Artefakt's De Stijl imprint presents a new EP by Metropolis. Metropolis, an alias of Nick Lapien--half of Artefakt--had a short strain of releases via labels such as Pinkman, Other Heights, BLIQ and Photic Fields starting 10 years ago. With his No Reason EP he reboots this guise and presents an unpolished and rough take of his wide techno repertoire. The A-Side includes two smokey warehouse-proof acidic techno jams, where title track No Reason on the B-Side leans more towards an off-beat EBM affair with vocals by Thuraya Shi. To round it off, Artefakt production partner Robin Koek delivers an immersive remix as Cyspe.

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Dutch millipede Nick Lapien offers a view of one of his intriguing projects, this time as Metropolis. This alter-ego, inspired by the 1927’ cultfilm, gives his idea of how the city would look like if it was created out of musical waves. Neo-electronic, mechanical, raw and as dark as a film noir. Limited copies on the nice Other Heights label!



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Ali Berger drops a gorgeous three track ep with the right amount of bump in its tracks. Lovely tracks with a fine drive in it, somehow reminding of the early releases on Patrice Scott's Sistrum label. Adventurous, Fresh and energetic.

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Repress!

Sequencias introduces MaSpaventi to their catalog with this EP called Le Cose Che Sentivo, which is a mixture of tempos with a melancholic feeling spread throughout. The dexterity of MaSpaventi is shown on this one; from the funky drum programming and melodic lushness of "Una Piccola Amaca" on the A-side, to the more ethereal downtempo/ambient side of him with "Profondo Blu" and "Coralli Lia" on the B-side.

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As we get ready to seclude ourselves for another long Winter, Area provides the soundtrack. This EP is some of the most beautiful shit we've heard in a long time. From late night meditative dancefloor bliss, to midtempo 4 to the floor sonic experimentation. So without getting too wordy, we'll leave these flowers right here, please don't let them dry.

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It's been a really long Winter for us, we've been praying to the gods non-stop to send some heat our way, and they have finally answered!



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Our first release for 2015 comes from Chicagoan, Area. His previous releases on various labels including his own, Kimochi, show a producer who spans many genres while maintaining a particular aesthetic. This untethered approach has lead to "One Less Me"—one of his most moving records to date. Area has melded elements from bass music, industrial, electroacoustic, spoken-word and techno into 3 tracks that distill their influences into something greater than the sum of its parts. Opener "Circadian" is built on a two-chord refrain to a stepping rhythm amidst a dank warehouse atmosphere. Spoken-word interlude, "One Less Me," is little more than a female voice processed and cleverly twisted over crisp electronic filigree. The EP closes with "XXeXX” (Crushkilled Version), which sounds like the remnants of the opening track after being drop-forged and scattered to the breeze—long peals of reverberating melodic feedback straining under a dense bank of static fog—breaking free every few measures to expand into the light, then crushed. "One Less Me" is the beginning of a new relationship that we look forward to see flourish in the future, and of course, to share it with you.



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2014 has been a slow year for Sequencias in terms of releases. Most of our energy has been spent towards the development of different projects, like our new webstore, that has become an outlet for us to share some of the records that influence the way we do things. So, with the wax offering slowing to a mere trickle, who better to entrust with our sole release for the rest of the calendar year? dcantu, of course. Cantu's electro-heavy sound is fleshed out here and while still lean enough for dance floors, it makes bolder moves into atmospheric and melodic territory. The A side, "Some Kind Of Strange...," begins with long synth strains before one of his signature overdriven drum workouts immediately punches through the lush spectral melody. Cantu runs through the patterns on his 808, weaving a sort of broken beat track that cruises through acidic space time. On the flipside you're treated to the electro/freestyle jam, "A Space Age Function." There aren't many surprises here nor is there any need for them: just pure and grimy electro joy...right down to the pitched down vocal sample and octave-hopping bassline. "September," the beatless coda, is an echo from a childhood spent in dark cinemas with the sounds of Carpenter and Howarth. Tinkling FM bells dot the layers of rich ethereal pads and you can practically hear the clattering of the projector somewhere behind you in the dark. Also, you probably noticed the changes on our artwork direction. We have made the conscious decision of going with a classic look for the upcoming series of releases. Nonetheless, expect some curveballs during the process.



