Konduku's appearance on Amenthia feels like something that happened a long time ago, but with 'Slowworm,' he officially makes his label debut, delivering three solo works that solidify his close relationship with the pioneering Basel crew. 'Slowworm' includes three mesmerizing, slow-paced, tension-building mind trips that are a perfect fit for Amenthia. It's an excellent showcase of impeccable rhythms, morphing from sludgy slow beats to introverted intensity--a style for which both Konduku and Amenthia are celebrated. Konduku's tracks have been a staple in the Amenthia crew's setlists for years. In addition to creating the 2022 release 'Glimmer' by Konsudd, a project with Aa Sudd; and contributing a track on the latest Amenthia x A Walking Contradiction collaboration EP; the partnership has generated a close friendship along the way. More

Konduku makes his first appearance on DJ Nobu's label Bitta, presenting four highly energetic, deep hypnotic cuts. It's the perfect collision between their characteristic practices. Konduku's two immersive techno works, in the form of 'Hayal' and the atmospheric 'Yakamoz', compliment Nobu's powerful and uplifting mountain-valley sound. Balancing out the EP are two proper mind-benders: 'Damla' perfectly represents Konduku's take on twirling half-tempo rhythms and 'Zifir' is a freaky heavy-hitter in the low sub territories. More

Konduku returns to the Delsin Mantis series with an exciting double pack (Mantis 09 + 10) which dives deeper into his remarkable fractured rhythms and light-touch synthesis. Over the course of nine tracks Ruben Uvez straddles the space between introspective headphone trips and hypnotising dancefloor elegance, operating in a liminal zone of fluid tempos, submerged atmospheres and pointillist beats. It's an open-ended but clear-sighted approach that aligns perfectly with the direction of the Mantis series. Mantis 10 opens up with the circular electronica of 'Trail', masking the start and end points of the groove with the kind of polymetric construction Uvez has made his name with. The pattern continues through the displaced, dubby experimentation of 'Lust' before the more sharply defined transcendental tone of 'Lavender' cuts through the fog. 'Dalgin' rides its pattering percussion on a minimalist D&B growl, setting the scene for the dislocated, avant-darkside closer 'Helles'. More

Konduku returns to the Delsin Mantis series with an exciting double pack (Mantis 09 + 10) which dives deeper into his remarkable fractured rhythms and light-touch synthesis. Over the course of nine tracks Ruben Uvez straddles the space between introspective headphone trips and hypnotising dancefloor elegance, operating in a liminal zone of fluid tempos, submerged atmospheres and pointillist beats. It's an open-ended but clear-sighted approach that aligns perfectly with the direction of the Mantis series. On Mantis 09 Uvez follows a progressive, patient arc of energy from the glassy chimes and pin-prick percussion of 'Ozlem' via 'Scale's reduced, atonal echo chamber and the half-time prowl of 'Derinkuyu' to the dense, humid pressure of 'Swerve'. Restraint maintains throughout, even as we take in a broad spectrum of the Konduku sound. More

Konduku returns to Nous'klaer with a two tracker on the fourth instalment of his K-series. Starting out with Gelgit; a signature Konduku broken groover with mesmerising bells and subtle drops. On the flip we hear Konduku channeling his four to the floor affection into one of his sweatiest cuts yet. Crafted for big soundsystems. Comes in a picture sleeve with photography by Ruben Uvez. More

Konduku's rhythmically curious strain of techno deals in delicate, interwoven patterns and tangible atmospheres. He arrives on Spazio Disponibile with four new pieces which further mark out his non-standard approach. From the fluttering bell tones of Parlama to the stepped, transcendental murmur of Mantar Kaya and Yukari's high-definition chime mantra, the sound of Konduku is crystal-clear, and yet its overall effect unfurls around you like smoke - all the better for your ears to breathe it in.

