Tracklist
A1. Entity
A2. Typhoon
B1. Love Is All I Need
B2. Rampage

New Krystal Klear on Running Back. No re-inventing of the wheel here. Sometimes it is what it is. But let‘s hear it from the artist himself:

“ No notes or real inspiration behind this EP. Rb128 consists of four tracks that I made to keep gigs coming and the calendar full - In a time where artists are being forced to DJ like maniacs to keep the electricity running to make more quickfire records (except for Gerd who loves it).

These pure dance tracks try to mix the cocktail between the trendy trance that people like now and the good house records they liked yesterday.

Standard procedure: Melancholic chords over processed drums and breakdowns that make waiting for a train to pull in more bearable.“
But yes, it is still and will always be pretty damn good dance music (Gerd does a high kick and claps his hands)! Love is all we need.

Short:

New Running Back by the ever-reliable Krystal Klear.

Standard procedure: Melancholic chords over processed drums and breakdowns that make waiting for a train to pull in more bearable.“
But yes, it is still and will always be pretty damn good dance music! Love is all we need.






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Tracklist

A1. Endeavour
A2. Americana
B1. Tokyo Flower
B2. Excelerator

Release Info:
Ain’t no stopping him now. Krystal Klear’s streak continues with Automat Kingsland. The recipe remains, perfectly seasoned to taste. The extended menu of four tracks is musical testament to the artist’s life of the last six months. Emphasizing movement at a pace that is hard to hold on to, but embraced nonetheless. Trying to transport that „lost in translation“ (and transit) sense of normal life due to constant motion to a dance floor near you. Euphoric melancholia meets rave romance, shutters open to let happiness crawl in and anxiety turns into excitement through the usual cocktail of tearjerkers and white noise risers. Recorded between Paris, New York, Dublin and London and brought to your city via Running Back. Automatic non stop existential output.












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Tracklist:

A1. Essentia
A2. Essentia – Sunrise Mix
B1. Winnie’s Karaoke
B2. Winnie’s Karaoke – Sundown Mix

Release Info:
Essentia is not only the latin word for – you guessed that right – essential, but also the name of Krystal Klear’s return to Running Back. While trance might be a state of mind (according to DJ Dag), it’s also a tone theory with a very specific tool kit. Here you get the version that makes sense in the aural universe of a producer that got raised on a diet of hip hop, boogie and the foundation tunes in house music. Moderate in tempo, the result is still euphoric to say the least: melted brains, stimulated spinal cords and rave rampage included. Essentia balances the euphoric rush of its topical genre perfectly with the happy-sad moments after the rave. If that is not musical or emotional enough for your taste, you will find content in the Sunrise version. Excessive use of the well-beloved choir, breakbeats and - downs make it equally irresistible for sun-ups and love-ups.

Flip the coin for Winnies Karaoke. Stemming from the same source and session as Essentia. Named after the interactive entertainment bar in Chinatown NYC and made sometime in the early morning hours, its the quintessential Krystal Klear. Sawtooth boogie, if you will. It’s counterpoint is the Sundown mix. Techno prog for the tilted generation.
Sometimes, in the permanent search of happiness, the world of tomorrow needs the sound of yesterday made with the means and minds of today. Essential bliss.








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Tracklist

A1-Mega Chords
A2-Our Signal
B1-Telephone
B2-Paris Metro

There lies a certain guarantee of quality within every new Krystal Klear – especially on Running Back. After the still heavily rotating Piano Banana release, it is time for the versatile and valuable Connect EP. The four tracks here hit the mark between the confusion or disorientation of any dance music DJ and producer during lockdown, and the genre’s intrinsic ethos of better days , utopia and a certain relentless drive. Traces of such energies henpeck the Irish producer’s work and can also be found here.

Mega Chords kick off the round dance. Imagine the French Touch retouched, updated, refined and designed to empty the serotonin storage. Our Signal puts the lid back on the happiness box, paints a picture of pain and romance and is equally informed by Larry Heard mood boards as it is by Paninaro poetry. Flip it over for a stream lined and well-crafted tour de DJ. If there ever was something like a fair-spoken banger Telephone is the one. A racing motorbike on standby. Last, but not least, Paris Metro is a power house with a creative arrangement and an inventive spin that exceeds the limits of a normal DJ tool. Modern dance music with classic tropes and lots of strobes.
Krystal Klear gets that balance right. Mega Chords indeed.


Short: Four tracker by the lovable Krystal Klear on the ever-reliable Running Back imprint. Ranging from inventive DJ tools (Paris Metro) to bangers in a nightgown (Telephone) and from the French Touch retouched of Mega Chords to the hopeful heartsickness of Our Signal, it’s as versatile as it’s valuable and pretty much connects the sweet dots between Piano Banana, Cyclia One/Two und Divison Ave. Modern dance music with classic tropes and lots of strobes.
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Tracklist
A1. Piano Banana
A2. Bonus Bananas
B1. 1990 Mix
B2. Beach Beats
B3. Banambient Mix

Release Info:
To quote an anonymous source: „It’s a f*#’*ing belter!“ That is basically all there is to know about Krystal’s Klear return to Running Back. But his fifth record for the label is also a high five to live, piano house, uppers & downers, dusk & dawn, Balearic beach bums & goosebumps, bonus beats & soundscapes, Rimini and more than enough to make a stone hearted creature like Gerd Janson cry. Made for a summer that never was, now is the time for mass hysteria.

Short version: It’s a f*#’*ing belter!
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Tracklist
A1. Future Fantasy
B1. One Night In PBar
B2. Dutch Gold
B3. Genesis


Shortinfo:
Krystal Klear presents Cyclia two! Informed by Jim Henson’s psychedelic and cinematic nightclub fantasy of the late 1960’s, which was supposed to be the entertainment of the future and the theatre of the year 2000, the man who brought you „Neutron Dance“ also dives deeper into his own universe. Even though Henson’s vision never became a reality, Cyclia Two would probably make him happy. And if not, we can still dance, if we want to.

