It’s been all go at the Safe Trip Institute of late, with a visiting professor of Cosmic Numerology and Solar-Psychic Channelling joining us in the laboratory to conduct intense analysis on more audio artefacts. Dr Prins Thomas is currently on secondment from the Full Pupp College of Scandi-Science in Oslo and has provided his own aural interpretations of audio held in the file ST012, colloquially known as “Tulipa Moves”. This file was said to be the work of an associate fellow of the Institute known only as “Darling”. We have subsequently carefully considered his musical re-configurations, which can be found in file ST016, and would like to offer the following observations: • His extensive experimentations on the artefact known as “Kiss The Glass” tie in closely to his exploration of astronomic numerology. By adding together the various numbers used to represent specific musical elements contained in the recording – synthesizer leads, TB-303 style’ acid motifs, machine drums and so on – we arrived at a startling total: 84626852. Coincidentally this number is also the given codename for one of the galaxy’s most confusing stars. • Dr Thomas’s other re-framing (of ST012 artefact 05, “The M Song”) is even more ear catching and eye-opening. We observe that the echoing electronic note sequences, chiming motifs and shuffling rhythm represents the transfer of data between two points; one above the surface of the Earth, the other within its hollow interior. This is a significant breakthrough on many levels.

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AFTER BREAKING OUT OF OUR HOLDING FACILITY IN EARLY 2017, WE TRACKED THE HUMANOID ALIEN LIFEFORM KNOWN AS "DARLING" TO A DEEP BUNKER IN AMSTERDAM. WHILE WE WERE UNABLE TO GAIN ENTRY TIO THE INNER CHAMBER, AN OPERATIVE SUCCESSFULLY PLACED AN EAVESDROPPING DEVICE CLOSE BY. WHILE MONITORING THE LIFEFORM'S MOVEMENTS, WE WERE ABLE TO RECORD EIGHT MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS OF VARYING LENGTHS THAT IT HAD CREATED USING A RANGE OF ANALOGUE AND DIGITAL ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTS.

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STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL: WE WRITE TO YOU WITH ALARMING NEWS ABOUT THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL SPECIMEN DISCOVERED IN THE FORBIDDEN FOREST IN JULY 2017. THIS LIFEFORM, CODE-NAME “DARLING”, ESCAPED FROM THE TOP-SECRET SAFE TRIP ORGANISATION HOLDING FACILITY LATE LAST NIGHT. ALL THAT WAS LEFT INSIDE THE SUBJECT’S ENCLOSURE WAS A PRESSED POLYVINYL DISC CONTAINING TWO PIECES OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC. THE FIRST, WHICH WE HAVE TITLED “WHEN SHE HATES ME”, SOUNDS LIKE A CALL TO A DISTANT MATE OR PARTNER, COMPOSED AT SUNRISE AND SHOT THROUGH WITH BLISSFUL POSITIVITY. THE OTHER, NOW KNOWN AS “ISLE OF RED”, COMBINES SURGING DRUMS WITH POIGNANT AND MELANCHOLIC SOUNDS THAT ARE CLEARLY UNEARTHLY IN ORIGIN.

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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF THE RECENTLY DISCOVERED MUSICAL RECORDINGS OF THE ESCAPED EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL LIFEFORM KNOWN AS “DARLING”, WE HAVE UNEARTHED TWO MORE AURAL EXPLORATIONS THAT WE BELIEVE THE SAFE TRIP ORGANISATION MUST MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. THE FIRST WE ARE CALLING “SIM”. IT IS THE SUBJECT’S MOST ALIEN AND OTHERWORLDLY COMPOSITION YET, COMBINING MIND-ALTERING RHYTHMIC ELEMENTS WITH ELASTIC ELECTRONIC BASS AND CHORDS FROM BEYOND THE STARS. THE SECOND, “MOON FLEET”, CAN ONLY BE DECRIBED AS NEXT-LEVEL SCI-FI DAYDREAMING. SINCE “DARLING” HAD NO ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC HARDWARE OR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS DURING HIS TIME IN OUR HOLDING FACILITY, WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA HOW THIS MUSIC CAME INTO BEING.

