The Berlin Sessions

Session 5

Session 1

Vril - Torus XXXII

Two years after releasing the acclaimed Crash Recoil, Anthony Child aka Surgeon returns to Tresor with new LP, Shell~Wave. Retaining the minimal equipment list and studio-version-of-live-show-sets approach of the previous album in order to focus on the work itself, Shell~Wave is a deeply personal document of both where Surgeon is and has been, converging three decades of experience with a continued curiosity in the untested.

"To make this project, I had to dig really deep in terms of what my relationship was to techno; I've been involved with it for a really long time and there's a lot about it I feel dislocated from, so I had to really think hard about what techno is to me. I often get asked "what is techno to you?" but I can't answer that with words; this album is the answer."

From the complex, twisting track Infinite Eye to the caustic Soul Fire, the eight tracks that make up the body of the album are single-take explorations of the vast, hard yet minimal techno Child is synonymous with. 

Neatly dividing the record in two, the emotional centre of the record comes in the form of Dying, a vibrating, beatless piece that with a mantra-like vocal loop steeped in reverberating effects.

Further echoes of dub production appear throughout the record as tracks like Divine Shadow, and Empty Cloud have an almost ever-present mist of reverberation, driven by the appearance of a new delay unit in the equipment list; while much of the philosophy of Crash Recoil's creation is present, the process and the instruments have changed as Child again switches up his approach to studio work.

This insistence on trying novel techniques doesn't preclude returning to old ones, as this use of modern digital machines with live, hands-on takes that are as inspired by 60s producer Joe Meek and 70s reggae as they are by this year's synthesiser expos.

"For me, it's an interesting experience returning to old techniques again after 30 years. [I'm] always exploring and finding myself back at the beginning. Connecting the present with the past."

This philosophy of 'time travel' is inherent to the music itself as the synchronised loops repeat while the delay and effects branch out, forming unique eddies; distinct quantum moments within the circular whole; the future leaking through the spaces between the sounds. All of the concepts on the album are perfectly communicated through the painting by Taiwanese artist Jazz Szu-Ying Chen which suggests the movement of water, sound waves, and the chitinous shells of sea creatures.

BANDCAMP

Surgeon - Serpent Void

Forest Dub

Kookie

Buy on Beatport: https://www.beatport.com/release/windmaker/1775322

Sebastian Mullaert is well known for his work as one half of the highly respected Swedish duo Minilogue, responsible for killer releases for the likes of Cocoon, Crosstown Rebels and Wagon Repair, alongside breathtaking live shows as a solo outfit as well as their joint live act with Matthew Jonson.

Working from the idilic setting of the mystical Swedish forest, Sebastian Mullaert has has been making serious waves on his solo artist journey, lending his signature hypnotic sound to labels like Mule Musiq, Drumcode, Minus, Kontra-Musik and Ovum. His one of a kind spellbinding live show is illuminating the world’s finest stages such as Panorama Bar - Berlin, Concrete - Paris, Fabric - London, Labyrinth Festival - Japan, Black Market - NYC to name a few and can be witnessed on his recent Boiler Room and XLR8R sessions. 

At nearly 13 tantric minutes long, ‘Windmaker’ bubbles and teases with freestyle keys with an almost Middle Eastern flavour, as Mullaert plays snake charmer to his machines, coaxing out deft melodies, airy cymbals and on point beats and percussion.  It’s a track to completely get lost in, crafted with fine sonics and a gloss that only an artist like Mullaert can achieve with ease.

The enigmatic Ukranian producer, Vakula, is drafted in to give a re-interpretation of ‘Windmaker’; edgy phased stabs puncture the minimal techno beat, bouncing and reverberating off the kick drum to create a glorious wall of dubby sound that compliments the original mix a treat.  Vakula has always impressed with his creative and original music for labels like Firecracker, Dekmantel and his own Leleka imprint, so it’s a privilege to have him remix on Hypercolour.

Windmaker

Buy on Beatport

Sebastian Mullaert - Windmaker [Hypercolour]

STAUB comes back on wax for a third episode. Following the no name policy from the parties which started 5 years ago in ://about blank, it is time again for unknown artist to shine. This new EP sees the shy producer appearing on 4 tracks of pristine techno. A1 is an atmospheric trip while A2 is more brutal, on the B side it is going weirder and darker. We think Unknown Artist tries to craft interesting techno cuts and that he loves variety.
That it is the idea behind STAUB since its beginnings, it does not matter whether you are a newcomer or Lady Gaga, what matters is the quality of the music. This is what was again aimed with this third record.

Split color vinyl

Unknown Artist - STAUB 003

A1 - Unknown Artist - STAUB 003 A1 
A2 - Unknown Artist - STAUB 003 A2 
B1 - Unknown Artist - STAUB 003 B1 
B2 - Unknown Artist - STAUB 003 B2

Label: I/Y
Cat. Nr.: IYSTB003
Artwork: Kurt Von Bley
Mastering: Man Made Mastering

Release date: 23 Feb. 2017
at STAUB 5 years Anniversary

IYSTB003 - A1 - Unknown Artist - A1 - STAUB 003

Voiceprint: 20th Anniversary Edition is remastered and pressed to vinyl!

Voiceprint: 20th Anniversary Preview

Polar Inertia - Major Axis

Various Artists - ÆX010 - ÆX

Now available here: indigoaera.bandcamp.com/album/x010

Release date: 13/12/19

a1. Tetelepta - T5
a2. Human Space Machine - Rebirth
a3. Nathan Surreal - Trunk
b1. Kaap - Overtoom
b2. Denote - Curl

@indigoaera

Session 1

Juan Atkins