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Tracklist
A1. Entre Nous
B1. Autobahn
B2. I’ll Be There When You Need Me
B3. Gambino


Shortinfo:

Krystal Klear presents Cyclia One! Informed by Jim Henson’s psychedelic and cinematic nightclub fantasy of the late 1960’s, which was supposed to be the entertainment of the future and the theatre of the year 2000, the man who brought you „Neutron Dance“ also dives deeper into his own universe. Starting with „Entre Nous“(that also is keeping the tradition of debuts in Gerd Janson Boiler Room videos) and following the uplifting piano path, while applying the thumbscrews of happiness, it’s easy to imagine bursting oversized lava lamps. The despair of turtleneck existentialism on the other hand, which was still of importance in Jim Henson’s heyday, penetrates every fibre of „Autobahn“- disoriented drivers included. „I’ll Be There When You Need Me“is the cloud with the silver lining that renders every philosophical debate useless: life is great! Nothing less could be said about „Gambino “: mid tempo beatnik boogie. Even though Henson’s vision never became a reality, Cyclia One would probably make him happy. And if not, we can still dance, if we want to.
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Tracklist
A1. Euphoric Dreams (KiNK Remix)
B1. Euphoric Dreams (KiNK Drums & Bass Mix)

Shortinfo:

Since its release in February, Krystal Klears ‘Euphoric Dreams’ has received incredible support across the board. From a BBC Radio 1 Exclusive, which saw the track sweep all the respective ‘Track of the Week’ accolades on Danny Howard, Pete Tong and Annie Mac’s Dance music shows to incredible support from Boiler Room, Resident Advisor and Mixmag.

Running Back’s in-house hit machine KiNK takes on remix duties. Currently riding high on his Piano Power EP. KiNK is known for his love of hardware, from classic 808’s to modular synths, and has created his own brand of free-flowing exploratory house and techno, with interactive live shows and an obsession for music technology.

KiNK’s remix offers a prime-time dancefloor destroyer, building on the original’s energy he rethinks the original melodies and combines them with a FM style bass line that cuts throughout the track. A kin to the original from Krystal Klear, it assures peak-time euphoric madness. On the flip KiNK delivers a Drums & Bass mix, stripped down Stevie Poindexter style jack track for those sweaty moments.

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Tracklist
A. Euphoric Dreams
AA. Miyoki

Shortinfo:

How do you go on after a feast like „The Division“ - especially if it included a main course like Neutron Dance? You don’t! And you don’t even have to try. But like with any great meal, one can do magic with the leftovers (see chop suey, stew or goulash for further reference). In any case, Krystal Klear doesn’t need to worry about that. Having cracked the DNA code of „dance music“ on his first EP for Running Back, this double-A-side-follow-up-single feels alive, floats upstream and fires on all cylinders. While Euphoric Dreams is the musical incarnation of an Alexander Shulgin formula (your spine gets tingled all the way including a wonderfully prolonged break down) or the scoring of the proverb that „at the bottom of patience one finds heaven“ and „happiness is just around the bend“. Speaking of which, Miyoki does exactly that to every pair of knees around. A relentless bass line and a deadly snare („yes, you thrill me, when you fill me“*) are enough to force almost any kind of dance floor into submission.
*Freely adapted from Les Femmes - Yes, You Thrill Me - Kee Wee, 1984


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Tracklist:
A1. Per Aspera Ad Astra
A2. Paradise
A3. Mi Amor
B1. Fleeing Into You
B2. Per Aspera Ad Astra (The Club Mix For Gerd But Not By Gerd)
B3. Cocoon Cracking

If you prefer things sweet and concise, here is all you need to know about Morphena and Narciss and their Lingua Erotica release on Running Back: a project of passion made while living across the globe thousands of miles apart from each other while falling in love, sensuality, tenderness, longing, authenticity.
Making waves on the festival and club circuit and meticulous productions like Forbidden Fruit or the Immer Remix for Running Back, Narciss found the perfect partnership with Morphena and their multitalented artistry between DJing, music making and vocal work.
Informed and inspired by a mutual enthusiasm for Italo blueprints, new romantic mannerisms, synth pop poetry and an uncanny knack for subtle and yearning dance floor euphoria (see Paradise and the club version of Per Aspera Ad Astra for further proof). it works like a mix tape or love letter to the listener or any of their adored ones. While the obvious club cuts Mi Amor and Fleeing Into You are sandwiched between the ambience of Per Aspera Ad Astra and Cocoon Cracking, one cannot help to be mesmerized by the coherence and monolithic magnetism of Lingua Erotica.
Captivating, catchy and confident. Here’s to many more.




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12"
Tracklist:
A1. Heartbreaks & XTC
A2. SH-09
A3. H3000
B1. Faith
B2. Time
B3. Sat Morning


The return of the mack. Chris Barratt aka Eagles & Butterflies possess the rare ability in his music to unite a larger-than-life peak time producer personality with the understated production method of underground records, techno pop and a modern Italo twist. Perfectly suited for Running Back, Heartbreaks & XTC is luckily exactly that. The mirror image of Eagles & Butterflies and how to find common ground between polar flairs. Chord happiness, Italo bass lines, arp art, filter magic and side chain stunts. Indispensable to life or any dance floor near you.





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2024 repress

Tracklist:

A1. Beautiful Strangers
A2. Can’t Fix A Broken Heart
B1. When I’m With You ft. Jasper Tygner
B2. False Attraction
B3. Memories Fade

Release Info:
Ever since the release of his masterpiece Winona it’s hard to imagine modern electronic dance music without DJ BORING. A progressive traditionalist DJ BORING finds new ways in old maps. Just like Beautiful Strangers. The lead single to his correspondent debut EP for Running Back illustrates his kaleidoscopic sound aesthetic and refreshing style. Harking back to the aural palette of BORING’s formative years in the early 2000s it manages to bridge infatuation and lovesickness wistfulness and bliss as well sundowns and sunrises dance floors and living rooms – and that is no mean feat.













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Tracklist
A1. Basics (Gerd Janson Re-Edit)
A2. Drivers License (Gerd Janson Re-Edit)
B1. Vibes (Gerd Janson Re-Edit)*
B2. Lost (Gerd Janson Re-Edit)*

The onus of proof regarding deepness is a rather peculiar one. Even if one presses all the right buttons, quotes the correct sources and applies the textbook techniques, often something seems to be amiss. The elusive producer Mute never had that problem. Blessed with a a sound of his own, that seems to stem from within and can be called deep house without the genre’s strait-laced demeanor, his aesthetic includes a distinct feel for boogie and disco tropes. Case in point: Lost. Placed as a B2 it is the secret start of Direct Cuts II and more
prominent on this new edition of a classic Running Back record. Molded into an extended disco version by Gerd Janson with unused parts of the original recording session, it something like a curveball deep house disco song, according to the motto: you and me, we can be like a whole universe! Hard to resist and even harder not to like if you have the slightest interest in Prelude records, Diana Ross songs or Tee Scott mix techniques. Basics, Vibes and Driver’s License push further into the world and musical mindset of Mute.
Originally released in 2006 as the the fourth outing of the label and the second (and his last one to date) of the elusive artist, it is still as remarkable as on its first release. Carefully rescued from the original DAT tapes, all re-edited by Gerd Janson and remastered by Lopazz, it’s available again in a clear and present portraiture of its original intent. Early adopters like Danny Krivit and the Idjut Boys can’t be wrong.



