Bader Motor - Drei Drei Drei [Veals & Geeks 017 Promo]

Put on the circuit via the Belgium-based imprint Veals & Geeks on August 18th, 2k16 is "Drei Drei Drei", the new album crafted by Bader Motor - an outfit consisting of Arnaud Magnet, Vincent Epplay and the great Fred Bigot. Whilst we've already announced the arrival of this album, especially the video for the tune "Bongo Bongo Bongo", on another platform earlier this month we're now taking a closer look at the seven tracks which are making up the full album. Whilst the thrilling opening sequence named "Prima Belladonna" doesn't rely on any beats at all but still evokes a feel of lurking danger in alien, unexplored territories we see "Disappear In America" gravitate towards seemingly drum machine-based NoWave-infused Indie with a hint of down to earth BluesRock before a "New Diamond Day" fuses the art of Dub with minimalistic PostPunk in super slow motion to create quite a dark'ish and haunting overall atmosphere. When it comes to the following "Je Pleure Une Lotte 49" we see quite a bit of Art School approach meeting the Ingenious Dilletantes vibe and echoes of Minimal Wave. "I Saw You" is about to explore the mostly guitar-based instrumental side of spaced out krautsiness and quirky (neo)cosmicisms although heavily altered vocals are used like additional instruments here and the aforementioned "Bongo Bongo Bongo" caters more than 8 minutes of mental Space Rock for high speed autobahn trips that are surely made more fun by the use of certain substances with slightly psychedelic or even hallucinogenic effects. With "The Haunted Room" coming across more like an intense snippet from a horror flic score that's about to be loved by followers of bands like Sunn o))) for a reason it's up to "Your Word Or Mine?" to conclude this eight track album on an intense level of psyched out bluesiness for all those twisted, twisted minds out there. Interesting stuff, this. 

Jaykae - Pull Up *Mike Skinner Remix

This one's a stone cold killer tune. Absolutely essential bass banger.

Katie Gately - Colour [Tri Angle Records Promo]

Scheduled for October 14th, 2k16 via Tria Angle Records is Katie Gately's new album named "Colour" - a seven track affair in which the LA-based producer combines her obvious love for PostPunk / Art School-influenced songwriting - think The Slits or Bitch Band No. 1 here - with dense, layered electronic structures and rhythms composed of found sounds and a clear sense for dancefloor smashing hit formulas like the one used in the epic tune "Tuck" which clearly is about to rock every venue dedicated to Indie and PostPunk albeit being based on a dedicated 4/4 foundation. The same goes for the epic, slightly drummachines NoisePop anthem "Sift" which combines a wall of unsettling,  alarming frequencies with a playful, innocent vocal approach, "Rive" comes across as twisted Piano ballad combined with highly compressed electronic eruptions that might've been well suitable for Björk's "Biophilia" album as well, "Frisk" starts out with a quite seductive sawtooth bass to bring loads of theatrical, intoxicating drama and "Sire" caters thunderous, complex multilayers for those longing for the ultimate musical climax and melting braincells as this track seems to be more intricate than classical Wagnerian compositions at times. Finally, "Climax" steers towards calmer, more ballad'esque seas, although the dark'ish intro sequence and the minimalist bass figure keeps our minds on high alert for a reason. This one's epic! 

(ghost) - The First Time You Opened Your Eyes [Sound In Silence 031]

Another new release on the Greece-based Sound In Silence imprint is (ghost)'s third ever longplay piece entitled "The First Time You Opened Your Eyes" on which the artist from Denver, better known as Brian Froh to his friends and parents, serves a calm and relaxing trip to the lands of Ambient and Deep Listening Music in which the title track - spanning over 34 minutes and therefore being the only tune on this limited and hand-numbered album - presents a continuous, slowly evolving stream of sonic textures, rich and multi-layered like small ocean waves continuously breaking at the shore after a bright summers day. Take this description, add some angelic, otherworldly harmonic string constructions and what you'll get of this amalgamation is one of the most recommendable Ambient albums we've heard in 2k16 so far. Beautiful.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Gintas K - Low [Opa Loka Records]

