Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Sascha Müller [Super Six Records Extra 014]

The ever active, breathless producer and provider of fine styles named Sascha Müller is releasing albums like others release singles, now pushing out  his fourteenth self-titled longplay ting via Super Six Records Extra which means: another 60 minutes plus runtime eleven track piece to be added to ones collection, starting out with the deep Ambient piece "Draussen Part 1" which recalls very classic memories of what ChillOut floors used to be about - a perfect intro before the hyperspeed Techno mayhem starts with "Droid Festival" which is a banging fest indeed. Later on "Exit Planet 10" is giving me the goosebumps due to four repeatedly jumping synth tones in combination with deeply organic and well-anthemic bassline swells, "Groove Machine" is taking over dancefloors with crisp, crystalline production skills, "Hang The DJ" is vibewise clearly connected to the ancient Tribal feel of Oliver Ho's legendary Meta Recordings, "Heavy Metal" is raw to the core and best played in full on concrete and steel environments, the trancey snippet "Jeder Kann Musik Machen" brings in a kinda comical, tongue-in-cheek twist after all this underground mayhem and the unmentioned tracks on this album piece are darn good, too. Get.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

And Now: Let's Get Back To The Classics!

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Some Thoughts From The Mind Of A Geezer.

"Change Of Focus" is a post written on these pages like 20 months ago - at a stage of grief, sorrow and a broken heart and no, the wounds did not heal. Time doesn't heal a thing when you've lost what's most important in your life. It never does and if someone tells a different story just call him a liar straightaway. And I'm not talking music here.

The main focus was about taking a step back from the DJ circuit for a reason explained in all detail and the main points haven't changed as far as I understood from the very few nights out I've spent in night clubs and venues since then - as a guest. The art of vinyl DJ'ing seems to be a rare and forgotten one, the mainstream in electronic music still doesn't bother me and I feel more and more annoyed by drugged out and totally wasted people. And I didn't miss being on stage that much although I had a proper fun time playing an extended eight or ten hours longset to the heart of the Liquid Sky Berlin family in July as well as having a sweet little back 2 back session with Henry at Hamburg's Westwerk just a few weeks ago that totally felt right for being a meeting of two people sharing one musical vision although we never had shared decks before. These two sets and a meeting with gigmit.com throughout this years Berlin Music Week made me think about what's the status quo in October 2013 and where baze.djunkiii is at at this point.

And more important: What does the future hold? What's the role to play and what about the tasks to handle? The position to take on in? The grumpy dinosaur reminiscing about the good old golden days? The teacher and preacher? The keeper and defender of original DJ culture? As the last mentioned option is not the worst ever and seems to suit quite well as I see it - plus: I'm a curious guy and do like their concept - I set up a baze.djunkiii microsite at gigmit.com a few weeks ago. For booking. It's easy to handle, their support is working fast and if it all works out well you might see baze.djunkiii play some selected shows again in future times. On a different level and with a different attitude. And it will not be a full on retirement from retiring.

For me music is still there although it's not the most important thing to me anymore, neither is being on stage. But from the feedbacks I got throughout the last 20 months I feel that there's one message that got through to me - for being shot at me repeatedly by different trusted folks on different occasions over and over again. Within all these years in the biz I seem to have amassed - not my words here - a nearly encylopaedic knowledge about music, it's history and the complex connections in between producers, labels and activists that needs to be shared. That's what the mentioned folks say. Not only in opening my mixes archive on mixcloud or unveiling what's in the crates but also beyond that. Combining the old and the new, building bridges between styles and eras, telling musical tales of the deepest underground has always been important in baze.djunkiii's DJ-sets from day dot but if the aforementioned shows will ever happen this it what they'll be about: spreading knowledge and musical wisdom. No matter if a tune is old or new, no matter if the crowd is young or old - timeless quality will still rule over the latest micro hype of late, breaking down things to their essential core in extended sets is the focus. The selection. The story to be told. My story. Selected places. Selected shows.

I still love to discover new things and to write about them which is pretty obvious as you're reading these pages. I love to hunt down records and still don't feel comfortable with all that digital DJ thing happening. I don't get that and probably never will. I just don't care. If it's not out on vinyl I can't be bothered. Call it oldskool, stubborn, nostalgic. You can't change a dinosaur nor his musical preferences as I'm still rating a rough, rugged and obviously hardly mastered 1988 AcidHouse tune or an unknown 1994 Jungle piece way higher than 98% of todays output although there are great tunes and records out there if you take your time to dig through quadrillions of sub-average tracks. Even listening to the tunes I've been involved in productionwise a decade ago still feels right to me as I still can recall their feeling and vibe within only a few bars. And it seems like they matter to others, too, as a limited repress of a raw and long gone bootleg from the early noughties is nearly out of print again.

