Balmat began our journey in 2021 with the release of Luke Sanger’s Languid Gongue. Now, three years later, we turn an important corner as the Norfolk musician rejoins us with Dew Point Harmonics, the first repeat appearance on the label. Sanger’s new album feels like a natural extension of his inaugural record for Balmat: It’s a bewitching collection of esoteric synth sketches that slips unpredictably between consonant repetition, poignant melodies, and gnarled bursts of noise that catch in the ear like burrs in hiking socks.

That natural metaphor is perhaps not accidental. Despite having been composed on Sanger’s diverse array of hardware and self-written software, many of the tracks were first conceived while Sanger was hiking in a particularly wild and isolated section of the Norfolk coast. The field recording that opens the album, on “6am Beach Walk,” was taken on one of his many early-morning walks there, in which he and his dog might go for miles without seeing another soul. The album’s title was inspired by the overnight condensation covering the long marram grass in the dunes, glistening in the early light (and drenching everything coming in contact with it) before evaporating in the morning sun. Indeed, the concept of dew point—the temperature at which water vapor condenses into a liquid—feels like the perfect metaphor for Sanger’s music, in which foggy ambience is distilled into glistening quicksilver orbs, transient spheres of perfection eventually absorbed back into the atmosphere.

A shapeshifting collection of richly detailed and deeply expressive electronic miniatures, Dew Point Harmonics is both a testament to the mysteries of transformation and an invitation to get lost in the wilderness of your own imagination.

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

Repress!

Balmat is a new label with a cloudy outline.

Jointly shepherded by Philip Sherburne and Albert Salinas, two friends living in Cardedeu, Catalonia, and on the Balearic island of Menorca, Balmat grew out of Lapsus Radio, a weekly show on Spain’s Radio 3. Balmat’s mission is simple: to foster new ideas, expand upon personal obsessions, and put enveloping sounds out into the world.

“Balmat” means “empty” or “void” in Catalan. But quite apart from any negative connotations, we prefer to think of it in terms of possibility: a space waiting to be filled.

Balmat’s first release comes from Luke Sanger, a Norwich, UK-based artist whose two decades of electronic music making have encompassed a range of tools and techniques, from MaxMSP to modular synthesis. Along the way he has built an extensive catalog encompassing ambient atmospheres, abstract soundscaping, and more. With Languid Gongue, he puts multiple approaches into play. Experiments in microtonal composition balance out pieces in standard tunings, while esoteric electronic machines merge with familiar acoustic treatments and microphone techniques.

The result is a constellation of his signature sounds: freeform new-age fantasia; spring-loaded toytronic arpeggios; quartz-driven braindance clockworks. Drifting between consonant, almost lyrical compositions and shape-shifting textural sketches, the album drifts with the nonchalance of a sky-high cirrus cloud, and it glows as if illuminated from within. When we heard the material, we knew that it was the perfect choice to launch the label. To us, it sounds like a roadmap for points unknown.

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

Beyond the Pub is a collection of tracks for the after hours. From drunken treks to the filthy kebab shop to outer body experiences in the icy wonderlands, Cosmic Pint Glass tells the stories that happened after leaving the Social House.
In Vol 1. Mark du Mosch adds tension, FRAK takes you on that boozy journey to the Kebab Shop, Julian G reflects on the beauty of a frozen wonderland and Lie of the Land takes you on a introspective acid journey. Trip!



