Joining us for the 5th edition of the Phonica Friends & Family Mix Series we have Ukrainian DJ and producer Bohdan.

Bohdan is one-half of the Kyiv-based electronic music duo Asyncronous. These guys first came to our attention with their critically acclaimed debut release ‘The Art of Fighting In A Dream’ on Berlin-based label Slow Life. The release was a firm favourite of ours over here at Phonica, it provided the soundtrack to many days in the shop throughout the year and we went on to include it in our top ten ‘Best Singles of 2019’ feature. In fact, we liked it so much that we reached out to the pair to see if they would be interested in putting together an EP for our own label. The result was the excellent ‘Pangaea Nova’ EP, which is comprised of six deeply atmospheric techno and ambient soundscapes, each packed with scattering drums, dubbed-out synths and syncopated basslines. 

Bohdan’s artistic career blossomed during the mid-2000s. He initially started out as a Drum & Bass DJ and organiser of many significant events around Kyiv. Several years ago he delved into the world of music production, with a focus on “atmospheric, mental techno and its various manifestations” as he describes it.

His DJ sets, as well as his own productions, cover many bases – from organic atmospheres and spatial sound landscapes to functional, intense, and hypnotic techno cuts. Bohdan’s 2-hour long mix recording below reflects this perfectly. Enjoy!

Full feature

There Will Be Light

VA - There Will Be Light [ Rhythm Büro 010 ]

B2 Delirio

A3 Stage Of Delta

A2 Reflections

A1 Point Of No Return

Recorded at our annual Natura event, this live set from our friends Asyncronous marks their debut public performance together. Years and years of the duo’s experience are tunneled into this recording.

@asyncronousduo

Asyncronous - Rhythm Büro Podcast 012

The pieces of the puzzle had all fallen into place and begun to make sense as he looked outwards at the great pyramids which stood tall and overlooked the desolate city. Blocks of despair, built by a people long ago under a strict regime. That was all they were, a homage to a time in which the world stood still and those that run it ruled with an iron fist and a cold hearted gaze. They had once watched as the innocent put the bricks down for a society which they would govern with cruelty and might. Now it was time for change, time to knock them down. 

Asyncronous have been long standing favourites of the team over at Phonica. Apparently their last record was an in store favourite and featured in their best of list. Now they have welcomed them to their in house label, a special treat and a meditative record which explores deep textures and delicate tonality.

Pangaea Nova

PREMIERE: Asyncronous - Blocks Of Despair [Phonica Records Special Editions]

Pangaea Nova EP

Asyncronous - Vólta [PHONICASPECED007]

Asyncronous - Avalanche [PHONICASPECED007]

Distribution Worldwide: Subwax - https://soundcloud.com/subwax-bcn-distribution
Demos: only via soundcloud DM.
Info:  info@slowlifemusic.org
Booking enquiries:  asia@esmero.art

The unhurried rhythm of evolution.

Slow Life came into being in 2011 when an easygoing set of Spaniards & Italians crossed paths and coalesced in Berlin. The current collective consists of Laurine, Cecilio, S. Moreira, and Santi Uribe a.k.a. Indi Zone. The music they play, like the music they produce, is bound together by threads of luminosity and timelessness. 

Between innumerable hours in the studio, a knack for sourcing new talent, and thoughtful art direction, the label grew steadily and organically, and a signature Slow Life identity began to emerge. This led naturally to parties at their homebase in Hoppetosse and the globe-trotting showcases for which the group has become widely known. Ardent digging and long, mesmerizing DJ-sets are central to their craft; they fabricate a musical space for the audience to get lost in, the adventure going as far and deep as the collective imagination will allow. To put it simply: they know how to throw a party and make you feel right at home. 

Each release on the label invokes a timestamp of their intersections and environment, resulting in collaborations with Primary Perception, Basement Space, and Paolo Mosca, to name a few. Strains of jazz, breaks, and ambient music inflect Slow Life’s singular sound with a charismatic balance of discerning taste and approachability.

Slow Life is about taking time and the unhurried rhythm of evolution. Music as a celebration of music. No rush, no pretense, no limitations — only deep work, positive expression, and playful experimentation.

Rhythm Büro is a Kyiv-based electronic music collective, event series, and record label that has carved out a significant space in the global underground scene. Since its inception in 2015, Rhythm Büro has hosted some of the most forward-thinking artists in techno, ambient, and experimental music, including Global Communication, Actress, Donato Dozzy, Surgeon, Oscar Mulero, Regis, Rrose, and many more.

The collective is known for its secret location events, often held in unique and industrial spaces around Kyiv, which have become legendary for their immersive atmospheres and high-caliber lineups. Rhythm Büro has also taken its showcase to major cities like Berlin, Paris, Tbilisi, Rotterdam, Prague and many more, establishing itself as a significant force in the international electronic music community.

One of the collective's most notable achievements is its annual festival, Natura. Held in a secret forest location just outside of Kyiv, Natura quickly became a beloved event for fans of deep, atmospheric techno, house and ambient music. The festival’s last edition, before the war, attracted a remarkable 4,000 attendees, all drawn to the unique experience of dancing in nature. Besides its carefully curated musical lineup, Natura distinguished itself as one of the first music festivals in Ukraine to champion an ecological agenda. The festival implemented a zero-waste policy, ensuring that all generated waste was recycled, with nothing sent to landfills.

The label arm of Rhythm Büro has released several critically acclaimed EPs, featuring both local talent and established names in the scene. Each release reflects the collective's commitment to deep, hypnotic, and atmospheric sounds, further solidifying its reputation as a tastemaker in the global electronic music landscape.

With its dedication to curating cutting-edge music and creating unforgettable experiences, Rhythm Büro continues to push the boundaries of what an electronic music collective can be, both in Ukraine and beyond.

London's leading independent record shop. Also home to labels Phonica Records, Phonica White, Phonica Records Special Editions and @KarakulRecords.

Full features, including interviews and tracklists, for our Phonica Podcast and Phonica Mix Series on our editorial platform Off The Record ⬇

http://offtherecord.net/

Ransom Note is an online music, arts and culture magazine. We provide a home for readers and writers with boundless enthusiasm, esoteric knowledge, fierce opinions and impeccable taste.

With our core team immersed in all aspects of dance music, we publish news, articles, and interviews covering the greatest in innovative, underground culture from across the globe. We offer regular, exclusive music and mixtapes from our favourite artists, and publish features shining a light on everything from the freshest new artists to the untold tales from rave history.

Alongside this we offer musings on film, books, life, and art, generating some context and controversy as an antidote to the reheated PR that clogs up the internet. Our office is fuelled by Tunnock’s Bars, cat memes, hangovers and a ridiculous, never ending love for our culture.

We're always interested in getting new writers on board – feel free to get in touch if you’ve got a story to tell.

With love until the grave.

Popular tracks tagged #asyncronous