Plus: I love to sell music to the likeminded. Quality [electronic] Music. No matter if it's via discogs or at the sales counter of Otaku Records. The chit chat, the transfer of knowledge, the thrill of providing rare pressings and highly limited editions to the people who know, the nice feeling of introducing unknown, new and sometimes even long lost records to new customers, to the occasional vinyl heads who came in from far away places or to those who were looking for something completely different but are totally blown away by that "...weird stuff the guy from the record store took from somewhere behind the counter". Digital stores can't provide that.

Workwise I'm still at the heart of things. A music related daytime job - 9 to 5 ain't matching our office hours though - that's all about working for highly respected labels and globally renowned artists. Freelancing for a similar setting artist- and labelwise, contributing to FAZE Magazine and some other digital blogs and publications, being the connecting link between different folks as well as being involved into promotion and strategic planning of things revolving around the Liquid Sky Berlin arts and music cosmos and - that's off music now - crafting DVD extra transcripts and subtitle translations for the occasional project popping up with a tight deadline there's still a stream of inspiring ideas, concepts and thoughts bouncing on and off me everyday on never ending digital communication stream with creative people all around the globe. That never stopped albeit there have been serious thoughts about leaving the creative field forever but it turned out once you're in it you're glued to it forever.

Not to mention first steps into the field of arts and lyricism with the release of a completely blank 7" which is nearly sold out and the first Intrauterin Recordings Art Card that has been put out in May -  both releases important as statements referring to the new and total freedom that occurred by hindsight after having reached that meta-level of seeing all activities as baze.djunkiii as a gesamtkunstwerk that does include but is by no means limited to music. Conceptual arts, writing are a part of that, too, and so there's all the stickers to be found on walls, lampposts, traffic signs and handrails all over the world spread and captured by friends & the crew.

A while ago I coined the phrase "I used to live and fight for music. But I don't do this anymore." and that's still true to up a certain point. The fighting has stopped and the hunger for being stuck in the full frontal limelight has gone. But as long as people do care about what I've got to say my voice will be out there, my thoughts will be read somewhere, reflecting on what's going on from the point of view of someone who has been around for ages. And if there are vinyl friendly clubs, venues and promoters appreciating deep musical knowledge and classic, original DJ culture coming up with reasonable offers I'm ready to accept the challenge to step up on stage again every once in a while - no matter if it's a public, corporate or art related show. Just for the reason that there's a multi-thousands collection that needs to be heard.

The implication of all that? More work. Beyond music. New projects. Things to pop up on the interwebs. Connecting people. Maybe the occasional DJ set. Pulling strings here and there. Spread the word. Teach. Support. Move forward. Earn. Invoice and cash in. For safety reasons.

But never forget that one person I still miss after all these lonely months. You know who you are.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Dr. NoiseM / eVADe feat. cR-teK - In Strange Fields: A Footage Recording 1 [Dr. NoiseM Tapes]

The next release on the mysterious imprint Dr. NoiseM Tapes is - surprisingly - not a tape but a CD featuring a 45+ minutes long package of five tracks of the most experimental, plunderphonic-related, restless and tense Uneasy Listening we've come across in a while. Metallic, distorted and strident feedback orgies meets echoing delays, cut up vocals and frolicking, ever evolving structures of unknown origin, deep abstract Electronica referring to hypertoxic alien swamps, strange backward loops and random snippets of cheap, lo-fi synthesizers and keyboard rhythm presets - an astoundingly unstructured but structured piece of ultra cacophonia for the headstrong, possibly built of layered and long time lost studio outtakes, sketches and intense febrile delerium that might be uneasy but defo not hard to take, an acoustic labyrinth beyond any musical or timebound matrix. Like to get lost? Try this for a reason.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Sticker Love & World Domination: Lyon / France

Lyon / France

Lyon / France
Representin' on the shores of France - sent in via Marla.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

We All Love The New Beat.



Don't we?

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Audio Akrobat feat. Chris T - Aus Liebe Zur Leidenschaft EP [Aarious Vaartists 002]

Nach der eher funktionalen Laufnummer 001 des Aarious Vaartists-Labels setzt der Audio Akrobat auf dem Folgerelease auf SchmuseTech der kitschigen Sorte und penetriert die Ohren des Rezensenten via „Irgendwo Im Nirgendwo“ nicht nur mit Klischeestreichern und Presetpianos der allerschlimmsten Sorte sondern wartet zur Steigerung des Grauens auch noch mit pseudomelancholischen Vocals auf, die selbst vor zwanzig Jahren auf „KuschelPop, Deutsch Vol. 23“ oder ähnlich furchtbaren Samplern nur für Füllmaterial gereicht hätten. Discogs verlautet zu diesem Release: "'Aus Liebe zur Leidenschaft EP' ist entstanden aus der Idee zweier Cousins mal musikalisch etwas zusammen zu machen.“ und die B-Seite bestätigt den Eindruck, das es besser bei der Idee geblieben wäre.
0 Points (of 10)

Here's another lost review from baze.djunkiii's archive - originally written for Germany's FAZE Magazine but unpublished for an unknown reason. Maybe some lack of space?

