Best New Releases from March 2020
With April knocking at our door, all eyes are on the electronic music world which brings exciting albums, releases, and remixes from Christopher Rau, Pugilist, DJ Carmel, Matt Karmil, COMA, map.ache, Human Space Machine, Mistakes Are Ok, Birds Ov Paradise, Leafar Legov, Future Beat Alliance, and Afriqua released via Smallville Records, KANN, Nous’klaer Audio, R&S, Smalltown Supersound, City Slang, De Lichting, Giegling, Hivern Discs, and Manjumasi.
We handpicked a list of our favorite 10 tracks for you to enjoy. Tracks are listed in no particular order.
COMA
A-Train (map.ache remix)
City Slang
COMA, the German duo of Georg Conrad and Marius Bubat, demonstrated their musical versatility once again with a remix treatment of their emotionally affecting 2019 album "Voyage Voyage," released via City Slang. The three leading songs from the album "A-Train," "Spiracles," and "Bits And Pieces" feature new interpretations by notable artists such as map.ache, Lauer, Panthera Krause, Julian Stetter, Sau Poller, who gave their unique music signature over the original tracks.
Delayed had the pleasure of premiering a gorgeous remix by KANN label co-runner and Gielgling affiliated map.ache, who gave his magic touch to an utterly beautiful song, "A-Train." Read the full article by Zach Huenink here
Matt Karmil
Breezy
Smalltown Supersound
Matt Karmil returns to the Smalltown Supersound with a new album, "STS371." On his fifth album, second through the Norwegian imprint, the respected UK producer continues in the atmospheric minimal house mode he explored on his previous album "Will." The "STS371" was mostly made during the artist's traveling and presented an expansive sound palette that shifts between ambient, techno, electro, and minimal house. In Matt Karmil's own words:
"I tended to record a little here and there when I could grab some time with my gear, and then do most of the arranging and choices while I was traveling about—until the end when I went to mix in one of my favorite studios, Cologne's incredible The Brewery."
One of the album's standout tracks, "Breezy," beautifully breathes dark, meditative soundscapes into minimal techno with its abstract ambient textures, minimal twisted waves, and looped rhythmic punctuations.
Pugilist
Shimmer
Nous’klaer Audio
Australian producer Pugilist debuts on Rotterdam-based Nous’klaer Audio with the “Horizon“ EP. Having previously released work via Whities, Modern Hypnosis, and Trusik, Pugilist took a step forward into 2020 to deliver a three-track package combining a modular synths sound design with irresistible polymorphic rhythms.
Oscillating between techno and bass-driven rhythms, “Shimmer” takes listeners on the hypnotic journey filled with immersive atmospheres and organic synth modulations.
Christopher Rau
Who Am I
Smallville Records
Christopher Rau returns to Smallville Records to showcase his “The Keys” EP to bewitch with hazy atmospheres, deep-toned chords, and driving rhythms. Serving as the follow-up to his 2016 “Yamato” EP, the four-track package showcases Rau's signature dusty deep house timbre.
With crystalline production that summons dreamy vibes, the opening track "Who Am I" carries a deep and compelling sound infused with driving rhythmic exuberance and warm melancholy.
DJ Carmel
Indian Pacific
KANN
KANN Records welcomes a new member to their family, a Leipzig-based Reece Walker under his DJ Carmel alias. Across his multiple musical monikers and collaborations, the Australian producer has presented a collection of tracks that fluctuates between various sonic atmospheres of deep house and techno, in addition to ably co-running R.A.N.D. Musik Recording and Bitterfeld labels.
For this release, DJ Carmel brings “a fine blend of downtempo rhythms, old school beats, samples & deep house cuts” in the form of the “ Everybody Does” EP.
The third track, "Indian Pacific," is a slow-burning fusion composed of a classic 90s breakbeat sound and deep house with a modern edge. It imbues the artist’s flair for nostalgia wrapped in a gauze of introspective synth chords and hypnotic drum patterns.
Future Beat Alliance
Never Forever (Afriqua remix)
R&S
"Never Forever Is Never Forever Is Never Is Never Forever Never Forever Is Never Forever Forever Is Never Forever....."
Under his Future Beat Alliance alias, veteran producer, Reward System label owner, and leading name in the UK underground electronic scene, Matthew Puffett presents his single "Never Forever" on the latest release from R&S Records. The gorgeous track had a limited release on the artist's 2009 "Patience and Distance" album via EevoNext recordings. It now arrives on the London-based R&S imprint to reveal his "Never Forever" EP, which comes complete with a euphoric remix from the label affiliate Afriqua.
Adam Longman Parker ( a.k.a. Afriqua) puts a fresh twist on the breakbeat-fired original. The otherworldly beauty is conveyed through vibrant melodic shapes and synth lines, where funky percussive rhythms generate a breakbeat infused euphoria.
Birds Ov Paradise
Bosse
Manjumasi
Manjumasi’s first release of 2020 comes courtesy of the Swedish production-mastermind David Sabel, better known as Birds Ov Paradise. His latest "Köpp" EP continues to cultivate his unique opaque soundscapes characterized by dubby rhythms and soaked in fog undertones.
‘Bosse’ is a haunting excursion through dub techno rhythmic spheres, textural ambiance, and soft, melodic vibrations.
Leafar Legov
Hidden Treasure
Giegling
An essential member of the Giegling family and one half of the Kettenkarussell, Leafar Legov is back to the Weimar powerhouse with an enchanting ambient allure, his debut solo album "Mirror." Across the admirably unique collection of 12 tracks, Leafar Legov creates a mesmerizing journey traversing through a broad spectrum of moods and emotions.
Tinged with dreamy atmospheres and reflective moods, “Hidden Treasure” manages to convey a sense of tranquility, engaging the listener into a highly imaginative experience.
Human Space Machine
Ease
De Lichting
De Lichting as a collective is in constant evolution, exploring new concepts and forms of musical territories. March sees two releases from the eponymous Amsterdam-based imprint, including "Tape 1", a collection of the ambient-infused tracks, and a solo "Resident" EP from the label affiliate queniv.
"Tape 1" is an artful collection of ambient pieces sculpted together from the collective members such as Kaap, queniv, Human Space Machine, RDS, Boris Acket, Keyeke, and Eversines. Side A features a continuous mix of all contributions. The B-side, on the other hand, showcases a recording of an improvised live-performance the collective did this past December in Amsterdam.
The third track of the "Tape 1" by the Dutch producer Human Space Machine is an elegant and subtly evocative composition that is filled with mysterious pads and eerie textures descending into an ambient foray of cold atmospheric soundscapes.
Mistakes Are Ok
Can't Have Me
Hivern Discs
Mistakes Are Ok unveiled his new album, which marks the long-awaited return of the Barcelona-based producer to John Talabot's acclaimed Hivern Discs. Frank Sayol, better known as Mistakes Are Ok, combines warm electronica with atmospheric moods on his new "Transient Mood" album, masterfully crafting a blissful novel of sound with influences and elements, "ranging from pop to dub, kraut to house and disco to electro." The album's flawless fusion of sophisticated instrumentation and wide range of emotion is sure to be on repeat all day and still feel refreshing.
Laced with organic percussion, melted vocals, and soft electronic sounds, "Can't Have Me" evokes emotion in a compelling blend of delicacy and soulfulness.