Jon Rose & Alvin Curran - Cafe Grand Abyss [ReR Megacorp]

Put on the circuit via ReR Megacorp on September 27th, 2k19 is "Cafe Grand Abyss", the imaginary space created by two seasoned musicians Jon Rose & Alvin Curran on their respective instruments, violin and piano, at an age where other ppl have long settled into retirement plans. Together, the two musicians create a musical world far from being as cosy and vintage as the albums artwork suggests it to be with the opening composition "Adorno's Boiled Egg" bringing on a hard to swallow information overdose whilst incorporating influences from (Neo)Classical / Contemporary Classical, Free Improv, FreeJazz, bar piano, feedback-oozing Noize, experimental cut-up music, HipHop-sampling, Dada and way more - within a total playing time of a little more than 12 minutes only. Which is an awful quite a lot to take in in this short amount of time. Following up are five additional tracks of similar intensity, meandering in between extremes whilst bringing joy and thrill to the most advanced of the advanced listeners whereas other might give up due to the multilayered complexity and seemingly chaotic, yet structured but extremely demanding nature of this longplay piece. Give it a try if you dare.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Dans Les Arbres - Volatil [Sofa Music]

Released via the Norwegian staple Sofa Music is "Volatil", the latest and fourth album put on the circuit by the quartet known as Dans Les Arbres which consists of Xavier Charles, Ivar Grydeland, Christian Wallumrød and Ingar Zach, all of the them renowned and acclaimed musicians and composers in their own right. With their newest, 53 minutes spanning one track longplay outing the pack of four is catering a fascinating piece of highly recommended Deep Listening Music, drawing influences from Ambient, Post-PostRock and echoes of echoes of experimental Jazz and Improv alike, touching base with Score Noir but also harking back to Ritual Music, fever'ish meditation and the spooky, haunting sound of a deep jungle at night. Beautiful and beautifully intense.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Helga Myhr - Natten Veller Seg Ut [Motvind Records 005]

Released via the Norwegian label Motvind Records on October 5th, 2k19 is "Natten Veller Seg Ut", the latest album release by Helga Myhr who is exploring a deeper take on the combination of her instrument, the hardanger fiddle, and live sung original religious and Folk songs from her native valley Hallingdalen over the course of 41 minutes - songs live sung whilst playing the fiddle, actually. Employing both traditional techniques as well as treating the fiddle in a more contemporary way to create / resemble electro-acoustic, ambient'ish atmospheres and advanced, abstract sounds Helga Myhr's distinct, soft and ethereal, beautifully naturalistic vocals are the binding, defining and leading element on this longplayer, oozing of century old traditions, telling tales of rural innocence and a providing break from ancient hardship, providing hope, firmness and relief in a way that seemed to be long lost and forgotten in the rapt attention of today's 24/7 digital economy. An album to slow down to and focus on self communion.

Krumble - EZ (Son Lux Riddim VS Schoolboy Q)

Our man Krumble comes in heavy with this one. Hard hitting, yet melodic Drum'n'Bass for peak time dancefloors. Reload, selecta!

Handsome Couple feat. DJ Illvibe - Bochum Berlin [Umland Records 028]

What a combination. The Essen-based duo known as Handsome Couple, comprised of St. Kirchhoff and Simon Camatta, is teaming up with Berlin's HipHop-breathing DJ Illvibe for their sophomore album on Umland Records. Recorded live in both Bochum and Berlin, hence the albums name, the duo presents an evolution of its already Instrumental HipHop-leaning sound developed on their first album which is now defined by a captivating mix of banjo, drums and electronics as presented in the dancefloor smashing opener "We", accompanied by an array of masterfully executed cuts, scratches and sample wizzardry straight from the original turntable setup used and abused by DJ Illvibe. Following up is an approximately 40 minutes long journey into beats and turntablism that might be considered being more original HipHop than most of today's HipHop is, bringing on a new kind of block party vibe that is best to be experienced whilst watching groups of b-boys, breakers, fly girls and pop lockers doing their thang, strictly representing the oldskool in a new skool way. One for the beatheads, this is.

On Presale Now: The Crystal Apes - TCARMX001 [Intrauterin Recordings TCARMX001]

To be released late November / early December 2k19 on black 7" vinyl, housed in a black paper sleeve with neon sticker. Initial pressing will be limited to 200 copies.

Tracklist:

A1: I Can't Believe *baze.djunkiii meets The Crystal Apes 'Breakbeats Dream Of 92' Remix

B1: Broken End *baze.djunkiii meets The Crystal Apes 'When Time Decays There Is No Need For Architecture' Remix

Hamburg's long time standing Goth (Not Goth) / Rock (Not Rock) band outfit The Crystal Apes get a full on electronic remix treatment which has been dubplate tested and dancefloor proved by Intrauterin Recordings mastermind baze.djunkiii as a secret weapon on countless occasions over the past years, slowly and carefully building up towards a full vinyl release.

The A-side „I Can't Believe *baze.djunkiii meets The Crystal Apes 'Breakbeats Dream Of 92' Remix“ hits dancefloors with an original Oldskool Rave / Breakbeat Hardcore vibe, dramatic panorama strings and seductive vocals for the lighter and whistle crew.

