The Riders Of The Soundguard
REZ14fourteen

A reference work, a body of knowledge, a record of human endeavour: this archival release of works from Arcarsenal's fertile collaboration in the period 2011–2016 is all of those things. Pressed on its two discs you will find, in the duo's own words, the 'broken flowers that needed just a little care and attention to bloom'. And exquisite flowers they are, rooted in the reduced formality of minimalism, yet prone to frequent and unabashed florescence. Ranging from their very earliest productions, made with limited gear, through to later recordings from a fully-equipped studio, the tracks move from techno to dub and house and into blissful after-hours and ambient, all with the rich and spacious imprint that is their own. Most of these tracks have been firm favourites on the dancefloor, whether played by other DJs or Arcarsenal themselves, yet this is the first time any of them have seen an official release. This 'Compendium' is a record of Arcarsenal's past achievements; only time will tell what new endeavours the two may pursue

Fresh Trip represses! Buttechno presents badtrip, a 2xEP double dropping 4 November on trip. Pavel Milyakov is an artist from Moscow whose sonic explorations have, alongside his peers, helped form a new frontier in the vast realm of Russian electronica. Under his most familiar alias of Buttechno, his eccentric productions form a continual study into the extremes of rhythm-based music and spatial manipulation. badtrip is a complex meeting of the comic and the deranged. Against a droll backdrop of desolate cities and imposing high rises, his productions sit (un)comfortably at the intersection of overarching paranoia and delirious joy. Moulding grotesque distortions into lively rhythmic frameworks, he invites us to a world that is often disturbed, always fun. Drawing heavily on improvisation, as well as his multimedia background, each track is an unpredictable spiral of altered senses. After a highly acclaimed appearance on the latest trip concept album, as well as an ever-growing catalogue of his own releases, badtrip is an essential package from one of the scene's most peculiar talents.