When looking for something relaxed and soothing for the ear to listen to, the Electrolux (*) section of my shelves is one of the first places I check. And despite several mediocre and rather boring releases and their million thematic compilations that more or less recycle their catalog ad infinitum, I have to admit I have a soft spot for them and their glossy brand of electronics.
This is one of my favorite Electrolux albums, coming from the Aural Float project - aka label constants Alex Azary and Gabriel Le Mar with the participation of Pascal F.E.O.S.; hosts of the SpaceNight TV show and a focal project for Electrolux, which defined its style and aesthetics in a big way. Besides the typical downtempo relaxed electronics with occasional dubby effects, they also go uptempo with trancey edges and use vocals snippets from various artists, more notably Anthony Rother (*) in electro highlight "New Frontiers"; while vocoder-candy "Switching The Wave Of Thought" should be Electrolux' official theme track.
Aural Float - 2001 Freefloat
Info here.
Freefloat
Venex + Memory
Of all the artists with names I 'll never pronounce correctly, this one's the most troubling and artistically interesting at the same time. Here are two albums from Paul Brtschitsch, number two and three respectively (I don't have the first one), out through Frisbee Records - inactive for some time now, as GoodGroove's MultiColor (*) has also been.
Oldschool, Frankfurt- and Berlin-influenced germanic techno with Detroit overtones and acid touches, made by synths and drum machines and samplers; probably recorded in live sessions as well. A joy for the ears and very handy for mixing, although many tracks might feel a bit tool-ish the first time - with some crucial twists on subsequent readings (or hearings... my english fail me once more). Tracks are slightly mixed, just enough to keep the beat going and preserve the live set feeling. A technohead's pleasure.
Paul Brtschitsch - 2001 Venex
Info here.
Paul Brtschitsch - 2002 Memory
Info here.
I had promised these two some time (...years...) ago in the ShoutBox. Sorry for the delay.
If someone could ID the "I Love It" sample in the track with the same title from 'Memory' it'd be great. It's too similar with the voice sample later used in M.A.N.D.Y.'s 'Achaat', though it's probably not from the same source.
Rhythmogenesis
Another ForceTracks (*, *) record, this is the debut of MRI, founders of the always reliable Resopal. Archetypal late '90s deep and dubby Germanic techhouse with that extra minimalistic touch.
MRI - 2000 Rhythmogenesis
Info here.
Judging from this CD's cover and other RSP releases, I thought it was really weird when they named one of their recent 12"s 'Take Kare Not Acid'. There must be a wordplay somewhere here I'm still not getting...
Cut And Paste
I had mentioned C-Rock's album as Stardub back in the 'Lo-Fi Stereography' post. I've just tracked it down again, so here it is.
A true masterpiece of minimal dance music, crispy heavy dub techno at it's best. Don't miss it.
Stardub - 2001 Cut And Paste
Info here.
Also includes two remixes on tracks by Sven Vaeth and Dub Taylor. Intro track not included.
Elektro Codes. Trilogy
Electrolux likes projects, 'Space Night' being the most famous and longest running. But this one is in my opinion the most interesting.
These CDs compile tracks from previous releases on Electrolux, from almost everybody in the label's roster; included are some early Anthony Rother classics (and a Karl Bartos remix on them). Robotic, ambient, funky, deep, minimal, in short all forms of late '90s electro are represented (except the dirty retro style of Clone and Gigolo), though once more a bit on the glossy tip. I'd say it was the success of those compilations that motivated the birth of specialized Mikrolux label, with some excellent results (*).
Vol.1 stays on the chill side of things. In Vol.2, CD1 samples some modern electro classics, while CD2 goes smooth again and at times a bit experimental, mostly downtempo stuff. The same norm was followed through Vol. 3.
Possibly not groundbreaking, yet essential compilations, especially for those who are interested in the electro scene before the electroclash and (later) the electro-house fads.
VA - Elektro Codes. One 1997
Here.
Info here.
VA - Elektro Codes. Two 1999
CD1 - CD2
Info here.
VA - Elektro Codes. Three 1999
CD1 - CD2
Info here.
