LetKolben

Buzzin around on Soundcloud is an absolute pleasure, as I stumble across many interesting artists and get to hear some very cool sounds.

Quite often I hear a track that excites me enough to want to write about it and the artist. LetKolben a Russian Techno/Minimal producer now based in Berlin, is a prime example.

LetKolben, translated from German means ‘Soldering Iron‘ which was not chosen accidentally, as it became a quality brand of his domestic minimal techno stage.

In 2006 LetKolben became completely absorbed in his music and wanted to show the world how deep and diverse Techno music can be.

LetKolben set himself a goal and began actively promoting his musical ideas with a vast musical portfolio, which gained him many followers, with the assistance of a like minded promo group “DecaDanza”. They established a project which became known as “Other Music”, where they wanted to share his particular style with the sophisticated listener, offering them an opportunity to enjoy the beauty and diversity of his style.

LetKolben later collaborated with DJ ‘Quadrakey’ and set up another project Kommunication Records. He had his music played on radio and has played at the legendary annual ‘KaZantip’ festival and from there headlined  the European ‘Unsound’ festival. Many clubs opened their doors to him, where he captured the crowds with his minimal techno sounds.

Many breakthroughs have happened since, including an EP release ‘In Bianco e Nero Arcobeleno’ on Switzerland’s ‘Darek Records’, following air play on New York’s ‘Digitally Imported’ Radio Station.

His discography is impressive and his style original. His track ‘Fifth’ immediately grabbed my attention, which is definitely unique with an interesting and surprising journey of sounds. The percussion has an awesome rhythm and the track has a deep and mysterious sequence of sounds, together with some intriguing vocals. You can download this track as a Free Release from Kommunication Records on LetKolben’s Soundcloud profile .

LetKolben - Fifth / FREE RELEASE BY Kommunikation Records by LetKolben

LetKolben informed me he has some new releases lined up for this Autumn, where no doubt his mysterious and interesting style will continue to capture the imagination of the listener. His music can be also be purchased on Beatport.

LetKolbens Sounds on Soundcloud

Buzzin Media on Soundcloud

DARDIGITAL003_artwork

The third release from the Moscow DJ/Producer Denis A’s DAR Label offshoot DAR DIGITAL features the track Original Sun in three very different remixed guises, edging towards minimal techno and exotic electronica.

Original Sun is brimful of electronic mysticism with mysterious chords, tight grooves and a progressive attitude. The remix from Ukranian producer Oleg Tovkach (Tenderheart), eases back the throttle and takes a more atmospheric route, bringing even more melodic elements to the track. Radar moves towards atmospheric melodic techno with a clear vision of the future.

German Shahnov (Madeira) says of his inspiration… “I associate this track with military radar, which operates continuously, without stopping once, periodically picking up unknown objects.” Bold and beautiful, Madeira is another strong addition to the DARDIGITAL roster.

German Shakhnov, DJ and sound producer, is another rising star of the new Russian electronic music scene. He is the presenter of his own radio show, “Mady Mady”, which is broadcast every Thursday at 00:00 on Garage FM based in Moscow.

German became interested DJing in the late 90’s. Aged 14, he began playing in nightclubs, which belonged to friends of his father. For several years, tried his hand and experimented with many styles: progressive house, electro, breakbeat, drum & bass and even hip-hop.

As a producer, he made his debut in 2010 on the Californian label Red Session Records with the track “Holla!” Then in August of that year, he released the tracks “Riqueless” on the French label High Seven Record, which belongs to the famous French producer, Stephane Deschezeaux (Gino). That same summer, the Italian label B79 Music released Madeira’s “Glass Ball”, which also included a remix from Russian musician – Sinistro. In autumn 2010, German released “Aylo” on the Russian label ITech, which became a bestseller, and “Dogs in Space” on GSS Records.

In late 2010, Madeira started his collaboration with Denis A and his DAR label, which is rapidly gaining respect as one of the best Russian labels. The first fruits of this new relationship are “Original Sun” and “Radar”.

The beautiful remix of “Original Sun” from the Ukrainian sound producer Tenderheart, aka Oleg Tovkach, another rising star to watch out for in 2011 as the new Eastern European electronic music scene develops apace.

