Keytars & Violins

Peur Bleue Night

2012-05-30T21:33:00.002+01:00

A heads up that on Saturday 9th June i'll be down in London at The Horse & Groom playing some tracks at the behest of Gohan and his atemporal Peur Bleue blog/clubnight. Alongside us will be Alex McKeown and Kolour. Expect some great music and plenty of drinking.

Onto a mini playlist. The inimitable, intense sounds of Blawan and Pariah as Karenn. Not much comes even close.

Karenn - Chaste Down (buy)

The appearance of James Welsh's deep melodies on Hypercolour's Losing Suki sublabel.

James Welsh - Only (buy)

Mule Musiq poach another restrained German deep house producer in Oskar Offermann, the melody from about 3 mins is great.

Oskar Offermann - You Can You To Me Say (buy)

Bosconi label is always on point. This track by The Clover is understated deep house at its finest.

The Clover - Yourself (buy)

Stumbled across this tech-house delight just recently. Cinematic.

Carlo - White Crow (buy)

Servi! Beautiful synth workout on a track that features on PermVac's essential Mandarinenträume compilation, showcasing obscure German electronic music prior to reunification.

Servi - Laistrygonen (buy)

Donna Summer - I Feel Love

2012-05-17T19:06:00.000+01:00

Pic: Antlers WiFi

Williams - I Feel The Shivering (buy)

Plantains - I Feel Love (buy)

First up, some really sad news about the passing of Donna Summer. She inspired us all. Here are two rather special covers/remixes of her signature track I Feel Love. She was loved, she will be loved forever.

Kevin Reynolds - Liasons (buy)

Moving forward we have the amazing Liasons by Kevin Reynolds, this is such an infectious track from him. There's plenty more in store from this Detroit master with releases due on Love What You Feel and L.I.E.S. Hot stuff

Arab League - Le Coq (buy)

Arab League - Hollywood Goblin (buy)

Stockholm's Universal Rejection put out this blazing debut from Arab League a back in 2011 and have now followed it up with a complete bomb by Disappearer. This is a label to keep an eye on for sure!

midweek soundup

2012-05-16T21:18:00.000+01:00

Kimyon - Make The Bed (buy)

Probably the most expensive 12" you will see this week is Kimyon Huggins superb techno work out for Juan Atkins seminal techno label Metroplex. Dope

Leonel Castillo - 1974 (buy)

Argentinian producer Leonel Castillo drops some heavy and unswerving beats on 1974 released by his Groovear label.

Break SL - Desert Flight (buy)

Break SL first blew me away with his track Trombone on Philpot a few years back. He's been a busy guy since then, most recently dropping some utterly psychotic grooves on the ever imaginative, ever impressive Uncanny Valley.

Anstam - Intuit (buy)

Anstam on 50 Weapons. A marriage of beauty and insanity. The First Sprout EP really demands everyone's attention....and once it's got it....it won't let go easily.

Subject - What Happened To You (buy)

Another killer compilation on Stones Throw, The Minimal Waves Vol.2

Proper Tracks

2012-05-13T19:07:00.001+01:00

Pic: Hannes Iversen

Will Azada - Let's Get Tight (buy)

Will Azada and his Proper Trax label have both been doing their thing to lethal effect for a little while now. This belter is taken from Proper Trax Split Personalities II 12". Azada and Proper Trax latest release is out now in strictly limited numbers, you can grab it here. How good does that b-side sound!!

Felix Lenferink - First Bouree (buy)

Fourth Wave serves up another solid release this time from newcomer Felix Lenferink. Chirpy jams.

CTRLS - Encrypted Sex (buy)

You can always rely on Belgium's Token records for some uncompromising and utterly engaging techno. Lethal!

Mind Grapes

2012-05-04T13:09:00.002+01:00

Pic: lazingblazer

Ukkonen - Primed (buy)

The mysterious Ukkonen turns out a fantastic 12" on Uncharted Audio. Real icy techno explorations.

RDF - True! (buy)

I spotted a video for this wonderful RDF track a while back, and now the release is out there. Four tracks of pure quality, limited to 300 copies on the O*RS label.

The Monitors - Control (buy)

Daniel Paul & Mathias Weichert - Mathestunde (buy)

Some serious blog love to dish out now. NeoDetroit has turned me on to a lot of really great music since starting up last year, go check it. Above are just two killer tracks I first heard there, both essential listening.

