Say What Selections
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https://www.saywhatmag.com/selections/007
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SW Selections

Artwork: Melancholia movie poster by Ori Toor

Chill Out

Podcasts

We continue our journey of uncovering gems. Next up on the mag is Lyo aka Lyonel De Vos. Mostly associated with the NUT Records shop, which he set up with good friend Tunello, he’s a record dealer appreciated by DJs big and small, near and far. Belgian blooded, global kid, based in Barcelona. Oh and did we mention his record collection?!

Taking influences from his past - in Belgium with "electronic disco, proto house and all sorts of weird hybrid stuff", the minimal scene in Barcelona and his continued digging journey up to this point - Lyo delivers his personal take. 

"I've always been more into moods rather than styles", and for this podcast, he's got us in a mood alright: Diving into the unknown with menacing retro synths, funky rhythms, groovy basslines, emotional melodies and tasteful vocals, he warms up the stratosphere with the deep and industrial, leading towards a dancefloor in ecstasy, closing in style with a dub mix of Belgian synth-pop disco track "Love Sweet Love".

Interview: http://www.saywhatmag.com/lyo/

Lyo -  In A Mood

Artist: Radioactive Man @radioactiveman
Track: Born in the USB
Title: Volume 1
Label: Sonicus Croniclus

The first in a series of 10” from the UK electro/breaks iconic, volume 1 of Sonicus Croniclus features two direct and blunted dancefloor gems. The spooky stabs and coarse bassline on ‘Unsaid’ recall a memorable dance in the rain at Houghton. ‘Born In The USB’ is our pick, with its wobbling synths over a badass, low slung electro beat. The artwork on the label was made by plasticine, yes plasticine! Let's play. 

Say What Selections
https://www.saywhatmag.com/selections/001

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy SC1

Selection | Radioactive Man - Born in the USB [Sonicus Croniclus]

Artist: Seekers (Picone, Piermattei and Salvadori)
Track: Eleven
Title: Integrated Consciousness
Label: Seekers @seekershome

Seekers return in full force with a 4-part vinyl set (plus a 90 minutes tape cassette). About a month ago the label announced the compilation on the sly with single album Integrated Consciousness. No label artwork, neither any artist name, keeping to its underground values of letting the music do the talking. The release reminds us of the label's classic Flirting with Melancholy LP which came with the heartfelt 'Love Intensified By Absence' as a cute 7-inch hidden inside the bigger sleeve. For this new release we've picked ‘Eleven’, a live recording written by Picone, Piermattei and Salvadori, from a special live set that took place out at sea. You can hear the vibe in the rolling broken beats and bassline. While on the A-side it's UK techno veteran and R&S mainstay Paul Weston with a new pseudonym, L74. 

According to the label, the compilation was inspired conceptually by Corrado Malanga’s Flash Dynamic Triade Color Test. While Integrated Consciousness comes as a transparent vinyl (more incognito styling here), the rest of the records are coloured. 

Say What Selections
https://www.saywhatmag.com/selections/001

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy SKR008.0

Selection | Seekers - Eleven [Seekers]

"Music then became something for me where I could forget everything and totally lose myself. It gave me strength. I think what’s always hooked me - that you’re living a moment, which just flows. You feel like a child again because what’s going on around you doesn’t matter anymore– you’re just in that moment.”

Like many artists during the pandemic, Robert Johnson resident Franziska Berns is digging outside of the dancefloor norm. She’s put together a beautiful arrangement of ambient and downtempo - which includes her own productions and edits - intertwining some jazz and psych-rock elements. 
It’s the perfect set to play post-weekend, to get back to your mid-week serenity.

Interview

Franziska Berns: Remain

Artist: Detroit In Effect @detroitineffect
Track: A Detroit Story'(Maaco Dub)
Title:  A Detroit Story 
Label: M.A.P. Records

Electro was definitely one of the genres that was big in the early days of our scene, and its appeal endures to this day. We can’t help but remember fondly the moment when Onur Özer closed an Undersound party at The Pickle Factory in London in 2016 with D.I.E.’s “No Hope (Crisis Mix)”. Detroit is where it all began though, and Detroit In Effect aka D.I.E. has been putting out records since the mid 90s. A duo working through the M.A.P. label, the project is the work of Tameko J. Williams aka D.j. Maaco and partner O. Perry aka P-Dog. ‘A Detroit Story’ is P-Dog rapping over Maaco's beat, capturing all the swagger and space-age funk you’d expect.

