1
H.A.N.K. - Cruise
2
H.A.N.K. - A Useful Fever
3
H.A.N.K. - Azul's Garden
4
H.A.N.K. - Jag Är Jag
5
H.A.N.K. - While My Tar Gently Weeps
6
H.A.N.K. - No Harm
Veteran producer Nick Höppner and Alex Kassian join Music From Memory's off - shoot, Second Circle for a new collaboration, H.A.N.K.
Born out of the unprecedented circumstances of the global pandemic, 'The Big Melt' represents a departure from the duo's typical club-oriented productions, instead exploring their shared passion for Krautrock, ambient, and guitar-driven music. The album showcases a more introspective and experimental side of both artists, blending elements of Fourth World, New Age, and leftfield electronic music.
Höppner and Kassian's creative partnership began in 2018 when Höppner released music from Kassian's project Opal Sunn on his label, Touch From A Distance. Their friendship quickly evolved into musical collaboration, initially focusing on dance music. However, as the pandemic unfolded, their studio sessions took an organic, freeform approach, embracing spontaneity and intuition.
'The Big Melt' features contributions from a diverse array of guest musicians, adding depth and texture to the album with instruments including guitar, clarinet, and the tar, an ancient Persian string instrument. Höppner's newly acquired drumming skills, developed during lockdown, also play a significant role in shaping the album's sound.
The creation of 'The Big Melt' spans several years, with initial jam sessions evolving into carefully crafted compositions through remote collaboration. This extended gestation period has allowed the music to mature, resulting in what Höppner describes as his proudest release to date.
'The Big Melt' stands as a testament to artistic resilience and creativity in the face of global challenges, offering listeners a rich, immersive journey into new sonic territories crafted by these two respected talents.
SC021 will be released on LP as well as digitally on November 8th 2024. Sleeve art and design by Michael Willis. More
Born out of the unprecedented circumstances of the global pandemic, 'The Big Melt' represents a departure from the duo's typical club-oriented productions, instead exploring their shared passion for Krautrock, ambient, and guitar-driven music. The album showcases a more introspective and experimental side of both artists, blending elements of Fourth World, New Age, and leftfield electronic music.
Höppner and Kassian's creative partnership began in 2018 when Höppner released music from Kassian's project Opal Sunn on his label, Touch From A Distance. Their friendship quickly evolved into musical collaboration, initially focusing on dance music. However, as the pandemic unfolded, their studio sessions took an organic, freeform approach, embracing spontaneity and intuition.
'The Big Melt' features contributions from a diverse array of guest musicians, adding depth and texture to the album with instruments including guitar, clarinet, and the tar, an ancient Persian string instrument. Höppner's newly acquired drumming skills, developed during lockdown, also play a significant role in shaping the album's sound.
The creation of 'The Big Melt' spans several years, with initial jam sessions evolving into carefully crafted compositions through remote collaboration. This extended gestation period has allowed the music to mature, resulting in what Höppner describes as his proudest release to date.
'The Big Melt' stands as a testament to artistic resilience and creativity in the face of global challenges, offering listeners a rich, immersive journey into new sonic territories crafted by these two respected talents.
SC021 will be released on LP as well as digitally on November 8th 2024. Sleeve art and design by Michael Willis. More
More records from Second Circle
1
Yu Su Ft. Michelle Helene Mackenzie - Little Birds, Moonbath
2
Yu Su Ft. Pender Street Steppers - Tipu's Tiger
3
Yu Su - Of Yesterday (Instrumental)
4
Yu Su - The Ultimate Which Manages The World
5
Yu Su - Words Without Sound
Repress!
Second Circle are delighted to announce a five track EP from Kaifeng born, Vancouver based musician Yu Su, titled ‘?????? / Roll With The Punches'
Recorded on the Coast Salish territory in Vancouver, three tracks on the EP grew out of a live set Yu Su began developing in 2018 for a series of performances. The record also features two collaborations; on the opening track “Little Birds, Moonbath” Michelle Helene Mackenzie appears on modular synth, with Vancouver locals Pender Street Steppers joining Yu Su for an improvised jam, appearing on guitar and synth across “Tipu’s Tiger”.
The title ‘?????? / Roll With The Punches' as Yu Su herself explains, “Is a metaphor translated from an old Chinese proverb, that roughly translates as ‘The Spring flows over plains and The Valley is born’. The proverb explains the origin of ‘The Valley’ and also speaks of a very Daoist abstraction in which the ‘Thousand Things’ are born and will eventually co-exist in the metaphysical system of ‘The Valley’.” More
Second Circle are delighted to announce a five track EP from Kaifeng born, Vancouver based musician Yu Su, titled ‘?????? / Roll With The Punches'
Recorded on the Coast Salish territory in Vancouver, three tracks on the EP grew out of a live set Yu Su began developing in 2018 for a series of performances. The record also features two collaborations; on the opening track “Little Birds, Moonbath” Michelle Helene Mackenzie appears on modular synth, with Vancouver locals Pender Street Steppers joining Yu Su for an improvised jam, appearing on guitar and synth across “Tipu’s Tiger”.
