baze.djunkiii Charts 01/2k24

01. Cybex Factor - Die Schöpfung [Boy Records]
Another reissue from the archives of the highly influential German imprint Boy Records which played an important role throughout the late 80s and very 90s, a period which saw electronic music transitioning from NuBeat, Agreppo and EBM influences to the Techno and Rave scene we know of today. Still captivating today "Die Schöpfung" appeared on early Techno compilations like "Techno Trax" back in 1991 and therefore is forever engraved in the formative memories of yours truly whereas the lesser known "No Rock" provides an even more stomping and muscular pump for oldskool dancefloors with its raw hypnotic sawtooth synths, agressive basslines, agitated main motif and epic breakdown sequences for dedicated ravers of yore.

02. Tkay Maidza - Where Is My Mind? [4AD]
Zimabwe-born and Australia-based singer x producer Tkay Maidza provides the most fascinating and seductive synth-driven Dope Beat x Instrumental HipHop foundation for a tune we've heard in many a year, providing a seductive little fusion tune that'll take the hearts of glitzy Neon Pop lovers, Urban and Bass Music aficionados and even most dedicated SynthPop and Goth folks by storm for a reason. An absolute anthem, this.

03. Kai Alce featuring Ash Lauryn - Underground & Black *Leonce Remixes[NDATL Muzik]
This is not a tune, this is a a manifesto. Backed by Kai Alce's deep, stripped down and percussive House beats vocalist Ash Lauryn pays homage to House Music as a black underground culture, namedropping a plethora of producers, labels, venues and other specifically afro-american (life)style phenomena that shaped the groove and movement of House as a whole, culminating in a hypnotic late night cut for intimate club floors and an essential 12" to own for all genre aficionados.

04. Vladislav Delay - Entain [Keplar]
Originally released via the highly influential German label Mille Plateaux back in the year 2000 Berlin's Keplar imprint is bringing back a remastered Finnish classic for all the dedicated Ambient heads out there. With most of the tracks exceeding the 15+ minutes mark Vladislav Delay caters glacial Ambient structures, minimalist background rhythms, washed out remnants of dubbed out Electronica and echoes of Clicks'n'Cuts over the entire course of "Entain", making this album a worthwhile addition to the collection for every collector of tender, caressing Deep Listening Music as well as for those who, like myself, missed out on the original release back in the days.

05. Conzi - That Deep EP [Sounds Of The Dance 001]
Dubstep. On 7" vinyl. Dark and precisely sculpted Bass Music for those who've already been around early enough to appreciate albums like Distance's "My Demons" back in 2007, garnished with a nicely picked selection of atmospheric, micro-cut vocal snippets and even a full on - and German...! - vocal sample embedded in the B-side tune that is "31.er". Proper good stuff and a good start for the fresh and probably self-distributed label Sounds Of The Dance.

06. Drowning Dog & Malatesta - Gen Pop [Entartete Kunst 033 / Upstartz Records 003 / Fire And Flames Music 111 / Rudy's Back 030]
See review for details...

07. Aphex Twin - Blackbox Life Recorder 2lf / In A Room7 F760 [Warp Records 480]
Aphex Twin will inevitably aphex. Muffled, oftentimes Jungle-informed Breakbeats and IDM x Electronica workouts, soft pads, echoes of echoes of UK Hardcore and Rave as well as playful, dreamy and drifting melodies and a certain melancholia. That's the formula and it still is a major fest for Richard D. James' hardcore fanboys x -girls and everything in between. Defo a good record and a nice addition to the Aphex Twin dancefloor collection, yet not his most groundbreaking work and - when it comes to the foldout panorama artwork - a major annoyance for all the vinyl DJs out there. A plain 12" sleeve edition wouldve been preferred.

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Sick Boss - Businessless [Drip Audio]

Put out on the circuit via the Canadian Drip Audio imprint on November 3rd, 2k23 is "Businessless", the sophomore album release by Toronto's Sick Boss. Led by by guitarist x composer Cole Schmidt and comprised of a plethora of members mostly related to the cities Improv scene the collective ensemble presents a total of six brand new pieces on their latest longplayer, rolling out their combined musical vision over the course of roughly 37 minutes. Basically starting out from an angle of muscular, Funk-informed and oftentimes defragmented Alternative Rock the opening tune "Useless Genius 1" sees layers upon layers of Jazz brass dramatically building up before unexpectedly breaking down and re-emerging as a whirling maelstrom of panoramic Noiserock for avantgarde-informed listeners whereas the subsequent "When The Buzzards Leave The Bones" caters beautiful elegic string works for a second, providing the launch pad for more imminent Funk, plucked string figures and fever'ish, erratic voodoomania whilst "Useless Genius 2" seems to be dabbling with feedback heavy Delta Blues variations and a captivating wall-of-sound attitude. Furthermore "Doctor Dawn" serves tender, yet slightly off-kilter romanticisms and more thrilling, Blues-infused panoramic layers later on turning into more of a brooding PostRock x DarkJazz vibe with a shimmering, almost cosmic edge, "Useless Genius 3" is coming full circle with its heavy Rock beats, dope brass figures as well as an ever building climax taking the entire composition close to the brink of Improv madness followed by the concluding "CJ Blues" which takes things to an even more dramatic widescreen finale. Defo an interesting longplay effort for both fans of Avantgarde Jazz as well as experimental PostRock dopeness.

