Aktiv Ritual, the Croatian artist who sent me this a few weeks ago, described wanting for this song “something that felt like the last tune at a rave in ’91.” I feel like they hit that nail on the head here; it’s absolutely got glimmers of “Halcyon” (but maybe with a little less ecstasy and a touch of psilocybin instead?). True to its name, I’d love to dance to this song with 50 people I don’t know at some forest rave that you’d need coordinates to find. This is from Aktiv Ritual’s recent album, bioCircuit, which is out now for streaming or on bandcamp.

Aktiv Ritual – “Club Someplace Very Secret” (mp3)

I’ve covered Matthew Clugston, aka Mattr, a number of times now–not least of all because he’s prolific, releasing far more in the past few years than I’ve managed to keep up with. When I was turned on to him initially, in or about 2022, he was making sub-forward leftfield house and breakbeat stuff, that was all really captivating, but perhaps edged on the side of accessible and straightforward. Over time though, his work has gotten looser, to great effect. With this latest one, he seems to be leaning even more into experimentation, favoring delicate, almost innocent sounds and melodies over bass and melancholy, and often letting the sounds glitch themselves out of time without giving in to the inclination to tidy them up too much. Lovely stuff here. This is out for streaming and on bandcamp, but Clugston also sent me the mp3 to share with you all here.

Mattr – “Earth” (mp3)

In the early 2000s, as I got started on this blog, the 8-bit microgenre was taking shape after years of existing primarily as a fetish genre on message boards. While I didn’t mind the sonic aesthetic, and I featured chiptune artists here from time to time, I often found myself wishing some of the genre’s best artists would set the SID chips down and widen their palettes. The joy of the genre for me was that it seemed to attract artists hyperfocused on crafting simple and emotionally utilitarian melodies–but why couldn’t those artists do the same without the chipsounds? This submission from Pittsburgh-based Akage Design Co feels like an answer to that question. The song has all the best hallmarks of the aforementioned microgenre: a nostalgic and dry sound palette and a vicious earworm of a lead melody, tied together emotionally in a bow that feels like having a crush on the football player or cheerleader in high school. It’s sensitive, emotional stuff, but without any pomp or melodrama. Best of all, while it hits like great chiptunes, it’s not bogged down with references; so it can stand on its own. This is out as part of the album, Lightt, which you can find for streaming or on bandcamp.

Akage Design Co – “Two Moons” (mp3)

Poetmistry (Krishan Mistry) is an artist whose sound design tutorial content I’ve been following for ages on socials, so it was exciting to see a submission from him. His new album, STRAWBERRY, and its lead single, “Strawberry in Hell,” are both unusually tender, in light of Mistry’s reliance on a bright, crisp, sound palette–much of which is created via exercises in extreme time stretching of pop songs. Mistry explains that there is no overarching “aboutness” behind the album (that’s not how I work. I sit down, I open up my computer, and I literally feel like I blackout), but he found himself nonetheless surprised by its resulting sentimentality. It clocks for me; for a sincere, feeling person–which Mistry comes across as in his tutorial content–if one finds a flow state and lets the work speak, the result is likely to be correspondingly emotionally attached and genuine. The whole record is really worth checking; grab it on bandcamp or for streaming.

Poetmistry – “Strawberry in Hell” (mp3)

I’m not the world’s best interpreter of lyrics, but a line like my heart is bittersweet company / the world revolves around me, and then it falls apart sounds to me like it’s about the loneliness of selfishness and obstinance–the way self-imposed isolation is self-fulfilling. Most of us know the feeling of being too spiteful and righteous to admit we’re wrong about something but simultaneously embarrassed at our own rigidity and thus trapped in a cage of our own making. I changed all the locks on my door / rewrote all the chords to your favorite song. DC-based camden bay (Mary Ruane) seems to be writing about something along these lines in this serene bit of vocal downtempo she sent over recently. This is her third single, and it’s pretty heavenly. No bandcamp, unfortunately, but Ruane sent me the mp3 to post here–and it’s out for streaming all over.

