Dominik Eulberg - Diorama (2011)

Album of the Week #014





This is the best album of 2011, if you ask me. An album with a story, design end perfectly fitting music.
For "Diorama" Dominik Eulberg has selected in cooperation with Germanys nature magazine NABU the eleven greatest wonders of domestic nature. Because it is not only in exotic parts of the world that one can find incredible innovations of nature, they can also be found at your front door.Their existence is concealed for many of us and only by means of closer examination and an raised awareness for their secrets can we discover this world full of miracles.For this world of hidden wonders a graphic diorama was specially designed. Depicting a well known world full of unknown phenomena.For each wonder Dominik Eulberg has composed a piece of music, which reflects with sound and dynamic the accounted wonder.In addition he describes the eleven phenomena in a traditional way on the inside of the CD cover."Täuschungsblume" The opener of the album depicts an enigmatic musical anecdote.Time seems to stand still here. Slowly but with continuity the melodies descend, evolving in an never ending flow. "Echomaus" "Echomaus" reminds us of the greatest ambient moments by Aphex Twin. The track works through elegant creeping sounds, creating a fine balance and includes echo sounds and electronic sounding basslines that make the connection to the wonder as well as creating a epic track of great radiance. "Neunauge" The abrupt transition of the "Neunauge" (engl. lamprey) from a wormlike larva to a fish, is reflected here musically in a strong dynamic change, turning things upside down... making it two tracks in one. One could call it a musical version of the wonder itself. A risky and adventurous track that creates new space and clears the mind for the next track. "Teddy Tausendtop"The wonder of "Teddy Tausendtop", the clumsy water bear, is an tempting blueprint for Eulberg to pull all his tricks. He here composes brilliant beats and uses synths that create a timeless atmosphere as well as using others that make huge dynamic shifts evolving in a magic piece of music which is a wonder in itself. Without words a masterpiece! "Islandmuschel 400"Maybe the most intense track of the album, going deep under ones skin. A track that has the aura of an approaching gigantic iceberg from the perspective of a child. This track could be a massive tune on big festivals, a big time instrumental pop song. It is very personal and fuelled with fate. "3 Millionen Musketiere" This track is for all of us who experienced the genuine collective feeling at one of the raves in the early 90ies or at small parties in industrial sites when the first sunbeams made their way through the stained glass industry windows. This track is euphoric up to the limit: A break beat that incorporates the best moments of UK techno with bands such as: Enjoy or Bizarre Inc, but transfers it into the year 2011. This is a track that creates gooseflesh. "H2O" What would the world be without water? Every life starts with water and so Eulberg has written a track here that features the complexity as well as the beauty of this element. Eulberg has composed such an intricate track here... it goes beyond recognition. This track has a central position in his album. "Der Tanz Der Glühwürmchen" After "3 Millionen Musketiere" and "H2o" this track seems to have a recreational quality in the beginning but in the course of the track turns out to be really emotional. Picking up a feeling that New Wave or Indie Rock tunes hold, this track reveals the quality of the album altogether, the timeless quality of some of the trax. "Aeronaut" Starting deranged and giving no clue in which direction it might proceed, step by step he introduces lush melodies detached from all earthbound actions.All of this would not work if Eulberg had not programmed one of his best beats ever... a complex abstract beat that massages the synapses. "Wenn Es Perlen Regnet" "Wenn Es Perlen Regnet" is plea for the beauty of nature and the world of melodies, that few artist can translate into music. This track blends romance with techno reality. "Metamorphose" "Metamorphose" signifies what Eulberg has actually intended with his album and what has been responsible for the outcome of this album. A tongue in cheek title and music that shows great French movie soundtrack quality connected to Eulberg beats. The end of the CD but a track of timeless beauty.

