BufoBufo - Catch Wreck EP [Amen Tec 002]

Put out on the vinyl circuit in December, 2k21 is BufoBufo's "Catch Wreck EP" - the second outing by the relatively fresh Amen Tec-label which is running as a conjunctional operation shared between the Vinyl Fanatiks-operated imprint Amen Brother and Damo B's Emotec. Opening with the title track "Catch Wreck" we see BufoBufo bringing on beautifully atmospheric Breakbeats, carefully arranged pads, crystalline melodies, deadly subs and ever rolling Future Jungle breaks which could be perfectly blended into a deep NuSkoolBreaks set whereas the subsequent "Golden Frog" weighs in a similar, yet slightly harder approach to midtempo Breaks infused by a good portion of what once was referred to as Darkside Hardcore vibewise. On the flipside "Catch Wreck *DJH Remix" elevates the original tune to a new level of 4/4-driven UK Hardcore for peaktime rave brockouts followed by Crashead's rework of "Golden Frog" which also shifts gears towards a more uptempo Breakbeat variation whilst adding storming, highly captivating rave signals and busy stabs to the mix for high octane dancefloor workouts. Get!

Vinyl artwork on Instagram!

Quiver Vex - Hypnagogia [A Guide To Saints 031 Promo]

Put out on the digital circuit on March 25th, 2k22 via the Room40-offshoot A Guide To Saints as their cat.no 031 is "Hypnagogia", the latest seven track album piece produced by Quiver Vex. Inspired by and derived from '...the ethereal state between wakefulness and sleep...' according to the albums press sheet the 39 minutes spanning body of work presents an overall dreamlike quality gravitating towards the realm of IDM / Deep Listening Music from the very first seconds of the well monolithic Ambient / ChillOut opener "Pre Cog" onwards whilst the follow up that is "Is Benzo" leads the way into a realm of somewhat swampy, sci-fi-infused Space Ambient whereas "The Other Side Of Despair" is a fest for die-hard Ambient purists with its carefully layered pads, slow movements and almost naturalistic feel. The subsequent "Pillbox" sees Quiver Vex on a minimalistic, chiming and nocturnal path, taking Ambient to a slightly deeper, more solemn level in comparison to its predecessor, "Disappear Here" presents a perfect amalgamation of deep Electronica and droning, slowly spiralling Dark Ambient aesthetics as well as an almost outerworldy feel exceeding beyond the boundaries of space and time before the slightly washed out cut that is "Ephemera" provides even more depth and tender beauty whereas the final title track "Hypnagogia" presents brittle, fluttering textures atop a low frequency foundation almost bordering on the outer fringes of the audible spectrum for a spaced out - and well spatial - closing.

ISYSXAE - Hyper Nature [Gusstaff Records]

Coming in straight from the label offices of the Poland-based imprint that is Gusstaff Records is "Hypernature", the first ever outing by the trio cryptically named ISYSXAE which has officially been released on March 18th, 2k22. Formed in spring of 2k21 and comprised of an international set of artists, namely Tom Chant, Ferran Fages and Pere Xirau, with each individual being both a renowned composer, improviser and instrumentalist on his own, ISYSXAE sets off on a well fragmented journey through nine tracks, spanning a total of 22 minutes playtime over the course of this mini album. Sonically, the music of ISYSXAE a.k.a. the result of intermingling several decades of sonic experience each contributing artist is weighing in can be described as rather shrieking and well extreme, meandering in between total chaos induced by FreeJazz and Free Improv, brooding and somewhat threatening DarkJazz vibes especially prevalent in tunes like "Gate 68" or the sub heavy "Eco Sword" as well as pure shrieking, proper nerve-wrecking and somewhat cathartic Noize excercises provided by cuts like "Cel Blanc", "Chlorophyll Mouth" or "900000 Wings" just to name a few. If you're feeling most at home at the fringes of extreme and experimental music this is defo one to add to your collection.

