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News Headlines
'Heaven' by Ibiza Brothers
By Systematic
Tuesday, 26th January 2010
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Bulletdodge Records release 'Heaven' by Ibiza Brothers. Adding some sunshine to proceedings, Bulletdodge Records are proud to welcome Bruce & Levant, AKA Ibiza Brothers to the label. As a professional DJ duo, the brothers have been making a name for themselves in the European club and party scene during the last ten years. Through extensive tours ad guest slots across the whole of Europe as well as residencies in their native Germany and their second home Ibiza, the pair have become legends with their mix of minimal and tech-house.Ibiza Brothers debut on Bulletdodge is a fine example of the duo's no-nonsense style. Combining tough, muscular grooves with pounding bass and Balearic percussion, 'Heaven' is a slice of raw techno class. With a relentless crunching beat, the production pays homage to classic tech-house form whilst maintaining a tracky minimal edge that highlights the pairs DJ background.Bulletdodge veterans Mark & Stevens return to provide a first class remix for the B-side. With their penchant for diversity, Mark & Stevens have retained the basic groove of the original but have made a series of dramatic departures to rework the track into something truly unique. Dubby pads and filtered sweeps give this mix a deep tech vibe whilst a smoky brass sample ensures the Balearic theme is maintained. A musical and tasteful seven and a half minute arrangement is the perfect foil to the aggression and minimalism of the A-side.Once again Bulletdodge Records release a quality slab of club bothering minimal tech-house from an exciting new act.
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Barcelona's label Omicron Records
By Systematic
Tuesday, 26th January 2010
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The second release of Barcelona's label Omicron Records strikes with three tracks by a unique talent, Manel Ruz, better known as Sistema. These three very different songs take us to this artist's personal world, and show us how varied his influences are the three sides of the same coin.El ojo oblongo ("The oblong eye") is a dub journey of downtempo beats and reggae synths that takes you to a futuristic Jamaica. A quiet and careful tune, enjoy it in a relaxed, full of smoke atmosphere.Another side of Sistema is darker, stronger and with a kickdrum that ́s evil and powerful, Eso es mi abuela ("That ́s my grandma"). Yet the elaborate melodies and epic moments show that no matter the style, Sistema always shows his distinctive personality in his music; a ill combination of powerful techno with IDM synthsI don't believe is a song with heavy Italodisco influences, with its effected voices and crafty synth lines. A song that brings back the best of all the roots of electronic music - Kraftwerk, Robotnik, Moroder.Sistema is one of the most respected artists in Barcelona's Techno scene. He has published in labels such as Factor City, Traum, Minifunk, Overflow Records, Pong Musiq or Paradigma. His tunes have been played by many renowned names.Feedbacks:- DOSEM (Sino): Manel for life- ASCII.DISKO (Body Fuction,Ovum): nice tracks i will play this release!- PABLO BOLIVAR (Regular,Avantroots): Pues como siempre, ultra crema! Muy bien producido, con una construccin nica, para fans de Sistema!- LUKE HESS (Echocord ,Beretta Grey) : Really loving the "El ojo oblongo" track. Super nice!
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BULLETDODGE RECORDS
By Systematic
Tuesday, 26th January 2010
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Bulletdodge Records release 'Purpose of Life' ep by Presuming Ed. To celebrate the beginning of what is due to be an exciting year for the label as they approach a quarter century of releases, Bulletdodge Records welcome Presuming Ed to the label. Ed is a technically gifted DJ who made his name on the Leeds club circuit. His skills behind the decks recently led IDJ magazine to champion his 'superb programming and brilliant mixing'. His production skills are of similarly high standards, with Ed's discerning ear being reflected in his exciting and dynamic arrangements. 'Purpose of Life' is no exception to this rule. The title track thunders out of the starting blocks with a wall of pounding hypnotic bass and radio frequency chatter that immediately sets an aggressively dark tone. In a manner fitting of a man with Presuming Ed's DJ background, subtle layers of percussion and FX provide contrast to the relentless sub-sonic tsunami, building slowly and then dropping to a breakdown. When the main groove re-enters and we are once more left riding solid low frequency waves, it's obvious that this track was intended for the darkest basements of underground clubs playing the deepest grooves.On the B, 'Viagra' continues in the same vein. Bass heavy grooves and technoid percussion remain the order of the day but some interesting new elements are thrown into the mix. Huge swooping drones engage in reverb soaked dive-bombs, acidic synth sounds are tweaked and twisted, all orchestrated in a manner that will please both DJ and clubber alike.'Purpose of Life' ep by Presuming Ed is another fine release from Scotland's Bullet:dodge Records. Starting 2010 as they mean to continue, this fine example of deep, minimal, tech house will be available as a two week exclusive on Beatport from the 8th of February.
