Vinyl / Digital

MUSAR Catalog

Ricardo Tobar - Our Violence [MUSAR015]
12'' Vinyl in full artwork sleeve with paper inner.
Limited to 300 copies worldwide.

a1. Our Violence
a2. La Femme Aux Masques (SYO Summer of Love Remix)
b1. La Femme Aux Masques
b2. Mineral

We commence with a warm and bouncy UK acid house vibe. We conclude with a beguiling 'Boards of Canada' style electronic bubble bath. We’re treated to an array of flavors and an outstanding S.O.N.S remix in between. It can only be MUSAR and another compelling collection from Ricardo Tobar. 

With a discography that started on Border Community and includes the likes of Cocoon and ESP Institute as well as MUSAR, Chilean Ricardo’s credentials speak for themselves.

His music does, too. Constantly playing with themes of displacement, disorientation and delight in his fusions, ‘Our Violence’ was inspired by the ongoing discussions of cultural appropriation. At its heaviest, on tracks like the Isolee-esque ‘Our Violence’ and S.O.N.S's SYO rolling breakbeat remix of ‘La Femme Aux Masques’, we’re thrust deep into the most hypnotic of dances. At its most esoteric and experimental, tracks like ‘Mineral’ and ‘La Femme Aux Masques’, we’re taken to places we didn’t even know existed. Places that refuse to accept current formulas or standards and take us outside the box – where MUSAR always loves to be. 

“Even if it’s not a dance tune, it gives it that sort of disorienting feeling I always look for in something,” says Tobar. “In anything, as a matter of fact. Being that a piece of ‘art’ or a simple landscape. Maybe this is the door I was looking for…”
Keep that door open, we’ll be back before you know it…

Our Violence

MUSAR015 // Ricardo Tobar - Our Violence (incl SYO Remix)

J.Wiltshire - Luv44 [MUSAR016]
Limited 12'' edition transparent crystal vinyl (150 copies) in a PVC sleeve with inner printed artwork.

a1. Luv44
a2. The Number Counters (Konx-om-Pax Remix)
b1. The Number Counters
b2. Trails

UK-born, Berlin-based, J.Wiltshire (Hypercolour/Super Hexagon) returns to MUSAR for a deep excursion with Planet Mu's Konx-om-Pax on remix duties.

The tracks came to fruition in Berlin during a time in society when everything was closed and there was a huge layer of uncertainty across the globe. "I was channelling my interest in the introspective side of trance and finding comfort in what I was creating. It was sort of like going back to using processes from when I first started making dance music."

With three original tracks on the EP, 'Luv 44' opens the EP with a pulsating boom-bap groove and atmospheric synth work via acidic licks from the SH-101. 'The Number Counters' boasts sporadic analogue delay with white-noise snare drums and haunting ostinatos. 'Trails' is a welcoming, sluggish roller that chugs into oblivion, making for an idyllic warm-up excerpt for the club.

On remix duties, special guest Konx-om-Pax is summoned to bring his own interpretation of 'The Number Counters'. As an artist, you may recognise Konx-om-Pax’s visuals for Warp, Mogwai, Underground Resistance, Oneohtrix Point Never, Hyperdub, Advanced Beauty and LuckyMe. Oftentimes when turning his hand to production, the Planet Mu signee develops the original elements and pushes them into new territory via a host of analogue effects chains. Among the mix is a hypnotic and continual breakbeat that dips in and out dynamically, plus a host of improvised effects that sporadically paint over the mix like a beautiful and chaotic tapestry.

Luv44

MUSAR016 // J.Wiltshire - Luv44 (incl Konx-om-Pax Remix)

Hoshina Anniversary - Guru Guru [MUSAR017]
Limited edition 12" vinyl (300 copies) full artwork sleeve with paper inner.

a1. Guru Guru
a2. Banri
b1. Kaga
b2. Usagi

In Japanese, the word “guru-guru” refers to the state of spinning, whirling. 
This state is captured in the work of Japanese artist Hoshina Anniversary, who makes his third appearance on MUSAR with his EP ‘Guru Guru' and marks the return of the label after an extended break.