Meanwhile the flipside „Broken End *baze.djunkiii meets The Crystal Apes 'When Time Decays There Is No Need For Architecture' Remix“ brings forth a different flavor, fusing a blurred out, spatial, minimalist and heavily Dub-infused take on Bass Music / Post Dubstep with more dramatic dramatic string works and a surprisingly powerful Rock attitude for very special moments on the dancefloor.

International distribution via Word And Sound / Hamburg - b2b preorder here!

Peter Cusack - Aral Sea Stories And The River Naryn [Corvo Records Promo]

Released via Corvo Records only recently are Peter Cusack's "Aral Sea Stories And The River Naryn" - a conceptual album piece dealing with the environmental catastrophe that is the close to full disappearance of the named Aral Sea, formally known as the fourth largest body of water on earth. Taking on this topic from a conceptual angle we see Cusack presenting an array of condensed, yet largely unprocessed Field Recordings captured throughout his various journeys to the area, including weather phenomena like storms, everyday life scenes, Folk songs or microsounds recorded at close range as well as other mechanical noises - all related to the topic of water or ice and explained in detail in the albums press release and liner notes. Defo a specialists release aiming at both environmental activists as well as, and more specificallly, sound librarians and collectors of Field Recordings.

Bantou Mentale - Bantou Mentale [Glitterbeat Promo]

Put on the circuit on October 25th, 2k19 via the ever buzzing Glitterbeat imprint is Bantou Mentale's self-titled debut album, a thundering twelve track exploration and journey drawing influences from a musical realm located between Paris and Kinshasa and vice versa. Over the course of 58 minutes the quartet is fusing several African genres and influences with Psychedelia and heavy Rock riffing, elements of Dub, PostPunk and Indie, native chants and vocal techniques, vintage electronic bleeps, deep monster grooves like those to be found in songs like "Boko Haram" whilst "Papa Jo" crosses over into emotional, heartfelt AfroBlues / Afrobeat territories and "Suabala" is bringing on heavily distorted UltraFunk for those who know, with this tune even finding a possible audience with fans of early 90s Crossover / RapMetal for a reason. Further down the timeline songs like "Boloko" even bring forth a yearning, romantic and ballad'esque, Pop-leaning variation of Bantou Mentale's work with basslines clearly harking back to classic Dub and contemporary minimalist Dubstep, "Syria" employs more of a blurred out Psychedelic Rock meets Afrobeat strategy, "Magnifique Maestro" evokes memories of smoky, vintage Soul as well as HipHop sample wizzardry for a reason and "Bakoka" weighs in a fever'ish, mysterious and somewhat ritualistic spaced out ecstasy just to name a few. Check!

Joanna John / Burkhard Stangl - Her Presence And Tides (Official Video)

HER PRESENCE AND TIDES from Joanna John on Vimeo.

Beautiful Ambient spheres meet folksy, experimental and slightly tongue-in-cheek guitar excursions to a great  effect. We love this tune.

Simon Grab - Posthuman Species [-Ous Promo]

Released via the -Ous label on October 25th, 2k19 is Simon Grab's "Posthuman Species", his latest longplay work created solely on an extended no-input-mixing set up which, for this specific occasion, went way beyond the known no-input-mixer method in terms of employing more analogue devices in its technically closed circuit. The result is a body of work consisting of thirteen tracks, opening with the strident, cold and isolationist Electronica of "The New Kind", progressing into the Noize- and feedback driven downward spiral of "Apocalyptic Paranoia" whereas "Biomechanoids" are dancing to swampy, stripped down Minimal Techno, "Neurotransmitters" gravitate towards a highly abstract, experimental take on Broken Dub Techno and the "Transformation" provides more of a droning, sweeping variation of feedbacks mixed with echoes of Clicks'n'Cuts and sci-fi leaning intensity for those who know. Observing "New Horizons" sees Simon Grab exploring the realms of hard hitting Industrial Electronica / Rhythm Industrial on vantablack dancefloors, the "Observatory" is built in total isolation, receiving subaquatic transmissions resembling a version of how Drexciyans might perceive Minimal Techno whereas "Neurochemical Behaviour" is triggered by ever morphing bass heavy Ambient pulses in combination with fast paced percussive computational sounds and syncopated Electronica beats before the "Phase Of Multiplication" sets in, an agitated, hypnotizing state of sonic transmission which can be referred to as trance-inducing for advanced, Future Tribal-informed dancefloors. Entering an "Altered State" introduces another tribalistic, fever'ish and well hypnotic take on carefully sculpted Electronica with a kind of organic, exoplasmatic feel despite its occasional shrill sound eruptions, "Exposure" brings forth another electrical maelstrom for lovers of Drone and demanding Deep Listening Music whilst "Metanoia" takes us to the deepest, most lightless sub-surface voids for a bass-modulation driven lesson in DeathRave before the concluding cut "Posthuman Wonderland" reveals 15 minutes of spaced out, spatial Post Intelligent Techno transmitted back to earth from the brink of time. Get.

df0:BAD - Absolete

Absolute Chiptune vs. lo-fi Breakcore madness put on the digital circuit via the legendary Cock Rock Disco imprint these days. Massive.

