AFFKT - THE BIG PICTURE (ALBUM) 

““The title 'The Big Picture' is about seeing things from a positive perspective, the album wants to be an optimistic pill although a big reflection of what I have been, what I lived and what I have become at this very moment. I feel in an age where I feel fine looking at the past as much as looking forward to the future.” (AFFKT)

Definitely inspiration strikes in a myriad of waves. New AFFKT’s album brings together all the best feelings and elements of the Spanish producer creativity into one cohesive release. New concepts and styles to deliver everyone some of the energy that needs to be released after a forced pause. 

Sonically speaking ‘The Big Picture’ is probably his most expansive and multifaceted electronic-driven album to date. AFFKT’s carefully constructed retro-futuristic electronica definitely suggests the quaint and unique forms of body music bringing ties with rock, pop and certainly more organic sounds. The musician is creating a new path, a new future by travelling to the past.  This new LP is redefining its own new genre somewhere between techno, indie dance, industrial and new wave inspirations. He perfectly manages to thrill us –in a very and innate sense- as well as taps into our very core. 

That said the songs of the new album hide unforgettable moments in the artist’s life. Let’s take the song ‘Bloom’ as an example. The melody is inspired by a song AFFKT’s mother used to play him when he was a child ('Eye in the Sky' by The Alan Parson Project). ‘Abre los ojos (feat. ELLE)’ which talks about dreams, borrows its title from the famous 1997 film by Alejandro Amenábar. ‘Ueli’ is a beautiful tribute to his grandmother who now passed away almost a year ago; another big mark of respect is ‘Adiós ayer (feat. Piek)’ on this occasion with the iconic Ibiza DJ José Padilla -who also passed away recently and who was undoubtedly a reference for AFFKT- in mind.

“For instance, the song entitled “End of the Road” is a kind short story written by me, but read by a robotic voice. It says: From the top of the mountain you can see the end of the road. Nothing looks the same from this point; the old fears are gone and everything seems to make more sense; the vision and sensations from up here is such it; it has undoubtedly been worthy. I definitely see my music as a really colourful open-minded combo of many different sounds that is an important dogma to me” AFFKT attests.

Unlike when composing an EP, AFFKT likes to build his albums in a cinematic way. By taking a sonic approach to telling stories. The artist is looking for a deeper, more descriptive way of working and describe feelings, moods, by using a different language. ‘The Big Picture’ can be enjoyed while dancing, as well as serving as emotional therapy.

‘The Big Picture’ album will be released exactly 4 years after the previous ground-breaking LP ‘Son of a Thousand Sounds’ on Sincopat. Interestingly, AFFKT’s debut album –‘Punto 0’- was also released with a difference of 4 years. This must somehow hide some runic secret and mean something. Something good! 

Tracklist

1. As Far As We Can Go
2. Abre los ojos feat. e11e
3. Calipso
4. Zambomba feat. Sutja Gutierrez
5. The Dream is Real
6. End of the Road
7. Bloom
8. Jandia
9. Nothing's Gonna Change My World
10. Let it Burn feat. Sutja Gutierrez
11. Torpedo
12. Ueli
13. Adios ayer feat. Piek

https://www.facebook.com/AFFKT
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Stream/Download: https://mobilee.lnk.to/TheBigPicture

The Big Picture

Calipso

03 AFFKT - Calipso

The Selador Showcase - The Twelfth Night, Pt. 1

Buzzfuzzzle

Buy Link: https://bit.ly/2TnbTWs

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Il Giardino Segreto

Release info

Premiere: Lucadjelite - Il Giardino Segreto - Aretusa Underground Elite Records

It's Showcase time, where Selador guarantees the joy of six. Half a dozen ultra-fresh jams from Selador debutants, a veritable feast of musical goodness, seasoned with some succulent surprises.

In the beginning there was rhythm, and that is certainly to the fore with our opener. Midnight Sun by the gizA DJs duo from Italy, fresh from excursions for the likes of Diynamic, Eklektisch and Glasgow Undergound, delivers the funkiest of intros, teasing you all the way to a euphoric guitar drop. A brilliantly original opening salvo.

Second on the grid it's Sam Hopgood (most recently releasing on Nick Warren's Soundgarden imprint) with Waiting. The wait for his Selador debut is over as this native of one of our favourite cities, Melbourne, hits bullseye with an infectious number that subtly builds from dreamy to dramatic over the course of a spellbinding seven minutes.

Three is, of course, the magic number, and here we find Agustin Giri, a consistent presence in the melodic and progressive charts that count. Hailing from one of electronic music's nerve centres, Argentina, Nitt features one of the most insistent riffs we've heard in aeons, this electronic earworm riding a bed of the crispest beats.

