Freqs of Nature Announces Bass Playground Lineup, Sleep Concert, and Workshops

The Freqs of Nature Festival has now announced the lineup for this year’s Bass Playground, alongside a Sleep Concert and various workshops.

The six-day summer event, located one hour from Berlin, is “committed to encouraging artists of all mediums to explore the depths of their imagination, to boldly produce work that is beautiful, peculiar and thought-provoking.” The festival invests heavily in projects that go beyond the musical lineup, with multiple galleries, installations, modular soldering workshops, landscaping, and organic decorations combined with scientific experiments and skilled engineering. The aim is to create an environment of peculiar content that “is yet to be seen” in the realm of electronic music by blending a celebration of psychedelic trance influences with collected artistries and craftsmanships from within Berlin’s urban art scene.

Having previously announced a string full of names, the organizers have now confirmed the lineup for the Bass Playground, including Mad Zach, Samurai Music label head Presha, Repeat Eater , Duran Duran Duran, Bassinfected, and DJ Scotch Bonnet, and many other great artists.

The festival has also announced the Soldering & Modular Patch workshop by The Czech collective Bastl Instruments, and various art galleries with a selection of artists from a variety of backgrounds, from street art to visionary art to classic and contemporary art. There will also be a Kinetic Sculpture workshop by the French master Patrice Pit Hubert and a Sleep Concert by Danish IDM legend Karsten Pflum who will create a “unique journey in the spirit of ambient godfather Robert Rich.”

With two weeks to go until the gates of Freqs Of Nature open, the organizers have answered a few questions.

Please explain in a few words, what the general concept and idea behind Freqs Of Nature festival is.

With Freqs of Nature our main focus has always been to provide a platform for a wide variety of peculiar art and engineering forms to be presented, fused and developed. To let creativity blossom by bringing together more than 200 artists and builders from all corners of the earth for over a month to present efficient infrastructures and to construct unique installations in styles not seen before. For us, all art and engineering forms within the festival are equally valued. Even though we take pride in our carefully selected lineup, it’s very important that Freqs of Nature is more than just a music festival.

The event has evolved from a psychedelic trance festival into a general electronic festival. Was this always the intention? 

It seems that this evolution is a natural process. We never thought of ourselves as a psych-trance festival because we have always included many other genres and we always believed that within all genres one can find intelligent and interesting music. Most of us grew up in the Psy-Trance festival scene and we have been going to these events as long as we can remember. We found that this scene has an unusually high number of people dedicating their lives to extremely detailed hand and art-crafts and through that a concept like ours to some extent would only be possible with the roots and connection to the psychedelic scene. Besides, the lovely international crowd is aware of their environment and surroundings and are used to traveling and camping for a week within a festival experience.

We will always keep this connection and we aren’t trying to hide our roots. Part of this evolution, mainly why other music forms are more present at the event, is to do with that change in other electronic music scenes. More people from various genres are interested in the arty-camping-festival experience and many more genres have sub-divisions and single artists that are having an organic approach in their musical aesthetic and production techniques and therefore fit into the way we’re programming our lineups.

Besides the diverse music program of Freqs, which other things are to explore during the festival days? 

Well, that’s almost impossible to answer with just a few words. Just by looking at our Bass Playground, that is an oversized playground constructed for adults with all kinds of climbing elements and an integrated stage, so that the music program and exploration are not separated.

As for things to explore, we would like to point out our galleries. The main Freqs gallery includes a selection of artists from a variety of backgrounds, from street art to visionary art to classic and contemporary art; the Arthouse Tachelis gallery is organized by parts of the former famous Berlin art-squad Tachelis, formed around the creations of the amazing Belarus painter Alexander Rodin.

Last year we introduced a little space dedicated to exploring and building synthesizers in order to give a glimpse into how electronic music is made. Here we’ll be working together with the Czech team of Bastl Instruments and others who will also be giving a Modular Patch Workshop.

