Counterchange HHV Records 9 Items

Genre: Techno / Electronica

Tracklist Vinyl:

A1 Magna Pia - Epilogue
A2 Magna Pia - Qizil
B1 Magna Pia - Venus M
B2 Magna Pia - X

C1 Magna Pia - Gudanna
C2 Magna Pia - Astarte
D1 Magna Pia - Qut
D2 Magna Pia - Epilogue

Full Info:

Magna Pia, a.k.a seasoned producer, DJ, and composer Hüseyin Evirgen, announces his second full-length album, ‘QUT’, arriving on Inland’s Counterchange label in March on double vinyl.

After 2 steamrolling EPs of club tracks on the label - now entering its tenth year of action - Magna Pia presents his most complete and advanced body of work to date, weaving a dense narrative of drone, figurative synthesis, bass-heavy electronica, and abstract techno.

Over eight tracks each referencing his rich cultural and musical background, we are treated to a unique overview of a producer at the crest of his art. The word ‘Qut’ is an ancient positive affirmation, in one short word encompassing all that is sacred, pure and good. The Old Turkic term meaning not only ‘good fortune’ and ‘joy’, but in shamanic circles, the ‘wonder of the heavens’, permeates the roots of Evirgen’s multi-heritage history.

That Evirgen expresses his interpretation of this central theme through the marriage of bewitching melodies with atonal, experimental and rumbling electronics is a conscious comment on the distortions and mutations of our Modern Era. We now exist in the digital age of the Technosphere for better or worse, and must seek beauty wherever possible.

The opening ‘Prologue’ invites the listener into a futuristic yet organic sound world, where lush stereo processing goes hand in hand with rumbling bass and subtly detuned drone languages. From the echoes of traditional Uyghur folk music, translated via synthesizers into a glistening slow-diving opus (‘Qizil’), to churning dub-techno adorned with a symphony of evolving sine-waves (‘Venus M’), Evirgen then deploys ‘X’ - a haunting experimental piece composed predominantly with his voice and electronic processing.

The interweaving synth lines of ‘Gudanna’ pierce the fog with a radiant and transcendent club-techno bounce before the ode to the ancient Bronze Age goddess ‘Astarte’ unfolds its snare-driven broken-beat formations. The title track ‘Qut’ embodies by far the heaviest club track of the album, in a deadly, stripped-back moment of future-techno hypnotism. Dancing flames of purple-tongued synthesis are held (just) in line by a wonderfully tough throb of drums.

With his ‘Epilogue’, Magna Pia allows the spectral ideas and concepts laid out across the LP to connect and travel full circle, confirming our suspicions that this could be one of the most coherent and exciting works to emerge in the brave new field of introspective, and sensitive techno-electronic language.

Written & Produced by Magna Pia, Berlin, 2022
Mastered by Inland
P & C Counterchange 2023
COUNTER034

DJ Feedback

Efdemin:
Fantastic music! I like it a lot. Warm, but driving, micro-tonal and yearning.

Rodhad:
Nice. I really like the sound design… Great stuff. Congrats.

Svreca:
This LP is outstanding. I enjoyed the whole thing, loving each track from the electroacoustics to the experimental techno. Full support.

Laurent Garnier:
GREAT release. Full support.

Dimi Angelis:
Great album! So many good stuff inhere. I hear Boards of Canada vibes all over, which is a good thing! :)

Marcel Fengler:
Will be played! Thanks

Headless Horseman:
This release is beautiful from start to finish. Thank you for sharing!

Claudio PRC:
Amazing work, complete and engaging, full support!

Inland’s seventh solo release on his home label is the latest in a decade-long legacy of enduring productions under the Inland alias. All tracks operate at 138 bpm, exploring biting synth lines, psychedelic overtones, tribal techno attitude, and mechanical rhythm programming.

Following his debut on the label in 2019 - ‘Mind Dweller’ (counter013) - Frankfurt’s Stefan Alexis is back with his next chapter of four atypical, undulating club tracks. The EP features ‘Eratosthene’, a shimmering up-tempo weapon in collaboration with label founder Inland, alongside three other diverse cuts highlighting some of the Macedonian psychotherapist’s favourite modes of play: filter-funk, acid, broken-beats, sampling. This release comes on 180g 12’’ vinyl and digital, featuring artwork by Berlin-based Norweigan painter Tyra Tingleff.