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Mark Clifford and Mira Calix
By Systematic
Tuesday, 26th January 2010
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Warp artists Mark Clifford and Mira Calix have been good friends for a long time. During the 5 year period between 1999 and 2004, they'd meet up from time to time, hang out, drink a lot of coffee, smoke too many cigarettes, stay up all night and make some noise. The songs on Lost Foundling come from this very loose and irregular working period. Their initial plan
was to come back to the tracks at some point, mix them and release them. However, they were both busy with other projects and when Andrea Parker expressed and interest in releasing the material on her newly established Aperture label, the duo discovered it was impossible to go back and meddle in their material. Mira and Mark had recorded their songs on an evolutionary range of formats, whatever was to hand, and when they went to dig out the computer files, dat tapes, floppy and zip drives, they were reminded that most of these had become obselete, in what felt like a brief decade. There was no going back. The duo selected 13 of their favourite tracks, leaving them untouched. Lost Foundling captures a slice in time, a document of their discovery and experimentation as musicians, the songs have survived, unihibited, tender and instinctive.Mark Clifford is a founder member of Seefeel. The band released their first album, Quique on Too Pure, followed by Succour and other EPs on Warp as well as (CH-Vox) on Rephlex. Mark worked closely with the Cocteau Twins, producing the 'Otherness' EP and has many remix and solo and collaborative projects under his belt. Having recently reformed, Seefeel are currently in the studio working on a new material and have been playing live.Mira Calix has released five albums and is signed to Warp Records. Her earlier music is almost exclusively electronic in nature, however, since 2003 she has incorporated orchestration and classical instruments into her work for installation pieces, film soundtracks and theatre. Mira has been commissioned to write pieces for the London Sinfonietta, the Aldeburgh Festival, The Royal Shakespeare Company, Opera North and The Manchester International Festival amongst others. She has recently been nominated for the British Composer Awards for 'My Secret Heart', a commison by Streetwise Opera and has been awarded a 'Grant For The Arts' by the The Arts Council Of England, to develop her skills in orchestration in collaboration with composers; Tansy Davies and Larry Goves.
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Mark & Stevens 'Troubling' EP
By Systematic
Tuesday, 26th January 2010
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Bulletdodge Records release Mark & Stevens 'Troubling' EP.Bulletdodge welcome one of Portugal's hottest young production teams, Mark & Stevens to the label. Featuring four original tracks and a remix, the duo AKA Nuno & Diogo, have used the wealth of production experience gained from a decade releasing leftfield electronica to bring us an eclectic techno delight in the 'Troubling' EP. The title track is a fine slab of modern minimal techno, rolling along with a straightforward beat and Mark & Stevens trademark clean unpretentious production flavour. The simple synth stabs and smooth brass hits are driven along by a wonderfully deep timpani that shakes some air but never interferes with the warm, round sub bass pining the groove together.Remixing the title track, Curious George & the Agent deliver a typical Bulletdodge interpretation, keeping the synth stabs and relentless groove whilst bringing the bass right up front in an overstated, aggressive manner. Through a series of dynamic peaks and troughs,
technoid percussion and funky vocal hits, this remix provides an appropriate counterpoint to the title track.'Do it, Do it' pushes the release in an interesting direction. The off-kilter groove, Latin percussion and musical vocals give the track a soulful Balearic feel whilst the pulsing bass and tech-house arrangement make this a potent dancefloor cut.With 'Sounds Like', Mark & Stevens once again show their willingness to explore varying musical styles, the minimal bass line and analog synth strings evoking memories of proto house and Italo disco. Once again the arrangement and thoroughly modern production values ensure that this track is a serious club weapon and is sure to be a DJ favourite.Rounding off the release, Aoia Bell has perhaps the most idiosyncratic Bulletdodge vibe of all the original tracks. Built upon a growling bass line, the dark and aggressive techno is intelligently contrasted with a light repetitive bell motif to give an effective sense of tension and release.Mark & Stevens 'Troubling' EP is an exciting, mixed bag of progressive techno that contains more than enough Bulletdodge style to appease followers of the label and a few tracks that will perhaps make fans and Dj's of other genres take note. With more to come from the boys this year, expect the unexpected from Mark & Stevens.