The title ‘?????? / Roll With The Punches' as Yu Su herself explains, “Is a metaphor translated from an old Chinese proverb, that roughly translates as ‘The Spring flows over plains and The Valley is born’. The proverb explains the origin of ‘The Valley’ and also speaks of a very Daoist abstraction in which the ‘Thousand Things’ are born and will eventually co-exist in the metaphysical system of ‘The Valley’.” More
1
ISOR29 - Spirals
2
ISOR29 - Genesis
3
ISOR29 - Mi Vida
4
ISOR29 - Doll House City
5
ISOR29 - Banshiki
6
ISOR29 - Raga Soledad
Repress!
ISOR29 with a six track mini-album titled ‘Moon Phase Gardening’. ISOR29 is a new project from Columbian musician Tomas Garcia Station and follows on from his highly regarded 2020 debut release under the ‘Irie Nation’ moniker.
The title ‘Moon Phase Gardening’ (also referred to as Gardening by the Moon or Planting by the Moon) draws upon the idea that the lunar cycle affects plant growth. Just as the Moon’s gravitational pull creates the tides of the oceans, it also creates more moisture in the soil, which encourages growth.
Evolving out of forced time off, individual confrontation and the love for someone close, ‘Moon Phase Gardening’ was recorded in the living room of an old flat in Lisbon during the first lockdown. Using only a microphone, computer, Korg MS20, hang drum and a field recorder, ISOR29 channels Tomas’ musical vocabulary via electronics to reflect an immersive and self-reflective story bound to a uniquely powerful time and space. More
ISOR29 with a six track mini-album titled ‘Moon Phase Gardening’. ISOR29 is a new project from Columbian musician Tomas Garcia Station and follows on from his highly regarded 2020 debut release under the ‘Irie Nation’ moniker.
The title ‘Moon Phase Gardening’ (also referred to as Gardening by the Moon or Planting by the Moon) draws upon the idea that the lunar cycle affects plant growth. Just as the Moon’s gravitational pull creates the tides of the oceans, it also creates more moisture in the soil, which encourages growth.
Evolving out of forced time off, individual confrontation and the love for someone close, ‘Moon Phase Gardening’ was recorded in the living room of an old flat in Lisbon during the first lockdown. Using only a microphone, computer, Korg MS20, hang drum and a field recorder, ISOR29 channels Tomas’ musical vocabulary via electronics to reflect an immersive and self-reflective story bound to a uniquely powerful time and space. More
1
soFa / Houschyar / Okay Temiz - Ritimsiz
2
soFa / Houschyar / Okay Temiz - Der Wunsch Service
3
soFa / Houschyar / Okay Temiz - Taksi
4
soFa / Houschyar / Okay Temiz - Selale
5
soFa / Houschyar / Okay Temiz - Kapu Ska
6
soFa / Houschyar / Okay Temiz - Rhythm Is The Mother
Second Circle return with a special one-off album of music by Belgian producer soFa, German musician Houschyar and the legendary Turkish drummer and percussionist Okay Temiz.
SC019 – Selale (LP) is the result of a string of sessions that began in Istanbul during 2018, when soFa spontaneously teamed up with friend Houschyar for a series of smoky jams in the young producer's 5th floor apartment. They would meet again a few months later, with a plan to finish the EP, and whilst having lunch, the two decided to pay a spontaneous visit to Okay Temiz, with whom soFa had worked previously.
Welcoming the pair in the percussion workshop (Atölye) where he spends most of his days, Temiz was excited by their demos and the three of them began to jam around the tracks, with Temiz utilizing a number of his own homebuilt instruments. The duo had now become a trio, it seems, and back in their home studio the jams would be edited and reworked; with Okay adding further overdubbing and contributions to the tracks.
Probably best known as a member of The Don Cherry Trio, for his own band Oriental Wind and for numerous collaborations with some of the best Jazz musicians in the world, Okay Temiz is considered to be one of the most innovative and outstanding musical figures in Turkey and beyond. A professional musician since 1955, Temiz's career began in Jazz and traditional Turkish music, but he became increasingly fascinated with the possibilities of electronic and self-built instruments, which he would experiment within different forms. During the late 70ties Temiz also developed a special love for Brazilian instruments such as the Berimbau and Cuica, both of which are omnipresent on this album.
In this latest collaboration, Okay Temiz weaves his percussive magic through six diverse psychedelic synthesizer and drum computer jams, alongside two exciting young producers. Selale is mixed by Dusseldorf studio wizard Gordon Pohl. More
SC019 – Selale (LP) is the result of a string of sessions that began in Istanbul during 2018, when soFa spontaneously teamed up with friend Houschyar for a series of smoky jams in the young producer's 5th floor apartment. They would meet again a few months later, with a plan to finish the EP, and whilst having lunch, the two decided to pay a spontaneous visit to Okay Temiz, with whom soFa had worked previously.
Welcoming the pair in the percussion workshop (Atölye) where he spends most of his days, Temiz was excited by their demos and the three of them began to jam around the tracks, with Temiz utilizing a number of his own homebuilt instruments. The duo had now become a trio, it seems, and back in their home studio the jams would be edited and reworked; with Okay adding further overdubbing and contributions to the tracks.