Fish & Steel - Fish & Steel [PNL Records 044]

Released via the ever busy PNL Records imprint on October 4th, 2k19 is the self titled debut album by Fish & Steel, a trio formed by Mats Äleklint, Per-Ake Holmlander and label owner Paal Nilssen-Love who formed this new project after joining forces again in the bigband project Large Unit. On their first album the Norwegian / Swedish trio presents two large scale compositions - the opening, nearly 30 minutes spanning "Blow Out" whilst "Sangbolaget" clocks in at around 26 minutes playtime. Relying on a musical arsenal consisting of trombone, tuba and drums the three artists are surely drawing inspiration and experience from their work in FreeJazz but even this open term wouldn't be enough to do justice to the free floating approach Fish & Steel present on here, meandering in between of taking their instruments to their very limits whilst, minutes later, falling back to raw melancholia and echoes of classic melodies, still accompanied by thundering, ultra complex drumming, weighing in Jazz Noir-referencing ultraminimalism at times whereas providing highly seductive grooves or even slightly tongue-in-cheek moments at others. Excellent stuff, although way too complex to review in further detail. Get.

Album artwork on Instagram!

David Norland - Agate Or Barium

David Norland is coming at us with a beauteous, scenic and hyper romantic take on Neoclassical piano elegies which are taken form his forthcoming album "Glam Tear Stain" on Denovali.

MME Duo - Awholerunboom [Makiphon 006]

Scheduled for release via the Makiphon label on November 22nd, 2k19 is "Awholerunboom", the latest album collaboration created by Patricia Koellges and Tamara Lorenz who've been ditching their former conjunctional nom de guerra Sculptress Of Sound to create under the new name of MME Duo. Employing a wide ranged instrumental approach based on small synths, loop machines, diy electroacoustic devices and more the pair offers a 2x12" vinyl album as final release, featuring a whole of 21 tracks total with each side dedicated to one of the years seasons and pressed as a limited edition of 300 copies only. Clearly inspired by Dada and sonic collage we see the MME Duo building their oftentimes abstract, multilayered compositions in not necessarily track and structure focused ways, an approach resulting in sometimes hypnotic, Electronica-resembling cuts like the "Sweet Cold Night" whereas tunes like the follow up "YouYou", based on borderline madness vocal repetitions, off kilter filter works and swampy electroacoustics present a more intense, retrofuturist sci-fi approach whilst "Dump" brings forth a Broken Blues element in conjunction with scraping Field Recordings, heaps of echo craze as well as a hefty take on abstract vocal- and non-vocalisms for the headstrong. Furthermore the 10+ minutes of "RZCK" amalgamate ritualistic percussions and highly abstract PostRock with distinct, feedback-driven guitars, "Isn't It Isn't" turns out to be a true underground Art School hit of sorts, "Sweet Cold Night 2" explores ultradark Dub territories and twisted nightmares whilst "Agent A" resembles highly experimental takes on the Ingenious Dilletantes movement, tunes like "Wave Drum" are summoning hollow earth demons with their ritualistic approach, tripping non-vocalisms and humming, klaxon'esque sounds sending signals back into ancient times and "Winter One" even harks back to the most melancholic PostPunk experiments ever. But these are only a few picks off of this highly diverse, widely varied conceptual album that lovers of leftfield experimental sounds, as well as quirky production music, defo should check out as a possible addition to their collection.

Joe McPhee & Paal Nilssen-Love - Song For The Big Chief [PNL Records 046]

Put on the circuit via his very own PNL Records imprint on October 4th, 2k19 is "Song For The Big Chief" which sees Paal Nilssen-Love collaborating with long time co-adventurer Joe McPhee live at Cafe Oto in London on December 9th, 2k17. With the duo dedicating their concert to drummer Sunny Murray who had passed away shortly before the concert and opening with a 23 minutes spanning variation of "Old Man River" as title track "Song For The Chief (Old Man River)" the two artists are paying an intense tribute to one of their major influences in music, pushing the original cut further and further into an intense, thundering maelstrom of improvisation whilst harking back to its original feel and melancholy around mid-track, breaking things down before building up towards a metallic, percussive climax once again. Furthermore the performance of "Knox" presents highly technical sax playing atop advanced drum grooves for those in the know whilst never losing a certain intrinsic melancholia whereas the final cut "A Fantasy For Lester" explores fully experimental territories, touching on scraping electro-acoustic minimalisms and distant echoes of Ambient rather than actual  Jazz for the majority of its playtime of nearly eight  minutes although slowly coming back to free-floating Jazz aesthetics in its second half. One of the more accessible album releases on PNL Records, this.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Stazma - October Mantis *Early Mix Free Dl Version

Is Happy Glitchcore a thing yet? Or is Drill'n'Beauty?

