2013 Flashback #7 - Best Tech House

My top 5 best tech house of the year 2013

#1 
Solee - Sommerliebe


#2
Olivier Schories - Sunset (Joris Delacroix Remix)
  
#3
Vincent Leijen - Rosette


#4 
Dusky - Careless


#5
Ruttenbergs - Heating

2013 Flashback #6 - Best Melodic Techno

My top 5 best melodic techno of the year 2013

#1 
Makson - Oeuvre


#2
10dens - Crown Fetch
 
#3
Karl M - Inferno


#4 
Tvardovsky - 21 Weeks


#5
Xzaltacia - Proton

2013 Flashback #5 - Best Electronica

My top 5 best electronica of the year 2013

#1 
Nils Frahm - Says


#2
10dens - Crown Fetch (Willy Real & David Prap Space Interpretation)


#3
Zusammenklang - Tagtraum


#4 
Nils Frahm - Peter (Max Cooper Remix)


#5
Andreas Brunner - Amare

2013 Flashback #4 - Best Sets

My top 5 best sets of the year 2013

#1 
Tale Of Us - 60 Min set @ Boiler Room x Nuits Sonores


#2 
Max Cooper - Live @ Awakenings Festival


#3
Solee - Live @ 5 jahre Bergwacht


#4
Rone - Live @ Boiler Room x Nuits Sonores


#5
Dominik Eulberg - 60 Min set @ Boiler Room Berlin 023

2013 Flashback #3 - Best Classics

My top 5 classics of the year 2013

#1 
Oxia - Domino (2006)


#2 
Minilogue - The Leopard (Extrawelt Remix) (2007)


#3
Lanny May - Drowned Bell (2010)


#4
Robert Babicz - Dark Flower (Joris Voorn Remix) (2008)


#5
Rone - So So So (2011)

2013 Flashback #2 - Best Techno

My top 5 techno tracks of the year 2013

#1 
Tale Of Us - Another Earth


#2 
Roland M. Dill - Tzycho


#3
Applescal feat. Lanny May - Wise Noise On Time


#4
Ryan Davis & Electric Rescue - Roam


#5
Gabriel Ananda - The Hunt

2013 Flashback #1 - Best Albums

My top 5 albums of the year 2013

#1 
Moderat - II

Best tracks:
Bad Kingdom, Versions, Let In The Light, Damage Done, This Time

#2 
Darkside - Psychic

Best tracks:
Golden Arrow, Heart, Paper Trails, The Only Shrine I've Seen

#3
Nils Frahm - Spaces

Best tracks:
Says, Said And Done, Hammers, For – Peter – Toilet Brushes – More

#4
Bonobo - The North Borders

Best tracks:
First Fires, Cirrus, Sapphire, Don't Wait, Ten Tigers

#5
Jon Hopkins - Immunity

Best tracks:
Open Eye Signal, Breathe This Air, Collider, Immunity


Merry X-mas!

Joscha Berg - Sweet Tension

Techhouse Tuesday #009




Soul and harmony are the essential thoughts 18 year old Joscha Berg bases his productions on. Sascha Braemer took notice of his talent and as a result Joscha released his EP “Soul Motion” at the Berlin Label “WHATIPLAY”. Soul Motion – four warm, harmonic dancefloor-tracks which tend to big emotions. It’s almost impossible to choose a favourite among them. 'Sweet Tension' could be it.

E-Spectro - Four Walls

Melodic Monday #009





E-Spectro – a duet of electronic experimenters. Continuous search of new sounds and mixing of styles give a unique shade to collective sounding, it is progressive, deep, techno and even trance, their works it is impossible to carry to any certain genre of electronic music. The history of the project originates in 2008 when two DJs of Ivan Rayt and Igor Born having united the efforts, wanted to deduce the studio creativity on professional level. A track behind a track they gained popularity and respect in a circle of judges of intellectual sounds.

Rival Consoles - Voyager

Sunday's Chillout #009





Like many electronic artists, Ryan Lee West aka Rival Consoles spent his early years experimenting with IDM, glitch and dance, but one consistent element in his musical journey has been his desire to create a more organic, humanised sound. Through these experimentations he has found a process of producing electronic music that feels close to this urge. Restricting himself to a small selection of analogue equipment, West engages his hands directly with instruments and is very selective about what he then records into the computer. He reduces musical parts even further, leaving enough space around the sound for it to breath.

