1000names Machine City EP

This week sees the release of a new ep on Svetlana Industries, something I am always excited and pleased to report and once again they do not disappoint.




Long before the current wave of Russian and Eastern European beats and glitch producers, Bulgarian duo 1000names were in at the foundation of the sound, debuting with the now classic Melonball Bounce alongside Rustie on Beatnick’s Vol 1 in 2007. Based in Sofia, Bulgaria, their geographic isolation and relatively long musical development has helped Margg and Nikko (their real names) develop a truly individualistic sound: quirky, bubbly, and human. They are identifiably part of the global beats scene without ever being generic.


They released their debut album with French label Eklektik Records, before moving over to Black Acre, dropping the first ever long player on that label. In January 2010 Mary Anne Hobbs invited them to contribute a mix for her legendary BBC Radio 1 show, and since then they’ve been featured and recommended in Pitchfork, XLR8R and every publication of note.

Svetlana Industries’ connection with Bulgarian duo 1000names goes back to maybe 2006, and they are one of the reasons we set the label up in the first place. So we’re delighted to finally drop their first full official release with us, and we can say that it’s been worth the wait. Following on from their acclaimed Illuminated Man album on Black Acre, Machine City is in our opinion easily their best work to date.

The five track EP is Svetlana’s format of choice: a concise but unified statement of where the artist is at a moment in time. 1000names have used to Machine City to showcase a new direction, retaining their signature touches - blissful synth melodies, abstract vocal samples - but moving away from the LA style beats sound towards a sound that Sonic Router described as a “slowed up house sound that’s firmly rooted in hip hop production”.

1000names for Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC Radio 1 by Thunderloops on Mixcloud

To us there’s a strong hint of Moroder and late 70s/early 80s new wave in there as well. This is the territory between disco, house, electropop, and hip hop, also being explored by artists like Dam Funk, Funkineven, and Om Unit - danceable but different.

Conceptually the record is a vision of the future. Equal parts Fritz Lang, Steve Jobs and Philip K Dick, it’s neither utopian or dystopian, it is simply machine - but a machine absolutely saturated with emotion. Propulsive, unstoppable, the humanity hidden in snatches of masked speech, occasional glitches in the sound. La Boheme is a miniature disco anthem. Zelda a cloud of Technicolor fog. Planet Video the delirious joy of the mechanised workplace. Machine City is the threat, surveillance, control. The very Teebs like First Postcard from Tokyo is a euphoric ascent through the clouds to a holiday destination in the sky. 

Pick up a copy now direct from the Svetlana shop here:

Svetlana Industires news

Apologies to Toby and Andrea Svetalna for being so slow on this one - so slow in fact that it's really three pieces of news all in one now! 

Firstly, after putting out two releases in one month in June 2011, with strong and widely praised records from emerging talents BNJMN and Nightwave, Svetlana repeats the formula with two five track EPs from the label’s Eastern European heartland: on 10 October the debut EP from Hungary’s Polyklinik, and at the end the of the month the long awaited Machine City EP from Bulgarians 1000names.

Budapest native Polyklinik is new to the public consciousness, but an old friend for the label, and he’s as enigmatic as his music, failing to turn up to photo shoots, amassing analogue synths and drum machines, and agreeing to meet only in public places. Over the last three years his music has changed: what began as a optimistic melodic dubstep sound has become denser, murkier, and gloopier. Influenced by the beats scene but far away from chopped up vocals and jazzy beats born in Californian sunshine, this is music from a country mired in financial crisis, Prime Ministerial lies and toxic red sludge.

Bulgarian duo 1000names are also long time associates of Svetlana, but surprisingly this is their first proper release for label, after dropping an album and EP on the UK’s Black Acre, and an album on French label Eklektik. The EP is a vision of a future society, neither dystopian nor utopian, but somewhere in the middle, just like our own, and the sound is a timely slinky disco take on the contemporary beats sound. Lead track La Boheme has already attracted strong support.

SVET006 POLYKLINIK - The + EP is out now, SVET007 drops 31 October.