Miguel Flores - Lorca: Lost Tapes (1989 - 1991) [Buh Records Promo]

Released via Buh Records as a part of their 'Essential Sounds Collection'-series on October 4th, 2k19 is "Lorca: Lost Tapes (1989 - 1991)", a collection of previously unreleased works by Peruvian composer Miguel Flores mostly created for stage and theatre purposes and inspired by the Spanish playwright Federico Garcia Lorca. Presenting a total of ten compositions just subsequently titled in Roman numerals we see Flores cover a musical range from intense Ambient drones paired with Flamenco'esque guitars, beauteous score'esque balearisms paired with what seem to be theremin triggered, melancholy-infused melodies as well as soft, pad driven Folk meets Ambient fusions, spaced out, yet naturalistic Tribal excursions and even mixing folkloristic elements with fever'ish echoes of PostPunk whilst other tracks present dark, mulitlayered and nightmare'ish whispers or ecstatic music for ancient rituals which, despite being composed for different purposes, perfectly fall together as a homogenous album and beautiful historic documentation of previously unheard music.

Ka Baird - Symanimagenic (Official Video)

Captivating Future Tribal with a performative PostPunk attitude - brought to us as an immersive 360° video art piece. Check!

baze.djunkiii Charts 10/2019

01. Blotter Trax - Programmed Memories / Rhythm Device [Frustrated Funk 048]
The Frustrated Funk-label caters what might be their best and most distinct release ever with this clear vinyl two track 12" masterfully crafted by Blotter Trax. Sci-fi Electro as crisp as a cold winter night, timeless and stripped down to the absolute core with bleepy synth tones leading the way and additional, masterly cut and processed vocal samples providing an extra scientific thrill and Laboratory Funk-appproved sex drive. Get this.

02. Special Request - Special Request & Fwends [Houndstooth 119]
Special Request has two cuts from his massive "Vortex" album remixed by Sully and everyone's hype darling Mall Grab. Whilst Sully goes for a metallic PostRave meets (Dark)Jungle meets glitch-informed Drill'n'Bass approach on this pink, translucent 12" vinyl we see Mall Grab provide a massive Broken Techno meets Post UK Hardcore inferno causing serious damage on prepared and unprepared dancefloors.

03. Octave One - Locus Of Control Vol. 2 [430 West Records]
The Burden Brothers have been a staple in Detroit Techno for who knows how long exactly and they hardly ever fail me when they've got a new 12" release out these days. "Afrotech" is one of their typical, driving, yet slightly monotonously rolling tools with intricate melodic works and stripped down percussions whilst "Detune" on the flip side turns out to be a massive, straight stomping Techno banger sporting overwhelming bass rolls alongside a multilayered, complex metallic synth motif reminding everyone of how much of a futuristic space music Techno is and can be. An unquestioned winner, this second tune is.

04. Bluetrain - Babylon Paralysis [Future Primitive 005]
DubTechno perfection catered by Steve O'Sullivan a.k.a. Bluetrain a.k.a. The Wise Caucasian. Closer to the roots of Dub than to actual Techno these three tracks are as stripped down as it can ever get, floating in a timeless universe made out of pure rhythm, bass and loads of space in between. There's not one single element one could take away without totally disassembling or crippling any given tune on this 12" release and therefore this is a masterpiece in ultimate reduction and minimalism as well as a blueprint for highly advanced sound design and dancefloor functionalism.

05. Len Faki [LF RMX 017]
Len Faki is an edit master and with his re-edits of Illuminatae's "Tremora Del Terra" and Brotherhood Of Structure's "We Are Structure" he gave two of baze.djunkiii's favorite 90s rave anthems a special, and highly respectful, treatment. With both edits Len Faki is staying pretty close to the original tunes, adding a few little tweaks and effects here and there, updating them for contemporary club abuse and re-introducing the original pre-commercial rave vibe to a new audience for a reason. Plus: the also featured re-edit of Planet Love Ink's "Living In Pain" comes in as a nice uplifting AcidTrance addition as well.

06. Tribulation Dub [DREADZ 002 Whitelabel]
No information on this one and the "Tribulation Dub" title is taken from Discogs. But whoever crafted this must, most likely, have inhaled a good portion of what made early Dubstep so appealing a.k.a. sparse arrangements, a shitload of sinewave bass pressure and the obvious Dub / Reggae influences. Deep essential bass meditation. Period.

07. Headie One Feat. Dave - 18 Hunna *Four Tet Remix [Relentless Records / Sony Music]
So there's no such thing as modern Grime? This cut defo proved me wrong with its tender, yet still functional Grime meets Trap fusion and seductive, deep and slightly romantic melodies as well as great lyricism a.k.a. storytelling abilities showcased by Dave and Headie One alike. A perfect closing tune, this is.

08. Logic 1000 [Whitelabel]
Two tracks seemingly unofficially ripped and pressed to vinyl from DJ Logic 1000s latest digital outing - at least the apology engraved in the dead wax points in this direction. But no matter what the story behind this stamped whitelabel is, the two tracks featured on here are basically an essential fusion of classic SpeedGarage and early 90s ClubHouse infused by contemporary Future Garage vibes for eternal dancefloor abuse on the A-side whilst the B-side brings on stripped down, hypnotic, dark and repetetive Sublow / Dark Garage vibes for those who know. File under: soon to be sought after future classic.

09. Fabio Monesi - Strings Of Love E.P. [Craigie Knowes 018]
Fabio Monesi caters big time on the still mysterious imprint known and loved as Craigie Knowes. Catchy Breakbeats served in a House tempo range, garnished by seductive string works and raw, uplifting synth melodies, echoes of BigBeat and all other kinds of goodness, served in four tracks of which especially the A2 outing "Pancho Returns" is an especially lovely lo-fi banger whereas "Flanger City" on B1 brings on memories of what once known as TechnoJazz for a reason and "The Raw Theory" deals with stomping electroid House rhythms for peak time abuse. Recommended.

