Buy: http://www.2lin.cc/Beams

After more than three years of silence as a producer, Efdemin a.k.a Phillip Sollmann returns with a striking hybrid concept that merges the album format with the “continuous DJ mix” format, presenting completely new material in a seamless manner. This CD-mix, named Naïf, officially reinstates his label of the same name and is a sprawling tour of inner space featuring 19 distinct tracks from fellow producers (e.g. Margaret Dygas, Sebastian Mullaert, Steve Bicknell, Jeroen Search, Pom Pom, Marco Shuttle or Gunnar Haslam) along with an additional ten that feature Efdemin himself (either as soloist or collaborator). The release condenses his decade-long DJ-ing journey and evolution as a producer into a single potent elixir of contemporary techno.

Owing to his additional projects, such as collaborating with PAN artist Konrad Sprenger on a modular organ system to be installed in museums, or scoring for a Neue Musik ensemble, the Berlin-based Efdemin is known as hiker between the worlds . His regular stints at Berghain or Panoramabar, his partnership with established labels (e.g. Ostgut Ton, Dial, Sushitech) and the leadership of his own Naïf imprint all demonstrate that since more than a decade. 

Naïf consists of completely unreleased / never-before-heard material from both himself and valued collaborators, all of which will eventually manifest as EP releases: two will be available on Curle, with an additional five on his own Naïf label. All of the individual contributions are combined here in a painstaking assembly process that took an entire year to complete, and the result is that the album flows with an almost paradoxical effortlessness from one style to the next; a conscious choice on Efdemin’s part to give this release a longevity well beyond the typical lifespan of genre-specific DJ mixes. Besides the strong collection of tracks from well-known and undiscovered producers alike, it ́s Efdemin’s own contributions to the mix that stand out and reinforce his unique position.

This becomes evident once the album kicks off with spectral, distant bells and homemade modular synth sounds leading into more unreleased Efdemin pieces, „Watte“ and “Sirius,” whose deep dub resonance locks in the attention of those who were merely curious at the beginning of the trip. Later in the mix we find the weird electroacoustic textures of ‘Laveline’, a collaboration with the aforementioned Konrad Sprenger The standout composition on Naïf is Efdemin’s infectious microtonal techno “Move Your Head.” where Sollmann’s voice hovers over distorted 808 patterns and immersive justly tuned synth pads, pointing the way towards the formative, trailblazing influences – Silver Apples, This Heat and the drone aesthetic of Tony Conrad – which embodied the seeking spirit of techno before the genre as we now know it existed.

Throughout the remainder of the mix, a supporting cast of favorites turn in everything from blinding energy (Steve Bicknell’s “Running Man”), to unrestrained ecstasy courtesy of Inland / Ed Davenport, to the overdriven lockstep groove of Cassegrain’s Rhyw. The final bow comes in the form of the Efdemin track “Love,” which both pays homage to classic house tracks and refer to his early productions at the same time. 

Naïf is a release that will take several listens to fully explore, with each successive listen unearthing a new discovery: building a new future from the most resilient musical materials of the past. Thus showing Efdemin’s unique vision of the music called techno.

Naïf

Beams

Wa Wu We - Beams [Curle]

Not much to tell :) I just love good music.

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Music and more:  https://linktr.ee/sebastianmullaert

When you listen to Sebastian Mullaert’s music you will feel something enchanting, a resonance that delivers truth, integrity and reminds us to simply be. The Swedish artist has a distinct approach to life, as well as music, which is centred around tranquillity, stillness and the convergence of Zen meditation, nature and creativity. Known for his work as one half of Minilogue, Sebastian is also an accomplished solo artist with new material ready to roll. As an artist that is constantly evolving he has taken a bold new direction in his sonic exploration, immersing himself in the neo-classical scene and joining forces with one of the top 10 philharmonic orchestras in the world - Tonhalle Zürich. Working with great care and innovation he has created a truly immersive audio-visual performance experience, combining a mesmerising integration of electronic and classical instrumentation, with a visual art installation based on breath taking nature landscapes shot from a helicopter perspective. With such an innovative approach he aims to bridge the gap between classical and electronic music and introduce a whole new generation to the neo-classical concept. 

Sebastian's deep connection with music can be traced back to his formative years; from playing the organ and violin as a child, to performing in orchestras, string quartets and pop band, progressing into electronic music in his late teens. Discovering house and techno in the mid-nineties was the catalyst behind a revolution in his life, he set out on a new musical pathway, to promote the simplicity of being. Throughout the late nineties he experimented with electronic sounds, forming cult duo Minilogue with a friend and releasing with Crosstown Rebels, Traum Schallplatten, Wagon Repair and more, plus two albums via Cocoon – ‘Animals’ (2008) and ‘Blomma’ (2013). In 2014, the duo decided to take a break and invest their time in solo projects and Sebastian has since been hard at work cultivating a collection of new music already snapped up by hugely influential labels such as R&S sub-label Apollo, Drumcode, Hypercolour and Minus.

Sebastian Mullaert’s live performances are awe-inspiring, combining technical wizardry with energy, atmosphere and euphoria, you only have to watch his “Interpretations” performance for XLR8R or Boiler Room appearance for examples of his prowess. Recognition of his aptitude has led him to perform at institutions and festivals such as Panorama Bar - Berlin, Labyrinth Festival - Japan, Fabric - London, Concrete - Paris, The Block - Tel Aviv and Blackmarket - NYC. 

Sebastian’s collaborative work runs parallel to his solo endeavours and he has teamed up with several figures in the techno world to produce some unforgettable releases. Collaborators include Mathew Jonson, Eitan Reiter, Aril Brikha and Ulf Eriksson, and releases have come via underground platforms such as Hypnus, Mule Musiq and Kontra Musik. He also produces under the alias Wa Wu We, offering a serene, understated take on the techno aesthetic. Furthermore he is involved in the new Be Yokai project, a trio formed of Sebastian, Douglas Holmquist and Kristoffer Ström. The three men formed a natural alliance, finding their flow after several sessions together. Their first EP is signed to Hypercolour sub-label Space Hardware, with a live show and more music in the pipeline.

Sebastian Mullaert is already established as a potent force in the world of electronic music. Serious about reminding people to BE on the dance floor, or in the comfort of their own home, the music he makes is deep, progressive and utterly unique. Whatever the future holds, you can be sure he will continue to channel the infinite energy that surrounds us into every facet of his life.

𝕄𝕪 𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕊𝕦𝕣𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝 𝔻𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕞𝕤..

𝙳𝚎𝚎𝚙
𝙳𝚞𝚋𝚢
𝙼𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚕
𝙰𝚖𝚋𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝
𝙶𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚢 𝙶𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚜..