Cute Heels - State Of Mind

Cute Heels is the project of Victor Lenis, a contemporary electronic artist living in Berlin, Germany. He grew up in Bogotá, Columbia during the 1990s, surrounded by the radial punk scene. Over the years, Victor’s passion and fascination for synthesizers and drum machines to produce and compose resulted in his debut album “Spiritual” for Dark Entries in 2014 as well as the “Third Skin” EP in 2016. Inspired by equal parts Liaisons Dangereuses, Drexciya and Black Devil Disco Club, Cute Heels connects the dots between Detroit techno, early Chicago house and Belgium electronic body music.

“State of Mind” is a 4-track EP featuring the vocal talents of Berlin artist Aga Wilk aka Romance Disaster on the the title track. On the A-side are two fresh compositions recorded in New York and Bogota between 2016 and 2017. Victor says, “State of Mind refers to the subconscious as dominated by real facts, natural, unnatural, metaphysical or virtual and dynamism of the body as physical shield.” The track is a slow building foray into techno, elegantly suited for intangible moments. “Golden Tears” kicks off with Cute Heels’ signature metallic EBM funk played with punchy, percussive analog synths. On the flip we present two banging club remixes. The first is from LA-4A, techno DJ and producer Kevin McHugh aka Ambivalent, who adds a strong kick drum and lacerating hi-hats that build up to a mind melting breakdown with a full on acid squelch attack. The second remix comes from Noncompliant, Midwest US-based producer Lisa Smith aka DJ Shiva, who creates a raw, thumping exercise though off-kilter mechanics and punishing percussion. All songs have been mastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley.

12″ EP / Digital Album

Posted on March 17th, 2018 under Releases, ,

Villa Åbo - Magnetic Moves

“Magnetic Moves” is Villa Åbo’s debut album, originally released in an limited edition of 65 hand-numbered cassettes by Funeral Fog in 2016.

Villa Åbo in the alternative solo project of Swedish musician and producer Jan Svensson, who has been making electronic music for the better part of 30 years as the artist behind such aliases as Frak, Studio SS and Alvars Orkestra. Svensson also runs legendary Swedish dance and experimental music label Börft, the product of a mutual appreciation for Severed Heads and Terse Tapes. As Villa Åbo he released two records in 1997 on Börft and remained inactive for 17 years until the Dutch label Bio Rhythm coaxed him into revisiting the project and released a double 12″ in 2014. Jan has since followed with a steady stream of 12” singles for Kontra-Musik, Noise In My Head and Radio Lundberg.

Clocking in at over 46 minutes, this first-ever vinyl edition spreads the 8 ragged techno tracks across four sides for maximum loudness. Some songs are aggressively potent, with cyclical synth riffs and razor-sharp acid lines riding a heavy, funk-fueled techno groove. Others tracks are more fluid, vintage Underground Resistance or Derrick May with killer drum machine workouts that come in handy as DJ tools. All songs have been remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley.

2 x LP / Digital Album

Posted on March 15th, 2018 under Releases, ,

Cruz De Navajos - Dominacion

Debuting in 2016, Mexico City’s Cruz De Navajos has already established itself as one of the more exquisite contemporary dark wave/post punk groups. Lyrically, Cruz De Navajas tackles the difficult issues of femicide and the forced disappearances of the citizens of its home country, Mexico. Despite the heavy subject matter, the band builds its songs upon melodies and movements reminiscent of the finest gothic rock bands of the past and present.

The members of Cruz De Navajas describe its sound as dark, danceable post punk. Recommended to fans of Siouxsie & the Banshees, the Cure and Sister Of Mercy.

LP / Digital Album

Posted on March 13th, 2018 under Releases, ,

Galatée

Here’s the latest release from Galatée, a minimal / synth wave / chill wave / dream pop duo from Russia.

Digital Album

Posted on March 11th, 2018 under Releases, ,

R A D K O – Cherno PPP / Brutalista

Here is the debut release by Italian duo R A D K O… their music is a blending of post/cold wave and shoegaze elements… both the songs and the production have a typical nostalgic feeling but are rather modern at the same time… instead of being overtly dark the sound and overall mood is much more melancholy and dreamy… for sure these two tracks make up for an impressive debut and addictive little 7″ record…

7″

Posted on March 9th, 2018 under Releases, , ,