This Is Techno Volume 8: International Trance & Tribal (1994)

After Eon, after Moby, after discovering the whole rave thing in Seattle, this was my first actual purchase of a DJ mix. Mine was originally on cassette but I noticed the webosphere was lacking this one so tracked down a CD version and here ya' go.

Played it in full last night and it sounded good. I'm not there anymore but, and perhaps it's blissful reminisce, this was right in the heart of when this sound was fresh and energizing. By the end of the decade the sound would be "over" and glutted as it moved toward the mass popularity we see so ubiquitous today, the death knoll being that a Grammy category was created to embrace it.

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Vaporwave

I stumbled across this music a few months back and it's been infiltrating my shuffle and I have really locked into its vibe. Vaporware is a term for computer software or hardware announced to the general public but never officially offered and this music carries that reference as a social critique. You can see the essence of vaporware here.

If you lived through the 80s you'll recognize the vibe instantly, especially if you were a fan of a certain television show. I'm not a retro guy by any means but this is retro in a good way as it deconstructs the vapidness by turning it inside out (although that could be 30 years of acquired cynicism projected into my listening experience).

The genre, though obviously diverse, has been interpreted as "a dystopian critique of capitalism in the vein of cyberpunk" which takes "the hollowness of global capitalism to its natural conclusion" and aligns quite correctly with my current immersion into the Sense/Net netlabel.

As for the vaporwave genre, music writer Adam Harper describes the genre as 

"ironic and satirical or truly accelerationist", and that the name "vaporwave" itself is a nod to both vaporware, products that are announced but never actually manufactured or cancelled, and to the idea of libidinal energy being subjected to relentless sublimation under capitalism." Source

You'll feel the vibe instantly when you hear it and pay attention to the artwork, song/album titles and the equipment used to make the music.

For a taste of the sound, check out the mix below and head to the Dream Catalogue Bandcamp page for a full immersion. All are 'Name Your Price' offerings but if you want to go a step further into retro cassettes are available (though they sell out quickly).

VHS Keep Dreaming Mix

Imagine my surprise when about 29 minutes into the mix this morning it gradually dawned on me that I was hearing the keyboard riff for the hold music for our IT company.

The sound may seem too obvious, though that may be the whole point, and it may be easy to consume it without the irony but it contains a punk enough ethos behind it, in a William Gibson-ish kind of way, that deconstructs the past in which I grew up to make it a worthwhile venture.

P.S. All sealed.

iO

ADSR (90 Minutes In The Eyes Of iO) (1995)

Some deeper cuts from the Mo Wax era. 

The two Mo Wax tracks (see below) do not represent their overall sound but this compilation gives good insight into the fresh and developing sound that emerged throughout 90s.

Other than those two tracks this one, while certainly not rare, is really, especially outside of the Mo Wax umbrella, under the radar.

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Claire / Libre (1995)

The Mo Wax tracks on vinyl with a few remixes from some Mo Wax staples. 

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Bless You

Easily one of the best electronic albums of the past ten years, especially one with vocals. This is not the pop fluff vocal type album but one that takes a walk on the darker dubbier side with vocals supporting that vibe.

Take a listen to the depth of interpretations of the lead track and track down the album if you don't already own it. 

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Rhythm & Sound

The 12" originals in their original context that made up this.

Go deep.

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Simplicity Is The Key (2008)

From the now defunct smallfish label that was able to sneak a few quality dub techno releases, including this one, through.

The label introduced artists such as cv313, bvdub and the three found here, all of whom would move on to bigger things, to a growing audience.

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Belekaip - Carbon Dub (2014)

A nice, chilled low slinging dub oriented release from Elektrosfera, a label highlighting electronic artists from Lithuania such as Girius Dvasios, Vejopatis and Vytis, among others.

The Photosynthesis and Kitas Krantas compilations are essential introductions to the label.

Granted, 'dub' and 'dub techno' are everywhere nowadays like the background din of the world around us but you'll like this one. Check it out at a 'Name Your Price' offering 

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London Roundhouse. England 28.02.2008

A few years back there was a series of live albums, many released almost immediately following the shows. Some dude on discogs hit me up almost as soon as I added this one to my want list. £250? 

Let's just say it's no longer in my want list nor does it need to be in yours.

All are essential.

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An edited version of the opening night show in Bristol we attended is up.

Rick Smith was ill (as you'll hear Karl mention in the video) so Darrin Price manned the controls. Will always wonder if it would have made any difference but this music still sounds just as good after all these years.

Hoping there'll be a 20th for Second Toughest so we can have an excuse to travel the globe again.

Enjoy:

Underworld - Bootleg Babies (2001)

A fan based collection of live recordings with Underworld in their heyday, essential to bring back the spirit of those days.

In 2001 several members on the rtsr-trade mailing list started this project. They wanted to release the best live recordings by Underworld gathered over the years. A bit like Underworld did with Everything, Everything. It kept the list busy for a while, since all the tracks where chosen with extensive polls. The members chose which track would be included; from which source; the name of the cd and the artwork. The cd was distributed from fan to fan around the world. Around 150 copies were made.

