Monday, March 20, 2023
Released via the French label Ici D'Ailleurs, and more explicitly their Mind Travels Series, on March 3rd, 2k23 is "Ola", the nine tracks and roughly 57 minutes spanning result and outcome of a massive collaboration effort between Geins't Nait, Laurent Petitgand and Robin Rimbaud a.k.a. Scanner which is, according to the accompanying press release, dedicated to and focusing on 'Ambient, Neo-Classical and Industrial' music. This being said Rimbaud's presence in the project is obviously felt from the very start and hinted at especially in the carefully reprocessed vocals and tense, washed out and surreal atmospheres of the opener "MT-26" which have been a trademark in his work from 90s onwards, accompanied by deep, carefully constructed Electronica rhythms whereas tunes like "Gilles.2 *Remix" pair the thoughts of philosopher Gilles Deleuze with a dark and intimidating, yet minimalist sci-fi atmosphere and a certain sense of dystopia which carries on in the cavernous horrors lurking and grinding underneath the floating and innocent piano lines of "370". Furthermore the subsequent "Bed" and its captivating bassline movements might provide late-night weaponry for highly adventurous Dubstep or Illbient DJ's, the title track "Ola" drifts and loops into beautifully misty and time-dissolving Ambient nothingness before dubbed out Dope Beats are taking over whilst "Mouche" brings forward a highly fascinating take on overwhelming, yet hypercomforting and most hypnotic darkness and "95-MW" rounds things off with floating harmonies, multi-layered background voices as well as a continuous ebb-and-flow of hybrid Electronica x Rhythm Industrial beats just to name a few favorites here. Excellent stuff. Highly recommended.
Sunday, March 19, 2023
King Ayisoba - Work Hard [Glitterbeat Records 134 Promo]
The King returns. All hail the King. And indeed, Ghanaian Kologo master and internationally praised musician King Ayisoba is back with "Work Hard", his second full length album outing on Glitterbeat Records. Released on February 17th, 2k23 and once again in parts co-produced and guided by The Ex' Arnold De Boer a.k.a. Zea "Work Hard" presents a brand new set of nine tracks rolled out over the course of roughly 40 minutes which reveal a slightly different variation to and approach towards King Ayisoba's musical vision which, in a certain way, is departing from the purist traditional ways of his previous albums with this one. Instead King Ayisoba opens up to driving African dance beats from the get go, starting with the opening "Good Things God Knows" which immediately brings heat to any dancefloor whilst "People Talk Too Much" harks back to traditional polyrhythms and chants as well as one of the simple, but well significant messages which are a trademark of King Ayisoba's music in general. Furthermore "Namba Sonne" adds a well seductive flute line to fever'ish Tribal x Kologo drums whilst "Asome" pairs heavy shuffled Afro anti-grooves with lo-fi synth sounds to an interesting effect whereas the final cut that is "Buri Malima" once again harks back to a somewhat fever'ish and primordial vibe just to name a few.
Saturday, March 18, 2023
P.T.B.S. / Afflicted - Legends EP [Dancefloor Socialism 016 Promo]
Put out on the digital circuit on November 23rd, 2k22 via Dancefloor Socialism as their cat.no. 016 is the "Legends EP", a multi-artist split single collecting talent from the labels roster. First we've got "B.T.M" by Ufuk Özbayar a.k.a. P.T.B.S. remixed by the might Knarz Maschine which results in a dark, hypnotic and somewhat mechanical, yet pretty much uneventful Techno workout for tool-oriented DJs before Afflicted's "Kill Somebody *The D3VI7 Kill 'Em All Remix" subsequently brings forth a most brutal, stomping and distorted take on borderline Hardcore Rave Techno featuring some well interesting movie samples for those who can actually stand it.
Friday, March 17, 2023
Thursday, March 16, 2023
User23564112514 - Kidz EP [User Recordings 045 Promo]
Released digitally via the still well mysterious imprint User Recordings as their cat.no 045 on December 13th, 2k22 is the "Kidz EP", the first outing on the label by User23564112514. Whilst the opening cut "Untitled 5-1" provides a raw, slightly distorted take on full Acid madness based on short, ever repeating loop modulation sequences meandering towards peak intensity, accompanied by razor sharp, mental hi-hat x noise bursts the subsequent second track, "Untitled 6-1" enters even more brutal and mind-bending HardAcid territories with its barrage fire clap attacks, hyper dense modulation layers and untamed, uncompromising jam session attitude. Pure insanity.
