Hi-Five: Answer Code Request Selects His Favorite Tunes from the Ostgut Ton Catalog

It feels like a severe understatement to say that Berlin’s Ostgut Ton imprint has been on something of a tear over the past year or so, but even amongst the label’s all-but-bulletproof release schedule, a few artists have managed to stand out. One of them is Answer Code Request (a.k.a. Patrick Gräser), who officially joined the Ostgut Ton roster earlier this year with the Breathe EP and followed it up this week with the release of Code, his stellar debut full-length. These efforts—not to mention Gräser’s excellent DJ and live sets as a Berghain resident—make him a natural fit for the Ostgut Ton roster, but we wanted to explore his relationship with the stalwart techno label a bit further. As such, we invited Answer Code Rquest to take part in our Hi-Five series with a simple caveat—he had to select his five favorite tunes from Ostgut Ton’s storied catalog.

Deuce “Twerp Wiz”

For me, this is one of the best and strongest tracks under Ostgut Ton. You can hear the sound collaboration of both Rene (Shed) and Marcel [Dettmann] in this track, 50/50 from each. What I love most about it is the creaking of the sequence that modulates persistently towards the end. Less is more, as exemplified here. Veritably “Twerp Wiz” is the [most frequently] played track in my sets.

Norman Nodge “Native Rhythm Electric”

A typical Nodge signature sound. Minimalist yet very functional and a personal favorite of mine in the Ostgut Ton [catalog].

LB Dub Corp “I Have a Dream feat. Benjamin Zephaniah”

When I first heard this track, it pretty much went past me. But as I listened more during the flights to my gigs, it sort of grew on me. From the melody to the warm sub-bass to the vocals of Benjamin Zephaniah, this track has that special depth and mood. The whole album is both so varied and suitable for clubs at the same time.

Shed “The Lower Upside Down”

Another personal favorite. His production remains diverse and adventurous. Deep, classic Detroit techno—killer tune!

Martyn “Miniluv”

“Miniluv” was featured in Ben Klock’s Berghain 04 mix CD. Martyn is one of the most versatile artists and is an appropriate representation for Ostgut Ton. “Miniluv” not only fits into house sets, but also into techno and other genres. The heat of the bass and the elements fit perfectly with each other. Despite the broken-beat approach, this track exudes a certain energy, a Martyn energy.

Radio Slave and Thomas Gandey Launch New Project, Prep LP for Planet E

Rekids label co-founder Matt Edwards (a.k.a. Radio Slave) and producer Thomas Gandey have just announced the inaugural release from their collaborative Matom project, due to drop on Carl Craig’s Planet E label in late July. Matom got its start in a tribute performance at Berlin’s iconic Hansa recording studio, which has hosted artists like Tangerine Dream, Brian Eno, and David Bowie and Iggy Pop–around whose output the duo’s early efforts were loosely based.

Matom’s upcoming album for Planet E, Love Mistakes, embraces “organic music creation,” utilizing live percussion and guitar, Rhodes, Moog Voyager, Clavia Nords, and Roland Drum Machines rather than samples or MIDI controllers. The end result, according to Gandey, is “a culmination of our combined skills and reflecting its contrasting environments, a dualism between the cosmic serenity of the vineyards in his south of France retreat and the gritty urban cityscapes of Berlin’s bohemia.” Love Mistakes will see official release on July 28, and a tracklist has been included below.

01. Crossroads
02. Experiment 1 Variation 3
03. Hansa
04. Warsaw
05. Zazu
06. Piano 2 Variation 4
07. Experiment 7 Variation 2
08. Love Mistakes

LK “Hot Coffee”

“Hot Coffee” is a slow-brewing, low-swung house track from LK (a.k.a. Lee Konitz), a budding Leeds-based producer who recently touched down on Cottam’s Ruff Draft label for a notable three-track EP. A bonus cut of sorts, “Hot Coffee” buries layers of burnt soul beneath a languid, shuffling groove, adding only the slightest hints of variation and ornamentation while making sure not to disturb the track’s hypnotic bounce.

Hot Coffee

Genius of Time Announces Upcoming EP for Running Back

Swedish duo Genius of Time (a.k.a. Alexander Berg and Nils Krogh) has unveiled details of its forthcoming Juno Jam EP, which will see a release via Gerd Janson’s venerable Running Back label next week. The dynamic pair (who we recently witnessed piece together “an exceptional mix of live house” at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound festival) had already seen its upcoming EP’s title track featured on last year’s DJ-Kicks mix album from John Talabot. Now, the upbeat house tune will be officially released as the EP’s a-side cut, with two complimentary tracks filling out the record’s b-side. Before Juno Jam sees an official release next week, the EP art as well as its complete tracklist have been included below.

