This was a request, I had honestly forgotten about it; but after listening to it again after those few years, I have to say it has aged extremely well. Full of loopy, dark techno with industrial references both sonically and thematically (see Coil), it's a classic Surgeon album revealing in full his idiosyncratic tendencies for bastardizing righteous techno beats with weird atmospheres and post-breakbeat loops. On that account, he always reminded me of early PWOG, amongst others; but that may be just me. Anyway, it's no wonder he made a turn towards the tech/dubstep crossover during the last few years.
His downtempo interludes are (according to Anthony Child himself) influenced by the work of his mentor/friend, Napalm Death's ex-drummer Mick Harris aka Scorn or Lull, who also contributed a dub in a 12" of remakes of tracks from the album.
Surgeon - 1999 Force + Form
Info here.
Most people would call it 'experimental techno'. I like to think that techno music is experimental by nature, although I would have to be braindead and/or deaf to believe something like this for all that music categorized as 'techno' and published in the last two decades.
P.S. I found the EP (not my link), so check it here:
Surgeon - 1999 Force + Form Remakes
Info here.
P.S.2: Link updated. Original post 2010-05-05
Force + Form
The Way Eye See
Late '90s techhouse, somewhere between Svek's minimalistic house excursions and the various US hybrids of house and techno, from Alexi Delano - who has of old built his reputation in creating soulful and deep tracks with dancefloor appeal and still releases quality stuff under various monikers, in collaborations and through various labels. This is an one-off project
through Germany's Plastic City, full of lush chords and groovy elements over tight and phat beats for house lovers with open ears.
A.D.N.Y. presents Leiva - 1999 The Way Eye See
Info here.
Resuscitation
Out through Ersatz Audio, this is a compilation of several 12"s released by ADULT. on E.A. as well as labels like Intuit-Solar, Bolz Bolz' Electrecord and Clone.
"Working class electronic music", they say. I call it retro electro with edge, cold synth influenced. Not dancefloor material per se, yet that's its appeal, in some sense. The artwork is also essential and a big part of the concept, Ballard-like in essence, so check more of their artwork where you can find it.
ADULT. - 2001 Resuscitation
Info here.
Sheen
It's been some time since I posted some music from KK Records, so here's a classic compilation - full of techno, harsh industrial beats and dark atmos.
Highlights include legendary Test Dept.'s excursions in electronics, plus classic stuff from artists already presented in this blog, like Uwe Schmidt's Lassigue Bendthaus project, PWOG, Riou, etc. The first CD focuses on technoid beats, the second one is more abstract and experimental in its sound.
VA - 1995 Sheen. Kk Records Compilation
CD1 - CD2
Info here.
Leichenschmaus
C64. Romero. Gigolos. Atomic energy. Splank! & Mooner. TV. Cars. Machines. Machines.
Zombie Nation - 1999 Leichenschmaus
Info here.
Datcha Studio
Two compilations full of artists from eastern and central Europe, compiled by Jean-Marie K., for Le Maquis.
Including works from the finalists of Radio France International's contests 'Prix RFI Musiques Electroniques', with Ludovic Navarre and Laurent Garnier in the chief jury positions respectively, it's a honest attempt to capture the multi-faceted 'sound' of ... half-a-continent or so. The project brings in mind certain french releases, with their glossy productions and eclectic, semi-intellectual approach to 'ethnic' sounds; which in this case means a lot of strings and unidentified vocals. On the other hand, it brings forward several direly neglected heroes of european electronics like Random Logic and Octex (see here for more), while post-breaks, loungey downtempo sounds have the biggest representation with shining stars like Yonderboi or Alexandroid (also mentioned here).
VA - 2002 Datcha Studio
Info here.
VA - 2003 Datcha Studio Vol.2
Info here.
Pink Eyed Pony
Wonderfully titled, this is the only album by Crane A.K., a project known for its releases in ForceTracks (*) and a couple more 12''s in Poker Flat and Audiomatique. Teutonic techhouse that still sounds fresh, fat and groovy.
