Madrid-Based Electro Label Fundamental Records Releases Free Rhys Celeste (a.k.a Microlith) Album in His Memory

Madrid-based electro label Fundamental Records have released a new Microlith (a.k.a Rhys Celeste) album to mark the anniversary of his passing.

February 26 marks one year since Rhys Celeste died in a tragic road accident. A few weeks before his death, Celeste sent Fundamental Records almost 40 unreleased tracks, described as his “best work.” The label releases only full albums in vinyl format but will release this one digitally for free aiming to achieve the greatest possible exposure—so now you can download the complete album and also a bonus folder with artwork, the original info-sheet, and some photos.

The album will land under Rhys Celeste’s own name, with a title of Microlith.

“Rhys Celeste (a.k.a Microlith passed away on February 26. 24 years old.

“The fatal weekend when Rhys lost his life I was mastering the tracks for his release in Fundamental Records. Rhys sent me the tracks only a few days before. He kept about 40 untitled tracks for Fundamental Records and together we selected a perfect tracklist for the album. I was with all these melodies in my head all that weekend, I remember perfectly that feeling. Today I still have that special sensation that you can feel in all tracks composed by Rhys, something nostalgic with a big dose of happiness and hope in every note. When I was mastering his tracks I was like a young kid with a new record in my hands, each track is great, even the interludes are very special compositions.

“I am sure the people who support the projects we release in Fundamental Records will support this album not only for the circumstances but mainly because of the quality of the tracks from someone with only 24 years… this is sad. I feel a deep emptiness inside of me because Rhys never listened the final tracks mastered. This feeling is something I can’t explain in words, and it is very difficult to carry with me. The next Monday after his death I was like out of my body, we had a mountain of work with the shipping of the 808 Box but I felt totally paralyzed, my wife Anais and I could hardly speak, we were speechless for some minutes, looking at the screen of the computer trying to understand what happened, then I decided I have to do what I said to Rhys only two days before, and I opened the player in my laptop and I started to work in the design for the cover with the music of Rhys in repeat mode. I was in front of the screen all day, printing many sketches and color variations.

“Only a few days ago we finally contacted with Aidan, the brother of Rhys (thanks Neil and Daniel for your help) and he allows us to release this album. We are honored to release this work in our label and we will try to give to this fantastic work as much exposure as possible. Most of you already know that Fundamental Records is only two persons, Anais and I, we are not a big label and our promotion capabilities are limited, for this reason we ask you for all your help for sharing this info to your social media or any other way, any help, even the most insignificant will be appreciated.

“I called Fundamental Records to our label for a very good reason and this project deserves this adjective in full effect. For the same reason, I also decided to release this album under the real name of the artist, Rhys Celeste and use his music name, Microlith, for the title.

“Ladies and Gents, may I introduce you:
MICROLITH, Written & Composed by RHYS CELESTE…

—Alek Stark

Microlith is available now for download, with vinyl available on June 1. It will be available in two different versions:

Acid Green:
Flour green plexiglass jacket with two 12″ in yellow vinyl + 7″ black

Classic White
Classic white vinyl release, 2×12″ white records + 7″ black

Houndstooth Celebrates Fifth Birthday with Free Hound5tooth Compilation

To celebrate five years releasing electronic music, Houndstooth has offered a free “Pay What You Like” 15-track compilation in either MP3 or WAV showcasing celebrated label classics next to rarities and unreleased gems from associates old and new.

The initial aim was to represent the eclectic programming ethos of Friday and Saturday nights at fabric, and that hasn’t changed over the last five years. In that time, there have been plenty of highlights, from the emergence of Call Super as a defining artist of his day to standout LPs from the likes of Marquis Hawkes and Special Request via lauded 12”s from Akkord and Guy Andrews. Innovation has always been key at Houndstooth, but the continued nurturing and evolution of label acts has also remained an important aspect of the operation.

