Extralife

Late arriver, but really enjoying these dark/minimal sounds. Keep it up!

This is fantastic. Getting some Badun vibes here, which is a very good thing.

First listen through...I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Really hearkens back to those old Green/Brown/Sniv era sounds but does it really well. *Some* of the vocals are a bit cringeworthy (not the biggest fan of Are You Alive?), but most are done very well IMO. All in all a very solid follow-up to Monsters.

This album is pretty goddamn lush.

Huge props, @theburglar Are you catching up on your sleep now?

This is really good. Thx, @dcom

Really enjoying this one. Skittery, dubbed out bass music. From John Twells' Bandcamp writeup: If we want to look into the future, we have to start considering the implications more holistically. All too often, science fiction is a dystopian projection of the current era's grimmest realities spiked with pragmatic historical hindsight - but what if instead it was able to reflect our needs, hopes, and dreams? On "SPINE", award-winning Danish composer SØS Gunver Ryberg considers a sustainable alternative, buoyed by interconnectedness, empowerment, and understanding. Channeling her dextrous sound design into advanced, time-bending music that fluctuates through techno, experimental ambient, and soundsystem-vibrating bass music, she maps out an artistic landscape that's futuristic and complex, but never oppressive. "SPINE" is the inaugural release on Ryberg's own label Arterial, and stands as a thematically dense statement of intent. The label provides a platform to extend Ryberg's artistic goals and reflect not just her world but a world she wants to see develop in the future: somewhere connected and creative, where exploration and free expression is prioritized over genre division and petty compromise. This philosophy is central to the sounds on "SPINE", which have been carefully sculpted to accurately lay out Ryberg's worldview. Opening track 'Unfolding' presents a sonic ecosystem that flourishes as it spreads itself out, and quivering kick drums vibrate alongside unstable atmospherics. There's the faint fingerprint of Chain Reaction's notional dub techno in there somewhere, but Ryberg interrupts the thought before it can coagulate, assuring the listener that her vision isn't ponderous but playful and optimistic. This mood flickers into view again on the title track 'Spine', as fragmented breaks rumble beneath disorienting synths, faint images of a life we once knew refracted into cosmic beams of light. 'Mirrored Madness' meanwhile is warm, assertive, and optimistic, contrasting skittering cybernetic percussion with dense, enveloping harmonies. When she pushes rhythm into the background, like on the cinematic 'We tumble on the edges', Ryberg's compositional skill is placed under the microscope. We're presented with the opportunity to examine another dimension of her work, the mystery beneath the stone, hearing saturated, alluring pads infused with hidden harmonies. In these moments, Ryberg implores all of us to consider the environment, asking us to think about the earth's essential nutrients on the dreamy 'Phosphorus Cycle', and what we might do to save ourselves on the delirious 'Where do we go from here'. Ryberg's concern isn't chastising, it's laid out in a warm embrace. The future could still be bright - there's something beautiful in the complexity if you just take the time to look closely Written by John Twells (they/them)

Following on from the Landform Code reissue, Fantasy Enhancing have put together another beautiful reissue - this time one of Virgo's second album. Fans of early 90s ambient techno take note.

Back in 2001, I was a huge While fanboy (still am). The "Lock" cd was on constant rotation in my car - probably played about as often as some of the similar, more well known Autechre albums of the same era. He showed back up a couple years ago with a Bandcamp page, and his "1998" archival album. Just had my first listen to 2001 this morning...and what a great listen it was. So many classic IDM sounds, but on a more ambient/cerebral tip. Recommended.

More essential listening in the form of another compilation. This time Romulo aka Takeshi Muto has put together all of his tracks and remixes from his Patcha Kutek alias. If you haven't heard these and you dig Phoenecia....get on it.

Promising review. I’ve been purposely avoiding listening to any of these tracks save for one viewing of that Dirty Rat video. Trying to measure my expectations.

Wait til Bandcamp Friday next time, fellas ?

Highly recommended by me as well. Marco can develop an atmosphere like few others. I’d also recommend the Alphageneric three-part album set from late last year for those that may have missed them.

Mortal - Deco is one of my favorite albums from that mid-90s golden era. Only discovered it a few years ago, but since then I’ve been a massive fan of Mortal/CODE. There is a new release of reworks of old tracks and some new stuff that Further Electronix brought to light, that is well worth checking out. https://code16.bandcamp.com/album/continuum

No idea about this. Thx for the heads up.

If for some reason you have yet to own these classics, this is the perfect opportunity.

Snagged. Really enjoying this.

Such good replay value. Bump.

I need to give Animal Spirits another spin. Kind of glazed over it at the time.

While you are at it, check out the other early Border Community albums from Nathan Fake and Luke Abbott. All hit that analogue melodic sweet spot.

Loved his previous albums. Hyped by the preview track here. Instabought. Nice to have him back. It’s been awhile.

https://christian-coiffure.bandcamp.com/track/worshipping-anthills This tune.

Always been one of my favorite tracks of theirs. So nice to have it in lossless vs my vinyl rip I’ve been playing for years.