10. Basic Rhythm - 2 Da Core [Planet Mu 414]
Basic Rhythm presents a super complex, yet blurred out take on multi-layered bass-driven music, incorporates references of classic UK Hardcore in the EP's title whilst working on carving out a sub-sub-subgenre of its own right that is about to thrill lovers of Grime, PostRave and UK Hardcore alike before killing Juke / Footwork crowds with a hefty remix provided by noone less than RP Boo himself on the flip. Dang.  

Matthew Collings - Digital Ruins, Forgotten Future

Thrilling (Neo)Cosmic soundwaves taken from Matthew Collings forthcoming album album "Uzonia".

Olo Walicki / Jacek Proscinski - Llovage [Gusstaff Records]

Released via the Polish specialist label Gusstaff Records on October 25th, 2k19 is "Llovage", the first full on collaborative album release created by composers and musicians Olo Walicki and Jacek Proscinski. With both having a background in Avantgarde, Improv and Jazz they're setting out for a slightly different journey here, heading towards more electro-acoustic territories in combination with their instruments of choice, double bass and drums, on this 43 minutes long seven track album which, at least this goes for the CD version, is accompanied by a dried, unique single leaf of lovage as an additional extra for each album - a sweet idea which we haven't seen employed before in any other release ever. Together, their organic musical approach seems to be informed by a stripped down variation of Free Jazz and Future Jazz with electro-acoustic patterns and background sounds adding a tense and intense athmosphere for the most part, functioning as harmonic, sometimes spatial layers for a new dimension of sound with cuts like "Katorga" presenting a thrilling, dramatic variation of dramatic Jazz Noir with a vintage crime scene feel that could've been dug out from an archive of the quirkiest, most obscure Library Music / Production Music ever whereas "Pyza" brings on a dense midrange atmosphere in its Electronica meets (Neo)Cosmic resembling composition as well as glitched out, microcut vocal samples whilst "Jino" presents a more dreamy, romantic and laid back overall vibe for deep listening sessions and "NWW (Najmniejsza Wspolna Wielokrotnosc)" caters a dusty, slightly vintage vibe in terms of spaced out, intimate late night jam sessions before the concluding "Dziecko A Rossmanna" deals with purest Synth greatness and thrilling structures harking back to medieval formal dances just to pick a few favorite tracks from the album here. Check.

Wu-Tang Clan Demo Tape 1992

The WU family has unearthed an epic piece of early, formerly unreleased music and there's no way we're not sharing this remarkable moment in HipHop and Rap history. It doesn't get any better than this.

Sascha Müller [Supersix Records Extra 091]

Incoming via Supersix Records is the recently released, 91st untitled twelve track album put on the circuit by Uelsen's long-time electronic music production staple Sascha Müller. Opening with "Platform 1" we see Mr. Müller embracing a reverberating take on minimalistic, hypnotic, trance-inducing outer space Acid, "Rubbers Go Home" presents an uplifting, yet minimalistic variation of Deep Rave and "Sally Rides The Horse" evokes distant memories of CJ Bolland's happy, frolicking House anthem of yore known as "Camargue" in terms of its sparkling natural happiness. "Schallwellen" brings back the unfiltered 90s positivity of Happy Trance bordering melodic HardTrance whilst "Scharade" weirdly fuses classic, TV Victor'esque Ambient / ChillOut vibes with double time Electro beats and flangered synth motifs  before "Schreitfunktionen" caters a glitched out fusion of hammering, raw, marching Techno beats and percussive backward loops for the most underground bunker parties around. With "Schubumkehr" Sascha Müller presents another raw variation of unprocessed, yet highly funky and functional Techno garnished with remnants of echoes of TechnoJazz,  "Schwingende Elektronen" harks back to ultra-monotonous, highly functional Dark Rave excess and "Sextoys" employs an ear-piercing, stomping and hypermetallic sound aesthetic that makes this tune stick out amongst many other similarly minded Techno tools. Following up is "Shellsea" which fuses Sascha Müller's love for DubTechno with uptempo HardHouse-resembling beats and all embracing melodic pad motifs for those who know, "Shuffle Faktor" weighs in the ultimate bounce in terms of fast-paced, unprocessed Oldskool Techno with a slightly off-kilter, Trance-reminiscent melody whereas the final cut "Sinus Rhythmus" is meandering in between dark'ish AcidTrance and gooey, spiralling Space Acid on a hounded, uptempo path with a tribal'esque twist for a well ecstatic closing.

baze.djunkiii Chart Haul 10/2019

Pip - Possible Worlds [Sofa Music]

Released via the Norwegian label Sofa Music on September 27th, 2k19 is "Possible Worlds", the new album by musical duo Pip which is consisting of Torstein Lavik Larsen and Fredrik Rasten who joined forces to create a roughly 66 minutes long one piece album, recorded in one take without additional edits or overdubs. Influenced by Indian Dhrupad as well as deeply spiritual Raga and other temple / ceremonial music the two musicians and their multiple instruments create a deeply organic, warm, comforting and all embracing flow of ever lasting timelessness on this longplayer, bordering both PostPostRock, Post-Folk as well as Ambient / PopAmbient and echoes of echoes of free-floating Jazz with their ever so slightly shifting music that takes us, and every future listener, into a friendly, unifying dream world filled with nothing but peace and heartfelt harmony. Lovely, and a highly recommended addition to every Ambient collector collection out there.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Blanco White - Papillon (Official Video)

Sometimes all it needs to create something timeless is a guitar, heartfelt melancholy and a beautiful voice.

