fax collaborations & remixes

I was reading some Ultra-red writings, while listening to some of their free stuff - both audio and text highly recommended (start with this one). And I remembered this album.

Tijuana's Static Discos are mostly known for their incredible Murcof releases. This one here though is a compilation of tracks by Ruben Alonso Tamayo aka Fax, another key label artist and owner of (now inactive) digi-label Cyan Recs.

Tracks are mostly remixes, by guys like Jonas Bering, Mike Shannon, Portable, Bern/Molair, Milimetrik and of course his the aforementioned compatriots; plus collaborations with Alex Ayuli (!!!), Karras and label-mates Pepito. Lots of spaced-out experiments, side by side with post-Cologne french and canadian mini techno; dubby melancholy and hi-tech trickery in a weird blend, moods shifting towards the isolated and surfacing back again. It's not an easy album over all, without being too abstract on the other hand.

It won't stay up for long; it's relatively new, the label's small and needs all the support we can give them; after all, they seem really cool guys. Listen to it, then go buy their stuff.

fax - 2005 Collaborations & Remixes
Info here.

Future Parables

Another recent find, here's the Strictly Jaz Unit project, presented by Glenn Underground (*,*); here including David Collins, Vick Lavender and of course Boo Williams, one of my favourite Chicago producers. Pure deep and jazzy house forms from some of the best, out through british Defender.

They recently reformed, as I see in Discogs.

Glenn Underground presents
The S.J.U. Project - 1997 Future Parables
Info here.

P.S. Link fixed.

Wishworm Tracks

This is the Flowchart album mentioned in the Vibon post, out through british Endorphin Records.

Very few I've heard of them; but the 'showgazer techno' term is closer to the truth than you'd imagine. They're my favorite band from this scene, beats, post-rock and ambient electronics blended; a perfect example of the US electronics crossover mentality, later more apparent in the millions of US netlabels' releases.

Flowchart - 2001 Wishworm Tracks
Info here.

Knockin' Boots

Cari Lekebusch and Alexi Delano teamed up to give us two 12''s through Svek (1,2), both of them together in the CD version here. Exquisite deep and funky house, techno infected and with a New York tint; top quality material, as should be expected after all.

More Svek records here and here.

Mr. James Barth & A.D. - 1998 Knockin' Boots Vol. 1 & 2
Info here.

Beautronics


ISAN debut, through Tugboat.

Extremely relaxed abstract UK electronics from the couple that later got famous for their Morr Music releases. Even though I prefer their more mature stuff, you'll find some really beautiful moments in here.

ISAN - 1998 Beautronics
Info here.

In Your Brain


Psychedelic electrodub excursions from a one-off project of Martin Damm (*) aka Biochip C. aka a fleet of pseudonyms. Out through dutch Sun Music. Rather rare, I'd say...

Braindub - 1995 In Your Brain
Info here.

Vulvaland

Mouse On Mars' debut, early Cologne electronics without limits. Timeless. Grab it.

Mouse On Mars - 1994 Vulvaland
Info here.

This is the Rough Trade version.

The Great Gigolo Swindle

For Gigolo's 50th release anniversary, they issued a small book designed by Abuse Industries, accompanied by a mix by Carlos Souffront and narrated by Brendan M. Gillen of Ectomorph, radio-style ('...on WCBN FM'). 'Crush Collision' show includes full interview with the CEO of Gigolo (...) praising his label and its 50 year history (.?.?.), answering to listeners' phone calls, etc.

Besides (or despite) the voice-overs, expect nothing more than one of the best Gigolo-related mixes, totally in the spirit of the time and with respect to all aspects of the label's sound. As for the book, grab it where you find it, it's excellent work; but take very good care of it. Unfortunately it was very poorly constructed; it fell apart very soon after I bought it (and without much handling...) and the same thing happened to all other copies I've seen.

VA - The Great Gigolo Swindle mix (2000)
Info here.

The mix is split in four parts. For the track-list check the re-release here.