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Cement Tea - Oxymoron *Remixes [No Sleep Till Bedtime 024 Promo]
If there's one globe spanning, multi-national collaboration release out there that's been released digitally on September 11th, 2k22 it has to by this one - the "Oxymoron *Remixes" by Brazilian producer Cement Tea. Put out via the Australian label No Sleep Till Bedtime as their cat.no. 024 the journey starts with Cement Tea's "Oxymoron *Original Version", a pretty much straightforward, no nonsense, straight-in-yer-fucking-face Gabber meets Crossbreed tool affair which is transformed into eerie, grinding and galopping Psycho Hardcore by the subsequent 'Hallucinate Remix' whereas 'The D3VI7's Gangster Remix' pairs dry Gabber x HardTechno drums and driving rave sounds with a kind of tongue-in-cheek attitude once to be found in long lost projects like Teschnozabel, Smash? or Os-Ram. Furthermore the 'Tyrant X Remix' introduces a spatial, reverberating take on Hardcore brutalism creeping up from cavernous underground vaults, the 'Hardtrax Techno Mix' reminisces of the so-called Schranz-era in German Techno whilst also paying homage to 90s HardTrance with its hyper-seductive melodic elements and overwhelming sawtooth bassline, the so-called 'Der Cherep Remix' chooses war, violence and hyperdoom in its well intriguing Slomo Gabber iteration before the final 'Bioxeed Remix' finally enters sci-fi territories with chrome cold bassdrums and wafting, outerworldly atmospheres which announce the presence of powerful beings actually at home at a higher plane of existence. Good stuff, this.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Martina Bertoni - Hypnagogia [Karlrecords 097 Promo]
Roughly two years after the release of her label debut "Music For Empty Flats" Martina Bertoni is back on Karlrecords with a new album - the six tracks and roughly 35 minutes spanning "Hypnagogia". Released on January 20th, 2k23 Bertoni once again combines cello, electronics and voice on the new longplay piece, opening with the brittle and glacial Ambient movements of "Inversion" which set a panoramic, majestic even, yet icy and somewhat Nordic tone for things to come like the subsequent "Collided" with its highly intense droning sweeps and swells paired with a background of atmospheric static before "From E To W" brings forward a perfect score for an actual earthrise experienced from the moons surface with its quasi-angelic harmonies and subdued, meandering piano tones. Furthermore the "Orchid" presents dense layers of slightly off-kilter Ambient Noize paired with yearning echoes of echoes of re-processed Contemporary Classical structures, "Hemisphere" dives even deeper into an intimate, calm, yet highly emotional fusion of Ambient and Modern Classical and "Your Sun" closes out on a rather brooding UnAmbient tip, introducing tectonic low end shifts, atmospheric crackles and a certain post-apocalyptic feel even though its wafting, slightly distorted melodies provide a shimmering glimpse, a silver lining of hope at the horizon far far away.
Monday, March 13, 2023
Zark - 3 [Zarkon Records 003 Promo]
Put out on the digital circuit via the artist run label Zarkon Records as their cat.no. 003 on December 18th, 2k22 is "3", the aptly named third outing by the quasi-anonymous producer that is Zark. Opening with "3.1" we're presented with a somewhat muffled, relentlessly, yet somewhat mechanically marching bassdrum intro which evokes blurred memories of the early 90s before additional hypno synths and irregular hi-hats drill down into ones mind. Furthermore the second cut on this one, "3.2", follows the beaten path in terms of an underlying foundation, yet adds washed out, somewhat trancey background atmospheres and spatial Intelligent Techno oriented micro synth sounds for a deeper, slightly sci-fi leaning vibe.
Sunday, March 12, 2023
Felines - Felines [Lab'ut 004 Promo]
Put out on the circuit on November 19th, 2k22 via the French Lab'ut label as their cat.no. 004 is the self-titled "Felines" album, the first ever full length album effort conceived by the new trio project of the same name consisting of Kaspar T. Toeplitz, Jozef Dumoulin and Yerri-G Hummel. Combining the sonic spectrum of saxophone, TR808 drum computer, Fender Rhodes and electric bass the three long-time standing artists provide an eight tracks an 56 minutes spanning journey starting from a point of air flow-based microtonal movements progressing into dark, subaquatic Ambient Jazz in the aptly named "Intro" which provides a seamless transition into the rest of the album which basically follows along within the beaten musical path, pairing an oftentimes unsettling and eerie, partially spatial and gargantuan electronic backdrop with bleeps, sweeps and blips reminiscent of early experimental electronic music production, spine-tingling, brooding and mostly not clearly defined sonic movements as well as screaming, hyper-intense and nightmare-inducing Noize attacks reminiscent of tortured and highly distorted demons ("Far"), danger inducing and slightly off-kilter UnAmbient x Synth with somewhat krautsy, klaxon'esque sax movements and subdued rhythms ("Sense") whereas tunes like "Brainstorm" fully indulge in ever droning DarkAmbient accomponied by brittle, outerworldy vocal processings before the final "Outro" caters a lullaby of dreamy tones, high frequency sweeps and static atmospheric Noize for a closing, just to pick a few. Not necessarily an easy journey for the uninitiated listener, this.
Saturday, March 11, 2023
31.03.2023 BETA-ZERFALL @ Nachtasyl / Hamburg
file under: PostPunk / ElectroPunk / (No)Wave / Industrial / IndieElectro + more
decks:
baze.djunkiii [Intrauterin Recordings / El Caballo Semental / The Absence Of Light]
Herr Brandt [Sonnenbrandt / Damaged Goods / The Convent]
doors: 10 P.M.
RSVP: Facebook event
The ZERFALL continues.
Wieder sind alle Turntables besetzt – es geht los, Leute!
Der BETA-ZERFALL kehrt für eine Nacht zurück nach Hamburg und macht Station in einer der zweifelsohne schönsten Locations der Stadt – dem Nachtasyl.
