Toronto-based musician David Psutka aka ACT! (fka Egyptrixx / Anamai / Ceramic TL) returns with a stunning debut album, ‘Strange Bounty / About Life’ on his own Halocline Trance imprint - out on the 3rd June. 

Speaking about the record Psutka (ACT!) says, “‘Strange Bounty / About Life’ is in some ways my most refined record. The previous period of solo material was quite experimental and spontaneous, whereas this was written slowly and with more intentionality, and as a result, feels very clarified. Robin Dann of Bernice, and Alanna Stuart of Bonjay both contributed lovely vocal work to the record and it was written and performed primarily on guitar. I think it is fair to call this an 'experimental guitar record’.”

The album showcases a new aesthetic for the ACT! project, leaning more towards psychedelic and ecstatic groove - feelings of familiarness and warmth running throughout. 

On the latest single to be released from the album, ‘Lotto’, calls you to attention right away with the dizzying pinball sound before leading into an ethereal guitar riff and silky vocals. The track showcases the two opposing sides to ACT!’s sound where the softness echoes through via the buttery voice whilst hard electronic instrumentation stutters underneath. 

Toronto-based musician David Psutka aka ACT! (fka Egyptrixx / Anamai / Ceramic TL) returns with a stunning debut album, ‘Strange Bounty / About Life’ on his own Halocline Trance imprint - out on the 3rd June. 

Speaking about the record Psutka (ACT!) says, “‘Strange Bounty / About Life’ is in some ways my most refined record. The previous period of solo material was quite experimental and spontaneous, whereas this was written slowly and with more intentionality, and as a result, feels very clarified. Robin Dann of Bernice, and Alanna Stuart of Bonjay both contributed lovely vocal work to the record and it was written and performed primarily on guitar. I think it is fair to call this an 'experimental guitar record’.”

The album showcases a new aesthetic for the ACT! project, leaning more towards psychedelic and ecstatic groove - feelings of familiarness and warmth running throughout. 

On the latest single to be released from the album, ‘Lotto’, calls you to attention right away with the dizzying pinball sound before leading into an ethereal guitar riff and silky vocals. The track showcases the two opposing sides to ACT!’s sound where the softness echoes through via the buttery voice whilst hard electronic instrumentation stutters underneath.

‘Strange Bounty / About Life’ by ACT! will be released via Halocline Trance on the 3rd June - pre-order here: https://actactact.bandcamp.com/album/strange-bounty-about-life 

@egyptrixx

Premiere: ACT! - Lotto (Halocline Trance)

The pixels darted and danced across the small screen, they flickered and flashed with a radiant glow before vanishing forever not to be seen again. In the background the sounds and sirens of a magical world chirped and chimed as he pressed the buttons furiously with vigour.

It was time to smash bowser, to leave him in the dust and banish him from the box.

The arcade was crowded, an existential escape from the wild world outside. Music played loud and the whoops and screams of excited patrons echoed through the ranks of the old building.

It was all that was left.

XINDL is set to release a new record via Subject To Restrictions Discs. It's a nostalgic affair, a nod to old 90's EBM, electro and beyond as the record whizzes and skips between sounds. This track 'Smash Bowser' is a bit of a secret weapon.

PREMIERE: XINDL - Smash Bowser [Subject To Restrictions Discs]

Kiosk Radio is an online community radio streaming 24/7 from a wooden shack in the heart of Brussels’ historic “Parc Royal”.
More info and music: https://kioskradio.com


Bulie Jordeaux @ Kiosk Radio 22.09.2022

Mind Dance return with the second volume in their ‘Mystic Minds’ VA series. Launched last year as a way to continue the strong collaborative nature of the electronic music underground, each installment will shine a light on local Australian talent and their cross-continental contemporaries. 

Continuing this mission with a new batch of friends, family and former label mates in tow, round two rallies six artists from home soil and overseas for another deep excursion into the vast expanses of dance music.

From across the pond we have Dutch producer and Music From Memory regular Dazion who kicks off the VA with a wonky slice of rhythmic downtempo, and Phran, a Barcelona-based artist and member of IVAN - a duo alongside Ivy Bakarkati - who puts his foot on the gas with a stomping techno cut. 