Recently released via Opa Loka Records is Gintas K's newest album named "Low" which sees the Lithuanian producer cater a menu of eleven tracks which concludes an album trilogy that also includes his 2009-released longplay piece "Lovely Banalities" as well as the 2013 album "Slow". Over the course of roughly 43 minutes the artist explores a musical field we'd rather describe as Unambient because - although Ambient influences and textures are present throughout the whole runtime - the melodic and floating tonality of the album, also influenced by pretty much organic elements reminiscing of Post-PostRock or Indietronics, is somewhat decaying, interrupted by metallic noises and distortions on overdrive which surprisingly never come across as aggressive but tend to be more of an inward looking and pondering nature which, in parts, is not well represented by the tracks truncated runtime rarely exceeding the four minutes mark and therefore feeling more like skits and rough sketches of experimental nature rather than the fully thought out sonic sculptures they could've turned into over time. This said, we feel that "Low" doesn't meet the expectations we had after we've reviewed Gintas K's "Message In The Bottle" album earlier this year and therefore leaves us behind a little unsatisfied for a reason.

Sascha Müller [Sascha Müller Music 100016]

Scheduled for October 6th, 2k16 is Sascha Müller's new digital two track single on his very own imprint Sascha Müller Music. With "Deep Down" we see the Meppen-based artist explore the realms of masterly crafted, dark'ish peaktime Techno which is comparable to Thomas P. Heckmann's highly acclaimed works on labels like Wavescape whilst "The Horn Track" caters all punters needs with a well seductive fusion of TribalHouse and technoid structures which are accompanied by - guess what? - a dry, killer horn sample for all those DJ's out there willing to take a risk to send party people into the descents of an ultimate dancefloor craze. Good stuff!

baze.djunkiii Chart Haul 09/2016

Kuedo - Slow Knife [Planet µ 380 Promo]

Due for release via Planet µ on October 14th, 2k16 is Kuedo's sophomore album "Slow Knife" which is following up to his acclaimed 2k11-debut named "Severant" now. Starting into the fourteen track journey we see "Hourglass" opening a door leading towards dreamy, well synthetic soundscapes that seem to be influenced by both Electronica and Trap in ultra slow motion and tunes like the almost beatless "Under The Surface" or the brooding and nightmare-inducing, surely SynthPop-infused "In Your Sleep" which kinda reminds us of Fatima Al Qadiri's twisted, yet often chromatic melodies continue on the path paved whilst the title track "Slow Knife" embraces pure Synth Ambient and "Floating Forest" comes across as a well-slowed down variation of instrumental Future Grime. Throughout the second half of the album we see the overall tonality changing slightly with the mysterious, ancient atmosphere of tunes like "Approaching", the darker, well dramatic (Neo)Classical string arrangements of "Broken Fox - The Black Hole" or the Illbient-infused, decaying soundcapes of "Breaking The Surface" which might as well, like many other tracks on the album, be taken from a quite unsettling movie score of sorts - a field which is kinda related to Kuedo's day job of being a sound designer and commercial composer and which has defo had an influence on his artistic approach towards this longplay piece that  has him taken further away from his origins in the bass music scene than he has ever been.  

Club Des Belugas - Nine [Glamjazz Records]

Coming in just today was "Nine", the new - and ninth - album produced by the mulit-membered band outfit named Club Des Belugas who are about to take a break for the time being after this piece will be released on September 30th, 2k16.  Put on the circuit via Glamjazz Records as double-CD format featuring a whole of thirty - sic! - tracks we'll find both a lot of new original tracks as well as remixes crafted by Club Des Belugas for other artists and vice versa on this massive pack that's meant to cater all fans of NuJazz, Funky Breaks and NuFunk for a reason with huge hits like the hounded, slightly Yello'esque "Pogo Porn (ft. Karl Boes)" or the deep, piano-driven LatinHouse rework of Mo Horizons' "Ai Mi Morena" whilst their rework of The Cosmic Surf Club's "Quiet Dawn" fuses classic TripHop with elements of Easy Listening and Future Jazz - think: The Gentle People. With "What The Butler Heard" Club Des Belugas are entering quite enthralling Space Bossa realms, "I Just Want  To Make Love To You" featuring the great Brenda Boykin on vocal duties brings in classic and well-dramatic Soul flavours and the outfits remix for "Les Boulevards De Paris", originally written by Antoine Villoutreix, presents more lively, frolicking and spring-like vibes with an obviously French twist. "Full Crazy", the next collaboration with Brenda Boykin, serves a little more drama and action, slightly reminiscing to classic espionage flics' theme songs, "Mirando Al Mar", another remix - this time for the Bahama Soul Club - captures a nice, sun-infused Cuban athmosphere whilst Latin House lovers will surely appreciated the Club Des Belugas remix for "Manteca", a tune by the WDR Big Band and Arturo Sandoval which is about to cause massive mayhem on every sophisticated dancefloor. As one might guess, the story continues in a similar fashion throughout the rest of this longplayer, which is quite a fusion between album and compilation that, if rumours about the bands break at hand are really true, is a well thought out grand finale to the bands working efforts that surely includes a lot of seductive, yet well varied dancefloor fodder that easily can stand the test of time for a reason. Sweet stuff!