Crane A.K. - 2001 Pink Eyed Pony
Info here.
My Sol Dark Direction
James Pennington's only album, out through Peacefrog.
Hardware-based Detroit techno and electro, just like that.
Suburban Knight - 2003 My Sol Dark Direction
Info here. (Link removed)
P.S. Oops, it seems he released a digi album in 2010 as well. My bad. Although I couldn't find it anywhere.
P.S.#2 Link removed due to complaints.
Radioactive Man
From Weatherall's Rotters Golf Club, here are the first two albums by Keith Tenniswood aka Radioactive Man. For all lovers of electro with attitude.
Previously posted RGC compilation here.
Radioactive Man - 2001 st
Info here.
Radioactive Man - 2003 Booby Trap
Info here.
Time Boom X De Devil Dead
An On-U Sound release back from 1987, repressed with extra tracks at 2001 (as noted on discogs).
More from Lee Perry here. As for Dub Syndicate, I saw them once playing a double bill with Jah Wobble's Invaders; it was one of the most flawless performances I've seen in my life.
Lee 'Scratch' Perry & Dub Syndicate -
1987 Time Boom X De Devil Dead (2001 RP)
Info here.
Interestingly, I found in here some of the weirdest samples used in my personal favorite by Friedmann ('Nuf Said').
Tempovision
We've met Etienne De Crécy before in the Motorbass posts (*,*). Here's his last solo project, an album of great craftsmanship and undeniable beauty; I'll only say that it's kept me company for all these years without losing even a drop of its appeal.
Where 'Pansoul' was a nocturnal urban affair, this one is full of sunlight and melodies - expect slo-mo filter disco, electronic funk and breaks, plus lots of twisted synths and sensual voices. Its commercial success was rather easy to predict; it rightly deserved all the attention it got. I also posted the remix compilation released a couple of years later, mostly top notch french house at its weirdest, along with three included videos.
Although Zdar continues releasing stuff as Cassius, I've lost de Crecy's tracks. An early retirement, possibly?
Etienne de Crécy - 2000 Tempovision
Info here.
Etienne de Crécy - 2002 Tempovision Remixes
Info here.
Etienne de Crécy - 2002 Tempovision Videos
More from him later on.
Ocean Club
I've mentioned Gudrun Gut and the Ocean Club before here and here, so I won't go into all that again. Just remember: Malaria! and Monika Enterprise. Anyway, this is the 2CD version of the Ocean Club album I was looking for back then (took me a year and a half... nice...).
The first CD is a reprint of the original 1996 album, with some video clips added (posted separately). Honestly, sometimes it sounds like trance made by non-dancers and it did so back when it was first released; but a couple of tracks are good and guests include Blixa, Anita Lane, etc (see pic above).
The second CD is a compilation of remixes from the several 12"s they released, by artists like (...deep breath...) Klaus Schulze, The Orb, Thomas Fehlmann, Ian Pooley, Paul Van Dyk, Ellen Allien, Effective Force and more; definitely the one to check first, some dreamy moments inside here, plus a lot of trancey tracks for those who can take it.
Gudrun Gut - 1996 Members Of The Ocean Club
Gudrun Gut - 1996 the Ocean Club videos
Gudrun Gut - 2004 Mixes For The Ocean Club
Info here and here.
The Music Hall
Spencer Kincey's last album as Gemini. See previous posts here for info and more.
After this one he disappeared, I don't know what happened to him. Sincerely, I had overlooked this one for years; then last week I played it in my car and it stayed there all these days on repeat mode.
Gemini - 1999 The Music Hall
Info here.
Ambient Ibiza
From Kenneth Bager's danish Flex, this is a compilation of downtempo tracks I'm posting mostly for the contributions by Lucky People Center (*), Dub Tractor (*) and the divine 'Journey' by The Gentle People (I think I have their debut somewhere...).
