star shepherd presents 11 songs of ambient! supported by legowelt

utopia cloak arrives on film with six track ep, marina gardens. utilising both electronic & acoustic components, the british producer crafts hazy, dynamic electronica with a decidedly emotive bent. the music explores a curious production aesthetic - at once half sunk and at the same time gloriously crisp and direct. caustic drum machine hits underpin the majority of the work, compete with polyrhythmic rolls & glitches, while softly warping synth lines occupy the majority of the remaining sonic space. rather than working explicitly with nostalgia, utopia cloak makes more subtle references to the classic sounds of yore - riffing on downtempo & idm with gentle and considered nuance, eking out arcane hooks & rich melodies with a pleasing focus on compositional structure & songcraft. contrast is the key here, though - and utopia cloak works hard to find the balance between metallic per-cussion strikes and wide-angle instrumental elements, avoiding chaos in favour of a lush, rewarding lis-tening experience.

synth laden and detroit influenced 4 tracker incl ruede hagelstein & andre lodeman reworks

for the first release of low frequency foundation, ander has prepared a triple treatment that honours this special occasion. the story told in da drin hetts is of illegal parties in zurich, as told by an astounded first timer. driving percussions combined with a solid bassline make this a hymn to the zurich club culture. canter takes you on a different kind of ride, relaxed, grounded, perfect for early morning relaxation after some pushy tracks. running out builds up tension again and surprises with off-guard synth lines and a some eerie vocals. perfect for setting the mood and building pressure at half past one.

80 flavoured synth pop with psychedelic witch vocals

berlin collective mechatronica continues their limited, vinyl-only white series dedicated to sounds across synth, new wave, ebm, italo and electro, with a split ep by danish producer nixxon and italian dance wave wizard franz scala.
nixxon’s gloomy, cosmic electro slow-roller opens mechatronica white 2, followed by the heavier sounds of west, driven by razor-sharp synth stabs, voodoo percussion and a colossal bassline to boot.
on the flip, franz scala meshes italo, acid and spacey synth grooves into two effective anthems for the floor, destined to move bodies and transport minds. no repress!

in 2015, tresor records welcomed shao yanpeng as the first chinese artist to contribute to the label’s catalogue. shao is based in beijing, china, where he has been making electronic music since 2002, and pursues his career as a producer and sound designer. tresor records is now proud to present shao’s new long player, doppler shift. meticulously built compositions, feverish synth journeys and suspenseful ascensions make up the signature sound of shao’s work, at times contemplative and expressive at others. doppler shift releases on 180g. vinyl lp, incl. a download code giving access to all titles plus 3 bonus.

based in brno, czech republic - nona records is a multi-faceted party collective who provide a safe space for sound artists, producers, promoters and anybody in between. with operations that include a synth company called bastl instruments and a party venue called herna - they re no strangers to uniting artists and curating rich, monochromatic music primed for clued-up dancefloors.
with previous releases from omsk information & dr. walker, patricia and abayomi amongst others, the 20th release in their catalogue comes from julia who makes his debut on the label. originally from the us, now based in prague, julia honed his flair for live-improvised, hardware techno in warehouse parties and after hour events. it is this approach he adopts across his 4-track ep for nona.
free-flowing and built from stoney drums, thick atmospherics and hallucinogenic fx - “remnants” renders 4 dystopian landscapes that carry sufficient power to sit them comfortably in cold, industrial spaces.

“cliché’s principle” exhibits the two-sided aura of an artist long familiar with the cultivation of diy ethos: an effortless expulsion of playful immediacy and the unfolding of a musician well versed in unpretentious composition. lucy cliché’s five track ep for fleisch records is a jacking romp through 120-125bpm electro/new-beat, swooning through downcast ambience, lobotomised vocal samples and sweat-drenched hardware rhythms.
lucy’s musical oeuvre piles high, as a figure in the sydney underground for the past 15 years she has always explored sounds that playfully antagonize the status-quo, the dysfunctional no-wave approach of her band naked on the vague and the manipulated tape ambience of half high echo throughout cliché’s principle in the form of chorus buzzed synth chords, abstract drones and ethereal evocation. while there is the strong presence of a live veteran at work behind the machines, cliché’s principle holds five tracks produced purely with the intention of paving the dance-floor.

