13th September 2010 Releases

RAIME
Raime EP:
A1. Retread
A2. This Foundry
B1. We Must Hunt Under The Wreckage Of Many Systems
Blackest Ever Black 12" EP
(BLACKEST 001)
Raime - This Foundry [mastered] by Blackest Ever Black
Raime - We Must Hunt Under The Wreckage Of Many Systems [mastered] by Blackest Ever Black

Blackest Ever Black is a new London-based label that seeks to re-establish electronic music as a poetic, provocative and emotionally inquisitive force. Music by artists, not engineers. Its first release is a self-titled EP by Raime, a British duo who draw explicit inspiration from the marginal mavericks of early European goth, industrial and synth wave - artists largely omitted from the current master narrative of post-punk history, and who strove to make music at once cerebral and visceral, futuristic and atavistic. Well-versed in the language of club music, but rejecting its typically rigid sequencing and arrangements, Raime use technology pensively - to convey a sense of crisis, collapse and longing. Transporting and disorienting though their work might be, it's narratively taut and has no truck whatsoever with the "cosmic"; it's too aggressive and engaged to be called psychedelic.

'Retread' floats spectral plainchant across a ruthlessly pared-down, reverb-heavy drum pattern and sub-bass summoned from the deepest crypt, before unfolding into a gripping coda of suffocated woodwind, disembodied howls and billowing, baleful sheets of melody. 'This Foundry' threatens groove but never quite yields to it, its hypnotic, low-slung rhythm and eerily decaying bass sound disrupted by strafing synths and a swell of vocal textures alternately celestial and guttural. BLACKEST002, due out in November, will feature a remix of this track by Regis (Sandwell District / Downwards).

A huge, martial drum tattoo dominates 'We Must Hunt Under The Wreckage Of Many Systems', the yawning space between hits striped with drones that conjure hostile pre- and post-human landscapes. The track's dark, ritualistic momentum will make sense to fans of dubstep and jungle, but the dread it evokes is singular and oblique.

BLACKEST001 is a trio of bold, original essays in unease, and a welcome sign that the post-techno avant-garde is alive, angry and untethered to the dancefloor, academy or gallery space. Music for hard times.

MURMUR
Fume EP:
A1. Tangle
A2. Fumes
B1. Fumes (PCB 3000 Mix)
meanwhile. 12"
(MEAN 019)



Murmur return with a brace of killers, their first new material since MEAN 011's split release with Bovill back in 2008. Over the course of the half dozen years since beginning their Meanwhile imprint, Murmur's output has been so sparing, evanescent, and epitomising the label's low-key approach to steppers house music and horizontal techno with an implicit electronic beatdown sound, that acknowledges their pitched down sound, so heavily influenced by their early South African adventures and exploits.

'Tangle' is a case in point, effortlessly, deployed house music for bubblers, one for those who know and understand how to build a true dance music session from the ground up. Murmur give the machines a thorough going over on the title cut 'Fume', ever so restrained and beatless it has been offered up to the Pendle Coven Breakers (PCB) to work some on the bass and drum undercarriage.

Miles Whittaker and Gary Howell come through in fine style with a beautiful, controlled and yet understated rub of 'Fumes'. True steppers rollidge for warm up session teasing and tickling bigger systems: leaving still ample room for low-end exploration and with a most supreme build to it. that is just perfectly weighted.

MARKUS FJELLSTROM
Schattenspieler
Miasmah CD
(MIACD 013)
Marcus Fjellström - Schattenspieler by miasmah

Swedish composer and multimedia artist Marcus Fjellström's debut Miasmah release follows two critically acclaimed full length albums on Lampse (2006's 'Gebrauchsmusik' and 2005's 'Exercises In Estrangement'). In addition Marcus has had several commissioned works requested, leading to him working with, among others, the Swedish Royal Ballet, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, numerous ensembles, soloists and filmmakers including 'Salad Fingers' creator David Firth. Currently based in Berlin, Fjellström's compositions often combine aspects of modern classical composition and arrangement and more avant forms of music, be that acoustic or electronic.

'Schattenspieler' (which translates as 'Shadowplayer') takes the form of eleven compositions which explore ambience and melody, texture and silence. Haunting synth and orchestral instrument-based audio constructions, flowing from one moment to the next - the fleeting ghosts of Fjellström's melodies rise, only to be buried under a claustrophobic clutter of percussion and creaking background noise. These pieces do indeed feel like you're listening to something more implied than obviously stated, as if Fjellström wants only to expose us to the shadow of the music - the implication being perhaps a more terrifying experience than to be confronted outright…listen to 'Schattenspieler' and you may find your mind starts to play tricks on you…

The undeniably Angelo Badalamenti-esque descending synth strings of opening track 'The Disjointed', lay the foundations for Fjellström's 'Schattenspieler' album; music resting somewhere between the unsettling horror soundtracks of Jerry Goldsmith, the elevating melodies of Cliff Martinez, and the subtle audio constructions of Miasmah label mates Kreng and Jacaszek. Marcus' wide ranging abilities in composition and his willingness to let go of accepted form and function makes 'Schattenspieler' a perfect choice of release for the Miasmah label. The suspense laden 'Antichrist Architechture Management', with its harrowing and tense undertones, weaving synth lines and a wash of static hiss and flicker, is a particular standout track. Despite it's a strangely oppressive sound, shafts of light grace 'Schattenspieler'; pieces such as 'Untitled 090616' find gorgeous melodies are boxed in by unsettling arrangements and sparse background ambience. There is a coldness to many of these compositions - not without emotion, but somehow remorseless. 'Schattenspieler' is, for the main part, a defiantly bleak journey.