Probably best known as a member of The Don Cherry Trio, for his own band Oriental Wind and for numerous collaborations with some of the best Jazz musicians in the world, Okay Temiz is considered to be one of the most innovative and outstanding musical figures in Turkey and beyond. A professional musician since 1955, Temiz's career began in Jazz and traditional Turkish music, but he became increasingly fascinated with the possibilities of electronic and self-built instruments, which he would experiment within different forms. During the late 70ties Temiz also developed a special love for Brazilian instruments such as the Berimbau and Cuica, both of which are omnipresent on this album.
In this latest collaboration, Okay Temiz weaves his percussive magic through six diverse psychedelic synthesizer and drum computer jams, alongside two exciting young producers. Selale is mixed by Dusseldorf studio wizard Gordon Pohl. More
1
Khan - No Title
2
Khan - No Title
3
Khan - No Title
4
Khan - No Title
The eighteenth release on Second Circle is the label's second exploration into an artists archival works; this time presenting a selection of four early tracks by theatre, film and music producer Can Oral under his Khan alias.
Can moved to Williamsburg, New York in the early 90's along with good friend and fellow musician Jimi Tenor. Born in Germany of Turkish-Finnish parents, he would frantically start buying equipment (such as a TR808, TB303 and Korg Polysix) from junk shops across New York, becoming greatly prolific in his recordings which he would work on throughout the night. During the daytime though, Can set up and ran the now defunct Temple Records, a seminal Soho record store, and later label, largely importing Techno and Acid from Europe. Though a small store, Temple Records would count musicians and DJs such as Björk, Tricky, Dee-Lite, Josh Wink and Joey Beltram among its regular customers. Also he would host many such guests to play live or DJ at his weekly Techno party “Killer” which was held at Save The Robots in New York’s East Village.
Can Oral's nightly studio sessions eventually led to an almost inexhaustible discography with over a dozen monikers each representing a different aspect of his productions. SC018 focuses then on his early electronic works as Khan.
Named after the color painted studio where the EP was produced between 1993-1996, 'Blue Box Sessions' is a collection of four analogue machine driven cuts, covering different tempos and ethos within electronic music. Initially live recorded to an old DAT recorder, and without any overdubs, SC018 is a lost and found artefact to Khan's unquestioned raw talent and timeless relevance. More
Can moved to Williamsburg, New York in the early 90's along with good friend and fellow musician Jimi Tenor. Born in Germany of Turkish-Finnish parents, he would frantically start buying equipment (such as a TR808, TB303 and Korg Polysix) from junk shops across New York, becoming greatly prolific in his recordings which he would work on throughout the night. During the daytime though, Can set up and ran the now defunct Temple Records, a seminal Soho record store, and later label, largely importing Techno and Acid from Europe. Though a small store, Temple Records would count musicians and DJs such as Björk, Tricky, Dee-Lite, Josh Wink and Joey Beltram among its regular customers. Also he would host many such guests to play live or DJ at his weekly Techno party “Killer” which was held at Save The Robots in New York’s East Village.
Can Oral's nightly studio sessions eventually led to an almost inexhaustible discography with over a dozen monikers each representing a different aspect of his productions. SC018 focuses then on his early electronic works as Khan.
Named after the color painted studio where the EP was produced between 1993-1996, 'Blue Box Sessions' is a collection of four analogue machine driven cuts, covering different tempos and ethos within electronic music. Initially live recorded to an old DAT recorder, and without any overdubs, SC018 is a lost and found artefact to Khan's unquestioned raw talent and timeless relevance. More
Second Circle returns with the follow up to Giuseppe Leonardi’s 2018 debut record ‘TBC’, with another singular EP from the young Austrian musician, titled ’MenteMente’. Recorded this year in Vienna, during the lockdown of the city, the title ‘MenteMente’ was derived from the Spanish word ‘Mente’ (meaning ‘Mind’) and refers to a meditative state developed during times of crisis, and the evolution this has brought to Giuseppe’s own musical process over the past months.
Reflecting an evolution in his musical output, the six tracks on ‘MenteMente’ incorporate a diverse mix of sounds and influences. The EP also includes collaborations with vocalist Fresh Princess, a young experimental dancer and vocalist from Ghana now based in Vienna. As well as spoken word from Georgian Art Theorist Lana Girkelidze who reads her favourite passages from Georgian poet Galaktion Tabidze’s poem ‘Qari qris’ - ????????? ??????-???? ????.
‘MenteMente’ will be accompanied by a series of digital visuals made by Carolina Rivera Arboleda, artist and student at the Vienna University of Applied Arts and a stop motion video installation by renowned Viennese street artist Olivier Hölzl. More
Reflecting an evolution in his musical output, the six tracks on ‘MenteMente’ incorporate a diverse mix of sounds and influences. The EP also includes collaborations with vocalist Fresh Princess, a young experimental dancer and vocalist from Ghana now based in Vienna. As well as spoken word from Georgian Art Theorist Lana Girkelidze who reads her favourite passages from Georgian poet Galaktion Tabidze’s poem ‘Qari qris’ - ????????? ??????-???? ????.
‘MenteMente’ will be accompanied by a series of digital visuals made by Carolina Rivera Arboleda, artist and student at the Vienna University of Applied Arts and a stop motion video installation by renowned Viennese street artist Olivier Hölzl. More
1
Adam Oko - No Title
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Adam Oko - No Title
3
Adam Oko - No Title
4
Adam Oko - No Title
SC016 sees the re-issue of four tracks taken from a little known cassette only release ‘Diet Of Germs’ by British artist and friend Adam Oko. Originally released in 2015 on the now defunct Astro:Dynamics label the four tracks were recorded in Adam’s bedroom studio overlooking Clissold Park in Stoke Newington, London.
