1
Will Hofbauer - Where Did All The Hay Go?
2
Will Hofbauer - Count Me In
3
Will Hofbauer - Hoot Flute
Repress!
Third Place captain Will Hofbauer steps up to the plate with 3 freshly laid eggs of barn-storming oddball dance music for night clubs.
Early support for the A side coming from Hessle heroes Joe & Ben UFO.
Giddy-up! More
Third Place captain Will Hofbauer steps up to the plate with 3 freshly laid eggs of barn-storming oddball dance music for night clubs.
Early support for the A side coming from Hessle heroes Joe & Ben UFO.
Giddy-up! More
More records from Third Place
1
Sangre Voss - Smyyre Myyrgu
2
Sangre Voss - Ersatz Terrasse
3
Sangre Voss - Density Of Aha
4
Sangre Voss - Brogkl
Sangre Voss returns with the idiosyncratic ‘Brogkl EP’ this March, marking five years of Third Place.
In the five years since his debut ‘Dance Class’ 12” on Will Hofbauer’s Third Place in 2019, London-via-Devon producer Sangre Voss has continued to melt minds and confuse dancefloors with his singular, head-turning productions. Having featured on Rhythm Section and Fabric Records, he’s also appeared on The Wire’s Below The Radar compilation series and on labels Control Freak, International Extraterrestrial Music, and more.
Here though, the label’s main gun returns with four curious and brilliant productions. ‘Smyyre Myyrgu’ leads with folky strings and stabs as chunky percussion and mystical pads unfurl throughout. ‘Ersatz Terrasse’ is a floaty slow-fast affair, sliding through bright keys, skippy drums, and otherworldly effects.
On the flip, ‘density of aha’ sees trippy, sluggish vocals and punchy drums combine, forming a bedrock for twisted, randomised synths. The title track ‘Brogkl’ turns up the heat with wonky leads, heavy low end, and wild guitar-like twangs to close out the record, ending another essential offering from the thrilling and always unique musical mind of Sangre Voss. More
In the five years since his debut ‘Dance Class’ 12” on Will Hofbauer’s Third Place in 2019, London-via-Devon producer Sangre Voss has continued to melt minds and confuse dancefloors with his singular, head-turning productions. Having featured on Rhythm Section and Fabric Records, he’s also appeared on The Wire’s Below The Radar compilation series and on labels Control Freak, International Extraterrestrial Music, and more.
Here though, the label’s main gun returns with four curious and brilliant productions. ‘Smyyre Myyrgu’ leads with folky strings and stabs as chunky percussion and mystical pads unfurl throughout. ‘Ersatz Terrasse’ is a floaty slow-fast affair, sliding through bright keys, skippy drums, and otherworldly effects.
On the flip, ‘density of aha’ sees trippy, sluggish vocals and punchy drums combine, forming a bedrock for twisted, randomised synths. The title track ‘Brogkl’ turns up the heat with wonky leads, heavy low end, and wild guitar-like twangs to close out the record, ending another essential offering from the thrilling and always unique musical mind of Sangre Voss. More
1
Sangre Voss - Dance Class
2
Sangre Voss - BLDA
3
Sangre Voss - One Bad Mango
4
Sangre Voss - Amam (Run From The Thunder Mix)
Restock soon.
The criminally underrated Sangre Voss kicks off the Third Place Dance Discs series in fine style with the aptly titled 'Dance Class' EP.
One Bad Mango appears on the B1, as featured on fabric Presents: The Martinez Brothers. More
The criminally underrated Sangre Voss kicks off the Third Place Dance Discs series in fine style with the aptly titled 'Dance Class' EP.
One Bad Mango appears on the B1, as featured on fabric Presents: The Martinez Brothers. More
1
Stones Taro - Full Train
2
Stones Taro - Light On The Hill
Restock soon.
All aboard!
Stones Taro delivers the goods for the second instalment of the Third Place Dance Discs.
Each side of the 12" also comes with multiple locked grooves containing elements from each track. More
All aboard!
Stones Taro delivers the goods for the second instalment of the Third Place Dance Discs.
Each side of the 12" also comes with multiple locked grooves containing elements from each track. More
1
Ranga - Kong
2
Ranga - Banga 2
3
Sangre Voss - One Bad Mango (Ranga's Coconut Mix)
4
Ranga - Terryagi
Restock soon.
Next in line for the Third Place Dance Discs is Liverpool based Ranga. 4 freshly baked tracks straight outta the MPC - including a fresh take on Sangre Voss’ fabric favourite, ‘One Bad Mango’.
Support for ‘Banga 2’ from Dixon More
Next in line for the Third Place Dance Discs is Liverpool based Ranga. 4 freshly baked tracks straight outta the MPC - including a fresh take on Sangre Voss’ fabric favourite, ‘One Bad Mango’.
Support for ‘Banga 2’ from Dixon More
1
Yetsuby - Water Flash
2
Yetsuby - Electro Union
3
Yetsuby - Commercial Noisy Day
4
Yetsuby - ?????
Yetsuby lands on London label Third Place with her 'Water Flash' EP this July.
Seoul-based artist Yetsuby is best known as one half of electronic super-duo Salamanda, who have won hearts and minds with their light and floaty new-age electronica via releases on Good Morning Tapes, Human Pitch, and Métron Records. As a solo act, she has released her own music on the Taipei-based ? JIN as well as through the Seoul store The Internatiiional amongst self-released delights on her Bandcamp.
Turning to Will Hofbauer's playful Third Place imprint for her latest 12', Yetsuby delivers four bubbly tracks. On the A-side, the title cut 'Water Flash' leads with airy synths and textured percussion, while 'Electro Union' ups the energy with choppy vocal samples, punchy drums, and twinkling arps. On the flip, subtle synths wriggle alongside low-key percussion on 'Commercial Noisy Day', making for a heads-down affair, before the gorgeous finalé '?????' rounds out the B-side with delicate keys and detailed yet muted drums. More
Seoul-based artist Yetsuby is best known as one half of electronic super-duo Salamanda, who have won hearts and minds with their light and floaty new-age electronica via releases on Good Morning Tapes, Human Pitch, and Métron Records. As a solo act, she has released her own music on the Taipei-based ? JIN as well as through the Seoul store The Internatiiional amongst self-released delights on her Bandcamp.
