Veteran producer Black Merlin aka George Thompson debuts on Transmigration sub label Crystal Ceremony with four dense and hypnotic dance floor cuts.
Informed as much by a deep knowledge of dance music’s history as well as extensive field recording work in some of the most remote parts of the world, the EP’s 4 tracks swerve modern techno’s expectations of high BPMs in favour of a slow, timeless journey through ritualistic drum patterns, atmospheric modular loops and ethereal vocals.

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Surface Air is the lovechild of a long relationship between Malka Tuti & Black Merlin. After remixing Tapan and Shari Vari for the label, as well as being part of Spectral Empire who released Iron Muscle with us on 2018, George has always been an inspiration for us, both sonically and spiritually.

His new record, Surface Air, in which the A-side is accompanied with vocals from Dallas artist Aura Nox, is a slow burning deep record for the late emo hours of the night, for you trippy after hour or your late night drive. On the B-side you can also find a Remix from an artist we’ve been following for years here in MT, and that when his name came up in a conversation with George (BM) as a possible remixer, excitement levels went through the roof.

The Remix Wata Igarashi delivered is a stripped down epic ambient track, ala late 90’s Pete Namlook endeavours with some 2022’s Wata Igarashi unique sonic aesthetics.

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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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For his first release with Artificial Dance, Black Merlin aka George Thompson takes a departure from the hard-wearing techno and intricate field recording work that he has come to be known for. Scape One is a fifteen-minute psychedelic diversion recorded in one continuous live session. While the track’s sonic characteristics may echo dance music from the turn of the millennium, its pulsating rhythm is more suggestive of the slowly evolving landscapes seen outside of a train window as opposed to raves from the late ‘90s.

Appearing on the B-side is Gordon Pohl’s remix of Scape One. Like its source material, this track is long and subtle in the way it develops over time, but Pohl dissects the most salient elements of the original to construct a new rhythmic urgency. The high frequency accent that guides the remix does so at a speed that recalls the rotations of Brion Gysin’s stroboscopic Dream Machine, which taps into your brain’s alpha waves, aiding drug-free hallucinations.

Pohl and Thompson are frequent collaborators and release music together as Karamika. While Scape One is not a collaboration in the strict sense, there is plenty of crossover in the working methodology of the two musicians, especially when it comes to constructing uncomplicated arrangements.

The repetitive nature of their respective tracks locks the listener into a contradictory sensation of travelling whilst staying seemingly motionless. This sensation is not altogether uncommon, but in this instance it’s not quotidian either. The result is a record that unravels slowly, leaving space for the listener to home in on all the available information and, in the process, discover elements that can be just as unnerving as they are satisfying.

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Germany
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The two inimitable long tracks from George Thompson AKA Black Merlin have reached Offen on 13.11.2019, and Offen said: let there be 013! Featuring words by Alexandra Grübler on „Textured Land“. Artwork by Patrick Keuthen, mastered by Enrico Mercaldi at Time Tools Mastering.

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The second release of Black Merlin's SFORMATOR series on Pinkman. Three cuts of hypno-beat electronics, created through ritualistic embodiment of sound by the machine doctor to expand minds.

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One of the most diverse artists in contemporary electronic music is back on Pinkman, with more than just another 12". To give him the freedom to experiment and roam between different sounds, textures and influences, Black Merlin will be doing a trilogy of releases for Broken Dreams. The first one - Sformator1, is a ghastly and infuriating techno EP. Dance floor obliteration assured and more is to follow.

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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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Germany
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George Thompson aka Black Merlin is joining the family of Mannequin Records with this insane EP for the Death of the Machines, the serie dedicated to new artists ready to smash the dancefloor. 3-tracks strongly permeated by drones'n'noises, EBM basslines and a 4/4 straight tecnoish kick drum.

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After efforts on Andrew Weatherall's Bird Scarer Records and the mighty World Unknown. Black Merlin is kicking off the Common Thread series with New World Fantasy / Ice House. Dark and progressive synth music that comes in strictly limited pressing of 400 copies.

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In 2014 Young Marco travelled to the islands of Indonesia, visiting several islands within the archipelago including Bali.
The voyage was on invitation by Island of the Gods Records; allowing Marco to im- merse himself in the Indigenous culture that still exists in Indonesia. For Marco it was also a look back to his Indonesian roots, with his late grandfather born and raised in Indonesia.
The brief was to capture the spirit, ambience and atmosphere of the islands as part of the labels ‘Island Explorer’ album series.
The project embodies the ‘east meets west’ approach the label has become known for in regards to cultures colliding. A respectful collaboration between local musicians who have played to their gods, unchanged in thousands of years alongside Marco’s contem- porary expression. They are connected only through the universal language of sound and a mutual willingness to collaborate and experiment.
A number of sessions were arranged- recording gamelan, gong and bamboo musicians from nearby temples. Island instruments and organic sounds meeting Marcos drum machines and synthesizers in a number of improvised jam sessions.
Field recordings were also gathered from Jungles, ocean, wildlife- capturing both the ambient and chaotic side of life in Indonesia.
These sounds and recordings were taken back into Marco’s Amsterdam studio and re interpreted into the Bahasa allbum - a sonic expression that captures the mood and atmosphere of the islands through the eyes and ears of Young Marco.

Almost 5 years after the trip the project is now available!

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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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Germany
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More