All of this is evident on the compilation, which kicks off with the sub-atomic whizz of Snow Ghosts’ “Vetiver” from 2016 and takes in an Akkord cut from the label’s 50th release, the Mary Anne Hobbs-backed “O.M.A” (Abul Mogard Remix) by Aïsha Devi and a dark and absorbing track from Call Super. Elsewhere, there are acid beeps from Marquis Hawkes, sombre Throwing Snow cut “Greed,” and the previously vinyl-only “Lolita” (Dub Mix) from Special Request.

Brand new music comes in the form of a Shift Work remix of 18+, a new version of a track from Soft as Snow’s debut EP, and “Bassday” from Second Storey. Rounding out the release, there is a new version of “The Hunted” by Snow Ghosts (the original was used as the official worldwide X-Men Apocalypse trailer) plus a Pan Daijing track from the recently acclaimed, T.S Eliot-inspired In Death’s Dream Kingdom compilation, and finally Haxan Cloak’s climactic rework of Akkord’s HTH020 EP.

Tracklisting:

01. Snow Ghosts “Vetiver”
02. Akkord “Vector”
03. Aïsha Devi “O.M.A.” (Abul Mogard Remix)
04. Call Super “Black Octagons”
05. Marquis Hawkes “I’m So Glad” (Satisfied Raw Mix)
06. Throwing Snow “Greed”
07. Kahn “And The World Was Gone”
08. Guy Andrews “In Autumn Arms” (Max Cooper Remix)
09. Special Request “Lolita” (Dub Mix)
10. Second Storey “Bassday”
11. 18+ “Drama” (Shift Work Remix)
12. Soft As Snow “Glass Body” (Deep Wave Version)
13. Pan Daijing “The Island Within”
14. Snow Ghosts “The Hunted” (Apocalypse Version)
15. Akkord “HTH020” (The Haxan Cloak’s Cloud Of Witness)

Hound5tooth LP is out now for free download here.

Daniel Lanois & Venetian Snares Ready Collaborative LP

Daniel Lanois and Venetian Snares will release a collaborative LP, Mag11 P82.

What started as mutual respect for one another’s work, led to several years of a creative germination resulting in an eight-track full-length exploration released May 4 on Timesig/Planet Mu.The path began in 2014, after Lanois reached out to Venetian Snares (Aaron Funk) as a fan of his work. The project started to take root in Summer of 2016, after Funk hung around Toronto between shows. Taking his gear to Lanois’ studio, the two began to play for the first time together in what would prove to be a formative moment in their creative journey together.

We’re told that the LP creates a “new statement that takes their collective strengths to higher elevations and encompasses new terrains.”

“I love making music with Dan, he has a real understanding of how to create a world and build what may exist within that world. Bass drums are trombones and they are a colossal whale which floats on clouds of leaves speaking to the blast furnace feeding the mammoth. A small painting of forest horses hangs in the cranium of the seahorse.” —Aaron Funk

Tracklisting

01. Mag11 P82
02. HpShk5050 P127
03. United P92
04. Bernard Revisit P81
05. Best P54
06. Mothors Pressroll P131
07. Night MXCMPV1 P74
08. Ophelius 1stP118

Daniel Lanois x Venetian Snares LP will land on May 4 via Timesig/Planet Mu, with “Mag11 P82” streaming in full via the player below.

Daniel Lanois & Venetian Snares Ready Collaborative LP

Daniel Lanois and Venetian Snares will release a collaborative LP, Mag11 P82.

What started as mutual respect for one another’s work, led to several years of a creative germination resulting in an eight-track full-length exploration released May 4 on Timesig/Planet Mu.The path began in 2014, after Lanois reached out to Venetian Snares (Aaron Funk) as a fan of his work. The project started to take root in Summer of 2016, after Funk hung around Toronto between shows. Taking his gear to Lanois’ studio, the two began to play for the first time together in what would prove to be a formative moment in their creative journey together.

