Well, actually these are more recommendations and comments about the releases that we like and play in our show. I always hated long reviews anyway. Now read and listen to some music!
2006 - 2005 - 2004
December
Ming & Ping
MP2
[Omega Point; 2005]
After their debut MingPing.com these Hong Kong born, San Francisco based, twins are back with new long player (containing 15 tracks) called MP2... I have not heard much about them before MP2 and I have not seen them live (the word is that they have a very interesting live act, including video projections, nice scenography, supporting crew...) But after listenening to their second lp I can say that this is one of the most beautiful (yes that is the word!) electro-pop albums I have heard in a while. These well produced and melodic tunes, with digital but warm synth sounds and dreamy vocals of Ming & Ping, will catch you on the first listening... They kind of sound to me like a synthpop version of Belle & Sebastian and, in my opinion, that could only be a good thing! (A.I.)
November
Scratch Massive
Girls on top
[MBF; 2005]
Coming from the German Traumschallplatten sublabel, My best Friend, Scratch Massive`s new single Girls on top is one of these tunes that you just cant stop playing! The track is served in two shapes. Original version is a electro killer track with fat beat, raw bass lines and sometimes pitchshifted vocal that says "Here we go"! Sounds like a cliché but it really makes me go maaaaad, like certain Berlin producer said. Another version is a nice breakbeat cut, with bass part that sounds like heavy metal line, and you can play this one when you totally wash your brain out with the original... I can already say Girls on top is on my top 10 singles list for this year! (A.I.)
Dataman - Free Download
[Spass an der Freude]
Clever; 2005
Now it is quite clear that clevermusic.net is one of the most interesting, beat oriented, netlabels. Their tenth release, Dataman - Spass an der Freude, brings us four tracks, and at least two of them (Schere and Brunnen) are pure gold. Minimal beats, duby stabs and mangled house vocal samples are perfectly mixed together on this release, and they are probably showing us just one part of the Dataman`s talent. I sincerely hope that this English (you did not expect that, right?) netlabel will stay around. (A.I.)
October
Kemi & Amox
Poison Ivy
[Lasergun; 2005]
After their debut (Me So Horny) on Lasergun Records in 2002, Danish duo Kemi & Amox are back with four new tracks on the same Berlin based label. This ep, named Poison Ivy, is a step forward for Kemi & Amox and for Lasergun. Dark and groovy acid lines, ambiental bits, clean and smooth beats, are making this record sound like perfect choice for every dancefloor. I especially like the overall sound of this record. And after I have heard this simple and at the same time demanding sound of these tunes I Hope that these guys will continue their journey in this direction. (A.I.)
September
Various Artists
Ego Twister Party Ruiners vol.1
[Ego Twister; 2005]
The first compilation by Ego Twister records is here, featuring nine tracks build around the concept "tracks to begin the party, tracks to ruin it". Sounds promising, and now you probably wonder how these tracks sound. Well they sound quite fucked up, but in a positive way. Crazy 8 bit lines, crunchy broken beats, unbelievable cartoon samples, quite energetic stuff! Definitely not everybody's cup of tea, but these uncompromising, brave and complex tracks, packed on the 12" vinyl, will surely find their place on the global experimental electronic music scene. Angers (France) scene is now definitely on my watch list! (A.I.)
June
Various Artists
Hipothetik Disaster
[Hip Notik; 2005]
We are quite happy that we have received first release by French label Hip Notik. This Various Artists lp, featuring artists from Angers (France), US, Germany, Poland and all around the world, is full of intriguing combinations of electro and hip-hop, with experimental edge. These guys define their sound as electro-post-hop and actually this release sounds just like that! A little bit of old skool, a little bit of contemporary electro sounds, and what you get is the combination that works very well. Angers street style? Yes, we like it! (A.I.)