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/002

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy A DETROIT STORY

Selection | Detroit In Effect - A Detroit Story(Maaco Dub)[M.A.P. Records]

Artist: Andy Luff & Herra
Track: 808 State
Title: PICNIC003 
Label: Picnic Records 

Amsterdam-based Andy Luff & Herra, residents at Picnic Records, very much wear their influences on their sleeves. Naming a track after a techno group this iconic might seem like a risky move, but the duo pull it off on their latest EP for the label. ‘State 808’ takes the whole B side of the vinyl, allowing its loping bassline and arpeggiated synths to stretch their limbs to their full extent.

Say What Selections 002
https://www.saywhatmag.com/selections/002

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy PICNIC003

Selection | Andy Luff & Herra - 808 State [Picnic Records]

Artist: Paolo Macrì @paolo-macri
Track: Progressivo 4AM
Title: Digital Deceivers 
Label: LowMoneyMusicLove @lowmoneymusiclove

The latest LMML release comes courtesy of Italian producer Paolo Macri from Outcast Torino. We like the aptly named ‘Progressivo 4AM’, a lively, starry-eyed deep house groover whose bumping bassline and unfussy style will keep the dancefloor going exactly when it needs it. A modern take on the 90s, it strikes the right balance between pumping and uplifting, with minimal distraction. In one word: stylish.

Say What Selections 002
https://www.saywhatmag.com/selections/002

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy LMML19

Selection | Paolo Macrì - Progressivo 4AM [LMML]

Artist: Syzygy 
Track: Little Pieces Of Love
Title: The Tri-Phase EP
Label: Kalahari Oyster Cult @kalaharioystercult

Syzygy – the rare moment when three or more celestial bodies line up – was the duo of Dominic Glynn and Justin Mackay, who released a string of respected 12s and an album on classic early-mid 90s UK techno labels Infonet and Rising High. Glynn would also release solo tracks under the aliases Fluid and Luke Warmwater through his own label No Bones. Rey Colino's Kalahari Oyster Cult has now done the world a service by pairing two unreleased Syzygy tracks with two reissued Glynn solo tracks on the Tri-Phase EP, a package completed by in-depth liner notes from Jane Fitz.

All four tracks are redolent of the heavily Detroit-influenced UK sound of the early-mid 90s. ‘And It’s Wonderful’ is the obvious party hit, but it’s the unreleased ‘Little Pieces Of Love’ that today strikes a massive chord, from its opening credo (“If we want each other, there’s nothing that can stop us, that’s what the world is all about, little pieces of love”) to the heartstring-pulling harmonies and buoyant bassline that turn that message into dancefloor bliss.

Say What Selections 002
https://www.saywhatmag.com/selections/002

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy OYSTER29

Selection | Syzygy - Little Pieces Of Love [Kalahari Oyster Cult]

Artist: @sashazlykh
Track: Pinot Greedgio
Title: Domesticated005
Label: Domesticated

Bruno Schmidt’s label Domesticated is one of those imprints that exudes care, consideration and nous. From the exquisite artwork to the sophisticated music from exciting yet unassuming producers, it’s clearly a project run out of love for the artform. There’s a precise grasp of context, as evidenced by Sasha Zlykh’s fabulous track that finishes the EP, a speedy detuned-house track for the afters – you can easily imagine Schmidt dropping this at his upcoming gig on Closer Kiev’s terrace, signalling the moment when a dancer’s attention transfers from outwards to inwards and the late-late session really gets going. Check out other tracks from Sohrab, Levat and Omar on this stacked EP.

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/003

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Selection | Sasha Zlykh - 'Pinot Greedgio' - Domesticated005 [Domesticated]

Artist: Buraye @buraye
Track: Frecuencia Beta
Title: Space Fauna
Label: Varme @varmemusic

Bucharest-based label Varme has been pushing the boundaries of sci-fi club music at a slow but steady pace since 2018. Strengthening the link with S. America already established through releases from Fede Lijtmaer and Cosmonaut, their new release sees Colombian producer Buraye stretch out across four tracks of futuristic electro-techno. ‘Frecuencia Beta’ is a dancefloor banger, mixing the wistful robot melodies of bleep with the rolling drive of the contemporary sound.

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/003

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Selection | Buraye - Frecuencia Beta [Varme]

Artist: Do Or Die
Track: Heaven In Hell 
Title: Outrace EP
Label: From The Void Above

The turn to the 80s is unstoppable and we can expect post-Covid dancefloors to be rich with the strains of synth pop and italo. On this new EP for Colombian label From The Void Above, Spanish producer Do Or Die adds to his who’s who portfolio of releases: My Own Jupiter, Partout, Art Of Dark, Libertine, Time Passages, EYA. These five tracks draw on his now unmistakable repertoire of spooky harmonies and rapid-fire drum machines, but it’s on ‘Heaven In Hell’ that these tropes really take flight in an arpeggiated paean to industrial synth pop – think Vicious Pink, CCP, or any number of the other bands that were re-edited by Razormaid over 30 years ago.

