Listen Again: DJ Blazik & baze.djunkiii Mix Session on Rave FM [304] (15.10.2k21)

Robert Takahashi Crouch - Jubilee [Room40]

Scheduled for release on October 15th, 2k21 via Australia's Room40 label is "Jubilee", the new album produced and conceived by Los Angeles-based artist Robert Takahashi Crouch who caters a menu of three extended Drone works on this 38 minutes spanning longplay piece. Influenced by and paying homage to significant events in Crouch's personal life and therefore of very personal intimate nature as well as - not only titlewise - dealing with the concept of judeo-christian "Jubilee" being a tradition of forgiveness the album starts on an intense, monumental and somewhat even klaxon'esque tip when it comes to "A Ritual" which, due to its brooding and even slightly omninous nature, could probably even announce heavenly judgement and cleansing to come whereas "I've Been Part Of Evil Doing" presents more of a calm and glacial, almost ethereal take on stripped down Ambient minimalism for inward-looking self-reflection whereas the concluding "Reconciliation" provides inner peace indeed, weighing in the most melodic and classic angle on Ambient music on this album which will likely be appreciated by those following artists like Cass. and the likes of which are known and loved for their soothing, ever meandering streams of sonic goodness by many genre aficionados these days.

Alberto Braida, Silvia Bolognesi & Cristiano Calcagnile - Cats In The Kitchen [We Insist! Records]

Released via We Insist! Records on October 15th, 2k21 is "Cats In The Kitchen", the newest, eight tracks and approx. 41 minutes spanning album conceived by Italian composer and piano player Alberto Braida which was realized and recorded with the help of Silvia Bolognesi on double bass and Cristiano Calcagnile on drums and percussion. Inspired and influenced by a drawing created by his, then way younger, daughter Maddalena the sound and atmosphere of this longplay piece gravitates towards an easy, friendly and playful, probably even classy BarJazz-leaning vibe at first glance, presenting an especially swinging nature in cuts like "La Giostra / Cane E Gatto", yet at further investigation turns out to be more complex and multilayered than it seems, oftentimes providing a copius dialogue between the individual players and their musical approach, resulting in an overall body of work which is both soothing and pleasant to the ear whilst providing an underlying layer of intricacy, skill and sonic richness for the musically trained Jazz connaisseur. If one of these qualities is speaking to you, go and check this one out.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Giacomo Zanus - Kora [Aut Records 073]

Released via Italian avantgarde imprint Aut Records on June 28th, 2k21 is Giacomo Zanus' "Kora", the latest and somewhat self-titled album created by the quartet of the same name - comprised of Giorgio Pacorig, Mattia Magatelli and Marco D'Orlando working alongside the groups leader and visionary whose main approach lies in the fusion of composition and free improvisation and the creation of a somewhat dreamy amalgamation of both electronic soundscapes and proper irl instruments. This said, the nine tracks on this 55 spanning album provide an overall twangy and laid back, well comforting and Easy Listening-leaning experience, oozing an atmosphere of warmth and relaxation from the very first moments of the opening cut "Every Little Gift Has A Little Secret" onwards, followed by tender, loving, somewhat folksy and most beautiful piano lines in "Something Lost, Something Gained" which find their even more romantic and intimate, later freefloating, jazzed out and improvised continuation in "Let Kindness Lift Your Soul". With "Charmolypi / Mystikos" the Kora quartet enters a sonic realm as innocent, joyful and pure as early flower power x hippie culture before being taken over by shrieking digital feedback noise throughout the tunes very last seconds, "Prayer" takes on a nightly, stripped down and minimalistic path in Contemporary Jazz for the lack of a better description, followed on a similar, yet more jazzy and shimmering note by the short interlude that is "And Then We Looked Up To The Stars". Furthermore "The Dream Not Yet Dreamed" takes minimalism in Jazz to a new level with its tenderly plucked bass notes and dubbed out, psychedelia-infused instrumental layers slowly turning into a scenic, panorama-sized variation of Americana vibewise, "E Tu, Cosa Cherchi?" comes at us with a classic Viennese Future Jazz vibe (remember Cheap Records, anyone?) and the final "Postludium" introduces some sort of Ambient-leaning, well maritime melancholia for a closing. Beautifully intimate music to be shared with a good friend - or a deeply loved one.

