Fjaak Vinyl, CD & Tape 4 Items

Berlin-based techno duo Fjaak unleashes a series of powerful remixes of their Fjaak THE System album from genre icons Kittin & The Hacker, DJ Bone and Mr. G, each adding a unique twist to their signature sound. Kittin and The Hacker dive into 'Mechanic Love' with razor-sharp synths and pulsing beats, transforming it into a hypnotic electroclash-techno hybrid set to ignite dancefloors with dark, futuristic energy. DJ Bone brings his Detroit-rooted minimalism to 'Scratchy', fusing relentless drums with meditative strings to create a stark yet entrancing remix that is both cerebral and body-moving. Rounding off the project, Mr. G delivers two contrasting takes on 'Unity': 'G's Dub', a dub-laden, introspective mix perfect for deep, late-night sets and the 'Time Jack' remix, a peak-time powerhouse with irresistible swing. Together, these remixes redefine Fjaak's originals with innovative flair, bridging intensity and depth across the techno spectrum.

The pandemic has affected people in all sorts of different ways, but for FJAAK, life in
lockdown led to one key realization: nothing in life is permanent, and what you do have can
disappear at any moment, no matter how solid it may appear. That idea is at the core of the
Berlin duo’s new EP, Your Time Is Ov3r, a four-track effort that sits somewhere between a
rallying cry and a desperate primal scream. It’s not a coincidence that the record’s jagged,
electro-flavored title track contains an ominous vocal refrain (“Hypnotize me”), born out of a
time when FJAAK were looking for something, anything to make the days go by more quickly.
Still, there’s more to Your Time Is Ov3r than emotional strife. The tracks here have been
primed for the dancefloor, and are easily some of FJAAK’s sharpest productions to date.
Unbridled EP opener “Identity” fuses elements of ’90s rave techno with modern electro, the
whole thing powered by the song’s menacingly crunchy bassline. “Chunks” drops the hammer
even harder, its heavy kick and low-end growl rumbling along like a vintage muscle car. And
for those seeking something a bit more chaotic, the blaring sirens and frenzied breakbeats of
“Falcon Punch” come off like the club equivalent of a nuclear sub attack. Throughout Your
Time Is Ov3r, FJAAK tiptoe right on the edge of completely losing control, and while their
skilled hands prevent things from ever veering off the road and into a ditch, the music’s
inherent sense of instability is undeniably exhilarating.

FJAAK returns to their own imprint with a third album. 23 multi facetted tracks (incl. collaborations with Modeselektor and Skee Mask) spread across 4 discs and an extensive booklet! Fuelled by the Berlin-based duo's love of club music in all its forms 'FJAAK THE SYSTEM' is FJAAK's most definitive album to date, a winding sonic odyssey that surveys the rave landscape, dipping between frantic euphoria and deep contemplation. Featuring sizzling collaborations with Modeselektor, Skee Mask, Red Eye and J.Manuel, the album draws a bold line under FJAAK's 15 years of mischief and mayhem, pulling together 23 tracks (culled from over 300, no less) that truly reflect the duo's boundless enthusiasm for the dancefloor. Grazing UK breakbeat, techno, 2-step, d'n'b, jungle, trip-hop and ambient, these elasticated, hybrid bangers paint a vivid picture of FJAAK's utopian club ideal, a place where genre boundaries evaporate and only the groove remains. Since graduating in audio engineering in the early 2010s, FJAAK have been challenging the logic of a maddeningly conservative club scene with their hardware only live shows, DJ sets a myriad of record releases. In 2019 they launched the label and platform Spandau20 with a steady flow of records and a mixtape series featuring new talent and established artists. With their rebellious attitude and notoriously energetic live sets, the duo have brought back a crucial lost ingredient to the rave: playfulness. And if their well-loved albums 'FJAAK', released on Modeselektor's Monkeytown imprint, and 'Havel' set the scene, 'FJAAK THE SYSTEM' rises above and beyond expectations, creating a new benchmark. It's not just blood, sweat and tears either, FJAAK's advanced technical knowhow and love of synthesizers and drum machines helps them formulate a sound that's conscious of dance music history, but focused on a brighter, more equitable future. Their second single 'And You Feel' is an emotional rollercoaster combining UK breakbeat with a dubstep-influenced bassline wobler and alluring vocals, emulating the moment the mind becomes a tranquil void through the crescendo of adrenaline like a strain of physical exertion. This is reflected on their new music video which shows an unexpected "rage room" scene. As for the rest of the album, fittingly, the album opens with 'Unity', a brief cry from FJAAK that urges listeners to overcome their prejudices and focus on the music itself. Then we're thrown right into 'And You Feel', a searing blend of nostalgic pads, snatched diva vocals and factory-strength breaks. A conscious balancing act between tranquility and rushing adrenaline, it's one of the album's most unashamedly emotional moments. And by the time we reach 'Redemption', dynamism takes hold completely: ear-pummeling drums feed the soundsystem, and squelchy, acidic TB-303s twist into peak time. For FJAAK, it's a track that confronts the harsh reality of a music industry that's not always kind to artists, highlighting the relentless struggles in a furious rush of pneumatic kicks and a merciless synth throb. The mood shifts into intricate dark territory when they team up with Modeselektor on 'Horsepower', a track that captures the giddiness of their studio sessions. A rush of stepped breaks, lysergic pads and untamed glitches, it's a trip towards ecstasy that's a testament to the four producers' mastery over their craft. And on the energetic 'Mechanic Love', FJAAK examine the relationship between humans and technology wondering what impact an augmented reality might have on intimacy and companionship. Using wailing, timestretched voices and pounding kicks, they blur the boundaries between the organic and the mechanical, whisking their sonics into a passionate fervor. Elsewhere, they pause for breath on the blissed-out, aquatic 'Glove Box', and enlist Munich's Skee Mask on the electro-tinged 'Black Ice', bringing in FJAAK's former member J.Manuel to slow down gritty breaks into a contemplative whirl on 'Wind Mill Hill'. 'FJAAK THE SYSTEM' is a rich, diverse statement from a duo who aren't willing to rest on their laurels. While FJAAK always have one eye trained on the dancefloor, the other is always looking further inside. Written and produced by Felix Wagner & Aaron Robig as FJAAK. Mixed by FJAAK.