Album artwork on Instagram!

Panoptique Electrical - Disappearing Music For Face [Sound In Silence 030]

Recently incoming from Greece was "Disappearing Music For Face", the newest album output by the Australian artist Jason Sweeney produced under his moniker Panoptique Electrical and put out on the circuit via the Greek imprint Sound In Silence as a limited to 200 copies run of hand-numbered CDr albums. Exploring sonic terrains heavily informed by both introspective Electronica and scenic Ambient whilst providing most romantic layers of tender, caressing piano playing over the course of approx. 49 minutes we see Mr. Sweeney rolling out an album that might seem a little kitsch-driven at first but immediately starts to grow on the listener and soon develops into a beloved soundtrack for rainy, melancholia-infused late fall afternoons, providing highlights like the more uptempo, somehow Indie-reminiscing tune "In A Forest Forlorn" or the dramatic, emotionally stirring "C Minor Spell" which even touches the borders of Dark Ambient in a way whilst tunes like the crackling "Desired Decayed" or "A Picture, A Landscape" tell musical tales of a love long gone. This is good stuff - check!

Album artwork on Instagram!

Hans Tammen - Deus Ex Machina [Clang 042 Promo]

Catching up on the last summer promos today we're taking a closer look on Hans Tammen's latest album "Deus Ex Machina" today which was released via Clang in the first half of June. Subtitled "Endangered Guitar Live" it's pretty obvious what this album is dealing with - a nineteen track take on the artists work with the hybrid instrument, an amalgamation of live guitar and a computer running the Max / MSP software, documenting his approach to the well-complex and chaotic function of this extrordinary instrument in the years 2004 and 2011. The results of this can be fascinatingly clean and sci-fi sounding whilst being infused by a little bit of Post-PostRock in tunes like "Transaxle" or "Delusional Parasitosis" whilst bits like the "Planetary Gear Train (Euclidean I)" or "Attack Study" provide a little more Rock'n'Roll-feel in terms of energy, but - due to the nature of the instrument - are taking these towards entirely new levels of abstraction, naturally. The "Combustion Chamber" even provides absolute Vantablack darkness and is meant to creep the hell out of ppl suffering from depression and / or mental issues for a reason. In "Sun-And-Planet-Motion" Hans Tammen even explores the abstract art of single note picking on the Endangered Guitar whilst the subsequent "Epicyclic Train (Euclidean II)" as well as the "Jonval Turbine (Euclidean III)" unveal the heavier, slightly ultraviolent side of the instrument. Furthermore the "Interlude In Copenhagen" evokes memories of uncontrolled modular synthesis, "Deinoccus Radiodurans" brings in more bass heavy, yet glitchy low frequency despair for those who can handle the most lightless hours of the night before "The Interlude At Ramapo's" finally brings in a little lighter, playful elements into the overall sound of "Deus Ex Machina" which defo is one album piece that'll be more appreciated by those digging true sonic experimentalisms in all their different variations.

