DVS1 Mixes ‘Fabric 96’

DVS1 (a.k.a Zak Khutoretsky) has mixed fabric 96.

fabric 96 consists almost entirely of unreleased material, mixed live in one take on three decks and a Zone 92. There are no less than 16 forthcoming tracks from HUSH and Mistress, all of which are due for release next year, including fresh entries from Steffi, Oscar Mulero, Steve Bicknell, Mark Broom, and ROD, and new tracks by Lando and Kirill Mamin due on Mistress Recordings. New works by Planetary Assault Systems, Truncate, Henning Baer, Psyk, and Sirko Müller also feature.

“This mix CD concept was much more difficult to put together than I had imagined. As I don’t do mixes and haven’t released any mixes in over four years, I kept going back and forth in my mind leading up to selecting music about what style and vibe to present confined to the length a CD allows. Most people know me for techno, but I love such a broad range of music and had to find a way to limit myself to have a focus. In the end, I decided on a snapshot of a more straightforward focused mix…Created from asking friends and colleagues, known and unknown to send me unreleased music. I gathered what I was sent and tried to extract the parts and pieces and a few released tracks that stood out in my current mindset. This mix is a moment in time captured.”— DVS1

The 29-track release follows on from Roman Flügel’s contribution, which lands this week.

Tracklisting

01. Unknown Artist “For All Mankind”
02. Gabriella Vergilov “Boring Shit” [Thema]
03. Kirill Mamin “Silent Prayer” [Mistress]
04. Border One “Curve” [HUSH]
05. Doubt “Just Pain” [HUSH]
06. DJ Surgeles “Witness New Species” (No Vox Mix) [HUSH]
07. Mike Storm “From The Human Eye To Earth” [HUSH]
08. Sirko Müller “Our Blood” [Tokomak]
09. Steffi “1E-4” [HUSH]
10. Psyk “Falling” [Unreleased]
11. Neel “The Vancori Complex” [Spazio Disponibile]
12. Planetary Assault Systems “Fathoms Deep” [Mote-Evolver]
13. Oscar Mulero “Drops” [HUSH]
14. Jeff Mills “Fly Guy” [Purpose Maker]
15. Maan – “Vert” [HUSH]
16. Steve Bicknell “space 13” [HUSH]
17. Dustin Zahn “Politics Of Seduction” [HUSH]
18. Mike Gervais “Set Me Free” [Enemy]
19. Adriana Lopez “Last Path” [HUSH]
20. Truncate “Pseudo V2” [Unreleased]
21. ROD “Duchi Kaal” [HUSH]
22. Kirill Mamin “Dunning-Kruger Effect” [Mistress]
23. Mark Broom “Drum Jamz 2” [HUSH]
24. Henning Baer “Code Buster” [Manhigh]
25. Lando “Ceremony” [Mistress]
26. Strain “Theory” [HUSH]
27. d-56m “Question Authority” [Poverty Is Violence]
28. Anthony Rother “Technic Electric” [Psi49Net ]
29. Jeff Mills “The Dancer” [Purpose Maker]

fabric 96: DVS1 will be released on December 2.

Kllo Backwater

Ghostly International has never been afraid to dip its toes into the pop waters—the low-toned, Berlin-period Bowie-isms of Matthew Dear and the swirling, overstuffed swoon of Deastro come to mind, but there are plenty of other pop-tinged nuggets nestled throughout the label’s discography.

But rarely has Ghostly embraced pure pop as fully as it has with cousins Chloe Kaul and Simon Lam, the Australian duo better known as Kllo. Their label debut, last year’s Well Worn EP (itself a follow-up to 2014’s Cusp and a 2015 seven-incher, “Underlie”) saw the pair perfecting a finespun, occasionally otherworldly version of synthpop, one that fused skittering rhythms indebted to two-step, UK garage and the like to wistful melodies and yearning vocals. Kaul and Lam’s latest release, Backwater, is a further refinement of their sound, fleshing it out and blanketing it with a gauzy patina that’s almost intrinsically appealing.

The album’s lead track, “Downfall,” sets the tone for much of what follows. Skipping breakbeats, looped synth patterns and clipped vocals set the tempo; quietly majestic orchestration and a melancholy-tinged tunefulness set the mood; and Kaul’s gentle but confident singing provides the focus, via lyrics concerned with the fact that life is a series of hurdles to be overcome. (At least, we think that’s what she’s referring to—her songwriting tends to be on the hazily oblique side. Elsewhere, the elusiveness of love seems to be a common theme.) The song builds, gracefully and nearly imperceptibly, into something approaching a crescendo, before finally drifting off. It feels like a fleeting reverie, leaving a spectral hint of longing in its wake.

At times, there’s a bit more intensity: the cracking snare, cascading keys, swirling vocal sample, and sparse yet forceful low end of “By Your Side,” for instance, lend a powerful poignancy to its repeated “want to be by your side again” lyric. At other times, the songs drift through the firmament, as with the pensive, layered “Nylon,” a hymnal, nearly beat-free ode to a love affair that might, perhaps, be doomed. Some of the cuts lean toward R&B, as with the spectral ballad “Too Fast”; others, like the shivering “Making Distractions,” are imbued with a touch of delicate abstraction.