Meemo Comma - Sleepmoss [Planet Mu Promo]

Just released via the ever busy Planet Mu-imprint on October 25th, 2k19 is "Sleepmoss", the sophomore longplay outing by Brighton-based producer Lara Rix-Martin a.k.a. Meemo Comma who, according to the accompanying promo sheet, was inspired by the shift from British autumn to winter and long walks with her dog throughout this time of the year. This said, the twelve tracks on the approx. 44 minutes spanning album come across as deep and listening oriented as one might guess from the intent state in the description, from the score'esque, melancholia-infused panorama Ambient of the opener "Reaping" to the haunting, ghostly follow up "Night Rain" and the naturalistic, Field Recording-influenced, yet droning "Murmur". With "Tanglewood" we see Meemo Comma starting on a klaxon'esque note only to drift along a calm and peaceful Ambient vibe, the "Winter Sun" is as beauteous as (Neo)Classical referencing score works can get and defo needs to be used in a feature film at some point whereas the "Amethyst Deceiver" is on a darker, scraping and more experimental IDM / Electronica tip and could well fit in a glitchy Illbient set of sorts for a reason. Furthermore "Windross" weighs in a solemn, ritualistic feel for summoning long forgotten hollow earth demons, "Lichen" harks back to frolicking, crystalline (Neo)Cosmic / Synth structures whereas "Meadhead" sticks out as the darkest, most brooding take on the album, sonicalizing the continental plates slowly shifting over aeons whilst adding dramatic snare rolls and undefined, yet haunting DarkJazz bits to the equation later on before finally shifting into soothing, balearic guitar driven minimalisms. The subsequent "Firm" caters a nice contrast between a thundering low end and hovering harmonic pads, the title track "Sleepmoss" enters the world of nervous, stressed and anxious string instruments announcing a nervous breakdown of sorts before the final cut "Psithur" harks back to an innocent, yet crackling naturalistic vibe. Check.

HXXS - Learner (Official Video)

Hypermodernistic UltraPhonk meets a classic, exaggerated 80s Funk attitude in a well fascinating manner. Taken from the recently released album "Year Of The Witch".

Sascha Müller - Traxxx Vol. 17 [SM Traxxx 40-2019]

Put on the circuit via the ever active SM Traxxx-imprint is Sascha Müller's new digital two track single "Traxxx Vol. 17" which caters the subsequently named tunes "Track 33" and "Track 34" to all digital DJ's out there. Whilst the first of the two cuts is a bouncy, Acid-infused ClubTechno affair which would've most likely moved peaktime crowds and listeners of the legendary Steve Mason Experience back in 1994 we see the second musical outing on this single pull off a more tool-oriented variation of Techno meets Acid presented with distinctly sculpted midrange bass drums and a hypnotic repetition of unprocessed lo-fi tones for a main element. Intriguing.

Sky Burial - The Forcing Season: Further Acts Of Severance [Opa Loka Records]

Released via Opa Loka Records on September 14th, 2k19 is "The Forcing Season: Further Acts Of Severance" - the sixteenth full length album created by Michael Page under the artistic nom de guerre of Sky Burial which he introduced to the world back in 2006 with the projects self-titled debut album on the Housepig label. With his most recent album we see Sky Burial, who has borrowed its name from a Tibetan ritual, present an array of ten tracks subsequently named by Roman numerals, all stretched out over roughly 70 minutes total with the last track, "X", clocking in at 27+ minutes runtime alone. But it is the opener "I" which presents a progression from soft, organic Ambient tones to alarming, threatening and dystopian sirens and buzzing electric pulses of Industrial Ambient within less than 5 minutes time, paving the way for things to come with the swampy, fever'ish and primordial ritualistic vibe of "II", the yearning, thundering and desolate war music of "III" as well as the Psychedelia-infused Synth / (Neo)Cosmic of "IV". With "V" we see Sky Burial present more intense, danger heralding tribalisms for dark rituals, "VI" returns to a more classic, naturalistic, yet spaced out and score'esque take on Ambient / (Neo)Cosmic somewhat reminiscent of both Jean-Michel Jarre ca. "Zoolook" and Tangerine Dream / Klaus Schulze at their most experimental whereas "VII" provides various layers of deep percussion structures as a foundation for slightly uneasy droning and a general feel of deeply rooted unrest. Furthermore "VIII" weighs in a certain yearning and desolation despite being as beautiful as the rising sun on a crisp early spring morning, "IX" is on a cold sci-fi space vibe in terms of Ambient production and in the albums main piece "X" everything heard on the album so far culminates and the ever shifting composition defo could function as a score for an entire short film in its own right, meandering through several phases and moods, all somehow related to space, sci-fi and echoes of dystopia, yet with a distinct Sky Burial touch and variation. One of our favorite Opa Loka Records releases, this is.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Alexandra Savior - Saving Grace (Official Video)

What if down to earth Desert Blues and PostPunk had a Psychedelia-infused love child?

