ALEX CORTEX - SPIKE TRAIN

ALEX CORTEX  - TIME TEXTURE (PERSEUS TRAXX REMIX)

ALEX CORTEX - SPIKE TRAIN (FLORIAN KUPFER DUBB)

DJ STINGRAY 313 - COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

DJ STINGRAY 313 - COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (AUBREY REMIX)

DJ STINGRAY 313 - LURKER

DJ STINGRAY 313 - IP PING

FBK - SCREAMING HER NAME

FBK - JUST TO USE

FBK - SCREAMING HER NAME (TERRENCE DIXON'S REINTERPRETATION

FBK - SCREAMING HER NAME (PLURAL REMIX)

Over 20 years ago Shad T. Scott and his pal Seven set up Isophlux Records, Miami's infamous first electronic imprint releasing, as they put 'techno, electro, funk, experimental, and anything good'. Now in year 2016, Shad under his Gosub alias releases this Sunday At Battle Ship Key titled EP forBarba Records, staying true to that initial principle. Its far away from just being good though, its beautiful and warm electronic music at its best, oozing chill and feel good moods. Original two tracks are accompanied with a remix by second time appearing on Barba - JTC aka Tadd Mullinix who this time nicely surprised us with his ol' school NY style house beauty. Overall one fine classic record this, period. 


GOSUB - MY STARS ON YOURS feat MR.X

Italy-born, Dublin-based producer Leopoldo Rosa's EP titled "Your Soul"  is heady, mental and diverse. Lerosa effortlessly manoeuvres between genres on this 4-tracker, while at the same time keeping the overall sound and vibe consistent. 303-reminiscent synth serves as an underlying leitmotif which appears in every track, but in a different manner. Blood is an obvious A1, direct and trippy techno with a misty mood. With Duelist Lerosa wears his electro suit, while maintaining the atmosphere sketched out by the first track. Ghost sits right in between the first two, with its 1/2 tempo serving justice to the track's feeling of neither resting nor moving. B2, Your Soul, is a house track with an elegant Lerosa twist on the classic Chicago vibe.

LEROSA - BLOOD

London-born producer Colin Lindo aka Nubian Mindz is not your average predictable artist. You know his stuff's gonna be good, but there's a solid chance you'll be surprised with a thing or two in every track. Similar approach applies here. Generally speaking, the music is deep and rich, yet very direct and club ready, but with plenty of those unpredictable moments which made us go crazy for these tracks in the first place. A1 - "Aqua Lifeforms" is perhaps the least intense cut on the record, a sort of a slow grower which builds up momentum by layering sounds and pads. A2 - "Body Mover" is exactly what the title tells you. Crunchy peak time tune for the dance floor, with shuffling broken beats wrapping around deep chords that hint what's happening on the flip side. B1 - "Doorway To Her" is a nod to the classic deep techno chord-ish approach. Well, sort of. The song lets you think that until the first curveball just before the half of the track. After that, it's just deeper than deep. B2 - "Pulsing Hearts" is another well-crafted dance floor cut. The track moves from deep meditative vibe to subtle acid tripping, just to be finished with a proper bass workout. Overall, we couldn't think of a better way to mark the 10th Barba release.

NUBIAN MINDZ - PULSING HEARTS

Barba hits its 12th edition with one of the coolest records in its catalogue. Having said that, if you have an expectation on how a Barba record should sound - this one might throw you a curveball. Russian producer Information Ghetto (aka Clapan aka Dennis Korsunski) is no stranger to Burek/Barba/Pomalo family and on this 12" he's pulling all the right moves. Both of the originals, "General Trip" and "Unused OrtoDox", are seriously trippy slow-burning 303 affairs executed flawlessly in a sort-of-a breakbeat manner. However, the surprise comes on the flip. "General Trip" got a treatment from non other than Luke Vibert, British electronic music legend responsible for some of the most loved albums of the 90s and later. Track's signature acid line is here, and breakbeat moment is sounding as fresh as back in the day. Add an irresistible 90s reminiscent piano hook and it doesn't take a genius to realise you've got on your hands a monster tune which will send any party into overdrive. Big. All that, pressed onto a heavy duty 180 gram vinyl and beautifully packaged in an original artwork traditionally featuring local artists

Buy at Clone

INFORMATION GHETTO - GENERAL TRIP

Roman producer (and a force behind MinimalRome label) Valerio Lombardozzi known as Heinrich Dressel returns to Barba with a second release for our label, titled "The Styx Swamp". Heinrich has a unique way of combining classic techno and electro sounds with elements from the beloved Drexcyan universe and John Carpenter leitmotifs, and making them come together in a manner that both moves your body and pushes your mind beyond the point of awareness. As with the previous record, "Lurking Underwater", here he pulls off the move with the same efficiency and without sounding like he's repeating himself. "Gray Slope", "Sailing The Nether Waterways" and "The Styx Swamp" are all quite moody and deep, rich with sound and thick with vibe. However, the tracks feel equally at home in 4 am techno situation and a heady afterhours affair. He truly is a master of crafting hybrids whose influences get so flawlessly embedded that it's hard to point them out. If that's not enough, "The Styx Swamp" got a treatment by Nigel Rogers aka Perseus Traxx, a multi-faceted producer and a mighty live act performer. Nigel stayed respectful to the original but made the original's bouncy groove into something more direct and reduced, while retaining the same feel conditioned by lead synth's hypnotic quality. We're known to give a little bit of extra love to our releases so (as all before) this one's pressed onto a heavy duty 180 gram vinyl and beautifully packaged in an original artwork by EmaEmaEma.