Release Date: 9 may 2011

Rating: 5/5

Mano Le Tough - Changing Days

Album of the Week #013






Over the past few years, Mano Le Tough has become one of the shooting stars of the international dance music scene. His impact has been so great that Kristian Beyer of Âme claimed recently in an interview that: "Thanks to Mano Le Tough, I have no fears for the future of house." And not just Beyer, the entire Innervisions gang including Âme and Dixon have become fervent supporters of Mano Le Tough's warm and melodic, yet driving sound. Niall Mannion as Mano is known to his parents, is originally from Greystones, a seaside village near Dublin, Ireland. After an eclectic musical youth and a move to Berlin, Mannion first popped up on the electronic music radar in 2009 with an ep on legendary disco Viking Prins Thomas' Internasjonal label. All of his great experiences as a musician and artist culminate now in Mano Le Tough's first long player "Changing Days" on Permanent Vacation. Fully aware that the album format is still the most important statement of a musician, Mano succeeds in this field with flying colors by not falling into the obvious traps of making a "dance" album with 10 songs that all seem to sound that same. Similar to his labelmate and buddy John Talabot, Mano manages to expand his stylistic palette to more than "just" dance or club music. Instead he creates his own distinct sound and musical vision with bittersweet melodies and atmospheric moods that should appeal to ravers and more pop trained ears alike.

Release Date: 22 february 2013

Rating: 3.5/5

Ripperton - Niwa (2010)

Album of the Week #012





This album is a true masterpiece for me. I don't know why, but everytime when I listen to this album, it gives me the chills. Especially tracks like 'A Smple Thing', 'At Peace', 'Farra', 'Des Promesses de Couleurs', 'Leonor's Lanugo' and 'Random Violence'.
Ripperton started his career as one-half of Lazy Fat People in 2006. Their track 'Big City' became a classic at that time. In 2007 Raphaël decided to go solo under his own name. It was actually years later that I discovered he was one-half of Border Community's duo Lazy Fat People. 
Untill 2010, I never heard of Raphaël Ripperton. The first time I came in touch with Ripperton, was when I heard the track 'Leonor's Lanugo' as the opening track of Eelke Kleijn's radio show Outside The Box in March 2010. I was immediately knocked out by the beauty of this intro track. Not long after that I was listening to the whole album. Actually, it took some time to get hooked to the whole album (but hey, that's a good thing). But a year later I understood the complete experience of "Niwa" and it became my album of the year 2010. 
Right now, 4 years later, I came to the conclusion that this album deserves the full package!

Release Date: 01 february 2010
Rating: 5/5

Mees Dierdorp - Wild Window

Album of the Week #011

Debut album from Dutch producer Mees Dierdorp. Experimenting with a combination of Dutch poetry and techno music.
'Let music take you to places with undiscovered sense''

Release Date: 02 december 2013
Rating: still listening, to be rated soon

Applescal - From A To Sea

Album of the Week #010

Entitled ‘From A to Sea’, Applescal presents a 9-track mini album with various old works and journeys, as you would expect, through all manner of electronic influences. From minimal leanings seen on his releases for German label Traum, through to the pastoral electronica seen on his Atomnation releases, abstract ‘non-glitch’ IDM, bouncy brain-dance and more.

Release Date: 09 december 2013
Rating: still listening, to be rated soon

Groj - Playmorium

Album of the Week #009





Groj is Kevin Jamey from Montreal, Canada.

Groj is a virtually unknown electronic musician. He currently resides in Montreal and has both a French and Anglo background. He grew up in Grenoble and Sydney. He spends his days working in a psychology laboratory and his nights making music in his bedroom. He signed his debut EP ‘Edlothia’ with label ‘klangwelt’. 
Later he started his own label to release his own music on Box Records. After his first album "Promised Land" that was more ambient orientated, now he returns with his second album "Playmorium". This album is totally different, because he returned to his techno side of productions. But still with lots of warm melodic atmospheres. With this album he proves, that he is very diverse and is not limited to only one genre.

Release Date: 27 november 2013
Rating: still listening, to be rated soon

2013 Flashback #1 - Best Albums

My top 5 albums of the year 2013

#1 
Moderat - II

Best tracks:
Bad Kingdom, Versions, Let In The Light, Damage Done, This Time

#2 
Darkside - Psychic

Best tracks:
Golden Arrow, Heart, Paper Trails, The Only Shrine I've Seen

#3
Nils Frahm - Spaces

Best tracks:
Says, Said And Done, Hammers, For – Peter – Toilet Brushes – More

#4
Bonobo - The North Borders

Best tracks:
First Fires, Cirrus, Sapphire, Don't Wait, Ten Tigers

#5
Jon Hopkins - Immunity

Best tracks:
Open Eye Signal, Breathe This Air, Collider, Immunity


Merry X-mas!

