Exercise One - All Out Ep

Exercise One (Marco Freivogel & Ingo Gansera) are not newbies here in the minimal land. We’ve posted great releases from them like Debaya, Dark Star, Intensity, or Oi Oi London this is Kreuzberg… We really don’t want to review always the same producers, but sometimes, when the quality they generate is so good it’s really difficult for us to avoid that fact and don’t feel tempted to review another release from them.

This is exactly what happens with All Out Ep, on Lan Muzic, label run by themselves and founded in 2005 with Kitchentools Ep (Lan001). Anja Schneider (runs mobilee) supported the project on her Radio Fritz Show and then it was only a step untill invite them to release Steady Pulse Ep. After that I think the history of them is pretty well known. Some releases on Mobilee, Exone and their own Lan Muzic.
Exercise One is known also by their live performances, that have been acclaimed in liveset’s like Mobilee pre-sonar showcase in 2006. Their live performances are focused on spontaneity and improvisation which leads them to hypnotic basslines and twisted sequences.
All out is a great track, filled of senses and progressive chains interconnected trough all the frequencies of the track spectrum. A little bit progressive, goes from a start to an end adding and quitting samples and feelings with determination, what looking at track’s name makes some sense. They seem to put all out till the end of the track. It’s not really hard electronic, but its undoubtly one of the hardest tracks I’ve heard from Exercise One and still having their own fingerprint.
Parasol it’s a LP (Long-Play). The cadence and the real simple sound connections are the rule here. It’s thirteen minutes of good mood, sound exploration and musical tricks, upgraded at minute three with sounds and a new body. Everything at this point seems a little bit lost for some few moments, searching a new identity. Everything fits? So, lets go, continue the good mood! A relaxed one, to face different states of mind with simplicity. Cadence, exploration, groove and a good vibe are the keywords in this production.

Release Date: 06 October 2008 | #Catalog: LAN017

Release Info (pdf)

a1 - All Out (09:55)
b1 - Parasol (13:19)

Yann Tiersen & Jay Haze - Comptine d'un autre été: l'après-midi

Tuningspork presents “Comptine D’un Autre Été: l’aprés-midi”. Jay Haze gathered with the French composer Yan Tiersen to perform a one sided Ep full of deep melancholic moods. Yan is a musician known internationally for composing the score to the Jean-Pierre Jeunet movie Amélie. His music is recognized by its use of a large variety of instruments in relatively minimalist compositions.. Jay Haze fell in love with this guys music enough to take a beat under one of his tracks and the result was simply beautiful. Translated to English the title of the track would mean something like: nursery rhyme of another summer: the afternoon. It’s definitely a charming peace of the most delicate art, that really enters in your soul, and at the same time is a bumping minimal techno track perfect to open - or close - those kinds of special party’s! The piano melody along that deep typical Haze’s beat - and later the Violin - is really something that transmits a special feeling, heavy-hearted! I hope you’ll stick with this for a long time, it’s a refreshing change of pace for Haze and for Tuning Spork, and I guess that it will bring some massive turn-on moments into the dancefloor … simply amazing! Supported by Lee Jones, among others.

a1 - Comptine D’Un Autre Ette, L’Apres Midi

Rls Date:17.10.2008
Tuning Spork Ultra Edition

Marc Antona - Simple Venus

Following works realized by Sebo K, Marcin Czubala and Gummihz, Mobilee Records present us this extraordinary, deeply worked, vinyl. Marc Antona has previously took presence in labels like Micro-fibres, freak n chic and also Sender Records - label in witch he show us a magnificent work named Blind tested. In this new work composed by two tracks he is able to transfer an enormous power and energy, maybe inspired in his Sender 073. One of them - Simple Venus - is gathered by a constant click of two weird tones, starting with an accelerated rhythm, then a pause followed by it’s natural recycling. It’s excellent for a brain wash during a critical mind state. In the flipside of the ep it’s a well more powerful “Give me flowers” applying new situations in the right time managing to enter in the same patterns of the first track with the so called “natural recycling after the break”. It also has a great bassline composed by two distinguishable moments making the track very accessible to the dancefloor, you will start to dance and don’t even know it!

Label: Mobilee
Catalog#:mobilee 044

a - simple venus
b - give me flowers

Rls Date: 26.10.2008

http://www.mobilee-records.de/
http://www.myspace.com/marcantona

Masomenos - Bobby Ep

Bobby Ep it the 5th release of the mysterious producer/label Masomenos (moreorless in English). No one knows who are the producers behind this project, but their music is able to transmit some of the most trendy minimal sounds that i can recall. All I know is that they have a store in Paris so they must be from there! So, in this release you will be listening three groovy minimal techno tracks, starting with “What is this” presenting an huge bassline and some hypno constructions that will surely delight the dancefloor… sublime work! Next, on the b side you’ll listen “On Fait La Java” going to deeper tones and some tribal percussion, it’s also a very pumpy track where everyone will feel the urge to dance! The 4×4 rhythm and the step by step construction is perfect in this one. Finally, b2, showing some “Love” with a tender deep bass and a kind of disturbed sub-bass that’ll get everyone going. It’s a more calm track, with some melodic touches but completely suitable to the crowds needs! The 5th release to what should be a great new label, don’t miss this exciting new project. Played by Luciano and Sis, among others.

