out now: Dettmann / Klock – Phantom Studies EP [Ostgut Ton]

 

Artist:
Dettmann / Klock

 

Title:
Phantom Studies EP

 

Label:
Ostgut Ton

 

Cat#:
O-TON 100

 

Release Date:
27th January 2017

 

Format:
vinyl & digital

 

Tracklist:
A1.
Phantom Studies

B1.
No One Around

B2.
The Room

C1.
Prophet Man

C2.
Bad Boy

D1.
The World Tonight

D2.
The Tenant

 

Press Info (English):
Berghain residents Ben Klock and Marcel Dettmann link back to Ostgut Ton’s label launch in 2006 with their first studio collaboration in ten years and the extended Phantom Studies, on occasion of the one hundredth O-TON 12“ EP release.

With Phantom Studies Dettmann | Klock channel their first joined releases Dawning (2006) and Scenario (2007) from over a decade ago with their first co-production in ten years. On this extended, 40-minute 2×12″ EP Marcel Dettmann and Ben Klock parlay their deep personal alliance and musical repertoire through emphasis on new functional Techno as much as hypnotic, melodic and soulful music by thinking outside the box. The seven new, original tracks reflect these attributions by communicating to the needs and expectations of both DJs and home audio listeners, but not neglecting one over the other.

The opening track “Phantom Studies” perfectly combines this spirit with one leg on the floor and one on the couch: the brittle beginning is soon outpaced by a subtle kick, meandering, mesmerizing harmonies, hi-hats and clave sounds as well as bells that join the ranks of Techno music’s vast past. Very much a musical piece, evocative and powerful. This aesthetic is present throughout this record, interconnecting home with club settings: “The Room” is likely the darkest piece, decelerated, droneheavy, menacing and pitch black with Marcel Dettmann on vocals; “Prophet Man” is a laid-back, pulsing Dub Techno piece with plenty of synth pads left and right, nestling a spoken-word sermon by Ben Klock – but not as dead serious as you may think, hence the giggles; “The World Tonight” puts shimmering, frisky synth melodies into the focus while the kick adds some muscularity and ecstasy.

Of course there’s something for club use: “No One Around” is a prototypic tool, relentlessly pounding at 134 bpm with an uncompromising sudden start / end; Clocking in at 124 bpm “Bad Boy” lives up to its name through multifaceted hi-hat patterns and swirling synth progressions; “The Tenant” closes out this release with distorted, bending, brazen Acid textures, noisy, dazing vocal samples atop a steady kick drum, completed by a fitting valediction: “Good night!”

Phantom Studies underlines Dettmann | Klock’s mutual musical vision – be it in regards of their twelve year residency at Berghain or challenging dancefloors around the globe.

 

Press Info (German):
Die Berghain-Residents Ben Klock und Marcel Dettmann knüpfen mit ihrer ersten Studiokollaboration seit zehn Jahren – Phantom Studies – anlässlich der hundertsten O-TON 12“ EP-Veröffentlichung an die Ostgut Ton-Labelgründung 2005 an.

Mit den Phantom Studies beschwören Dettmann | Klock den Geist ihrer ersten gemeinsamen Veröffentlichungen Dawning (2006) und Scenario (2007). Die neue doppel 12″ EP ist ihr erstes gemeinsames Release in zehn Jahren, mit dem 40-minütigen Release bauen Marcel Dettmann und Ben Klock ihre tiefe persönliche Verbindung und das gemeinsame musikalische Repertoire aus, betonen funktionalen Techno ebenso wie hypnotische, melodische und beseelte Musik, frei von Konventionen. Die sieben neuen Stücke reflektieren diese Attribute, richten sich an die Bedürfnisse und Erwartungen von sowohl DJs als auch anderen Musikliebhabern, beide nicht außer Acht lassend.

Das eröffnende Stück „Phantom Studies“ kombiniert diesen Geist perfekt, mit einem Bein auf dem Dancefloor und einem auf der Couch: der spröde Beginn wird schnell von einer scharfen Kick, mäandernden, hypnotisierenden Harmonien, Hi-hats und Klanghölzern eingeholt, daneben erklingen Glocken, aus einem Guss mit der reichen Vergangenheit des Genres Techno. Ein sehr musikalisches Stück, atmosphärisch und kraftvoll. Diese Ästhetik zieht sich durch den ganzen Tonträger, das Heimund Clubsetting miteinander verbinden: „The Room“ ist das wohl düsterste Stück, entschleunigt, Drone-lastig, bedrohlich und kohlrabenschwarz mit Vocals von Marcel Dettmann; „Prophet Man“ ist ein zurückgelehntes, pulsierendes Dub Techno-Stück mit allerlei Synthflächen links und rechts, eingerahmt von einem spoken-word-Psalm von Ben Klock – aber nicht so bierernst wie man denken mag, deshalb das Gekicher; „The World Tonight“ stellt flirrende, muntere Synthmelodien in den Mittelpunkt, während die Kick für Muskulosität und Ekstase sorgt.

