New Releases for December 2007

Index of New Releases for December 2007

INTERNASJONAL (NORWAY)

KALIBER (SWEDEN)

KARAOKE KALK (GERMANY)

Artist:	DONNA REGINA
Title:	More
Label:	KARAOKE KALK (GERMANY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	KK 041CD

More is the tenth Donna Regina release by the Cologne-based melancholic electro-pop duo Regina (vocals) and Günther Janssen (guitar). On the road somewhere -- alongside foreign waters, beneath foreign skies -- More is the echo of your favorite memories. A warm and fuzzy feeling arrives immediately with the first few beats of the opening song, a vague elation arises with the entry of the bass. This is music that carries the world inside of it, rather than getting bogged down by it. More is music that is present without being trendy, with lyrics that don't describe heroic battles but those little private battles that sap our energy within our everyday life. The melodies and arrangements transport a playful easiness along with precious harmonies whose preciousness is evoked by the lyrics. The pop hit aspirant, "Dream On" seems like a cheerful children's song with its clear bells and the fair and sober voice of Regina -- but it is sharply tempered by declarations of war against a complacent life. This is an album for that very special moment when you catch yourself thinking: this is exactly how it's supposed to be, finally.

Artist:	PLURAMON
Title:	The Monstrous Surplus
Label:	KARAOKE KALK (GERMANY)
Format:	LP
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	KK 049LP

LP version. This is the fifth full-length release by Marcus Schmickler aka Pluramon. The Monstrous Surplus bears three different vocalists and as many narrative voices. The songs do not simply present a singer or songwriter self: they push the envelope of what it means to tell a story. Completely contemporary, yet unabashedly diving into moods, the album succeeds in capturing the fragmented, yet sophisticated soul of urban life: "Can't Disappear" is a story about a secret threesome relationship, "Fresh Aufhebung" is a spoken pamphlet for a break-up and "If Time Was On My Side" is a melancholic story about bad timing with love. Listeners of the previous albums will recognize a style that remains dreamy and atmospheric with pop songs that are sometimes laid-back yet melancholic, even enigmatic, at other times dramatic and intense. Featuring appearances by Julia Hummer, Julee Cruise & Jutta Koether. The fourth vocalist is Marcus himself on one song as well as background on other songs. Also responsible for the production, Marcus Schmickler is well-known in a lot of different contexts related to electronic music, let it be beat-oriented, improvised music or classical music.

KARATEKLUB (GERMANY)

Artist:	JENN
Title:	Pleasure For The Girls
Label:	KARATEKLUB (GERMANY)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.50
Catalog #:	KARATE 022EP

"The Karateklub's girl debuts with a marvelous remix by Simon Baker. This is really fresh and current! Jenn presents the next step of minimal techno. An elegant mixture of vocal parts, nice, floating melodies with a strong groovy beat! Not only a pleasure for girls, but for boys too. Simon Baker's club hit 'Plastik' is still beloved on the decks around the world and was heavily supported & played by Ricardo Villalobos, Sven Väth and Richie Hawtin. His remix is a sexy, hip and current house version of 'Pleasure.'"

KARLOFF (GERMANY)

Artist:	SAMUEL, JEFF
Title:	Return Of The Throatwobbler
Label:	KARLOFF (GERMANY)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.50
Catalog #:	KARLOFF 024EP

"It's almost 4 years to the day that Jeff Samuel's Throatwobbler Mangrove EP was released on Karloff #03, and even today the four world hits of the record are getting digged out by DJs, when the minimalism needs to either groove or jack again. So now with Return Of The Throatwobbler there's finally an appropriate follow-up by the man from Seattle, erm, Berlin, after he's impressively run riot in the meantime on labels like Spectral, Trapez, Poker Flat, Frankie and Logistic. The A-side 'Terso' is shuffling and twirling and bouncing in such a winsome way that not many can master like Jeff Samuel. Almost like an electric ray -- left and right and left, and without letting any tempting gimmicks take the mind off the straight path. Appropriately enough, 'The Spook' on the B-side comes along a bit more spookily, with a bass line twisting into the brain, ripped up by miniatures of bleeps and chords just at the right moments, and thus leading the track to an agile, exhilarating climax."

KARMAROUGE (GERMANY)

KATALYST ENTERTAINMENT

Artist:	COHRAN AND THE ARTISTIC HERITAGE ENSEMBLE, PHILIP
Title:	On The Beach
Label:	KATALYST ENTERTAINMENT
Format:	CD
Price:	$12.50
Catalog #:	KE 002CD

"A re-reissue of this classic recording of Philip Cohran and the Artistic Heritage Ensemble. This record has only been previously available in limited quantities and is back in print now due to the collaborative efforts of Kelan Zulu productions and Katalyst Entertainment. This historic recording is the definitive representation of one of the most significant groups of this era in jazz history. With several legendary musicians including guitarist Pete Cosey, percussionist Henry Gibson, Louis Satterfield on bass and trombone, and Donald Myrick on sax, On the Beach is a must-have for jazz fans everywhere. Packaged in cardboard sleeve."