Album artwork on Instagram!

15.10.2k21 baze.djunkiii presents Data Exile: Late Night Session @ Rave FM 98.5 / Krakow, Poland

decks: baze.djunkiii [Intrauterin Recordings]

file under: TechHouse / Minimal Techno / Acid / Electro / ElectroClash

Back once again on the Polish pirate radio circuit baze.djunkiii contributes another fresh vinyl mix to the famed 'Mix Session' show hosted by DJ Blazik broadcasted on Rave FM 98.5 this Friday. Cut and blended for underground dancefloors and living room / kitchen raves the long standing Hamburg-based DJ selects a plethora of personal TechHouse favorites produced over the course of the past two+ decades, throws a few contemporary Intelligent Techno cuts into the mix, weighs in some jacking, acidic ingredients all along and rounds things off with a bit of deep, spaced out Electro alongside more heavy, ElectroClash-leaning goodness for those who know. Enjoy the ride!

transmission start: 2200 Krakow time

short term schedule will be posted at the stations facebook page!

Get locked to Rave FM 98.5 on your FM dial locally in Krakow / Poland!

Also tune in via 99.5FM in the Polish city of Bydgoszcz as well as via 108.0FM in Bielsko Biala.

Listen Again: baze.djunkiii presents Isolationism Volume 1 @ Radio Flouka / Paris (07.10.2021)

Radio Flouka راديو فلوكة · baze.djunkiii presents Isolationism Volume 1 - 07/10/2021

Michel Redolfi - Sonic Waters: Underwater Music 1979 - 1987 [Sub Rosa 483]

Recently released via the longtime standing experimental electronic staple Sub Rosa as an addition to their 'Early Electronics' series is "Sonic Waters: Underwater Music 1979 - 1987", a ten tracks and approx. 52 minutes spanning compilation album dedicated to the works of composer Michel Redolfi, conceptual inventor and mastermind behind the idea of underwater concerts performed in both large scale pools as well as in natural environments like the Pacific Ocean and other inundated places. With water and the ocean in mind as a source of inspiration and basic fundamental carrier of sound waves it is no surprise that all of Redolfi's compositions provide a certain floating quality, an ebb-and-flow of dreamlike melodic movements meandering in between Synth, Cosmic and ProtoAmbient realms mostly based on soft, slightly psychedelic pads and string arrangements accompanied by enchanted flute lines, tender harp tones as well as retrofuturist synthesizer bleeps, scintillating cascades of sound and - most prevalent in "Nocturnal" as well as in the brooding, spine-tingling piece that is "Fractions (La Nouvelle Atlantide)" - a few deeper, darker and solemn moments in between. Even without factoring in the conceptual approach of these pieces being composed specifically for an underwater performance context "Sonic Waters" provides an exciting journey for fans of all things ProtoAmbient, Cosmic and Balearic for a reason, especially for the chiming, crystalline and time-defying charm of "Carillon", the fragile, light-hearted and yet somewhat crackly aesthetics of "La Jolia Cove *Live Recording" and the haunted, dreamlike atmospheres to be found in the 12 minutes closing piece "Sunny Afternoon At Bird Rock Beach".

Album artwork on Instagram!

