Hello,
Until very recently August was known as the music industry's 'dead season' - the one month of the year where you could safely pack up and head for the beach without risking to miss any essential releases.
This newsletter is proof as to how much times have changed: Killer albums by Matthew Dear, Fabrice Lig, and the star of our latest edition, Shed, will surely rank among the most highly valued releases of 2010 once the year draws to a close. Add to this Kompakt's simply massive 'Total 11' compilation and you will probably think twice before calling August a 'quiet' month again. |
FEATURED RELEASE
Compilation released 23-08-2010 on Kompakt
It's hard to believe that it has already been a year since Kompakt's famous compilation went double digit. The release date of each new 'Total' edition is marked in red on any self-respecting techno-head's calendar, and this year's 'Total 11' has especially been well worth the wait.
Kompakt has outdone itself this time around with a whopping 26 tracks in total (five more than last year), most of which are exclusive to this volume. The label's mainstays of course all feature with contributions - Wolfgang Voigt, Justus Köhncke, Superpitcher, Mugwump, and Gui Boratto, to name but a few.
DJ Koze is granted the honour of opening up the selection with his wild and experimental 'Der Wallach', the pianos and pitched drums of which seem like a nod to Wolfgang Voigt's recent productions. The latter features with his recent 'Robert Schumann / Clara Wieck', as well as the unreleased Sog track 'Silbereisen', a precise, mathematical exercise.
Further highlights include The Field's 'Caroline', a krautrock track in best Cluster tradition, Rubag Wruhme's gloomy techno dub 'Rollmoff', and Jürgen Paape's exquisitely grooving minimal piece 'Mensch Und Maschine'. Popnoname and Ivan Smagghe's It's A Fine Line project even contribute some genuine rock material to the selection, while Kompakt's unique style of pop-house is supplied by Michael Mayer and Ada, whose remix of GusGus' 'Hateful' is included on the compilation with a nicely filmed video.
'Total 11' is a brilliant display of strength for one the world's most remarkable electronic music labels, and for all fans of modern European club sounds, this one is a must.
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TECHNO / HOUSE ESSENTIALS
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With just under two hours of animated footage Minilogue's 'Animals - The Movie' takes the concept of a visual album to the next level. Still unrivalled in both quality and scope, this film is a must for all fans of electronic music and cutting edge visuals alike.
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With his Wax and Equalized series firmly established as DJ favourites, Shed dedicates his sophomore artist album to the abstraction of modern club music sounds. Techno, dubstep, ambient, and old-school jungle breaks are cast together into 14 sparse and atmospheric tracks. Class.
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The wonderful Arto Mwambé project gets a chance to represent via the Live At Robert Johnson series, the 6th edition of which not only features a complete 1h live studio set, but in addition 8 full single tracks of great soulful, jacking house for the dance floor. Highly recommended.
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Mobilee celebrates its fifth anniversary with a massive 16 track compilation, representing all the label's artists and the development of its musical spectrum, from minimal techno by Pan-Pot and Exercise One to classic house by Dan Curtin, Sebo K and Daniel Stefanik. Congratulations!
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Berghain-regular/close associate Luke Slater returns to Ostgut Ton under one of his numerous pseudonyms, L.B. Dub Corp. 'Take It Down (In Dub)' drenches the listener in noise and ambience, while the flip 'It's What You Feel' slowly builds tension with its thin high-pitched strings and sparse arrangement.
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Nice archived recording session from Portable a.k.a Body Code now finally made available to the masses. Quite unbelievable that this set was played out eight years ago - as it still sounds so fresh and ahead of most of today's music. Must have for the house headz.
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Third Ear presents a an amazing remix package for Fabrice Lig's Soul Designer project, featuring Luke Slater, Fluxion, Marco Passarani, and Underground Resistance with a classic 'Timeline' remix. An absolute must have, not only for the Detroit heads.
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The clandestine Frozen Border series returns with its fifth edition: Two great dub techno exercises with a dancefloor edge. Big release for fans of Silent Servant, Echocord and the like. Recommended.