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The third installment in the Delsin Mantis series comes from Dutch producer Konduku. Making serious moves since 2018 via his regular home Nous'klaer Audio and Bristol's Idle Hands, he continues to mark out a captivating twist on modern mutant techno. The three tracks on this 12" are a masterclass in subtle soundsystem music, matching his intricate drum programming and enlightening ambient textures with the primal energy of early bleep and bass. More

Eversines returns to Nous'klaer Audio with a bouncing four-tracker EP. Warm acid lines laced with shimmering pads on top of electro-leaning drums. A versatile release to bring in the bag for club-nights and outdoor morning sessions. Full of feelings and always grooving. More

Nous'klaer Audio proudly presents Nicola Cruz's latest full-length album, Kinesia. On his third studio album, the Ecuadorian producer masterfully blends rich studio sessions with deep analog synthesis. Kinesia invites the listener to channel an inner voice - to pick up thoughts, words, and messages as if ancient information traveling through time has been received. This album functions as a form of 'antenna,' translating these ideas into compositions and movement. The album begins with a 5/4 rhythm structure, summoning the voice of machina into a textural atmosphere, led by Perma, Nicola's vision of an infinite breaks vortex, and sustains the tension with the meditative Telepathine, a substance fictionally associated with telepathy. Regardless of the tempo, each track is intricately laced with chants, subtle percussion, textures, and spacious details that draw you back for more. With Kinesia, Nicola Cruz continues to evolve his signature sound and takes you along for the ride. While the album is crafted for a deep, introspective journey, the kinetic influence remains ever-present on dance floors. More

***Limited Repress in Black Sleeve and Stamp*** Berliner Robert Dietz lands on the Rotterdam label Nous'klaer Audio with the summery five-tracker RIP To My Idea Of You. A record infused with beautiful melodies and bright energy boosting drums - for the club, home and everything in between. More

Preceding Nicola Cruz' new album Kinesia coming on Nous'klaer Audio this autumn, the Rotterdam label and Ecuadorian producer present the first album single with two vinyl only remixes on a limited 12". Under his alter-ego Fauna Extinta, Nicola Cruz reworked the track Perma into a sublime grooving house remix and dub version. Limited to 200 copies. Stamp design by Pedro Zoz. More

Comforter2's 2023 tape album gets the remix treatment! By none other than Peach, Alex Kassian, Downstairs J and RDS. More

Coming soon. More

After last year's RIP To My Idea Of You, Robert Dietz is back on Nous'klaer Audio with a complete solo EP of high energy cuts rounded out by the aptly named Sudden Peace. With flying colours, highlight Farbpaletten is as propulsive as it is large. A typical Dietz track that touches on trance, but not in the way you would expect. These are tracks to draw out to sun and fill up any floor. 3 Mirrors is Robert Dietz's most explosive outing yet. Comes with in a duo pantone sleeve by Rotterdam artist Tim Mastik. More

Coming soon. More

Coming soon. More

*2024 black vinyl repress version*

Nous'klaer Audio presents Martinou - Chiral, the followup full-length to his 2021 album Rift. This time nine tracks across two vinyls. An album flowing 'in a way' like Rift, but it's different: More outspoken, heavier sound design and it peaks on a blissful note. "Open up the blinds and take me there. We'll break the surface tension. We'll dive in. I'm locked in your devotion. You give an inclination to our demise. It will be our exit. To bliss, we'll be its guardian. Once there was love. Clear as glassy water. No ripples, no waves. I followed while you led. Our arrival was warm. Hot, even. Stunning to a startling degree. Hands intwined, frolicking towards the blue. Hours passed, and white heat cede to an orange hue. We cooled down. Red. We rallied. Black. It began. Into the deep darkness we ran. White sand, it has a tendency to get everywhere. Salt water will only dehydrate you more. Shriveled and dry. Scratchy and coarse. More. And then we were lost. Fingers once locked grew distant. Morning, dear. Where have you gone? We looked. A glimpse from afar. Red. We rallied. Shall we share a bottle of wine? Black, lost again. Afternoon, friend. Where were you? Red. Alone. Black. We rallied. Shall we try somewhere new? Sand and salt. Evening, sir. Reservation for one? Reservations a plenty, I say. Evening, miss. Dining alone? Aren't we all? Dining, miss, not dying. Oh, yes, alone. Black. Sand and salt. I found you. No. No. Wait, do I know you? You feel like a dream. Don't touch me. Move along, sir. Who are you? Leave. Who are you? Where did you go? Keep moving. I am, I will. Time to move on. I'm moving! Leave. Don't touch me. Leave. Why are you? Exit. Purple. Orange. Yellow. White. Blue. Morning, dear. Shall we have breakfast? I think I'll sleep some more. But it's our last day. I know. See you downstairs when you're ready. OK. I open up the blinds. A bird breaks the surface tension. Locked in. To Devotion? No. Demise. An inclination. Reverie. Take me there. Where? Exit (To Bliss) "

