Humanity seems to be consistently consumed by the clutches of fear and hate; a black hole of misery and denial of the true potential inside of us. This cavernous mouth is hungry and ready to devour everything it can. We are guided there by the warped perception: that there is no other way but down, deep down into the abyss. This is incomprehensibly far from the truth; though suffering is unavoidable, it is inevitably one component of life among myriad others. Such a notion of binding hardship, when one develops the capacity to both identify and accept suffering, becomes a link so beautiful and pure it becomes the will to continue to live.

Such a notion, unanimously shared and experienced by all living things (merely observe the true nature of the natural world to understand this) is a reminder that we are alive. We breathe. We laugh. We cry. We hurt.
We live.
Our lives are beautiful - every piece of it. Beyond the the pain and brutality we have the capacity to inflict, and beyond the purity of virtuous acts we share. Existence is a beautiful thing. An impossible gift worth accepting. Through this acceptance, I believe, is the gateway to goodness. A mean for us to reconnect to our souls and to feel the deep connection dormant within us that allows us to share love and respect to all that is made of up the elements.

Awake All Hours Insights 010 - https://soundcloud.com/awk-all-hrs/insights-010-galtier-returns-pulchra-es-elementis

Inverted Audio Mix + Interview - https://inverted-audio.com/mix/galtier/

Ransom Note Track By Track - https://www.theransomnote.com/music/track-by-track/track-by-track-galtier-pulchra-es-elementis/

All tracks written & produced by Jiah Wells
Mastered by Fausto Mercier
Photo taken by Kajeera Jenkins

Buy LP + Digi

Pulchra Es Elementis LP [IM089]

Antitoxin

@aye5ha 'Aspara Dub' creates a centrifugal maelstrom from undulating bass and stuttering percussion, as meditative as it is energetic. Forthcoming on @kindergartenrecords.

More: https://ins-rt.net/audio/ayesha-apsara-dub

Fluo II

Article

Premiere: Ayesha - Apsara Dub

V/A - Kikommando
Label: PAN / Hakuna Kulala 
Cat.No. PAN 124 / HK029 
Format: DL / Book
Release Date: 6 August 2021
Purchase: pan.lnk.to/Kikommando
Video: https://bit.ly/3i2EgSg

A collective effort from a vital scene in Kampala, KIKOMMANDO takes its name from Ugandan street food of flat bread and beans. As a ‘food of soldiers’ offering maximum energy for minimum funds, the eponymous mixtape, video series and book project is an equally nourishing and ambitious proposition. It all began in the East African summer of 2018, during a two-month residency at the Nyege Nyege label and collective’s villa, in collaboration with their sublabel Hakuna Kulala. Producer and PAN artist Simone Trabucchi (aka STILL) opened the door to his temporary studio in the city and a crucial cross-cultural collaboration was born.

“The intention was to record as much as possible,” Trabucchi says about KIKOMMANDO’s musical showcase of eight Kampala-based artists, coming from the spectrum of musical influences, crossing trap, drill, cut ups, kuduro, electro, smooth jams—the list goes on. In creating a sonic space to support the expression of its featured singers, poets and emcees, the mixtape ties countless styles and flows into a single snapshot of a particular part of the Kampala music scene, at a particular point in time. The invective of rapper and street legend Blaq Bandana’s “Nkwaata” is laid over a spare and brooding ambient. Kampala Unit trumpet player and first-time singer, Florence, rolls a thick melodic texture through the organic clicks, knocks and atmospherics of “Bae Tasanze”. Jahcity’s unique lyricism combines a personal take on traditional music and soulful-reggae with a jerky, wobbly collection of drops and donks.

Meanwhile, Ecko Bazz applies his grimey vocals and rhythmic, introspective words to lead single ‘Ntabala (Rolex Riddim) at a particularly pertinent moment of self-reflection. “I was trying to listen to the voice inside myself and wanted to achieve a higher level of understanding of things, life,” he says about the themes that he felt inspired to explore with Trabucchi at the recording desk. The accompanying video, shot on a rooftop in the Kampala neighborhood of Ggaba, is one of a series of slick and high-definition films complementing each one of the KIKOMMANDO tracks. These also include contributions from Ugandan emcee and key Hakuna Kulala member Biga Yut, don dada of the GabaGaza gang Swordman Kitala (with Omutaba on percussion) and South Sudanese poet and singer Winnie Lado.

Also accompanying a ‘visual mixtape’ of moving images for each song on KIKOMMANDO is a recording diary of sorts, where Trabucchi compiles a vibrant collection of pictures, colours and textures reflecting the its heterogeneous sonic palette into a book. Together this multifaceted, interdisciplinary project showcases, what Lamin Fofana’s liner notes describe as, “amazing originality, complexity”, while “embracing dissonance”.

