Electronica
Release Date: 7th May 2021
a1. Cassius Select - Scrooge
a2. Cassius Select - Who Teh
b1. Ebb - Alloy
b2. Ebb - Visions
Release Date: 28th May 2021
The story of each re-release begins with the original. In the late 90s, Uwe Zahn (Arovane), along with Robert Henke (Monolake) and Stefan Betke (Pole), began releasing music on Torsten Pröfrock’s (Dynamo) newly launched DIN label. This was a very inconspicuous undertaking, but fans of the flourishing IDM, glitch, and constantly evolving abstract techno genres quickly picked up on the quality of sound coming out of Germany. After a few successful EPs, Zahn began working on his debut full-length, Atol Scrap. The release was a success, at least in the underground circles, where followers of the melodic harmonies, stuttering off-beat rhythms, and, most importantly, advanced sound design feverishly consumed the imprint’s output. There was only one thing missing – the album was never pressed on vinyl, and for decades remained in the digital domain. The fans, of course, inquired. There were multiple offers on the table, but Zahn retained control until he was assured that it was properly attained. “I thought of taking everything into my own hands and releasing the record myself,” says Zahn, “but at the end of last year, Matthias from Keplar asked me to re-release Atol Scrap on vinyl.” The label and its owner revolve in the Morr Music universe, and so it made sense for Zahn to trust the platform to treat the record right.
Listening to Atol Scrap over twenty years later it is inane not to admit how well it has held up. Where other genres clearly aged, becoming stale, bland, and dull, the music on eleven tasty tracks still keeps the neurons tickled with each note. More than an echo of the past, the bottled sound truly has matured. Many of the newly evolving techniques are recognizable on the album. “I created the digital artifacts with a digital multi-track recorder, the Fostex D80,” recalls Zahn. “The thing had a scrub wheel with which I could achieve wonderful glitch effects by winding through the audio data. I have sampled and further processed these artifacts.” And this approach is still embedded in Zahn’s sound design. “I still use my 24-track analog desk from Tascam to mix my audio. I love to use hardware synths and samplers. I’ve definitely built upon my studio experience in the 90s.” From this debut to the most recent output, Arovane’s sound has evolved to become more intricate, detailed, and pronounced. “My music has become much quieter and much slower. But that’s probably also due to the noise in the world.” And just as Atol Scrap reminds Zahn of the past, retaining charm preserved in a container traveling through time, it also jitters memories of long ago, when we were twenty years younger, less experienced, and bold. For me, among the many records of the time, this album held a special place in life, my heart, and many CD boxes moved across the world. And now I’m only happy to restock the vinyl space, where Atol Scrap belongs among the beloved records. Welcome home. - Mike Lazarev
Remastered and cut to vinyl by Kassian Troyer @ D&M. Cover art by Jim Kühnel based on a photograph by Uwe Zahn.
a1. nonlin.r (2021 Remaster)
a2. tascel_7 (2021 Remaster)
a3. thaem nue (2021 Remaster)
a4. ambelio (2021 Remaster)
a5. scapen te (2021 Remaster)
a6. revart amx (2021 Remaster)
b1. norvum (2021 Remaster)
b2. failed (2021 Remaster)
b3. amine (2021 Remaster)
b4. r/elet (2021 Remaster)
b5. atol scrap (2021 Remaster)
Release date: 14th May 2021
Anthoney Hart returns with his second Basic Rhythm album for Planet Mu. 'Electronic Labyrinth' is a maturing of his sound that draws a line under his work as Basic Rhythm thus far. The title itself conveys the overarching theme of the album, evoking the journey through a musical labyrinth that Hart has undertaken over the last 30 years or so, following a path through to the centre where thesedisparate strands have coalesced and solidified into a coherent whole. The underlying themes are of a more personal nature, intimated by the cover photo of St Fabian Tower where Hart first joined the now infamous Rude FM in the late 90s, the sometimes misleading directness of the track titles, as well as explicit references to books such as Wilson Harris’ Palace of the Peacocks, the ontological promiscuity of Harris’ writing mirrored here in Hart's own musical endeavours. What you end up with is an album that not only draws upon a wide range of influences from both the musical and literary worlds, intertwining them within a deeply personal contextthat imbues the music with a depth of meaning, but that is also somehow more coherent despite such a wide range of references and hidden meanings. It is at once both an album of subtexts open to interpretation, and a cohesive whole that fits together perfectly.
a1. Craft
a2 Hayward Road
a3. Acid Track
a4. Larkin Around
b1. Electronic Labyrinth
b2. Techno
b3. Palace Of The Peacock
b4. The Secret Ladder
Release Date: 15th October 2021
Jet-setting Irish duo Bicep return to Will Saul's Aus label with two steady analog techno grooves ready for deployment in either their own wildly celebrated sets or those of any DJ looking for modern dance tracks that are still faithful to the classics - this is techno that hasn't forgotten where it came from, essentially.
