Andy Bell (RIDE) under his GLOK alter ego has delivered a stunning rework of the gorgeous title track taken from the second album by ambient-techno group Herrmann Kristoffersen. Andy has tapped deep into the dub at the heart of the original, with echoes of John Carpenter's soundtracks and his own extended electronic excursions under the GLOK moniker.

Gone Gold

Herrmann Kristoffersen - Gone Gold (GLOK Remix)

https://soundcloud.com/thejoshcraig
https://soundcloud.com/aburecordings
Buy Release: https://aburecordings.bandcamp.com
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ue1tJ3raHaE

From Jersey all the way to NYC, The Josh Craig describes himself as a musical scientist, tapping into often unfathomable or lesser recognised mental needs within his music. As an all-round creator, he is immersed in his work as a designer, publisher, illustrative artist, photographer, film-maker, music producer, DJ… the list could go on. 

Recognising the dancefloor as a place of relocation, an integral space for human beings to learn about oneself, The Josh Craig sees the existence of dancefloors everywhere. Not just in clubs, but in the living room or kitchen of a friend, on the driveway or even in the supermarket aisle; we’ve all been there. His debut album ‘Who We Are As People’ is made purposefully to offer the headspace for us to explore anywhere, anytime.  

In making this body of work, he acknowledges how the process opened him up to identify with emotions and thoughts that may have otherwise been ignored. This fact culminates in an album that is part a journey within self, but also an offering to others to begin their own, aiding them on their way. Moving through different speeds, genres and sound textures, The Josh Craig dives into the concept of Sound Healing across the album.

Informed by the composition of jazz and orchestral music, along with the raw mixing techniques found in reggae, dub-reggae, traditional chilean and even new wave, ‘Who We Are As People’ sees attention to detail come alive within his preference for atmospherics. This album pairs down the technicalities of the aforementioned genres with the best parts of ambient, minimal techno, electro and breaks. Using completely raw analogue methods, The Josh Craig plays out each album track in full takes, imagining the finished piece as if it would be played with a live band. ‘Who We Are As People’ sees an artist who does not mimic certain sounds, rather focusing on technique and a belief in sound as a deeply healing entity. 

Tracklist:

Who We Are As People
The Foundation
Zero Regrets 
Exercise Your Rights
Breakdown
Acid Voyage 
Under It All
Phase001 
Dat Bounce 
Anybody Out There

Who We Are As People' LP

Zero Regrets

PREMIERE: The Josh Craig - Zero Regrets [Abu Recordings]

BUY: https://whypeopledance.bandcamp.com/album/basement-0011

Follow Marching Machines:
@marchingmachines
https://www.facebook.com/Marchingmachines
https://instagram.com/marching_machines

Take a deep breath, the song says, and keep your head under our boot, cause the second EP on Whypeopledance is coming your way.

After the confrontational Jack Carel EP in February, Whypeopledance is back with Marching Machines’ „Basement“ EP, a release dedicated to all the flashes you’re having of the culture we miss so much, to each hiss of the fog machine you remember, everybody you ever touched on the dance floor, and each staircase that took you underground.
Marching Machines are electronic music producer Dimitri Andreas, and former Radius Records boss and DJ, Spacid, both proudly wearing t-shirts saying „More than two decades in the biz“, and hailing from the country that gave the world some of the best electronic music ever, Belgium! Their new EP contains three original tracks, two remixes, and one instrumental, bringing us to a total of 6 reasons to peek through the keyhole and check out what’s hiding in the „Basement“ on our Bandcamp page.

Starting off with „Clamps“, Marching Machines open with a track for the nipples of the world and every club toilet queue you ever waited. The second track „Spreader“ brings you to the deepest darkroom fantasies by presenting memorable melodies. „Leash“ introduces deviant howls and nasty verses by Lithuania’s best-kept secret, Jaroška, something that would easily go on repeat in Gaspard Noe’s RECTUM club from Irreversible.

