Rich NxT – NXT006 – NxT Records

Like living life in the fast lane Rich Nxt’s stream of consciousness fires ideas in such quick succession it’s almost hard to keep up. This next release sees the producer aim squarely at the dancefloor via tough, rugged drums that are once again imaginatively offset via a dazzling array of sounds and signatures on the undulating Sauna De Plastico. Argy delivers an excellent, true to form remix with pulsating beats and sleazy bass working up to fever pitch, while still feeling supremely funky care off punctuating congo. Malin Genie remixes the more probing rhythms of Attery as insistent basslines tear up the stereo injecting a release of defiant energy. Number six is yet another killer release of forward-thinking ideas from Nxt Records.

Release: December 13

https://www.facebook.com/nxtrecs
https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/richnxt
https://www.facebook.com/richnxt

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Mihai Popoviciu – Sleepwalking – Poker Flat Recordings

It’s almost all in the way the bassline grooves and moves you in inevitable ways when something smoulders as much as this does. Driven by punchy drums the unfolding sensation of drama soon gathers pace with the addition of grainy synthesisers capturing the ever evolving sense of adventure. Apart from occasional vocal touches it’s pretty much all down to the addictive rhythms, and they are certainly irresistible. Francesca Lombardo then adds sparkle into the remix with punctuating keys bouncing off Acid attitude and effervescent melodies.

Release: November 22

https://www.facebook.com/mihaipopoviciu1
https://www.francesca-lombardo.com
https://www.pokerflat-recordings.com

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Butch & C.Vogt – Vogue – Freerange Records

This very much feels like a lot of classic Acid moments all rolled into one. You can hear it in the Chicago/ Detroit inspired bassline as much as you can in the keys adding soul and melody to the equation. Those jazzy American influences shine through too and all the while Vogue is simply a very fine piece of music. The Bonus Butch Edit adds a slice of drumming intensity into an alternative arrangement, while Jimpster’s remix sequences tribal flair to the beats alongside a psychedelic wash of vocals and heady rush of punchy arpeggios. The playful percussion, warm brushes of organ plus harmonious synth lines of Windeck then complete this standout, celebratory release from the label.

Release: November 29

http://www.cometobutch.com
https://www.facebook.com/cvogtmusic
https://www.freerangerecords.co.uk

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FURTHER PERSPECTIVES & DISTORTIONS An Encyclopaedia Of British Experimental and Avant-Garde Music 1976-1984 – Close To The Noise Floor/ Cherry Red Records

Close To The Noise Floor embark on this invaluable project to highlight and expose the wealth of British Experimental and Avant-Garde Music between 1976-1984. Years in which you had the existence of Fleetwood Mac on one side of the Atlantic, while Duran Duran populated the other. Perhaps what is so cutting about this selection of pieces is how on-edge some of it is – although, perhaps more realistically, it all is. Opening with Trail Of Traps by Alterations is quite frankly on unnerving experience which jolts you when least expected (especially LOUD). The journey through the unexpected is then blissfully realised via the weird and wonderful as experimental sounds and ideas are rigorously developed, ever mutating into another world of riotous potential. What also exists here is an invigorating, breathless combination of hints and persuasions of every colour and rhythm from Classical input, through to dangerous explosions of sound, to free Jazz and more. So much so that its almost hard to take in all in one go. I’m not actually sure, at this stage, whether such a thing as standout tracks do exist as they all play a part in forming a document of the unconventional. But, as life progresses in ever more uncertain ways, releases such as this, play an ever more important role in cataloguing the unorthodox as it now feels entirely normal.

Further Perspectives & Distortion – An Encyclopedia Of British Experimental And Avante-Garde Music 1976-1984, Various Artists, 3CD BoxsetVarious Artists
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The Ultimate Escape Project – Otherism – T-Wax

Suddi Raval returns to his The Ultimate Escape Project guise with this third album in a series of events. Totalling fifteen tracks, including a sparkling Mathew Sargent remix of Peng Win, what is immediately apparent is the breadth of scale employed here musically – like he has been soaking up just about everything. The rough and tumble drums of the caustic Xyloid are soon offset by the gentler, atmospheres of Orbit. As industrial sounds are employed on Akwizishun, and you can also hear that echo on Laser Beams And Mirror Balls. Not surprisingly Acid House plays its part too with the devilish Quark sounding fizzy and robust. The tense landscapes of Egg Mobile then finish in a blaze of undulating atmospheres that ripple across the stereo with a fevered rendition of voices. And all the while there is a sense of exploration at play here, both in terms of rhythms alongside production prowess, that is never afraid to poke at what’s possible.