Album artwork on Instagram!

04.01.2024 baze.djunkiii presents Nacht Aus Beton Volume 3 @ Radio Flouka / Paris, France

Welcome to 2k24. Welcome to another tribute to the former „Nacht Aus Beton“ event series once set up by Hamburg-based Radio Flouka-resident baze.djunkiii at the former Meaniebar, the small venue at ground level of the famed Indie staple Molotow Club when it was still based at its original location right at the heart of the cities redlight district. Starting from an angle of Electroclash and IndieElectro and progressing into a stretch of hounded Electro(Pop) madness the second half of the show is dominated by muscular EBM x Industrial, forgotten BigBeat remixes of Goth x FuturePop cuts and a hefty portion of ChemicalBreaks which are a well spicy addition to this explosive 60 minutes vinyl selection.

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

file under: Electro / EBM / Electroclash / IndieElectro / ChemicalBreaks

transmission time: 22oo - 23oo GMT+1

get locked via Radio Flouka
Paris

Maxx - Technicida [La Bomba Recordings 017 Promo]

Released via La Bomba Recordings on November 16th, 2k23 is "Technicida", the latest digital two track single cooked up for the label by Maxx - which is not the EuroDance project of yore, btw. Opening with "Technicida" Maxx are catering quite a seductive take on uplifting Hardbag House sporting ever rolling basslines, gooey synth modulations and stripped down, yet interesting percussion attacks alongside a slightly mythical overall atmosphere and a catchy little piano motif whereas the concluding cut named "Sun" brings forth a fully fledged melodic Trance arpeggio workout on top of stumbling, super raw and intendedly lo-fi Electro x Phonk breaks, emulating the feel and vibes of what could be a mid-90s demo recording unearthed from a long time forgotten studio shelf. Intredasting.

Ruiqi Wang - Subduing The Silence [Orchard Of Pomegranates]

Released via the Montreal-based label collective Orchard Of Pomegranates on October 27th, 2k23 is "Subduing The Silence", the full length album debut by Hangzhou / China-born and now Montreal-based composer x vocalist Ruiqi Wang. Over the course of 36 minutes and a total of eleven compositions, eight of her own and a triple take on the ancient Chinese song "Xiang Leng Jin Ni" sporting 11th century lyrics by Qingzhao Li, Wang alongside the four piece Craft Ensemble and further contributing guest musicians offers a unique musical perspective incorporating both Chinese Tradional Music and poetry alongside Modern x Contemporary Classical angles and the expressive, strongly Avantgarde Jazz-trained voice of her own vocal performance which especially shines in the tender, frolicking, yet fully non-vocal expressions of "A Letter To L", paired with late night Jazz pianos and beautiful, old time romantic string arrangements whilst "A Descent Of Lilies", carried by a distinct and highly present upright Jazz bass foundation brings forth the a way more dramatic, dense and ever climactic variation of Ruiqi Wang's sonic spectrum which, in some way, even harks back to female traditions of bands like The Slits or Bitch Band No. I whereas "Dream Of The Pines" indulges in deep piano romanticisms and longing vocals before "Fragments For Subduing The Silence" even seems to pay homage to Spoken Word-legends like Ursula Rucker just to name a few. Defo an album for shared late night listening sessions, this.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Jerzz - Resistance [Ghostfloppy Recordings 008 Promo]

Another still relatively fresh release put out on the Floppy Disk circuit via Ghostfloppy Recordings on September 19th, 2k23 is "Resistance", the first appearance on the LoBit-oriented label for Jerzz. Over the course of 9+ minutes the Dutch producer presents a highly complex fusion of droning, halftime-leaning Downbeat / Bass Music, a short, yet well dramatic and ever repeating string motif, raw, ever evolving Phonk structures and subdued Acid modulations - probably the overall result of an even more extended live jam session and defo a recommended listen for fans and followers of classic, yet longtime defunct labels like XXC3, Hotel Lotte or Syncom Productionz. If those names still do ring a bell and if you're a proud owner of a working Floppy Disk drive this one is one to check out for a reason.