Und während da draussen die Welt und der Wahnsinn in immer schneller wirbelnden Spiralen frei dreht sorgt sorgt das BETA-ZERFALL DJ-Team thermonukleare Wärme und durchgeschwitzte Tanzkörper in der Hansestadt.
Wie gewohnt haben baze.djunkiii & Herr Brandt einen eklektischen Vinyl-Cocktail aus PostPunk, (No)Wave, ElectroPunk, SynthPop, Industrial, IndieElectro und vielerlei artverwandtem Sound in ihren frisch polierten Plattenkisten, gespickt mit legendären Underground-Favorites, Alltime-Klassikern und allerlei raren, seltsamen oder auch pressfrisch veröffentlichten Vinylscheiben, die jenseits des BETA-ZERFALL nur sehr vereinzelt den Weg auf die Plattenteller einschlägiger deutscher Clubs finden.
Denn BETA-ZERFALL ist seit mehr als zehn Jahren das Synonym für einen in dieser Form fast einzigarten Crossover zwischen Indie- / PostPunk- / Goth-Disco und der technisch versierten Mixkunst der elektronischen Clubkultur, die Zusammenkunft von Track-Ansatz und Songstruktur und vor allen Dingen die Essenz aus mehr als 50 Jahren DJ-Erfahrung, die die beiden BETA-ZERFALL Resident-DJs baze.djunkiii & Herr Brandt in ihren jeweiligen Szenen zusammen auf die Waage bringen.
Der Hamburger Musikaktivist baze.djunkiii ist seit 25 Jahren als DJ umtriebig in Sachen vorwiegend elektronischer Musik, zuweilen als Kulturbotschafter im Auftrag des Goethe Institut unterwegs und mit seinem Label El Caballo Semental unter Anderem verantwortlich für die 7“ Single Wiederhoffentlichung des Hits „Suicide Commando“ der Kieler Kultband NO MORE, während Herr Brandt als Veranstalter der Hamburger Partyreihe Damaged Goods seit Jahren als Vorreiter und Initiator des mittlerweile im grossen Stile gezündeten PostPunk Revivals aktiv ist und als Musiker seit Jahrzehnten mit Bands wie The Convent, Sonnenbrandt und The Promise Club-Venues und Festivals in ganz Europa bespielt.
Save the date!
Nachtasyl
Alstertor 1
20095 Hamburg
Germany
decks:
baze.djunkiii [Intrauterin Recordings / El Caballo Semental / The Absence Of Light]
Herr Brandt [Sonnenbrandt / Damaged Goods / The Convent]
doors: 10 P.M.
RSVP: Facebook event
The ZERFALL continues.
Wieder sind alle Turntables besetzt – es geht los, Leute!
Der BETA-ZERFALL kehrt für eine Nacht zurück nach Hamburg und macht Station in einer der zweifelsohne schönsten Locations der Stadt – dem Nachtasyl.
Und während da draussen die Welt und der Wahnsinn in immer schneller wirbelnden Spiralen frei dreht sorgt sorgt das BETA-ZERFALL DJ-Team thermonukleare Wärme und durchgeschwitzte Tanzkörper in der Hansestadt.
Wie gewohnt haben baze.djunkiii & Herr Brandt einen eklektischen Vinyl-Cocktail aus PostPunk, (No)Wave, ElectroPunk, SynthPop, Industrial, IndieElectro und vielerlei artverwandtem Sound in ihren frisch polierten Plattenkisten, gespickt mit legendären Underground-Favorites, Alltime-Klassikern und allerlei raren, seltsamen oder auch pressfrisch veröffentlichten Vinylscheiben, die jenseits des BETA-ZERFALL nur sehr vereinzelt den Weg auf die Plattenteller einschlägiger deutscher Clubs finden.
Denn BETA-ZERFALL ist seit mehr als zehn Jahren das Synonym für einen in dieser Form fast einzigarten Crossover zwischen Indie- / PostPunk- / Goth-Disco und der technisch versierten Mixkunst der elektronischen Clubkultur, die Zusammenkunft von Track-Ansatz und Songstruktur und vor allen Dingen die Essenz aus mehr als 50 Jahren DJ-Erfahrung, die die beiden BETA-ZERFALL Resident-DJs baze.djunkiii & Herr Brandt in ihren jeweiligen Szenen zusammen auf die Waage bringen.
Der Hamburger Musikaktivist baze.djunkiii ist seit 25 Jahren als DJ umtriebig in Sachen vorwiegend elektronischer Musik, zuweilen als Kulturbotschafter im Auftrag des Goethe Institut unterwegs und mit seinem Label El Caballo Semental unter Anderem verantwortlich für die 7“ Single Wiederhoffentlichung des Hits „Suicide Commando“ der Kieler Kultband NO MORE, während Herr Brandt als Veranstalter der Hamburger Partyreihe Damaged Goods seit Jahren als Vorreiter und Initiator des mittlerweile im grossen Stile gezündeten PostPunk Revivals aktiv ist und als Musiker seit Jahrzehnten mit Bands wie The Convent, Sonnenbrandt und The Promise Club-Venues und Festivals in ganz Europa bespielt.
