Downbeat | Electronica | Leftfield Preorder 267 Items

Produced by Brian Eno and Fred Gibson

4th April 2020 - 23rd December 2022

Mastered by Kieran Hebden

Lacquer cut by Bernie Grundman

Artwork by loose

Gatefold photograph by Brian Eno

"In 1978 I started making experimental home recordings with my old schoolfriend Alan Clark. We both had Akai 4000ds reel-to-reels, which made for easy swapping of locations and ideas. We would meet most evenings to record – for the best part of two years. Much of the music on this tape comes from those experiments.

Some of my solo pieces on this cassette were on a compilation cassette I made for my friend Brad Day, who in 1979 was working at Beggars Banquet record shop in Earl's Court. He happened to be playing it in the shop when co-manager Peter Kent walked in and asked who it was. From that I was offered a 7" release on the Axis label Peter was starting with his colleague Ivo Watts-Russell, and my first gig was organised at Mayhem Studio in Battersea, supporting Vice Versa. With another schoolfriend, Steve Player on guitar and Stylophone 350s, my 16-year-old brother Peter Knight on backing tapes and backing vocals, and me on Vcs3 and vocals, we put a set together within a week. The filmmaker John Maybury projected Super-8 films over us at the gig, and suggested we call ourselves The Fast Set – as all three of us were rooted static to the spot with nerves. The name stuck, and it now seems appropriate to retrospectively apply that name to our previous untitled endeavours.

This cassette release is a 'patchwork' I constructed back in 1980 of the late-70s home recordings – both solo or with Alan. There were two projects back then – the experimental pieces, and the electronic 'pop' songs. This release consists of the former, which I feel age has been kinder to. The tapes had remained untouched for over 40 years until I baked and transferred them recently, so please excuse the hiss, distortion, pops, crackles, and wobbles, as I wish to maintain the integrity and home-made feel of the original recordings." – David Knight, London, 10 January 2024.

London-based musician David Knight has been a member of/worked with: The Fast Set, Five Or Six, Shock Headed Peters, Left Hand Right Hand, Arkkon, The Amal Gamal Ensemble, The Stargazer's Assistant, and Lydia Lunch. He wrote and recorded with Danielle Dax throughout the 1980s, and currently works with Stephen Thrower (Coil, Cyclobe) in UnicaZürn.

Recorded between 1978 and 1980 in Battersea, London on an Akai 4000ds and later a Teac 3300sx. Instruments used: EMS Vcs3, Roland System 100, Hohner K4 String Machine, Dubreq 350s, Piano, Guitar, Percussion, Roland Re201 Space Echo, Colorsound Ring Modulator, EHX Small Stone Phaser, Ibanez Standard Fuzz. Written, recorded and performed by David Knight and Alan Clark. Compiled and mastered by David Knight.

Artwork by Danielle Dax.

The fourth album by Vilnius-based composer Aleksandra Evseeva aka Andra Ljos is as runic and ritualistic as the Bronze Age monoliths for which it’s named: Megalithic Statues of Vishapakar. Found mainly in the Armenian Highlands, vishaps are cigar-shaped slabs of stone carved with fish heads or snakes, depicting a sacred serpent of Armenian folklore thought to protect sources of water from drought and ruin. The music evokes a similarly arcane and devotional air, between raga, séance, and 4th world hallucination.

The track titles allude to significant vishap discovery sites, spanning lakes, bays, mountains, and temples. Wood block percussion wobbles beneath lattices of looped keys, golden organ, synthetic strings and flutes, distant birds, muffled voices, and the soft wash of restless waters. Evseeva’s muse may be mined from her Armenian heritage but the songs conjure a mood more elusive and expansive – pensive pastorals for a land of long shadows and ancient fears, strewn with cryptic relics swiftly dissipating into myth.

"Following on from May's "echoes Part 1 & 2" this is the second single of three to be released as an introduction to the next album project of Ulrich Troyer - Transit Tribe - to be released later this year.