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Top New J-Tek Label TopDrawerDigital
By Vinyl Junkie
Sunday, 24th January 2010
TopDrawerDigital is a brand new label created out of the need for more Nu-Skool Jungle Tekno (J-Tek) tracks to be available out there online for download. The man like lucas is relatively new to the j-tek scene, before he started to produce J-Tek Lucas was producing some top quality house and trance tracks, but as you listen to both of these well produced tracks you would never know it.
Lucas - The Antichrist (Original Mix) This is a dark an moody j-tek stomper with a movie vocal sample to die for, with all the elements a good j-tek track should have :) the intro leads you into a real nice 4/4 beat, while the vocal samples echo "do you know who i am" "i give up" "the antichrist" before a top break drops in, which continues all through the track, along with the dark synths, the bassline keeps you moving along and wanting more, this is a top j-tek track, and shows how versitile the man like lucas is :)
Lucas - The Antichrist (Second Coming Mix) This is another stomper from the man like lucas, but with this mix he uses a punchier 4/4 beat making this harder than the original, the vocal samples are used in a simular way to the original mix but are more prominent and are arranged different, the harder breaks go with the punchier 4/4 beat and the rewind sounds in the track are a nice touch, the dark synths keep the track moving along and as the bassline
comes in it makes the track that little bit darker, this is a top remix of an already awsome tune .. bigups the man that is Lucas :)
The Original Mix and the Second Coming Mix have been around on the scene for a while now and are being played by the likes of my good self DM, Pilgim, Jaytee, Andy F, Kranky & Lethal, John Browne, D-Con, Madcap, Electrux, just to name but a few ... DM
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Tiesto and Deadmau5 headline Miami
By Systematic
Tuesday, 12th January 2010
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The days of the WMC being an industry only event are long gone. Thanks in no small part to Ultra Music Festival. Now in its twelve year, Ultra sheds the pretentions of South Beach aside and serves up a two day festival of gargantuan proportions into the industrial midst of Downtown Miami.
We have been given an exclusive sneak peak at this year's line up..and its looking pretty hot. Topping the bill are trance's two battling heavyweights Tiesto and Armin Van Buuren. Elsewhere Deadmau5, The Swedish House Mafia, Carl Cox and Eric Prydz will wow the crowds.
On a more underground tip is the all new Dub & Bass arena showcasing the hottest talent from the revived drum & bass and thriving dubstep scenes. Expect everyone from scene legend LTJ Bukem to new boys Skream, Caspa and Toddla T.
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Full On Intentions
By Systematic
Tuesday, 12th January 2010
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While the reformation of musical acts usually follows a predictable failure to live up to the chemistry that made them so potent together, Full Intention's Michael Gray and Jon Pearn return to the project which saw them Grammy nominated, with a new UK top 10 each under their belts.