Madeira – Original Sun
01. Madeira – Original Sun (Original Mix) – 6:44min
02. Madeira – Original Sun (Tenderheart Remix) – 4:12min
03. Madeira – Radar (Original Mix) – 6:28min
(DAR DIGITAL) DARDIGITAL003
Available Now
Made in Russia

Isolée releases his third album on Well Spent Youth

After six years, Isolée will release his third album on Pampa Records. Well Spent Youth will be released on February 28th, 2011 and once again showcases Rajko Müller’s talent as an exceptionally visionary producer.

Over the last 15 years, Isolée has managed to create a trademark sound. Every note seems lovingly scavenged from the depths of his analogue equipment pool, then polished and woven into an abstract, otherworldly, always morphing yet still binding and bouncing sound composition of epic proportions.

Well Spent Youth assumes different forms depending on the volume it’s played. Tunes like Taktell, Thirteen Times An Hour, Hold On, One Box and Celeste set the club on fire, quickly spreading the unique, indescribable Isolée vibe, which imbues the often cold, bleak dance floor with a unique, clever colour. The collective joy at being challenged is ubiquitous.

People dance to Isolée’s music with their eyes closed – opened every now and then only to exchange knowing nods.

In 1998, Isolée achieved a timeless stroke of genius with Beau Mot Plage which enchanted listeners across genres and the world, pushing the boundaries of electronic dance music further than they’d ever been pushed before.

This was followed by two highly acclaimed albums on Frankfurt label Playhouse, Rest and We Are Monster, along with numerous remixes for artists like Recloose, Blaze, Franz Ferdinand, Roy Davis Jr., Tiga, Alter Ego and International Pony, to name a few.

Now, Isolée reminds us yet again what electronic music is capable of – crossing boundaries and achieving the psychedelic!

Isolée – Well Spent Youth Tracklisting:

1. Paloma Triste
2. Thirteen Times An Hour
3. Taktell
4. Journey’s End
5. Going Nowhere
6. One Box
7. Celeste
8. Trop Près De Toi (97′ Interlude)
9. Hold On
10. Transmission
11. In Our Country

Agoria - Impermanence

Set for release in February, Impermanence is the delicious new LP collection from French DJ and producer Agoria aka Sebastien Devaud.

Agoria was first introduced to electronic music via Kevin Saunderson’s classic Good Life playing on his local radio station at home in rural France back in 1988 and set out on a mission to save enough money to purchase his first 12″ of the track.

Fast forward to 1999 and Agoria was making the music himself, producing and releasing his own material and in 2002 he gained international recognition with the release of a series of 12″s on Pias Recordings.

His acclaimed album Blossom followed in 2003 and since then he has released two more long-players The Green Armchair (2006) and soundtrack Go Fast (2008), all showcasing Agoria’s talent for creating deep, stripped-back, melodic, techno tracks.

This rare talent holds good today and on his latest LP Impermanence, Agoria appears to have found himself through his own music, saying; “For the first time, I have complete freedom in creating my music, I don’t have the feeling any longer of having to work within certain boundaries and the result sounds more like me.”

The new album opens with a track so sparse it is almost bare, serving as a gentle introduction to the vocals of Kid A, a twenty year old female singer from Virginia who is the album’s biggest discovery with her Bjork like delivery.

Other contributors on the album are Berlin based DJ Seth Troxler, attempting his best sexy whisper in inviting the listener to ‘allow yourself to drift.’

Carl Craig makes an appearance voice wise on the more upbeat track Speechless, which frankly doesn’t quite work in the same way as say Isaac Hayes or possibly Seth Troxler’s voice might have done with its supposedly sexy lyrics.

But don’t let that spoil the LP for you, there is plenty to applaud on this excellent collection, not least the introduction of Kid A on the scene on an album that is both intimate and alluring.