This time it's one for the reggae fans and dubheads with contributions from Diggory Kenrick who has been busy over the last few years adding the distinctive sound of his flute to many new reggae productions. He is also an associate of the U.K. reggae label Pressure Sounds that specialises in reviving classic sounds from the roots and dancehall eras of the genre. Also joining the production is Takafumi Noda aka Mystica Tribe, a Japanese producer and musician who has specialised in a new form of dub techno and is known for adding the signature sound of his melodica to productions of dub friends from around the world.

The subject of travel, especially along modern, fast routes has long been subject to fascinate musicians, from the days of Kraftwerk's "Autobahn" and now the whole genre of dub techno seems to be one built for listening on long journeys. The Autostrada Del Brennero / Brennerautobahn is one of the most important motorways in Italy, as it connects the Po Valley with Austria through the Brenner Pass and features many modern bridges and overpasses that are ready built illustrations for the covers of dub techno albums! On this release this major European truck route is celebrated musically by Ulrich Troyer with inputs from Diggory and Taka to create two modern dub classics."

Steve Barker (DJ, Radio Presenter - On the Wire, BBC 1984 – 2023,
now Slack City Radio & reggae/dub columnist and contributor to The Wire)

Credits:
Diggory Kenrick: flute
Taka Noda: melodica
Didi Kern: drums
Ulrich Troyer: analog synthesizers, analog drum-machines, sampler, dub effects

A written by Diggory Kenrick & Ulrich Troyer
B written by Taka Noda & Ulrich Troyer

Recorded by Ulrich Troyer at 4Bit Studio & 4Bit Bungalow, Vienna - except flute recorded by Diggory Kenrick at Holloway Studio, London / melodica recorded by Taka Noda at Mystica Sound Studio, Tokio
Mixed & arranged by Ulrich Troyer at 4Bit Bungalow, Vienna
Produced by Osman Murat Ertel & Ulrich Troyer
Mastering & Lacquer Cut by Kassian Troyer at Dubplates & Mastering, Berlin
Cover Drawing by Ulrich Troyer

Special thanks to Steve Barker, Osman Murat Ertel, Diggory Kenrick, Eva Kelety and Takafumi Noda

Kindly supported by the City of Vienna (ma7 - Kultur), Federal Ministry Republic of Austria (Arts, Culture, Civil Service & Sport), Ske-fonds (at) & Amt für Kultur, Bozen (it)

Ambient craftsman Tomokazu Fujimoto aka Multi-Surface describes the 11 pieces of his 2nd album for NNF as “nap-like” – fleeting vignettes of FM synths and fragmented melody, looping and smeared across lost hours of the afternoon. Recorded over a year of sessions at his home studio in the Japanese countryside, the music moves in soft-focus swells and glistening arcs, gently swaying like paper lanterns.

A few outliers expand the palette – kosmische percussion voyager “I'll float a boat on those clouds,” churning lo-fi whirlpool “Through the forest,” jittery gamelan edit “One rat” – but otherwise the mood skews opaque and oblique, chiming hazes half-heard on the breeze. Fujimoto’s muse is inward but infinite, reflecting on “the paths one has taken” and, in brief dreams, “visiting those places again.”

Based in the South Moravian city of Brno, Finnish multi-instrumentalist Simo Hakalisto aka Shakali crafts surreal terrariums of strings, synthetics, wood, and wind, teeming with bio-electronic synchronicities. Rihmastossa further finesses the project’s eclectic lexicon of electro-acoustic world-building, utilizing a gallery of instruments both ancient and advanced: solar-powered sine wave generators, singing bowls, metallophones, microtonal synths wired into tree slabs, lap harps, amplified found objects, percussion filters, flutes.

This is world music in the most naturalistic sense – subtle spatial ecosystems of climate, vibration, landscape, and species, as alluded to in the track titles about fungal colonies, extinct birds, rare worms, and pine forests. Hakalisto’s work in various exploratory duos (Gnäw, Lunar Horns, Thistle) has honed his instincts for atmospheric improvisation, but when alone he embeds even deeper into the terrain, acting as conduit as much as creator. Across seven free-flowing fugue states of texture and resonance, his touch simmers beneath the surface, guided by shifting light and hidden hands.

