DJ Khetama
rez32thirtytwo

Under-the-radar and majorly overlooked Glaswegian label Beluga Records, founded and run by Lorne Walton & James Gray, operated mainly in the mid 90's and released a sleuth of music ahead of its time. Together they recorded and performed as Western Alliance and released two recently acclaimed EP's and it's there where we turn our attention to with their 'Atalanta EP' from 1996. Featuring four no-nonsense, stripped back, groovy, dancefloor rammers it's music that seems now more relevant than ever. Serious gear.

With The Hidden Beauty Of Dutch House '94-'98, Anacalypto Records dug deep into the electronic archives of The Netherlands. Continuing their audio archaeology, their second release breathes new life into a true gem. Closer is the first and last appearance of Luc Wächerlin aka Luca. Originally released in 1998, the four tracker was one of the final EPs to come out on Orlando Voorn’s ephemeral Slamdunk Records. The twenty-five-year-old press release describes the 12” as a collection of “beautiful, elongated, shimmering, Detroit style trancers for the morning after the night before.” Accurate words. The four works on offer are from the heyday of Techno, where flourishes of Detroit combine with the deeper currents of Sheffield for something energising and immersive. From the liquid synthwork and floating choral lines of the title piece, the listener is bathed in throbbing radiance and warmth. Echoes of “the night before” comes through in “Indian Summer.” A steady kick is the bedrock from which spirals of piano flow, fluid key changes providing a groove that roots this track firmly to the floor. Cascading chords introduce “Ultramarine”, subtle drum patterns giving way to acid scented bass and gentle currents of string. The quartet comes to a close with “Proxima.” Rich textured percussion supports drifting notes and silken chords, a touch of the otherworldly seeping through in tumbling 303 trills. Closer is years beyond its time. Soulful compositions that belong to the burgeoning sound of Techno that was developing across the globe in the 1990s. Four works of beautiful machine music lovingly restored for a new audience.

One Eye Witness turns its gaze to South America with WITNESS06. The Amsterdam imprint continues its growing number of VA EPs with 4 brooding creations from Uruguayan artists Molen & Nahuel, Michelle, Z@p & Latress. While punchy and hard-hitting, each track carries a subtly menacing energy, prodding darker corners of the dancefloor with undeniably satisfying echoes of 80s EBM. Molen & Nahuel’s enticing bassline and brassy synths lead the charge on opener “Modus Operandi”. Rising talent Michelle then pushes at a sense of paranoia with “Last Cello”, its elastic bassline providing the footing for clever percussive trickery. Things take a heady turn on “Ignorance” as Z@p weaves a po-faced speech into psychedelic synth work. Latress opts for a more introspective take on final cut “Perseverance” — pensive harmonies and glassy tones round out this collection of seductive, hypnotic tracks. Ready for Industriehallen worldwide!

Little is known about the origins of this project, grasping the curiosity of many 90's trance diggers, this mysterious EP was originally released in 1994 on the now defunct London based label ITP Recordings. Presenting 3 tracks that dive deep into the trancy electronics of the time, going well into the 8 minutes marker on each track the producer takes the time to allow a pallet of atmospheric qualities to gently grow and layer themselves throughout. A very unique aural signature, almost as if fractals had a sound, organised in a highly effective manner for the psychedelic electronic music inclined dancefloor.

After the Ukrainian artist O´FortyFour on the next Twig EP comes the Italian artist Nicola Facchineri based in Tuscany, italy.Artwork by Mona Bit.