Much has changed in the four years since Samuel van Dijk unveiled his debut album under the VC-118 alias, the Lunar Disko-released International Airlines. While Britain, in particular, basked in the feel-good glow of the London Olympics, the Dutch producer’s dark, paranoid and intoxicating blends of razor-sharp electro, pitch-black techno, dubbed-out soundscapes and ghostly IDM seemed out-of-step with the prevailing mood. Since then, the winds of change have blown through Europe, the Middle East and the United States, and van Dijk’s undeniably bittersweet music suddenly feels in step with our troubling times.
Samuel van Dijk’s nebulous dub techno, organic ambient and Detroit-inspired electro forms an eloquent whole writes Richard Brophy.
The Tabernacle offshoot call on the Finnish artist once more – preview here.
In the few photos that exist of the Connection Machine, aka Dutch duo Jeroen Brandjes and Natasja Hagemeier, they look like moody Goths. Maybe they don’t like having their picture taken and this visual connection to their music is unintentional, but nevertheless there is an underlying, spooky sensibility on most of the tracks on Presentiment, their first album in over a decade.
The rising electro peddler will release mini-album Callisto next month.
As befits a spin-off project from Tabernacle, there is scant information about the artist that is launching Ride the Gyroscope. All we know about Boneless One is that he comes from Finland and has put out a few low-key releases in the past. Like the Head Front Panel series and much of the mothership label’s approach, there is a refreshing lack of spin or sales technique here, and apart from the somewhat psychedelic inlays, the focus is on the music.
Italian producer Andrea Di Maggio has five tracks of cosmic machine funk ready to roll.
The newly established offshoot will launch next month with material from Finnish artist Boneless One.
Tabernacle has had a relatively quiet 2015, but that’s set to change with the release of a number of releases in the coming months, the first of which is Methods of Transfer Book 1. Comprising music that was improvised during a performance in New York, this release also sees Jamal Moss’ original productions re-interpreted by like-mind John Heckle.
Richard Brophy profiles current transmutations in the world of electro with The Exaltics, DJ Stingray, VC-118A, Ultradyne and more under the spotlight.
The Merseysider outs himself as the man responsible for all the eviscerating material on the Tabernacle offshoot.
The new project from Fisherman Martin Skogehall and compatriot Daniel Andréasson will debut on Tabernacle next month.
In the Juno Plus label profile of Tabernacle last year, it was clear that the people behind the label have a deep and wide-reaching knowledge of and passion for various electronic music forms. Even a cursory glance at Tabernacle’s back catalogue makes it quite clear that they bring this passion to bear on their label. While some of their peers might profess a love of underground electro, few have the conviction to actually release it. In fact, most people running labels these days would probably view deep, esoteric electro as a form of commercial suicide.
Not content with launching the anonymous artist-focused Head Front Panel sub-label, Tabernacle have recruited Scientific Dreamz of U for a release on the mothership. The mysterious act has only one previous release to its credit, but is starting to carve out a niche with its tripped out, epic techno jams. The combination of the artist’s name and track titles like “Monopole Vortex Field {Dirac Sea Re-Immersion]” scream the word ‘trance’ at this reviewer.
Preview Tabernacle’s next release which comes from the mystical online presence known only as Scientific Dreamz of U.
Preview the low-key producer’s second mini LP for the Glasgow via London label.
The Scottish imprint reveals details of a new sub-label focusing on techno from anonymous artists.
For our final label feature of the year, the trio behind Tabernacle Records speak to Richard Brophy and turn in a mix of label highlights and current influences.
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