Text by Gregory Markus More

Fluid, perspicuous, hypnotic, deep, Amsterdam's Human Space Machine, co-founder of the renown De Lichting collective, offers up a Swiss Army Knife of poignant techno tracks perfect for the mid-day festival set when the afternoon sun beats down and for the dark corners of the night when all you want to do is disappear. Record opener "Mopo" thuds hypnotically with a digital, crystallized, acid-tinged bass line into the second track "Arp", whose squishy chord stabs punctuate a mesmerizing rolling shuffle. Penultimate track "Lyf" plays out like a high speed pursuit- where pulsating tension propels the listener deeper into the groove while record closer "Newendam" bubbles around a bouncing bass hook offering teetering glimpses of light and bliss as the sun rise teases. Comes in a special duo-pantone printed jacket by Rotterdam based artist Tim Mastik. With words by Gregory Markus. More

Coming soon. More

Nous'klaer Audio is proud to present a stellar line-up of remixers for Nadia Struiwigh's third album Pax Aurora. DJ Nobu kicks things off with his mind-bending IDM version of Nana. Followed by JakoJako's pulsating hypnotic metamorphosis of Dreaming About Rollercoasters. On the flip, Om Unit turns the healing sounds of Organic into a powerful club tool fusing influences of jungle, dubstep & electronica. The record is completed by Norwegian classical artist Julia Gjertsen, whose layered pianos playfully transform Feroit into a stunning kosmische track. More

Nous'klaer Audio and Sound & Vision's RE:VIVE initiative have teamed up for the third and final LP in their film scoring trilogy. Capping off with a soundtrack made for a progressive, angular take on a color-soaked, geometric educational archival film. Combined with a soundtrack for a film that is a personal intensifier to the city of Rotterdam, which is the home of Nous'klaer Audio. The collaboration invites two musicians to compose for these archival films from the collection of Sound & Vision, the national media archive of the Netherlands. This final instalment features through and through Rotterdammer, Kems Kriol and the Amsterdam based Turkish composer, pianist and DJ Loradeniz. Kems Kriol accompanies the amateur documentary collage film "Rotterdam in de Jaren 90", a dark period of strife, economic and social crisis for the now booming metropolis, with the compassion and empathy of someone who experienced those years first-hand but with enough time removed to reflect with heart. Loradeniz angularly and precisely moves her way through the delicate film "Tegenlicht", a surprisingly colorful and fluid educational film about painting, a bold juxtaposition that propels the film into the 2020s. Extended info: Side A, Tegenlicht (English: back lit) is a 1969 education film by Ton Gramsbergen. The short meditative film, follows stained glass artist Leo Hofman through his entire workflow to create beautifully abstract stained glass window panes. Loradeniz?angularly and precisely moves her way through the delicate Tegenlicht creating a bold juxtaposition that propels the film into the 2020s. Employing processed vocal work, deep dry kicks, and jarring percussion-- reminiscent of scratching glass-- Loradeniz's haunting modernization suits the cinema and the club equally, a testament to the rising composer's fluid versatility and creative prowess as a musical pantomath. Side B, Rotterdam in de Jaren 90 directly contrasts the zoomed in artistry of Tegenlicht. The amateur documentary Super 8 footage captures Rotterdam in one of its most tumultuous times from police brutality, poverty, drugs, violence, racism and the city's ongoing architectural modernization. Kems Kriol, who lived in Rotterdam during this time period, brings a deeply emotional weight to the Ed Millecam amateur documentation, as an artist with the compassion and empathy of who experienced those years first-hand but with enough time removed to reflect with heart. Kems Kriol's influences from modern and avant garde composers, jazz, acid bass lines and field recording Kems Kriol made at different locations featured in the film equate to a musical collage wholly comparable to the city's diverse population. The prior installments in this series featured Nous'klaer Audio staples, Ranie Ribeiro, Mattheis, Thessa Torsing (upsamy) and Tammo Hesselink. More

D’Julz’s Bass Culture Records signs up ZKY for four exceptional deep house cuts.