Max Cooper - Molten Expansion (Dj set november 2013)

Saturday's Set #009





Max Cooper has done a new DJ set, with a load of his favourite stuff at the moment, which as always covers a lot of ground musically, but is hopefully still grounded in some sort of thread of warmth and flow. Full tracklist below (the first track is played backwards btw):

Tracklist:
1. Brian Eno - LUX - Nicolas Jaar Remix - Backwards Edit (Warp)
2. The Presets - Promises - Nils Frahm Remix (Modular)
3. Max Cooper & Tom Hodge - Fragments of Self (Fields)
4. Rival Consoles - Voyager (Erased Tapes)
5. Bonobo - The Keeper - Banks Remix (Ninja Tune)
6. Rob Clouth - Sifting Through Static (Traum)
7. Samu.L - The Beach (Surface)
8. Tessela - Gateway (R&S)
9. Nils Frahm - For - Max Cooper Remix (Erased Tapes)
10. Joe Goddard - Bassline 12" (Greco-Roman)
11. Collaboration TBA 1
12. Forgold - Sleep Cycle (Sound of the Cosmos)
13. Special Request - Deranged (Houndstooth)
14. Tim Hecker - Live Room (Kranky)
15. Fuck Buttons - Stalker (ATP)

Ripperton - Random Violence

Friday's Classic # 008



 
It's hard to choose a classic from the hands of Raphael Ripperton. His debut album "Niwa" contains numerous tracks where I could choose from. But the track 'Random Violence' is after three years still in my playlists. It has a very deep atmosphere and you can feel the emotions where it's made of.
The track is also available in a Joris Voorn Remix, which is more suited for the dancefloors.

Vaal - Cine (Mind Against Remix)

Techno Thursday #008





Heralding from a rocknroll and jazz background Vaal is not aware of the strict rules that define & guard electronic music. Therefore Vaal is not afraid to break them. Sourcing tracks and samples became an obsession: from this was born a compulsion to write, experiment & develop original music that could be equally human, equally electronic.
Vaal exists in the dark of the city: the secretive curtained room that you can never quite peer into, the dark pulsating dancefloors of the underground. Vaal has nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears & sweat. Vaal is electronic, & Vaal is a Baastard.
Remix is done by the Italian brothers of Mind Against.

Stereoclip - Hometown

Album of the Week #008





Following two successful EPs finally comes the long awaited release of Stereoclip's first album. Since his first EP, "It's About the Time" released on Delicieuse Records, media outlets across Europe haven't been shy to show their support. Following several features on top chart compilations released by French heavy weights like Wagram and Universal, Max came into high demand and was soon sent to tour through France and Belgium to showcase his music. Getting back from this first experience, and following a self released second EP, Max decided to take his music in another direction while focusing on variating his instrumentals and at a set harmony. Many of his musician friends contributed to Hometown, infusing diverse influences from D&B to deep Berlin electronic music, as well as pop and rock n roll samples. For such an eclectic mix the result was surprisingly refreshing. Due to such an immaculate execution did the fusion of sounds mesh organically. What brings a mere coherence to his past discography and recent album is Stereoclip's noticeable hunt for new soundscapes. He bridges the gap between unique concepts and varying instrumentals to create a solid and underlying sound identity.

Release Date: 16 december 2013
Rating: still listening, to be rated soon

Tale Of Us & Vaal - Concor EP

Techhouse Tuesday #008





After the sensation caused by its last release, Life and Death comes back strong with another battle cry into the darkness. With a prized new member of the family, Vaal, joining forces with a Life and Death mainstay, Tale of Us, the stage is set for another epic EP from the forward thinking label.

On the A side Concor grabs the listener with its immediate sense of urgency and a beckoning, slightly exotic melody. As it slowly twists and turns, moving ever more insistently towards its peak it propels the listener to a distant exotic land, as a throbbing beat and cymbals accentuate and elevate the tension. Already a mainstay of the few DJs lucky enough to get their hands on it early, this is sure to be one that will lodge itself deeply into the collective unconscious as we make the long march thru winter and back to summer again.

Over on the B side comes Seahnak, an equally beautiful piece of music that manages to present its intricate melody without ever letting its energy dip. Gothic and yet regal at the same time, as the lead synth shoots out the gate, it takes us on a surprising journey as it pushes the limits of what we might expect from dance music while raising our expectations of it in the process.

Makson - Dimension

Melodic Monday #008





'Dimension EP' is the follow up release of the 'Oeuvre'EP' by Makson from Ukraine. One of the best new discoveries of this year. The title track 'Dimension' contains the same ingredients as the fabulous track 'Oeuvre'. Very nice, Makson did it again!

Zusammenklang - Tagtraum

Sunday's Chillout #008





Zusammenklang of Bremen is more than a stage name - it is a project , a claim , a feeling. Throughout his career, he made it his mission to find the perfect balance between scale and energetic sounds, and to create pieces that can be described equally powerful as calm and collected as well.

Four Tet - Live @ Hostess Club Weekender, Yebisu Garden Hall Tokyo 01.12.2013

Saturday's Set #008





Recorded at 3:35pm on the 1st December 2013 at the Hostess Club Weekender at the Yebisu Garden Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

With lots of live-edits from his last album 'Beautiful Rewind'

Tracklist:
00 Ba Teaches Yoga
06 Jupiters
14 128 Harps
21 Our Navigation
25 FaltyDL - Straight & Arrow (Four Tet Remix)
27 For These Times
33 Buchla
39 Unicorn
45 Pyramids
48 Kool FM
52 Parallel Jalebi

Marc Romboy Vs. Stephan Bodzin - Triton

Friday's Classic # 007





After two and a half years of waiting, Marc Romboy and Stephan Bodzin finally returned with their ninth single collaboration,'Triton'! 
Yet another wonderfully unique piece of music, 'Triton' was the lead single from their debut album "Luna", that also contained other classics as 'Callisto', 'Atlas' and 'Phobos'.

