BAKK Vinyl & CDs

Review: There's plenty to get the synapses firing on the sixth volume in BAKK's ongoing "Plafond" series of EPs, which explore music that sits "somewhere between the dancefloor and the living room". The real gem here is Cucina Povera and Haron's epic A-side "Riffittelya", a 21-minute journey full of ghostly vocalisations, chiming bells, slowly shifting chords, atmospheric field recordings and fleeting snapshots of neo-classical instrumentation. Both artists go solo on the flip, where the becalmed ambient warmth of Haron's swelling "Maandag, Spiegeldag" is followed by the layered acapella vocals and hushed chords of Cucina Povera's inspired "Ajatus".

Review: Those familiar with the Strange Life label operated by Danny Wolfers will know it's rife with CDr material worthy of the vinyl format. Whilst our personal favourite (the bizarre Portopia by Wolfers alias Satomi Taniyama) remains looked over by labels, Berceuse Heroique were responsible for a quite sumptuous double LP edition of Smackos album The Age Of Candy Candy earlier this year. Now local Den Haag crew BAKK have got their hands on 2004 Strange Life album Dark Days for an equally classy triple LP edition. Wolfers fans not familiar with this album will immediately fall in love with Dark Days, thanks to the signature blend of goofy track titles ("Lego Resistance", "An Obnoxious Affair On Tape") and music that veers from soaring, synth vistas to grotty techno via cold, primitive electronics and more.

Review: For those turned on by the many intertwined pathways of ambient, electronica and experimental music, BAKK's ongoing "Plafond" series should be essential listening. The label's latest installment - the fourth in total - is another quietly impressive gem. We're particularly enjoying Ulla Straus' contribution, a gently unfurling A-side opener "I Forgot To Take A Picture", where trippy, fluctuating saxophone and guitar motifs rise above an atmospheric bed of drowsy chords and field recordings. Arguably even better though is Oceanic's B-side spanning interconnected suite, which gradually builds from sparse ambient electronics to hypnotic ambient techno over 20 spellbinding minutes.

Review: Those who know, know how strong the Dutch electro scene has been since the early 90s and Netherlands label BAKK has a special compilation here with many excellent electro tracks to enjoy - no less than 11 tunes in total, spread across three pieces of wax. The list of artists is impressive, from Legowelt, Antenna, SFV Acid and more. This pack starts off with a stunner called 'Bos Ochtendmist' by Legowelt, a phased out and radiant futuristic theme song that's just downright beautiful! Rather than imitating any other city's history of the style's, these artists have their own style - see Aurora Halal's 'Spiral' as a great example, or Sfv Acid 's 'Urbanfury' which adds some nice IDM influences. The slow and deep bass on Tala Drum Corps's 'Gargoyle' is killer too. An early candidate for best electro comp of the year 2024.