RIOCAST

Benedikt blending first time only experimental in-house projects by himself & INIT Find the Interview with @https://soundcloud.com/freybenedikt at: https://riolabel.com/riocasts

RIOCAST02 Benedikt Frey - Do Easy Archive

Here´s the title track from our next release NAVA by @freybenedikt & @tohinc

Order here:
https://riolabel.bandcamp.com/album/benedikt-frey-tim-toh-nava

Distribution:
https://www.one-eye-witness.com/release/1634121441/Benedikt-Frey-and-Tim-Toh-NAVA

www.riolabel.com

Music Video

Benedikt Frey & Tim Toh - Neu (ft. Lisa Toh & Niklas Wandt)

Welcome https://soundcloud.com/garcon from switzerland to our RIOCAST series. Find the interview here --> https://riolabel.com/riocasts

RIOCAST05 Garçon - Flimmer

Splendid Mix by Marijana Croon for our RIOCAST series. Full Interview here --> @riolabel.com/riocasts

RIOCAST06 Marijana Croon - Tanzverbot

@freybenedikt RIO09 // 11.18.2022 // Distr. One Eye Witness

When British Airways got privatized and listed on the London Stock Exchange, somewhere in Canada the first Starbucks outside of the US opened, and the Walt Disney Company signed an agreement with the French Prime Minister to construct Disneyland Paris. In the sky above southern Argentina, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, northern Somalia, and the Atlantic Ocean a hybrid solar eclipse materialized for 7.57 seconds, whilst Margaret Thatcher performed for 45-minutes on Soviet television. Some days later, The Simpsons cartoon first appears as a series of shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show, Diego Maradona wins his first Italian soccer championship with Napoli, and Eighteen-year-old West German pilot Mathias Rust lands a private plane on Red Square in Moscow. In the mists of the world's first conference on artificial life at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Mainland China opens in Beijing, and Prozac gets approved for use as an antidepressant in the United States. Much give way for the future, down there in 1987, the year that marks the title of Benedikt Frey’s freshest mini album, out into the world on R.i.O., the label he runs with some pals in the North of Berlin. It’s a dubby melancholic conqueror, wistfully, repetitive, drilling, absorbing, spooking. It makes you dream. Not particular of the year 1987. But it’s all there: The Red Square, the untouched land of the Val d'Europe, Diego on fuego. Six dark-ish tracks in trance, melancholic dub, downbeat heaven, journey music depths, all full of light and yet so dark. Futuristic dramas linked to a speculative past. In our dreams all might look different. The eclipse may last 27-minutes. You meet Neuromancer cyberpunks and blade running Ghost dogs, all taught to hack by Phrack. Cristal clear melodies, sampled voices, and veiled basslines, analogue scopes, and digital ropes, longing for a past that storm into the future. A time where deep listening widens the acoustics into infinity, while neon glows charm the light smog. Benedikt Frey been down there. Or maybe not. His latest music tells stories from the bygone, vested with the forthcoming. Come in and look out. There is nothing to see, yet so much to hear. ML

A1) Phrack 5:55
A2) Trencher 6:15
A3) ORI 3:38
B1) Attitude 5:45
B2) Dummy 5:43
B3) Steam 5:30

Supported by Initiative Musik gGmbH with project funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media.

1987

Bandcamp

RIO09 Benedikt Frey - 1987

@freybenedikt b2b @menqui for the closing! <3

Benedikt Frey b2b Menqui @ Arkaoda Berlin November 19th

Here’s Pose Dia’s „Phoenix“ weeded through Benedikt Frey.
Coming coming coming close to the original grinding a sticky 3 note bassline.
twisting highlights in multiple echo chambers. Certainly approved for club use! 
Measured by a heavy track-ID-request-rate. 
@freybenedikt @pose_dia
mastered by @fpeidner @sfblume 
design: @omnigroup
#posedia #benediktfrey #pop #jungle #dub #techno #storytelling #trigger #pulled #playitloud #nottooloud #blazing #remix #outnow #phoenix

Pose Dia - Phoenix (Benedikt Frey Remix)

