Heard in Berghain

Berlin Feeling

Oscar Escapa - Berlin Feeling

Work Dat Ass

Mega

Taken from: Theo Kottis - Lighthouse - Dekmantel - DKMNTL102

buy via dekmantel: https://dekmantel.com/shop/records/theo-kottis-lighthouse 
buy via bandcamp: https://theokottis.bandcamp.com/album/lighthouse 

Dekmantel is proud to welcome Theo Kottis for an EP of snappy, melodically-charged house, techno and electro with a distinct 90s edge. Lighthouse marks a shift in focus for the London-based Scottish producer — the result of a self-imposed creative reset which has seen him honing a more mature sound both in the studio and on the decks.

The EP’s title track has been on heavy rotation this summer from the likes of Ben UFO, Francesco Del Garda & Palms Trax, and it’s not hard to work out why. ‘Lighthouse’ draws on all the best elements of club music and moulds them into a deadly, effective whole. From the driving low-end of the Reese bassline to the razor-sharp attack of the 4/4 drums, the swoon of the Motor City pads to the tweaked acid line, it’s a hybrid techno workout of the highest order.

Following the inspirational flash point of ‘Lighthouse’ Kottis built out the rest of the EP in a similar vein of characterful, impactful club tracks driven by iconic 90s sounds wielded with precision. ‘Warp’ brings the 303 further to the forefront while ‘Take Control’ digs into deliciously dirty lead lines and ‘Distance’ takes a more explicit electro direction. He might be exploring a revitalised sound, but Kottis holds true to his flair for ear-snagging anthems evidenced on past releases for Permanent Vacation, Space Dust and DGTL amongst many others. As Kottis’ impact on the scene continues to grow, it’s a true pleasure to present some of his fiercest tracks to date on his continued upward trajectory

Lighthouse


Release date (3LP, cd & digital format): 3rd of November

TRACKLIST
1. Ø [Phase] - Insectoid
2. Lucy - Sana Sana Sana Cura Cura Cura
3. Ctrls - x.y
4. Rødhåd - Haumea
5. Planetary Assault Systems - The 808 Track (Parts 1 and 2)
6. James Ruskin - No Trace
7. Surgeon - Fixed Action Pattern
8. Inigo Kennedy - Arcing
9. Karenn - Pace Yourself

INFO
It was early 2007 when Inigo Kennedy inaugurated Token. Since that Identify Yourself 12” the Belgian label has gone from strength to strength, integrating both Kennedy and Ashley Burchett, aka Ø [Phase], into becoming integral cogs in the Token machine. In between releases by Grovskopa, Oscar Mulero and Go Hiyama, both Ø [Phase] and Inigo Kennedy dominated Token’s output, but it wasn’t until Burchett’s watershed Binary Opposition that Token received the shower of praise it deserved. Following this, label founder Kr!z issued three remix 12”s of that release which, including Token regulars, took in a profound cast of producers to reprocess “Binary Opposition” by the way of Sigha, Peter Van Hoesen, Planetary Assault Systems and Ben Klock. It was here Token stamped their authority on contemporary techno.

Since then Token has grown exponentially, bringing into their fold artists like Xhin, Mark Broom and Rødhåd, while Ctrls, formally one half of Northern Structures, has seen his solo career flourish on Token with the release of five records to date, and he joins Inigo Kennedy and Ø [Phase] as a label stalwart. Additionally this year, Orphx and Ancient Methods debuted their relentless Eschaton collaboration on Token, and Christian Wünsch’s Spherical Coordinates dalliance with Oscar Mulero has gained even more momentum with a second release called Kinematics Equations. Now, seven years after that debut Kennedy record, Token present Aphelion, a nine-track CD and triple vinyl grandstand of new and exclusive material from label regulars and like-minded artists whom Token founder Kr!z specifically commissioned for this milestone release.

The penultimate record before Aphelion was a second Token 12” by Rødhåd, another artist adding to the cultivation of the label’s sound and roster, and for this compilation the Berliner supplies his cosmically inspired “Haumea”. Joining the Dystopian founder on Aphelion are three of the UK’s most influential techno artists: Surgeon, James Ruskin and Luke Slater under his Planetary Assault Systems alias who provide Token with solo material for the first time after previously appearing on the imprint in remix form. Entirely new names to grace the label via Aphelion include Stroboscopic Artefacts founder Lucy, and Blawan and Pariah's Karenn project, while label faithfuls Inigo Kennedy,  Ø [Phase] and Ctrls naturally commit three Token defining productions.

