Taking his cue from seminal mix albums of days gone by, Glenn Astro is back with a compilation of original productions from a cast of fictional artists on Nothing Is Real. Across 13 tracks, the Tartelet mainstay celebrates the thrill of discovery which came as standard listening to new entries in series’ like X-Mix and DJ Kicks, moving between head-nodding downtempo, ambient techno, broken beat and all manner of chill-out room delights. You might be left wishing artists such as DJ 1999, Mental Trance and Eye Soul8r had actual discographies to go and explore, but as Astro himself is keen to point out, “nothing is real.”

Astro has never been shy to embrace classic tropes and tones in his past albums for Tartelet, Apollo and Ninja Tune, but he’s drawing on a different set of influences for this album and embracing the flexibility afforded by using imagined aliases for varied production styles.

“I had the idea to do a mixtape, preferably with unknown dance tracks that also reflect that whole 90s/early 00s vibe,” Astro explains. “Instead of digging for some records that haven’t been sourced yet or trying to find those ‘forgotten’ treasures, I made the tracks myself. That way I had full control over BPMs, feel and the whole arrangement of tracks. I thought of a few alter egos and started producing the tracks in the order that I intended to play them in a mix. In the end a whole compilation of tracks emerged.”

While the concept might suggest you’re going to hear a lot of over- familiar sounds, don’t be fooled. Astro is inspired and inquisitive, channeling the experimental spirit of the 90s and early 00s when electronic music was still continually being redefined in all kinds of micro-scenes. In many cases, Astro’s productions slip into the cracks between genres rather than specifically mimicking a style.

Even if the reference points are detectable, the end result is a curious blend as indebted to ambiguity as the overall concept of the compilation. Like the spine-tingling sensation of hitting play and awaiting the waves of unknown sonics on one of those seminal mixes, you never know exactly what you’re going to get as you take the trip through Nothing Is Real. More

Glenn Astro returns to Tartelet Records with Purple, a four-tracker of minimal slow burners and futuristic dance music, marking the label’s 50th 12-inch release.

Since releasing his second album Homespun in late 2020, Glenn Astro has been quietly channeling his funky instincts towards new production approaches. Purple, a four-piece compilation of mutant future-boogie daubed in Rogers-Nelson hues, comes through with emotional heft. It also marks the 50th 12" release for Tartelet Records.

“Following up on Homespun, I wanted to try out some more dancefloor- oriented tracks again,” says Glenn Astro. “Keeping it simple and practical, while not being too predictable. I incorporated a lot of modular synth bits and experiments, with ‘Flux’ being an almost exclusively modular-based jam.”

Incorporating tricky sound design and fluid structures, Astro’s new lines of enquiry never come at the expense of the groove. From the opening thump of ‘Penduloop’ onwards it’s apparent that his rugged rhythmic kinks are present and correct to hook in the dancers, while the melodic drops later in the track edge in a little melancholic flavour to take the mind somewhere else entirely. On this opening track, the artist explores new territory with his version of early naughties minimal house – a welcome
slow burner.

The EP title track ‘Purple’ slaps with purpose, not least in the Linn-esque drums and melodic bassline, but it’s a positively dreamy piece which skips on crooked beat formations and floats upwards via a multi-timbral tapestry of yearning synth shapes and robotic vocals. On ‘Out Of Office’ Glenn Astro provides a generous dose of electro nostalgia when he amps up the heavy-hearted feeling with aching string pads and electro-informed machine logic. The track becomes alive with its deep un-synced rhythms and dark bass notes, pushing further into the abyss. ‘Flux’, with its tooly
feel, takes the electronic mantra further and sheds light on the source of much of Astro’s new sound palette.

Crucially, even in its techiest moments, an irrepressible humanity shines through across Purple. Glenn Astro’s soul is the binding agent which links his early, sample-heavy house to his more explorative new angles, and it comes through in abundance on this fully-formed release. More

Five years after his critically acclaimed debut album Throwback, Glenn Astro returns with his deeply personal album Homespun.