a1 - What is this?
b1 - On Fait La Java
b2 - Love

Label:Welcome to Masomenos
WTM#005
Rls Date: 10.10.2008

Stephan Hinz - Bacala

Kling Klong, Renaissance or even Boxer recordings are some of the labels, carriers of good works made by Stephan Hinz. But it’s Martin Eyerer who has been following Hinz’s works more closely, like : Shangai or Tucan. After the remarkable Ep edited by Kickboxer( parent label of boxer recordings) named “Etudes For Rhords & Canned Strings” comes back to Audiomatique to launch this fantastic work named Bacala. It’s a disc composed by two musics, one of them being a remix produced by Adultnapper. In the a side we have the original track, presenting a fabulous construction, very well defined, step by step and a dark pack of tones that will surely have a great success on the dancefloors during the coming Winter. In the b side it’s Adultnapper who enters in action, applying some obscure tones and glancing some parts of the original track giving to it a higher dark consistency. It’s definitely an excellent choice to a crazy late evening in a tender rainy day.

Label: Audiomatique
Catalog#: AM 33

a - bacala
b - bacala(adultnapper remix)

http://www.audiomatique.com
http://www.myspace.com/stephanhinz

Ricardo Tobar - With You

Directly from Chile we present you Ricardo Tobar. He has been in the scene for a couple of time, having previously released three Ep’s at Border Community, always presenting deep melodic environments in his productions. Boomkat.com compared him to The Field and we totally agree on that, it’s the same kind of sound, but obviously with another influences going on. This time on Traum, Tobar presents a album full of unexpected pleasures. The first two tracks can also remind us producers like Extrawelt or Oxia… music directly made to enter through your brain… “La otra playa” is to be danced with your eyes closed, imagining you’re in a spectacular landscape where nothing bad can happen or even exist… amazing journey! “With you” invests on a harder rhythm never forgetting the melodic part. I can’t stop listening this one… the amount of feelings that are transmitted in this one is something unexplainable… you’ll have to listen it for yourself and see! “Escalera A Central”, the last track of the release, starts with a pretty good kickdrum and some darker samples setting up the pace. A great one to enhance some evil energies, pure underground rhythm and neurotic melody showing a different look on Ricardo Tobar’s productions! It’s another won bet on Traum (it couldn’t go wrong), electronic melodic songs, always with a dancefloor range.

a1 - La Otra Playa
b1 - With You
b2 - Escalera A Central

Rls Date: 06.10.2008
Traum#v103

Miskate - Pointless Ep

It was already in 2005 that I begin to listen some Miskate tracks in Ricardo Villalobos set’s. Since then I became a huge fan of this girl and today I present you her latest work! Pointless Ep was released on one of the most appreciated labels here in Minimaland, the one and only Einmaleins! For those who don’t know this producer I can tell you that she is from Pittsburgh and, apart from doing music, she has been working as a co-organizer on Foundsound.
In this release Miss Kate present’s us three genuine pieces of good-taste with a strong charge of deep, minimal lines and perfect step by step constructions. The Ep starts with “Bric a Brac” characterizing all that I’ve said about her music… deep minimal music, low synths and funky groove, perfect to night dancefloor rhythms. Next follows up “What’s The Point”, a track that explores darker environments,able to get you frightened with a couple of spooky voices presented in it; A word also to the bassline, leveled to perfection. In the flipside you’ll have a remix of “What’s The Point” by Lazy Mouth. More stripped down techno, acid synths in loops and a nice 4×4 groove! To listen in the club or at home, you won’t get disappointed. Grab this as soon as you can, get to know one of the best American projects in the minimal techno scene..

a1 - Bric A Brac
a2 - What’s The Point
b1 - What’s The Point (Lazy Mouth mix)

EINMALEINS#037
Rls Date: 24.09.2008

Johnny D - Requiem of a Dream Ep

After some releases on Oslo Label and a mixed cd for cocoon (disco invaders - cocoon ibiza summer mix), Johnny D (Johannes Debese), strokes now on 8 bit records, label run by Nick Curly and Gorge (Nick Curly also runs Cécille together with Marc S), based in Mannheim, Germany.
This Ep, "Requiem of a Dream", appears as a delight to our ears. The first track, "Requiem of a Dream", starts very gentle with a background violin sound almost unperceptible. As the medium harmony make their intrincated games, a new bass appears and the music keeps growing in a progressive way till the moment the violin sound appears with a new evolution, as the registry maintains the same, this is minimalism!... Keeps going in a beautiful way, new sounds added, but the main record mantains the same. This, gentleman's, is 8 minutes of pure delight...
The second track, "Scope of mind", starts a little more bassed, but the formula is the same. Great under construction, every bpm space very filled without a lot of samples. It seems simple and easy, but it's not. Nowadays some artists add a lot of things to a track, and that's not minimalism, it's more confusionism,lol. Johnny D haves a word to say on that, appears to be the message underneath this Ep.
Great harmony powered by great bass chains in a very progressive well structured final result appears to me as the best description for this Ep. Not heavy, but heaven :)
Supported already by names like Nick Curly, Ricardo Villalobos, Loco Dice among others...