'Schattenspieler' also includes a four part suite 'House Without A Door' (tracks six to nine), which was originally commissioned for the Bernd Behr film of the same name. Album closer 'Uncanny Valleys', reflective in some ways of the opening track, is a haze of descending synth and organ tones. The imperfections in these often scratchy recordings makes for an alluring, almost drug- induced state of mind where all that is real is unreal. Doom-not-doom? Well, not perhaps so easy to label…it's safe to say though, as a well grounded modern composer, Fjellström's created something of a suitably appropriate monster in 'Schattenspieler'.

PINCH
A. The Boxer
AA. The Boxer (DARQWAN Remix)
Tectonic 12"
(TEC 040)





Pinch "The Boxer" Tectonic TEC040 by Multiverse

Pinch is back with a heavy hitting, dancefloor punishing beast of a track - 'The Boxer'. Ethereal sounds emerge from another dimension as a filtered conga pattern charges up, leading us to the punchline... POW! It's a full fist in the jaw. Flip for darkside garage legend Darqwan's version as he mangles the original into something that sounds like metal being torn apart by big machines.

THE RAAH PROJECT
Trick Of The Light - CESSA Remixes:
A. Trick Of The Midnight Mix
B. Trick Of The Late Night Mix
white label 12"
(CR 1201)
Trick of the midnight (RAaH Project - Cessa Remix) by cessa
Trick of the Late night (RAaH Project - Cessa Remix) by cessa

Already gaining heavy plays from sceneleaders Floating Points, SBTRKT and with rinseage everywhere from Ronnie Scotts to Fabric, these are two white label only secret weapons - versions straight from the epicentre of the London scene. Utilising a trace element of the Rah Project's stunning 'Trick of the Light' vocal and building two entirely new tracks around them - the producer in question somehow manages to traverse flexier funkier movements, weighted bollywood style string swells, with more gorgeous teched up and dubbed down beat feelings - killer twelve, not with us for long, be quick!

SIMON/OFF
A. Forever
AA1. No Pills
AA2. On Arrete Tout
Immerse 12"
(IME 021)
ime021 by immerserecords

Jazz and Latin-spiked dubstep experiments from Austrian producer, Simon/Off. He's previously released on Haunted Audio and Surface Tension before dropping the propulsive A-side 'Forever' with warm jazz chords and a forward 4/4 momentum. On the flip 'No Pills' goes on a Latin-inspired broken house jaunt and 'On Arrête Tout' rounds out a breaks-inspired dubstep groove. For fans of Hessle Audio, 4 Hero and the Mindset crew.

6th September 2010 Releases

PINCH & PAVEL AMBIONT
A. Jelly Bean
AA. Poison/Remedy
P&P 12"
P&P100
poison / remedy (pinch & pavel ambiont) by pavel ambiont

ARKHONIA
Trails / Traces
White Box CD
(WHITEBOX 006)
WHITEBOX006 - Arkhonia 'FyldeFF' by whitebox

This is a collection of drone based, slow moving progressions, all realized without the use of any live instrumentation, or any trained musical ear. Small fragments of sound have been stretched, edited, filtered, reduced and manipulated to create an often barren and solitary sonic landscape. The source materials have been either expanded from a limited input (a couple of Fender Rhodes notes into tracks 2, 3 & 4), broken down and transformed into something entirely distinct from its origin (a few picked acoustic guitar chords on FyldeFF), or transmuted into a bold and dark shadow of its former self (a snippet of a live recording of a Liondialer pub gig into GDLadyburn) – all collated into one seamless sequence.

Arkhonia’s music is indeed a peculiar animal. And it’s a deep, deep listening experience which plunges the listener further into states of subconscious unrest – time slows down or stops, as the listener slowly slips into a narcoleptic state through the slow decline into computer noise (BCTrails/CDTraces), or sound events which unfold with no discernable pattern or meaning (Events/Non-Events). But rather than offering a monotonous serial drone, these tracks create an overall landscape, alternately dank and warm to the point of humidity, and cold, stark and sparse, all eventually dissipating into nothingness as the album closes, reprising the pulses and washes of its opening.

These tracks have been very consciously constructed, with edits and segments extracted from outputted ‘drift studies’ (with a knowing nod to both LaMonte Young and Brian Eno) that often run for an hour or so, and then dissected for key musical components. These explorations focus on ideas of musical ‘events and non-events’; subdued harmonic monotones and stasis contrasting with huge dynamic surges of processed tones - insistent, at times bordering on the subsonic, and tonally identifiable as Arkhonia’s distinctly digital sound signature.

30th August 2010 Releases

OCTOBER & EWAN PEARSON
That Placid Track:
A. Original Mix
B. Ewan Pearson's Mr Meek Goes To Offenbach Remix
Caravan 12"
(CVAN 014)
October "That Placid Track" + Ewan Pearson remix OUT NOW by Multiverse

OK people – it’s our pleasure to present to you a brand new track from label boss October aka Julian Smith.