AGORIA – IMPERMANENCE – LP – Infine (France) – Release Feb 2011

01- Kiss My Soul 02- Souless Dreamer 03- Panta Rei 04- Simon 05- Speechless 06- Grande Torino 07- Heart Beating 08- Little Shaman 09- Under the river 10- Libellules

Agoria Tour Dates:

15-Jan-11 – London – Fabric
22-Jan-11 – Zouk – Singapore
29-Jan-11 – Ageha – Tokyo (Japan)
03-Feb-11 – Velvet – Clermont Ferrand (France)
04-Feb-11 – Transbordeur – Lyon (France)
05-Feb-11 – Rex club – Paris (France)
11-Feb-11 – Barcelona (Spain)
12-Feb-11 – Madrid (Spain)
18-Feb-11 – London (United Kingdom) TBC
19-Feb-11 – Panorama Bar – Berlin (Germany)
25-Feb-11 – Room 26 – Rome (Italy)
26-Feb-11 – Tunnel – Milan ( Italy )
04-Mar-11 – Pratersauna – Vienna (Austria)
05-Mar-11 – Trouw – Amsterdam (Holland)
12-Mar-11 – Libertine Supersport – Brussels (Belgium)
17-Mar-11 – San Francisco (united States) – TBC
18-Mar-11 – King King, LA (United States)
19-Mar-11 – New York – (United States) – TBC
25-Mar-11 – USA TBC
26-Mar-11 – USA TBC
01-Apr-11 – L’Espace – Rennes (France)
02-Apr-11 – France
15-Apr-11 – Gaité Lyrique – Paris (France)
16-Apr-11 – Festival Des Giboulées – Le Creusot (France)

Looking for a good New Years’ Eve Party in London?

One of the hottest names in experimental electronic music, US DJ & artist Matthew Dear, has joined the line-up for eastern electrics – Back To The Tunnels.

eastern electrics Back To The Tunnels party will bring together a line up you’ll remember well into 2011, the brains behind eastern electrics
are keeping tight-lipped about the venue for this extravaganza, but promise you’ll be seeing in the new year at one of London’s best-kept secret spaces.

eastern electrics – Back To The Tunnels presents a genius line up this NYE, with three rooms of experimental and precocious electronic music across 10 hours of utter mayhem.

Look to the eclectic line up offered up by legendary party promoters mulletover and Damian Lazarus’s genre-busting Crosstown Rebels label if you like your house techy and your techno deep. Keeping it filthy in the Rebel Rave room are Damian Lazarus with a minimal edge, in-demand new-Detroit producer Seth Troxler and original Rebel Jamie Jones,
alongside resident mulletover DJ Geddes. mulletover and Crosstown Rebels throw all their favourite party tricks into one seriously heavy line up that demonstrates why these are two of the biggest names in electronic music today.

Returning for more of the eastern electrics magic, Bloc give us a taste of what we can look forward to for next year’s festival with an eclectic room that will help eastern electrics blast into the New Year. Announcing experimental electronic DJ Matthew Dear as their headliner,
Bloc demonstrate their avant-garde approach to putting on a party. The super-hot producer comes to eastern electrics enjoying the success of his critically acclaimed third album, August’s ‘Black City’ – a brazen collaboration between producer Matthew Dear and three
other musicians, where Dear’s melancholic vocal drifts hauntingly over a funky yet wonky tech-meets-synth pop track. Dear is one of the most exciting names in electronic music.

Having produced minimal techno under his birth name, as well as adopting the moniker Audion for other experimental releases, being a part of a band seems a natural progression for Dear, as he takes yet another direction in his already established career. Taking risks and
breaking boundaries as he endeavours to make music that simply cannot be pigeonholed, Matthew Dear is one artist you won’t want to miss this NYE.

Further addition sees UK funky rising star Roska & drum’n’bass revisionists Instru:Mental join dubsteppers Joker & MC Nomad backing up with the best in bass on a line up just leftof-centre enough to keep any raver on their toes – Bloc prove they deserve their position as
pioneers in dance music promotion.