John Chantler - Which Way To Leave? [Room40 Promo]

Put on the circuit via the ever active Room40-imprint on August 26th, 2k16 is "Which Way To Leave?", the latest album effort created by Australian-born and now Sweden-based composer John Chantler who has been releasing experimental electronic music ever since the year 2000. With his most recent longplay piece Mr. Chantler explores the vast possibilities of melodic abstractions of a multilayered, distorted, yet not necessarily chaotic nature. Structured around a rhythmic but not beat-bound foundation of digital distortion and electric buzzing we'll come across a beautiful, alien array of yearning, crystalline synth melodies in the opening tune "Falling Forward",  enter a mixture of twisted, reprocessed found sounds and scientific soundcapes in "Two And Four" and are introduced to alienated Ambient in the short skit that is "Clearing". The "Fixation Pulse" takes us into toxic swamps found on planets in a galaxy far, far away and defo provides some dreamy, welcoming organo-distorted soundtrack'ish / score'esque qualities whilst the subsequent "Lesser Demands" fuses a strive for minimalistic soundscaping with sparse, resilient low frequency pulses of possibly modular or electro-acoustic origin. "All Visible Signs" however leads the listener towards inward looking ambientisms combined with ever busy, multilayered bleeps of computational operations executed in macrospace whereas the "First December" is, as the name might suggest, a slighty frosty affair and can surely be filed under the flag of Cold Ambient although incorporating some reprocessed elements of more organic origin for sure and evolving into something calm and truly cinematic throughout the course of a little over ten minutes before seamlessly progressing into the sequel which is the "Second December". Finally things are "Beginning Again" where "All Visible Signs" have left us - although on a way slower and more relaxed tempo the feel of unfamiliar machines processing data of unknown value remains and concludes an album pretty much interesting for followers of experimental music in general and collectors of sci-fi scores in particular although this one is not a score at all. 

Jemh Circs - Jemh Circs [Cellule 075 001]

To be released on September 30th, 2k16 via the new imprint Cellule 75 is this self-titled album by Jemh Circs, a formerly well hidden alias used by Marc Richter who is primarily working with voice samples obtained from Youtube music videos here. This approach, resulting in the eight tracks of the half hour long album debut, leads to an array of fever'ish, blurred, multilayered soundscapes of quite irritating, yet well fascinating nature that seems to amalgamate the skipping nature of Marcus Popp's CD-collection abused for his early Oval productions, the oftentimes iriscidating, highly chromatic production value of Fatima Al Qadiri's outerworldly music and the information overload provided by non-working brain filters to people suffering from Asperger's syndrome and similar conditions. This said to paint a rough picture of Jemh Circs music, tracks like "Est" even bring in a fascinating quality that might be filed under the flag of Ambient Rave whilst "Iant" introduces the beatless, yet crowd moving action of highspeed glitching and "Mesc" delivers a 97 seconds anthem for all those loving their aforementioned early Oval releases like "Systemisch" to bits. Defo a great album that follows a pretty much conceptual guideline in terms of production without being a so-called concept album at all. Recommended!

Alien Ensemble - 2 [Alien Transistor Promo]

Roughly two years after releasing their self-titled debut album we see Micha Acher's Alien Ensemble making a comeback on Alien Transistor with their second longplay outing simply named "2" on September 23rd, 2k16. And once again Mr Acher and his fellow band members which include Andi Haberl, Stefan Schreiber, Oliver Roth amongst others set out to explore a completely non-electronic sonic environment that's well-informed by genres like Jazz,  KrautRock, Indietronics and PostRock but still aiming to create something new, epic and beautiful in its own right instead of serving a simple amalgamation of the mentioned genres elements. And in tunes like the cinematic, playful, yet crowd moving "Morgenstimmung", the more introspective and melancholic TripHop / Downtempo-reminiscing "Dope" with all its cute melodies or "Skeleton Dance" which is defo the krautsiest tune on "2" the results are defo pretty much remarkable and worth to check out although the Jazz aspect is not that present as in the band's debut and therefore we feel that the album might probably be a little less appealing to the groups initial audience and original fanbase.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Oscar #Worldpeace - Tate Modern

A catchy slow-jam banger featuring Ragz Originale on production - UK Urban entering the building big time with this one!