ensemble 0 plays eight compositions an it lasts

6 tracks with full range of techno , experimental, synth styled , downtempo , melancholic

for naive’s fourth release, we present a tale of “devotion” by octo octa (maya bouldry-morrison) and eris drew.

kevin de vries delivers big room drama on his ‘aratak’ ep for afterlife recordings.
spirited synth lines, drum rolls, gripping moments of silence and weighty kick drums make the title track of de vries’ afterlife debut formidable club gear. ‘sciamachy’ is more subtle, centred around a euphoric arpeggio which spirals to its apex. konstantin sibold contributes a fine remix, toning down certain elements of ‘sciamachy’ to let others shine. it completes an ep that brims with energy and dancefloor dynamism, a hugely exciting first full record for de vries on afterlife.

yama music return with their second instalment on their own self-titled label, with yet more trippy minimal house music. as with the first record, yama music 002 brings 3 original cuts which are stripped back groove aimed at the dancefloor. the uk based label kick things off with “outstore”, eerie pads sit on top of tight stripped back drums which have a glitchy atmospheric synth adding to the cosmic feel of this record. the b side are two tracks that follow a similar pattern but retain their individuality. the first of these is “who what space”, this track is propelled along with a bone shaking yet infectious bassline, crisp percussion and an otherworldly synth. “who what toms” wraps up the ep with delicate shuffling percussion, a tight kick drum and a sexy bassline ready to make the dancefloor hum. a well placed vocal and a synth that sounds like it’s taken from the starship enterprise rounds off a great return for yama music.

as i m always evolving, every now and again i need to make a point about my latest sound. curveballs has been especially written to showcase the full range of my current sound and features a carefully selected collection of tracks designed for a club environment. riva starr dance musics prolific italian-born london-based sharpshooter riva starr set to release fourth artist album curveballs via adam beyer s revered truesoul records. riva starr has been shaking up the world of dance music with his eclectic and unpredictable palette of sounds and styles for over a decade. over the years, he has racked up numerous accolades and achievements including releasing 3 acclaimed albums (if life gives you lemons, make lemonade in 2010, hand in hand in 2013 and definition of sound in 2016), having a myriad of single/ep releases on some of dance music s most established labels (snatch! records, hot creations, relief, crosstown rebels, dirtybird) and amassing an impressive remix resume of artists including audion, groove armada, dennis ferrer, usher, estelle, london grammar, fatboy slim, reboot and david morales. with all of this success and experience under his belt, the time has come for the talented italian to deliver his much awaited fourth long-player, curveballs comprising of 12 stellar tracks inspired by current club sounds and old school music elements, driven by starr s endeavor to produce music that stands the test of time. the lp s striking opener, always gets things underway and sets the tone with its powerful house groove, warm chord stabs and divine soulful vocal courtesy of legendary house diva jocelyn brown. elsewhere, there s the funk-driven disco-tinged piknik, the uplifting needin u esque disco loco, the dark and commanding the hole (release your soul) and the pounding peak-time synth-laden roller give me love. other highlights include, the infectious breakbeat workout britcoin, the techy electro-tinged fresh and the experimental synth-driven techno gem analhog. the album concludes with 3 fine cuts in the form of the bass heavy tr-909 laden ride, the funk-fueled house groover mantra (early in the morning) and an exclusive deep-house-esque dub version of give me love to round off yet another essential long-player from one of dance music s much-loved artists

almost one year in the making, bulgaria s outstanding techno talent lands his return to drumcode with a four-track ep. timmo (aka valeri ivanov) doesn t do things in half measures. since the release of his excellent system ep last year and muzik , his inclusion on a-sides vol.6, he s committed himself to crafting, refining and polishing a quartet of cuts inspired by the cosmic realms beyond planet earth. titled meteorite, its release marks 10 years since he first began producing and stakes its claim as a resounding career highlight with tracks already highlighting gigs for adam beyer at tobacco dock, awakenings, future kappa festival and junction 2. beginning with the title track, the streamlined work throbs with a searing synthetic pulse. black moon sees the ep land its first blow, kicking with a mixture of undulating synths and understated hoovers. spacetime stays true to its name delivering intergalactic techno vibes. cosmos concludes the work, taking us into extra-terrestrial dancefloor territory, with a barrage of trippy synth work and a melodic underbelly the makes the track both beautiful and heavy-hitting in equal measure.