Turning to Will Hofbauer's playful Third Place imprint for her latest 12', Yetsuby delivers four bubbly tracks. On the A-side, the title cut 'Water Flash' leads with airy synths and textured percussion, while 'Electro Union' ups the energy with choppy vocal samples, punchy drums, and twinkling arps. On the flip, subtle synths wriggle alongside low-key percussion on 'Commercial Noisy Day', making for a heads-down affair, before the gorgeous finalé '?????' rounds out the B-side with delicate keys and detailed yet muted drums. More
1
Later Version - Chelating Ligand
2
Later Version - Swim Domain
3
Later Version - Effigy Tumuli
4
Later Version - Aguahoja
DJML & Jerod S. Rivera debut Later Version project with ‘Swim Domain’ EP on Third Place
Later Version is made up of Oakland-based artists Dan Letson and Jerod S. Rivera, whose debut EP lands on London-based Third Place this April.
Across the 12”, the duo’s natural flair for hi-res IDM-tinged electronica is on full display, with four colourful and playful originals accompanied by a stellar (digital only) remix from Jacktone co-owner, Dark Entries and Tartelet Records affiliate, and Beats Unlimited member Doc Sleep. More
Later Version is made up of Oakland-based artists Dan Letson and Jerod S. Rivera, whose debut EP lands on London-based Third Place this April.
Across the 12”, the duo’s natural flair for hi-res IDM-tinged electronica is on full display, with four colourful and playful originals accompanied by a stellar (digital only) remix from Jacktone co-owner, Dark Entries and Tartelet Records affiliate, and Beats Unlimited member Doc Sleep. More
1
Stella Z - In The Woods, Will Be Late
2
Stella Z - 6 Leaves Elephant
3
Stella Z - East Egret Pond Road
4
Stella Z - Good Night Fire Lily
5
Stella Z - In Ru's Dream
6
Stella Z - In The Woods, Will be Late (Ambient Version)
Stella Z drops nature-inspired debut LP 'In The Woods, Will Be Late' on Third Place this February.
Stella Z is a DJ/producer based between China and the UK, holding a residency on Threads Radio with her long-running Mars Weather Today show, where she highlights China’s DJ and producer communities and showcases her exceptional taste in leftfield, cosmic-leaning electronics.
On her first full-length set of productions, ‘In The Woods, Will Be Late', Stella lands on Third Place with six delicate, effervescent, and deeply expressive sonic trips written in the mountainous seaside province of Fujian, China.
Artwork by Jingyi Yu
Mastered by Rupert Clervaux More
Stella Z is a DJ/producer based between China and the UK, holding a residency on Threads Radio with her long-running Mars Weather Today show, where she highlights China’s DJ and producer communities and showcases her exceptional taste in leftfield, cosmic-leaning electronics.
On her first full-length set of productions, ‘In The Woods, Will Be Late', Stella lands on Third Place with six delicate, effervescent, and deeply expressive sonic trips written in the mountainous seaside province of Fujian, China.
Artwork by Jingyi Yu
Mastered by Rupert Clervaux More
1
Nowt - Polestar
2
Nowt - Owt
3
Nowt - Magnasound (Lazerdub mix)
4
Nowt - Docks N Locks
One half of South London staple FYI Chris, Watson preps his first full solo release under the new Nowt alias with a set of dreamy house cuts for Third Place.
Early spins from Bradley Zero, Tom Ravenscroft and more More
Early spins from Bradley Zero, Tom Ravenscroft and more More
1
maya q - break rev
2
maya q - break rev (Stones Taro Remix)
3
maya q - love song
4
maya q - soft (beno)
maya q lands on Third Place with her hard-hitting, playful, and emotive style, backed with Kyoto's Stones Taro on remix duties. Her first 12” follows EP's on All Centre and Scuffed Recordings, support from Mixmag and DJ Mag, and sets at the likes of fabric, all within two years of her debut productions.
More
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1
Bicep, - Stash
2
Bicep, - Courtside Drama
3
Bicep, - Rise
4
Bicep, - The Game
2022 Repress
UPC: 827170486263
Tracklist EP: A1: Stash A2: Courtside Drama B1:Rise B2: The Game
Release Info:
Aus Music non-stop. Not quite content with already chalking up two of the biggest EPs of 2013 so far from Midland and Dusky, Aus return once again with yet another release you’ve been waiting for - the return of Belfast’s biggest sons, Bicep. The London-based duo of Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar had a breakthrough year in 2012, four years after the pair's Feel My Bicep blog first began. The past year has seen them play in more than a dozen countries, including major gigs across the US, China and, more recently, Australia, with particular highlights including a peak time set at Berlin’s haloed Panorama Bar and capacity crowds at both Sub Club and Trouw. In addition to the release of “You/ Don’t” on Aus, the boys also inaugurated their own imprint With the Visions Of Love EP, whilst "$tripper", which was released through Love Fever, came in at number 35 on RA's top 50 tracks of 2012 poll. Further to that they scooped the award for DJ Mag’s Best Breakthrough DJ, supplied Tim Sweeney’s Beats In Space show with an exclusive mix of unreleased material, remixed Ripperton’s “Let’s Hope,” and all the while maintaining the DJ treasure trove that is their blog. Across the EP they take things a little deeper, delving into a different area of their own personal taste. What's presented is an overall more lo-fi style and broader approach, drawing from a wide range of influences including King Street Sounds, HBO's The Wire and Aphex Twin. More
UPC: 827170486263
Tracklist EP: A1: Stash A2: Courtside Drama B1:Rise B2: The Game
Release Info:
Aus Music non-stop. Not quite content with already chalking up two of the biggest EPs of 2013 so far from Midland and Dusky, Aus return once again with yet another release you’ve been waiting for - the return of Belfast’s biggest sons, Bicep. The London-based duo of Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar had a breakthrough year in 2012, four years after the pair's Feel My Bicep blog first began. The past year has seen them play in more than a dozen countries, including major gigs across the US, China and, more recently, Australia, with particular highlights including a peak time set at Berlin’s haloed Panorama Bar and capacity crowds at both Sub Club and Trouw. In addition to the release of “You/ Don’t” on Aus, the boys also inaugurated their own imprint With the Visions Of Love EP, whilst "$tripper", which was released through Love Fever, came in at number 35 on RA's top 50 tracks of 2012 poll. Further to that they scooped the award for DJ Mag’s Best Breakthrough DJ, supplied Tim Sweeney’s Beats In Space show with an exclusive mix of unreleased material, remixed Ripperton’s “Let’s Hope,” and all the while maintaining the DJ treasure trove that is their blog. Across the EP they take things a little deeper, delving into a different area of their own personal taste. What's presented is an overall more lo-fi style and broader approach, drawing from a wide range of influences including King Street Sounds, HBO's The Wire and Aphex Twin. More
