Favorite Releases from May 2024
During May, we enjoyed the early signs of summer alongside much-needed showers that nurtured the surrounding fauna. The festival season began in full swing, bringing with it an impressive array of recent music releases. We saw the Perpen crew's Grabaciones Perpendiculares record label debut with its first outstanding release. Circular Limited introduced Martin Allin's ambient work, which includes excellent remixes by Polygonia and Warmth.
Keplrr made a strong debut on Midgar, and Aniara highlighted its co-founder Dorisburg's first White Label release, which also featured two standout tracks from fellow co-founder Arkajo. Caldera presented a solid four-track offering on Melifera, while ABSIS explored rhythmic intricacies for Hivern Discs. Priori unveiled his most ambitious project yet, and Sanguine continued to impress with his warm productions. dBridge and Forest Drive West created a broken beat paradise for Exit Records, and Significant Other launched the new Pain Management label with the "When it Rains" EP.
May brought us a wealth of musical talent and creativity.
Pajaro Dune
Cerro Tololo
Grabaciones Perpendiculares
Deep in the heart of a Spanish forest, the Perpendicular festival has just wrapped its third year. This gathering isn't your average music festival; it's a magnet for techno and ambient enthusiasts, music nerds, and some of the finest DJs from our niche community.
Beyond the annual three-day deep dive into new electronic music frontiers, the Perpen crew has launched their own record label, Grabaciones Perpendiculares. Their debut release, V.A. 01, landed on May 23rd, featuring artists like Estrato Aurora, STBL, Ilektrismos, and Pajaro Dune.
The four-track compilation explores a smoky atmosphere of deep, atmospheric music, celebrating a range of rhythmic styles – from halftime to slow-burning downtempo to ambient. Picking a favorite is a tall order, but for now, let's give props to the opening track, "Cerro Tololo," by Pajaro Dune. This project is the brainchild of the legendary Jaime Romero (Estrato Aurora) and composer/pianist David Ortolà, a duo collaborating for over two decades.
Hailing from Valencia, Romero and Ortolà share a deep love for analog machinery, synthesizers, and algorithmic composition. This passion fuels their hard-hitting work for labels like Alpenglühen, The Monkey Bar, and Eleve Music.
"Cerro Tololo" instantly creates a breathtaking atmosphere, mirroring the countless explorations of the Southern sky conducted by the observatory of the same name. Combining cosmic pads and a halftime groove with perfectly placed percussion is pure magic. It creates a sense of tranquility, like lying on the ground beneath a vast starry sky with a gentle breeze brushing your face.
The future of Grabaciones Perpendiculares is buzzing with excitement, and we can't wait to hear what musical journeys they take us on next.
Sanguine
Denture Venture
Lost Properties
A talented Australian producer, Sanguine, warps reality on "Lost Properties," a prismatic blend of ambient, dub, and downtempo. The album shimmers like a heatwave mirage, echoing with skittering beats and textures that morph like taffy.
"Gone To Taste A Dream" unfolds like a sunrise, with hazy pads blooming into blissful drums that pulse at a steady 100 BPM. The tempo picks up on "Push Not Pull," a mantra chanted over atmospheric breakbeats propelled by tablas and congas that fade into the distance. "Denture Venture" blasts off on a wide-eyed bass roller, peppered with found sounds and cosmic noise washes, taking the listener on a journey through a neon-lit nebula.
The mood darkens on "Ear Gum," opening with a tone as unsettling as a forgotten dream. But the tension breaks with crunchy breaks and chirping synths, leaving a trail of sonic dust in its wake. Sanguine's "Lost Properties" is a love letter to the art of dub, rich in detail and intricately rhythmic.
dBridge & Forest Drive West
Van Mij
Exit Records
Exit Records unleashes the ninth installment of their VS series, featuring a powerhouse pairing: Londoner Forest Drive West and label founder dBridge, who team up for a four-track EP bursting with infectious energy, intricate drum patterns, and hypnotic synth lines.
Each track tackles rhythm differently, from broken, low-end grooves to high-octane and uplifting. The attention to detail and sound design is impressive throughout.
"Van Mij," a slow-burner with a deep, tribal percussion groove, lingers longest after repeated listens. Despite its chilled tempo, it's surprisingly danceable and catchy.
This collaboration between two production veterans guarantees playful rhythmic interplay and masterful sound sculpting.
Buy on Bandcamp
Soundcloud - Forest Drive West
Soundcloud - dBridge
Priori
Learn To Fly ft. Sabota
NAFF
Following the releases of "On a Nimbus" (2019) and "Your Own Power" (2020), Montreal-based artist Priori unveils his most ambitious collaborative project yet—his third album, "This But More," available via NAFF.
This 14-track collection features contributions from artists such as Ben Bondy, James K, Jesse Osborne-Lanthier (who also designed the cover art), Adam Feingold (Priori's NAFF co-founder), and Sabola (appearing on two tracks).
In "This But More," Priori explores a range of instruments, including violin, saxophone, and various software-based tools. The album leans toward a home-listening experience (a nod to the '90s electronica and IDM era), offering a mix of cinematic, ambient, and downtempo tracks, with a few that could find their way on a dancefloor, such as "Basalt Tones" featuring Jesse Osborne-Lanthier, and "Thick Air."
Priori has crafted an evocative and enjoyable listening experience with his latest album, ideal for moments like watching the sunset from a rooftop or a relaxing walk in the park.