A couple of other known names in here as well, although many of the tracks barely escape mediocrity. And another unfortunate cover/title combination, by the way.
VA - 1996 Ambient Ibiza
Info here.
Kraftwork @ Nu Skool Elektro 2
It's been a while since I did a solid electro post, so here's a compilation of robo breaks and nervous basslines with acid tweeks from all over Europe.
Contributions include a few tracks already posted before (by Scan X and A1 People), others by established artists like Scanner (*), Luke Slater, Carl Finlow (*), Stanny Franssen, Zzino, etc.; and a host of less known names of whom Ultradyne and Prozack are the only ones I knew and most of whom have disappeared ages ago.
Bad artwork and ridiculous titles are long-standing traditions for generic compilations like this one, solid soundwise but full of less known names - and we shouldn't like it otherwise. Awful covers scare away the hasty customers that don't reach the tracklist at all, leaving the CDs stored in dusty shelves, waiting for us to pick them up.
There was a Vol.1 (obviously...) that sounds promising, which I never managed to track down anyway.
VA - 1998 Kraftwork @ Nu Skool Elektro 2
CD1 - CD2
Info here.
Adventures In Techno Soul
From Russ Gabriel's label, here are the two compilations that along with the '[313] Soundtrack' should be enough to establish Ferox in our minds as a forward thinking label to respect and cherish. With tracks and remixes by the likes of Carl Craig, Derrick Carter, Bjørn Torske, Aubrey, Mark Broom, etc., etc., these are a must for all lovers of the '90s sound, be it techno, house or whatever.
The first one is in 192kbps, found around the net; the 2nd one is a typical 320kbps CD rip.
VA - 1996 Adventures In Techno Soul
Info here.
VA - 1998 Further Adventures In Techno Soul
Info here.
P.S. New 'Further' link added. I think it's OK this time; although I noticed that ripping took some extra time, so it's probably a typical damaged CD case. First posted 2010-10-24.
The Beat Diaries
This is Luke Solomon & Justin Harris' debut album as the Freaks, through their own label named, eh, Music For Freaks.
Groovy house with electronic funk elements and attitude, raw and minimal technoid tools, occasionally aided by the quirky vocals of Stella Attar, it still sounds as if it was released yesterday - it's really weird that they don't even sell it through their shop. Anyway, it was a great start and a clear sign of the greatness to come.
Freaks - 2000 The Beat Diaries
Info here.
Staedtizism
Airbag Craftworks compilation
From the same guys that were mentioned here and later built the Workshop label, here's an early compilation of mostly unreleased tracks I managed to track down only a few years ago.
Airbag Craftworks is a fashion design company producing tasty and rather expensive bags, t-shirts, etc. - and putting out music apparently. Unsurprisingly, I first spotted Out To Lunch in one of those tasty and rather expensive shops Berlin has by the dozens, where my wife was window-shopping overpriced bags, coats or whatever. I found inside a bunch of CDs and two packs of 12"s, respectively parts 1 & 2 of Airbag Craftworks Compilation Vol.2, which I unthinkingly grabbed for less than a fiver each, if I remember correctly. I'd very much like to post them as well, yet I haven't found them around the web (and vinyl ripping is still not an option). Anyway, this one came later and sealed the deal; now I watch Workshop growing and I feel that there is some justice in this world after all.
Besides artists mentioned before, there are also contributions by Isolée, Soylent Green and Freestyle Man vs. Corrado Izzo (*). It could have been a Source record, don't pass it by.
VA - 1999 The Airbag Craftworks Compilation
Info here.
Raw Elements Vol.1
A Superstition compilation of funky techno and house tracks with acid flavor, compiled by Steve Bug, showcasing early material, his and his friends - most notably Hans-Georg Schmidt of label mates Humate and old rave dog Fred Giannelli.
VA - 1995 Raw Elements Vol.1
Info here.
