to a set of quasi-percussive eruptions and intense drums of war contrasted by the fully focused minimalism, or better: Minimal Music, of the subsequent "Life On An Incline or Clean Geometry". Furthermore "Tar Pits" introduces the, albeit raw, use of rasping and intense Avantgarde Jazz-leaning brass instruments for the first time on this longplayer, "The Drowning" follows up with a return to buzzing detail, this time accompanied by sequences of subdued Jazz pianos which, in a livelier and more present form, transform into the backbone of "The Deeper, The Quieter... The Quieter, The Deeper" before the "Grumpy Old Man" bids farewell with the introduction of rather crackly and experimental sounds of probably electro-acoustic origin. A rather interesting album for all collectors of Avantgarde, obscure scores and advanced Contemporary Classical music.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Jürg Frey x Quatuor Bozzini - String Quartets [Collection Qb]

Released via the Quatuor Bozzini run and headed Collection Qb label on March 7th, 2k25 is "String Quartets", a collaborational release which sees the ensemble take on pieces by Swiss composer Jürg Frey. Originally put out on the circuit via Edition Wandelweiser in 2006 the recent re-issue was driven by the ensembles 25th anniversary the hour long album features a total of four compositions written in the period from 1988 to the year 2000, opening with "Streichquartett" - an eleven minutes spanning exploration of repetitive yet ever so slightly shifting Minimal Music with all four instruments playing in perfect unison whilst continuously meandering around a seemingly set set of parameters when it comes to pitch and sustain. With "(Unbetitelt) IV" we're taken into a stripped down, yet emotionally touching world of Contemporary Classical composition whereas the two micro-pieces in "Zwei Allerletzte Sächelchen" - "Mailied" and "Vorbei" weigh in a brief excursion into unscathed rural beauty before the albums main piece "Streichquartett 2" rounds things off in a surprisingly Dark Ambient-leaning manner, serving stripped down, yet highly fascinating, hypnotic and time-dissolving micro-movements at the very brink of the audible spectrum which therefore turn out to be quite an essential piece of contemporary Deep Listening Music for all genre aficionados. Go check!

Album artwork on Instagram!

Rat Pack 2 - 2 Bad Rats EP [Pharmacom Records 104 Promo]

Released digitally on December 2nd, 2k24 via the reawakened Pharmacom Records label as their cat.no. 104 after an extended period of silence is the "2 Bad Rats EP", the first ever musical instalment by Rat Pack 2 - not to be confused with the UK Breakbeat heroes though. Opening with "2 Bad Rats", another tongue-in-cheek tribute to the early UK Breakbeat scene, we see Rat Pack 2 on a raw and steppy, slightly Acid-infused experimental Breakbeat tip before "The Docto" - sic! - dives even deeper into glitchy, noized out quasi-Breakbeat experimentalisms and presents a heavy IDM-leaning approach to production for those who do prefer a rough, rugged and rather industrial'esque edge to their music.

Fullmoon - Moon 4 [Fullmoon Recordings 004 Promo]

Put out on the circuit on January 3rd, 2k25 via the artist run label Fullmoon Recordings is "Moon 4", the fourth - sic! - full length digital album release by the label head Fullmoon. Over the course of five tracks and a little more than 50 minutes of total runtime we see Fullmoon embarking on a full on Ambient x Deep Listening Music journey with the tense, spine-tingling and surely (Neo)Cosmic-informed opener "Cordoba" which is, especially due to its spatial depth and ethereal choir non-vocalisms, to be referred to as a fully fledged space-set story score in its own right whereas the subsequent "Ornament" provides droney, electric and bass-focused Ambient pulses and gooey organic modulations alongside yearning and sustained wide screen synth panoramas floating beyond time and space like the flickering lights of the aurora borealis. Furthermore we see "Patterns", our favorite of the five tracks in this album btw, bringing on a deep, slightly glitch-infused fusion of TripHop / Downbeat and IDM x Indietronica evoking memories of once beloved labels like Isolate Records or early 2000s releases produced by projects like Carlito Verde, "The Day After" indulges in spiralling, albeit somewhat kitschy and New Age-leaning Synth Ambient goodness before the final cut that is "The Evening" waves goodbye on a warm and overall comforting Ambient tip for a closing. Quite a beautiful album, this.