Full Lineup: Bass Playground

Acriter
Aux-In
Axiom
B’ver Invaders
Bassinfected
Cooh Balkansky
DJ Die Soon
DJ Scotch Bonnet
Duran Duran Duran
Eater Repeater
Fugly
Hi-Towa
Indian Junglist
Karl Marx Stadt
Karsten Pflum
Kate Push
KRYTIKA
L.U.I
Kid Reaction
Last Life
Mad Zach
Maria Terror
Monolog
Økapi
Pat Flanders
Presha
Re:set
Satyr
Sonair
Theme
Tom Battery

This year’s edition takes place from July 5-11 in Niedergörsdorf, Germany, with more information and tickets available here.

Binh Returns to Time Passages

Binh will return to his own Time Passages imprint with a new EP, titled ThisThat.

ThisThat will be the Berlin-based artist’s first release of the year and arrives after a busy 2016 where he released two double packs, for Nicolas Lutz‘ My Own Jupiter and Perlon. It will be the label’s second release of the year, following Neu Rochelle by Evan Baggs.

Tracklisting

A. ThisThat
B1. Chalzedon
B2. Ramen

ThisThat is scheduled for July 17 release, with clips available here.

Afterthoughts: Off-Week 2017

It’s June 28 and Barcelona’s biggest week of music is over. Now in its 24th year, Sónar Festival continues to impress with a selection of the some of the world’s finest acts, panels, and workshops electronic music has to offer. Orbiting around the festival, the Off events also continue to draw in the big names—Dixon, Ricardo Villalobos, and Margaret Dygas all headlined this year. On the digital billboards, this looks like a gold mine of electronic music few can match around the world. But after 24 years, is Sonar and the galaxy of Off parties around it really what it’s cracked up to be? Is Barcelona building on this week and cementing itself as a European destination for music? Here are some thoughts.

“Some promoters estimated seeing ticket sales fall as much as 30-40%…”

Sónar itself continues to grow: 123,000 people turned up this year, marking the event’s largest attendance to date. Considering the heat in the city, which was the hottest Sónar weekend on record, this is no mean feat. However, while Sónar thrived once again, the Off events seem to have suffered. Many still had tickets at the door, while the highly respected AMBIQ, Shackleton, Kassem Mosse, and The Orb played in front of an unusually small crowd. Each name on their own should easily have been able to sell out a show this size any other weekend. Mitigating factors such as the time, heat, and new venue could have played their part for this particular show, but poor attendance was a problem for many promoters across the Off-Week. Some promoters estimated seeing ticket sales fall as much as 30-40%, with a number of explanations put forward.

One argument could be that the Catalan capital doesn’t have the requisite venues to keep people coming back year on year. Barring Sónar, a standard setter globally when it comes to production, none of the Barcelona venues are a match for their European counterparts. The Catalan capital is crying out for a Fabric or a Berghain, maybe even a Studio Spaces or a Robert Johnson—a place where sound, production, and well-chosen lineups draw music travelers from around the world. The locals are crying out for it, as are artists, promoters, and managers around Europe. Clubs like Red58 and some promoters like Classic and Kommuna are doing their best, but they remain relatively under the radar. While part of the blame can be apportioned to the local council and the challenging legislation, incumbents could really do more to bring up standards to those on show elsewhere.

Another argument lies with pricing. For Sónar itself, the curious local may find the ticket prices prohibitive, but the price seems fair given the cost of other gigs around Europe. Due to the variety of Off events, it’s hard to paint them all with a single brush, but some could be said to be focussed purely on the bottom line, bringing in big names and charging prices closer to small festivals than one-day events. Adding to this, drink prices definitely suffer from inflation out of synch with local prices. In a city where the average caña costs €1.50 or less, paying €6+ for a small beer is disproportionate. Not only does this price out the locals, it erodes one of the key reasons why people actually head to Barcelona: affordability. If Barcelona needs a reference on maintaining a quality music scene, look no further than Berlin. The German city has been a music mecca for decades with fair prices for both entry and consumption an important factor. Let’s hope the Catalans really are in this for the music and quickly reverse this trend before punters reverse their travel plans.

