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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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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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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Back in 2015 George Thompson AKA Black Merlin started a deep love affair with the remote island of Papua New Guinea. After his first album ‘Hipnotik Tradisi’, released on Island Of The Gods; George was intrigued to find a place drenched in culture and untouched by the western world.
.In 2016 George planned his first solo expedition, venturing out to meet the Kosua Tribe. Over the course of the next two years George would record the sounds of the Kosua people. From their daily lives, ancient dance customs and wildlife. During one of these trips he spent 14 days alone in the jungle, getting in and out of the Mount Bosavi crater and further 3 days inside recording and filming his experience. These recordings and experiences formed the basis of his second album, Kosua.

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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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Berlin based Philipp Otterbach debuts on Offen with "Correct Me If I Am Incorrectly You". TIP!

Post-music phantasmagoria for the world in which the past became more unpredictable than the future.
Remember Cowboy Bob, Salaryman and Gary Floyd in that opium den in Fischeln?

Deconstructed entertainment for hopeless romantics and testament to Otterbach's unique artistic language.

Supersound vinyl LP, full cover inside out print.

Written and produced by Philipp Otterbach
Additional voices on B1 by Nadia D´Alo
Drums on B3 by Freund Kern

Mastered by Enrico Mercaldi
Artwork by Percy

Offen Music 2023

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Big Daddy are Simon Crab and Fritz Catlin - Two luminaries who left deep marks in the universe of Offen with their bands (Bourbonese Qualk, 23 Skidoo) and musicianship in Current 93 and Laibach to name a few.
Their debut “Bomb Culture” couldn’t have arrived at the better moment. Full of knowledge, wit, deepness and skills, it’s an album that will be what you want it to be. Enjoy!

Simon Crab: rhythms, electronics, synthesisers, programming.
Friz Catlin: drums, percussion, bass, guitar, melodica.

All music written, recorded and produced by Simon Crab and Fritz Catlin at Shoretone Studios, Hastings, England 2021–2. ?&© Big Daddy 2022.

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Kinzua are Lucas Brell and Marvin Uhde (known as Qnete to some), great live band. “None Of The Above” is their debut album. Powerfully introvert and extrovert at the same time. Songs of glory, decay, rebuilding and hope that found Offen at the right moment. Many moons later the album withstood the test of time and can be enjoyed in its whole glory.

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Long time in the making, finally here:
Belgrade’s Tapan debut on Offen.

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Imagine Bryn Jones on steroids.

written and produced by 82J6 (P. Keuthen)
mastered by Enrico Mercaldi at Time Tools Mastering
artwork and photography by Percy

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Australian musician, composer and producer Ex Ponto aka Ivan Mašic has self-released dozens of albums with improvisation collective, Council of Elders, and experimental no-wave band, Wunderlust.

For his Offen Music debut Ex Ponto is constructing an alternative civilization of grace, post-sarcasm and intuitive response.

„In A Quarry...Far, Far Away“ is a 15 minutes long wandering with Joseph and August Norster around The Quarry, Beech Forest, Victoria, Australia, January 27, 2020.
Life affirming „Golden Hours“ is an alternative to the general wait for extinction and completition of a suicide program out there. An ode to the moments when sunlight turns magical.
„Shed 14“ is a personal reminiscence of the legendary club in Melbourne.

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Anjuna Niv enters the world of Offen like a magic influence making everything happy. Soundtrack of mistakes from a truly psychedelic realm.

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Wavy grave rave for better tomorrow.

written by Maria Rossi
mastering by Enrico Mercaldi at Time Tools Mastering
picture and sleeve by Percy

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CZN stands for copper, zinc and nickel the raw path of materials used by percussionist and sculptor Joao Pais Filipe, composer and drummer Valentina Magaletti (from the great Tomaga) and producer Leon Marks. This is ritual music for the whole family.

Recorded in Porto at Oficina João Pais Filipe.
Mixed by Leon Marks
Mastered by Enrico Mercaldi
Artwork by Nicola Giunta
Sleeve by Patrick Keuthen

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REPRESS!!!

Marco Passarani has been at it for over 25 yrs. Masterclass business from the Roman machine wizard - another special one for Dusseldorf's OFFEN

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*straight up foul and very essential gear from a galaxxy unknown... sleep on this at your peril!*

TPPM and AtB aka Mr fLooDs are turning on the research machine taking the listener on a extraordinary tripped out ecstatic journey through timespace where spirits of Liaisons Dangereuses Radio and the legendary Boccaccio are summoned with inspiration in order to find a New Beat Soul for the 21st Century.

What was born and initially exploded in 1987, went supernova (in Belgium) in 1988, declared dead in 1989, was slow and initially all about atmosphere with industrial strength beats - the main form of rhythmic propulsion being the pounding kick and heavy snare. The sound was mainly instrumental and when there was lyrical content, it often became more about slogans and giving commands. On „Decadent Skies“ An Anomaly bring back the atmosphere, beats, the essence off the beaten commercial track, and combine it with the knowledge of tomorrow.

Enjoy the ride!

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Geins't Naït returns to Offen, this time he enlists Scanner (living experimental electronics legend , Robin Rimbaud) to join him in his land of loop. These two veterans have clocked up many combined decades of experimentation between them, and this their first jointly composed material, has the feel of wisdom at work. It's a huge pleasure for Offen Music to release this special record.

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Repress!
Ivan Smagghe & Rupert Cross collaborate again.. and it's another beauty!

"This second LP on Offen is an ajar window overlooking the phantasmagoric world of Smagghe & Cross, a remembrance of days that never were. The music is sparse, the past is forever : ghosts of industries are conjured through the English countryside, fading memories play static with an idea of romance, the sun breaks through the iron clouds. A record free of uncouth nostalgia but laced with ethereal melancholia. "

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Offen sends out another probe.
Karamika - a studio creation from George Thompson (Black Merlin) and Gordon Pohl AKA Dussuldorfs engineer supreme(Musiccargo / Kunstkopf / The Isolators…). This their second long player is a record full of mind games. Sounds leak from fractal-like holes, and are sedately trodden back into the cosmic fabric of the album. The noise of post cruise carpet.

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Geins't Naït is considered legendary at Offen Music. Releasing music since 1986, their last 3 albums have featured Laurent Petitgand (2011, 2014 & 2015). Now we present a collection of new unreleased tracks that we hope will plunge you deep into the special world of GN & LP.


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Avant-punk trio, Toresch, return with a 4 track EP for Dusseldorf's, Offen. Following on and loosening up (possibly the result of live performances?). Together, Toresch, conjour up a rare spirit which lives in their sound and shapes their movement. Huge Love For This Crew Here! T

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Metaclaw is blazed studio session that time could have forgotten...but Offen Music didn't. A glorious downbeat synth plodder/head nodder from the minds of three very muscial friends.. features remixes from Gordon Pohl and Glib'r.. TIP! *more info sooooon*

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2 tracks from the post-MA sessions. More music for blind observers.. Limited stamped 10".



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