NEWSLETTER: FEBRUARY 2024
ROBIN FELIX, MIKE PARKER, FRANK & TONY, ALEX ALBRECHT, NEXCYIA, PALE PRODUCT, ABOVE BELOW FESTIVAL, INVERTED AUDIO RECORD STORE
// IA MIX 377 ROBIN FELIX
Swiss producer Robin Félix steps up to deliver the 377th edition of the IA MIX Series, interweaving a multi-rhythmic mix of textural ambient, breakbeat, IDM and experimental electronica.
Based out of the Swiss town of Biel/Bienne, Robin Félix is a self described audio naturalist, employing found sounds as the basis of his productions upon which he implies a strict rule to use at least 80% of field recording in his music. He then twists, skewers and manipulates these sounds to create the most mesmerising of sculptural sound-fields incorporating swirling radial ambiance and intricate drum work.
Mastered by Italian producer Neel, ‘Senselessness 1/2‘ EP is a beautifully crafted vinyl, presented in gold Risograph artwork designed by Lisa Vatan – inspired by the ancient Japanese paper marbling technique of Suminagashi. With such a bold debut effort, we just had to find out more about the makings of it.
In our interview, Robin sheds light on his musical background and penchant for field recordings as well as his minimalist production technique. We also find out more about his partner’s process behind the artwork and what they have planned in the near future for their freshly established record label De l’aube.
// FEATURE
SELECTED WORKS JANUARY 2024
January proved to deliver a bounty of high-quality releases from artists and record labels worldwide. To help sift through the noise, ‘Selected Works‘ is our new monthly feature, singling out the very best new electronic music released in January 2024.
// REVIEW
ALEX ALBRECHT: ALLAMBIE
Melbourne-based Alex Albrecht has amassed a discography that explores the dreamier side of ambient electronic music. Utilizing field recordings, ambient soundscapes, and minimal, propulsive drum rhythms, Albrecht’s solo work evokes the pensive melancholia of landscapes scattered along seemingly endless journeys. His latest, ‘Allambie’ on Analogue Attic Recordings, glides off into the ether and back with comforting, pillowy textures building towards deep house crescendos.
// NEWS
FIELD RECORDS LINE UP TRIPLE VINYL EDITION OF MIKE PARKER’S DEBUT ALBUM ‘DISPATCHES’
Following the reissue of Monolake’s seminal album ‘Hongkong‘ in May 2023, Field Records continue their tradition of issuing deep and abstract techno with today’s announcement of a triple vinyl edition of Mike Parker‘s debut album ‘Dispatches‘, first released on CD-format via Parker’s own Geophone imprint in 2001.
Standing alongside techno luminaries such as Donato Dozzy, Sandwell District, Scion, Surgeon and Monolake, American producer Mike Parker is revered for his deep and atmospheric strain of hypnotic techno – issuing music on labels such as Prologue, Semantica, Spectral Sound and Spazio Disponibile.
// NEWS
FRANK & TONY LINE UP SECOND ALBUM ON SCISSOR AND THREAD
Brooklyn-based production duo Francis Harris (Frank) and Anthony Collins (Tony) mark their return to the long player format with the release of a new single ‘Olympia (with Eliana Glass‘, taken from their forthcoming double LP, due for release in March.
Following up four notable EP’s on Scissor and Thread, plus a recent release on Vancouver-based record label Pacific Rhythm, Frank & Tony prepare to break a decade-long stasis from the album format. Packing nine chugging tracks, ‘Ethos‘ serves up a suave blend of deep beat house music replete with sublime textured synthwork, resulting in a velvety smooth swathe of emotions.
// RECORD FAIR PHOTOS
BRIXTON BREWERY RECORD FAIR
Last month Inverted Audio Record Store and Midlands-based Out Of Joint Records teamed up to host a record fair at Brixton Brewery Taproom. Big thanks to everyone that made it down, stay tuned for more record fairs and in-store events being announced soon!
// NEWS
ABOVE BELOW FESTIVAL REVEAL FIRST WAVE OF ARTISTS FOR 2024
Above Below announce the first wave of artists to grace the fourth edition of the UK-based electronic music festival between Friday 31st May – Monday 3rd June.
Set within a secluded valley beneath the Chiltern Hills, just 40-minutes from London, Above Below is an undisputed gem when it comes to ground roots music festivals. Painstakingly curated by a collective of friends with a penchant for diverse expressions of music and art, revellers can expect deft expressions from international and homegrown artists, spellbinding moments and heartfelt dancefloor action.
For the occasion, Above Below invite an array of talent to perform across three stages. Highlights include live sets from Ben Kaczor, Marie K, Philipp Priebe, Shadow Acid and Sound Synthesis. Whilst DJ duties have been extended to Aaron J, AGY3NA, Avsluta back-to-back Phrex, Bas Dobbelaer, Georgia back-to-back Maybe Laura, Gilles Wasserman back-to-back Hue b2b Irina Kotik, Marie Lung, Nathalia, Timesplitters plus many more.
// EVENT
PINTAI & DELAYED PRESENT ATEQ & ORION’S FIRST EVER LIVE PERFORMANCE AS PALE PRODUCT IN AMSTERDAM
On Saturday 2nd March, Amsterdam-based collective Pintai join forces with Brooklyn-based music platform Delayed to host a unique dinner concert in Amsterdam, showcasing the first ever live performance from Pale Product – the collaborative project from Ateq and Italian production duo Orion.
Pale Product is both a record label and artistic collaboration. First conceived by Ateq in 2019, then developed together with Orion, Pale Product first surfaced through Instagram on 1st January 2021 as a way to publicly transmit their music with short videos. After months of teasing videos and music, Pale Product released ‘Cyclorama‘ LP last year, seven tracks of alternating waves of ambient, electronica, deep house and downtempo. We were so enthralled by it, we awarded it first place in our Best Album of 2022.
Adding a distinctive touch to the evening is baker and chef Elisa Sophie Frucht, blending culinary delights with emotions, serving up different textures, tastes, touches, sights and smells. During the dinner concert, she will curate the dessert, marking the transition to the dancing segment of the night.
The event kicks off with a hip-hop vinyl DJ set from Pintai co-founder Hafa, Pale Product will then perform the dinner concert. After this, Hame steps up to provide the transition from concert to dance floor action. Orion will then perform a live set and Ateq will close out the night with a DJ set. Doors open at 18:00 and close at 03:00.
// NEWS
NEXCYIA ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM ON PENSAMENTS SÒNICS
John Talabot’s concept label Pensaments Sònics announce their first release of 2024 with ‘Endless Path of Memory‘, the debut album from Nexcyia.
Spanning 10-tracks, ‘Endless Path of Memory‘ sees Adam Dove construct an ambient leaning experimental soundscape that’s equally unsettling as it is gorgeous in its sonic fragility. Nexcyia employs the full length format as a means of exploring “themes of otherness and existential exploration” in order to create a balance between “despair and bliss”.