Review: Blkmarket Underground Music Party Edits is a sub-label to the influential Blkmarket, an esteemed label and event series in New York. Contrary to what that catalogue number might indicate, this is actaully their second release and has Facets at the controls. First up is 'Computers' with its raw and snappy analogue drum sounds and late-night synth details. 'Time Of War' is another full-fat blend of analogue drum thump and driving synth motifs, 'Talk To Me' has crashing cold-wave synths and deadpan vocals and 'Paranoia' has loopy vocals and moody atmospheres for freaky dancing. 'Lies' and 'Dub To Destruct' shut down this varied and retro-tinged EP with jerking rhythms that will do plenty of damage.
Five Times Of Dust - "Computer Bank" (The Floor mix) (7:12)
Five Times Of Dust - "Armoured Car" (6:57)
Unovidual & Tara Cross - "Like I Am, Comme Je Suis" (The Floor mix) (7:11)
Unovidual & Tara Cross - "Imponative" (3:28)
Review: Thanks to the eternally revered Minimal Wave imprint, out of NYC, Mark Phillips and Robert Lawrence's Five Times Of Dust project is going through a bit of a revival. The duo had first released some post-punk cassettes back in the 80s, and they clearly have not been forgotten. On this new remix EP, "Computer Bank" is given a makeover in the form of a The Floor remix, who proceeds to add all sorts of quirkiness over the tune's tough, heavy bass and driving rhythm; "Armoured Car" breaks the 4/4 in favour of something much closer to the band's original drum machine style. Once again, on the flip, we have a remix of "Like I Am, Comme Je Suis" by The Floor, who throws up a gnarly electro bass onto shady, neo-romantic vocals, and the whole things is finished off by "Imponative" from Unovodual and Tara Cross, who produce a slow, heady industrial groove for the dancefloor.
Fullness Of My Heart (Tolouse Low Trax Scissor Jazz Hat mix) (8:11)
Disco (TBZ Weired Disco) (4:26)
Universal Sucker (3:54)
Moon Metal (7:42)
Review: Dusseldorf-based trio Folie 2 return on Themes For Great Cities to follow up their debut long-player from earlier this year. Eingriffe features yet more genre bending experimental pop by Gregor Darman, Marlene Kollender and Sebastian Welicki. Local legend Tolouse Low Trax kicks things off with his Scissor Jazz Hat mix of 'Fullness Of My Heart' before they get stuck into some low-slung cosmic funk on 'Disco' (TBZ Weired Disco) and on side B there's the neon-lit night moves of deep cut 'Universal Sucker'.
Review: Front 242's re-release of Politics Of Pressure with Alfa Matrix for their 40th anniversary is a treat for fans and a testament to their pioneering status in electronic music. Originally released in 1985, the album shows the band's innovative sound and solidified their position as leaders in the emerging electronic body music movement. The remastered version by Daniel B. brings out the best audio quality, highlighting the band's use of cutting-edge technology to stay ahead of the curve. Politics Of Pressure features the classic lineup of Daniel B., Patrick Codenys, Jean-Luc De Meyer, and Richard "23" Jonckheere, who were instrumental in shaping Front 242's iconic image and high-energy live performances. The album's cold, synthetic electronic dance music became the band's signature sound, influencing electronic music for years to come. This re-release is a fantastic opportunity to rediscover these classic tunes in their fully remastered glory. Feel the power of the greatest EBM band who ever recorded!
Review: Front 242's re-release of their timeless classics on crystal clear vinyl is a true gift to electronic music aficionados. Originally unleashed in 1983, the Endless Riddance EP, following their debut album Geography, remains a pivotal moment in the genre's history. This release served as the bedrock for the group's influential sound, shaping industrial and EBM music for decades to come. Front 242's dedication to their craft and relentless innovation is evident in their ongoing influence on electronic music. As they embark on their final tour in 2024, it's a fitting tribute to their enduring legacy. With their mantra, "always ahead," Front 242 continues to pave the way for future generations of electronic artists.