"That Placid Track" has been in the hands of some lucky individuals for some time now, making its way across dancefloors from Berlin to New York, Bristol to Tokyo.
Dark disco references are heavy throughout with a great use of strings licks, a slo-motion vocal sample and a classic cowbell keeping everything nicely in check. As with most of October's productions though he still has one foot firmly inside "Berghain"
rendering this essentially disco track into something with more of a late night,
broody edge.

On remix duties is the legend that is Ewan Pearson who really needs no introduction. Suffice it to say that we are honoured to have such an esteemed producer on board for this release whose previous remixes include those for the likes of Depeche Mode, The Rapture, Goldfrapp, and The Chemical Brothers. We also thank him heartedly for taking time out from an unbelievably busy schedule producing albums for Tracey Thorn & Delphic to put him name to this October original AND pulling in the skills of his man Sasse Lindblad to assist with the mix.

FABIO ORSI
Random Shades Of Day
Privileged To Fail 3CD
(FAIL 012)






Fabio Orsi has been winning the hearts of many listeners over the past few years with both his solo and collaboration releases. It's not often I find a new artist that interests me, and since my first listen to 'before long, before anyone, the stars will be walls in my mind' I've been hooked.

This set includes two CDs of previously unreleased and out-of-print material spanning Fabio Orsi's career. Drones, keyboard, guitar, distant vocals and field recordings can be found over the first two discs. Included are Fabio Orsi's first EP (I'm Here), 1000 Days Red, Faded on the Blowing of Winter, six previously unreleased tracks and more.

CD3 is a brand new full length record entitled 'Random Shades of Day'. This new full length continues on from 'Wild Light of the Moon' with beautiful drones and relaxing ambience. This is easily some of my favourite work that Fabio has ever done, and Part III is also some of his darkest.

Easily the finest release to date.


LATE
A. Losing You
AA. Under These Conditions
Immerse 12"
(IME 019PT1)
Late - Losing You by immerserecords
Late - Under These Conditions by immerserecords

23rd August 2010 Releases

HYETAL
A. Phoenix
AA. Like Silver
Orca 12"
(ORCA 002)
Hyetal - Phoenix - 002 by william orca
Hyetal - Like Silver - 002 by william orca

Following the success and great reception for its XI and Headhunter debut release, Orca Recordings is back to deliver its highly anticipated second instalment; this time from Bristol-based producer, Hyetal.

Whilst many of his peers cite influences from early garage and jungle, Hyetal’s musical backgrounds stem from a different collection of genres. After playing bass for several bands in his youth, Hyetal’s love of hiphop producers like J Dilla and DJ Premier, led him to purchase an MPC 2000 so he could try his hand at emulating their beats in the same way. This unusual path has led Hyetal to create a completely unique sound, which when paired with elements of UK bass music, giving a welcomed dose of originality to the scene.

In an unbelievable year, Hyetal has seen releases on seminal labels such as Punch Drunk Records, Soul Motive and Planet Mu. Now, we’re proud to announce that the tracks to be released on Orca Recordings are ‘Phoenix’ and ‘Like Silver’. ‘Phoenix’ is arguably Hyetal’s boldest attempt at production so far, drawing heavy influence from 80’s classics from Prince and even Phil Collins. Hyetal’s trademark synth work is apparent from the start, with several different tones and leads switching up the vibe throughout the track. On the drop, the combination of the classic snare soaked in reverb and the irresistible chord progression, ‘Phoenix’ is set to drop as a large summer anthem for 2010.

On the flip, ‘Like Silver’ carries a much more relaxed vibe. With a multitude of layers of intricate synth work combined with a blend of organic, rolling percussion, ‘Like Silver’ is a perfect tune for the headphones or the DJs who like to take it a little bit deeper.

Strong DJ support has come from across the board, and includes: Mary Anne Hobbs, Untold, Jackmaster, Ben UFO, Appleblim, Ramadanman, Peverelist amongst many more...


LIKHAN
A. Boston
AA. Boxin'
7EVEN 12"
(7EVEN 016)
Out now: LIKHAN' - Boston (7EVEN16) by 7evenrecordings
Out now: LIKHAN' - Boxin (7EVEN16) by 7evenrecordings

LIKHAN’ is the author of three sold out twelves on 7even Recordings, including the first release on the label ‘Terre / Uwill’ and recent classics such as ‘Qumran’ and ‘Redlight’. Al last he's back on wax in 2010 with ‘Boxin’ and ‘Boston’, offering us two of his best Dub House / Dubbage cuts for all the onethirty crew.

Pioneer of bass music in France for almost 10 years now, his productions have always ignored borders and have been recognized for their melodic quality and musicality. Notably supported by Mala Digital Mystikz on his Dubstep productions, this true underground artist is constantly innovating in the studio.

Blending House and Garage flavours to massive basslines and Dub skanks, delays and echoes, ‘Boxin’ and ‘Boston’ are unique tracks, and as usual with LIKHAN’, impossible to label.

The London players have already adopted them for their turntables: T.Williams and Don Morris from Deep Teknologi, DJ IC and Slackk are currently rinsing ‘Boxin’ and ‘Boston’ at their shows and on Rinse FM. LIKHAN is definitely back!

