Electronic & Dance Music: drum n bass/ jungle, electro, breakbeat/ nu skool breaks, industrial/ electro-industrial/ ebm, synth pop/ electroclash, techno/tech house/deep house/progressive house, psychedelic trance, IDM/ experimental electronics/ ambient/ glitch sounds/ folktronica/ downbeat, jazztronica/ electro-jazz, leftfield/ instrumental/ electronified hip-hop/trip-hop. Rock Music: art-rock/ avant-prog/ avant rock, electro-rock/ epic alt-rock, experimental rock, jazz-rock, kraut rock/ math rock/ post-hardcore/ post-rock/ space-rock, darkwave/ gothic/ ethereal, dark metal, hardcore/ metalcore/ noisecore, post punk and shoegazer/dream pop sounds. Other Orbits:Kozmigroov, avant / free jazz, dub, modern composition, improvised music and many other hybrids and musical mutations.
Age: I entered this world in 1970. A British Blogger.
2008 ALBUM RELEASES: 2008 FORTHCOMING ALBUMS
using rateyourmusic.com: 2008 Album Releases [Updated Regularly]
This information is updated on a continual basis.
[These dates apply to the UK and can change as record companies/distributors do have a habit of messing us around!]
BurnitBlue.com report that John Digweed is going Stark Raving Mad
This soundtrack album will be released this Spring. # posted by DJ Martian 7:14 PM
Voivod
Undercover report that Voivod have a made a promo video. It will interesting to see how popular Voivod become in 2003, now that Jason Newstead is in the band. Expect the album in March. # posted by DJ Martian 12:13 PM
One of the labels responsible for the spark that ignited the new French revolution, has been Source.
Emerging with the celebrated 'Sourcelab' series which featured Daft Punk, Air, Motorbass, Etienne De Crecy, Alex Gopher and Telepopmuzik, long before they got snapped up by major labels. # posted by DJ Martian 9:44 PM
Bang !
DrownedinSound report that Future Publishing [current publishers of Metal Hammer/Classic Rock] will launch a new music monthly magazine, on April 1st called Bang !
If you'd like to send them stuff to review, send it to: BANG, 99 Baker Street, London, W1U 6FP.
We hear the 1st issue is gonna cost �1, but the normal price will be just over �3
Ex Melody Maker writer Simon Price is features editor.
It looks like it will be a direct competitor to X-Ray magazine, the joint Xfm/Swinstead pulications mag (makers of Jockey Slut/Sleazenation) # posted by DJ Martian 8:11 PM
Calla - Televise
DrownedinSound review Calla - Televise. # posted by DJ Martian 6:48 PM
Radiohead
dotmusic provide a summary of the latest Radiohead news, expect the new album in June. # posted by DJ Martian 6:43 PM
Coming soon: Dave Douglas Freak In, a new electric recording for RCA Bluebird. Recorded from July to September 2002, the album presents 12 new compositions featuring
Marc Ribot, Karsh Kale, Joey Baron, Jamie Saft, Romero Lubambo, Brad Jones, Seamus Blake, Chris Speed, Ikue Mori, Craig Taborn, & Michael Sarin.
Freak In will be available in the U.S. on February 18, 2003. More info @ Bluebirdjazz # posted by DJ Martian 3:52 PM
Pride Of Manchester, with help from you, are compiling the ultimate chart of Manchester music. The first 1300 votes have provided us with a popular Top 10 with the battle for the number one spot swapping regularly between The Smiths and The Stone Roses # posted by DJ Martian 2:56 PM
The Wire on Resonance 104.4FM
Reminder that The Wire magazine are starting their weekly radio programme [a week later than initially mentioned] on Resonance104.4FM tonight [yes you can listen to it via the web]
21.30 The Wire presents adventures in Modern Music: Tony Herrington. New and unreleased music from the producers of The Wire magazine. # posted by DJ Martian 1:46 PM
NewFrontEars
I found this interesting music weblog via my web stat referrals: NewFrontEars
A resource for artful and demanding music in many genres, especially contemporary and C20th classical, jazz, Baroque, global sounds, the outer fringes of rock... and a little Early Music too. Includes original reviews, listening posts, links and updates catalogued by a writer who is eclectically absorbed by creative music. All material here is (c) Simon Barrow 2002-2003 # posted by DJ Martian 12:59 PM
themilkfactory.co.uk - Feb 2003
themilkfactory.co.uk deliver another fine selection of reviews. [The summaries below are taken from a Milkfactory.co.uk e-mail, to see the full reviews go to the link above]
ALBUM OF THE MONTH
Echoboy - Giraffe
Two years after his compelling Volume 1 & 2 albums, the man who was
once courted by Noel Gallagher to join Oasis releases the heart-
warming yet edgy pop record he's threatened to release for years.
Asa-Chang & Junray - Tsu Gi Ne Pu
Follow-up to last year's amazing Jun Ray Song Chang, Tsu Gi Ne Pu
continues the sonic experimentations of the album, as the band
combine ancient and modern music forms.
Black Dice - Beaches & Canyons
Totally unexpectable and uncontrollably chaotic, Black Dice blur the
boundaries between hardcore, post rock and electronic. Beaches &
Canyons is a truly disturbing and beautiful record.
Sylvain Chauveau - Un Autre D�cembre
Stripped down to its bare essentials, the music of Sylvain Chauveau
is revealed here through minimalist piano pieces, sometimes supported
by quiet glitches. Released on Fat-Cat Record's avant-guard label
130701, Un Autre D�cembre is a powerful record built on silences
and emotions.
Clue To Kalo - Come Here When You Sleepwalk
With this first album released under his Clue To Kalo, Adelaid's
Mark Mitchell takes the counter-current of electronic music with
perfect little pop songs and instrumentals.
Mouse On Mars - Rost Pocks
Released just on time to celebrate ten years of services to society
from German techno pranksters Mouse On Mars, this album collects for
the first time the duo's early EPs.
Pet Shop Boys - Disco 3
Third installement in the Disco series, the Pet Shop Boys find
themselves at the heart of the electo revival and embrace once again
the most experimental side of their project.
Pram - Dark Island
Masters at the art of delicately crafted pop, Pram present with their
seventh studio album a darker, more twisted side of their world.
Tennis - Furlines
Two years after the release of their second album, Tennis, aka Benge
and Si-Cut.db, return with Furlines, on which they further develop
their minimal soundscapes. Accompanying this release is a collection
of remixes from tracks taken from Europe On Horseback. # posted by DJ Martian 1:52 AM
If I were an editor of a weekly music magazine this week's front cover would feature:Super Numeri
This week's front cover choice is Super Numeri. On February 3rd, Super Numeri release an album, Great Aviaries on Ninja Tune.
Super Numeri specialise in journeys into music that recall Miles Davis' seventies experiments and the work of Can without seeming beholden to either. The results are langorous soundscapes, with a use of live instruments and spiky intelligence which take them a million miles from lazy "ambient" music.