Hoshina’s self-titled brand of ‘watechno’ has appeared on well-loved dance music labels like ESP Institute, Volvox’s Jack Dept and Young Marco’s Safe Trip, alongside MUSAR where he also appeared as Shifting Gears back in 2022; an electronic-jazz- centered moniker.

His ‘Guru Guru’ EP captures the latest snapshot of Hoshina’s sound and sees him draw from Japanese language as a through-line. The title track is the clearest representation of his ‘watechno’, where he uses Japanese instrumentation on top of a menacing EBM-style march. The track's slowly whirling momentum is the “guru-guru”.

On tracks like “Banri”, which means far away in Japanese, we see new shades to Hoshina’s work as he mixes a Japanese Wadaiko drum groove with acidic elements and piano melodies to make a track of contradictions which pairs roughness with elegance. Whereas on “Usagi”, Japanese for rabbit, Hoshina fires up the BPM. Piano melodies remain here but their effect is more drifting and emotive than on “Banri”. “Kaga” is named after a place in the southernmost part of Ishikawa Prefecture, between Kanazawa City and Fukui City. On this track, Hoshina’s love for jazz comes through and even mirrors the work we heard from him under Shifting Gears.

Guru Guru

MUSAR017 // Hoshina Anniversary - Guru Guru

Stefan Vincent - Pre Melancholy [MUSAR018]
Limited 12'' edition transparent crystal vinyl (150 copies) in a PVC sleeve with inner printed artwork.

a1. Mono No Aware
a2. Agent of Distraction
b1. Yonghegong Lama Temple Exit F
b2. Yonghegong Lama Temple Exit F (Priori Remix)

Melancholy, the feeling, is often associated with darkness and deep depression. For Dutch artist Stefan Vincent, within the experience of melancholy there’s beauty to be found. “Decay and loneliness can serve a purpose. Depression can teach you things. To feel deep sadness also means the ability to feel profound emotions.” he says.

For his debut on MUSAR Recordings, “Pre Melancholy” EP, Vincent channels these notions of Melancholy into three tracks that draw on darker moods but also reflect beauty in their intricacy and the atmospheres they create. This EP acts as a precursor to his forthcoming album on MUSAR, “Post Melancholy” which is due in September.

“Mono No Aware” and “Yonghegong Lama Temple Exit F” are both taken from the LP, placed side by side with “Agent of Distraction”, an exclusive track from Vincent for this EP only. We’re also pleased to have Montreal-based musician Priori on the remix of “Yonghegong...”. His rework draws further emotion from that of Vincent’s by slowing the pace and bringing delicate melodies to the forefront; it’s one for introspection.

Pre Melancholy

MUSAR018 // Stefan Vincent - Pre Melancholy (incl Priori Remix)

Ricardo Tobar - La Condamine EP - MUSAR (MUSAR001)

a1. Rue Calme 
a2. La Condamine 
b1. Rue Calme (Marc Piñol Remix)
b2. Rue Calme (Ulrich Schnauss Remix)


South America's finest Ricardo Tobar returns with 'La Condamine', an EP of melodic & cosmic electronic music adventures. The four tracks EP is the first release on the edgy 'MUSAR' imprint, set to release on October 20th, 2017. 

As you can expect from a premium sound designer & tastemaker, Tobar's EP channels his roots from classic 80's darkwave analog sounds and the melodic, softer edges of early IDM.

'Rue Calme' is a deep and uplifting psychedelic trip that standing exactly on the borders between the dark and the light worlds of Tobar sounds, while the title track 'La Condamine' draws on influences such as Boards of Canada, Orbital and Sci-Fi movies, with an epic melody on warm northern drums-plate, perfect for sunset time.

On the remixes are Barcelona's favorite player Marc Piñol and the sound architecture Ulrich Schnauss with a colorful explosion of electronic sounds. Ulrich's remix reimagining the beats in early 90's lo-fi shoegaze version of the opening track, while Marc's remix is a floor magical journey covered by bright vocals and rich atmosphere.