Nour Symon - Je Suis Calme Et Enrage-e [Ambiances Magnetiques 281]

Put out on the circuit via the Ambiances Magnetiques imprint as their cat.no. 281 on March 7th, 2k25 is "Je Suis Calme Et Enrage-e", the second full length album conceived for the label by composer Nour Symon who delivers a total of six pieces over the course of 57 minutes, performed by an entire ensemble of artists on both classical and electronic instruments of which some are operating under the name of Ensemble SuperMusique, with lyrics written and provided by poet Roxane Desjardins which, given our admitted lack of knowledge of the French language, to us provide just another sonic layer without being able to dive deep into their meaning. This being said, the opening piece that is "Nous Etions Masques, Miracles, Empetrees Dans L'Enthousiasme" opens on a pretty intense, brooding and dissonant tip with its rumbling, low end-heavy Dark Ambient movements, sharp and somewhat angry poetry citations and nerve-wrecking dynamic bursts setting the vibe for the subsequent cut "J'espere Etre Absoute" following - as well as the rest of the album - on a similar path leading ever deeper into deepest depths and hidden subsurface vaults of what could be described as unsettling, explorative, nightmare inducing and unsoothing Avantgarde music, probably even crossing the fringes of sanity at times as far as proper 'ensemble music' might go for the untrained listeners ear, bringing forth spine-tingling scrapings, warped sirens blown over from afar, crossing barren lands whilst regular instruments - or better: regularly used instruments - only occasionally emerge out of hyper-dense sonic swamps before disappearing into the dark once again where joined by skittish creatures and ominous entities never seen by anyone, yet still being anchored as tell tale factualities in stories our elders have been told about many many centuries ago. This is album is a werkschau of contemporary Avantgarde of the highest order and sonic intensity, for a niche audience only and not to be consumed by fractured and broken souls for many a reason. Keep away from minors.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Maxx - Taxi Taxi [La Bomba Recordings 024 Promo]

Put out on the circuit via La Bomba Recordings as their cat.no. 024 on February 2nd, 2k25 is "Taxi Taxi", the latest digital two track single by Maxx - not the Maxx who advised against having sex with your ex though, even though this indeed is to be considered a reasonable train of thought. Opening with the title track "Taxi Taxi" we see Maxx on a short, yet hyper-positive Hard Dance tip, combining cheesy melodic synth sequences oftentimes associated with the Italian scene with stuttering beat sequences before entering full euphoria mode whilst providing a somewhat deeper, yet not less melodic House x TranceDance approach with "The Dreamer" which not only marks the second and final cut on this release but also will resonate with fans and followers of Italo- and IberoTrance of the 90s for a reason.

Hugo Race & Gianni Maroccolo - The Vigil [Gusstaff Records]

Scheduled for release via the Polish Gusstaff Records label on May 16th, 2k25 is "The Vigil", the latest collaborational album outing conceived by Australian PostPunk- and beyond legend Hugo Race and Italian producer Gianni Maroccolo who's been invlvd in the countries alternative music scene and the scoring of underground movies since the 80s. (Still) under the impression of the Covid-19 pandemic and its implemented regulations throughout the albums production period from 2k20 to 2k23 the core duo, alongside a few accompanying musicians, cooked up an eight tracks and 45 minutes spanning lonygplayer which starts from an angle of gritty, slow and Illbient-informed, PostPunk-infused Downtempo x TripHop which surely is about to resonate with fans of artists like Tricky at his darkest in the opening title track subsequently followed by the touching emotional ballad of "Phoenix" before "Soldiers" explores an intensely claustrophic fusion of Spoken Word and twangy, score-like, Morricone'esque backings. Furthermore "La Pace" provides a shimmer of hope at the horizon, backed by stumbling beats and hovering calm, beautifully arranged atmospheres whereas "Pandora" evokes faint memories of deep, almost beatless cuts by classic band outfits like Eyeless In Gaza. "Where Does The Night Go" weighs in a surprising turn as a captivating piano backed ballad before "Duru Duru" enters a realm of seemingly acoustic yet reprocessed guitars and raw abstract rhythms of doom before the final "Phoenix (Reprise)" waves goodbye in a score'esque manner, painting pictures of barren, desolate landscapes and grandiose mountain ranges for a closing. Highly recommended, this!