16th August 2010 Release

CLOAK & DAGGER
A. Crimewaves
AA. In The Cut
Immerse 12"
(IME 020)
Cloak & Dagger - Crimewaves by immerserecords
Cloak & Dagger - In the Cut by immerserecords

Immerse Records spread their wings and hook up with Tokyo based Cloak & Dagger for this stunning debut release. Bristol based Immerse Records are truly on fire at the moment dropping release after release of quality music that draws on the best of dubstep, garage, techno, electronic music and beyond to create a unique and eclectic output that defies simple genre classifications. The recent incredible single from Late is now followed up with a release from a brand new artist, Cloak & Dagger.

Cloak & Dagger is the work of one Evan Gach, a resident of Japan's capital city, Tokyo, Beyond this little is known about this new production talent but one thing is clear, he has an ear for great music as this inaugural release clearly demonstrates.

The title of the A side cut 'Crimewaves' may invoke visions of a dystopian urban landscape but in reality the music contained within its frequency bound walls is set to transport you to a jazz drenched utopia. Warm Rhodes piano lines and retro keys lay the groundwork for some funk fueled breaks and energetic percussion giving this record a depth of character that is hugely appealing. This is a perfect fusion of new & old, melodic & electronic, light and dark & light again; wonderful stuff and totally timeless. The flipside 'In the Cut' is a broodier affair, setting the scene with subtle understated drums which are bedrock for some intense sub bass action. Tech inspired pads and delayed stabs intertwine with the spacious percussion creating an ethereal and floating vibe that is constantly unpinned by the floorshaking bottom end! Dark and beautiful. Immerse is a celebration of great music and this is another piece in ever impressive story…

9th August 2010 Releases

FABULOUS DIAMONDS
Fabulous Diamonds II
Chapter Music CD
(CH 077)






"Melbourne, Australia's Fabulous Diamonds specialize not so much in songs but in pools of unease. " Pitchfork

Melbourne duo Fabulous Diamonds are an odd pair. They make overtly hypnotic music, full of lulling, sensual repetition, but there’s also an edge of irritation, an undercurrent of friction that cuts through the drone and propels the songs forward.

Second album Fabulous Diamonds II by Fabulous Diamonds begins with drummer/vocalist Nisa Venerosa yelling at keyboardist Jarrod Zlatic as he counts in the first track, but they still start together in perfect unison. It’s this combination of tension and intuitive understanding that makes Fabulous Diamonds so special.

They have been playing and arguing together for more than five years now, and their musical bond has grown deeper and more expansive since their 2008 self-titled debut. That album made it into revered UK mag The Wire’s top albums of the year, and got glowing reviews from the likes of Pitchfork and The Fader.

But this new record is still a remarkable development. Of its five untitled tracks, two extend well past the ten minute mark, sustaining a kind of grumpy intensity that never lags. The album was recorded with budding producer Mikey Young of Eddy Current Suppression Ring, and was mastered by Qua’s Cornel Wilczek. Like their first album, it will be released on vinyl by venerable US label Siltbreeze, home to releases by the likes of Pink Reason, Times New Viking and Psychedelic Horseshit.

Fabulous Diamonds toured the US in 2008 with the latter two bands, playing 26 dates in one month. In 2009 they were invited to perform at Belgium’s Kraak Festival alongside Wavves, Kurt Vile and others. They also played in the UK, Holland, France, Switzerland Portugal and Sweden on their 2009 European tour. In Australia the band have played with Deerhunter, the Horrors, Akron Family, Beach House and many more.


MACHINEFABRIEK
Duotoon
Machinefabriek CD EP
(MF 012)






Duotoon by Machinefabriek

"A new self released fan disc. A 19 minute track made purely with computer generated sine waves, layered and edited to form a strangely immersive drone piece. So, no dusty vinyl crackles, textural field recordings or grainy guitars here... just pure tones."

5" CD with a transparent outer ring housed in picture sleeve slipcase and another ultra limited edition - more engrossing sonic adventures from the man Zuydervelt.

TULLY
Live at Sydney Town Hall, 1969-70
Chapter Music CD
(CH 076)






Chapter Music presents two rare live recordings from quintessential Sydney prog group Tully, including their 1970 performance of Australia’s first ever rock opera. These recordings capture the band in their first incarnation, before they joined forces with members of revered folk-psych band Extradition to explore more contemplative territory.

Formed in late 1968, Tully the First were wild, expansive and unpredictable, their live shows now the stuff of legend. Terry Wilson (vocals), Richard Lockwood (reeds), Michael Carlos (organ), John Blake (bass) and Robert Taylor (drums) employed extended improvisation, spacious dynamics and an intuitive intensity, so impressing Australian jazz icon John Sangster that he called them “the best band in the world at the time.”