Now based in Tokyo but having spent most of his life living between London & Canterbury, as well as producing music and running a regular radio show on NTS radio, Adam also makes mixed media artwork and designs installations & interiors.
All instruments on ‘Diet Of Germs’ were performed by Adam himself except the solo on Suketo which was played by Raven Bush - Kate Bush’s nephew & was actually recorded in Kate’s old studio in South London. More
Now based in Tokyo but having spent most of his life living between London & Canterbury, as well as producing music and running a regular radio show on NTS radio, Adam also makes mixed media artwork and designs installations & interiors.
All instruments on ‘Diet Of Germs’ were performed by Adam himself except the solo on Suketo which was played by Raven Bush - Kate Bush’s nephew & was actually recorded in Kate’s old studio in South London. More
1
Sandoz - No Title
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Sandoz - No Title
3
Sandoz - No Title
4
Sandoz - No Title
The fifteenth release on Second Circle sees the label’s first exploration into an artists archival works; this time bringing together a selection of four early tracks by the seminal English musician Richard H. Kirk under his Sandoz moniker.
As founding member and driving force of pioneering Industrial band Cabaret Voltaire, Richard H. Kirk began his solo project Sandoz in 1992, evolving out of and running in parallel to Cabaret Voltaire’s evolution in sound from innovators of Industrial and post punk electronics towards pioneering works within Techno and House.
Taking the name from Sandoz Laboraties, a pharmaceutical company best known for inventing LSD in 1938, Kirk’s somewhat lesser known solo project evolved out of Cabs’ fascination and own development of Acid House and Rave culture, whilst leaning more heavily on Jamaican Reggae and Dub influences.
Presenting a selection of four mind-bending tracks, originally released between 1992-1993 on his very own Sheffield-based Intone label, SC015 further reveals Richard H. Kirk’s unique and visionary voice within electronic music. More
As founding member and driving force of pioneering Industrial band Cabaret Voltaire, Richard H. Kirk began his solo project Sandoz in 1992, evolving out of and running in parallel to Cabaret Voltaire’s evolution in sound from innovators of Industrial and post punk electronics towards pioneering works within Techno and House.
Taking the name from Sandoz Laboraties, a pharmaceutical company best known for inventing LSD in 1938, Kirk’s somewhat lesser known solo project evolved out of Cabs’ fascination and own development of Acid House and Rave culture, whilst leaning more heavily on Jamaican Reggae and Dub influences.
Presenting a selection of four mind-bending tracks, originally released between 1992-1993 on his very own Sheffield-based Intone label, SC015 further reveals Richard H. Kirk’s unique and visionary voice within electronic music. More
1
Zatua - Harimau"
2
Zatua - "Silver Horizon"
3
Zatua - "Nun Vuelvas Mas"
4
Zatua - "Rubber Elite"
5
Zatua - "Camel Express" (Alatas version)
6
Zatua - "Hey Jaomal"
7
Zatua - "Sin Existencia"
Second Circle are thrilled to announce the latest release on the label comes from the Indonesian outfit Zatua with their debut release ‘Sin Existencia’. First formed by Dea Barandana, the seven track album was recorded in Jakarta and Bali over two years and grew out of improvised live shows with a band Dea put together.
Zatua first performed together in 2017 at the Goethe Institute in Jakarta as a last minute addition to the bill, having only a week to prepare and rehearse. The live show would consist of material based on simple melodic ideas and extended sections growing into live jams. Taking material from Dea Barandana’s solo compositions the ideas were then further developed and re-structured by Dea and band members Harsya Wahono, Adra Karim and Rafi Muhammad into finished pieces. Inviting further guest musicians to join on various tracks, the vocals were in fact largely improvised by Carmen Caballero Fernández and Sasha Sabrina - in French, Spanish and Asturian.
Using predominantly analogue equipment, ’Sin Extistencia’ is the final outcome of an extensive exploration into the unique sonic ranges and musical fascinations of the various members of the band. Taking influence from Indonesian psychedelic music from the 1970’s and 80’s the album presents a fascinating glimpse into contemporary Indonesian electronic music with a nod to it’s little known but rich past. More
Zatua first performed together in 2017 at the Goethe Institute in Jakarta as a last minute addition to the bill, having only a week to prepare and rehearse. The live show would consist of material based on simple melodic ideas and extended sections growing into live jams. Taking material from Dea Barandana’s solo compositions the ideas were then further developed and re-structured by Dea and band members Harsya Wahono, Adra Karim and Rafi Muhammad into finished pieces. Inviting further guest musicians to join on various tracks, the vocals were in fact largely improvised by Carmen Caballero Fernández and Sasha Sabrina - in French, Spanish and Asturian.