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Mr. Aju puts together The Sol Percussion Ensemble and readies a great two tracker while we still have to wait for his next album. 'Vibra' makes a nod to the sunny grooves of Bob James while 'Flexa' is a futuristic bass house groover. Big EP!
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Maxi-Single released 02-08-2010 on CLR
Essential release for fans of booming Berghain-style techno: Marcel Dettmann and Peter Van Hoesen remix the first part of the much hyped Traversable Wormhole series, now seeing a regular release via Chris Liebing's CLR imprint. Hot!
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Maxi-Single released 30-08-2010 on CLR
Second set of remixes for Adam X's mighty Traversable Wormhole project. After Marcel Dettmann, the label boss Chris Liebing himself steps into the control tower unleashing a nine minute epic beast, which gets challenged by a super fine remix from Sleeparchive. No need to say that this is essential!
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It's hard to believe that this is Conforce's first release for Delsin as Boris Bunnik's deep and drifting Detroit-techno and the Amsterdam label are a perfect fit. Two stoic melancholy stompers, 'Grace' and 'Insecure', as well as the beatless 'Shade' make this an excellent release.
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Sascha Funke gets all biblical for his latest collaboration with Russian house queen Nina Kraviz: 'Moses' is a slamming piece of techno-inspired deep house, and with a jacking bonus mix, a Stimming rework and the even deeper 'Headphones' thrown in, this is our favourite BPitch release in a while!
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EP released 25-08-2010 on Minus
Of all the artists in the Minus stable, Gaiser has perhaps come to best epitomise the label's minimal techno archetype. Walking bass lines, reduced shuffle beats, and pitch-modulated lead synths characterize 'Unstable Witness', no doubt yet another recommendable release for Minus fans.
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Two youngsters from the Cadenza stable spilt up this impressive EP, Pablo Cahn with the rolling house stomper 'Elle', and Cesar Merveille with the no less enticing 'Fk', a piano driven, Paperclip People-inspired house hit. Nice one.
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First in a two part series of remixes for Minilogue on Traum, Dominik Eulberg, Max Cooper and Freska take over the controls here and don't fail to impress with trancey (Eulberg) and minimal (Cooper) electronica techno, to which Freska adds a housey edge. Check.
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Taken from Glimpse's well-received debut album, 'Runner', Crosstown commissions a fresh set of remixes. Marcel Dettmann's take on 'Enjoyable Employable' is the obvious highlight, churning raw, pounding bass kicks and hypnotic vocals into a dreamy, warehouse smasher.
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Running Back has certainly risen as a well-recognized record label becoming known for its high-quality releases exploring the deep and, at times, disco-leaning side of House. Mark E contributes a exceptional addition to the label with 'Nobody Else', a summery laid-back disco roller with a killer bassline.
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Massive techno effort by Fabrice Lig, who must have fried his motherboard to the hard hitting Detroit vs. Ibiza sounds of 'Digital Forest'. Dublin's Space Dimension Controller contributes a nicely laid back take on the flip. Killer.
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DUBSTEP / HIP HOP / 2STEP ESSENTIALS
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Compilation released 27-08-2010 on !K7
Brackles, Rinse.fm resident DJ and co-owner of the Blunted Robots label, compiles the first edition of a new mix series curated by !K7. With 11 unmixed tracks and an 60min continuous mix, this compilation features major highlights from Flying Lotus, 2562, Cooly G, Zomby and Brackles himself. Ace!
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Dutch beat master Aardvarck delivers a new album via electronica label Eat Concrete. 'Choice' is a sketchbook of 22 slow-motion beat experiments with the occasional neo-classical, jazz and soul piece hidden in-between. Brilliantly chaotic and highly recommended!
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EP released 27-08-2010 on !K7
Kode9 calls in a favour from his good friends, who happen to be two of dance music's hottest producers, to remix his 'You Don't Wash', taken off his recent DJ-Kicks mix. Martyn's 'Scrub Vocal' and Actress' 'Negril Mix Dub' are pretty much as perfect a pair of remixes that you'll find - highly Recommended!
