A selection of recordings from Absurd Lustre x Format Wars: A NEW WAVE (2023)
Artwork by momo scacchi

Absurd Lustre x Format Wars: A NEW WAVE

Ambient techno proper with Timnah Sommerfeldt

Nestled in the inner city of Basel, Switzerland, lies one of the more progressive and experimental outposts you can find for techno music: Timnah Sommerfeldt. A bastion for new and intrepid sounds to blur the lines between tempos, beats and space - it’s a platform that allows Timnah - in conjunction with her cohorts Garçon, Agonis, and Varuna - to continually define and redefine the non-existent.

By bringing a deeper, fourth world and atmospheric mix to her sound - the Timnah Sommerfeldt effect is as cerebral as it is rhythmic and immersive. With the gregarious side of techno seemingly always within earshot - it’s artist’s like Timnah Sommerfeldt who posses the ability to embrace entire spectrums of genre, making for a wholly beguiling experience every time.

Event: https://ra.co/events/1752087
Bandcamp: https://amenthia.bandcamp.com/

ALxFW: Timnah Sommerfeldt (17.12.23)

Underworld dreams with Newworldaquarium 

It was seven or eight years since Newworldaquarium last appeared in Berlin, playing Berghain or Panorama or something like that. In the grace of the artist's movements over the last years however, NWAQ has swayed from house music to something more 'life listening' - with his Wake 'n' Bake show on Mutant Radio a testament to his tastes and styles these days.

Bugged out at the fact that it had been so long since he last visited town, and with such a sound at his finger tips these days, a place in Absurd Lustre was an invite we had been trying to post for a long time. A man who loves his German beers as much as his lush, serene and calming ambient, the legendary Newworldaqaurium set can be described as some kind of technicolour  dream.

Event: https://ra.co/events/1752086
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/es/artist/8209-Newworldaquarium
Bandcamp: https://newworldaquarium.bandcamp.com/

ALxFW: Newworldaquarium (05.11.23)

Warming up with Slowfoam

Opening our October edition of A NEW WAVE - Slowfoam's place for introductory ambient sonics certainly found itself here, helping raise the curtain on a Winter edition that welcomed in the warmer sounds for the colder months. A certain tastemaker and selector at large, enjoy the first movements of Slowfoam's inagural Absurd Lustre set.

Event: https://ra.co/events/1752085

Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/es/artist/6862620-slowfoam
Bandcamp: https://slowfoam.bandcamp.com/album/worlding-with-earth

ALxFW: Slowfoam (01.10.23)

Deep into the absurd with Lou Drago.

Drone music without the professional boredom, Lou Drago is a Berlin-based artist whose selections can somehow reflect the deepness of what a great expanse of a ravine in the grand canyon might sound like at sunset - and further into the night.

How they do this is anyone's guess. To experience this first hand was a pleasure and highlight of our October edition, and other reason to check out their ambient, drone and experient series @transience-archive, and follow the sonic-seances created in collaboration with marum, infinity rug.

Event: ra.co/events/1752085
infinity rug: infinityrug.club/

ALxFW:  Lou Drago (01.10.23)

DJ set recorded live in Absurd Lustre

Experimental dub, soothing sound design and abstract wares with some pitched vocal and thrown in for contemporary measure.

INDEX:Records boss by the way of Appendix.Files curator Conna Haraway provides Absurd Lustre with a deep and mellifluous flow through the sound of his label whose artists punctuated many of the line ups to feature in A NEW WAVE. 

Event: https://ra.co/events/1752085

Bandcamp: https://indexrecords.bandcamp.com/
Bandcamp: https://appendixfiles.bandcamp.com/

Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/es/label/1533918-INDEXRecords
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/es/label/2161885-AppendixFiles

ALxFW: Conna Haraway (01.10.23)

Reinartz from out of nowhere - live in Absurd Lustre.

Those who dig a little deeper into the dub techno framework will usually find themselves immersed in the Chain Reaction catalogue - if they can get their hands on a copy (or any listening sample for that matter). An artist continuing this sound, and with some musical intelligence beyond his years, comes Reinartz.

An emerging producer sourced from the Appendix.Files catalogue (initially let's say as he's so much more) - this Reinartz session truly blew everyone away with his humble, deep, sparse and dubbed-out live set you really must hear.

Event: https://ra.co/events/1752086
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/es/artist/7088032-Reinartz
Bandcamp: https://reinartz.bandcamp.com/

ALxFW:  Reinartz (05.11.23) - Live

Let your hair down with Akimat.

Following a live PA from Third Space and introspective DJ sets from Slowfoam, Conna Haraway and Lou Drago respectively - Akimat entered at the penultimate end of the evening. 

Helping release some tension from the sets previous, and allowing everyone the space to grab a drink before settling back into the later stages of the night, Akimat ends it so well with Pub's seminal classic: "Summer".

Event: https://ra.co/events/1752085

ALxFW: Akimat (01.10.23)

ophélie in the mix

After a dreamy NWAQ performance and drawn out DJ Pitch live set - ophélie hit the decks of Absurd Lustre for a deep and rhythmic after session. 

