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 - U Were, U Are & What U Will Be

Washington DC’s @Ovidmusic returns to @floodireland with five colourful drum workouts. Hear ‘Descent’ now

More info: https://djmag.com/music/premiere-ovid-descent

Premiere: Ovid ‘Descent’

>< CRUDE Premiere ><

Artist: Smiss
Title: Facettes
Label​: Bienvenu au club
Release date: 2nd March 2022

Support the artist:
>> https://bienvenueauclub.bandcamp.com/releases

Follow:
@agentsmiss
@bienvenueauclub

mastering by: Neil Abdelmoula

CRUDE Premiere: Smiss - Facettes [Bienvenue au Club]

Pre-order: https://nervoushorizon.bandcamp.com/album/nh-v-a-vol-4

East London's most forward-thinking record label is soon to release @nervoushorizon Vol. 4, the latest addition to its notorious various artists compilation series.

Known for bringing together regional club sounds from all around the world, this time label heads @tsvisions & @wallwork-music focus on dancehall influenced instrumentals but also throw fast paced percussive club works in the mix.

Nervous Horizon's core members DJ Plead, Ehua, DJ JM, SIM & Seven Orbits are all back with killer dubs and Vol. 4 also sees the introduction of some brand new signees: Montreal-based Mexican producer Ultima Esuna, Bristol's rising star Josi Devil and congolese Nyege Nyege affiliate Chrisman. Techno prodigies Happa and Aquarian make their debut appearance on the label as well with compositions that blend intricate sound design with explosive low end.

Opening at 90 BPM and ending at nearly 160BPM, Nervous Horizon Vol. 4 is definitely going to be one of the most effective tools on the dance floor this season!

More exclusive music

Premiere: Ultima Esuna '7 Salidas'

NHD006 - Henzo - Stretford Blues

https://henzo.bandcamp.com/album/stretford-blues-ep

Finishing off Henzo’s banner 2022 that has seen releases on YCO and Peder Mannerfelt Produktion, the Manchester based producer dials back the tempo into 5 cuts of gloom-ridden dancefloor damagers for his Nervous Horizon debut. Running the gamut of Dancehall, Techno and Drum & Bass, the EP’s refined palette is laser-guided in its intention of favouring groove and atmosphere over melody and hooks.

The opening track, 'Survivorship Bias', rolls out a lurching and smudged drum break over an equally sketchy Donk and vocal sample in a Bolton-meets-Belgium chug affair. 'It’s Ours and Hours Alone' and 'Writhing' lean more towards a typical Dancehall rhythm, smattered with the reticulated percussion that Nervous Horizon have been known for, saturated and growling. 'His Troublesome Knees' sees a variation on the theme of the opener, with the addition of harrowing, gnarly strings that posit drama in the riff that runs almost throughout; An inescapable tension that juxtaposes the highly danceable groove. Rounding out Stretford Blues, 'A Pocket You Didn’t Expect' feels like 3 tempos at once: 82, 164 and 328BPM. The battering, unrelenting kicks laced over taut breaks and hats hark to Jungle Techno and Tech Step in their composition, but the drawn out and bleak orchestral breakdown, coupled with a barking, irate bassline, suggest that Henzo shows no allegiance to nostalgia and is moving intently into the future.

Henzo - His Troublesome Knees

Ugandan MC Swordman Kitala and French producer @timkarbon collide on the latest @prmsss release.

Complete with remixes courtesy of Loto Retina, Beatrix Weapons, Brodinski and Sébastien Forrester, ‘SKTK’ inhabits a hybrid space between UK funky and dancehall. The perfect foil for Kitala to deliver arresting vocals in a hybrid of Luganda and English.

Rude, propulsive flex, and our premiere is a case in point.

‘SKTK’ is out March 17th on Promesses.

Pre-order: promesses.bandcamp.com/album/sktk

Discover More

Premiere: Swordman Kitala & Tim Karbon - Dingidingi Dole [Promesses]

DJ Rax - Neverland (2024) - FREE DOWNLOAD

We announce our first label signing; a shimmering 4-track EP from one of Brussel's most critical new producers, @hypna_52. The title track, 'Data Recovery' sets the tone for this atmospheric EP, fueled by bass weight & sheen & set to be released digitally alongside on a limited run of 50 12" vinyl.

Info & buy: https://ins-rt.net/label/hypna-data-recovery-insert

Data Recovery

Hypna - Infrared [Insert]

Taken from the HUMAN 004 compilation 'Togetherness'.

Tinkah - Still Care [HUMAN 004]

Marcel by @1djplead

Following the devastating explosion at the Port of Beirut on August 4, Ma3azef teamed up with New York-based mastering engineer Heba Kadry to curate a compilation by regional and international musicians to raise funds for the continuous relief work being done on the ground in Beirut to help those who have been failed by the Lebanese state.

Today, we're happy to announce two additional remixes to be added to the compilation: ZULI's Kiwii, remixed by El Kontessa; Deena Abdelwahed's Wein El Malayeen, remixed  by Ancient Methods.

The 19-track compilation includes contributions by the likes of Fatima Al Qadiri, Nicolás Jaar, ZULI, Slikback, and others. Bringing sounds together from the different crevices of electronic music, it is a humble attempt to galvanize musicians and listeners into supporting a city that has been integral in shaping the region’s contemporary music scene.

All proceeds from the sales of the compilation are going to local initiatives to provide assistance to those affected, they will be divided between Fundraising Campaign for the Arts and Culture Community in Beirut organized by AFAC; Beirut Musicians' Fund organized by Tunefork Studios, and Beit el Baraka.

All tracks mastered by Heba Kadry
Artwork by Studio Mooni

DJ Plead - Marcel

Second and final chapter of Prisoner of the Self, the novel-reflection forged by Katatonic Silentio, reinterpreted & scream-reworked by the subterrestrial squad formed by Stenny, ZULI, Walton, Herva, Kinlaw & Franco Franco
Five and one chain reactions auto-industrial approach tunes, committed in this world spinning on the way to ruin.
The “condition of suspended animation" experienced in a trivial way, the collapse of a civilization, a conclusion of dystopia.
New movements are bound to be born, we see beyond their disguise, we can rightly evaluate our dilemma, realize our modern condition, and mobilize further to avert the true catastrophe, whose shapes we’re already witnessing.

Title : Prisoner of the Self remixed
Artists : Stenny, Zuli, Walton, Herva, Kinlaw & Franco Franco, Katatonic Silentio
Genre : IDM, Breakcore, Experimental, Electronic
Catalogue : BNC006
Format : 12" Vacuum cage packed and insert, 300 copies violet numbered

Mastered by Analog Cut mastering studio
Artwork & Sleeve Design by AnchorE
Distributed at RWDFWD

Katatonic Silentio - Waiting For The Dust To Settle (ZULI Remix) [Bristol NormCore]

معازف | مجلة الموسيقى الأولى والأخيرة من نوعها في العالم

DJ Plead - Marcel

Ma3azef

Recent comments

AMBIDEX

So track

MAC Address

Related tracks