Nils Økland - Glødetradar [Hubro Music]

Put on the circuit via Norway's ever active Hubro Music label on October 10th, 2k21 is "Glødetradar", the latest album outing by dedicated hardanger fiddle player and composer Nils Økland. Commissioned for the Vossajazz 2016 festival and realized with the help of a plethora of renowned contributors the eight tracks and roughly 39 minutes spanning album sees Økland focusing on hardanger fiddle and the rare viola d'amore with these instruments embedded in a scenic, oftentimes longing and emotionally touching setting that reflects both the classic beauty and simplicity of rural, ancient Norwegian Folk music as well as a deep knowledge and understanding of minimalistic, yet contemporary Jazz - especially and best reflected in the stripped down bass sequences featured in the calm, melancholia-inducing meanderings of "Rull" which slowly bends and moves like a large river as well as in the dramatic melodic climax to be found in "Glør"- whilst elements of (Neo)Classical / Contemporary Classical music as well as scenic Chamber Music might be more prevalent in the most beautiful sonic stream of "Linja" as well as in "Vala", the most tender and pure piece on this well deep and autumnal album that is best consumed in silence in an intimate, candle-lit setting with a loved one by one's side just to name a few. Check.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Lopez Trio - Live At Roulette [Relative Pitch Records]

Released via Relative Pitch Records on August 27th, 2k21 is "Live At Roulette", the new, roughly 51 minutes spanning album by the FreeJazz- / Free Improv-leaning three piece outfit that is the Brandon Lopez led Lopez Trio which is accompanied by guest performances of Cecilia Lopez. Recorded live at Brooklyn's Roulette Intermedium venue the longplay outing comes at us with titles like "March, Motherfuck", "Dance, Motherfuck" or the great interplay of words that is "My Heart Is In The US Fall Apart" which already speak volumes of the innate, yet well suppressed anger to be expected in the music presented even before one might have listened to the very first seconds of the album. And there it is, starting out with thundering drums and shrieking, off kilter and somewhat Delta-leaning sax lines of a certain melancholia before moving forward into stripped down, muffled and fever'ish rhythmic territories or more plangent Delta Blues-references whilst bits like "Time Is Up Or Lite Jazz Patina" are weighing in a more nightly, inward-looking take on Jazz / Future Jazz abstractions, "Born Slumming It" turns out to be dense, hell'ish and highly intense doomed Jazz without being DoomJazz at all whereas the concluding cut "Motherfuck, I Said Dance" rolls out an intricate structure of corresponding rolls and polyrhythms for a closing which, in their ever growing intensity, could be the soundtrack for some dark rituals. Quite an intense album to review at 1030 am in the morning after a night out.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Toshimaru Nakamura - Culvert: No-Input Mixing Board 10 [Room40]

Scheduled for release via the Australian Ambient staple that is Room40 on October 8th, 2k21 is "Culvert: No-Input Mixing Board 10", the next iteration in Toshimaru Nakamura's ongoing exploration of the sonic capacities inherent to a console mixing board used and abused solely on its own, disconnected from any additonal instrument or its original purpose. The result of the tenth take on this ongoing approach are a total of eight brand new cuts on this album which are stretched out over approximately 42 minutes in total, coming in from a surprisingly rhythmic and, though repetetive, non-minimalist angle in which heavy sequences of grinding, pulsating Rhythm Industrial resembling structures provide a sense of heavy machinery and its innate physicality manifesting in mechanical movements whereas other pieces could be filed under the flag of ever meandering Clicks'n'Cuts related polyrhythms, weigh in longing, crackling, isolationist and well futuristic Dark Ambient / IDM crossover sequences or even emulate dry, slow motion Industrial Techno for fans of early - a.k.a. 1999/2000 - works by Fred Bigot who later became well known under the name of Electronicat. Good stuff, this. Check.

baze.djunkiii Chart Haul 10/2k21

Ka Baird & Pekka Airaksinen - Hungry Shells [RVNG Intl. / FRKWYS 017 Promo]