In mid 69, Tully became the house band for love-rock musical Hair, recording the original cast album later that year. They also starred in a six part live-in-studio series Fusions. which premiered on ABC TV in August 1969. Sights & Sounds Of 69, from a May show of the same name, is the only live Tully recording to have survived the intervening four decades, and documents a typically far-ranging, mind-expanding performance. Ken Firth (later of the Ferrets) replaced John Blake on bass in December 1969.Perhaps Australia’s greatest living composer, Peter Sculthorpe wrote Love 200 specifically with Tully and vocalist Jeannie Lewis in mind. The work, commemorating Captain Cook’s expedition to map the Transit of Venus in 1769, was dismissed by the stuffy classcial establishment at the time, but Sculthorpe now calls it simply “one of my best works.” Heard here for the first time since the early 70s, Love 200 is an astounding piece, both elegant and jarring, serene and chaotic.

After Tully’s 1970 self-titled debut, Wilson and Taylor left the band, which then assimilated Extradition’s Shayna Stewart and Colin Campbell before releasing two more albums, Sea Of Joy (1971) and Loving Is Hard (1972), both markedly different from their fiery and often thunderous early form. Sadly, all three of Tully’s studio albums are still to be officially reissued. Until then, Live at Sydney Town Hall, 1969-70 is a fascinating insight into the early work of one of Australia’s most heralded, but least heard bands.

DANNY & THE PARKINS SISTERS
Danny & the Parkins Sisters
Chapter Music CD
(CH 068)






“Danny & the Parkins Sisters were a truly singular blend of irritating, grating, interesting and meaningful.” - Bruno DeSmartass, Flipper

Chapter Music is proud to resurrect from undeserved obscurity the scratchy beatnik art-punk stylings of early 80s San Francisco trio Danny & the Parkins Sisters. Surrounded by the classic SF punk sounds of the Dead Kennedys, Pink Section, Flipper and the like, Danny & the Parkins Sisters opted instead to head in a very different direction.

Bratty Arizona transplant Danny Vinik and chic, alluring sisters Debra and Beverly Parkins strummed on detuned guitars, banged on whatever was close at hand, and declaimed hilarious, incisive lyrics that dissected the scenes and tribes around them in visceral, ungentrified early 80s San Francisco. Their high-performance shows played out in legendary venues such as the Sound Of Music and Club Generic.

In 1982, the band released a 8 song mini album on the Modern Masters label, run by Richard Kelly of the cabaret collective Club Foot Orchestra. It included the all-time
shoulda-beena classic, War Is On Your Doorstep, a pounding tribal punk chant that sums up all the paranoia and posturing of the post-punk era.

By 1983 the band were over, with Danny heading to South America and the Parkins sisters to New York, but their brief SF moment shone with a peculiar, musically naive but still knowing charm. Fans of angular post-punk luminaries like the Bush Tetras, the Raincoats or Y Pants will love this CD, which comes filled with bonus demo, live and rehearsal recordings.

2nd August 2010 Releases

DUBKASM
Dubkasm Remixed Part 2:
A. Respek Ispek (Appleblim & Gatekeeper Remix)
B1. Transformi (Hyetal Remix)
B2. Moses (Forsaken Remix)
Sufferah's Choice 12"
(DUBK 014)

DUBKASM Remixed - Part 2 (Sufferah's Choice 12", DUBK 014) by bakedgoods

Part 2 of 5 in the Dubkasm remix saga!

FABRICE LIG
Genesis Of A Deep Sound
Fine Art Recordings CD/LP
(FA 019CD/LP)
Fabrice Lig - Genesis Of A Deep Sound by nitzanfineart

Excellent techno album by Fabrice Lig, known for his great releases on Fcom and several other labels and upcoming releases on R&S. 180 gr heavy weight – exclusive spoken track by Fabrice and 2 unique locked grooves on each side. Photography on both the vinyl and the CD comes from published photographer Andrew Moore and his book Detroit Disassembled. This is the limited vinyl version of his full length cd on Fine Art, and with this album he is straight back in the spotlights! Traditional Detroit influenced techno plus some downbeat funk. Comes with a bonus free download code of an additional track from the album.

26th July 2010 Releases

DUBKASM FEAT. RAS ADDIS
Dubkasm Remixed Part 1:
A. Hail Jah (Jakes Remix)
B. City Walls (Gemmy Remix)
Sufferah's Choice 12"
(DUBK 013)
DUBKASM Remixed - Part 1 (Sufferah's Choice 12", DUBK 013) by bakedgoods

Jakes steps up with Gemmy, back to back in this lively first twelve inch pressing, first in a series of five incoming in the Dubkasm Remixed series. Both sides have been receiving maximum rinseage, the Jakes mix providing a notable transition moment in Headhunter's recent juke to dubstep DJ excursions.


JS (J.S.ZEITER)
A. JS04
AA. JS04R2
MCMLXV 12"
(JS 04)
Strictly limited, 200 copies only, translucent grey vinyl with smokey marbling

JS-04A - JS-04 (excerpt) by MCMLXV
JS-04B - JS-04R2 (excerpt) by MCMLXV

Ten years since JS-03, but little over eight weeks have passed since the last sighting of James Zeiter on the excellent Styrax Leaves imprint. His 'Reworks' twelve for them offered a reduced anticipation of this twelve, a flavoured vapour trail of this fine double header. Killer techno.