Using predominantly analogue equipment, ’Sin Extistencia’ is the final outcome of an extensive exploration into the unique sonic ranges and musical fascinations of the various members of the band. Taking influence from Indonesian psychedelic music from the 1970’s and 80’s the album presents a fascinating glimpse into contemporary Indonesian electronic music with a nod to it’s little known but rich past. More
1
d.k. - Stick By The Rules (Long Version)
2
d.k. - Mystery Dub
3
d.k. - Rebound
4
d.k. - Wise Bird
Music From Memoryâ??s sister label Second Circle returns with their first release of 2018, this time with a 4 tracker EP from French producer and Antinote via Melody As Truth affiliate D.K. aka Dang Khoa Chau.
More
1
giuseppe leonardi - Unsinn
2
giuseppe leonardi - Kannibalentanz
3
giuseppe leonardi - Orpheus
4
giuseppe leonardi - Every Tree And Creature
5
giuseppe leonardi - All Blue
1
androo - 2000 & Universe
2
androo - 104935
3
androo - London Dub - Version X
4
androo - London Dub
5
androo - Slice Dub
6
androo - Pansilvania - Cosmos Reggae
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Drexciya - Intro: Temple Of Dos De Agua 01:00
2
Drexciya - Andreaen Sand Dunes 06:15
3
Drexciya - Running Out Of Space 01:54
4
Drexciya - Universal Element 01:55
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Drexciya - Habitat 'O' Negative 05:16
6
Drexciya - Funk Release Valve 03:06
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Drexciya - Organic Hydropoly Spores 02:07
8
Drexciya - Draining Of The Tanks 02:43
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Drexciya - Surface Terrestrial Colonization 06:56
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Drexciya - Oxyplasmic Gyration Beam 04:17
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Drexciya - Triangular Hydrogen Strain 03:55
12
Drexciya - Bottom Feeders 03:25
13
Drexciya - C To The Power Of X + C To The Power Of X=MM=Unknown 02:35
Territory: WORLD minus UK
FORMAT 2LP, 180g white/grey vinyl, silver pantone printed sleeve w/ UV spot varnish, incl. download code with digital bonus tracks
TRACKLIST
A1 Intro: Temple Of Dos De Agua 01:00
A2 Andreaen Sand Dunes 06:15
A3 Running Out Of Space 01:54
A4 Universal Element 01:55
B1 Habitat 'O' Negative 05:16
B2 Funk Release Valve 03:06
B3 Organic Hydropoly Spores 02:07
B4 Draining Of The Tanks 02:43
C1 Surface Terrestrial Colonization 06:56
C2 Oxyplasmic Gyration Beam 04:17
D1 Triangular Hydrogen Strain 03:55
D2 Bottom Feeders 03:25
D3 C To The Power Of X + C To The Power Of X=MM=Unknown 02:35
In honor of its 25th anniversary, Tresor Records is proud to announce a white & grey vinyl edition of one of the most seminal albums in the label's catalog: Drexciya's Neptunes Lair.
2022 marked the 20th anniversary of the passing of James Stinson and the releases of the Transllusion and Shifted Phases albums. In recognition, the rightsholders, their families, and the label had commissioned Detroit-based contemporary artist Matthew Angelo Harrison to re-conceptualize the covers of Tresor's Drexciya-related catalogue. These editions were released sequentially, bimonthly, starting early-September 2022.
The series started with Neptune's Lair, first released in 1999, and the Hydro Doorways single arriving shortly after, followed by Harnessed The Storm and Digital Tsunami.
In the beginning of 2023, Transllusion was released. The series was completed by the long-awaited re-release of Shifted Phases - The Cosmic Memoirs Of The Late Great Rupert J. Rosinthrope.
These records, individually and as a catalogue, represent some of the most crucial moments in the Tresor label history, with the sound and mythic world of Drexciya undoubtedly inspiring generations.
More
FORMAT 2LP, 180g white/grey vinyl, silver pantone printed sleeve w/ UV spot varnish, incl. download code with digital bonus tracks
TRACKLIST
A1 Intro: Temple Of Dos De Agua 01:00
A2 Andreaen Sand Dunes 06:15
A3 Running Out Of Space 01:54
A4 Universal Element 01:55
B1 Habitat 'O' Negative 05:16
B2 Funk Release Valve 03:06
B3 Organic Hydropoly Spores 02:07
B4 Draining Of The Tanks 02:43
C1 Surface Terrestrial Colonization 06:56
C2 Oxyplasmic Gyration Beam 04:17
D1 Triangular Hydrogen Strain 03:55
D2 Bottom Feeders 03:25
D3 C To The Power Of X + C To The Power Of X=MM=Unknown 02:35
In honor of its 25th anniversary, Tresor Records is proud to announce a white & grey vinyl edition of one of the most seminal albums in the label's catalog: Drexciya's Neptunes Lair.
2022 marked the 20th anniversary of the passing of James Stinson and the releases of the Transllusion and Shifted Phases albums. In recognition, the rightsholders, their families, and the label had commissioned Detroit-based contemporary artist Matthew Angelo Harrison to re-conceptualize the covers of Tresor's Drexciya-related catalogue. These editions were released sequentially, bimonthly, starting early-September 2022.
The series started with Neptune's Lair, first released in 1999, and the Hydro Doorways single arriving shortly after, followed by Harnessed The Storm and Digital Tsunami.
In the beginning of 2023, Transllusion was released. The series was completed by the long-awaited re-release of Shifted Phases - The Cosmic Memoirs Of The Late Great Rupert J. Rosinthrope.