Coming on like the best bits of Can, with a dash of Miles carefully seasoned with eccentricity that only the English can do properly. Beautiful, glorious and deep this album gets better and better.
Metacritic.com will not be updated this week, so that we may put the finishing touches on an all-new Metacritic Version 2.0, which will launch very soon (most likely by Friday, January 31) with up-to-date reviews and a host of new features. We apologize for any inconvenience this delay may cause you.
Best of 2002 sections for Music and Film, including top ten lists from dozens of critics, will appear on the new Metacritic Version 2.0 beginning next week # posted by DJ Martian 11:52 PM
The Third And The Mortal
After a 5 year silence, at least outside their home of Trondheim, The Third And The Mortal released Memoirs. The album showed a more �urban� sound that was hinted at on In This Room but was not as obvious. Almost a year after the release The Third And The Mortal played in Mexico City and did a small tour in Europe. Guitarist Trond Engum answered a few questions about the activities and whereabouts of the band:
Musique Machine interview The Third And The Mortal # posted by DJ Martian 11:48 PM
Clearlake - Cedars
"Fiona Fletcher" [Aka KatetheSaint] @ Drowned in Sound reviews Clearlake - Cedars # posted by DJ Martian 11:44 PM
Robin Guthrie, who has just mixed the new Ulan Bator album and is currently recording the next Violet Indiana album in his studio in France will release 'Imperial', (BELLACD48) his first ever instrumental available on Bella Union on March 17th 2003.
French art-rock band Ulan Bator # posted by DJ Martian 5:32 PM
IXtra - Drum & Bass Week
Next week digital radio station 1Xtra are presenting a Drum & Bass Week
From Monday 3 February 1Xtra will be broadcasting live from Drum & Bass events across the country # posted by DJ Martian 5:01 PM
Ink 19 have an Alan Vega interview [part 1] - with [part 2] to follow later in the week. # posted by DJ Martian 4:49 PM
Green Carnation
DigitalMetal.com provide the latest info on the next Green Carnation album.
Norwegian avant garde metallers Green Carnation, featuring ex-members of Emperor and ...In The Woods, are currently in the middle of recording the follow-up to last year's critically acclaimed Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness opus. # posted by DJ Martian 4:25 PM
It is almost a relief to realize that this album is finished, since Black Dice's exploration into new worlds of sound textures is gruelling for the listener. But the same listener will also realize that we've just heard one of the most talented bands that emerged the last years, and certainly one of the most effective in experimenting with guitar rock. While other bands fail to put their pretentious music in a coherent package, Black Dice gently fits the sounds and tunes together, while maintaining an organic feeling. As an almost unreal reality, Beaches & Canyons is an impressive tour de force that will blow your mind. Yes, other more influential press reports said it already. But I say it again: Black Dice is f**king brilliant.
This album will be issued in the UK on FatCat records on February 17th. # posted by DJ Martian 12:33 AM
CD. Eagerly anticipated follow up to ''The Last Embrace'', Peter Pettersson returns with a new full length record ''Inner Pale Sun'' where the strings flow as gently as ever, and where the rolling drums and the sonority of chimes accentuate the various moods spelled out by the music. The added, haunting, heavenly female voices further transport the compositions to even more celestial spheres. This albums stands as magnificent proof that Arcana are back in a leading position among the host of bands within the romantic / ethereal fringe of the darkwave scene. Full Tracklisting : ''My cold sea'', ''Lovelorn'', ''Icons'', ''We rise above'', ''Innocent child'', ''Song of the dead sun'', ''Season of thought'', ''Closure''. Released 6th January 2003. CMI. # posted by DJ Martian 12:27 AM
Tuesday, January 28, 2003
Cult of Luna - Beyond
Pinnacle provide info on the new Cult of Luna album:
Cult of Luna - Beyond
New Earache signing and currently one of the hottest underground names, Cult Of Luna, release their debut self titled album on February 12th. Already touted as the new name to watch out for in 2003 they originally hail from the political Swedish town of Umea, home of The Hives and International Noise Conspiracy. Cult of Luna are part of the growing noisecore and post-hardcore scene developed by labels such as Hydrahead and furthered by bands such as Isis, Old Man Gloom and Botch. Available on CD (catalogue number MOSH263CD). 75 minutes of solemn, expressive art-rock.
[It should be February 10th, which is a Monday not February 12th]
This will be one of the defining and ambitious rock albums of 2003.
More info @ Cult of Luna also Kerrang review the new album. # posted by DJ Martian 10:36 PM
*** The Internet's most up-to-date list of UK radio stations simultaneously broadcasting on the web ***
Welcome to the Internet's most comprehensive and up-to-date list of UK radio stations simultaneously webcasting live on the net.
This site is updated frequently, with notices of any broken links, address changes and new additions labelled beside each webcast entry.
It has been made as simple as possible for quick-loading and user-friendly purposes with one-click access to the "preset" stations.
This is an essential page for those of you who like to listen to different radio stations in the UK, so please bookmark this page.
You can currently listen live to over 150 streaming national and local radio stations, but there are frequently new stations that decide to webcast on the net, so stay tuned to this website for the latest updates on new additions and even stations returning to streaming. # posted by DJ Martian 3:38 PM
Soundgenerator report that Tower Records are to close their 2 remaining stores in London (High St Ken and Piccadilly Circus]. It is believed Virgin have bought both store locations for less than 5 Million. # posted by DJ Martian 2:50 PM
The Durutti Column - Someone Else's Party
I just heard an astonishing new Durutti Column track, Spanish Lament on the John Kennedy X-Posure show on Xfm. Sonic cathedrals of sound, atmospherics - and Liz Fraser a-like vocals - but is it her though?, whatever this track was outstanding ! vocals of pure beauty, atmospheric electronics, plucked Vini Reilly glacial guitars.
A quick google search, reveals that this is off a new Durutti Column album:
*The new album 'Someone Else's Party' has been completed and will be released on the 03/03/03. Here's the Track listing;
1 Love Is A Friend
2 Spanish Lament
3 Somewhere
4 Somebody's Party
5 Requiem For My Mother
6 Remember
7 Vigil
8 Blue
9 No More Hurt
10 Spasmic Fairy
11 American View
12 Drinking Time
13 Woman
14 Goodbye
Advance orders available @ Townsend Records # posted by DJ Martian 1:04 AM
Kinski - Airs Above Your Station
Sub Pop (CD) / Strange Attractors (2xLP)
Laika - Lost in Space: Volume One (1993-2002)
Too Pure
Brokeback - Looks at the Bird
Thrill Jockey # posted by DJ Martian 12:39 AM
Serie Noire: Dark Pop And New Beat
A compilation that was released late last year on Eskimo Recordings [that I should have mentioned before] : Serie Noire: Dark Pop And New Beat
Serie Noire: Dark Pop + New Beat
(Eskimo)
With early 80s underground dance music unquestionably the key source of inspiration for today�s fast growing alternative new electro scene, Belgium compilation outfit Eskimo have chosen wisely on this, their latest and best yet mix CD.