a1 - Requiem of a Dream 08:11
b2 - Scope of Mind 06:42

Release Date: 08/10/2008
Catalogue: #8bit015

Listen to it here! or Here!

Available on: www.beatport.com

Kleep - Formula One / Muppet Ride

We present you Leep, the latest project of the Finnish-born Sami Liuski. We is a well known artist from previous projects like Bangkok Impact and Putsch'79. It's the second ep released under the new name by the musician and they have both been released on Klang Elektronik with great success! Sami recently moved to Berlin and has been exposed to more minimal and techno surroundings receiving the proper influences to turn himself a true producer. His tracks are all about minimalist pumpy basslines, neurotic melodies, dry kickdrums and heavy acid percussion as you may notice in "Formula One", presented on the a side - excellent track. His style is completely suitable to German normal patterns and his music is perfect to enhance the dancefloor feelings. In the flipside there's another perfectly executed track. This one has a more aggressive rhythm and a nice tripped constructions with lots of neurotic variances. They are both great grooves and will be a nice add-on to everyone's collection. Kleep proved to be a great newcomer in the scene, we'll be paying attention to his next releases.

a1 - Formula One
b1 - Muppet Ride

Klang#142
Rls Date: 08.09.2008

The Youngsters - Babylon Superstars

Olivier Mateu and Gilles Escoffier aka The Youngsters are not exactly young in the scene... they have been around for several years and, in their second production during 2008, they come to show us, once again, what electronic music is all about! "Babylon Superstars" was released on 2020Soundsystem a few days ago and it is by far the most delicate unique piece I listened this week. The Ep has got two original tracks and a remix executed by Simon Baker (another class producer) in witch all of them appear to demonstrate a certain flavour that probably will get you addicted to. The first track of the side a is a great piece of deep minimal house music with a smooth groove that would be perfectly used in a morning after-party. Then Simon Baker's remix appears to shake things up. He adds a more underground percussion and a different groove to the track turning it into a high standard tech house mix. The bassline in the 2nd part of the music is a massive turn on in the track!
In the flipside the duo presents us the strongest piece of this Ep. Fukuoaka Underground is a stunning track, build step by step with great snares and some hypnotic moments that were brightly turned into a wonderful dancefloor piece. It's a peaceful track but will let your mind float away during a couple of minutes. This is your chance to know better this duo's work. Three deep minimal anthems perfectly build to raise up your soul and spirit, a collector's release, i bought mine! While a dreamy atmosphere remains in your head your body is locked in an inescapable groove.

a1 - Babylon Superstars
a2 - Babylon Superstars (Simon Baker remix)
b1 - Fukuoaka Underground

Release date: 08.09.08
VIS#168

Rauwkost - Trump It

Today we present you two very talented producers from the Netherlands - Floris Regoort & Jasper Lowik are the duo behind Rauwkost. They couldn’t have a better debut, this Ep released on ThirtyOneTwenty has been played in sets of known Djs like Ricardo Villalobos, Raresh, 2000 and One, Karotte, Anthony Collins, Shinedoe and Andre Crom among others. In fact this is a special Ep, one of the bests i listened during this last months, all the tracks show a particular refined production of fresh new sounds, dancefloor killers.
To start the Ep you have the pumping “Trump It”, a massive production with a very nice rhythm and awesome breaks followed by groovy euphoric moments. I guarantee that this one will be tarring apart the crowds, it’s the kind of track that is able to raise up the moods and expectations of any dancefloor ambience. On the flipside we have a different kind of track, the oriental flavoured “1 Nacht In Duizenden” it’s not as groovy as the first one, betting more on a dark underground environment with a rude dry beat and a subtle growing construction, just as we like it here in Minimaland. “Unsere Liebe” ends up the Ep in the perfect way. I’d say that the first two tracks were some of the best productions I listened this year… this third is goes even further, this is a non-stopping, high pace, tech house bomb that promises to raise up the temperature and cause a massive stroke in all of you - not advisable to people with a heart condition!
This promising duo have done three very different tracks, all of them top quality, already showing a know how and passion for music above the average. It’s definitely one of the best releases I listened this year. We will be waiting for their next work that will be released on Kompass Music - KOMPA014 - “The Green Jacket EP”.

a1 - Trump It
b1 - 1 Nacht In Duizenden
b2 - Unsere Liebe

3120#005
Rls Date: 08.09.2008