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Sequencias number 10 should give anyone unfamiliar with the label a good idea of what we're about. Three very different artists have given us three very different tracks—collectively forming a sort of manifesto. Experimentation, rhythm and reflection are all given equal weight on this record. As with everything we present, it is all in the service of expressing the flawed and the human. Nick Lapien returns once again as Metropolis, starting off the EP with the miniature epic "Balefire". Just shy of ten minutes, the beatless undulating cypher flows and fluctuates, its tangle of vibrating arpeggiated melodies whip about gaining momentum, falling into the ether. Brooklyn's Shawn O'Sullivan comes through with "Corypha", a straight up club track showcasing some well-crafted modular treacle over a tough brokenbeat. Mathematics affiliates Echo 106 close out the compilation with the meandering Chicago-facing "Withered Leaves". Tried and true box work merely sets the stage here with haunting melodies at the forefront, floating towards a swell of doleful synths as an emotional coda.



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And here we are, just as promised, exploring the dark corners of Nick Lapien; the man otherwise known as Metropolis. This time around, he comes back with a pair of extended cuts that veer off into heretofore unexplored terrain, relishing in detail with a sharp focus on momentum and lyricism. 'Glow', the A side, uses a basic 2-note sine wave bass line and a 136 BPM kick as the backdrop for a 13+ minute descent into a thicket of static and clattering modular craftiness—a pathway into the unknown through auditory hypnosis. On the flip side, 'Rebuild', a milder 4/4 beauty, uses a soft bass riff for its duration as shuffling synth experimentation stretches the stereo field. A long trumpet solo by Mark Nieuwenhuis casts a soothing, mournful light into the piece. Immerse yourself into the sounds and let yourself be guided, let yourself be found.



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Nicolas Cantu makes a welcome return to Sequencias with The Lost Tribe—a brisk 808 workout with lush synthwork and psychedelic acid stylings. This is a more breezy approach compared to his work on other labels yet spares none of the imaginative or emotive qualities. On the flip side, label head JM De Frias offers up the dissonant groover The Light as a follow up to his debut track from Levon Vincent's acclaimed Fabric mix CD. Brash percussion collides with staccato melodies awash in echo and organ, sustaining an intensity that never quite boils over. The two team up for the closer The Last Light, an atmospheric epic of growling strings, breathy ambience and melancholy stitched together with creaky, decrepit acid stabs and brittle percussion. This is the beginning of an on going collaboration between the two, keep your ears open in the near future.


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Chicago legend Jamal Moss makes a return to Sequencias with two tracks of overdriven angularity in his most jacking incarnation, The Sun God. If you know Jamal, then you're aware that no other artist has informed electronic rhythm-based music quite like he has. The current crop of raw, low-fi house and techno owes a large share of it's existence to his releases under various monikers: Hieroglyphic Being, IBM, and as one half of Africans With Mainframes. These latest transmissions for Sequencias show Moss at his most avant-garde, so gird your self before you drop that needle. A side "Spoken By The Spirit" works a thicket of hi hats and snares around an incessant clav in one of Moss's signature persuasive work outs. A smudged kick and sparkling lead synth pushes the track steadily along with a syncopated dialogue going on in the background. AA side "4 This Is Your Salvation" seems to run in the opposite direction of the A side—the tangle of stuttering, overheated circuits now being sucked into a vortex with an uneasy momentum. Almost everything about this track seems somehow reluctant—like Moss had to struggle with some powerful entity for control of his instruments. A low acidic bass stab, squealing digital improvisation, a confused thud of a kick drum, a tambourine—all on their way to the frightening and wonderful Unknown.

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As we are beset by the darkest of seasons, let Sequencias provide a score to fit the mood. Presented in two parts, "Hybrid Furrows" marks the second transmission of the mysterious Healing Force Project from Treviso, Italy. The first part is a dense, introspective overture. A ceaseless minor key drone lays the path for deep thrumming gong-like pulse and shuddering percussive textures. A song without a coda, a dream without resolution, it simply dissipates like fog—never revealing it's center. The second part is similarly monolithic in nature, but crafted more for movement than meditation. It is vicious arpeggiated psychedelia, sharp enough to cut into the deepest recesses of your psyche. Both tracks were recorded live in one take. Vinyl only.


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