if there s one thing wolf music know a thing or two about, it s house music. so its no surprise then that they ve decided to reissue a golden 2003 deep house nugget in the form of brs (british rhythm services) spring dom. reissued from the original dat tapes spring dom is one of those timeless records that even 15 years on sounds as soulful as it did when it first hit the racks. echoed sweeping stabs, chunky drum loops and powerful synth flurries alongside those mesmerising vocal refrains, all tied together with a driving bassline - this is deep, deep goodness of the highest degree. reworking spring dom for the present day, wolf mainstay medlar provides a rave tinged remix, chopping the vocals and reworking the synth lines to give it a peak time, dancefloor demeanour. the flip houses the other two tracks from the original 03 release - clubtronic with it s ukg flavoured beat, m1 pads and jazzy free flowing melodies and miss you combining a bumping groove, dynamic bass melody and stirring rhodes chords. a much-welcomed reissue package from the wolf camp and a chance to own this house treasure without feeding the sharks.

the arrival of fresh material from visions co-owner stephane attias is a nice welcome return . these two tracks from swiss based dj and producer are aimed to simply heat the dance floors . these two pure deep house tracks are full of musicality and rich deepness that will keep the dancers happy. on the a side « body fusion is a melodious number with deep drums , lush pads over deep synth and bass , rhodes chords, piano solo and organic percussions the b side is a soulful melodious and organic jazz house track with fender rhodes , sub bass and summer vibe to keep a smile on your face. a solid release not to be missed !

hove’s first record on light of other days gets a second pressing. the first pressing was self-distributed and only 150 copies were made. enjoy! hove’s debut ep is full of fuzzy melodies fused with shimmering arpeggios and reduced cosmic beats. produced at the light of other days headquarters in the heart of zurich, hove developed his sound out of various live-jams, which he recorded onto a tascam cassette recorder. these recordings alongside numerous field recordings build the foundation of the ep journey to arendal. influenced by the sound aesthetic of early electronic producers from the 80’s and 90’s, as well as contemporary house, disco or techno, hove’s music always has a certain kind of warmth to it. dusty, shuffling grooves meet woozy guitar chords while crystal clear synth melodies are paired with field recordings of rivers, birds or nocturnal city atmospheres. journey to arendal is out on january 29th, 2016 on light of other days.

tact recordings vinyl only sub-label tactics returns this august with tactics vol.3 , a three-tracker coming courtesy of label co-founder fletcher.berlin-based producer and dj (richard) fletcher, also known as one half of duo adventures in daydreams, has been steadily carving out his own brand of soul infused house and techno over the years, picking up support along the way from luminaries such as larry heard, oskar offerman, mr. g and ivan smagghe along the way as well as shows on his home turf at berlin hotspots like ://about blank, sisyphos and golden gate amongst others.leading on the package is oildrum with skippy hats, bumpy wooden percussive hits and a snaking bass groove throughout as modulating synth whirrs and airy pads silkily ebb and flow within. faucet follows, featuring long time tact recordings artist luke black, edging things into dubbier realms via ethereal, billowing chords, rumbling sub bass tones and metallic percussive chimes to create something raw and hypnotic before brewed rounds out the package, this time round laying focus on a swinging organic drum groove, bubbling, glitched-out synth tones and ever-unfolding atmospherics continually keeping the tension building throughout.