Listen Again: baze.djunkiii presents Freak Beats For Dark Rooms Volume 2 @ Radio Flouka / Paris (24.03.2022)

Radio Flouka راديو فلوكة · baze.djunkiii presents Freak Beats For Dark Rooms Vol. 2 - 24/03/2022

Iguan - Heaven's Door [Lab'ut 002]

Put out on the circuit as cat.no. 002 of the Lab'ut label on March 11th, 2k22 as an edition of 500 hand-numbered copies is "Heaven's Door", the new conjunctional album effort thought up and realized by Claire Trouilloud and Yerri-Gaspar Hummel under their shared artistic nomme de guerre that is Iguan. Fusing a combination of vocal performance techniques and live electronics in improvised recording sessions the duo achieves a tender, chiming and overall ethereal sonic aesthetic from the very first seconds of the opener "Maguyn" onwards, moves over into hyperminimalist Leftfield Pop territories accompanied by dark'ish spatial textures in "Waves" and even touches base with styles like naturalistic Ethno Ambient - remember those "Buddha Bar" compilations from back in the days ? -, brings on twisted Deep Listening Music in cuts like "Heaven's Door II" whilst "Heaven's Door III" gets deeply entangled in an amalgamation of Industrial x Spoken Word whereas "Heaven's Door VI", alongside many other pieces, provides almost theatrical qualities in its dramatic non-vocalisms and spine-tingling, almost (Neo)Cosmic low end arrangements just to name a few. A fascinating journey for all lovers of advanced Ambient and true Avantgarde music, this. Check.

Moy - Jovian Sunrise EP [Amen Tec 001]

The first catalogue number of the brand new Amen Tec-label, brought to us by the Vinyl Fanatiks camp as a collaborative effort between the two imprints Amen Brother and Emotec, is Moy's Sunrise "Jovian EP" which was released in 2k21. Opening with the title track "Jovian Sunrise" we see Moy exploring a sonic realm comprised of rolling, ethereal atmospheric Drum'n'Bass paired with deepest, almost overwhelming subs and positive, frolicking Acid modulations for dedicated sunrise sets whereas the follow up that is the "Mystic Attenuator" caters a complex, yet positive IDM x Future Jungle vision which surprisingly undershoots even NuSkoolBreaks tempowise and therefore leaves more room for elements to unfold, especially when it comes to the tunes crystalline main motif and carefully layered pads. On the flip Silver Fox takes on "Jovian Sunrise" remixwise, catering a serving of hefty, brooding Jungle madness oozing danger, havoc and crimescene vibes from every twisted signal and warped, inverted hoover sound whilst the subsequent "Mystic Attenuator *Fugitive Remix" harks back to an era of stepping Atmospheric Drum'n'Bass in its intro sequence before absolutely cold flooring punters with a combination of deadly, klaxon'esque low end madness emerging from the deepest vaults ever imaginable which are nicely contrasted by harmonic breaks providing a silver lining at the end of a long dark tunnel.

Vinyl artwork on Instagram!

Eugene Chadbourne & Quentin Rollet - Recorded Yesterday And On Sale Today [Reqords 009]

What a concept, this. Officially put out on the circuit via Reqords as the labels cat.no. 009 on March 18th, 2k22 is "Recorded Yesterday And On Sale Today", a full on proper re-release of a more or less spontaneous recording session shared between Eugene Chadbourne and improviser Quentin Rollet one day prior to the 2002 Mo-Fo Antifolk Festival in Mains d'Ouevres, Saint-Ouen / France which resulted in five tracks, only available as a limited to 10 copies CD-r edition at the festival site on June 27th, 2002. With Chadbourne on 5-string banjo and Rollet on alto sax the roughly 27 minutes spanning recording has aged quite well in its quite unusual combination of instruments, going from buzzing, hectic episodes to almost intimately plucked strings accompanied by microtonal air flows, full on, yet playful FreeJazz-bordering improvisation, frolicking dynamic waves with a longing twist especially prevalent in "Stories About The Metro" whereas the twangy follow up "La MoOe Piquet" even presents a bit of a Country-reminiscing vibe at times just to pick two personal favorites here.

Album artwork on Instagram!

EL/NeUe - Ich bin Krank (Official Video)

This is the stuff nightmares are made off. Epic.

Ellis Dee - Rock To The Max / Dance Factor *Boykz & Chapman Remixes [Amen Brother AB-VFS013]

With its cat.no. 013, released in December 2k21, we see the UK-based Vinyl Fanatiks subsidiary named Amen Brother tackle some true classics - Ellis Dee's "Rock To The Max" and "Dance Factor" which were both originally released back in 1992 on the artist run label Ellis Dee Project. Now those tunes are back for a new crowd, a new era and a new generations of ravers, both remixed by Boykz & Chapman which are in for a well respectful modern treatment of "Rock To The Max", keeping true to the raw original Breakbeat Hardcore sound and its well ecstatic stab signal vibes whilst their rolling, well dangerous take on "Dance Factor" is leaning a little more towards what was once partially referred to as Darkside back in the days with intense, ever rolling drum breaks, heavy subs, horns and short, somewhat HipHop-infused atmospheric halftime parts as well as stop-and-go sequences especially prevalent prior to the tunes main breakdown which introduces a second, even more intense and spine-tingling motif to a heaving dancefloor massive. Criminal vibes!