Long time in the vaults, soon out in pop heaven: Andrea & Alexander, a handsomely nostalgic pop project by Andrea Noce aka Eva Geist and Alexander Arpeggio. Originally launched in 2014, revitalized in 2023, the project originated as a live set-up consisting of synthesizers, effect pedals, and analogue drum machines. From there it slowly metamorphosed into a crew of songs with raw minimal-wave grooves and romantically haunting English and German pop lyrics, loosely evoking the aura of Siouxsie Sioux, Gudrun Gut or Nadine Bal. After becoming a live mainstay in the Berlin based underground club Sameheads, they went on a tour through Lithuania and soon after several unfortunate troubles led to the break-up of the band, prompting both Andrea and Alexander to focus on their solo careers. Andrea became Eva Geist and released for various international labels, played live and formed the female duo As Longitude. Alexander founded his own label Eine Welt, took over the management of the renowned underground festival Camp Cosmic and created two musical projects with Cid Hohner, Otto and Aufgang B. Now, years later, almost becoming a Soundcloud corpse some Andrea & Alexander recordings caught the attention of the R.i.O. folks and just seconds later they offer six freshly recorded cuts of Andrea & Alexander tunes that stood the test of time as authentic, soulful pop music. “What are we going to wear for tonight’s party?” Andrea Noce asks in their song “Tiney Party”. The answer is “Loved Up” a musical celebration outfit of six sincere recorded, emotionally accorded songs, who make the dance, give verve a chance, to be there, in that moment of all moments. An album for the listener that likes to dance. In his head, on the local carpet. “Loved Up” humming Andrea & Alexander tunes.

Artists: @andreanoce & @alexanderarpeggio 
Text by ML
Mastering by FPSF
Design and typography by: Omnigroup
Distribution by Word & Sound

Andrea & Alexander - Loved Up

Andrea & Alexander - Amazing Grace

All those spirits, those walks of life, all those sound journeys between worlds, between continents. Australian duo KXB is back at R.i.O., bringing a follow up to their first record “Areas of Uncertainty”, released in 2023. This time an exquisite collab. With filmmaker and vocalist Thrush, member of the feverish band Concentration. The duo from Melbourne, and the singer from Berlin bring a collection of tracks, dubs and versions - written and produced over the last two years with the tape format in mind. Inspired by fabled underground cassette labels like New Zealand-based late 1980ees/ early 1990ees sensation Xpressway and mixed continuously as a nod to 90s jungle bootleg mixtapes like the Yaman tapes by LTJ Bukem, DJ Hype, Randall, or Peshay. Distinctive vocalist Thrush travelled South, and spent two sweltering afternoons with KXB in Melbourne, doing free-spirited improvisations in the studio, that were later pieced together into the resulting album. 13 variations in sound, in which Thrush's lyrics explore chasmic spaces and energies common to both Germany and Australia. Her voice dances partly on trip hopping rhythms and indie-tronics, while technoid vibes, alternative house zones, and vivid trips into kosmische top the collaboration off. A piece of art formed by a clique of like-minded souls – gathered their walks of life between worlds into explorer music of unexplored districts. 

Text: ML
Graphic: Omnigroup
Mastering: FPSF
Artists: https://soundcloud.com/kkxxbb

The album will be available digitally and on tape on Feb 21st.
Limited edition of 50.

I FEED YOU (SINGLE MIX)

Co-Label Owner of Avec Plaisir, full blood Selector and good friend since more than a decade now @hendrik_stein gifted us with a 3 hour deep dive and answered some questions about his musical socialization & his youth. have the full read on our website.

--> https://riolabel.com/riocasts

INTERVIEW

RIOCAST14 Hendrik Stein - Guten Flug Baby

sneak peak upfront the full release on Friday Feb 21st. "Driving Through A Tunnel That Is Filling From Both Ends" will be available on Tape (Bandcamp exclusive) and digitally.

⍄ https://riolabel.bandcamp.com/album/kxb-thrush-driving-through-a-tunnel-that-is-filling-from-both-ends

KXB & Thrush - FOR MY SINS [PREMIERE]

R.i.O. welcomes Brainwave Research Center, a NYC-based duo consisting of house/techno producer Chase Smith and documentary filmmaker Christa Majoras. In early 2023 they freed their debut album “figure 1” via their own label BRC. Two more albums followed. All documenting their love for experimental yet charming music of all kinds.

Their influences span a vast spectrum, from Steve Reich, Laurie Spiegel, and Edgar Froese to Martin Rev, John Carpenter, early Kraftwerk, or the ambient techno of Pete Namlook’s Fax +49-69/45046 label. Yet, Brainwave Research Center forges a sound distinctly their own, seamlessly blending analog synthesis with electro-acoustic experimentation.

On “Psychic Antenna”, the duo takes a gentle rawer approach. The tracks range from the manic verbal Die-Tödliche-Doris-like loops of "I Find Myself" to the meditative cosmic trance of "Open Your Mouth." "Orange Drop" and "Transmitter Park" toy with the dancefloor, channeling slow-motion acid trance and krautrock echoes.