La Condomine

MUSAR001 // Ricardo Tobar - La Condamine (incl Ulrich Schnauss & Marc Piñol Remixes)

MANASYt - Reality Defense Department EP (MUSAR002)

a1. Memory Imprints
a2. Mobile Pharmacy
a3. Orthodox Spanking (Wax Stag Remix)
b1. Mobile Pharmacy (Via App Remix)
b2. Orthodox Spanking

We are honoured to welcome Bulgaria's electro-synth pioneer MANASYt with a new five-track EP, the first in a three-part series. 'Reality Defense Department' will be the Bulgarian's first new material since 2012. 

Petar Tassev aka MANASYt, hails from the twilight zone. Growing up with the blacks swans in the forest of communist Bulgaria, listening to metal and hardcore music then interpreting the moody, roughness together with inspirations from electronic new-wave music to a raw, pure and dark adventure bubbling with madness.

'Reality Defense Department' is a future horror movie soundtrack.
The first track 'Memory Imprints' is a pure psychedelic-trip into the mental clinic for clockwork orange droogs, while the second track 'Mobile Pharmacy' evokes an apocalyptic alien attack. 
'Orthodox Spanking' is a dark, wayward fetish party electro track full of post-punk elements, fitting for an artist given to performing live in a rubber 'gimp' mask. 

A pair of remixes are supplied by Brooklyn's wonder girl 'Via App' with a deep, dark and gothic techno rework for the late dazed hours of the morning and Norwich's kept secret,
'Wax Stag' (an occasional collaborator with Bibio and Clark) that delivers a dreamy, cosmic twist that will linger in your consciousness for a long, long time to come.

Reality Defense Department

Order

MUSAR002 // MANASYt - Reality Defense Department (incl Via App & Wax Stag Remixes)

J.Wiltshire - Laghan Pux EP (MUSAR003)

a1. DESklep (photomix)
a2. Laghan Pux
b1. Laghan Pux (Roy of The Ravers 303 Euro Mix)
b2. Chained Release
b3. Summon Them


Following 12"s from Ricardo Tobar and MANASYt, the third release on Tel Aviv's MUSAR welcomes rising UK star and Super Hexagon label boss, J.Wiltshire.

The Laghan Pux EP finds Wiltshire sharing his psychedelic electronic side and brings his versatile skills together, serving up four completely different soundtracks.
The gleaming sci-fi gem 'DESklep' opens the EP as a pure melodic IDM track loaded with Cornwall style while the bass-heavy title track 'Laghan Pux' is pumping as a dark & sharp peak-time trippy beast.

On the B side, the mysterious Roy of The Ravers, gives you an interpretation of what is a proper acid sounds like, whereas 'Chained Releases' takes you on a deep and hypnotic adventure into space, full of warm guitar melodies and trancey synths. 
'Summon Them' closes the EP, an ambient magic piece for a hazy, orange morning where the birds just woke up and the trees singing for the first time to break the day.

Laghan Pux

MUSAR003 // J.Wiltshire - Laghan Pux (incl Roy of The Ravers Remix)

Annie Hall - Statics (MUSAR004)

a1. Linium
a2. Lavandula (Mattheis Remix)
b1. Lavandula
b2. Silene
b3. Santolina

After more than a decade of deep, expansive productions on labels such as Detroit Underground and CPU, Annie Hall arrives on MUSAR for a record typically rich in texture and understated grooves.

Opening track ‘Linium’ immediately seduces listeners with a complex drum pattern that somehow feels spacious, subtly twisting and turning it’s way around Hall’s analogue world. 
Dutch artist Mattheis maintains this understated feel but adds a soft, compelling kick in response on his suspenseful remix of ‘Lavandula’. The original, moodier version of this cut the follows to open the B side, gradually erupting around a killer distorted bassline. 

The EP continues to hit a more urgent note with the tense machinations of ‘Silene’, where dense layers of stuttering, frenetic drums interweave with Hall’s trademark, melancholy keys. The record concludes on a weightless, transcendent note with ‘Santolina’, taking each visceral element featured thus far and slowing each down, with affecting results.