We are also happy to introduce two very unique flips to fill the basement's prophecy. Carcass Identity remix of „Leash“ is lubed to the bone, an omen of an incoming trip for the dirtiest of dancers. The second remixer on the EP is Five Rituals taking the originally singing synths of the future and cold-blooded march in the „Spreader“ for a walk on the break side of things.

The world may be falling apart, but it isn’t because you didn’t get any, is it?

@fiverituals
@carcassidentity
Voices in Leash: @jaroska

releases April 26, 2021

Produced by Marching Machines
Mastering by Deividas Jaroška
Artwork by https://soundcloud.com/dusanlilic / https://soundcloud.com/banda-panda

The world may be falling apart, but it isn’t because you didn’t get any, is it?

Basement 0011

Basement 0011 Snippets

[WPD02] Marching Machines - Basement 0011 Snippets

Artist: https://soundcloud.com/alpagoda, https://soundcloud.com/iroaka
Track: Black
Label: https://soundcloud.com/bannedinvegas
Format: Cassette Tape, Digital, Compilation, VA
Release date: 28/5/21
Purchase: https://bannedinvegas.bandcamp.com/album/a-deer-falling-into-the-sea

A DEER FALLING INTO THE SEA is a two piece project consisting of a remix compilation of Lucky Veil - the first mini album by Al Pagoda, and a short-documentary film.
The first part: A DEER FALLING INTO THE SEA (Lucky Veil Remixes) is a revision of Lucky Veil to be released via BIV Records in collaboration with Bigamo Musik on 28.5.2021. 
A a new perspective by close friends and musicians the influenced the creation process of by the album in one way or another.

YouTube

PREMIERE | Al Pagoda - Black (Iro Aka Remix) [Banned In Vegas] 2021

Give yourself a moment's peace with "Monday's minute of rest." Dive into a meditative state with this instrumental trip-hop track, where a slow, hypnotic rhythm blends with a deep chillout atmosphere. The perfect soundtrack for finding your inner calm and resetting your week.

#TripHop #Chillout #Downtempo #Instrumental #Relax #Atmospheric #Styiler
Soundcloud: @styiler
VK: vk.com/styiler
Mixcloud: mixcloud.com/styiler
Flat Audio: www.flat.audio/styiler
Behance: behance.net/dmitriymoiseen
Facebook: facebook.com/MoiseenkoDI
Bandcamp: www.styiler.bandcamp.com
Youtube: youtube.com/@styilerdm4303
Beatport: beatport.com/artist/styiler/791937
Instagram: instagram.com/moiseenko_di_styiler
iTunes: music.apple.com/ru/artist/styiler/1474725346
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist

Monday's minute of rest

"One of the hardest thing as a musician is to maintain this naive, almost utopian and emotional approach to our music. Especially when it comes to a highly codified genre like Electronic music which appeared in the late 80s/early 90s like a promise of a bright future for music, everything sounding so fresh and revolutionary. When Katerina sent me those demos I heard that freshness, that pure intention, something I remember from discovering melancholic Detroit tunes in the 90s or early Warp ‘artificial intelligence’ compilations, bridging the gap between techno and more intricate electronica. It’s been a while since I didn’t hear an EP so sincere - and not JUST nostalgic, that makes me want to dance alone in my living room and forget about everything else. It’s a subtle thing that makes the difference but that difference is everything, it’s Music."
Joakim

"Just WOW!" Roman Flügel 
"This is all cool. I like it mucho!!!" Axel Boman 
"This is so awesome. Love everything here." Kaspar Bjorke
"nice melodic laidback techno" Alexis Le Tan
"Beautiful record! Katerina achieves such a unique sound that could not be anyone else." Solar
"hot hot hot" Bayerischer Rundfunk
"Weirdo shit perfect for depressant-leaning crowds. K-Hole cuts, Barbiturate Beats, Indica incantations? Yes! On air support." WEFT fm

Katerina - The White Cat

New Born – Galaxy EP
Release date: 15 february 2021
BUY LINK: https://schatzimusik.bandcamp.com/album/new-born-galaxy
Label: SchatziMusik (https://soundcloud.com/schatzimusikrecords)
https://soundcloud.com/alexanderarpeggio

New Born is a group of four Italian immigrants who all lived in the area around Ulm/Bavaria.