The Trilogy comes to an Epic end! Raydar delivers the final chapter to Evil Squad. Enjoy!

A Huge moment for NRW. Presenting the debut album from Pylot. Axiom is a power-packed project that harnesses many facets of synth and delivers them with glorious, well rounded execution. Boasting encapsulating melodies and rhythms, Axiom is an album that all synth enthusiasts and Audiophiles will enjoy. Pre-Order Today!

Wice is back with a powerhouse of an album. Expanding on his sound, Wice takes his sonics into new directions and adds new and exciting textures to his arsenal. A must for all Cyberpunk and Darksynth lovers

With their second album on Muzan Editions, Osaka’s DUP SYS delivers a sound that might be best described as an updated version of John Hassel’s idea of 4th world music. Put your headphones on and feel fully immersed in DUP Sys’ rich sounding combination of field recordings and evocative soundscapes.

Sontag Shogun’s Jesse Perslstein and Shinya Sugimoto join Muzan with a follow-up to 2019’s “I Confess”. A long-form piece broken into four parts, that tells a story of change, of love found and lost. Using soundscapes taken from travels, voicemails, conversations about loss and love, and adding lamenting vocals, noise and piano, this album encapsulates the distance between people, both geographic and emotionally, and the delicate passage of time.

Daarbuiten is Muzan Editions’ first collaboration with Belgian sound maestro David Edren. His gamelan-like rhythms and catchy melodies create a sound that feels dynamic and playful at the same time. Edren likes to think that the album offers an organic flow of sounds/ideas and evokes a 'live feel'. He envisions it as an ode to the outside world and its multifaceted reality. Its tracks hinting towards atmospheres, vibes and hidden stories.Daarbuiten is Muzan Editions’ first collaboration with Belgian sound maestro David Edren. His gamelan-like rhythms and catchy melodies create a sound that feels dynamic and playful at the same time. Edren likes to think that the album offers an organic flow of sounds/ideas and evokes a 'live feel'. He envisions it as an ode to the outside world and its multifaceted reality. Its tracks hinting towards atmospheres, vibes and hidden stories.

Tensor Norm is back. In this ocassion, we visit differents locations of the world geography to bring you an EP full of electro, breaks, acid and IDM.

Side A goes into the coordinates of dark electro in different ways. “Cell Reprogramming” by Clone Theory (one of its members is Heuristic Audio) is a spatial track with smooth percussion, a heavy, oscillating bassline and minimal melodic design. On “Automorphism”, Sigma_ALgebra resorts to smooth percussion and a drone-like oscillating bassline to generate a floating feel, over which choppy, lightning-like melodic profiles occur. Finally, north american LectrO cOd-E, speeds up the tempo to expose the military round bass, synth twitches and vocoder transmissions of “Morphology”.

Side B is incided in borderline spaces with the incorporation of acid sounds as main elements. After an opening that programs the rhythmic structure and adds pad atmosphere, “Amenacid” by Liðvarð aka DJ VLR ratchets up the tension through a brief acid line modified steadily but subtly. The EP closes with “Phanaire Luses”, a track with typical IDM resources with which, through the accumulation of bleep-like emissions, acid figures, sparks and amorphous sounds, Jaquarius builds a psychedelic track.

Deepart, vétéran de la Techno bizarre Londonienne des années 90 et l’artiste inaugural du label Rush Hour, rencontra Remer Cier, debutant sur Youth, à Plastic People, lors de la soirée séminale CDR, un set improvisé de nouvelle musique électronique. Après presque 20 ans de dialogue erudite, de performances et expositions au Chelsea College of Art et au Royal College of Art, nous présentons leur collection d’improvisations afrofuturistes, enregistrée au Beaconsfield Gallery, Vauxhall, Londres en 2021.

Dédié à Søren Holm et tous amis absents

Merci à Joviale, collaboratice au dessin

Trjj, Trjj & Trjj again - we can't get enough of this artist's stuff here. TIP!

After 27 years, The Implant (aka Arno Peeters/Sp@sms) retruns to Phoq U, with four weird and wonderful tracks, including a Assembler Code remix.

