It’s likely that this month’s Ask the Experts will be a popular one. Zak Khutoretsky (a.k.a. DVS1), the artist responding to your submissions, has long been one of the most respected figures in modern techno, lauded for the artistry he brings to the DJ booth in a time where so many selectors favor practicality over musicality. The clearest example of these abilities that springs to mind came back in the winter of 2015 during a Mistress/Klockworks takeover at Berghain/Panorama Bar—where he currently holds a residency. Having performed a powerful and exemplary techno-focused set downstairs, he then explored the wider realms of his extensive 30,000-deep record collection to deliver one of the most enjoyable and stimulating house sets I’ve seen for many years. It was a fine performance by one of the world’s finest DJs.
Khutoretsky is, he says, “first and foremost” as DJ—a selector with great experience in the field, ranging from clubs all across Europe to many years throwing parties and playing records during the ’90s midwest rave scene. Away from the booth, however, Khutoretsky is also a skilled producer with a growing catalog of records on Klockworks, Transmat, and his own HUSH, the label arm of his organization that also encompasses a sound company and a series of illegal parties. On January 31, he will release HUSH20, a double EP that will be the first material on the label since 2014’s HUSH03 EP. In addition to this, Khutoretsky also runs Mistress, a widely respected HUSH sub-label that “represents the pioneering home for versatile producers, sounds, and vibes which touch all corners of the dancefloor and beyond.”
Whether it be DJing, production or anything else, all questions should be sent to [email protected]; we’ll pass them along to DVS1 who will select his favorites, and in February we’ll publish the answers.
Later this week, on Friday to be exact, Stem Records will release its first record of the year, Eleonora‘s Thousand Thoughts Away EP.
Over the last few years, while collaborating in several jazz projects, Russian-born Berlin-based Eleonora has steadily carved an intriguing brand of emotive electronica. Here we see her join forces with Stem Records for her new EP, which is filled with broken rhythms, atmospheric guitar licks, and intricate sound design. The EP also arrives with remixes from Sei A and Will & Held, both who turn in murky reworks.
In the lead up to the release, you can download “Seven Levels Of Heaven,” the EP’s beautifully droney closing cut, via WeTransfer below.
It was announced last year that Music Goes Further, the team behind Into The Valley, would be expanding its interests, launching six new festivals over the course of the next few years. Into The Valley, which has jumped over to Estonia, has just revealed that it will host Ricardo Villalobos, Rhadoo, Kerri Chandler, and Helena Hauff, with 44 names still to be added.
Into The Valley will take place June 29 – July 1, followed by Into The Factory on August 10 – 12. For more information and tickets, head to the Music Goes Further site.
GALAXIID is an offshoot of her well-establish трип imprint, dedicated to putting music out by experimental and avant-garde artists, with a preference for the psychedelic. It will also put out books from time to time. According to a press release, as is the case with трип, “GALAXIID will have a strong connection to art through its visual identity, with all the cover artworks drawn by psychedelic artists.”
So far, we know that the first couple of releases on GALAXIID will feature music by Biogen and Species Of Fishes. There are also plans in the pipeline to release compilations of Japanese and Russian psychedelia from the archives.
On January 27, Tim & Puma Mimi—a Swiss-Japanese duo who describe themselves as “sushi served with Swiss chocolate for wasabi”—will drop their latest album, Der Die Das, via Mouthwatering Records.
The overtly eccentric group have been known to, among other things, use a cucumber to trigger their synthesisers to “prove how crazy triggering interface design could get,” as well as utilizing Skype during live shows to beam Puma Mimi up on a screen behind Tim to perform songs remotely from her Tokyo apartment. This quirkiness and natural tendency to explore out-there ideas also translates to their music, which is an invigorating mix of everything from dub to Japanese rap, twisted modular synth jams, and, quite literally, everything in between. To use a quote from the press release, it’s “as if Towa Tei and Lady Miss Kier of Deee-Lite ran into Giorgio Moroder at the thickest, craziest 90s rave,” then “all of them took copious amounts of mushrooms and turned into anime characters who just so happened to live in an 8-bit video game”; and to be honest, it’s a very apt description.
To give you a taste of their flavor, you can stream “Guest Book No.1,” a pop-infused cut with drunken rhythms and warped sound design, in full via the player above.
On January 27, Tim & Puma Mimi—a Swiss-Japanese duo who describe themselves as “sushi served with Swiss chocolate for wasabi”—will drop their latest album, Der Die Das, via Mouthwatering Records.
The overtly eccentric group have been known to, among other things, use a cucumber to trigger their synthesisers to “prove how crazy triggering interface design could get,” as well as utilizing Skype during live shows to beam Puma Mimi up on a screen behind Tim to perform songs remotely from her Tokyo apartment. This quirkiness and natural tendency to explore out-there ideas also translates to their music, which is an invigorating mix of everything from dub to Japanese rap, twisted modular synth jams, and, quite literally, everything in between. To use a quote from the press release, it’s “as if Towa Tei and Lady Miss Kier of Deee-Lite ran into Giorgio Moroder at the thickest, craziest 90s rave,” then “all of them took copious amounts of mushrooms and turned into anime characters who just so happened to live in an 8-bit video game”; and to be honest, it’s a very apt description.