Gabriel Ananda - The Hunt

Techno Thursday #007





This is Gabriel Ananda, one of the best german producers of our times. "The Hunt" is a little bit dark, focused on the dancefloor, very minimalistic but full of sounds, from the lower keys to the higher ones. This is from Ananda's debut on Suara "Let It In and Let It Out EP", a colorful mixing. 

Koett - Golden Peak

Album of the Week #007





From ambient interludes that could soundtrack a short film, to lively acid jazz all the way through to spacious funk and introspective yet soulful, techno inspired workouts, Koett (who's real name is Aleksander Tochilkin) deftly weaves through the gamut of electronic machine music.

Having released under a number of names between 2005 and 2012 and following strong house and techno releases on FUSELab and Dabit Records, Koett has pinned down his sound for his 'Golden Peak' album, creating a cogent record that drips with creativity. “Golden Peak” once more serves as reminder that the Russian music scene is alive and kicking and with fellow countrymen Pixelord, Monokle and DZA already flying the flag for a scene it is not a stretch of the imagination to believe we will be hearing a lot more emerge from the mega state in the coming years.

The artwork for the release is by Alex Coll, a surrealistic artist that utilizes the medium of collage to create his posters and works. Using scissors and glue as his weapons of choice, he culls his source materials from images taken from old books and magazines, recontextualising pictures into new artistic memes and ideas.

Release Date: 25 november 2013
Rating: still listening, to be rated soon

Chi Thanh - I Like The Way (Animal Trainer Remix)

Techhouse Tuesday #007






Chi Thanh, a Berlin based multi talented beat wizard who brings us an debut EP for OFF Recordings named 'Let's Play EP'.
On the remix front we have Animal Trainer from Switserland, who craft a trippy driving techy landscape for the track 'I Like The Way'. 

Joe Goddard - Bassline '12

Melodic Monday #007





I'm sure Joe Goddard needs no introduction, the co-founder of Greco-Roman and leading member of Hot Chip + one half of 2 Bears. This track "Bassline '12" from the 'Taking Over EP' has a really banging synth that reminds me of the good old days of The Knife.

Weval - Rooftop Paradise

Sunday's Chillout #007





Weval is a collaboration between two pals from the Netherlands - Harm Coolen (1986) and Merijn Scholte Albers (1989). Both Harm and Merijn have roots in the filming industry, which is also where they met in 2010. When they found out they were sharing the same love and ambition for creating electronic music they decided to team up as a producers duo. Merijns background is more triphop and rock orientated, Harm is influenced by jazz and house music. Because of their different backgrounds they blend the best of these genres together in their combined work.

The track Rooftop Paradise is from their debut 'Half Age Ep'

Darkside - Live @ Daytime Session, Boiler Room NYC 01.10.2013

Saturday's Set #007





Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington as "DARKSIDE" giving us an amazing performance from an intimate rooftop session in New York.

Broadcasted on Oct 1st, 2013
New York, United States

Tracklist:
00 Paper Trails
11 Freak, Go Home
20 The Only Shrine I've Seen
30 Planet Caravan

M.A.N.D.Y. vs. Booka Shade - Body Language

Friday's Classic # 006





Booka Shade delivered this classic tune in cooperation with the guys of M.A.N.D.Y. It was featured on the Booka Shade's album 'Movements' together with other classic tunes like 'Night Falls' and 'Mandarine Girl'. 

Martin Eyerer - The Cake (Pan-Pot Remix)

Techno Thursday #006





After Martin Eyerer's move to Berlin, touring the world as usual and the construction of his Riverside Studios with the residents and partners Booka Shade, Pan-Pot, Tobi Neumann, Santé, Stephan Hinz, Jade Souaid etc, he's back with his first Kling Klong release in 2013.
And obviously Berlin is pure inspiration for the Kling Klong founder as well, just listen to his 'Cake'. 
Also thanks to his mates from Pan-Pot for their great techno interpretation.