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/003

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Selection | Do Or Die - Heaven in Hell [FTVA]

Artist: dynArec @dynarec
Track: Cyber Gangster
Title: Libertine17
Label: Libertine Records @libertine-berlin
Release Date: 30th June 2021

One of the defining names of mid-00s European electro, dynArec was responsible for EP after EP of high-quality machine music on well-known labels as well as his own Vaporwave imprint. After slowing down a bit in the 2010s, this 5-tracker now appears on Berlin’s Libertine Records, further cementing their reputation for working with members of the electro-techno hall of fame – Libertine alumni include Gosub, Luke Vibert, Khan, DMX Krew, DJ Di’jital…the list goes on. dynArec’s ‘Cyber Gangster’ is space-electro par excellence, with a fierce gated bassline and atmospheric vox conjuring the intrigue of Blade Runner’s dystopian LA at night.

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/003

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Selection | dynArec - Cyber Gangster [Libertine Records]

Artist: @katerina
Track: Stay Underwater
Title: Long Distance Relationship Vol. 2
Label: @postbar

Following a string of releases on labels like Cómeme, Tigersushi and Rhythm Section, Katerína contributes a percolating groover to this crowdfunding compilation for Helsinki danceteria, Post Bar, a venue building a reputation for solid bookings and a good vibe.

‘Stay Underwater’ is a driving and melodic electro-meets-techno affair that would easily fit on Katerina’s own label, Émotsiya. There’s something quintessentially Scandinavian about the vocal samples, but the track itself has an almost ghetto house quality to it that makes for an exhilarating contrast.

Say What Selections 
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/004

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy LDRV2

Selection | Katerína - Stay Underwater [Post Sonics]

Artist: J.Mono @j-mono-1
Track: M.aus
Title: Misted
Label: @undersoundlondon

One of the integral members of Hungarian trio Wedding Acid Group, J. Mono already has two Undersound EPs on his CV as part of that collective. Here he strikes out on his own for the first time on the London label, with four fresh takes on the interface between electro and techno.

There’s a defined personal mood on the Misted EP despite the varied tones and grooves, but nowhere is this mood as exuberant as on ‘M.aus’, a bumping bassline-driven floor mover that feels about as close as you can get to Chicago while sitting in a Budapest studio.

Undersound’s next release crosses the Black Sea to Georgia, with four more electro workouts from General Minerali.

Say What Selections 
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/004

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy USR018

Selection | J.Mono - M.aus [Undersound]

Artist: @konerytmi
Track: Siirtää
Title: The Reconnection
Label: Telomere Plastic @wexrecords
Release Date: 30 July 2021

A family of labels that includes Wex, Ahaad, Daybyday, La Luna and Telomere, this operation out of NYC and Berlin has become a highly sought-after factory for refined, genre-splicing dance music – recommended by people like Lyo from NUT Records’ in his interview with us. To celebrate its 10th release, Telomere brings a VA double EP with some producers who are new to the label and some already with a release or two under their belts.

Konerytmi falls under the latter category and comes with a spacious and elastic electro funk groove that recalls the supplest of Detroit-meets-Hague sounds (remember the lighter side of Unit Moebius?), a worthy complement to their recent album on the label.

Say What Selections 
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/004

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Telomere 010 VA

Buy TELOMERE10

Selection | Konerytmi - Siirtää [Telomere Plastic]

Artist: DJ Mostoles aka @unai-trotti
Track: Cut
Title: DEL001
Label: DEL @cartulisday

Cartulis picks up steam with their project CTRL ALT DEL, each sub-label dedicated to a different sonic domain. DEL is a space for downtempo beats, kicking off with a split EP from Russian electro producer Low Tape and Cartulis boss Unai Trotti under a new alias, DJ Mostoles.

The former’s lush, laid-back electro complements the latter’s more jazz- and hip hop-leaning contributions. ‘Cut’ does what it says on the tin, marrying cut-up beats to vocal fragments, scratches and acid motifs.

Say What Selections 
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/004

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy DEL001

Selection | DJ Mostoles - Cut [Del]

Artist: @zobol
Track: Optimistic Octopus 2.0
Title: Basic Contact 
Label: @mint-tea-records

The latest VA release from Bristol label Mint Tea collects tracks from the UK, Estonia and Georgia, and puts them on eco-friendly wax made from recycled vinyl waste at R.A.N.D. pressing plant. Our pick is Zobol’s whimsical (and whimsically-named) ‘Optimistic Octopus 2.0’, whose sprightly Datassette-esque electro sounds just like its titular image: a happy cephalopod gliding its way across the reef. We also like Boulderhead’s ‘Néana’, another watery track but this time with a more progressive, heads-down feel. Bristol’s scene is bubbling at the moment and Mint Tea are an excellent example of the DIY creativity emerging from the city.