Friday, October 18, 2013

Sticker Love And World Domination: Berlin / Germany

Treptower Park / Berlin
Captured and sent in via Suse S Herz Tanzt. Thx !

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

BYRTA - Norðlýsið (Director: Heiðrik á Heygum)


BYRTA are serving some sweet bad ass Funk coming from the center of Iceland. Discovered this one via Bloodgroup as their head Janus is invlvd in this project as well.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Captain Capa - Foxes (Official Video)



New album to come. Via Audiolith. Me likey.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Air Liquide - Neue Frankfurter Elektronikschule



This classic, 1991-released album featuring a bunch of pretty much groundbreaking Acid-, Ambient- and Armchair Techno has recently been put up to the official Air Liquide Youtube Channel for public listening pleasure. Still good after 20+ years. Listen & love.

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

baze.djunkiii Charts 10.2013

01. Wouter De Moor - Lectures EP [Poker Flat Recordings 142 Promo]
See review for details...

02. Goldner Anker - Jetzt Ist Es Kaputt [SuperKamiokandeDetektor 006 Promo]
See review for details... 

03. Kalisha - I Got Something Here *The Remixes [Danse Club Records 007 Whitelabel Promo]
Following the stream of contemporary House releases one can easily recognize heaps of re-issues, re-releases and re-freshments meaning classic tunes being remixed for todays dancefloors. This is exactly what happens to Kalisha's 1992-released "I Got Something Here" on Danse Club Recordings that does not only hold the Original Mix put on the circuit via -N-Sync Inc. more than two decades ago but a bunch of quality reworks crafted by Lauhaus, Brodanse as well as John Jastszebski whích are all transferring the positive uplifting vibe to the dancefloors of today. Nice one.

04. Binny - Release / The Journey [Flatlife Deep 002 Testpress]
This one is one of only twenty test press copies worldwide that have been manufactured to promote Binny's forthcoming release on Flatlife Deep that is going to take the worlds dancefloors by storm, not only due to the massive TechTrance rework of "Release" crafted by the one and only Oliver Lieb that kickstarts this 12", catering all ravers and fans of Oliver Liebs early works on labels like Superstition Records right without being retro at all whilst the original version turns out to be a thrilling variation of Detroit-infused TechnoJazz filled with abstract synth workouts on top of abstract BrokenTechno beats. On the flip we'll find "The Journey", an essential blueprint of deep string-based Motor City-melancholia which is finally remixed by Tim Gaal who comes up with an even deeper variation of this tune which is focusing on its housier aspects and even brings in some uplifting piano lines. Nice one.

05. Brinkmann - Guy Martin EP [Third Ear Promo]
Thomas Brinkmann a.k.a. Brinkmann - former head of Max.Ernst and provider of several legendary Studio releases - comes up with quite experimental but still great servings in Abstract Techno here. Whilst the A-side tune "TT" caters a mixture of deep hypnotic sounds and sweet TechnoJazz we see "On Edge" referring to Rock and Metal in Techno with heavily distorted basslines that sound like power chords. Finally "Blackhill" takes things further down the abstract alley with a deep and slightly melancholia infused BrokenBeat vs. FutureJazz hybrid perfectly emulating the vibes spread by the first three "Future Sound Of Jazz" compilations or the legendary Vienna-based Showroom Recordings.

06. Philippe Petit - Scrape EP [Decision Making Theory 002 Promo]
Techno purism at its best - this is what all three tracks featured on this stamped, smoke-marbled white label provide. Stripped down to what's the very essence of Techno without being minimal it's especially the two-tone sequence of the title track on top of acidic midrange modulations that turns out to be a massive force on the dancefloor. Same goes for both tracks on the flip with "Meltdown" being on a more uplifting tip, using echoing stabs and a sweet little hook with a slightly trancing twist whilst "Flotation" is referring to a psyched out, tense and skeletal variation of Detroit Techno. Nice.

07. [Unknw. Soldier 001 Promo]
Stamped whitelabel business without any information producer or track names given. This is what the core of Techno is about and so are the two tracks featured on this 12" piece which are very basic and stripped down, marching straight forward with only a few, very small changes adding up to what might be named as micro build-ups and without a single break that gives punters room to breathe on the dancefloor. If anyone talks about Techno as dark'ish, mechanical, uber-functional music this one proves him right. This one takes no prisoners. This one kills.

