New Releases for May 2008

Index of New Releases for May 2008

AXIS

Artist:	MILLS, JEFF
Title:	Alpha Centauri
Label:	AXIS
Format:	12"
Price:	$8.50
Catalog #:	AX 049EP

"In the early years, our age of space exploration, the risks often ran higher than our minds can have fathomed. This noble story begins in the year 1965, an age of wonder. While the world struggles with the indifferences of race, ideology and territory, a team of the world's leading scientists, doctors and engineers of space travel; all experts in their fields and highly competent, ignited the most advanced spacecraft ever designed, the Jupiter. The mission: to reach the uncharted and highly speculative domain 4.35 light years away from the sun. There, resides a triple star system. The two brightest components being Alpha Centauri A (02) and B (Kl). The third and significantly smaller star Alpha Centauri C or otherwise known as 'Proxima' (M5), comprise our greatest chance to find intelligent life. But, 'all laid plans of mice and men often go astray.' Precisely 42:00:01 hours after take-off, mission control detected a rare occurrence. It was believed to be a minor malfunction or calculation in the overall weight and cargo of the spacecraft. This slight, but crucial difference caused the on-board computer to miscalculate the precise location and entrance of the spacecraft through the Piron Nebula, narrow openings in the outer edges of Cyril, the largest black hole ever found. As mission control analysts struggle to find an answer to solve this problem before the routine communication black out between Jupiter and mission control, weather patterns here on earth hindered the situation to the point of complete detachment. At 45:15 :02, our most talented and brightest hope for a new dawn vanished in the depths of outer space. Without a signal or clue, the Jupiter spacecraft disappears amongst the stars. In swift reactions of all participating international space agencies, numerous recovery missions were launched from every space part of our globe, but as of yet, no distress signals have been received. We can only hope that our team of the Jupiter spacecraft have the will and strength to survive this great ordeal and our prayers go out to all their families and loved ones. Until then, we wait... Axis Records proudly presents Alpha Centauri, conceived and produced by Jeff Mills."

BE AS ONE (ISRAEL)

Artist:	SAGI, ITAMAR
Title:	Black Gold
Label:	BE AS ONE (ISRAEL)
Format:	12"
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	BAO 009EP

With remixes by Samuel L. Sessions & Chymera. "This ninth release proves how wide the range of techno is on Be As One, with different moods but always with the same high quality standard. With 'Black Gold' and its remixes, BAO is indeed back to a more classic techno sound. Already featured by Funk D Void in his latest Soma compilation, the original 'Black Gold' is a true musical treat. Built around a fat beat and an uplifting stab, this summery slice of techno is perfect for the warmer months ahead and will be played by the most various DJs around. Samuel L Session is a producer that needs no introduction to techno fans around the world. Known for his loopy and classic sounding techno, Samuel has been recently busy remixing for some of the best labels and artists, the latest one being Kevin 'The Elevator' Saunderson. With his rework of 'Black Gold' he proved once again to be one of the best remixers around, bringing us a driving and obscure reinterpretation that's as much uplifting as the original. This is is just the first of a series of works SLS will be busy with for Be As One. Chymera is another of those 'men of the moment' of the techno scene. Known for the melodies that are already known as his trademark sound, here Brendan brings us something really different from what he used us to. A fat kick and a solid, driving, pumping groove, all mixed up with a wise usage of the original stabs, makes this monster something really special for all the techno DJs looking for something that has a 'classic' feel."

BLUE CHOPSTICKS

Artist:	CIRCLE X
Title:	Prehistory
Label:	BLUE CHOPSTICKS
Format:	CD
Price:	$13.50
Catalog #:	BLUE 018CD