Featuring a fantastic selection of underground gems from the pre-house club scenes of the early 80s, Serie Noire is a hugely listenable collection of funky, brooding, melodic dance music including John Carpenter�s cult movie soundtrack Assault on Precinct 13 and Vicious Pink�s 8:15 To Nowhere (Vicious Pink being the erstwhile backing singers on Soft Cell�s Sex Dwarf). Also adding quality are New Order frontman Bernard Summer, whose production of Section 25�s Looking From A Hilltop mixes machines with scary synths) and Sting, providing the lyrics to Will Power�s Adventure In Success life lesson.
Prog rock heroes The Alan Parsons Project also make an unexpected though welcome appearance, delivering a pure disco, electro groover (an instrumental of Mammagamma), paving the way for A Split Second�s original Ibiza anthem, Flesh which became a hit in 1987 after Balearic DJs started playing it at 33 instead of 45.
Serie Noire: Dark Pop + New Beat is a fine collection of superbly chosen underground disco records that�s both contemporary and easy on the ears. Release date is December 16.
Genre: Classic electro/disco
Track Listing:
1: LOGIC SYSTEM �UNIT�
2: THE POOL �JAMAICA RUNNING�
3: WILLPOWERS �ADVENTURES IN SUCCESS�
4: ALAN PARSONS PROJECT MAMMAGAMMA�
5: A SPLIT SECOND �FLESH�
6: SNOWY RED �EUROSHIMA / WARDANCE�
7: SECTION 25 �LOOKING FROM A HILLTOP�
8: JUMP �FUNKATARIUM�
9: METRO AREA �MIURA�
10: MY MINE �HYPNOTIC TANGO�
11: GRAUZONE �FILM2�
12: VICIOUS PINK 8:15 TO NOWHERE
13: EXCUTIVE SLACKS �THE BUS�:
14 JOHN CARPENTER �THE END� (FROM ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13)
15: KISSING THE PINK �BIG MAN RESTLESS�:
16: CARLOS PERON �NOTHING IS TRUE, EVERYTHING IS PERMITED�
17: C CAT TRANCE �SHAKE THE MIND�
He was the living embodiment of electronic music - pale, nerdy, fond of sci-fi jumpsuits and executive jets. By the mid-Eighties he'd lost everything but now, 25 years after his first hit, he's cooler than ever, a defining influence on a new generation of pop stars. How on earth did that happen?
'Hybrid', a compilation of re-worked Gary Numan hits, is out 10 February on Jagged Halo/Universal. # posted by DJ Martian 4:23 PM
Key new album releases for January 27th [A more detailed release listing including other new releases, compilations and reissues - can be found further up this webpage.]
This Week: January 27th
Alejandra & Aeron - Bousha Blue Blazes (Orthlorng Musork)
Ry Cooder/Manuel Galban - Mambo Sinuendo (Nonesuch/Perro Verde)
Chris Cutler - Dust (ReR)
Szam Findlay - Die Hautfabrik (Resonant)
Yoshihiro Hanno - 9 Modules + (Progressive Form)
Majesticons - Beauty Party (Big Dada/Ninja Tune)
The Sea & the Cake - One Bedroom (Thrill Jockey)
Shuttle 358 - Understanding Wildlife (Mille Plateaux)
Sir Dupermann - Sir Dupermann (Smalltown Supersound)
Star of Ash - Iter.Viator (Jester)
Toktok vs Soffy O - Toktok vs Soffy O (Code Blue)
Venetian Snares - Winter in the Belly of a Snake (Planet mu)
Vessel - Dreaming In Pairs (Expanding)
Jah Wobble - Fly (30 Hertz)
For Reference:
Last Week: January 20th
Calla - Televise (Arena Rock Recording Co)
Dorine_Muraille - Mani (FatCat)
Kinski - Airs Above Your Station (Strange Attractors Audio House/ Sub Pop) Import
Pram - Dark Island (Domino) # posted by DJ Martian 12:07 AM
On the Norwegian Smalltown Supersound label, an album by Sir Dupermann is released tomorrow in the UK.
SIR DUPERMANN - SIR DUPERMANN (STS062CD) CD
This is the debut album by J�rgen Tr�en aka Sir Dupermann, Norwegian super producer (producer for among others Jaga Jazzist, Magnet and Sondre Lerche) and and the man behind the Duper Studio (home of R�yksopp, Kings of Convenience, Jaga Jazzist et. al.). After years with hard production work he deceided to finally concentrate on his own music, and finish the longtime work with his debut album.
Smalltown Supersound heard 2 tracks of his pre-production recordings, and was blown away! The label signed a deal right away. The last 6 months Tr�en has stayed in London where he has produced his selftiteled debut album. The album has become a masterpiece. Out of the wildest chaos of sounds and rythms, Tr�en has created a pop album. Very compromiseless pop though. But even though his soundworld may sound chaotic, it is also very structured, detailed and complex. Tr�en has managed to turn chaos into beauty. With his fantastic production skills and his arsenal of machines, he has created an organic and warm sound, and a soundworld all of his own. "Sir Dupermann" is a mastodon of an album; mindblowing, different, timeless and truly orginal.Tr�en`s rich and diverse sound is a result of his involvement with lots of different projects and scenes, both as a producer and as an artist. He has worked with everything from harsh noise, contemporary music and grim black metal to pure pop and electronic music.The album mixes elements from Cornelius`s and Plaid`s electropop, Fennesz` and Jim O`Rourke`s abstract electronics, the European free-jazz tradition of Derek Bailey and Evan Parker, sound effects from cartoons and movies, Aphex Twin, Lou Reed`s "Metal Machine Music", the avantgarde sound of Karlheinz Stockhausen and John Cage, Q-Berts turntableism, Luc Ferrari`s musique concrete, Kid 606s electronic punk, Merzbow`s digital noise and the micro/click-scene around Mille Plateaux. Everything performed with the unpretentious attitude of punk rock. "Sir Dupermann" is wild, beautiful and obsessive!
Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto - Vrioon - Raster Noton
Where to begin with this? Its not often that we�re left gasping for breath, desperate for an extended vocabulary to enable us to describe the sheer simplicity and loveliness of a piece of music, and the effect that it�s had on us, the listeners. �Vrioon�, quite simply, is a work overloaded with beauty. The blue, heartache solitary Piano of Sakamoto bleeding into the micro-constructions and nano-beats of Carsten Nicolai�s rewired machinery. "During his first live tour in Japan, Carsten Nicolai met Ryuichi Sakamoto in Tokyo. One year later Nicolai was asked to remix material from Sakamoto for the Japanese magazine Code Unfinished. '...The material that was given to me was already layered with digital effects. From one little clean piano piece I made the first track. I combined those simple piano chords with a clear rhythm constellation. Somehow Ryuichi was very surprised and really liked my work. Weeks later he sent me another piece recorded specifically for this project .� The result is an interwieve of tracks that is quite simply breathtaking, a melange of pure cathartic piano progressions and whispering beats, a re-definition of minimalism and intelectual application into something that is quite clearly open and exposed to a spectrum of emotion and daydream loveliness. Immense.
Venetian Snares - Winter In The Belly of a Snake - Planet Mu
The return of Mr Funk with his first assault on the masses for the new year, displaying quite a staggering versatility and way with the digital venom. Opening track �Dad� is excellent, the required syncopation of beats, discordant keys and tumbled out breaks is suddenly interrupted by the voice of the Snares singing, an expected dose of vitriol and sarcasm delivered in a way that�s somehow frightening and moving at the same time.....think of a dark variant of Windowlicker, Confield and Tom Waits rolled into one fabulously original beast of a track for an idea. �Gottrahmen� is more elongated : a layering of found sound sets the background to a cinematic chorus that�s interlaced with industrial distortion and ambient effects that never quite manage to detract from the widescreen, eerie feel at its core. �Cashew�, meanwhile, is a masterclass of beat construction and splicing, a slow mangle of percussion flowing through bass pad progressions and a crescendo of intense breaks and choral interjections that employ metallic effects and chilling mathematical processes that just cannot fail to move and jerk. Having been universally acknowledged by pretty much everyone on the scene as the new kid on the block, the natural successor to the dominant IDM elite, it seems that Venetian Snares has once again unleashed an album varied, spannered and original enough to merit him the adulation he is set to enjoy to ever more terrifying degrees of madness in the very near future. Large.
Hexstatic - Listen & Learn - Ninja Tune
Killer mix CD from Lord Ninja's in house graphic crew Hexstatic. Not just known for their massive light installations and image manipulations Hexstatic have in Robin one hell of a talented deejay. 'Listen & Learn' really only has Coldcut's Journeys By DJ for company, a doper 50+ minute mix utilising Man Parrish, Ike & Tina Turner, Young MC, Toots & The Maytals, Grandmaster Flash, Incredible Bongo Band, Boards Of Canada ('Aquarius' with funny seventies astrological voiceover) and Shirley Bassey, all mixed up into a seriously intoxicating blend. Wildly inventive and funky fresh from start to finish. Acquire, rapido style.
Norken - Blue Divide Remodelled - Hydrogen Dukebox
The second in the series which sees Lee Norris (this time operating as Norken) being reinterpreted by artists who have found him through the internet and turned out inspired and imaginative productions from studios as far afield as Russia, Croatia, Japan and America as well as the UK. �Blue Divide (Remodelled)� is a reworking of Norken's two classic albums ('Soul Static Bureau' and 'Spring Themes') which came about as a result of brief conversations of appreciation and inspiration that developed into friendships and have now become regular brainstorms via the Neo Ouija chat room. The end product is a fusion of Detroit-ian nuances, pulsing and sighing house, lush soundscapes and warm, blissful ambience, blending sounds that will please the ear and warm the heart. Remixes come courtesy of Tom Churchill, Alex Johnston, Aii, Rabbits and loads more. Very nice indeed.
Stakker - Eurotechno - Rephlex
Aphex�s Rephlex label has dabbled in early dance music before with their re-issue of 808 State�s classic Newbuild ep, now they turn their attention to the early Future Sound Of London incarnation, Stakker. This is an original soundtrack to Eurotechno, a multimedia project from 1989 and the music is pretty damn good to say its over 13 years old. There is a heavy dose of 303 acid across the tracks, the 909 also makes a few appearances, it�s almost like an old school mash up with Mr Fingers, Joey Beltram and DJ Pierre all tweaking their boxes. In between the acid and obligatory 4/4�s are mad inserts, vocals, sound effects and general all round madness that break the tracks up. Most of the tracks are very short, just acid loops and beats, and there is no tracklisting, as it�s all mixed in - making it hard to navigate for highlights. There are a few gems on here that will be well worthy of a replay, the acid lines getting themselves into your head, nostalgia for the heyday of raves setting in before you know it! Rephlex like to surprise and also to stimulate, and they have a bit of a coup on their hands with this. Both the vinyl and CD feature the same music, the CD splits it up into 21 tracks and runs for just over 25 minutes, whereas the vinyl splits up into two long tracks. A very tasty package from Rephlex and Stakker, and just a warm up for the ace �Humanoid Sesssions� due out very soon. Check!
The Stereonerds - HD Endless - Rather Intersting
Killer rude brand new Rather Interesting title and one of the best new additions to the catalogue in a long time. 'The Stereonerds' might be John Bryant and Tad Davis from Melbourne or they might be Uwe Schmidt in Santaigo, Chile if Atom's homour is anything to go by. So imagine the style of Atom Heart that flips your head up, with the most devasting beat splising and serious body rockin' electro twist up chao's. A continuation of 'Hard Disk Rock (Don't Stop)' and 'Space Boogie' from 'Real Intelligence IV'. Kicking off with 'F.U.N.K.' a manifesto cutting up old school electro samples with deadly sharp digital beats and the lyrics 'funk is what you don't play, it's the space between the event's' - imagine Atom Heart jamming with The Soft Pink Truth and Prince, 'Electronics' is deadly spacious digital electro funk, repeat buzzing noise, crisp keys, deep beats. 'Harddisk Rock' is a re-edit of the original, pitched down with a different flow to the mighty first cut. Still drop dead funky, with blitz keys and the classic vocal refrain. 'I Hear A New World' has full lyrics, over more spaced out crunch beats and Krartwerk synth drops. 'Transhuman Melody' is like early Sheffield industrial funk, you can almost hear Phil Oakey lurking in the background - dirty. 'Prazision' is equally as crushing and possibly my favourite track on this album, perfect downtempo hip hop structures and sinister vocals. Finally the truly wicked 'HD Endless' that clock's in at 15 mins - killer future Kraftwerk anthem. Mighty RI CD to file next to Brown, Erik Satin, Lisa Carbon, Senor Coconut and Roger Tubesound. Essential.
V/A Rough Trade Shops : Counter Culture - Mute
Rough Trade Shops launch a new series of releases, bringing together their personal selection of favourite tunes from 2002. Featuring over 40 tracks from the likes of Akufen, Electric Six, Melt Banana, Edan, Prefuse 73, Bis, Tom Waits, ESG, Cabaret Voltaire, Schneider TM and our very own Bitstream among many others.