Vinyl artwork on Instagram!

Kultur Shock - Fucc The INS *20th Anniversary Remaster [Koolarrow Records 046]

Put out on the digital circuit von March 18th, 2k22 to celebrate its 20th anniversary is "Fucc the INS", the seminal album by Gino Srdjan Yevdjevich's project Kultur Shock. Originally released via Koolarrow Records back in 2001 and now available in remastered and restored sound quality the album was recorded by a multi-faceted, multi-national collective comprised of Ex-Yugoslavian immigrants, Bulgarian defectors, a Japanese bass player and Seattle natives and mixed by Faith No More's Bill Gould in his very own basement, marking the very first of many official studio albums released by the band as well as the beginning of a similarly melange'esque style described in the albums promo sheet as Gypsy Punk. A rather misleading genre drawer as Kultur Shock's music to us is more leaning towards energetic Metal riffing and complex MathRock reminiscing structures, paired with heavy Rock drumming, electronic-influences, a present brass section and Yevdjevich's dramatic vocal performance which draws a lot of inspiration from traditional music roughly located in the South Eastern regions of Europe and the bordering Balkan area. And it is exactly this regional influence and the specific traditional vocal intonation coming with it which presents somewhat of a dividing factor for at least an audience brought up on specifically Western tonalities, notation and scales - one either rolls with it or perceives this element as quite annoying and over the top. We're with the last mentioned side of the spectrum and therefore, despite all musical open-ness and curiosity as well as admission for its cultural and historic relevance, "Fucc the INS" doesn't do much for us and is a rather demanding, stressful and not necessarily pleasant listening experience over its full course of 11 songs and 47 minutes total runtime but might be a totally different affair for someone connected to and entrenched in its cultural context.

Mark Vernon - Time Deferred [Gagarin Records Promo]

Put on the circuit via Felix Kubin's very own artist run and curated label Gagarin Records on February 25th, 2k22 is "Time Deferred", the latest full length album outing by Glaswegian sound artist x radio producer Mark Vernon. Presenting a new body of work covering a total of seven new compositions laid out over the course of roughly 40 minutes playtime Vernon once again dives deep into the wondrous sounds provided by found magnetic tape and the ghostly, otherworldly presence which haunts them, with his work described by Chris Whitehead of The Field Reporter as '...film noir for the ears...'. And rightfully so as the composer builds an array of carefully arranged cinematic collages from scratch, starting with the dark nocturnal droning and slightly retrofuturist bleeps and sweeps of probably modular origin found alongside slightly off-kilter string works in the suggestively named "The Object Invoked Has Disconnected From Its Host" which later turns into spine-tingling sonic horrors with its combination of muffling voices and haunted atmospheres whereas "The Wrong Platform (Nothing Stops Here After 5)" presents vows, flutters and tectonic shifts bleeding into our reality from the transdimensional outerworld whilst "Athanasia" is taking Dark Ambient x Deep Listening Music to a new, subaquatic level. With "Benign Acquiescence" Mark Vernon continues on a similarly minimalistic path into Deep Listening territories, "A Coincidence Of Deceleration And Acceleration" combines warm, overwhelming low frequency sine pulses with off kilter flute echoes and decaying personal messages of unknown origin before "His And Hers And The Sun" brings forth more droning, nocturnal and certainly danger heralding melancholia which could well find its way as a score piece into certain sci-fi alien slasher movies which finds its contuinuation in the concluding cut that is "The New Game Of Emulation". A thrilling and therefore highly recommended listening experience, this.

