Favorite Releases from May 2023
There are all things
We yearn for,
Saved for later,
Tucked away,
The tomorrow
You wait for,
Could be your today.
-p.bodi
While Spring flourishes in the Northern Hemisphere, we've enjoyed longer, sunny days with beautiful albums, exciting releases, and mesmerizing remixes from Leif, Gacha Bakradze, Oma Totem, BLNDR, Rai Scott, Eversines, Beta Librae, Billius, Wata Igarashi and Isolée. The releases are listed in no particular order.
Leif
August pt2 (with Tom Ellis)
The Welsh producer and UntilMyHeartStops record label co-founder Leif Knowels, a.k.a. Leif, unveiled a compilation of previously unreleased or under-the-radar / vinyl-only tracks from 2003 - 2023 via Bandcamp. The eight-track package features collaborations with the core members of the Freerotation festival, Duckett and Tom Ellis.
On the "August pt2", two electronic producers and longtime friends and collaborators joined forces to craft a beautiful track combining endless introspective moods and subtle, nuanced melodies into a captivating sound canvas.
buy on Bandcamp
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Gacha Bakradze
Broken Wing
Oath
May brings the release of a new solo EP from Gacha Bakradze. The Georgian highly respected producer steps up to Istanbul-based Oath to showcase his distinctive style of radiant rhythms that oscillate between twisted broken beats, electro, and 90s IDM. Unfolding throughout five tracks, "Forget" EP captures a true artistic sentiment, along with a medley of sublime melodic flourishes and sophisticated sound design.
Here is what Oath intends to say about the album: "To provide a space for Bakradze to bottle his magic should be at the top of the list for many record labels, and Oath has looked to do just that with 'Forget'. The five tracker EP has the hallmarks of whatever you might define as his 'classic' emotive hallmarks, but with plenty of dynamic motifs thrown in for good measure that provide the listener with that sense of progression - not to mention the expertness in his craft, which is evident throughout."
Toying with rolling rhythms, the closing track "Broken Wing" captivates the listener with infinite layers of gently synthesized floating sequences, silky, warm pads, and a storytelling bassline.
Oma Totem
ER-5
Hivern Discs
Barcelona-based artist Oma Totem debuts on John Talabot's Hivern Discs with 'exercicis rítmics' EP. Over five tracks, the record displays a masterful yet unique blend of constantly evolving atmospheres and gradually morphing intricate rhythms bursting with raw energy.
Adorned with sparkling metallic textures, the closing track, "ER-5," explores a ritualistic dimension of intricate percussive polyrhythms, gradually unfolding a dense resonant rumble and a slow-burning ambiance.
BLNDR
1080°
NORITE
Belgium imprint NORITE presents its new various artist compilation" Noritian Hands," an exploration into diverse deep techno rhythms and dark nuanced ambiance of four tracks by Toki Fuko, BLNDR, Mown, and Josef Gaard. We had the pleasure of premiering a beautiful track, "1080°, "courtesy of the French producer BLNDR. Read the full review here.
Dubbyman
Transmission # 2 (Rai Scott Remix)
Inner Shift Music
The latest release from the UK imprint Inner Shift Music explores the fringes of deep house and downtempo breakbeat with a twisted grin. It comes from Dubbyman of Deep Explorer, who returns with the long-anticipated "Alpha Transmissions" EP. The veteran producer again shows his knack for bringing together artists of diverse talent to create a multifaceted collaborative package with a consistently beautiful flow. The package features contributions from the label owners Brad P and Rai Scott including a bonus remixes of the track A, "In The Space."
Hinges around a melodic theme of melancholy, Rai Scott's version of the track "Transmission #2" is an elegant musical mastery driven from start to finish by its colorful wheel of beautiful, emotive undertones, soft pads, crispy percussions, and introspective soundwaves flourishes melting over the super catchy bassline.