Indebted to vintage electro and IDM, Hall’s music is no throwback, always looking forward and moving dancefloors in the most unexpected ways.

Statics

MUSAR004 // Annie Hall - Statics (incl Mattheis Remix)

Mental Overdrive - DARTRAX [MUSAR005]
Limited 12" vinyl (150 copies) in transperant sleeve with paper inner.

a1. Mbira-Kalimba (feat. Chiwoniso Maraire & Anania Ngoliga)
a2. Litungu (feat. Maulid Mohammed)
b1. Mbira-Kalimba (Charlotte Bendiks & Boska Remix)
b2. Litungu (DMX Krew Remix)

Following well-received releases from Annie Hall, J. Wiltshire, MANASYt and Ricardo Tobar, MUSAR continues with another distinct slice of hugely satisfying, leftfield dance music, this time courtesy of legendary Norwegian techno producer, Mental Overdrive.

Active since 1990, when he produced the first in a series of legendary, rave-ready EPs for R&S, Mental Overdrive, born Per Martinsen, continues to find inventive new musical paths and approaches thirty years into his career. This deft touch of lifelong curiosity is executed as creatively as ever on the ‘DARTRAX’ EP.

The recordings present on the EP began life in 2004, when Per Martinsen and Aggie Peterson were invited to Tanzania by Norwegian radio producer Sigbjørn Nedland to take part in recording sessions with local musicians in Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo. Despite the “super-inspiring” nature of the sessions, the recordings had been languishing on a hard-drive for over a decade, until their rediscovery leads to them becoming much sought-after, charismatic dancefloor weapons amongst a tight network of DJs.

It should come as no surprise that the mbira itself is key to the lead track ‘Mbira-Kalimba’, forged in partnership with musicians Chiwoniso Maraire & Anania Ngoliga, although others may be delighted, not least relieved, with the precision and creativity with which Martinsen and his collaborators execute the instrument’s unique sound. Far from utilising the usual sample-as-exoticism trope rampant through electronic music, the track instead weaves a delicate and authentic melody that seamlessly expands into surprisingly gritty, yet still playful electro territory, and out the other side.

‘Litungu’, meanwhile, performs a treatment of similar intent on the traditional and more obscure, lute-like instrument predominantly popular in traditional Kenyan music. Here, Martinsen and Maulid Mohammed delicately balance the delicate touch of the original with a layer of charismatic filter and distortion, adding texture to a beat that is somehow both folksy and yet propulsive, resulting in something truly unexpected for open-minded dancefloors.

On remix duty, fellow Norwegians Charlotte Bendiks (one of the first DJs to champion the original) and her equally-skilled studio partner Boska reduce ‘Mbira-Kalimba’ to it’s hypnotic, percussive core, eventually turning the original source to electro liquid for a diverse payoff. Sending heads spinning for the finish, DMX Krew proves to be an inspired choice to remix ‘Litungu’, blending his elastic acid-electro impulses with a particularly wild refix of a more obscure sound, concocting a memorable redo that could only be his own.

This EP is dedicated to Chiwoniso Maraire (1976-2013)

DARTRAX

MUSAR005 // Mental Overdrive - DARTRAX (incl DMX Krew, Charlotte Bendiks & Boska Remix)

Ricardo Tobar - Nadivi [MUSAR006]

a1. Nadivi
b1. Nadivi (Legowelt Remix)
b2. The Structures Of Summer Are Within Us

Following celebrated releases from Annie Hall, J.Wiltshire, MANASYt and Mental Overdrive, Amsterdam based label MUSAR returns to Ricardo Tobar for ‘Nadivi’, two earthy electronic trips, accompanied by a bewitching remix from Legowelt.

On this exciting release, Chilean-born Tobar continues his knack of blending the live tones of krautrock and electronica with a house and techno pulse, in a style not dissimilar to Luke Abbot or James Holden (Tobar has previously released on the latter’s imprint, Border Community.) 