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JUKE! It's on the rise lately as young Chicagoan, DJ Nate, signs an album to Planet Mu and UK bass music practitioners are increasingly drawing inspiration from the style's raw energy. DJ Spinn & DJ Rashad are home-grown champions of the Chicago underground and '4 The Ghetto' is as raw and raunchy as it gets!
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In the short span of time between his first release in 2008 and this 7-track EP for Ramp Recordings, Shortstuff's name has become almost synonymous with the post-dubstep movement. His neon-colored sound palette is chopped, blended, and served up raw declaring the summer 2010, 'The Summer Of Shortstuff'.
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ELECTRONICA / AMBIENT ESSENTIALS
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Luke Abbott's full-fledged debut album on Border Community, 'Holkham Drones', features cosmic sounds and lush melodies cultivated from a bevy of analog electronic equipment, each song is composed with the utmost attention to detail and repetition (or lack thereof). Recommended!
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Sensational release by Kluster's legendary Conrad Schnitzler, which sees the light of day thanks to the guys at m=minimal. As if this wasn't news enough, Stefan Bettke a.k.a Pole throws in a killer remix, making this a must for all serious proto-techno connoisseurs out there.
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Album released 23-08-2010 on Touch
Début release by Icelandic cellist Hildur Gunnadottir originally from 2006, recorded under the moniker 'Lost in Hildurness'. Exciting, tranquil, and melancholic stuff which at times makes you think of a lost place and times gone by. A perfect soundtrack to get lost in a forest at night.
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Not only known for his dub techno tracks but also for his sublime ambient productions, Brock Van Wey releases a killer album of the latter. Check 'To Finally Forget It All' and 'The Art Of Dying Alone', both clocking in at around 20 minutes. Excellent listening material.
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Two short and sweet piano pieces by modern classical composer Nils Frahm prove that great works are not defined by size alone. Beautifully melancholic. Includes a loopier, more hypnotic (and marginally longer) Machinefabriek remix, as well a great minimalistic video!
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Producing a number of singles and full albums for Tresor during the mid-90s through the early 2000s, TV Victor returns from an extended hiatus from music production (release-wise, at least) with this psychedelic, hazy comeback single for Tobias Freund's non standard productions.
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ALTERNATIVE / POP / DISCO ESSENTIALS
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Following up his hugely popular 'Asa Breed' from 2007, Matthew Dear once again casts his love for indie-pop into a solo album. Impeccably crafted and largely electronic, 'Black City' is full of intriguing songs, finely balanced with sonic experimentation. Highly recommended.
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Even after experiencing some major setbacks (the departure of original member, John Pugh, and death of drummer, Jerry Fuchs), on their fourth album (third for Warp Records), !!! show the fire that propelled their punk-funk band to fame almost one decade ago still burns brightly.
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Previously appearing on several singles for Ninja Tune and tracks by Theo Parrish, Flying Lotus, and Mr. Scruff, Andreya Triana makes her transition to star solo artist status with her debut album for Ninja Tune, 'Lost Where I Belong'. Featuring the production talents of Bonobo as well as two videos!
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Deluxe version of Siriusmo's massive Plasterer Of Love EP which has been on heavy rotation here at the zero" towers during the past few weeks. Comes with a brand new bonus track 'Loosie' and two mind-blowing videos. Great package!
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DMX Krew steps up the fun(k) factor with his second full-length album in only 5 months. Where 'The March To The Stars' was a largely instrumental and spaced-out affair, 'Kiss Goodbye' is unadulterated electro-pop with Ed DMX on the mic and p-funk licks thrown in for good measure. H.O.T.!
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Our favourite Leipzig disco popper Good Guy Mikesh drops an endearing electro pop gem, 'Spare'. Coming with a bunch of fine remixes, a great one from Mano Le Tough among them, this is a catchy vocoder synth tune that you will be humming for days on end. Includes a nice video as well!
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