1
Guy Pedersen - Indian Pop Bass (2:35)
2
Guy Pedersen - Prélude À Une Angoisse (2:20)
3
Guy Pedersen - Patio Bass (2:30)
4
Guy Pedersen - Tension Nerveuse (2:10)
5
Guy Pedersen - Amour, Délices Et Contrebasse (2:30)
6
Guy Pedersen - Percussion Bass (2:50)
7
Guy Pedersen - Obsession Diabolique (2:02)
8
Guy Pedersen - Les Copains De La Basse (2:32)
9
Guy Pedersen - Doucement La Basse (2:22)
10
Guy Pedersen - Bass Session (2:25)
11
Guy Pedersen - Bass After Love (2:06)
12
Guy Pedersen - Ballade Pour Une Basse (2:02)
13
Guy Pedersen - Cosmic Bass (2:55)
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Format Notes: Part of Tele Music Reissue Campaign, 2023 first time reissue, 140g vinyl
Track List:
A1 Indian Pop Bass 2:35
A2 Prélude À Une Angoisse 2:20
A3 Patio Bass 2:30
A4 Tension Nerveuse 2:10
A5 Amour, Délices Et Contrebasse 2:30
A6 Percussion Bass 2:50
A7 Obsession Diabolique 2:02
B1 Les Copains De La Basse 2:32
B2 Doucement La Basse 2:22
B3 Bass Session 2:25
B4 Bass After Love 2:06
B5 Ballade Pour Une Basse 2:02
B6 Cosmic Bass 2:55
Release Notes:
Guy Pedersen, French jazz-soul-funk double-bass player extraordinaire, recorded Contrebasses in 1970 for Tele Music. It's one of the most outstanding - yet puzzlingly slept-on - releases in the library's catalogue. Forget library, this is basically a sublime, straight-up moody jazz record with monster breaks. It's brimming with sensational psychedelic/jazzy bass-heavy moments throughout; it's absolute gold.
"Indian Pop Bass" contains a deep, abstract breakbeat that intersects with a bassline that loops as if it sinks into the swaying, heavy, slow drums. The mysterious, deliberate "Prélude À Une Angoisse" is an eerie, magical number with ace effects whilst "Patio Bass" is a breezy deep jazz knockout with fantastic drums and a sashaying melody. "Tension Nerveuse" creates an atmosphere that's exactly as the title suggests, full of genuine suspense, rumbling percussion and deep drama jazz. "Amour, Délices Et Contrebasse" is a touch lightweight so you're advised to head to the much darker, peculiar funk of "Percussion Bass", bursting with imaginative sounds and effects. "Obsession Diabolique" closes out the A Side, with a funky walking bassline and sparkling percussion battling against droning strings to create a uniquely unsettling, beatless track.
Enlivening the B-Side immediately is the fantastic, propulsive funky-jazz of "Les Copains De La Basse". "Doucement La Basse" is largely forgettable but "Bass Session" is a blazing psych-jazz-rock burner. Absolutely thrilling. Equally, "Bass After Love" is devastatingly psychy, funky and unique. "Ballade Pour Une Basse" is a classic funky French jazz piece with an infectious bass melody that seems to anticipate "Before The Night Is Over", the Joe Simon track that Outkast sampled for "So Fresh, So Clean".
The audio for Contrebasses has been remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring this release sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the original, iconic Tele Music house sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue. More
Format Notes: Part of Tele Music Reissue Campaign, 2023 first time reissue, 140g vinyl
Track List:
A1 Indian Pop Bass 2:35
A2 Prélude À Une Angoisse 2:20
A3 Patio Bass 2:30
A4 Tension Nerveuse 2:10
A5 Amour, Délices Et Contrebasse 2:30
A6 Percussion Bass 2:50
A7 Obsession Diabolique 2:02
B1 Les Copains De La Basse 2:32
B2 Doucement La Basse 2:22
B3 Bass Session 2:25
B4 Bass After Love 2:06
B5 Ballade Pour Une Basse 2:02
B6 Cosmic Bass 2:55
Release Notes:
Guy Pedersen, French jazz-soul-funk double-bass player extraordinaire, recorded Contrebasses in 1970 for Tele Music. It's one of the most outstanding - yet puzzlingly slept-on - releases in the library's catalogue. Forget library, this is basically a sublime, straight-up moody jazz record with monster breaks. It's brimming with sensational psychedelic/jazzy bass-heavy moments throughout; it's absolute gold.
"Indian Pop Bass" contains a deep, abstract breakbeat that intersects with a bassline that loops as if it sinks into the swaying, heavy, slow drums. The mysterious, deliberate "Prélude À Une Angoisse" is an eerie, magical number with ace effects whilst "Patio Bass" is a breezy deep jazz knockout with fantastic drums and a sashaying melody. "Tension Nerveuse" creates an atmosphere that's exactly as the title suggests, full of genuine suspense, rumbling percussion and deep drama jazz. "Amour, Délices Et Contrebasse" is a touch lightweight so you're advised to head to the much darker, peculiar funk of "Percussion Bass", bursting with imaginative sounds and effects. "Obsession Diabolique" closes out the A Side, with a funky walking bassline and sparkling percussion battling against droning strings to create a uniquely unsettling, beatless track.
Enlivening the B-Side immediately is the fantastic, propulsive funky-jazz of "Les Copains De La Basse". "Doucement La Basse" is largely forgettable but "Bass Session" is a blazing psych-jazz-rock burner. Absolutely thrilling. Equally, "Bass After Love" is devastatingly psychy, funky and unique. "Ballade Pour Une Basse" is a classic funky French jazz piece with an infectious bass melody that seems to anticipate "Before The Night Is Over", the Joe Simon track that Outkast sampled for "So Fresh, So Clean".
The audio for Contrebasses has been remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring this release sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the original, iconic Tele Music house sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue. More
1
Brainwaltzera - A1. FMsquared [royal wavetable mellodies A]
2
Brainwaltzera - A2. copperfeel
3
Brainwaltzera - A3. WSsquared [royal wavetable mellodies B]
4
Brainwaltzera - B1. good endgar
5
Brainwaltzera - B2. FMsquared [epiloggy] [beauvine bonus perc version]
6
Brainwaltzera - B3. LANsqape4 [short_oneTake]
LP
tracklist:
A1. FMsquared [royal wavetable mellodies A] B1. good endgar
A2. copperfeel B2. FMsquared [epiloggy] [beauvine bonus perc version]
A3. WSsquared [royal wavetable mellodies B] B3. LANsqape4 [short_oneTake]
short info:
Brainwaltzera returns to FILM with a brace of archive recordings in the artist's characteristically idiosyncratic style.
