Esoteric - Scarlet Enterprise (Curley Music 08 - 2011)

When Spiral Tribe gang of ravers swept over Europe about 20 years ago, Dutch-born youngster Curley Schoop aka Esoteric was one of their associates. His untimely death in 1998 abruptly stopped the career having started already in 1991 when Schoop was a member of a Djax Records signing called D.I.C.E.
To commemorate Schoop and familiarize younger generation with his output, French label Expressillon launched Curley Music for reissuing Schoop's works. On the "Scarlet Enterprise", released under Esoteric guise, especially the A-side is a real gem with rudeboy breakbeats and blatant kick drum. Like a blend of early hardcore and The Drum Club's tribal, it works as a crusties anthem to praise hedonistic lifestyle. The feeling of bonfires and hippie vehicles dominates also the B-side where medium-paced bass drum offensive stomps big time. Two long tracks of old school bliss.

Music for free: Streaming is believing

Legowelt's recent stunt to offer free download of his album "Teac Life" seemed a compliment to his long-standing fans. It was as unexpected as was subsequent news of the same album being pressed on quadruple vinyl, seeming a silly kind of luxury after the content was, and still is, shared for free. Though, I don't believe the vinyl freaks and Legowelt's true fans will let the LP package gather dust.

But it's not only about Legowelt. It works as a good example where the music, ahem, industry is going to. An increasing number of artists, and not only those seeking the very first recording deal, allow streaming of substantial parts of their releases on Bandcamp or Soundcloud. Given the state of the wired world one can easily fill the living room with new music without paying a penny for it. Also free downloads of selected tracks are more common in order to introduce a release.

Here starts the paradigm shift - either falling in love on the first streaming or discovering the qualities of the release later, the "buy" button will be hit if the music is convincing. The purchase is even more likely when the release comes out on quality vinyl pressing with great artwork.

This form of promotion is for brave ones, artists who believe having put out music that wins hearts and minds. Musical test drives might sound naive in the world of Internet piracy where the artists are stolen of their work and income. What's free is free and nobody gives a damn, or? Obviously we can't fight the piracy overnight, but self-confident artists can offer free rides to strengthen and expand their "client base". Maybe even some of ripping-zipping morons would be reverted back to normal world.

Datura Dilema - Parque Universal Fin (Subsist sub-d10)

When a new artist comes with a 76-minute album it warrants some attention. Datura Dilema is hailing from Valencia and has produced ten cuts of dubbed out and droning techno, released digitally on the Spanish label Subsist. Given strong track record of Semantica, Prologue, Zooloft and other outlets releasing this type of music it’s a serious challenge. Especially when the peak of this sub-genre fell on the year 2011.
Unlike many albums, “Parque Universal Fin” gets better closer to the end. Opening tracks like “Crater” and “Gas Espiral” prefer to stick to stereotypes and don't stand out from the bulk of similar releases. Thereafter  the compositions gradually become more impressive. “Sistema Orion” is already a serious tool making exposed to centrifugal force, although feels shortish with five-plus minutes, while “Planeta Azul” moves in synthetic dreams. Then “El Lado Obscuro De La Luna” prints giant steps on lunar dust in action-packed ten minutes of throbbing bass and alien effects. This is a damaging interplanetary trance worth to be released on vinyl. The selection for lighter moments would be „Gira Sol Gira“, shuffling tech house-flavored cut, and “Asteroides” with hints of acid. Tenebrous voice samples in “Analisis Espacial” turn the thing quite mental for the conclusion. A rather ambitious debut by an artist with concealed identity.

Paco Sala - Gifts of the Bloom / Gold Zone (Digitalis)

This time a brief one from Digitalis. A two-track digital single by Paco Sala works as a teaser for forthcoming album out this spring. "Gift Of The Bloom" a features female vocals by Leyli who sounds like a French pop diva. In the non-album instrumental track "Gold Zone" glittering synth layers advocate tranquility in your mind and body.

Claudio PRC - Inner State (Prologue PRGLP002)

Release date is 29 March 2012

Munich-based Prologue Music is discovering the fun of long format and currently trusting this job to Italian producers. While Donato Dozzy and Neel presented in "Voices From The Lake" a CD with crisp and clear ambient sounds, fellow countryman Claudio PRC is about to complete double wax filled with foggy dubs, arcane drones and hollow beats.
Keeping the atmosphere of constant menace of earlier Prologue releases, most cuts on the album carry underworldy tones to research hidden corners of human subconsciousness.
Found some standout tracks here: In "Black Hole" an irresistible vacuum machine sucks you into the abyss and in "Radial" loops are made of vitriolic substance. "Leave" with its beatless ambient is for moments of self-reflection while the LP includes also some standard droning techno ("Commutate", "Transparent"). In general a pretty decent LP debut by the Sardinian who proves to be a techno artist with potential.
 

Frak - Muzika Electronic (Digitalis DIGIV039)

Rating: 9/10

Det är lite konstigt that after a couple more or less experimental releases by Perispirit, Nova Scotian Arms and KPLR, Digitalis seems to have inaugurated a discodrome in Tulsa to welcome a special guest from Europe. Compared with aforementioned albums, "Muzika Electronic" sounds like a dance record. Almost, with a couple of wilder interpretations of electronic music.
The party is set up by the Swedish group Frak, consisting of Jan Svensson and Johan Sturesson, who celebrate the 25th anniversary with an impressive package of mechanical rhythms. While revisiting the 1980’s in many tracks, the release is not limited to the simplicity of two-finger synth arrangements, but also open to new influences. Joint vascular system called Frak offers a couple floor-oriented tracks that might have made the crowds cheering when Crown Princess Victoria was only five, and they still do.
My pick for the night is “Varje Dag”, a smutty vocoder song with catchy bass rhythms and electric pianos. Another cuts of alien boogie are „Tristesse Dance“, which moves in the same wavelength with early DAF and majestically swaying „In Order To Create“, where rusty robots emerge from the stellar fog do the vocals - found some parallels with I-F’s “The Men You’ll Never See”. "As You May" is a symbiosis of wave and techno textures while "Voyage No. 1" and "Komma Igång" sound like the outcome of an acidic jam session with KPLR. To the same category belong "Katamorph" and "Beat Dyslexia" sounding like illicit interactions of analog gear left alone for the night.
It was in 1987 when Frak did the debut release for the Swedish electronics label Börft and looking at the 25-year experience it’s no wonder they are recycling elements of new wave, electro and techno - but have managed to maintain healthy freshness in the sound.

Bintus - Corrosion Control (Power Vacuum POWAVAC001)

Rating: 7/10

There are hundreds of quintillions possible combinations for solving the Rubik's cube. Easily the same amount could be attributed to programming options of 303 or 808. Often challenged by the fear to remain just a copycat of Phuture or Hardfloor, the producers still keep going to replenish the specter of acid tracks.
Now it's Bintus from Berlin trying his luck with the first release for newly founded Power Vacuum label. Title track "Corrosion Control" seems tired like a coal miner after extra shift because of montone midtempo programming. It’s not even cheered up when the bass knob is turned to the extremes closer to the end.
Thumbs up for "Advanced Fuel", which carries much higher energetic value with ample silver box grooves, accented breaks and nautical effects. Like from the days of Burger Industries and Jammin Unit, nice electric funk to gain some recognition on the floors. With some room for improvement it’s a promising start by Bintus.