HEINRICH DRESSEL - THE STYX SWAMP

15th release of the strong Barba records! And its FBK who's back featuring a remix by none other than Claude Young - a Detroit heavy-weight who's been particularly selective with his output. Kevin's previous record for Barba, a 2016 twelve titled "Screaming Her Name", also featured a remixes by Terrence Dixon and Plural. Between then and now Kevin managed to put out a track for "The Cast Project" VA and a solo EP for Radio Slave's "Rekids" imprint. As we mentioned earlier, "Eclipse" features two original tracks, the title one and "To A Place I Know". "Eclipse" track is closer to the sound we've come to associate to FBK's productions - equally banging and meditative. This track takes you for a spin with hypnotizing lead synth, distorted acid lines and drums that intensify the vibe as the track progresses. It's dark and moody, but perfect for those moments when the dancefloor is ready to dive really deep. "To A Place I Know" starts on the similar note but as soon as the sampled vocal loop takes the lead it takes the song to a much happier place. Hypnotizing element is still unavoidably present but here the synth line is more subdued and plays a supporting role to the vocals. Something you would play when you need to dive out from the deep and feel some sun on your skin. Finally, Claude Young's remix of "Eclipse" is a fairly different affair, focusing on the meditative aspect of the original quite literally, and taking it to a whole other level. It is an exercise in restraint and patience, with a slowly-rising tension masterfully achieved by a piano line, ambient pads and synth textures subtly exchanging roles throughout the whole length of the song. Simply wonderful. All that, pressed onto a heavy duty 180 gram vinyl and beautifully packaged in an original artwork traditionally featuring local artists

FBK - TO A PLACE I KNOW

Texas-based electronic music producer Phillip Washington aka Cygnus was on bit of a hiatus since his phenomenal "Cosmos" long play on Fundamental Records, released near the end of 2016. With this EP, titled "ne0 ge0", he's breaking the silence and we're extremely happy to see it happening through Barba imprint. The record consists of 4 cuts; "Zone Shifting", "Vertexing", "ne0-ge0" and "Astronoot" which all share common qualities of his previous work - deep, spacey, richly textured and really well crafted. "Zone Shifting" is what electro in 2018 should sound like. Deep, emotional and futuristic but well grounded in the human condition through the vocal line which seems to haunt from the distance. "Vertexing" is a slightly more paced, moodier affair with slow enveloping Vangelis-esque synth lines bleeding all over traditional electro sounding beat. However, in this case that's exactly what's needed. Title track, "ne0-ge0" is the first one on the flip side and the busiest one. Creasing of multiple synth lines and pads is done in such an expertly elegant manner that you just can't resist but play it loud on a big soundsystem and see what it does to the dancefloor. And finally, record closes with "Astronoot", and as B2 tracks usually are - it's the deepest of them all, reserved for those heady moments when you need something to bring the magic to the next level.

CYGNUS - NE0 GE0

CYGNUS - ASTRONOOT

CYGNUS - VERTEXING

CYGNUS - ZONE SHIFTING

Return of the UK producer Allen Saei aka Aubrey on the mighty Barba label is another bold statement in the discography of this seasoned veteran. Building on the relationship with the Burek/Barba/Pomalo family established through remixes of Information Ghetto's "Inspiration" track (Burek 2013), DJ Stingray's "Communication System" (Barba 2015) and his solo "Clock Funk EP" (Barba 2017), for this record Aubrey presents us with a continuation of his previous Barba release, simplistically titled "Clock Funk 2" EP.

As is to be expected from a guy who's been spending time in the studio for better part of the last three decades, this 12" is pure techno, in the best sense of the word. As mature and consistent as the previous record of the series, we have Aubrey building on that ground and expanding the range into more abrasive and rough on one side, and even more subtle and humane on the other.

A1, titled "Cfunk 2" is among the subtle ones. Beautiful cascading keys, glitchy synth bleeps and lead lines intertwine into a gorgeous composition grounded by a driving bassline and counterpinted with distorted ride cymbals. Uniquely sounding track which draws influences from many corners of the planet.

A2, titled "Clock Funk 2" sets a point for the other side of the spectrum. The heaviest and roughest, it locks the frame in which this EP works. Direct, abstract and firmly aimed towards the dancefloor, this cut is for the peak moment of the night when its combination of jacking beats and trippy leads will just push the craziness off the edge.

B1, the most humane and gentle track on the EP, "Holes In Gestalgar" is a perfect match for the A1 cut, although slower and calmer. Again, the similar approach is used, where the perfectly tuned combination of small synth and keys elements form a complex image which will stay ingrained into anyone's mind once you play it in the right moment. Again, it's hard not to reach for the word "beautiful" when describing this one.