5th July 2010 Releases

VARIOUS /
MULTIVERSE MUSIC
Dark Matter : Multiverse 2004 - 2009
Tectonic 2CD
(TECMVCD 50001)

Dark Matter :: Multiverse 2004-2009 [selected tracks from 2 x CD Compilation] by Multiverse

CD1 :

1. Vex'd 'Lion' (Subtext)
2. Circuit Breaker 'Phonque' (October's Nosebleed Remix) (Vertical Sound)
3. Moving Ninja 'Witchdokta' (Vertical Sound)
4. Pinch & P. Dutty 'War Dub' (Tectonic)
5. S.N.O. 'Disturbance' (Earwax)
6. Skream 'Bahl FWD' (Tectonic)
7. Joker 'Stuck In The System' (Earwax)
8. The Body Snatchers 'Big Ass, Mini Skirt' (Vertical Sound)
9. 2562 'Techno Dread' (Tectonic)
10. Joker & Ginz 'Purple City' (Kapsize)
11. Pinch ft Yolanda 'Get Up' (RSD Mix) (Tectonic)
12. Baobinga & I.D. 'Tongue Riddim' (Build)

CD2 :

1. Vex'd 'Pop Pop' (Subtext)
2. Loefah & Skream '28g' (Tectonic)
3. Cyrus 'Indian Stomp' (Tectonic)
4. Pinch 'Qawwali' (renamed 'Brighter Day' for Tectonic)
5. Loefah 'System' (Tectonic)
6. Moving Ninja 'Uranium' (Tectonic)
7. October 'Three Drops' (Caravan)
8. Joker 'Psychedelic Runway' (Kapsize)
9. October 'Euro Dance Hit' (Caravan)
10. emptyset 'Gate 4' (Caravan)
11. 2562 'Unbalance' (Tectonic)
12. emptyset 'Demian' (CD Exclusive)

Since its formation in 2004, Bristol based Multiverse has been one of the key creative studios for developing the city's flourishing culture of forward thinking electronic music. Based around their recording studio in the heart of the city, the collective has consistently nurtured and supported electronic artists, both nationally and internationally, in the process creating a series of seminal releases that have helped shape today's current musical landscape. Through their network of labels which includes Tectonic, Kapsize, Earwax, Caravan and Build the work of the studio has focussed on exploring the uncharted spaces between genres, bridging together today's cutting edge sonic possibilities with electronic music's rich and diverse musical history. This intention has been accomplished with a strictly artist led approach and a commitment to supporting the work of new and innovative musicians and composers. The fruits of this creative labour are reflected here in this celebratory compilation.

This double CD release offers a selection of highlights from the studio's recent history. Leading the charge are both Lion and Pop Pop by Vex'd, records that formed the first bridge between classic British industrial music and Dubstep, a fusion now championed by the likes of Surgeon, Distance and Milanese. This appears alongside Joker and Ginz's Purple City the track that spearheaded the emergence of the Purple Wow phenomenon. Also present is Pinch's Qawwali one of the key tracks that broke Dubstep to a global audience via Mary Anne Hobb's Dubstep Warz compilation. As expected Pinch's influence within Multiverse extends across the compilation through his collaboration with P-Dutty on War Dub featured in the movie Children of Men, and Get Up with Massive Attack vocalist Yolanda Quartey and Bristol legend Rob Smith. Equally the more avant-garde work of the studio is represented through Moving Ninja, an artist who pioneered the blurring of boundaries between dubstep and sound design and Emptyset whose eponymous debut album fused the streamlined European minimalism of Mika Vainio and Raster Noton with Bristol's unique bass heavy production style. This ground breaking selection of tracks sit alongside contributions by Techno-Dubstep pioneer 2562, half-step progenitor Loefah, Skream and Caravan label boss October. In the process Dark Matter creates a landmark archive of the work of one of the worlds most innovative creative networks of electronic producers.

At the centre of this community is Bristol's thriving music scene in which Multiverse forms a key social hub, and the studio has operated with a family ethos that has placed creativity and artistic co-operation at the heart of their activity. Their collective approach places dialogue and collaboration as a vital and indispensable element within the musical process, an ethos that is entrenched within the city's creative history, and their focus as ever remains in working with a diverse range of artists to craft a unique an inimitable sound that speaks to a global audience. As a result Dark Matter emerges both as a celebration of all that has been achieved and forms a decisive manifesto for an unwritten future. An elemental space where electronic music collides with new digital processes and avant-garde composition, a place where sound becomes the raw sculptural mass of the sonic languages of tomorrow.

GROUP NIOB
A. Vector
AA. Amber
Phlox 12"
(PHLOX 002)

Group Niob 12", in stores 28th june 2010 by Phlox

Our pioneers on the intriguing Austrian dubs frontier, return with this their second outing on wax - Group Niob, the collaborative work of both label heads Gerhard Potuznik and Martin Sovinz. 'Vector' continues further with exploratory mining into the oneforty bpm dubbed into technoid seam - its low end is devious and drills itself clean inside the synapses, mirages of dub cascading either side.