The release is rounded out by three remixes: R.i.O.’s own Benedikt Frey delivers a deep, trippy groover full of inner musicality, while close companion DALO crafts a dark, echo-drenched pop rework, and Berlin’s Nathan Dawidowicz injects psyched nu-disco rhythms, expanding “Psychic Antenna” into seven notions of intense neural oscillations.

ML

Brainwave Research Center - Orange Drop

R.i.O. welcomes Brainwave Research Center, a NYC-based duo consisting of house/techno producer Chase Smith and documentary filmmaker Christa Majoras. In early 2023 they freed their debut album “figure 1” via their own label BRC. Two more albums followed. All documenting their love for experimental yet charming music of all kinds.

Their influences span a vast spectrum, from Steve Reich, Laurie Spiegel, and Edgar Froese to Martin Rev, John Carpenter, early Kraftwerk, or the ambient techno of Pete Namlook’s Fax +49-69/45046 label. Yet, Brainwave Research Center forges a sound distinctly their own, seamlessly blending analog synthesis with electro-acoustic experimentation.

On “Psychic Antenna”, the duo takes a gentle rawer approach. The tracks range from the manic verbal Die-Tödliche-Doris-like loops of "I Find Myself" to the meditative cosmic trance of "Open Your Mouth." "Orange Drop" and "Transmitter Park" toy with the dancefloor, channeling slow-motion acid trance and krautrock echoes.

The release is rounded out by three remixes: R.i.O.’s own Benedikt Frey delivers a deep, trippy groover full of inner musicality, while close companion DALO crafts a dark, echo-drenched pop rework, and Berlin’s Nathan Dawidowicz injects psyched nu-disco rhythms, expanding “Psychic Antenna” into seven notions of intense neural oscillations.

ML



Brainwave Research Center - Open Your Mouth

Brainwave Research Center - I Find Myself (DALO Remix)

interview

RIOCAST15 Sacha Mambo - The Escape To Nowhere Mix

Luce Clandestina from Turin joining our RIOCAST series
read the interview at -- > https://riolabel.com/riocasts

RIOCAST16 Luce Clandestina - That's Where I Got Lost

Hot summer rain hits the cracked pavement in uneven rhythms. A neon sign flickers above a café that never seems to close, its warm white light reflected in the wet ground like a fever dream. The air smells of summer and the world hums with an easy tone, as if the city itself is holding its breath. A light flooded film noir-ish scene, that needs a soundtrack like „POOL JAMS“, the new album of INIT, the Berlin based duo, that already caused quite a stir with their albums for Hivern Discs and Optimo Music. This time, they bring their latest creations out on R.i.O. - a label, with whom they are deeply associated. Their fourth longplayer is a playful one. One that brings trip hopping feelings. That has r’n’b grace, without catering regular trademarks of the genre. Dub, trance, drone, is all there too. Yet, nothing is present in pure definition. Rather suggested, interwoven, or newly twisted in a songwriting style, that haunts and
seduces. On top the voice of Nadia D'Alò dances, steps and hums tempting to the grooves she created with her partner in crime Benedikt Frey. Together they fashioned a record, that, as INIT puts it, is „some kind of old photo from an old dry empty pool that got faded by sunlight “. A dreamy, sunny piece of song art, made for endless smoky LA freeway drives, and other adventures that seek for infinite riddance. You can dream it. You can trance it. You can’t escape it, as soon as it rotates in your dream device for sound and vision.

Text ML

INIT - Pinata

INIT - Vacumized

Upfront the official release on September 19th.

Hot seducers. Two of them. On one 7inch. A/B Side business, hard to choose a fav, as both so fab. The A-Side is called “Happen”. It comes from prolific Tokyo based DJ and producer Hoshina Anniversary. A simple drum machine groove, a manic melody, witching siren sounds, psychedelic voices, some soft chords, and soulful high-pitched singing, somewhere between Dam-Funk coolness and Ian Svenonius- The-Make-Up sixties pop longing. One for warm sexy nights under neon lights. Out there in psychic realms. The flip brings a Dolphins interpretation. Yes, that feverish trio behind R.i.O., consisting of Nadia D'Alò, Benedikt Frey and Menqui. Their freshly recorded version comes with haunting nonchalant singing, displaying the tunes core melody as a more prominent actor of the play. Michael-Mann-Pop- Nostalgia with a baroque touch, that waves dark-ish. Even some Jon Hassle feeling is in there. Hoshina Anniversary disclosed, that the original song is inspired by jazz musicians like Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius and Keith Jarrett. None of them is directly stylistically audible. But their kind of blue is all over. On the A as well as on the B. Twice soul music for the free.

