Collaborations is a new series curated by Artefakt on their own imprint De Stijl. Inviting friends and likeminded artists for extended studio improvisations crafting an EP based on live sessions. First guest is Claudio PRC, a close friend and familiar face in the deep techno scene. Having released on labels such as Semantica, TGP, his own 012 and most recently Delsin Records, he has a close connection to Artefakt. Both artists reside in Berlin and share a dedicated passion for atmospheric and immersive ambient and techno. Collaborations I features four jams combining the unmistakable strengths of both artists, resulting in a well varied pack of emotive techno with room for experiment. Where 'Gaia' and 'Dwelling' feel like iconic tracks of the pair teaming up, on the flip side 'Sonic Rite' slows down in pace and catches a magnificent groove. The shared love for ambient results in the mesmerizing closer of the EP 'Distant Light'.
Safe Planet’s intergalactic transmissions channel Neek’s deep space sample collection missions, and after bringing Ishan up to warp-speed with intensive rave and hardcore training, the duo launched firmly into dancefloor production mode with their debut EP for Sweet Sensation.
This project matches tidy low-end focused productions long established through their individual releases under Peng Sound & Hotline, with space cadet research methods developed for the pair’s recent collaboration with Young Echo rappers Manonmars & Bogues on DNO records.
The first trip on Hardline's forest living, free party going, gary loving cousin Body High.
Transcendent sound system music from Melbourne's Sedgwick. 5 spacey wafters that'll make you wish you were in a forest, in a field, on a beach or on a dance floor with your eyes closed swaying about.
The long awaited 6th release on Neighbourhood by the talented Reflec, coming with a mixture of breaks, techno, broken beat, lush pads, sweet melodies & everything in between. dBridge has put his unique twist on Spectra, tough snares, gnarly bassline & subtle acid licks. It's hard to pigeon hole this one!
The two tracks on this release ‘Take Me To Your Leader’ and ‘Bodyrock’ were made in Stu J’s living room at the Polygon in Southampton. His studio partner Don had a Roland W30 work station that he would bring over, which was an all in one sampler and sequencer. “I think this is also what The Prodigy used at the time” Stu tells me.
There was also an Akai 950, a 24 track Allen & Heath desk and a Quadraverb which Stu owned. “I think that was it, that’s all we had to make these tracks. It was such a great time that you could make music with such limited gear. It was like things were better if you had minimal gear to work with.” When the tracks were completed Stu used a company called Perpetual for all the cutting and pressing as he didn’t have any links directly, so a one stop shop was the best course of action to get his releases out there.
“It was a crazy experience. As we had limited sample time, big sections of the track are mixed in live from another record on the decks. Don had the sequencer, so he knew what he was doing on that side of things, far more than me. I was the DJ and knew how a tune should be structured. Don was an amazing engineer. He was so much more than an engineer though.
This track is a seminal tune for any raver on the South Coast of the UK as Stu would be playing Madisons, Remix, Adrenalin parties as well as Fantazia at Matchams. But this release went far beyond the south, it was a national treasure that take those who listen back to 1991, the year this release was first pressed. Now available remastered and repressed on heavyweight green vinyl.
After his sought-after debut 12” on I Love Acid last year, which sold out in less than an hour, notorious Brooklyn DJ & producer WTCHCRFT returns with a full EP on Posthuman’s Balkan Vinyl imprint. Four tracks of hyper-energetic acid & jack, direct gear for the dancefloor and already heavily club tested. Title track “Drugs Here” sets the pace for the whole EP, with “No Time To Lose” bringing WTCHCRFT’s signature vocal edit style. B side banger “Uhmm” recently featured on TSHA’s Fabric mix compilation. Hand numbered edition of 666 copies, randomly assigned to either red or blue marbled heavyweight 180g wax.
The long awaited second instalment of our 4 part VA series.
Opening track ‘Dub Free pt.3 (Rose line mix)’ is a masterfully produced and mixed dub techno groove by Hiss Is Bliss. With skills at this level, there’s clearly more to come from this French artist.
On the flip, USA born Bukkha, digs into the deep dub techno trenches with Dub Envelope. Situated at 115bpm, a tempo with much possibility, Bukkha hits the nail on the head with ease and exposes a different side to his usual output.
Closing out this carefully curated 3 track 12” - Bristol talent Somah signs off with a dreamy dub break titled Knot Up.
Dirty machine gun funk, dripping in fudgy acidic grooves on this twisted heater from native London badass Shy One. Techno collides with Jazz Fusion across three jams recorded straight out the box and cut exclusively onto wax for Eglo Records. This 7" marks the first in a series of releases from the kinetic, undefinable talent.
Tune in as we join our intrepid hero as he emerges from his sonic bunker , where he’s been in hiding since the dreaded lurgy infected the world. Evil overlords have since taken over our planet with a dictatorship whose prime objective is to erase all creative influences to stop us having fun .Can our hero overthrow them with his sonic arsenal of Electro weaponry?
Big Hands teams up with trumpeter Abraham Parker on Trule with a trio of deep, dubbed out percussion jams. Layers of drums and sparse synth work overlaid with Abrahams jazz inflected trumpet parts, all run through with dubwise echoes.
Al Wootton provides a minimal techno dub remix on the B-side.
a1. Big Hands & Abraham Parker - Aperta (Improv. 1)
a2. Big Hands & Abraham Parker - 278 Dub (Improv. 2)
b1. Big Hands & Abraham Parker - Doppio
b2. Big Hands & Abraham Parker - 278 Dub (Al Wootton Remix)