'Amber' works the deep small hours in the club most effectively - shunting and writhing within a dub organism which appears to throw its immaculate shapes to the four corners - heavy and grooving, ideal for smoke-machined basements and strobed warehouse interactions. Fans of everything from Scuba, Mike Dehnert, Wax series and Seldom Felt to technological Iration movements should check without delay

28th June 2010 Releases

GERARDO FRISINA
Join The Dance
Schema 2LP
(SC 452)

preview album here




After the great success gained with his last productions and the numerous DJ sets around Europe, the DJ and producer Gerardo Frisina presents his new album titled 'Join The Dance'

GERARDO FRISINA feat. NORMA WINSTONE
A. Will You Walk A Little Faster? (Faster Club Version)
B. Joy Shout (Club Dub)
Schema 12" (SCEP 453)

preview single here


The single 'Will You Walk A Little Faster' featuring Norma Winstone has been previewed on Gilles Peterson Worldwide (BBC Radio 1)

From the title of this album and the up-tempo productions proposed, one might immediately assume that this is a release aimed at the dance floor. This however, is not strictly an invitation to dance, rather a proposal to come together and celebrate the instinctive movement that is inspired by listening, and responding to music. Simply put, this is a jazz album, but still containing the strong Afro-Cuban influences that are distinctive to all of Gerardo productions, here largely expressed in Joy Shout and Titoro. With this album, he has also experimented with new sounds and influences, such as the Asian-inspired track Mille e una Notte. Gerardo has also made two songs in 3/4 time, Waltz for Emily, and Another Waltz. 'Join The Dance' is a good work of modern Latin music, arranged by Gerardo Frisina in collaboration with Luca Mannutza. Twelve pieces, nine of which are unreleased and three are covers. Two of the three re-interpretations are the only songs featuring in the album: Will You Walk a Little Faster is a new version of the beautiful 1971 Neil Ardley track, featured in the album 'A Symphony of Amaranths' and here interpreted again by the original singer, the British Jazz legend Norma Winstone. 'I’m Gonna Go Fishin’ ' instead is sung by Francesca Sortino, well-known Italian singer whom collaborated with several national and international jazz artists (Enrico Pieranunzi, Paolo Fresu, Stefano Di Battista, Eddie Henderson, Pierre Michelot, Eliot Zigmund). It is also a cover of a jazz tune taken from the 1959 film "Anatomy of a Murder" and written by Duke Ellington and Peggy Lee. The third and last cover of the album is 'Titoro', written by Billy Taylor and originally recorded in trio in 1957. Gerardo here offers a rework with a delectable Afro-Cuban taste. Thanks to the big international promotion of the single 'Will you Walk a Little Faster?', previewed by Gilles Peterson on Worldwide programme (BBC Radio 1), 'Join the Dance' will bring back on the European club scene one of the most valued Latin jazz producers.

21st June 2010 Releases

LHF EP1 : Enter In Silence
A1. DOUBLE HELIX - Deep Life
A2. LOW DENSITY MATTER - Blue Steel
B1. AMEN RA + DOUBLE HELIX - Steelz
B2. AMEN RA FEAT. DOUBLE HELIX - Broken Glass
Keysound 12"EP (LDN 018)



"...strange forces coalescing, mutterings of hoards of dubplates being assembled, psychotropic riddims ready to be unleashed on an unsuspecting public. Together LHF have got this sound like Sun Ra's hijacked Rinse FM and is using it to communicate with the heavens. Buried inside one corner of the LHF collective is a junglist fighting his way out: these guys have got drumz. Then there's another part of them that is lost in LA, their wonky beats falling off of the grid. Other members of the collective remind me of Horsepower's ability to transport you to lands far, far away: to Bollywood films or damp Brazilian riverbanks. I'm just lost in their sound right now..." Blackdown

A. JAKES - Times End
AA. DARQWAN - Jahwan
Tectonic 12"
(TEC 039)






Two big names share one plate for Tectonic as dark garage / 2-Step legend Oris Jay, appearing here as Darqwan, goes face to face with Bristol don and HENCH head-honcho Jakes. Both tracks roll out cold and hard with a no-compromise attitude and all the quality levels you've come to expect from the usual Tectonic output.

14th June 2010 Releases

CASSEGRAIN featuring BENGA
Cotton / Olbia :
A1. Cotton
B1. Cotton (Perc Remix)
B2. Olbia
Mikrowave 12"
(MWAVE013)

Cassegrain - Cotton 12" (Mikrowave MWAVE 013) by bakedgoods

A bomb twelve inch originating via a chance meeting of musical minds, at the auspicious Red Bull music academy, when it was hosted in Barcelona autumn 2008. Picture the scene: HUSEYIN EVIRGEN, opera composer and production partner in Cassegrain with ALEX TSIRIDIS, greek overlord for bacchanalian warehouse revels and notably BENGA ADEJUMO - dubstep pioneer with future perspectives, contributing a rare vocal appearance...The result - some scratty basement sleaze, on point production unfurling its colours gradually through an epic single side, future rollage - absolute deadly wares. Techno don PERC (Perc Trax/ CLR/ Ovum) switches the beats into a subs heavy stepper style, delivering a strategic bass refix of Cotton for the AA1, which tries the vital elements of the top side through new focal points and adds more overt dubwise swells. 'Olbia' continues the carnage some more for a Berghain primed dark destroyer, Cyrus indebted riffs over a smart big room low end undercarriage. Killer package.