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Tracklist:

A1. Phantazia
A2. 89 Swing
A3. Euphony
B1. Uplift My Spirit
B2. Elevate
B3. Love Tunnel
B4. Siren Tool

The second part in Shan’s warehouse series delivers more of the same – but that’s definitely a great thing, if the dish has a great taste. Like it’s successful predecessor, the tracks don’t re-invent the wheel, but cater to all the nameless spaces and places that made raving in defiant and derelict places fun. There is house that sounds like techno (Elevate) and vice versa. Seasoned with break beats (89 Swing or the Future Sound of London-esque Euphony) or breaks for love (Uplift My Spirit) and even dub sirens, it is almost impossible not to find something to suit the customer’s environment. The main focus of attention might be the jack of all trades called Phantazia. Wouldn’t have sounded out of place at the entertainment series of the same name, it melts proto hardcore harmonics with Soul II Soul type of strings and immediate call for „the action“. And as we all know, that always speaks louder than words.


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Tracklist

A1. Ricardo Baez - The Age Of Energy
A2. Josh Micky - Imaginarium
B1. BSS - Jannis
B2. Brynjolfur & Storken - Twist
B3. Jonus Eric - Ribbon

Summer and the seventh part of Running Back‘s revered various artist series are here. This time consisting of five tracks across the spectrum of cunning and contemplative dance music. Taking over the a-side duties, Ricardo Baez and Josh Micky demonstrate the uncanny alliance of pianos and Italo bass lines for heavy modern disco hitters: high times, fun stuff. BSS‘ Jannis puts that concept on its head with a different kind of piano track. Hypnotic deep house minus all its cliché-ridden traps. Bryolfur and Running Back mainstay Storken opt for trippy and tricky disco with Twist, while Jonus Eric ticks all the IDM and brain dance boxes with Ribbon.
Easy to swallow and value for money.

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Tracklist

A. Can't Stop
B1. Follow The Disco Ball
B2. Can't Stop (Dub)



Can't Stop .There seems no better way to describe the work, party and music ethic of Solomun. Carrying the mirror ball on his shoulders like Atlas, it is impossible to imagine the modern disco world without his dynamics. While his countless DJ sets give fresh impetus to the many shades of house, techno and their siblings, conversely they are a driving force behind his studio and remix excursions. Can't Stop provides an impressive insight into his musical universe.

Resulting from a rather casual after-dinner-listening-session during a car ride on Ibiza with a zesty Gerd Janson, who coaxed the title track out of Solomun making use of their friendship to full capacity, it is a triptych of direct, functional and free-spirited dance floor approach. After some back and forth in the search of the missing pieces to make it so, Solomun managed to deliver the perfect Running Back peak time record.

While Can't Stop channels UK dance music highs through German engineering values, which makes it perfect for dance hall and car rides (yes, indeed!) alike, its heavy dub is constructed with fearless techno DJs in mind who like new beat excerpts, rave stabs and a lot of bass in equal parts. Follow The Disco Ball leads us back to the aforementioned Greek titan and can be read as a love letter to the genre that can be found in its name. Catchy, compelling and cool, it is a masterclass in user-friendly, yet edgy arrangement and dancing shoe compatibility. We repeat: the perfect Running Back peak time record. Can't Stop, won't stop!


Short: Solomun on Running Back. Dance floor fanatics at work. A triptych of fun, friendship and functionality. Can't Stop channels UK dance music highs through German engineering values. Perfect for dance hall and car rides alike. Its heavy dub is constructed with fearless techno DJs in mind who like new beat excerpts, rave stabs and a lot of bass in equal parts. Follow The Disco Ball can be read as a love letter to the genre that is found in its name. Catchy, compelling and cool, it is a masterclass in user-friendly, yet edgy arrangement and dancing shoe compatibility. The perfect Running Back peak time record. Can't Stop, won't stop! More

Tracklist:

A1. Dance Of Enjoyment
A2. Let The Music Take Control
A3. Let The Music Take Control (DJ Tool)
B1. Change Of Heart
B2. Digital Illusion
B3. Digital Illusion (Bonus Beats)




Finally, it‘s happening: the „other“ Gerd appears on Running Back. Not counting in his remix for Losoul‘s Open Door and not to be confused with the label owner Gerd Janson. Based in the Netherlands and strongly associated with the Clone complex, Gerd has been releasing countless tracks and records since the dawn of the nineties. A true child of the „techno“ Zeitgeist back then, he is keeper of a dozen monikers, project names and joint ventures that tend to connect the dots between house and techno, functionality and avantgarde electronics. Gerd‘s frame of mind is second to none, when it comes to sound research, inspiration and imagination.
For Running Back he decided to put his own spin on some of the label’s signature dishes.
The opener Dance of Enjoyment is exactly that. Based on a cleared sample from Shakira by Quinton Madlala and imported by early South African kwaito and house, it is exactly that. Life-affirming dance-floor fun or pogo time for piano people.

Let the Music Take Control dials the peak time slightly back to being a party starter with its retrofuturistic speak and spell command and some evergreen breakbeats. An additional DJ tool allows to spread the gospel elsewhere, too.

Speaking of which, the flipside deals with that in the realm of an Italian influenced theme park. Sitting neatly between the disco and the house appendix of “italo“, Change Of Heart and Digital Illusion are sugar frosted and masterful produced versions of a style that might never go out of fashion. Earnest characters might be happy with the included bonus beats on their own. All’s well that ends well: Gerd and Running Back are here to save a party near you!






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2024 Repress

Tracklist:
A1. Lonely Planet A2. Trance Encounters A3. Today ft. Sui Zhen
A4. Warp Odyssey B1. Voices B2. Kingdom Animalia B3. Healing Feeling

Info:
The eye of the storm: welcome to Tornado Wallace's debut album! The accumulation of about four years of work, with tracks written in Berlin and Melbourne, 'Lonely Planet' is nothing like you may have expected from the Australian expat. No stranger to fans and followers of ESP Institute, Beats in Space and Music From Memory's sister Label Second Circle, Tornado Wallace's strain of releases so far merged functionality with a musical playfulness that led him to find himself as one of the producer's behind José Padilla's International Feel album. Here, he leaves the needs of the dance floor behind in order to create a magical mystery tour de trance into his and our inner jungle.