ZKY’s ‘New Standards’ EP on Bass Culture opens up with ‘Zycho’, a lithe house sound with wispy pads that bring cosmic colour to its dynamic groove. It’s endlessly on the move and ramps up the tension with tripped-out chord movements. The fantastic ‘Floating Phonk’ then slows things down via funky loops and sprinkles of organic percussion. Filtered, cut-up vocal samples enter the mix next to smudged pads, adding warmth to ice-cold beats and otherworldly vocal murmurs.

‘Sonar Train’ showcases ZKY’s machine mastery, continuing his ‘New Standards’ EP on Bass Culture with grounded drum sounds accompanied by infectious synth work, making for a track set to light up any dance floor. ‘Feeling’ rounds out the release with muted chords and crawling, soft acid bass, swinging drum grooves getting things moving in this timeless new outing on D’Julz’s Bass Culture.

Co-founder of Cabinet Records and running his own Ground Service Records, ZKY has been in the thick of the scene since the 90s, putting out an array of sounds across the house, minimal and tech spectrum as one half of Cab Drivers, and under aliases including Horseshoe, Warten Borgmann, Compass and more. More

Oro Azul‘s debut offering, ‘Water Seeds,’ takes us through 4 shades of an aquatic garden. Dembow floats underneath the waves while woodblock melodies bubble up through the weeds. Sub bass shifts the tide. Some sounds are moss-like, a protective balm. Other tones come through as minerals and metals, shining in the refracted light from above.

A collaboration between Ultima Esuna and Michael Red, the music of Oro Azul took shape over the course of a year of purposeful and transformative studio sessions. This release follows the pair’s solo releases on DJ Python’s Worldwide Unlimited, Nervous Horizon, and Isla. More

The Source Material Various Artist series is back with a monster record for its second instalment once again featuring some of the realest heads on the underground – YTP, Raw Takes, Ole Mic Odd & Alonzo, and Chupacabras. This one comes hand-stamped on translucent green wax and is limited to 250 copies. More

It's been 40 years since Michal Turtle released his seminal, ground-breaking album "Music From The Living Room" into the world and promptly disappeared back into the aether.

An extremely obscure cult classic known only to deep diggers and aficionados of the finest order, it wasn't until Music From Memory reissued some of the tracks from it via retrospective compilations of Turtle's unreleased music almost 30 years later that his name become more widely known and a new generation were able to discover the artist's unique and pioneering style of experimental electronic music production, the majority of it very much ahead of its time, and to this day, still timeless.

Invisible Inc contacted Turtle in the summer of 2023 about releasing something else by him and it was during this exchange of emails that ideas were expressed about releasing not simply a straightforward reissue of "Music From The Living Room" to mark its 40th anniversary (the album has never been reissued in full) but rather a re-imagined/re-constructed take on the album bringing contemporary techniques, styles and newly recorded vocal and instrument parts into the mix and breathing new life into these wonderful compositions.

Collaborators old and new were brought into the studio and the songs re-created from the ground up. Familiar songs like "Are You Psychic?" and "Village Voice" get overhauled and echo remnants of their original counterparts but simultaneously sound like completely new tracks. The always mesmerising "Phantoms of Dreamland" is represented through a live recording at Café Oto featuring original album vocalist Lucianne Lasalle and regular collaborator HOVE on electronics. The remaining tracks, however, will be completely new to the ears of most people, never having been reissued or heard in these new forms ever before.

Regardless, whether in some way familiar or not, these hypnotic and repetitive pieces of beautiful sound art, all very different in style from one another, have an entirely new identity that even diehard devotees of the originals will fall in love with.

“Holy shit. This record is amazing. 'Are You Psychic?' is really something” dj_2button [Dummy Hand / Weirdos Inc.]