Title track ‘Navidi’ finds him at his offbeat best, a genuinely progressive and psychedelic rolling house number that blossoms into something surprisingly epic while utilising only weirdo textures, askew basslines and otherworldly samples. 

Legowelt, meanwhile, flips the energy of the original into an acid bath, blending his typical grit with a halcyon and dare we say, surprisingly funky bassline, while retaining the weirdo spirit of its source material. Finally, on the memorably titled ‘The Structures Of Summer Are Within Us’, Tobar rolls out a wistful, cathartic live jam that blossoms into something curious and perhaps unexpected, reminiscent of Silver Apples or Animal Collective.

Staking further claim as one of the most naturally innovative and feeling producers in the electronic music landscape, ‘Navidi’ is that rare sort of dance release; propulsive, intriguing and refreshingly lovely.

Nadivi

MUSAR006 // Ricardo Tobar - Nadivi (incl Legowelt Remix)

Hoshina Anniversary - Zangai [MUSAR007]
Limited edition 12" vinyl (150 copies) in a transparent sleeve with paper inner.

a1. Zangai
a2. Tenjin
b1. Zangai (Ricardo Tobar Remix)
b2. Tenjou

MUSAR introduces a new artist into its already stellar fold with the arrival of a new EP from Tokyo-based DJ and producer, Hoshina Anniversary.
Hoshina’s previous releases on labels including Volvox’s Jack Dept. have earned him support from a wide range of DJs including Laurel Halo, Lena Willikens, Young Marco and Veronica Vasicka. 

‘Zangai’ is made up of three new tracks that play on Hoshina’s influences from contemporary techno to experimental jazz, filtered through his Japanese heritage, coupled with a soaring remix from MUSAR associate, Ricardo Tobar. Throughout the trio, Hoshina Anniversary traverses a number of moods without ever sacrificing his innate sense of rhythm.

Lead track ‘Zangai’ is a rolling acid paean to the atmospheric ruins of Oda Nobunaga’s Azuchi Castle, while a darker mood and texture defines the satisfyingly rubbery techno weight of ‘Tenjin’, translating as “deified spirit”. Tobar expels the darkness at the centre to see the light for his buoyant remix, leading to the jazzy, high-tempo electro of ‘Tenjou’ to close the record.

Zangai

MUSAR007 // Hoshina Anniversary - Zangai (incl Ricardo Tobar Remix)

Nightwave - The Journey [MUSAR008]
Limited edition 12" vinyl (150 copies) in a transparent sleeve with paper inner.

a1. The Journey
a2. Jiboia Groove
b1. Monkey Puzzle 
b2. The Journey (Violet Remix)
b3. Forest Guru [Digital Bonus]

MUSAR continues to explore the healthy landscape of underground and alternative electronic music with the debut release on the label from Nightwave. ‘The Journey’ is a fitting title for the Glaswegian producer, DJ and promoter, who has been a lynchpin for the city’s vibrant music scene since her first release in 2010. In the time since, Nightwave has a developed a punchy and highly original sound that blends potent influences of acid, techno and forward-thinking bass music, with releases on DABJ, UTTU, Fool’s Gold, DEXT and her own imprint Heka Trax.

For her MUSAR debut, Nightwave celebrates, in her own words, “joy, dance, exploring inner worlds, the celebration of nature and life and how it all interconnects”. On a delicate tip, opening and title track ‘The Journey’ establishes the EP’s “rainforest rave” aesthetic, spiralling upwards with weightless energy. It’s underlying percussion steps forward on ‘Jiboia Groove’, which blossoms thrillingly into wave upon wave of ethereal, breakbeat-led rave.

‘Monkey Puzzle’ pulls a similar, if more uncompromising trick, only with its rhythmic timber instead succumbing to layers of rough-hewn, squealing acid synthesis and pounding snare drums. ‘Forest Guru’ meanwhile restores much of the record’s spiritual equilibrium in one fell swoop, finding a clearing in the landscape to sculpt a rolling, detailed jam that’s as playful as it is creative.