How about some references? New Age sounds meet new wave melodies, Grace Jones runs into the Dire Straits at Compass Point, while a Korg Mini Pops and a Roland CR78 make amends for Sly & Robbie's absence, Michael Mann pictures Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness', Robert Rauschenberg tries his luck at naturalism and an imagined Wally Badarou echoes through all of it.

Sandwiched between the title track and the yearning beauty of the album's final point 'Healing Feeling', you get all of that as well as collaborations with and contributions of NO ZU, David Hischfelder and the voice of Sui Zhen on 'Today', who would easily make Anna Domino take her proverbial hat off.

Tornado Wallace created an album that supersedes the requirements and expectations of a debut. Like a lost Island Records or a never released Made to Measure album, 'Lonely Planet' soundtracks notions and ideas that recall the nostalgic future in the past as much as it looks ahead.
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12"
Tracklist

A1. Crane Song (HnH Mix)
A2. Deranged Self Therapy
B1. Crane Song (Dopanin Mix)
B2. Centro Di Gravita
B3. Any Plan(t)s This Weekend



Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is always a reliable source for a good quote: "We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden." Sure as death, there is an excerpt of his that states the opposite. In the case of Robert Dietz, it holds true. Since his first appearance on Running Back in 2009 (Forward Snipping), he did a marvelous job staying on his toes as a producer and DJ.
Rejuve-Nation showcases his talent in various alleys of electronic (dance) music with Crane Song being the prime cut here. You will get exposed to proggy house with an intelligent brush in two slightly different mixes. Imagine if Euro dance went to get a college degree or a bumper car floor and you are almost there: an almost irresistible sing a long without lyrics.
If you need help afterwards, Deranged Self Therapy is exactly what you need. IDM meets new wave drums, poignant synths mix with an upbeat hook to create a ballet piece for lovesick robots.
Centro Di Gravita reconnects those qualities with the aforementioned Crane Song ones, while giving it an acid spin, before the ambient salts of Any Plan(t)s This Weekend closes the EP off like a confident sketch for the end of a beautiful summer. A bouquet of bangers for different needs.

Short: One Rejuve-Nation EP under a groove with Robert Dietz' return on Running Back. Proggy meets acid house, IDM leanings mix with stylistic devices of new wave and extra special ambient aerobatics round out the EP. Special attention goes to Crane Song and its peak time perfection. A bouquet of bangers for different needs.





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Tracklist
A1. Entity
A2. Typhoon
B1. Love Is All I Need
B2. Rampage

New Krystal Klear on Running Back. No re-inventing of the wheel here. Sometimes it is what it is. But let‘s hear it from the artist himself:

“ No notes or real inspiration behind this EP. Rb128 consists of four tracks that I made to keep gigs coming and the calendar full - In a time where artists are being forced to DJ like maniacs to keep the electricity running to make more quickfire records (except for Gerd who loves it).

These pure dance tracks try to mix the cocktail between the trendy trance that people like now and the good house records they liked yesterday.

Standard procedure: Melancholic chords over processed drums and breakdowns that make waiting for a train to pull in more bearable.“
But yes, it is still and will always be pretty damn good dance music (Gerd does a high kick and claps his hands)! Love is all we need.

Short:

New Running Back by the ever-reliable Krystal Klear.

Standard procedure: Melancholic chords over processed drums and breakdowns that make waiting for a train to pull in more bearable.“
But yes, it is still and will always be pretty damn good dance music! Love is all we need.






More

mini-LP

Tracklist

A1. Baerhit
A2. Do You Like That?
A3. Breathe
B1. Want Me
B2. Distant City Tranceport
B3. Sometimes I Miss You

Raphael Schön might still be best known for his Fiesta 2000 hit, but that ought to be changed with Heart Times. Hailing from Augsburg in Germany, RS represents a young generation of producers that draw their own deductions from golden days (insert your favorite era here) of dance music. Respectful and without handling it with kid gloves, he manages to inject fun, freshness and a fertile imagination into these sometimes dusty topics.

Conceived during a very emotional turbulent time for Schön, it is a showcase of his whole spectrum as a producer. Imagine a singer-songwriter coming back from his first rave. So, on this six-track EP for Running Back, his sound ranges from classic house (Baerhit) to crooner prog (Sometimes I Miss You), with mellow trance (Distant City Tranceport) and jiggy hits (Do You Like That) in-between. A dance hall unifying and colorful bouquet of flowers that does not shy away from vocals, emotional undertones and most of all bass and hook lines to die for. Schön means beautiful in German and that’s what this mean record is. Do you like it like that?







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Tracklist

A1. Reality
A2. Fantasy
B1. Puzzle
B2. Halle Weissensee

Halle Weissensee (or Weißensee if you wish) starts where Sascha Funke’s last Ep for Running Back stopped. Mesmerizing house and techno music that interweaves classic forms with modern means and looks through the lenses of nostalgia with an open mind.
The Halle was a former engine plant in Berlin that got converted into a rave areal for the now legendary Mayday raves and one of the birthplaces and leading spots of the nineties. Coincidentally and unknowingly, 1993’s winter edition was attended by Funke and Gerd Janson and a conversation about it spawned this record. Don’t be mislead: this is not a retro rave fest, but an ode to the esprit of the times, the possibilities if an envisioned future and maybe most of all an afterglow. While Reality (sounding like a Relief record if the label would have been a topic at Bauhaus university) and the warped bleepiness of Halle Weissensee itself come closest to the actual sound aesthetic of that very night, Fantasy invokes the language of contemplative deep house from vintage New York, while Puzzle evokes a notion of what the same thing could be with the prefix progressive instead. Reality often falls short behind fantasy, but once in a while both complement each other very well.


Short: Halle Weissensee is Sascha Funke’s second Ep for Running Back. Named after the legendary rave warehouse, its four tracks far from being a retro rave. Mesmerizing house and techno music that interweaves classic forms with modern means and looks through the lenses of nostalgia with an open mind. An ode to the jackin’ Relief sound meets bleep tracks, contemplative deep house and progressive hypnotism.