V/A Wanna Buy a Craprak - Car Park
Wonderful label showcase compilation from New York's always nice Car Park records. With tracks from Kid 606, Hrvatski, Marumari, Greg Davis, Casino Versus Japan, Safety Scissors Vs Kit Clayton and Signer + more. Exclusive offerings start with those Californian sunshine click kids Freescha, So Takahashi's next up with warm metallic dronescape variations and then we have Takagi Masakatsu's wistful toytown drums and breezy melodics. Taken from forthcoming Car Park releases are Greg Davis's genius 'Brocade', an eloquent cycle of reflective acoustic guitar tones interspersed with analogue distortion and a nod to Steve Reich and Ogurusu Norihide's beautiful psych folk electronics a la Nagisa Ni Te. The exclusive Hrvatski track really makes this comp a winner, 'Equinox' showcases even more of Keith Fullerton Whitman's talents - a gentle ambient guitar loop sequence wooden block beating beats slowly unravels into bright blue post rock with the sweetest distortion imaginable. Superb. Plus they've added four exclusive Quicktime videos from Marumari, Takagi Masakatsu, Jake Mandell and 242 Pilots. One seriously good and eclectic compilation at a very nice price.
Alejandra & Aeron - Bousha Blue Blazes - Orthlorng Musork
The founders of Lucky Kitchen, Alejandra Salinas and Aeron Bergman release their first recording for Sue Costabile and Joshua 'Kit' Clayton's Orthlorng Musork imprint. Another special once only project based around family recordings in a similar way to that of the Diskono released 'Love Album'. For this their latest work, �Bousha Blue Blazes�, they branch into a more acoustic musical field with the help of Aeron�s grandmother Elaine Ruth Pope, or Bousha as her grandchildren know her. Being a singer all her life during a recent visit to Alejandra and Aeron at their home in Spain for Christmas 2001, the trio decided to play music together. The result is a peaceful haunting, yet respectful blending of voice, electronics, guitar, piano and recordings of the Spanish Christmas season. The optimism of old christmas blends with the optimism of new technology. This music is sometimes sad, sometimes romantic, but always alive -- two generations coming together to gently blaze sounds. Another fine album from the Lucky Kitchen axis brought to you by the ever fascinating Orthlorng Musork
Tiga - DJ Kicks - Studio K7
Following a parade of successful mix CDs (Mixed Emotions, American Gigolo), a top ten hit with �Sunglasses at Night� and soldout DJ dates worldwide, this latest DJ Kicks features tracks from Soft Cell, Martini Bros, Codec & Flexor, Le Tigre, Charles Manier, Sir Drew, 2Raumwohnung and many others.
The Majesticons - Beauty Party - Big Dada
The long awaited return of Mike Ladd's hip hop concepticians, now adapted as The Majesticon's the immortal rotobotic terrorising enemy of The Infesticons. Forget the concept, 'Beauty Party' is a remarkable album - future hip hop scenario's imagined by the mad genius visionary Mike Ladd. There's even a touch of N*E*R*D in the lyricism, pop and r'n'b glitches like the most spangly stuff on the last Antipop album. Def Jux allstars emcee's Vast Aire, El-P and Murs also feature bringing the critical hip hop elements. Bombs on first listen are 'Fader Party' with the dj skills of Fred Ones and 'Prom Night Party' killer party action that sounds like the sequel to 'Ghostlawns' by Antipop shacked up with The Sugarbabes. 'Majestwest Party' features Murs spitting dope dirt rhymes and 'Suburb Party' find El-P and Vast Aire 'jacking ho's in volvo's' - sick bomb. Killer no holds barred hip hop opera on crack. This album is the bomb.
Laika - Lost In Space (1993-2002) - Too Pure
Laika are not an �electronic� group in the usual sense of the word, yet they meld and twist samples with the best of them. The first CD features selected tracks from the bands three albums and a track from the deleted Volume / Warchild releases. The second CD features rareties from singles and compilation albums, remixes and radio sessions, along with an unreleased new recording. Check.
The Sea And Cake - One Bedroom - Thrill Jockey
The Sea and Cake 's sixth album, �One Bedroom� , is elegant pop. Membrane like layers of electronic tones, delicate synthesizers surround intricately woven guitars. Melodic bass lines punctuate these restrained and complex sounds. Songs are propelled by imaginative percussion lines and shaped by spare warm vocals. Sam Prekop�s lyrical style is poetic as opposed to narrative. Paradoxically, the resulting album of delicate precisely constructed songs sounds effortless. After Eight years, the Sea and Cake lineup remains the same: Sam Prekop (vocals and guitars), Erik Claridge (bass), John McEntire (drums), and Archer Prewitt (guitar). Their musical vocabulary is greatly expanded by their other artistic pursuits. Erik Claridge has been working on a solo album as well as his continuing painting/ illustration career, part of which is a regular insert in the Chicago Reader. Archer continues to create his Drawn and Quarterly produced Sof� Boy comics. Prewitt additionally released a solo album entitled �Three�. John has engineered numerous records in his own Soma Studio, while McEntire has also managed to make time to start recording a new Tortoise album as well as play a collaborative performance at the Thalia Theater with Ikue Mori and Zeena Parkins. Sam Prekop, with whom most songs originate, has had several painting shows including a solo show at Clementine Gallery in Chelsea. Prekop has also continued to pursue photography, it is his photo on the One Bedroom cover. The Sea and Cake is a group of active individuals whose experiences add to its vibrant palette of sounds, tones, and textures.
Windy & Carl / Landing - Split Album - Music Fellowship
The sublime Windy & Carl finally release their tour CD with fellow americans of driftsome post rock bent Landing. To say that Windy & Carl's 'Untitled' 15 min + track is epic is to do it a disservice. It's truly mind expanding without the acidic drug fuelled nonsense you'd associate from such a description plus it's heartbreakingly beautiful. For a headphone trip to take far away from the bust and rumble of modern life then I recommend this track on repeat play ad infinitum. After the immenseness of the Windy & Carl piece, Landing can only be described as a blissed out comedown. Three tracks to sooth the soul. Hand painted card sleeves by Windy Weber. Highly rated and very warmly recommended by ourselves and some of our fellow business buddies. Dive in. # posted by DJ Martian 8:24 PM
Friday, January 24, 2003
Dusted Friday Feature
Norwegian singer, improviser, and composer Maja Ratkje has worked with such artists as Merzbow, Jazzkammer and Otomo Yoshihide. She plays electronics with the free improv group Spunk and has also worked with leading improvisers like Evan Parker, Rhodri Davies and Gino Robair. Ratkje�s most recent projects include Syklubb fra H�lvete by the noisy Spunk offshoot Fe-Mail, and Voice, a new solo CD on the Rune Grammofon label that finds her experimenting with processed vocal sounds.
Dusted find out what: Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje, has been listening to recently. # posted by DJ Martian 2:16 PM
This week's Jazzon3 programme, a Mark-Anthony Turnage special.