As deep as it comes, two unwinding cuts of beautiful deep house.. Hand scrubbed textured record sleeve, with custom stamp by Ciaran Birch. “Escape” from abusive family ties is almost a cliche in modern media. In practice, the threshold for self-informed decoupling from said abuse is often socially out of reach for those that have in fact been abused, both physically and/or psychologically. We feel shame for even entertaining the idea of getting rid of people in our lives that are joined to us by blood. Instead of genuine mutually-assured connection, we feel duty-bound to them - no better than a minimum wage retail job without which we would become homeless. Had these people been anything other than family, we would have ditched them long ago. I encourage a decoupling from the family unit and giving up on any hope you had for improved relations. This record has been mastered without compression in an attempt to counter the over saturation of three minute, brick-walled, max-energy production trends in contemporary dance music.

Both originating from Basel Switzerland, experimental dance outlets Amenthia Recordings and A Walking Contradiction combine forces and present their first collaborative release. Both known for their dare-to-do-different approach and proudly presenting sounds that come from their inner circle of friends they compiled the Flash Crash / Hack Crash EP with exactly this mindset. From Agonis' heavy stepper to Konduku's whirlpool of low frequencies on the Amenthia side with Lemont continuing on this same low-end tripped-out tip to the slo-mo swamp sounds from Varuna representing A Walking Contradiction in typical fashion.

Anatolian Weapons on Third World Records.

“Friendly Electrons” presents the electronic side of the original TON STEINE SCHERBEN
drummer, book author and longtime CONRAD SCHNITZLER friend / collaborator
WOLFGANG SEIDEL.
Born in winter 1949 in a grey and gloomy post-war Berlin, WOLFGANG SEIDEL’s first encounter
with electronic sounds was at the cinema: the music for “Forbidden Planet“ by LOUIS and BEBE
BARRON sounded like the promise of a bright, exciting future ... but in the 1960‘s, the biggest
thing for young musicians was to play in a rock band, and as the friends around him all already
played guitar, SEIDEL chose the drums and later co-founded TON STEINE SCHERBEN, the
legendary German anarchist band. Around the same time, SEIDEL regularly attended the Zodiak
Free Arts Lab, the birth place of so-called “Kosmische Musik / Berliner Schule“ (TANGERINE
DREAM, CLUSTER, MANUEL GÖTTSCHING etc), and became close friends with CONRAD
SCHNITZLER. Realizing how much more artistic freedom electronic music offers, he grew tired of
playing the same songs night after night, left the band after their debut album had been released
and started experimenting with contact microphones and tape delay (and later, when he could
afford one, with a Buchla synthesizer). SEIDEL joined SCHNITZLER’s group
ERUPTION and
worked with him till his death in 2011 (sometimes credited as WOLF SEQUENZA) on several
albums, and also toured some art institutions presenting SCHNITZLER’s “cassette concerts” (who
had dropped his suitcases with the tape machines in front of SEIDEL’s flat door and appointed him
the “future conductor”).
In the 2000s, SEIDEL started playing drums again, this time in the free jazz / improv scene (a.o.
others with ALFRED A. HARTH and HANS JOACHIM IRMLER), wrote books about his former
band (“S
cherben – Musik, Politik und Wirkung der Ton Steine Scherben“) and Krautrock („Wir
müssen hier raus! Krautrock, Free Beat, Reeducation“) ... and continued his sonic explorations
with his Buchla in his studio in Berlin-Wedding.
When we met at a birthday party, Wolfgang told me about his electronic pieces - I was interested
right away – so he browsed his archive and sent me a selection of tracks. These are often based
on older ideas and sketches that he had completed during the pandemic when there were no
concerts to play. The result is „Friendly Electrons“ – a collection of 18 tracks, inspired by
SCHNITZLER’s collage technique and SEIDEL’s own experiences with improvisation. With the
exception of 2 pieces that are actually composed there were no fixed ideas – simply start from
KR114_W.SEIDEL_infosheet.pdf
scratch and see what happens, review the result from different angles and refine the tracks where
necessary. Whereas electronic music is often considered dystopian, the album title mirrors
SEIDEL’s positive attitude towards modernism, so his electrons are of a friendly kind!

