"Pacifying The Population" thrusts us into a world where the dominator culture acts like a ruthless drug cartel, us it's compliant consumers. The highly-charged ten tracker LP evokes a narcotic frenzy like atmosphere that surges into the consciousness and pulses through the body like a craved hit. Once again Kastner propels us through a unique musical landscape at the very edge of the sonic territories.

The dominator culture enforces what is moral, ethical, worthy or valid, selling lifestyles, enforcing rituals, “pushing” values, incentivizing the pathological, imposing our needs and beliefs. Increasingly displaying hallmarks of a cruel drug cartel /drug addict, dependency dynamic. The population hooked and enslaved to it's destructive needs.

Seduced, hooked, strung-out on the promise of instant gratification, short-term satisfaction, shiny gadget infatuation, pre-packaged trash values, the cultish, totem imagery of a moribund, redundant culture. An accurate sense of the lived experience obscured by a junkie haze of stupefied confusion. Addicted and hooked, it holds us hostage, keep us compliant, increasingly we are unable to locate ourselves in the maelstrom of noise. Attempting to operate outside that paradigm rendered almost impossible with countless cultural, social and practical obstacles to overcome. Not "playing the game" is seen & treated as subversive, anti-social, madness.

Opening the album “Sanctioned Sedatives” literally kicks the door down with a massive base line that cuts through disorienting distortions. “Restoring The Connection” sounds like the way out of a tunneling drug habit, a subdued claustrophobic feel in the beginning drive the track to a mind altering, rising wall of pads.

On side B calmer moods create the appropriate environment for the hazy ambience and the suffused positive feel of B2, which, as the title may suggest, sounds like an invitation to get out of the loop, in order to “Unfuk Your Mind”. The title track “Pacifying The Population” begins side C, grand in scope, pounding drum workouts, a sinister spoken narrative, symphonic strings, mind-mangling resonant acid make this an epic trip.

The closing track “Apocalyptic Signs (Eulogy)” is deeply layered, orchestral. Ethereal synth melodies and heavily warped voices from far out territories induce a deep reflection on the whole album, despite the title it sounds like an unexpected ode to life or maybe as the relief from all human pains.

Pacifying The Population evokes an oppressive feel, a sense of constant tension, modern living. The dense atmospheres, the abrasive and repetitive grooves, Consuming and devastating as a drug habit, the elements that perfectly capture the essence of the whole album. Despite that, it still sounds like a way out from all that is possible, a way to restore the connection within ourselves and between each other. A therapeutic purge. More

"We Are Power", Galaxian's first album in over a decade, cuts a new path. On this Foul-Up and Shipwrec joint release, Kastner presents a rumination on the confrontation and power clash between humankind, nature, the spiritual and mechanistic industrial growth societies. What is authentic power? What is granted power? What is innate natural power? How is power accessed, wielded, utilised, felt? On this album the blistering beats and razor-edged rhythms that characterise the Glaswegian's productions have been softened, the menace melted, the angst soothed (well almost.) Across eleven tracks, distinct audio vistas are surveyed. The human form takes centre stage from the opening monologue of "Out of Balance" with the entire record searching for balance between humankind, nature, orthodox culture & the machine. At times the machine wins. "We Are Power" is a corruption of voice, samples chopped, sliced and fed into controllers and sequencers to produce a dense decibel wall. That wall grows ever higher in the terrifying drone of "Anatomy of a Modern Lie." At other points, a perfect symmetry between artist and tool is found. The racing interchanges and pulses of "Universal Truths" give rise to dawning reprises and warmth. For those after an electro fix, Galaxian abides. The speed snares of "Messianic Delusions" or dripping drums of "Fields of Meaning" are soaked in the history of machine music, yet they are grander in their delivery and more nuanced in their composition. Fresh territories are explored, the playful solar dreams of "Without Form" or the cinematic grandeur of "In Reverse". This album is unmistakable Galaxian, it marks a high-point and brings with it a culmination of intense expression. More

Curtis Electronix is proud to present "Destroy Your Future", the new LP from the one and only Galaxian. In the last years Mark Kastner aka Galaxian has become a prominent figure in the underground scene because of his high quality productions and his unique take on electro. We all know electro started with futurism and well, this work is pure futurism. Each cut is a trip into his restless creativity. Each track is a mind altering exploration of a deeply cinematic soundscape with a massive number of elements perfectly fused together with his "one of a kind" sci-fi aestethic that immediately pulls you out of the schemes. Caustic distortions, post industrial environments, mind expanding electronics and primitive drum patterns are only the main elements of this sci-fi masterpiece. There is no "Detroit Nostalgia" in it. This is sonic militance. The same that inspired the originators back in the days. When you play it, time runs faster and future looks closer. We are on board, but Galaxian is the only pilot of the ship. More

Intensive Outta Spiace Meditation More

Scotland's premier electro alchemist is back on Shipwrec and this time flying solo with five shards of sharpened machine music. Beats rain down in solid sheets, a hail of drum patterns pelt and pound. Acid scorn, speeding snares and scorched sound roar and rumble in the menacing "Days of Rage." The 12" hisses and howls, sending forth a searing line of percussion as gears crank and grown. "Glasgow to Detroit" is just as fiery, scorn and sparks leaping off burning bars. Aggression is always at the surface, and behind the razor rhythms lurks a palpable paranoia, as in "Daisy Cutter" or "Uprising." The only respite comes with the complex and textured "Stones and Sticks." Harsh mechanics from an industrial heartland.

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Classic Detroit-influenced electro tune featuring special guest vocal by Blak Tony of Alien FM / Aux 88. Plus two bonus bass bangers on the flip. More