POLYKLINIK ON SOUNDCLOUD: http://soundcloud.com/polycloud/

1000NAMES ON SOUNDCLOUD: http://soundcloud.com/1000names

And secondly, next Friday (4th November 2011) Svetlana are taking over the Rhythm Factory in Whitechapel to present their first ever London showcase in conjunction with Brighton’s hardcore underground house monsters Well Rounded Records, the label that launched Deadboy among others, and he’ll be headlining the night alongside BNJMN, Kelpe, Brey, Spatial and many more.  

Also on the line-up is new Svetlana signing Microburst, whose live set was recently described as “a revelation” by one London reviewer. 

Microburst - Moss by Svetlana Industries 

INFO SUMMARY

SVETLANA INDUSTRIES vs WELL ROUNDED RECORDS

FRIDAY 04/11/2011

DEADBOY http://tinyurl.com/63q3ppo  (Well Rounded/Numbers)
BNJMN http://tinyurl.com/69h7qb3  live (Svetlana Industries/Rush Hour)
KELPE http://tinyurl.com/626ksf2  (DC/Black Acre)
SPATIAL http://tinyurl.com/69jbpoh  (Well Rounded/Infrasonics)
BREY http://tinyurl.com/689sdb4 (Svetlana Industries)
GONGON http://soundcloud.com/gongon;  (Well Rounded)
MICROBURST http://tinyurl.com/5tlyhy5 live (Svetlana Industries)

DONGA (Well Rounded founder)
THUNDERLOOPS (Svetlana founder)
ANDREA 3000 (Svetlana Industries)
ANTHONY (God Don’t Like It)

@ The Rhythm Factory
9pm - 6am
£5 Advance / £5 before midnight / £7 after

SPECIAL ADVANCE TICKETS http://tinyurl.com/6d44nq3

FB event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177303319014020

RA event and tickets:http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?300535

SVETLANA INDUSTRIES: www.svetlanaindustries.com

Nightwave - The Feel EP

It doesn't seem like two minutes since the last Svetlana Industries release by Bnjmn and they are already following up hot on the heels with EP number 5 (vinyl release number 4) by Nightwave aka Maya Medvesek pka the 8 Bitch.


The five track ep is a mixture of a couple of tracks that have been previewed in demo forms for about a year and tracks that were sent in the morning of going to mastering! 


Title track Feel (see video below) sets the tone with a UK bass take on techno, building from subtle beats, whistles and breathless vocals to a full on warped head nodder. You Are My High and Bit Pony may be familiar to Nightwave obsessive geeks like myself who can now tick off a couple more from that very long list of demos we (ok I) want to see on wax, but they fit in with the IDM and techno sound of the ep as a whole. Whilst the original version isn't exactly restrained, the remix of Night Bird from Unknown To The Unknown is pure banging classic Chi town juke / vintage Dance Mania and is seriously worth the admission price alone.


Stream the tracks and follow the links to order it directly





Video for Feel

BNJMN's Svetlana Industries release and freebies

I've just been sent some links to a few free Bnjmn tracks. Firstly, the new ep, 141, is available to pre-order before it's release tomorrow but if you go now, you can already pick up two tracks immediately for nothing





And secondly, Svetlana Industries are giving away a track held back from the ep due to the master version being lost but it's such a good track, it deserves to be heard. Get Flash Flood here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/dtom3e

BNJMN 141

It's always a pleasure to hear new material from one of my favourite labels, Svetlana Industries and with the forthcoming release by BNJMN. 


Keeping with the more techno influenced sound as heard on the other BNJMN releases earlier this year on Rush Hour, Blocks and Plastic World, and like them features well produced futuristic techno that never suffers from sounding dated or like much else around.


The EP is not at all similar sounding Detroit stuff though as Ben's diversity and talents in a range of genres are shown off once again. Having done beats as Jackhigh, guitar based stuff as Singing Statues and techno with these and other BNJMN tracks, he then adds 2 step garage to the cv with 'In Out' and the Burial-esque 'One Sea' which I know for a fact pre dates many other artists who have taken this sound as inspiration by a good two years. He is definitely not a follower of any fashion.