Stereoclip - Hometown

Album of the Week #008





Following two successful EPs finally comes the long awaited release of Stereoclip's first album. Since his first EP, "It's About the Time" released on Delicieuse Records, media outlets across Europe haven't been shy to show their support. Following several features on top chart compilations released by French heavy weights like Wagram and Universal, Max came into high demand and was soon sent to tour through France and Belgium to showcase his music. Getting back from this first experience, and following a self released second EP, Max decided to take his music in another direction while focusing on variating his instrumentals and at a set harmony. Many of his musician friends contributed to Hometown, infusing diverse influences from D&B to deep Berlin electronic music, as well as pop and rock n roll samples. For such an eclectic mix the result was surprisingly refreshing. Due to such an immaculate execution did the fusion of sounds mesh organically. What brings a mere coherence to his past discography and recent album is Stereoclip's noticeable hunt for new soundscapes. He bridges the gap between unique concepts and varying instrumentals to create a solid and underlying sound identity.

Release Date: 16 december 2013
Rating: still listening, to be rated soon

Koett - Golden Peak

Album of the Week #007





From ambient interludes that could soundtrack a short film, to lively acid jazz all the way through to spacious funk and introspective yet soulful, techno inspired workouts, Koett (who's real name is Aleksander Tochilkin) deftly weaves through the gamut of electronic machine music.

Having released under a number of names between 2005 and 2012 and following strong house and techno releases on FUSELab and Dabit Records, Koett has pinned down his sound for his 'Golden Peak' album, creating a cogent record that drips with creativity. “Golden Peak” once more serves as reminder that the Russian music scene is alive and kicking and with fellow countrymen Pixelord, Monokle and DZA already flying the flag for a scene it is not a stretch of the imagination to believe we will be hearing a lot more emerge from the mega state in the coming years.

The artwork for the release is by Alex Coll, a surrealistic artist that utilizes the medium of collage to create his posters and works. Using scissors and glue as his weapons of choice, he culls his source materials from images taken from old books and magazines, recontextualising pictures into new artistic memes and ideas.

Release Date: 25 november 2013
Rating: still listening, to be rated soon

Dusty Kid - III

Album of the Week #006





"III" Dusty Kid's third album is a cinematic experience of almost 2 hours listening conceived as a single piece of music, like a wall of bricks that strictly belong to each other to give the whole album a well defined story.The album, mixed by using few different vintage consoles and recording everything on a reel-to-reel tape in order to get a more alive and lofi result, moves towards a very underground feeling. There are no easy-listening melodies (don't expect in fact any "America" or "Lynchesque", any "Kore" or "Chentu Mizas") but it rather sounds like a saga of dirty, confused, delirious, sometimes bizzare and ridiculous, very dark techno moments. "III" might remind of a noir-horror-fantasy movie to watch with eyes closed and where the listener is the main character who can play like in a 'shoot-em-up game made of many levels. The sinister calm of the opening, made of the leftfield acid ambient landscapes and industrial noises of the first 4 tracks, preannounces that something is going to happen and leads the listener into a further level of the game where entrance is initially restrained by a man at the door "He Won't Let You In". Once got through listener is taken onto a further level and enters the "Leather Bears Cinematic Suite".The 5-tracks "suite" is a deep journey into the 90's techno with its first track "Doom" being an almost metallurgical hell as the listener climbs the stairs that will lead him into the main scene. From now on what the listener will see is just what he would expect to see there...the title of the "suite" says it all! "Pandemonium" and "Dark Room" really seem to drive the listener inside a wonderfully painted idea of what's going on in there. As the listener takes the "Exit 12", that with its lofi and dark mix perfectly describes the feeling after a night spent in the "suite" and echoes of "Flashback" from the previous night still echoing in his confused and distorted mind, the journey goes even more deeply into the 90's techno. "Yota Wave" is in fact a skillfully grotesque recreation of a futuristic techno trance experimentalism of the early Plus-8 records. Level after level listener goes on in the game and while "In The Wood" sounds like a track recorded from the radio with a poor quality cassette, the triad "Prelude"-"Omega Y" and "Omega X" just seems to be a track coming out from another track which comes from another track like in a concentric way."Escape" follows in the same key as the previous triad with a flying ethereal athmosphere followed by a massive tribal anthem as "Idklip" explodes while the listener approaches the final level of the game."Ending", a simple pronounced piano note that lays on a tender carpet of soffused strings and far reverbs leads the listener to the light at the end of this journey.

