From the upcoming release "Shifting" (04/06/2021)

With its minimal and rhythm focused atmospheres, Shifting takes on a clinical and experimental approach to the techniques of rhythmic phasing and shifting. On a foundation of straight forward techno-ish grooves, identical patterns are superimposed and displaced to create self-similar versions of themselves and new, ever changing rhythmic combinations. A hypnotic, dance-focused release that uses rhythm as a ritualistic instrument.

Shift II

@https://soundcloud.com/aircode

For our seventeenth addition We are graced with the presence of London's own aircode, whose electronic obscurities have been found on such labels as DJ Pitch's 'Tobago Tracks' along with a recent EP on 'Alien Jams'. Julia's productions are truly worthy of being heralded by a label with the word 'alien' in the title - her work is enigmatic and astoundingly unique. It beckons notions of a faraway entity who occupied her mind and attempted to craft their world's music through her eyes using earthly soundscapes.

It is pensive and moving throughout, where aircode has used the absence of space and an unlikely palette of reverb-drenched, distant sounds to accentuate a sense of alienation. Nods to dubstep and UK-influenced genres leak through at times to reinforce the still-present movability and flow that Julia effortlessly melds into the sound design she has mastered. The tracks loop in and out of themselves, where she has broken down each track skilfully into a concise selection of resonances that undergo a perpetual sense of motion that subvert the tropes of contemporary club music. There is an uneasy air of endlessness and repetition throughout; a spiral further and further into an unknown unknown.

Artwork by Alessia Gunawan and Gregorio Nordio
Mastering by Hamza Robati

Spiralling - EP

aircode - Eye Roll

@bonebrokk deftly showcases his ‘ExoPunk’ sound; a retrofuturist mix of broken beats from the continuum blended with meticulous, future-facing sound design. Forthcoming on @infinite-machine.

More: https://ins-rt.net/audio/bonebrokk-hyperparadox

The Astral Catalyst

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Premiere: bonebrokk - Hyperparadox

Geht’s noch ?!

bump it

@tobago-tracks strides forward on its fine run of form, locking in the debut three-track EP 'Do you plan to end a siege?' from rising London-based producer @objectblue.

Centrepiece track 'Act like it then' is a robust techno transfiguration. Hard-hitting percussion lays an attention-grabbing foundation, above which off-kilter textures and a contorted Cardi B sample push the track into mesmeric territory.

Out March 16, pre-order: https://tobagotracks.bandcamp.com/album/object-blue-do-you-plan-to-end-a-siege

Do you plan to end a siege?

More exclusive music

Premiere: Object Blue 'Act like it then'

Urquieta looks back on Chile's recent social protests on title track 'Síntesis de Fricción'. Forthcoming on Insurgentes.

Article: https://ins-rt.net/audio/tomas-urquieta-sintesis-de-friccion

Síntesis de Fricción

Tomás Urquieta - Síntesis De Fricción [Insurgentes]

Merge Layers comes out of the necessity and willingness to get people together, to go beyond the surface, being home to the mighty cultural human diversity reflected in the beloved shades of club tunes we’ve been curating and supporting 24/7. We feel touched about what’s happening, and highly aware of the complex interconnectedness surrounding racial issues, rooted in a society (everyone belongs to) that legitimates violence and oppression. But there is no room for doubts, so we would rather consider ourselves hypocritical than cynical. We are down with those fighting for their rights, despite the filter used to define them: color, religion, gender, job and any other filter deployed to endlessly discriminate while carrying on a distorted narrative that fuels separateness, whether it’s for you George today or tomorrow’s daily injustices within our communities. With extreme humbleness, making music it’s what naturally came from our guts and chest, therefore we’ve decided to join forces with all our fellows giving form to a collection of tracks supporting this message. For this reason, we’ve set up a special bandcamp page where you can go and contribute to the #BlackLivesMatter organization (via ActBlue) by purchasing this “CallToAction” release, all the profits will be entirely destined to their activities. Our commitment to the cause has no expiration date, the page will remain live forever, so that anywhere, anytime you could spend your bucks, pennies, yen or euros, on this, as a reminder as well as a means to keep the debate rolling. Nonetheless, as mentioned previously, we don’t need to lose the focus on what  the objective really is. If you feel like you could do more, both economically and socially speaking, go for it! Advocate for those who can’t, donate, educate yourself, but also the pals who just want to stay comfy in their bubbles, dig deeper, start from the small unseen insidious traps. We are not here to teach anything, we are not the ones sitting on a pedestal telling what you should or should not do, cause the truth is, that you know better than anyone else where the suffering, oppressions and unheard slaughters are…reach your inner consciousness.
“Call To Action”.

Thanks to
Natlek, Nobel, Timothy from O, Lil Jabba, Dean Lyon, Mamboussa, Cameron Traxxx, Eternal Entropy, Drum Thing, Rushmore, Kieran Loftus, Rave Mysterio, Arrow Ganza, Hidden, DJBT.

And the silent smiling warriors out there.

Drum Thing - New Rise

8ULENTINA - Break The Cycle

C Powers - Which Ad Experience Do You Prefer?
CD002 | Out January 29

Georgia-born C Powers is the second artist to join the fledgling Contagion Discs imprint. 'Which Ad Experience Do You Prefer?' is their first release of 2021 and collects four compound tracks that scratch and bump through breaks, house and garage. C Powers has been making tracks and DJing in the South and around the world for well over a decade, while recent releases have come via labels like Sorry Records and Sweat Equity.

Now based in Portland, C Powers has both refined and expanded their vision of a groove-based, in-your-face electronics over the years. 'Which Ad Experience' consolidates that vision, utilizing a sequence of hard breaks, shuffling 2-step and tight, playful basslines across its four tracks. Dub and psychedelia flit throughout the title track and “FishWash”, while “Tinea” and “Lost Extract” channel martial rhythm into seductive dancefloor anthems.

C Powers uses they/them pronouns. 'Which Ad Experience Do You Prefer?' is out on January 29 via Contagion Discs.

Artwork: Adele C. Winn (www.adelecwinn.com)
Design: Caleb Ali Miller (https://www.caleb.world/)
Mastering: Will Mitchell

Which Ad Experience Do You Prefer?

C Powers - Lost Extract [CD002]

Benbo's 'W for W' implores shimmering vocals and proper low end with dizzying effect, creating brace-for-impact moments without ever losing its groove. Forthcoming on @looseemusic.

More: https://ins-rt.net/audio/benbo-w-for-w

Premiere: Object Blue 'Act like it then'

Mixmag