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Amsterdam based Darling with a six tracker for Safe Trip.

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The interstellar electronics are once more pushed to the fore on closer “80 Axes”, where jaunty synth lines combine with soft bongo hits to create an instinctive rhythm, and intergalactic melodies sprint between the speakers. You can dance if you want to, but lying down is very much encouraged.
As part of the label’s mission to champion Dutch talent, Voyage Direct has always promoted new, up and coming, and little-known producers. Boss Tom Trago’s master plan includes building a family of artists, in part through helping unheralded local producers to fulfill their potential. On the label’s latest release, he continues that approach, serving up a debut 12” from a mysterious young producer known only as Darling. Those paying close attention to the wider Dutch house and techno scene may have spotted his recent rework of Awanto3’s “Star Butchers” on Dekmantel, in which the man or woman of mystery added some killer keys to the Amsterdam legend’s woozy, deep house original. While that rework was undoubtedly superb, Jacob’s Lead offers a truer reflection of the shadowy producer’s previously hidden talents. As debut EPs go, it’s a bit of a cracker. The title track, in particular, is a beauty. Its’ restless, hypnotic rhythm tips a wink to classic Dutch techno of old, while the undulating, analogue electronics and swirling pads recall the far-sighted retro-futurism of vintage Motor City material. Throw in some of Darling’s trademark spine-tingling keys and a deliciously loved-up breakdown, and you have a choice chunk of life-affirming techno. On the flip, Darling heads towards deeper territory with the bubbling melodies, starburst electronics and saucer-eyed chords of “Video”. Unashamedly positive in sound and intent, it sounds like the kind of track that will be cited as a classic in two decades time. Melodious and infectious, it casts Darling as the Netherlands’ answer to Larry Heard.

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Experienced Dutch producer Tom Ruijg rightly won praise for his first 12” as Tracey, Skyfall, which surfaced on Voyage Direct in early 2017. Combining elements seemingly inspired by vintage Detroit futurism, ‘90s ambient techno and his own love of colourful synthesizer melodies, the EP saw Tracey set out his stall in impressive fashion. Compare and contrast, for example, the two A-side cuts. While “Testarossa” is far-sighted and spacey, with Tracey wrapping intergalactic electronics and lilting synthesizer melodies around a darting synthesizer bassline and swinging, electro-influenced house drums, “Sidekick” is blissful and almost overwhelmingly melodious: all 16-bit new age motifs, head-in-the-clouds electronics and driving, locked-in machine drums. The contrasts continue on the B-side, too. Many DJs may instinctively be drawn towards “Made My Love”, whose energy-packed groove (think vintage Chicago jack with a dollop of slick NYC house soul) is peppered with spacey chords, undulating electronic motifs and glacial melodies. Yet the track that follows, the wild and windy electro workout that is “Interceptor”, is every bit as potent when played over club sound systems. The track’s inherent hustle, seemingly the product of Ruijg’s darting synth stabs and feverish audio textures, is almost impossible to resist.

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5 Track EP. Yamaha’s DX series of synthesizers has long been a source of inspiration for Tom Trago. The DX7, in particular, appeals to the Dutch producer thanks to a unique sound that he describes as “glassy but classic and icy”. 34 years after it went on sale – the same year as Trago was born, interestingly – the synthesizer’s sound still bristles with futurist appeal.

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Dope archival release of Steve Rachmad's long time side project where he exposes the more funk / electro side of his talents. This is musical machine-head side of the Amsterdam electro scene (also purveyed buy the likes of Comtron). Dense undertones of Cybotron/ Model 500 on this one... Top notch productions from a Dutch Master. Check!

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Follow up to last years 12" on Voyage Direct from this active Amsterdam DJ/Producer. Check it.

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Another side of Steve Rachmad. Preceeds and album of archive tracks that shows the far reaching talents of this master producer..

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Djoko is no stranger to Voyage Direct. Having first appeared on the label way back in 2012, he?s returned numerous times since, becoming an integral member of the imprint?s growing family of artists. X rated stuff.



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