A small group of swaying vibers had encircled the booth while a smattering of regulars and late-goers found their space in the corner, nooks and crannies of the room for what was an radical set filled with subtlety and DJing prowess.

Event: https://ra.co/events/1752086

ALxFW: ophélie (5.11.23)

A season finale closing set from @keinblume at large

Having physically installed her Format Wars Records shop upstairs at arkaoda Berlin for four months straight as part of A NEW WAVE - all roads for this finale edition of Absurd Lustre x Format Wars in essence led to this set.  

Befitting the moment to fulfil the space after Woody92 and Timnah Sommerfeldft - this recording is an impassioned take that runs its course through not only a year that was, but an epic poster campaign and an electrifying journey of sonic exploration and emotional release.

Event: https://ra.co/events/1752087
Format Wars: https://www.formatwarsrecords.com
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/user/formatwarsrecords

ALxFW: Blume (17.12.23)

A rare set of select rave, ambient and breaks for an otherwise dub and minimal focused Sa Pa.

Bringing close to an action packed October edition of A NEW WAVE, Sa Pa's set aligned its sounds to compliment the beat driven aesthetics of the night's previous DJs Conna Harraway and Akimat following a rhythmic noise session from Third Space (live) and Lou Drago's tonally inspired ambient exhibition.

Event: ra.co/events/1752085
Website: https://www.sapamusic.com/

ALxFW: Sa Pa (01.10.23)

Picture spectral rays of light darting around a huge warehouse space in a way you suspect subatomic particles might - sporadically changing shape, bursting with colour and full of dynamism - could also be said for the music of Yu Miyashita.

Performing as Yaporigami for A NEW WAVE the Berlin-based artist has been something of a revelation since discovering his label The Collection Artaud, a super massive independent back catalogue of radical sound design, and home to Yaporimagi and other Miyashita aliases.

With the artist’s foremost production skills also drifting into sync, video editing and soundtrack work, Yaporigami, albeit @underarram in general, gives rise to a truly innovative and boundary-breaking approach to the creation of sonic and visual art.

Event: https://ra.co/events/1752087
Website: https://underarrow.com/

ALxFW: Yaporigami (17.12.23) - Live

High Fidelity Exotica

www.absurdlustre.com

event series & concept by @sapaofficial 
(2019-2023)

Sun 17 / 12 -23
Absurd Lustre x Format Wars: A NEW WAVE
Woody92, Timnah Sommerfeldt, Perila, e/tape, VASE (live), Yu Miyashita (live), Blume, Sa Pa
Arkaoda Berlin

Sun 5 / 11 - 23
Absurd Lustre x Format Wars: A NEW WAVE
Newworldaquarium, DJ Pitch, Reinartz (live), ophélie, Ikävä Pii, Aka Hyoo, Blume, Sa Pa
Arkaoda Berlin

Sun 1 / 10 - 23
Absurd Lustre x Format Wars: A NEW WAVE
Lou Drago, Conna Haraway, Third Space (live), Slowfoam, Akimat, Sa Pa, Blume, Globalglobb
Arkaoda Berlin

Sun 3 / 9 - 23
Absurd Lustre x Format Wars: A NEW WAVE 
Bhed (live), Simone (live), Blume, Sa Pa, King Softy, Nitro (Hybrid), Triana, Toss (Liminal Dreams)
Arkaoda Berlin

Wed 9 / 8 - 23
Absurd Lustre x Format Wars: DeepChord (live), Sa Pa, Blume
Arkaoda Berlin

Sun 12 / 3 - 23
Absurd Lustre: Nueen (live), Blume, Nuvola (live), Xenia Reaper, Sa Pa
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 13 / 12 - 22
Absurd Lustre presents Tempus: Pole (live), Max Loderbauer (live), Sa Pa 
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 6 / 12 - 22
Absurd Lustre: John T. Gast
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 29 / 11 - 22
Absurd Lustre: DeepChord (live), Sa Pa
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 22 / 11 - 22
Absurd Lustre: Debbie Chia (Midnight Shift)
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 15 / 11 - 22
Absurd Lustre: Eli Verveine
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 8 / 11 - 22
Absurd Lustre: Bézier (live)
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 25 / 10 - 22
Absurd Lustre Dadub (live), Deadbeat, Sa Pa
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 18 / 10 - 22
Absurd Lustre with Alto Bloom & Lux 
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 11 / 10 - 22
Absurd Lustre with e/tape 
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 27 / 9 - 22
Absurd Lustre with Ulla Straus (live) 
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 20 / 9 - 22
Absurd Lustre with Fischerle (live) [PLN]
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 13 / 9 - 22
Absurd Lustre with Xenia Reaper (live)
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 13 / 9 - 22
Absurd Lustre with DJ Skull, DJ Dustin, Sevensol, Margaux, Sa Pa
Club Der Visionaere, Berlin