Brand new remixes come courtesy of Lukid, whose video is featured below and is so good I hear it's getting a public screening as a work of art, and Kelpe who goes all deep, dark and aggressive.




 
SVET004: BNJMN - 141 Preview by Svetlana Industries



BNJMN - One Sea (Lukid Remix) from Svetlana Industries on Vimeo.


The record drops on 14th June and will no doubt be available in all good record shops and one or two of the bad ones, or direct from www.svetlanaindustries.com

NewsRoundUp

I've decided I might start using this site to promote things other than myself again. One day I'm sure I will get a proper focus to it but in the meantime it will still be just as you remember it - all over the place.

Anyway, here is a bit of a roundup of some stuff I've liked recently which isn't me and probably hasn't had anywhere near enough words written about them yet:

First up, a little special edit by Seja Heroi of Marvin Gaye and Svarte Greiner of Ghostly International

I've Got My Halves (Seja Herói's Ambient Edit) by seja herói

And if you haven't been checking his new show on Space Invader, start catching up here:

The Cannibalist Manifesto With Seja Herói #001 - 10 March 2011 by Space Invader Radio on Mixcloud

Jared also turned me onto the great work of the Tundra label. I especially love the Aimon stuff (you'll be hearing more of this off me very soon). 

And check more of their releases here: http://tundradub.bandcamp.com/

Another dj I can never hear enough mixes by is Soul Identity who not only recently did that great mix of my requests (http://www.mixcloud.com/soul_identity/a-mix-for-paul-riley/), but also put this one up the other week and if there was any justice should be getting thousands of listens. 

Soul-Identity Short #1 by Soul-Identity Music on Mixcloud

The final mixcloud comes from Play Jazz Loud who dropped a contribution to the Chris Coco Melodica competition taking in some forgotten classics, bootlegs and choices from the back of the crates.

Pjl Melodica & Stop Making Sense Competition Mix by Playjazzloud on Mixcloud

I don't really know too much about Emay but I stumbled across their stuff through a twitter link and although everyman and his dog is doing beats stuff on free bandcamp downloads these days (http://teaandcakerecords.bandcamp.com/ :)), this really stood out as something a bit different.

Belizian Voodoo Priest is the new project of legendary Chicago dj, friend to the stars and all round good guy Steve 'Miggedy' Maestro of Grooveparlor TV / House It Out Fridays fame. So far he has put up a couple of disco edits and a monster techno track. All are pretty much essential.

I heard the other day that Odyssey are coming back with a new album produced by YamWho? which on paper looks like the best thing since..... well everything else YamWho? has done really. Anyway, as part of the package, the classic Inside Out is being remixed and I loved hearing all the separate parts to this.

 

Odyssey - Inside Out (Remix Stems) by Bill Brewster

The first release for Glasgow's ALLCAPS label is apparently imminent but before that comes the debut from one of its members, Koreless. Move quick on this as it's limited to 300 copies but I can recommend buying from bleep as you get the mp3s free. 

A new mix by Svpreme Fiend exclusively of his own productions is definitely worth investigating: http://www.urb.com/2011/03/11/burnin-up-svpreme-fiend/

The Nihon Kizuna compilation has been blogged a lot but it's for a good cause and the music is so good you should buy it regardless. 

And finally, some new stuff by friends connected to my favourite label (or is it now my second favourite http://teaandcakerecords.bandcamp.com/), Svetlana Industries.  Bnjmn's album is finally out now on Rush Hour and he has done the latest mix for Little White Earbuds podcast: http://www.littlewhiteearbuds.com/podcast/lwe-podcast-77-bnjmn/

8Bitch has changed her name to Nightwave and not only has a track on the Japan relief Nihon Kizuna compilation, but also dropped her first ever live set for hyponik featuring some forthcoming material

http://hyponik.com/2011/03/hyp-025-nightwave/

Brickwall Brigade follow up their excellent remix of Brotto with another airhorn masterpiece,  taking on the new FaltyDL track.