Pyrolator - Danger Cruising Part II

I know I only posted a Pyrolator track the other week, but i'm in love. Further digging led me to this beauty of a bonus track that features on the Ata Tak: Collection Box 1... so much good stuff on there.

IDM

2012-04-28T20:33:00.001+01:00

Essential listening. IDM nostalgia. Good deep house. Unexpected tempo changes.

Duererstuben - Es Funkelt Gar Auf Frostgem Feld (buy)

Future Beat Alliance - Inside Out (buy)

CBC - Promised Land (buy)

Yør - ABCM (buy)

Yør - Rave (buy)

Reissue

2012-04-20T23:06:00.000+01:00

Pic: Eric Timothy Carlson

A mini-playlist of recently reissued tracks from the 1970s and 80s. All very wonderful.

Francis Bebey - New Track (buy)

Pyrolator - Gold & Silber (buy)

Cybotron - Gods Of Norse (buy)

Axxess - Pages (buy)

Pierre Raph - Schoolgirl Hitchhikers

Nous Music

2012-04-13T11:53:00.005+01:00

Pic: Kon Trubkovich

For the weekend.

Lee Burton - Breath (buy)

Lee Burton - You've Got Me (buy)

Greek producer Lee Burton (Lefteris Kalabakas) earlier this year released his new album Busy Days For Fools on Athenian label Klik Records. I was very much expecting a straightforward 'house' album that initially may excite but like so many others ultimately disappoints. How wrong I was, this is a wonderfully crafted concept album that is full of warmth. You certainly might detect something along the lines of a Circus Company release or even John Roberts, but you also get shades of sleazy blues reminiscent of Map Of Africa. Well worth a listen.

Simon Weiss - Bird Movement (buy)

Out late last year was this peach by Simon Weiss on Home Taping, straight up house music. So good.

Johannes Volk - Heat Haze (buy)

Upping the pace a bit with this from Johannes Volk and the debut on Dontstop (there's only been 2 others since). I posted this a few years back, but it's still an absolute killer! Pure dancefloor heat.

Video Nature

2012-04-11T12:36:00.003+01:00

Pic: Yoshi Sodeoka

Unbroken Dub - Polywaxtest (buy)

Unbroken Dub - Sovushka (buy)

A couple of the more visceral cuts from the 3rd and 5th releases on the German label Rawax by talented Russian producer Unbroken Dub. Well worth checking out.

Brett Johnson - Someday (buy)

I do really like this track. Given the full blown nature of it all, the track could fail miserably, yet it succeeds. The way this review puts it is spot on, : "It’s a bold move, but not one that is unwelcome because it is executed with confidence and the kind of daring required to pull something like this off – because the chances of it being complete shit are quite high if handled incorrectly."

Return

2012-04-09T17:18:00.003+01:00

Pic: Print Club London

Back online! Now where were we... techno, electro, darkness and light.

Photodementia - Fotografische (buy)

FRAK - Varja Dag (buy)

Agony Forces - Vertebra (buy)

Harald Bjork - Gryr (Fairmont Remix) (buy)

Duplex - Electric Trees (buy)

Dieptepunt - Feeling Deep (808 Mix) (buy)

Abdulla Rashim - Asayita 2 (buy)

Moebius

2012-03-15T19:06:00.004Z

Pic: Moebius (via Rouget)

Kollektiv Turmstrasse - Elemental Pleasures

Initially, this was one of Kollektiv Turmstrasse's earliest tracks put out on a net label called No Response. A few years later it was put out as the debut 12" for the ever excellent Musik Gewinnt Freunde.

Locke & Matt Star - Offenbach Symphonie (buy)

Locke & Matt Star - Zerspannungsmodulator (buy)

Released late last year on WirrWarr some superb plodding techno by Locke & Matt Star.

Various Artists - No. 8

T++ under his Various Artists guise put out this masterpiece in droney dub techno on FatCat back in 1997. Eighteen minutes of pure magic.

And finally, four songs I can never get out of my head when I hear them.

EOD - Utrecht (buy)

Credit 00 - Wave Memory (buy)

Lukid - My Teeth In Your Neck (buy)

Fergie - Mad World (buy)

Chicago

2012-03-05T18:45:00.001Z

Pic: X/XX/XXX

Chateau Flight - Cosmic Race (buy)

Just one of many highlights featured on Versatile Records 15 Year compilation. Chateau Flight's Cosmic Race was released back in 2002 and as you look through Versatile's long list of releases you will see how many memorable and legendary acts have featured on the label in those 15 years.