Trabucchi’s personal take on a kind of ‘digital dancehall’ defined the sound of his ground-breaking rumination on Italy’s colonial history on debut STILL album, I, in 2017. KIKOMMANDO is a different proposition entirely, where he finds new ways to complement the personality and skills of its contributors sprung from a constant stream of visitors arriving at the Nyege Nyege Villa’s makeshift studio. “It was a dialogue,” stresses Trabucchi, who has always preferred collaboration as a means to escape branded and stereotypical identities, while creating something new. “I created the musical platform to make the singers confident, and challenged them at the same time. Working together accelerates ideas and reveals that nothing is your invention alone. That’s why KIKOMMANDO is a mixtape to me, and not an album.”

The mixtape is mastered by Rashad Becker, featuring artwork by NMR. Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 11 & 12 mixed by Ville Haimala. Tracks 5, 6 & 8 mixed by Lorenzo Dal Ri.

@hakunakulala

KIKOMMANDO

STILL, ECKO BAZZ - Ntabala (Rolex Riddim) (PAN 124 / HK029)

With 10 years in the 'biz' firmly under his belt, Jiah Wells is poised to release the first full-length LP of his Galtier project, Pulchra Es Elementis. Whilst Galtier is arguably one of the originators of the percussive style that would eventually fall under the Hard Drum label, the heightened theatrics of his recent output have seen him channel Blade Runner-styled sonics and move further away from absolute club functionality. Whilst Galtier's output often seems to soundtrack hypothetical, off-planet words, Pulchra Es Elementis turns the focus inwards: towards Wells' own emotional constellation, his evolving spirituality and his attempts to tap into planes of existence beyond the tangible. The album's Latin title translates to 'Elements are Beautiful' and encapsulates the artist's belief that there is grace in all of life's aspects; pushing past what we deem as good or bad, minuscule or massive.

Mastered by Fausto Mercier
Photos by Kajeera Jenkins
Album layout by Luis Tomita

Pulchra Es Elementis

Buy 12" / Digi

Wilfull Saviour

IM089 - @galtier - Pulchra Es Elementis
Label: Infinite Machine
Release Date: September 24th,2021
Format: 12" / Digital

With 10 years in the ‘biz’ firmly under his belt, Jiah Wells is poised to release the first full-length LP of his Galtier project, Pulchra Es Elementis. Whilst Galtier is arguably one of the originators of the percussive style that would eventually fall under the Hard Drum label, the heightened theatrics of his recent output have seen him channel Blade Runner-styled sonics and move further away from absolute club functionality. Whilst Galtier’s output often seems to soundtrack hypothetical, off-planet words, Pulchra Es Elementis turns the focus inwards: towards Wells’ own emotional constellation, his evolving spirituality and his attempts to tap into planes of existence beyond the tangible. The album’s Latin title translates to ‘Elements are Beautiful’ and encapsulates the artist’s belief that there is grace in all of life’s aspects; pushing past what we deem as good or bad, minuscule or massive.

Pulchra Es Elementis begins with Crystalised Larva, a brooding opener of breathy pad synths and expansive kick drums which reverberate through the mix as if the hits originate from the bottom of a valley. There’s an indistinct sense of tension on this track, in part due to a central melody, which never resolves but only descends lower in pitch. This tension turns to explorative wonder on Wilfull Saviour, where a mirage of musical ideas come in and out of focus. Although the sonic worlds Galtier explores are internal to him, Wilfull Saviour still possesses that sense of a cosmic journey we’ve come to expect from Wells; an ardent fan of dystopian films and literature.

Continuing this emotional odyssey, Bruised, But Not Broken sees the artist push deeper into the psychological undergrowth; its murky tonality juxtaposes crisp, Reggaeton-inspired drum patterns with a heavily compressed one-note synth line that modulates wildly - cutting through the mix like a nagging thought that won’t leave your mind. Next up is U Were, U Are & What U Will Be, one of the more club-ready tracks of the LP, which gets us moving with a snarling bassline and layers upon layers of percussive hits and inflections.

At Pulchra Es Elementis’ mid-point is the LP’s title track, a drumless interlude where blissful, shimmering synths create a patchwork of intensities. Galtier’s approach to songwriting shines through here; ignoring musical pragmatics, he opts to feel his way through his compositions without knowing where they might end up. Following on from that weightless breather, Phantasiai turns up the freneticism with its head-spinning mix of drum programming and a glitched-out synth line that yo-yos up and down octaves. Things get even more furious on the Superficie-featuring Cavernam, a hollow Hard Drum banger inspired by Eskibeat sensibilities and designed to create a sense of self-implosion.

The album’s penultimate track, (U Are) Beautiful, is a tale of two halves: beginning with a moment of serenity as synthesizers swell like an ocean tide before evolving into a marching crescendo of raw energy. Rounding off the album, Shine Forth hurtles through pacey drum work and all manner of strange zaps and klaxons before giving way to a final dose of nebulous ambience.

A musical journey unlike any other ‘club music’ albums, Pulchra Es Elementis is an LP that demands to be consumed in one sitting. Reflecting on his place within the universe and the musical landscape, the album could be viewed as a musical exorcism which sees Galtier working through and shedding huge chunks of his ego that stuck to him out of fear of the unknown. Pulchra Es Elementis begins on an insecure, overwhelming or, even, existential note before rounding off with a related sense of vastness seen with new, more positive eyes. It’s a voyage we hope you will join him on.