Eve Egoyan & Mauricio Pauly - Hopeful Monster [No Hay Discos 004]

Put out on the circuit as cat.no. 004 of the Canadian No Hay Discos label on October 6th, 2k23 is "Hopeful Monster", the new collaboration album conceived by Eve Egoyan and Mauricio Pauly who are fusing the sounds of natural, augmented and modelled pianos with live samplers and processing as well as other osund sources over the course of ten compositions and a total playtime of roughly 56 minutes on this one. Inspired by an informal 2k18 jam session followed by years of exchanging ideas, data and soundfiles via the global communication link known as the internet the two artists once again teamed up irl for the recording of this album in early June of 2k22, with trust built in each others sonic paths yet without a set conception of what the end result of the recording process would sound like. With "Hopeful Monster" Egoyan and Pauly are exploring an intense, oftentimes dark and brooding path of what could be described as electronically enhanced Contemporary Classical music, regularly carried by a foundation of tectonic rumbles and heavy low frequency movements which, in their abstract nature, seem to provide a connecting point to genres like Glitch or Clicks'n'Cuts whereas intricate piano movements as well as minimalist plucked chromaharp strings are bringing forth an aspect of Modern Classical music, despite being oftentimes processed, enhanced and electronically twisted to an airy, reverberating and x or entirely ghostly effect reminiscent of tape manipulations or early attempts of a 'new music' which intentionally bends, dismisses or even completely forgoes established compositional techniques entirely. This being said the entire album provides a somewhat time-dissolving quality due to its steady meandering, yet fully improvised flow and the lack of regular repetition that comes with it which results in an ever changing continuous sonic narrative of which pieces like the rather minimalist "Dialing With Abandon" are bringing forth a score'esque quality probably suitable for experimental short films whilst the subsequent "Stilled Shadow" is dabbling with a comforting, surely nocturnal amalgamation of Dark Ambient x Dark Jazz and tenderly sparkling, ever cascading piano lines whilst "Agree No Frown" is introducing free, and well physically present, drum / percussion improvisations and otherworldly non-vocalisms for the very first time on "Hopeful Monster" and "Height" sees the duo setting course towards Space Age Ambient for realms and sacred secret ritualisms just to name a few outstanding cuts here. One for the Avantgarde-informed collector of Deep Listening Music, this. Go check.

Album artwork on Instagram!

L. Petitgand + Scanner + Geins't Nait - Et Il Y Avait [Ici D'Ailleurs / Mind Travels Series 019]

Put out on the circuit via the Ici D'Ailleurs sub- x sister imprint that is Mind Travels Series as their cat.no 019 is "Et Il Y Avait", the latest full length album collaboration between Laurent Petitgand, Geins't Nait and electronic music legend Robin Rimbaud a.k.a. Scanner. The follow up to their latest joint venture effort named "Ola" sees the trio catering a menu of ten new compositions rolled out over the course of roughly 48 minutes, opening from a surprisingly calm, warm and organic Ambient- x Indietronica- x Post-PostRock- x PopAmbient-leaning angle garnished with Mr. Rimbaud's trademark sample abuse which usually adds a somewhat unsettling feel of surveillance and claustrophobia even to the most heavenly and angelic harmonic layers whereas pieces like "Italia LP4" lead the avid listener straight into slighty swampy, brooding, bass-heavy and certainly DarkAmbient x IndustrialAmbient-informed territories before exploding into a fever dream of ancient retrofuturist ritualisms, the "Larsen Scan" is indulging deeper in grinding minimalist Electronica structures of a desolate, highly repetetive and mind-numbing quality, "Et Apres" even seems to be dabbling with echoes of echoes of a fairly decontructed DubTechno approach, "Italia Scan LP2", despite still being highly dramatic and Industrial-informed, provides a shimmer of hope and a silver lining at the far away horizon whilst the cold winter sun rises over scarred and trenched battle fields of the future, the "Hey Man Scan" is sending us way ahead into a future of space-faring robo-explorations and the final cut named "Picass LP1" and its stripped down atmospheres in combination with quasi-tectonic bass shifts and shimmering harmonies rounds things off as an ode to the vastness of the yet unexplored cosmos just to name a few favorites here. Excellent work. Highly recommended, this.

Album artwork on Instagram!

User88800903441 - Eisen EP [User Recordings 053 Promo]

Put out on the digital circuit on November 2nd, 2k23 via the hard to keep track of imprint User Recordings as their cat.no. 053 is the "Eisen EP", the first outing on the label by User88800903441. Opening with "Eisenbass" User88800903441 provides a fusion of a distorted, highly compressed bassdrum foundation, raw, interesting percussion works, tense, spine-tingling string arrangements and what could be described best as a gooey HardTrance bassline for absolute peaktime rave action followed by the rather thin and tinny, yet still somewhat hypnotic, airy and oldskool-leaning ClubTechno x AcidTrance crossover of the second, and closing..., cut that is "Barada".