Scheduled for release via RVNG Intl. sister label FRKWYS on October 22th, 2k21 is "Hungry Shells", the most recent in a series of what is referred to in the accompanying press release as intergenerational collaborations put out and initiated through the ever busy imprint. With the most recent outing bringing together NYC-based vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ka Baird and now passed Finnish avantgarde composer Pekka Airaksinen who's played a role in the art and music scene from the late 60s onwards "Hungry Shells" presents a seven track and and 38 minutes lasting journey into a sonic realm shaped and informed by Pekka's love and interest for buddhism, even using certain spiritual texts and lectures as a lyrical foundation for the works presented on this album whilst musically venturing off into ethereal, dreamlike and psychoactive Spoken Word realms, psychedelic loop collages infused with elements of theatre, opera, avantgarde, dada and heavy 808 kicks whereas other pieces like "Parallax" offer multilayered rhythmic structures far exceeding genres like Ambient, IDM or Electronica, bring on highly unsettling, fright-inducing and probably reversed atmospheres ("Grey Body" / "Roseclouds") before the concluding title track "Hungry Shells" provides a spine-tingling sense of fever'ish minimalism that would've sat well with any haunted black and white b- or c-movie horror flic out there for a closing. Highly recommended.

07.10.2021 baze.djunkiii presents Isolationism Volume 1 @ Radio Flouka / Paris (2300 GMT+1)

Isolationism. The absence of company. Either self-imposed or driven by societal pressures, enforced lockdown situations, the new normal, whatever. Hamburg-based Radio Flouka resident baze.djunkiii once again is digging deep into his crates to provide a soundtrack for these trouble times, cold, distorted, icey and in parts minimalist, a trip into a dystopian past, presence and future that might trigger a sense of claustrophic anxiety not only within the weak-heartened among us.

decks: baze.djunkiii [Intrauterin Recordings]

file under: Dark Ambient / Isolationist Ambient / Deep Listening Music / Techno / Illbient

transmission time: 23oo - 00oo GMT+1

get locked via Radio Flouka
Paris

Dave Quam - Duplex Device

Dave Quam · Duplex Device

Hard hitting Chicago Basement sound that's 100% not from Chicago but a massive bang0r anyway.

Paroxysm - Tendencies / Basalt [self-released Promo]

Coming in via mail recently is "Tendencies / Basalt", the new album release crafted and conceived by Paroxysm which is the musical nom de guerre employed by Werner Dafeldecker and Roy Carroll for their combined sonic ventures. Self-released and put on the circuit on August 21st, 2k21 we the roughy 51 minutes spanning album is split into two extended tracks, both comprised of a combination of electroacoustic media and double bass, with the opening cut that is "Tendencies" exploring a cold, futuristic and somewhat metallic realm structured by compressed, reverberating and or spooky, hollow thuds of not necessarily rhythmic origin as well as minimalist atmospheres and sparse, haunting, desolate string pluckings to create a feel of most isolationism and all covering eternal darkness whereas the subsequent second cut that is "Basalt" provides a warmer, more nightly and comforting take on electroacoustic Ambient darkness, catering an array of longing, streteched out, inward-looking and melancholia-inducing tones sequentially evolving into intense, agitated and somewhat klaxon'esque movements before falling back to its original form, meandering between various scenic iterations and therefore providing an essential, highly recommended example of why the approach of electroacoustic composition never lost its fascination since this specific angle on sonic creation was first explored many many decades ago. Get.

Thomas Köner - Aubrite [Mille Plateaux]

And here we go with another re-issued classic on the freshly revived Mille Plateaux-labels which recently rereleased Thomas Köner's "Aubrite" which originally saw the light of day on the Dutch label Barooni back in 1995. What used to be a five track longplay piece a good 26 years ago is now expanded by two additional versions, covering a playtime of roughly 64 minutes, opening with the trembling low frequency minimalism of "Nuuk" which exists on the brink between audibility and pure physical experience depending on the PA system it's performed on and so does the subsequent, warm and all embracing sub Drone / Minimal Ambient effort that is the title bearing track "Aubrite" which slowly develops into one of Köner's trademark glacial sound sculptures whereas "Grohuk (Day)" perfectly depicts the solemn uniformity of arctic whites which has been a major influence on the artists overall work in this field and "Takla-Makan" present a sequence of growling, earth shaking low frequency pulses alongside ghostly, minimalist Cold Ambient atmospheres. Furthermore "Grohuk (Night)" seem to be even more solemn and ceremonial than its daylight variant, the additional "Nuuk *Version" provides more calm and comforting low end darkness before "Grohuk" waves goodbye in a well scenic, beauteous and almost cinematic Ambient. Deep Listening Music for late night meditations. Get.

