Throwing some tunes into three tune Tuesday. As a little background as I’ve not been on here for some years: my forte is electronic beeps and boops and I’ve been writing about them for over 15 years now for a variety of online publications.
It is serendipitous that the three tune format sits neatly with a little mix series I have toyed with over the years. Called trio, it takes the form of three 30 minute mixes of three different moods: shhhh - being chilled, not too much please- heating things up somewhat, ok now go - bringing the energy.
So that being the established form, here are three tracks representing each. Bandcamp links where possible - support the artists.
shhhh: MPU101 - POL1000
https://iliantape.bandcamp.com/track/pol1000
Ilian Tape is best known for the thunking techno of its owners the Zenker Brothers, plus frequent label guests Skee Mask, Andrea, Stenny, Fireground, and Deetron, to name a few. Its white label hand stamped sister imprint ITX is an entirely different prospect, covering a broad base of electronica.
Formerly known as Analogue Roland Orchestra, MPU101 has been picking up fans with his series of numbered releases. Earlier issues harkened back to Boards Of Cananda-esque vignettes, however the last two series have seen him really getting inside his sound.
The latest release, MPU105, features the sort of sci-fi hues that any fan of Mass Effect would get into. Here, I pick the triumphant POL1000 - its deeply textured chords hitting your eardrums like watching the sun rising above the curvature of a planet from a nearby moon.
not too much please: Lb honne - sky funk
https://projindigo.bandcamp.com/track/sky-funk
I picked this up from a recommendation in Giegling fan community group. Giegling are a Berlin based imprint that quickly formed a dedicated fan base around its sound of deep electronica. Not quite techno, not quite house, music for a landscape blanketed in snow.
Sky funk has energy, but it is utterly fluid. Precisely positioned percussion, growing synth swells, eternal hypnotism. Viable for big systems and headphones alike.
ok now go: Sleep D - Red Rock (IVX23 Wet Version)
https://sleep-d.bandcamp.com/track/red-rock-ivx23-wet-version
If you’re spending more time following crypto trends instead of electronic music trends, you probably won’t have picked up on the renaissance of 90’s progressive house of recent. Let’s be plain: progressive house has ended up in a creative dead end, devoid of all of the vibrancy and wonder that it grew from.
It falls to the outsiders to do shake things up, ironically by looking to the past. A new set of labels and artists have appeared of recent, fizzing with 90’s energy with none of the baggage of the actual progressive scene who are none the wiser this movement exists.
Butter Sessions owners Sleep D hit on a lot of these vibes, while also not being restrained by them. This one off track is a fitting finale for this post, driving and dreamy, it melts away into pure ambience.