We’re told that the LP creates a “new statement that takes their collective strengths to higher elevations and encompasses new terrains.”

“I love making music with Dan, he has a real understanding of how to create a world and build what may exist within that world. Bass drums are trombones and they are a colossal whale which floats on clouds of leaves speaking to the blast furnace feeding the mammoth. A small painting of forest horses hangs in the cranium of the seahorse.” —Aaron Funk

Tracklisting

01. Mag11 P82
02. HpShk5050 P127
03. United P92
04. Bernard Revisit P81
05. Best P54
06. Mothors Pressroll P131
07. Night MXCMPV1 P74
08. Ophelius 1stP118

Daniel Lanois x Venetian Snares LP will land on May 4 via Timesig/Planet Mu, with “Mag11 P82” streaming in full via the player below.

Kwes. Returns with Songs For Midi

Five years after the release of Kwes.’ debut album Ilp, he’s back with a new release, titled Songs For Midi.

Even though his solo release output has been dry since the release of Ilp, it certainly does not mean he hasn’t been busy. He’s been writing, producing and playing with a whole host of artists, including Bobby Womack, NAO, Solange, and Loyle Carner and mixed label mate Kelela’s debut album, Take Me Apart.

The EP marks a desire to get back to making music for himself with a freedom and almost painterly looseness to his sounds and composition, showing a producer just enjoying himself. It’s said to demonstrate how he has matured musically in the past half a decade; rather than be influenced by other musicians and producers he takes note from people, places, and instances that surround him.

Songs for Midi, even though mature in its sound, maintains that “consequential childlike element” upon which Kwes. has “built his repertoire,” the label says. The EP is an ode to his two-year-old niece, Midi; it’s an opus about childhood discoveries and the excitement a child feels in the ordinary and mundanity of everyday life, an uplifting comment on the effervescence of youth. Midi also designed the cover with a little help from Uncle Kwes.

Tracklisting

01. Midori
02. Trike
03. Ungry/Milk
04. 99flake
05. Hometime
06. Blox/Connor

Songs For Midi will land on April 6 via Warp, with “Midori” streaming in full below.

Portugal’s Neopop Festival Confirms First Names for 2018 Edition

Portugal’s Neopop Festival has confirmed plans for its 2018 edition, featuring the likes of Jeff Mills, Ben Klock, Nastia, Josh Wink, and more.

The 14th edition of Neopop Festival will take place on August 9, 10, and 11, set across two stages in the northern Portuguese coastal town of Viana do Castelo—a half hour’s drive from Porto airport. Each summer the festival invites a lineup packed with techno royalty for three days of music appreciation, and this year promises to be no different, with appearances from Jeff Mills, Ben Klock, Josh Wink, Solomun, Joseph Capriati, KiNK (Live), Paula Temple B2B Rebekah, Nastia, Len Faki, Ivan Smagghe, Apollonia, and more—with more names set to be announced.

2018 First Names

JEFF MILLS
BEN KLOCK
JOSH WINK
SOLOMUN
JOSEPH CAPRIATI
KiNK (live)
PAULA TEMPLE B2B REBEKAH
NASTIA
LEN FAKI
IVAN SMAGGHE
ALEKSI PERALA (live)
ADRIATIQUE
FJAAK (live)
FREDDY K
SOLAR
APOLLONIA
ZADIG
RUI VARGAS
LEWIS FAUTZI

This year’s edition takes place on August 9, 10, and 11, with more information, including tickets, available here.

Scuba Returns with First SCB Album

Scuba is set to continue his uncompromising SCB moniker with Caibu, a twelve-track LP of cerebral techno, darkened disco and broken beats out April 13 via Hotflush.

