The genesis of the tracks on the Defiance LP [HOROEX38] came directly in the aftermath of the Space Echo EP by ASC for Samurai Red Seal. At the time, James made remixes of some of the tracks from this EP in an updated style for use on his last European tour. Two of these remixes make up the Defiance: Prelude release. Space Echo gets rebuilt into a more sinuous, ethereal soundscape, and Reveal is also refined into a graceful flotation device with sprinkles of air from the ether.
Defiance is a collection of tracks constructed while experimentation was underway in the ASC studio between 170BPM Techno and the creation of the Grey Area sound. Upon revision, the vitality and strength of these tunes as a collection became apparent. Leaving these unreleased would be a travesty in our mission to be part of documenting the evolution of the voluminous ASC production legacy. While heavy on effective floor tunes that ASC utilised in his last tour of Europe, Defiance is given an ethereal LP narrative with tunes like opener Exulansis, Tensile, and Sarif. Defiance helps to complete the story of the development of the ASC sound as we know it today.
While confined to his remote studio by the global pandemic, Sam KDC delivered a follow up to his debut LP for Horo with 4 malicious Techno subversions. Continuing on from the addition of breakbeats on the Omen Rising LP, further exploration with shards of breakbeats being woven into his bleak constructs continues on all tracks here. A Mutiny In Monochrome side steps into new rhythmic zones once again defying uniform categorisation.
One of Samurai Music’s most respected new artists - Torn crosses over from his Drum and Bass releases to Horo for the Forsaken EP - 4 tracks of experimental Techno that continue the progression of the Grey Area sound.
‘Forsaken’ takes it down low with searing distortion and serves as a perfect grinding intro, while ‘There Is No Way Back’ works an overdriven kick into a heaving floor dominator. ‘Ordeal For The Soul’ and ‘Sin’ both work polyrhythms into a deceptive tempo cocktail producing a hefty, hypnotic sway that is constructed to seduce dance-floors.
Vermisst is a new collaborative project from Sam KDC, Torn and Korse. Working together to expand on the Grey Area sound, the Zerfall (disintegration) EP takes a more aggressive approach than past releases from Grey Area developers ASC and Sam KDC.
From the lightning rod rave stabs of Zukunft and the rolling breakbeat textures of Zuruf, Vermisst work their polyrhythms into powerful propulsion. Zerfall and Zahnrad take a deeper approach with sheets of distortion splashed over the lurching rhythms.
Hand numbered, double sided artwork insert included.
Retrocausality features eight new tracks spread across two EPs. Thematically, the record is inspired by the idea that spirituality and science can crossover and blend, such as the theories of quantum physics and Buddhism, according to the press release. The EPs are titled A Posteriori ("from cause") and A Priori ("from result"), meant to highlight the duality of perception. The music is a mix of ambient, drum & bass and techno in the Grey Area style pioneered by ASC, Sam KDC and Horo label head Geoff Wright.
The Japanese artist, real name Maiko Okimoto, first released an album on Horo in 2017. Earlier this year, she also put out the Figure And Ground EP via Sacred Court.
Retrocausality features eight new tracks spread across two EPs. Thematically, the record is inspired by the idea that spirituality and science can crossover and blend, such as the theories of quantum physics and Buddhism, according to the press release. The EPs are titled A Posteriori ("from cause") and A Priori ("from result"), meant to highlight the duality of perception. The music is a mix of ambient, drum & bass and techno in the Grey Area style pioneered by ASC, Sam KDC and Horo label head Geoff Wright.
The Japanese artist, real name Maiko Okimoto, first released an album on Horo in 2017. Earlier this year, she also put out the Figure And Ground EP via Sacred Court.
Hand numbered, double sided artwork insert Included.
Retrocausality features eight new tracks spread across two EPs. Thematically, the record is inspired by the idea that spirituality and science can crossover and blend, such as the theories of quantum physics and Buddhism, according to the press release. The EPs are titled A Posteriori ("from cause") and A Priori ("from result"), meant to highlight the duality of perception. The music is a mix of ambient, drum & bass and techno in the Grey Area style pioneered by ASC, Sam KDC and Horo label head Geoff Wright.
The Japanese artist, real name Maiko Okimoto, first released an album on Horo in 2017. Earlier this year, she also put out the Figure And Ground EP via Sacred Court.
Retrocausality features eight new tracks spread across two EPs. Thematically, the record is inspired by the idea that spirituality and science can crossover and blend, such as the theories of quantum physics and Buddhism, according to the press release. The EPs are titled A Posteriori ("from cause") and A Priori ("from result"), meant to highlight the duality of perception. The music is a mix of ambient, drum & bass and techno in the Grey Area style pioneered by ASC, Sam KDC and Horo label head Geoff Wright.
The Japanese artist, real name Maiko Okimoto, first released an album on Horo in 2017. Earlier this year, she also put out the Figure And Ground EP via Sacred Court.