B2 is on the other hand a match for the heavy A2, but also not as intense. A repetitive affair, with abstract synth lines and disharmonic pads serving as an emotion injection just when they’re needed. 

Common thread moving through all four cuts is an infectious groove intertwined with synth lines that would not be misplaced amongst the best examples of space-influenced techno music firmly grounded on the floor.

All that, pressed onto a heavy duty 180 gram vinyl and beautifully packaged in an original artwork by local artist EmaEmaEma.

Buy this vinyl!

AUBREY - SEL MOULO

Ukraine's arguably most interesting contemporary electronic music producer Mikhaylo Vityk, known as Vakula, returns to our label family. Having released an EP for Burek in 2012 under the Vedagor alias, for Barba he came up with a new name - Rocco Siffredi, and a spaced out 3-tracker EP titled "Per Asper Ad Astra".

As it is expected from an artist as unique and prolific as he is - Rocco hits the spot, so to speak, with this 12" as well. A1, the title track "Per Asper Ad Astra" is a very late 70's reminiscent italo disco affair. Bubbly synths, flying arpeggios and pitched vocals make it feel perfectly at home in between a Giorgio Moroder and Space track, but somehow Mr Siffredi made it "his own" and sounding fresh and futuristic even in 2018.

A2, "The Elements", is the records most forward momentum track and probably the most psychedelic one. It's a pure dancefloor cut with a tight drum programming counterpointed with airy synths and reverbrating guitars which are begging to be played during an open air venue sunrise moment. It's a track which exposes itself in layers of influence...from synth pop to disco and early electro.

B1 cut, "Code P" is the ambient come-down tune. Rich sequences and beautiful synth pads seem to wrap themself around you as the track progresses and drown you in echoing bubbles closer to the end. Beautiful way to get lost in the record and finish it with style. We're pleased to say that Rocco delivered a diverse but consistent EP which heavily leans on the late 70s lingo of synth-infused disco and pop but carries a stamp of "today". Art by Wanda Kuchvalek.

Buy here

VAKULA AKA ROCCO SIFFREDI - CODE P

VAKULA AKA ROCCO SIFFREDI - THE ELEMENTS

VAKULA AKA ROCCO SIFFREDI - PER PENIS AD ASTRA

French producer Erell Ranson's affinity for the deeper shades of Detroit sound is well known, but his ability to absorb those influences and create beautiful music with his own signature is the reason we're so excited to welcome him into our family.

Having previously released on labels such as Kalahari Oyster Cult, aDepth audio, Nice & Nasty Records and his own MySelf Recordings, amongst others, Erell's became quite skilled in crafting sophisticated and emotional tracks which still seem to feel perfectly at home in a crowded 3 AM club situation.

EP for Barba, titled "Dreams Of Nila", is a 4-tracker consisting of "Dreams Of Nila", "Reminiscence 0f The Past", and "Far Away Of Your Side", with the latter receiving an additional remix treatment by a Rotterdam-based project Duplex.

"Dreams Of Nila" is a somewhat more leaning towards Chicago-ish side of things, with its huge bassline enveloped by shuffling 707 drums. Soft-sounding synth pad sequences work as an emotion injection and appear perfectly timed, without removing the edge of this, essentially, club track.

"Reminiscence Of The Past" is the most direct of the bunch. Syncopated bass drum, forward-leaning groove and those classic techno snare roll fills make this track hard to ignore as it is, without mentioning complex interaction of synth lines, chords and beautiful detroit-reminiscent string stabs. Wonderfully executed counterpoint of hard edge and soft touch is what makes this cut a truly special one. Techno in its fullest form.

"Far Away Of Your Side" is somewhat closer to the energy level of "Dreams Of Nila", and is a well-paced deep cut perfect for later moments in the night when subtle approach is everything. Slow synth pads give your mind some time to relax while the groove keeps your body occupied.

Duplex remix of "Far Away Of Your Side" takes the track another notch down but in a more sideways manner. Broken electro groove is what keeps the foundation of the track while Chris Aarse & John Matze (aka Duplex) masterfully work their synths and pads to keep the tension for the whole duration of the track. Melancholy mood is tangible here, and at its best, ready for the dancefloor.

Buy it at Clone!

ERELL RANSON - REMINISCENCE OF THE PAST

ERELL RANSON - DREAMS OF NILA

ERELL RANSON - FAR AWAY OF YOUR SIDE (DUPLEX REMIX)

ERELL RANSON - FAR AWAY OF YOUR SIDE

CYGNUS - LIQUID SOUL

CYGNUS - CRYSTALS IN YOUR MIND

CYGNUS - BEHOLD THE SPIRIT

CYGNUS - QUICKSILVER SUNRISE

Barba Records is one of labels run by the Burek team.  It serves as a platform for our artist's expression in various forms of modern electronic music be it – techno, electro or even house at times – in fact anything that, in our humble view has depth and quality. Driving idea is to broaden the palette of what a 'techno' label can be – no consistent tempo, or sound, or mood.  Ultimate goal is to put out music sounding fresh and releases we'll still want to listen to years to come.

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