“What a record!” Cosmo Vitelli [I'm A Cliché]

“Amazing release. Probably your best release yet! Does everything an amazing record should and more...” Alexis Le-Tan [Oddity Radio / Full Circle / Offen Music] More

DJ Support: Laurent Garnier, Danny Krivit, Chrissy T, Mousse T, Lenny Fontana, Danism & Train, Mr V, Quentin Harris, Natasha Kitty Kat, Eric Kupper DJ Pope, Danism + Train, Saison, Sean McCabe

Physical Education make their debut on SoSure Music with the ‘Sweet Talk EP'. Now based in Barcelona and Prague, Physical Education is the brainchild of Luke Scheybeler and David Philips. The duo’s production alias is synonymous with a soulful, jazzy, sample-heavy sound, meticulously crafted at their studio in the Pyrenees mountains. With a musical history than spans almost thirty years, Physical Education are producing music with a strong focus on musicianship and hardware-based production. Title track ’Sweet Talk’ is a smooth and superbly produced slice of jazz-influenced deep house while ‘Work On That Soon’, ‘Oscar’ and ‘Dreamsville’ (a vinyl only exclusive) are also included here and fully compliment this release to complete a standout debut EP. More

The 3rd release in the IMPROX series explores the uncharted territories where electro, techno, bass and breaks converge. Once again, 7 tracks to feed your need. More

Repress!

Gator wrestlers power pack... Beware..! More

Genre: Folk, Avant-Garde, Rock

TRACKLISTING:

“Rhododendrons Coral Aspides”,

1988 (lost album)

Re-recorded in 1990, which was included in the program “Novi Pestunchiki” (The New Sissies), which was later included in the “Manirna muzika” (Mannered Music) compilation

A1. The Great Hen-Yuan’ River
A2. Summer Will Not Come

“Novi Pestunchiki” (New Sissies),1990

Re-recording of the songs from the lost album “Rhododendrons Coral Aspides” (1988, later included in the “ManneredMusic” compilation)

A3. Six Coral Devils (Part II)
A4. Six Coral Devils (Part III)
A5. Six Coral Devils (Part IV)
A6. Six Coral Devils (Part V)

“Venera z Dovgoiu Shieiu” (Venus with a long neck), 1990 (from the “Mannered Music” compilation)

A7. Six Coral Devils (Part VII)
A8. Definitely That Ketsal
A9. The Waltz Windows On The Floor

B1. Blue
B2. Kwolyj Twist (Slow Twist)

“Antinoy Vidjizdzhaje” (Antinoy IsLeaving), 1990

(from the Mannered Music compilation)

B3. Argolida (Part I)
B4. Argolida (Part II)
B5. Argolida (Part III)
B6. Argolida (Part V)
B7. Argolida (Part VI)
B8. Argolida (Part VII)
B9. Argolida (Part VIII)

C1. All Secrets Of A Poem (Part III)
C2. All Secrets Of A Poem (Part IV)
C3. All Secrets Of A Poem (Part VI)
C4. All Secrets Of A Poem (Part VII)

“Selo” (The Village), 1993

C5. Poliuwannia (The Hunt)
C6. Smilywo Chodit’ Do Zymy (Walk Brave To The Winter)
C7. Zradnyky (The Traitors)

“Selo” (The Village), 1993

D1. Obminaj Misce (Around This Place)
D2. Widen Spyt’ (Vienna Is Sleeping)
D3. Wartowyj (The Stand Guard)
D4. Procesija Mertwych (Dead Ceremony)
D5. Na Skryni (On The Basket)
D6. Untitled (Bonus Track)


The founders of Cukor Bila Smert’ (Ukrainian: ?????– ???? ??????, English: Sugar – White Death) band were Svitlana Okhrimenko (a.k.a. Svitlana Nianio), Oleksandr Kohanovs’kyi, and Tamila Mazur, who studied at the Reinhold Glier Kyiv Academy of Music in 1984-1988. In the summer of 1988, they got acquainted with Eugene Taran, a young guitarist and artist. He joined the band and also became the ideologist of Sugar – White Death. Moreover, Eugene coined the name for the band: the irony towards the Yellow Press. The musicians gathered at Kohanovs’kyi’s house, where they spent their free time not only playing music but also listening to and discussing new records and thinking about the conception of their new project.