24th January 2003
Mark-Anthony Turnage
Recorded earlier in the week as part of the Barbican�s Turnage weekend, this evening's concert features the work of British contemporary composer Mark-Anthony Turnage.
A world-renowned contemporary classical composer, Turnage has frequently explored the relationship between jazz compositional techniques, tonalities and performers and the contemporary classical world, often incorporating jazz musicians and improvisation in his orchestral works.
This evening�s music is performed by the all star trio of UK pianist John Taylor, American bassist Dave Carpenter, and percussionist and composer Peter Erksine, who will be playing their own compositions, the music of Mark-Anthony Turnage and tunes by some of Turnages' musical heroes.
This evening�s programme will include an interview with the composer. # posted by DJ Martian 1:26 AM
New on the Rune Grammofon label, an album from Supersilent:
This is set to be one of the finest albums of the year. Rave reviews all over in the Norwegian press on the new Supersilent album.
Also in The Wire, [new February edition] there is a feature on Supersilent. In May, Supersilent will be performing in the UK.
Supersilent - 6
Supersilent have been a solid cornerstone in Rune Grammofon since the very beginning and are seen by many as the very essence of the label. From the monumental hardcore blizzard storms of "1-3" to the elegant electrojazz of "4" and the almost quiet soundscapes of "5", this new album is where the sum of all things Supersilent comes together in a shape of almost epic proportions. Like "1-3" and "Scorch Trio" it was recorded at Athletic Sound in Halden, Norway. More than ever it appears clear that their music lives in a no man�s land between the genres, somewhere between rock, electronica, jazz and modern composition. As with all their recordings and live performances, everything here is improvised. That most of the music on "6" appears to be written or at least arranged, is testament to the high, almost telepatic level they work at . Needless to say, there are no overdubs. Often being labelled jazz because of the improvising aspect of the music and the fact that three of the members come from a jazz background, with "6" they are just as likely to attract followers of bands such as Goodspeed You! Black Emperor, Sigur R�s, King Crimson, (late) Talk Talk or Popol Vuh.
This is released on February 10th in the UK, see Amazon.co.uk
Mark Russell and Robert Sandall trawl the outer
reaches of new music, including an interview with
Norwegian sound artist Deathprod about his
group Supersilent, which takes elements from
electronica, jazz, rock and contemporary composition. .
interview with helge on bbc radio:
'mixing it' - a radio program of bbc radio 3 will broadcast a supersilent special including an interview with helge.
the program on air: on sunday, # posted by DJ Martian 12:50 AM
Norway Part One - The Troms� Experience
Show broadcasts on Radio 1 on Thursday 23rd January
First stop 70 degrees North. There's snow, ice, 3 hours of daylight and a handful of very talented electronic beat makers. We're in Troms� one of the most northern arctic cities in the land of extreme...
Includes interviews with:
Doc L Junior 4:43 mins
KYD 3:41 mins
Biosphere 5:37 mins
Vidur of Beat Service Records 8:34 mins
R�yksopp 3:26 mins
Reminder, the whole show can also be listened to from tomorrow @ Oneworld for upto 7 days, i.e until the next One World show. # posted by DJ Martian 11:31 PM
If I were an editor of a weekly music magazine this week's front cover would feature:Tok Tok
[Late with this feature this week !]
This week's front cover choice is German electro band, Tok Tok
Toktok release their debut album, Toktok vs Soffy O, on January 27, through eastwest/Code Blue Records. Toktok vs Soffy O extends Toktok�s electronic vocabulary - a digital soundscape of shifting moods made up of diverse material - and shows a different side to the band, with the Toks abandoning their Teutonic detachment for new fashioned rock and roll, an electroclash mash up of drums and synths. The album includes the collective�s infamous debut single, �Missy Queen�s Gonna Die� and the new single �Day Of Mine (Ludicrous Idiots)�, which will be released on February 17. # posted by DJ Martian 11:26 PM
Various artists "Electronic Music For Heroes Vol2" special low price CD album out this week
10 tracks of new and and recent tracks from the label, �4.99 retail price in the UK. �4 on our online shop.
Norken "Blue Divide (Remodelled)". CD album and LP out 27/01
The second in a series of three remix album from the work of Lee Anthony Norris (aka Metamatics, Norken, Nacht Plank).. Brilliant collection of remixes done by remixers around the world.. More Detroitian styled music this time
Norken "Static", 12" out the 17/02
4 remixes from the Norken remix project all exclusive to this vinyl..
A1 People "The Reason EP" (incl. new tracks) out 24/02
12" and CD EP 4 new tracks plus New version of The Reason from "The Yellow Album"
Plumbline "Circles Number 1 EP" out 10/03
Lush vocals and floating beautiful music from thie NY based artist. New signing on Hydrogen Dukebox. EP will be avalable on 12" only, and leading up to the release of Plumbline's debut album.
The Lithium Project "Majik Kiosk" 12" out 17/03.
long awaited teaser to the follow up of Lithium's new album "Passo Fundo" Beautiful airy vocals and an overall indie jazzy feel to it.... this track has blown us away in the office!!!!
Nacht Plank "Lost and Damaged" CD album/LPout 24/03
The third album in the Lee Anthony Norris Remix series, this time it is the Nacht Plank-moniker, minmal ambient music that rounds of Norris' amazing talents as a producer
The Black Dog & Black Sifischi "Genetically Modified" CD album and LP out the 31/03
Remix album from last years Unsavoury Products album, remixes by Jimmy KLF Cauty, CJ Bolland, Technova, The Beloved, Laub, Mescalito, A1 People and many more
Also coming up:
Technova and Vaginal Davis "I Could Have Sex" (will also feature remix by Tommie Sunshine and A1 People)
New 12" and album.. Amazing record with Felix da House Cat's left hand man Tommie Sunshine on remix duties
James Hardway "Wish You Were There" CD album (compiled tracks from previous albums)
A Best of compilation featuring some new tracks and the highlights of his 6 studio albums.. Features all the classics like Illustrated Man etc etc
Further on in 2003
New Plumbline Album (out in April)
New Hardway Album...
New Chamber Album...
New A1 People Album...
New Globo 12" and album
Hydrogen Dukebox Chillout comp...
Hydrorgen Dukebox 10 years in the making compilation...
Please Note: These are UK release dates. Release Dates may vary from country to country. # posted by DJ Martian 12:34 PM
Key new album releases for January 20th [A more detailed release listing including other new releases, compilations and reissues - can be found further up this webpage.]