Album artwork on Instagram!

Stef.in - Icterus II [Barnyard Records]

Released via the Canadian Barnyard Records label on April 4th, 2k25 is "Icterus II", the second iteration of Stefan Hegerat's "Icterus" series - this time executed in a group setting with his band x group x ensemble Stef.in. Rolled out over roughly 37 minutes and a total of eight pieces we see the group comprised of two guitars, bass and drums embarking on a rather explorative journey into what could be roughly described as PostRock with a jazzy twist, bringing forth hyper-seductive, yet slightly off-kilter guitar melodies and harmonics rolled out over abstract, at times even fragmented, albeit somewhat groove-focused drum and bass work in the albums opener that is "Three Wars" with the subsequent "Here's To You" providing deep, yet twangy guitar textures backed by stripped down minimalist organic bass movements, "Dosage" seemingly meandering between elements of pre-medidated MathRock experimentalisms if those are a thing even and free floating Improv atop a foundation of slightly Dub-informed bass whilst the final cut named "Leave Unattended And Suffer The Consequences" waves goodbye on a short, yet intense MathRock note with a slightly psychedelic twist just to name a few. A highly complex affair, this one is, which probably is more suitable for experienced listeners than for untrained beginners.

Zark - 14 [Zarkon Records 014 Promo]

Put out on the circuit via the artist run Zarkon Records imprint on December 13th, 2k24 is "14", the fourteenth consecutive digital two track release cooked up by the labels head honcho known as Zark. Opening with "14.1" we see Zark on a highly experimental and explorative lo-fi tip fusing weird and skeletal, seemingly 3/4-sequenced electroid rhythm signatures with gritty, noisy quasi-Acid (Not Acid) modulations for fans of electro-acoustic and x or modular tone manufacturing whilst the subsequent cut that is "14.2" provides more of a deep and reverberating pump for heaving underground dancefloors, focusing on raw, primeval and Tribal-infused Techno paired with floating, ethereal synth movements whirling and whizzing through the stereo field, inducing a well hypnotizing, organic and ritualistic Trance state especially when played throughout the wee peak time hours of an almost neverending night out. "14.2" wins here.

baze.djunkiii Chart Haul 04/2k25

Sascha Müller - T8CID Traxx Vol. 1 [Psychocandies 125 Promo]

Out on the circuit via the long standing Psychocandies imprint on December 6th, 2k24 is "T8CID Traxx Vol. 1", another digital two track single cooked up for the label by Uelsen's finest underground sound maker also known as Sascha Müller. Opening with "T8CID A1" Mr. Müller provides a thrilling take on deep subdued Broken Techno backed by raw electroid snare sequences and slightly psychotic, braincell-twisting Acid modulations for the wee hours at illegal basement raves subsequently followed by "T8CID A2" which weighs in more of a muscular pump in its rather jacking groove, bringing back the dark side of relentlessy stripped down AcidHouse for a new audience and heavily vibing dancefloors.

Westberg / Udupa / Mazurkiewicz - Everyday Life Activities [Gusstaff Records]

Set to be put out on the circuit via the ever active Poland-based imprint Gusstaff Records on April 25th, 2k25 is "Everyday Life Activities", a new 40 minutes spanning three track album conceived by Norman Westberg, Indian ghatam master Giridhar Udupa and Jacek Mazurkiewicz. Opening with "Bend The Break" the musical triumvirate embarks on a journey into a realm of washed out repetitive Post-PostRock x Indietronica structures backed by slightly krautsy ritualistic polyrhythms and a certainly subaquatic dreamstate feel which is subsequently followed by "Spoon In The Jar", a trippy and well time-dissolving combination of whirling drones and ever intensifying retrofuturist bleeps of probably modular origin evoking fond memories of the early days and decades of experimental electronic music production. Finally we see the trio rounding off things with the 20+ minutes long piece that is "Everyday Apparel (It's Our)" which brings forth a well hypnotic take on droning Ambient in combination with skeletal, rudimentary rhythm sequences and eerie, spatial and truly outerworldy flutters buried deep within the mix like sonic traces of polydimensional beings wading through our four dimensional realm without ever fully revealing themselves. An album for deep medidations and dedicated Organic Ambient collectors. Recommended.