While Frozen Border and Horizontal Ground certainly stay true to the most techno of presentations, it’s reassuring that the music hasn’t once lost sight of what it’s meant to be — purist techno.
Author Archive: Chris Miller
Various Artists, Semesters II
August 19, 2010 – 9:01 AM
While making the rounds at my local record store Semesters II on Strength Music caught my eye, not only because of its purple marbled vinyl but because its grooves were etched with the work of Jus-Ed, Fred P and DJ Qu.
Hauntologists, EP3
August 10, 2010 – 10:01 PM
That Jay Ahern and Stefan Schneider rely on older analog equipment explains the subtle, almost evolutionary degree of progression that characterizes their third Hauntologists EP.
Ramadanman, Fall Short/Work Them
August 4, 2010 – 10:01 PM
David Kennedy’s latest record under his Ramadanman guise, Fall Short/Work Them, is as enjoyable as it is difficult to categorize.
R-A-G, Beyond EP
August 2, 2010 – 10:01 PM
The debut release from R-A-G, the M>O>S supergroup of labelhead Aroy Dee, G-String and Marco Spaventi, offers more neo-Detroit satisfaction than surprises.
Various Artists, Sandwell District Sampler Single One/Two
July 22, 2010 – 10:01 AM
With two new multi-artist sampler singles, apparently appetizers for their forthcoming collective album, Sandwell District reveal even more depth to their artistic vision.
Talking Shopcast with Underground Quality
July 19, 2010 – 12:01 AM
For the eighth edition of our Talking Shopcast series we visited Bridgeport, CT, home of Jus-Ed and his Underground Quality label. We also provide an exclusive mix by Anthony Parasole, Deconstruct Label boss and one of New York’s finest DJs.
Joe, Claptrap/Level Crossing
July 12, 2010 – 10:01 PM
Joe. With such a short and sweet name one might expect his music to be similarly simple, but these presumptions are turned upside down by his tunes.
LWE 2Q Reports: Top 10 Downloads
July 6, 2010 – 12:01 AM
While this list is far from comprehensive and certainly from only one person’s perspective, these are ten of the best mixes I’ve heard so far this year, hopefully offering some signposts to where you can find some soon-to-be favorites for yourself.
BBH: Newworldaquarium, Heavy Metal
June 22, 2010 – 10:01 PM
When I stumbled upon Newworldaquarium’s Heavy Metal EP, released on Peacefrog in 2003, I snatched it without hesitation, something one should always do when confronted with Jochem Peteri’s records.
Curator’s Cuts 08: Chris Miller
June 21, 2010 – 12:01 AM
LWE’s Curator’s Cuts podcast series features our reviewing staff mixing together recent favorites and providing explanations for their selections. Assistant editor and writer Chris Miller mixed together Curator’s Cuts 08.
Jus-Ed, Next Level
June 17, 2010 – 10:01 AM
Although his top flight turntable chops make clear why Jus-ED is better known as a DJ than a producer, the consistently engaging ideas and execution on Next Level assure listeners that he can sit at the mixing desk with the best of them.
Ellen Allien, Dust
June 10, 2010 – 10:01 AM
Given how well Ellen Allien has worked within the pop and rock spheres in the past, her attempts to incorporate these sounds with her abstract tendencies on Dust fail to form a coherent, engaging whole.
Instra:mental, Let’s Talk/Vicodin
June 3, 2010 – 10:01 PM
Let’s Talk/Vicodin, Instra:mental’s latest for Irish label [Naked Lunch], further expands their sound and is quite possibly their best single yet.
Wax, No.30003
May 25, 2010 – 10:01 AM
Cut from the same cloth as antecedent Wax singles but woven into more functional patterns, No.30003 lacks the revelatory edge which make so many of Pawlowitz’s releases must-own items.
Talking Shopcast with Frozen Border/Horizontal Ground
May 17, 2010 – 12:01 AM
Eschewing personality in favor of strict quality control has helped both Frozen Border and its more varied sibling Horizontal Ground stand out among swarms of white label imprints. Their owner, Jeff, was relatively guarded in his answers but shed a bit more light on one of contemporary techno’s darker corners. He was also generous enough to send us a top notch live set by Horizontal Ground artist 19.26.1.18.5 (aka Szare), which speaks just as loudly as Jeff’s carefully chosen words.
Addison Groove, Footcrab/Dumbsh*t
May 6, 2010 – 11:45 PM
Addison Groove’s “Footcrab” follows in the footsteps of Joy Orbison’s “Hyph Mngo” as an addictive and pervasive track whose proliferation is as hard to contain as an oil spill.
Floating Points, People’s Potential
April 28, 2010 – 10:01 PM
By now the name Floating Points probably rings a bell even for those living under rocks. Within a year of arriving on the scene he’s been feted by music fans and critics of all stripes, storming best of lists with four spectacular releases for R2 Records, Planet Mu, and his own Eglo Records. It’s hardly surprising, then, that Sam Shepherd’s first record of 2010 has admirers drooling. People’s Potential first appeared as a single-sided white label earlier this year, but those who waited (myself included) have been rewarded with full artwork and a second track, “Shark Chase.”
Ninca Leece, Feed Me Rainbows
April 22, 2010 – 10:01 PM
Only two releases old, Thesongsays has already accrued an interesting profile. It was initially a platform for Bruno Pronsato’s own productions, chiefly LWE’s number four tune of 2009 “The Make Up The Break Up,” a druggy 38-minute trip through his soundbank. Yet release number two was penned by the hitherto unknown team of Benoit & Sergio, featuring the lovely, saccharine “Full Grown Man.” The third single from Thesongsays is equally unexpected, arriving under the auspices of Franco-German producer Ninca Leece who released an album titled There Is No One Else When I Lay Down And Dream earlier this year. Feed Me Rainbows certainly piques my interest like its predecessors and has me wanting to know more.