In truth, these are only the slightest of variations of a theme, one that’s defined by gorgeous sound design (some of its synth washes can raise goosebumps), lush arrangements, soft-focus vibe and most of all, the album’s hugely emotive melodies and Kaul’s intimate, affecting voice. But really, that lack of variation is one of Backwater’s strengths—Kllo have created a gossamer dreamscape of a world, and it’s a gorgeous place to dwell for a while.

Tracklisting 

01 Downfall
02 Still Motion
03 Virtue
04 Predicament
05 Last Yearn
06 Backwater
07 Dissolve
08 By Your Side
09 Making Distractions
10 Too Fast
11 Nylon
12 Not Like Them

Watch a Tripped-Out Video From BRZZVLL

Belgian band BRZZVLL released their sixth studio album, Waiho, last week via Sdban Ultra.

The album, a free-flowing psychedelic jazz-funk odyssey, arrives with an equally tripped-out video by Jochem Baelus, a Belgian musician and filmmaker. In the video, a protagonist moves through a series of bizarre, humorous, and confounding scenes, soundtracked by the innovative electronics and instrumentation of BRZZVLL.

You can watch the video in full via the player above, with the album available here.

Cropper & Dross ‘Jaxa’

Cropper‘s latest EP, Sunlight, dropped last week on Brighton-based Blah Blah Blah Records.

The new EP, which has already picked up support from artist such as Hannah Wants, Nick Warren, and Richy Ahmed, among others, follows a recent collaboration with Byron The Aquarius—Cropper contributed to the lead track to Byron The Aquarius’ latest EP on Eglo Records, released last month—and arrives backed by a remix from Hackman.

In support of his recent outings, Cropper has offered up a track with old musical friend Dross as today’s XLR8R download. The track follows a summer performance from the pair at Glastonbury and will be the first offering from the partnership—a new joint live show is also in the works for the pair, as well as a mixtape on their Lobe Records imprint.

You can pre-order Sunlighthere, with “Jaxa” available via WeTransfer below.

Jaxa

Stream a Track From Hyetal’s Impressive New Album

Hyetal‘s latest album, Youth & Power, will drop via Other/other on October 27.

Following on from his two previous full-lengths on True Panther Sounds and Black Acre, Youth & Power was recorded over the three years since 2013’s Modern Worship and presents somewhat of a transformation for Hyetal, moving from a more off-kilter dance style to pop-driven pastures. The haunting, textured atmospheres and bent rhythms remain, but there’s more of an emotional honesty, openness, and beauty to the tracks, something Hyetal explains was a direct response to feeling detached from his music: “Previously my approach to writing music was very rooted in escapism. I began experiencing a sense of detachment in my life which led me to question how healthy this approach was. I wanted music to help me feel connected again.”

Ahead of the release, you can pre-order Youth & Powerhere, with album cut “Permanence” streaming in full below.

Review: Maschine MK3

As an all-in-one studio production and live performance tool, Native Instruments’ Maschine line has been one of the most popular in modern music. The company’s latest revision, the Maschine MK3, comes roughly four years after the release of the larger Maschine Studio, and a year after that of the more performance-oriented Maschine Jam. It’s currently available in one size, fitting a host of features from the (larger) Studio and the (smaller) Jam into a portable 12.6″ x 11.85″ x 1.61″ footprint, and further streamlining the Maschine workflow.

How it Looks

The MK3 is a sleek update of the hardware, refining both aesthetics and layout into what feels very much like the best Maschine hardware to date. The most obvious upgrade is the integration of dual screens, which are now proper color LCD displays (the same screens used on the Maschine Studio), allowing for much better browsing, sequencing, and sound-shaping, further removing the need to look back at the computer screen between edits.

Even more significant for some is the fact that the MK3 also functions as a 24-bit/96 kHz audio interface with stereo line inputs and outputs, as well as a mic input and headphone output (it also maintains MIDI I/O jacks). The Maschine pads are slightly bigger than those found in previous versions, and feel more responsive across their surface (something of particular note for finger drummers). There’s a touch strip, the primary use of which is for performative actions (as seen on the Jam), like sound and effect modulation, and even “strumming” played sounds.

The layout has changed in a number of ways, with the addition of dedicated buttons for the different play modes (Pad / Keyboard / Chord / Step), as well as several performance-based buttons for the touch strip controls. There’s a dedicated Macro button, as well as touch-sensitivity on the knobs for efficiently adding parameters as macros, as well as a larger encoder knob that now also functions as a button, used for navigating the Maschine menus.

In terms of its industrial design, the MK3 is easily the most solidly-constructed Maschine model so far. The general visual styling, including the matte finish and left-justified text on the buttons, is reminiscent of Ableton’s Push controller; not a bad thing, per se, but worth noting. (The color palette of the LEDs still feels more NI than Ableton, for what it’s worth).