Review: A veteran of the Berlin electronic music scene, Sascha Funke is no stranger to local expatriates Multi Culti, debuting for them back in 2016 with the terrific In Relationen EP. For his latest outing, he paris up with multi-instrumentalist Niklas Wandt, one half of Gehoelzpflege, for some trippy and low slung sonic shenanigans on the Kreidekreis EP. From the slo-mo tribal trance of opening cut 'Kometenschweif' which will propel you into the cosmos in vertically locomotive fashion, followed by the funky sundown nu-disco of the title track which receives a wicked rework by Alexander Arpeggio up next - taking the track into psyched-out lounge territory. Also on the remix is Neapolitan Whodammanny, channelling '80s Neue Deutsche Welle sounds, German vocals to boot, on a rendition of 'Kometenschweif'.
Review: If you've not seen Gabrielle Provaas' innovative and heartfelt documentary Onzinchtbaar we implore you to do so. The film hones in on 'invisible heroes' responsible for keeping a country clean on a day-to-day basis. From hospitals to streets, schools to offices, this is the workforce that ensures the cogs can move and many more people can get stuff done. So what exactly does that sound like when Fatima Yamaha is drafted for the score? Opening on 'Het Begrijpt Je' might suggest the kind of patient music that accentuates attention to detail. That's certainly true at times, like the staggeringly beautiful piano number 'Hooikoorts' or the drones and twinkles of 'Hotel Haast'. But then we also have more hyperactive moments, and noises to accompany those - 'Veeg Life' and its bouncy, club-ready elec-tech, 'Kissey's leftfield deep house, 'Schiet Zo In Je Rug' and its strange, fidgety epic-ness.
Review: Sometime member of The Knife, Karin Dreijer, has excelled since they started delivering solo albums as Fever Ray. Sadly, releases have been rather thin on the ground, with 'Radical Romantics' - their third solo album - arriving almost six years after its predecessor. It has, though, been worth the wait, with the gender-fluid star unveiling a set of songs that consider love from a variety of angles - all while showcasing a musical style that takes glacial, off-kilter electro-pop in a variety of attractive directions. Highlights come thick and fast throughout, with our picks of a very strong bunch including 'What They Call Us', the mutant rhythms and sparkling, alien-sounding melodies of 'Kandy', and the future dancefloor rush of 'Carbon Dioxide'.
Black Devil Disco Club - "Follow Me" (instrumental) (5:04)
This Is To Be (3:51)
Restless (2:17)
Old Gang Jah - "Rasta" (4:57)
Foxy Spleen (2:49)
Sunshine On March (2:01)
Milpatte - "Cruzer" (2:03)
Odysee (2:34)
Central Way (2:21)
Suspense - "Weekee Way" (1:57)
Earth Message (2:28)
Cosmic Rays (2:11)
Black Devil Disco - "No Regrets" (4:52)
Cimes Eternelles (2:04)
Milpatte - "Livel" (1:47)
2043 (2:06)
Review: Among the figureheads of French disco, Bernard Fevre, better known as Black Devil, probably had the shortest-lived career, but was among the brightest minds of them all. Although his first album Disco Club, released in 1978, went unnoticed at first, it has since become a must-have, a collector's item which has led a lot of listeners to further investigate his extensive work. Fevre experimented with such a wide gamut of styles that it has been hard not to lose track; though perhaps one such aide l'equilibre is this newest compilation/lookback record, Space Oddities 1976-1985. Spanning a huge swathe of Fevre's records, some more touted and others more waylaid, this compilation can only begin to help us firmly grasp the cosmic breadth of the artist's work, some of which is indubitably club-bound, some of which is comparatively cinematic and scenic. Here's hoping Giordano Bruno was wrong about the open universe - Fevre's explorations are so expansive that they verge on boundlessness.