Releasing music since 2009 as Sam KDC, British artist Samuel Wood has grown into one of electronic music's most passionate developers of the outer edge. In recent years, Sam has been an integral part of the Grey Area label and sound, a creative musical pathway that ties a musical bridge between 85 and 128 bpm with crafty polyrhythms. As further evidence of his versatility, his debut LP 'Late Night Innominate' Vol 1 (2015 - Auxiliary) was an entirely ambient long player which found favour across the electronic music world for its emotive power.
Omen Rising, Sam’s debut LP for Horo is also his first full length record to focus entirely on beat driven work. The album further incorporates the occult themes Sam has been using as pervading signifiers since his 2014 EP ‘The Order and the Entity’. Musically, Omen Rising sees the Grey Area sound re built into a hurtling fireball of energy stretching the constraints of what we know as Techno until the straps are blown off. From the hypnotic intro beat march of False Awakening to the wrecking ball propulsion of ‘Trial By Fire’ and ‘Eye for an Eye’, Sam flexes his seasoned ability to create ominous sound-scapes brimming with momentous power. An unmistakeable highlight is ‘Coup de Grace’, the first Grey-men (Grey Area x Amen) tune to be released, using the the infamous breakbeat as the exploding culmination of a volcanic build up. ‘When I Was Immortal’ and title track ‘Omen Rising’ take the energy down a notch and demonstrate Sam’s flair for affective ambience.
Omen Rising is a confident showcase from an artist who has found a defining sound and is revelling in his ability to develop it entirely out on his own.
Primarily known as Codex Empire, Mahk Rumbae slides his Antechamber project over to Horo for an EP of crushing, relentless stagger-tech.
Following on from his s/t Antechamber debut for Instruments Of Discipline, Rift sees the artists minimalist brutality refined into an even more dominant language. From the nightmare grinds of Dagger Complex and Rift to the sinister rhythm of Repudiation and the conjuring ambience that emanates from Arch of Hysteria, the Rift EP offers an intimidating assemblage of doom laden sonics. The limited vinyl edition of this release is a 10" cut onto a 12" plate.
Primarily known as Codex Empire, Mahk Rumbae slides his Antechamber project over to Horo for an EP of crushing, relentless stagger-tech.
Following on from his s/t Antechamber debut for Instruments Of Discipline, Rift sees the artists minimalist brutality refined into an even more dominant language. From the nightmare grinds of Dagger Complex and Rift to the sinister rhythm of Repudiation and the conjuring ambience that emanates from Arch of Hysteria, the Rift EP offers an intimidating assemblage of doom laden sonics. The limited vinyl edition of this release is a 10" cut onto a 12" plate.
Liam Blackburn’s Ancestral Voices project is a nomadic journey of self discovery, exploring expansion of consciousness through sound. Since it’s inception in 2016 the project has traversed from transcendent ambient to jagged 170 bpm beat experiments over the course of 2 full length LP’s and 3 EP’s. In 2018 Liam launched his own label ‘The Fifth Kingdom’ with the entirely beat-less release - Mycelia.
Liam returns to Horo to follow up his second LP ‘Divination’ for the label in 2017 with the next step in his musical evolution - Navagraha.
Navagraha means "nine celestial bodies" in Sanskrit. Each ‘Graha’ is a specific vibration and relates to the nine planets of our solar system, as well as the different parts of our body.
In 1978 Hans Cousto, a Swiss mathematician and musicologist discovered the natural law of the cosmic octave as the link between different kinds of periodically occurring natural phenomena, such as the orbit of the planets, the weather, colours, rhythms and tones.
For the Navagraha project Ancestral Voices has taken Hans Cousto’s ‘frequency’ of each planet and created a unique tuning system which he uses for each track.
The result is a mixture of Ptolemaic, Pythagorean and other ‘Alternate’ Harmonic scales that can create a profound effect on the consciousness of the listener. Steering away from equal temperament opens up an infinite amount of possibilities and more ‘colours’ to paint the picture with.
Purely by coincidence, the 2019 Horo schedule commences in the same way as 2018 - with a release from Parisian artist Von Grall. Following up his debut LP ‘Infinitum’ for the label, the Three Waves EP probes new depths in shimmering, rhythmic obscuration.
Seemingly constructed under a thick sheet of fog, Three Waves is immersive Techno with taut, granular waves winding through it’s construction, adding emotive touches sparingly, but with precision potency.
Purely by coincidence, the 2019 Horo schedule commences in the same way as 2018 - with a release from Parisian artist Von Grall. Following up his debut LP ‘Infinitum’ for the label, the Three Waves EP probes new depths in shimmering, rhythmic obscuration.
Seemingly constructed under a thick sheet of fog, Three Waves is immersive Techno with taut, granular waves winding through it’s construction, adding emotive touches sparingly, but with precision potency.
Body Unknown is the new project formed by Kwartz (Pole Group, Order&Devotion, Horo) and Qestion (Order&Devotion).
Born from the concept of the duality of mind and body, the project explores states of detachment from physical presence, where the senses become distorted and control over thoughts or actions is lost. Lack Of Skin is the debut Body Unknown release.
