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12"
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PAL 071EP
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Palette 71 kicks off with legendary Warp artist Plaid on remix duties. Transforming the title track, re-synthesized 909 samples and lua scripted sequencing, Plaid builds melodies and arrangement to epic proportions in classic Plaid fashion. Tejada's new EP is an homage of sorts to the sample heavy production style of the late '90s. "Limiting the options and just creating and manipulating a batch of samples is my happy place," says John Tejada. The title track hints back to Optical's "Moving 808s." While the sound is quite different, the approach is similar: samples, editing, some filters and not a whole lot more opens up a lot of creative possibilities without too much getting in the way. Of course, the bass plays an important role. Combing through some older influences of varying styles, the production became more in line with Tejada classics like "Timebomb" and "Western Starland," both sample collage pieces focused on groove. The final track, "Infinity Room" also follows this production process while resulting in a slightly moodier sound.
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12"
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PAL 070EP
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As Palette Recordings approaches its 23-year anniversary, John Tejada returns to the label he started in 1996 with a new four-track EP entitled Performance Review. From the distinctive sound of the opening chords on the title track, it is clear this is Tejada's patented world of melody and harmony. Each track highlights Tejada's artful approach to crafting grooves that blend deep origins with soulful new ground. His unmistakable sound drives the four songs throughout with a focus on layering samples, rhythm, and sound design.
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12"
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PAL 068EP
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In continuation of the label's 20 year anniversary, Palette Recordings releases Therapy, a new John Tejada four-track EP which continues where the recent reissue of Timebomb (PAL 067EP) left off. A vintage Palette Tejada sound re-emerges on this four-tracker built around the heavy rhythms and solid floor-filler grooves Tejada was revered for in the early 2000s. With a mix of vintage sampling and synthesis, four tracks cover a mix of heavy-hitting house geared for the clubs.
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12"
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PAL 067EP
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In celebration of Palette Recordings 20 year anniversary, Palette present a special reissue of John Tejada's timeless classic "Timebomb" with the VIP mix. Both versions were originally released in 2001 and 2002 on Daniel Bell's 7th City Records. Remastered by Stefan Betke at Scape Mastering they now sound better than ever. Both versions became instant classics, have been played over the years by the world's top DJs and have been licensed to numerous compilations. The original "Timebomb" and the VIP mix are two classic Tejada tunes that have stood the test of time.
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12"
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PAL 066EP
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"The End of It All," originally released in 2006 on Palette Recordings, is one of the most iconic John Tejada tracks. This is the first official version to be released since the original. It stands on its own, though its strong emotive theme and connection to the original are undeniable. "Reactivation" and "Sheven" originate from Tejada's 2015 live set and showcase his strong sense for the dancefloor. "Reactivation" is a Casio CZ-101 and Roland TR-909 locking into a strong, bassline-driven groove. "Sheven," named for its use of a Roland SH-7, features a sickly-sounding riff with punchy 909 drums.
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12"
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PAL 065EP
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John Tejada follows his 2015 album Signs Under Test (KOMP 119CD/KOM 321LP) with an EP on his acclaimed Palette label. "Dramamine" and "Code Ext" form a refined blend of haunting phrases and grooves that flows with vibrancy and challenge familiarity. Each track is unique, yet they thrive together with a warm cohesion. "Cipher" and "Clairaudience" tie up the release with engaging rhythm-al-ism and well-crafted synth melodies. "Cipher" builds upon the previous tracks' emoted pulses and transitions hypnotically into "Clairaudience." The final track weaves visions from the listener's deepest sleep into sounds and beats that breathe beyond the limitations of dreaming.
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12"
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PAL 064EP
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John Tejada returns to his own Palette Recordings imprint with "Anaphora," delivering a set of two eruptive grooves with a focus that has earned Tejada the respect of both listeners and peers alike. "Anaphora" showcases Tejada's trademark use of hopeful melodies and emotive sequences. It highlights his undeniable quality of crafting arrangements that rise above monotony. "Bode's Law" explores a darker, more driving side of the two songs. Furious analog synths and drums orbit each other in syncopation to create a hypnotic, engaging rhythm.
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12"
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PAL 063EP
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"Pulse Locker" refers to the analog method of synching analog modular instruments and drum machines, a method of working that John Tejada & Josh Humphrey have embraced to generate their trademark sounds and grooves. The results are a tight, organic analog sound showcased particularly by the second track "Bifur Gates." The title-track gets things moving with a blend of house and techno while "Unanimous Arc" showcases the mad acid sounds possible on the SH-101 while modular chords elevate the track to a manic pace.