berlin based techno titan frank muller adopts his beroshima alias for a new four track ep that is already been hailed by the likes of marcel dettman and laurent garnier. first emerging in the nineties, muller has since become a techno great who has played from asia to south america and beyond. he’s had plenty of underground hits on the likes of cocoon and soma, and held some key residencies over the years. always one to command your attention with his multi layered grooves, this ep features an old juan atkins sample “buy some shit from detroit” that has been part of beroshima’s live sets for years. excellent opener ‘encounter’ reflects a recent idea jeff mills and muller had to produce tracks together for a not yet produced sci-fi movie. it is an eight-minute astral techno trip with smooth, driving drums and plenty of intergalactic synth lines. ‘the passion of lovers’ transfers the organic beroshima style into 2018 and shows off frank’s passion for spaced out electronica. it’s a brilliantly bumping cut with lithe synths and melodies adding that soul and colour as it races through the galaxies. the iconic ‘buy some’ with the atkins sample then surges into the future with icy hi hats dancing over rubbery drums. the warped synths take the lead and bring a real sense of off kilter energy to this most timeless bit of techno. last of all is the fantastic space mix of ‘encounter’ which is dreamy and cinematic with exquisite keys and pads colouring in a huge night sky as the drums drive things along. this is an archetypal techno ep filled with cosmic colours and serene emotions.

people plus are cz wang and joli b., signaling from a studio and or hut in some remote location. their debut ep consists of three trips into time in just as many styles. side a belongs to olympus mons, a song as big as the mountain its named from. snake charmer synth lines and vocal roars backed by the baddest rhythm section in a while wait for the solo! the b side holds work it out, with broken 4-off-the-floor drumz and revving echo effects. taking the coveted b1 spot is the always dancefloor smashing second cycle - a verified banger that opens up with ground shaking acidish filter bubbles, and closes somewhere way up above the clouds.

raw modular synth techno jams!

increasingly known for his productions as much as his storied dj sets, eric cloutier approaches the studio with the same kind of precision that marks out his club and festival appearances. on this first release on palinoia he exercises a keen sense of control over playful elements, not least on lead track “heuristic”. the nagging lead synth may hop around the mix, but it stays locked on to a thoroughly focused undercarriage of drums and low end that suits the professional techno set. “ipseity” is lighter in its demeanor thanks to some calming pad tones, but the strong structure of the track remains. the release rounds up with the slower thump of “opprobrium”, surmising cloutier’s attitude to the warm-up part of a serious, long-lasting dj set.

phenomenal only album released by transs, a supergroup band project led by fariz rm, that came out in the early 80s. a full blend of soul, funk, cosmic disco, brazilian jazz and synth-pop. this album had a very big impact on the indonesian music scene at that time, and quickly became the trendsetter of the jazz fusion genre throughout the 1980s.

new orleans horror boogie duo makes their star creature debut with 2 straight boogie slappers. hardcore synth funk thatll rattle your trunk. roller rock is an uptempo boogie rager with an frightening combo feel or italo meets so cal. body is straight slammin midtempo grinder.

marc & oveous bring the classic bruk flavours to atjazz’s label with their new e.p. ‘on again’. the original harks back to the old co-op nights with a tough bass synth and oveous’ soul laden vocals, tied together behind a punchy, syncopated broken beat rhythm. dress to sweat, this one will make the bodies move. first up on the flip side the ‘4x4 dub’ switches the rhythm to a straight up 4x4 house beat, but that subby synth carries through the broken beat touch. the original mixes’ vocals are dropped in favour of one of oveous’ short spoken word monologues before he steps back to let the music do the magic. the ‘dubstramental’ gives you one final interpretation utilising the same dubbed out template as the b1, but reverting back to the original broken beat pattern to give you three different flavours to throw down with.

luv shack records 26th release marks the return of vienna based artist and label regular lesale. the baguette magique ep packs three punchy original tracks plus a remix by deep disco don and vienna resident roman rauch. first off, there s the original version of baguette magique , an uplifting dance opus carried by a tantalising disco sample, a plethora of bleeps and synthetic patterns, evolving into a cosmic, almost-techno piece in the second half. roman rauch s remix takes out the tempo and the quirkiness of baguette magique , instead opting for a laid back 80s tropical groove, turning the original theme into an insanely deep and obscure chord sequence. on the flip, lesale takes things to disco territory with percussive drums, a cheeky filtered sample and a hyperactive synth bass sequence on house rules . jungle breeze wraps up the release, offering a hazy mix of deep pads, tribal drums and oddball flute samples.