Review: Film De Geurre aka Fred Laser, Max Whiteshoe, Victor Chon and Xenia dropped their self titled dark wave, post punk and minimal synth masterpiece back in 1981. It has become a cult classic ever since and is their one and only ever album. It now comes reissued with a 24"x24" poster & original insert with lyrics courtesy of Mental Groove. The rhythms throughout are stark but compelling, with jangling guitars layered up over the chilly synths and dark, deadpan vocals delivered up top in a matter of fact style. It has a steady pulse that keeps you locked in as the guitar strings ping about and the mood changes from curious and beguiling to more moody and direct
Review: Filmmaker is a multidimensional producer known for genre-bending creations rooted in film culture. With acclaimed releases like The Love Market and Fictional Portrayals already under his belt, he reaches new heights with his latest offering, Hollywood Cult. Across 13 tracks, he crafts a haunting journey that blends synth-driven races, infectious body music, and slow-burning nostalgia. Tracks like 'Secrecy,' 'Western Malice,' and 'Shocking Therapy' evoke cinematic tension and energy and as the album progresses, 'Vessels Wine,' 'Peacekeeper Ripper,' and 'Criminal Rite' delve into intense emotions, while 'Elite Dungeons' and 'Hanging Finale' bring a lo-fi, trance-inducing finale. Hollywood Cult, then, serves as a dark, captivating soundtrack for a new world, inviting repeated listens and immersive exploration.
Review: As a former member of Kraftwerk, Wolfgang Flur is never short of offers to collaborate. On Time, his first solo album for three years, he's once again taken up many of these offers. So alongside regular collaborators Peter Duggal, U96 and Miriam Suarez, you'll also find contributions from New Order bassist Peter Hook, Thomas Bangalter (aka Vangarde, taking his disco-making father's moniker surname here) Detroit electro and techno pioneer Juan Atkins (who appears on opener 'Posh'), and long-serving techno producers Anthony Rother and Fabrice Lig. As a result, Time is rooted in sharp electro, synth-pop and revivalist new wave, but also offers nods to techno, electroclash, acid house and proto-trance, with Suarez and Flur take it in turns to add their own atmospheric vocals. If you enjoyed Flur's previous album, Magazine, you'll lap this one up - it's an even stronger proposition.
Monday To The Moon (feat Peter Hook, Peter Duggal, Victoria Port & Thomas Vangarde) (6:46)
Review: Wolfgang Flur is of course the former electronic percussionist of Kraftwerk during their classic era from 1974 to 1986. He's now set to release a new studio album featuring collaborations with several synth-pop and dance music icons. They include German techno duo U96, Yello's Boris Blank, Thomas Vangarde - better known as former Daft Punk mainman Thomas Bangalter - Juan Atkins, Antony Rother, Emil Schult and New Order legend Peter Hook. Flur has since become a celebrated solo artist whose music blends retro-futurism, melody and narrative while always maintaining an optimistic vision for humanity.
Review: Next up on Dusseldorf's Themes For Great Cities is the debut LP from local trio Folie 2, comprised of vocalist Marlene Kollender, Gregor Darman (aka Rasputin) and Sebastian Welicki (LSW/Trashlagoon). Anyone who caught their great podcast on LYL Radio full of slow, trancey music knows what to expect on this one. There's a strong nod to '80s pop for the most part, but also taking in chugging dark disco slow burners ('Confrontation') neon-lit boogie down numbers ('Night Times') and taking influence from sounds of their homeland circa the '70s ('Fullness Of My Heart').