Using gritty, vintage-sounding rhythm sections as solid foundations, each track gradually builds up its own lush, melodic embellishments overtop - "Circles" stays true to its name with a cyclical main melody, shadowy bass and fuzzy house pads, whereas "NRG106" sets spacey, dramatic chords and breathy vocals against the insistent, chittering machine percussion.
As usual these two esteemed bloggers / DJs / artists / all around polymaths prove themselves to be paragons of taste, but here it's clear that they are also steadily growing as producers, taking on different styles with aplomb and making it all look much easier than it really is.
a1. Bicep - Circles
b1. Bicep - NRG106
Release Date: 30th April 2021
Hypercolour backroom boy, Ste Roberts, surfaces to the top for a long-awaited new release on the label, serving up a trio of wonky and twisted grooves on ‘The Crescent’ EP.
Firmly establishing his STE label project over the last few years, as well as notable releases on Infiltrate, Kneaded Pains and Catch Recordings, Roberts unleashes gnarly modular riffs and deft melodies over a swinging, minimal beat on ‘The Crescent’, teased out over its nine-minute duration.
‘Victor’s Mezcal’ similarly is built upon an infectious and nuanced groove that breaks midway for a mind melting breakdown, and the electro charged beats and hoover sirens of ‘The Hiding Spot’ concludes this tripped out and left of centre house release in fine fettle.
a1. Ste Roberts - The Crescent
a2. Ste Roberts - Victor’s Mezcal
b1. Ste Roberts - The Hiding Spot
Release Date: 30th April 2021
As life and the world as we once knew it enters a new wave, Phuture Shock Musik continues apace with their first solo release of the year entitled ‘Dub Rockas’ EP, by none other than deep house maestro, Trinidadian Deep.
Widely known for his deeply spiritual and afro-leaning sound, the Brooklyn, NYC-based producer and DJ has remained a dominant force within the deep house sphere for over twenty years, and during this time has released work on a string of reputable labels, including Neroli, Deepblak, Shelter and Ron Trent’s Future Vision imprint, to name but a few.
Now surfacing on Bristol’s Phuture Shock for his latest 12”, Trini combines signature themes of Yoruba mythology, soundsystem culture and his native Caribbean roots, with hints of dub, soca and afro styles across three spellbinding house jams that form the ‘Dub Rockas’ EP. As you can expect from Trinidadian Deep, this is the highest order in hypnotic, tribal rhythms and lush, ocean-deep sonics that will touch the innermost depths of your mind, body and soul.
The A-side opens up with the mystical aura of ‘Dub Rockas’; a deep, percussion-laden roller, centred around a sturdy b-line made to rock up the dance, and as the title suggests is peppered with dub flourishes via heady dub chords, wailing dub sirens and soundclash vocal samples; whilst glistening organ solos of a tropical vibe slither gracefully between cantering soca-style beats that drives the riddim along to militant effect. Named after a low-key backstreet in North West London, ‘Euston Street’ follows next in a similar soundbwoy fashion as the A1 though with a brighter tone, where dense layers of afro percussion and jostling, semi-bruk rhythms prance in unity with a melange of Caribbean-flavoured woodwind licks, atmospheric pads and dubbed out synths; altogether topped off by a nimble display of gospel-tinged organ work that sears thru the track like wildfire.
a1. Trinidadian Deep - Dub Rockas
a2. Trinidadian Deep - Euston Street
b1. Trinidadian Deep - Cultured Roots
Release Date: 30th April 2021
Naone debuts on UTTU! Channeling her sounds towards dreamy and cosmic elements that allow her to daydream or space out but still keeping the fun of the dancefloor. A follow-up to recent collaboration EP "Separate Ways" with S.O.N.S., her first solo release takes you on a journey of tracks influenced by progressive trance, techno and downtempo, with emotional synth and 303 acid lines filling out space. Including the remix by Bliss Inc and a special collaboration with Denial.
a1. Naone - Falling Sun
a2. Naone - Falling Sun (Bliss Inc Remix)
b1. Naone - Center Creek ft Denial
b2. Naone - X-TDB133
Release Date: 30th April 2021
To follow the success of Breaka’s ‘The Startup’ - the inaugural Off Beat release which earned support from the likes of Addison Groove, Sherelle, Minor Science and Sicaria Sound to name but a few - label boss Rhyval (one-third of Off Beat), steps up to deliver three cuts of fun, percussive, bass-laden heat for OBR002.