KILL THE DJ (FRANCE)

Artist:	EDWARDS, JASON
Title:	Codeine Remixes
Label:	KILL THE DJ (FRANCE)
Format:	12"
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	KTDJ 008EP

"Here is the first extract from Ouest, Jason Edwards' album released on Kill The DJ. And yes, 'Codeine' it is. Thanks to the heroes in the making of tiger timing: Johnny Burnip, legendary purveyor of quality music at the London Sounds of the Universe emporium (and home to the excellent Soul Jazz -- label -- check his capracara stuff!), and Radovan Scasacia, the man behind the über-cool projects Secondo and AM/PM. Obscure? Not for long, guys, if we judge by the quality of this mix. Jason can also dance, thanks to our friend Tim Paris. Honestly, we think this is Tim's best yet. He managed to strip everything down to a minimal groove that jives like a Berliner. A proper remix, true to both Jason and that murky edge we love and cherish."

Artist:	CHLOE
Title:	Suspended
Label:	KILL THE DJ (FRANCE)
Format:	12"
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	KTDJ 009EP

"First extract from Chloé's debut album. We know, you've been awaiting her album for a long time. Not just a string of 12"s, it will be a real album, guided by Chloé's dreams, obsessions and her own unique universe. Just to keep you waiting, here comes the first sampler. The track is called 'Suspended,' a perfect definition of Chloé's music. B-side is a 'Broke' remix, Mattias Aguayo and Rockness' new project. They put the track into a trippy ambient mood and yes, we love it. It's getting hot in here."

Artist:	CHLOE
Title:	The Waiting Room
Label:	KILL THE DJ (FRANCE)
Format:	2LP
Price:	$25.00
Catalog #:	KTDJ 010LP

Double vinyl version. "Much awaited first long player from KTDJ main act and France's most famous female DJ... In constant search of stability, fragile, among so many things : harmony/dissonance, repetition/rupture, complexity/spontaneity, body (dance)/spirit (dances also but?) je ne comprends pas la précédente phrase dans les parentheses electronic/acoustic? Questions that not enough producers ask. Maybe we can consider in The Waiting Room as being the beginning of replies to questions, fragments (the word is too weak). The record is first of all a solution to the equation, dear to us all : the maximum distance from the classical structures of dance clubs with infinite dance floors. And Chloé also talks of things more intimate than they seem: love, with a big or small a, of the fantoms that haunt us, of finding happiness as time goes by, 'Around the Clock', death or far away countries. The text is the less erudite possible. Chloé wants to be touching and most of all not intimidate people. If she plays, mixes and diverts, it's to avoid what actually touches nobody anymore : the forced experimentations of a hermetic electronic sound, the style of commercial pop dance music. So we're talking about emotions, but emotions that are shared with her public. One again, Chloé the discreet, risks revealing herself. An intimate album for a large public, it had to be done. We take our hats off to you Chloé."

KOMPAKT (GERMANY)

Artist:	SUPERMAYER
Title:	The Art of Letting Go
Label:	KOMPAKT (GERMANY)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	KOM 167EP

Kompakt's superheroes Michael Mayer and Superpitcher aka Supermayer get assigned to rescue their friend Ewan Pearson from the greedy Psychoprog's slippery tentacles. On his dub mix, Ewan focuses on the weird details hidden in the original, letting them ride on a thunderous, take-no-prisoners, bass-heavy groove. The instrumental edit stays real close to the original, but as soon as nobody's looking, he starts flirting with some unknown musical genre.

Artist:	VA
Title:	Pop Ambient 2008
Label:	KOMPAKT (GERMANY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.50
Catalog #:	KOMP 062CD

It's that time of year to get the fireplaces roaring and crackling again -- we need those snuggle songs to keep us warm and cozy throughout the winter season. Pop Ambient is there to fulfill those moments! Now in its eighth installment, Pop Ambient has always provided the soundtrack of peace and tranquility when we need to escape from a most tumultuous world. One of the Kompakt label's most popular and most anticipated yearly releases, Pop Ambient 2008 is a strident, forward-thinking collection of exclusive, new music provided from those reliable musicians and exciting newcomers that you have come to know and recognize all so well year after year after year. Pop Ambient 2008 sees the welcome return of some much-lauded favorites such as The Field, Markus Guentner, DJ Koze, Thomas Fehlmann and many other artists who have seduced and soothed the raging beast within us with songs that ripple and hum with harmonious splendor. Other artists include: All, Triola, Andrew Thomas, Ulf Lohmann, Klimek and Popnoname.

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Artist:	CHACONA, NICK
Title:	Eagle City
Label:	INTERNASJONAL (NORWAY)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.50
Catalog #:	INT 001EP

Artist:	KALIBER
Title:	Kaliber 16
Label:	KALIBER (SWEDEN)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	KAL 016EP

Artist:	VA
Title:	Traumschwiegersöhne
Label:	KARMAROUGE (GERMANY)
Format:	2LP
Price:	$20.00
Catalog #:	KR 030LP

Artist:	BATTANT
Title:	Kevin [1989]
Label:	KILL THE DJ (FRANCE)
Format:	12"
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	KTDJ 011EP