This Week: January 20th
Calla - Televise (Arena Rock Recording Co)
Dorine_Muraille - Mani (FatCat)
Kinski - Airs Above Your Station (Strange Attractors Audio House/ Sub Pop) Import
Pram - Dark Island (Domino)
For Reference:
Last Week: January 13th
Tadd Mullinix - Panes (Ghostly International)
Porcupine Tree - In Absentia (Atlantic/Lava) UK/European release with 3 bonus tracks
Sonna - Smile and the World Smiles With You (Temporary Residence) # posted by DJ Martian 10:32 AM
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
Marcello Carlin on Resonance 104.4FM
Marcello Carlin of The Church of Me made an excellent and entertaining broadcasting debut last night. On his weblog, Marcello presents: By special request, here is the full original script of my broadcast on Resonance 104.4 FM last night.
CLEAR SPOT: THE FEMINISATION OF NOISE
Resonance 104.4 FM - Tuesday 21 January 2003
An essential read ! # posted by DJ Martian 1:50 PM
StarVox 2002
StarVox is a monthly online zine dedicated to promoting music in the genres of goth, deathrock, psychobilly, gothabilly,ethereal, industrial, dark ambient, and doom/black metal.
For Billy Corgan fans, check this multimedia sound promotion website for audio and video clips from the new Zwan album. Found via Silent Uproar # posted by DJ Martian 1:27 PM
Back in 2001 The Microphones won the Pitchfork album of the year award, however in the UK they are complete unknowns with zilch radio play and hardly any press coverage in UK magazines:
Angels of Light - Everything Is Good Here/Please Come Home
Third album from Michael Gira's post-Swans project, The Angels of Light, is easily their most stunning and accessible yet. That so many people remain oblivious to them is a complete injustice
Also Pitchfork gets a new design look for 2003. # posted by DJ Martian 2:24 PM
Nothingace
Nothingace have named their next album: Skeletons, expected on April 1st on TVT Records. # posted by DJ Martian 2:15 PM
Dinky - Black Cabaret
Something that I mentioned earlier this month [5th January] after listening to a track on Xfm's Flo-Motion show, Dinky - Black Cabaret gets an approval from Simon Reynolds @ Blissblog
Dinky - Black Cabaret, Imminent (February) from Carpark [records]; imagine electroclash if it was sourced in Sulk, Hardcorps, Thomas Leer's Four Movements. Bewitching. # posted by DJ Martian 1:17 AM
Music e-zines
5 music ezines that I have not previously linked to:
a bit too ring-fenced typical alt/ indie for me, but magnet/ careless talk types might enjoy Do Something Pretty
music ezine that comes in online editions, both electronic and rock based music: earpollution
Impressive music ezine: both electronic and rock based: Evilsponge
Hello, i am Brendan Sponge. I would like to welcome you to EvilSponge, a cultural critique site. My minions have gathered together reviews of recorded music, live music, films, and television shows. Please feel free to peruse the site at your liesure. And check back regularly, as we post new reviews quite often.
British based, a bit too skewed to high profile NME/ Evening Session type trad alt-rock coverage: Miuzik however some interesting content:
The three tracks reviewed, alongside an additional two, are due for release as an EP mid-February time, through Press The Eject and Give Me The Tape recordings. This will coincide with a live session the band are due to be recording for Xfm # posted by DJ Martian 12:58 AM
Sonna - Smile and the World Smiles With You
Temporary Residence
Masha Qrella - Luck
Monika Enterprise
Bill Laswell - Book of Exit (Dub Chamber 4)
ROIR # posted by DJ Martian 12:04 AM
Monday, January 20, 2003
Dismemberment Plan
ILM yesterday broke the news that Dismemberment Plan are to split. Reading on Billboard.com I was surprised how few copies their albums sold, 22, 000 each for the last two albums in the US. I guess that Clear Channel controlled radio stations never played them. # posted by DJ Martian 11:47 PM
TOK TOK
BurnitBlue.com have a feature on German electronic group: TOK TOK # posted by DJ Martian 11:26 PM
Sunday, January 19, 2003
Super Numeri - Great Aviaries
Kudos records provide info on a forthcoming album on Ninja Tune from Super Numeri:
Super Numeri - Great Aviaries
At last, from Liverpool come a group who seem to owe absolutely nothing to the Beatles. Super Numeri specialise in long, intense journeys into music that recall Miles Davis' seventies experiments and the work of Can without seeming beholden to either. The product of a unique communal collective, the results are langorous soundscapes, with a use of live instruments and spiky intelligence which take them a million miles from lazy "ambient" music. Self-avowed avant garde traditionalists, the three core members of Super Numeri gathered together ten others for the making of a record which they describe in the following terms: "Sometimes it's ugly. Sometimes it's immensely beautiful. At all times it's high and glorious!" Listen to a new sound coming from an old place.
This album is released on February 3rd. # posted by DJ Martian 9:19 PM
Clearlake - Cedars
I notice that Clearlake's new album Cedars is picking up some additional interest, partly due to the producer Simon Raymonde ex Cocteau Twins. I never listened to Clearlake's first album Lido released two years ago, as there was something about the vocal style that didn't appeal from the few tracks played on Xfm.
Clearlake - Cedars is released on February 3rd on Domino.
Their debut �Lido� was highly acclaimed (9/10 NME, Album Of the Month MOJO, ****Q) and won them fans as diverse as Jarvis Cocker, Stephen Malkmus, Mark & Lard and The Delgados. They played dates with Elliot Smith, appeared at Scott Walker�s Meltdown, broadcast live from Abbey Road and made a celebrated appearance on BBC�s Later.But that was then. Very little you thought you knew about Clearlake will have prepared you for the power and depth of Cedars, their second album for Dusty Company/Domino.
The thrilling Almost The Same, disturbed and witty Mind Is Evil, chilling I�d Like To Hurt You, uplifting Treat Yourself With Kindness, moving Trees In The City - and seven other songs of an equally high standard - each pay testament to the quality of this beautiful album, conceived by the band in France and Brighton and produced with former Cocteau Twin, Simon Raymonde.
Jason Pegg�s incisive songs explore subjects rarely visited articulately in pop since peak-period Smiths - madness, death, loss, self-loathing and self-healing among them. The outlook may occasionally be overcast but it�s offset by the tremendous therapeutic clout of gorgeous melody and forensically observed lyrics.
Clearlake also boast an expanding palette of raw and evocative sonics: guitars that describe small orchestras of feedback, woozily-arranged strings, chiming antique pianos and rich, layered vocal harmonies all recorded with a garagey bravado. �We�re constantly trying to find the exact mid-point between raw chaos and Tin Pan Alley,� says Jason. �We want to offer the opportunity within every song to go somewhere special. We always aim really high. Even if we occasionally miss our target, we always land somewhere interesting.�
Cedars has landed somewhere marvellous. Enjoy your stay there.
Review on Clearlake - Cedars @ Cmu online # posted by DJ Martian 8:43 PM
Pram - Dark Island
Cmu online review Pram - Dark Island. This album is released in the UK, (January 20th ) tomorrow on Domino. # posted by DJ Martian 8:23 PM
Hydrogen Dukebox
For fans of electronic music music, If your online now there is a Hydrogen Dukebox special on the London Xpress show on Xfm.