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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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It is common knowledge Toby Tobias used to rule the coasts of Ibiza with his Balearic Iron Funk! Now back on his home turf of London, Toby has chosen the Cosmic Pint Glass to tell us the story Sun, Sea and Madness! A Room for Babette is a Balearic House Funk bomb filled with sandy frolics and a touch of mayhem. Afterwards we hit the romance button. Touch Meh is a one of the smoothest edits to be given the Toby treatment and on the flip Ptaki take you on an amazingly beautiful 12 minute journey around the islands with their A Room for Babette remix complete with dolphins! When Toby Tobias visited Ibiza he used to stay at an amazing B&B ran by Babette. She was one of the original party people of the island and would hang out with the likes of Grace Jones.
A Room for Babette echoes that summer madness only found on these islands in a certain time and place. The track starts off with that feeling of disorientation that perhaps a few midday holiday brews might bring on. An erratic beat and explosions rattle overhead, until the soothing sounds of a synthesised flute float in. Shortly after a saxophone joins in and the explosions start up again. It's at this point things start to get fun! Tensions are rising and the boogie is starting to happen! Before long you're travelling at full tilt! Toby has been part of the London scene since breaking some shapes in the streets back in the 80's. He has seen genres come and go and all the while been adding to his record collection. In this track you can hear a cross pollination of Styles from Funk, House, Soca and even No Wave making for a DJ friendly track and has a genuinely rare style. After the evening out on the town, it's time to go back to the chalet for a night of romance. Touch Meh is a one of the smoothest, romantic edits. Toby adds his magic to re-edit with the addition of some powerful drums making for a seriously raunchy track! The next day (On the flip of the EP) we meet up with Ptaki, everyone is feeling a little delicate so the boys take you to their favourite cove, or that's what it sounds like. A Room for Babette remix has been tamed beautifully to give a wholly relaxing track with the addition of an amazing string sample that sits perfectly in the groove. The explosions and erratic drums are gone leaving the sound of paradise. After a small visit to some dolphins a rhythm on the horizon can be heard and after a little while, we find ourselves in a trance, fully relaxed to the deep house sound of Ptaki.
What an amazing holiday! .



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

Out of the depths of the Cosmic Pint comes a Disco release from the Alps of Slovenia. Complete with live bass guitars, sparkling arpeggios and swirling drifts of analogue equipment Ichisan and Nakova have constructed two beautifully stripped back tracks that chug along like a golden steam engine fueled on Chanel No. 5. With remixes by Ruf Dug and Jonathan Krisp. Igor 'Ichisan' Skafar and Jure 'Nakova' Plestenjak met up over 10 years through their mutual love of Scandinavian Nu-Disco, and over the past decade have been steadily carving out a new style of Yugo Disco. Princesa makes its entrance with a playful rhythm. Before long the arpeggios come in giving an added sense of activity, it's only when the piano starts to play that the track takes on an air of elegance. Princesa is a warm, light hearted theme, in the vein of some of the Metro Area greats. The track itself seems to tell a story with changes of mood, excitement and drama. Mrk has a sense of urgency from the outset. Synth chords stab a pathway, horns join in followed by keys. The intensity builds, filters open and then all of a sudden a different rhythm takes the lead opening up to sun scorched Balearic guitars. It's a beautiful journey. Ruf Dug returns to the Cosmic Pint Glass, changing Princesa into a fantastic subtropical adventure. Opening up the proceedings with some distinctly steamy panpipes and an array of additional percussion. Ruf has a definitive style of his own and you can definitely hear it in this remix, perfectly marrying his tropical world styles with the Yugo Disco, ensuring they live happily ever after. All round gentleman and amateur parapsychologist, Jonathan Krisp steps up to the plate unveiling his mysticism drenched version of Mrk. Dizzyingly layered chords start the cogs turning, wood blocks, spring reverb and chimes all help build the atmosphere. A church organ is used, like a medieval Todd Terje, flipping the track back into a Disco powered dance workout. 300 copies - screen-printed sleeve .



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

UK funk connoisseur Duke Slammer takes the driving seat on the 303-fueled 'Bangkok Skytrain', with remixes from Moscow based Simple Symmetry and returning artist Tony G. Inspired by tropical heat, Bangkok Skytrain utilises 303s, analogue drum machines and mixes in field recordings taken from an excursion to Thailand. The result is a heady concoction of warm basslines and humid atmospheres, with a groove reminiscent of early 90's melodic techno and a cheeky drum track that wouldn't be out of place on a Larry Heard record. Simple Symmetry, the Lipski brothers from Moscow, slowly rebuild layers of the track like a locomotive building up momentum, and in typical style Simple Symmetry style finding the perfect vocal sample and pan pipes that help propels you into the foreign lands. Before you know it the track is pumping at full chug! Tony G's take goes a bit further afield than the original. A dub rhythm sets the picture in outer-space. Hihats stutters like cosmic dust rickashading off the nosecone of the space ship while longing strings take us deep into a distant nebular before the 303 bring the thousands of new galaxies into view. Definitely music to listen to in the dark! Look out for the secret dancefloor weapon 'Just Drums', an industrial drum machine workout for the freaks!



Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More