Naive founder and Lisbon’s rave goddess, Violet generously remixes ‘The Journey’ in intriguing fashion, unravelling a trippy and tense riddle at the heart of the rainforest.

The Journey

MUSAR008 // Nightwave - The Journey (incl Violet Remix)

MANASYt - Inferior Subjects [MUSAR009]
Limited 100 units x C45 Cassette Tapes

a1. Screw The Routine
a2. Terminal Medicine
a3. Daylight For 15 Seconds
a4. Positive Deception
b1. Secret Time
b2. Incest Sect 
b3. Metacontrol
b4. God of Chance

MUSAR is excited about the return of MANASYt, Bulgaria's electro-synth pioneer, for ’Inferior Subjects', a new album, bubbling with madness and loaded with dark- wave sounds. The 2nd part of MANASYt's lost tracks series - recorded between 2000s-2010s and found in his old PC.

For his second release on MUSAR, Petar Tassev collected some of his best unreleased works to date, inspired by metal and new-wave music then interpreting the moody, roughness to a raw, pure and dark adventure, like no one else does.

'Inferior Subjects' consists of 8 dark and psychotic tracks that will take you deep into a futuristic dystopian world adventure -
Opener ''Screw The Routine'' is a dark-wave fetishistic killer, pushing the clubby
electronic music borders to new limits. ''Terminal Medicine'' is a deep psychedelic horror soundtrack to a very bad day at your dentist while ''Daylight For 15 Seconds‘' (inspired by the Belgian film 'Nuit Noire') is a slow hazy burner that will send you straight to the mental clinic.''Positive Deception'' is the anthem of the aliens while attacking earth, ’'Secret Time'' will lock you in a room where time moves backwards and forwards at the same time and ''Insect Sect'' a mystic electro piece of music for a deep nightmare. 
Closing the album - ''Metacontol'' and ''God of Chance'' two evil energetic electro bombs, pure chaos and full of post-punk elements, perfect for fetish party/techno rave, fitting for an artist given to performing live in a rubber 'gimp' mask.

'Inferior Subjects' will mark the beginning of MUSAR's new limited Cassette Tape series that will focus on producers edgy sides and the wonderful weird side of electronic music.

Inferior Subjects

Order C45 / Digital

MUSAR009 // MANASYt - Inferior Subjects

Ricardo Tobar - After The Movie [MUSAR010]
Limited edition 12" vinyl (300 copies) full artwork sleeve with paper inner.

a1. After The Movie
a2. Regain Your Power
b1. After The Movie (Plaid Remix)
b2. Parques

Releasing his first-ever vinyl release ‘El Sunset’ on James Holden’s, Border Community back in 2007, Chilean producer Ricardo Tobar has since been held in high regard by the seminal UK producer. Intricately constructing his way around the parameters of emotionally-lead, highly atmospheric electronic music, Ricardo has brought his sound forward to grace the rosters of Jennifer Cardini’s, Correspondant, ESP Institute and MUSAR Recordings. Continuing to extend his already significant discography, he now returns to MUSAR for a third time with ‘After The Movie’ EP.

Ricardo’s ‘After The Movie’ EP forms a selection of cuts that have been held in his locker for quite some time. Uncovered by MUSAR Recordings label head, Dweedo on a podcast from way back, it seemed only natural that this unreleased music from Ricardo would find its home on the Amsterdam-Tel-Aviv label.

Across his EP, Ricardo plays with varying textures and arrangements that in turn provide a cross-section of his sound that has expanded and developed over time. ‘After The Movie’ presents the experimental ambience synonymous with his early works, whilst ‘Parques’ brings an idyllic, cinematic feel with strictly crafted synth arrangements riding high, post-rock influences also show through. ‘Regain Your Power’ represents a change of course, whilst also channelling a political message punctuated by social unrest taking place in Ricardo’s home country, Chile. He abandons experimentalism in favour of tougher 4x4 elements, allowing his machines to run riot.