Mauser - Regenerate (buy)

Mauser - Dancin' (buy)

Time for some of Chicago past and present. These tracks are taken from Mauser's EP The Vault out on Synapsis in 2010. Killer hi-nrg acid and jacking techno. Mauser has also just released a new EP on Soul Magnifique entitled Simple Science. Quality producer.

Leron Carson - Red Lightbulb (buy)

Leron Carson's Red Lightbulb Theory 87 - 88. A pretty essential release on Sound Signature. Almost mythical in existence, Carson made these tracks in 1987 aged 15 before being rediscovered and released on 2x12" many years later.

February End

2012-02-28T21:08:00.004Z

Pic: DIS Magazine

Airliner Series - 10.1 C (buy)

Airliner Series (Brothomstates of Warp fame) drops some nebulous slow techno for the exciting young Chicago based label Kimochi Sound. The label is run by M50 who hosts an impeccably curated radio show and also produces as Area, an artist you may remember from an earlier post here. The track below is one I spotted on the M50 playlists and is a piece of magic by Ripperton.

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (Ripperton Edit)

More hazy slow grooves now from Sello taken from the With You EP on Wazi Wazi last year, nice vibes.

Sello - With You (buy)

Awesome deep house from the Pittsburgh Track Authority here. Totally slept on The First Four EP release.

Pittsburgh Track Authority - Bloodlands (buy)

To finish, I've been playing this album a lot recently, Gkalop by Lena Platonos was first released in 1985. Cold wave-esque Greek electronica by this intriguing Cretan composer.

Lena Platonos - Magisses

Lena Platonos - Emigkredes Tis Roumainias

Expect a little less action around here for a bit whilst I move IRL.

Buffalo Of Lies

2012-02-20T17:44:00.002Z

Pic: Buffalo Of Lies

Yasuo Sato - Gammawave (buy)

Yasuo Sato - Spacelight (buy)

A couple of tracks from the very well received Yasuo Sato EP on Aesthetic Audio from last year. Deep grooves, with track titles that kind of give you a clue as to the sound. Lovely stuff.

Psyk - Throb (buy)

Gritty four track techno EP from Spanish producer Psyk on Dustin Zahn's Enemy Records. It's the pitch that gets me in this track here, but all throughout the percussion and rugged atmosphere gives the release an appealing and authentic sound. One for fans of Skudge etc.

The Weathermen - Are You New To The Bayou

Going back to 1987 for this track by The Weathermen (part of Tuxedomoon). The a-side is a bit cheesy, but there's something kinda cool about the b-side here.

Cajun Hardt - Untitled (buy)

On sale now is the intriguing new output from Berlin and the Reference label. Restrained techno with a lot of very nice touches throughout to give a unique feel to the tracks.

Summer Rave

2012-02-16T09:22:00.000Z

Pic: Eric Cahan

Architectural - The Summer Of Love (buy)

Staggering work by Architectural aka Reeko on this track that makes up part of Semantica's 5 Year Compilation.

Summerrave Athletes - This Is A Transmission Of The Summerrave Athletes Part 1 (buy)

Summerrave Athletes - This Is A Transmission Of The Summerrave Athletes Part 2 (buy)

I know very little about this release, I grabbed it when it was released in 2010 and have had a love/hate relationship with both tracks ever since. Right now I am residing in the 'these are totally cool, banging tech-house tracks!' camp. A bit of a guilty pleasure me thinks.

Roger

2012-02-08T10:56:00.007Z

Pic: The Cosby Sweater Project

Massimiliano Pagliara / Roger 23 - H-EA-L (R'23s Healing Medicine & Anti Depressiva Dub) (buy)

Roger 23 - Ain't No Dirty Games (buy)

Searching through some records from the past few years the other night I happened upon a quality release by Belgian label Meakusma (a super label whose subsequent releases include work by Madteo and DJ Yoav B). H-EA-L featured then newcomer Massimiliano Pagliara and Roger 23 aka Roger Reuter collaborating on this murky and magnificent two-tracker. Then, heading further into Roger 23's backcatalogue I came across a couple of records he put out for Playhouse in 2005 and 2006, the track posted here is taken from the Blind Youth EP but all the tracks are pretty tasty fodder and proof that it's always good to look back from time to time.

