Dub Techno

Al Wootton returns to ZamZam with two more stunning sides of deep dubwise for late and later. It’s been a prolific year and a half since his last ZamZam, with multiple killer 12”s and an LP on his own Trule label, a four-tracker for Livity Sound, and two thrilling EPs as Holy Tongue alongside drummer Valentina Magaletti. Informed equally by UK dub, garage, roots reggae and techno, Al Wootton creates unique amalgams that always hit, and this 7” adds to that legacy in fine style.  

‘Every Knee Shall Bow’ opens with swimming percussion and echoing pads, ramping the tension before dropping into a potent, simmering 4/4 powerhouse, a perfect marriage of steppers and dub techno, at once visceral and cerebral, up front & deep, clear yet heavily atmospheric. Galloping drums, massive reverb splashes and FX, a wide-eyed drop into space… pure fire for the dancers. 

B Side 'Every Tongue Confess,’ drops the tempo down to 120, pulling us into pure heartbeat territory with drum kit, bass guitar, live percussion and keys all played by the artist and dubbed hands-on-desk style. A deep internal grounation in the timeless Count Ossie to Rhythm & Sound continuum, this is true healing music whether on a proper Sound or at home on the hi-fi.  

Strictly limited to 700 copies for the world. No digital, no repress. Design & screen print by Polygon Press. Mastered by Sam at Precise. Releasing late October 2021.

Contact: zamzamsounds@gmail.com

Al Wootton "Every Knee Shall Bow" b/w "Every Tongue Confess" ZamZam 85 vinyl blend

DOT 1

Book of Life (feat. Benji)

Damaged

The Regulator

Hot Wired

Order: http://www.kompakt.fm/releases/signs_under_test_2xlp_cd

- The lastest full-length effort from LA-based synth mastermind JOHN TEJADA
- An unabashedly dreamy collection of 11 expertly crafted cuts that rank among the artist's best work to date
- 2xLP edition pressed on 180gr audiophile vinyl, including a CD of the entire album

Following his much-acclaimed full-length „The Predicting Machine“ (KOMPAKT 267 CD 102) and a slew of pop-infused 12“ singles - „We Can Pretend“ (KOMPAKT 286) and „Somewhere“ (KOMPAKT 264) -, LA-based synth mastermind JOHN TEJADA returns with new album SIGNS UNDER TEST: comprised of all-new material, this latest effort sees the studio wizard digging deeper into his modules, unearthing particularly dreamy tracks that rank among John's most accomplished work to date.

From the get-go, SIGNS UNDER TEST presents itself as a whole new ball of wax, reaching even further into the depths of JOHN TEJADA's hot-wired synth machinery, while cranking up the already stunning levels of musicality on display in his oeuvre. Opener TWO 0 ONE serves as a prime example for the sonic aplomb in place, thanks to its beautifully rendered melodies and finely tuned textures – a perfect storm made of cosy melancholy and celestial bliss. This expertly wrought piece serves as a particularly strong entry point for the album, setting the bar high for its successors.

An unabashedly brilliant listen, the album continues its thrilling journey with existential bleepfest Y 0 WHY and the bass-heavy BEACHT, followed by the intricately arpeggiated R.U.R. and brooding electronica vignette VAALBARA. The second part is ringed in by the undulating CRYPTOCHROME - another proof for JOHN TEJADA's uncanny ability to craft tracks that operate as distinguished bouncers as well as introspective meditations. The deliberate vivacity of connecting cuts RUBRIC and PENUMBRA only confirms the growing suspicion that this might be a timeless masterpiece we're dealing with.

As gorgeous as it sounds, texture isn't the only star here: a surprisingly diverse set of rhythm patterns suffuses the mesmerizing synth licks - take for example the multilayered ENDORPHINS effortlessly switching between straight techno stylings and vintage breakbeat ornaments. Meanwhile, electronic landscape painting MEADOW purrs away on its road to redemption, priming the listener for closing cut HEAVE IN SIGHT, an atmospherically rich composition that marries abstract storytelling with a flurry of reversed synth sounds.

„There's a bit more dreamy tape wobble going on throughout“, says the producer about his latest effort, „as I’ve gone quite analog tape with my delays and patches - on the verge of actually being broken, which gives them a nice character.“ It also might explain the air of intimacy surrounding the album - a quite personal listening experience taking the listener up close with its details and idiosyncracies, „maybe even more than before, as I’ve tried to cut out distractions and really focus on the production.“
The result is a record that is not meant to be trendy, even though it’s a product of analog hardware connoisseurship: „Everything is built from the ground up using hardware synths - mostly analog, but that’s a bit annoying to say nowadays. It’s not a record that fits in with any current stuff, but something that hopefully holds up as it ages. Something that hopefully reveals more on repeated listens.“ In our humble opinion, this mission has been more than accomplished with SIGNS UNDER TEST.

04 R.U.R.

02 Y O Why

John Tejada - Two 0 One (Original Mix)

Brendon Moeller exploring the deep on ECHOLTD012. Cut on 12” 180g blue marbled vinyl.

No Partial

Rhythm & Sound

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