24.03.2022 baze.djunkiii presents Freak Beats For Dark Rooms Volume 2 @ Radio Flouka / Paris (2200 GMT+1)

Welcome to the world! It's a fully flung madhouse and we're all freaks here. Therefore Hamburg-based Radio Flouka-resident baze.djunkiii is going in to bring on a full hour of havoc, mayhem and dancefloor madness for all those creatures of the night longing for flashing strobes, whistles, fog horns and laser beams fanning out over swaths of fog wafting atop of sublimating dry ice. A frantic high octane 100% vinyl selection which screams nothing but R-A-V-E in capital letters. Go in full throttle, there'll be no regrets.

decks: baze.djunkiii [Intrauterin Recordings / El Caballo Semental]

file under: Techno / Rave

transmission time: 22oo - 23oo GMT+1

get locked via Radio Flouka
Paris

Autopsia - In Vivo [Korm Plastics D]

Put out on the cassette tape circuit via Korm Plastics D on September 7th, 2k21 is "In Vivo", a limited to 100 copies reissue of the 1988 formerly self-released tape album of the same name by Autopsia which also saw an official Dutch release via Korm Plastics as well as via Sound Of Pig in the United States later that year. Back once again after a mere 33 years after undergoing a process of audio restauration executed by Radboud Mens we see the 'God' side coming at as us with raw, sample heavy Industrial cuts like the well fascinating, hypnotic and sample heavy "Fist Fuck" or the well claustrophic, yet certainly also dramatic and theatrical "Kissing Jesus In The Dark" which still is able to unleash a feeling of doom and apocalypse upon faint-hearted listeners, not unlike the even more alarming, and more extended, Rhythm Industrial-leaning dancefloor pieces to be found on this side of the tape. Furthermore the flipside which includes cuts like "Scars Of Europa (live)", "11th Enochian Key" or "Does The Knife Cry When It Enters The Body" sees Autopsia on a less noisy, yet more musically defined tip ranging from mechanical dancefloor rhythms to what could be defined as subaquatic Proto-IDM / Proto-Electronica accompanied by solemn background choirs hidden deep within the mix, brutal and certainly ultra-militant sonic adventures as well as what could be described as AFX'esque dreamscapes turning into alarming horrors alongside more highly dramatic, almost cinematographic compositions which provide a perfect, defo not outdated, soundtrack for the new cold war era we've seemingly entered recently.  Recommended.

Cassette artwork on Instagram!

Masche - Oxia Chaos [ADN Records]

Put out on the circuit only recently via the long-standing Italian label ADN Records is "Oxia Chaos", the sophomore album by the Masche quartet. Comprised of Valerio Zuccha, Andrea Chiuni, Diego Rosso and Alessandro Cartolari the group combines a sonic arsenal of bass, drums, baritone sax, vocals and electronics to lay down a new body of work spanning a total of four extended compositions and a total playtime of roughly 55 minutes, presenting a well demanding and hard to grasp combination of intense Spoken Word poetry atop a complex, spaced out amalgamation of Post (No)Wave, FreeJazz x Free Improv and an undeniably Industrial-leaning attitude with a certainly desolate and apocalyptic twist, presenting calmer, yet not less demanding structures in the intro of "The Fire Baloons" which later progresses in an almost Morricone'esque fashion, building up a vibrating tension to the max whereas the subsequent cuts "There Will Come Soft Rains" and "Night Meeting" continue to walk on the meandering, complex and ever winding path laid out by their predecessors whilst catering some surprisingly uplifting as well as deep and well nocturnal, sometimes even Jazz Noir-infused sequences along the way. One for a niche audience within the already hyperniche field of Avantgarde Music.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Angelo Bignamini - Anna [Staaltape]

Incoming via mail from Berlin only recently is Angelo Bignamini's "Anna", the most recent musical outing put on the circuit via the legendary Staaltape-label which saw its very first release all the way back in 1982. Issued on re-used, and therefore sustainable, commercial cassette tapes with a hand-crafted collage cover the eight tracks on this album were composed over a course of six months from February to August 2k21 and are conceptually covering the changes in the life and the surroundings of the Italian composer. "Anna" starts out on a slightly wobbly, dreamy solo piano tip, drifts further into realms of wonky tape manipulation sequences, cut-up Field Recordings and Plunderphonics as well as various collage and layering techniques, droning, extended and surely melancholia-inducing string sequences alongside what seems to be a close up recording of swarming insects - bees, probably -, eerie Industrial soundscapes with a well score'esque quality at the beginning of the B-side whilst surprisingly even turning towards home-recorded singer-songwriter dabblings reminiscent of the legendary Augsburg-based label Dhyana Records for a mere few seconds before diving into crackly, kitsch-dripping outtakes from Classical recordings and recorded tape machine vocals of unknown origin, all accompanied well by the slightly worn out nature of the previously used tape material. One for avid collectors of FoundSounds, lo-fi recordings and the mediums that come with them.