Marking a change in course from his first release on Tartelet Records, Glenn Astro is set to showcase his sophomore album Homespun, a testament to a visionary artist who has come into his own. Made up of ten tracks spanning 45 minutes, the record twists and turns between electronic meditations, soulful vocals by Ajnascnet, and futuristic electro, carving out a world of spacey eclecticism that is as nostalgic as it is experimental.

“This album is in all facets different from the first one, which was a deliberate decision. No vintage sounds and references, no sampling, combined with futuristic sound design and song structures.I tried to keep it as current and intuitive as possible,” he says.

Known for his chunky beats and fuzzy textures, Glenn Astro has released on labels such as Ninja Tune and Apollo, leaving a distinctive signature on everything he touches.

But Glenn Astro has quietly been crafting a new sound for himself. Sometimes taking detours – morphing into his dark alter ego and experimenting with artist collaborations.

The sound of Homespun is a culmination of several years of reflection and artistic development – however, the album itself was produced in less than three months. “I set myself an ultimatum to finish the album within three months. If I didn’t make it, I’d
have to rethink my career path and keep music as a hobby, he says.

On the introspective first single and album title track “Homespun,” Ajnascent’s vocals lend a sincerity to the melancholic production. “It’s about the regret of not taking chances and giving in too much, but also about taking responsibility and being honest with yourself. Homespun is a nod to nostalgia and a desire for simplicity and prudence, being equally the culprit and the cure,” elaborates Ajnascent.

On “The Yancey,” an homage to J Dilla, Glenn Astro paints his vision of contemporary dance music with shimmering melodies, deep ambient soundscapes, and advanced drum programming. “Moreira” and “Look at You” feel like spaced-out electronic funk hybrids, while “Taking Care of Business” goes back to the future with Glenn Astro’s take on jungle. Other tracks such as “Mezzanine,” “Slow Poke Flange,” and “Viktor’s Meditation” provide the finest dubby electronics. More

2014 was a great year for Glenn Astro, but appearances on DJ Kicks (Brandt Brauer Frick) and Brownswood among other labels, numerous remixes, and a string of beautifully-crafted EPs already look set to be eclipsed in 2015. The Essen-based producer's collaboration EP with Max Graef will launch their new label Money $ex Records in January, while his debut LP is to follow on Tartelet Records in the Spring. In between these comes the Hologram EP, two years after his first release on WotNot. As both artist and label have forayed further into dance styles, they have maintained the spirit of soulful eclecticism. The hip hop/beats roots this is based in are apparent on this release in the warm, jazzy Disco Tempo Cliche Intro and Good Bye Song (Spirit Dance). Love Is Gone pairs Astro's signature bumpy house swing with a distinctive synth hook and a subtle use of vocals. Henry Wu delivers a delightful, jazz-tinged synth-funk flip, offering a tantalising glimpse of what's to come from the 22a artist later this year. User's Guide To is the ultimate tutorial in dusty house, with rolling layers of percussion over smooth synth chords, while regular Astro collaborator IMYRMIND injects his signature swagger and playful edge into Gemini.
All-in-all a great record to kick off a year that will see new records from K15, Kab Driver, Alphabets Heaven, and some new faces on WotNot. More

A1. THE POWER A2. FEELIN’ ME A3. SHUTTER SHADES B1. THE POWER (MEDLAR REMIX) B2. SHUTTER SHADES (DEFT REMIX) More

Next up is Berlin’s Christopher Rau with his “F.M.E. Hustle” long player. The long time firm favourite delivers 11 tracks full of hiss and soul.
From driven dub techno to cool house and ambient excursions Rau travels far without loosing the interrelation. Analogue club fire coming straight at you in form of a full cover double 12 inch, designed by Rahel Süßkind, including as special insert. United People. M$R. More