SCB is the esoteric techno project by Paul Rose, better known as UK bass pioneer and Hotflush Recordings owner Scuba. SCB was born in 2008 with a now-seminal rework of Hard Boiled from the first Scuba album, A Mutual Antipathy. Scuba is a pioneer of modern dance music. His works include four full-length albums, numerous EPs, remixes and mixes for the renowned DJ Kicks and fabric series, and his scene-defining “Sub:Stance” for Berghain’s Ostgut Ton. His label Hotflush lead the dubstep revolution as it forged a path into techno and the wider psyche. Through the label he gave the first platform to artists as diverse as Mount Kimbie and Joy Orbison to Sigha, Sepalcure, and Or:la.

Caibu is his first album as SCB and incorporates material from the Below The Line and Old Media New Society EPs of last year. Preceding the release, a third EP—Engineered Morality —will drop March, 16 continuing to explore the fictional narrative in which a hypothetical timeline is corrupted by a climate-related disaster. The title of the album itself refers to an imagined surgical procedure where cognitive ability is augmented through transplant from one brain to another. As such, Caibu and its accompanying EPs invite the listener to forge their own ideas on the development of society in the context of crisis.

We’re told that Caibu “draws strength from introspection.” At times “trapped in a pressurized container, at others floating through vast spaces; SCB merges subdued hypnotism, syncopated basslines and visceral ambience to find his centre. Metallic surfaces are moulded into polyrhythmic patterns replete with ricocheting drums, whilst unfamiliar acoustics provide a backdrop for the unfurling narrative.

Artwork for the three EPs and album commissioned by Jonathan Lawrence.

Tracklisting

01. Test Tubes
02. Bone
03. Manufactured Consent
04. The Cut
05. Freedom For The Fifty
06. Extinct
07. Laboratory Conditions
08. Five Degrees
09. Opposition Division
10. Intelligence Fetish
11. Caibu
12. Into Consciousness

Caibu LP will land on April 13 via Hotflush, with “Intelligence Fetish” streaming in full via the player below.

Nicolas Jaar Dropped an Album Last Week; Stream it Now

Last week, Nicolas Jaar slipped out an album under his A.A.L. (Against All Logic) alias.

Titled 2012 – 2017, the sample-heavy eleven-track LP dropped via Jaar’s Other People label and follows three singles released under A.A.L. and an hour-long mix, which dropped on Youtube in 2016 and can be heard below. As Pitchforkreports, Jaar discussed the alias and alluded to the material in a Crack Magazineinterview in 2016, saying: “I always find it funny when announcements say something is ‘the first Nicolas Jaar single in three years,’ as I’ve put out work under many different names.”

You can listen to the album in full via the player below.

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RINSED ‘Heartless’ (Dan’s Ocean Dub)

We last heard from RINSED‘s label arm The Umbrella back in December with the release of Point of Light, the new EP from label co-founder Robert Picciotto’s Material Witness project. Now, the label returns with its new EP, Snakes & Ladders, a collaboration between Dan Wender and Blacky II.

The tracks on the EP are a selection of some of the finest moments from their past seven years of collaborative work, recorded with a “bevy of hardware and illicit substances”—it’s a thrilling collection of dancefloor cuts touching on kaleidoscopic house and sweat-drenched garage.

In support of the release, RINSED has offered up Dan’s Ocean Dub of EP cut “Heartless” as today’s XLR8R download, available via WeTransfer below.

Heartless (Dan’s Ocean Dub)

Sampha Remixes Malian Pioneer Oumou Sangaré; Hear it Now

Oumou Sangaré has announced more details from her Mogoya Remixed album, due out via Nø Førmat! on March 2.

Mogoya Remixed will feature remixes by the likes of Sampha, St. Germain, Auntie Flo, Natureboy Flako, François And The Atlas Mountains, and TWOTEK, all who turn their hand to cuts from Oumou’s critically acclaimed new album, Mogoya.

Following her sell-out show at the Roundhouse in London last month, Oumou has today released Sampha’s remix of “Minata Waraba,” which can be hear via the player below.

You can grab Sampha’s remix here, with the album available for pre-order here.

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