Sweeney - Stay For The Sorrow [Sound In Silence 088]

Put out on the circuit via Greek Ambient staple Sound In Silence on February 14th, 2k22 is "Stay For The Sorrow", the most recent album outing by Australian composer x producer Jason Sweeney a.k.a. Sweeney, also known to and recognized by many under his other artistic alias that is Panoptique Electrical. Processing and coming to terms with a period of personal drama and loss as well as the overwhelming feelings and emotional flux coming with a situation like this Sweeney is steering away from and well beyond the labels - and probably his own - Ambient-leaning focus, fully immersing himself in a roughly 38 minutes spanning journey into what could be defined as longing, highly emotional and melancholia-infused Leftfield Pop, from pure vocal x piano combinations to dramatic experimental SynthPop elegies like "The Break Up", touching, nocturnal ballad pieces like "Home Song" which could probably even work its way into the late night programming of progressive - a.k.a. explorative - Pop and most definitively college radio whereas songs like the otherworldly, minimalist, yet rhythmically complex "You Will Move On" hark back to Electronica / IDM structures despite being clearly (Leftfield)Pop associated whilst once again providing massive mainstream crossover potential with "Anxiety", a tune that should be used as a theme for a major cinematic love story, just to name a few. A shimmer of light or a comforting sonic blanket for the heartbroken, this album is - depending on how far one's individual journey of healing might have progressed.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Fozbee, Cooz & Smooth - Trip 950 EP [Amen Brother AB-VFS 008]

Coming in from the UK-based Vinyl Fanatiks-camp run by Brent Newitt of Aquasky-fame is the "Trip 950 EP", the August, 2k21 released collaboration single between the duo Fozbee & Cooz and JungleTekno pioneer Ron Wells a.k.a. Jack Smooth a.k.a. Smooth which has been put out on the vinyl circuit as cat.no. AB-VFS008 of the Amen Brother label. Opening with "Free Your Mind *Jack Smooth Mix 3.0" on the A-side we're drawn into the center of the dancefloor after a long, atmospheric and carefully layered build-up, raving along to a scintillating amalgamation of almost Trance-infused 4/4-driven Rave x UK Hardcore for the early morning (open air) posse whilst the "Free Your Mind *Jack Smooth Mix 3.0" on B1 provides a slightly more Bleep-oriented, yet dreamy alternative for proper club settings. Furthermore, the B2 cut named "Redress" turns things upside down and opens the doors towards piano-led Breakbeat heavens, weighing in all the goodness from a well recognizable, most innocent piano motif to eerie synths, heavenly vocal samples and a rolling, uptempo JungleTekno foundation which makes this one our favorite cut on this 12" release. Check.

Vinyl artwork on Instagram!

baze.djunkiii Chart Haul 03/2k22

DJ Pooch - The Skrufneck Strikes Back EP [Amen Brother AB-VFS 012]

Unleashed via the Vinyl Fanatiks-offspring Amen Brother in November of 2k21 is "The Skrufneck Strikes Back EP", a banging 12" vinyl release serving a total of four tracks cooked up in the studio by James Pritchard a.k.a. DJ Pooch. With the EPs title paying homage to Pritchard's very own short-lived Skrufneck label which put out three singles from 1993 to 1995 we're seeing DJ Pooch on a dark'ish, rolling, well ecstatic and stab heavy UK Hardcore tip with the opening tune "Amen Brother" whilst "The Whole E" harks back to the large scale euphoria of E-infused 'ardcore rave days in which both technoid and Breakbeat cuts could cater to the same audience which this pretty uplifting banger impressively proves - not only titlewise. Furthermore the B1 cut "Ruffneck Soldier" weighs in a scintillating opening Rave motif atop a rolling, sub-heavy foundation already pointing towards what should become Jungle shortly after with its rasta- x dancehall- x reggae-informed micro-cut vocal samples and gangsta bleeps before "Manifestations" rounds things off with chiming, crystalline clouds of sound alongside hard stepping (Proto)Jungle beats and spine-tingling, almost outerworldy synth layers for a closing. Excellent stuff. Get.