Save the date!
Nachtasyl
Alstertor 1
20095 Hamburg
Germany
Friday, March 10, 2023
Phauss - Audiodrome [Room40 Promo]
And here we go with the next Phauss re-issue on the ever active Australian imprint Room40 which now brings back "Audiodrome", the first ever full length album effort thought up by Carl Michael Von Hauswolff and Erik Pauser under their shared conjunctional alias. Originally released in 1987 on the Swedish label Radium 226.05 the "Audiodrome" album, which has been back on the circuit since December 16th, 2k22, caters two extended pieces recorded in 1983 and 1986 respectively, "Zürich - Zürich" and "Alger - Lagos", which are making extensive use of Field Recording techniques as a means of documentation and original source material for later re-arrangement and re-combination of recordings, a muffled amalgamation of Plunderphonics, Musique Concrete and urban city scores, randomly recorded by a predetermined methodology in unnamed and sonically unrecognizable places, densely layered in part to create a thundering maelstrom of Urban Noize x Ambient Concrete whilst other sequences, especially in the second long form piece, present a spine-tingling take on raw, super experimental Swedish ProtoIndustrial which is about to resonate with the inner circle of die-hard Avantgarde, Noize and Non-Music lovers for sure. Defo a well interesting historical document - and quite an intense journey. Go check.
Thursday, March 09, 2023
Wednesday, March 08, 2023
The D3VI7 - Fear [Basics Avenue Records 121 Promo]
Put out on the digital circuit via the French imprint that is Basics Avenue Records on October 29th, 2k22 is "Fear", another fresh two track single cooked up in the hell'ish underground studios of The D3VI7 himself. Opening with "Acid Hell" we see the German Techno phenomenon on an expertly sculpted, Acid-leaning Hard Techno tip, providing pounding, hammering bassdrum power and screaming modulation insanity for ultimate dancefloor combat whereas the subsequent title track "Fear" pairs more spiralling Acid madness and razor sharp hi-hats with a technoid Tribal approach well reminiscent of Oliver Ho's legendary labels Meta and Chango and therefore turns out to be our favorite cut on this one.
Tuesday, March 07, 2023
Monday, March 06, 2023
Samuel Rohrer - Codes Of Nature [Arjunamusic Promo]
Put out on the circuit via Arjunamusic on February 10th, 2k23 is "Codes Of Nature", the latest full length album effort by Berlin-based Samuel Rohrer who's pulled off more projects and collaborations throughout his nearly 18 years spanning release career than some labels have actually released within a similar timespan. Now back with another menu of six brand new pieces rolled out over a total of roughly 50 minutes playtime Samuel Rohrer presents a musical menu ranging from deep and stripped down late night Downtempo vibes to be found in the opening piece "Body Of Lies" followed on similar, yet slightly more meandering, Electronica-infused path by "Scapegoat Principle" to "Forth Density" which provides carefully layered and low key jazzed out percussion grooves for ChillOut dancefloors which might go well along Bugge Wesseltoft's 'New Conceptions Of Jazz' project vibewise. Furthermore "The Banality Of Evil" fully indulges in soft, enchanted Ambient textures and hovering, ever cascading melodic polyrhythms, the more agitated Future Tribal cut "Talking To Nature Spirits" is as enchanted, otherworldly and dreamy as its title suggests and the final "Resurrection", despite being obviously percussive, is as close to classic mid-90s Ambient transmissions as it gets on this album and therefore probably our personal favorite out of the six cuts on here. If you do own a single record by the famed, yet more krautsy, Moritz Von Oswald Trio you might well appreciate "Codes Of Nature" for a reason.
Sunday, March 05, 2023
Phauss - Nya Sverige: Nothing But The Truth [Room 40 Promo]
Reissued via the Australian label Room40 on December 16th, 2k22 is "Nya Sverige: Nothing But The Truth", the originally 1991-released and 54 minutes spanning one track album by the duo Phauss, then comprised of Erik Pauser and long standing electronic music activist x composer x artist Carl Michael Von Hauswolff. Initially put out on the circuit via the long time defunct Swedish imprint Anckarström the longform composition was conceived and fleshed out throughout an extended underground tour in the United States in the same year, oftentimes in sketchy locations and under the flag of being announced as an act performing 'Extreme Swedish Industrial'. Probably an announcement far fetched in hindsight the recording of "Nya Sverige: Nothing But The Truth" reflects the bleakness and endlessness of touring the outskirts and edges of American cities for weeks on end, resulting in an ever increasing, ever densening layer of sound evolving as slow and minimalistic as pieces by like-minded experimental artists like Francisco Lopez as one of the conceptual masters of glacial Drone music whilst adding what seem to be Field Recordings of icy desert winds to the mix, weighing in bits of Aube's metallic edgyness as well as occasional percussive one hit eruptions and well unsettling tectonic low end rumbles, all falling together in the form of greyscale'ish Isolationist Ambient x Desolation Ambient before continuously building up to create a well overwhelming wall of tense Ambient Noize which, for those familiar with the field, occasionally might even hint at Olaf Rupp's eardrum crushing live performance pieces of the late 90s or - to reference more contemporary Pop culture - might provide an eerie, fear-inducing daily background score for life within the upside down, where unseen, horrific, gargantuan creatures of Lovecraftian dimensions lurk... and unspoken things even beyond that. Thrilling and still worthwhile even though more than three decades have passed since this albums initial inception. Go check.