The collection opens with FMsquared [royal wavetable mellodies A], a mesmerizing beatless composition split across two contrasting movements. Synth-focused, the first explores a more introspective tone whilst the second is decidedly more elevated and playful. Follow up good endgar showcases the artist's enviable talent for crafting rolling, wide-open IDM, marrying crisp drum machine hits with washed out pads and a resonant bassline. WSsquared [royal wavetable mellodies B] follows the same pattern as mellodies A, split once again into two movements. This time each movement is markedly more distinct: the first, an atmospheric, half-time dirge and the second a more uplifting and esoteric workout, with crystalline FX breaking up the composition. On LANsqape4 [short_oneTake] Brainwaltzera lets the drums roll out, underpinning more lush synth work with a hint of a break closing in as the piece subsides near its close. Copperfeel, the penultimate offering, is the most reduced work in the collection with a single main melody doing the bulk of the legwork, and buoyed by vocal-sounding synths. FMsquared [epiloggy] [beauvine bonus perc version] closes the collection, a pleasing bookend that sees the riff from the opening track's latter movement return - now underpinned with rolling drums.
More
tracklist:
A1. FMsquared [royal wavetable mellodies A] B1. good endgar
A2. copperfeel B2. FMsquared [epiloggy] [beauvine bonus perc version]
A3. WSsquared [royal wavetable mellodies B] B3. LANsqape4 [short_oneTake]
short info:
Brainwaltzera returns to FILM with a brace of archive recordings in the artist's characteristically idiosyncratic style.
The collection opens with FMsquared [royal wavetable mellodies A], a mesmerizing beatless composition split across two contrasting movements. Synth-focused, the first explores a more introspective tone whilst the second is decidedly more elevated and playful. Follow up good endgar showcases the artist's enviable talent for crafting rolling, wide-open IDM, marrying crisp drum machine hits with washed out pads and a resonant bassline. WSsquared [royal wavetable mellodies B] follows the same pattern as mellodies A, split once again into two movements. This time each movement is markedly more distinct: the first, an atmospheric, half-time dirge and the second a more uplifting and esoteric workout, with crystalline FX breaking up the composition. On LANsqape4 [short_oneTake] Brainwaltzera lets the drums roll out, underpinning more lush synth work with a hint of a break closing in as the piece subsides near its close. Copperfeel, the penultimate offering, is the most reduced work in the collection with a single main melody doing the bulk of the legwork, and buoyed by vocal-sounding synths. FMsquared [epiloggy] [beauvine bonus perc version] closes the collection, a pleasing bookend that sees the riff from the opening track's latter movement return - now underpinned with rolling drums.
More
1
Later Version - Chelating Ligand
2
Later Version - Swim Domain
3
Later Version - Effigy Tumuli
4
Later Version - Aguahoja
DJML & Jerod S. Rivera debut Later Version project with ‘Swim Domain’ EP on Third Place
Later Version is made up of Oakland-based artists Dan Letson and Jerod S. Rivera, whose debut EP lands on London-based Third Place this April.
Across the 12”, the duo’s natural flair for hi-res IDM-tinged electronica is on full display, with four colourful and playful originals accompanied by a stellar (digital only) remix from Jacktone co-owner, Dark Entries and Tartelet Records affiliate, and Beats Unlimited member Doc Sleep. More
Later Version is made up of Oakland-based artists Dan Letson and Jerod S. Rivera, whose debut EP lands on London-based Third Place this April.
Across the 12”, the duo’s natural flair for hi-res IDM-tinged electronica is on full display, with four colourful and playful originals accompanied by a stellar (digital only) remix from Jacktone co-owner, Dark Entries and Tartelet Records affiliate, and Beats Unlimited member Doc Sleep. More
1
Toby Ross - Foundation
2
Toby Ross - Stamina
3
Toby Ross - Sekkle
4
Toby Ross feat. P.A.B - Make It Thru
Tracklisting:
A1 Toby Ross - Foundation
A2 Toby Ross - Stamina
B1 Toby Ross - Sekkle
B2 Toby Ross feat. P.A.B - Make It Thru
Sales Note
Toby Ross joins the Shall Not Fade family with this heavy weight EP 'Foundation'. More
A1 Toby Ross - Foundation
A2 Toby Ross - Stamina
B1 Toby Ross - Sekkle
B2 Toby Ross feat. P.A.B - Make It Thru
Sales Note
Toby Ross joins the Shall Not Fade family with this heavy weight EP 'Foundation'. More
1
Batu - 01: Former World
2
Batu - 02: Mineral Veins
3
Batu - 03: Convergence
4
Batu - 04: Even Here
5
Batu - 05: Atavism
6
Batu - 06: Emulsion Of Light
7
Batu - 07: Solace
8
Batu - 08: Squall
9
Batu - 09: Spectral Hearts
10
Batu - 10: Eolith
11
Batu - 11: Always There
Building on the promise of nearly 10 years testing limits within club music, Batu presents his debut album Opal. Experimentation is a well-established facet of Omar McCutcheon's identity within the leftfield techno zeitgeist, but more than ever on Opal he seizes the opportunity to incorporate ideas beyond dancefloor impetus into his animated, forward-leaning sound.
Through the course of 11 tracks, rhythmic forms are mutated and manipulated, sonic matter bends across the frequency range and narrative structures coalesce and dissolve according to Batu's own internal logic. Unpredictability lies at the heart of all this music, bound together by a consistent modernist glint. It's a sound intrinsically connected to the superlative string of club 12"s, EPs and collaborations Batu has spun behind him thus far, even as it moves into unfamiliar terrain, guided by abstract inspiration from coastal landscapes and the mineral matter all life on Earth is built on. More
Through the course of 11 tracks, rhythmic forms are mutated and manipulated, sonic matter bends across the frequency range and narrative structures coalesce and dissolve according to Batu's own internal logic. Unpredictability lies at the heart of all this music, bound together by a consistent modernist glint. It's a sound intrinsically connected to the superlative string of club 12"s, EPs and collaborations Batu has spun behind him thus far, even as it moves into unfamiliar terrain, guided by abstract inspiration from coastal landscapes and the mineral matter all life on Earth is built on. More
1
Loefah - Disco Rekah
2
Coki - All of a Sudden
Tracklisting:
A1 Loefah - Disco Rekah
B1 Coki - All of a Sudden
Sales Note
For the first time after its original release in 2007, MEDi003 is back in stock!