My Hellgren & Peter Söderberg - Plucked And Bowed [Frim Records 002]

Put on the circuit via Frim Records, the newly founded label associated with the long standing Swedish association and concert promoter for improvised music of the same name - FRIM -, on February 25th, 2k22 is "Plucked And Bowed", the one take live recorded album improvisation created by My Hellgren and Peter Söderberg. Employing a sonic arsenal based on cello, theorbo, guitar and oud the two artists provide a meandering, roughly 47 minutes spanning musical journey which came to be as is, without the pair having played together, talked about musical directions or even ever met prior to this encounter of a musical kind. This being said their venture starts out on a tender, tentative tip with their individual instruments and ideas carefully enwinding, yet soon taking on a moody, somewhat brooding form led and guided by low frequency cello movements before venturing off into almost percussive territories only minutes later, drifting further into longing, seductive and outerworldly siren songs, screeching, nerve-wrecking sequences of highly experimental nature and other features that come with what's known to be Improv and Avantgarde music. One for a limited, yet dedicated audience, this.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Axel Dörner & Mazen Kerbaj - Döner Kebap [Al Maslakh Records 024 Promo]

Put out on the digital circuit via the Lebanon-based label Al Maslakh Records on March 4th, 2k22 is "Döner Kebap", the first ever, 'oh so Berlin'-like named collaboration album thought up and conceived by trumpet players and composers Axel Dörner and Mazen Kerbaj as a duo which have put up a roughly 55 minutes spanning body of work in which each of the artists solely occupies one stereo channel with his specific take on trumpet and electronics. Split in three pieces aptly titled "Döner", "Kebap" and "Ayran" the pair amalgamates sparse, crackly and minimalistic, partially Clicks'n'Cuts-reminiscent electronic textures with a variety of microtonal high pressure techniques and recordings of air flows passing through the instruments, throw occasional tonal improvisations into the mix which usually exceed the realms of even FreeJazz and FreeImprov with their eruptive, sometimes also longing nature whilst brutal, braincell-wrecking distortions, piercing sinewaves and what seem to be echoes of modular synthesis are also added to create a captivating listening experience for all dedicated connaisseuers of Avantgarde music that's made available for the first time through this release, roughly 5 years after its original inception and recording on February 28th, 2k17. Check.

Ale Hop - Why Is It They Say A City Like Any City? [Karlrecords 087 Promo]

Put out on the circuit via Karlrecords as the labels cat.no. 087 on February 4th, 2k22 is "Why Is It They Say A City Like Any City?", the latest album effort by the ever active Berlin-based Peruvian Alejandra Cardenas, better known to many under her artistic moniker that is Ale Hop. With a total of six tracks spread out over a little more than 38 minutes, another highly advanced conceptual approach to geographic space this time induced by the restrictions of the covid-19 pandemic as well as a multiple set of virtual collaborators all over the globe Ale Hop provides a diverse and widely varied album rooted deep within the digital domain, with Spoken Word elements deeply embedded in brittle, glistening Ambient sequences evoking memories of the hyper-abstract works of also Berlin-based producer Bad Stream at times, at others drifting off into heart-felt, maritime melancholia induced by elegic violin playing ("Mayu Islapi") whilst pieces like "They Thought Of Themselves" are fusing various Field Recordings with tender electronic textures to form our personal favorite bit of Minimalist Listening Music on this longplayer alongside the almost collag'esque, dubbed out and slightly psychedelic ChillOut goodness that us "Chiapas Y Phinaya" just to name a few. Interesting stuff.

The Kids And The Cosmos - Ambient Mixtape Vol. 1 [Sound In Silence 089]

Released via Athens-based imprint Sound In Silence on February 14th, 2k22 as the labels cat.no. 089 is "Ambient Mixtape Vol. 1", the most recent mini album project conceived by Justin Lee Radford under his artistic nom de guerre that is The Kids And The Cosmos. Inspired and influenced by the passing of his grandmother which Mr. Radford experienced first hand the roughly 28 minutes spanning album opens with a carefully arranged array of crackly, slightly washed out Ambient layers accompanied by tender, caressing piano tones and somewhat outerworldy, yet beautiful vocal bits evoking memories of Psychedelia-infused space opera only to progress into melancholia-inducing piano pieces for rainy Sunday afternoons, classic, sparkling Ambient affairs with an ever so slight WitchHouse twist in the crossover piece "TKATC x message to bears" in which Radford's solo project meets the duo he runs alongside his friend Jerome Alexander whilst "Transition" presents a solemn inward-looking amalgamation of Ambient and cinematic (Neo)Classical elements and the concluding "After Life (Neon Ecstatics)" even sets dancefloors in motion with a sweet'n'quirky fusion of Vaporwave aesthetics and bass-heavy PostDubstep and therefore turns out to be our favorite cut on this album.

