The Full EP is now available on our Bandcamp.
Support us and go download your copy :)

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In line with the label’s artistic direction, this EP was performed and recorded live on January 13th and 14th, 2025, at MNPL's studio in Mons (Belgium).

This duo from Mons puts great care into performing fully improvised sets.

As a big fan of modular synths, techno, and live acts, I was immediately struck by the sound and energy of their live performances. The track names on the EP—Clench, Melt, Choke, Dilate—perfectly illustrate the sound design and textures at the heart of their music: deformation, transformation, stretching, shrinking. Their approach breaks away from conventional patterns, quickly moving beyond the usual random 16-step lead phrases often heard in improvised techno—only to return to them with impact when it counts. You lose your bearings; time stretches, to our greatest delight.

Subtle melodies emerge from waves of noise with carefully crafted harmonies, bordering on post-industrial. The kicks and subs have a hypnotic groove. The whole thing is at once powerfully aggressive and surprisingly gentle, held in balance by their masterful control of tension throughout the improvisation. A music of contrast, with its own originality.

Since the artistic direction of the label—focusing on music that is played and performed live—aligned perfectly with their workflow, we decided to collaborate on this EP. We did a two-day studio session and recorded a bunch of jams. Watching them work, it becomes clear why their live improvisations feel so complete: they communicate almost without words—through gestures, brief glances. The dialogue is carried by the sound, by the tension, and each knows where they are, and where the other is going.

We selected four tracks with very distinct directions, captured on the fly. The mixing was done by Mesomorph at Studio Morph Brussels, who delivered an absolutely remarkable sound job, and the mastering was handled by Pattrn at Incidence Studio, giving the tracks their final depth and dimension.

Wishing you a great listen and a safe trip through MNPL’s sonic madness!

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How to make it Fit

01 - Clench - 4’52
02 - Melt - 5’31
03 - Choke - 5’01
04 - Dilate - 5’16

MO002 - Machine Ouverte

https://machineouverte.bandcamp.com/album/how-to-make-it-fit

Composed by MNPL (Eliott Delafosse & Andrea Tonero)
Mixed by Mesomorph at Studio Morph Brussels
Mastered by Pattrn at Incidence Studio
Artwork by Béatrice Lortet

MNPL - How To Make it Fit - EP Snippets

Hardware & modular live techno label.

Full Nntblst EP available on our bandcamp

Machine Ouverte is a small, independent diy label dedicated to unearthing and sharing the crème de la crème of underground live performers.
Support independent music and our label by downloading the EP on Bandcamp.

Thanks for your support !

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Machine Ouverte is a label focused on the production and distribution of releases that are primarily played and recorded live. Capturing freshness and spontaneity, showcasing the “rough” side, and bringing out surprises, the label aims to highlight the unique moment of live performance as a key element in music practice and creation.

Machine Ouverte aims to place this performative aspect, improvisation, and direct experimentation at the heart of the creative process. The majority of composition and writing are concentrated in the preparation and execution phase of the live performance. Editing becomes secondary and only serves to prepare the tracks for release. While production often leaves ample room for editing, perfecting, and transforming a piece, Machine Ouverte emphasizes the raw energy of the live performance. The live performance contains surprises and happy accidents. The label values these imperfections and aims to preserve the specificities of the performance during production.

With a techno resonance, the releases freely explore a wide range of electronic music genres.