DJ mixed by BOW & SISINOBU [ ZUNDOKO DISCO ] Tokyo Japan

ZDD002: BOW & SISINOBU, Oct 2021

OCCA recorded playing at Balance for Mindgames in October 2021 at Hodaigi Campground, Gunma, Japan.

Mixer: Alpha Recording Systems 6700
Time: Sunday afternoon 4.5-hour closing set

OCCA - Mindgames - Balance (October 2021)

Fred P at The Labyrinth 2011.

Venue: Naeba Greenland, Niigata, Japan.

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To celebrate 20 years of building Labyrinths, we have decided to release one set from each of the last ten years. I've chosen ten timeless moments that both document the history of the event and provide a historical snapshot of underground electronic music over the past ten years.

We have chosen a broad range--from closing techno sets, to morning ambient sets, to experimental sets to close the night. Each set represents a different side of the event. Taken together, they present a portrait of a decade of music.

The Labyrinthの20周年を記念して、過去10年間を振り返り、それぞれの年からひとつのミックスをピックアップすることにしました。イベントの歴史を記録すると同時に、過去10年間のアンダーグラウンドエレクトロニックミュージックの歴史的なスナップショットを提供します。今聞いても色褪せない、タイムレスな極上のミックスをお楽しみください。

テクノのクロージングセットから、朝のアンビエントセット、そして夜を締めくくるエクスペリメンタルセットまで幅広いセレクトですが、どのセットもThe Labyrinthの欠かせない側面を表しており、ここ10年におけるエレクトロニック ミュージックの全容とも言えるでしょう。

The Labyrinth 2011 - Fred P

part 1 Shhhhh live at The Observatory 23/7/2022

A live recording at opening of rural2023 in the mountain by @ak_is_error who works as a buyer at newton record.

Akie at rural2023

@syberkid creates a journey through the flames, leaving us with the burning embers of an eclectic mix of drone and ambient harmony. This was recorded live at the ‘Burning of The Clavie’ at MKII in London, on January 11th 2025.

This artwork is a collaboration between Sybil, Adam, and Mark, creating cymatics of sonic experimentation, and with each installment of the series, we will explore turning a fraction of sound into light. 🎨

episode IV ~ w/ Sybil

Recorded live at 宀 Club in Hong Kong on February 8th 2025

Kugel is a transformative force in Seoul's electronic music landscape. Her sonic journey weaves through a rich tapestry of genres, with a particular affinity for psychedelic and cosmic electronic elements. Each set is an improvised narrative, where she masterfully balances deep, dark textures with playful, eccentric selections, creating an immersive experience that resonates uniquely with each audience.

Her musical metamorphosis began during her studies in Germany, where an encounter with the underground scene sparked a profound artistic awakening. What started as a self-described monochromatic existence transformed into a vibrant pursuit of musical storytelling. This pivotal experience revealed music's universal language and its power to forge instant, meaningful connections.

Since her 2018 debut, Kugel has established herself as a cornerstone of Seoul's electronic music community. Her three-year residency (2021-2024) at Tunnel in Itaewon became a laboratory for developing her distinctive dialogue with dancers. As the curator of 'Weird Circle', a bi-monthly event series at Club Nyapi, she has created a platform for introducing avant-garde sounds to Seoul's discerning audiences.

Her artistic reach extends well beyond Korea's borders, with performances at prestigious international events including The Air House Festival (Korea), The Phu Quoc Odyssey NYE Festival by Studio Adventure Collective (Vietnam), and the renowned Rainbow Disco Club (Japan). These appearances showcase her evolution from local talent to regional tastemaker, each set further cementing her reputation for crafting hypnotic, genre-defying musical journeys.

Through her masterful selection and intuitive understanding of dancefloor dynamics, Kugel continues to push boundaries and challenge expectations, establishing herself as a vital voice in Asia's electronic music landscape.

MIX080 - Kugel (首爾) [Live at 宀]

For this episode we welcome the extraordinary talents of Aaron J, Brooklyn's Sure Thing record label and podcast founder, known for hosting an immense list of explorative modern techno artists from around the globe. Altering our consciousness for the first time in 2023 with a particularly awe inspiring set at Sustain-Release, Aaron's deeply considered and intricate approach is something of sheer beauty, and coupled with masterful technical ability, his inspiring DJ sets allow for fully immersive dancefloor experiences. 

Here Aaron explores the softer edges of his expansive sound palette, meditative soundscapes and tranquil IDM converging in total harmony for what he describes as a 'recalibration of the senses'. 

@arn_j
@sure_thing

Q. What sounds or feelings did you draw upon when gathering inspiration for this mix, and what listening environments could you imagine it being best enjoyed in?

A. Of all the mixes I’ve put together over the years, this one definitely feels the most vulnerable. The months I spent thinking about and working on this mix accompanied an intensely busy time in my life, and the process helped me stay in touch with the simple joy of listening as a way of stepping back and letting things go. There is a direct connection here between the music within and the emotions that live inside me. At the same time, I’ve tried my best to mix this as transparently as possible, so that the act of DJing takes a back seat and allows the music to take center stage.

The inspiration behind the tracks I chose and the story of the mix is one of finding balance, so I hope listening to it feels like a casting off of the present day and a recalibration of the senses. I’d love for people to listen to the mix in a setting where they feel most protected from the changes and stressors of the outside world, whether that be sitting outside in nature or laying on a couch surrounded by the comforts of home.

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that you were especially excited to share, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

A. There is a track in the mix by Autumn of Communion called “Goodbye PK” dedicated to the late Peter Kuhlmann, who many of your listeners will know as the legendary Pete Namlook of FAX +49-69/450464. It’s an immensely moving track that manages to convey both the tragedy of his loss and the depth of the beauty he left with the world, and I feel we’re so fortunate to have music and influences like this in our recent history. I included it early to set the tone of the rest of the mix, which is quite different than any I’ve done before, and to pay my respects to those who’ve inspired our scene from the very beginning.

Q. I was lucky enough to witness your set at Sustain-Release in 2023 and was in awe of your ability to practice restraint while steadily building up tension and energy in the set with such clinical and seamless execution. Is this part of the DJ craft something you spend a lot of time planning and refining?

A. That was such a life-changing moment for me, so I’m really glad you were there! You really nailed what I hoped to accomplish with that set, and I definitely spend a lot of time thinking about where my sets will begin, where I would like them to end up, and what sort of path I might take to get there. Understanding the minutiae of how a transition will affect someone’s state of mind and how to propel someone forward without jarring them back to reality is something I’m always working to improve on. That said, the upward trajectory is not always the most interesting one, and there are so many other ways of charting a course through a set that I hope to be able to explore. For the mix I’ve made for you, it’s not so much a set that builds energy as it is one that expands and contracts, hopefully in a gentle and purposeful way.

MDC.311 Aaron J

Katharsis_Stories_034_YMT | at VENT | April 2025

Acid Textures

Podcast for MMN, recorded in Tokyo

Read more on:  mmmnmnm.com/podcasts/mmn-10-akiram-en

MMN #10: AKIRAM EN

contact: info.djakiramen@gmail.com

Since AKIRAM EN started his DJ career in the middle of the 90s, he has become a permanent fixture in the Japanese underground scene. His dance sets range from left-field techno to avant-garde and his deep listening sets are inspired by obscure sounds. AKIRAM EN’s style conjures a place where listeners can deeply experience and perceive his music.