Say What Selections 
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/005

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy Basic Contact

Selection | Zobol - Optimistic Octopus 2.0 [Mint Tea]

Artist: Anderson
Track: Tasty Water Stuff 
Title: Viewpoint
Label: space•lab

Matt Anderson has been a regular on Say What? favs Wex and sublabel Day By Day, so it’s hardly a surprise that his track on this VA from Space Lab also caught our ear. In a compilation that dives headlong into the depths of psychedelic breaks, electro and trance, Anderson’s whimsically named ‘Tasty Water Stuff’ stands out for its patient pace and spacious sound stage, the tribal and trancey flourishes finessed into a chugging mover that will serve for warm-up and crack-on alike. Anderson manages to release quality after quality while maintaining his own distinct sound. In our opinion he is one of the most talented and exciting producers on the circuit – hats off!

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/006

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Selection | Anderson – Tasty Water Stuff [space•lab]

Artist: Laurine
Track: T.O.S.D.L
Title: Abun.dance
Label: Slow Life

It’s been seven years after Slow Life emerged onto our scene with a series of releases from S. Moreira and how things have changed. The roster of artists releasing on the label has expanded (like an extended family). Now, on release 31, it’s finally time for co-founder Laurine to step up to the production plate with the Abun.dance EP, and the results live up to expectations.

These four tracks are very much a distillation of the Slow Life aesthetic, instantly recognisable to anyone who’s seen Laurine and Cecilio in one of their infamous extended B2Bs. The signifiers of their beloved 90s sound – organs, breaks, bleep basslines, house chords – are present and correct, but of course presented with a contemporary mix and balance. The lead-off track, ‘T.O.S.D.L’, pulls this trick off effortlessly, adding just enough quirk and dissonance in the bass and acid lines to offset its cool and classic central house groove.

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/006

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Info

Selection | Laurine - T.O.S.D.L [Slow Life]

Artist: Miles Mercer @milesmercer
Track: Astralogic
Title: Astralogic EP
Label: Accessory Records @accessoryrecords

Miles Mercer’s vinyl debut is also the first release on his and Simic’s imprint Accessory Records, run out of NYC. It’s a fantastic first release with great presentation too. The outsized type on the centre label indicates the character of the music: bold, no-nonsense and high-impact tracks for the peak of peak time. 

The cuts on the A side mix early 90s Detroit techno and European trance with a contemporary tech house flavour. However, it’s the epic 10-minute trip of ‘Astralogic’ on the B that makes it into our selections. An exercise in control and release, the track takes a full three and a half minutes to really warm up and, once it does, it just rolls and rolls. It’s tribal, deep and haunting, while also sexy, dark and playful. It’s bound to keep the crowd fixed firmly on the dancefloor.

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/007

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy AR001

Selection | Miles Mercer – Astralogic [Accessory Records]

Artist: Suzukiski
Track: 27pm
Title: Thought LP
Label: Saisei @saisei-london

A reissue of a much sought-after self-released 1993 album by the prolific Japanese producer Takahiro Suzuki, this vinyl version of the originally CD-only Thought arrives on Junki Inoue’s already must-have label SAIESEI. Inspired by the Detroit techno and early house music that had been slowly gaining attention on Japanese shores, Suzuki confected his own restrained yet deeply-felt take on these formative styles of today’s electronic dance music. The basic structure of ‘27pm’ sounds like it could be found on an early 90s Italian dream house B-side, while the melodically innocent bleep motifs and delicate breakbeats are straight off a pioneering Warp record. A contemporary take on ‘27pm’ via re-edits makes the track like new. 

We remember some of Suzukiski’s EPs being bought and played out a few years back, and the delightful effect that tracks like ‘Sargasso’ had on the dancefloor. As Masaaki Hara observes in the liner notes for this reissue, Suzuki’s music “was very good at making people move on the dance floor, but there are introspective moments in [his] music that take you into your own inner world.” This is the beauty of this carefully curated, re-edited and annotated vinyl reissue: Thought by name, and ‘thought’ by nature.