On Bandcamp Preorder Now: NO MORE - Suicide Commando [El Caballo Semental 002]

Maybe you've heard the rumours. Maybe you've seen it on presale elsewhere. The truth is: the Intrauterin Recordings sister label El Caballo Semental is about to re-issue the legendary 1981-released single "Suicide Commando" by our Kiel-based friends of NO MORE this fall which will not only be remastered but also available on 7" for the first time since its initial release four decades ago. Starting with a limited first pressing run of 400 copies on black vinyl - targeted for estimated release on November 5th, 2k21 - only 72 copies will be available on the labels Bandcamp page and if we're not running out of copies prematurely Bandcamp orders will be closed on November 7th, 2k21 before we'll be shipping remaining stock to our distributor. You've heard it now. Officially.

baze.djunkiii Charts 10/2k21

01. Julian Sartorius - Locked Grooves [-ous 035]
See review for details...

02. Dark Star Safari - Walk Through Lightly [Arjunamusic Test Pressing]
See review for details...

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Anastasios Savvopoulos / Azure - Convex Mirrors [Aut Records 074]

Released via the ever active Italian staple that is Aut Records as the labels cat.no. 074 on September 13th, 2k21 is "Convex Mrrrors", the first ever album by the Anastasios Savvopoulos-led quartet that is Azure. Informed and influenced by the compositional ideas and formal approach of both cubism and futurism in art the group forges a total of five compositions over the course of approx. 39 minutes on this longplayer, creating a fascinatingly retrofuturist combination of laid back Jazz and what seem to be electronically implemented glitch techniques which are only appearing in the opening sequence of the otherwise smooth and slick title track and its extended meanderings whereas "Debonair" keeps things classy, yet shifts gears towards a more lively and dramatic Jazz approach driven by an intense melodic interaction of mostly piano and saxophone before a slightly twangy and somewhat psychedelic take on guitar performance takes over in the tunes second half. The subsequent "Epicycles" sees the ensemble Azure on a journey into tenderness and quasi-romanticism for lovers with an acquired and exquisite musical taste, "False Mirrors" - again, mirrors! - provides nothing but good vibes based on a complex syncopated rhythmical swing accompanied by bright shimmering melodic variations and occasional off kilter excursions and the concluding "Paroxysm" closes the cycle on a smokey, laid back vibe evoking memories of the patina covering your favorite underground cocktail spot which has been there for decades, even before you moved into town. One not to be missed for true Jazz aficionados.

Genevieve Murphy - I Don't Want To Be An Individual All On My Own [Gaudeamus / Unsounds]

Fresh on the circuit as a conjunctional release brought to life by the two labels Gaudeamus and Unsounds as the third volume of their 'Sounds Of The Young Avant-Garde'-series is Genevieve Murphy's "I Don't Want To Be An Individual All On My Own", an 18 tracks and 56 minutes spanning album effort accompanied by a booklet painting the picture and narrative of an ambitioned mother / daughter birthday going all the way down the drain, escalating to the worst ever outcome possible. This said, the entire story opens with the captivating, super uplifting IDM / Techno Rave crossover "About To Turn 8" which is about to set festival dancefloors on fire within seconds before a mixture of avantgarde audioplay, story telling and Spoken Word performance rolls out which is interrupted by the dreamy, ethereal and Chromatics-reminiscent "Your Feeling" whereas other interludes like "Like Smoke *Live" enrich the story with a deep, tender mixture of IndieFolk and Björk'esque elements, "Living Emotions *Live" weighs in a dark, edgy, NoWave-loaden Spoken Word feel or bring on a naturalistic, folksy feel like "For Them To Fear Us *Live". Defo a deep and braincell tingling listening experience which requires multiple focused sessions to embrace all things happening from each and every angle presented. Recommended.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Tülay German / Francois Rabbath [Zehra 003 Promo]