We're excited to unveil our inaugural vinyl release, introducing the first Neptune ‘Disc’ to the world. Trance-inducing progressive genres, which dive into the magnetic allure of '90s progressive sounds with a distinct tilt towards the club scene. Four tracks resonating through the depths of a festival ambiance, enveloped in an enigmatic mist and bathed under shimmering purple strobes.

A1 introduces Cybernet, an emerging force hailing from the vibrant scene of Aus. Delving beyond the sounds of the '90s Cybernet brings forth a distinctive sonic narrative, intertwining intricate vocal hooks before unleashing the pulsating acid-line. An instant classic unfolds, resonating with the essence of the dance-floor.

Glen S swiftly becomes a Neptune Disc regular with "Uh!" on A2. Tailored for the club, he infuses his signature alien scattered pulses and a rolling bassline. With a deft touch, he creates a surge of energy by cutting off all elements on the drop, leaving only the bass and kicks. Expertly crafted.
Aiden's "Fanks" on the B-side boasts a mesmerising appeal, again reminiscent of the 90s-2000s era, with its pulsating bassline and entrancing soundscape. It delves into the realm of trance, offering a hypnotic journey that echoes the allure of that bygone era. With its captivating blend of trippy elements, the track creates a nostalgic yet timeless vortex of sound, drawing listeners into an otherworldly experience that resonates with the spirit of classic electronic music.

B2 showcases Tourman's prowess as a versatile producer, seamlessly delving into different genres. Overflowing with progressive energy and adorned with scattered UFO sounds, this track stands as a testament to Tourman's evolving artistry—a dynamic force ready to command diverse sonic landscapes. An ideal opener for peak-time set.

Curated by Lazy Susan (2StepBec, oliver.r and Zeus) the Truffle101 project sees the light of day this Spring with their inaugural release from co-founder oliver.r under his Raynerfromfinance moniker. The first on the label explores a multitude of textures, gliding between sleek jazz, hazy dub, ethereal ambience and everything in between. Music from the soul, for the soul, as the man on the numbers, Raynerfromfinance shares his debut offering in the realms of downtempo productions.

A loungey quest paying testament to the versatile direction of the Truffle101 label, a project from three aficionados of the slower end of the spectrum, looking to share idyllic sounds from friends and artists they meet along the way, presenting them to a new and appreciative audience.

“Please make yourself comfortable, sit back and relax, whilst we take you on this journey of the sounds of Truffle101”

Tewz Rock x Crystal Pharoah x Sucklord teleport back in time, and emerge in the Land OF THE Lost for this split 7" release. Expect dusty breaks, crystal caves, and cha-ka in a cloud of smoke! Dope head noddin’ hip hop/downtempo beats peppered with samples from the TV show. Very cool full pic sleeve.

The start of something remarkable... Broken Videos is here to make his mark. A must listen to all classic synth lovers. :)

Following on from his 2022 debut release on American Dreams Records, 'Choreographies of Decay', J. Doursou offers a critical reflection in 'The Deafening Veil' of the West's warped relationship with war in other regions.
The Deafening Veil has early support with reviews confirmed with Mojo Magazine, Headphone Commute (single premiere), A Closer Listen, and Noise Narrative. A writer from Quietus is also pitching to editorial with a review TBC. Doursou began the creative process of the album when Russia invaded Ukraine. The album's lead single, 'song for Elena', is a tribute to Doursou's close friend from Ukraine. The rest of the album critiques the silence that surrounds war in other regions.

After a While Away From His Machines, Ringard Became a Lord in the Meantime. This Ep features 4 Tracks Released Digitally in the Past 2 Years. They Deserved to Be on Wax !...

New series UN:PHAZED strikes back once again with four more tried and tested dance floor kickers.

The time is now. NRW is proud to present an absolute GEM from powerhouses NINA & Ricky Wilde. This is an album for the lovers of 80s pop and Dreamsynth. Ladies and Gentlemen...SCALA HEARTS is here.
credits
released September 29, 2023

“SCALA HEARTS” DEDICATION

RICK
This album is dedicated to my amazing Mandy, my rock always, and to Mickie Most, still so very missed.