How it Plays

The MK3 feels like a proper follow-up, evolving the Maschine workflow in a handful of key ways. The layout has been refined such that things generally feel more like they’re in the “right” place, and getting around the interface simply feels quicker and more intuitive than ever before. The touch strip serves as a nice alternative to knob-twisting as a way to input automation, and the dedicated Keyboard and Chord buttons make playing keys and chords much more accessible and intuitive than it was in previous iterations. The built-in audio interface is a nice addition, and will mean less clutter on the desk for many producers, and be a boon to those who want one less piece of gear to lug around to live gigs or studios (even if the tiny gain knobs on the back of the unit are a bit ungainly).

Perhaps the most useful new feature on the MK3 is the “Lock” function (which, to be fair, originated in the Maschine Jam). Press it, and you’ll temporarily save a snapshot of the current parameter settings for your project; tweak your sounds and effects to your heart’s content, and then when you’re ready, hit the Lock button again—and everything immediately snaps back to the captured snapshot. What’s great is that you can save up to 64 of these “lock states,” which you can then move between via either immediate or gradual “morphing” transitions. It’s a brilliant workflow improvement and helps open up new creative pathways, and one we’ll likely see copied by other manufacturers in the coming years.

The Bottom Line

While not a revolutionary upheaval, Maschine MK3 feels like a smart, significant evolution of the platform. For those considering an upgrade, the MK3 definitely feels like a worthwhile step up from the MK1 and MK2, while perhaps less so for studio owners who don’t need to save the desk space (or perform live). Choosing between this and Ableton’s Push, however, remains largely a matter of workflow taste: Maschine continues to excel as an all-in-one beat machine and sampler; while Push functions as a more comprehensive, wide-ranging interface for Ableton’s ubiquitous DAW.

Price: $599

Nina Kraviz Delivers ‘Essential Mix’

Nina Kraviz delivered her second Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1 over the weekend.

The Russian producer debuted on the series in 2012.

Her second submission is described by the BBC as “a slamming mix of new and classic techno and electro,” and features the work of Speedy J, Blawan, and new material from Nina’s label Trip.

Listen to it now via this link.

XLR8R x Melisma to Host Dan Andrei, Laylla Dane, Afriqua, and More

XLR8R have partnered with Melisma for a party at Berlin’s Hoppetosse on October 27.

Melisma is run by Dani Casarano and Felipe Valenzuela, both of whom will play the event. They’ll be joined by several artists affiliated with the label, including Afriqua, Laylla Dane, and Romanian Dan Andrei.

The full lineup is as follows:

Dan Andrei
Dani Casarano
Felipe Valenzuela
Junki Inoue
Laylla Dane b2b Afriqua

More information can be on Afriqua and Laylla Dane here and here, with Laylla Dane’s podcast streaming below.

The event takes place October 27 at Berlin’s Hoppetosse.

Damiano Von Erckert Announces New Album

Damiano Von Erckert has a new LP in the works, titled In Case You Don’t Know What To Play.

The 10-track release, which lands after his 2 EP earlier this year, will form the musical aspect of Damiano von Erckert’s latest project, In Case You Don’t Know What To Do, and will be accompanied by a movie and an art installation.

The album, In Case You Don’t Know What To Play, is committed to the world of dancing, drawing eclectic inspiration from the streets of Tokyo, traditional African rhythms, US underground techno, and the sound of Recklinghausen. The movie, In Case You Don’t Know What To Watch, gives an insight into von Erckert and his work; while Damiano is also shown creating a painting from the last part in the trilogy, In Case You Don’t Know What To Look At.

Tracklisting

01. From The Sun
02. Tribute To A Hero
03. In Case You Don’t Know What To Play [TECHNO]
04. Unknown Afrique
05. Tokio 1987
06. All Night Long
07. Sometimes It’s Like That, No_
08. In Case You Don’t Know What To Play [HOUSE]
09. In Case You Don’t Know What To Play [AFRO]
10. What Is Eigentlich Wrong_

In Case You Don’t Know What To Play LP is scheduled for November 28 release via AVA. Records, with clips available below.

Bibio Returns with New Warp LP

Stephen James Wilkinson (a.k.a Bibio) will soon return to Warp with a new album, titled Phantom Brickworks.

The nine-track collection is a collection of “mostly improvised musical pieces, that for some years now, have provided me with a mental portal into places and times—some real, some imaginary, some a combination of both,” Bibio explains. “Human beings are highly sensitive to the atmospheres of places, which can be enhanced or dramatically altered when you learn about the context of their history. Echoes and voices can sometimes be heard, in some way or another. Places sometimes have things to say.”

The LP is available on limited edition double vinyl, with inner and outer sleeves printed using a hand-inked letterpress, the entire print process being attended by Bibio himself. The album will also be available in the usual more widely available formats, including a standard edition of the double vinyl.

Tracklisting:

01. 9:13
02. Phantom Brickworks
03. Pantglas
04. Phantom Brickworks II
05. Capel Celyn
06. Phantom Brickworks III
07. Ivy Charcoal
08. Branch Line
09. Capel Bethania

Phantom Brickworks LP is scheduled for November 3 release, with an edit of “Phantom Brickworks III” streaming above.

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