Floating Points
Cascade

Burnin Music bossman Pegasvs returns with his first new material in several years, and it's a classy collection that's been worth waiting for. '(No) Peace' begins the journey: a languid slice of ambient / downtempo beauty with hypnotic spoken word vocals from MA.MOYO which eases you into the EP in meditative fashion. 'Take It' ushers us more towards the dancefloor with some mellow synth-funk stylings and punchy raps from The S.O.S. weaving in and out of Twyla's effortlessly yearning vocals. 'Traffic Jam' is a sumptuous patchwork of deep house motifs, where Rhodes chords, funky guitar flecks and plump bass tones interplay beautifully, and 'La Nuit' rounds off in stripped-back Detroit house style—all murky chord stabs, throbbing low end and classic drum beats.

Ambiq, the Berliner instrumental trio of Max Loderbauer, Claudio Puntin and Samuel Rohrer, emerged onto the scene not long ago with a self-titled arjunamusic LP (AM703) of impressive sonic distinctiveness and technical ability. Drinking from a deep pool of influences that includes free improv, early electronic music and spaced-out dub, the trio does what any great ensemble should set out to do: it becomes more than the sum of its parts, a single organism with its own unique expressive vocabulary and perspective. Proving that their debut was no fluke, the ambiq trio has already re-convened for a second full length bubbling over with new timbral combinations, and with a sophisticated interpretation of the ancient art of tension and release.From the opener "The Spur," no time is wasted ushering us to our seats and bringing us to a world where strange new tonalities seem to breathe freely: the nimble percussive shuffle, set in relief against a cascade of detuning electronic tones, is a fascinatingly introspective intro (incidentally, it is actually followed by a piece entitled "Introspective Kitchen," which expands the mood of the preceding track with cleverly delay-effected woodwind, remote organ swells and yet more shivering percussion.) Once the lessons from these preliminary exercises have sunk in, the band then embarks on a more motoring, danceable journey entitled "The Mother": Rohrer's drumming, as always, is taut and confident, while Puntin's clarinet evocatively hovers with a kosmische feel that is all too absent from the realms of "post-rock" and electronics-aided improv.The interplay between Puntin and Rohrer eventually develops into the main dialogue of the album, though the sound events surrounding it change continuously enough to keep this a fully memorable and downright cinematic experience. On "Parton's Double Vision", the lush "space violin" quavers familiar to vintage sci-fi fans play the support role, and the closing "Consolation" features a lulling bed of electronics that elusively shift in character the more attention one pays to them. With all this in mind, the new ambiq LP is as wonderfully cohesive as its predecessor, but never monotonous in the mood it conveys: the miniature piece "Naked George," for example, is as full of humorous melody as the other pieces are full of investigative curiosity. Another short piece, "Mytoprill," is guided by queasy modular synth strains that impart a delirious kind of funhouse ambience.Plenty of music exists for the open-minded, but not all of it has the ability to initiate the process of opening minds in the first place. ambiq does have that ability, and have come up with a musical formula that will melt away the defenses of the most hardened techno fanatic or avant-gardist, seeding new ideas not beholden to any one genre or lifestyle.REMIXES of this album by Margaret Dygas & Thomas Fehlmann will be released in 2016. (AMEL-EP710)

Infinity Plus One joins Fresh Tunez. Operating from London’s underground since the ‘90s, Infinity Plus One has been quietly building a reputation as a distinguished producer across electronica. Here he blends deep moods with undeniable dancefloor appeal. The opening track is big, pulling us in with brooding bass and intricate textures. At A2, rich dreamy chords combine with energetic drums for an ethereal haze.Flipping to the B-side, B1 brings fresh energy with its breaks-infused groove, injecting a lively yet sophisticated edge to the record. The EP closes with a dive into an irresistibly sleek and sultry downtempo number for a few minutes of calm.

All tracks written & produced by Arturo Hernzama from Maldonado, Uruguay in 2024. Original graphics by Lo-Lo. Distributed by Small Black Dots. Ascendancy label all rights reserved.

For its landmark 20th anniversary, Apnea Records proudly presents XX, a double 12" compilation that chronicles the label's journey from its inception to its current cutting-edge form. Featuring both original innovators and fresh talents from its recent relaunch, this release is a sonic time capsule and a forward-looking statement. Spanning from deep techno to Detroit-infused house, Jamal Moss's abstract house, electro, and E.R.P.'s signature machine funk, XX dives into the label's broad sonic spectrum. With contributions from Alex Under, Damian Schwartz, Jamal Moss, E.R.P., Dopplereffekt, Thomas Brinkmann, and Kyle Hall & Kero, this collection serves as both a reflection of Apnea's past and a bold vision for the future.