"Layered, intricate and three-dimensional, its elaborate sound field akin to the workings of an extraterrestrial science lab ... one of the most cerebral outings of the season." - A Closer Listen

Yuting Wu's debut EP, Mindtrick, is dark, kinetic, and excitingly original. Audibly informed by her background in electroacoustic composition, Mindtrick sees Yuting step outside her formal training and into an exhilarating sonic landscape that is as intricately detailed as it is bold and expansive. Mindtrick is available in full on Bandcamp.

Mastered by Dominic Clare at Declared Sound.
Artwork by Max Mundie.

Yuting Wu - Mindtrick (1L010) [Preview]

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: 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, Florence - Bae Tasanze (PAN 124 / HK029)

Simulacrum Remixed

Simulacrum IV (Ziúr Remix)

Presentamos el tercer compilado de música ambiental y experimental, para esta entrega unimos diferentes estilos de productores de Colombia, Argentina, Francia, Estados Unidos y México.

Escucharemos de manera gradual un recorrido sonoro resultante en una paleta de colores diversa, en su mayoría profunda y de sonidos dedicados a la contemplación del espacio y devenir del tiempo y creados desde su origen con técnicas diversas de composición.

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We present the third compilation of ambient and experimental music, for this delivery we unite different styles of producers from Colombia, Argentina, France, the United States and Mexico.

We will gradually listen to a sound tour resulting in a diverse palette of colors, mostly deep and of sounds dedicated to the contemplation of space and the passing of time and created from its origin with various compositional techniques.

Compilado 003 A:

01 Spacetrilla - Robots Don't Know About Faith
02 El Irreal Veintiuno - El Sueño De Suadero
03 C Ben - Se dice Teōcalli
04 Kid Robin - E-001
05 Sori - Elbeach (Atmos)
06 Ranma Entero - Las Animas
07 Cherry Pop 5 - Tendril
08 Braulio Lam - Line
09 Cesar Ch - Notozqui Quinyez
10 Kathia Rudametkin - Moonfull

C Ben - Se Dice Teōcalli

horizon 0

This was a collaboration between Jnatra and Drum & Lace.

Through The Leaves (feat. Drum & Lace)

Zunfo - Chamiza

Modular retake on Newt Scamander from the Prester Hynn ep

used 
Cwejman s1mk2
Cwejman SM1
Strymon Magneto 
Ghall Designs Dual Looping Delay

Funck'd

Newt Scamander Cwejman Version 01

rhythm_n_gash

Here is EXOSKELETON.
All unleashed, no holds barred.

I'm releasing everything that has been in the pipeline for ages & hasn't found a home yet. As one may judge, all these tracks have been made in diffent things in mind & in different times, so, embrace yourselves for a journey through diverse sounds. It can get bumpy.

However the resemblence of all this to an album is uncanny, this whole endeavor, in my mind's eye, is a winter clean-up of some sort and one that was much needed.

And as such, let's leave 2020 behind -which i'm aware is an arbitrary number at best, and a full-fledged dumpster fire at worst- and shoot for somewhat more enjoyable days. 

All tracks written, performed & recorded by Iskeletor.
(With the exception of HYPOKON, which is a remix for GEIGER's track by the same name)

Artwork by granul (generated with AI technology)

CEHENNEM SİLAHI

HGBDN

Residing in Los Angeles, California, Jnatra is an entrepreneur and musician that creates sonic landscapes using different mediums from vintage synthesizes, to psychedelic guitar effects, mixing different textures into song.