Opening side two (in our minds, we picture a 12" record), we find Kate Ozz. As befits a globetrotting label like Selador, Kate originates from Moscow but is currently based in Miami. Birds of Paradise is an unavoidable peak time banger which is another contender for hypnotic riff of the year.

Taking the fifth, we present Paul Sparkes, Brit with a truly global CV. Here at Selador HQ, we can never get enough wonkiness, so when Paul delivered Hour of Wonk, we knew we had a winner. Alas it is 6 minutes rather than 60, but that time is packed full of truly righteous, uplifting sounds

Completing our 6-0 dancefloor demolition is the sensuous Hopeless Cause from one of Spain's fastest rising stars, Grezzer. A galloping bassline kicks us off, with ever more mesmerising synth sounds and a haunting vocal hook.

*SELADOR PREMIERE* Paul Sparkes - Hour Of Wonk J Wonk

After our triumphant debut release, we invite Robert Babicz back for two exciting remixes from Abstraal and Julian Wassermann of his incredible 'Galactic Tardigrade' single.

Abstraal are a French duo with a shamanic sound that burst onto the scene in 2019 and have quickly climbed the ranks with releases on Family Piknik Music, Zehn Records and more. Their remix opens to powerful drums and echoing sonics. Filtering up to the main break with spritely far eastern promise, the cinematic break crescendos into Reese bass and Amen percussion with aplomb before mutating again into sparse, deep space disco.

German uber producer, Julian Wassermann, has cemented his reputation for excellence with releases on seminal labels such as Renaissance, Stil Vor Talent, and Blaufield. Using every ounce of studio skill at his disposal, Wassermann constructs a solid electro breaks vision that bristles with melody and shoegaze angst.

Words: Simon Huxtable
Cover: Dmitriy Fadeev

PREMIERE: Robert Babicz - Galactic Tardigrade (Julian Wassermann Remix) [SOLARII RECORDS]

Lisa Desormeaux - Je Vous Demande

Daniel Testas might be a new name on MNL but the Amsterdam based artist has been active in the music scene since the early nineties already. So it's pretty safe to say we're welcoming a true industry veteran on board here.

For his debut within the Manual Music label family Daniel pleases us with two pieces of progressive house delight, rich of beautiful synth melodies and arps. Both Vagabond Bird as well as Crumbling Silence are true gems that work as well on the dance floor as they do at home or in your car.

On the flipside Around Us and Ric Niels elevate this EP even more with their immaculate reworks.

Buy / Stream

Daniel Testas - Vagabond Bird

'Ken Hayakawa returns to Stripped Down with the ‘Kaisermantel’ EP, delivering an atmospheric two tracker accompanied by a remix from German duo Apnoea.

Vienna scene staple Ken Hayakawa boasts releases on labels such as Schönbrunner Perlen, International Deejay Gigolos and Upon You Records. He first arrived on Stripped Down in 2018 with the ‘Sonic Waves’ EP and has since become a recurring contributor to the label, ‘Kaisermantel’ marking his third project signed to the respected Frankfurt imprint.

The title track opens up with catchy, spacey synth lines arpeggiating with increasing intensity over clean, minimal drums. While ‘Kaisermantel’ takes you to the far corners of the galaxy, ‘Hollow Ghost’ takes a different approach and ventures into the furthest depths of the earth. Its dark, cavernous drums are backed by shimmering pads and give a grand sense of scale.

Apnoea follow up their ‘Phnk’ EP on Stripped Down with a remix of Ken’s ‘Hollow Ghost’, once again proving that they are a pair to keep a close eye on in 2022. Their version adds suspense and mystery with a hypnotic new synthline weaving in and out of the reworked bass and strings.

‘Kaisermantel’ is an epic journey through Melodic House & Techno composed by one of Austria's most skilled producers.'

Follow: @kenhayakawa // @strippeddown

Kaisermantel EP

Premiere: Ken Hayakawa - Kaisermantel [Stripped Down Records]

Beatport Pre-order

Raphael Mader - Fundamental (Original Mix) [Snippet]

Break The Rules - [Original Mix]

Glass Reflections

With his most recent releases on Selador, Sum Over Histories, Poker Flat, Sincopat, Mobilee and Sudbeat, Dave Seaman, one of true the legends of electronic house music, is on a creative roll. A globally respected DJ for over 25 years, he’s played in over 80 countries around the world and remains an exceptional artist who is always looking to the future. His label together with Steve Parry, Selador Recordings has been one of the most exciting labels around since its inception 10 years ago, releasing many different colours of house and techno and in this current world of limited shelf life, ever-diminishing attention spans and fast-moving, here-today-gone-tomorrow disposable club culture, it is the mark of true talent and dedication that Dave Seaman is still very much 
on everyone’s radar.

For Worldwide Bookings & Management, please contact: 
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