Splitting in 2006 after 10 years of commercial success, Pearn's new Bodyrox project produced ubiquitous electro-house anthem 'Yeah Yeah', storming clubs and radio before hitting No.2, while Gray reached No.7 with MTV favourite 'The Weekend', as well as producing Luciana and Portobello.
But when they already had the likes of Jennifer Lopez and The Sugababes knocking on their door, why did Full Intention split in the first place?
"It's like all things, you need a break so you enjoy it even more when you go back," said Gray when we caught him in the studio finishing off the second single for their new Full Intentions label. "We felt like a factory churning out remixes and wanted to explore our own avenues and music."
Playing together at ADE 2009, for the first time in four years, on the suitably modern set-up of Ableton Live and Traktor Scratch, Gray says they have no immediate plans to return to the kind of huge vocals of old, as evidenced on new release, 'Once In A Lifetime' (out now), which, with its tracky, club-focused vibe, signals a return to their roots.
"It's different these days, a lot of records are Beatport-led so we've just gone out to make good grooves," Gray explained. "We're still going to do vocal records as that's what we love but it's time to go back to basics at the moment. We're also going to continue to do our own stuff."
Fans of their older material need not fear, however. Releasing roughly one track a month, the label will include remixes of classic Full Intention material by today's new wave of house producers. And with next single, 'I Will Follow', released in February, featuring Shena on vocal duties, it seems only a matter of time before they're back doing what they do best.
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Reclaim the beats
By Systematic
Tuesday, 12th January 2010
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Sir Stephen Fry, Dame Judy Dench and Shut Up And Dance, aka PJ and Smiley, might not immediately appear to have anything in common. It's hard to imagine Sir Fry kicking the door off an empty house so that Dame Dench can wire up their soundsystem. But they are all now veritable British institutions, peculiarly English in their achievements and impossible to feel anything but the greatest affection and national pride for.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Shut Up And Dance's first release, '5678', a blistering melting pot of b-boy breaks, East End energy and soundsystem culture that still sounds excitingly raw, and launched them as pioneers in the nascent rave scene. But the story of PJ and Smiley began while they were still at school.
We started on the Heatwave system in 1986 with DJ Hype before he was called that, recalls PJ from their Hackney base, the area that's often been at the fore of their inspiration. He was the DJ, me and Smiley were rappers and Smiley's twin brother was a reggae MC. Everyone did it back then, you had Soul II Soul and Mad Hatter, but we were known for being really diverse. The rave scene came quite a bit later.
Massive hip-hop fans tired of being unable to get a record deal, they took the unheard-of step of starting up their own label.
All our friends were laughing, but we gave ourselves three months to save and press out a record. We were going round the record shops with a box full of tunes on sale or return. Then we sent it to the pirate stations and they went mad for it, so the shops were calling us, asking for more. We were blessed. After that, it was a case of keeping up with demand!
The result, as documented on 'How The East Was Won 1989-2009', is a career spanning everything from the string-laden hardcore of 'Green Man' to the gritty urban-realism of the Duran Duran sampling, 'Save It To The Mourning After'. Journeying through rave, two step, breakbeat, house, hip-hop and jungle, with plenty of toasting from the Ragga Twins, Shut Up And Dance's unique take on these sounds has remained distinctly rooted to their soundsystem upbringing.
Other people in our position might have lived off their rave days but we believe in looking forward. Because our sound is a mash-up, we can adapt to anything that's out there and make it Shut Up And Dance style, says PJ, adding that their prolific output means they've adopted many pseudonyms along the way like Hackney Soldier and Youngstar.
Included in remixed form is the chart-topping 'Raving I'm Raving', a track that provoked a bittersweet experience on its 1992 release. Replaying the melody from Marc Cohen's 'Walking In Memphis' led to record company trouble.
We were allowed to release it but only what we'd pressed so far, recalls PJ. So it shot straight into the charts at No.1. We did Top of the Pops and everything. It's a shame it went that way, but sampling back then was a new thing which nobody understood.
While labels might now have departments to deal with sample clearance, the days of the dedicated dance music producer are effectively over, according to PJ.