Nicole Rampersaud - Saudade [Ansible Editions 006]

Put out on the circuit via Ansible Editions as the labels cat.no. 006 on November 3rd, 2k23 is "Saudade", the 33 minutes spanning album debut by Canadian trumpet player Nicole Rampersaud. Over the course of eleven relatively short pieces Rampersaud's firstling showcases her unique approach to her instrument of choice as well as her mastery in terms of explorative solo playing techniques alongside carefully employed additional electronic treatments of the original sound material which results in layered , echoing Improv figures and close-up mechanical recordings atop of crackling, hissing atmospherics as well as gooey, viscous, swampy electronics paired with what seem to be HipHop scratch treated trumpet layers in the instruments upper register, short reverse episodes, even Delta Blues-reminiscent pieces of ultimately melancholia-inducing quality ("Concurrent Panoramas Pt. 1 - 3") whereas cuts like "Erasure" are focusing on the percussive fascination of near field recorded rhythmic air flow whilst "Nor Foresaking" is indulging in a dubbed out, AvantPsychedelia-infused sonic realm which most listeners might not necessarily associate with the trumpet as a solo instrument before the title track "Saudade" brings forth a longing, beautiful variation of basically untreated solo trumpet just to name a few. Even though Jazz as a genre might be the closest and x or most suitable drawer for an album like this "Saudade" as a whole exceeds the term by far and therefore could be rather categorized as MetaJazz for a reason.

Nitrogene - Culture Is Not A Luxury EP [Bang Le Dex Recordings 060 Promo]

Put out on the circuit as cat.no. 060 of the Bang Le Dex Recordings imprint on October 3rd, 2k23 is the "Culture Is Not A Luxury EP", the first digital single produced for the label by Nitrogene. Opening with the original mix of the title track Nitrogene provides a seductive and pumping TechHouse x Deep Trance crossover cut which is surely informed by the bleepy, ever morphing sonic aesthetics of mid-90s Intelligent Techno whereas the "Culture Is Not A Luxury *DJ Nightnoise Remix", crafted by the Flensburg-based German producer DJ Nightnoise once again turns things upside down and into another reverberating mainstay for illegal late night parties hidden deep within the rural woods with the enchanted, trippy and slightly psychedelic trademark sound of his rework.

Thin Edge New Music Collective / Linda Catlin Smith - Dark Flower [Redshift Records]

Fresh on the circuit via the Canadian Redshift Records label is "Dark Flower", the November 10th, 2k23 released longplay outing which sees the Thin Edge New Music Collective perform a series of compositions by Toronto-based composer Linda Catlin Smith. Over the course of 64 minutes the closest of the multiple collaborations between the performing chamber ensemble and the composer to this date is comprised of the commissioned main piece as well as three previously unrecorded works by Smith alongside others and provides a deep overall insight into the tender and oftentimes melancholia-driven world of Linda Catlin Smith, from the scenic, nocturnal piano meets violin arrangements of "Wanderer" which evokes memories of French film noir to the cascading elegies and beauteous piano motifs of the 26 minutes spanning title piece as well as the almost romantic solo piano sound of the concluding "Unbroken, For Howard Skempton". One to check for the avid collector of Modern Classical x Contemporary Classical music.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Keiji Haino & Guro Moe - Drums & Octobass [Conradsound]

This is drum and bass. Not in a sense of dancefloor destroying basslines and rapid fire beats but in a more literal sense. For their latest, December 15th, 2k23 released album, we see long standing Japanese artist and sound sculptor Keiji Haino teaming up with Norwegian improv double bass player Guro Moe of Moe-fame for a 2CD album set put on the circuit via Oslo-based Conradsound. Rolled out over the course of roughly 31 minutes the first half of the longplayer consists of three free floating Improv pieces of ever meandering, oftentimes dark'ish, blurred and certainly mythical, outerworldy qualities touching base with the outer fringes of Avantgarde, Indietronica, Postrock and what could be described as Mystical Folk - droning, ever developing, probably echoing echoes of echoes of Indian Ragas at times, garnished with indecipherable non-vocalisms, screams and non-verbal chants as well as bowing techniques resembling braincell wrecking metallic scrapings and ever thickening layers of sound whereas pieces like "Flower Which Is Orange And Very Strong Willed" are even offering some surprisingly stripped down and more peaceful and naturalist episodes as well. Furthermore the second disc which holds the extended, approximately 44 minutes spanning "Flower Of Ice Flower Of Granite Flower Of Earth Crust Flower Of The Earths Interior Flower Of Air Of The Puls Of The Wave" - what's up with those titles, btw? - brings forth a more expressive and dynamic side of the duos improvisational work, sporting explosive, in parts almost militaristic snare drum rides, brooding, danger-heralding drones and highly dramatic screams alongside other spine-tingling utterings reminiscent of unfiltered demons of the innermost human voids unleashed in a lunatic asylum, periods of unsettling near silence as well as ear-piercing high frequency attacks for Avantagarde-informed audiences. This is quite a trip, even for the most experienced listener.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Sascha Müller - Acid Maxx [Psychocandies 107 Promo]