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Tracklist

A1. Playin’
A2. Bodies
B1. Feel This
B2. Call Of The Void

Partiboi69 strikes poses, chords and hot irons. Australia’s spiciest export since INXS’s front man is a sensation on many (meta-)levels. Musically, aesthetically and hedonistically exhilarating, the man’s man shows his sensitive side on Running Back. Four tracks answer the Call of the Void with a showcase of sounds and moods that are as much informed by the rules of old school dance music (Bodies) as they draw inspiration from classic rave closing tracks (Playin’), plangent pop (Feel This) and a former new romantics band that just discovered house music pre-internet (Call of the Void): surprisingly serious and simultaneously not-so-serious. Composed and executed with serious songwriting skills and an uncanny feel for the aural world of Running Back Records. A mutual pleasure, indeed.

Short: Partiboi69 strikes poses, chords and hot irons. Showing his sensitive side for Running Back with four tracks that are as much informed by the rules of old school dance music (Bodies) as they draw inspiration from classic rave closing tracks (Playin’), plangent pop (Feel This) and a former new romantics band that just discovered house music pre-internet (Call of the Void). A sensation on many meta-)levels and a mutual pleasure, indeed.




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Tracklist

A1. Ocha (Re-Edit)*
A2. Never (Re-Edit)*

B1. Direct Cut (Re-Edit)*
B2. Bensono (Re-Edit)*


Re-issue of a Running Back classic. Originally released in 2003 as the the second outing of the label, it is still a remarkable release in the catalogue. Now, carefully rescued from the original DAT tapes, re-edited by Gerd Janson and remastered by Lopazz, it’s available again in a clear and present portraiture of its original intent.
Conceived by the rather elusive Mute, the Direct Cuts are a master class in heartfelt and understated timeless deep house. Influenced in equal parts by the still towering Prescription Underground and the New York singularity that was a young Bobby Konders, Mute managed to create a sound of his own. Marked by live arrangements, bedroom studio aesthetics, a love for dub music and a tempo that was more boogie than techno, it has not lost an inch of its charm. A proposition that probably led Leon Vynehall to pick the hypnotic Never for his Fabric mix. Along with Ocha, Direct Cut and Bensono, Mute proves that iteration does not necessarily mates with deadly dullness.


Short: Re-issue of a Running Back classic. Originally released in 2003 as the the second outing of the label, it is still a remarkable release in the catalogue. Now, carefully rescued from the original DAT tapes, re-edited by Gerd Janson and remastered by Lopazz, it’s available again in a clear and present portraiture of its original intent. A master class in heartfelt and understated timeless deep house




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Tracklist

A1. Narciss 'Venice' Remix
A2. Cinthie Remix
A3. Curses Remix
B1. Narciss 'Salford' Remix
B2. Kid Simius 'Bolero' Remix

Remix package deluxe! Ede & Deckert feat Sargland’s catchy new wave post punk hit Immer gets the special treatment. Their tale of lover’s grief or delight is being put through the mangle by a varied bunch of remixers. Literally taking the advance party its Berlin’s Narciss with two different takes. Known to be without fear of emotional peaks and blessed with the usual sense of delight, they manage to hit the nail on its head. The Venice Remix is a master class in vintage sounds coming through new speakers: primed for the prime time, while the Salford version does exactly what the name implies: for lads and lovers.

Followed up by the simplicity of grass roots house music. Cinthie channels her inner DJ Duke and choreographs the indie dance steps back to basics. The Curses Vocal keeps the instrumental, stays in the original vibe, but switches the vocals – and the language. Finally, Kid Simius takes us on a bumper car ride somewhere between Miami Sound Machine and Yazoo.

Immer works its magic in every way for everyone and now on almost any dance floor.





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Tracklist

A1. Kosmische Conga
A2. Echopet
B1. Minehead
B2. Carinacid

Re-Dial 303.

The follow-up to the first Acid Sampler is now in the hands of a single artist. Space Dimension Controller does Running Back the honor to leave his fingerprints on the (usually) silver box - and it’s a match made in heaven. The Irish man’s music is mostly a nod to the subtle and more delicate ramifications of electronic music. His Acid Sampler is no exception. Most of the EP presents itself as an ode to the brain dance vibe of acid house rooted music. While leaving out the harder and faster styles of the genre, SDC manages to pour his heart and soul as a producer into these four charming tracks.

Kosmische Conga works as the leader of the pack and pirouettes with memorable hooks, synthesizer swells and descant acid lines. Echopet introverts the whole concept, while Minehead peaks with it. Named after the seaside town that harbored the Bloc Weekend festival, its a warp-free romantic reflex of the brain dance vibe – or a heartfelt love song for circuits. Carinacid completes the quartet with a chugging and hugging mid tempo beat that could have gone on forever. Acid test passed! Artwork by Gasius.











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Tracklist
01 Let's Start Our Own Thing
02 JMAR
03 NOK
04 Same Format

Shortinfo:
Dar Embarks, the hardware-based collaboration of Chicagoans Dan Jugle and Ken Zawacki, share four precious recordings of bouncing, highly-acidic machine funk and industrial ambiance. This is a posthumous release for Dan Jugle, who departed in 2018.

Dan was a multi-instrumentalist and a pillar of Chicago's techno scene who left an indelible mark on it with his distinctive sound. His infatuation with electronic music began in the mid-90s when he found his way to Midwest raves as soon as he was old enough to drive to them. He began working with analog gear to create his own expression of the music he heard there. Jugle, Zawacki, and Mike Broers started experimenting with a thrifted Roland TR-707, figuring out the controls through trial and error. They performed together as Ghost Arcade in the early 2000s.

Years later, Jugle and Zawacki reunited creatively, forming Dar Embarks and building the foundation for their project. Jugle gained a reputation for crafting washed-out, saturated club tracks as Juzer, a project formed with Beau Wanzer. Dar Embarks' debut EP Fleer (released on CLEAR USA) and Juzer's Horseplay (on Anthony Parasole's label The Corner) were both released in 2014, both elevated by Dan Jugle's live-action knob-twisting and button-pushing composition inspired by sci-fi and comic books. Despite his early passing, Jugle's legacy lives on through his work and his passion for Midwest techno that his friends and fans still remember and carry.

Lovingly wrapped up and presented to Acid Camp by Ken, these heaters are finally set free to move asses and minds.