Release Date: 25 november 2013
Rating: 4/5

Deetron - Music Over Matter

Album of the Week #005





Asked to describe his music to a new listener one might falter. While it's true that there is a very specific sound at the core of his music, it is the fluid nature of Deetron's work that defines him as an artist. Yet there is one word that can be used to sum up this dynamic musical mind and the polymorphic sounds that he has mastered - Maverick. Departing from the accepted course, a free-spirited, non-conformist both musically and in his chosen path within the industry; this distinguishing characteristic is also the life-blood of Deetron's studio work. His broad musical palette the bedrock from which a myriad of pleasureful sounds have entertained and held firm fans across the globe. His second album, which will be released on Music Man Records, finds Deetron in a unique, transitional phase. The vocal element of his music coming to the fore, with Music Over Matter he proves that there is no substitute for substance and skill, putting music firmly back in the frame is the message, and how poignant to today's tumultuous industry! A prismatic mosaic of vocal textures and expertly crafted grooves, Music Over Matter takes flight through the bounds of Deetron's musical persona, working vocals in unexpected ways through the deepest, most colorful and penetrating moments. A new facet to the multi-dimensional Deetron sound. From cranked up four to the floor and voluminous deep house grooves, to dream-sequence synths, elegant drum-programming and powerful melodic signatures, there is not a single moment of this album that won't thrill those craving a hefty interjection. Yet as motley and satisfyingly eclectic as they come, each track of the album is connected through a deep vein of soulful musicality. Joining Deetron for the trip are old friends such as Ripperton and Cooly G, who lay the foundations for the album with their opening track 'Thinking' - glitchy scratchy Techno, which blends in perfectly to Deetron's collaboration with the inimitable, cosmic surfer Seth Troxler with whom he throws down a golden gauntlet of pitch-bent synths and heightening fervor with their hypnotic 'Love Song'. Deetron's hit single with Hercules & Love Affair also features... Flipping genres so elegantly, Deetron teams up with Belgian vocalist Delvis for an old-school Motor City influenced vocal number, which is followed by the beautifully smooth vocal talents of Ben Westbeech who produce a perfect melody-drenched house track, which will also be Deetron's forthcoming single. Deetron's collaboration with Fritz Kalkbrenner adds a seriously unique twist to the album, with rich vocals resonating over Deetron's orchestral soundtrack. Teaming up with Justin Chapman again for 'Strange Things' with Simbad along for the ride results in a gorgeous slab of deep electronica... George Maple provides the perfect vocals for 'Rescue' with her (yes, it's a woman!) ethereal vocals washing over you in pure delight. Music Over Matter also features pure instrumental tracks by Deetron, including 'Sing', 'Come Away Further', 'Count on Me', 'Can't Love You More' and for your listening pleasure has added the 2011 hit 'Starblazer' as a bonus track. From a producer, whose unrelenting passion is the mark of his music, Music Over Matter is a reflection of the vibrant landscape upon which he so fearlessly treads... A bold, panoramic stroke that will appeal to so many more than just the intrepid nomads of the underground.

Release Date: 21 october 2013
Rating: 3/5

Nils Frahm - Spaces

Album of the Week #004






If you're getting old, it's time to listen to some classical music every now and then. If you're not into classical stuff (yet), Nils Frahm is the man who will convince you to cross the bridge, and welcome you in the modern world of classical music. They call it neo classcical. And I like it.

Release Date: 18 november 2013
Rating: 4.5/5

Booka Shade - Eve

Album of the Week #003





Fred Astaire is quoted as saying that the hardest thing about dancing is to make it look easy -- a description that perfectly sums up Eve, the fifth studio album by Berlin duo Booka Shade. In their latest work, Walter Merziger and Arno Kammermeier again reveal their talent for transforming the immense sound available from today's electronic production possibilities into pure, ethereal lightness. In that sense, Booka Shade and Fred Astaire aren't all that different. They don't simply dance, they prance. A few summer days in Manchester finally brought light to the end of the tunnel. Booka Shade set up house in the city's acclaimed EVE Studios, a "residential vintage recording studio" where musicians can live and work with rare, old-school recording equipment around the clock. That moment of clarity in Manchester, when everything suddenly fell into place, has now been immortalized in their new album title. And Eve remains true to the principle that has underpinned this duo's work from their first musical experiments right up to today: Booka Shade perform with four hands. That's it. Two hands on the drums and two hands on the keyboards have to do the job for every track in the studio and onstage. The only exception is when they are joined by special guests, this time including such luminaries as Fritz Helder (Azari & III), as well as Groove Armada's Andy Cato, blasting his trombone in a vast echo chamber while Fritz Kalkbrenner heralds the next departure singing the hymnal lines, "We've burned the bridges on our way." Booka Shade have a long history of building new bridges. Those bridges connect their rich past as producers with the glorious present, from Berlin's "Maifeld" to "Jesolo" on the Mediterranean and onwards to the Far East. Booka Shade are underway again and Eve is like a great voyage, an album imploring listeners to get moving, to begin dreaming, and to start prancing. Housed in a gatefold sleeve.