Another fresh one on the Psychocandies label is "Acid Maxx", a new digital two track single produced by the ever active underground studio force that is Sascha Müller. Released on October 24th, 2k23 the opening title track "Acid Maxx" sees Mr. Müller on a deep, hypnotic and surely trance-inducing late night Acid tip with its slowly meandering modulations and heavy standout clap action whereas "The Unknown", the second track on this one, brings forth a rather dark, psyched out and threatening approach to underground Acid Techno which take us back to the most intense, maximum strobe lit bunker night outs of the mid 90s for a reason. This is trip.

baze.djunkiii Chart Haul 12/2k23

DDM / Drowning Dog & Malatesta - Gen Pop [Upstartz Records 030 / Fire And Flames Music 111 / Entartete Kunst 033 / Rudy's Back 030]

Coming in via from our now Berlin-based friends DDM / Drowning Dog & Malatesta is "Gen Pop", their latest, July 7th, 2k23 released 45rpm double vinyl album. Put out on the circuit as a collaborational effort between their own Entartete Kunst label and Upstartz Records, Fire And Flames Music as well as Rudy's Back the self-proclaimed 'class conscious Electro Rap' duo sets course for a fourteen track journey on this one, starting out from a point of highly functional, slightly mechanical dancefloor bangers like "Takin Our Time", progressing into the news report-sampling Bass Music x Dubstep infused vibe that is "Essential A.F." whereas "I Was In It" brings on a raw, somewhat grainy vintage vibe which might musically resonate with fans of classic Portishead arrangements if one thinks beyond an underground HipHop / Rap audience whereas the "One Day Remix" featuring Anela Jahmena and Tsidi Bang-Bang provides a seductive mixture of HipHop and Global Bass vibes that makes your head bop for a reason. Furthermore "Blood Money" adresses its topic atop a dark'ish and well brooding beat foundation which, despite being quite a short tune, would be well suitable to be thrown into an Illbient set of sorts, "Self Made" probably is the one track on this album that suits the Electro Rap description best with its bouncy electronic attitude, "Swingin' Back" even dabbles with the sonic aesthetics of Grime and "Raw" and its little seductive main motif brings on serious crime scene vibes just to name a few favorites here. Defo one to check out if you're looking for one more trueskool HipHop / Rap album to add to your collection this year. Good stuff.

Kasper T. Toeplitz - Erosions Programmees [Akousis Records 005]

Put out on the circuit via the Avantgarde-leaning label that is Akousis Records as their cat.no. 005 on December 4th, 2k23 is "Erosions Programmees" which sees Kasper T. Toeplitz' real time electronics and compositional efforts in combination with Bertrand Gauguet sonic contributions on saxophone. With the album presenting itself as a single stretch composition rolled out over a total playtime of roughly 47 minutes and the conceptual approach to work against, and probably dissolve, the innate monophony of the saxophone as an instrument the two artists embark on a journey into vastly uncharted territories, starting from a point of calm, quasi white noise Ambient swells reminiscent of small waves breaking ashore paired with a brittle underlying atmospheric foundation of oftentime gaseous qualities, presenting an undeniably ColdAmbient-informed approach before opening up into klaxon'esque large scale panoramic harmonies of droning, ever growing and thickening intensity, slowly moving towards comforting, yet space-time dissolving nothingness and a feeling of eternal floatation over a vantablack void of negative density which makes one easily forget that irl saxophone drones were invlvd in the production of this album. Highly recommended.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Lucidvox - That's What Remained [Glitterbeat 149 Promo]

Another fresh album put out on the circuit via the ever active Glitterbeat Records label on November 17th, 2k23 is "That's What Remained", the latest full length album offering conceived by the formerly Russia-based band that is Lucidvox. With eight brand new pieces rolled out over the course of 34 minutes we see the all female outfit still act and move as a - now reunited after going through trouble times in several regards - quartet, albeit realizing and completing their full sonic vision with the help of several contributing guest artists. The result of these efforts is an undeniably dense and atmospheric, droning and enchanted variation of what could vaguely be described as spaced out NoiseRock influenced by both Japanese manga x anime culture as well as oriental mysticisms, Alternative-infused Leftfield Pop with a MathRock attitude and ethereal choir harmonies, Psychedelic Rock garnished with echoes of Exotica and a stretch of innate melancholia as well as a hefty portion of a wall-of-sound attitude in terms of production value which sucks the listener in like a maelstrom leading towards a humungous suboceanic vortex whereas cuts like "Wandering" provide a bit of a cinematic relief and present a bit of a silver lining at the horizon and the subsequent "Hold Me" even flirts with a, still heavyweight and thundering, variation of Indie which finds somewhat of a continuation in the dramatic uptempo vibe of "All Frozen" whilst the concluding "On The Way" once again bundles layered voices in harmony atop of heavily distorted guitar riffings. If that sounds like your cup of tea, go and check out this one for a reason.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Sascha Müller - Tracked Orbit [Ghostfloppy Recordings 007]