"Some of you may remember Circle X's corrosive, caterwauling, and unutterably fabulous self-titled EP, which was originally released in 1979 and reissued a little over a decade ago by Jim O'Rourke's and David Grubbs' Dexter's Cigar label. Now the story picks up again with the long-overdue first CD release of Prehistory, Circle X's first full-length album. Prehistory was recorded in 1981 and released in 1983 by Index Records, making them, strangely enough, labelmates with Wall of Voodoo. Circle X were formed in 1978 from the remnants of No Fun and the I-Holes, Louisville, Kentucky's first two punk bands. (No Fun, also featuring Tara Key of the Babylon Dance Band and Antietam, finally appeared on the excellent Bold Beginnings: An Incomplete History of Louisville Punk compilation.) Circle X got the hell out of Dodge quickly enough, settling upon New York, then Dijon, France, and then back to New York again. The self-titled EP is a lurching, squalling monster. Prehistory is a tire-burning left turn. The pendulum arc of Tony Pinotti's vocals still contain throat-shredding howls, but expands to contain croons, moans, speech. Bruce Witsiepe's lacerating guitar is dumped into a dubbish aquarium of reverb, and Rik and Dave Letendre worry obsessive polyrhythms nearly to death. After the trash-compaction of their first EP, this is the sound of unhurried, committed exploration. So where did Circle X fit in among their peers? It's fair to describe them as a genre unto themselves. They came from punk rock and art school and sounded like none of their potential allies. They arrived in New York at the tail end of No Wave, at the same time that equally ornery bands like Swans and Sonic Youth were getting revved up. Circle X are every bit as distinctive and attitudinal as Throbbing Gristle, PiL, Theoretical Girls, DNA, or Mars, and yet they don't particularly sound like any of these groups. After Prehistory, they resurfaced with four white-vinyl 7"s, (later collected as the box set The Ivory Tower) and the 1994 Celestial, an album for the then-fledgling Matador label. Bruce Witsiepe passed away in 1995, marking the end of the group. Critic Jordan Mamone hit the nail on the head when he wrote: 'Every rare utterance from these unsentimental adventurers possesses a passion and a manifesto-writing fervor usually reserved for turn-of-the-century culture movements.'"

BO WEAVIL RECORDINGS (UK)

Artist:	N.E.W.
Title:	Deadeye Tricksters
Label:	BO WEAVIL RECORDINGS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	WEAVIL 030CD

Steve Noble (drums/percussion), John Edwards (bass) and Alex Ward (electric guitar) are N.E.W.. Deadeye Tricksters incorporates language, ritual, myth, and laughter. Play is at the heart of the interaction of these great players. From the opening riff, with Ward's scattergun guitar fizzing around Noble's detonations, the game is on. It's often the element of play in improvised music that prepares the ears for its more profound moments. The skittering of drum and bass gives way, suddenly, to a sonic shriek, a blast that leaves the listener metaphorically pressed against the wall. There are few musical experiences that move from the titillating to the terrifying in such a short space of time. Noble, Edwards, and Ward are experts at the improv game, tooled up, as they are, with sharp musical wits, adroit techniques and almost uncanny powers of perception.

BULLET:DODGE (SCOTLAND)

Artist:	LOWECK
Title:	Misdirection
Label:	BULLET:DODGE (SCOTLAND)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.50
Catalog #:	DODGE 001EP

"The enigmatic Bullet:Dodge brings forth their debut release by up and coming Glasgow DJ/producer's Loweck, Glasgow's well known remixer Electro Voodoo and Chicago house legend Gene Hunt. The Misdirection EP is an exciting release that conveys vibrant techno magic. The first track to dawn the wax is Loweck's original mix, which is a certain floor filler that drives with a dark bassline and explodes with an exciting arpeggio that will cause a frenzy on any dancefloor. Track two is Electro Voodoo's mix which is a more deep dubby mix that delivers a more laid back intelligent techno feel. The EP culminates with Gene Hunt's mix which, fuses the essence of the original mix with a sub bass line and minimal bleepy effects to create a killer remix. The EP has been supported by Terrence Dixon and K Alexi and is set to be a great success in 2008."

BUREAU B (GERMANY)

Artist:	DEBICH, HENRYK
Title:	String Beat
Label:	BUREAU B (GERMANY)
Format:	LP
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	BB 011LP

LP-only release. One of the most legendary and eagerly sought-after treasures of Polish jazz funk is about to see the light of day again. First issued in 1975, Henryk Debich's String Beat is now released on vinyl by Bureau B, thanks to a friendly tip-off by Roskow Kretschmann of Jazzanova, an expert on jazz and groove obscurities. The vinyl was mastered from the original tapes belonging to the Polish Muza label. It is no great secret amongst aficionados that an awful lot of excellent jazz music has come out of Poland -- and still does. A particularly fruitful period for the Polish scene was the mid-'70s and Debich's String Beat captures the pinnacle of that era. Funk and jazz connoisseurs have long since fallen in love with it, so to call it a hidden gem does not quite do it justice. The established director and arranger Henryk Debich created this jazz funk monster in 1975 together with the Lodz Radio Orchestra, with no previous experience as a funkateer. Even the author of the original liner notes, Andrzej Jaroszewski, found it hard to contain his boundless amazement: "We have never before heard such an orchestra playing in such a style ... If you bought this record of Henryk Debich's orchestra through choice, you are a connoisseur, if by chance, you are a lucky fellow!" His enthusiasm is easy to fathom: razor sharp horns, a surgically precise rhythm section and crystal clear arrangements -- back then, as now, one would have to search far and wide to find a similar sound. Only the dubious version of "Obladi - Oblada" interrupts the flow a little. Along with The Beatles track, there are two other "western" inclusions on the album. Henryk Debich pays tribute to Isaac Hayes ("Melodia Z Filmu Shaft") as well as Herbie Hancock ("Kameleon"). Everything else was composed especially for String Beat by young, gifted Lodz composers.