Klar gibt’ s auch was für den Club: „No One Around“ ist ein prototypisches Tool, hämmert unnachgiebig bei 134 BpM samt kompromisslos-plötzlichem Anfang / Ende; „Bad Boy“ wird mit 124 BpM seinem Namen gerecht und setzt auf vielfältige Hi-hats und wirbelnde Synthsequenzen; mit „The Tenant“ endet dieses Release mit verzerrten, sich dehnenden, metallisch klingenden Acid-Texturen, lärmenden, verstörenden Vocalsamples über einer steten Kickdrum, komplett mit einer recht passenden Schlussformel: „Good night!“

Phantom Studies unterstreicht die gemeinsame musikalische Vision von Dettmann | Klock – sei es bezüglich ihrer zwölfjährig andauernden Berghain-Residency oder weltweit Tanzflächen herauszufordern.

 

Listen:

 

Full Track Streaming:
“Phantom Studies”

 

Video:
“Phantom Studies”

Videos created by the29nov films.

 

Recommendations:
Dettmann’s album “II” on Ostgut Ton
Dettmann’s EP “MDR19” on his own label
compilation “Zehn” w/ Klock & Dettmann track on Ostgut Ton

 

Special:
Marcel Dettmann – “Recorded Live 15/08/2015”

Ben Klock – “Boiler Room x Dekmantel Festival”

 

Buy Vinyl:
Ostgut Ton Shop
Hardwax
Deejay
Decks
Clone
more soon

 

Buy Digital:
Ostgut Ton @ Bandcamp
Hardwax
JunoDownload
Beatport Classic
Bleep
Google Play
iTunes
more soon

 

Booking:
Ostgut Booking for Dettmann
Ostgut Booking for Klock

 

Websites:
Marcel Dettmann
Ben Klock
Ostgut Ton

 

out now: Akmê – Connwax 04 [Connwax Records]

 

Artist:
Akmê

 

Title:
Connwax 04

 

Label:
Connwax Records

 

Cat#:
CONNWAX04

 

Release Date:
23rd January 2017

 

Format:
12″

 

Tracklist:
A.
Elements

B1.
Black Matter

B2.
Concealing

 

Press Info:
Following critically acclaimed releases from Eduardo De La Calle, Refracted, and Monomood, Connwax returns with another exceptional offering of bold and original techno. For this release, they have enlisted the help of a rising young talent in Berlin’s underground scene: Akmê. The producer and resident DJ of renowned club ://about blank demonstrates his uncommon technical precision and emotional depth with this debut EP, drawing on his vast array of influences and experiences across all genres.

In “Elements”, the bass drum takes centre stage. The engine room relentlessly driving everything forward. Yet as the track develops, a fine lattice work of detail starts to unfold. Meticulous percussive elements imbue the piece with an enigmatic depth as a sombre melody sweeps through the rough rhythmic landscape. We are allowed a brief moment to reflect before the bass drum continues its inexorable path forward. Akmê takes a more reduced approach in “Black Matter”. Space is left for the interplay between the understated acid bassline and delicate hi-hats to lock the track into a hypnotic groove. Here, the statement is defined by what is left unsaid. For the final track “Concealing”, Akmê shifts gears, rounding the EP off with a slower piece. A solemn bassline lays the foundation, while the sophisticated orchestration of drums provides tension and intrigue.

The EP features a unique voice and character, forming a common thread which underlies the diverse modes of the individual tracks. With a conscious nod towards the history of the genre, the release sets out boldly on the vanguard to new lands.

 

Listen:

 

Video:
“Concealing”

Video created by the29nov films.

 

Specials:
“Reclaim Your City Podcast 148”

 

Buy Vinyl:
Clone
HHV
Deejay
Decks
Juno
more soon

 

Booking:
About Booking

 

Websites:
Akmê
Connwax

 

out now: LPZ – Machina EP [Voight]

 

Artist:
LPZ

 

Title:
Machina EP

 

Label:
Voight

 

Cat#:
VGT002

 

Release Date:
16th January 2017

 

Format:
12″ & digital

 

Tracklist:
01.
Machina

02.
Camera

03.
Plectrum

04.
Machina
(DJ Sodeyama Remix)

05.
Camera
(DJ Sodeyama Remix)

06.
Folibus

 

Press Info:
LPZ, hailing from Paraguay and well-known in Berlin thanks to several gigs at Panorama Bar, present VOIGHT #2. Name-giving to the 4 originals, ranging from dry-functional to deep-spacy techno, are the parts of a certain machine which interested readers/listeners might want to investigate. DJ Sodeyama, one of Japan’s premier techno artists, delivers two interpretations.