Water Lilly
Sputnika
[Mental Groove; 2005]
Although Water Lillie's debut album delivers a thrilling combination of electro ambient sounds, it is far from being just that. A subtle way of blending electro beats into an articulated sphere of ambient sounds mixed into an exciting Idm-ish groove defiantly sucks your attention into it, or pulls your grooves out with a help of banal disco layers. When she says she likes people to party, she does not prove only that, but also, through her wit as a producer, presents herself as a absolutely capable of creating less dancefloor, more intimate, but, unlike Swiss chocolate, no less exciting spectrum of flavour! Yeah! (©.T)
May
Ruben Montesco
Slave of The Darkness
[Lasergun; 2005]
Lasergun Records in April presented us latest ep by Spanish Dj and producer Ruben Montesco, and I was really blown away by awesome electro-industrial sound of this ex MORGUE (industrial band) bass player. This ep caries three, all of them very energetic and dark, dancefloor fillers. Warm acid basslines, booming beats and ambient pads are working together perfectly in Montesco`s mean machine... Nasty! Just listen what "Slave of The Darkness" has to say and you will understand what I`m talking about! (A.I.)
Okapi
Where's the Beef?
[Inflatabl; 2005]
I have recently received a copy of the first solo lp by Filippo Paolini a.k.a. Okapi. This Italian artist, on American label, brings us his very complex work in the 23 pieces packed on the cd. Sources of the sound which this very skilful turntablist creates range from John Cage, Sun Ra to Kid 606... Everything is laid down nicely and "Where's the Beef?" is one pleasant and different experience... I could live without few ethno samples which are thrown in but overall I like the old skool lounge, jazzy, atmosphere of this record. (A.I.)
April
AFX
Analord 06
[Rephlex; 2005]
I guess that everyone knows about Analord series that Rephlex is publishing since beginning of the year, and I really don`t know what to say about latest Richard D. James works... These quirky electro tunes sound quite nice and they are better than most of the things that I have heard in the last few months, but the man is recreating his own sound, fooling around with equipment, and that is kind of strange... Is it a step forward or back? Listen and decide for yourself. (A.I.)
Sarah Goldfarb - Free download
Absolut Funk
[Sinergy Networks; 2005]
Today it is easier than ever to miss some great, free, online releases. Fortunately that did not happened to me with Jean-Vince a.k.a. Sarah Goldfarb latest release. Absolut Funk ep, published by Spanish netlabel Sinergy Networks, contains two original tracks and four awesome remixes by LOD, Abstract Groove, Funzion and Marko Fuerstenberg. So, what you get is over 35 minutes of intelligent, minimal, electro-techno sounds, and everything is packed in the very (digital dj) friendly 256 kbps mp3 format... (A.I.)
March
Riton vs. Howdi
GPM 026
[Get Physical Music; 2005]
Ok, it is time for the latest release by Berlin based label Get Physical Music. For those of you who are not familiar with the work of this label I have to say that we are talking about one of the German imprints that makes an important part of the contemporary dance scene in the last few years... So, GPM 026 - Riton vs. Howdi contains two beautiful electro-house pieces, Closer and Walk On Water, that would not leave you stand in place. Simply it is just a sort of the sound that I like to hear in the club, groovy, minimal and in your face! (A.I.)
Various Artists
Condominium "Vvaa"
[Mousikelab; 2004]
I was wondering lately why do all so called IDM tunes produced in the last few years sound boring or too harsh?! Where is the good stuff? Well, it`s in the Condominium! This Mousikelab release brings together some very talented Italian artists with the names like Mum, DJ Vadim, Velma, on the one of the most interesting compilations published in the last few months... I am very surprised! It seems that there is a lot of going on in Italy at the moment! So, if you want to hear intriguing and progressive sounds instead of boring ambient music Condominium is the place for you. (A.I.)
February
OMMM
Testing The Equipment
[ADAADAT; 2005]
Testing The Equipment, debut lp by Edmund Davie aka OMMM, is one of the releases that would not let you in easily. But after a few listens you get into the very emotional OMMM`s world, covered by catchy synth melodies, broken beats, warm noises and other, sometimes strange, but pleasant sounds. And when you get hooked, like I did, you will probably keep this album somewhere around your player for quite some time. (A.I.)
Keiichiro Shibuya
ATAK000
[ATAK; 2004]
As an addition to Sasaki Atsushi`s review of this record where he finds it as a perfect product of Sine Wave Renaissance and Click and Cut Revolution, it might be added that revolution does not always eat, but sometimes improves its children. Keiichiro`s unbelievably sharpened sense for dynamic structures, surgical click and cut precision, unmatchable tempo control and crafty production does not make this record excellent just on a technical but also on emotional level. The way "groove" can be sophisticated, as in this case, shows that Keiichiro has moved away from renaissance to enlightenment. (©.T.)