Reminiscent of early Ramadanman records on Hessle Audio and Swamp 81, ‘Down Alarm’ rings out with gliding bass, 808 snares and vocal chops.
‘Hassle’ is a held-back stepper with various bass mutations and a system shattering mid-range whale call.
Closing out yet another extremely promising release for the Manchester-based label is ‘Footcell’. Drawing on a Grime framework, a series of bit-crushed blips dance around the choppy, shortly-sustained synth licks, like fireflies illuminating.
a1. Rhyval - Down Alarm
a2. Rhyval - Hassle
b1. Rhyval - Footcell
Release Date: 16th April 2021
a1. Henry Greenleaf - Pan Strings
a2. Henry Greenleaf - Borrow
b1. Henry Greenleaf - Gem
b2. Henry Greenleaf - Rush
Release Date: 16th April 2021
Interstate brings a 2 step.
Keita Sano dives deep.
Dubbyman has the dubs.
3 distinct remixes of the incredible “Mile High” from German / French producers Mystigrix and Reo Seis and Chicago legend Paris Brightledge on vocals plus an original. Take care of yourselves and stay safe!
a1. Mystigrix & Reo Seis ft Paris Brightledge - Mile High (Interstate Remix)
a2. Mystigrix & Reo Seis ft Paris Brightledge - Mile High (Keita Sano Remix)
b1. Mystigrix & Reo Seis ft Paris Brightledge - Mile High (Dubbyman Downtempo Mix)
b2. Mystigrix & Reo Seis ft Paris Brightledge - You Don’t Know
Release Date: 2nd April 2021
Budget Cuts is excited to share Portland, OR based experimental composer Bardo:Basho’s second full-length album Alinea. Alinea is meant to evoke the idea of a non-linear history. “a” meaning not/without and “Linea” a feminine embodiment of linearity. The concept is derived from a personal history and identity which feel fragmented and this motif is reflected throughout the album. Alinea incorporates eclectic compositional and timbral styles held together by ethereal vocal performances. Expansive, intimate, and hypnotic, Alinea is a meditation on vulnerability. Kirsten Thom started performing as Bardo:Basho while studying music at the University of Puget Sound. Bardo:Basho’s work fuses classical structure with experimental signal processing to create boundless otherworldly soundscapes that range from drone to techno. Bardo:Basho has shared the stage with visionaries like Jlin, Laurel Halo, Actress, and Yu Su while performing at festivals like Decibel and Upstream or at Kremwerk’s influential Research club night.
a1. Impulse
a2. Afraid Of
a3. Size
b1. WCHJL
b2. ILMUS
b3. Blow Up
Release Date: 4th June 2021
a1. Alap
a2. Two Thousand and Seventeen
a3. LA Trance
a4. Tremper
b1. Lush
b2. Scientists
b3. Falls 2
b4. You Are Loved
c1. SW9 9SL
c2. 10 Midi
c3. Memories
d1. Daughter
d2. Gentle Soul
d3. Planet
Release Date: 16th April 2021
Deviation Classics celebrates the legacy of the legendary London club night and record label created by Benji B and Judah in 2007. Famously "one of London's most aurally audacious nights”, Benji B’s Deviation is a name synonymous with music and at the forefront of London’s culture scene and within music internationally.
The collector’s box will include four 12” vinyl including 20 carefully selected tracks, many of which have previously been unavailable on vinyl or hard to find and all capturing those key moments from the past 13 years. The compilation will also be accompanied by an exclusive mix curated by founder Benji B marking the end of this chapter for Deviation, the mix will be available to purchase on CD and streamed or downloaded on Bandcamp and all major digital platforms.
Spanning all genres of music, the compilation comprises tracks from Moodymann, James Blake, Joy Orbison and Flying Lotus and many more from across Deviation’s impressive roster of guests. Though several of the tracks went on to become hits, all of them became part of Deviation’s regular playlist and are now considered to be part of the Deviation DNA - a club night that has its own sound, its own hits and its own classics. The tracks highlight how the best club residencies can hone and shape their own identity, where reactions from the dance floor can influence which tracks make it into the resident sets to become future classics, and how a single tune can conjure the nostalgia of an era, venue, place and time.
