In 2007 an Italian film festival invites Mouse on Mars to score a film of their choice. The organizers claim to be able to clear the rights for any movie the band chooses. Werner Herzog’s fictional documentary Fata Morgana, which merges footage of several desert explorations by Herzog and his team into one continuous association, has long been a band’s favorite. The film comes with a soundtrack by Mozart, Leonard Cohen, Third Ear Band and field recordings. Andi Toma and Jan St. Werner are sent a DVD to Düsseldorf and start working. The idea is to score the film in real time so instrumentation has to be readily at hand: guitar, percussion, electronics, mouth harp, pedals, software, tapes, samplers. Once the arrangement for the three-part film is sorted Mouse on Mars bring their score to stage. Herzog Sessions is performed twice: first when the band still thought the rights had been cleared, and a second time at London’s Southbank Center knowing that Herzog would have never approved a new score.

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Mouse On Mars – London Queen Elizabeth Hall soundtracking Werner Herzog.
By Mike Diver, 24.04.2009

Filmed in 1971, Fata Morgana is perhaps not one of Herzog’s best-known works (think Grizzly Man, Rescue Dawn, et cetera…), but then Mouse on Mars have never been ones to embrace the mainstream, quietly letting their modern, experimental take on krautrock do the talking over the years, thus producing some quietly brilliant electronica that far outweighs their modest profile.

The film itself is not altogether dissimilar to the wonderful, Phillip Glass-scored Koyaanisqatsi, with sweeping landscape shots and no obvious plot or narrative, though Fata is concentrated purely in one place – in and around the Sahara Desert, switching from images of barren wasteland to desert tribes and dead, skeletal cattle.

The obvious thing to do when soundtracking such powerful imagery is to vie for dreamy electronic soundscapes which can be sustained for a long period, and whilst this ambient shoegaze approach was present and correct (also carefully constructed and highly effective), Mouse on Mars added a human element to the performance, incorporating a live dimension by using and looping guitars, harmonicas, processed vocals and even a live horn player (quite possibly a flugelhorn. Look it up if you don’t believe me) for the final section of the film.

Some of the most interesting points arose when the duo suddenly switched from solemn, ambient tones to glitchy, bouncing electro (reminiscent of their more upbeat work) whilst on the same film shot – causing the audience mood to flick from tripped-out bliss to attentive semi-wired, utterly subverting any idea of a narrative the film may have possessed. Clever stuff.

Ranging from sinister to surreal to humorous, all the moods portrayed in Fata Morgana were successfully matched by Mouse on Mars’ live rescore – no mean feat. The duo also went above and beyond the call of duty with their own soundtrack, adding a fascinating personal signature to an already unique film. More

Recordings from the earliest days of Mouse on Mars (1994) finally available on vinyl. LP Edition of 500 copies, incl. download code
In spring 1994 Mouse on Mars contributed an exclusive piece to Sähkö Recordings’ ambient radio project, a one-week public radio program that was aired citywide in Helsinki, Finland. Andi Toma and Jan St. Werner recorded sounds in and around their studio in Düsseldorf Bilk to construct one continuous composition that spanned the course of one neighborhood walk. Midi-controlled synths, samplers, analogue effects, tape delays, effect pedals, guitars and a jew’s harp were juxtaposed with recordings captured during the walk. An additional microphone that pointed out of the studio window was occasionally dubbed into the mix. The resulting collage was broadcast just a few months before the group’s debut album Vulvaland came out and never aired again. 30 years into the band’s existence Andi Toma and Jan St. Werner revise the duo’s history by producing three LPs that would place the band’s discography under a slightly different light. Bilk marks the beginning of that investigation: a free-flowing assemblage of everything that vibrates and can be caught on tape. A 30 year old recording with subtle new edits and additions.