Eversines
Onigi (Ambient Version)
Kalahari Oyster Cult
Kalahari Oyster Cult celebrates its sixth anniversary with a compilation release called "The Chants Of The Holy Oyster." An extensive collection of 18 tracks highlights artists who have previously released on the label and a handful of new contributors from across the globe. Honing in on dance floor-centered sounds, it features contributions from the likes of Maara, D. Tiffany, Oma totem, Rosa Terenzi, Priori, RDS, and Eversines, among others. The label describes the release as follows:
"Dancefloor squarely in focus, the Cult assembles on a compilation spanning alumni and new inductees alike. It's an assemblage of the fractal, explorative and ritual-ready; at once a focused distillation of the Kalahari sound and celebration of its many acolytes. Big on atmosphere, heavy on groove, we delve deeply into the musical DNA shared by all who grace the label."
The compilation closes with a composition from the De Lichting affiliate Eversines. His contribution, "Onigi," is an elegant blend of shifting ambient textures, subtle sonics, and rhythms fused seamlessly with evocative rewinding melodies forged from a broad array of brooding melancholia.
Beta Librae
Tee Too
Incienso
Following Beta Librae's 2018s album "Sanguine Bond," the New York-based artist returns to DJ Python's record label Incienso with her third album. Entitled "DAYSTAR," the eight-track album "is a bright and bold waypoint in the ever expanding Beta Librae universe."
The track 'Tee Too' is a standout example of Beta Librae's creative prowess. With a distinctive tom sequence as the backbone, 'Tee Too' showcases Beta Librae's knack for crafting immersive sonic landscapes. The chords provide a warm and inviting atmosphere, inviting the listener to surrender to the music's infectious pulse. The meticulously crafted synths add a touch of intricacy, floating delicately above the rhythmic framework. These synths create a sense of depth and expansiveness, further enhancing the immersive nature of the track.
Billus
Dust In Blooms
Pollinate Records
The debut album by Billus, released under the Australian record label Pollinate has been on heavy rotation here at Delayed. This mesmerizing album, comprised of nine captivating tracks, was meticulously crafted during moments of tranquility. Billus masterfully weaves an intricate tapestry of sounds, delicately entwining threads of warmth, melancholy, and tenderness. Each track is a heartfelt attempt to capture the essence of emotions, taking listeners on a profound musical journey.
We had the pleasure of premiering 'Dust in Blooms.' You can read the whole review by Daniel George here.
Wata Igarashi
Agartha
Kompakt
Japanese producer and DJ Wata Igarashi made an indelible mark with the title track 'Agartha' from his highly anticipated debut album released on Kompakt a few days ago. 'Agartha' immediately transports listeners into a realm of profound beauty and mystique, where the boundaries of genre are blurred, and the spirit of the dance floor is elevated to transcendental heights.
At the core of 'Agartha' lies a mesmerizing mellow arpeggiated keys progression that delicately dances above the tribalistic groove. The keys resonate with a hauntingly ethereal quality, evoking a sense of introspection and wonder. This enchanting melodic motif is carefully woven into the track's fabric, serving as its melodic backbone and leading listeners deeper into the sonic labyrinth that Igarashi crafted. Cosmic synth pads emerge as the arpeggios gently cascade, enveloping the composition in an otherworldly atmosphere. These celestial synths transport the listener to the universe's outer reaches, igniting the imagination and evoking a sense of awe.
Isolée
Pardon my French
Resort Island
Eleven years after his last album, 'Well Spent Youth,' the Hamburg-based producer Isolée returns to a 'long-player' format with 'Resort Island,' a masterful collection of ten tracks that defy categorization. It's classic Isolée in his best light. The release marks the inauguration of a new Isolée record label named 'Resort Island.'
"Pardon my French" effortlessly transports us back to the turn of the century, evoking memories of the golden era of the French deep house. With its intricate layering of harmonies, subtle yet powerful basslines, and meticulously crafted beats, "Pardon My French" showcases Isolee's mastery of the genre.
Theresa Bäumel wrote a beautiful review of the record, which you can read here.