“The mixture of ideas and feelings on this EP have a politically charged spirit, as electronic music always does. A few weeks after I finished ‘Regain Your Power’ the whole Chilean social explosion took place with the same ideals I had in mind when recording the track.”
Ricardo Tobar

Stepping up on the remix is a pair whose names are etched into the history of UK electronic music, Plaid. Reworking title track ‘After The Movie’, they produce an emotive, soundscape complete with droning basslines and ex-terrestrial flourishes.

After The Movie

MUSAR010 // Ricardo Tobar - After The Movie (incl Plaid Remix)

J.Wiltshire - Resa [MUSAR011]
Limited 100 units x C52 Cassette Tapes

a1. Barefoot Pilgrim
a2. No Longer Concerning	
a3. Lumb
a4. Other Fruits Resplit
a5. Denied
a6. In The Position
b1. Resa 
b2. Dismantlers 
b3. Conditions II
b4. Same Thing Twice
b5. Low Budget

After successful releases on Black Orpheus and Oscillate Tracks, UK rising talent and Super Hexagon boss, J.Wiltshire returns to MUSAR for his debut album ‘Resa’, a pure listening experience of ambient soundscapes and forward-thinking sci-fi cuts, the second release in MUSAR's new limited Cassette Tape series, that focus on producers edgy sides.

'Resa' finds Wiltshire sharing 11 sci-fi and futuristic ambient gems, blends melancholic movements with rich layers of harmonics, resulting in a sequence of slowly unfurling tracks that sounds brilliant first time around, but also reveal more intricate details once you've listened a few times.

Listening through from start to finish, where it comes on like a genuine soundtrack to a melancholic, space film, it's an evocative musical journey that stirs the senses and toys with your emotions.

Opener 'Barefoot Pilgrim' is a welcoming hazy warm-up atmospheric piece, together with 'Lumb' and 'In The Position' reflects on how Wiltshire maps human calm and tranquillity onto the softer parts of the natural world, a place where everything sounds calm and peaceful, in his own words: "I was using music composition for a creative release but mainly as a tool for calming anxiety."

There are also intense ambient moments and post-IDM dreamscapes inside, such as - 'Dismantlers' and 'Denied', It is in turns icy, futuristic, introspective and blindingly picturesque. 'Other Fruits Resplit' is a particularly standout highlighted track of a sharp and catchy vocal chop melody, while 'Same Thing Twice' and 'No Longer Concerning' are gorgeously melancholic.

Resa

Digital / Cassette

MUSAR011 // J.Wiltshire - Resa

Shifting Gears - Evil [MUSAR012]
Limited edition 12" vinyl (150 copies) in a transparent sleeve with obi strip.

a1. Senor Senorita
a2. Evil
b1. Miyatsukomaro
b2. Syndicate

Hoshina Anniversary returns to MUSAR under a new cloak, Shifting Gears. 

Toyko’s Hoshina Anniversary has risen to particular prominence in recent years with his self-titled brand of ‘Watechno’. Stylistically fusing traditional Japanese instrumentation with Chicago and Detroit sensibilities, his works have found homes on ESP Institute, Young Marco’s Safe Trip and Amsterdam-based MUSAR Recordings.

Landing on the latter, MUSAR, little over a year ago with ‘Zangai’ EP, Hoshina returns under a new cloak, Shifting Gears, to present ‘Evil’ EP. 
 
Named after the 1975 ‘Gears’ LP of jazz and hard bop organist, Johnny Hammond, the Shifting Gears moniker focuses heavily on principles of Jazz and raw musicianship, with a continued exploration of machine-reared club sounds. How the two can take shape as one. 
 
Across ‘Evil’ EP, Hoshina’s native culture remains, as heard on ‘Miyatsukomaro’, where traditional Japanese strings harmonise with crisp hats and jazz keys. Inspired by the early works of keyboardist and composer, Bob James, all is underpinned by intrinsic Chicago synth work.
 