Disco Subversion

Few things I hate more than that commercial travesty of the late '90s called 'disco house', especially vocal stuff. But you know how the mind wanders... The other day while re-reading 'Last Night A DJ Saved My Life' (which I heartily recommend to anyone), I started thinking about and then decided immediately to post these two impossible compilations showcasing the Force Inc. US material.

So, disco house it is. Actually, it's manic kinky ghetto house with tons of disco samples plus acid and deep touches, even fast garage tracks. Truly bastard stuff, coming from the crossover scene with one foot in Germany, the other in Chicago - but call it disco house for convention's sake. Starring here we'll find the usual FIM suspects in various guises: DJ Tonka, Ian Pooley (*), Alec Empire and Martin Damm; but the main attraction might be a number of Chicago's finest like Roy Davis Jr., Gene Farris and Glenn Underground (*), all digging deep into their roots to show us how it's done. Special mentions also go to Cologne's Jürgen Paape, here in his housey shoes. And to that masterpiece named 'Everybody Is Kissing Everyone' by The Bionaut. And don't miss Tonka's 'Old Skool' (it took me back for a while...). And...

Definitely party music, not built for your bedroom late night PC seances; just perfect for those times when you only want to let go, to forget the serious stuff, to loose yourself in childish self-abandonment. Beyond salvation, beyond hope.

Everybody get on the disco bus..


VA - 1996 Disco Subversion
CD1 - CD2
Info here.


VA - 1998 Disco Subversion Vol.II
Here.
Info here.

Gigantic Days

I'm sure I had 'Desert Scores' somewhere, can't seem to find it though. For the time being, here's Ian O'Brien's second album, once more through Peacefrog. Weirder than its (classic) debut, it's all about deep funk, jazz and soft but groovy beats, for all lovers of the organic sound.
If you liked Carl Craig's more free and fuzzy moments, you'll like this one too.

Ian O'Brien - 1999 Gigantic Days
Info here.

P.S. Our good friend Musicus supplied us with links for the aforementioned 'Desert Scores', which I cannot find and will search for no more. Until I find the time to do a decent post, check them out here.

Wake Up

I've mentioned the Kitbuilders before, in assosiation with Bolz Bolz (*,*); through his World Electric label (now inactive) their debut album provides us with quality electro Cologne style, centered around throbbing basslines and the group's trademark weird female electropop vocals.

If you liked Adult you'll like this one too, trust me. As for the 'Walls' track, I consider it to be in my personal Top of the Pops of all-time.

Kitbuilders - 2001 Wake Up
Info here.

Inner Light

It's been a while since I posted anything PWOG-related, so here's an album by Exquisite Corpse, Heynen's side-project (that soon turned out to be 'main'). This one went out just after he left PWOG, in collaboration with his future partner-in-crime Debbie Jones.

The music here is very similar to the early PWOG material, lots of tribal rhythms and ethno samples built on a minimalistic techno basis, yet without the overtly psychedelic dubby treatments we're so used to (that was Freeman's work, possibly); it still retains its meditative nature and function, anyway.

This is the Restless re-release, contains an extra remix (I've also included the original KK version covers).

Exquisite Corpse - 1993 Inner Light
Info here.

The K&D Sessions

The downtempo 2CD mixed compilation of Vienna's K&D productions and remixes on various well known artists, epitomizing their sound at the time and (re)defining the late '90s post-breaks chillout scene. Might be too soft for some of you. But even just for the 'Bug Powder Dust' remix... Anyway, it's one of the few 'loungey' albums I return to from time to time.

A !K7 record.

Kruder & Dorfmeister - 1998 The K&D Sessions
CD1 - CD2
Info here.

The Jerusalem EPs

I think you're going to like this one. Just found it buried in a back shelf; a crappy record shop sells out and I swept like the vulture I am to clean up the carcass. More from there to come soon.

The Zion references of the tracks' titles don't signify an extra dubby colour or something. This is the classic deep house sound, or at least its jazzy Chicago side. Considering the LP version, there are two extra tracks on the CD, versions of the originals #1 & #8 (and good ones actually). Another Peacefrog (*) record, of course.

Glenn Underground - 1997 The Jerusalem EP's
Info here.

Contemplation

Don't really know what came over me (...), but I was checking Hell's Beatport chart for Jan 2010 (link here, credits to the original uploader).