 

Listen:

 

Full Track Streaming:
“Machina (DJ Sodeyama Remix)”

“Camera”

 

Specials:
“LPZ Podcast 5”

 

Buy Vinyl:
deejay.de
Juno
RedEyeRecords.co.uk
decks
Phonica Records
Oye Records
Techno Import FR
Jet Set Records JP
more soon

 

Buy Digital:
Beatport Classic
more soon

 

Websites:
LPZ
Voight

 

out now: Berni – Somewhere Between Horizontalia And Horizon [Portray Records]

 

Artist:
Berni

 

Title:
Somewhere Between Horizontalia And Horizon

 

Label:
Portray Records

 

Cat#:
POR004

 

Release Date:
November 2016

 

Format:
12″ & digital

 

Tracklist:
A1.
Been

A2.
There

B1.
Done

B2.
That

B3.
Again

 

Press Info:
“Somewhere between Horizontalia and Horizon” is Bernhard Robert’s first solo EP. The record follows his contribution to Portray’s Various Artists EP “Never Stop“ and a recent release in collaboration with Jonas Palzer on Rivulet Records.

Having been friends with Jonas – who runs Portray together with Julian Terzyk – for almost two decades, this record is a family affair. It contains five live jams straggling between the edges of techno, house and ambient. All tracks were recorded at Berni’s studio, situated right above his very own night club villaWuller in Trier, which he has passionately run since 2011.

The A-side features two remarkably physical and straightforward to bouncy dj weapons, both leading to moments of great intensity. The B-side continues with two distinctive techno explorations and closes with an Ambient-infused thumping rhythm where misty pads and noises add texture and depth. Berni combines stomping drums, repeating  basslines and echo-bathed synths that gradually morph and double back on themselves, resulting in atmospheres constantly in motion. Rich, varied, intense and yet surprisingly nuanced, Portray is proud to present Berni’s space between Horizontalia and Horizon.

 

Listen:

 

Full Track Streaming:
“Been”

“There”

 

Special:
“Portray Podcast #03”

 

Buy Vinyl:
Deejay
HHV
Clone
Red Eye Records
Oye Records
Hardwax
Phonica Records
more soon

 

Buy Digital:
soon

 

Websites:
Berni
Portray Records

 

out now: Various – MTRON002 EP [Mechatronica]

 

Artist:
Various

 

Title:
MTRON002 EP

 

Label:
Mechatronica

 

Cat#:
MTRON002

 

Release Date:
03rd February 2017

 

Format:
vinyl & digital

 

Tracklist:
A1.
Dez Williams
Only Way I Know

A2.
Umwelt
Mankind Origin

B1.
Dmitry Distant & Igors Vorobjovs
Cold Scape

B2.
Fleck E.S.C
Dimmer Set Up

 

Press Info:
Dez Williams, Umwelt, Fleck E.S.C, Dmitry Distant and Igors Vorobjovs line up for MTRON002 with a set of diverse electro and acid sounds, shifting forward in similar, energetic manner of Mechatronica’s debut 12”.

Umwelt and Dez Williams, following recent releases on Boidae and Vanta Series, make up the A side with two booming productions; Only Way I Know, an ever-intensifying 100 BPM eyes-down roller and Mankind Origin, a heavy, melodic trip in signature Umwelt form.

On the flip, Dmitry Distant and Igors Vorobjovs team up on the stinging, rapid electro cut Cold Scape, and Fleck E.S.C rounds off MTRON002 with Dimmer Set Up, another bubbly electro track from the Tokyo-based producer’s vault of dramatic, buzzed-out alien sounds.

 

Full Track Streaming:

 

Specials:
Dez Williams – “Live Pa on RIOT – 19th August 2016”

Umwelt – “Boiler Room Berlin DJ Set”

Dmitry Distant – “AbyssalPro Unlimited Podcast 34”

Fleck E.S.C. – “Electrix Podcast 005”

 

Recommendations:
MTRON001
Umwelt’s album “Days of Dissent” on Boidae
Dez Williams’ EP “The” on Vanta Series

 

Buy Vinyl:
Mechatronica @ Bandcamp
Deejay
Juno
Decks
more soon

 

Buy Digital:
soon

 

Booking:
Killekill for Umwelt
Killekill for Dez Williams

 

Websites:
Mechatronica