The sounds of Cleveland seem to grow increasingly abstract with each passing release and a third Kalahari outing is no exception. Manipulating house and techno templates into newly mutated forms, ‘Lola Ran’ is a testament to a producer always playing fast and loose with concepts of genre. It’s possibly his most probing set of productions thus far.

Where predecessors came bearing remixes, it's strictly originals for the duration here.

‘Rand’ and ‘PrideBRK’ are direct but decidedly off-kilter; at once modern and faintly retro in their approach to breaks and deep-dwelling techno. ‘Lola Ran’, ‘Mano’ and ’Temp Oro’, on the other hand, shift gear into opiated, rhythmelodic territory. There are no doubt traces of Detroit-style sci-fi but the Brussels-based producer terraforms an alien microcosm unto itself. More

Back on Kalahari Oyster Cult after a maiden incursion in 2020, Brussels' boldest club explorer Andrea Mancini, alias Cleveland, resurfaces with “Golem” - a helluva four-track trip spanning Arcadian shimmers, bobbly swamps of disproportioned FX and other off-piste routes swiftly veering into the wild wild west of house production. Treating sound like an entomologist magnifies the dazzlingly lush shapes and colours of insects, Mancini overexposes his elements, clicks, percussions, pads, clicks, et al. to a profusion of playful procedures.

Opening cut “Forest” sets up the scenery into serenely alive woodlands, where slo-rattling percs and wonky polyrhythms gently coalesce with further entranced congas and alien gargling, shaping up to an off-beat symphony of sorts. Adding a steelier spin to his macro views of teeming cellular life, “Trullo” blends in a propulsive mix of dynamic drums, fluttering chimes, aqueous dub, and squelchy sub-bass moving incognito.

Dwelling the flip is the title-track “Golem” and fellow KOC affiliate Junes’ remix, each bringing along its distinctly unique palette of colours and sensations to the table. While the original mix rather focuses on the in-betweens and über-detailed immersive quality of its audio CGI, merged with a sixth sense for wrong-footing stop-and-go sequencing, Junes remix puts rhythmic straightforwardness back at the centre of considerations, cranking the tempo up a notch without stripping it bare of its vital textures and ideas lavishness. More

Electronic music has been quite obsessed with its past canon for a while. Ongoing trends such as the reissue frenzy or the obsession with vintage equipment make it harder than it should be to find music that feels absolutely contemporary. But Cleveland's 'nDSi' is a prime example of it. His new double EP showcases an evolution of his sound into more minimalist and forward-looking grounds. The crystal-like textures and playfulness are still there, but displayed with a much more ambitious approach. The seven tracks of the double EP are an exploration of futuristic soundscapes delineated with swirling tones, understated rhythms and ever-evolving patterns. Often drawing inspiration from "happy accidents with half broken synthesizers", Andrea Mancini works with the frictions of apparently contradictory ideas to come across a sound that defies the conventions of modern club-ready music without loosing its primary appeal. The textures might be cold but the vibes are warm, the sounds might be technological but the spirit is lively, the structures might be volatile but the impact is immediate. 'nDSi' not only creates a world of its own but also an impressively balanced one. As with any novelty, it might feel awkward at first, but its weirdness manifests itself in a refreshingly na?ve way, dodging any kind of excessive pretentiousness or overproduction. Truly one of the most stimulating works we've heard in a while. The double 12" comes housed in a sleeve by Barcelona based designer Guillermo Lucena. More

From Brussels comes Cleveland, born in Luxembourg from an Italian family, Andrea Mancini, a 28 years old music producer has been behind releases on John Talabot’s Hivern Discs, Oskar Offermann’s White, Munich’s Permanent Vacation (and others). Cleveland is able to enthral and captivate his audience, putting influences from various genres into one smooth hypnotic, adventurous and personal journey. Built around warm tones of analog synths, esoteric atmospheres and percussive drums, Cleveland's productions have an overall dreamy feel without losing its dance floor focus. He arranges every sound and movement to work in fluid harmony, gently lifting dance floors off the ground before they realise they're floating. He will release two new EPs in summer 2017. More