 

FaltyDL - Brazil (Brickwall Brigade remix) by Brickwall Brigade

And to round this all off, Piece Of Shh (aka one half of Brickwall Brigade), has just released the latest free single on Svetlana Industries; Diablo Riddim Remixed with Nightwave, Headshotboyz and Bunny On Acid on duties. 

If you enjoy the Bunny On Acid mix, you will be pleased to know, we have also got him in to do some work for teaandcakerecords too so keep 'em peeled.

A Christmas Gift From Svetlana Industries

A special Christmas present from Svetlana Industries, an exclusive mix by Filtercutter. Enjoy!


http://www.mediafire.com/?aque4ioyva2eovc

2010 : Heroes of the year Number 8

Svetlana Industries are my label of the year and I guess I have written more about their releases over the past 12 months than any other label (here, here, here and here) - perhaps both a sign of the friendly and approachable figures running it but also the fact that in their first year they have released some of the most interesting and lasting records of 2010. 


I think I could have been really disappointed with building up the hype too much in my mind before hearing anything - working with the 8Bitch and Jackhigh, getting Ramadanman in to remix their first single and Zomby for their third. Yet at every point they could have made a false move this year, they have turned out pleasant surprises. 


I guess behind the scenes they probably have been making mistakes but for a label just coming up to the first anniversary of their debut release, they seem to be making giant leaps forward with every move.


Here again are all the free tracks they've given out this year:


Deekline & Wizard - The Backup Remixes





Teebs & Jackhigh - The Tropics Remixed





Come On Lets Go





http://www.svetlanaindustries.com/

Piece Of Shh..

I always like to hear new things from one of my favourite labels this year and this week sees the release of their third single, this time from fellow Belgrade resident, Piece Of Shh.. (a.k.a. producer Goran Simonoski) called 'Diablo Riddim'.

As a real marker of how far the label has come in a year, they have managed to drag Zomby away from picking fights with Roska and (possibly) stealing samples from Russian women on Youtube, to drop his first new remix since March. The second remix in the package comes from underrated Spanish producer Hektagon, expect to hear more from him in 2011.

 

SVET003: Piece of Shh - Diablo Riddim by Svetlana Industries

Buy the record and digital (and all the label's entire back catalogue) from

http://shop.svetlanaindustries.com/album/svet003-diablo-riddim-ep

The video for the Zomby remix

Diablo Riddim (Zomby's Acid PoS VIP re-edit) from Svetlana Industries on Vimeo.

A new mixtape by Piece Of Shh.. also appeared on the Lowriders blog in the last few days, a mix of dubstep, reggae and theres even a couple of rave classics in there too. Well worth checking here

Svetlana are also giving away a free track not on either the vinyl or digital release through the blogs called 'You're Gonna Love It Too'

And for just a little bit of cross promotion, if you want to hear another unreleased Piece Of Shh.. track, there is one featured in this mix by some waste of space called me: here

Follow Piece Of Shh.. on twitter at http://twitter.com/pieceofshh

and Svetlana Industries at http://twitter.com/SvetlanaHQ

Svetlana Industries: Come On Lets Go

I think it isn't really much of a secret that I love pretty much everything Svetlana Industries puts out (not sure on them over size t-shirts but thats just me), so its always nice when some new music comes along. Its even nicer when its a 19 track compilation. And its free. 

Come On Lets Go http://shop.svetlanaindustries.com/album/come-on-lets-go

Theres a balance of names already familiar to anyone who has been following the steady rise of the label or just the beats scene in general over the past year or so such as Teebs, Jackhigh, 8Bitch, Filtercutter and Piece Of Shh... so its perhaps a brave move to kick off the set with four tracks by lesser known or brand new names. 

Of these, the opener by Demokracy really kicks things off at a frantic pace setting the tone for the couple of tracks. The light relief of the brief interlude track by Prohor is only a respite before perhaps the best known track on the compilation from 8Bitch, In The Moog For Love which appeared on Oscillations or if you're a real 8Bitch geek, has been residing in certain top 20 list for for the best part of 18 months now.