"I was kinda not into the tune, but Mala was like 'nah - I love it' and he pushed for it and, yeah, ultimately got it on DEEP MEDi. And if he hadn't done that I probably wouldn't brought it out, it probaly would've just ended up on a hard drive somewhere, not doing a thing."
Loefah on Disco Rekah
A Loefah - Disco Rekah
B Coki - All of a Sudden
Release: 29th September 2023
Format: 12" Vinyl Black
(MEDi003RP sold in MEDi sleeves, not original colour) More
A1 Loefah - Disco Rekah
B1 Coki - All of a Sudden
Sales Note
For the first time after its original release in 2007, MEDi003 is back in stock!
"I was kinda not into the tune, but Mala was like 'nah - I love it' and he pushed for it and, yeah, ultimately got it on DEEP MEDi. And if he hadn't done that I probably wouldn't brought it out, it probaly would've just ended up on a hard drive somewhere, not doing a thing."
Loefah on Disco Rekah
A Loefah - Disco Rekah
B Coki - All of a Sudden
Release: 29th September 2023
Format: 12" Vinyl Black
(MEDi003RP sold in MEDi sleeves, not original colour) More
1xLP, Standard Jacket, Marketing Sticker, Green/White/Green Tri-Color Vinyl
Work of Art is the second album from Nigerian-born singer-songwriter and global superstar, Asake. Building on the sounds from his explosive debut, Mr. Money With The Vibe (which became Billboard's highest-charting debut album from a Nigerian artist), the 14-track Work Of Art showcases Asake's winning formula of fusing traditional and contemporary African music into something equally unique and celebratory. The release also marked Asake's second straight debut on the Billboard 200, and clocked in Spotify chart debuts at number 2 on the Global Albums chart and number 5 on the US Top Albums chart. With standout singles such as "Amapiano," "2:30," "Basquiat," & "Sunshine," the album highlights Asake's innate ability to cut through to global audiences, making him one of 2023's most intriguing artists to watch. Pressed on Green/White/Green Tri-Color Stripe Vinyl.
Key Selling:
- Work Of Art is Asake's second studio album, and follow up to the wildly successful album, Mr. Money With The Vibe
- 5.5M monthly listeners on Spotify
- His first album, Mr Money With The Vibe, debuted at number 66 on the Billboard 200, and recorded the highest charting Nigerian debut album in the history of the chart
- Work Of Art also debuted at number 66 on the Billboard 200, marking the second time he has debuted at number 66
- Work Of Art debuted at number 2 on the Spotify Global Albums chart, and number 5 on the Spotify US Top Albums chart
- Nominated for Best New International Act at the 2023 BET Awards
- Listed number 5 on the Rolling Stone's Future 25
- Crowned 2022 Artist of the Year by Audiomack, and is the most streamed artist on the platform
- Member of the popular Afrobeats label, YBNL Nation, which is home to Olamide and Fireboy DML
- Multiple music videos released with more to come
- Extensive OOH campaign
- Work Of Art was rated 8.0 by Pitchfork and received 4 stars from The Guardian
- Made several notable appearances at Paris Fashion Week 2023
- Sold out 3 dates at the O2 Arena in London in 2022
- Embarking on US tour in September 2023
- 23k album presaves, of which 75% converted to album streams
- DSP placements on release week
- Spotify: NMF Times Sq. Billboard. Social Support. NMF (COVER!), African Heat (COVER!), Global X, Crxss Current, NMF Canada, NMF Dance, NMF Global, Just Dropped and more
- Apple Music: BANNERS on Main & African Pages. NMD, The Agenda, Future Hits, Afro Soul Mix, Global Hits, Worldwide Riddim, Afrobeats in Spatial Audio, Soccer and more
- Amazon Music: Afro Vibes (COVER!), +44 Afro (COVER!), Brand New Music, Fresh Dance, Amapiano Now, Fresh Afro
- Pandora: New Afrobeats (COVER!), New Afrobeats Now (COVER!), Soul & Ginger (COVER!), Today's Afrobeats
- YouTube Music: OOH Billboard (Times Square NYC & LA (Sunset & Doheny), Afrobeats Now, Amapiano Trip, Afropoppin' (COVER + #1 Spot), Lagos Street, Naija Central
- TIDAL: New Arrivals Africa + Naija Nights (COVER + #1 Spot) Featured Sliders/Banners on the Africa page, New Arrivals, New Arrivals Dolby Atmos, Afrobeats Heat
- Audiomack: Verified Afrosounds (COVER + #1 Spot), Trending World & Global, 5 New Albums You Need To Hear This Week, Social Support
- SoundCloud: New Music UK & Ireland: Fresh Pressed
- Received the global cover of New Music Friday on Spotify during release week
- Work Of Art has been streamed over 70M times on Spotify alone
- Hosting an album listening party and Paint & Sip event in LA in collaboration with Jean-Michel Basquiat's estate
Tracklist:
A1/1. Olorun
A2/2. Awodi
A3/3. 2:30
A4/4. Sunshine
A5/5. Mogbe
A6/6. Basquiat
A7/7. Amapiano (feat. Olamide)
B1/8. What's Up My G
B2/9. I Believe
B3/10. Introduction
B4/11. Remember
B5/12. Lonely At The Top
B6/13. Great Guy
B7/14. Yoga
More
Work of Art is the second album from Nigerian-born singer-songwriter and global superstar, Asake. Building on the sounds from his explosive debut, Mr. Money With The Vibe (which became Billboard's highest-charting debut album from a Nigerian artist), the 14-track Work Of Art showcases Asake's winning formula of fusing traditional and contemporary African music into something equally unique and celebratory. The release also marked Asake's second straight debut on the Billboard 200, and clocked in Spotify chart debuts at number 2 on the Global Albums chart and number 5 on the US Top Albums chart. With standout singles such as "Amapiano," "2:30," "Basquiat," & "Sunshine," the album highlights Asake's innate ability to cut through to global audiences, making him one of 2023's most intriguing artists to watch. Pressed on Green/White/Green Tri-Color Stripe Vinyl.