It doesn't matter how many times I hear these songs it always takes me to that happy place.

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This Is A Test

Only a test.

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SomaComa

Was revisiting the original of Track 6 and was reminded of this compilation.

Solid tracks from some solid artists, great intro to the label, one of the staples in the electronic universe, if you aren't already familiar with it.

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anything whatever

Anything or nothing at all

The best thing since Sense/Net.

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Minus Silence - MS 3 [MS​-​031] (2015)

If you like your ambient a little darker, a little more claustrophobic, this may be for you.

Follow my lead as to how I stumbled across this one:

Started with this release here on the Sense/Net label (a current favorite). Was surprised to see this listed on discogs since most of the Sense/Net releases have been added by me. Looked to see who listed it and found someone by the name of lost-radio.

Clicked on the lost-radio name and randomly clicked through some of the entries there and found myself at this bandcamp page which featured a different cover of the same album but released three months earlier.

Intrigued, I went back and found the lost-radio bandcamp page and began the pursuit. Did a search on 'lost-radio' and 'bandcamp' and found the release posted in the title.

Featuring artists new to me, including lost-radio, I've been playing it in the background and it has a drone/ambient vibe that satisfies while driving around town later at night.  You can check it out as a 'buy it now' offering

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While there, do some virtual digging and see what the label has to offer. Currently at 33 releases there is certainly something there to go deeper.

sub.spiele Netlabel

Don't think I've given a shout out to this label before but it is a sleeper if you aren't familiar with it. Mostly in the ambient, dubby techno vibe, the releases are always quality.

The releases are not of a 'buy it now' nature, a change of pace here, but there is value here and, as I'm learning, sometimes spending that extra dime makes the music somehow that much sweeter as in a small way the music is able to continue living. 

From the label:

Subspiele tries to be useful and responsible as a non-profit label with awareness for environmental matters. Subspiele loves music as the highest form of communication across individuals. Music is not subject to any barriers or preconditions – it’s a universal reflection of nature’s beauty.

As for this release:

notes: when traveling through oregon last year i stumbled across this mystic place. the entire landscape was covered in lava. odly enough, quite a few trees had found their way to grow on this rocky ground. i stopped for quite a while, simply watching this breathtaking landscape, overwhelmed once again by the beauty of nature. 11 artists created a soundworld around this picture of that place. the goal was to capture the feeling evoked by this special landscape. just listen to the result and see for yourself. very deep dub techno - enjoy the tracks.

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If you are interested in a sampler of this release, check out the soundcloud page. I recommend this, especially if you have an account at soundcloud, as you have an opportunity to get a d/l of all the tracks direct from the label at no cost if you read the entire bandcamp listing in detail.

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P.S. Back from holiday, was introduced to some new artists while overseas so will be sharing these discoveries first chance I get.

Stroboscopica

Probably more "Italian lounge" (who knew?) than you'll ever need but these are funky, jazzy, fresh and gloriously dated compilations from the 70s that should be a part of anyone's waking soundtrack.

Stroboscopica, Vol. 1: Sonorizzazioni Psycho-Beat (1998)

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Stroboscopica, Vol. 2: 70's Psychofunk Jazzy Beats for Erotic Thrilling Fiction (1999)

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Stroboscopica, Vol. 3: 70's Jazzy Orchestral Latin Strobo Sounds (2001)

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Global Systems Silently Moving ‎– Altering The Air (2006)

By request, long out of print, hard to find but not as hard to find as it used to be.

Recorded in 1996, this was a mystery upon release but it wasn't long before it was revealed that it was none other than Rod Modell.

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Slownoise - Silent Wilderness (2015)

Slownoise, whose Dark Matter EP is one of my all-time favorites of this much beloved genre, is back on one of my favorite labels, Cold Tear Records.

Great chilled out dubbed out techno sounds that will put you right where you need to be.

You can get it free from Cold Tear's website but for a mere €2 you can get it in lossy and support the label and the artist.

Excellent release, high recommendation.

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variant - auratia (2015)

Perhaps my favorite echospace related project, Variant, is back with yet another drop of sonic wizardry. This project has taken on a life of its own. Along with the Echoes In Space sound library, though no longer available on the site, this will make you realize the infinite varieties of ghosts available in the machine.

This new sonic submersion was inspired by found sounds and field recordings captured during the blizzard known as “linus”, the 5th worst blizzard in Chicago and Detroit’s history. the magic of the polar vortex and the arctic conditions it left behind inspired and set the stage for the creation of “auratia” and the mystical sonic world it evoked.

Variant's "Auratia" is made entirely with hardware, paying homage to infinite forms of synthesis, from analog, dco, waveshaping, vector, there's a myriad of forms explored producing unique results. Vintage analog equipment in conjunction with innovative customized modular synthesizers winnow a basis for algorithmic structure improvisation. This sound experiment re-synthesizes from a current plane into altered planes of effects-a radically new experience that breaks down barriers.