Review: There had apparently already been much feverish speculation around the true identity of the musician lurking behind the moniker Forbidden Overture because of the exceptional soundtrack to the 1982 queer bath house fantasy 'Turned On'. When a few of the more astute observers of the 1986 women-in-prison exploitation flick 'Bad Girls Dormitory' spotted some overlapping use of the same music from 'Turned On', it was revealed that Forbidden Overture was in fact US electro pioneer Man Parrish - a fact that seems obvious once you know. Using his unmistakable classic production techniques - only employed in very different ways to his dancefloor smashes - the building, oozing 27 minute epic 'Primal Overture' and the cheekier, more wry 'Strictly Forbidden' form one of the soundtracks of all time, even if the bath house frolics of the film itself have retreated into the changing rooms of obscurity since. Its director Steve Scott commented: "It took us about two weeks to find the right piece for the jockstrap scene. But it's like anything else-you know when it's right." The same could very easily be said of this must-not-miss release.
Review: The third volume in the Future Sounds Of Kraut series delves deeper into the experimental realms of krautrock, blending its hypnotic rhythms with modern sensibilities. On this release, Fred und Luna lead the charge with their distinctive sound, drawing from the genre's rich history while infusing it with fresh, forward-thinking elements. The album's varied tracks are a journey through intricate loops, motorik beats and atmospheric textures, offering a dynamic exploration of electronic and psychedelic landscapes. A collection that pays homage to Krautrock's pioneers while shaping its own space in the genre, this release is a must-listen for both old and new fans alike.
Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***
The third volume in the Future Sounds Of Kraut series delves deeper into the experimental realms of krautrock, blending its hypnotic rhythms with modern sensibilities. On this release, Fred und Luna lead the charge with their distinctive sound, drawing from the genre's rich history while infusing it with fresh, forward-thinking elements. The album's varied tracks are a journey through intricate loops, motorik beats and atmospheric textures, offering a dynamic exploration of electronic and psychedelic landscapes. A collection that pays homage to Krautrock's pioneers while shaping its own space in the genre, this release is a must-listen for both old and new fans alike.
Fred Und Luna - "Auf Wiederhren 2" (outro - previously unreleased) (1:42)
Review: The good folks at Compost have put together a second volume of their Future Sounds of Kraut compilation and once again it is packed with exciting new takes on the age-old genres. Compiler Fred Und Luna features a couple of times including with the celestial synth charms and light electronic rhythms of 'Monotonikum' and elsewhere tried and tested talents such as Thomas Fehlmann with his widescreen cinematic cut' 'Permanent Touch' and minimal favourite Roman Flugel with his delightfully melodic and innocent 'Rules' bring plenty of class the adventurous and accomplished double album. There is plenty to get stuck into here for those who like their sounds sleek, atmospheric and star gazing.
Gilgamesh Mata Hari Duo - "Florian Schneider-Esleben" (6:12)
Kosmischer Laufer - "In Der Stadt Und Auf Dem Land" (2:18)
Sankt Otten - "Hymne Der Melancholischen Programmierer" (4:27)
Pyrolator - "Die Geschichte Vom Heissgelaufenen Reisswolf" (previously unreleased) (4:48)
I:Cube - "Vantableu" (8:31)
Organza Ray - "Preen Scene" (previously unreleased) (5:22)
Sula Bassana - "Tropfsteinhohle" (3:30)
Halwa - "Drehwurm" (previously unreleased) (7:19)
Lionel, Julien, Marceau Et Rainer - "Reise" (previously unreleased) (5:20)
Fred Und Luna - "Outro (Auf Wiederhoren)" (previously unreleased) (2:08)
Review: Perhaps in the future, we'll eat sauerkraut pills instead of having to actually pickle cabbage in order to make it. Such are the musings that compilations like The Future Sounds Of Kraut inspire - but also, perhaps by pure happenstance, they also lead us to wonder: what about the evolution of the contemporary German electronic rock genre of the same name? Celebrating the legacy and influence of the genre and movement that emerged in Germany in the late 1960s and early 70s - but not indulging derivations of your usual Clusters and Cans - this full-length compilation from Compost brings together 19 contemporary krautrock masterpieces, with choice, twinkly cuts from bands and solo artists including Musiccargo, Listening Center, Kosmischer Laufer and Pyrolator. Listen no further than here to hear the changing tide of kraut.
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