Welcome german beat maker Dexter to Money $ex! Funky Time!
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IMYRMIND's debut album UNIWERSUM LUXUS surfaces at record stores worldwide on February 27th, 2017 courtesy of Berlin-based Money $ex Records. Idiosyncrasies of both IMYRMIND himself, and indeed the label as a whole, seep through the fabric of the album; a patchwork of tasteful re-appropriation and sophisticated originality.Covering a broad landscape of raw, gutsy minimalism, mesmeric synthwork and trademark ultra-loose beat-making, IMYRMIND has crafted a record that embodies his rapacious ear and well-groomed production style. In a maturation of techniques explored across earlier releases, borrowed organic textures meet frazzled analogue electronics and clunky, lagging beat iterations in a collection of tracks ranging from the quivering to the aggressive. UNIWERSUM LUXUS is a bright convergence of influence and innovation, all reverberating within the echo chamber of the Money $ex world; self-aware, playful, and at times even ironic.
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IMYRMIND's debut album UNIWERSUM LUXUS surfaces at record stores worldwide on February 27th, 2017 courtesy of Berlin-based Money $ex Records. Idiosyncrasies of both IMYRMIND himself, and indeed the label as a whole, seep through the fabric of the album; a patchwork of tasteful re-appropriation and sophisticated originality.Covering a broad landscape of raw, gutsy minimalism, mesmeric synthwork and trademark ultra-loose beat-making, IMYRMIND has crafted a record that embodies his rapacious ear and well-groomed production style. In a maturation of techniques explored across earlier releases, borrowed organic textures meet frazzled analogue electronics and clunky, lagging beat iterations in a collection of tracks ranging from the quivering to the aggressive. UNIWERSUM LUXUS is a bright convergence of influence and innovation, all reverberating within the echo chamber of the Money $ex world; self-aware, playful, and at times even ironic.
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Nas1 from Bologna with a dope debut on Money $ex. More

Money $ex Records is the collaborative venture between Max Graef, Glenn Astro & Delfonic. The Berlin-based label’s exploits showcase a crooked blend of influence and originality, with releases from the likes of Christopher Rau, Knowsum, Gerry Franke, IMYRMIND, Alex Seidel, Hodini and Kickflip Mike, as well as its founders. The label’s focus is on artist releases. LPs as well as EPs, exploring everything from Electronic Funk to Psychedelic Jazz and Contemporary Dance Music thrown in for good measure.


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Gerry Franke, member of the Max Graef Band and also 50 % responsible, that Max Graef lives, presents his first Solo LP after the Mini LP release "Franke & Son" on OYE / Box aus Holz.
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the intangible peak for a young label with no compendium. More

Yes, we are really proud, that our friend Christopher Rau aka Rau C aka Rhythmus Günther is smoking some hot gems with us. More

MONEY $EX continue to mine a rich seam of new wave sample House talent from Germany's creative heart Beating things down on this outing is Alex Seidel. Rubbing shoulders with luminaries like Max Graef & Glenn Astro seems to have brought out the best in this new producer as he skilfully lays out a familiar collection of roughed up sample jams and synth interludes, as always, Hip Hop provides a sturdy foundation for this House, but make no mistake, we're living very much in the future More

The mysterious HODINI takes the wheel on this, the third outing on Money $ex Another triumphant tapestry of sample sources, reinvented and ramped up into an effortlessly effective extended player, taking dusty MPC sample sessions through a variety of moods from head-nod bumpers to wayward House numbers - Swing set to stun all the way and another top quality outing on this label Collaborating with the very best of Germany's new school - These guys are untouchable right now - accept no substitute ! More

After the killer debut, Money Sex returns with another jaw-droppingly good selection, this time from IMYRMIND Another triumphant tapestry of sample sources, reinvented and ramped up into an effortlessly effective 6 pack. These guys are untouchable right now - accept no substitute ! One limited vinyl press only More