Dusty Kid - III

Album of the Week #006





"III" Dusty Kid's third album is a cinematic experience of almost 2 hours listening conceived as a single piece of music, like a wall of bricks that strictly belong to each other to give the whole album a well defined story.The album, mixed by using few different vintage consoles and recording everything on a reel-to-reel tape in order to get a more alive and lofi result, moves towards a very underground feeling. There are no easy-listening melodies (don't expect in fact any "America" or "Lynchesque", any "Kore" or "Chentu Mizas") but it rather sounds like a saga of dirty, confused, delirious, sometimes bizzare and ridiculous, very dark techno moments. "III" might remind of a noir-horror-fantasy movie to watch with eyes closed and where the listener is the main character who can play like in a 'shoot-em-up game made of many levels. The sinister calm of the opening, made of the leftfield acid ambient landscapes and industrial noises of the first 4 tracks, preannounces that something is going to happen and leads the listener into a further level of the game where entrance is initially restrained by a man at the door "He Won't Let You In". Once got through listener is taken onto a further level and enters the "Leather Bears Cinematic Suite".The 5-tracks "suite" is a deep journey into the 90's techno with its first track "Doom" being an almost metallurgical hell as the listener climbs the stairs that will lead him into the main scene. From now on what the listener will see is just what he would expect to see there...the title of the "suite" says it all! "Pandemonium" and "Dark Room" really seem to drive the listener inside a wonderfully painted idea of what's going on in there. As the listener takes the "Exit 12", that with its lofi and dark mix perfectly describes the feeling after a night spent in the "suite" and echoes of "Flashback" from the previous night still echoing in his confused and distorted mind, the journey goes even more deeply into the 90's techno. "Yota Wave" is in fact a skillfully grotesque recreation of a futuristic techno trance experimentalism of the early Plus-8 records. Level after level listener goes on in the game and while "In The Wood" sounds like a track recorded from the radio with a poor quality cassette, the triad "Prelude"-"Omega Y" and "Omega X" just seems to be a track coming out from another track which comes from another track like in a concentric way."Escape" follows in the same key as the previous triad with a flying ethereal athmosphere followed by a massive tribal anthem as "Idklip" explodes while the listener approaches the final level of the game."Ending", a simple pronounced piano note that lays on a tender carpet of soffused strings and far reverbs leads the listener to the light at the end of this journey.

Release Date: 25 november 2013
Rating: 4/5

Dusky - Careless

Techhouse Tuesday #006





As Dusky, the British duo of Alfie Granger-Howell and Nick Harriman have asserted their position amongst the top producers working in electronic music right now after releases on Anjunadeep, Naked Naked, Aus, and its sister label Simple. Their Careless EP on Will Saul's Aus imprint has a relaxed flair, melding a diverse range of classic house, techno and garage influences with a wholly modern energy here, marking yet another step forward in their technique and approach.

The track 'Careless' is crackling and expansive with just the right amount of dance floor-centric coloration, detailing a more roughed up and rugged example of Dusky's deft ability to rethink and reshape their sound for the modern club context.

Niccolo Bianchi - Turdus Merula

Melodic Monday #006





Shabu regular Niccolò Bianchi comes back with Turdus Merula which sounds like a rave party that you discover in the middle of a jungle. At first, it has that dark mysterious feel to it but when it unfolds into its real form, you clearly understand every second of it and you just can't help yourself but to see where it goes next.

Karl M & Van Did - Teslah (Atmo Mix)

Sunday's Chillout #006





Visionary Mind Records releases the result of first meeting between the inspired producers Karl M & Van Did. The celebration of the detailed net of connections in the sensible world is one of the keys to transform sadness into happiness.

"Life is a rhythm that must be comprehended. Everything that lives is related to a deep and wonderful relationship: man and the stars, amoebas and the sun, the heart and the circulation of an infinite number of worlds. These ties are unbreakable." Nikola Tesla

Arjuna Schiks - Live @ Loveland Festival, Sloterpark Amsterdam 11.08.2013

Saturday's Set #006





Some good liveset by Arjuna Schiks to remember the summervibes!

Tracklist:
00:00 ID
06:18 ID
09:51 ID
16:42 ID
24:17 Arjuna Schiks – Waterkristallen
30:10 ID
32:55 Arjuna Schiks – Decisions
39:47 Arjuna Schiks – Regenboog
46:25 Arjuna Schiks – First Thought
53:16 Arjuna Schiks – Mahesvari

Oxia - Domino

Friday's Classic # 005





Oxia should be no stranger to minimal techno spotters. Behind his fancy pseudonym we find one Olivier Raymond from Grenoble, France. Deejaying from the tender age of 15, Oxia has been consistently churning out productions under several guises - with Stephane Deschezeaux or the Hacker with whom he runs the Goodlife label. Oxia joined in 2006, the ever ready speicher series, after touching kompakt hearts and minds with this readymade monster “Domino”. This track will split your mind!

Electric Rescue - Non Exchangeable

Techno Thursday #005





The second single “Silky” from this summer’s critically acclaimed Electric Rescue album - also features an exciting, brand-new, not on the album, harder-edged techno production - “Non-Exchangeable” - that has also been remixed into a magnificent creative opus by Italian “enfant prodige” Dusty Kid (aka Paolo Alberto Lodde).
Electric Rescue (aka Antoine Husson) is one France’s leading electronic music producer/DJ talents. His Bedrock album - “Sonic Architecture” - is a 12 track collection that showcases his ability moving deftly between the kind of taut, melodic techno; heads-down, harder-edged dancefloor rhythms; and experimental electronica he’s brought to prominence on Gallic soil. A confident, flowing artist album, it’s the type of release that can only stem from years of experience and near constant immersion within electronic music culture. First discovered by Laurent Garnier, the roll-call of labels Electric Rescue has released music on reads like a who’s who of leading and legendary imprints, from Bedrock to Soma, F Communications to Harthouse, Sci + Tec, Cocoon, Traum, Boyznoize Records and beyond. 
As a DJ, his residency at the legendary Rex Club in Paris cemented his reputation on home turf, later gaining notoriety by organizing Paris’ infamous “Play” parties. Further afield, he’s played every major club worth referencing, including Berghain, Panorama Bar, Club Tresor, Air Club, Moog (Barcelona), The Edge, Picnik, Herr Zimmerman, Decadence, East Village Club and many more.