Recorded at the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields by Andi Toma and Jan St. Werner.
Artwork Soulis Moustakidis. Art Direction Rupert Smyth. Vinyl Master Cem Oral More

Red alert! One of Berlin’s most iconic and recognized underground producers is back with his new album A Sole Game. Following up 2012’s Square, Redshape continues to forge distinctly cinematic and suspenseful dance music, blurring lines of past, present and future. As a true disciple of 90’s techno, those era’s sounds have always been an essential part of his musical DNA, while ever avoiding any form of reenactment. On full-length records in particular, his tracks build dark and eerily romantic narratives of their own. In fact, A Sole Game is the first genuine Redshape LP ever. More

"When the sky turns dark, the world sounds a lot different." (De:Bug) Dark Sky represent progression. The London duo have never settled for a specific sound nor dwelled in a single niche too long. What's striking about all their releases is their passionate love for all kinds of electronic music not exclusively dance floor related. This is no different with Othona, the second album from Dark Sky on Monkeytown Records. Across nine tracks Matt Benyayer and Tom Edwards manage to reinvent themselves once more by merging contemporary techno, classic electronica and their roots in British bass music into a touching and thrilling whole. More

To mark the release of their sophomore album, Dark Sky present a pair of remixes of their latest tracks. Brace yourself for a double treat of raw dancefloor virtuosity via Miami and Munich. Omnidisc labelhead Danny Daze takes on the atmospheric march of "The Walker", creating an eerie and intensely long build-up that eventually gives way to a slamming yet ethereal EBM finish. Next up are Munich’s techno overlords the Zenker Brothers. They infuse „Kilter“ with some genuine breakbeat magic and hard-hitting industrial vibes while brilliantly reinventing the original track’s melodic themes. Spot-on. More

Under the moniker Shed, Pawlowitz published three highly ambitious albums in which he defined his work more and more as his own way of musical narration. ?The Final Experiment? is definitely the temporary highlight of this evolution. As musical work it does establish Shed conclusively as one of the most interesting and substantial electronic music artists of our time. It carries a vibe, that links Shed to other boundary breaking artists such as Ryuichi Nakamoto, Brian Eno and Carsten Nicolai. However, Shed found a way to develop a highly individual way of communicating electronic music, that is self-sufficient. ?The Last Experiment? is a mostly homogeneous piece of work, a meditation, where the stylistic confusion seems less important than then musical statement that it represents. More

Moderat are back. With "Reminder" they blend the spacious, highly emotional sounds of modern electronic music with timeless songwriting. Two powerful remixes from Special Request aka Paul Woolford and Answer Code Request take the track to very different dancefloors. In his "Special Request Rework" Woolford recreates the song with a highly determined, imperious bass drum, saving the vocal for an even more effective appearance in the break of the track. The looped breakbeat and precise sound splinter from the original version, giving the track unstoppable, trashing energy, making it equally indispensable for Bass Music and for House Music DJs. Berlin's Answer Code Request is one of the artists on Berghain's label Ostgut Ton. Pursuing the opposite approach from his British colleague, Answer Code Request does not develop his remix out of a groove, but from the atmosphere, the emotional realm of the track. Artfully orchestrating shreds of Apparat's voice and a series of striking hook lines and synthesizer tracks, Answer Code Request creates one of the most pronounced Techno tracks of this season. More

Moderat is the alliance of Berlin's electronic heavyweights, Modeselektor and Apparat. Like very few other artists they manage to fuse rousing basslines and intense breakbeats with gripping songs and a highly individual voice. With "Reminder", the three give a first impression of their anticipated third album. The strikingly beautiful song takes off where their 2014 hit "Bad Kingdom" left off. Developing a very personal combination of modesty and honesty, Apparat takes his vocal style to another level. The lyrics deal with the possibility of a new beginning: Instead of blaming others, we should assume responsibility for our situation. This is a liberating experience, it empowers us to let the debris go up in flames and have them lead the way to new experiences. Modeselektor underpin the beautiful vocals with subtle percussive grooves. As the icing on the cake, gleaming synthesizer sounds immerse the voice fully. With the exclusive track "Fondle" the trio expose a seldom seen side of their music. The slow, heavy groove alternates between a deep Chicago House Sound and hypnotic, drifting Dubstep. As a counterbalance to this deeply felt rhythmical heartbeat Moderat place elegiac, spherical sound scapes, while Apparat drifts off in a remote and dreamy state. More

newcomer Gajek is being remixed by two of electronics finest: ALVA NOTO and PLAID. Need we say more? We are extremely honored to release this fantastic work on Monkeytown, not only because we are big fans of the artists but also because both remixes prove real heavyweights on their own. The tracks work very different angles: Carsten Nicolai's Alva Noto project turns the playful "Restless Water Shapes" into a stonecold dark bassline roller. You are welcomed into the sonorous temple of solemn and serious dancefloor business with a pumping kick and resonating reverb deemed to drain you of all your adrenaline. On the flip Plaid bring up your oxytocin levels with bristling euphoric electronica letting a bright light shine into every corner of your mouth. More