ANONYMOUS
A. Oops
B. Untitled
Caravan limited 12",
hand-stamped labels
(CVAN013)
Oops :: Caravan Recordings OUT NOW by Multiverse

7th June 2010 Releases

JOAAN
A. Splendor In The Grass
B. 115 State
7EVEN 12"
(7EVEN 015)





Gracious to the last, 7even offer a well-deserved opening to Joann, a talented newcomer from Nantes, ironically label head Greg Gouty's home town. A more than worthy addition to the 7even family, currently flying high off the back of the F album 'Energy distortion'. 'Splendor in the grass' manages to build sheer beatdown vibes for gathering summer evenings, over a cannily deployed half-speed drum and bass simply tailor made for dBridge fans. Gently add a skweezed synth at 1:30 and some emotive strings before some covert riffage turns this into a full-on main room joint, future vibes wild out! '115 State' picks it up on a revived electro tip, slightly cagier with dubbed-out delayed figures across a smart detroit transphixion - big shit!

7EVEN Represses - F Energy Distortion Parts 1-3 back in stock!

F
Energy Distortion Part 1:
A. Energy Distortion
B. Energy Distortion (Untold RMX)
7EVEN 12"
(7EVEN 012)




F
Energy Distortion Part 2:
A. Chillin' B1. On The Corner
B2. Spacewalker
C. Perspectives
D. Funk Injection (Vinyl Edition Exclusive Track)
7EVEN 2x12" (7EVEN 013)



F
Energy Distortion Part 3:
A. 0907
B1. Poka B2. Forever
C. See The Light
D. Confined System (Vinyl Exclusive track)
7EVEN 2x12" (7EVEN 014)

May 31st 2010 Releases

ELEVEN TIGERS
Clouds Are Mountains
Soul Motive CD
(SMR 008CD)






Eleven Tigers steps up with a beautiful and entirely lush record for the first album to be released by the deeply impressive Soul Motive label. The Lithuanian ex-patriot is going to be blowing some minds this year, with this album and its forthcoming show- piece single 'Stableface'. His sound has a sense of being wonderfully organic, while retaining a dark electronic aesthetic. Not only an album, but presented as a continuous live set, Eleven Tigers is a master of the live show, no one set is ever the same,with beats and melodies constantly evolving from a sheer joy in experimentation. The album truely reflects this as it takes you on a journey of epic proportions, careering from one musical world into another. Moving from ambient ethereal pads, dark electronic drum sequences while folky vocals, delayed pyschedelic guitar licks and detroit chords all melt in and out of the mix. All the while giving you a natural feel and human element in Eleven Tigers electronic world. Clouds are Mountains may predominantly occupy the especially fertile140bpm terrain, but make no mistake, it is by no means your typical dubstep record: influences are drawn from most areas of bass music, be it garage, techno or whatver you call it - to form a highly impressive piece of work that fully immerses you from start to finish.

PLANAS
A. Look Into My Eyes
AA. Roots Music
Immerse 12"
(IME 018)





Incoming release from Bristol's Immerse label sees Rankin Records label boss Planas deliver two stunning new tracks of jazzy and dark edged dubstep. Immerse continue their foray into the realms of all things quality with the enlistment of Toby Davies AKA Planas for this new 2 track single. Davies is the man behind the much respected UK dubstep label Ranking Records, an imprint that has been releasing consistently outstanding records for the last 3 years, most of which have featured him either as a solo artist or in collaboration. First of the two cuts here comes in the shape of 'Look into my Eyes', a jazzy, summery slice of broken beat brilliance. Melodic Rhodes parts and ethereal female vocals float over an undercarriage of rich rollin' bass and cut up drums with the whole thing held together by pads and subtle toplines that are reminiscent of classic Good Looking recordings. This is superb sun drenched music - light, musical and highly engaging. The flipside track is entitled 'Roots Music' and is a darker, brooding affair with razor tight percussion and earth shaking bass. Once again the record is given a melodic vibe with dubbed out piano stabs, effected blues harp riffs and tight arpegiated synth lines used to lift this recording into the realms of the sublime, pure class. After an incredible 2009, Immerse are definitely a label to watch this year, with an open music policy incorporating the best in UK electronica, dubstep and techno and with the addition of Planas to the roster it seems things just keep getting better.

UNKNOWN ARTIST
A. Blackout
B1. S.O.S.
B2. Boogie Kitchen
Blackout 12"
(BLACKOUT 001)
BLACKOUT001 12" by bakedgoods

'Broken beats, bass killers - stealthy limited edition three tracker by an un-named producer, big with the likes of Mala, Peverelist, 2562, Martyn, Untold, Brackles, Oneman, Ben Ufo'


JACKAL YOUTH
A. Let Me Be
B1. Bruk
B2. Broken
Reduction 12"
(RDCTN 005)




Reduction ramps it up another notch with some crisp pressure - minimal militant music from newcomer Jackal Youth. 'Let Me Be' opens with a simple collage of broken house drums and brassy stabs, vocal micro-samples hinting at the yearning vox to come, Add in a Popcorn-esque riff, tick-tocked percussion and punchy sub hits and you have a cheeky catchy little anthem. 'Bruk' on the flip continues ina similar vein - cut up Funky riddims and sliced female vocals wind together into a bumping garage cut that builds all the way - adding layers of synths and percussion as the pressure mounts. 'Broken' rounds off the EP with a more complex piece, the conga-soaked house riddim overrun by offbeat detuned chords and a topline which sees the main motif develop and gather pace, adding new colours witha bittersweet flavour.