Release: November 22

buy https://ingroov.es/otherism
https://www.facebook.com/suddi.raval

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Anne Müller – Heliopause – Erased Tapes

If you have ever had the pleasure of hearing Anne Muller perform then you will already know what an important voice she has. Transmitted through the power of Cello alongside an array of effects the music pulses, vibrating through the ether in its own language. It’s perhaps also not such an easy thing to do but the artist also translates Classical through a modern prism, fusing all sorts of wild influences into sounds entirely of her own creation. Heliopause, is her debut and to say it is virtually perfect wouldn’t be too far from the truth. Six pieces form the playlist that traverse the landscape of mood and atmosphere, while thoughts feel positive, contrasted by thoughts more melancholy. Sometimes the music haunts the memory such as on Solo? Repeat! While the piano sprinkled delicately over Aarhus / Reminiscenses speaks of other more diverse emotions. Then we arrive at Drifting Circles, for me one of the most exhilarating sequences of music I’ve heard in a long sometime. Transporting you in a rush of joy I have listened to this on repeat a few times now and with each play it achieves exactly the same state of mind as the melodies hit. The warm, low-end embrace of the title track then completes Heliopause with what can only really be described as a uniquely wonderful experience in reverberating motion.

Release: November 22

buy https://idol.lnk.to/Heliopause

https://www.erasedtapes.com
https://www.erasedtapesmusic.com/composer/anne-muller

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Sascha Dive – Detroit Sunrise – Bondage Music

If music is about conjuring up emotions, images of the past as future rendition, then Sascha Dive’s smouldering arrangement of the pieces captures the sentiment perfectly. The title track, Detroit Sunrise evolves in layers of sound that are as atmospheric as they are deliciously energetic. All at once warm, yet brutal, challenging you to move forwards. Dub Chronicles #1 and Dub Chronicles #2 continue that sultry sense of relief as both versions then dig deeper, leaving room for the Detroit inspired melodies of Ghostdancer to complete this excellent release of rigorous possibilities.

Release: November 25

http://www.saschadive.de
https://www.bondage-music.com

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MF Robots – Finders Keepers – BBE

There’s something inescapably joyful about this number, but then it is a Chairmen Of The Board cover (from 1974) to begin with. Its snappy succession of celebratory funk alongside life-affirming melodies, care of Dawn Joseph’s hot delivery, all join together in heavenly delight as the quick-fire electric keys bump and groove to the soaring horn section. What’s particular here is also the sense that they are performing right before your eyes, as the recording succinctly captures those very moments of abandon so obviously reviled in while producing Finders Keepers.

Release: November 22

https://www.bbemusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/mfrobots

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Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto – TWO – NOTON

Escaping the structures of modern life these unfolding moments of blissful intensity serve more than one purpose. Musically they expand horizons seeking out new escapes, sonically the rich seam of drone infused pulses sound unlike everything you’re going to be hearing anywhere else. This album is the performance the esteemed artist/ musicians gave at the Sydney Opera House in 2018. The proactive, improvised nature of it all lends the music a guessing at what the next moment might produce, unveiling, surprising you in equal measure. It’s not all waves of motion though, try the sheer elegance generated by PROPHO and its fuzzy, synthesised envelopes of emotive sound for a brutal impact on the senses. Elsewhere the delicate piano of BERLIN seers haunting impressions on the mind, while the grainy ambience of THE REVENANT THEME (from Alejandro González Iñárritu’s hit film) completes this daring, fractious realisation that life and music also exists in a world outside of itself.

Release: November 15

http://www.alvanoto.com
https://www.skmtcommmons.com
https://noton.info

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C.Y.M. – C.Y.M – Phantasy Sound

aka Vampire Weekend’s Chris Baio and Fort Romeau C.Y.M appear on Phantasy Sound like they were born to be. Twisted loops of fizzy electronic sound gather pace alongside stabbing bass guitar and a bunch of punky attitude, amid the crash and burn of grainy synthesizers on the psychedelically charged Capra. Followed by the cinema flavoured shuffle of Far Gone, which likewise features a breathy treatment of heady voices, the record is then completed by the breezier tones of Super-Cannes, heightening a sense of memory and location in delightful equal measure. A great release of sound and energy sounding a lot like joy.

Release: November 15

Pre-order the EP: https://lnk.to/c-y-m-ph93

https://www.facebook.com/CYMband
www.phantasysound.co.uk

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