 “….licensing laws and inadequate technology make it hard to produce the kind of events which will make a return journey worthwhile.”

A final argument could be pointed somewhere else: overcrowding. Not just on the calendar but at the events themselves. The big names suck in the crowds, some to the point where it becomes impossible to so much as wiggle a toe on the dancefloor. This pushes away fans who can catch said names at fresher and more affordable locations- there are festivals all around Europe that offer similar line-ups for less money in nicer settings. On the flipside, smaller events suffer from the competition between themselves. With every label and promoter wanting to throw a showcase, places left generally really don’t do the lineups justice. While some get creative and manage to make something great out of nothing, licensing laws and inadequate technology make it hard to produce the kind of events which will make a return journey worthwhile.

Sónar will continue to thrive; it is well produced and by booking the likes of Björk and Justice, it will continue to attract fans from the mainstream to the most experimental. In contrast, the Off events need a shake out; not only is event congestion a problem, the quality of many is unfair on those attending. Substandard venues, sound, and overpricing are slowly eroding what was once one of the most anticipated weekends of the year. However, where does the problem really lie? With the promoters, the venue owners or Barcelona itself? Time will tell.

Barcelona, as one of the most popular destinations in Europe, has all the essentials needed for a burgeoning music scene, but does it really have the soul needed for one to thrive?

____

Header Photo:

Indigo Raw event by Photos: Ruben 242 Photography / Pablo Bustos Photography.

Aftertouch Celebrates One-Year Anniversary With Robin Ordell

This Friday, San Francisco’s Aftertouch crew will celebrate their one-year anniversary with Robin Ordell.

The event will put a cap on a breakout year for the rising promoters, one that has brought the likes of Raresh, Arapu, Clovis, Barac, and Doubtingthomas to the city. Alongside Ordell, Aftertouch have invited a host of San Francisco’s finest selectors, including Louiv, Lily Akerman, Ivana Karpierz, and Alex Lin.

Friday’s event marks the first date of Ordell’s debut US tour, the details of which you can find below, alongside ticket info for Aftertouch.

Aftertouch w/ Robin Ordell

F8 – San Francisco, CA, US

June 30 @ 9:30 pm – July 1 @ 4:00 am

Tour Dates:

June 29 – Salon Daome, Montreal (CA)
June 30 – Aftertouch, F8, San Francisco (US)
July 6 – Do Not Sit On The Furniture, Miami (US)
July 7 – Deep to Techno, White Room, Stamford (CT)
July 8 – TV Lounge, Detroit (US)

Patricia Preps LP for Spectral Sound, Shares Track

Next month, Patricia will return to Spectral Sound with Several Shades Of The Same Color, his first album for the label.

Several Shades of The Same Color will be released in conjunction with his own label Active Cultures as a triple LP bundle and as individual 12″ LPs. According to the press release, the album is intended for “aural use only,” and any “emotional content perceived herein is borne of its listener, and is in no way intended by its author. Any sounds resembling speech are not intended to convey meaning.”

The album is set to drop July 14, with “Speed Wagon Night Bride” streaming in full below.

Tracklisting:

01. I Know The Face, But Not The Name
02. Liminal States
03. Speed Wagon Night Bride
04. The Words Are Just Sounds
05. It Gets Worse At Night
06. Deku Tree
07. The Electric Eye Is Upon Me
08. Étant Donnés
09. Thoughts Of You
10. Shiba Inu Dub
11. You Never Listen
12. Feel Your Body
13. German Friendship
14. Alternate Mindset
15. Upper Peninsula (ft. Terekke)

Mudchute ‘On Your Skin’

Shoeboxx Recordings last featured on XLR8R back in 2015 with label head Real Cosby‘s “Like Ya Do,” a cut from the label’s 2015 compilation. Since then, Shoeboxx have dropped imprintafter’s All We Did EP and Romo’s Stay Beautiful, dropping in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

This Summer, after a year-long break, Shoeboxx will return with a new album from UK-based producer and multi-instrumentalist Mudchute. Titled I Hope This Helps, the EP is set to drop on July 6 as a free digital download via Shoeboxx’s Bandcamp page.