Sin Fang - Spaceland [Morr Music 149 Promo]

Three years after his last album "Flowers" we see the Islandic artist Sin Fang  making a return to the longplay circuit with his newest outing "Spaceland" which will be released via Morr Music on September 16th, 2k16. Being closer to genres like IndiePop / DreamPop with his most recent outing as well as touching the borders of twinkle-toed SynthPop and featuring more electronic, dancefloor compatible elements that especially show in tunes like "Lost Girls" and the Future R'n'B-influenced "Please Don't" the album opens up a new page in Sin Fang's musical work whilst the tender, yet epic romanticisms of "I Want You To Know" cover the deeper side of Sin Fang's Advanced Pop approach and "Branch" even offers cinematic qualities on a well-synthetic foundation of urban beats. Defo a good one this, although not as fascinating as it's predecessor.

LUX€ BOYZ - Should Have Pat Me Down (Official Video)

When mininalist Grime beats, unique vocals and killer Niche sequences meet the fabulous Mike Skinner - of The Streets and Tonga Balloon Gang - on video production the outcome cannot be not a major banger. So this is what the LUX€ BOYZ have in store for all of us. Tunage detected!

Eau Rouge - Margery (Official Video)

Fascinating imagery and captivating, iriscident hooklines is what Eau Rouge are bringing us with their newest video outing which shall become a major hit on the Indie scene pretty soon. This is a good one!

baze.djunkiii Charts 09/2016

01. Anne-James Chaton / Andy Moor / Thurston Moore - Heretics [Unsounds 54U]
See review for details...

02. DJ Rashad - Afterlife [Teklife Records 001]
Detroit's Teklife crew continues to preserve the legacy of Juke originator DJ Rashad with a massive 15 track double album on vinyl, jam packed with anthems and bangers crafted by Rashad alongside many collaborative forces before he passed away. As there's too much good stuff to mention on this essential piece here are just a few recommendations one should defo check out if not buying this album blindfolded anyway - so check the amazing mashup "High On Hope" by Microglobe X Machinedrum, the super dope crackhouse anthem "Let's Roll Out" by DJ Rashad X DJ Manny X DJ Spinn, the slightly Jungle-reminiscing "Roll A Tree" crafted by DJ Rashad X DJ Manny or the dirty AF low end killer "Wear Her Pussy Out" by DJ Rashad X DJ Earl amongst other highly recommended bangers on here!

Listen to Microglobe X Machinedrum "High On Hope" here!

03. Zombie Zombie - Slow Futur [Versatile Records]
Zombie Zombie are back! After catching our attention with their epic EP release "Zombie Zombie Plays John Carpenter" back in 2010 the eclectic duo project consisting of Cosmic Neman and Etienne Jaumet caters the needs of all (Neo) Cosmic astronauts and Space Music travellers with another well-fascinating 2x12" album incorporating a bunch of four tracks with each one spreading out over a whole side of a record and all exceeding the 10 minutes mark. Musically what we deal with here is quite a bunch of quirky, spaced out synth melancholia with a longing twist, partly dancefloor rocking beats like provided by the albums title track "Slow Futur" which also serves killer vocoder vocals for an extra layer of ultimate seduction and loads of lovely, highly enjoyable vintage retrofuturisms for advanced dancers, eclectic homelistening sessions or collectors of 70s sci-fi scores. This one is a must.

04. Various Artists - Philly Blunt: The Album [Philly Blunt Records]
Well, what a massive quadruple 12" pack this is and honestly I cannot remember when was the last time I bought a full on Drum'n'Bass compilation album - maybe because it last happened more than a decade ago? Whatever, this one got me as Philly Blunt is a classic Jungle / Drum'n'Bass imprint and there's quite a few classics on here that are revived in a contemporary, yet timeless and valuable way. Serum gets to rework Dillinja's "Gangsta", once released under his alias Trinity, Firefox' "Buck Rogers" is remixed by Bladerunner and the alltime Jungle favorite "This Is A Warning" by Firefox & 4-Tree is revamped by Serum again to please all the oldskool junglists needs. But also the original cuts featured on here, e.g. Firefox' "True Grit", the busy fastlane stepper "Phenomenon" created by Serum and Trigga on microphone duties and the masterly crafted Halftime Drum'n'Bass / HipHop-fusion "Red Eyes" by Serum feat. Inja or the tense gangsta cut "Save This World" by Serum & Voltage provide maximum dancefloor damage and are timeless tunes in their own right. If you're appreciating Drum'n'Bass in its classic, original form - sometimes rolling, sometimes hard stepping and sometimes a little jumpy -, without epic drops but providing proper Bristol-style tools for all them hardworking jocks out there this album, and the included one hours mix CD, will defo cater your needs and bring you maximum pleasure and joy for a reason.