hijacked records detroit is feeling inspired after hearing new work from one of our favourite allies in techno, jules wells. we felt it was our duty to deliver this to the people, three new productions from jules with a guest remix from our own antwon faulkner. please enjoy - -silent orchestra.- the title track from jules really set the bar for this release. jules really understands story telling with music and this track transports you to a time in techno that was both hopeful and beautifully heart breaking. a persistent chord progression is wrapped in celestial synth harmonies filing up the space all around you and reaching in. that classic clap is underpinned with a touch of acid, creating an edge. at the 4:33 mark an enchanting and haunting sign wave tells a melodic tragedy. strings come in delicately but wash over you completely. this track is both stunning and devastating.

the poverty is violence stable are firmly established now as an essential conductor for rabid, rowdy and downright rasping mechanics from subterranean operators of all shapes and sizes. anonymous but reportedly veteran dutch producer xxx previously appeared on the label in 2016 with the wild noorder scannen 12-, and now returns with a bludgeoning new release. there s a consistent metal grind to the percussion on westzaan doelen, while the synth tones in between tend towards the jagged and abrasive, there s space and poise in the arrangement to lift this out of knuckleheaded noise. -don t go after her- reverberates with clamouring intensity while the beefy chassis of -just the two of you- shimmers under an acidic glaze - this is full-tilt deviant music executed with finesse to match the grime.

nadanna is extremely proud and excited to present tobias bernstrup’s new album “technophobic”. bernstrup who works both as a visual artist and musician has been touring worldwide since the late 1990s and positioned himself as one of the leading re-inventors of italo disco with his unique mix of italo, synthpop and gothic noir. he has created his own unmistakable stage persona wearing androgynous outfits in shiny latex and heavy make-up. tobias has collaborated with seminal artists such as trans-x, apoptygma berzerk, martial canterel, xeno & oaklander, lebanon hanover, and she past away. “technophobic” contains 10 smashing tracks including the recent single “utopia”, and “metropolis of tomorrow” featuring french dark synth wave artist hante. combining influences from classic synthpop, minimal wave, dark wave in a retro futuristic manner tobias bernstrup has created an album reminiscent of the 80s but in a contemporary context of sound landscape.

over the last 4 years, itdr squad explored the whole galaxy to find the mysterious marvin dash. they finally tracked him down and convinced him to join the crew for a 2018 space quest.

7 years after his last release on workshop, marvin signs a sublime comeback with 3 mesmerizing mid-to-down tempo cuts. you will find his hypnotic-loops signature with rich textures, sparkling synth works, tribal drum patterns and basslines. the wizardry formula for a shamanic trip on the dancefloor and beyond.

* sheffield-based subaltern resident taiko returns to the imprint with a stunning selection of four distinctively grimy pieces of sub-bass science, proving once again his original take on the 140 bass realm. a. trenches introducing his unique style once again with a fresh twist, taiko delivers relentless earth-shattering bass waves in ‘trenches’, which graces the a side of the release. bells, strings and dark synths set the mood for a precisely executed wall of bass, complimented by subtle vocal work. b1. raid dramatic orchestral strings and horns set the stage for the grim reaper that is ‘raid’ - leading into a dark and roaring synth that accentuates the laid back bass-line. sure to shake every system it is unleashed on, the track keeps evolving and luring the listener ever deeper into a maze of darkness. you can run but you can’t hide… b2. mana pool ‘mana pool’ adds a more psychedelic and subtle edge to the release. synth loaded parts play in exchange with carefully laid out harmonic synth lines complementing the tasteful bass-lines, while remaining the raw edge of the release.

a matter of concepts is a very personal selection of songs by recent, active underground bands and artists that we love at dwr. coming from the uk, us, the netherlands, canada, france, russia, australia and ranging from post-punk to coldwave to synth-pop to indie. fast paced and dancey or romantic and moody, there’s something for every soul here. we regard all of these songs as ‘modern instant classics’ and we bet that you’ll love them, too!! a matter of concepts is presented in a limited, hand numbered edition of 205 black vinyl copies housed in a matt sleeve with printed inner sleeve (credits / band pics) and including a download code. all songs have been mastered (or re-mastered) specifically for this vinyl release and its accompanying download.