Including regular staples from Benji B’s resident sets, the DJ comments: “This album showcases the tunes that got the biggest reactions month after month, drawn from my sets at Deviation over the years. They would not only be my choice, but also the choice of the Deviation regulars. Not all of these were necessarily big tunes outside of the club night – some would go on to be, but some could be 12-inch B-sides, album cuts or unreleased dubplates that went off when dropped for the very first time, and then became our own classics: all certified Deviation anthems in their own way”
A1. Alice Smith - Love Endeavor (Maurice Fulton remix)
A2. Rick Wilhite - Ruby Nights (Gilb'r Solo Flight remix)
B1. The Detroit Experiment - Think Twice
B2. Zomby - Tarantula
C1. Langenberg - Times (Manuel Tur's Ground Glass Reflex)
C2. Carl Craig - Sandstorms (C2 2011 Version)
D1. Lil Silva - Seasons
D2. DJ Spen presents DJ Technic - Gabryelle (D-Malice Re-Fix)
D3. Kingdom - Stalker Ha
E1. Mala - Lean Forward
E2. Martyn - Vancouver
F1. Joy Orbison - Hyph Mngo
F2. Pearson Sound - Stifle
G1. Baron Zen - Burn Rubber (Dâm-Funk remix)
G2. Wajeed - Tron
G3. Flying Lotus - Melt!
G4. 00Genesis - No Shoes Trampoline
G5. Dorian Concept - The Fucking Formula
H1. Azymuth - Morning (Manha)
H2. K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - Kyenkyen Bi Adi M'awu
Release Date: 29th January 2021
Hotflush mark the tenth anniversary of Mount Kimbie’s acclaimed debut album ‘Crooks & Lovers’ with an expanded reissue, which features the duo’s 2009 EP ‘Maybes’ on a bonus 12".
a1. Tunnelvision
a2. Would Know
a3. Before I Move Off
b1. Blind Night Errand
b2. Adriatic
b3. Carbonated
c1. Ruby
c2. Ode To Bear
c3. Field
d1. Mayor
d2. Between Time
e1. Maybes
e2. William
f1. Vertical
f2. Taps
Release Date: tbc
Hailing from Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, Gacha Bakradze is one of the national scene’s leading electronic music exponents. He returns to Lapsus Records with his new album 'Obscure Languages', his second release for the Barcelona label.
Following the superb LP 'Word Color' [Lapsus Records, 2018], which appeared in several ‘album of the year’ lists for publications such as Pitchfork and XLR8R, the prolific producer now presents 'Obscure Languages'. This new piece of work could well be described as a sound continuation from his previous album and maintains a powerful narrative at its core.
‘Obscure Languages' delves into the world of cinematic soundscapes, replete with microscopic details and fragments that showcase a luscious IDM style audio palette, laced with ambient, avant-techno, bass and sound design.
a1. Indivisible
a2. Thank You For This Upload
a3. Driver
a4. Frame
b1. Impression
b2. Lift
b3. Lead
b4. Endless Tool
b5. Slow Heart
Repress Due: 11th June 2021
a1. School
a2. Baby
a3. Harpsichord
a4. Teenage Birdsong
a5. Romantics
b1. Love Salad
b2. Insect Near Piha Beach
b3. Hi Hello
b4. ISTM
b5. Something In The Sadness
c1. 1993 Band Practice
c2. Green
c3. Bubbles At Overlook 25th March 2019
c4. 4T Recordings
c5. This Is For You
c6. Mama Teaches Sanskrit
Side D consists of 16 short untitled tracks with locked grooves.
Release Date: 15th January 2021
VytisVA & La'Shaour are joining their musical fronts again to create a musical exploration which focusses on Lithuanian folklore. This time the guys are presenting three tracks plus remix from S Gytis with focus on modern electronic music merged with Lithuanian magic verbal charms.
The inspiration for the release came from various Lithuanian charms like incantations, prayers to the old gods, and other magical rituals. Therefore they came up with the name Incantations for their EP, which is going to be available in vinyl and digital formats.
Incantations are unique Lithuanian folklore texts and represent a closed tradition. By using these charms, you can expect to change physical and spiritual realms. The existence of these charms assumes that the words contain an exceptional spiritual power, which can influence people, mythical beings, objects and natural phenomena.