ABSIS
Orange Sails
Hivern Discs
Following the "Found Rituals" EP from 2021, Barcelona's legend Salvatore Coromina, also known as ABSIS, returns to Hivern Discs with the "Fenix" EP, a six-track collection featuring unique rhythms and exceptional sound design. Known to friends as Salva, this influential producer has inspired countless electronic musicians worldwide, including ourselves.
Each track on this release offers a distinct rhythmic journey: from the menacing halftime beats of "Orange Sails" and the infectious, reverberating drums of "Traveling Wind" to the brooding "Black Dog" and the driving four-on-the-floor rhythm of "Fenix." ABSIS expertly demonstrates his skill for creating precise and versatile tracks across different rhythmic styles.
Arkajo
Inari
Aniara Recordings
Aniara's fourth White Label release signifies a notable entry from label co-founders Arkajo and Dorisburg—the latter making his debut on the White Label—in collaboration with Efraim Kent, delivering a refined late-night experience. AniaraWL04 exudes dancefloor sensibilities. On the A-side, Arkajo presents two tracks: "Surge" and "Inari," which immediately seize control of the listener's limbs with their infectious rhythm. "Inari" stands out with its broken beats and an enticing melodic undertone.
The B side sees Dorisburg and Efraim Kent joining forces on "Data Smuggler," a track perfectly engineered for the subtle intricacies of after-hours sessions.
Keplrr
Plumes (Meditation Mix)
Midgar Records
London-based producer Keplrr takes flight on Midgar Records with a two-track offering titled "Plumes." This release marks a departure from Keplrr's usual haunt of churning, broken techno explored on labels like Control Freak Recordings and Pressure Dome. Here, he goes in a more streamlined direction.
The title track boasts two distinct flavors. The original version is a subtle techno groover led by a playful percussive foundation. The aptly named "Meditation Mix" metamorphoses this groove, transforming it into an airy, atmospheric after-hours experience. "Pulse," the second track, carries on this weightless vibe. Imagine a dreamy, eyes-closed journey into the depths, propelled by meticulously crafted drums that build to a blissful breakdown.
Keplrr's creative compass points inward. He aims to bottle the sensation of falling or morphing, blurring the lines between reality and a waking dream. He aspires to transport listeners to a space between slumber and a psychedelic trip, where the boundaries of perception melt away, and the subconscious takes center stage. This EP is Keplrr's sonic exploration of this concept, each track acting as a vessel into the uncharted territories of the mind.
Martin Allin
All Awake Again (Polygonia Remix)
Circular Limited
Sevilla's Circular Limited label unveils another gem – "Mind In Midair," a beautiful new EP by Berlin-based Dane Martin Allin. This lush exploration of ambient music features four originals alongside remixes from established names within the Delayed community – Polygonia and Warmth.
"Mind In Midair" is the perfect soundtrack for quiet contemplation. It creates a peaceful atmosphere that washes over you like tranquil waves. But the journey doesn't end there.
Polygonia, a tireless talent in the scene, takes the sole rhythmic track "All Awake Again" on a mind-bending detour. Where the original has a touch of uplifting percussion, Polygonia slows it down and explores the darker side of the 100 BPM groove. Crystal-clear sound design and impeccable groove patterns – Polygonia's signature – are evident from the first note, making this remix another gem from this incredible artist.
Circular Limited hits the mark with this release. Each track is a story for itself. "Mind In Midair" dropped on May 2nd and is available on Bandcamp and other online stores.
Buy on Bandcamp
Soundcloud - Polygonia
Soundcloud - Martin Allin
Caldera
Ascending Through Leaves
Melifera
Malte Schumann, or Caldera as he's known to us, is a producer with a knack for innovation. His music consistently feels fresh, unexpected, and engaging. Oddball in the best way. From Kimochi Sound and Nummer to Bokhari Records and Flippen Disks, Caldera brings a fresh perspective to whatever electronic subgenre he tackles.
His latest offering, the "Triangular Passage" EP on Melifera Records, is no exception. Inspired by his set and visit to La Vallée Électrique Festival in 2023, this genre-fluid project takes us into the darker corners of electronic music, drawing influence from the natural world and its sounds.
"Ascending Through Leaves," a track we premiered a few weeks ago, straddles the line between halftime and low-slung techno, a territory we at Delayed are always happy to explore. The track conjures a murky, fluid atmosphere, like walking through a dense forest at dawn. Caldera's studio expertise shines through here, with truly impressive sound design.
The "Triangular Passage" EP features three original tracks and a remix by LOIF and will be released on Melifera Records on May 12th.
Significant Other
Bad Blood
Pain Management
Significant Other throws open the doors to Pain Management, a new imprint dedicated to pushing boundaries across music and visual media formats. The label kicks things off with a four-track, self-produced EP titled "When It Rains."
Marking his first full-length release since 2021, the enigmatic producer steps into the spotlight with a potent blend of tracks designed to both soothe the soul and punish sound systems.
Living up to the label's name, "When It Rains" throbs with a hefty dose of unconventional club muscle. The record walks a tightrope between aggression and vulnerability, venturing into unexplored territories between genres. Imagine a fever dream where club anthems collide with experimental storytelling, packing enough power to ignite the dance floor while remaining nuanced enough for the after-party introspection.
The final product is a wild mix of outsider electronica fused with grimy dance floor motifs – body music crafted for minds that refuse to be tamed.