Primarily they sang more Italian songs and were more on the traditional side of Italian music.

This record is a perfect example of what can happen when the drummer says “Let´s jam” to the musicians. The outstanding track “Galaxy” came out, the vibe of it is like an early piano house track and a hybrid of cosmic and disco.

The original copy of the record is nowadays a highly requested collector´s item, that skyrocketed in terms of prices. Originally released as a 45 single in 1981 the record was pressed in a very small run. Try to find a unicorn it’s easier.

We decided not to do only a simple reissue of it, we asked the creme de la creme of cosmic disco to make us a new born version of the track “Galaxy”. Camp Cosmic aficionados Albion & Alexander Arpeggio are responsible for two mesmerizing versions of this song. On top, we pressed the whole record as a 12″ from the original master tapes.

Mastering by Tom Sky at Faible Studio & Schnittstelle (Berlin)
Cover artwork by Stacoff

BUY LINK

PREMIERE : Alexander Arpeggio – Galaxy

Rik van Boeckel - Deze Hoofden Praten (LP, vinyl)

BUY LINKS : 
https://www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/deze-hoofden-praten
https://raakvlak.bandcamp.com/album/deze-hoofden-praten

Release date: 22 february 2021
Label : Raakvlak (https://soundcloud.com/raakvlak_denhaag)

“New label on the block Raakvlak returns for its second release, this time branching out into more local territories. Deze Hoofden Praten is a vast recollection of the idiosyncratic work of spoken-word guru Rik van Boeckel.”

Next in line for Raakvlak is a recollection of the wicked work of poet, spoken-word expert and all-round expressionist Rik van Boeckel. Deze Hoofden Praten is the result of two mid- eighties tapes released on Kubus Cassettes, the same label that accommodated the work of mind- stretching ambient of subterranean-chill pioneer Enno Velthuys. Although van Boeckel’s oeuvre contains some similar elements, the outcome here is much wilder; a musical hodgepodge of new wave pop, ambient and quirky dub.

What’s more, emphasis is just as much on the Dada- bordering poetry at present as on the sonical equivalent. Think Ton Lebbink’s cousin if he would’ve been into new age instead of punk. Certainly one to turn heads and ears alike, this may serve as a (re-)introduction of a singular mind to the wider universe.

--------------------------

Previously released on Kubus Kassettes 1983-1984
Mastered by Ruud Lekx 
Compiled by Tim Padmos & Piet Zaalberg
Graphic design by Tom Munneke
Liner notes by Wouter de Romph
All rights reserved - 2020 - Raakvlak / Kubus Kassettes

PREMIERE : Rik Van Boeckel - Dub In Dub Uit

In May 2019, I recorded an album at a Kogis' (Kagabas*) village, in the Sierra Nevada mountain of Santa Marta in Colombia. Kagabas are indigenous people who consider themselves to be the guardians of the Earth and are concerned by the modern world's attempts to destroy it. The mountain - in Colombia - is their home, it is quite literally a microcosm, a mirror of the planet in which every ecological zone is represented. The damaging lifestyles which stems from the capitalistic dogma are affecting their environment and from their vantage point on the mountain they can see how this is straining the
rest of the planet. Singing is a staple feature of the Kagabas culture, it is considered as a way to connect with the environment. There are for example a song of the monkey, of the deer, snake, laughing or even death - singing is a way for the Kagabas to feel safe around these animals and concepts and to live peacefully among them without fear and without the need to chase them away. As there's no
writing, music and singing are a way to pass memory, knowledge and awareness down through generations. The ongoing ecological disaster, the uncertainty of the current times and the temptation for many of the youths to leave the mountains for the big city life make this transmission issue all the more critical. As we exchanged prior to my visit and while I was there, the recording and sharing of these songs was a recurring topic and we agreed to have singing at the core of this musical project. I was welcomed to spend a week within their community to record this album. I spent most of the time there with the Máma of the village (Mámas are spiritual and intellectual guides that keep the memory of the civilization) and his son Camilo, with help from Franz who has been working with the Kagabas for about 15 years now as part of the Native organization which he runs. This album combines songs, field recordings of the village and of its surrounding nature, as well as musical compositions I made in my studio. They liked the result and approved this album to be released. Fully aware of the responsibility the Kagabas have entrusted me with, I've decided to self release this album and will give all the benefits to the Nativa organization to support its fight for the replanting of trees and getting land back. * Widely known as « Kogis », the name they were given to by the « civilised man », they actually call themselves « Kagaba ».