Ghostly harmonics fold and unfold like symmetrical patterns in nature to generate a myriad of complex and infinite rhythmic lines. Tessellations for higher dimensions, this mosaic of melody delivers an eccentric experience. Something for the heads in search of sonic meditation with 2 near 60 minute infinite pieces of organic dub grooves with an emphasis on synthesis experimentation and out-of-this world sonic apparitions.

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Coppice Halifax - Rurals (2015), Pre-Order

The first physical release on the Cold Fiction netlabel and who better than Coppice Hallifax for that release? If you don't know the Coppice Hallifax name you've probably either not been here or have been asleep at the switch. 

There is a collective of 'dubby/ambient techno' artists converging and this collaboration is one of the fruits of some of these convergences as each of their tracks have intermingled amongst the tracks of others artists floating in the sea of dub tech tranquility.

James is quite excited about this, as he should be, so do show some support for both the label and the music to keep it going strong.

Browse the site and check out some of the other quality music, most at a 'Name Your Price' offering.

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P.S. While you're at it, check out the Dub Techno Blog weekly show on Mixlr every Sunday at 3:00 PM (GMT)/8:00 PM (EST). The show is gaining some traction and you'll hear tracks that have not yet been released and you never know who might pop in to the chat.

Submersion of Neotaganrog - Sense/Net (2013)

First release on the Sense/Net netlabel out of Russia. Nice compilation of the sounds.

Not sure if it's the label's name and the Neuromancer connection or the raw, punk-ish DIY approach to observing life through music but it's easily one of my favorite labels out there, constantly on repeat. 

Everything is 'Name Your Price' so there's no excuse not to at least try it. Show some love if you are able.

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Valentine's Day Releases

Don't worry, no cheese here, just a few releases that dropped today. All are 'Name Your Price' offerings (except the last one, for those who may be feeling generous).

echo as metaphor - (co)sine

From the obsolete components label run by matt thibideau (whose The Tape Project on Eclipse Music netlabel is essential and who is slated for a release by the eschospace label) and company, this one just dropped this morning. 

Dig into the back catalogue while you're there.

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Daydreamer EP - Wolf Asylum

From James Shain's excellent netlabel, Cold Fiction, this one also dropped this morning. Easily one of the best netlabels on the web with a growing roster of releases and artists making some of the finest dubby/ambient electronic music out there.

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Love Story - 101

Though not new, this one popped up in my inbox as a VD tribute from the Cold Tear Records  run by Giriu Dvasios, a label that should be familiar to anyone who has spent some time here.

90s synth throwback, in a good way, don't forget to dive into the back catalogue here as well.

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Volor Flex - Best Of

This guy does Burial better than Burial. That may not sound like a compliment but it is. He takes the Burial template and drills it deeper and carves his own sound within it. Comparisons are inevitable but there is something in this music that has me hooked.

This one is not free so if anyone is feeling generous...

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MOM- Habitat (2009)

An older release from this label, limited to 100 copies, long out of print with no digital version in sight.

There is hope, however, as Quantec's album from this label was just released digitally, a relief for those of us longing for a copy of the long out of print CD which has failed to materialize at a reasonable price in the aftermarket.

Hoping for a digital release of this one soon.

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Imperial Grey - Coppice Halifax (2015)

Quite the combination here, Coppice Halifax (aka Brian Grainger) on the Temiong label out of Argentina, another label creating some forward thinking, deep electronic music.

From the site:

Imperial Grey is a before and after a trip to the ocean depths, dark sounds accompanied by gentle rhythms how nature that lives in the ocean.

There is to be a CDr version to announced in the next few weeks.

Currently offered up for free

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3216 - mourner (2015)

My latest favorite label, Sense/Net, out of Russia, is back with a new release. 

With artists on the label with names like mourner and Unhappy Synths and albums with names like A Lust For Boredom, Detroit Bankruptcy and on the edge a.m. you get a feel for the overall vibe and DIY ethic.

This one is a compilation featuring label artists with special guest Kaisa (with a curious reference to Kaisa-Leena Mäkäräinen, Finnish Olympic biathlete).

Weighing in at 32:40 the track 32 steals the show. Techno geekery at its finest with nary a beat in sight, in the right mood and the right volume this one will dust off the cobwebs in your brain and make you feel alive.

Name Your Price' offering, check it out.

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Recycled Plastics - Part Two: New Releases

Speaking of Recycled Plastics, two more albums just dropped from up and coming artists both of whom you should check out. Brian's various labels (Milieu, et al) has become the repository for music far and near that represent well the more innovative and forward thinking artists, including his own extensive catalogue, that exist below the mainstream, unless you are in the know. 

Beatless - Substak

Digital is a 'Name Your Price' offering, the CDr contains, as is often the case, an extended remix by Brian himself.

Substak, who seems to have emerged out of nowhere, is certainly an artist to watch.

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Royal Secret - Brother Blue

Tim Gray (aka Ethernet) is back with a new alias that is the forerunner of a full length album under his new name. 

'Name Your Price' offering, show some love.

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P.S. Don't forget to check out the Dub Techno Blog live show today, as with every Sunday, at 3:00 PM EST (8:00 PM GMT) on Mixlr

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