Hans Staudinger - On A Salty Planet (buy)

This is a solid and progressive tech-house groover by Hans Staudinger for Viennese label Houztekk. Features remixes by Ken Hayakawa and Ogris Debris. Great stuff

Grovskopa - Haas (buy)

Digging this Grovskopa track off Sect's double CD It's All For You. Well worth checking the rest of the compilation too, full of quality dark techno .

212 Mix

2012-02-05T14:35:00.002Z

Pic: Merijn Hos

It's been a while since I put a mix together, so without further ado here is a classy selection of the deep, the dark, the weird and the wonderful. Enjoy!

Tracklisting

Perc - Choice (Walls Remix)
Recondite - Haptic
Francis Harris - Lostfound (Matthew Herbert's Let Yourself Go Mix)
Marc Depulse - Oberwasser
EZLV - Read This
Yan Wagner - Turmoil
OCH - Tears
Crackboy - Back To The Future
Hot City x LOL Boys - Whitney (Jus Some Shit)
Pacific Blue - Industry (Rrose Remix)
Mark du Mosch - L'Argeant
Kowton - Looking At You
Lakker - Litiv
Appleblim - Moonlight
Harald Bjork - December (Axel Boman Remix)
NG - Cut Gloss
T.S.O.S. - Over And Over
Marc Houle - Triple E
I:Cube - Un Dimanche Sans Fin
The Persuader - What Is The Time, Mr. Templar?

DOWNLOAD

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Onto a couple of gems

Manuel Göttsching - Sunrain (Argy Edit) (buy)

Crackboy - Ebeneezer Knight (buy)

After watching Manuel Göttsching perform with the Joshua Light Show at Transmediale last night it really hit home how relevant Göttsching's sounds are, were and perhaps will always be. Above are two edits of Göttsching's work by Argy and Crackboy. Argy readies Ashra's Sunrain for those late/early dancefloors while Crackboy condenses the epic E2-E4 into a 9 minute anthem. Sublime tracks that are testament to Göttsching's influence on the current crop of dance music producers.

Black Mill Tapes

2012-01-29T19:12:00.004Z

Pic: Jean-Pierre Hebert

Pye Corner Audio - Electronic Rhythm Number Four (buy)

The Head Technician of Pye Corner Audio Transcription Services returned last week with the 3rd volume of the Black Mill Tapes: All Corners Open. A sublime selection of Radiophonic-esque splendor. The Head Technician also just put together a great mix for xxjfg, well worth a listen.

Stefan Robbers - Pathfinder (buy)

Killer b-side to Stefan Robbers Compound 12" release on Baby Ford's now defunct Ifach label way back in 2000 pre-laptop minimal profusion.

Margot - 4 Aggressive Young Boys (buy)

Border Community faves Margot turn out some madcap grooves for the Italian label Hell Yeah on a 250 run of 12" including some special remixes by Florian Meindl and Tempelhof, this is seriously good music across the board! 'Dancefloor assault'.

January Chart

2012-01-15T19:06:00.004Z

Pic: But Does It Float

A chart of sorts, no order, just some of the very best tracks I've been listening to of late.

Kareem Moser - OS2009 (buy)

Answer Code Request - Escape Myself (buy)

Wincent Kunth - Trickle (buy)

Mark du Mosch - Reminiscing (buy)

Lakker - Spider Silk (buy)

10-20 - Bloomback (buy)

Afrikan Sciences - A Decison (buy)

Biodub - Barracuda (Glitterbug Remix) (buy)

Themes For Great Cities

2012-01-13T20:00:00.002Z

Pic: Slowboy

Wolf Müller - Lagerfeuer Tanz (buy)

Wolf Müller - Pflanzentanz (buy)

Wolf Müller debuts in impressive style for Düsseldorf's Themes For Great Cities label. A vinyl release of 300 sees Müller draw heavy influence on world music and percussive tribal rhythms, adding some mysticism with vocals calling for world peace and the like. This excellent record gives off an experimental, 'crate digging gem' type vibe that wouldn't sound out of place at all on ESP Institute or Lovefingers. As for Themes For Great Cities, the next release shouldn't be too far away with tracks from the previously featured Tolouse Low Trax as well as Montezumas Rache and Stabil Elite. Look forward to hearing more!