Text ML

Artwork Omnigroup
Mastering Falko Paul Eidner & Sebastian Blume
Distribution digitally Muting The Noise & physically Wordandsound

BandCamp

Hoshina Anniversary - Happen (Dolphins Remix)

New Riocast by @Kryptic_DJ  – a longtime friend of the label. Recorded under glowing summer skies in Lisbon, this mix blends timeless gems and fresh finds into an ethereal ride.  A mix born from instinct, community, and the joy of sharing music. Tune in and drift away.

RIOCAST17 Kryptic DJ - Afterglow

Hot seducers. Two of them. On one 7inch. The A-Side is called “Happen”. It comes from prolific Tokyo based DJ and producer Hoshina Anniversary. A simple drum machine groove, a manic melody, witching siren sounds, psychedelic voices, some soft chords, and soulful high-pitched singing, somewhere between Dam-Funk coolness and Ian Svenonius- The-Make-Up sixties pop longing. One for warm sexy nights under neon lights. Out there in psychic realms. The flip brings a Dolphins interpretation. Yes, that feverish trio behind R.i.O., consisting of Nadia D'Alò, Benedikt Frey and Menqui. Their freshly recorded version comes with haunting nonchalant singing, displaying the tunes core melody as a more prominent actor of the play. Michael-Mann-Pop- Nostalgia with a baroque touch, that waves dark-ish. Even some Jon Hassle feeling is in there. Hoshina Anniversary disclosed, that the original song is inspired by jazz musicians like Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius and Keith Jarrett. None of them is directly stylistically audible. But their kind of blue is all over. On the A as well as on the B. Twice soul music for the free.

https://riolabel.bandcamp.com/album/hoshina-anniversary-happen-rio20

Hoshina Anniversary - Happen (Club Mix)

R.i.O. welcomes a member. Straight in full length. An album created by Dorsten, North-Rhine-Westfalia based producer Aroma Von Troisdorf - a man who refuses to be put in a box. Unlike others, who politely stay in one lane, he is a tuneful shape shifter. Already his 2021 debut on the Cologne based label Papercup Records smashed Krautrock, Synth-pop, Electro, Ambient, and dub together. His 2023 and 2024 Papercup Ep’s "Buttergolem" and "Rodeln am Rhein" added Italo-Disco, Synth-pop and a drop of experimental Electro to his versatility. Now eight new creations, brilliantly composed, yet - even in odd flashes - effortlessly catchy. They bring once more a stylistic melting pot, now enlarged with The Cure-ish dreamscapes, stretching over guitar riffs and bass grooves, like in the closing ambient-folk star “Zeiten” or the dreamy opening track “Fog Frog Green”. There is the motorik krautrock pulse of “Osmopower”, that boogies heavy in drum machine hypnosis under Aroma’s entrancing new-wave vocals. Tunes like “Dreams Unfold” or “Amplify Shrooms” are likewise propulsive, each one psyching in its very own rhythmic sector. More voices are present too. In the two-minute manic preacher “Colas”, were Togolese rapper and political activist Yao Bobby chants edgy. Or in “Closer”, where singer Aprico sends spoken-word trances echoing through the cosmic jacking. And there is “Lovers Lake”, a hypnotic drift of witchy vocals, bluesy chords, and endless synthscapes, that makes you swim on your feed. Shift the shapes, “Blaumilch” opens the gates.



Aroma Von Troisdorf - Lover's Lake

RELEASE PARTY ALERT! next THURSDAY November 20th @sameheads 
Aroma Von Troisdorf will play his first Hybrid Live Set +++ Menqui + Benedikt Frey DJ SETs! Come there and get yourself a copy!

Aroma Von Troisdorf - Blaumilch LP will be out on R.i.O. Nov 21st.

RAttend --> https://de.ra.co/events/2280352

Aroma Von Troisdorf - Closer (ft Aprico)

our latest RIOCAST features a live recording of Aroma Von Triosdorf who joined us for our recent release party at @sameheads

Full interview on our website --> https://riolabel.com/riocasts

Full LP available on our Bandcamp --> https://riolabel.bandcamp.com/album/aroma-von-troisdorf-blaumilch

RIOCAST18 Aroma Von Troisdorf - Blaumilch Mix

(un-official) pt.of our Mutant Radio Show 🗽

RiO Takeover w. Philipp Otterbach, Benedikt Frey & Menqui (Part 3)

R.i.O. is a record label founded by @freybenedikt @menqui and @daloworks . With their shared passion for a broad range of music they established this new outlet in order to shift perceptions of reality.

R.i.O.

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