camden bay – “atlas” (mp3)

Last but not least tonight, a brilliantly selftitled song from a brilliantly titled artist, looking for a shoegaze drummer (Carson Aquilano Forney [she/her]). Songs like this come along every so often and make me feel like I’m in my childhood bedroom again, 15 or 16, with wide eyes and a sense of unbridled openness to music’s possibilities. It feels sort of like the expression of id in an almost inhumanly sweet person–someone whose deepest, darkest impulses are nonetheless gentle and generous. I don’t mean to project anything onto Forney herself; it’s more that I hear in this song the invaluable quality of a pure willingness to explore without pretense. She’s lucky to be able to channel that. This is from her recent EP, it’s easy to crash looking for a shoegaze drummer, which is not available for streaming but is on bandcamp.

looking for a shoegaze drummer – “looking for a shoegaze drummer” (mp3)

All warm clouds and gentle fog on this dreamy pop number from Oslo-based duo Wibes, whose name is a cheeky nod to Scandinavians’ discomfort with most hard V’s. The press blurb for the song is too good not to relay, even though I usually try to steer clear of doing so: You are an indoor cat who has always dreamed about the outside world. One day, the door is left open, and your adventure begins. What a touching sentiment to base a song around? Even though none of you reading this are, in fact, cats, who hasn’t shared in that kind of feeling? Seems to me most of us feel trapped by something or other, and dream of some benevolent force leaving the door ajar enough for us to expand or escape. This is out now on Kollektiv Transport for streaming. No bandcamp unfortunately, but thankfully the group let me share with you the mp3 here.

Wibes – “Life Outside” (mp3)

Heading southeast now, over the Norge-Sverige grensen and Oresundsbroen to Copenhagen, with a really pleasant slice of house from Danish producer GJOL (Mickael Gjøl). I don’t cover a lot of house that would typically be described as ‘deep’ — even though I’ve always gravitated towards the typical elements of the genre: intimate keys, midtempo rhythms, and deeply hi-cut basslines. I think it’s that deep house tracks often play so directly into the genre’s tropes without any sense of self-reflection or historical context. But sometimes, a producer just lines the elements up right, and doesn’t try too hard. “Teardrops” is like melted butter on a fresh-baked bun; nothing extra is needed here for pure satisfaction. And as much as the Danes like their breakfast BMOs with ost, this manages to steer just clear of that deep house cheese. No bandcamp for this one either, but it’s out for streaming, and GJOL kindly let me provide you all with the mp3.

GJOL – “Teardrops” (mp3)

Continuing further south again, across the Fehmarn Belt and all the way to Bavaria, is another great house track–this time by Munich’s Sheebo. This track is the kind of house music I’m attracted to most these days: understated, shuffling, outsider stuff with enough lofi vibe to warm up the room without having to resort to crushing the track to oblivion or drenching it in pads and reverb. When I attempt to make house music, I’m usually guilty of exactly those sins, so I respect when a producer can accomplish the sort of haze and warmth this track delivers without doing either. Once again, no bandcamp for this (is it me or are more and more artists opting not to upload there–why?), but it’s available for streaming, and Sheebo was very generous to let me upload the mp3 for you here.

Sheebo – “est.” (mp3)

Sharp collaboration between Swedish producer Cussed Splint (Patrik Nord) and Southwest Florida-based emcee Nick Genre. A half-time roller that’s clearly the product of a producer steeped in drum and bass aesthetic, it nonetheless manages not to succumb to the genre’s tropes at all. There’s no drop, never a full release—it’s all tense precision and careful automation, entirely in service of Nick Genre’s refreshingly good rap. As a middle-aged guy from New York, whose first teenage love was “real hip hop” (insert whatever shorthand is needed here to indicate I know this is and always was a goofy term), I find myself harder and harder to please when it comes to rap–a cliche if there ever was one. But I’m genuinely enjoying everything about the vocals here. Nick Genre’s timbre and delivery are appropriately gruff and precise. Lyrically, he manages that elusive feat of covering somewhat vulnerable subject matter without ever getting remotely sappy; he paints a picture without resorting to a series of similes. And it works particularly well in the context of Nord’s production aesthetic. This is out for streaming all over, and you can grab it on bandcamp, but Nord was also kind enough to let me post the mp3 here.