Deetron - Music Over Matter

Album of the Week #005





Asked to describe his music to a new listener one might falter. While it's true that there is a very specific sound at the core of his music, it is the fluid nature of Deetron's work that defines him as an artist. Yet there is one word that can be used to sum up this dynamic musical mind and the polymorphic sounds that he has mastered - Maverick. Departing from the accepted course, a free-spirited, non-conformist both musically and in his chosen path within the industry; this distinguishing characteristic is also the life-blood of Deetron's studio work. His broad musical palette the bedrock from which a myriad of pleasureful sounds have entertained and held firm fans across the globe. His second album, which will be released on Music Man Records, finds Deetron in a unique, transitional phase. The vocal element of his music coming to the fore, with Music Over Matter he proves that there is no substitute for substance and skill, putting music firmly back in the frame is the message, and how poignant to today's tumultuous industry! A prismatic mosaic of vocal textures and expertly crafted grooves, Music Over Matter takes flight through the bounds of Deetron's musical persona, working vocals in unexpected ways through the deepest, most colorful and penetrating moments. A new facet to the multi-dimensional Deetron sound. From cranked up four to the floor and voluminous deep house grooves, to dream-sequence synths, elegant drum-programming and powerful melodic signatures, there is not a single moment of this album that won't thrill those craving a hefty interjection. Yet as motley and satisfyingly eclectic as they come, each track of the album is connected through a deep vein of soulful musicality. Joining Deetron for the trip are old friends such as Ripperton and Cooly G, who lay the foundations for the album with their opening track 'Thinking' - glitchy scratchy Techno, which blends in perfectly to Deetron's collaboration with the inimitable, cosmic surfer Seth Troxler with whom he throws down a golden gauntlet of pitch-bent synths and heightening fervor with their hypnotic 'Love Song'. Deetron's hit single with Hercules & Love Affair also features... Flipping genres so elegantly, Deetron teams up with Belgian vocalist Delvis for an old-school Motor City influenced vocal number, which is followed by the beautifully smooth vocal talents of Ben Westbeech who produce a perfect melody-drenched house track, which will also be Deetron's forthcoming single. Deetron's collaboration with Fritz Kalkbrenner adds a seriously unique twist to the album, with rich vocals resonating over Deetron's orchestral soundtrack. Teaming up with Justin Chapman again for 'Strange Things' with Simbad along for the ride results in a gorgeous slab of deep electronica... George Maple provides the perfect vocals for 'Rescue' with her (yes, it's a woman!) ethereal vocals washing over you in pure delight. Music Over Matter also features pure instrumental tracks by Deetron, including 'Sing', 'Come Away Further', 'Count on Me', 'Can't Love You More' and for your listening pleasure has added the 2011 hit 'Starblazer' as a bonus track. From a producer, whose unrelenting passion is the mark of his music, Music Over Matter is a reflection of the vibrant landscape upon which he so fearlessly treads... A bold, panoramic stroke that will appeal to so many more than just the intrepid nomads of the underground.

Release Date: 21 october 2013
Rating: 3/5

Chymera - Disc

Techhouse Tuesday #005





We welcome back Chymera for another stellar release on Dirt Crew. Two years Ago he gave us one of our biggest tracks ever on Dirt Crew with the amazing "Curl" a track that became an instand classic across all genres. Now we are very proud to have him do it once more, the title track "Disc" is an absolute Club Monster, we have been playing this one out for months now and people go crazy when its bassline drops. Reactions are overwelming and we are happy to finally put this one out. Chymera gave us two more tracks that show his great talent composing very melodic Techno and House tracks, "Valise" is a beauty of a track, very deep and spacious. The B side track "Isa" is just plain ecstacy on the dancefloor, a perfect late night or early morning tune. And as a bonus we asked one of our favourite producers out there to lay his hands on "Isa" the marvellous Mark E who has been doing great things in the last years on his Merc label, he made an slow balearic Proto House kind of remix that hits the spot perfectly....

Joseph Capriati - Fratello

Melodic Monday #005





'Fratello' has achieved anthem status since it debuted in Capriati's sets last year, such is the reaction it has garnered from fans. A work of rare beauty, this is techno at its most emotive, as hypnotic melody is laced with intricate key patterns, while the Italian's trademark shaking percussion propel the track forward.

Baikal - Why Don't Ya? (Ripperton Remix)

Sunday's Chillout #005





Bai Kayul aka Baikal is a Berlin based deep house producer. Baikal makes multi layered electronic music for the heart, mind and feet. Preferably all at the same time. This absolute fabulous remix is made by Raphaël Ripperton, very very long and very deep. It's a stunning journey for 14 minutes...