A1 Juno Jam
B1 Tom Jam
B2 Djungel Jam

Death From Above 1979 to Release New Album

One of the dance-punk scene’s most prevalent groups, Death From Above 1979 issued its debut LP, You’re A Woman and I’m A Machine, in 2004 before ultimately splitting up in 2006. Now, after reuniting in 2011 for a handful of live gigs, the storied duo has announced plans to issue its first new record this September. Entitled The Physical World, Death From Above 1979’s new LP will see a release via the Last Gang label, and will feature a collection of new songs produced by Dave Sardy.

In a new interview with NME the group’s drummer/singer Sebastian Grainger explains that the album is the result of an overwhelming demand for new material from the band, as well as a way to permit the group to “go play the shows we want to play and it gives us the freedom to do what we want.” Furthermore, he tells the magazine, “No matter what Jesse and I do, on whatever scale of success it’s sat on, there’s always some kind of reference to Death From Above. It’s only frustrating because it’s so lazy. So we’re putting out a Death From Above record and if the press is like, ‘It’s not what we expected,’ or however they react to it, it’s like, ‘Well, you’ve been fucking asking for it.'” The Physical World is set to see its official US release on September 9.

Eddie Niguel “Life”

Singapore-based DJ/producer Eddie Niguel (a.k.a. Edel)—whose remix of Iron Curtis‘ “Never Give Up” recently appeared on a 12″ from Midnight Shift—has now passed along aquatic bonus cut “Life” to try on. Breaking out with a simple beat, clap, and stabbing synths, the patient track takes off when Niguel at last introduces a restlessly distorted synthline. Reverberating vocal jabs and airy samples further accent the comfortable fluidity that streams throughout the tune’s seven-plus-minute duration.

Life

BNJMN Preps New EP for Technicolour; Hear a Track Now

After appearing on the scene in 2011 with a pair of impressive LPs (Plastic World and Black Square), UK producer—and former XLR8Rpodcast contributor—BNJMN has since quietly continued to build his catalog, with the next effort from the understated artist set to drop later this month via London outpost Technicolour. Simply titled IV, the upcoming three-track EP finds BNJMN continuing to craft material on the dreamy outskirts of techno, with rich pads and crystalline textures serving as the base of his detailed productions.

Set to drop on June 23, the tracklist for BNJMN’s IV has been included below, where EP track “Arc” can also be streamed in full.

01 Tonight
02 Arc
03 IV

Stream Martyn’s Upcoming ‘The Air Between Words’ LP in Full

Set to arrive next week via Ninja Tune, the upcoming full-length album from electronic innovator Martyn can now be streamed in full ahead of its release. Spanning 10 tracks, The Air Between Words is an ambitious undertaking, one that finds the 3024 label boss venturing into a number of different corners of electronic music, incorporating the talents of Four Tet and Inga Copeland (or simply copeland) along the way. On “Glassbeadgames,” Martyn and Four Tet match live, shuffling drums with light keys and wordless vocal samples; on “Empty Mind” and “Like That” Martyn works on his own to plumb the depths of jacking, bass-loaded house; and on tracks like “Drones” and “Two Leads and a Computer” he allows restless synths to lead the way.

Premiered today via THUMP along with a brief interview with the veteran producer, Martyn’s full The Air Between Words LP can be streamed below before it sees an official release on June 16.

Paume “Transalpine”

Ascending Parisian producer Paume (a.k.a. Hugo Billionet) will see the release of his debut EP Transalpine via the Melodic outpost on June 30. Before then, the young artist—who aspires to “sound ethereal and punchy all at the same time”—has passed along his EP’s charged title track. Melding wandering snippets of vocal howls with simple key patterns, a steady rolling assortment of percussion, and stuttering synth thrusts, “Transalpine” feels like an extended jaunt through the chaotic, dazzling, and deeply textured city that is Paris.

Transalpine

Legowelt Preps 12″ for Tom Trago’s Voyage Direct Label

Tom Trago’s Voyage Direct label has shared news of an upcoming release from House Of Jezebel, a lesser-used guise belonging to the prolific Danny Wolfers (a.k.a. Legowelt). With roughly 27 known aliases to his name, the Dutch DJ/producer and Bunker affiliate is slated to revisit this one at the end of the month with the “Back In DogTown USA” b/w “I Took A Train In 1979″ 12”. Set to deliver two tracks of “synth-laden analogue house goodness,” it’s Wolfers’ first deployment of the House Of Jezebel production personality since its original outing on Rush Hour back in 2010, with his tribute to Ron Hardy’s classic edit, “Love & Happiness.” Set to see its official release on June 30, the upcoming record can be streamed in full below.

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