Saturday, March 04, 2023
2020 - 5 [2020 Records Promo]
So here we go with another extended digital album by the mysterious artist x project that is 2020, released on the presumably artist-run imprint 2020 Records under the simple, yet well logical name of "5" on October 7th, 2k22. Over the course of 10 brand new tracks and an approximated total playtime of 100+ minutes 2020 embarks on a journey taking us from the wide and meandering streams of glacial, washed out and slowly developing Ambient beauty of "Find Me" to the nearly overwhelming sonic whiteout of "The Unknown" whilst the low end pulses hidden deep within the mix of "Daylight" seem to be reminiscent of the most Ambient-infused DubTechno ever. "New Forms" introduces a brooding, well alarming moodiness and trembling bass frequencies which come with a shift of attitude away from the comforting blanket of its predecessors whereas "Echo" unfolds as an epic, glistening and near static drone of time-defying qualities before "Gone" serves an intense, mind-melting Cold Ambient atmosphere for a well suitable - and frosty! - closing just to name a few. A most beautiful ride, this is.
Friday, March 03, 2023
P.T.B.S & The D3VI7 - Woody Woodpecker [Dead Groovy Music 188 Promo]
Released via the digital imprint Dead Groovy Music on December 2nd, 2k22 is "Woody Woodpecker", the latest collaborational single effort cooked up by Ufuk Özbayar a.k.a. P.T.B.S. and the hell'ish underground phenomenon that is The D3VI7 himself. With their original mix of the title track the duo caters a raw, spatial and relatively monotonous variation of creepy, mind-melting peaktime Techno for illegal warehouse raves whereas the subsequent remix by Cement Tea brings forth a brutal, almost Hardcore-infused attitude based on hypercompressed bassdrum terror and dense layers of grinding Industrial sounds for the headstrong. Heavy.
Thursday, March 02, 2023
Adrenochrome - Conversion EP [Monokrak Records 270 Promo]
Put out on the digital circuit via the Swiss imprint that is Monokrak Records on November 28th, 2k22 is the "Conversion EP", the very first release by a new project known as Adrenochrome. Opening with "Kirschblut" Adrenochrome serves a bouncy, expertly sculpted and highly complex take on floating Minimal Techno garnished with driving claps and soft, sustained piano tones for an extra bit of late night deepness whereas the subsequent cut named "Pepsi Cola" combines hyperpositive Minimal Techno, curious bleeps and sawtooth modulations as well as dubbed out background pads for a classic, well uplifting dancefloor vibe. Good stuff.
Wednesday, March 01, 2023
baze.djunkiii Charts 03/2k23
01. Geier Aus Stahl - Strapazen Und Genesung [Knekelhuis 043]
That's a well interesting longplay debut on the Dutch label Knekelhuis. The Viennese duo that is Geier Aus Stahl have not only chosen one of the very best project names in the history of electronic music ever but also manage to deliver the most greyscale'ish and depressive take on stripped down, contemporary MinimalWave garnished with an occasional pinch of hypermoody Industrial you might ever hear. Fascinatingly dark and captivating.
02. Combat Dubs - Combat Dubs II *2023 Repress [Intrauterin Recordings 007]
See announcement post for details...
03. Various Artists - Artificial Intelligence: Electronic Listening Music From Warp [Warp Records]
One of the most essential and at the time groundbreaking compilation releases in contemporary electronic music is back. In 1993 Warp Records' "Artificial Intelligence" provided a blueprint for the emerging Intelligent Techno x IDM scene of the early 90's with captivating and curious intelligent dancefloor bang0rz like Musicology's playful BrokenBeat cut "Telefone 529" as well as their Post-Rave anthem "Preminition", Autechre's Phonk classic "Crystel", Speedy J's most beautiful ChillOut tune that's "De-Orbit" as well as the spiralling Acid x ProtoTrance goodness that's "UP!" provided by Richie Hawtin under his Spiritual High guise and Dr. Alex Paterson's ever cascading Ambient synth pleasures of "Loving You Live" amongst others. Defo a must have, even though we'd love to have seen an actual 2xLP set for this reissue to provide more room and dynamics for each individual tune instead of cramming nearly 25 minutes or more onto one side of a single vinyl.
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That's a well interesting longplay debut on the Dutch label Knekelhuis. The Viennese duo that is Geier Aus Stahl have not only chosen one of the very best project names in the history of electronic music ever but also manage to deliver the most greyscale'ish and depressive take on stripped down, contemporary MinimalWave garnished with an occasional pinch of hypermoody Industrial you might ever hear. Fascinatingly dark and captivating.
02. Combat Dubs - Combat Dubs II *2023 Repress [Intrauterin Recordings 007]
See announcement post for details...