These records, individually and as a catalogue, represent some of the most crucial moments in the Tresor label history, with the sound and mythic world of Drexciya undoubtedly inspiring generations.
More
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Various Artists - Goldwasserfluss
2
Various Artists - Mirage
3
Various Artists - Follow Me
4
Various Artists - Periadriatische Naht
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Various Artists - Sunshine Night
6
Various Artists - Artifacts of Synthese
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Various Artists - Im Delirium
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Various Artists - Circles
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Various Artists - Jennifer’s Convertible
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Various Artists - Zum Renngraben
In recent years, the introductory texts for the Pop Ambient compilation series, which is released every year on Kompakt as the last release before the Christmas break, often began with the sentence "Every year again...".
“Every year again”, a quiet, almost unnoticed maxim of self-evidentness. Because this is already the 25th issue to be published this year.
25 years in increasingly fast-moving times in the even faster-moving music business is an eternity that doesn't just feel like it. It is all the more remarkable how I, as someone who is always restless and often driven by this fast pace himself, pleasantly almost haven’t realised how - in pop-ambient contexts - time does not pass (or passes differently) in the best sense.
When compiling the 25th edition I was asked, among other things, what it was like that I was still doing this and whether I had a favorite track. In the spirit of bringing all the tracks together I don't have a favorite track, or all of them. But I have a favorite part (moment) that I played. In this case it was a broad chord in a change of key at minute 2:55 in the piece Circles by Max Würden. A moment of majesty and familiarity that, at that moment, contains the entire Pop Ambient cosmos, that just works and doesn't explain anything - and I said: “...that's the reason why I'm still doing this.. .”
Pop Ambient is a statement without demands. Is promise without expectation. Is a path without a destination. Every year again.
Wolfgang Voigt, October 2024
And so to the facts:
01. Leandro Fresco / Thore Pfeiffer – Goldwasserfluss
The intercontinental collaboration between the two long-standing Pop Ambient artists Leandro Fresco from Argentina and Thore Pfeiffer from Mainz is a regular part of the series. They open this year's anniversary edition with the usual filigree.
02. Pass Into Silence – Mirage
The Japanese artist Tetsuo Sakae aka Pass into Silence returns to Kompakt 20 years after his legendary album “Calm Like A Millpond”. A master of tones that are as fine as they are stoic and crystal clear.
03. Tamarma & Sebastian Mullaert – Follow Me
For the first time, the well-known Swedish producer and DJ Sebastian Mullaert will be performing on Pop Ambient in cooperation with the Georgian sound artist Tamara Davitashvili. Their piece “Follow Me” fits confidently into the intimate, familiar sound cosmos.
04. Sono Kollektiv feat. Nathalie Brum – Periadriatische Naht
Sono Kollektiv is now a fixture on Pop Ambient, this time with Nathalie Brum. In particular, Luis Reich's characteristic flugelhorn always gives their sound that special jazzy touch.
05. Thore Pfeiffer – Phase Locked Loop 1
Thore Pfeiffer is a master of shimmering surfaces and hypnotically meandering loops.
06. Andrew Thomas feat. Julia Parr – Sunshine Night
An old friend from New Zealand is back with spherical sounds. Andrew Thomas, in collaboration with Julia Parr, sprinkles finely placed piano tones into distant soundscapes and even more distant voices.
07. Segensklang – Artifacts of Synthesis
We are pleased that Segensklang will be there again this year after his brilliant Pop Ambient debut last year. Deep and beautiful.
08. Ümit Han – Im Delirium
The Cologne producer Ümit Han is back for the third time. While he has so far explored the more emotional, soundscape aspects of the Pop Ambient universe, this year's piece "Im Delirium" rises to a pulsating mountain of sound with pearly, clear, effervescent sound crystals.
09. Würden & Schäfer – Analysis Of Variance II
In their track Analysis Of Variance II, Max Würden and Lukas Schäfer embed a finely placed beat impulse in a soft bed of modulating soundscapes and pleasant psychedelic spaceyness.
10. Max Würden– Circles
Max Würden once again shows his special feeling for one of the core statements of the Pop Ambient style spectrum. The abstract chord and soundscape movement between formal construction and emotional touchability, which seems like “pop music” under the microscope.
11. Blank Gloss – Jennifer’s Convertible
The Californian guitar-ambient duo takes us into their sublimely beautiful sound cosmos with their usual aplomb. Maximum condensed transparency. Lightness - heavy as gold.
12. Hendrik Meyer – Grün War Die Klamm
Another new addition is Hendrik Meyer. The versatile musician, also known for his MYR project distributed by Kompakt, leads us with a glistening, beautiful “wall of sound” determination into the eternity of a sunset that is only ended by the following track. Filmy Music.
13. Triola – Zum Renngraben
Jörg Burger aka Triola combines his typical “handmade” impulses and accents with a multi-dimensional, digital sound scenario in a pleasantly smoky, blurred stonewashed aesthetic.
14. Jens-Uwe Beyer – In Defense Of Symbolic Value 1
Jens-Uwe Beyer, a constant converter between ambient, art, techno and back again, closes Pop Ambient 2025 with a metallic, swinging, abstract sound sculpture with a baroque appearance. The track was created in the context of the exhibition “In Defense of Symbolic Value”, curated by Isabelle Graw at the Max Hetzler Gallery, April-June 2023.