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/007

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy SAIS003

Selection | Suzukiski – 27pm [Saisei]

Artist: Franco Falsini @sensations-fix
Track: Zolle
Title: Freedom In A Dark Age
Label: Baffling Noise @seekershome

Seekers sub-label Baffling Noise returns with a new 4-tracker from Italian veteran Franco Falsini. A man who started out doing prog rock in the 1970s (as a member of Sensations’ Fix) and then made the proto-house classic ‘Feels Good’ in 1982 (as Electra, famously sampled by Jamie Principle), Falsini then spent the next two decades putting on raves, festivals and street parties – first spearheading the rave movement with his live outfit Open Spaces and label Interactive Test, after which he delved deeply into psytrance. In recent years, his music has found a home within the modern dancefloor community, with DJs playing tracks from Interactive Test and labels repressing his music. We even featured him in our Say What article Sleepers: Unlocking The Unknown with Franco Falsini in 2018.

On this EP, he and Seekers introduce a new era for his sound. Recorded during lockdown last year, these are new tracks which don’t exactly fit with either the prog rock days, or the bubbly Italian 90s house, or with the sense-sational sounds of psytrance, though remnants of these past lives do make their presence felt. In fact, in line with other veteran producers (such as the late Richard H Kirk when he revived Cabaret Voltaire in 2020 with the masterpiece Shadow Of Fear), Falsini curates a mature sound, quite experimental, which will still appeal to today’s fans. 

The EP reflects also the pandemic mood, and not by following the now-expected downtempo feel. The beats can be slow or fast, but either way he has the dancefloor within him. Track titles like ‘Freedom In A Dark Age’ symbolise music as a medicine or form of escapism during dark times. All of the tracks are unique and interesting, showing him stretching out with tripping, harmonically-intriguing rollers, our favourite of which is the funky, flip-flopping ‘Zolle’. Irresistible, perfect for the dance, and with plenty of attitude. 

83 years old this year, Falsini continues to show his dedication for dance music and we salute him!

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/007

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy NOIZ-2103

Selection | Franco Falsini - Zolle [Baffling Noise]

Artist: Jared Wilson 
Track: Positivity
Title: Positivity
Label: RAWAX @dbh-music

We’ve chosen a classic ending with underground dance music royalty: Detroit native and acid mastermind Jared Wilson on ‘major’ label RAWAX. You can count on Jared to produce solid bangers that hone in on the essence of dance music, with the Roland drum machine as his main weapon of choice, releasing on a plethora of established labels such as Super Rhythm Trax, Dixon Avenue Basement Jams, Dolly, Furthur Electronix, Lux Rec, Undersound and his own 7777. He’s clued up and keeps it fresh, reinventing his style yet staying true to his roots.

A DJ would get a run for their money with the 4 out of 5 peak time tracks on this EP, with their sexy grooves, tight hats, slapping snares and fun acid melodies. 3 out of 5 tracks are named ‘Lynnwood’ with a few mostly numbered variations on each. Lynnwood first appeared on all the tracks on Jared’s new label Jason, Jared & Brians’ Records. The tracks are named after Lynnwood city in Snohomish County, Washington, which is where Jared moved to a couple years back. The label’s debut release New Era represents a new chapter indeed, with a fresh new sound combining solid Detroit techno with atmospheric, fairy-tale melodies inspired by the woodlands around his new family home.

For this most recent release on RAWAX, Lynwood vibes are present but with raw house sounds suiting the label. We’ve picked the A1 ‘Positivity’, which is also the name given to the EP. We can’t get enough of this unique, catchy, sexy, emotional bomb! The composition is just so beautiful and it’s never tiring. It’s got DMX Krew vibes with its wormhole melody, but with a Detroit edge.

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/008

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy RMCE 018

Selection | Jared Wilson - Positivity [RAWAX]

Artist: Exterminador @exterminador_official
Track: Deep In The Mess Of Night
Title: Age Of Consent 
Label: Bad Manners

We move to young Berlin based artist Exterminador, who has really captivated us. We first heard him a few years ago on YAY’s podcast series, and he was also a key figure in the establishment of The Record Loft. In 2016, he opened his own Exterminador Records label and in 2019 he started collaborating with Marcel Dettmann on new imprint Bad Manners, being responsible for the whole output so far with one EP and recently a whole album, from which we have picked a track for this edition of selections. We really enjoyed the first EP: A techno and electro release with EBM tendencies rather than acid wormhole melodies.

Exterminador’s album Age of Consent certainly doesn’t disappoint! He takes the electro and 80s influence from the earlier release and presents them on a delicious platter. At first our ears perked up to ‘Broken Glass Door’ with its rolling 80s influenced bassline and sharp synths. To be honest it’s a challenge to pick just one track but ‘Deep In The Mess Of Night’ got the trophy – it’s a brilliant composition and there just isn’t any track quite like it! There’s a uniqueness and playfulness to it all, starting with the funny as hell title, drum rolls and even laughing in the track itself. It’s not silly though, and actually very new wave with its yearning synth, knock out bassline and broody vocals.

