Vibrant Music Spain Vinyl & CDs

Review: Long-serving producer Fluxion has decided to re-launch his Vibrant Music imprint, a label specializing in dub techno and ambient explorations that previously ceased operations in 2005. Fittingly, he's saved something special for the relaunch 12": a collaboration with Detroit dub techno don Rod "Deepchord" Modell as Transformations. The two-part "Accumulate" draws on the best of both producers' styles, delivering melodious, warm, hypnotic and spacey techno whose dub influences bubble away in the background without ever taking over. Rodell's ability to subtly tweak and transform dubbed-out melodic loops and hazy sonic textures is explored in greater detail on side B's "Part 2" version, which also boasts a heavier bassline and sturdier, kick-drum-driven percussion.

Review: Hot on the heels of their first collaborative 12" for Vibrant Music - the fine Accumulate Parts I & II - dub techno stalwarts DeepChord (Aka Rod Modell) and Fluxion (Konstantinos Soublis) join forces for a second salvo. The two-part "Bona Fide" is a typically evocative and hazy affair, offering an attractive balance between Modell's audio soup style sound design and the gently unfurling rhythms that have always been a hallmark of Soublis's productions. Both interpretations utilize a range of melodic elements - think twinkling, mixed-down pianos, fuzzy electric piano bass, dreamy chords, and so on - with the slightly livelier "Part 2" also making use of some exotic percussive flourishes. Naturally, both passes are warm, undulating and immaculately produced.

Review: Fresh from a series of 12" collaborations with Deepchord, Konstantonis Soublis AKA Fkuxion drops his first solo album in two years. As you'd expect, Ripple Effect is packed to the rafters with exceedingly atmospheric fare, as Soublis drowsily floats between melancholic deep techno, spliff-sporting dub techno haziness and moments of intense ambient bliss, some of which - not least standout "The Idea" - fix twinkling pianos and dusty samples to sweeping cinematic movements. That he achieves a balance between softly spoken dancefloor fare and head-in-the-clouds beat-less moments is no great surprise, though the album's musical richness and deeply emotive vibe may raise a few eyebrows. Recommended.

Review: Fresh from a series of 12" collaborations with Deepchord, Konstantonis Soublis AKA Fkuxion drops his first solo album in two years. As you'd expect, Ripple Effect is packed to the rafters with exceedingly atmospheric fare, as Soublis drowsily floats between melancholic deep techno, spliff-sporting dub techno haziness and moments of intense ambient bliss, some of which - not least standout "The Idea" - fix twinkling pianos and dusty samples to sweeping cinematic movements. That he achieves a balance between softly spoken dancefloor fare and head-in-the-clouds beat-less moments is no great surprise, though the album's musical richness and deeply emotive vibe may raise a few eyebrows. Recommended.

Review: Fresh from a series of 12" collaborations with Deepchord, Konstantonis Soublis AKA Fkuxion drops his first solo album in two years. As you'd expect, Ripple Effect is packed to the rafters with exceedingly atmospheric fare, as Soublis drowsily floats between melancholic deep techno, spliff-sporting dub techno haziness and moments of intense ambient bliss, some of which - not least standout "The Idea" - fix twinkling pianos and dusty samples to sweeping cinematic movements. That he achieves a balance between softly spoken dancefloor fare and head-in-the-clouds beat-less moments is no great surprise, though the album's musical richness and deeply emotive vibe may raise a few eyebrows. Recommended.

Review: Since making his mark in the dub techno scene two decades ago, Fluxion has slowly shifted his sound to incorporate a wider range of interconnected influences and inspirations. So, while "Perspectives", his eighth album, has the hazy, half-light pulse of dub techno at its heart, the rhythms are a little bolder, the accompanying electronics more colourful, the melodies jazzier, and the variety of tracks a little wider. As a result, it's one of his most entertaining and mood-enhancing albums yet, with highlights including the rainbow of interconnected melodies and dub-flecked throb of "Formation", the warming late night shuffle of "Glimpses", the piano-sporting haziness of "Down The Line" and the jazzy ambient techno bliss of "Promise".

Review: Since making his mark in the dub techno scene two decades ago, Fluxion has slowly shifted his sound to incorporate a wider range of interconnected influences and inspirations. So, while "Perspectives", his eighth album, has the hazy, half-light pulse of dub techno at its heart, the rhythms are a little bolder, the accompanying electronics more colourful, the melodies jazzier, and the variety of tracks a little wider. As a result, it's one of his most entertaining and mood-enhancing albums yet, with highlights including the rainbow of interconnected melodies and dub-flecked throb of "Formation", the warming late night shuffle of "Glimpses", the piano-sporting haziness of "Down The Line" and the jazzy ambient techno bliss of "Promise".

Review: Since the release of the dub techno-fired Perspectives album in May 2020, Konstantinos Soublis AKA Fkuxion has concentrated on creating "more intimate work" that draws more heavily on his own emotional state of mind during the production process. As a result, Parallel Moves is even more atmospheric than his previous output - and that's saying something - with subtle shifts in style and tone throughout. Sure, it's still rooted in dub techno and ambient dub, but also utilises modified and manipulated jazz instrumentation, deep post-dubstep rhythms, synth-sporting deep techno and deep house grooves, and pitched-down beatdown style beats laden with classic downtempo sounds. As musical evolutions go, it's undeniably impressive.

Review: The master that is Fluxion is back with more introspections from deep inside his own musical world. It was only in May of last year that his last album was released and since then this has been his focus. It has paid off because once again this is an absorbing world of dub techno, gentle melodies and undulating rhythms that stretch and unfold at their own slow but inviting pace. There are hopeful moments like 'Correlation' with its soft beats and rising melodies, and moments of more lonesome reflection such as the sparse and seductive 'Settling Dust.' Of course, undermining it all is the trademark Fluxion sound we all know and love.

Review: New York-based, South African dub-techno veteran Brendon Moeller is known for his prolific work as Echologist and Beat Pharmacist - but has not put out much music under his birth name for a while. However, he has found time to continue his loyal relationship with Danish label Echocord and released on DJ Spider ad Dakini9's Plan B and Silent Season in recent years. Here he presents his fifth album entitled Materialize for Greek imprint Vibrant Music, and it's much unlike most of his previous work - representing a new evolution of his sound. A breathtaking collection of ambient scenes and drone journeys where he has come full circle, incorporating indie, shoegaze, cinematic soundscapes and other influences to explore time and space through a minimalist and stoic approach.