Renowned party upstarts Man Make Music and genre-benders Sound Pellegrino present a lineup that is sure to keep you smiling all night. This NYE in room 3 catch “midget house” master Solo, Orgasmic and Teki Latex’s Sound Pellegrino Thermal Team, MMM stalwarts
Sketchy and Another Amit pulling everything into shape. This room will you’re your mind with its mashup mix of tribal rhythms, warped basslines, sleek grooves and wonky beats.

eastern electrics has won critical acclaim for its unrivalled line ups and unmissable events. And, almost as soon as they finished cleaning up after last year’s NYE bash – with Steve Bug, Justin Martin, Kode 9 and Plastician – eastern electrics began the hunt for London’s
biggest underground gathering to make ee NYE 2010 even heavier.

Bringing together some of the finest emerging talent in electronic music, ee demonstrate just why they are the forward-thinking party-goer’s favourite – and show London’s club scene exactly what a NYE bash is supposed to be like.

eastern electrics
Back To The Tunnels – NYE 2010

Friday 31st December
9pm-7am
Secret London Location

Room 01
mulletover & Crosstown Rebels present Rebel Rave
Damian Lazarus
Seth Troxler
Jamie Jones
Geddes

Room 02
Bloc.
Matthew Dear
Joker & MC Nomad
Roska
Instru:Mental

Room 03
MMM & Sound Pellegrino present Solo
Sound Pellegrino Thermal Team
Sketchy
Another Amit

Tickets
Early Bird Tickets – SOLD OUT
Advance tickets: £26.50
Standard tickets: £30

For more information visit www.easternelectrics.com
Advance tickets from www.residentadvisor.net/ee

DJ Hal

It is two years since lunar warrior DJ Hal released his last single, a long wait for sure but well worth the wait as he returns with a brand new EP of minimal electronic beats and progressive tech sounds.

Desire is the title of the DJs latest offering and features the original version of the track alongside two remixes, one from Alan Barratt and the other from Dudley Strangeways, the EP closes with Hal’s progressive-tech tune Pavlov’s Dog.

The title track, ‘Desire’, features a hypnotic one word vocal from Katy Heath (of Bent fame), that sits snugly over HAL’s intricate programming and deep percussive tech groove. HAL describes the track as an “empathy indulgence that teaches you in just one word what desire is all about”… and you can’t help but be moved by the emotion in the music, whether at home or on the dance floor.

Of the two remixes, it is newcomer Dudley Strangeways version that stands out for me, introducing his beefy percussion and bass-driven magic to great effect, creating an eerily beautiful interpretation, bristling with energy and dance floor attitude.

The closing track on the EP is another brand new composition from DJ Hal, Pavlov’s Dog. A driving progressive-tech track that has Hal saying; ….”the pulsating nature of Pavlov’s Dog sets off an automatic response in the human mind, that opens up your aural awareness paths and makes you dance.”

While the closing track  stutters to start, Pavlov’s Dog does eventually kick off into something of a foot tapper, but it also drifts in and out of aural focus and for me never really reaches Hal’s expectation.

None the less another sterling effort from DJ Hal with the title track and Dudley Strangeways remix version worthy of a listen or adding to your collection.

DJ HAL – DESIRE EP – Okyo
1. Desire (Original Remix)
2. Desire (Alan Barratt Minimal Remix)
3. Desire (Dudley Strangeways Remix)
4. Pavlov’s Dog
(Okyo, Denmark) OKYO 010
Release: 21st June 2010

Denis A releases a new 3-track single, Z

Denis Alentieff aka Denis A, one of Russia’s most exciting DJ/Producers releases a new 3-track single, Z.

Denis Alentieff became Denis A in 2007, when he first proved himself as a highly talented DJ at a party in Moscow alongside American DJ star, Christopher Lawrence. During the following two years he has developed his DJ skills to the highest degree, and is now regularly joined on the decks by the cream of international talent at his DAR label parties. Recent visitors have included Danny Tenaglia, Dave Seaman, Beltek, Nick Warren, Style Of Eye, Sebastian Leger, Danny Howells and Robert Babicz.