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12"
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PAL 062EP
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John Tejada & Justin Maxwell are at it again with a new three-song EP. Following in the footsteps of their classic release "Mindbend," the duo continues their unique approach to collaboration using a hardware modular synth set-up. The title track "Our Gigantic Mistake" is a unique blend of 808 beats and screaming modular synth lines. The B-side's "Whoops (There It Is)" and "Where's The Cable?" explore a darker side of dark, acidic, late-night techno.
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12"
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PAL 039EP
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Palette re-releases The End Of It All, originally released in 2006 -- quite possibly the last GOOD AMERICAN TECHNO RECORD, EVER. A classic, melodic Tejada piece, with heavily-distorted chords underpinning a spheric, slightly sentimental chime melody over hard-as-nails, handclapping beats. With its sneaky bassline, acid chirps and bubbly percussion sounds, the B-side takes us down a slightly more sinister path.
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12"
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PAL 060EP
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Palette proudly presents the first solo effort by Arian Leviste. Three ultra-varied tracks start with the driving drums and bass line of "Senioritis." "Better Get Used To It" shows off Leviste's melodic abilities with a beautiful melancholic epic. "Change The Station" rounds things out with a bit of modular synth experimentation over a jacking rhythm track. Leviste created these tracks in his own studio using various modular and classic synths, beat boxes, and hardware instruments.
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12"
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PAL 059EP
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Palette Recordings celebrates its 13-year anniversary with a release by John Tejada & Arian Leviste, who have been collaborating for over 18 years now. With this release, the duo comes full circle, combining some of their oldest production techniques with newer ones. "Messenger," with its intro of modular synths and rhythmic pads, breaks out of its sinister drop full-force into a multi-dimensional crowd-pleaser. "Observer" features a fierce pace that combines vintage synth stabs and drum machines, recreating a classic vibe.
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12"
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PAL 058EP
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Presenting Palette's newest collaboration between John Tejada and Josh Humphrey. "Marooned" joins Humphrey's modular synth work with Tejada's beats and soothing pads, the result being a slice of beat-driven melodic techno. "Melodiac" features Humphrey's modular melodies and Tejada's signature stabs and rhythms. "Concrete Safari" focuses on Humphrey's modular fm synth work that slowly evolves into a cluster of tribal sounds, modular birds and grainy goodness.
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12"
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PAL 057EP
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Vertex is an exploration of John Tejada's range in two parts. The title track and "The Locus Of Points" explores the trackier side of his work, meant mostly for vinyl play. Both tracks make good use of strong wavetable-chorded sounds, which are modulated throughout. The B-side explores the more melodic and arrangement-based side of Tejada's work. "Liquid Mirror" is rich in modular synth layers and "P.L.L." ("Phase Locked Loop") continues this theme with a modulating melodic phrase.
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12"
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PAL 056EP
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This is Dave Hughes' second EP release for Palette. All three club-friendly songs offer different variations on a single theme. "From The Beginning" starts things off with classic chords and punchy drums. "From The Start" follows the theme in a more stripped-down fashion, adding vocoded percussion with a powerful stab. "Start Over" continues in a more tricked-out percussive form with clever programming and synth stabs.
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12"
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PAL 055EP
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Justin Maxwell is back with two monster tracks. "The Windey Man" sounds like a combination of classic Aphex Twin meets Dillinja bass lines. After a techy opening, building up to a dark melodic phrase, things really start to go mad with some incredible bass drops. "The Long Mover" features modular synth work, intricate edits, creeping melodies, and modulating bass lines. A very expressive piece that gives the impression his synths are alive and trying to tell us something.
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12"
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PAL 054EP
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With the title track featured on the Fabric mix CD, Fractals explores the inner musical geometry of John Tejada's electronic productions in 3 varieties. "Fractals" builds driving, rhythmic layers, evolving modular blips and atmospheres which reduce to reveal the elements that lie beneath. "The Open" is a featured track on Tejada's Fabric 44 mix -- an ethereal piece that may remind some of Tejada's classic melodic moments. Continuing the nostalgic theme is "Better Days," a classic, piano chord-driven track with a Tejada twist.
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12"
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PAL 053EP
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Tejada & Leviste presents M Tracks, featuring 4 analog workouts in varying styles. "M Track 1" is a melodic yet driving track. "M Track 2" and "3" focuses on basic elements while "M Track 4" is more experimental. Analog sequencers were used to drive the various modular synths and their components. Doepfer and Frostwave sequencers, and modular systems Cwejman, Doepfer, Harvestman and Bananalogue modules were used. Analog drum machines aided in the rhythms; however, "M Track 3" was entirely generated from pure modular hardware.
