Best New Releases from October 2018
October is full of exciting musical surprises with amazing albums, impressive releases, and mesmerizing remixes.
We have compiled a list of top 10 picks that we enjoyed listening to in clubs and on headphones featuring such scorching artists and rising stars as Konduku, Birds Ov Paradise, Lake People, Lawrence, Opal Sunn, Roman Flügel, Trikk, Chymera, Francis Harris. Tracks are listed in no particular order.
Lawrence
Illusion
Dial Records
Dial Records co-founder Peter Kersten, better known as Lawrence, released his new highly anticipated long player “Illusions” on his own imprint. Inspired by Lawrence’s real-time live project Sky Walking and numerous international underground club gigs including Japan and Mexico, the album marks Lawrence’s first solo full-length since 2013’s “Film and Windows” and is said to be “blessed with a typically delicate touch” blending field recordings, acoustic instrumentation and electronics with THE artist’s distinctively sophisticated deep house sound. In Dial own words:
“A deeply resonant, melodic and altogether transcendent trip, a full-scale but understated soothing of the body and mind, Illusion finds Lawrence reflecting inward, back where he began."
Lake People
You Make It Look Easy
Mule Musiq
After releasing his outstanding album “Phase Transition” through Mule Musiq, Leipzig-based multi-talented producer, live-performer, and DJ Martin Enke, better known as Lake People returns to the Takahashi Kuniyuki’s label with his trademark sound and style. Brimming with a sonic diversity and rhythmic hypnotism, the “Vivacity” EP is an ensemble of four tracks that will lift any dance floor into heavenly heights.
The closing track on an A-side “You Make It Look Easy” is a superb deep house track that bursts with layers of melancholy and depth and takes a listener on the timeless journey merging a punching bass line and pulsating high hats with a gorgeous funkadelic piano melody.
Konduku
Yol
Nous’klaer Audio
Following hot on the heels of his impressive debut “Kieran” LP, released earlier this year via Nous’klaer Audio, the incredibly talented Rotterdam based DJ producer Konduku returns to the label for “a series of club focused records”, entitled “Emerald Island” EP. The three-tracks packages reflect an uncompromising quality of the release and artist’s own distinct approach to micro-house sound.
The opener “Yol” seduces over a rolling hypnotic groove, delicate leftfield textures and deep eerie synth melody with hits of mystery; all soaked in colorful psychedelia and infinite rhythms.
Unknown Artist
RHB4
Native Response
Dutch Native Response continues to raise a bar with a brand new release from an enigmatic producer by the name of Unknown Artist. Arguably, one of the most consistent artists in the game, he continues his tradition of stunning releases with a two-track “NR999” EP showcasing depth and elegance.
The opening “RHB4” captivates the listener with an astounding array of intricate soundscapes, a hypnotic groove and a beautiful melody colored by melancholic tenderness. This gorgeous tune is another example of Unknown Artist’s hefty musicianship and musical magnetism.
Birds Ov Paradise
Fog
Hypnus Records
"The mists of ice are creeping in over our lands with its grip and claws of frost slowly smothering the last breaths of summer. Although the sun is still shining valiantly we are imminently descending slowly back down into the black womb of winter. However, we will not let you go unguided. To end our fifth year we introduce to you with great joy and pride the initiation of a new adept whose mind will be your shepherd every step toward the solstice. Now, please open up your mind to the lush dreams evoked by Hypnus adept Birds.”
Hypnus Records is delighted to welcome the Gothenburg-based artist David Sabel ( a.k.a Birds Ov Paradise) to their family for a highly anticipated debut which comes split into three separate EPs released one each full moon starting October.
The first instance of an excellent trilogy, “Bayou” EP, distills the essence of an incredibly talented artist into four magical dub techno excursions filled with a pristine minimalism and exquisite elegance. “Fog” weaves a hypnotic aura inflicting a delicate introspection that folds in and out between the boundaries of reality and imagination.
Roman Flügel
Theme X
ESP Institute
A well-respected pillar of electronic music Roman Flügel brings his timeless musical creations in form of the collection of 13-tracks for the first time to the Los Angeles-based stylish label ESP Institute. Entitled “Themes”, the album is a true testament to the consistently high quality of Roman Flügel‘s work and his creative vision. “Themes”, describes ESP Institute is the press release, is “his notion that sometimes stories might not need a clear articulation but might only come through in hints of mood, pace, and color, a language which doesn’t rely on words to communicate but which paints for us in Themes.”
Rich in ambiance and atmosphere, “Theme X” is a tranquil musical tapestry comprised of delicate poetic harmonies, subtle electronics and warm organic textures that seem to come from deep within a dream. It’s an excellent example of ambient music at its finest!
Francis Harris
St. Catherine and the Calm
Scissor & Thread
Ever talented New York producer, Kingdoms and Scissor & Thread record label boss Francis Harris embark on a beautiful and highly personal musical journey with his third studio long-player, “Trivial Occupations”, on his own Scissors & Thread imprint.
With “Trivial Occupations” LP, Harris “dives deep into a new sound palette - bringing the listener on a journey through various states over the almost one hour run time. The album was made over the course of four years in various studios with an array of notable players, bringing a diversity of perspectives and approaches encompassed within Harries stunning artistic studio approach.”
The ten-track collection features an abundance of special guests such as Kaïssa and Genevieve Marentette (vocals), Leah Lazonick (piano), Will Shore (vibraphone), Greg Paulus (horns), Dave Harrington ( guitar), Emil Abramyan (strings), and Robb Reddy (sax).
“St. Catherine and the Calm”, the album ’s second track, is a lyrical, graceful and delicate blending of musical impressionism and intelligent use of polymorphic intricacies, jazz harmonies, and textures.
Chymera
1990
Maeve
Chymera is a solo project of Berlin-based producer Brendan Gregoriy who is best known for his vibrant live sets and diverse techno sound with a sense of melody. This October, Chymera has taken a swan dive back into an expressive approach to immersive techno with his latest release on Maeve label.
The double single “Noise Tool” EP is a pair of a long building velvet techno cuts with a focus on a powerful and hypnotic dance floor moments.
Clocking in at over nine minutes, “1990” is a prime time dancefloor destroyer that will set pulses raising.
Love Over Entropy X Mathias Schober
Ghosts (Trikk’s Sunrise Vodun Ambient Mix)
Endless
Dutch electronic music maestro Love Over Entropy joins forces with Lossless’ label boss Mathias Schober for a sonically electrifying two track release on Luca Bacchetti’s tasty Endless imprint. To complete the package, the Lossless and Innervisions labels affiliate Trikk throws further fuel on the fire with a powerful remix of “Ghosts”. The Portuguese producer delivers a straight for the floor version shifting accents and lifting the percussive elements into the untouched corners of the mesmerizing musical realm.
Opal Sunn
Aura
Touch From A Distance
Nick Höppner’s fledging imprint Touch From A Distance pushes forward this October with its second release from the Berlin-based exciting live-performance duo Hiroaki OBA and Al Kassian, aka Opal Sunn. Following on from two releases via their own Planet Sundae imprint, they are bringing a new record “Parallax” EP to Nick Höppner’s label featuring four cuts that continue in the fashion of duos signature trademark sound; vibrant, sequence-driven rhythms paired with intricate textures and dark undertones for a groovy feel.
The second track on the EP “Aura” immediately springs into action with high-energy arpeggiated synth lines brimming with cosmic melody and shifting tapestry of space-oriented sounds. This is mesmerizing, deeply moving tune that grips the listener with every flickering note.