Rother on Fax
Two more works of Anthony Rother, this time on Peter Khulmann's FAX +49-69/450464 label.
In touch with most of the label's releases, it's ambient-ish stuff with a lot of references to '70s kraut electronics (without the acid-induced mood changes). Two great electronic albums, less concept-driven and monochromatic than his other listening releases. Not just for Rother fans.
Anthony Rother - 2003 Elixir Of Life
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Anthony Rother - 2003 Magic Diner
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Art Is A Division Of Pain
Psi Performer is an ambient project of Anthony Rother. The original work out on Kanzleramt (all track titles are years) was quickly followed by two more compilations of remixes by more or less everyone, both out in k2O sublabel. Check the info links for artists listings.
My favor goes to 'Remixed 1' CD, still it's interesting to listen to these three as a trilogy of sorts. I wanted to post these for a long time but I didn't have and couldn't find 'Remixed 2', until some weeks ago thanks to the Magesy guys.
Incredible cover art, by the way.
Psi Performer - 2001 Art Is A Division Of Pain
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Psi Performer - 2001 Art Is A Division Of Pain - Remixed 1
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Psi Performer - 2001 Art Is A Division Of Pain - Remixed 2
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Electric Opium
Substanz-T are a duo publishing in Hymen Records, the more accessible sub of weirdness distributor ant-zen label. They have released three albums (all in Hymen) and their music sounds completely mature and distilled, a hallucinogenic mix of electro and EBM-ish influences and phat european post-WARP electronics (a bit on the DUB side). 'Chill-out' music bordering on the unsettling but never quite crossing over there, introvert and deep yet at times bright. Participating are the always great FM Einheit as well as Yapacc, one half of Perlon's Narcotic Syntax. Also contained is a great rhyme by Sisco (no info...) that drops like a bomb in this otherwise totally otherworldly atmospheric collage.
Member Arne Stevens participates also in In-Waves project along with Stefan-X.
Substanz-T - 2003, Electric Opium
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Hacker
A typical Rother release, the 'Hacker' album went out on Psi49Net. Even more brooding, mechanical and fat than previous records, signifies more or less the peak of his dark electrofunk mannerisms. 'Die Macht' was like a hit, almost, and in a strange way paved the way for the first moves of Datapunk or his later releases in Cocoon.
I think Rother pays a small homage to Clock DVA here, using the obvious track name as a title. And maybe I'm seeing too much there, but another thing he borrowed is the idea of a concept through every track in the album (a thing he did from day one in 'Sex With The Machines'), something which Clock DVA were not the first to do but surely did it good.
Antony Rother - 2002, Hacker
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Lo-Fi Stereography
This is for the minimal fans.Lo-Fi Stereo is a all-star low-profile Frankfurt based label run by C/rock aka Dubstar or Stardub, half of better known and rising Motorcitysoul project. Existing since the mid '90s, the label focuses on some kind of house, minimal, deep, technoid, filter, sometimes sentimental stuff and others pure dancefloor tools. His other label, Stir15 is pure house oriented.
With a lot of support from Steve Bug and the Pokerflat/Dessous posse (Gamat 3000, Jeff Samuel), releases from the now star latinos (Villalobos, Luciano, Pier Bucci, Argenis Brito) and from oldschoolers like Redagain P, Marvin Dash/System 360, Jackmate and Geoff White on the other hand, Lo-Fi Stereo could have been another Pokerflat or something but it remained relatively unknown. I guess it was too weird for then and is too housey for the contemporary mini-techno market. Still I read that C/rock is resident at the Cocoon Club. I hope the best for him, although he is sometimes drifting towards the easy 'minimal' category, his taste is great and the Stardub LP was shocking when I first heard it (P.S. find it here)
This compilation also includes a Michael Mayer remix. All tracks have character and quality. This compilation was a small but important chapter in the evolution of minimal dance music. 'Chicks with Beepers' and '808 the Bassqueen' are simply classics.
VA - 2000 Lo-Fi Stereography
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Isolation Raum
A double feature of Thomas P.Heckmann.