A recurrent theme throughout, the Chicago vibe most notably takes hold on title track ‘Evil’. An insidious march, the floor-pummeling kick and shoulder-tickling toms marry seamlessly with dracula-esque chords and dizzying piano arrangements. Nodding to the mischievous bassist Jaco Pastorius of jazz fusion band, Weather Report.    
 
Informed by the pacey creations of a revered duo, The Brecker Brothers and the 70’s rock music that soundtracked Hoshina’s youth, opener, ‘Senor Senorita’ wraps swathing reverb around a raucous melody and jiving percussion. Meanwhile, the seedy ‘Syndicate’ closes out amid eerie synth sneers and quirky, funk-flecked modulations.

Evil

Pre-order

MUSAR012 // Shifting Gears - Evil

San Proper & D. - Home [MUSAR013]
Limited edition 12" vinyl (300 copies) full artwork sleeve with paper inner.

a1. Home
a2. Get On Down
b1. Home (Hoshina Anniversary Remix)
b2. Licks & Tech

A name, a man, an attitude, Amsterdam Dj and producer San Proper is one that needs very little introduction. His intricately minimal, yet highly musical productions have seen the light of day on Dekmantel, Perlon and Rush Hour Records alongside his own label, Proper’s Cult.
Now, this renowned crazy cat presents a new set of works, ‘Home’ EP with MUSAR Recordings.

Teaming up with drummer, producer and long-time collaborator, D. (real name Derek Van Beelen) who has also appeared solo on ‘Proper’s Cult’, the two come together on ‘Home’ to explore the genre of house; expanding it into new, idiosyncratic forms.

Across ‘Home’ EP, the flamboyance and quirks of San are deeply embroidered.
From the frenetically charged, punk-esque ‘Home’ to the mid-tempo trip of ‘Get On Down’, each see the musical talents of D. underpinning the cursive vocals and hardware slurs of Proper.
Whilst closing track ‘Licks & Tech’ provides an off-kilter take, pairing woody, linear percussive parts with sweeping and insidious modulations.

Tokyo’s very own ‘Watechno’ originator and MUSAR associate, Hoshina Anniversary comes through with a rework of ‘Home’. Flexing over San’s vocals with jazzy keys and native Japanese instrumentation, striking experimentations in-keep with the expansive nature of ‘Home’ EP.

Home

MUSAR013 // San Proper & D. - Home (incl Hoshina Anniversary Remix)

ΠΕΡΑ ΣΤΑ ΟΡΗ - IMMI [MUSAR014]
Limited 12'' edition transparent crystal vinyl (150 copies) in a PVC sleeve with inner printed artwork.

a1. SCATTER 0ˆ
a2. CIN1
b1. CIN1 (Kamila Govorčin Remix)
b2. BOUNCING/LASSITUDE

Pera Sta Ori is the pseudonym of greek sound artist and producer, George Kontogiannidis. Professing a futuristic style, his music blends senses from DnB, IDM and bleep. Bursting into the general consciousness back in 2017, time has only seen this promising artist grow with releases on brokntoys, Furthur Electronix and Yellow Machines. He now readies his next EP with us at MUSAR, titled ‘IMMI’.

Short for ‘Immigrant’, ‘IMMI’ EP is dedicated to uprooted people. Within, Pera Sta Ori explores an imaginary world in which misery is erased from memory. Projecting into vast expanses, each track forms an echo chamber. From the urgent and frenetic vocals of ‘SCATTER 0^’, layered with crunching percussion and swarming bass, to the ambience of ‘Bouncing/Lassitude’ and downtempo quirks of ‘CIN1’, Pera Sta Ori provides a variance of headscapes to slip into.

Chilean celestial spark Kamila Govorčin creates her own world on the remix of ‘CIN1’. Jagged percussion ripple and ricochet with near-industrial inflections. Peppered with openings of etherealism, the samples of the original glide whilst Govorčin keeps things driving with four-to-the- floor punches.

IMMI

MUSAR014 // ΠΕΡΑ ΣΤΑ ΟΡΗ - IMMI (incl Kamila Govorčin Remix)

An independent record label curated and run by Dweedo, operating out of Amsterdam.