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/008

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy BM8

Selection | Exterminador - Deep In The Mess Of Night [Bad Manners]

Artist: Frak @Borft
Track: Scientific Bella-Donna
Title: Formless Obstruction
Label: Futurepast @futurepastnosenseoftime

We continue on the ‘experimental’ thread with Swedish electronic group Frak on Futurepast. We have chosen ‘Scientific Bella-Donna’, which really seems more techno-house than heavily experimental. When listen we picture the scene in Fritz Lang’s Metropolis where Maria the robot is surrounded by a moving, buzzing electric field, while also imagining dancing in an after-hour, with the track’s edgy and sexy, deep and minimal sounds. It’s an interesting balance between the machine and the soul, two styles which are also reflected in Frak’s previous discography as a group that has been producing dance tracks since the late eighties, and sharing their own funky hardware sound through their label Börft.

While listening to Frak we can’t help but recall Futurepast founder Davy’s own long after-hour sets, which we adored while he was still living in London a few years ago: dark, industrial and hypnotising yet deep, playful and groovy!

A reunion of the group members also occurred for this release: “We hadn’t met for some time, as we live in different cities. So, when we joined forces for this recording, it was all from scratch and a bit of fumbling at first. But it struck us that this is it, this is the pure reason why we do what we do. Jamming our way through machines and ideas is what it’s all about.”

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/008

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. Not suitable for club use.

Buy FP006

Selection | Frak – Scientific Bella-Donna [Futurepast]

Artist: Broken Audio
Track: 6BrokenBones
Title: Nocturnal Entropy EP
Label: Perty @djoctopus-2

The second release on this Selections list is another Bandcamp oriented production: Nocturnal Entropy EP by sound engineer and electronic music producer Broken Audio is the first edition of a series of cassette tapes led by DJ Octopus. For Octopus, tape carries a special meaning as it was the first media he used to record music, from the radio and from machines when he started producing music. You can even hear a grainy effect throughout on the digital files.

The style of Nocturnal Entropy is categorised as “breakbeat” but, he explains, it really stands out as a complete journey into sounds. Emotional pads and atmospheres glide through the piece, mixing with the diverse audio sources used, including thunderstorms and ASMR! We couldn’t resist picking the dance-oriented track on the release: ‘6BrokenBones’ is a solid UK garage track with a banging attitude.

The vocals are the producer’s own, having first experimented on the opener ‘Baio’, an ambient track dedicated to his friend who sadly drowned in a lake near his hometown last year. “It was a really tough time for me and right after he passed away I decided to honour his death and to reflect all my sorrow on a track. I recorded some vocals, a piano line and a lot of reverb in around an hour and suddenly felt better.”

“Once I started to experiment with my voice like I did in ‘Baio’, I wanted to include it more in my tracks and I remember having this garage tune in the making and said to myself: ‘Why not pitch it down some semitones and see how it sounds in here?’ Hahaha.”

The second edition on Perty has just been released on Bandcamp – a different yet still beautiful mix of atmospheres and textures.

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/008

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. File quality not intended for club use.

Broken Audio - Nocturnal Entropy EP

Buy perty001

Selection | Broken Audio – 6BrokenBones [Perty]

Artist: Lagowski @lagowski
Track: Scatter 4
Label: Self Released

We start the selections with this beautiful opener by Lagowski, Scatter 4, a track uploaded to his bandcamp as a single release, and originally intended to be part of his wonderful album Smokescreen (but which really stands on its own).

The track features captivating and angelic strings that could easily be played at the gates to heaven. Lagowski’s new wave punk band roots are present in the very analogue bassline, which brings a sense of realness to the piece. There’s adventure in the track too, from what sounds like a didgeridoo instrument, stomping, military drums and fluttering sounds, evoking images of The Outback and authenticating the connection between machine and the environment. Heaven, human, nature. There’s soul and spirit in this hardwired track.

This particular musical genius has been recording electronic music and playing live analogue shows since 1982 (following his earlier work drumming in punk and new wave bands). His name holds a safe spot in the 90s GPR hall of fame, his early nineties releases on Chromium Industries are DJs’ favourites, and in the past few years he’s released twice on Sleepers as Clans of the Alphane Moon and Project Ghost. Fortunately for us, Lagowski continues to be prolific today with a library of updated material on his bandcamp page. He’s also just uploaded ‘Scatter 1 + 2’, premixes to the finished ‘Scatter 4’. It’s interesting to hear the previous versions, which are also very good! We will be switching back and forth between these three for a while – but will we get to listen to number 3 too?