ouch from a distance is the new label of former ostgut ton manager nick ho¨ppner. it s first release by desert sound colony has been very well received – opal sunn are a well seasoned hardware only live act very much in control of their repertoire, but also capable of captivating improvisations – opal sunn have got a recognizable sound driven by smart, often arpeggiated synth lines, on point drums and textures

politics of dancing continue to expand their horizons with another round of collaborative wares on their p.o.d cross sublabel. once again they ve invited big hitters who slip perfectly into the minimal house mindset the parisian label has been locked in since 2013, leading with cab drivers on the a side. the deep-diving german mainstays gel with the pod crew in a tightly clipped but utterly funked up roller, sitting in contrast to the more open, tripped out synth flourishes sebo k brings to the table on side b. with each track distinctive but also compatible, there s every chance you ll be compelled to play both out at the late night / early morning shuffled-up jamboree.

positive centre marks the 5th release on his in silent series label with 4 tracks of weighted mechanical workouts that feature his honed atmospheric style with brooding scenery and sharp percussive accents. isolated loop takes a crunched and spat out growl of an acid synth and blends it with ever developing drum machine patterns as a weaponised techno tool. tension arm builds on this with sharp percussion piercing over a hard edged bassline and atmospheric scenery. idle roller is a deep, sub-aquatic rhythm journeying to parts unknown with subtle switch in rhythm keeping the momentum going through this textured sound world. sum tolerance fractures open with stretched sounds of otherworldly instruments, sludge laden beats and humming bass pressure.

it was like a bird of rarest-spun heaven metal or like silvery wine flowing in a spaceship, gravity all nonsense now – anthony burgess, a clockwork orange after their lps “ike yard” (also known as “a fact a second” factory america, 1982) and nord (phisteria and desire, 2010) ike yard delivers their last album “rejoy” on noiztank, 2018 as the culmination of their recent years reinvented sound. as the perpetual flag bearers of the cutting-edge post-punk spirit, the nyc- based band shows muscle in a lp fully loaded with abrasive synth pads, scrap metal percussions, and whispered vocals. following the previous criteria of “sacred machine” 2017, it is worth to remark the inclusion of external vocals in the pieces “sister m” and “beyondersay”, which feature yuki osaki and maya. the nine tracks move through different atmospheres, tensions and moods that would perfectly represent a new contemporary soundtrack of the s. kubrick film “a clockwork orange”, a major influence and source of inspiration for the group this time around.

insane synth-heavy feel-good brit-funk classic and huge favourite of dam-funk. a certified uk boogie bomb, originally released in 1982, and coming hot on the heels of the pink rhythm reissue campaign. side on was a one-off uk soul dream team, consisting of peter maas, everton mccalla and rick clarke.

physician by day, musician by night, moonlighter makes his production debut after steadily holding down rocksteady disco labelmate duties. “give us rain (ah mila)” begins the 12” beautifully, blending ethereal african samples with moonlighter’s own melodic and percussive performance. “kinematic” kicks off the flip on a more cosmic and tech­y tip, with bubbly synth stabs and drums. “a certain average kind of normal experience” closes out this opus with a massive peak hour bassline, emotive synthesis, and a vocal sample from everybody’s favorite uk philosopher. the moonlighter ep is a culmination of his diverse production and digging ethos by blending the percussive with the melodic, the peak hour with the subdued, and the head with the heart.

the belfast based dj & producer, garry mccartney, otherwise known as ejeca, has been steadily and consistently building his sound and profile over time, through a series of impressive releases for aus music, unknown to the unknown, w&o street tracks, bpitch control and last night on earth, amongst others.
ejeca carves out an energetic slab of audacious party house on ‘unloving’, resplendent with rolling beats and stabby chords, and topped off with dramatic strings and vocal chops. elsewhere on the ep, ejeca unleashes some 303 bassline action and dark vocals on ‘standard acid house track’, which thankfully rises well above anything standard! and on ‘crystal maze’, ejeca harks back to the darker dance energies that were a staple of the late 1980s uk acid house boom. wrapping up the ep, ‘iswhatis’ gets ever so slightly twisted with an orbiting synth hook and weighty stabs over a spirited rhythm section.