His second album as Age, on Force Inc. 'Isolation' combines full-on techno bangers and acid chasers with Detroit techfunk elegies, making it difficult for everyone to resist at least nodding head or tapping foot. For me it's clearly an album with open space ravers in mind (as most of Heckmann's are, actually). Loopy, repetitive, fat and strong, yet with banging and mellowing moods alternating and sounds breathing, it's ideal for 5 o'clock madness or sunrise euphoria.
Age - 1998, Isolation
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Using his own name, one year later he releases 'Raum' on Mille Plateaux. As expected, it's a more abstract ambientish release, atypical of Heckmann at the time, yet strangely fitting with his darker, more EBMish repertoire that got published later through his own Wavescape.
Thomas P. Heckmann - 1999, Raum
Download here.
Info here.
Bio here.
Sex With The Machines
The beginning of it all. The first album that brought the message of Anthony Rother to the world as he really meant it. Cold funk mixed with brooding melancholy and apocalyptic robotic slogans, in a time where eurotrance and disco house ruled. Only ones I can remember since then are UR and the Clone/Bunker guys. Short but effective. Released on the great Kanzleramt, still active, still banging. Respect.
Anthony Rother - 1997, Sex With The Machines
Link here.
Info here.
Art and Technology
Βack to Anthony Rother, this is an ambient album he released on his own Stahl Industries. Almost typical '70s Berlin School electronics, without any drums or guitars though. Heavy basslines and ethereal pads create synthetic psychedelic landscapes that manage to sometimes retain the cold, almost gothic feeling of the rest of the Rother releases.
For me, the most balanced album of his 'quiet' ones, representing in the best way the listening side of Rother's work.
Anthony Rother - 2005, Art Is A Technology
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Welt in Scherben
Thomas P. Heckmann Musikprodukt.
Techno. Acid. EBM. Das Ende Vom Lied.
No comments.
Welt in Scherben - 1998-2000 I-V
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Welcome to Psicity
Something new(er).
After the Kanzleramt years and aided by the impact of 'Sex With The Machines' album in the electro world, Antony Rother made a new home for his puristic electronics, the Psi49net label. Participating in almost every release as musician or producer, he slowly built a new school electro sound.
With total respect to Kraftwerk and the Miami/Detroit masters, with seemingly simple but totally effective programming and bass heavy but still clear analog production, focusing on the funkiness of the robotic beats and on spacious melancholic ambiences, he paved a road lots were soon going to follow. Similar only to the electro side of The Advent and the more Detroit oriented of the Clone/Bunker guys, totally oblivious of the 'electroclash' crap fad of the time, he played his robofunk around the world, collaborated with Karl Bartos and a hundred more, published the magnificent 'Little Computer People' project and ruled. Even Electrolux records decided at this time to have a more electro output and gave us Microlux, on which Rother had the first release. Sometimes the bass is so full and the breaks so groovy and shuffled that it's hard to mix Rother with other tracks without them sounding weak.
Then he abandonded the Psi49net projects, created Datapunk and changed his style a little to fit the emerging electro techno current, still with quality results. Nowdays Datapunk is well known with releases by Sven Vaeth and Kiko (respect!) and all the younger & emerging new heroes of the 'scene', etc., etc., and stands beside Great Stuff, Craft and all these great commercial german labels.
But PsiCity is different. For me only 'Bad To The Bone' had the same drive thereafter. Truly underground stuff, with totally special sound, it will always have a place in my heart. This 2CD compilation packs some of Rother's 'hits' ('Don't Stop The Beat', 'Simulationszeitalter', etc.) along with lots of unreleased tracks by all artists of PsiCity, all interesting and some just excellent. Downtown CD dives deep into dancefloor electro funk Afrogermanic style, while the Uptown CD variates through electro pop, IDM, electro techno bangers and melancholic vocoder ballads.
I dont' really remember where I got the Piano mix of 'God of the Gods'... but it's nice.
Anthony Rother presents Electro Commando 1 -
2002 Welcome To PsiCity
Part 1 - Part 2 Downtown CD.
Part 1 - Part 2 Uptown CD.
God Of the Gods (Piano Mix)
Info here