Say What Selections
www.saywhatmag.com/selections/008

***Tracks uploaded for promotional purposes only. File quality not intended for club use.

Buy Scatter 4

Selection | Lagowski – Scatter 4 [Self-released]

Relocated to Berlin a couple years ago from New York, @carly-zeng is a Chinese-born DJ and an all round creative. 

Since her move she's been on the hunt for records across Europe (Germany, Belgium, Italy...) and effortlessly shares some of her finds for this mix. She exhibits her quirky and edgy style with an 80s, New Beat and EBM theme, as well as taking inspiration from her previous gig at Superluminal & Discarded Gems x Satelliet Studio @ Crack Bellmer, Berlin. It’s fun, it’s fierce, it’s everything you’d want from the 80s. 

If you've heard her previous sets you'd notice her craft for storytelling: "I enjoy uptempo, high energy sets and a nice buildup." She then confesses, "so I’m kind of a BPM junkie - I try to label a lot of my records so I can arrange them in certain parts of a set quickly."

Full interview & tracklist: https://www.saywhatmag.com/interviews/carly-zeng-new-radical

Carly Zeng: New Radical

For our next interview and podcast series we present the legendary DJ and producer @dj-miki aka Major Hypnotic Key Institute aka il Delfino. Miki started his DJing career in 1980 at 18 years old (as well as being a member in New Wave band Photogram) and has been riding the waves ever since. Founder of labels Sun Generation Records and Major Ipnotic Key Institute, as well as a key figure in Florence’s 90s prog house and trance scene with productions in the cult label Interactive Test, the “Sound of Tirreno” was coined to define his sound. More recently we’ve enjoyed his Mudd Show at Opal, Milan with Jane Fitz and Seeker’s Flash Dynamic Triade Color Test compilation, of which he collaborated with Alex on the A&R and officially contributed with the track “Cavern”. 

He effortlessly shares his extensive and heavily researched record collection in a 2.3 hour mix for us, with the belief of music as an instrument of unity. When asked about his thoughts behind the mix, he responds,

"I was thinking about the importance of PEACE and mixing good tracks. I was thinking about Ukraine, of friends over there, of simple people who have to pay for all the shit, of the utopia of disarmament, of John Lennon. We have to for now only hope for peace and give hope of peace. Believe in it and don't give up!"

Miki - Outside The Box
Full interview - https://www.saywhatmag.com/interviews/miki-outside-the-box
Official web - https://www.mhki.com
Graphic Design by Domenico Nes https://domenicones.myportfolio.com

Miki: Outside The Box

On that minimal trip - naturally!

Full Interview: http://www.saywhatmag.com/get-perlonized-with-sammy-dee/

Get Perlonized with Sammy Dee

Me, I’m like a pit bull, I just charge at what I’m doing. If you like it, great, if you don’t, I don’t give a fuck :D 

FULL INTERVIEW HERE: http://www.saywhatmag.com/your-friend-ed-jus-ed-that-is/

Your Friend Ed Jus-Ed That Is

"...it’s an inspiration from a synth…play with it and go deep into the modulations - that's the spark that drives this podcast”.  

FULL INTERVIEW: http://www.saywhatmag.com/riccardos-life-forms-live-ambient/

Riccardo - Life Forms

"This mix is a really important one for me. Originally Cristian Vogel had asked me to create a sonic comment on his album, ‘Eselsbrucke‘, based on the composing methods of Iannis Xenakis. The mix starts with a composition by Penderecki followed by some jazz by Sun Ra. It includes some gamelan edits too." 

Interview: http://www.saywhatmag.com/light-and-funk-with-s-max/

S-Max "Light & Funk"

"In the set are a lot of tracks that I usually don’t play in the club but that I often enjoy listening to at home. I really tried to bring a wide variety of sounds, old and new, the oldest track dates from 1970." 

INTERVIEW: http://www.saywhatmag.com/futurepast-with-davy

Photograph by Rebecca Steimer: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccasteimerphotography/

Davy: Futurepast

Milanese duo MODULOVE, formed of Camilla Gligorov and Matteo Costa, sharing their love to the internet world for the first time in Soundcloud history. 

Find out about their (Modu)love story here: http://www.saywhatmag.com/modulove-made-in-milan/

Modulove, Made in Milan

Great selection and dance from the Belgian DJ.

INTERVIEW: http://www.saywhatmag.com/pjay

Pjay: Reflections

"It is not irritating to be where one is, it is only irritating to think one would like to be somewhere else" - John Cage 

Recorded at Phonotheque for DJ Koolt’s birthday party.