Slagr - Linde [Hubro Music]

Lined up for release via the long standing Norwegian imprint that is Hubro Music on March 11th, 2k22 is "Linde", the sixth full-length album outing by the trio Slagr which is comprised of Anne Hytta, Katrine Schiøtt and Amund Sjølie Sveen. With a total of eight new pieces forming a roughly 38 minutes spanning body of work inspired by Katrine Schiøtt's pregnancy and her post-partum state of mind Slagr explore a sonic realm of stripped down, crystalline and ever so chiming beauty combining cello, vibraphone, tuned glasses and rural Norway's trademark instrument, the hardanger fiddle, into a tender and emotionally touching soundscape touching base with both acoustic Ambient resemblances ("Glimmerskyer" / "Etterglød") as well as with naturalistic Nordic Folk-based beauty in instrumental cuts like the title track "Linde" and a certain heartfelt melancholia especially prevalent in pieces like "Søvnløs" or "Legende". A timeless, floating and 100% cohesive body of work this and defo one to be shared with a loved one.

Album artwork on Instagram!

The International Nothing - Just None Of Those Things [Ftarri 215]

Fresh on the Japanese Ftarri label with the CD release set for February 20th, 2k22 and the vinyl version approximately following up in September of this year which perfectly shows the enormous troubles the vinyl production industry is going through these days is "Just None Of These Things", the new album release by clarinet-focused duo The International Nothing. With each player covering only one stereo channel over the course of this roughly 42 minutes spanning one-track composition the duo provides a dense, yet somewhat sparse and minimalistic Deep Listening Music experience, touching base with both Contemporary Jazz experimentalisms as well as highly abstract Modern Classical and Avantgarde whilst also resonating with fans and followers of ElectroAcoustic composition with the cut-off sine tones and microtonal recordings of air flows appearing roughly mid-track, marking a distinct shift in the longplayers dramaturgy and direction. A highly detailed affair this which in its entirety only unfolds over the course of several focused listening sessions. We likey.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Sharif Sehnaoui - Recoil / Relent [Al Maslakh Records 023 Promo]

Released via the Lebanese label that is his very own Al Maslakh Records as their cat.no. 023 on March 4th, 2k22 is "Recoil / Relent", the latest two track album effort created by Beirut-based guitarist x improviser Sharif Sehnaoui. Comprised of two extended cuts both exceeding the 29 minutes mark Sharif Sehnaoui takes another, the second, go at his approach to provide unprepared acoustic guitar solo works, diving deep into the instruments sonic possibilities after years of including external devices and preparation techniques into his performances in the studio as well as all over the globe. The results of this new approach are as fascinating as they can be overwhelming with the heavy, barely tamed improvised strokes and riffs at the very beginning of "Recoil" which make way for both tender, captivating melodies as well as intricate experimental sequences further down the line, yet continue to break through like a storm, a whirlwind of raw creative force every now and then whilst the second cut "Relent" provides more of a Desert Blues-informed journey before splitting off into myriads of cascading guitar rhythms sparkling in brightest colours, dying off into minimalist near silence and re-emerging as a kind of soft, touching, yet melancholia-inducing Post-PostRock affair for the lack of a more suitable description. A deep listening affair, this.

Ruben Machtelinckx + Arve Henriksen - A Short Story [Aspen Edities 013]

Released via the Belgium-based boutique imprint that is Aspen Edities on February 25th, 2k22 is "A Short Story", the new conjunctional album effort by ever active guitarist Ruben Machtelinckx and Norwegian trumpet player Arve Henriksen. As a duo, the two artists are working their way through roughly 38 minutes of sound covered by a total of 12 partly improvisational compositions, starting from a point of deep, almost spiritual Jazz with the albums opener "Lessness" only to continue on this path with the subsequent late night cut "Towards The Redwood Curtain", the tender, almost folksy and naturalistic "A Strand Of Black Hair" or pieces like the highly romantic, inward-looking "Variation Of Shadows" whereas the ghostly, slighty off-kilter cut "Pines Of Onoe" provides a more longing, ghostly and somewhat otherworldly touch further down the line. An intimate late night album to share with a loved one, this.

Album artwork on Instagram!

07.03.2022 baze.djunkiii presents Nachtfahrt Vol. 3 @ CuttersChoiceRadio / London, UK (2300 GMT+1)

Back on the UK pirate radio circuit for the first transmission of the year baze.djunkiii is back on CuttersChoiceRadio this Monday with a 60 minutes all vinyl transmission hosted and presented by stations mastermind Benny Fonz - taking y'all on a late night ride on a seemingly endless musical highway, passing by Ambient oases as well as Armchair Techno pleasures and assorted mountains of rare DubTechno goodness, all vinyl and lathe cut mixed for your personal pleasure. Enjoy the ride!