Artwork by Jeremiah Chiu
Layout by Danielle Davis
Mastered by Tim Xavier at Manmade Mastering
Distributed by wordandsound

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Territories: World excl. UK

FORMAT 12" vinyl, generic sleeve, dl card

TRACKLIST
1. / A1 Dark Light 05:09
2. / A2 Fire Chant 04:30
3. / A3 Grátt Silfur 04:41
4. / B1 Green Light 05:11
5. / B2 Ráðabrugg 05:31
6. / DX1 Ruff Cut (Digi Bonus) 05:41
7. / DX2 Only One Way (Digi Bonus) 05:02
8. / DX3 Everyday (Digi Bonus) 04:59

Growing up on the north Atlantic island of Iceland bestows one with an unusual and often intense relationship with light and colour: Summers come with endless days, Winters with scant sunlight yet increased sightings of the Aurora Borealis; the mysterious and awe-inspiring glow across the sky. Channelling these energies, Exos
comes to Tresor with his Green Light EP, a five-track collection of the sort of spectrally rich techno synonymous with the Northman’s 27-year career.
Across the EP, the five tracks fizz and pulsate driving ever forward, making the release’s title a three-way play on words referencing the continuous travelling of photons, the verdant warping of the Northern Lights, and the universal colour for Go, for forward propulsion. Smart wordplay can also be found in titles like Grátt Silfur, a term in Íslenska (literally “grey sliver”) which signifies a tension between two parties, further extending the colour metaphor and dark/light dichotomy found elsewhere.
The digital release comes with three extra tracks that continue the dynamic energy, pushed along by the same shifting, mutating force where the music often feels like voices calling out from the darkness or the shimmer of light as the sun rises across the horizon.
Green Light EP continues this year’s blazing return from an artist who, similar to his output, is never stagnant: ever changing form yet ever moving forward.
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12"

TRACKLIST:

A1 Flowers
A2 Dream Factory

B1 Trust
B2 Ali e Nino
B3 Diana


SHORT INFO:
"The true narrative shall forever shroud itself in mystery to the outside world.
It is whispered that man never truly set foot on the moon, but merely touched it.
Just as the tale of this record unfolds, two souls from distant realms brushed ever so close, yet destiny denied them a lasting encounter, not even a fleeting union of Nino's and Ali's wings.
Perhaps, it was fated that the circle of a past life, woven with trust, blooming with flowers, and exchanged glances, must close in the cosmic pursuit of Venus, chasing the Crescent Moon, serenading love to its own Sun."






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Track list:
A1. The Last Time
A2. Come Back
B1. The Last Time (K-LONE 2-Step Mix)
B2. Come Back (Chloe´ Robinson & DJ ADHD Remix)

Dutch duo Dam Swindle appear on Aus Music's 200 series and two new house originals come with remixes from K-Lone and Chloe Robinson & DJ ADHD
Dam Swindle have been helping to define the underground house sound for a decade, not least with their Heist label. The pair deal in timeless, fad-free sounds that are rich with dance floor dynamics and hint at a love of everything from disco to tech and plenty in between. They are notorious crate diggers who have played the world's most cultured clubs, their recent track Allright (Just A Tribute) on Phonica’s 20 year celebration has received widespread love by DJ’s this summer on the festival circuit and now they offer up two more of their studio gems for their 3rd full release on Aus.
This EP is the second in a series of four releases from different artists to mark the 200th outing of Will Saul's influential Aus Music. It is an era-defining label that has platformed some of the scene's brightest stars way before they broke out. Since launching in 2006, the label has remained dedicated to releasing club-ready music with a cultured edge from deep and melodic house to the earliest bass- driven post-dubstep fusions.
This EP kicks off with 'The Last Time', a blissed-out deep house sound with impassioned vocal cries tugging at the heartstrings. Mellifluous synth daubs percolate through the mix to a captivating, feel- good effect. Next is 'Come Back,' an infectious house bubbler with gloopy synths and something of a garage shuffle in the kicks. It's fresh and packed with neon colour that brims with soul.
New school house and garage tastemaker and core Aus Music family member K-LONE steps up with a remix hot on the heels of his two-part EP series on the label. His version of 'The Last Time' is typically deft as soft focus chords swirl around prickly garage house beats. The distant vocal, the cavernous bass and the wistful feel all make it another classic.
Last but not least, Chloe´ Robinson & DJ ADHD are frequent collaborators on labels like Fabric Originals as well as Chloe´’s Pretty Weird imprint where they serve up potent, bass-heavy sounds. Their version of 'Come Back' is expertly stripped back. It teases and pleases with a blend of filthy low- end oscillations, slinky drums and tooting chord hooks that are effortlessly fun and effective.
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GENRE/S: techno, electro, breaks, idm, bass

TRACKLIST:
A1/01 - Candor
A2/02 - Crease
B1/ 03- Rusky Shan
B2/ 04 - SHD
B3/ 05 - Endless


SHORT INFO:
In what feels almost like an annual autumn tradition now, we’re mighty excited to announce the next release on our label, “Candor“ by Hett.

Working with friends has an especially rewarding quality which is why we’re particularly happy for Hett to join the AWK label family. Having known about his excellent production skills for a while, we were quite eager to unearth this hidden gem. It took a moment to put together but everyone’s patience paid off and we can proudly present you this beautiful 5 track record.

The Wearside raised and Berlin based artist provides the perfect formula for a club ready yet emotively aware package, making it hard to believe that this is only his debut EP. A work of music that embodies the refreshing candor of a forward thinking attitude whilst also giving a respectful nod to the past.

AWK 006, “Candor“ by Hett will be out on October 24th 2024. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

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Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 I Can Tell You What You Want
A2 A Taste of the 90s
B1 Dirty Jazz
B2 You Know What I Mean?

Release Info:

DJ Sneak returns to his roots on his Synesthesia EP on Heist Recordings.

Last year, when DJ Sneak visited our studio during ADE, we spoke for a long time about his newly found joy in house music, producing music in the current landscape, and letting go of all the things that made him uneasy with the scene for a long time. At one point, he grabbed a bunch of his hard drives, fired up our Dave Smith & Pioneer Toraiz sampler (the one we used for our live shows and the workstation he swears by for producing and arranging all his music), and showed us what must be one of the most impressive collections of demos we’ve ever seen. He talked us through his ideas for a new record on Heist with the enthusiasm of a producer who had just bought his first MPC60 back in the 80s. His ‘Back to love’ EP was still due to release and we already knew the follow-up would be equally amazing.

Fast forward about a year and after amazing feedback on his Heist debut from platforms like XLR8R, DJ Mag, Faith fanzine and plenty of radio coverage, along with DJ support from the likes of Joy Anonymous, Louie Vega, Jamie Jones, Honey Dijon, TSHA, Dj Seinfeld, Jennifer Cardini, Carista, he drops a new record on Heist recordings; The Synesthesia EP is another showcase of the raw talent of DJ Sneak, skillfully working his gear and churning out massive tunes full of classic Chicago house references, 90’s euphoria, and chunky synths.

