Best New Releases from July 2020
Summer is in full swing! Shining the spotlight on the underground electronic music world that has been punctuated by myriad outstanding releases.
From Kev Sheridan, Shinichi Atobe, Shine Grooves, IORI, Bas Grossfeldt to Shielding, D. Tiffany, Altan, O-Wells, and Jacques Bon's rework of Brigitte Fontaine's landmark song 'Ah Que La Vie Est Belle,' we compiled a list of our favorite releases from July.
Shielding
Grass Snow Rain
Wisdom Teeth
Following prior releases on Kimochi Sounds and UntilMyHeartStops (as Okänd Konstnär), Swedish producer Shielding presents a collection of sonic landscapes through Bristol's Wisdom Teeth. Foregrounding densely layered textures, dissonant atmospherics, and polymorphic spheres of ambient electronica wind through this elegant collection of six tracks called "Collecting Seaweed."
Floating on deep rivers of textural ambiance and polymorphic harmonies, the second track "Grass snow Rain" is a journey to a realm of an enchanting serenity enveloped in a sense of immensity.
Shine Grooves
After All
Kimochi Sound
Chicago-based Kimochi Sound has been known as a thriving ambient techno imprint that indulges listeners in a sonic experience that is intelligent, deep, and eclectic. Their latest installment welcomes back Andrey Kurokhtin, a music producer from Ekaterinburg better known as Shine Grooves, for a new "контрастность" EP. Shine Groove's second release delves deeper into the vast palette of textures and reflective moods that unfurl with nuanced ambiance.
Introspective and harmonious by design, the opening track "After All" draws immersive atmospheres through delicate flows of melancholic synth, breakbeat-driven rhythm, and washed of vivid tones carefully woven into a tapestry of left-field introspection.
Shinichi Atobe
Lake 3
DDS
Japanese producer Shinichi Atobe makes a surprise return to Demdike Stare's DDS with a new album, "Yes." The seven-track collection is the fifth album from the enigmatic artist following his 2018 album "Heat." It continues in the sonic tradition established by Shinichi Atobe in his previous albums with further exploring different facets of deep melodic house and dubby techno.
"Lake 3" is a superb composition that glides along with meditative hand drums and several piano themes that beautifully work together to create an elegant multi-dimensional journey.
Kev Sheridan
It's Gonna Be Perfect
Maeve
Kev Sheridan delivers his long-anticipated release on the Irish via Berlin label Maeve. The "It's Gonna Be Perfect" EP is a sublime delight consisting of three originals and a remix by map.ache who provides a refreshingly unique spin to the title track.
With a mesmerizing melody woven together with lush, ambient-tinged breakbeats oscillated between Bicep and Four Tet, "Its Gonna Be Perfect" is a timeless journey into the vast, ever-expanding reaches of elegant sonics destined into the living room or a festival dance floor.
Altan
Birds Flying Near The Surface
Nous'klaer Audio
The month of July sees the Dutch imprint Nous'klaer Audio releasing two outstanding records from the label affiliate Tammo Hesselink and promising newcomer Altan. Both releases are a continuation of the label's impressive artistic development and sound curation.
Altan's three-track "Lake Taz" EP is brimming with vibrant atmospheric tones and unique blends of layered instrumental flourishes that resonate long after the last note fades.
The second track on the record "Birds Flying Near The Surface" is a deep and reflective exploration full of rich textures and foreboding atmosphere wrapped in a shroud of smoky ambiance.
Bas Grossfeldt
Lost in Sensation
Metroplex Records
Rising producer Bas Grossfeldt continues to grow his impressive music body with the latest release on Juan Atkin's Metroplex Records. Søren Siebel, the real name of the artist, has been working in art installations, choreography, and performance art under his own name, including his 2020 album "Klavier" in creative collaboration with Simian Mobile Disco's Jas Shaw. Comprising three original tracks, Bas Grossfeldt's solo debut on Metroplex reflects deep, atmospheric soundscapes and abstract dance textures. "The exchange between the label head and the artist, initially came to life because internationally renowned conceptual artist Mischa Kuball, knowing Juan from a joint project, sent him the demo of Bas Grossfeldt," explains the label. "Especially intrigued by the track 'Lost In Translation', Juan and Bas started exchanging, approaching the record as an art project and a classical EP at the same time. The cover was made by Bas Grossfeldt/Søren Siebel himself and includes numerous hidden references to the sound."
We had the pleasure of premiering "Lost in Sensation" from the EP. Read a full review by Slav Ka
D. Tiffany
Cruel Trance
LKR Records
Canadian producer Sophie Sweetland has unveiled the new records under D.Tiffany alias. Released through the Australian LKR Records, the four-track "Cruel Trance" EP forges a kaleidoscopic fusion of ambient techno, hazy breaks, electro, and 90s IDM wrapped within a lucid dreamer's imagination.
The title track brings deep, shape-shifting ambient techno under the intriguing rhythmic spell of retro-futuristic synth melodies, spaced-out vintage bleeps, clonks, and mallet-driven percussive rhythms.
O-Wells
BBmore
Die Orakel
Lennard Poschmann, the Frankfurt-based producer and the resident of the infamous Robert Johnson club up to Oliver Hafenbauer's Die Orakel to offer his second EP under the O-Wells moniker. Entitled 'Ebecs,' the EP features a wide range of vibes across its seven tracks touching on IDM, Detroit-influenced techno, breakbeats, ambient, and minimal electronic sounds.
The second track "BBmore" is a multi-layered composition full of rich textures, subtle undertones, left-field rhythms, and reflective soundscapes that gradually draw the listener in with their intangible sense of atmosphere.
Brigitte Fontaine
Ah Que La Vie Est Belle (Jacques Bon Rework)
Hippie Dance
Jacques Bon offers up a stunning rework of Brigitte Fontaine's landmark song 'Ah Que La Vie Est Belle' from the singer's 1997 album "Les Palaces." The single is the first glimpse at his upcoming "Reworks" EP, set to be released through Hippie Dance in September.
French multi-talented producer, musician, vinyl collector, and head of the Parisian Smallville Records Jacques Bon reinforces the seductive vibe of the timeless song by throwing gorgeous sonic intricacies and acid-infused basslines to the original, resulting in a remarkably crafted interpretation.
IORI
Nocturnal
Arcing Seas
Cassegrain's Arcing Seas combine forces with Astral Industries' Ario to raise awareness and support the music culture in South Korea in the form of the 28-track compilation. "Vurt holds a very dear place in our hearts, and the owners are like family," explains the labels, "so when we heard how they were struggling due to the political situation threatening Seoul's night-life, we wanted to find a way to help. They have received no financial or legislative assistance from the government - electronic music culture in South Korea needs our community's support! This is a collection of artists who have played at vurt and its extended family. We have gathered 28 tracks spanning the full spectrum of leftfield, underground techno and experimental electronics, from figureheads of the scene, to bright new talents, including many South Korean Producers."
Japanese techno producer IORI has crafted one of the most standout tracks on the compilation. Aspiring to a meditative quality and tranquility, "Nocturnal" transports listeners into the psycho-sonic oasis of introspective moods and futuristic glides of beautifully balanced ambient techno rhythms.