Echo Train Records proudly presents Echolocation

A VA featuring 22 tracks created by artists from Aotearoa, with all proceeds going to Māia Health Foundation to help support youth mental health and wellbeing.

Thank you so much to all of the artists involved <3

ECVA001 Echolocation

Echo Train Records proudly presents Echolocation

A VA featuring 22 tracks from artists around Aotearoa, with all proceeds going to Māia Health Foundation to help support youth mental health and wellbeing.

Thank you so much to all of the artists involved <3

Mr Meaty Boy & protectionspell - Cursed Crown

Elphee - Demoscene Dream

Ebb - Astral Projector

DJ Decay - A Rule For You, Another For Me

Deepstate - Angel

Azure & Scheme - Lemur

PREORDER: https://echotrainer.bandcamp.com/album/ecva002-5-years-of-echo-train

'ECVA002', aka '5 Years of Echo Train' is a newly announced compilation by the Ōtautahi/Christchurch label of the same name. The imprint is celebrating its fifth year in rotation with a collection of tracks contributed by those who have already featured in its half decade life span.

One such contributor is Jagā, Echo Train's founder & conductor. 'Beam Trace' is a spacious showcase of Jagā's evolution not only as a label head, but a producer too. Rhythmic percussion is met by sci-fi melodies and breathy vocal samples, pushed along by electro-inspired key stabs.

Of the track, Jagā shared:

"The core of the song is from a dream I had aboard a distant space station. A pervasive vocal features throughout, which channels the crew's voices across the ship's intercom. The song unfolds through three emotional phases - a descent into darkness, a brief moment of uneasy stillness and an overwhelming intensity.

It all makes sense to me when listening, haha. It's always fascinating to hear how others perceive my art."

The release is in part dedicated to Lui Mill, a collaborator & friend of Echo Trains who sadly passed away last year. "We are honoured to have his incredible talent featured on this release," Echo Train shared.

'ECVA002, 5 Years of Echo Train' is available via Echo Train's Bandcamp & a very limited number of cassette tapes this Thursday, May 8.

PREMIERE: Jagā - 'Beam Trace' [Echo Train Records]

Pluralist - Racks

OUT 6TH JUNE

Partying

Dual Monitor - Earth and Ground (clip / unreleased)

The second installment of the Obligated Records annual compilation, entitled 'Vol.2'. A 16 track instrumental comp of Grime, Techno, Dubstep and everything in between.

- Bastide x Oliver Twist
- Chris Guillotine
- Dayzero
- Dom Carlo
- Dual Monitor
- Hyas
- Jay Carder
- JLSXND7RS
- MJK
- Mr Slash
- NIKS
- Plastician
- Regal86
- Sir Hiss
- Small Crab
- Toura

Obligated Records Vol.2

Slugger

Download

Dom Carlo - Slugger [Obligated Records: Vol 2]

Billenkoek Vol. 1 is our saucy opening chapter, steaming with 14 club-ready tracks that indisputably solidify our distinctive lush, vibrant, and playful sound.

“Billenkoek” is a Dutch term that can be loosely translated as “bumcake,” but a more accurate translation would be “spanking.” In this case, it refers not so much to the punishment, but rather to a playful interpretation of it — the album functioning as a sonic spanking.

About the track:
The winter of ‘24/’25 was a pivotal period in my life. I was processing the end of a long-term relationship, had just moved back to Amsterdam from Berlin, and—on top of that—had started a company with some of my best friends. Juggling all of those life changes left me with little time and or headspace to make music. Producing had always been an escape, but for a while, it was hard to fully sink into it.

I definitely didn’t stop listening to music, though! Around that time, I stumbled across the now-infamous Doechii NPR Tiny Desk concert. Like so many others (she’s a Grammy winner now), I was immediately struck by her energy—chaotic, playful, raw—and felt compelled to rework that feeling into something of my own. I love sampling and reworking female vocals: the higher frequencies help cut through a mix, and I feel that women in hip hop can bring a particular energy that men can’t. On top of that, the label she was signed to had been a bit of a teenage obsession of mine—my French final exam presentation was basically a 20-minute TDE fanboy rant.

I finally carved out some time during the quiet stretch between Christmas and New Year’s, while staying at my parents’ place in rural Zeeland. I hadn’t brought any gear from Amsterdam—not even headphones—so I had to make do with just laptop speakers and software synths. I opened a fresh Ableton project for the first time in months and dropped in vocals from Doechii’s NISSAN ALTIMA. That night, I ended up writing most of the track in one sitting—arrangement, transitions, and the core musical ideas. I liked that first version, the ideas were strong, but the mix was rough and some parts still underdeveloped. There was only so much I could do  on my laptop speakers

About half a year later, I saw George Paolo posting about a V/A compilation he was putting together. The tracklist was already locked and mastering had begun, but when I asked nicely, George told me to send over some demos anyway. Looking through some of my old projects, I landed on the Doechii edit I’d made over a couple of days and left in a pretty rough state. It felt like a good fit. After he gave the green light, I spent a few days refining some of the ideas and cleaning up the mix, then submitted it just in time for mastering.

Musically, I’m quite happy with the track. I think it captures Doechii’s erratic, unpredictable energy—especially with the halftime breakdown and unusual groove. Listeners paying close attention might notice the track goes beyond just sampling her vocals; it also weaves in other musical elements from the original, like the keys that appear in the bridge section and the moment around 1:40 when everything cuts away to just her voice.

Overall I’m really glad the track found a fitting home, and I’m happy to release my first track on a Dutch label!


Socials:
@casual_observer13
https://www.instagram.com/casual___observer/

Casual Observer - Nissan Altima (Check-Your-Engine Light Refix)

Taipan Trax is very excited to welcome Florida-based producer Arina Krondeva to the label!

Inspired by field recordings and the urban cityscapes of Orlando, 'External Signal' EP fuses raw, industrial sound design with seismic bass movement.

Mastered by Rob Small.

Arina Krondeva - External Signal EP (Preview)

Label founder Phasmid returns to Taipan with 'Immersions' - a collaborative project that sees him work with a lethal cohort of producers from throughout his international tour.

Four moody, menacing club tracks that fuse mind-warping sound design with standout bass weight.

Phasmid & miaaa - Lost Myvi [TAIPAN TRAX]

Inspired by field recordings and the urban cityscapes of Orlando, 'External Signal' EP fuses raw, industrial sound design with seismic bass movement - from the mind of Florida-based producer Arina Krondeva.

Arina Krondeva - Rails [TAIPAN TRAX]

Arina Krondeva - HPD [TAIPAN TRAX]

ECH011 @socialsport - Dharma Rats/Flying Brick  http://bit.ly/47LqbUC
//
ECVA002 5 Years of Echo Train
ECH010 Mr Meaty Boy & protectionspell - Happiness & Intuition
ECH009 @1shli - Bracing/Set Pace/U Don't
ECH008 @deepstate-nz - Butterfly/Starfield/Starfield(Ultraviolet Remix)
ECVA001 - Echolocation [Charity VA]
ECH007 Rosetown @rosetown516 - Tundra EP
ECH006 Azure @jbhm - Waterfalls EP
ECH005 @elphee - Coil Smoker/Space Lanes
ECH004 @junusorca - Not Everything Has To Be Something/Never Really Here (Everyday Hurt)
ECH003 @uvuvuvuv - G0-45T/U
ECH002 @socialsport - Lora/Lexa
ECH001 @jagabeast - Inter Alios/We Once Knew

contact/demos/press
echotrainrecs@gmail.com

Mr Meaty Boy & protectionspell - Cursed Crown

Echo Train Records

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