The EP kicks off with ‘I can tell what you want’, a deep and bubbly groover where DJ Sneak takes some naughty chopped up R’n’B vocals and adds a pinch of the ghetto sound that he adopted in his formative years in Chicago. Sneak manages to take that influence and deliver something altogether contemporary with this track, ticking all the right boxes of catchy vocals, moody chords, a nasty bassline, and clever sampling.

If the first track embodies his Chicago spirit, then ‘A taste of the 90s’ embodies DJ Sneak’s New York spirit. With funky guitar and key licks, loopy horns, shuffling percussion and plenty of changeovers in the arrangement, he masterfully shows us the joy of classic house music. There’s always another element that gets added or taken away to build anticipation or release the energy with its chunky low end. It’s a true party starter with the energy of a young DJ Sneak spinning his first records way back when.

On the flip, we’ve got ‘Dirty jazz’. This delicious piece of Deep House is built around off-kilter drums with a syncopated bass line and quirky sample cuts. It’s got enough beef to keep the energy going, and the right amount of weirdness to grab your attention whenever this is played.

The closing track ‘You know what I mean’ adds another layer of weird-sounding vocals that will stick with you until long after the song is over. This track – and the whole EP for that matter – oozes the playful energy of a producer who’s completely comfortable with his musicality. It’s fun and playful, delivered with the class that only a hero of the underground like Sneak can do.

On the Synesthesia EP, DJ Sneak takes you deep on a trip through his musical roots and keeps you on the edge of your seat with 4 tracks bursting with personality.

Grab this record while you can and share the love,
Heist Recordings. More

No sales to Japan!

LP: 180g vinyl, half speed mastered, heavy sleeve, obi, gold ink
Genre: Jazz, Fusion, Funk

Tracklisting LP
A1. Shrimp Dance
A2. Kuro To Shiro
B1. Walk Tall
B2. Cat
B3. Romance


Info

We Release Jazz is ecstatic (purrrr!) to announce the official reissue of Hiroshi Suzuki's glorious jazz-fusion-funk Holy Grail Cat (originally released in 1976), sourced from the original masters and available on limited edition 180 gram vinyl mastered at half speed for full audiophile sound, as well as on digipack CD. Both versions come with liner notes by Teruo Isono.
Cat was recorded in October 1975 at at Nippon Columbia Studio, while Hiroshi Suzuki was visiting his home country of Japan after moving to Las Vegas in 1971 to play with Buddy Rich and perfect his craft. Back on his old stomping grounds, the man known as Neko (Cat) immediately reunited with his dear friends for an epic two day session of groove magic. The chemistry was still intact. The skills and style had grown.
The result, Cat, is a smooth masterpiece, a deep and soulful affair where stunning trombone solos by Hiroshi Suzuki flirt with Takeru Muraoka's heavenly saxophone and the sensual rhythm section of Hiromasa Suzuki (keyboards), Kunimitsu Inaba (bass), and Akira Ishikawa (drums).
Celebrated in jazz collectors circles, in the lofi beat scene, and among music diggers around the world, Cat has become one of the most sought-after Japanese jazz albums of all time and, much like Ryo Fukui's Scenery, has fascinated old and young generations alike.

Points of interests

- For fans of jazz, fusion, funk, trombone, Japanese jazz, smooth rides, cats, allure.

- Official reissue of the glorious jazz-fusion album by Japanese trombonist extraordinaire Hiroshi "Neko" Suzuki.

- 10th release from We Release Jazz, following Ryo Fukui's Scenery, Mellow Dream, A Letter from Slowboat, and Ryo Fukui in New York, the soundtrack of Le Cercle Rouge by Eric Demarsan, Stuff Combe 5 + Percussion, Marc Moulin's Placebo Live 1971 and Boillat Thérace Quintet albums. We Release Jazz is the sister-label of Geneva-based WRWTFWW Records (Midori Takada's Through The Looking Glass and Lunar Cruise with Masahiko Sato, Pierre Barouh's Le Pollen, Jun Fuka-machi's Nicole, Grauzone's discography, …)
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Tracklist
(A)
1. COSMIC CHAMELEON
2. THOUGHTS UNLIMITED
3. SUNRISE 5000
(B)
1. ON+ON
2. FANTASTIC FANTASTIC ANGEL
3. ALWAYS RETURNING

Blurb:

Introducing ‘SONGS ABOUT THE SUN’ by ELWD. The London-based producer, commonly known for his signature sample style blended with live instrumentation, presents six new beats. Inspired by how the sun has always been a constant throughout his life and the nostalgia of a time when life seemed carefree, he unveils a new powerful and vitamin D-infused sound. ‘COSMIC CHAMELEON’ is a house gem that blends Balearic vibes with jazzy instrumentation, making it the perfect song to accompany a sunny, carefree day.








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Genre: Techno


Tracklist 12":
A1 Ecilo – Georgia Dream
A2 Ecilo – Atomic Distant
B1 Ecilo – Millions Of Eyes
B2 Ecilo – Time Lapse




Short Info:


Four dubby, raw and fastpaced techno cuts from Ecilo

Mastering & lacquer cut by Kassian Troyer at Dubplates & Mastering Berlin
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Format: 3xLP coloured vinyl

Tracklist:

A1. DJ Oyster – Ricci One (Gerd Janson Remix)
A2. Lauer x Johannes Albert – Mokka Paradise
B1. Cinthie – Set Me Free
B2. Wolfram - Macho
B3. Lui Hill – With You
C1. Phonk D – Medusa
C2. Levitation Venue – Calippo (Super Mix)
D1. Sound Support – Subway Location
D2. Accent Circonflexe – Manipulation? Non!
E1. Lukas Lehmann – Pull Up The Blinds
E2. Move D – Dance On
F1. Terry Lee Brown Junior – Mono Mono Mono
F2. Retina Dreams - Strachelrochen

Info:
Since ten years Galerie Kurzweil enriches the electronic club scene and has made a name for itself worldwide, not least thanks to excellent bookings and its impressive sound system. To celebrate its anniversary, Galerie Kurzweil releases a 3 x color vinyl compilation with beautiful artwork by Jofeca and exclusive tracks by renowned artists Gerd Janson (aka DJ Oyster), Cinthie, Lauer x Johannes Albert, Sound Support, Wolfram, Move D and its residents Thomas Hammann (aka Retina Dreams), Terry Lee Brown Junior, Lui Hill, Phonk D, Lukas Lehmann, Levitation Venue and Accent Circonflexe. If you want to get hold of this sexy collector's item, you should pre-order directly – the compilation is limited to 400 copies.