Cussed Splint – “Here We Come” ft. Nick Genre (mp3)

Second up, two new tracks from Tiny Little Ghost (Vanni Casagrande), an Italian artist I covered a few weeks ago.. The first is a haunting semi-ambient piece that begins as reference to Barber’s timelessly bittersweet Adagio for Strings (from his Opus 11), under a veil of bird chips–ultimately building into a brief release of ecstatic bass and synth wail. The second continues Casagrande’s penchant for cinematic arrangement and sepulchral aesthetic, but this time with a second movement marked by sludgy, steppy drums and mutated wobble. No bandcamp for these, unfortunately, but Casagrande was generous enough to let me share the mp3s with you here, if you’re not the streaming type.

Tiny Little Ghost – “A Memory to Follow” (mp3)
Tiny Little Ghost – “It Moves” (mp3)

Last but not least tonight, two chilling tracks from Brooklyn-based Kodomo (real name Chris Child). These are both from Child’s upcoming album, Sisu, and each threads the needle between pensive 2-step and minimalist euphoric electronica. “Light Rain” features disembodied vocals from vocalist tawnylawns saying something I can’t quite make out (box of pills, twisted wrist, I know the color of…). Even as nonsequiturs, when supported by a tightly restrained triangle wave bassline and sparse percussion, the words manage to nonetheless communicate a sense of apathy, dissociation, and resignation. It’s fitting energy for the current historical moment, and has that soul-soothing effect that only mournful music quite does. The second track Childs sent over, the album’s title track, is similarly emotive, but more hopeful and forward-looking; maybe an antidote for the detachment of the former. Sisu is out Febrary 10th for streaming all over, and also on bandcamp; Childs was also nice enough to let me share with you the mp3s here.

Kodomo – “Light Rain” (mp3)
Kodomo – “Sisu” (mp3)

An intricate slice of forward-thinking electronica from French artist Alex Augier, in support of his recent LP, The Lyrical Age. This song runs the gamut. The first and second movements are all interlaced polyrhythms underpinning a digest of sound design that speaks to the breadth of what ‘electro’ has meant for the past 35-odd years; represented is everything from the submerged blippiness of the aquatic drexiyan universe of the 90s, the grit and stagger of the genre’s reinvention by Augier’s countrymen in the early 2000s, and the icy clarity of today’s takes on the genre. I’m careful to use that genre name only when actually called for, but there are also cases like this where a song references ‘electro’ so closely without ever submitting to its core motifs, ultimately producing something that isn’t actual ‘electro’ at all. Grab The Lyrical Age on bandcamp (including in a spectacularly beautiful vinyl package), or find it for streaming all over.

Alex Augier – “Lives In Resonance” (bc)

Second up is another submission from France; this one from Parisian artist laum, who’s mining the possibly infinite source of inspiration that is a breakup. Breakup songs are usually a product of youth, but it’s hard to deny the how fucking easy it remains to connect to the melodrama–the feeling sandwich that is yearning for someone and also being furious with them has just got to be among the most universal experiences. laum delivers all that in a tight 2:42: sharp re-sequenced military breakbeats, a waxing and waning reese-type bass, stutter triplet plucks, and a delicately melancholy vocal. Works a charm. No bandcamp for this, I’m afraid, but it’s out for streaming and laum was generous in letting me share with you all the mp3 here.

laum – “Without U” (mp3)

Last but not least is a sweetly stirring tune from Australian Timothy and the Apocalypse (real name Timothy Poulton). Apparently written while Poulton was off-grid alone in the NSW hinterland, the song does seem to express both an awe of the natural world, and a counterbalance of the sort of bittersweet loneliness that kind of isolation can rouse. No bandcamp for this either, but Poulton was kind enough to let me upload the mp3 for you here (in case anyone wants to listen to this off-the-grid, for full effect); it’s also available for streaming all over.