Transmission will start at 2200 London time which makes it 2300 GMT+1 for the rest of continental Europe and whatever time it is in your specific area. Get locked!

decks: baze.djunkiii [Intrauterin Recordings]

file under: DubTechno / Ambient / Armchair Techno

transmission starts: 2300 GMT+1

get locked via CuttersChoiceRadio

UK + the global internet

Joachim Badenhorst's Carate Urio Orchestra - Cosmos [Klein 011]

Put out on the circuit via the artist-run imprint Klein on February 1st, 2k22 is "Cosmos", the fifth full-length album by Joachim Badenhorst's Carate Urio Orchestra, described in the accompanying press release as an international Jazz / Indie / PostRock / Noise-band, since its inception in 2k13. With their new body of work spanning 11 new pieces rolled out over roughly 48 minutes by a total of seven participating artists hailing from four different countries the C.U.O. deals with an almost mythical meta-tale including the last surviving swamp biome on earth, the last surviving human - Doug - transcribing the Holy Book Of Frogdom of which the first chapter of The Book Of Tadpole is included in the artwork and other far out ideas, all worked into a musical journey comprised of SpaceJazz as well as more Synth-leaning, mostly electronically created works like the aptly named "Little Floating Biosphere" or a homage to the stories main protagonist "Doug" which drifts off into dark, inward looking atmospheres accompanied by layered Spoken Word sequences after a well frolicking intro whereas the tale told in "It Was Just The Beginning For Them" kinda draws inspiration from the sci-fi classic 'Silent Running' and "Some 100.000 Years" provides enough time to develop a new take on Nocturnal Future Jazz melancholia just to name a few. Defo one interesting album well suitable for late winter night listening sessions, preferrably accompanied by a selection of classy spirits.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Andreas Davids + Sven Phalanx - Space Ambient Pop [Mahorka 295]

Put out on the circuit recently via the Bulgaria-based Mahorka label is "Space Ambient Pop", the latest conjunctional longplay effort thought up by Xotox-mastermind Andreas Davids and Sven Phalanx. Together the two artists present a limited to 80 cassette tape copies body of work spanning a total of six tracks, exploring a musical spectrum from frosty, unsettling and somewhat hostile multi-layered ColdAmbient to outerdimensional synth spheres paired with fragments of radio communication and dark, pulsating electronic rhythms, fascinating IDM x Ambient bits evoking memories of mid-90s The Future Sound Of London ("Sternenstaub") as well as brooding, melancholia-inducing DarkAmbient morphing towards washed out Electronica ("This Is Space-Ambient-Pop") and way beyond into cold atmospheric sci-fi realms. A well intriguing journey, especially for those who used to follow Pete Namlook's FAX +49-69/450464 universe for its all meandering Ambient- / ChillOut-outings in the 90s.

baze.djunkiii Charts 03/2k22

01. NO MORE - Suicide Commando [El Caballo Semental 002]
See announcement post for details...

02. baze.djunkiii - Booty [Intrauterin Tapes 010]
See announcement post for details...

03. The Irresistible Force vs. Ramjac Corporation - Live At The Brain 1990 [Musique Pour La Danse 035]
What a trip this is. Back in 1990 when electronic dance music reached an early peak and especially before breaking off and out into a gazillion defined sub-branches and -genres the two producers Morris Gould a.k.a. Mixmaster Morris a.k.a. The Irresistible Force and Paul Chivers a.k.a. Ramjac Corporation paired up for a conjunctional hardware run live gig at the legendary AcidHouse venue known as The Brain, merging the echoes of AcidHouse with all forms of freeform Rave beyond any stylistic borders, trippy samples, Ambient- / Braindance-leaning soundscapes, elements of ProtoTrance and even early Breakbeat Hardcore elements and an attitude of on the spot go-with-the-flow creation which provides a fine musical time capsule of early rave spirit still valuable today which also contains a sweet little homage to one of Orbital's greatest hits of this era - recognizable only for those in the know. A journey down memory lane accompanied by excellent liner notes provided by author Joe Muggs and Brain promoter Sean Mc Lusky. Get. Not only for historic reasons.

04. Brainwaltzera - Itsame [Film 007 Testpressing]
See review for details...

05. -

06. -

07. -

08. -

09. -

10. -