Put on the circuit via Zehra as the labels cat.no. 003 on September 10th, 2k21 is "Tülay German / Francois Rabbath", a re-issue album of the 1980-released self-titled debut album which is considered to be a major essential in the catalogue of Turkish folk singer Tülay German who's accompanied by Francois Rabbath on saz and double bass for her interpretations of Turkish Folk songs which are stretching over the course of 13 titles and a total of 38 minutes playtime. With a turbulent journey throughout her lifetime which, amongst other major milestones, includes emigration from her homeland due to political pressure, quitting a major deal with Philips France as well major prestigious awards Tülay German interprets traditional songs as well as poems written by Nazim Hikmet and others to create a powerful, touching and spine-tingling acoustic narrative which, without actually understanding the language, is telling tales of a simpler, yet harder, down-to-earth life, of love and emotions, native homelands, small villages and great romance - and whatever ingredients true classic Folk song narratives might need, focusing on German's touching vocals whilst Rabbath's take on instrumentation provides a sparse, yet thought out background setting put far back in the mix to let Tülay German's vocals shine all the way through. Defo a great introduction to the seemingly rich tradition of Turkish Folk music and traditional Singer/Songwriter sound.

Motorbass - Pansoul *25th Anniversary Edition [Ed Banger Test Press]

Another classic album, another milestone anniversary. Has it really been 25 years since the French House filter craze took over the world? And how did all these years pass so quickly, especially for those being invlvd in the electronic music scene? The first and foremost indication is the upcoming re-issue of "Pansoul", the 1996-released debut album of Etienne De Crecy and Philippe Zdar's Motorbass project which is about to hit record stores once again on October 15th, 2k21 as a limited, remastered 2LP album edition. Limited to a total of 1000 copies of which only 700 are for sale and with no digital release this re-issue will provide a major throwback for advanced connaisseurs of the so-called French Touch, bringing back the vibe of the one seminal album that took dancefloors by storm with its combination of House Music and ever moving, ecstatic filter techniques garnished with elements of TripHop and DopeBeats, spaced out synth bleeps and ethereal atmospheres, morphing Disco licks, mad scratches, bits of Beatdown and a warm, innate dancefloor functionality which played a big part in popularizing French House in the first place, especially when seen in contrast to the banging uptempo Techno and Rave sound at the time of the genres initial rise. A piece of history, this.

Erin Rogers - 2000 Miles [Relative Pitch Records]

Another most recent album put out on the circuit via Relative Pitch Records is "2000 Miles", the second full length longplay effort created by New York City-based saxophone player Erin Rogers who's presenting a total of six, up to 18 minutes spanning compositions on this album. With all pieces recorded at the basement of her childhood home near Blackfoot, Alberta in Canada throughout a mandatory quarantine period "2000 Miles" does feel both very intimate and close up as well as very direct and in-your-face, especially when it comes to shrieking, haunting and intensely insistent pieces like "North Star" in which one is confronted with a striking feel of anger and frustration whereas the subsequent "Angelface" focuses on a microtonal, almost electro-acoustic approach to close-up microphony whilst "Township Road 494" is on a tender, almost tentative tip whilst exploring the blurred borders between Minimal Jazz and Contemporay Classical / Modern Classical music. Furthermore we see "Home II" following a meandering, hypnotic and somewhat fever'ish path, pairing a winding low range sax line with lo-fi, probably hand-tapped rhythm signatures working its way towards a dramatic climax and the closing, 18 minutes spanning ode to the "New Moon" brings forth a haunted and eerie tonal sequence which might've well accompanied a witches work throughout a misty night out in a thick forest of yore. Check.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Porter Ricks - Porter Ricks [Mille Plateaux]