Closer to home we have Aussie dance veteran and the man behind Mind Dance’s last release, Andy Rantzen, deliver a tight bleep-soaked acid jam, followed by Leo James and Mousse flying the flag for Melbourne with twinkling IDM and laid-back vocal house, respectively. Finally label boss Furious Frank closes out proceedings with a downbeat percussive house number to usher in summer, if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere that is...

Art & Design by Studio Vinciguerra.
Mastered by Marco Pellegrino.
Words by Rosie Cain.

A2. Andy Rantzen - Sleepwalkers In The City (preview)

This place was unlike anything she'd ever seen before. Small white houses lined the winding streets, glimmering beneath the sun, and the city's inhabitants exuded joy, welcoming everyone with open arms. It was like something from a postcard or a fairy tale story. She'd envisaged somewhere like this in her mind, in many of her dreams too, but she never thought she could reach out and touch it. It had always been housed in her imagination; an invisible entity but now it was tangible - it truly existed.

As a founding member of Bourbonese Qualk, Simon Crab has long explored sounds from the fringes, whether that's in the electronic world or the spaces between new wave, industrial, electro, dub and post-rock, among others. After the disbanding of the group and a couple of long players under his own name, Crab took some time away from releasing music, until now.

Invisible Cities marks his third solo album and finds its home in the safe hands of Leeds imprint Space Ritual. Recorded last year at his studio in Hastings, with extra percussion and vocals from Fritz Catlin, David J Smith and Ksenia Sadovski, the compositions echo his formative influences and explorations from ambient, dub, experimental, soundtrack, new wave and more.

PREMIERE: Simon Crab - Invisible City [Space Ritual]

https://soundcloud.com/rantzen
https://soundcloud.com/user-324785473
🛒 https://minddance.bandcamp.com/album/mystic-minds-vol-2
🔊 https://youtu.be/O9A3ayPw_ok

Mind Dance return with the second volume in their ‘Mystic Minds’ VA series. Launched last year as a way to continue the strong collaborative nature of the electronic music underground, each installment will shine a light on local Australian talent and their cross-continental contemporaries.

Continuing this mission with a new batch of friends, family and former label mates in tow, round two rallies six artists from home soil and overseas for another deep excursion into the vast expanses of dance music.

From across the pond we have Dutch producer and Music From Memory regular Dazion who kicks off the VA with a wonky slice of rhythmic downtempo, and Phran, a Barcelona-based artist and member of IVAN - a duo alongside Ivy Barkakati - who puts his foot on the gas with a stomping techno cut.

Closer to home we have Aussie dance veteran and the man behind Mind Dance’s last release, Andy Rantzen, deliver a tight bleep-soaked acid jam, followed by Leo James and Mousse flying the flag for Melbourne with twinkling IDM and laid-back vocal house, respectively. Finally label boss Furious Frank closes out proceedings with a downbeat percussive house number to usher in summer, if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere that is...

Tracklist: 

Dazion - I Want Takeaway
Andy Rantzen - Sleepwalkers in the City 
Leo James - Lonely
Phran - 2K
Mousse - Liquid Stye 3.0
Furious Frank - Textile Man

PREMIERE: Andy Ranzten - Sleepwalkers In The City [Mind Dance]

A heavy knock resounded through the house, then came the door bell reverberating loudly off the walls. They hadn't been waiting long, perhaps five minutes or so but impatience had already started to get the better of them. Without warning the door suddenly swung open with a tremendous thud, yet no-one waited to greet them on the other side.

Slowly and cautiously they entered the house and immediately found themselves in one enormous room, so vast you could barely make out the other side. It was completely empty, making it feel all the more cavernous. Would the person who extended this invitation make themselves known soon? Only time would tell.