At the moment the music scene is on its knees. You have to be a DJ to make money because record sales aren't really there. What I like on the dubstep scene is that the kids really support it, they go out and they buy the vinyl. For that alone, I have to give them the maximum respect.
So what does he have to say to the Shut Up And Dance collectors who've suddenly seen all their rare records released on CD?
Vinyl will never lose value, he laughs. I've looked online and seen our record for ridiculous prices. I just think, good on you!
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Tropical House Music
By Systematic
Wednesday, 16th September 2009
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New imprint Maxi Discs continues its adventures into Tropical House Music with yet another killer release, this time put together by label boss and global jet-setting DJ Pete Herbert (Reverso 68/LSB). Pete's solo material for Maxi Discs is the first original music to be released under his own name and is inspired much more by his love of early house than his previous output. Heavily influenced by the musical direction of his DJ sets, a desire to really work the dance floor and a certain nostalgia for the house sounds of the 90s (when the site of white doves could make a grown man cry), Yo Drums is all about Pete getting back home after a long night spent driving the crowd wild and then switching on the laptop and the synths and trying t recapture the essence of that feeling in a track. And just like one of his DJ sets Yo Drums mixes elements of house, Italo and disco into aheady potion of dance floor dynamite. Remixes come from highly talented Italian producers Ajello who take things back to the halcyon days of Nu Groove while adding subtleelements of the Cosmic and Italo sounds they love so much. And last but not least, Dicky Trisco who celebrates his obsession with the early house sounds of Network and seminal UK dance acts like Nexus 21 as he dubs things out and feeds those biorhythms. Listening to the house sounds of Maxi Discs is guaranteed to release the pressure.DJ Play: Optimo DJs, Rub n Tug, Harri, Toby Tobias, The Revenge, Faze Action, H-Track, Horse Meat Disco, Makossa & Megablast, Mungolian Jetset, Prince Language, Geoffrey Mugwump, Fabrizio Mammarella, Munk, Red Rack'em, Maelstrom, Deep Party Network.DJ Reactions:'Liking it, especially the original version.' - JD Twitch (Optimo)'Y'know I love them all.' - Harri (Subculture)'Played Pete's original out and it went down an absolute stormer. Nice one.' - Toby Tobias'Loving Yo Drums will be playing this on heavy rotation. Pete Herbert never disappoints blinding.' - Faze Action'Dicky Trisco version is the one here for me. Good job.' - The Revenge'Hey there thanks for Yo Drums track..AWESOME..gonna play out this weekend and NYC all next week!' - Severino (Horse Meat Disco)'Great track ! All versions -will play in my next shows.' - Makossa & Megablast'The tracks sound great, and I'm especially loving Pete's original mix. Thanks much and I'm definitely looking forward to play them out.' - Prince Language'Really liking your original version of this, probably the most instant hitting thing I've heard from you. Summer vibes, white doves and grinning on the dancefloor. Mixes are good too, but it's the original that will do the mayhem.' - Mungolian Jetset'Original version is definitely the one for me..will play this LOADS...killer party vibe starter !!! More plzzzz.' - Geoffroy Mugwump (kompakt/cocoon/eskimo/endless flight)'I'm loving all the tracks here. The original mix is brilliant.' - Fabrizio Mammarella (Bearfunk)'Been on the original for a while!' Maelstrom'Nice package! Original is my favourite. Will play!' - Deep Party Network (Eskimo)
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Funky shake your groove thing
By Systematic
Wednesday, 16th September 2009
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Artist: Various Artists
Label: TensionWorks Records
Release name: In Here Right Now
File under: Techno/Hard Techno
Release date: 21-09-2009