05. By The Waterhole - Two [Playdate Records 008]
See review for details...

06. Mike & Rich - Expert Knob Twiddlers [Planet µ 369]
See review for details...

07. The International Nothing (... And Something) - The Power Of Negative Thinking [Monotype Records 086]
See review for details...

08. Vitor Joaquim - Geography [Cronica]
See review for details...

09. Skadedyr - Culturen [Hubro Music]
See review for details...

10. -

Wwwings - Phoenixxx [Planet µ 383 Promo]

Released on August 19th, 2k16 via Planet µ is "Phoenixxx", the debut album of the outfit known under the name of Wwwings - a three headed pack of producers hailing from the Kamchatka Peninsula located somewhere in the far east of Russia. And listening to the music created by the three core members Lit Internet, Lit Eyne and Lit Daw and their collaborators like DJ Heroin, Endgame, Born In Flamez, Kastle and many others the story about how the group came to be via the Russian social network VK and how their collaborational efforts were performed via the instant messenger service Telegram totally make sense. Listening to their wild, oftentimes pretty much un- or hardly structured, ear-piercing, midrange-focused sound incorporating elements of heavily distorted bass music, Rhythm Industrial, Noize, WitchHouse and even evident, although heavily mutated  influences of Metal as found in "Pyro" immediately brings one, very specific and yet uncoined genre to mind - this is Tumblr Music! Catering the short attention span of the youth with average track lengths of less than four minutes, often rapid - and random - changes of aesthetics within a tune, bleepy, artificial melodies seemingly influenced by horror scores and fueled by the most brutal, irritating irrationality of teenage angst and self-destruction we totally see how this one album perfectly reflects the dark side of the platform named, which once was described as the home of the wasted, anxious youth. Brutal stuff!  

Wrangler - White Glue [MemeTune Recordings Promo]

Approximately two years after their amazing debut "LA Spark" we see Wrangler return with their sophomore album "White Glue" which is about to be released via MemeTune Recordings on September 23rd, 2k16. And once again the magick triumvirate of Stephen Mallinder, Phil Winter and Benge is setting out for things big with the nine tracks featured on this longplay piece, introduced by the opener "Alpha Omega" which paves the way for tunes to come whilst mixing up cold, sterile Post-EBM / Industrial with seductive vocoder abuse and a sweet, yet simple synth melody drawing everyone towards the center of concrete, dark grey dancefloors - very 80s, yet very retrofuturist and appealing to those loving late 90s Gigolo Records and / or ElectroClash from the heart. Through the minimalist, funky shades of "Stupid" one can make out a direct connection to Stephen Mallinder's history in Cabaret Voltaire, the vintage melodies and floating strings of "Clockwork" kinda revive the imaginative soundscapes of 1983's Cybotron, "Dirty" brings on a killer take on Robotic Funk with a little PostPunk-y twist in terms of short, distorted guitar bursts and "Stop" amalgamates deepest Proto Detroit vibes with an intense, inherent criticism of today's consumer society - a fusion that results in a decent dancefloor classic to be. Wrangler's "Real Life" is more of a lively, buzzing uptempo affair garnished with expertly crafted vintage synths and well-trippy vocal bits, "Days" comes across in a more clean, scientific, yet intense and threatening manner that find its logical sequel in the dancey, driftig and slightly Acid-induced Proto IDM of "Superset" whilst the final tune "Colliding" explores sonic realms surely influenced by Cosmic and the vast melodic richness of German electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk ca. 1978. Defo a well recommended album that both ties in perfectly with its predecessor but also bears witness of how Wrangler's musical universe has evolved throughout the past two years. Check!

Sea Moya - Nothing Is Real

Recently released via Humming Records is Sea Moya's "Baltic States EP" and according to the impression we get from their song "Nothing Is Real" this one defo is one to check out for all those loving their laid back AfroFunk with a slightly Psychedelia-infused twist. We do approve of this.