Things move a little more downbeat, experimental and weird with some more abstract noise with Prohor and spoken word library samples warning of the effects of LSD from Polyklinik and then, what at the moment my favourite of all, something that reminds me a bit of when Leftfield used to make techno with a reggae toaster on vocals, Desert Island from Piece Of Shh...

The pace picks up again with another track that has been doing the rounds for a few months, Jackhigh's Turbines but then dips back for the the slightly mad looping sound of glass shattering and staggery beats that is the Teebs closer. You just know his soon to be released lp is going to make a late surge into all the best of lists come December.

Considering this project has apparently been in the making for six months, had one or two hold ups along the way and that some of the tracks have appeared in other guises over the past few months, it is a pleasant surprise how well it all flows together (it is ideally best heard in all in one go) and that nothing stands out as being on some bandwagon that has long past. 

Now its usually at this point in all my reviews of Svetlana reviews that I start going on about how much I love Toby and Andrea's dj sets and radio shows so in a break with tradition this time I'll just say Andrea's shows have been going so ridiculously from strength to strength, I'm not sure firstly how my expectations can be raised any more or secondly how heartbroken I will be the first time she ever plays something I don't love 101%. Toby's Thunderlooops shows seem to be an extended summer break at the moment but seeing as how he introduced me to James Blake, I can forgive anything and just know his return to the airwaves will coincide with me taking out an overdraft to buy 1,000 brand new missed, skipped or flipped gems.

Check them on Spaceinvader: Andrea3000 Thursdays 10-12, Thunderloops first Wednesday of the mont 6:30-8pm or Friday afternoons on that station out of Serbia. You know the one.

http://www.svetlanaindustries.com/

Svetlana Shortcast and other bits of news

Price of popularity? Vote rigging? More fans than they actually realised? God only knows how but the new(ish) series of podcasts from Svetlana Industries which kicked off with Teebs last week raced up to the top of the mixcloud charts after just one day. Forthcoming mixes from Lukid, Hovatron and Dem Hunger will undoubtedly prove just as popular as the 20 - 30 minute time limit sets it apart from most other mixes; not too much to take in in one go but more than enough to keep dipping back in for repeated listens.

Listen here:

#1: Teebs by Svetlana Industries on Mixcloud

Second bit of news that has leaked out of Svetlana HQ is a free album which seems a very fair price considering its exclusive tracks by Teebs, 8Bitch, Jackhigh, 1000names. Basically, the kind of thing I would more than readily pay for and still think I was getting the deal of the day. Keep your eyes peeled, it apparently should be out in about a week.

By the way, and this won't be on any pr release, but seriously, Toby and Andrea are really up there as two of my favourite djs at the moment with their shows on spaceinvader. I seem to spend every Thursday night with a pen and paper on standby for my weekend shopping list as Andrea plays a ton of grime / UK funky / dubstep that are pretty much all on my 'NEEDS' list and Toby, well he was the first dj to play my record of the year so far, CMYK, but there isn't really too much overlap in their playlists. I'm sure he would laugh at the notion but Toby seems to come from the same school of thought for putting radio shows together as John Peel - what might on paper appear to be jarring genres make sense, upfront unreleased tracks next to long lost no-hit wonders, the softest, most beautiful piece of abstract electronica followed soon after by the noisiest racket you've heard of some chopped up Amen break from '92.

So once you've subscribed to the shortcasts mixes, you also need to catch up on the previous Thunderloops shows which are also now streaming through itunes. Andrea's shows can be caught up on her mixcloud page.

Anyway, pretty much follow everything this lot are on at the moment, they don't seem able to put a foot wrong. See and I haven't even mentioned the next vinyl releases from Piece Of Shhh with a Zomby remix (his first in God only knows how long) and eventually a proper vinyl release for some 8Bitch material, although I have now come to accept that I'll probably be drawing my pension by then.