03. Various Artists - Artificial Intelligence: Electronic Listening Music From Warp [Warp Records]
One of the most essential and at the time groundbreaking compilation releases in contemporary electronic music is back. In 1993 Warp Records' "Artificial Intelligence" provided a blueprint for the emerging Intelligent Techno x IDM scene of the early 90's with captivating and curious intelligent dancefloor bang0rz like Musicology's playful BrokenBeat cut "Telefone 529" as well as their Post-Rave anthem "Preminition", Autechre's Phonk classic "Crystel", Speedy J's most beautiful ChillOut tune that's "De-Orbit" as well as the spiralling Acid x ProtoTrance goodness that's "UP!" provided by Richie Hawtin under his Spiritual High guise and Dr. Alex Paterson's ever cascading Ambient synth pleasures of "Loving You Live" amongst others. Defo a must have, even though we'd love to have seen an actual 2xLP set for this reissue to provide more room and dynamics for each individual tune instead of cramming nearly 25 minutes or more onto one side of a single vinyl.
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Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Raoul Sinier - Dreams From The Assembly Line [self-released]
It's always a great thing to see artists trust their own work x art enough to go fully independent and relase their music under their own terms and conditions without assenting to any of the constraints and restrictions which might come along with working with and signing their music over to a label. This is exactly what Paris-based artist Raoul Sinier has done recently with his February 10th, 2k23-released album "Dreams From The Assembly Line", an eleven songs and 47 minutes spanning longplay effort which provides a fascinating, hyperchromatic take on IndieElectro x Leftfield Pop starting out with the shimmering quasi-falsetto drama served by the opening tune that is "Unfortunate Pair" whereas the subsequent "Human Field" is built upon a foundation of raw, brooding Dope Beats and dense, washed out electronics partly somewhat reminiscent of late Depeche Mode as well as early Tricky vibewise before "Let Me In" enters Hardcore x Emo territories musically even though Raoul Sinier's vocal performance is curiously gravitating towards a large scale 80s feel - think: Alphaville. Furthermore "The Storm Inside" fuses this dramatic attitude with captivating elements of IndustrialRock, the "Timeless Room" fully indulges in scintillating, yet hypnotic Leftfield Pop x SynthPop with a somewhat radio friendly edge whilst "Red, White & Pink" drifts from a heavy intro to a widescreen panoramic, almost Fantasy Metal (Not Fantasy Metal)-emulating attitude followed by "Fantastic Crash", the atmospherically densest and most intense cut on this album once again topped by Mr. Sinier's trademark vocals. Subsequently the "Surreal Trail Of Mayhem" might be classified as a spaced out maelstrom of Doom Pop / Alternative Doom by some, "The Weird Snakes" once again harks back to the Dope Beat-driven Alphaville'esque vibes mentioned previously whereas "Unmistakable Fragments" caters a dreamy, slightly spaced out 90s Alternative x Leftfield Pop sound which evokes faint and distant memories of acts like Babylon Zoon before the final "Assembly Line" rounds things off with dark and droning riffs, ethereal synth atmospheres and partially cut up vocals. As non-conformist as an album can be. Interesting.
Album artwork on Instagram!
Album artwork on Instagram!
Monday, February 27, 2023
Remont Pomp / Mikolaj Trzaska / Adam Zuchowski - Sam Jestes Pomp Vol. 1 [Gusstaff Records / Kilogram Records Promo]
Another album released by the ever buzzing Poland-based imprint that is Gusstaff Records on January 27th, 2k23 is "Sam Jestes Pomp Vol. 1", a ten tracks and 40 minutes spanning longplay effort recorded by band outfit Remont Pomp in collaboration with well renowned artists Mikolaj Trzaska on sax and clarinet as well as Adam Zuchowski on double bass. With Remont Pomp being a currently nine-piece group inspired by African Music, performed on traditional ethnic instruments by musicians with intellectual disabilities, with two previously released albums and international tours under their belt the sound of their third long form outing provides a muscular fusion of widely complex polyrhythmic percussion patterns and bold repetetive sax motifs with a well jazzy twist which contain elements of Eastern European melancholia especially prevalent in tunes like "Grota" whereas the series of tunes subsequently named "Free Pompy 1-5" caters tender, free-floating interludes and bridges, "Swieta Proznia" serves a deeply melancholia-inducing, yet caressing take on ethereal late night Jazz and "Pompujemy Krew" is coming full circle in terms of combination of Jazz meets Tribal polyrhythms just to name a few. Defo a well interesting listening experience for all fans of non-conformist Jazz, this.
Album artwork on Instagram!
Album artwork on Instagram!
Sunday, February 26, 2023
02.03.2023 baze.djunkiii presents BETA-ZERFALL Volume 2 @ Radio Flouka / Paris, France
It's the return of the mighty BETA-ZERFALL and the second tribute to baze.djunkiii's groundbreaking, pioneering event series of the same name which has been building bridges between classic PostPunk, (No)Wave, SynthPop, Industrial, EBM and more contemporary styles like Indie, ElectroPunk, (Neo)Cosmic and KrautDisco over the course of more than a decade now, with irregular BETA-ZERFALL events taking place in various locations in Hamburg as well as the North German city of Kiel.