Release Date: 01 november 2013
Rating: 3/5

Egbert - Warm

Album of the Week #002




Egbert has been dazzling us with the speed at which he has skyrocketed to being one of the world's top players in the techno scene. Within a short period of time he has managed to create a rapidly growing fan base who have all been avidly waiting for him to release an album for some time now. This November Egbert will finally be releasing ‘Warm’ on Secret Cinema's Gem Records.

With powerful pumping main room techno such as ‘Haasten’ and ‘Straktrekken’ under his belt but also melodic and somewhat minimal sounding techno, Egbert creates a broad spectrum of music within his own signature sound. So which direction did he go on Warm?

The album takes you on a trip through Egbert’s vision of melodic techno. Well produced and euphoric but without stepping in to known territory. In his own words: ‘One thing I often miss at techno parties is warmth. I would like to bring that back to techno’. While his live sets are usually filled with percussion and rhythm, this album compiles the tracks that bring warmth to his set. We also get a taste of Egbert’s raw side with the powerful pumping grooves and punishing dark basslines on ‘Tegno’ and ‘Shulgin’. There’s even a new flavour added to the versatile producer’s palate with the trippy ambient sounds of ‘Ondergronds’ and ‘Trip’.

After hearing Egbert’s first EP ‘Stroom’ on Myspace, Jeroen ‘Secret Cinema’ Verheij was quick to snatch up Egbert and take him under his wing. ‘He came walking into my studio with hundreds of brilliant tracks that only needed some polishing up’ says Verheij. After that Egbert released ‘Magie’ which was one of Sven Väth’s favourites for 2009 and made it onto Cocoon’s ‘Sounds of the 10th Season’. Suddenly, Egbert was a new player on the worldwide techno scene. Four years and many huge EPs and remixes later, his album is finally here!

‘Warm’ emerges with the delicate, rolling rhythms and pads of opening track ‘Fonkel’ that stretches out across eight minutes of expansive, emotional landscape before the ‘Magic Night’ tightens up the beats before going deeper into the darkness and the previously mentioned ‘Shulgin’ pulses ever further into the night. ‘Hemelpoort’ brings us back towards the light with shimmering chords as does the more driving yet eloquent ‘Leven’ with ‘Machtig’ proving a slow builder that really hits its stride in the middle. Finally the album disappears into the ether with the atmospheric resonance of ‘Trip’, showcasing another string to Egbert comforting, radiant production.

Release Date: 04 november 2013
Rating: 3.5/5

Ricardo Tobar - Treillis

Album of the Week #001





Ricardo Tobar was born in a city called Viña Del Mar in Chile nearly 30 years ago. After two acclaimed 12 inches on Border Community, James Holden's label (the beautiful El Sunset in 2007 & Boy Love Girl in 2008) followed two EP's on Traum Schallplatten (With You in 2008 & Mi Pieza Esta Llena De Cosas in 2009). In 2012 he then unleashes one EP on In Paradisum (French underground label run by Mondkopf), the more experimental and highly addictive Esoteric / Carnaval.
Based in Paris for several years, Ricardo has been working on Treillis, his long awaited 1st album set to release in October 2013 on desire. Inspired by mysticism & noise, Ricardo uses old drum machines, analog equipment and also samples he's been storing since some years to create dirty sounding drums, modulated synth sounds and keeping far away from the more expected and polished sounds most artists use. In a way, his music develops the punk side in electronic music. His other inspiration on Treillis is definitely esotericism, in the way that music can profoundly touch and transport you in another dimension. Inspired by the deepness of electronic music, his music is very intuitive, the same way Nirvana is with guitars.

Release Date: 28 october 2013
Rating: 3.5/5