Thu 8 / 9 - 22
Absurd Lustre with Mark Vernon & Nika Son
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 16 / 8 - 22
Absurd Lustre with Dr.Nojoke presents Anomali (live), Pretty Sneaky, e/tape, Ahu, Sa Pa
Club Der Visionaere, Berlin

Tue 19 / 7 - 22
enmossed x Absurd Lustre
Florian TM Zeisig (live), Felisha Ledesma (live), Zenxen (live), Glyn Maier & Patrick Gallagher (live), Sa Pa
Arkaoda Berlin

Sat 9 / 7 - 22
Absurd Dub Lustre with MMM (live), Fluxion, Christine Benz, Deadbeat & Tikiman (live), Civic Grace (live), Sa Pa
Hoppetosse Berlin

Tue 5 / 7 - 22
Absurd Lustre with Kamran Sadeghi (live) Andrea Taeggi (live)
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 28 / 6 - 22
Absurd Lustre with Jin [靜] (live), Unjin, Sa Pa
Arkaoda Berlin

Tue 21 / 6 - 22
Absurd Lustre with Appleblim, Sa Pa
Arkaoda Berlin

Sun 8 / 5 - 22
Absurd Dub Lustre with Bluetrain (live), Milo Bragg, Zeina, Perila, Deadbeat & Sa Pa, Alto Bloom, Xenia Reaper
Hoppetosse Berlin

Wed 8 / 12 - 21
Absurd Lustre with John-Robin Bold (live), Civic Grace (live), Margaux, Sa Pa
Arkaoda, Berlin

Sat 27 / 11 -21
Absurd Lustre with Perila (live), Space Afrika, DJ Hops (Version), Sa Pa
Arkaoda, Berlin

Fri 29 / 10 - 21
Absurd Dub Lustre with Audio Werner, Deadbeat & Tikiman (live), Sa Pa
Hoppetosse Berlin

Sat 16 / 10 -21
Absurd Lustre with Christine Benz, Tammo Hesselink (live), Sa Pa
Arkaoda, Berlin

Sat 25 / 09 - 21
Absurd Lustre with Sam Shackleton: Purge Of Tomorrow (live), Milo Bragg, Sa Pa
Arkaoda, Berlin

Sat 14 / 08 - 21
Absurd Lustre with Ario (Astral Industries), Konduku, Yasmin Sun (Sonidos del Arbol), Sa Pa
Arkaoda, Berlin

Mon 26 / 07 - 21
Absurd Dub Lustre with Vainqueur, Deadbeat, Sa Pa
Club der Visionäre Berlin 

Sat 17 / 07 - 21
Absurd Lustre with Pretty Sneaky, Diane Barbé, Sa Pa
Arkaoda, Berlin

Fri 16 / 07 - 21
Absurd Lustre im gART.n with Jake Muir, Ozan Maral, Margaux, Sa Pa
Off location, Berlin

Sat 10 / 07 - 21
Absurd Lustre with Richard Akingbehin (Kynant), Deadbeat, Sa Pa
Arkaoda, Berlin

Sat 03 / 10 - 20
Absurd Lustre with Marco Shuttle, Deadbeat, Baby Vulture, Sa Pa
Arkaoda, Berlin

Sun 06 / 09 - 20
Absurd Lustre im gART.n with e/tape, Elen Hunyn, Sa Pa
Off location, Berlin

Tue, 10 / 03  - 20
Absurd Lustre with Sebastian Peter 
Arkaoda, Berlin  

Tue, 03 / 03 - 20
 Absurd Lustre with Tibia 
Arkaoda, Berlin 

 Tue, 25 / 02  - 20 

Absurd Lustre: Nikita Zabelin presents Rhizome  (live)
Arkaoda, Berlin  

Tue, 18 / 02  - 20
Absurd Lustre with Elen Huynh
 Arkaoda, Berlin  

Tue, 11 / 02  - 20
Absurd Lustre with uon  (West Mineral LTD)
Arkaoda, Berlin  

Tue, 04 / 02  - 20
Absurd Lustre with Sohrab 
Arkaoda, Berlin

  Tue, 28 / 01 - 20
 Absurd Lustre with René Audiard
 Arkaoda, Berlin
 
Tue, 21 / 01 - 20
 Absurd Lustre with Cosmin TRG 
Arkaoda, Berlin  

Tue, 14 / 01  - 20
Absurd Lustre with Ben Freeney (Foom.) 
Arkaoda, Berlin  

Tue, 07 / 01  - 20
Absurd Lustre with e/tape 
Arkaoda, Berlin 

 Tue, 10 / 12  - 19
Absurd Lustre with Com.Poté 
Arkaoda, Berlin  

Tue, 26 / 11  - 19
Absurd Lustre with Desert Sky 
Arkaoda, Berlin  

Tue, 19 / 11  - 19
Absurd Lustre with Electric Blue (Volks)
 Arkaoda, Berlin  

Tue, 12 / 11  - 19
Absurd Lustre with Deadbeat  
Arkaoda, Berlin

Tue, 29 / 10  - 19
Absurd Lustre  with Sa Pa
Arkaoda, Berlin