Playing live was a natural step for Fede Lijt, who started experimenting with beats at 15 years old...
Interview: http://www.saywhatmag.com/fede-lijtmaer-sounds-for-life/

Fede Lijtmaer - Sounds for Life

Like a dream, Lumière transports her listeners to a nostalgic past in alien yet comforting ways. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, she left home for another distant yet familiar metropolis (Barcelona), and fell in love with it. Having immersed herself in the dance music scene for the past 7 years to date, she's a resident for the ultimate girl gang party Mistress. She has played at the best spots in the city (Red58, Macarena, Eightsquare, meetingpoint) and most recently headlined the hottest new club Warehouse, Mallorca. We take a moment to listen to her story and a dreamy new podcast from the cosmic selector herself.

@lucylumiere

Full interview: http://www.saywhatmag.com/interviews/lumiere-like-a-dream/

Lumière - Like A Dream

You may have heard his tones on Minor Planet Music and Propersound, or seen clips of him jamming away on his modular. We delve deeper into the sound of Javier Zugarramurdi Garcia aka Zûg with a set of his own productions creating “the perfect mix” with Ableton. 

Warm inviting tones yet there’s an intriguing complexity behind it. 

Full interview: http://www.saywhatmag.com/interviews/zug-cult-music/

@zugsound

Zug for Say What

Zûg: Cult Music

Luis Malon, what comes to mind? He’s a joker, always with a one liner to hand whilst exuding some impeccable manners and a most humble soul. There’s a humour and poetry within him, brilliantly channeled and expressed in his music.

Producing killer tracks, he’s made people go crazy over “Charrua En Bote” on Two Bridges EP (El Milagro, 2016) – this was his very first release. After some international recognition, he has featured on VA releases on Slow Life and OPIA Records and this year saw his continued collaboration with OPIA for The Resistance EP  and a debut single Sisters Of The Night EP on Slow Life.

A performer at heart his live sets are energetic, made for peak time dancing yet interesting enough to trip out to. He delivers surprises throughout, swaying between the divine and the dark.

And he encapsulates this energy as he records his live set for our podcast series (“I would usually play it faster for the club”). 

~ Give Yourself To The World ~

http://www.saywhatmag.com/interviews/luis-malon-the-divine-comedy/

@luismalon

Ph. by Roly Chambler

Luis Malon's Divine Comedy

Michelle – she made an entrance as evocative as her music: riotous and punchy, acid basslines struck against gospel chords, anti-establishment narrations from a godlike together with a certain grace and groove… all inducing a dark yet heavenly trance. You could call it hardcoredancing.

Interview: http://www.saywhatmag.com/interviews/michelle-her-crystal-synth

@michellelive

Michelle & Her Crystal Synth

Introducing Kiev-born Yura Khlop, also known as SE62. For this podcast, the Closer resident adapts his usual 9 hour slot into 1 hour, bringing that party mood right up your street.

@se62

SE62 - eaSEy street

𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳: 𝘈𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 5 𝘩𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 // 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯.

He’s been an integral part of the scene since Cartulis Day was born 10 years ago in his adopted city of London. But there is so much more to the nerd from Bilbao (cartulis meaning "nerd" in his dialect). In fact, Unai Trotti’s musical journey did not start with techno in London but in Madrid as a sound technician for famous artists, travelling the globe as a crew member on world tours. But for him the parties really started when he moved to E8...

We catch up with the Hackney resident and listen back to a highlight of the year: An extract from a 5 hour set recorded during Cartulis Music at Fold. Setting the scene, Reade Truth had just finished his (debut) live. It was still dark but as the sunlight crept in through the shutters of the blinds, Unai created his soundtrack, transforming the room into his own sci-fi film. Dancers glued to the floor, with suspense and emotions running high through to the closing by Craig Richards & Nicholas Lutz.

Q&A: https://www.saywhatmag.com/interviews/unai-trotti

@unai-trotti

Image Credits: Candem, Curitiba Brazil

Unai Trotti: Blade Spinner

Unreleased inspirations: Onur Özer articulates his signature. Psychedelic twists, techno turns and sci-fi electro; embodying a sound in its true influential capacity that he's marked as his own.

Unreleased Inspirations｜Onur Özer - Nothing In The Shell

Next up on the mag is London based Vass, taking us on a ride through digger's paradise. His style is smooth, sexy and utterly irresistible. Take comfort in his stories, glide through his melodies and meet his various personas along the way. Beware of the plot twists! But have no fear, you'll be guided back safe and sound...

@vassisdass


Photo @filmrehab
Art @nemicodenso

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