Released via the floppy disk focused imprint that is Ghostfloppy Recordings as the labels cat.no. 007 on August 15th, 2k23 is "Tracked Orbit", cooked up by Uelsen-based producer Sascha Müller. Once again on the LoBit-leaning side of the electronic music spectrum Mr. Müller presents a somewhat muffled, yet spine-tigling and highly dancefloor functional take on ever morphing and ecstatic AcidTrance spiralling to climactic heights whilst being occasionally garnished with rasping, decaying, doomed and transformed vocoder samples which add a bit of psyched out darkness to the overall euphoria of this cut. One for those who've been dedicated ravers in the mid-90s for a reason.

Manuel Mota - Isocele [Headlights 039]

Coming in from Portugal recently is "Isocele", the latest full length release by guitarist x composer and Headlights head honcho Manuel Mota. Put out on the circuit on November 17th, 2k23 the roughly 40 minutes spanning longplay piece features three subsequently numbered variations on "Isocele" which were recorded on October 10th, June 8th and July 9th of 2k23 in this respective order. Opening with "Isocele 1" Manuel Mota sets course towards a sonic realm of glistening, timeless and slightly outerworldly Ambient sounds of large scale panoramic qualities whereas "Isocele 2" presents a fusion of brittle and slightly frosty exoplanetary atmospheres ripe with toxic fumes, tectonic Dark Ambient movements and brooding, intense feedbacks whilst the final cut that is "Isocele 3" turns out to be the most sensual, intimate and inward looking composition on this album, bringing forth time-dissolving cosmic beauty for preferrably nocturnal headphone listening. Go check!

Pelaya Arrizabalaga & Eli Gras - Arido [La Olla Express 034]

Released via La Olla Express on December 9th, 2k23 is "Aridos", the second duo collaboration album conceived by Pelayo Arrizabalaga and Eli Gras - an astounding 11 years after their joint venture debut "Duplicat" on the same label. Together, over the course of nine compositions and a total runtime of 43 minutes, they deploy a musical set up consisting of record players, electronics, undefined sound engines as well as traditional instruments like clarinet and electric guitar to shape and create a sonic landscape defined by layers upon layers of crackly loops and locked grooves as a rhythmic, yet monotonous foundation for longing Jazz improvisations and raw, droning late night melancholia, nocturnal atmospheric ambiance ("Grava Tecnica"), twisted, somewhat scientific Electronica outings in combination with what seem to be FoundSounds ("Agua Negra"), shimmering, cascading electroacoustic fountains and chirping signals, spatial and spine-tingling collage works ("Mapa De Aires"), the surprising scratch and cut-up excess that is "Turbio" and the stripped down, well retrofuturistic blips and bleeps of "Maldon" just to name a few. A thrilling, highly recommended journey for all fans of Avantgarde and Deep Listening Music, this.

Album artwork on Instagram!

Listen Again: baze.djunkiii presents This Ain't NuBeat Volume 2 @ Radio Flouka / Paris (07.12.2023)

Radio Flouka راديو فلوكة · baze.djunkiii - 07/12/2023

Pablo Diserens & The Ocean Comm/uni/ty - Upstream Ensemble [Forms Of Minutiae 009 Promo]

Scheduled for release on December 8th, 2k23 via the Forms Of Minutiae label as a limited to 100 copies cassette tape edition is "Upstream Ensemble", the latest album conceived by Berlin-based artist x field recordist Pablo Diserens who - alongside and with the help of a wide plethora of contributors here referred to as The Ocean Comm/uni/ty - is diving deep into the practice of aquatic and subaquatic listening with this one. Spread over the course of roughly 30 minutes the sole composition that makes up the entire album, and repeats on the A- and B-side of the cassette tape, is an intricately woven, stitched, arranged and layered collage of Field Recordings captured in a wide variety of aquatic environments from thawing glaciers to open oceans, rivers and others, a deep sea journey capturing breaking waves, subaquatic movements, underwater wildlife and bird song, bass-heavy drones, a large scale of microsounds, gaseous bubbles as well as thunderstorms, rain fall, clicking echo location sounds and, inevitably, oftentimes unidentifiable sounds created by artificial, and therefore human, sources which are travelling in and around global waters at every given minute in time these days. A fascinating journey not only for Field Recording enthusiasts but also for fans and followers of the conceptual Electro project that is Drexciya even though there is not one single beat to be found on this one. Go check.