Eluvium - False Readings On [Temporary Residence Limited 265 Promo]

Recently coming in these days was "False Readings On", the new album by Portland / Oregon-based producer Matthew Cooper, better known under his artistic moniker Eluvium to fans of genres like Ambient and PopAmbient. Having unleashed a massive stream of releases, mostly via Brooklyn's Temporary Residence Limited imprint, since 2003 we see his latest eleven track effort as well being put out via the label which has been his musical home ever since.  But despite the artists well-obvious production experience and the fact that previous albums of his even have been grouped into limited, numbered collectors edition compilation boxes including seven - !!! - vinyl discs per box which tells a tale of Eluvium's music being in demand we're not necessarily awed by his latest work for a reason. Although the production value is high and the composition flawless for what it is, often incorporating angelic, non-vocal choirs and elements of Neoclassical music, we're quite repelled by the musical aspect and direction inherent in "False Readings On" as this is, with the exception of the slightly distorted skit which is the title track, what we'd like to classify as Cliche Ambient. Soft spoken, candy-coated, beatless and oozing with kitsch the whole album blurs into one treacly, streamlined mass of well-similar sonic events of which no single one sticks out as or comes across different due to certain individual characteristics. Instead, the whole album is a gently wafting pink cloud of surely comforting and soothing nature, sometimes a little esoteric even but often also well-generic and with a kind of Muzak'y twist that we can picture being on heavy rotation in pricey boutique shops around christmas time as well. If this is the kind of sound for relaxation one is looking for the 60+ minutes of "False Readings On" might cater your needs perfectly but after having listened to hundreds and hundreds of hours of Ambient music throughout our lives we're looking for things that go deeper and do trigger our braincells a little more instead of covering everything in rainbow-coloured cotton candy. Therefore, we're not signing up for this.     

Zomby - Ultra [Hyperdub Promo]

Scheduled for release via Hyperdub on September 2nd, 2016 is "Ultra", the fourth album crafted by Bass Music producer Zomby who left his first big mark on the scene with his praised 2008 longplay debut "Where Were You In '92?" on Werkdiscs. Interestingly the label decided not to release any additional info on the press release sheet apart from the albums thirteen-track containing track listing and so we're diving straight into the iridiscent cascades of glittering synth lines in the opener "Reflection", groove along to the super stripped down beats of "Burst" which follows a similar path musically whilst "Fly 2", a collaboration with Banshee, somewhat touches base with both PostGarage and yearning Future R'n'B  in an atmospheric, slightly Burial'esque manner. With "E.S.P." we're slowly entering drama introducing Future Grime territories depending on a well-interesting combination of obvious riddims and a creeping background 4/4, "I" relies on a calm, chiming motif, off kilter string sweeps and a solemn, inward looking feel and "Glass" takes us straight onto the dancefloor with straight uptempo beats, crystalline layers of modulations and slightly early 90s Detroit vibe before Zomby & Burial join forces in the dark'ish, tension-inducing "Sweetz" which, although clearly Post UK Bass-focused, comes across as Chicago Basement-influenced due to the dry, repetetive use of the 'Get Me Fucked Up' vocal sample. Following up is "Her", a pretty beautiful tune covering classic Electronica / ChillOut territories before "Quandary, a collaborational effort with Darkstar which could be filed under the Fatima Al Qadiri-coined flag of SinoGrime due to its specific, kinda Asian-sounding aestethics, triggers the synapses of those longing for complex beat abstractions. "Freeze" brings in 137 seconds of crimescene madness with an early 80s B-movie twist soundwise which finds its seamless continuation in "Yeti", a tune that can be seen as "Freeze Pt. 2" if one wants to put  it like that. The next collaborational joint is "S.D.Y.F." which sees Zomby and Rezett doing their thing, delivering a distorted and worn-out version of old early 90s Breakbeat / Proto Jungle which sounds like taken off a cassette tape played a gazillion times before whilst the closing tune "Thaw" pleases all those loving their organic, floating Ambient to the max and provides a sweet ending for a quite diverse album that offers interesting bits and bops for a wide range of electronic music aficionados.