CACIOCAVALLO

CEREAL/KILLERS (GERMANY)

CHERRY RED (UK)

Artist:	MEDIUM MEDIUM
Title:	Hungry, So Angry
Label:	CHERRY RED (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	CDMRED 182CD

"Medium Medium were originally signed to Cherry Red in 1981 and were one of the first signings of then A&R man Mike Alway. The band's first single, Hungry, So Angry caused quite an immediate stir at club and alternative radio level, and created quite a buzz around the band. The single was picked up by alternative radio in the U.S. and featured for several weeks in the Billboard Alternative Top 50 chart. The band recorded one album for Cherry Red, The Glitterhouse which received consistently good reviews. However, the band broke up in 1983 but were not forgotten as 'Hungry, So Angry' has been used on many compilation CDs over the years, especially in the U.S. This overdue CD re-press consists of 15 tracks and also includes the very rare promo video of 'Hungry, So Angry; as an enhanced track."

COCOON (GERMANY)

Artist:	MINILOGUE
Title:	Animals
Label:	COCOON (GERMANY)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	COR 016CD

Malm�, Sweden's Minilogue (Sebastian Mullaert and Marcus Henriksson) present Animals, their debut full-length release for Sven V�th's Cocoon. Nowadays, electronic producers tend to retreat into their special stylistic niche -- Minilogue dare to draw the bigger picture. After releasing outstanding productions on such renowned labels as Traum, Crosstown Rebels and Wagon Repair, this opus magnum covers a wide spectrum of music, reaching from peak-time techno to beatless deep ambient. The full range of Minilogue's vision of electronic music is developed on a double CD -- one devoted to dance music, the other devoted to ambient, while the vinyl version naturally focuses on the dance tracks. The immediacy of the club tracks incorporate the elegance and simplicity of classic early '90s techno, the economy and lightness of the minimal sound and the sweetness and charm of their recent developments. This is a journey to be listened to from beginning to end, mixed in a seamless flow. As Son Kite and Trimatic, Mullaert and Henriksson became very successful in the trance scene, playing enthusiastically-received live sets all over the world. With Minilogue, they leave the boundaries of that genre -- and actually of any genre. The result couldn't be more striking: the dance tracks are powerful and humble, the ambient tracks are subtle and bold. While other producers tend to get lost in layers of sounds and reverb, Animals is spring-loaded and nimble. Tracks so humble, effective and elegant, they stream unremittingly into the listener's ears. The music stretches out towards the horizon in a gesture of unmitigated desire: a desire for wideness, a desire for sound, a desire for the elementary beauty of techno.

Artist:	TIETJEN, CHRIS
Title:	Drei
Label:	COCOON (GERMANY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	CORMIX 020CD

For the third time now, Chris Tietjen compiles the best Cocoon releases of the year on one CD, providing a mix that summarizes the party highlights of the past year perfectly. With three artist albums, the Compilation G and numerous 12"s, Cocoon again set standards in 2007 and is also planning a lot for 2008. Besides the year's big hits (Argy's "Unreliable Virgin," Martin Buttrich's "Hunter" or Beroshima's "Horizon"), Chris has also included some flip-side pearls (Lucio Aquilina's "My Cube" and Phonogenic's "Alpha Blend") on the CD, delivering an impeccable 70-minute set that elegantly steps on the border between house and techno. Nonchalantly, he opens with Martin Buttrich's "Hunter," continues with shooting star Lucio Aquilina and develops a driving and groovy atmosphere with Pig&Dan's "Sly Detector," which marks an emotional highlight before he closes the mix with Adam Proll's "Elevator," Joel Mull's "Harmonautic String" and Jacek Sienkiewicz's "Good Luck." A very atmospheric and competently made mix with carefully chosen highlights.

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Artist:	LEGENDARY PINK DOTS, THE
Title:	The Crushed Velvet Apocalypse
Label:	CACIOCAVALLO
Format:	CD
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	CAD 020CD

Artist:	PAN/TONE
Title:	Chubby Chaser EP
Label:	CEREAL/KILLERS (GERMANY)
Format:	12"
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	C/K 008EP