Zark - 8 [Zarkon Records 008 Promo]

Released on October 10th, 2k23 via the artist run Zarkon Records imprint is "8", the eighth consecutive digital single on the label by the mysterious artist not known to many as Zark. Opening with "8.1" the producer caters a deep, trippy and well hypnotic and mind-bending variation of stripped down Techno for extended raves taking places in exoplanetary swaths of swamp whereas the subsequent cut aptly named "8.2" brings forth a slightly gnarlier take on Cologne-oriented Minimal Techno sporting raw minimalist midrange bass synths, sharp, slightly shuffled hi-hat figures as well as references to contemporary harmonic DubTechno efforts brought to dancefloors by labels like Echochord and the likes of. Good stuff.

Sascha Müller - Justice EP [Fresscode Records 015 Promo]

Put out on the circuit via Fresscode Records as the labels cat.no. 015 on October 31st, 2k23 is the "Justice EP", the latest digital three track single cooked up by Uelsen-based producer Sascha Müller. Opening with the title track that is "Justice" Mr. Müller caters a pleasantly raw, hard hitting Techno workout with a ravey underground edge that takes us back to the quasi Proto-Hardcore of the Italian scene in the first half of the 90s whereas the subsequent cut named "Portal" provides highly compressed, hard-hitting House drums and whipping claps in combination with seductive oldskool organs and massive laser zaps for HardHouse ravers followed by the relentlessly marching drums and gnarly meandering sawtooth synths of the closing cut that is "Hell Squad" which will most likely resonate with those still fond of Thomas P Heckmann's seminal Wavescape label and the likes of.

It Dockumer Lokaeltsje - Trump Yn Makkum [Makkum Records 038]

Put out on the circuit via the Dutch imprint Makkum Records on November 24th, 2k23 is "Trump Yn Makkum", the latest, 16 tracks and roughly 39 minutes spanning album by the long-standing Frisian band It Dockumer Lokaeltsje which first appeared on the album circuit all the way back in 1987 under this name despite being originally formed as Tropical Suicide in 1982. Now, a few splits and re-formations later, their most recent longplay format sees the Punk x Rock leaning trio dealing with a certain, yet somewhat traumatic encounter the village of Makkum had with alleged tycoon and later head clown of the United States Donald J. Trump who signed a contract with a local shipyard to get an expansive yacht built, yet couldn't follow through due to bankruptcy which, under suspicious circumstances, led to the company closing and the loss of many needed local workers jobs. This, and other incidents, are the themes "Trump Yn Makkum" is dealing with, channeling the historic, yet still present anger and desperation into super raw, unprocessed Punk x Rock tunes which can be pretty seductive as cuts like "Frosketrollen", the psychotic, riff-focused "Poddestuolleding", the highly eruptive, almost Hardcore-leaning "Boeren Jan 21" or "Alle Hat Alles" prove whilst others are touching base with what could be described as Artschool Punk or echoes of echoes of MathRock and even ultra dark, highly dramatic ballads at times in cuts like "Lytse Geast (Mei Hynders)". Quite an interesting, yet also intense journey into real Dutch economic history.

Album artwork on Instagram!

07.12.2023 baze.djunkiii presents This Ain't NuBeat Volume 2 @ Radio Flouka / Paris, France

Remember NuBeat x New Beat? Ever heard of Agreppo? These days those terms refer to a pretty much forgotten, yet highly influential sound, style, vibe and genre aesthetic which ruled dancefloors in certain European countries for a short a while towards the end of the 80s as a quasi sonic Venn diagram incorporating influences of the EBM, Industrial and Synth Pop scene that was but well pointing towards the futuristic Techno, Electro, Rave derivatives which were about to take over in the 90s yet to come. With this months mix show Hamburg-based Radio Flouka-resident baze.djunkiii pays homage to the sound of his formative years with both original tracks from named era, unreleased dubplate cuts, novelty-leaning ProtoTechno, AcidHouse and related goodness that picks up on the spirit of those days which will hopefully see a large scale revival at some point in the near future.