Chihei Hatakeyama - Forgotten Hill [Room 40 Promo]

Released via Australia's ever active Room40-imprint on September 20th, 2k19 is "Forgotten Hill", the new album by Japanese Ambient composer Chihei Hatakeyama who was inspired to create this nine track piece by a visit to his home countries Asuka region - a region once highly populated and important but now seemingly forgotten and of agricultural use only although it is home to a vast array of burial mounds, most importantly the one known as Ishibutai Kofun. Still under the impression of what the area, especially the named burial mound and also the Asuka Temple and its large Buddha statue, felt like Chihei Hatakeyama created a soft spoken, misty and all over organic journey into the lands of classic, calming Ambient music, hovering, floating and ever evolving, garnished with slightly blurred crystalline motifs, nebulous, time dissolving layers of harmonic atmospheres and even soft guitar playing in tunes like "Staring At The Mountain" or "Fugitive From Wisteria Field". And although this album doesn't add anything new or unheard of to the Ambient realm it might be another welcome addition to the collections of die-hard Ambient headz and avid collectors of Japanese electronic music anyway.

The Riptide Movement - Something Special (Official Lyric Video)

There's something undeniably catchy about this song which brings forth a sweet take on modernistic IndiePop whilst, at the same time, harking back to straightforward 80s Rock drumming.

Acre - Different Constellation [Aut Records 049]

Scheduled for release via Berlin's Aut Records imprint on November 18th, 2k19 is "Different Constellation" - the third album by the trio known as Acre which have collaborated with singer / songwriter Ludovica Manzo on this longplayer, who is adding her personal note to the groups language which plays in a... see title for this. Opening with "Formula" we see the four musicians introduce a tender, intimate take on songwriting based on both smoky late night PostJazz, naturalistic Folk-infused etherealisms and variations of a distinct piano / guitar motif whilst "Nebula Nitida" evokes memories of artists like Gilli Smyth or Bitch Band No 1 in its more free floating, performative and out of this world FreeJazz infused attitude. "Human's Dilemma" brings forth an inward looking tenderness infused by a dramatic, partly even theatrical experimental Soul vibe and heartfelt emotions, "Tomorrow" indulges in whispered, atmospheric Spoken Words, minimal sonic textures and free experimental percussion arrangements, "Implantable Memories" are based on scraping structures and intense non-vocalisms on the brink of madness and the final composition named "Simula" even introduces a highly experimental, slightly brooding variation of Jazz Noir for a closing of what is maybe the most outstanding, unique Aut Records release so far.

Album artwork on Instagram!

LAXENANCHAOS - Depth Psychology EP

Absolute six track madness released on cassette tape via Tripalium Corp in mid-October 2k19.

Afflicted - Dr. Who EP [Psychocandies 081]

Put on the circuit via the ever active Psychocandies-imprint is the new "Dr. Who EP" by the production duo that is Afflicted, comprised of Sascha Müller and Ufuk Özbayar who is also using the alias P.T.B.S. for his solo works. Together, the two producers are bringing forth a gallopping, stripped down and fast paced Techno vibe with the hollow sounding, tool-oriented opener "Dr. Who 1" whereas the subsequently named "Dr. Who 2" weighs in a little more of a Tribal vibe alongside ever moving, 'troity mid-range synths lines whilst "Dr. Who 3" even gravitates towards what Thomas P. Heckmann once described as 'Knarz' in terms of a Techno subgenre back in the days.

Ale Hop - Apophenia [Buh Records Promo]

Put on the circuit via the Peruvian imprint Buh Records on September 20th, 2k19 is "Apohenia", the latest album effort created by Berlin-based Peruvian artist and composer Ale Hop who is catering an eight tracks, 34 minutes spanning musical serving with this one. Starting her second album on Buh Records with "Augury" Ale Hop fuses atmospheric Ambient structures generated from what is described in the accompanying promo sheet as atomized Field Recordings with randomized, yet vanishing rhythmic metallic clangs whilst the follow up "Side Effects" presents a brooding, spine-tingling sci-fi vibe in conjunction with reprocessed SpokenWork layers. Furthermore "El Beso" introduces a spatial variation of clicking Electronica reminiscent of the warm, playful minimalism of long gone labels like Heimelektro Ulm Tonquellen, "Lima" is a Field Recordings meets score'esque Space Ambient ode to the capital of the artists home country and "Onomatopoeia" brings on more of a swampy, fever'ish vibe as well as a distinct ritualistic aspect prone to be used in exoterrestrial voodoo summonings or other quirky, out of of this world religious ceremonies. With "Punales" we see Ale Hop apply a twangy, unexpected FreakBlues angle to her musical work, the title track "Apophenia (Cielo Azul)" weighs in distortion and feedback heavy Noize elegies for those in the know and the final cut "Marches" combines the intensity of electronic feedback buzzing with masterly crafted Electronica meets Future Tribal beats for the darkest hours on hyperadvanced dancefloors. Good stuff. 