Key Selling:
- Work Of Art is Asake's second studio album, and follow up to the wildly successful album, Mr. Money With The Vibe
- 5.5M monthly listeners on Spotify
- His first album, Mr Money With The Vibe, debuted at number 66 on the Billboard 200, and recorded the highest charting Nigerian debut album in the history of the chart
- Work Of Art also debuted at number 66 on the Billboard 200, marking the second time he has debuted at number 66
- Work Of Art debuted at number 2 on the Spotify Global Albums chart, and number 5 on the Spotify US Top Albums chart
- Nominated for Best New International Act at the 2023 BET Awards
- Listed number 5 on the Rolling Stone's Future 25
- Crowned 2022 Artist of the Year by Audiomack, and is the most streamed artist on the platform
- Member of the popular Afrobeats label, YBNL Nation, which is home to Olamide and Fireboy DML
- Multiple music videos released with more to come
- Extensive OOH campaign
- Work Of Art was rated 8.0 by Pitchfork and received 4 stars from The Guardian
- Made several notable appearances at Paris Fashion Week 2023
- Sold out 3 dates at the O2 Arena in London in 2022
- Embarking on US tour in September 2023
- 23k album presaves, of which 75% converted to album streams
- DSP placements on release week
- Spotify: NMF Times Sq. Billboard. Social Support. NMF (COVER!), African Heat (COVER!), Global X, Crxss Current, NMF Canada, NMF Dance, NMF Global, Just Dropped and more
- Apple Music: BANNERS on Main & African Pages. NMD, The Agenda, Future Hits, Afro Soul Mix, Global Hits, Worldwide Riddim, Afrobeats in Spatial Audio, Soccer and more
- Amazon Music: Afro Vibes (COVER!), +44 Afro (COVER!), Brand New Music, Fresh Dance, Amapiano Now, Fresh Afro
- Pandora: New Afrobeats (COVER!), New Afrobeats Now (COVER!), Soul & Ginger (COVER!), Today's Afrobeats
- YouTube Music: OOH Billboard (Times Square NYC & LA (Sunset & Doheny), Afrobeats Now, Amapiano Trip, Afropoppin' (COVER + #1 Spot), Lagos Street, Naija Central
- TIDAL: New Arrivals Africa + Naija Nights (COVER + #1 Spot) Featured Sliders/Banners on the Africa page, New Arrivals, New Arrivals Dolby Atmos, Afrobeats Heat
- Audiomack: Verified Afrosounds (COVER + #1 Spot), Trending World & Global, 5 New Albums You Need To Hear This Week, Social Support
- SoundCloud: New Music UK & Ireland: Fresh Pressed
- Received the global cover of New Music Friday on Spotify during release week
- Work Of Art has been streamed over 70M times on Spotify alone
- Hosting an album listening party and Paint & Sip event in LA in collaboration with Jean-Michel Basquiat's estate
Tracklist:
A1/1. Olorun
A2/2. Awodi
A3/3. 2:30
A4/4. Sunshine
A5/5. Mogbe
A6/6. Basquiat
A7/7. Amapiano (feat. Olamide)
B1/8. What's Up My G
B2/9. I Believe
B3/10. Introduction
B4/11. Remember
B5/12. Lonely At The Top
B6/13. Great Guy
B7/14. Yoga
More
2022 VINYL REPRESS….
Waveform Transmission Vol.3 initially came out in 1994 on Tresor Records.
The eight titles on the album marked a turning point for Jeff Mills. It indicates a transition from the straightforward sound he had created through the early 1990's, into the different facets and sound pallet he will develop through the remainder of the decade. It is a significant piece within Jeff Mills' masterwork.
TRACKLIST: A1. The Extremist 04:13 A2. Solid Sleep 03:49 B1. Life Cycle 03:52 B2. Workers 03:15 C1. Wrath Of The Punisher 03:46 C2. DNA More
Waveform Transmission Vol.3 initially came out in 1994 on Tresor Records.
The eight titles on the album marked a turning point for Jeff Mills. It indicates a transition from the straightforward sound he had created through the early 1990's, into the different facets and sound pallet he will develop through the remainder of the decade. It is a significant piece within Jeff Mills' masterwork.
TRACKLIST: A1. The Extremist 04:13 A2. Solid Sleep 03:49 B1. Life Cycle 03:52 B2. Workers 03:15 C1. Wrath Of The Punisher 03:46 C2. DNA More
1
Secret Circuit - Undenying
2
Secret Circuit - Phasor MD
3
Secret Circuit - Galleon In The Clouds
4
Secret Circuit - Green Mirror
5
Secret Circuit - Technautic
6
Secret Circuit - Winding Up
7
Secret Circuit - Ripe Ready
8
Secret Circuit - Illuminated Knights
9
Secret Circuit - Tunnel Vision
10
Secret Circuit - Holding Pattern
11
Secret Circuit - Polygono
12
Secret Circuit - Every Day There's Something New To Say
13
Secret Circuit - Westward Glint
14
Secret Circuit - Play Music Now
15
Secret Circuit - Stillitude
16
Secret Circuit - Piece
17
Secret Circuit - Light On The Sand
18
Secret Circuit - Golden Fluoride
19
Secret Circuit - Thawing Stage
20
Secret Circuit - The Land Of Modor
21
Secret Circuit - The Song Of The Sea
22
Secret Circuit - 20/20 Vizion
It seems like a long time since we last heard anything from the talented Secret Circuit aka Eddie Ruscha!
Truth is he's been more prolific than ever...just not with his Secret Circuit alias.
For those of you unfamiliar with his work Secret Circuit is audiovisual artist and L.A. native Edward Ruscha V (yes indeed, son of THEE Ed Ruscha, legendary pop artist) who’s been on the music scene since time immemorial. He has been a member of innumerable bands and projects over the years including Medicine, Maids Of Gravity, Radar Bros and punk-dub outfit Future Pigeon to name a few as well as managing to squeeze in time for his equally multifarious and highly productive solo ventures. In just the last few years he's released a string of records under his own E Ruscha V moniker for labels such as Beats In Space, Good Morning Tapes and Fourth Sounds as well as finding time for several collaborations including Doctor Fluorescent (Crammed Discs), The Parels (Lal Lal Lal) and XLNT (DFA). You could say he's prolific!
So it's definitely a long overdue and most welcome return for Secret Circuit. The "Green Mirror" album is a double LP comprised of 21 new pieces (80+ minutes of music) recorded between 2020 and 2022. It captures that spacey otherworldly quality Secret Circuit is known for, but the music also veers towards the warmer, ambient textural territories that his recent E Ruscha V and Only Thingz projects explored...an altogether softer sensibility.