To give you a taste of their flavor, you can stream “Guest Book No.1,” a pop-infused cut with drunken rhythms and warped sound design, in full via the player above.
The two-track EP focused on Jarman’s fascination with sound, this time manifesting itself via Eastern European Cold War radio signals—as well as providing ample dancefloor destruction. The EP finds inspiration in haunting sound from “encrypted shortwave radio used by spies for communication and espionage in the cold war era” and the Soviet government’s Duga 3 radar—which was used as a warning network for oncoming nuclear threats. Filled with foreboding undertones and relentless rhythms, it’s an EP of immense power and depth.
As a follow up to the EP’s release, the label has shared a dark video for a-side cut, “Numbers Station,” available to watch in full via the player below.
NAMM 2017 has come and gone, amidst a series of rather torrential downpours in traditionally sunny Anaheim, California. Though there was perhaps less emphasis on throwback products and re-releases than we’ve seen in recent years, the show once again saw a great deal of focus on hardware, with plenty of both modular and outboard gear on display. We’ve gathered together some of the most interesting developments and products below.
Elektron Digitakt While it showed up in only a single, unfinished unit behind a protective glass case, it’s tough not to be excited about Elektron’s Digitakt. The newest from the Swedish manufacturer is an eight-track digital drum machine and sampler, and extremely capable one at that with its compact size, extremely beckoning back-lit buttons, and crisp OLED screen. It’s even got eight dedicated MIDI tracks (with Elektron’s tried-and-true sequencer onboard), meaning it can potentially serve as the hub for your other hardware machines as well. While we weren’t able to hear or use it, the device is expected to cost $650 when it launches in April.
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Teenage Engineering PO-32 Tonic With the PO-32 Tonic, Teenage Engineering’s Pocket Operator line gets its most advanced member yet. The PO-32 features tight integration with Sonic Charge’s excellent MicroTonic plugin, and lets users transfer sounds and pattern sets over the air between their computer and the PO-32 using its onboard microphone. It accomplishes this through the same technology used by old modems (complete with data screeching), and the result feels like something akin to magic. The company also showed an updated prototype of its OP-Z synthesizer, which continues to thoroughly impress. Among other things, the device will allow users to program custom audio and video patches using a special iOS app, connect to DMX lighting and laser setups, and more—all in a device that fits in your jacket pocket. The OP-Z is expected to be released in September 2017.
Bitwig Studio 2 A surprise from the company attempting to give Ableton a run for its money, Bitwig Studio 2 brings an incredible amount of modulation power to the table. Redesigned from the ground up, there is now a host of new tools: effects chains are opportunities for infinite modulation via modulators, which are incredibly fun and easy to use. There’s a navigation toolbar that’s now fully customizable and results in a cleaner interface, as well as new hardware integration options: brand-new CV and MIDI devices, as well as integration with Bastl Instruments’ new Klik device for easily syncing your modular to your DAW. Bitwig Studio license holders can apply for a beta license here, and the expected release date for Bitwig Studio 2 is February 28, 2017.
Moog Pulling a trick out of Patagonia’s Black Friday playbook, Moog used NAMM 2017 as an opportunity to show off precisely zero new products. Instead, the company used its space to celebrate some of the great musicians and music technology innovators we’ve lost in recent times, essentially transforming its rather large booth into a museum installation focused on the likes of Pauline Oliveros, Don Buchla, Keith Emerson, and Bernie Worrell. Show-goers were also able to enter into a draw to win Moog gear, by posting a photograph of a quote from one of the featured legends to social media. Amidst the commercial frenzy that is the NAMM show floor, Moog’s tasteful counterpoint served as a friendly zone for contemplation and inspiration.
Apple Logic and GarageBand
Apple’s big news from NAMM 2017 is that its music production ecosystem continues to grow and evolve, from iOS to MacOS. Perhaps most interesting is iCloud sync for projects, letting you open Logic projects on your iOS device, make edits, recordings, and additions, and then see them reflected back on your desktop machine running Logic, automatically. There’s now multi-take recording on GarageBand, as well as integration of Logic’s Alchemy synth. Apple has updated Logic with a new, flatter, cleaner UI, and the Touch Bar on the new MacBook Pro now lets you move through arrangements, access Smart Controls, and keyboard shortcuts, and even play instruments and drums. Logic’s mixing engine has been updated, as well, with a 64-bit summing engine and true stereo panning. Both updates are free and available now.
4MS Stereo Triggered Sampler and Tapographic Delay
While there were too many cool modules on display at this year’s show, 4MS unleashed a couple of beasts that were tough to ignore. Its Stereo Triggered Sampler has an onboard SD card slot for loading and saving samples, and stereo inputs for live sampling. Samples can be selected via knob or CV, and there are knobs for pitch, sample start point and length and a reverse button—essentially all of the parameters can be addressed via the patch points at the bottom, and it can be used as either a stereo unit or as two independent samplers which can also be synced to one another. The Tapographic Delay, meanwhile, is a mono in, stereo out multi-tap delay effect, supporting up to 32 taps. The buttons along the top of the module select presets, and the delays transitions between them; the pad responds to velocity, which can be assigned to VCA, filter and other parameters, while time, feedback, wet/dry, and modulation controls are on knobs and also available via CV.