PREMIERE : Lion's Drums - Water

https://soundcloud.com/irrationalwaves
https://soundcloud.com/highmaintenanceintoulouse
Buy Release: https://hmitrecords.bandcamp.com/album/convolutions
YouTube Stream: https://youtu.be/ZuNRV-dsbrU

Solune's Convolutions EP, second HMiT Records release, transports us to the world of mid-90s Manhattan and New Jersey clubs' where spirituality and dance were intimately interconnected, and comes within the scope of some American House labels of these same years, on which it was common to find two versions of the same song on the same record. This is the case here for "Feathered Blaze", which is presented in its original version and in its dub rereading, before giving way to an atmospheric track, "Gratitude".

"Feathered Blaze", epic piece of tribal house, takes us from the first seconds into an ecstatic trance whose intensity will continue to rise with the powerful and throbbing rhythmic loops that Solune takes the time to install and develop over time. The kick is intense, the bass heavy and the percussions are hypnotic. The body cannot help starting to dance but, beyond the dance, Solune speaks to our soul. Indeed, at this tribal rhythm are superimposed multiple harmonic layers, carried by very deep chords and ethereal synth lines. The whole is made bleary by a massive use of echoes and delays which infuses a deeply dub touch into the song. Listening to the song obviously brings Ron Trent to mind, as well as Joe Claussell, Kerri Chandler or some glorious releases of labels such as Ibadan and Nite Grooves. As for the Dub Essence version of the track, it tightens on rhythm, percussions and FX, which intermingle ad infinitum to describe complex convolutions in which it is exhilarating to get lost. The closing track, "Gratitude", is a magnificent ambient piece with its long synthetic layers that come and go, its delicate tribal percussions and its aerial and heady melody.

With the Convolutions EP, Solune plunges us into a tribal and mystical atmosphere: time is suspended there at this moment when communion is total on the dancefloor, where everyone, in a collective trance, moves in unison, in a sort of urban shamanic rite.

Solune - Convolutions

Gratitude

PREMIERE: Solune - Gratitude [HMiT Records]

Hit the gas and tear up the roads in this legendary action-driving game. Take your ride through wide city streets, push it sideways down narrow mountain roads and hit the limiter as you put the pedal to the metal on the freeway. With plenty to see, Ventura Bay is the perfect place for you to show off your skills and get the recognition and respect you deserve. How will they remember you? In Need for Speed that all depends on how you drive...

Gone Gold is the second album from Herrmann Kristoffersen, aka Daniel Herrmann (Flug 8) and Kristina Kristoffersen. Mastered by Jörn Elling Wuttke (The Primitive Painter) it is inspired by the world of gaming and the idea of composing an imaginary soundtrack for the classic racing video game Need for Speed, but in their unique style - kosmische techno, ambient soundscapes and gauzy electronica.

Creating an imaginary soundtrack for a game and working apart due to Covid-imposed travel restrictions, it was logical that the couple would use the shortcuts from the gamers’ world to communicate with each other. Every title on the album represents an aspect of that, providing an insight into how to interpret the song, creating your own online gaming world while listening. First up is the album’s opening track - the early-Autechre/AI machine-funk stylings of 1LC (One Life Clear: playing through a video game from start to finish without ever losing a life).

PREMIERE: Herrmann Kristoffersen - 1LC [Bytes]

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.