Galtier - Pulchra Es Elementis

Galtier - U Were, U Are & What U Will Be

Galtier - Bruised, But Not Broken

Galtier - Crystalised Larva

Taken from 'Plasmodium I' compilation released on @myxoxymyxoxym October 30th 2021
Support here: myxoxym.bandcamp.com/album/plasmodium-i

All proceeds will be collected and transferred to ANIMA, a non-profit association active in the field of natural environment, with its main activity being the nursing and rehabilitation of wild animals in their natural environment.

www.wild-anima.gr/en/profile/
www.myxoxym.bandcamp.com

Support

Rask [MYXOXYM]

Taken from B E N N (@bedoublensound) new EP Entheos, out December 3, 2021, via early reflex (@earlyreflex)

Read: https://bit.ly/3lmR08w
Pre-order: https://bit.ly/3lrga6d

On EYX006 Early Reflex welcomes Taipei-based dj/producer and Over My Body co-founder B E N N.

Taking inspiration from the indigenous culture of the island of Taiwan and its ancient chants to summon the Ancestral spirits, ‘Entheos’ is a three-tracker where B E N N brings to life a club-convulsing blend of leftfield techno experiments and Taiwanese traditional sounds.
For this work B E N N collaborated also with ‘Beat of Kaohsiung’, a collective from southern Taiwan, who contributed to the EP playing taiko, didgeridoo and vocals, to complement the hard drums and bass focussed productions of the producer from Taipei.

The opener ’Mangaya’ sets the mood of the EP kicking off with a pulsating beat, nimble hand percussions and an exotic melody. The entrance of a catchy guitar riff then turns the track into a club belter set to ignite the dance-floors.

Mystical vocals progressions opens ‘Shan-Yu’, a darker and more introspective track structured around a distorted koto melody supported by a didjeridoo bass continuum and incessant bit-crushed percussions.

The EP then reaches to its climax on the final track ’Entheos’ bringing together an effected gamelan melody and field recordings with an ecstatic 4-on-the-floor carnivalesque rhythm.

Artwork by Alessandro Scanu

Mastering by Andrea Prato

Released by early reflex

EYX006 - Entheos

Premiere: B E N N - Mangaya [early reflex]

Mortimer Dubaton, AKA Eiger Drums Propaganda and one half of The Pilotwings, brings a tensile, bone-rattling industro-dub workout.

'Athens VS Predator' is out January 22nd on Banlieue Records.

@banlieuerecords

Premiere: Mortimer Dubaton - Kwaï Tôt (Hard) [Banlieue Records]

Out soon on @bfdmrec, @maoupa-mazzocchetti's unfettered, genre-colliding vision conjures relentless mutant breakcore.

'UXY Dosing© Vol.2' is out March 28th.

Pre-order: bit.ly/3hKZvZ4

Premiere: Maoupa Mazzocchetti - A Cat Crossed my Jetski [BFDM]

The imprint from Turin celebrates its second birthday with Flex003, a compilation featuring ten tools from new, up-and-coming and established artists from around the globe.

Ranging from 90 to 160+ BPM, the release encompasses multiple aspects of experimental club music such as dancehall, drum’n’bass, leftfield techno and broken beats sounds.

The compilation kicks off with a bass post-club experiment of ‘Gain XP’ from Bladeblanc, which leads to the combination of broken beats and atmospherical sound design of ‘Wonder’ from AYLN. Follows ’East Wing Oslo House’, the new techno-adjacent-mutant-club contribution from Ikävä Pii, and ‘Scamming’ from Lighght with its psychedelic vocals and pitch-shifting percussions. To close off the first side of the album we find the leftfield techno of Alec Pace’s ‘Ghost Money’ with its syncopated bass and mysterious vocals. Opening the second half the compilation is Honeydrip with her new work ‘Wake the Phone’, characterised by a bouncing beat and a 90's feel, followed by ‘Sentimento’, the quirky and hypnotic interlude signed by BLCKEBY. Hassan Abou Alam then brings the listener into a distant world with his glitchy robotic tool titled ‘Freeze’. The BPM then shifts up for an explosive ending where club-driven percussive rhythmics blends with d’n’b excursions in ‘Day After the Last Day’ from Diessa and ‘Rek’ from NORA DRUM.

Flex003 is available on all platforms starting from Friday 3rd June 2022.

© & ℗ 2021 Early Reflex. All rights reserved.
All tracks produced and mixed by the respective artists § Mastering by Andrea Prato § Drawings by Giuseppe Cavuoto § Artwork by Alessandro Scanu & Giuseppe Cavuoto.

Wonder

AYLN - Wonder

C2. J-ZBEL - Sebulba (Feat SIMO CELL)

Record Label based in Mexico City.
Founded in Montréal, Est. 2011 by @xwolfcultx.

for sync & licensing - gavin@syncsmith.com

Bookings: allen@awesome-agency.com
Temporary Contact: iinfinitemachinee@gmail.com

Founder/General Manager @nostro-hood-system

Releases on @infinite-machine

ggaltiermusic@gmail.com

Galtier - Bruised, But Not Broken

Infinite Machine

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