A vast technical understanding underpins the work of Rotterdam's @albertabalsam. It allows her to deconstruct norms and rebuild music with her own rules as she draws on electro, IDM, heavy techno, broken beats and avant-acid sounds. This has made her a firm favourite at artful events all across Europe where she joins the dots between outlier sounds while never forgetting to get people dancing, while also releasing on our label, Carista’s United Identities and Tzusing.

Alberta's quest to do the impossible, her passion for sci-fi motifs and a love of 90s vibes all shine through in this week's mix: it's a hard-to-define trip through elastic bass and out-there rhythms. Icy and sparse electro makes way for unhinged drum flurries and sleazy broken beats, freaky sound designs sit next to weirdo vocals and leave you wondering WTF? while loving every second of the maverick musical madness.

Dekmantel Podcast

Dekmantel Podcast 397 - Alberta Balsam

31 Years of Clone Records: Sonic Transmutations Box Set and Club Night at Tresor

The Sonic Transmutations compilation features 33 artists in total and will be released as a limited edition box set in September 2023. 
 
Announced in tandem with a club night hosted by Berlin’s Tresor on 28 May, Sonic Transmutations is an extended compilation album celebrating over three decades of Clone Records. Marking the 31 years – which is coincidentally the national Dutch telephone code – the 8x12 inch box set draws together veteran talent and emerging iconoclasts, transmitting a frequency rooted the imprint’s signature blend of essential dance music while journeying off into territories unknown. In a constant state of unfolding, morphing across phases of matter, Sonic Transmutations purveys an elemental energy that stands in testament to Clone’s enduring legacy and explorations of sounds and structures.
 
New recruit Alberta Balsam opens up the A side with ‘Anthem’, a synth-heavy medley that encapsulates her tech-savvy approach and impressive repertoire of vintage hardware. Next up, Alden Tyrell, also known under the moniker of A Visitor From Another Meaning, supplies a ride-or-die accolade to Detroit, partnering a wigged-out drum machine with eerie distortion. Frankfurt’s electro figurehead Anthony Rother follows on, landing hard with a fuzzy bassline and threateningly slick high-hats, before Dopplereffekt – the legendary duo Rudolf Klorzeiger and To-Nhan – programme a moody space jam full of roving chords and jagged harmonics. His first track since 2017, Dexter’s ‘Pumapunku’ provides a punchy, breakdance twist on 808 beat patterns and DJ Sotofett’s ‘Bachi’ is wondrously weird reimagining of electro’s funk groove. E.R.P.’s ‘Ugly Pretty June’ contrasts dreamy atmospheres with banging drive and, between these stalwart names, emerges Dim Garden, a producer redefining raw electronics, amalgamating minimal wave with noisy industrial and gothic folklore.
 
Since its inception, Clone has sought out uncompromising sonic encounters. In 1992, founder Serge put out the inaugural release under his Orx moniker, which soon led to further productions, as well as the first iterations of the record store and mail order. Forging close ties with an international community of like-minds – especially those in the burgeoning US dance renaissance – as well as the flourishing Dutch scene, took precedence. This rich heritage resonates on Sonic Transmutations. From the insistently infectious ‘Get to It’ by Detroit In Effect, a longstanding Clone mainstay, to the tripped-out melodies of Legowelt, the pioneering West Coast producer, the record pays tribute to a thriving network of DIY creativity that has transgressed epochs. 
 
Raw and rugged, Rotterdam’s own Lenson delivers a homage to underground parties in the harbour city, concocting a potent warehouse stomper, while Mr. Ho unleashes a transfixing techno-poem featuring artist and spiritual teacher Gedvile Bunikyte. The latter half of Sonic Transmutations switches into a darker, nocturnal mode, oscillating with peak-time club momentum. Built around a swing beat, Finland 's Aleksi Perälä, A.K.A ovuca, dexterously moves between light and shadow, preceded by PRZ’s new wave-flavoured ‘It’s Time’. Crescendoing with epic sibilance, Sansibar collides heavy-duty bass with psychedelic, echoing vocals on ‘Connect’ before Panorama Bar resident Steffi’s ‘50 Heads’, a stuttering rhythmic workout, closes off. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/625348582805342
https://ra.co/events/1703428
https://tresorberlin.com/event/20230528-globus-pres-31-yrs-of-clone-records/

Sonic Transmutations

Sonic Transmutations - Clone Records 1992/2023 - C#+31

Indulge in our serene fusion of dub, downtempo, chill out, funk, and jazzy tunes. Immerse yourself in tranquil rhythms, funky basslines, and soulful melodies. Feel the sun's warmth as you unwind, drifting into a state of pure bliss.

Recorded at Barrio Multiverse Nowhere 2023 (Wednesday 1500h)
https://soundcloud.com/stefanzmk

01 Alex Reece - Jazz Master (Kruder & Dorfmeister Remix)
02 Koop feat. Ane Brun	Koop - Island Blues
03 Santigold - Disparate Youth
04 St Germain - Montego Bay Spleen
05 Koop - Bright Nights (feat. Yukimi Nagano)
06 Luke Abbott - Brazil (Album Version)
07 Morlock - Blood Beach
08 The Knife - Heartbeats
09 High Tone - Sushit
10 Blockhead - Insomniac Olympics
11 CocoRosie - Beautiful Boys
12 Menahan Street Band - Make The Road By Walking
13 Rjd2 - Ghostwriter
14 Klima - Her Love Is Happy
15 Keys - Keys
16 David August - D'ANGELO
17 Bonobo - Walk In The Sky (feat. Bajka)
18 Jon Kennedy - Tell Me How You Feel (Bonobo Mix)
19 Waldeck - Amicalement Votre
20 Wagon Christ - Bend Over
21 Mulatu Astatke - Yèkèrmo Sèw (A Man of Experience and Wisdom)
22 Christian Löffler - Feelharmonia
23 High Tone - Bass Temperature
24 Depeche Mode - Useles (Kruder & Dorfmeister Remix)
25 Roisin Murphy - Overpowered
26 Fontan - ...You Too
27 Kleerup with Robyn - With Every Heartbeat