Yet nevertheless this album is very much "Secret Circuit". Invisible Inc wanted to explore a side of Ruscha's that hadn't been captured so clearly before, focussing on his more emotive yet at the same time experimental side (is that a paradox?). Very rarely do we hear musicians using modular synths to create something so human sounding, and when juxtaposed alongside slide guitars, live bass and vocodered vocals, we have something very special indeed.
Then there's the artwork...all lovingly drawn by the bubbling mind and deft fingers of Eddie himself. The package is made complete with a double-sided colour insert with liner notes (which happen to be written in reverse, naturally, so you'll need a mirror to read them) and another of Eddie's mind-warping doodles.
This is not like anything else you will hear...it's true art and you'll definitely need a very open mind to reap the rewards of this beautiful piece of work. A future weirdo classic in the making More
Truth is he's been more prolific than ever...just not with his Secret Circuit alias.
For those of you unfamiliar with his work Secret Circuit is audiovisual artist and L.A. native Edward Ruscha V (yes indeed, son of THEE Ed Ruscha, legendary pop artist) who’s been on the music scene since time immemorial. He has been a member of innumerable bands and projects over the years including Medicine, Maids Of Gravity, Radar Bros and punk-dub outfit Future Pigeon to name a few as well as managing to squeeze in time for his equally multifarious and highly productive solo ventures. In just the last few years he's released a string of records under his own E Ruscha V moniker for labels such as Beats In Space, Good Morning Tapes and Fourth Sounds as well as finding time for several collaborations including Doctor Fluorescent (Crammed Discs), The Parels (Lal Lal Lal) and XLNT (DFA). You could say he's prolific!
So it's definitely a long overdue and most welcome return for Secret Circuit. The "Green Mirror" album is a double LP comprised of 21 new pieces (80+ minutes of music) recorded between 2020 and 2022. It captures that spacey otherworldly quality Secret Circuit is known for, but the music also veers towards the warmer, ambient textural territories that his recent E Ruscha V and Only Thingz projects explored...an altogether softer sensibility.
Yet nevertheless this album is very much "Secret Circuit". Invisible Inc wanted to explore a side of Ruscha's that hadn't been captured so clearly before, focussing on his more emotive yet at the same time experimental side (is that a paradox?). Very rarely do we hear musicians using modular synths to create something so human sounding, and when juxtaposed alongside slide guitars, live bass and vocodered vocals, we have something very special indeed.
Then there's the artwork...all lovingly drawn by the bubbling mind and deft fingers of Eddie himself. The package is made complete with a double-sided colour insert with liner notes (which happen to be written in reverse, naturally, so you'll need a mirror to read them) and another of Eddie's mind-warping doodles.
This is not like anything else you will hear...it's true art and you'll definitely need a very open mind to reap the rewards of this beautiful piece of work. A future weirdo classic in the making More
1
Moritz von Oswald - Silencio 12:34
2
Moritz von Oswald - Luminoso 08:53
3
Moritz von Oswald - Librarsi 03:04
4
Moritz von Oswald - Infinito 06:17
5
Moritz von Oswald - Colpo 05:05
6
Moritz von Oswald - Volta (Version) 04:02
7
Moritz von Oswald - Infinito (Version) 06:25
8
Moritz von Oswald - Luminoso (Version) 04:49
9
Moritz von Oswald - Volta 05:47
10
Moritz von Oswald - Opaco 08:57
11
Moritz von Oswald - Opaco (Version) 01:54
Territories: World excl. UK + North America
FORMAT 2x12" 180g vinyl, full printed sleeve, artwork by Cyprien Gaillard
TRACKLIST
1 / A1. Silencio 12:34
2 / A2. Luminoso 08:53
3 / B1. Librarsi 03:04
4 / B2. Infinito 06:17
5 / B3. Colpo 05:05
6 / C1. Volta (Version) 04:02
7 / C2. Infinito (Version) 06:25
8 / C3. Luminoso (Version) 04:49
9 / D1. Volta 05:47
10 / D2. Opaco 08:57
11 / D3. Opaco (Version) 01:54
What are the differences and similarities between human and artificial sound, between oscillations generated by vocal cords and synthesizer voices, voltage amplified by speakers? On Silencio, his latest album for Tresor Records, Moritz von Oswald works with a
16-voice choir to explore this concept.
Drawing from the ensemble works of long-standing inspirations Edgard Varèse, György Ligeti and Iannis Xenakis, von Oswald and Vocalconsort Berlin delve into the space between sounds, creating a deeply textured collection that shifts between light & ethereal and
dark & dissonant.
As masterfully demonstrated in the early work of von Oswald and Mark Ernestus’ influential Basic Channel project, repetition and reduction are key elements here, much in the tradition of techno and minimalism. The vast dynamism of the human voice adds to the
profound weight of electronics while offering up a rhythmic source and sonic noise palette unexplored in von Oswald’s repertoire. In Silencio, von Oswald dredges a dank murk, pulling clouds over a distant pulse. It hangs, ready to take on new forms.
The compositions were written in von Oswald’s Berlin studio on classic synthesizers, such as the EMS VCS3 & AKS, Prophet V, Oberheim 4-Voice and the Moog Model 15. These abstract recordings were transcribed to sheet music for choir by Berlin-based Finnish composer and pianist, Jarkko Riihimäki and performed by Vocalconsort Berlin in Ölberg church in the city’s Kreuzberg district, only few metres down the road from where Dubplates & Mastering and Hard Wax opened their doors for music enthusiasts for many years so long. The recordings of the choral versions were then incorporated into the synthesized parts of the album and brought into anew electronic context; in Silencio, the focus is not on using one means to imitate the other, but to sonically discuss the tensions and harmonies between the two worlds and create a dialogue between them.
The relationship between von Oswald and Tresor Records goes back thirty years, all the way to Blake Baxter’s Dream Sequence in 1991 - which von Oswald engineered alongside Thomas Fehlmann. The collaboration with Fehlmann lived on, seeing the duo team up as 3MB with Eddie Fowlkes or Juan Atkins. More recently, the Detroit-Berlin connection continued as Juan Atkins & Moritz von Oswald present Borderland.