The next monumental reissue to see the light of day via the seminal German imprint Mille Pleateaux is "Porter Ricks", the self-titled, originally 1997-released debut artist album by Porter Ricks, the collaborational alias employed by Thomas Köner and Andy Mellwig. Remastered and with a slightly altered tracklist in comparison to the original we see the duo enter a sharper, funkier and partly more uptempo realm of sonic minimalism on this one, providing a highly functional fusion of hypnotic, conceptually pure Minimal Techno and ever present echoes of DubTechno which bring on spiralling moments of dancefloor pleasure in pieces like "Redundance 1" or "Redundance 3" which are making use of raw, ever progressing vintage monosynth modulations whereas "Redundance *Version" slowly grinds away on one's braincells beatlessly and "Redundance 5" provides a well seductive, tripping and swinging DubTechno approach for late night closings or after-afterhours which might be one of the most essential and innovative tunes on this 74+ minutes spanning album. Furthermore "Redundance 6" explores icey, crisp Dub variations atop a slow motion background drum foundation for a listening audience, "Scuba Lounge" enters slow moving, subaquatic Ambient Dub realms, "Spoiled" subsequently introduces a cold and brooding variation of DubTechno infused by filter techniques usually employed in genres like stripped down DiscoHouse, Wildpitch or later: FiterHouse x FrenchTouch whereas "Spoil" pays homage to dry, minimalist, track-focused House cuts to be found on labels like Radikal Fear or Relief Records throughout the first half of the 90s. The "Decay Chart" fuses reduced Cold Ambient atmospheres with a slow, heartbeat-resembling pulse, "Explore" surprisingly explores more of an experimental, yet well Phonk-infused TripHop / Dope Beat vibe for a change and the now final cut "Exposed" rounds thing off with a bit of guitar-feedback driven Drum'n'Bass / Drill'n'Bass madness for a closing. Essential.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Brendan Faegre - Broken Mirrors [Arteksounds 007]

Scheduled for release via Arteksounds on October 8th, 2k21 is "Broken Mirrors", the new and forthcoming four part debut EP release crafted by composer Brendan Faegre. With all cuts subsequently named "Broken Mirrors - Part I-IV" and based on a foundation of drums and synths, a monosynth to be more accurate, Mr. Faegre embarks on a journey into territories of tense, brooding and well claustrophobic minimalism, a well thought out, masterfully arranged interplay between raw vintage electronic sounds and distinct, ever evolving rhythmic patterns somehow evoking memories of Mick Harris' solo project named Quoit, drummer Leon Lamont as well as the dark, monolithic and bass-heavy sonic sculptures created by Scorn and likeminded artists, drawing and dragging one's mind towards a pitch black singularity, a void or a gargantuan subsurface vault in which entities dwell whose origin lies way beyond the very beginning of time. Therefore recommended.

25./26.09.2021 The Dark Outside @ Murray's Monument / Newton Stewart, Scotland

So it is happening. The Dark Outside is back. Live and direct, and as usual with a very limited fm broadcast range so ppl are actually required to go outside, in the dark, with some sort of an fm receiver to experience the whole thing in all its innate glory - and listen to 24 hours of previously unreleased music which probably will never, except for this special occasion, be heard by anyone else let alone even be released on a physical sound carrier. And somewhere amongst all these tracks sits "Metaphysics Of Noise", produced by your truly baze.djunkiii a while ago, still unsigned and unreleased and therefore one of the hidden gems not to be missed throughout all of this goodness.

