I think it’s safe to say on a universal front, that at some stage in our lives we have all at one point changed our minds or position in some shape or form. Whether it’s vinyl to mp3, boxers to briefs, down and out to dynasty, wonk to donk, everyone needs diversity at some point. Hence the posts you read here follow a trend that could only be answerable to our irrational rock star tendencies, where various sonic musical wig outs in search of the “New Sound”, have led us to chartering an array of unexpected beats. And so may this sorcery of sounds continue, in such a fashion that is deemed appropriate for the most cynical of fashionistas.
So there are weeks when one is sometimes minimal and sometimes maximal, and this wholly affects the sounds imposed upon your ears here. When cranked on maximal output one tends to act maximal. The noodles say cook on medium so you cook on high, GPS says turn back so you pop a handbrake, there’s no talking in the library but I’m on loudspeaker. And the tunes as you’ve probably guessed follow a noisy suit. But despite the big talk, I’m feeling pretty minimal this week. So here are a few cuts I’ve been moping round the house to, I say moping but I’m gently bobbing. It’s a range of melodic techno and house cuts, no big room destruction here. However I’ve seen dance floors fall to pieces at the end of night, when the likes of ‘SynthReich’ and ‘Do Not Break’ are dropped. Remember to support the artists’ guys.
Harald Björk – Sunsets
Deep electro bass over a muted thudding of techno grooves, the kind of emotionally melodic stripped down tech that really sets a tone. Harald Bjork is launching his new label Kranglan Broadcast in November, and we can only assume his production will continue to receive plays from likes of James Holden and Four Tet.
Ellen Allien & Apparat – Do Not Break
With a back catalogue of impeccable fore fronting electronica by both Apparat and Ellen Allien, this is definitely one of their more accessible electro tech classics. In regards to the Bpitch Control record signings and
projects such as Moderat in full swing, I would definitely give this a listen.
Eastern European house heads NTFO are becoming ever more prominent on the minimal scene, receiving attention from the likes of Richie Hawtin. Plucked chords and atmospheric bleeps make this a crisp dance floor mover.
Peter Pixzel & Julian Barrat – SynthReich
My most rated techno release of 2008, and still one of my most played tunes to date. A well tailored London bass bin sub level, with delicately noted synth keys that the keep the dance floor afloat.
Soaring arpeggiators and stuttered vocal glitches compel this tune into falling within the category of epic grandeur. It feels like it could be the soundtrack to Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic flights. Space odyssey vibes here; listen to it in your tin foil space suit on the way to Bestival.
Manuel Tur – Stay 
Receiving such reviews as album of the month in DJ Mag, it looks set that Manuel will be killing the dance floors with his warm pulsing house beats for some time to come. Believe the hype, and bask in his sunshine sounds.
This post is dedicated to all our haters. So take a zanex and increase the peace all you angry ones.
A pleasure as always,
Darkly