Doug Hart (Chamber) hosts an Electronic Music For Heroes session on the
London Xpress show, broadcast on XFM 19th Jan 2003
Listen @ Xfm for the next two hours 8pm - 10pm (GMT)
I can also highly recommend the Hydrogen Dukebox, 2 hour One World show on Radio 1 - Radio player on Demand it is available to listen to at anytime - until the next One World show, i.e next Thursday. # posted by DJ Martian 8:12 PM
Compilation: Red & Blue Neither Norway
Details of a sampler compilation that gathers together some of the exceptional contemporary artists from Norway, mostly in avant jazz and electronic music scenes
Tracklisting:
CD 1: 01. Kaada - Volkswagen
02. Eivind Aarset - ffwd/Slowmotion
03. Kr�yt - Grown And Flown
04. Supersilent - C 3.1
05. Ring - Magic Waffle
06. Nils �kland - Bibersl�tt
07. Jaga Jazzist - Tri Star
08. School Days - Stonerow
09. Wunderkammer - Il Solo Coglione
10. Beatroute - Philosophical
CD 2: 01. Nils Petter Molv�r - Dead Indeed
02. Kim Hiorth�y - Doors Open Both Ways
03. Motorpsycho - Gerhard
04. Stian Carstensen - Untitled
05. Caf� Romantica - Memory Wheel
06. Folk & R�vere - Hengek�ye
07. Jazzkammer - Peepshop
08. Monopot - Survival Of The Unfittest
09. Phono - Yellow Drummachine
10. Wibutee - Nubounce
11. Scorch Trio - Kind Of Oval
12. Bugge Wesseltoft - GUBNUF
This album was released in Norway in 2002, but will be available in the UK on February 3rd. It can be ordered @ HMV.co.uk # posted by DJ Martian 8:03 PM
At last kids, the first sampler on the fabulous Ai imprint is finally back with us, bringing to an end the almost daily flow of emails sent our way asking when, why and if it�s made a re-appearance. ok ok ok...its back in , shut up now! Much has changed since �Estate� first dropped back in 2001, the label has gained a dedicated following and is fast setting itself as the most desirable, collectable and x-factored label following in the footsteps of Skam and Toytronic in delighting, surprising and frustrating the kids with limited editions, hand-printed sleeves and artists that are well and truly their own. The label has delivered two samplers to date � �Estate�, and �Produce�, each expanding on the philosophy of sound that has extended from tough electroid tweaks to the most delicate of soundscape constructions. The next few weeks will see the release of �Leisure� the third label sampler, and a tremendous extension of styles and attitudes that will set the label in good stead for a year which is pretty likely to be gigantic for one and all concerned. New and emerging artists on the label, like the simply superb Claro Intellecto, are already being spun and rotated by an ever-extending family of DJ�s from Skam to our overenthusiastic office spinners, and more is set to come. �Estate�, meanwhile, is a perfect introduction to the Ai sound, from Yellotone�s evocative blend of guitars, skittering percussion, muffled trumpets and widescreen marimba-esque patterns on �When We Danced�, to Aidsbot 2000�s awesome electroid decimations and rewired glitch hiccups on �Foreshadowing of Fallen Youth� , to Normal�s piano-laden tweaked electronic pulse on the sublime last track �Rain�. 12 tracks in total, take a deep breath and watch things go mental......
Juan Atkins - Timeless Mix - Metroplex
The living legend and Grandaddy of Detroit releases a mix worthy of his status. The Essential Metroplex mix contains tune after tune of homemade Detroit genius ranging from early gems such as Juans own �The Chase�? and X-Ray�s �Lock it down�? right through to the latest Model 600 �Update�. Also taking in classics such as the sublime �Celestial Highways�? by Drexciya�s Gerald Mitchell and the raw beats of Aaron Carl�s �Down� plus the club classic �Game One� by Orlando Voorn and Juan Atkins under the Infiniti name. What a way to finish a Detroit mix by ending with the outstanding �Jazz is the teacher� by Jaun and Maurizio from Basic Channel. There are 21 tracks in total, the mixing is spot on, with a couple of corrections throughout the CD giving an authentic and not too clinical feel to the whole mix, but with a list of tunes like this who cares! An outstanding testament of Detroit techno from one of the men and labels who changed the face of dance music forever, Genius.
V/A Electronic Music For Heroes 02 - Hydrogen Dukebox
Ludicrously cheap and rather good sampler compilation on the Hydrogen Dukebox label, featuring a selection of �old, new, borrowed and blue� tunes from the Black Dog, Metamatics, James Hardway, Norken, A1 People, Technova and more. Check.
Dorine Muraille - Mani - Fat Cat
Sweet French folk singing, double bass and piano melodies are cracked and refracted through laptop processing. Drawing on folk traditions, yet exploding these into fractured new forms, Dorine_Muraille exists alongside peers like Fennesz or Oval, whilst creating something genuinely new and distinctive, a kind of �ketamine laptop folk�. Despite being anchored by traditional song-forms, the listener�s perception of time and space becomes jarred and disrupted through the slurred chaos of collapsing details. From light and pretty melodics to sprawling, chrystalline soundscapes of constant change to fiercer squalls and storms, these chaotic, fractal tracks are mixed in with four ultra-sparse, barely-there piano sketches, each acting as a kind of brief decompression chamber, a calm space for reconditioning the ears. Dorine_Muraille has also collaborated with Japanese singer Noriko Tujiko (who records for Mego), and has planned a remix collaboration with Scott Heren (Prefuse 73) under Heren�s Savath+Savalas alias .
Muslimgauze - Uzbekistani Bizarre and Souk - Imprec
Something of a grail for hardcore 'gauze collectors, at last the music from this hitherto DAT only release is made available in a more usable format. Comfort care packaging, with imprinted letter press makes this a worthy addition for anyone concerned, not withstanding the fact that inside lies some of Bryn Jones' most extreme, challenging and arguably, best work. Not every Muslimgauze is essential, but this stands out as a particular highlight.
Pram - Dark Island - Domino
It�s Domino�s 10th anniversary this year and what better way than to kick it off than with a band that personify the little things that make Domino and it�s roster so special. Pram's �Dark Island� is a concept album steeped in the wonderful and weird and takes in the odd and solitary lives of a windswept seaside town in winter. Pervading all is a sleaziness, a dark underbelly captured by slinky guitar, drunken clarinet, brazen horn, sinister strings, heavy dub bass, mesmirised samples, hypnotising vocals & mournful trumpet. But the trademark breezy pop is still alive and well, the instrumental glamour of theramin opener �Track of the Cat� and the gorgeous �Paper Hats� will ease the darker edges. Check. # posted by DJ Martian 7:20 PM
