Toxic Optimizm

@nozagam is a solo project by French experimental-club producer Etienne Zastko who takes a bleak view of a destructive Anthropocene Epoch, in which “utopias can’t exist and we’ve lost our way in our blind devotion to technology”. The album pieces together a chronology of catastrophic events. A fictionalized soundtrack to humankind’s end-cycle. The abrasive textures and suffocating atmosphere immerse us into a total universe where everything that could have gone wrong has. Affirmations and tech bro optimism didn’t quite cut it. And if those disembodied voices that sporadically reach out are the survivors, that’s not good news.

The visual aesthetic of Zagam is one of fusion, a medieval plague doctor mask with a 23rd-century twist. “Anthropocene” mines a similarly disparate set of influences, spanning an evermore hybridized clubspace. Gqom, grime, industrial techno, footwork: everything is fair game. The rich musical background and hard sonic palette of Zagam make for a perfect match for the hybrid electronics approach of Unizone.
credits

Anthropocene is coming out on May 4, 2023 as a digital and physical release (50 limited edition cassettes available via label‘s Bandcamp page).

original tracks by Zagam
remix tracks by Miedo Total, Wulffluw XCIV, personalbrand & B E N N
mastered by Wim Dehaen
artwork & visuals by Erranth
tape design by Mr. Maquerelle
text by Thomas Romana

Bandcamp + Cassette

ZAGAM - LANDUTOPIA (WULLFLUW XCIV REMIX)

DASAL AT KATUTUBONG MUSIKA

B4DGIRLS

HANAN

Mun Sing - Frolic EP
ID009

https://munsing.bandcamp.com/album/frolic-ep

Mun Sing’s forthcoming ‘Frolic’ EP adopts the drama and intricacy of his productions to create a surreal, demented fairytale. In this world, fun and indulgence come at a price; a shadow of consequence is embodied in the form of a sinister blue faced scarecrow. He is a boogeyman of sorts, akin to the beasts scaring children into good-behaviour in bed time stories, but now finding his form in adulthood. The Scarecrow reminds us that everything comes at a price, and punishes those that have too much fun. He is the embodied voice of guilt after you choose one more drink, one more episode. He lays dormant, silently watching until it’s time to strike. Can we ever really escape this lurking figure? In the times we have succeeded, how long does it last?



‘Frolic’ follows a narrative that begins with indulgence and moves through to consequence; starting with euphoric melodies and big room drops ('Frolic', 'Didn’t Need U Anyway') and ending in moments of unravelling reflection ('Scrolling', 'The Hypocrite'). The Scarecrow reveals himself for the first time during the breakdown of the EP’s centrepiece ‘Somersault’; a theatrical club epic in which the scarecrow cackles the lines “You plead a pregnant passage yet frolic and frot without consequence!?” summarising the spirit of the EP succinctly. 



The concept of indulgence has fuelled the composition of ‘Frolic’ as a whole, where Mun Sing would lean into singalong melodies and satisfying drops using a more inclusive musical language in favour of the grief-inspired awkwardness of last years debut album ‘Inflatable Gravestone’ (Planet Mu). ‘Frolic’ is inspired by big stadium pop concerts for its large-scale storytelling and pantomime-esque audience participation. After years of navigating loss and spirituality, Mun Sing found the natural next step to be writing music which explores the dialogue of joy and escapism.

DOWNLOAD

Mun Sing - Somersault

Osheyack - Back In Kind
Artwork by Abraham Adams
Mastered by Raphael Valensi

Angel Vector

Psytrance forest (150bpm)skize by burning sneh 

Gog and Magog(skize)

5TÜ55Y - Namasté(FREE DL)

@nevaa7

Cover Artwork by Gergő Kovács 
gergokovacs.tumblr.com 
facebook.com/g.kovacs.666

Master by Laura Ingalls 
facebook.com/djlauraingalls

Evaa - Scheme

[FL014] FunctionLab CNY greeting release - GG Lobster - 動亂星 Stars of Turmoil EP

"Everything I do comes from romance, if I can't be romantic, then I won't make music anymore. "GG summarized in a post when "Punk Karaoke" was released.

Throughout the entire "動亂星 Stars of Turmoil EP", the Gabber / Hardcore influence cannot be erased, but this is already the result of GG's efforts to suppress this influence to the minimum. The sensory stimuli pursued at the DJ set were not all brought into his personal release. "動亂星 Stars of Turmoil EP" is concerned with what is happening now, not the cyberpunk ideas, the fantasy of the stars and the sea, nor is it a thing of the past.

Each track has a clear expression goal: "榮耀 Glory" uses a lofty melody to tells about GG's love for certain people and things, not only for the ambition he is putting into practice, but also for those who work as hard as he but People who have not yet made a name for themselves; "犬子來拜 Adoration of Sons" expresses his dissatisfaction with the current situation around him and unilateral provocations against some rogues in a restless voice; "動亂星 Stars of Turmoil" uses a lot of rhythmic patterns of traditional Chinese lion dance, and his emotional foundation is built on Encourage the FunctionLab team and the entire Hangzhou music scene; "香港 Sweet Harbour" focuses on the expectation of love between person to person, with the characterization of delicate melody as the lead.

"My temper is still very strong, but now I feel that fighting with music is a more effective and smarter way." GG sees this EP as a successful self-positioning rescue and a safer emotional release. If you want to make a distinction between his musical career, maybe style and technology are not the most important boundaries, and the change of mindset is the real watershed. Although in music, he has reconciled with it, but in his life, the rebellious attitude could not be changed. Don't roar lyrics is only a partial concession, and the music still carries his sharp opinions, those passionate opinions.

"Let those assholes hear the aggressiveness in my heart and the ambition of FunctionLab and I, and let those who are smug and arrogant about their small achievements hear, there must be a winner or loser one day. "In addition, more is unruly and open love. This is the fate of GG Lobster, and it's what he is. Those extravagant lyrics that don't care are now internalized in his heart, leading him and guiding him.

"I hope you can hug your companions after listening, especially those who are still with you while doing things like moth fluttering fire with you." This is the most sincere, the most meaningful suggestions from GG Lobster about this EP. 

released January 20, 2020

Mixing by GG Lobster
Mastering by GUAN
Artwork by GG Lobster
Photo by Limbo Limbs

HANAN

𝔓𝔩𝔲𝔰𝔥𝔟4̸̦̪̝̓̈́̕𝔟𝔜