In 2008, Denis A launched the DAR label as a creative outlet for his studio productions. With Denis’ own highly distinctive style crossing genre boundaries via progressive, techno, deep dub and minimal influences, DAR has been steadily building a strong fan base. Releases have featured handpicked remixes by Style Of Eye, Solaris Heights, Pig & Dan, Wally Lopez, and Robert Babicz. A steady stream of DJ support for Denis A productions has come, most notably, from Laurent Garnier, Dave Seaman, Sasha, Hernan Cattaneo, Tiesto, Glenn Morrison, Desyn Masiello, Deepgroove, Josh Gabriel, DJ Vibe, Sebastien Leger and Nick Warren, since the label’s inception.

With a continuous flow of new singles, an ever growing international DJ schedule, big parties planned in Moscow, and his DAR label to rum, it looks like 2010 is going to be a very exciting year for Denis A.

Z is the 15th release on the DAR label and offers three stunning tracks. Z is a chilled minimal trance journey into space and time.  Fans of of that whole “Northern Exposure” vibe, will enjoy this track. Along The Coast takes off into a deeper hypnotic funky electronic direction. While, After Z delves deep into dubbed out late-night territory for those more mellow moments.

Denis has also unveiled some of the hottest new Eastern European remixers from Russia, Ukraine, and Slovenia, over two Remix EPs (DAR011 Part 1 & Part 2), with their interpretations of some of the DAR label’s best tunes to date… Chemical Test, Heaven and Mirage. Since then, Denis A has continued to blur the boundaries between genres with more timeless electronic dance music in the form of Brutalizm and Muai Thai In Bangkok (DAR102), and most recently the intense acidic analogue atmosphere of Test Drive (DAR013) and percussion fuelled Ahnenerbe (DAR014).

For more information visit www.darlabel.com and www.myspace.com/alentieff

Here is a great video interview with minimal techno supremo, Richie Hawtin.

Bringing together the world’s leading and most relevant innovators in music, art, film, design and architecture, VICE and Intel Corporation last month launched The Creators Project, an unprecedented creative initiative designed to connect global youth through a common passion for creativity and technology.

The multi-year program is dedicated to identifying leading artists and enabling them to showcase their works and artistic visions through interactive media including creative conferences, new multi-disciplinary collaborative projects and a new video website.

The carefully selected collection of more than 80 artists hailing from seven countries includes such established creative pioneers as Phoenix, UNKLE, Stefan Sagmeister, Mira Calix and Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, as well as the next generation of innovators working in indie film, futuristic architecture, avant-garde electronica and fashion. These include Brazil’s Muti Randolph, China’s Peng Lei, the U.K.’s United Visual Artists, and the U.S.’ Radical Friend.

This diverse cast of creators is united by their shared belief that technology and its tools are catalysts to push artistic boundaries and bring ideas to life.

The project is highlighted by The Creators Conference series. These five huge international events will bring thousands of people together for live concerts, art exhibits, film screenings and panel discussions. New York City hosts the first Creators Conference with an all-day extravaganza at Milk Studios. The eight-floor art gallery and performance space will host exhibits by Takeshi Murata, Karl Sadler, Mark Essen and Radical Friend, and performances by Mark Ronson, Interpol, Gang Gang Dance, N.A.S.A, Sleigh Bells and Salem.

The series will then move to London, Sao Paulo, Seoul, and concludes in Beijing with a three-day finale where participating artists and exhibits will be flown in from the across the globe.

The Creators Project kicked off last month with the launch of the website, an interactive portal and anthology which will house a selection of eighty-four original videos and featuring work and interviews from the most creative artists across the globe. The site is the nerve center for the entire initiative and will live-stream interviews, performances, exhibits and panel discussions from the Creators Conferences, allowing millions of viewers from across the globe to virtually participate.

Ian O’Donovan - Aurora Borealis on Bedrock Records

With a rhythm reminiscent of Pump Up The Volume and an uptempo Voodoo Ray, Ian O’Donovan’s Aurora Borealis invokes a retro dry ice-filled small club full of sweaty happy smiles and whistles.

Aurora Borealis is a chilled uplifting techno trance, this is refreshing, something old something new.  A contemporary take on a retro sound.

John Digweed’s Bedrock label continues to release top tunes, another to add to the catalogue of fine tunes following King Unique, Cristian Varela and Quivver.