N'to - Live November 2013

Saturday's Set #005





N'To was born in Marseille in 1985. His love story with music started in his early childhood with his parents icons. He started learning guitar when he was ten years old and could never give up making music since then. After beeing a 70's rock lover for years, one day, he discovered something he never heard before, that was Underworld (Everything Everything). This masterpiece of techno music opened him to techno and electronic musics. Since 2004 N'To produces his own electro music, while he never stopped making all other kinds of music. Influenced by minimal and techno artists such as James Holden, Extrawelt and Stephan Bodzin, his electronic working is recognizable by his using of smoothy melodies surrounded by efficient minimal rhythms. He also composes more hip/trip hop and accoustic music.

Tracklist:
N'to & Grant Lazlo - Minor Swag
N'to - The Sand Dealer
N'to - Petite
Worakls - Bleu (N'to Remix)
Boss Axis - Pitau (N'to Remix)
Worakls - When The Birds Go In The Wrong Way (N'to Remix)
N'to - After Laughter
N'to - Utopia
N'to - Every Wall Is A Door
Mode B - Antwerpen (N'to Remix)
N'to - 1825
Worakls - Souvenir (N'to Remix)
N'to - Trauma
N'to - T'es Triste
N'to - The Bosnian

Arjuna Schiks - Mahesvari

Friday's Classic # 004





Arjuna Schiks made some strong summer tunes this summer, wich are featured on the 'Storyteller EP' and 'Parkish EP'. But the all time favourite summer tune is still Mahesvari. More than 3 years ago came this beauty in my life. In my eyes it's still his best production so far. If you're sad or lonely, this track will cheer you up for sure!

Broombeck - The Storyteller

Techno Thursday #004





Broombeck is the alter ego of musician, composer, sound designer and producer Marcus Schmahl. Since 2008 he has treated us to a string of Techno releases, all influenced by his years of working with different styles of music. He combines these with percussive grooves, deep basslines, epic breakdowns and experimental sounds to create anthemic, roof-raising compositions. His impressive live performances have seen him play many of the worlds finest clubs and lead to DJ Magazine describing his shows as 'Incredible.... Proper techno!"

The Storyteller EP is an exceptional three track collection that kicks off with the mighty Two Faces, a track that teases with its spritely melodic keys before unleashing its siren-like synths. On the flip Dwarf leads with bubbling, almost sinister opening bars. However, the tripping synth, groovy acid line and thumping kick drum soon eradicates any darkness here. The ep is completed with a beatless version of lead cut, Two Faces.

Nils Frahm - Spaces

Album of the Week #004






If you're getting old, it's time to listen to some classical music every now and then. If you're not into classical stuff (yet), Nils Frahm is the man who will convince you to cross the bridge, and welcome you in the modern world of classical music. They call it neo classcical. And I like it.

Release Date: 18 november 2013
Rating: 4.5/5

Louis Kolben - Don't Lose Your Way

Techhouse Tuesday #004





Louis Kolben aka Luigi Tutolo was born in Bari,Italy, on July 11th, 1986. Dj and Producer, his main interest, from a young age, is music in all its facets that brings him to deepen the concept of 'home recording' and to the study of the sound synthesis.His first musical project is realized under the name "Sugar Puppetz", a duo characterized by progressive and techno sounds. It's the progressive influence and the passion for arpeggios that still characterize his sound. In 2013 he has his musical breakthrough, his first EP, released in June on the label 'Outside The Box Music'. It opens the doors to a new sound research that aims to create a fusion between various musical genres.

Reinier Zonneveld - Maison

Melodic Monday #004





Reinier Zonneveld is a newcomer to the Manual family, continuing the tradition of giving talented (Dutch) artists a platform for their original melodic electronic music. Though new to Manual, Reinier is certainly not a newcomer to the global techno scene. With releases under his belt on labels such as Traum, Trapez, Illegal Alien and Deeperfect he has already built up quite the reputation for himself. Check out "Maison" from the 'Reach EP' and get acquainted with his trademark building dancefloor friendly melodic techno sound!

Darkside - Paper Trails

Sunday's Chillout #004





Last month Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington released Psychic, their debut album as Darkside. "Darkside is utterly sincere," said Tony Naylor in his RA review, "and at its most fractured and psychedelic, Harrington's guitar lends a smoky, mysterious dimension to Jaar's slinky electronica." "Paper Trails" is the record's dazzling midpoint, and perfect for the lazy sunday.
Listen also to the fabulous livesession of "Paper Trails" for the Resident Advisor Sessions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAAUqBghiVo

Robert Babicz - The WinterMix 2013/2014

Saturday's Set #004

 



I saw Robert Babicz at ADE 2013 and he played an awesome set. At that time I was a bit wasted, so I don't know wat he played exactly, but it was very powerful. 
This is his latest promomix, like always just BABICZ inside...
His latest productions, most of them not released.....