Four sinewy pulses for tuned in dance-floors, each track takes an eminent angle to it’s destination, sending resolute signals through a contorted haze.
Body Unknown is the new project formed by Kwartz (Pole Group, Order&Devotion, Horo) and Qestion (Order&Devotion).
Born from the concept of the duality of mind and body, the project explores states of detachment from physical presence, where the senses become distorted and control over thoughts or actions is lost. Lack Of Skin is the debut Body Unknown release.
Four sinewy pulses for tuned in dance-floors, each track takes an eminent angle to it’s destination, sending resolute signals through a contorted haze.
After making his initial mark with a grinding fog of slowed Techno on Sigha’s Our Circula Sound label, Michael Jefford aka Positive Centre has traversed the electronic BPM scale with a sonic signature of ghostly synthetics that make the switch between industrial aesthetics and illusory sound-scaping.
Within this nucleus, Jefford’s recorded history as a Live Performing Artist, DJ and Producer has always reflected what at once can be microscopic, whilst still being the largest object in view. Each track on Forever Optimum sets a different location and perspective on an active set of mechanics - like watching fragments in motion, reacting to different forces.
Having previously released for a range of Techno’s more adventurous labels including SNTS, Stroboscopic Artefacts, Opal Tapes and not forgetting his own In Silent Series label. Positive Centre’s 3rd Album ‘Forever Optimum’ stands as a beautiful anomaly in the 2018 HORO catalogue. Continuing the point of the HORO label: being open to the beguiling musical arcs that keep us redefining our sound.
After making his initial mark with a grinding fog of slowed Techno on Sigha’s Our Circula Sound label, Michael Jefford aka Positive Centre has traversed the electronic BPM scale with a sonic signature of ghostly synthetics that make the switch between industrial aesthetics and illusory sound-scaping.
Within this nucleus, Jefford’s recorded history as a Live Performing Artist, DJ and Producer has always reflected what at once can be microscopic, whilst still being the largest object in view. Each track on Forever Optimum sets a different location and perspective on an active set of mechanics - like watching fragments in motion, reacting to different forces.
Having previously released for a range of Techno’s more adventurous labels including SNTS, Stroboscopic Artefacts, Opal Tapes and not forgetting his own In Silent Series label. Positive Centre’s 3rd Album ‘Forever Optimum’ stands as a beautiful anomaly in the 2018 HORO catalogue. Continuing the point of the HORO label: being open to the beguiling musical arcs that keep us redefining our sound.
Formerly releasing exclusively for Pact Infernal's label Altar, one half of Pact Infernal steps forward as Nastika with the Black Sun EP. Nastika takes the fright to the floor in a more direct fashion than his work with Pact. Sinuous, eastern tinged waves wash over percussive stomps on 'Yajna' and 'Sati', while the matching Black Sun tunes mark out a unique stylistic territory somewhere between Techno and mysticism. With Black Sun, Nastika further refines his crucial musical accompaniment to the indelible works of Pact Infernal.
Athens, Greece resident and Vanila records owner ANFS lands on Horo for an EP of jagged, industrial tinged Techno. Breakbeats are hacked and repurposed into brutal shards, with 'Kounoupi's amen march adding a slowed down, vicious take on the infamous roll. 'Salepsa' is a propulsive call to the floor, robust and emphatic, with 'Dervisis' and 'Komena' bookending the EP with rattling menace.
Boris Brenecki and Darko Kolar (aka Katran) regroup as Ontal for a Horo EP that combines their instinctual brutality with a deeper probe into their penchant for experimentation.
Lead track Ikari’s flickering storm unfurls a rhythmic rage that rolls over you like a turbo-charged synapse exciter. At its peak Ikari feels as if it’s about to explode into shards of jagged, forged synthesis, but pulls itself back from the brink to reignite its hostile oscillation. R-Amen bends the famous breakbeat over a concentrated twin-drop, peak-time 130bpm eruption, while Vigilante is a punishing machine, built to instil palpable tension. In blinding form, Headless Horseman takes apart Ikari and reconstructs it as a hyper half-step technoid stepper, complete with a guttural drop reminiscent of the more advanced strains of 170bpm music.
Boris Brenecki and Darko Kolar (aka Katran) regroup as Ontal for a Horo EP that combines their instinctual brutality with a deeper probe into their penchant for experimentation.
Lead track Ikari’s flickering storm unfurls a rhythmic rage that rolls over you like a turbo-charged synapse exciter. At its peak Ikari feels as if it’s about to explode into shards of jagged, forged synthesis, but pulls itself back from the brink to reignite its hostile oscillation. R-Amen bends the famous breakbeat over a concentrated twin-drop, peak-time 130bpm eruption, while Vigilante is a punishing machine, built to instil palpable tension. In blinding form, Headless Horseman takes apart Ikari and reconstructs it as a hyper half-step technoid stepper, complete with a guttural drop reminiscent of the more advanced strains of 170bpm music.
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