Trondheim Jazz Orchestra & Ole Morten Vagan - Plastic Wave [Odin Records]

Put on the circuit via the ever active Odin Records label on August 13th, 2k21 is "Plastic Wave", the second dedicated full length cooperation between the highly praised band outfit known as the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra and famed Norwegian bass player Ole Morten Vagan. Rolled out over the course of ten compositions within 84 minutes and therefore spread out over two CD's "Plastic Wave" presents an astoundingly large scale, cinematic take on what could be well described as Vintage Broadway Jazz infused with loads of drama, inevitable Swing and bits of candy-coated kitsch especially prevalent in the roughly 12 minutes spanning title track whereas compositions like the complex, grooving and aptly named dancefloor smash "AfterMath Rock" weigh in more of an high end drama approach and the "Food Chain Reaction" even throws Spoken Word into the mix and "Eldhinger" dives head over heels into free floating improvisational territories for a closing ust to name a few. One for the dedicated contemporary Jazz aficionado, this.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Cahill // Costello - Offworld [Gearbox Records Promo]

Put out on the circuit via 2009-launched imprint Gearbox Records on September 10th, 2k21 is "Offworld", the nine tracks and 46 minutes spanning album debut created by Glasgow's Ambient-leaning duo that is Cahill // Costello, comprised of guitar-player Kevin Daniel Kahill and drummer Graham Costello. Together, the duo sets out to explore a fully analogue approach within their compositional process with cuts like the opening tune "The Visitant" evoking memories of German composer - and Youtube-star in the making - Hainbach due to its extensive use of washed out, slowly decaying tape loops whereas pieces like the subsequent "Pavane I" touches base with twangy, slightly dramatic Desert PostRock minimalisms whilst "Pavane II" takes on a deeper, calmer and nightlier take on the sonic theme presented. Furthermore "We Rebuild Them" brings forth icey, solemn pulses probably derived from manipulated and x or heavily processed church bells, the title cut that is "Offworld" pays homage to Jamaican Dub riddim techniques in a dreamy, floating and overall comforting PostRock context whereas "And It Was Not Meant That We Should Voyage Far" finally brings forth a heavy, rhythmically meandering Rock drum atittude for at least 90 seconds total. The double follow up "Pylons I" / "Pylons II" takes us into a land of naturalistic mysticism working towards a feverish climax and therefore, especially talking "Pylon I" here, might be our favorite pair of tracks on this longplayer before the concluding "Avhin Saue" waves goodbye on a peaceful note for a washed out, quite summer infused closing.

Mona Mur - Mona Mur [Play Loud! Productions]

Put on the circuit via Play Loud! Productions on September 3rd, 2k21 is Mona Mur's "Mona Mur", an extended and remastered reissue of the famed singers 1988 album debut with a rearranged playlist, added extended versions as well as all tracks featured on her 1982 EP firstling "Jeszcze Polska" - including the intense, brooding classic "My Lie" and "Ein Bisschen Frieden", a haunting, striking soundtrack for dystopian, post-industrial Mad Max scenarios. And well, there she is in all her dark glory. Crooning and seductive, influenced by SynthPop and love as well the unique, timeless and hypnotic experimental electronic soundscapes built and crafted in the studio like dreamy pastiche collages by Yello's Dieter Meier at the controls who's especially sonically present in velvet late night cuts like "Jealous" or the colder, yet similarly themed "Auf Immer" whilst "Surabaya Johnny" sounds like a bitter crossbreed of Industrial music and Hildegard Knef, "My Man" goes for a true Broadway show vibe and so goes the even more dramatic widescreen cut aptly named "007" which brilliantly stood the test of time, similar to the updated follow up that is "Venus 2020", the hard hitting Industrial Punk of "Jeszcze Polska" and many other songs on this highly recommended album. Timeless beauty.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Machinedrum - Stairzzzzzz

Machinedrum · Machinedrum - Stairzzzzzz

Machinedrum pairs polished chrome hyperdrive IDM with excellent Jungle / Drill'n'Bass references in this one. We call this an anthem.