Bastl Instruments KLIK Bastl Instruments’ KLIK is a tiny sync device, enabling users to create solid analog sync signals between their computer and hardware synths. It’s old-school but effective, using audio tracks for synchronization purposes, and enabling the recording synths exactly on the grid while compensating for your sound card’s latency. You can even add groove to your clock. Bitwig 2.0 supports this device natively with a HW CLOCK device, but Ableton should work fine as well using a simple device that can be downloaded from the Bastl website. For around $50, this tiny device should be an extremely useful bit of glue for modular synthesists.
Akai MPC Live and MPC X Akai returns to the production machine ring with two new MPC models: The MPC Live is the smaller of the two, with multi-colored LEDs, a seven-inch touchscreen where you can browse, edit and arrange, and 16GB onboard storage for samples (which can be expanded with a 2.5-inch SATA SSD/HDD). It even has a built-in battery, making this a truly portable production machine. For its part, the hefty MPC X features a 10-inch touchscreen, more controls, additional MIDI ports, as well as CV connections that allow the MPC X to control modular and legacy gear. Both the MPC Live and the MPC X will be available around March costing $1,199 and $1,999 respectively.
Pioneer TORAIZ AS-1 While the AS-1 is the first analog synthesizer from Pioneer, it’s actually a collaboration with Dave Smith Instruments, based on the well-known Prophet-6; in fact, the voice is exactly the same as the Prophet-6, with the same VCOs and filters. The AS-1 automatically syncs with Pioneer’s DJM mixer and CDJs, and the portable form factor and touchscreen keys are similar to those on Roland’s AIRA TB-3. Releases in March for $499.99.
German DJ and producer Roman Flügel is one of the most revered names in the dance music spectrum. With his take on “No Life,” he has created a track that is powerful and also intricate. UK-born DJ and producer maestro Andrew Weatherall, on the other hand, remixes “Finds Love.”
Tracklisting:
01. Phil Kieran “No Life” (Roman Flugel Remix) 02. Phil Kieran “Find Love” (Andrew Weatherall Remix)
Blinded By The Sun Remixes Part 1 is scheduled for February 24 release.
Drunk is the follow-up to his 2015 mini album The Beyond / Where The Giants Roam, and features tracks “Bus In These Streets” and “Them Changes.”
“Show You The Way” is the first single from Drunk, and the ballad features two of Thundercat’s heroes: iconic musicians Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald. Thundercat mentioned his love of Loggins several times during his press tour for The Beyond…, leading to an introduction via his keyboard player Dennis Hamm. He said in a recent interview: “These are guys that I’ve listened to and where I felt that I’ve learned that honesty in the music. Kenny Loggins is one of my favorite songwriters.” Loggins was the one that suggested bringing McDonald in on the track and, Thundercat adds: “I think one of the most beautiful moments was realizing how amazing Michael McDonald is. He would go through so many ideas and have so much to offer.”
Thundercat also notes: “That song to me is about going down the rabbit hole, taking you to another place… On the edge of dark, there’s the brightest light. It means a lot to me in the sense of… the experience that I’ve had growing up with friends and people that I’ve been around where it’s inviting them into where I come from emotionally. Sometimes it’s a pretty intense thing. The point is how weird things can get. I feel like it’s very funny that, in a way, of course, Michael McDonald and Kenny would be there.”
The album title, like the rest of the album, is meant to be both humorous and serious. “I’ve always tried to hold true to what Erykah Badu and Flying Lotus told me: It has to come from an honest place. I feel like it’s a place that I’ve been in different ways, seen different angles of and it’s been a bit inspirational – the drinking. It has its ups and downs and everything, but I felt like it showed the human side of what goes on behind things, something that I see with all of my friends… I felt like it was kind of interweaved in the music culture. And it’s something that’s never talked about.”
Tracklisting
01. Rabbot Ho 02. Captain Stupido 03. Uh Uh 04. Bus In These Streets 05. A Fan’s Mail (Tron Song Suite II) 06. Lava Lamp 07. Jethro 08. Day & Night 09. Show You The Way (feat. Michael McDonald & Kenny Loggins) 10. Walk On By (feat. Kendrick Lamar) 11. Blackkk 12. Tokyo 13. Jameel’s Space Ride 14. Friend Zone 15. Them Changes 16. Where I’m Going 17. Drink Dat (feat. Wiz Khalifa) 18. Inferno 19. I Am Crazy 20. 3AM 21. Drunk 22. The Turn Down (feat. Pharrell) 23. DUI
Drunk will be released on February 24 on CD/Digital formats via Brainfeeder, with the vinyl format —comprising four red 10”s housed in a lift-off box featuring photography by Eddie Alcazar and artwork by Zack Fox—following on March 10, 2017. All formats are available to preorder now.