08. Adam Port & Here Is Why - Our Fate [Keinemusik 018]
This one has been sitting in my box for quite a while now and is a sweet, ultra seductive hybrid of House, Wave-flavored vocals and PostPunk'ish kickass basslines that will appeal to fans of KrautDisco provided by the likes of Padded Cell as well as to lovers of acts like Prinzhorn Dance School or Rangleklods, whilst the remixes provide either ethereal, laid back deepness or pumping, slightly discoid House with a raw and unprocessed dancefloor approch. Killer weapon.

09. Exchange EP [MINUSMIN 009 Whitelabel Promo]
This whitelabel is served by the producer triplet of Jorge Ciccioli, Nsound and Justin James although it's not quite clear whether each one of them is responsible for a single track on this three track 12" EP or if they joined forces in the studio. But matter what or how, what's to be found on this one is stripped down Minimal Techno that's focusing on the very essence of this genre and is not afraid of gaps between single sounds instead of filling these with layers of white noise or other audible bric-a-brac. Which is good.

10. Falling - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Shhhh Records]
See review for details...

Monday, October 07, 2013

Acidfloor - 808 Acid Vol. 3 [Psychocandies 019]

Scheduled for release in November 2013 via Psychocandies is Acidfloor's new album "808 Acid Vol. 3" which takes the hearts of gear junkies by storm with its conceptual approach to emphasize on the drum sounds of this legendary hardware piece online. Starting things with the nice Breakbeat / AcidTrance fusion "808 016a" and floating through more trancey realms as the album progresses without leaving the magic of raw, unprocessed Acid bangers aside as well as presenting a lot of  mostly positively bubbling modulations here. One track that surely sticks out for running on hyperspeed is "2012 008" and so does the follow up named "2012 009" which both are easily breaking the 145bpm barrier whilst working hard on the disintegration of braincells and badgering sweat-covered punters bodies on the dancefloor of your favorite run-down basement party. Underground business for those who know.  

Friday, October 04, 2013

CyberCHUMP - Flutter And Flow [Internal Combustion]



News have it that the US-american band outfit CyberCHUMP has released a new album a few months ago on which they keep exploring the realms of Deep Listening Music and Ambient, following their very own path of experimentation and - most importantly - keep always keen and hungry in terms of musical progress. This means, referring to their latest longplay work named "Flutter And Flow", that they're fusing Electronica and Ambient spheres referring to space as what might be named as overall audio topic not only due to the album cover artwork with some Dub-references and the use of trippy, psychedelic Kraut- and ArtRock guitars, creating a calm but still thrilling sound architecture that even turns into a feverish Glambient vision with the use of ancient drum rhythms in "Neon" and trips out advanced dancefloors with the all embracing AmbientDub waves of "China Dreaming". Recommended. 

Thursday, October 03, 2013

Ten Years From Now: Still Doin' Our Thing #3 [Audiolith Promo]

It's hard to believe that Audiolith Records has already reached its two digit mark in terms of birthdays - a label that we've been following & supporting not from day dot but the very beginning, we've been working with and freelanced for throughout the years, we set up shows together - remember "Plutonium Pogo" -, met a shitload of their artists, toured with some and hung out with a bunch of nice people associated to their crew for a reason. We've seen the label grow and evolve from its ElectroPunk rootage into a multiple style business covering a quality sound range from Indie and proper Punk to Deep- & RomanticHouse, politically focussed HipHop, sweetest Italo-influenced HiNRG-Pop - see the beloved Ira Atari for this one -, even Drum'n'Bass and, still, ElectroPunk, all served and deeply felt from the heart by the labels crew and especially by its leading figure and mastermind Lars Lewerenz who is known for his straightforward, independent and uncompromised attitude. Celebrating its 10th birthday the label recently released its first gatefold 2LP compilation named "Ten Years From Now: Still Doin' Our Thing #3" which features not only 15 great songs by artists like Egotronic, Frittenbude, Supershirt, Captain Gips, Feine Sahne Fischfilet, Bondage Fairies, Joney or Bratze to name a few but also includes the fourth part of the allover appreciated "Stiff Little Spinners"-series, focusing on the clubbier side of the labels spectrum represented by huge tunes from the studios of Krink, Kalipo, Gimmix, Rampue und Torsun Teichgräber. Never before these two sides of the labels sound spectrum have been showcased that explicitly on one release which also goes for the 2CD version of "Ten Years From Now: Still Doin' Our Thing #3" including a full on "Stiff Little Spinners" bonus mix crafted by Jakob Häglsperger under his analogue camouflage moniker Kalipo. This one's massive for sure and jam packed with musical greatness. Happy birthday, folks! And keep doin' your thing...

Wednesday, October 02, 2013

Sticker Love & World Domination: Miami Playa / Spain

Miami Playa  / Spain

Miami Playa / Spain
Representing all over the place - these shots were flyin' in via Marla.