For two years, the band recorded a few home-made albums, such as “Rhododendrons Coral Aspides” in 1988 (which is considered lost), where Kostyantyn Dovzhenko took part as a guitarist and sound engineer. He also replaced Taran during the recording session because Eugene was passing an exam at that time. The band also recorded another album – “Lilies and Amaralises,” in 1989, which is also considered lost. Eugene remembers that the band made a lot of recordings but did not pay so much attention to them. Sugar – White Death played live occasionally but spent more time creating their own sound, which was named by Oleksii Dekhtyar (a founder of “Ivanov Down”) as a “sugar calypso sound.” At that time, the music was mostly created by Oleksandr Kohanovs’kyi, and the lyrics were written by Svitlana Okhrimenko and Eugene Taran.



In February 1990, a quartet came to the Scientists House Studio in Kyiv, where they had one studio session only, recorded by Valerii Papchenko. Musicians played live for about one take. This session was represented on the “Mannered Music” compilation by several blocks – “Venus with Long Neck,” “The New Sissies,” and “Rhododendrons Coral Aspides,” which was shortened to “Rhododendrons” on the cassette (two songs from which – “Summer Will Not Come” and “The Great Hen-Yuan’ River,” dedicated to Grigorii Khoroshylov, the sinologist from Kyiv). The compilation cover design was created by Eugene Taran. Later, this tape got to Vlodek Nakonechnyj, the founder of Koka Records, a young Polish label, who released “Mannered Music” on cassettes and made efforts to invite Sugar – White Death to play several gigs in Poland.



In November 1990, Sugar – White Death played their last gig as a quartet in Kharkiv. They were invited by Sergii Myasoyedov, who curated the art association “Nova Scena” (The New Scene). The band played selected tracks from the albums “The New Sissies” and “The Shellfishes in Gold Wrappers” (the last one is also considered lost). Due to Sergii Myasoyedov's efforts, the performance was documented: he saved a lot of photos and fragments of soundboard recordings on reel-to-reel tape.



Later, Oleksandr Kohanovs’kyi and Tamila Mazur left Sugar – White Death: Oleksandr founded his own project Pan Kifared, and Tamila became a bass player of Shake Hi-Fi (whose co-founder was Eugene Taran). Sugar became a duo of Svitlana and Eugene. They started to focus on their next work: “Antinoy Is Leaving” in late 1990.



In 1992, they were also invited by Sergii Myasoyedov for a studio session in Kharkiv, where due to the efforts of Oleksandr Vakulenko, Sugar recorded the new album called “All Secrets Of A Poem”. Some tracks from the work (“Dead Ceremony,” “Vienna Is Sleeping,” and “Untitled”) were released on their next and last album, “Selo” (“The Village”). The rest compositions were published as a part of the compilation for the first time.



In the autumn of 1992, the musicians went to Poland, where Vlodek Nakonechnyj, who wanted Sugar to come to a “real” studio, organized their last recording session. Although the journey’s beginning was unsuccessful (Eugene’s guitar was taken away by a customs officer when crossing the border), the musicians worked fast during the session at the Arek Was studio at Marki on an 8-track reel-to-reel machine. Boleslav Blazhchyk took part as a cellist, playing the parts created by Svitlana. The album was completed in three days – the musicians spent two days recording and one-day mixing, mostly done by Eugene Taran. In 1993, this work was released as “Selo” (“The Village”) album on cassette tapes by Koka Records (remastered by Tadeusz Sudnik). Later, Sugar – White Death was disbanded.



Credits:



Cukor Bila Smert’: Svitlana Okhrimenko (lyrics, keyboards, piano, vocals), Eugene Taran (lyrics, keyboards, guitar), Oleksandr Kohanovs’kyi (piano, A1-B2), Tamila Mazur (cello, A1-B2), Boleslaw Blaszczyk (cello, C5-D6)

Cover photo by Vlad Urazovs’kiy

Photo archive courtesy: Vlad Urazovs’kiy, Vlodek Nakonechnyj (Koka Records),

Oleh Yuhrinov, Sergii Myasoyedov

Audio archive courtesy: Vlodek Nakonechnyj (Koka Records), Guido Erfen,

Sergii Myasoyedov

Liner notes: Vlad Yakovlev

Compiled by Dmytro Nikolaienko, Dmytro Prutkin and Sasha Tsapenko

© ? Shukai / Cukor Bila Smert’

2024
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