Following the series sonic approach equipped with the technical knowledge of being an electronic club music DJ for a quarter of a century Hamburg-based Radio Flouka-resident baze.djunkiii presents an eclectic 60 minutes journey covering both established BETA-ZERFALL classics as well as most obscure and dubbed out cuts of highly advanced underground dancefloor music for all those creatures of the night whose mission is to serve the dark side of the force.
decks: baze.djunkiii [Intrauterin Recordings / The Absence Of Light]
file under: PostPunk / (No)Wave / Indieelectro / ElectroPunk / SynthPop / Industrial
transmission time: 22oo - 23oo GMT+1
get locked via Radio Flouka
Paris
Following the series sonic approach equipped with the technical knowledge of being an electronic club music DJ for a quarter of a century Hamburg-based Radio Flouka-resident baze.djunkiii presents an eclectic 60 minutes journey covering both established BETA-ZERFALL classics as well as most obscure and dubbed out cuts of highly advanced underground dancefloor music for all those creatures of the night whose mission is to serve the dark side of the force.
decks: baze.djunkiii [Intrauterin Recordings / The Absence Of Light]
file under: PostPunk / (No)Wave / Indieelectro / ElectroPunk / SynthPop / Industrial
transmission time: 22oo - 23oo GMT+1
get locked via Radio Flouka
Paris
Saturday, February 25, 2023
Alex Reviriego - Leukolenos [Crystal Mine]
Released via the Spanish label that is Crystal Mine on January 26th, 2k23 is "Leukolenos", the latest full length tape album effort cooked up by Barcelona's Alex Reviriego. Rolled out over the course of a C48 cassette and a total of seven brand new tracks we see the Spaniard embarking on a journey into a sonic realm characterized both by droning, glacial Ambient athmospheres of a slowly progressing nature accompanied by floating, somewhat enchanted minimalist melodies as well as spatial experimentalisms reminiscent of early electronic music production studios - think of the legendary WDR Studio Für Elektronische Musik in Cologne etc. - whereas other cuts present a spacetime-defying, angelic take on Deep Listening Music and even brooding DarkAmbient which is especially prevalent in tunes like "Artemis" which, in its extended glory, evokes beloved memories of genre master pieces once created by Tarkatak, Scanner or even Christoph De Babalon and therefore turns out to be our favorite cut on this highly recommended, yet already sold out cassette tape album. Lovely.
Friday, February 24, 2023
Lionel Marchetti & Decibel - Inland Lake (Le Lac Interieur) [Room40 Promo]
Put out on the circuit via Room40 on January 20th, 2k23 is "Inland Lake (Le Lac Interieur)", the latest two piece collaboration album shaped and conceived by Australian chamber ensemble Decibel in conjunction with French composer Lionel Marchetti. Opening with the title track "Inland Lake (Le Lac Interieur)", recorded over the internet due to pandemic restrictions and later re-arranged by Marchetti, we see glacial Ambient atmospheres paired with wafts of carefully layered, slightly off-kilter string instruments, emerging crystalline sine tones of generally tender, calming and almost brittle nature over the course of almost 36 minutes whereas the subsequent, and with less than three minutes total playtime significantly shorter, "La Patience" provides a chiming glimpse into a solemn, almost meditative sonic realm of enchanted, yet brooding and low-end heavy qualities before coming to a slightly abrupt halt prematurely. Quite an interesting contrast, this.
The D3VI7 - Nuke Vol. 15 [Nuke The Planet 015 Promo]
It's a war going on outside no-one is safe from. And exactly that's why the hyper-independent and ultra-violent imprint named Nuke The Planet launched another digital missile on December 25th, 2k22. Cooked up and configurated by The D3VI7 himself "Nuke Vol. 15" caters a twisted, tongue-in-cheek, yet uncompromising Gabba x Hardcore assault built around a well warped 'hallelujah' choir sample as well as clunky high speed breakbeat which are about to send your food-comatose brain straight into a downward spiral towards a mind melting festive breakdown. And that's what we all need, right?
Thursday, February 23, 2023
R. Iwanski - Transformations I [Gusstaff Records]
So this is a first for the ever more eclectic Polish imprint Gustaff Records. Released on February 17th, 2k23 is Rafal Iwanski's "Transformations I", a nine tracks and roughly 64 minutes spanning longplay effort aimed at the goal of composing electroacoustic music based on ethnic instruments of African heritage, an angle we surely haven't come across before - neither on Gustaff Records nor on any other label, at least as far as our memory goes. Backed by a bunch of cultural organizations Iwanski, also employing the musical guise of X-Navi:Et at times, embarks on a journey of highly specialized electroacoustic treatments with a set focus on instruments from the lamellophone family starting with a tender, caressing and beautiful two-tone motif in the opening tune "Forma X" which develops quite unsettling, cavernous background movements over time whereas the subsequent "Zanzaphonie" leads the listener into an inward-looking quasi-Ambient dreamstate and "KalimbAfrica" presents a steady flow of washed out repetetive pads and floating esoteric atmospheres which will sit well with all die-hard Ambient lovers out there. With "Technosis 3.0" Rafal Iwanski presents a surprisingly jazzed out and percussive variation which could be well derived from microtonal syrinx' if the albums focus wasn't on African instruments, "Solastalgia" caters another series of enchanted and carefully layered loops with a slightly kitschy and esoteric, albeit time-defying touch before "Pre-Post" fully indulges in chiming, fragile and almost glassy slow motion cascades and spaced out polyrhythms. Furthermore we see "Syntaxis" provide peaceful, yet almost clumsy and robotic rhythmic studies which interestingly never reach a full on climax, the "Hyper-Continuum" presents us with a similarly complex and chiming sci-fi feel before everything blends and fuses into a beauteous stream of droning Ambient Noize after more than ten minutes whilst the concluding "Virtual Paradisum" rounds things off on a calm, solemn and inward looking note for a closing. Quite an interesting release which needs to find a home in every sophisticated ChillOut collection.