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12"
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PAL 051EP
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John Tejada has been splitting his time working with Arian Leviste and Justin Maxwell. Why not combine all three? From the title track, the trio each works on a particular element: Tejada's driving drums, Maxwell's modular synth work, and Leviste's bass line sculpting a driving track with a classic feel. "The Pilot" features Leviste's smooth melodic synth work while Maxwell processes the modular and Tejada provides the dubby beats. "Downtown Hotel" features a mad Maxwell modular freakout and driving 808s.
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CD
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PAL 052CD
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I'm Not A Gun is a collaboration between John Tejada and Takeshi Nishimoto, and this is their first release for the Palette label. The two have gained worldwide acclaim with their three albums for Berlin-based City Centre Offices (CCO). Tejada is an internationally-established electronic artist who has received critical acclaim the world over for his electronic productions, while Nishimoto studied the classical tradition from some of the world's premiere guitar players such as James Smith, Scott Tennant, Bill Kanengizer, and Brian Head. He also had the jazz guitar legend Phil Upchurch as his mentor. I'm Not A Gun is an organic combination of a captured acoustic performance and experimental electronic composition. Mirror marks Palette Recordings 52nd release as well as I'm Not A Gun's fourth full-length release. After many years recording for CCO, Tejada and Nishimoto bring the project home, where they had always envisioned it should be, on Tejada's own Palette Recordings. Mirror expands on the ideas the two have been honing over the past few years, combining acoustic elements with electronic production to capture that magic take. This album features more of Nishimoto's acoustic 7-string guitar work than ever before, reflecting his solo effort Monologue, as well as his work on 7-string electric guitar. The accompanying atmospheres created mostly from processed granular guitar add a synthetic acoustic backing for the lead guitar work. The combination of the acoustic and synthetic guitar textures envelops the listener in a pulse backed by Tejada's drum playing or at times, synthetic drum programming.
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2LP
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PAL 050LP
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CD
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PAL 050CD
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This is California-based producer John Tejada's 11th full-length release. Normally associated with his peers in techno from Detroit, Europe and elsewhere, John Tejada has embraced electronic music as a personal frontier, expanding on his résumé as a techno recording artist, producer, remixer, DJ, and label owner. Known for crafting a brand of subtle, musical techno, his recorded output ranges across tempo and genre lines, from chilled-out affairs with spacious arrangements to pulsating, densely layered, deeply energetic tracks that work magnificently in the hands of DJs as well as on the home stereo. Where ventures away from many of his own trademarks, journeying into an intimate vibe of warm pulses and bright energies. The tracks take expectations and enlighten them with a collection of grooves and tweaks that are spacious and rhythmic while being devoid of predictability. The fifth track, "Desire," features a first-time collaboration with Nicolette who, having notoriety for her early '90s hit "No Government" as well as previous work with Massive Attack and Plaid, lends her vocal talents to a sonic gem that is magic in itself. Where is not a typical cerebral approach to electronic music. Rather, it is "soul-ebral" in its ubiquity, giving the listener a rare vision of a melodic spin wherein Tejada can be seen in his studio creating life, breathing through synths.
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12"
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PAL 045EP
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Wavescraper is John Tejada's first outing since last year's Cleaning Sounds Is A Filthy Business album. Based mostly around his new custom modular system, "Wavescraper" is an exploration into patch cable madness, taking the dance floor on a twisting crazy journey. "Model 12" is classic Tejada, with its smoothed-out lead and soulful elements. "Symmetry" rounds off the EP with complex ideas and subtle experimentation.
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12"
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PAL 044EP
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This 3-tracker starts off a string of 12"s by the collaborative genius of John Tejada and Arian Leviste. This duo multiplies the motion, the funk, the accurate timing, the control, the tension, the groove, the deepness, the classic techno-ness, for this release. Check out the ultra-intense, sturdy "Multiplier," an awfully rocking definite consensus tune in the making. "Mathemagician" feels like the "Mono On Mono" update you've been waiting for.
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12"
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PAL 043EP
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Super-sympathetic and extremely versatile Justin Maxwell, one half of Volsoc and scion of a musical family. Justin Maxwell throws another three-tracker of rhythmic voice cut-ups and hyperactive, excessive analog and digital sound-clips bundled to high-explosive tech-funk.
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