As always, the indispensable final mastering by Jörg Burger ensures that everything is brought together and the sound is fine-tuned.
And like every year, the 25th edition is of course wrapped in an abstract, floral magic creation by Veronika Unland. Over the years, the grace of her imagery has increasingly merged with the musical aura to form an unmistakable magical symbiosis. In addition to the official vinyl and CD edition, there will be a limited edition of 100 pieces in transparent vinyl - including a hand-signed fine art print by Veronika Unland, available exclusively at Kompakt Mailorder. More
“Every year again”, a quiet, almost unnoticed maxim of self-evidentness. Because this is already the 25th issue to be published this year.
25 years in increasingly fast-moving times in the even faster-moving music business is an eternity that doesn't just feel like it. It is all the more remarkable how I, as someone who is always restless and often driven by this fast pace himself, pleasantly almost haven’t realised how - in pop-ambient contexts - time does not pass (or passes differently) in the best sense.
When compiling the 25th edition I was asked, among other things, what it was like that I was still doing this and whether I had a favorite track. In the spirit of bringing all the tracks together I don't have a favorite track, or all of them. But I have a favorite part (moment) that I played. In this case it was a broad chord in a change of key at minute 2:55 in the piece Circles by Max Würden. A moment of majesty and familiarity that, at that moment, contains the entire Pop Ambient cosmos, that just works and doesn't explain anything - and I said: “...that's the reason why I'm still doing this.. .”
Pop Ambient is a statement without demands. Is promise without expectation. Is a path without a destination. Every year again.
Wolfgang Voigt, October 2024
And so to the facts:
01. Leandro Fresco / Thore Pfeiffer – Goldwasserfluss
The intercontinental collaboration between the two long-standing Pop Ambient artists Leandro Fresco from Argentina and Thore Pfeiffer from Mainz is a regular part of the series. They open this year's anniversary edition with the usual filigree.
02. Pass Into Silence – Mirage
The Japanese artist Tetsuo Sakae aka Pass into Silence returns to Kompakt 20 years after his legendary album “Calm Like A Millpond”. A master of tones that are as fine as they are stoic and crystal clear.
03. Tamarma & Sebastian Mullaert – Follow Me
For the first time, the well-known Swedish producer and DJ Sebastian Mullaert will be performing on Pop Ambient in cooperation with the Georgian sound artist Tamara Davitashvili. Their piece “Follow Me” fits confidently into the intimate, familiar sound cosmos.
04. Sono Kollektiv feat. Nathalie Brum – Periadriatische Naht
Sono Kollektiv is now a fixture on Pop Ambient, this time with Nathalie Brum. In particular, Luis Reich's characteristic flugelhorn always gives their sound that special jazzy touch.
05. Thore Pfeiffer – Phase Locked Loop 1
Thore Pfeiffer is a master of shimmering surfaces and hypnotically meandering loops.
06. Andrew Thomas feat. Julia Parr – Sunshine Night
An old friend from New Zealand is back with spherical sounds. Andrew Thomas, in collaboration with Julia Parr, sprinkles finely placed piano tones into distant soundscapes and even more distant voices.
07. Segensklang – Artifacts of Synthesis
We are pleased that Segensklang will be there again this year after his brilliant Pop Ambient debut last year. Deep and beautiful.
08. Ümit Han – Im Delirium
The Cologne producer Ümit Han is back for the third time. While he has so far explored the more emotional, soundscape aspects of the Pop Ambient universe, this year's piece "Im Delirium" rises to a pulsating mountain of sound with pearly, clear, effervescent sound crystals.
09. Würden & Schäfer – Analysis Of Variance II
In their track Analysis Of Variance II, Max Würden and Lukas Schäfer embed a finely placed beat impulse in a soft bed of modulating soundscapes and pleasant psychedelic spaceyness.
10. Max Würden– Circles
Max Würden once again shows his special feeling for one of the core statements of the Pop Ambient style spectrum. The abstract chord and soundscape movement between formal construction and emotional touchability, which seems like “pop music” under the microscope.
11. Blank Gloss – Jennifer’s Convertible
The Californian guitar-ambient duo takes us into their sublimely beautiful sound cosmos with their usual aplomb. Maximum condensed transparency. Lightness - heavy as gold.
12. Hendrik Meyer – Grün War Die Klamm
Another new addition is Hendrik Meyer. The versatile musician, also known for his MYR project distributed by Kompakt, leads us with a glistening, beautiful “wall of sound” determination into the eternity of a sunset that is only ended by the following track. Filmy Music.
13. Triola – Zum Renngraben
Jörg Burger aka Triola combines his typical “handmade” impulses and accents with a multi-dimensional, digital sound scenario in a pleasantly smoky, blurred stonewashed aesthetic.
14. Jens-Uwe Beyer – In Defense Of Symbolic Value 1
Jens-Uwe Beyer, a constant converter between ambient, art, techno and back again, closes Pop Ambient 2025 with a metallic, swinging, abstract sound sculpture with a baroque appearance. The track was created in the context of the exhibition “In Defense of Symbolic Value”, curated by Isabelle Graw at the Max Hetzler Gallery, April-June 2023.