The original Soundtrack to Greek-German director Nikias Chrssos’ new feature, ‘A Pure Place’, scored by John Gürtler (Eigenlicht, Counter019), with his studio partner Jan Miserre, and featuring a track by chameleonic British artist Shackleton. Full Info: The script for A Pure Place had a dizzying effect on John Gürtler & Jan Miserre; their minds reeling with the possibilities. From Persian sheep bells, Chinese sheng, prepared trombone, quarter-tone piano, a beaten-up cembalo, hand percussion, and a room full of synthesizers, embryonic compositions and experiments came to life early on in the project. An electro-acoustic extravaganza, the soundtrack for A Pure Place takes a deep bow towards the many magnificent composers and scores from the late 60s and 70s where orchestral arrangements met with tape loops, psychedelia, and instruments from across the globe. Listening to that era of film music, anything seems possible. The minimalist tones of ‘Ritual Bells’ set the dial to weird in the opening sequence of the movie, whilst ‘The Island’ makes use of ambient vocals recorded through an oil drum, gently introducing one of the score’s main themes with a distant quarter-tone cembalo. Acclaimed British artist Shackleton’s eerie original version of ‘Fust’s Song’ (also included) was a tonal keystone for the entire soundtrack. Gürtler and Miserre translated his psychedelic electronic blueprint, layering acoustic instruments and bottom-heavy percussion in their ‘Paradox Paradise’ production style.

British DJ and producer Inland (Ed Davenport) has compiled and mixed ‘Stream State’, his biggest project to date, bringing together over 20 artists in a DJ-ready compilation of colourful, diverse modern techno on his label Counterchange. Complete with an addional 90 minute continuous mix by Inland himself (On Download Card), the project celebrates over 15 years behind the decks and cements Davenport’s reputation not only as a tireless force in the studio, but as a trusted selector and curator of content.

Sampler for the debut LP from Paraguayan producer P. Lopez, ‘Asunción,’ featuring the triumphant, ‘Emulation feat. Vera Brothers.’ Up-tempo brain bouncing techno, power-house, washes of electronic-soul, and Latin American tribalism.

Counterchange presents 'Eigenlicht' by Portuguese-German multi-instrumentalist, producer and award-winning film composer John Gürtler. Gently teetering between krautrock-influenced synth mantras and saxophone improvisations, down-tempo electronica, sound design experiments and moments of rich ambience, 'Eigenlicht' is a diverse album of electro-acoustic music. The 11 tracks were recorded between two studios and on location at Berlin's infamous Teufelsberg, the abandoned Cold War era US spy-radio and radar outpost named 'Field Station Berlin', surrounded by forest to the west of the city.

Genre: Electronica / Ambient / Techno

Tracklist Vinyl:

A1 Fred Mann - Cometh
A2 Fred Mann - Gate
A3 Fred Mann - Remains

B1 Fred Mann - The Plains
B2 Fred Mann - Abundance
B3 Fred Mann - Fuming

C1 Fred Mann - What A Pity
C2 Fred Mann - Horizon
C3 Fred Mann - Ease

D1 Fred Mann - Welcoming The Familiar Dream
D2 Fred Mann - Zenith
D3 Fred Mann - Entropics

Full Info:

'In Thy Domain' is a concept album and audio-visual work by British artist Fred Mann. The 12-track, double-vinyl album is a cinematic voyage tracking the evolution of mankind, key themes of human advancement, technology, life after AI, and beyond.

The album traverses multiple genres - including ambient, electronica, broken-beat techno, and experimental drone - to create an immersive musical experience that mirrors the dynamism of human evolution.

The work aligns with the latest scientific knowledge, drawing inspiration from the tipping points of human civilization and the defining timelines that have shaped our species. The music is complemented by a series of artworks and scrapbook images, visible in the vinyl gatefold, which symbolize each track and its corresponding era.

Many of the tracks feature additional production, synthesizers, flute and clarinet by Chris Taylor (Grizzly Bear / Warp), and additional production and drum programming by Inland (Ed Davenport / Counterchange).

Fred Mann premiered ‘In Thy Domain’ live in Prague, October 2019, alongside Alessandro Cortini for Dietl Archive x Polygon.

The album version comes presented on heavyweight double vinyl in a gatefold sleeve designed by the artist himself.