Tracklist:
00:00 Intro
01:00 Robert Babicz – Rosegarden
07:00 ID
11:00 ID 
16:00 Robert Babicz feat. B James - Centurion
20:00 Robert Babicz – Black Lion
26:00 Robert Babicz – Venus Transit
31:00 SQL & Child - My Minds (Robert Babicz Remix)
36:00 ID
38:30 ID
43:00 Robert Babicz – Krystaline
52:00 Robert Babicz – Montag + ID Vocal
59:30 Outro

Hot Chip - I Feel Better (Max Cooper Remix)

Friday's Classic # 003





In the end of 2010 I was checking out some end of year charts by several people. This remix by Max Cooper kept coming back in many charts, so I was giving this one a listen. I never heard of Max Cooper till then. My oh my, I don't know wat happened that day, immediately I felt in love with the track. Now three years later, Max Cooper is one of my favourite artists and I still love this remix very much...
Check out the unofficial youtube video someone has made to accompany the track! www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tr1LfBtRlk

Ramon Tapia - Elleonore's Dream

Techno Thursday #003





After a quick breather Ramon Tapia is back on home territory. His Say What? imprint proudly presents ‘Elleonore’s Dream’.

Influenced by the wonderful aesthetics of classic Detroit techno, ‘Elleonore’s Dream’ follows a different approach then other Tapia productions. The track’s foundation is of course Ramon’s trademark groove programming - but the soul is injected by the warm old-school synth textures. 

Booka Shade - Eve

Album of the Week #003





Fred Astaire is quoted as saying that the hardest thing about dancing is to make it look easy -- a description that perfectly sums up Eve, the fifth studio album by Berlin duo Booka Shade. In their latest work, Walter Merziger and Arno Kammermeier again reveal their talent for transforming the immense sound available from today's electronic production possibilities into pure, ethereal lightness. In that sense, Booka Shade and Fred Astaire aren't all that different. They don't simply dance, they prance. A few summer days in Manchester finally brought light to the end of the tunnel. Booka Shade set up house in the city's acclaimed EVE Studios, a "residential vintage recording studio" where musicians can live and work with rare, old-school recording equipment around the clock. That moment of clarity in Manchester, when everything suddenly fell into place, has now been immortalized in their new album title. And Eve remains true to the principle that has underpinned this duo's work from their first musical experiments right up to today: Booka Shade perform with four hands. That's it. Two hands on the drums and two hands on the keyboards have to do the job for every track in the studio and onstage. The only exception is when they are joined by special guests, this time including such luminaries as Fritz Helder (Azari & III), as well as Groove Armada's Andy Cato, blasting his trombone in a vast echo chamber while Fritz Kalkbrenner heralds the next departure singing the hymnal lines, "We've burned the bridges on our way." Booka Shade have a long history of building new bridges. Those bridges connect their rich past as producers with the glorious present, from Berlin's "Maifeld" to "Jesolo" on the Mediterranean and onwards to the Far East. Booka Shade are underway again and Eve is like a great voyage, an album imploring listeners to get moving, to begin dreaming, and to start prancing. Housed in a gatefold sleeve.

Release Date: 01 november 2013
Rating: 3/5

Ten Walls - Requiem

Techhouse Tuesday #003





The concept of Ten Walls is simple. A music driven project where the focus is moved away from the personality of the artist so that the music can more directly speak for itself. And that concept seems to be working well so far. After first appearing on the scene in early 2013 with its debut 'Gotham EP'  on Innervisions, Ten Walls quickly became a sensation as Gotham became a staple of DJs worldwide. One of those ubiquitous tunes that you can't escape but never seem to get enough of. Now with its second EP, Ten Walls joins Life and Death with a follow up that sits perfectly with the ever evolving yet quite distinct Life and Death sound. An EP that takes artistic experimentation and meshes it with a technical prowess that translates to music that works equally as well on the dancefloor as it does off of it. With "Ankaris", Ten Walls sets the tone with a droning soundscape over solid beats and arepeggiated synths that combine to tell the tale of a distant land, somewhere off in a far corner of the galactic federation. A journey to a faraway place but with emotions every listener can very quickly connect to... Picking up the pace slightly, "Mongol" tells the tale of nomadic tribes and ancient conflict. With a throbbing bass, haunting pads and an ethnic lead that seems to come from another era, Mongol seamlessly mixes sounds of both the past and the future to create something that stands out of time and firmly on it own. With a name like "Requiem" one might not expect the big tune that is hidden behind the understated title. But a big one it is, with an infectious lead that builds and builds as a beckoning cowbell dances around its center. Deceptively simple yet anything but, the whole of the track continues onwards and upwards taking the dancefloor along with it. A  euphoric embrace that will hold any dancefloor in its grip and is most certainly a worthy successor to Gotham -- as Ten Walls proves that its focus on the music is most certainly a fruitful one. 

Tran - Dance Avec Les Loups

Melodic Monday #003





Boris Tran was born in 1987 in North of France. He passed 10 years in Belgium where he begins to listen techno which influence himself many later.
In 2001, he moved to the south of France where he started to play music very young (Guitare/Bass/Vocal).
When he discovered techno for the first time in a night club, he found his way .
At this time, he starts his own productions with his best friends In-Dika & tEho. This track is on Inlab, the French label of David Prap & Willy Real.