As always, the indispensable final mastering by Jörg Burger ensures that everything is brought together and the sound is fine-tuned.
And like every year, the 25th edition is of course wrapped in an abstract, floral magic creation by Veronika Unland. Over the years, the grace of her imagery has increasingly merged with the musical aura to form an unmistakable magical symbiosis. In addition to the official vinyl and CD edition, there will be a limited edition of 100 pieces in transparent vinyl - including a hand-signed fine art print by Veronika Unland, available exclusively at Kompakt Mailorder. More
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Christos Stylianides & Loz Keystone - 01.12
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Christos Stylianides & Loz Keystone - 02.12
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Christos Stylianides & Loz Keystone - 03.12
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Christos Stylianides & Loz Keystone - 04.12
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Christos Stylianides & Loz Keystone - 05.12
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Christos Stylianides & Loz Keystone - 06.12
Ambient explorers SWIMS come up trumps with the debut record by London musician and visual artist Loz Keystone, and Glaswegian electronics tamperer and jazz trumpeter Christos Stylianides. "Craobh Haven" is the dreamlike product of a week's residency in a little cabin in the Scottish village of the same name. Driving around the surrounding countryside each day to gather field recordings, evenings were spent by the duo assembling their findings into tape loops. These little rotating sculptures - containing stones and the rushing waters of the Craignish peninsula, the voices of locals and the cabin's oven timer - formed the basis for one track per night. While Keystone's whirling touches of Moog, guitar and space echo suggest the murky, placid vastness of the record's setting, the pitch-shifted, probing trumpet of Stylianides soars and stacks countermelodies like vapour trails braided in the atmosphere. For a record made out of loch water, Hebridean slate and mud - it is surprisingly tuneful and sometimes almost groovy. Recommended if you like Jon Hassell, Rome´o Poirier, Spillage Fete.
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Fan Club Orchestra - Long Stay I
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Fan Club Orchestra - Long Stay II
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Fan Club Orchestra - Long Stay III
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Fan Club Orchestra - Parking
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Fan Club Orchestra - Long Stay IV
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Fan Club Orchestra - Very Long Stay
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Fan Club Orchestra - Long Stay V
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Fan Club Orchestra - Void
Fan Club Orchestra (FCO) has its roots in collaborative performances and recordings that began taking place in the late nineties in Brussels. These continued into the second decade of the new millennium around Belgium and neighbouring countries. At a time when large contemporary arts spaces were less professionalised, less obedient to funding and attendance numbers, and Still tuned to their founding DIY impulses, FCO were able to nurture their nebulous cast of players with their unconventional ensemble of instruments to their own ends. The apparent informality of their performances, mixed with the sheer spectacle of their unfolding, transplanted the experimentalism of New York's downtown scene of the 1960s into the cracked consumer electronics period of new media art at the turn of the century. A newly regrouped FCO now present their album 'VL_Stay' on 12th Isle. This iteration of FCO sees Baudoux joined by Ann Appermans on guitar and bass, and Ze´phyr Zijlstra on trumpet. Appermans is an original FCO member as well as a frequent collaborator with Baudoux. Zijlstra is a jazz student at the Royal Conservatoire of Brussels. Recorded in just two weeks, the trio invoke the pedigree with which FCO first toyed, while sketching a continuity with new references.
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Cat-No:ASIP037V
Release-Date:08.11.2024
Configuration:LP
Cat-No:ASIP037V
Release-Date:08.11.2024
Configuration:LP
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ASC - First Act
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ASC - Second Act
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ASC - Third Act
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ASC - Fourth Act
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ASC - Fifth Act
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ASC - Sixth Act
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ASC - Seventh Act
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ASC - Eighth Act
*Vinyl reissue* Now available for the first time on limited edition 12”.
After two albums on A Strangely Isolated Place as Comit, James Clements brings his ASC alias to the label with a completely new and revealing style, focusing on the piano and creating space for the listener to construct their own associations with an imaginary Soundtrack.
Bridging the majority of Electronic styles over the past twenty years, from Autonomic and Jungle, to Ambient, Techno and IDM, James Clements can be held up as a master of these styles by many of us, but when it comes to boiling down his musical intricacies to focus on a single instrument, you’d be hard stretched to find something within his vast catalog until now. In 'Original Soundtrack' the piano is now the focus across eight introspective acts, with the spaces and places left open for further interpretation.
Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri and featuring photography by Greg Nunn, Original Soundtrack was originally available as a limited Digipak CD and digital download and is now available as a limited edition 12” pressed on black vinyl. More
After two albums on A Strangely Isolated Place as Comit, James Clements brings his ASC alias to the label with a completely new and revealing style, focusing on the piano and creating space for the listener to construct their own associations with an imaginary Soundtrack.
Bridging the majority of Electronic styles over the past twenty years, from Autonomic and Jungle, to Ambient, Techno and IDM, James Clements can be held up as a master of these styles by many of us, but when it comes to boiling down his musical intricacies to focus on a single instrument, you’d be hard stretched to find something within his vast catalog until now. In 'Original Soundtrack' the piano is now the focus across eight introspective acts, with the spaces and places left open for further interpretation.
Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri and featuring photography by Greg Nunn, Original Soundtrack was originally available as a limited Digipak CD and digital download and is now available as a limited edition 12” pressed on black vinyl. More