62 Minutes

2011-12-23T12:36:00.003Z

Pic: Manuel Birnbacher

Anthony Rother - Thermal Tune (buy)

Yet more stunning soundscapes from Anthony Rother, this time taken from his aptly titled 62 Minutes On Mars.

Cuticle - Towel (buy )

Not Not Fun's 100% Silk label certainly pushed all the right buttons this year with a string of highly impressive releases which really drew attention to an increasing indie diy/edm interaction.

Christopher Rau - Last Time Was So Good (buy)

Out on Hypercolour is this scruffy house jam by the ever impressive Christopher Rau. Top quality.

Synkro - Stop & Think (buy)

Synkro - Presence (buy)

I've been listening to a lot of Synkro's music just lately, here we have two pieces taken from releases on Millions Of Moments and Styrax, both labels which always warrant investigation.

Executive Suite

2011-12-10T13:03:00.002Z

Pic: Executive Suite

Battant - Feverish (Ise8 Pre Demo) (buy)

Painstakingly beautiful music from Battant and Ivan Smagghe. A track that finishes his inspired 'A Few Things...' compilation.

Even Tuell - Mental Marathon (buy)

Fuzzy house rhythms from Even Tuell on the Hula Vortex EP.

dRUMMAN - Endless Galaxy (buy)

Out on Lux Rec at the beginning of the year was the crazy dRUMMAN EP which sees Jori Hulkkonen setting some serious vibes off. Massive, massive.

2811

2011-11-28T18:01:00.004Z

Pic: FC Magdeburg in Europe

Recondite - Backbone (buy)

With just two releases to date and another one on the way shortly, the Plangent label has quietly put out some truly wonderful music this year. Backbone is taken from Plangent 002 but also features on Scuba's ever so good DJ Kicks.

MCMLXXXVII - Work (buy)

This is a brutal release by MCMLXXXVII, sampling Chicago tracks from 1987 and mixing them with some EQD.

Tomutonttu - Kuka On Mukana (buy)

Tomutonttu is the leader of Finnish experimental act Kemialliset Ystävät, here on his EP for Ducktails New Images label he puts across some intricate and downright catchy melodies whilst retaining a somewhat experimental feel. Talented guy.

Nocow - In A Way (buy)

Out on Ethereal Sounds, Nocow's 10" Fort EP is a delightful homage to some of the electronica I grew up with. Really nice vibes on this.

Retrospect1

2011-11-25T21:24:00.000Z

The TransHumans - Interdependence (buy)

Solid electro tinged techno by The TransHumans, taken from the Renaissance 12" out a few months ago.

Altarboy - Crap (buy)

Released earlier on in the year Altarboy's Who Is Who was the first release by new label Wonder Wet Records. The track Crap reminds me a lot of the first release on Don't Be Afraid by Semtek. Keep an eye out for Wonder Wet's latest release too by We Reset, the track Melody sounds pretty nice indeed.

Rrose - Shadow Pocket (Variation One) (buy)

Rrose and Bob Ostertag's Motormouth Variations certainly proved a standout release on Sandwell District this year. Uncompromising and absolutely wonderful material.

Sivesgaard - Unorthodox (Ricardo Tobar Remix) (buy)

This is a top remix by the ever excellent Ricardo Tobar, here he does the business for Danish producer Sivesgaard and the Parquet label

Blow, blow, thou winter wind

2011-11-21T18:08:00.003Z

Pic: Common Chant via Yessssssss

Mario & Vidis - Illum (buy)

Mario Basanov and DJ Vidis team up again, this time for their new label Best Kept Secret, set up to showcase the finest music from the Lithuanian electronic scene. They have set the bar pretty high with the first release entitled Staar Wars. Four luscious pieces of interplanetary dance music. Very, very good.

Reeko - Angels And Demons (buy)

Just one of the incongruous techno jams off Reeko's super interesting Finding The New Matter LP out on his aptly named Mental Disorder label.

Ryo Murakami - Underworld (buy)

I briefly mentioned this Ryo Murakami EP earlier on in the year when talking about the Baud label. Revisiting the Underworld EP was the perfect decision in this murky onset of winter. Trawling through the past 12 months is something i've embarked with the aim of posting some bits i've enjoyed throughout the year....in January there was this masterpiece by Rolando, spine-chilling, spell-binding etc...

Rolando - Junie (buy)

For anyone who uses Tumblr, I have started up a new one called Exuperius to cater for any spontaneous postings.