Stefan ZMK - Desert Groove Therapy @ Barrio Multiverse Nowhere 2023 (Wednesday 1500h)

Featuring selections from the first line-up announcement, the introductory hour dives into the forthcoming Uncloud 2023 programme. Joining us for the second half is @albertabalsam. Fresh from her debut album 15 𝘉𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘬𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘵, released on Clone - Dub Recordings, Alberta is a sonic world builder whose approach to music is both deeply technical and imaginatively rich. Renowned for her hardware-based performances and potent DJ sets, she's driven by a love for sci-fi and 1990s records – think dreamy IDM, broken beats, sizzling acid and sawtooth electro.

Uncloud Radio w/ Alberta Balsam - StrandedFM

Streaming from Amsterdam's Radio Radio: this is RRFM.NL w/ @french_ii b2b @albertabalsam

RRFM • French II b2b Alberta Balsam • 30-08-2023

This is the recording of the ambient/experimental electronics liveset I did during the Focus Luistersessies x Pelagic Ambient on the 3d of September in the KODA in Schiedam. 

Expect dreamy tinkling synths, ambient drones, layered sparsely with some of my own improvised vocals. The set was specifically prepared for this event. I loved doing this set because it gave me the opportunity to also play a lot more slower and more dreamy stuff, compared to the usual, a lot more banging and energetic livesets I do. 

For the gear nerds out there, this liveset was half-improvised, half prepared in terms of patterns and notes. I used the following gear: 

- Octatrack (for some droney stems, sparse percussion and melodic layers, and as the performance mixer) 
- Digitone (for the pads, melodic elements and also to synthesize some of the percussion elements. 

Besides this i also used some modular FX (mimeophon and data bender, mainly to glitch out the vocals) and a Grandmother with a Snazzy Wow & Flutter pedal to layer an additional melodic element at times. 

All this goes into the OTO Boum for some warmth and as a little bit of mastering.

Liveset @ Focus Luistersessies x Pelagic Ambient - 3 september 2023

INFINITO AUDIO NETWORK w/ MENTE3000 - 11/10/2023

Alberta Balsam is a music producer, DJ and live act from Rotterdam. She produces the kind of electronic music that borders on techno, IDM and electronica. Sometimes experimental and sometimes surprisingly accessible. As her name already suggests, (Alberta Balsam is derived from one of AFX tracks), she's influenced by artists like Aphex Twin, Clark, Lakker and Four Tet. Her heavy and dark beats are often ofset by spacious and wide synths and snippets of vocals, often heavily processed. Having a musical background as a keyboard player and a music production student at the conservatory of Rotterdam, Alberta is clearly obsessed with intricate and at times complicated harmonies and syncopated beats.
Alberta Balsam was already present on Red Bull Mixtape Vol 4, featured on the Fog Mountain Compilation 010 and Beatitude Vol 4 by Lowriders Recordings. She also played the 2016 MTV Rec festival

www.operator-radio.com

Alberta Balsam - 31st October 2023

A vinyl mix, includes 29 of the 33 tracks from the stellar 8x12" box set (2 remaining on the Clone Bandcamp as of today!)
This collection of Techno, Electro & LeftField Acid is deeply fulfilling to mix up. I hope you enjoy a listen. 

Thank you Clone 

Dopplereffekt- Dyson Sphere
Legowelt- La Nuit Invisible
Aleksi Perala- UK74R1721101
Ovuca- F13AC2142060 (Chris Callahan Edit)
Gen Y- Moon Soon
ED08- Acid Kadootje
Alden Tyrell- Lock State
Anthony Rother- Blown Fuse
DJ K1- Detroit (313)
Alex Ranzino- Confessions
Mr Ho-Medicine
DPX- Memory Mode
Kreggo- Sonar Juggler
PRZ- This Time
Dexter- Pumapunku
E.R.P.- Ugly Pretty June
Detroit In Effect- Get To It (Dutchman Mix)
The Exaltics- The Fierce Fighting
Dim Garden- Flot Marlot
Lenson- Warehouse Memories
Head Front Panel- Jocco
Privacy- Starcrash
 E-GZR- Acidic Metalurgics (DJ Sotofett’s 909 Deep mix)
John Heckle- DXXXIII
Frequency- Darkheart Energy
Sansibar- Connect
DJ Sotofett- Bachi
Ryan James Ford- Eendrachtsplein
Alberta Balsam- Anthem

A Sonic Transmutations mix

Rinse FM Podcasts

Global Roots with Thristian - 09 April 2024

After her debut Ngelem in January, Alberta Balsam releases a
2 track single ‘I Can’t Save You’ on the 8th of March. This release contains the song ‘Feels’, a track that features dreamy kalimba bells, mysterious vocals and a dark deep bass. In the next track ‘I Can’t Save You’, arpeggiated, retro-wavey synths tumble over chopped op vocals and breakbeat drums. This second track comes with a music video. The music video follows a lost spaceman on a journey through a desolated city filled with alienating
architecture. The video is shot in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Alberta Balsam’s hometown.

Listen to the song, watch the video or buy the song here:
http://smarturl.it/ab-icantsaveyou

I Can't Save You

info@albertabalsam.com


Bookings please contact: 
anke@phuturewest.com

I Can't Save You

Alberta Balsam

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