Category: Quick Picks

Climate Change, by Mykja

Quick Picks

a1225686239_10

What better way to start both the Day and Week than with some truly satisfying deep tunage.

Etoka Records brings us this latest project from producer duo Mykja titled “Climate Change”. The album contains 7 tracks of focused dub-techno with a nice atmospheric quality (pun-intended). Mykja does a wonderful job mashing together distinct synths with percussion that is both relaxed yet filled with a sense of urgency.

The title is no happy accident either, as the duo describes – ‘Climate Change’ is formed to describe the relationship between man and nature, our impact on the environment that causes global change effect.

You can download the digital album, or purchase a Limited Edition Cassette via Etoka Records Bandcamp Page

THATONEGOODVIBE, by PZA

Quick Picks

a4141887597_10

THATONEGOODVIBE is a new tape release from experimental producer PZA, released via Pennsylvanias Section 9 Tapes.

Truly a dank tape, marrying vaporwave concepts with harsh noise, approaching the boarders of witch-house at moments! Each track is dense and spooky, filled with warped synthesizers and fuzzy low-end. The project weighs in at 12 tracks, you must purchase the Cassette version to hear the final track though! You can also download the album via Section 9’s Bandcamp.

Locked Grooves, by 400PPM

Quick Picks

a2207491699_10

Fresh from Berlin’s Avian Label is this collection of hypnotic tracks by 400PPM. Locked Grooves is a collection of experimental techno loops constructed by Shawn O’Sullivan. The release itself is 10 tracks of raw, relentless electronics, with satisfying jagged edges. I would even dare to call this a Punk interpretation of techno, with the often distorted tones buzzing from track to track, as well as the startlingly short track lengths (most tracks barely breach the 2-minute mark!).

All in all, its a breath of fresh air in the oft-over-produced techno scene. You can scoop the digital album for free now via Avians Bandcamp.

Man Vs. Sofa, by Sherwood & Pinch

Quick Picks

a2413754864_10

Man Vs. Sofa is the latest collaborative project between two UK producers Sherwood & Pinch. The album is a fantastic mix of energetic techno, tasteful dubstep and all things inbetween! The duo creates incredibly satisfying tracks, flawlessly meshing their two styles into something both unique and enjoyable. Buzzing bass, throbbing kicks and splendid sample-work all make this album a must listen!

Tint, by Rhucle

Quick Picks

a0564588341_10

Fresh from Lillerne Tapes out of Chicago, Tint is a gorgeous ambient album by Tokyo producer Rhucle. The project is a beautiful collection of 7 relaxing tracks, all of which do a great job painting a sonic picture as blissful and relaxing as the Album Artwork.

Rhucle does a magnificent job blending sweet melodies with natural recordings. The result is meditative and relaxing. At this moment, you can still pick up the project on Cassette Tape, or download the Digital Edition via Lillerne Tapes Bandcamp.

I first heard of Tokyo’s Rhucle through 2015’s Summer Candle CS via Oxtail Recordings. The perfect mixture of natural sounds and outdoor field recordings set against quietly drifting synth melodies struck a chord immediately and I was hooked. Tint is another reflection on the power of these natural elements and recordings in relation to the emotive and soothing musical accompaniment floating nearby. These are intricate compositions made with great care and consideration—both humbling and cathartic at the same time. Edition of 50 pro-dubbed Type II/Chrome cassettes with full-color, double-sided artwork.

Periferica (NP), by Tears Of Change

Quick Picks

a1551738535_10

Fresh from rohs! Records out of Germany (though, not fresh to the universe), originally released in 2015, Periferica is an experimental techno album by Tears Of Change.

Periferica is a deep, churning project with a brutal yet mellow urgency. The sound is a unique juxtaposition of throbbing kicks and buzzing bass, combined with some haunting atmospheres. What results is a satisfying blend of energetic acid and high-quality textured ambience. Some of my favorite parts of this project were the most dissonant, where the sounds seemed to be combating each-other within the track!

For a limited time you can order a Compact Disc of the Album, or download the digital files, via the rohs! Records Bandcamp.

 

Deepchord 01-06

Quick Picks

a0090188985_10

 

DEEPCHORD presents us with a collection of tunes from days of old. Anyone who has read this blog for long knows I am a huge fan of deepchord and the days of Thinner Netlabel and the neverending plethora of Dub Techno that was being created at the time.

This wonderful little release gathers tracks produced by Mike Schommer & Rod Modell (collectively DEEPCHORD) between the years of 1997-1999. Striped-down and raw, each of the tracks is an impressive look into the duos early works. Ever present are the staples of their sound, muddled percussion and gorgeous melodic chordal progressions. The album is for sale via Bandcamp.

The Landing Zone (Live), by Ujjaya

Quick Picks

eg0_162a

Here is some fresh meditative ambient from French producer Ujjaya. As with his other works, the project is drenched in spiritual vibes and mystical soundscapes. The 9 tracks serve as a window into Ujjaya’s journey, sometimes contemplative and other times simply relaxing. Also good news for producers, this one’s released under a CC license for creative use

You can download the project via Archive.org

Ujjaya is a french ethno-ambient musician with malagasy roots. His music is mainly a reflection of his yoga practice and of his travel through Asia for spiritual purposes .
Before becoming public as Ujjaya in 2011 , Hery Randraimbololona stayed in seclusion for 15 years coming out for pilgrimage and once in a year for a live radio show. The Landing Zone is a testimony of this era.

現象 Phenomenon, by lacon

Quick Picks

a2378569973_10

Phenomenon is a delicious new vaporwave album brought to us by Kaiseki Digital Label. Produced by Lacon, Phenomenon is a masterpiece of chilled out, downtempo electronics. The album does a great job of taking sonic cues from science fiction and video games, with bold and interesting synth tones being utilized throughout the project. Sitting at a healthy 10-tracks in length, it’s a great long-player for both relaxing and grooving. Download the album now for only 5 bucks!

Omens guide me whilst I enter these gardens, hearing the ancient hymns from a slumbering dimension upon with pathways I traverse. The waves deepen around me, the winds begin to surround from metaphysical awakening, reaching worlds end eternally vagabond … whence the architect breathes.

redd.it/5mdos4

released January 6, 2017

Twilight Sessions volume 20, by Bing Satellites

Quick Picks

a0396469191_10

Bing Satellites has presented us with another piece of his ever evolving “Twilight Sessions” with this volume 20. 3 tracks of blissful new age chillout, with round melodic notes leading the loops through time. Name your own price for this download, or pick up a quality CD for about 10 bucks.

Almost an hour of blissful, chilled out ambient music.

More details / alternative downloads:www.bingsatellites.com/releases/twilightsessionsvolume20

The twentieth volume in the ever-expanding Twilight Sessions series, available on CD and download.

Further tales from the refurbished studio.

After too many months, I rewired my studio and connected everything together, along with a few new toys. This is the first album in many months that takes advantage of the range of synths I have on offer.

The music on this album is completely improvised.
I press record and play notes into a long, slowly decaying loop and see where the music takes me.

credits

released January 6, 2017

All music written, performed and produced by Bing Satellites at MCos, Manchester, August 2016

Design and cover photography by Bing Satellites

Cover photograph: Sunrise over Greenland, December 2016.