Kim Cascone + Jason Kahn + Steinbrüchel
ATAK004
[ATAK; 2004]
Although audio software allows huge potential for dissection and various sound mutations, it is always a question how to articulate sound enough to be able to call it experimental. This artists went to diametrical opposite of noise driven experimentations to explore the depths and potential of evolvement of silently produced layers into a spectrum of pulsating spheres and glitches. Although very demanding for "beat-accustomed" listener, this release, being very threatening, exposes its creators as very daring in inter sound microverse traveling, going where no sound has gone before. If nothing else, this record is boot camp for ears after which any beat will definitely sound better. (©.T.)
 
Acherontia Styx - EverVastLighting
Tvmulus Seraphim - Vrna Miroir
[Selfreleased; 2004]
Split CD by two Italian artists happen to meet the very core of what dark ambient music tends to be. Brooding, threatening, spacious layers of very nicely produced sound with pure noise outbreaks achieves primarily to acknowledge the "dark" prefix of mentioned definition while conceptually aiming to describe desolate wasteland of first hour after the "Big Bang." Perfect soundtrack for Space Odyssey directored by John Carpenter assisted by Thimoty Leary. (©.T.)
January
Mysterymen
Everything But An Answer
[Disco B; 2004]
One of the latest Disco B releases and one of the best albums of the year just has to be mentioned on this website. After all we play their tunes intensively on our radio show. This English duo, with very distinctive sound, brings life back into somewhat overused/overhyped vintage electro sounds. With beautiful futuristic (at least they were futuristic 20 years ago) vocals, melodies and distorted bass sounds, Mystreymen will surely make you smile... And when they play live they use only analogue synthesisers and machines... (A.I.)
goem
ATAK005
[ATAK; 2004]
I have not heard about goem before, and that is weird! Because this Dutch trio played almost all around the world and released their works on labels such as MEGO and Mille Plateaux. Anyway, after three years they are back with the new lp released on Tokyo based label ATAK, and I have chance to update my knowledge. Sounds of goem range from synthetic textures and noises to analogue bleeps and groovy (click & cut) beats. Everything on this album is very structured and these guys are definitely in control of their sound... very challenging and inspiring music! (A.I.)
Vladislav Delay
Demo(n) Cuts
[Thinner; 2004] - Free Download
Although references like dub experimental have always followed Delay`s work, "demon" cuts correspond to this in the same measure as dub corresponds to Mego style glitch. However, it definitely should not be referred to as an experimental but as beautifully composed brooding and relaxing "listening" music where cuts and ambiental layers contribute to each other in a perfect measure. (©.T.)
Romvelope
One Course Meal
[ADAADAT; 2005]
London based label ADAADAT comes strong in 2005, with two great debut albums. First of these releases is Romvelope - One Course Meal LP, Bjorn Hatleskog`s (ADAADAT co-founder) debut album under this name. And a fine debut it is! This fascinating mixture of hip-hop, electro, idm and crazy vocals was supported by a lot of guests like MC Kanbojia, Eraser99, Lazy Susan... What can I say? Romvelope sounds very promising. Prepare yourself for 8-bit, hip-hop, madness! (A.I.)
color by numbers
The Transitions
[Autoplate; 2004] - Free Download
What we got here is the final Autoplate release for 2004, color by numbers debut that has been two years in the making... And the results are very pleasing! This carefully crafted ambient LP, that includes beautiful pads, dreamy guitar parts and warm production, reminds me on some of the finest glitchy ambient works (for example Endless Summer by Fenesz) that I have heard! And that is not bad thing at all. Jason Corder is now definitely on my watching list! (A.I.)
Totally Radd!!
Shark Attack Day Camp
[Retard Disco; 2004]
Here we are in 2005, but some great releases from the last year just have to be covered! One of these is a Shark Attack Day Camp LP by Totally Radd!!, awesome, LA based synth rock trio. They sing about video games, Mike Tyson, cross-dressing, while mixing game sounds and synths with guitars and punk attitude... Do I have to say anything else? Ok! I especially like the vocals, check out "Dressed Up", very energetic stuff. I wonder how they sound on stage? Anyway, if you want to hear some nostalgic sounds and to remember how did you feel when you heard the first record that pumped adrenaline in your veins, check out Totally Radd!! (A.I.)
NOTE: A month when the review was published is not necessary a month when the release came out!
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