In the lead up to the release, Shoeboxx have offered up the EP’s first single, “On Your Skin,” as today’s XLR8R download. Like much of Shoeboxx’s back catalog, “On Your Skin” is a fresh, feel-good slice of beat-driven electronics perfectly fit for the summer months.

You can download “On Your Skin” via WeTransfer below.

On Your Skin

Download a New Mix from Guy From Downstairs

Guy From Downstairs has shared a new mix, which is exclusively available below.

Guy From Downstairs is Victor Ernuteanu, a Bucharest-based artist whose philosophy regarding the sound of the electronic underground music has always been evolving around clear and simple ideas since day one: staying fresh, adding your own touch to the culture and “rocking the dancefloor.”

He has released records on labels like Robsoul, Melisma, Tzinah or Tvir. The latest EP on his own vinyl-only imprint GFD brings to light a collaboration project together with Desolat‘s Guti.

Now he compiles a mix exclusively for XLR8R, and this is what he had to say.

When and where was the mix recorded?

The set was recorded in my home studio from Bucharest. I’ve just moved into a new place so this was the perfect occasion for a first jam.

Could you tell us about the idea behind it? How did you choose the records in it?

The idea was simple, as always: I like the way something sounds a lot and I want you to experience it too. I’ve included some of my unreleased productions and a few tracks from various artists that I dig.

How does the mix compare to one of your club mixes?

I think, when recording a mix at home I tend to follow my storyline in sound and build grooves with a lot of my own loops and beats; while performing live in front of people, the vibe always depends on the moment, time, mood. I play my productions but I also enjoy trying out different music that I find in my diggings or stuff that my friends make.

What have you got planned for 2017?

For later this year I’ve got a few remixes coming out on 12 inch, a track on a Vatos Locos V.A., an EP on Curtea Veche is in development and also very exciting times for the GFD label as there are lot of goodies that are about to see the light very soon 🙂

VridianMusic ‘Turbulent’

Rennie Foster’s RF label has long been a reliable source for discerning house and techno. Regardless of whether the Canadian imprint is hosting established or emerging producers, its modus operandi always revolves around music that’s sure to force an impression in the club. The label’s latest signing, VridianMusic, is an Indian duo consisting of Vir Rattan Chowdhry and Siddhant Jain who boast a sound that’s deeply rooted in the underground. Ahead of the release of their EP’s release, Depth Perception EP, “Turbulent” is available to download below.

Tracklisting:

01. Fluir
02. Depth Perception
03. Tireless (In the Morning)
04. Blurry (Owen Ni Rework)
05. Turbulent

Turbulent

Orbe Debuts on Hivern Discs

Orbe is set to debut on John Talabot‘s Hivern Discs with the Uniformity EP.

Orbe had, according to Hivern Discs, been on the label’s radar since his work with Eduardo de la Calle‘s Analog Solutions.” At the same time, he sent the label various folders with music, but nothing crystallized. He then ended up changing studios and settling in the basement of a record store in the district of Malasaña in Madrid. There, he locked himself for two weeks, during which, as he explains, he “let himself go.” “I did not think about anything, I made music for myself, and that’s how it came out,” he recalls.

What came out of these studio sessions were six cuts that “borrow indistinctly from electro and techno to reach perennial border zones, those where languages are no longer effective and the ability to transmit emotions becomes the only mean of communication.”

The 12” comes wrapped in a screen printed sleeve with design by Arnau Pi.

Tracklisting

A1. Somebody bring me here
A2. Visceral terror intro
A3. Visceral terror
B1. Uniformity
B2. Unexpected dream’s rave
B3. De Felipe’s world

Uniformity EP is scheduled for July 7 release, with the title track streamable in full above.

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