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
User88745774467 - Bravados EP [User Recordings 044 Promo]
Put out on the digital circuit on October 18th, 2k22 via the well mysterious imprint that is User Recordings is the "Bravados EP", the very first outing by the quasi anonymous User88745774467. Opening with "Untitlted 3-1" we're entering a realm of raw, yet trance-inducing and ever spiralling peak time underground Acid madness whereas the subsequent cut named "Untitled 4-1" provides a proper dose of hefty, well distorted HardAcid, garnished with tense stop-and-go breaks, slapping snares and hyper-brutalist bassdrum madness for all real Acid headz out there. Top drawer. Check.
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Carlo Maria Nartoni - Ellitica [Aut Records 088]
Released on January 12th, 2k23 via the ever active Aut Records label as their cat.no. 088 is Carlo Maria Nartoni's "Ellittica" - an extended, almost hour long improvisational trio effort in two parts, captured in early February of 2k21 by Nartoni alongside fellow musicians Danilo Gallo and Filippo Sala. Bringing together a sonic arrangement of piano, prepared piano, double bass, drums percussions and not clearly defined objects the trio caters a tender, late night-leaning journey into the realm of free floating, improvised and always uplifting - or better: positive - Jazz music with a slightly vintage tone, defined by ever meandering piano melodies which are focused on a certain simplicity and the beauty lying within whereas the busy, yet oftentimes subdued backdrop of ever changing bass and drum motifs for the most part provides a well agitated and busy foundation, yet leaves enough room for extended passages of Jazz minimalism as well as waves of thundering drama, playful, fast paced excercises and even echoes of what could be described as Contemporary Classical piano composition shimmering through at certain points. Defo one album for solemn, introspective late night listening sessions, preferrably lit by flickering candle lights or an open fire.
The D3VI7 - The Sequencer *Original Mix [Ghostfloppy Recordings 001]
Put out on the circuit via the freshly launched LoBit x floppy disk imprint Ghostfloppy Recordings as their cat.no. 001 is "The Sequencer *Original Mix", the latest musical outing by the mysterious Techno force known as The D3VI7 which provides an ever rolling and club functional take on contemporary TechTrance goodness well reminiscent of late Superstition Recordings releases with its tense atmospheres, slow, continuous build ups and distinct stabs, yet providing a well uncanny, hollow and muffled feel due to the obviously rendered down nature of what the LoBit scene is all about - a.k.a. fitting tracks on 1.44mb floppy disks instead of granting them their full sonic potential. One for the real freaks out there.
Monday, February 20, 2023
Andreas Davids & Sven Phalanx feat. Utopiae - Schachmatt [Infacted Recordings Promo]
Scheduled for release on the digital circuit via Infacted Recordings on February 24th, 2k23 is "Schachmatt", the next creative collaboration cooked up in the studio by Andreas Davids & Sven Phalanx in conjunction with Konrad Schubert a.k.a. Utopiae who provides both lyrics and his voice for this single. With the original mix of "Schachmatt" we see the artists involved entering a dark and brooding EBM x CyberRave hybrid realm meant to function as a spine-tingling foundation for a captivating, highly emotional vocal performance whereas the subsequent instrumental cut is about to cause premium havoc on slighty Rave-leaning Techno floors for a reason. Quite a bang0r, this. Check.
Sunday, February 19, 2023
Marianne Svasek - Marwa [Thanatosis Produktion 021]
Released on February 3rd, 2k23 via the ever active Swedish imprint that is Thanatosis Produktion is "Marwa", the new one piece album by Dutch artist Marianne Svasek who dedicated her life to studies of Indian, Hindustani and other traditional music from this geographical realm. With "Marwa" Marianne Svasek caters a roughly 37 minutes spanning one track piece, an extended Hindustani Dhrupad Raga performed solely on vocals and two tanpura instruments, one of them played by Vilhelm Bromander. Accompanied by extensive liner notes and remarks on the Raga as a music itself written by Prof. Joep Bor Marianne Svasek's musical performance and execution provides a fascinating insight into the beauty of the genre for avid followers of World Music and Hindustani Classical in particular as well as for fans of Ethno Ambient and Deep Listening Music in general and even for the completely untrained, yet open minded listener in its slow, subtle progression from calm, meandering and time-defying drones accompanied by syllabic vocals to ethereal, a state of trance-inducing all embracing tonal wafts surely able to bring peace to even the busiest and most troubled of minds. Fascinating.
Album artwork on Instagram!
Album artwork on Instagram!