Casting one’s eye over Token’s back catalogue and it’s clear to see the label is a staunch advocate of absolute techno, remaining steadfast in issuing quality material that remains true to classic strands of the genre regardless of its popularity flux. In that respect, Aphelion - a word used to describe the point in orbit when a planet or comet is farthest from the sun - provides a simple analogy that the magnetic force of Token, unfazed by the shadows cast by popular opinion, will proudly shine light on their artists and given styles. 

“We started in an era where our genre was very unpopular,” Kr!z explains. “And in the end that seemed a big advantage for us, because when everyone was giving up, we started our mission.” Regularly hosting label nights in prominent clubs around the world, Token has become a label supported by a wide-ranging body of artists like Âme and Ben Klock to Efdemin, Truss and Ancient Methods. With the label now branching out into album and compilation territory, Token’s duty to techno may not yet be accomplished, but it’s been a job well done.

www.tokenrecords.com
www.facebook.com/tokenrecords

Aphelion

Karenn - Pace Yourself

Forward Step

Ben Klock - Pulse

www.discogs.com/master/35399-Vitalic-Poney-EP

Vitalic - You prefer Cocaine

Beaucoup Fish

Push Upstairs

Traditional Native American flute music.  Composed and Performed by Troy De Roche.

Twilight

Defend:r adds another layer of rhythm for the ultimate head nod.

Sol Ortega The Underground Establishment (Defend:r Re-Rub)

“De Roche is the epitome of pure beauty in sound. Expressing traditional values and the spiritual nature of Native American people through music is the goal of Native American flautist Troy De Roche. He achieves this by playing his original songs from the heart without synthesizer or sampling so the true voice of the flute may
be heard.

Troy is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation and grew up in and around Heart Butte, Montana, the geographic heart of the reservation. Troy has experienced both the traditional values of his people and the contemporary struggle, absorbing both with equal measures of respect and appreciation, testimony to which is
evidenced by his reputation as a musician, songwriter, and artisan. He was given the name "Shu'k Sha'mii"; which means "Good Medicine"; for the healing powers of his music. It has been three generations since the elders felt someone was worthy of this powerful name.

An in demand performer at shows, festivals, workshops and exhibitions across the country, Troy has carried the gift of his music worldwide. He has been featured at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans Louisiana, The Leeds Playhouse in Leeds England, the MAC Theater in Birmingham, England, the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Museum of Man in San Diego, California, and the University of
Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii as well as numerous other venues. For the past 3 years he has performed at the Montana Folk Festival. His performance during At the Crossroads: A Fire Ceremony in Seattle Washington drew the following: “Your music moved 10,000 people!” In 1998 while on a record breaking tour in England Troy became the first Native American composer/performer
to secure a contract with Zomba Music, for their prestigious Chappell Hill publishing roster. He returned to London in 2002 to record for Extreme Music’s World Music Series. His original compositions can be heard on soundtracks around the world as well as on five albums for public release; Good Medicine, Listen, My People!,
First Mother, Eagle’s Journey and Journey from the Heart.


Troy is recognized as one of the few authentic Native American Flute makers; each De Roche flute being an original handcrafted piece of art, not production line nor lather turned. The quality of his craftsmanship is
evident in the beautiful and clear tones of his instruments. At the Sweet Willow Indian Market in Great Falls, Montana he was selected by his peers for the Artists’ Choice Award and was also awarded First Place in Traditional Sculpture. De Roche flutes are in private collections in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, England, Scotland, and the United States.

Preserving tradition is an important part of Troy’s life. He and his wife, Liz, founded the Federation of American Natives in 2005 which hosted the annual Hilo Inter-Tribal PowWow in Hilo, Hawaii. They do performances at schools and military bases to share their culture with those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience Native American music and stories. In 2016 they travelled to Massachusetts to share culture with children at the Friend’s Academy and to celebrate Earth Day at the First Church of Boston. Troy also performed at the Montana Folk Festival in Butte July 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Troy is registered with
the Federal Indian Arts and Crafts Board as an authentic Native Artist. He is also a member of Montana Musicians and “Native Made in Montana”.