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Tracklist:
A1. 1984 Re-Edited (4:56)
A2. 1984 Retrospective Dub (4:26)
A3. 1984 GJ Bonus Beats (4:07)
B1. 2024 Retrospective Dub (5:05)
B2. 2024 Introspective Dub (5:28)

Greg Wilson returns to Running Back with another special project.
Forty years on from the release of the groundbreaking ‘Street Sounds UK Electro’ LP, ‘Real Time’ (two versions of which opened the separate sides of the album), finally gets a 12” release. Despite its prominence on ‘UK Electro’, it was the only inclusion not to be issued on 12” back in 1984.
Zer-o, like Syncbeat and Forevereaction, were the same trio – Manchester musicians, Martin Jackson and Andy Connell, and DJ Greg Wilson, making his first foray into record production. They also teamed up with rappers, Kermit and Fiddz, for the Broken Glass
track, ‘Style Of The Street’, one of the early UK hip hop releases. Fictional production and songwriting credits were added by Street Sounds to suggest a thriving British electro scene, the music having blown-up in New York during ‘82/’83, with the ‘Street Sounds Electro’
series, launched in October ’83, documenting these developments and unlocking a significant youth market who’d religiously collect these compilations.
Featured here is a Greg Wilson edit of ‘Real Time’, the ‘retrospective dub’ (the ‘UK Electro opener, which was in fact the original demo version of the track), and a Gerd Janson bonus beats edit. Flip it over and you’ll find a pair of 2024 reworks – the retrospective
dub, and the more downtempo introspective dub – courtesy of Greg and Ché Wilson, whose recent collaborations have included remixes for Gabriels and Confidence Man.
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Territory: Germany, Austria, Switzerland only

Format: LP, obi-strip
Genre: Post-Rock, Alternative

Tracklist

A1 The Flesh of Lost Summers
A2 A Happy Death
A3 The Light in the End

B1 Partings
B2 A Collapse of Horses
B3 The Mountains are a Dream that calls to me


Forgetting You Is Like Breathing Water, the self-titled debut from the duo of trumpeter Will Evans and guitarist, synthesist, producer and multi-instrumentalist Theo Trump, arrives like a vault revelation. It feels like a decades-old yet newly unearthed masterwork of gorgeous ambient improvisation, the sort of thing scholars live to research and shepherd into deluxe reissue.

The patient, crystalline chords that swell and resonate like a series of confessions; the textured brass murmurs that suggest a ’60s or ’70s Fire Music master at their most poignant. Provocative found-sound experiments threading arcane religious recordings through dystopian soundscapes. Ear-shattering free-noise tumult. Where and when did this music come from? Who are these voices?

As it turns out, Forgetting You Is Like Breathing Water springs from an engrossing human story, though it isn’t necessarily the one you’d expect. This work of stunning maturity is in fact an entrance by two little-known explorers in their early 20s, who grew up together in Virginia, in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It documents one of those perfect, sparkling moments in post-adolescence when big decisions and responsibilities are right around the corner, but for a spell, two young artists are able to create among the comforts and nostalgia of their shared past.

It also represents a reunion of sorts, as Evans and Trump connected as toddlers, became inseparable as boys, then pursued independent lives and creative paths as young adults. “Theo is my oldest friend,” Evans says, “and I feel like that’s what this band is — us meeting right in the middle of our interests.”

Now, having conjured this magic, they’ve detached once again: Evans, whose other works include the indie/avant-jazz unit Angelica X, is currently based in New York City. Trump recently moved to England, where he’d participated in his family’s theatre company, to go to school and further his solo ambient project. “This album didn’t start out as something super ambitious,” Evans explains. “It was more just an excuse to spend time together again and make music.”

***

In conversation, Evans and Trump are a delight, especially for cynics who might think that Gen-Z is only capable of doomscrolling. They come across as kindly young intellectuals who grew up using the internet as it was intended, for exposure to ideas and art across genres and generations. Trump points to indie-folk and the oracular post-rock of late Talk Talk, Bark Psychosis and Gastr del Sol. Pressed for his guitar heroes, he cites Bill Orcutt, Mary Halvorson and Marc Ribot, and mentions his devotion to alt-country. Heyday electro-industrial stuff like Skinny Puppy and Nine Inch Nails also meant a lot to him.

Evans is equally intrepid, though his background has a greater jazz focus. Ambrose Akinmusire, among today’s most thoughtfully commanding trumpeters, is a favorite. As for the soulful murmur he offers throughout Forgetting You, Pharoah Sanders’ wistful and lyrical contributions to Floating Points’ work is a touchstone.

The two grew up down the street from each other in the northern Piedmont town of Batesville, Virginia. Their families were friends, holidays were celebrated together and they became the most loyal of pals. As children they had a pretend band.

Then life unfolded, they attended different schools and their paths diverged. Evans discovered John Coltrane and became a jazz obsessive, as Trump found punk and hardcore and later began making ambient music. As a dedicated jazz trumpeter, Evans studied formally and widely; Trump was an autodidact, teaching himself guitar and absorbing synthesis and production techniques. The late teens and very early 20s brought moves away from home and back to home, as well as plenty of listening and learning. The Covid pandemic meant an opportunity to reconnect on long walks. Through it all, together and apart, they remained reverent of each other.

By early 2023, they found themselves living again among the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the evening, after giving trumpet lessons in Charlottesville, Evans would make the eerily beautiful trek “over the mountain” to Trump’s home in Staunton, Virginia. They’d talk and eat and begin to improvise, deep into the night. Evans played trumpet and sometimes drums. (Given the wee-hours recording schedule, the neighbors didn’t appreciate the latter.) Trump plugged a rickety, junk-store Telecaster-style guitar into a cheap solid-state amp and explored open tunings; he also layered on lap steel, electric bass, synths and electronics.

They locked in and relished each other’s gifts. In Trump, those include patience and intentionality and sonic decision-making; for Evans, a distinctive trumpet sound that both musicians think of as a singer’s voice. “Will’s playing is so thoughtful and well placed,” Trump says. “My goal from a producer’s mindset is that the trumpet will occupy the space that vocals would take.”

Often, they got lost in the best way. “The thing I look for most when I’m playing is that feeling of disappearing into what you’re doing,” Evans says. “Usually when that happens, the music is good.”



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