Dean Ramsay - Countess Alftruda in Velvet Gowns

Ambient as clear, crystalline and innocent as Ambient can get. Beautiful sounds for inner contemplation.

The Decayed! - PDX PUNX [Grüße Aus Der Mülltonne 004]

Put on the circuit via the German underground imprint Grüße Aus Der Mülltonne in March 2019 is "PDX PUNX", the first ever eight track vinyl album release by Portland-based Punk outfit The Decayed!. Pressed as a limited vinyl edition of 115 yellow and 100 black vinyl copies and therefore a collectors item from the very start this copy was given to us in Portland directly and therefore holds some special memories - apart from its musical content. Soundwise The Decayed! are coming at us with a raw, defo UK-infused take on the Punk / SkatePunk genre with the anthemic, scream-a-long banger of a title track that is "PDX PUNX" whilst "Stop!" takes moshpits like a hurricane and even might appeal to an audience more drawn towards Metal due to its heavy riffing and elaborate guitar solos. "Days!" weighs in a more uplifting vibe with an undeniable crossover attitude towards high octane IndieRock of a British heritage, "Don't Wanna Be" brings forth thundering drums and a greyscale, no future 80s attitude whilst "Sounds Of Laughter" fuses experimental Dub FX, a lo-fi, garage'esque production value and overall teenage anger in attitude and makes no fuzz about the bands clear gravitational arch towards and original roots in PunkRock. With tunes like "No Hope Just Survival" they even take a shot at more of a melodic SurfPunk vibe despite its heavy lyrics, "Decayed" causes full on oldskool havoc on the dancefloor and "Oi! Destroy!" sets both Indie as well as Punk venues on fire in less than a minutes time. A short but intense trip this album is and defo a recommended one to get you hyped immediately.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Birdworld - After Rain

Beautiful organic melancholia. Dedicated fall music.

Sofie Winterson - Moral (Official Video)

Sometimes, it is just the right time for a simple - and simply beautiful - innocent love song.

Fly Pan Am - C'est Ca [Constellation Records 147 Promo]

Put on the circuit via Constellation Records on September 20th, 2k19 is "C'est Ca", the first album by Montreal's Avantgarde meets PostRock outfit Fly Pan Am in fifteen - 15!!! - years. A long hiatus this is but it seems the band outfit is coming back stronger than ever with this release. After a highly experimental opening with "Avant-Gardez Vous" we see the quartet taking over avantgarde dancefloors with the storming, yet dreamy and totally blurred out "Distance Dealer" before "Bleeding Decay" takes things to a similarly thrilling, even more intense and slightly Dub- / KrautDisco-infused level. The 111 seconds of "Dizzy Delusions" dabble in experimental, beatless Ambient / Indietronica fusion, "Each Ether" weighs in echoes of echoes of energetic IndieRock performed with a nebulous Shoegaze attitude before the tune holds some hell'ish suprises and "Alien Syntropy" sees Fly Pan Am explore untamed metallic percussions and an overall droning attitude, providing several layers of both beautiful as well as alarming atmospheres cut against eachother to raise and alert the listeners attention. The band's "One Hit Wonder" might surpisingly even resonate with fans of DubTechno / Intelligent Techno for a reason before triggering more hell'ish nightmares, "Discreet Channeling" could even become a minor hit on experimental underground dancefloors due to its highly seductive groove foundation and epic climax whilst "Interface Your Shattered Dreams" even brings forth a stylewise vocal hommage to deepest Wave, Alternative and PostPunk for a closing - and leaves enough space for a seductive hidden track as well. A massive return, this.

Album artwork on Instagram!

DJ Spinn - U Ain't Really Bout Dat Life

DJ Spinn returns to Hyperdub with a new EP release and pays homage to his crew and homebase with this big time anthem.

Sound Of The Mountain With Tetuzi Akiyama And Toshimaru Nakamura - Amplified Clarinet And Trumpet, Guitars, Nimb [Mystery & Wonder 008]

Put on the circuit via Mystery & Wonder on October 3rd, 2k19 is "Amplified Clarinet And Trumpet, Guitars, Nimb" - the new two track album joint venture effort created by the duo that is known as Sound Of The Mountain in conjunction with Tetuzi Akiyama and no-input mixing board specialist Toshimara Nakamura. Spread over a total of roughly 36 minutes we see the four artists provide two extended compositions which combine their individual strengths to create an experimental, slightly distorted take on what might be called off-kilter Post-PostRock intermingling with Electroacoustics of different intensity levels, partly accompanying the tender guitar play delivered in the first  part of the album, partly disturbing and disrupting the tunes flow to a great effect. Part two on the other hand starts out in a deeper, darker, more atmospheric ambience fashion somewhat reminiscent of Village Of Savoonga's legendary PostRock classic "Score" released on Hausmusik back in 1997 whilst weighing in a little more of a subdued FreeJazz attitude towards the last third of the compositions runtime which adds a dark, yet strangely dystopian liveliness and melancholia to the tunes attitude and makes it a clear favorite out of the two pieces featured on this longplayer.

Album artwork on Instagram!