Ryan Davis - Collider

Sunday's Chillout #003




Collider is the last track of the 'State Of Mind Ep' and is referring to thoughts that collide against each other. The change while finding out new possibilities and ways can sometimes be hard, irritating and cause confusion with own, older values. After people found informations they didnt knew before, they bump into people with out-dated informations which can cause conflicts as well. Thirdly, the conflict of what is right or wrong is playing a big role in our minds and causes a lot of trouble while deciding. As many different pieces of the puzzle we have to take care of, the solution will hopefully be a balance of all which is lead by the truth, responsibility and love.

This blance after the collision of the thought is mirrored in the Track collider which is with his breaky but very harmonic vibes, the soft changes and a tender melody, the perfect track to let thoughts collide and find the solution.

COMA - Live @ 20 Years of Kompakt, Boiler Room Berlin 04.09.13

Saturday's Set #003





COMA playing a Live Set at Boiler Room Berlin. After their debut album in 2013, on the Kompakt label, they are welcomed by Wolfgang Voigt to play some music.

Broadcasted On Wednesday September 4th

Video available at boilerroom.tv

Tracklist:

00:00 Coma – Fiction 

07:07 Coma – Out Of Control 

11:07 Coma – Fameless 

17:14 Coma – Hoooooray 

21:21 Coma – Missing Piece 

27:30 Coma – Les Dilettantes 

32:05 Coma – The Great Escape 

37:27 Coma – My Orbit 

42:55 Coma – Cycle 

49:23 Coma – Bette Davis' Eyes

Robert Babicz - Dark Flower (Joris Voorn Remix)

Friday's Classic # 002




Five years ago it was a highlight on the Extrema Festival in 2008. Last month, at the ADE 2013, when Robert Babicz dropped the original AND the Joris Voorn remix as well, I went completely mad. This remix by Joris Voorn still rocks very hard.

North Lake - Moonwalker EP

Techno Thursday #002





“Moonwalker” features three analog jams born out of live sessions – three beautiful synth cuts for home and club listening that instantly bring parallels to early Isolee material; melodic and heavy enough to whip up a frenzy on the dancefloor.

“Marlborol Noir” kicks off proceedings, chugging away effortlessly with it's ascending and descending synth riffs, the spawn of a long imprpvised session in the studio. “Suomi Kutsuu” opens the b-side emphatically, a heavy galloping rhythm and an ascending synth riff dominating from the off. It's six minutes of pure analog battle gear. Rounding off the EP, title track “Moonwalker” is a pacy mix of arpeggiated synths, intricate drum programing and eerie melodies that intertwine perfectly with the bass-heavy syncopated kick drum.

Egbert - Warm

Album of the Week #002




Egbert has been dazzling us with the speed at which he has skyrocketed to being one of the world's top players in the techno scene. Within a short period of time he has managed to create a rapidly growing fan base who have all been avidly waiting for him to release an album for some time now. This November Egbert will finally be releasing ‘Warm’ on Secret Cinema's Gem Records.

With powerful pumping main room techno such as ‘Haasten’ and ‘Straktrekken’ under his belt but also melodic and somewhat minimal sounding techno, Egbert creates a broad spectrum of music within his own signature sound. So which direction did he go on Warm?

The album takes you on a trip through Egbert’s vision of melodic techno. Well produced and euphoric but without stepping in to known territory. In his own words: ‘One thing I often miss at techno parties is warmth. I would like to bring that back to techno’. While his live sets are usually filled with percussion and rhythm, this album compiles the tracks that bring warmth to his set. We also get a taste of Egbert’s raw side with the powerful pumping grooves and punishing dark basslines on ‘Tegno’ and ‘Shulgin’. There’s even a new flavour added to the versatile producer’s palate with the trippy ambient sounds of ‘Ondergronds’ and ‘Trip’.

After hearing Egbert’s first EP ‘Stroom’ on Myspace, Jeroen ‘Secret Cinema’ Verheij was quick to snatch up Egbert and take him under his wing. ‘He came walking into my studio with hundreds of brilliant tracks that only needed some polishing up’ says Verheij. After that Egbert released ‘Magie’ which was one of Sven Väth’s favourites for 2009 and made it onto Cocoon’s ‘Sounds of the 10th Season’. Suddenly, Egbert was a new player on the worldwide techno scene. Four years and many huge EPs and remixes later, his album is finally here!

‘Warm’ emerges with the delicate, rolling rhythms and pads of opening track ‘Fonkel’ that stretches out across eight minutes of expansive, emotional landscape before the ‘Magic Night’ tightens up the beats before going deeper into the darkness and the previously mentioned ‘Shulgin’ pulses ever further into the night. ‘Hemelpoort’ brings us back towards the light with shimmering chords as does the more driving yet eloquent ‘Leven’ with ‘Machtig’ proving a slow builder that really hits its stride in the middle. Finally the album disappears into the ether with the atmospheric resonance of ‘Trip’, showcasing another string to Egbert comforting, radiant production.

Release Date: 04 november 2013
Rating: 3.5/5