I was surprised to find in there the 'Funke mix' on Josh One's 'Contemplation' by Philly's finest King Britt; a track I first heard played in very early 2003 by another Gigolo (and an excellent DJ), the infamous Mick Wills. Happily shocked, I run to buy the 12" the very next day; and then included it in every set I played for the next four or five years. It's one of those tracks; deep, sensual and totally absorbing house. And works miracles with the ladies. Grab it where you find it, but take care: the file included in the link is heavily edited (from 10' long to less than 6'). The full length release can be heard here; and the downtempo original track here.

It felt so nice to see Hell coming back like that; since I didn't really like 'NY Muscle', his recent 2CD album was a relief and all the 12"s so far are right on the spot. Respect.

Olento

Mika Vainio as Ø, in one of his most decent experimental excursions, out in Sähkö Recordings.

It was also one of the first of its kind that I got to know - I mean this cold, post-industrial, post-ambient, post-techno electronic-something; call it what you want. I call it the sound of a neon light going nuts with a beat. Actually, my PC went mental just before and it took me some time to realize that something was wrong. No kidding. Admittedly, this one fits better into the 'Isolationism' niche, compared to the industrial-influenced noise walls of his other projects. There are also a couple of extremely minimalistic crispy techno tracks; beats are thin and right in the front, while ambient sounds barely appear, only to return where they were buried in the deep.

To make harsh and scarce noises like these sound interesting it needs a certain talent and none of us can deny his. But I don't really follow his numerous releases and collaborations; I've seen Panasonic live a couple of times and had a good time but didn't go crazy. And I watched him play reggae 7"s under the Sonar chillout tent once, one deck, no headphones; the music was great, but he wasn't. Anyway, I'd like to check them all in their earlier rave/tech phase, before they messed up with the art crowd. pHinnWeb might have something to say about that time.

Tip: even if you think you won't like the album much, check the tracks 'Stratostaatti' and 'Ilta', or simply the intro 'Oleva' (which btw seems to also be the title of his last album). But be warned. This album needs its own time; and silence. Don't try it on headphones in a bus, for example.

Ø - 1996 Olento
Info here.

Compare his techno side with the Riou album posted here. More Ø here.

Stranger Than Kindness

My favorite Nick Cave track from YFMT, sung by my favorite singer doing a great cover version (singing both voices by herself...), visualized in a Lynch-weird clip. Happiness.

BCN dub

For the last four weeks or so, Pulshar's 'Brotherhood' is stuck in my mp3 player (and won't come out in the foreseeable future). I had heard a couple of their 12''s and formed a good impression, so when I found the album the other day I gave it a try. I don't think they're doing cutting edge avant-garde or something extremely new-sounding; they play BC-influenced electronic dub with smooth vocals and that's it, as far as I'm concerned. But they do it good, they're deep and smooth, know their sound and love what they do; and it takes a bit to notice the level of details and the work they've put on their tracks. The remixes included (by cv313, Sven Weissmann, etc.) are more club-oriented, not so original sounding though in my opinion. Personal favorites are 'Streets Calling Me', the Stranglers' 'Golden Brown' cover and of course the brooding 'Nospheratu'.

Digging a little on them I realized they're Pablo Bolivar aka Paper of Regular and Aphro Sainz on vocals - and also responsible for their amazing artwork (I'm guessing here, as I could find almost no info on him). PB on the other hand has many releases under different pseudonyms in many Spanish labels (Dpress/Phonobox, Galaktika, etc) and is well known for his deep minimal techno, slightly oldschoolish and less detached than the average 'minimal' release out there. In their collaboration as Pulshar they drop the beats and focus on deep bass, well-processed voices and cavernous effects, constructing songs without discarding technodub's minimalistic, repetitive nature. On top of all they've started the Avant Roots label for the more offbeat material; check their site for samples.

I recommend their work to everyone looking for something non-aggressive. Some DJ mixes can be found in their Soundcloud page, while Pablo Bolivar's homepage is a treasure island for downloaders; dozens of great sets, the Pulshar videos, lots of info. Support them, they're totally worth it.