Stefana Fratila
I want to leave this Earth behind

‘’Ruff drum computer- and bubbling ambient excursions from Bonn, Germany, making their first appearance on vinyl for the new decennium’’.Newly established label Raakvlak plucks a lush synth gem from the depths of 80’s D.I.Y.- cassette culture for their inaugural release. Heil Eris / Enjoy sees the first-time reissue of the work of German synth-wizards Overflow. The group, conceived as the session band of cult tape label Brainstorm-Studio, merely released two cassettes within the timespan of one year, of which Raakvlak now has culled some of the finest moments.Out of a matrix of drum computers, synths, voices, tape FX and a flute come these five live-takes (no overdubbing used!), dedicated to the trio’s mascot Apumé, which was present at all sessions.

YUKI is the debut solo record by Basel-based multidisciplinary artist Yanik Soland. Inspired by film scores and sound design, YUKI is a 40 minute audio-piece in 11 chapters. Musical characters, each assigned a specific sound (such as a sampled quarter tone cembalo or synth voices) reappear across the chapters. With a background playing bass in bands, Soland utilises various collaborative modes on YUKI: his partner Marianna Angel appears on overdubbed iPhone-recorded piano, Stefan Tcherepnin plays guitar over one chapter, and a rehearsal recording with Gleb Glonti forms the canvas for another. YUKI--the name Soland's parents had planned to give him, if he were a girl--is Japanese for snow, snow-princess or luck, and is here used as an alter ego within Soland's practice. YUKI's touchstones include Laurie Spiegel, Mark Fisher, Ruins, Dean Blunt, Maryanne Amacher, Tyler The Creator, Heather Leigh and Gyorgi Ligeti.

They have made people wait for their 21st collaboration 12” due to solo-projects, but Seba & Paradox are back with the aptly titled release I’ll Wait. Ethereal dreamy loops, punchy breaks, alternating bass stabs plus chords and female vocals weave a summer-esque melody of beauty. Something worth waiting for.On the flipside Seba & Paradox showcase their Good Looking & Reinforced Records apprenticeships with the immersive sounds of Amara. Searing pads and wah-guitars float with chimes over tough breaks. Amara’s breakdown takes you to another level with female vocals and keys of oblivion. Summer bliss.A Seba & Paradox 12” isn’t complete without the artwork of course, and SP004 is housed in an original canvas art print - hand-picked by Seba & Paradox.

ABT036 - CA - 2014Bermuda Waterfall by Sean Nicholas Savage

Heavy hitting SNES-Funk album from Tapes, returning to Jahtari for his first full length LP with eight solid 16bit Slap Crackers! TIP!Constructed with data rips from Super-Nintendo ROMs, a Sequential Circuits Drum Tracks and a heavy dose of Kawai K1, each of these gems unfold into epic compositional mastery reminiscent of 1980s Japanese kids TV, with sparkly sprinkles of synth wizardry thrown on top.‘Funk Plates Vol. 1’ sees Tapes depart as a riddim driven Digi-Dub contributor with a sharp handbrake U-turn on the Neo high way to funky-town. A perfect soundtrack for a spaced out Sunday morning and just as potent on the club hifi! (Quack!)