As Ramu Records crew, we believe in a sustainable future of vinyl record production. Therefore we are proud to say that for Incantations EP, we are using a factory which takes responsibility in lowering pollution rates and decreasing waste while working with sustainable technology.
a1. VytisVA & La'Shaour - Žemės Gėrybe
a2. VytisVA & La'Shaour - Gabi
b1. VytisVA & La'Shaour - Jaunas Mėnuli
b2. VytisVA & La'Shaour - Jaunas Mėnuli (S Gytis Remix)
Available: 21st January 2021
Clap! Clap!’s music is a unique blend of global dance and timeless sounds drawing from nature, traditional music, field recordings, and the electronic savvy of modern centres like Chicago and London. At its core are the inspiration of everyday life, what Crisci calls “the search for new flavours,” and a unifying narrative approach. The results are albums that play out like sonic movies. 2014's Tayi Bebba was a soundtrack tour of an imaginary island, and 2016's A Thousand Skies told the story of a young girl's journey through the stars.
Following these albums, Crisci took a break from focusing on samples and composition to study sound dynamics and the science of mixing and engineering. He changed his studio and tools, putting more emphasis on the correct melding of analog and digital technology. His third album, Liquid Portraits, is a result of this process with a new compositional approach that puts a stronger focus on field recording and sound design to achieve clarity without diminishing the energy and enthusiasm of the music. As the name hints at, the album is a collection of sonic paintings, an attempt at capturing furtive, subconscious memories through sound. The tracks reference trips Crisci took and people he met – from southern Italy to Hokkaido via the Kif Mountains of Morocco – as well as more abstract ideas of loss, calmness, and childhood. Helped by a small cast of close collaborators – harpist Kety Fusco, singer Martha Da'ro, percussionist Domenico Candellori, and bassist Piero Spitilli – Liquid Portraits is a major new step in Crisci's evolution as an artist.
a1. Clap! Clap! - Desert Stone
a2. Clap! Clap! - Liquid Mantra
a3. Clap! Clap! - Hokkaido's Farewell Portrait
b1. Clap! Clap! - Southern Dub feat. Domenico Candellori
b2. Clap! Clap! - Kif In The Rif
b3. Clap! Clap! - Mandragora
c1. Clap! Clap! - Moving On feat. Martha Da'Ro
c2. Clap! Clap! - Rising Fire feat. Kety Fusco
c3. Clap! Clap! - Quietude
d1. Clap! Clap! - Tostoini
d2. Clap! Clap! - Blue Flower
d3. Clap! Clap! - Liquid Portraits feat. Piero Spitilli
Available: 18th December 2020
a1. Schmeichel - Feel
a2. Schmeichel - Sting
b1. Schmeichel - Judge Mee
b2. Schmeichel - G i o i
b3. Schmeichel - Yin Yang
Repress Due - 19th March 2021
The elusive Rogue Filter is back with some heavy Electro beats for your earholes. Side A finds him fighting with extraterrestrial Robots who are trying to take over our world and the Side B takes a look at our beautiful English language..
a1. Rogue Filter - Bot Wars
b1. Rogue Filter - JAM
Repress Release Date: 30th April 2021
Seekersinternational sends dub into another dimension, a place where the laws of physics appear irrelevant. Formerly solid structures are made improbable and surreal; songs become dizzying, recursive mazes. But for all this weirdness, the Canadian producer has generally hung onto dub's loved-up feel.
**REPRESS**
a1. DubGanaGana
a2. AmenBreadren ft Sipreano
a3. SoundDedication
a4. DanceGwaan (EazeUp!)
a5. NoCompetition ft K!dlat
a6. Bubblers (Inter-rude) ft Sipreano
b1. TellURudeBwoy ft wzrdryAV
b2. ChannelTwo (MurderousDub)
b3. ForwardTheBass
b4. GunRingoX1&2 ft Sipreano
b5. InterOuterNational
Available: 18th December 2020
Peter Michael Hamel emerged from the 70s Krautrock scene dreaming of “the blue flower growing between the milestones on the road to a future world-music”. A truly visionary artist who worked and studied with John Cage, Morton Feldman and Terry Riley, his 1980 Colours of Time LP - an epic, sprawling, 22-minute saga - was hailed by The Guardian’s Rob Fitzpatrick as “an absolute masterpiece of skull-bursting, synth-led ambient minimalism”. Thirty six years on, Astral Industries reinterpret Hamel's original vision with remixes from two contemporary heavyweights - Wolfgang Voigt and Rod Modell (aka Deepchord). Each expansive interpretation invites you to step outside of reality and into an alternative imagination of Hamel's future world, spiralling into the colours and slowly out of time itself. Original artwork by Theo Ellsworth and a massive thanks to Peter Michael Hamel & Eckart Rahn.
a1. Wolfgang’s Neokraut Trip
b1. Deepchord’s Carolina Forest Mix