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

file under: NuBeat / Agreppo / ProtoTechno

transmission time: 22oo - 23oo GMT+1

get locked via Radio Flouka
Paris

Gilbert / Owain K [Innate 006]

Innate · Innate 006 - Gilbert / Owain K

Ausgang II - New Rendering [Eyes Wide Open Records 004 Promo]

Released via Eyes Wide Open Records on July 25th, 2k23 is "New Rendering", the latest digital two track single conceived by the Ausgang II project. Opening with the title track that is "New Rendering" Ausgang II provides quite an elastic, Intelligent Techno-informed and super hypnotic dancefloor situation which immediately takes us back to the underground of 1994 with its trippy synth lines and ever shifting main motifs whereas the subsequent cut named "Taklamakan" fully indulges in a sea of washed out EsoAmbient pulses backed by hypernaturalist non-vocalisms, sparse Tribal drum fragments and swampy, ever so slowly morphing Acid lines for classic ChillOut floors and dedicated Ambient headz. Nice one.

Savage Republic - Live In Wroclaw January 7 2023 [Gusstaff Records]

Well, this is a first. At least as far as we're aware of this one is the first ever live album released on the ever active Gusstaff Records imprint from Poland. Put out on the circuit on November 24th, 2k23 and following up to their acclaimed "Meteora" album L.A.-based Savage Republic are back with a 77 minutes live effort recorded in Wroclaw to capture the energy and momentum of their album tour right at the heart of the city where Gusstaff Records head offices are located, bringing forth a much older, yet wiser band and, according to Thom Fuhrmann himself, a way more improved stage performance and presence in comparison to the bands touring stints in the late 80s. The result is indeed impressive, catering catchy Alternative Rock guitars alongside thundering drums and earth shaking bass rumbles paired with seductive, yet timeless takes on PostPunk and post-war apocalypse, an undeniably wall-of-sound oriented approach as well as the dramatic, almost military urgency of the bands vocalists especially prevalent in songs like "27 Days" or "Next To Nothing" whereas cuts like "Siege" present themselves as hyperintense, quasi-instrumental war music of doom, "Spice Fields" dabbles with a certainly more uplifting and seductive approach catering to both Indie and Alternative crowds whereas "Bizerte Rolls" as well as "Ivory Coast" serve haunted, fast-paced road-movie Rock vibes before "Viva La Rock And Roll" transforms every dancefloor into a massive GothRock moshpit just to name a few. Defo one of the best live albums we've heard in a while. Go check.

Album artwork on Instagram!

baze.djunkiii Charts 12/2k23

01. Various Artists - Dreams Of Electric Bleep [Earwiggle 034]
Quite a litte bombshell compilation this which sees the Earwiggle camp collect and re-issue eight long lost, forgotten or criminally overlooked gems from the ever active Irish Electro underground in the period between 1999 and 2004, cooked up by then predominantly widely unknown bedroom producers like Americhord, Decal, Phil Kieran and others, originally released through oftentimes artist run labels like Trama Industries, Mass Transit Records or even the legendary NYC-based Satamile Records and the likes of. And despite being rather different in terms of each producers specific sonic focus the one thing that holds this compilation together the most is a very specific drive and beefyness with beats oftentimes closer to Broken Techno or the emerging NuSkoolBreaks x ElectroBreaks scene of the times than to the cleaner, oftentimes sci-fi-leaning Electro variation of motor city or the dry, super raw attitude of The Hague's scene, sporting a maelstrom of muscular basslines and techy, ever evolving synth patterns made and intended for heaving primetime floors. Still prime material that needs to be honored not only for its historical value.

02. Various Artists - 80s Techno Tracks: Vinyl Edition 2 [ZYX Music]
It's been quite a pleasant surprise seeing the influential ZYX label re-appearing on the vinyl circuit again, especially with a compilation like this focusing on a period in time in which the imprint, amongst others ofc, probably played vital role in widely popularizing electronic music on German dancefloors before the scene as we know it today even existed. We're talking the late 80s here with its NuBeat and Agreppo sound carrying echoes of SynthPop, EBM and cold, scientific Industrial music fused with influences of early House and ProtoTechno, all falling together to create killer cuts like MCL's "New York *Razormaid Mix", Bigod 20's "Body To Body (An Afternoon Of Aggression)", Pluuto's "Isn't It Crazy *Agsnøek Mix" or "Machine" by Aircrash Bureau which are to be found on this eight track album alongside further pieces prodcuded by household names like Moskwa TV, Westbam, Hypnopedia and others.

03. Piccolo JT / Rio Love - EP [Alleviated Records]
Larry Heard. Tenacious House x DeepHouse soldier par excellance. As Piccolo JT Mr. Heard teams up with storyteller C. Cherry to deliver two history-heavy House Music x Spoken Word fusion tracks for intimate late night club situations whilst Rio Love, an alias incorporating Larry Heard and M. Scott, explores trippy and spaced out Acid-infused territories as well as minimalist, slightly filtered DeepHouse vibes on the flip.

04. Sascha Müller - Back To The Funk [Proper Cuts Recordings 003]
See review for details...

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