Chouk Bwa & The Ångströmers is the brain child of a group of musicians and producers from two opposite ends of the world. Connected by a shared love of rhythm and psychedelic moods, the Haitian Vodou band and alternative Belgian production duo released their first collaboration - a debut album in 2020 called Vodou Alé - before joining forces again for Ayiti Kongo Dub earlier his year on Swiss label Bongo Joe - now, they're releasing the second part of the EP.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, with both groups bringing singular qualities that fuse to create something truly mind-bending and hypnotic. Polyrhythmic drum patterns are paired with dubwise electronics, raw, primordial atmospheres and ceremonial chants, which send the listener into a trance-like state.

PREMIERE: Chouk Bwa & The Ångströmers - Sala [Bongo Joe]

https://soundcloud.com/acidfinky
https://soundcloud.com/openmusiclab
🛒 https://openmusiclab.bandcamp.com/album/cascade
🔊 https://youtu.be/KiUvBvVPyq8

Berlin’s Open Music Lab introduces Cascade, a compilation featuring some of the collective’s valued artists, created in partnership with Native Instruments

Open Music Lab recently collaborated with Native Instruments for the first time, to offer selected participants a 5-month Advanced Music Production and Artistic Development program. Focused on connecting some of Berlin’s most exciting up-and-coming producers with industry professionals from Native Instruments, the course supported artists who were already making music, but who needed guidance with their productions, career development, and performance skills in order to take their music to the next level and eventually share it with the world.

The result of this course is a deeply personal compilation, channelling a range of of emotions and touching upon intimate feelings, such as depression (“Limbo”), pain and heartbreak (“Alligator,” “flames 2 dust,” “some days life is just hard”), hope in the face of adversity (“HOPE”), or the need to be authentic and putting yourself first (“For Me”). We also find an ode to queer rave culture (“Time Melts Away”), a spontaneous jam session (“skrelly boom”), and a groovy and hypnotic techno track (“NADA-R”) dedicated to early mornings after a rave or before work.

As is usual on OML’s releases, Cascade draws from a very wide range of electronic genres, produced by both longtime community members, some of which have already released on the label, as well as newcomers to the community. Cascade comes a few months after the release of Diffraction, produced after an 8-month Intermediate Production and Artistic Development course, and including first-released tracks from some of OML’s community members.

Tracklist: 

1. Acidfinky - Limbo
2. Hranrad - Alligator
3. King Sleepy - 4 me
4. Laguna Park II - flames 2 dust
5. MINQ - Time Melts Away
6. Panasiagirl - some days life is just hard
7. RealMo - HOPE
8. Vata Morgana - skrelly boom
9. YA Z AN - NADA-R

PREMIERE: Acidfinky - Limbo [Open Music Lab]

Tombolo Rumble Vol I. is here! The first volume of a list of selected releases by different artists from around the globe. Proud to be presenting four tracks by four upcoming and established legends on the panorama of electronic music: Unknown Mobile, DJ Dog, Poly Chain and Abdul Raeva.

DJ Dog, the fun AKA of DJ Fett Burger, the Norwegian legend based in Berlin founder of projects such as Sex Tags Mania or Trushmix. He comes with a downtempo, jumpy track, with very fun percussions and synths that will make you feel as if you are walking on Mars.

In stores December 12

https://bordelloaparigi.com/shop/vinyl/various-artists-tombolo-rumble-vol-i-ep/

https://soundcloud.com/tombololive
https://soundcloud.com/djfettburger

Tombolo Rumble Vol. 1

PREMIERE: DJ Dog - Space Quest (Ozone Mix) [Tombolo Records]

BUY / STREAM : Sales / Pre-sales Link: https://bfan.link/weiter-1
Thomas Burkhardt - Weiter
Label Name: - LIN/LOG (https://soundcloud.com/lin-log)
https://soundcloud.com/thomas-burkhardt-2

„Weiter“ is a love letter to music I grew up with and furthermore it is a window to our future. Humans tend to forget their past and believe that future only brings progression, knowledge and wealth. They forget about their spiritual roots and sacrifice their inner thoughts to algorithms in anticipation of redemption and peace. But truth is, all beings have to fight their inner demons for themselves. So stand up! „Es geht weiter!“

BUY / STREAM

PREMIERE : Thomas Burkhardt - Sonne

blø

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.