For von Oswald, Tresor Records and also the participating guest musicians of the choir, this release brings together audiences from other musical areas, cross-pollinating; Silencio is an album that stands for itself beyond the musical genre boundaries. More
FORMAT 2x12" 180g vinyl, full printed sleeve, artwork by Cyprien Gaillard
TRACKLIST
1 / A1. Silencio 12:34
2 / A2. Luminoso 08:53
3 / B1. Librarsi 03:04
4 / B2. Infinito 06:17
5 / B3. Colpo 05:05
6 / C1. Volta (Version) 04:02
7 / C2. Infinito (Version) 06:25
8 / C3. Luminoso (Version) 04:49
9 / D1. Volta 05:47
10 / D2. Opaco 08:57
11 / D3. Opaco (Version) 01:54
What are the differences and similarities between human and artificial sound, between oscillations generated by vocal cords and synthesizer voices, voltage amplified by speakers? On Silencio, his latest album for Tresor Records, Moritz von Oswald works with a
16-voice choir to explore this concept.
Drawing from the ensemble works of long-standing inspirations Edgard Varèse, György Ligeti and Iannis Xenakis, von Oswald and Vocalconsort Berlin delve into the space between sounds, creating a deeply textured collection that shifts between light & ethereal and
dark & dissonant.
As masterfully demonstrated in the early work of von Oswald and Mark Ernestus’ influential Basic Channel project, repetition and reduction are key elements here, much in the tradition of techno and minimalism. The vast dynamism of the human voice adds to the
profound weight of electronics while offering up a rhythmic source and sonic noise palette unexplored in von Oswald’s repertoire. In Silencio, von Oswald dredges a dank murk, pulling clouds over a distant pulse. It hangs, ready to take on new forms.
The compositions were written in von Oswald’s Berlin studio on classic synthesizers, such as the EMS VCS3 & AKS, Prophet V, Oberheim 4-Voice and the Moog Model 15. These abstract recordings were transcribed to sheet music for choir by Berlin-based Finnish composer and pianist, Jarkko Riihimäki and performed by Vocalconsort Berlin in Ölberg church in the city’s Kreuzberg district, only few metres down the road from where Dubplates & Mastering and Hard Wax opened their doors for music enthusiasts for many years so long. The recordings of the choral versions were then incorporated into the synthesized parts of the album and brought into anew electronic context; in Silencio, the focus is not on using one means to imitate the other, but to sonically discuss the tensions and harmonies between the two worlds and create a dialogue between them.
The relationship between von Oswald and Tresor Records goes back thirty years, all the way to Blake Baxter’s Dream Sequence in 1991 - which von Oswald engineered alongside Thomas Fehlmann. The collaboration with Fehlmann lived on, seeing the duo team up as 3MB with Eddie Fowlkes or Juan Atkins. More recently, the Detroit-Berlin connection continued as Juan Atkins & Moritz von Oswald present Borderland.
For von Oswald, Tresor Records and also the participating guest musicians of the choir, this release brings together audiences from other musical areas, cross-pollinating; Silencio is an album that stands for itself beyond the musical genre boundaries. More
1
Minor Science - Introduction
2
Minor Science - Dread The Evening
3
Minor Science - Sun Turn
4
Minor Science - The Dinas Walk
5
Minor Science - Summer Diary
6
Minor Science - Life Texture
7
Minor Science - Contingency
8
Minor Science - Gather Your Party (Dispersed Mix)
Minor Science—aka UK-born, Berlin-based musician Angus Finlayson—makes his Balmat debut with Absent Friends Vol. III, the third installment in a shape-shifting series across a variety of formats and platforms. And with it, he pushes forward his vision of ambient music as neither static vista or merely mood-setting atmosphere, but rather a dynamic matrix of textures, sensations, and even rhythms.
The first two Absent Friends—a 2014 set for Blowing Up the Workshop, and a 2017 cassette and web player for Whities (now AD93)—were hybrid affairs, part DJ mix and part collage, mostly featuring music made by other people. Then, in 2020-21, Finlayson developed the project into a live show of his own material. Armed with hundreds of bespoke stems created in his studio—idiosyncratic FX chains, feedback loops through cheap rack gear, heavily post-processed field recordings, found voices, etc.—he would improvise on four CDJs, mixer, FX, and live synths, extending techniques he learned as a club DJ into a live context, accompanied by visuals by Stockholm-based artist Paul Witherden.
Absent Friends Vol. III is an album of studio versions of the music developed for the live show. But in Minor Science’s world, even a category as simple as “studio versions” is slightly opaque. “Most of these tracks weren’t ‘composed’ in the studio,” Finlayson explains: “The sounds started out as stems and source material for the live show, and might not have been intended to go together—but then through performance, they settled into shapes that worked. I then recreated those performances in the studio.” That organic process of ideation and realization might help explain the unusual coherence of the album, in which sounds and textures flow seamlessly from one to the next, sometimes seeming to stand still, and sometimes looping back. There are virtually no melodies, few recognizable motifs or riffs, yet the eight-track album nevertheless moves with a distinctive logic and a determined sense of purpose, from the frozen-in-time shimmer of the opening “Introduction” through the early cuts’ studies of space and light; from the seemingly autobiographical “Summer Diary” through the rushing trance (yes, trance) arpeggios of “Contingency” and on to the dulcet denouement of the closing “Gather Your Party (Dispersed Mix).” More
The first two Absent Friends—a 2014 set for Blowing Up the Workshop, and a 2017 cassette and web player for Whities (now AD93)—were hybrid affairs, part DJ mix and part collage, mostly featuring music made by other people. Then, in 2020-21, Finlayson developed the project into a live show of his own material. Armed with hundreds of bespoke stems created in his studio—idiosyncratic FX chains, feedback loops through cheap rack gear, heavily post-processed field recordings, found voices, etc.—he would improvise on four CDJs, mixer, FX, and live synths, extending techniques he learned as a club DJ into a live context, accompanied by visuals by Stockholm-based artist Paul Witherden.
Absent Friends Vol. III is an album of studio versions of the music developed for the live show. But in Minor Science’s world, even a category as simple as “studio versions” is slightly opaque. “Most of these tracks weren’t ‘composed’ in the studio,” Finlayson explains: “The sounds started out as stems and source material for the live show, and might not have been intended to go together—but then through performance, they settled into shapes that worked. I then recreated those performances in the studio.” That organic process of ideation and realization might help explain the unusual coherence of the album, in which sounds and textures flow seamlessly from one to the next, sometimes seeming to stand still, and sometimes looping back. There are virtually no melodies, few recognizable motifs or riffs, yet the eight-track album nevertheless moves with a distinctive logic and a determined sense of purpose, from the frozen-in-time shimmer of the opening “Introduction” through the early cuts’ studies of space and light; from the seemingly autobiographical “Summer Diary” through the rushing trance (yes, trance) arpeggios of “Contingency” and on to the dulcet denouement of the closing “Gather Your Party (Dispersed Mix).” More