After spending much of his youth listening to various styles of music, Ian came across the world of underground electronic music. It was so refreshing and different to all the formatted songs and “cheesy” dance tracks of the time, he quickly began to immerse himself in this music and the scene itself.

Influenced by artists such as Steve Rachmad, Underground Resistance, Technasia and DJs like Laurent Garnier, Jeff Mills and DJ Hell, Ian O’Donovan began DJing and seeking out the records that would go on to play an important part in defining his sound.

It wasn’t until he moved to Australia in 2005, that he began to create his own tracks, slowly teaching himself and developing his sound. After nearly four years living in Oz, Ian O’Donovan decided to return to Ireland in 2009 and focus more of his attention on making music, determined to help break the cycle of the boring, soulless “minimal” fad that had dominated house and techno in previous years.

With early support on many of his tracks from the likes of Laurent Garnier, John Digweed, Dave Clarke, Anderson Noise, Hernan Cattaneo, Psycatron and more, the future looks bright for Ian with hot releases on Hype Muzik as well as John Digweed’s Bedrock Records.

Ian O’Donovan – Aurora Borealis tracklisting:
A1 – Aurora Borealis
B1 – Horizons
B2 – Indigo Eyes

Ian O’Donovan – Aurora Borealis (Bedrock) Bed90 will be released as a 12” Vinyl & Beatport Exclusive (on 14 June 2010)

For more information on Bedrock releases visit www.bedrock.org.uk

For more information on Ian O’ Donovan visit MySpace and Soundcloud.

James Holden - DJ Kicks Launch Party

James Holden will be joined by Kieran Hebden aka Four Tet (DJ set) and DJ Avus (Border Community) for a DJ Kicks CD launch party at the Village Underground, east London on Friday 11th June.

Magic and Medicine has been brewing up a feast of sonic night time adventures over the past 3 years with a who’s who list of pioneering electronic acts from around the world. Global events have included Monza Club (Ibiza) Get Physical Night (Berlin) Kitsune Maison (Paris) Modular Party (Sydney) DFA (New York) Plus our own ground-breaking series of after-dark London entertainment – Neon Noise Project.

The venue couldn’t be more perfect a urban international platform for creativity and culture, the raw restored Victorian Warehouse has held parties for Hot Chip, Chromeo Major Lazer and Four Tet to name a few.

Head of the zeitgeist-defining Border Community record label with a boundary pushing roster of acts has helped cement Holden reputation and break through into the European elite and become known worldwide as a genius in adventurous, progressive electronic sounds and the British techno sorcerer and psychedelic shaman.

So revered are his talents that he’s been tapped to remix some of pop music most eminent stars, including Madonna, Depeche Mode, & Britney Spears, though as his road blocked dj appearances and DJ Kicks mix demonstrates, his tastes tend more to the cerebral than those associations suggest.

A forward thinking Border act roster of artist such as Avus, Nathan Fake & Extrawelt can count themselves along with Holden as that very modern breed of DJ with a special knack for layering the most surprising of records with an unparalleled musical ear.

His status as a free-spirit unconstrained by genre or scene is now championed by independent label stalwart !K7 and London promoters magic & medicine to deliver a one night only showcase of his mind bending deck selections and skills in celebration of the next installment in their definitive mix series DJ KiCKS.

Teaming up on the decks with good friend and technical wizard Kieran Hebden – aka Four Tet a very special party lay ahead as two of the most exciting UK DJ and producers no doubt will offer some back to back action.

Over the last couple of years, Hebden has seen his sound become more and more influenced by house, techno and minimal, echoing his move to become a more active DJ on the scene. He’s certainly been no stranger to London’s dance floors, holding down residencies at James Holden’s Border Community parties.

Hebden has released no less than four full-length collaborations with the veteran American free-jazz drummer Steve Reid and a 12-inch vinyl hook-up with old school
mate Burial across the last five year.

Plus in support is Avus, Border Community’s acid house obsessive, a established and accomplished DJ of high pedigree and regular warm up man taking control of the resident slot at the Border label parties over the last 3 years.

James Holden – DJ Kicks Party
Friday 11th June / 10pm – 5:30am
Village Underground – 54 Holywell Lane  Shoreditch  EC2A 3PQ