‘you can’ stares directly into the haze and the strobes of the transformative night-out documented throughout gabe gurnsey’s debut lp, ‘physical’. undoubtedly one of the record’s most outright hedonistic moments, ‘you can’ finds gabe cheekily intoning an invitation to dance, get high, or both, assisted by a deeply trippy sonic atmosphere and a seductive, twilight bassline.
in the spirit of classic extended edits, the ‘extended dub’ version unpicks and expands on each of these elements, retaining the solid groove of the original while transforming it into a heady dancefloor tool. a staple of electro for the past two decades, the hacker meanwhile continues his recent hot streak with his remix of ‘you can’. firmly executed with his usual cyber-militancy, his simple but effective reimagining is littered with elasticated synth stabs, urgent oscillations and an audible desire to transform gurnsey himself into a man-machine.

falk records will be releasing ‘spaces’ from icelandic experimental producer aaiieenn this august. aaiieenn is the solo project of electronic musician hallmar gauti halldórsson. halldórsson first came to music though being a mover and shaker in iceland’s punk and hardcore scene where he was the “harsh noise guy” with local band distill the world. with aaiieenn however, halldórsson moved away from the guitars and screaming to a fully electronic world of experimental synth music and gorging on the mathematical possibilities and expanses of arpeggio/sequencer driven ambient music. ‘calab-yau’ and ‘continuous property 1’ drip shards of pure crystalline sound into deep crevasses as harmonic droplets ping of gleaming surfaces coated with spongiform bass. the light and effervescent ‘euclidean’ evokes classic ambient works aphex twin, while ‘manifold’ is more direct with a muscular and sturdy bassline. spaces closes with the fluttering and lush ambient sounds of ‘zariksi’ that are carried into the skies by a pulsing and gliding techno beat.

upcoming french producer matthieu faubourg, who has worked extensively with guys like dj boring and black loops, is firing up this heavy 12- on -smile for a while.- stripped down house bangers all the way - from more laid-back, synth-oriended stuff over to some 90s-tingled house groover, ending up with a frantic 6 a.m. anthem on the b-side this ep is all you need to keep your floor dancing till the end of the year...

brand new label based in florence comes with an astonishing second release. this time they bring the sound from the talented the cyclist. a very distinct sounds, psychedelic synth warbles meet the jacking electro beats. exploring what the talented irish producer can do with different beats overladen with those warm synth tones that we can t really live without.

originally released as a limited run cassette on low jacks editons gravats label in 2017, we now get an official vinyl pressing via l.i.e.s. krikor kouchian serves this killer soundtrack to the documentary arabie saoudite: les liaisons dangerousness where the french tv program focuses on the saudi royal familys support of wahhabism and the wests appeasement of saudi foreign policy, kouchian underlines and accentuates the content with a brooding blend of mirage-like electronics and minimalist drum machine geometries. a deviation from his previous works and he moves into appropriately darker synth territory with this one.

manchester’s ciggy de la noche makes his debut on lobster sublabel distant hawaii with a four-tracker of warm, sunlit bumpin’ house groovers. waterfalls of cascading synth strings and dreamy, tender instrumentation drift and dance alongside more steady, playful late-night grooves. an infectious offering of kaleidoscopic house patterns and summer vibes.

roberto clementi delivers his cadmio ep on echocord sub-label echo echo this october, containing four original tracks from the italy-based artist. kenneth christiansens echo echo imprint, offers up its fifth release here, accurately reflecting his appetite for the more celestial, dubbed out side of techno. this release sees the return of roberto clementi to the echo platform after three releases on the parent imprint, echocord plus 10 years worth of released music to his name, notably a number of eps and an album on soma. the ep kicks off with a fresh dub induced charmer entitled conte which in italian translates to with you, and stands as an accurate tag for this warm and intimate opener. irradi follows, a more upbeat and industrious dance track – with euphoric synth lines sitting harmoniously in between the more uniform percussion before stimulating crashing symbols are introduced in the latter stages. title-track cadmio is up next, a more dropped-tempo, electro tinged number, with off-kilter drum patterns gracefully balancing amongst the alluringly sedative melody. the b2 and final track blue growth’ then provides a close to the ep with a lo fi 4/4 drum pattern together with hardened snares and crashes contrasted by delicate dub swells providing feelings of symmetry a theme that is consistent throughout the whole ep.