Next up from the TensionWorks camp is a blistering 4 track ep featuring one of the best unsung hero's of techno, Mark Verbos!!!! Who's musical career spans everything from balls out warehouse techno and monster acid tracks from his Simple Answer label, to funky shake your groove thing electro. Mark has appeared on so many seminal techno labels like Drop Bass Network, Planet Rhythm, Wavescape, Djax Up Beats, and many many more!This EP comes from the more sinister side of techno with 2 tracks from Mark, which come at you with a no hold barred attitude from start to finish! Solid tight pounding grooves with moody mental synth lines that will work anyone into a frenzy!!! Break out the fire extinguishers because these tracks will set any dancefloor on fire!TensionWorks label head Nimitz drops 2 tracks that turn the heat up even more! Solid dark pounding warehouse styled grooves that have been showcased in his live act to much fanfare, so much we felt it imperative that they be released! Dark moody synths compliment punchy drum grooves that continue to build and evolveuntil they leave you begging for mercy!!!Mastered by Bobby Tense Kevorkian Mastering NYC
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Satin shines the light
By Systematic
Wednesday, 16th September 2009
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Artist: Various Artists
Label: HumDrumz Records
Release name: One Step Forward
File under: Drum & Bass/Jump Up Drum & Bass
Release date: 09-10-2009
HumDrumz Records front man Satin shines the light with the first release from the new HumDrumz Digital label. Dj Satin continues to make a big statement with with his beats. Satin rocks and rolls with a solid dubwise roller that will get your head swinging back and forth and leave your feet smoking with "One Step Foward." Expext nothing less from this stateside producer. Crs? brings mo fire with this release. "I Love You" is an instant recognizable track from Crs?. Crs? drops a heavyweight tune for the HumDrumz Digital label. Wait for the breakdowns and the firing rolling bass as "I Love You" rolls on threw. Satin & Crs? shows how the westcoast rocks, huge release from the badbwoys.
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DohZa's Dubstep Top Ten Aug 2009
By Systematic
Monday, 17th August 2009
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Marschmellow - Reel Simple.mp3
GooJah - The Difference
Data - Leaves
Subscape - Nothing Wrong.mp3
War 010 Unknown Artist - Layin' In Bed.mp3
silkie - Spark.mp3
Sukh Knight - Cheese Loueez EP
silkie - The Horizon.mp3
Hatcha vs Lost & Bare Noize - Class A EP
Synkro - Angels
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Orphx - Cracktest Edit
By Systematic
Thursday, 16th July 2009
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Catalogue Code: SGD0906
Artist: Orphx
Label: Sonic Groove
Release name: Division
Release date: 13-07-2009
For over fifteen years, Orphx has been exploring the grey areas between techno, industrial and electro-acoustic music. Using an assortment of synthesizers, samplers, feedback systems, and various homemade instruments, Orphx combines the dark, experimental aesthetics of early industrial music with the pulse of techno, electro and dub.The project began in 1993 as a trio, consisting of Richard Oddie, Christina Sealey and Aron West. The group began to explore a shared interest in experimental music, taking their name from the ancient Orphic cult. West left the group in 1995 to focus attention on noise project Tropism, while Oddie and Sealey began incorporating more rhythmic elements into Orphx, inspired by an immersion in acid house, electro and minimal techno.Orphx has since gained a substantial international following as one of the pioneering acts within the European "rhythmic noise" scene, while making increasingly strong connections with like-minded artists on the experimental fringes of techno. Oddie and Sealey have performed in numerous countries around the world and have collaborated on numerous audio/visual projects and exhibitions related to their musical output.Orphx has released a number of influential albums and singles since the mid 1990s, combining elements of techno with power electronics, rhythmic noise, and electro-acoustic soundscapes. More recent releases have combined all of these approaches into new hybrids of synthetic / organic sound (Circuitbreaking, 2004; Insurgent Flows, 2005, Teletai 2008). The Division 12" featuring legendary techno producers Surgeon & Substance on Sonic Groove marks a new phase for the project, developing their unique sound and further blurring the boundaries between techno, industrial and dub.
Track: 1 - Orphx - Cracktest Edit
Track: 2 - Orphx - Threshold (Substance Remix)
Track: 3 - Orphx - First Light
Track: 4 - Orphx - Burning Flags (Surgeon Remix)
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