NINA
I dedicate this album to my mum and Omimi. I miss you forever! Also, Oliver for being my knight of light and all my Synthians for shining my way. *Special thanks to my Patrons: Eric Majka, Adrianna Penc, Holger Barz, Grant Sweeney, Shane McGuinness, Robert O’Connor, Mark Boszko, Jose Gutierrez, Christian James, Mikael Peltola, Shane Stewart and Andrew Dodd.

RICK & NINA
We feel indebted to all who contributed and worked so hard to help make SCALA HEARTS possible, and to see the light of day. Radio Wolf, Sean Vincent, Jonathan Atkinson, Ten S, L’Avenue, and especially the amazing Lee Bennett..
What a dream team! We feel honoured to call you all our dear friends. We love you guys!

Mesmerizing live one takers from Soroosh Khavari & Will Yates recorded in Bristol, April 2022.

« Tricks that never fail to amuse at parties » Vinyl Only.

London residing, yet remaining very much Dublin's son Glimmerman returns for his third outing on First Second Label with Temple Sublet. Four across the board soundscapes into bass, 2-step and wub heavy anthems tipped off with a haunting verse from London based poet and lyricist Older Brother.

French producers Porteix & Mp-57 join forces for an analogue-fuelled album outing as Pantha Negra on Tutamen.
Wave-adjacent outsider electronica, and technoid synth not-pop across 7 tracks.

Comprehensive, full-spectrum, sonic experiments build for clubs. Uncategorisable in all the right ways. Danny Daze and Jonny From Space team up for their joint Craigie Knowes debut. The ‘Tumbadora’ EP is a masterclass in technical production whilst retaining all the rhythm and power required to destroy dancefloors. It’s one of the listeners and the clubbers. Nick León steps in with a stripped back version of ‘Sweet Spot Radio’ that’s every bit as mind-melting as the 3 original tracks. Prepare for the freefall!

WWM012 is Brenko's long-awaited release, a mini album that takes you on a musical journey through various emotions and soundscapes.
The project maintains a consistent feel, making it a cohesive work of art.
Brenko showcases a great talent for blending electronic and ambient elements, creating an album that’s both innovative and deeply engaging.

Introducing The June Carriers: a project by Portuguese artist Francisco Silva, also known musically as Old Jerusalem. The full length album "Equanimity" is a departure from previous efforts, turning from traditional folk to experimental instrumental guitar works that are warm in tone, measured in pace, and ponderous in structure. "Equanimity" casts a series of aural still lifes that reflect the wisdom (and namesake) borrowed from an ancient 10th century collection of Zen riddles. Silva points to one in particular: a pilgrim is asked what the purpose of his pilgrimage is, to which he claims he does not know, he is merely following the wind. Silva, finding himself in similar circumstances, found inspiration in the riddle’s conclusion that not knowing is most intimate. Based in the northern coastal city of Porto, Silva has spent his career recording under the alias Old Jerusalem-a nod to the concluding work from Will Oldham’s (Bonnie Prince Billy) 1995 album Viva Last Blues. As Old Jerusalem, Silva’s recordings are vivid, lyrical, and poetic, balancing similarities with Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, M. Ward, and Mark Oliver Everett, while sonically his recordings are contoured by earnestness and a sense of foreign nostalgia. Under his newly minted The June Carriers alias, Silva’s music is comparatively more abstract, spinning off from the stylistic clarity of his hitherto main creative endeavors into a rolling collection of meditative instrumentals. Stylistically, Equanimity inspires visual apparitions and open-ended story telling amidst a blend of staccato-led rhythms and waves of embracing chords, reminiscent of the Atlantic rolling along Porto’s western shores. Shades of Americana and traditional Portuguese folk stand alongside whispering recollections of endless afternoons and warm days. Compositionally, Equanimity stands atop individual snapshots of Silva in an unencumbered mode of creation, culminating and blooming into the intimate freedom of being unburdened. In this zen state of unknowing, we effortlessly become both the observer and the agent.