Dark Sky release the “Voyages” remix EP. The record comes as a two headed monster of straight 4 x 4 club music, each side rendering the UK producers´ sounds into something entirely different. Fellow Londoner Francis Inferno Orchestra concentrates on the percussive motif of the original – perversing its rattling structure into a frisky tribal house rhythm. On the flip side Redshape delivers a killer techno reworking. His remix translates “Voyages´ central moody sci-fi theme into a powerful bassline. The move proves perfect – the fizzing bass synths drive the track into prime time material. It´s no wonder the track has already been dropped by some of the big BBC radio jocks. This is one to watch.
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Howling's album Sacred Ground stands for many things at once: collaboration, improvisation, simplicity, unexpected happenstance. The original track 'Howling' exploded virally in early 2012 (via Dixon's Boiler Room set), though hardly past demo stage at the time, and proceeded to climb charts and win awards throughout electronic music. The track's two humble collaborators - singer/producer/folk-electronic artist Ry X and Âme producer/Innervisions leader Frank Wiedemann - never saw it coming. Nor did they expect that a few years later, despite being from two different sonic universes and living on two different sides of the world, their debut album would be pressed in Berlin. More

The third single taken from the album "II" featuring the original song, two versions incl. the instrumental, and the Jon Hopkins remix - 2x10 Inch single in a gatefold sleeve!

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The album pre-single "Bad Kingdom" was named "an impressive piece of electronic pop music" and "their strongest production to date". The second single "Gita" in comparison takes a much more introverted approach and reflects the more gentle and melancholic side of the project. You wont get it out of your head very easily. Hardly anybody has brought electronic music from Berlin to the farthest flung corners of the world with more passion and enthusiasm than Modeselektor and Apparat. Individually or united as Moderat, they have continuously toured the world, grew a loyal and dedicated fan base and have continued to amaze with quality releases all the way. The sophomore album „II“ is released worldwide on Monkeytown Records. For the US & Canada Monkeytown Records are proudly partnering with the legendary independent label Mute Records, in Poland the album is released under exclusive license to No Paper Records. More

Moderat are Modeselektor and Apparat. Hardly anybody has brought electronic music from Berlin to the farthest flung corners of the world with more passion and enthusiasm than these two heavyweights. Their eponymous debut album was released on April 20, 2009. Perhaps the secret of Modeselektor's and Apparat's collaboration lies in the fact that they never even tried to get close to one another. Modeselektor's thundering bass rumbles in the cellar, Apparat's sensitive and subtle melodies float high in the eaves. The fact that what one assumes to be incompatible actually communicates, is what makes Moderat so unique. Moderat is not just a studio project: with a set of visuals created for these concerts by Pfadfinderei, they toured all five continents and will do again immediately after the release of the new album. 4 years after the debut album Modeselektor and Apparat have come together once again: more mature, but not worldly-wise, wiser but not unquestioning, more experienced but without having sacrificed any of their pioneer spirit. More

For the third year in a row now Monkeytown Records proudly supports Record Store Day with a special limited edition vinyl only release limited to 500 copies. None of the tracks have been available in physical formats before, 2 have never been heard before, all are from 2013. The A Side represents Modeselektor´s 50 Weapons imprint with 2 exclusive club tracks. The Benjamin Damage album “Heliosphere” was supposed to contain “Simulation”, but the track did not get finished until mastering. SCNTST, a promising 18 years old Berliner, will release his debut album on Boysnoize Records in spring this year. His Remix for Phon.o´s album title track “Black Boulder” was available as a free download on XLR8R end of January, but now finally celebrates it´s official debut release on vinyl. The B Side represents the eclectic side of Modeselektor´s Monkeytown Records label. Mouse on Mars open with “Bonuß”, an outtake from their recently released album “WOW”. Otto Von Schirach produced an exclusive track for this release, which then got treated by label owners Modeselektor. elan, who is currently working on an album for Monkeytown Records, made “Just Like Heaven” especially for this limited edition vinyl. The vocal version of this track is planned for the forthcoming album. More