Timothy and the Apocalypse – “Just For A Moment” (mp3)

Good dub always gives me the best kind of sinking feeling in my guts. That’s a product of bass, sure, but it’s also that vital simplicity–where a song is stripped back to its essentials, and delay and reverb become primarily a means to glue back together the pieces as they drop in and out of the mix. There’s something about that methodology that itself creates darkness and a visceral sense of solitude. Each of the elements has to live and die almost on its own. The dub of this tune sent over by narion, an artist from somewhere in the “undergrowth of the English suburban sprawl,” isn’t classic dub stylistically (or a ‘dub’ by the typical standards of UK club music either), but methodologically it has the hallmarks. The artist also sent over the vocal version, which includes some surreal spoken word, dj cuts, and naturally keeps the elements more intact. Grab the tracks on bandcamp–no streaming on this one.

narion – “signs in the dub” (bc)

narion – “signs in the stars” (bc)

Second up is an essentially genre-less exploration from Ben Neill, a New York-based artist who’s worked with a list of luminaries too numerous to list (think everyone from John Cage to John Cale, King Britt to DJ Spooky). I suppose you could call this song downtempo of a sort, given its tempo and some of its palette, but it’s just reductive to try to categorize it. As its name may imply, the song is meant as a direct comment on the current political climate, and the feelings of helplessness so many of us currently feel as we watch a house on fire. Fittingly, the song samples Apocalypse Now, and uses Neill’s mutantrumpet style to paint a dizzying picture of transcendent fright, panic, and disorientation. Art often describes itself as political or philosophical, but you can really tell when a piece served as an actual emotional valve for the discomfort and uneasiness of its maker. No bandcamp for this unfortunately, but it’s out for streaming all over, and Neill was kind enough to let me post for you the mp3 here.

Ben Neill – “Breaking Point” (mp3)

Last up tonight is a skeletal bit of emotive club music from SYEYL (pronounced sea-el, real name Hrithik Arora), an artist from Delhi. It’s another example of how a song stripped to its essential elements is often the most effective. All you really need is a glistening pad, some skittering drums, a utilitarian bass line, a touch of ear candy, and some thoughtful arrangement. No need to get too fancy; put it together carefully and the result is as satisfying as can be. This is out now on Dusky’s 17 Steps imprint as part of SYEYL’s Mental Sunshine EP, which you can grab on bandcamp.

SYEYL- “Space Becomes The Mirror” (mp3)

Having recently had a second child, I’m aware more than ever of the iterative nature of life. I saw myself in my daughter, now I do in my son, and I also see her in him. They always say that having children will change your life, and give it meaning. For me at least, though, it’s been more a question of realizing that the meaning in my life doesn’t need to be grand or profound. Yes, my life is mostly about my children now, and watching their growth and experience is consistently exciting and inspiring, but I don’t often find myself imagining what ambitious and grand things they’ll do in their lives. Instead, I imagine them as delicate spokes on a wheel with self-sustaining momentum, and my primary role as that of the previous spoke, contributing to the force of the wheel until I can’t any longer, blocking as much interference as I can to prevent interruptions to the wheel’s continued movement. I don’t want to make their lives easy or hard, I just want to make sure their path is relatively clear to play out naturally, and at a reasonable and sustainable pace.

These two pieces submitted by Greek composer Aeoni (real name Ioanna Theofilakou) are from her recent EP, Lifetime, which explores the cyclical quality of life–treating it as a series of variations with no inherent progress or climax. Owing to her background as a physicist, the pseudonym Aeoni is also a reference to iterative cycles. Specifically, it’s a reference to Roger Penrose’s conformal cyclic cosmology theory, which suggests that our universe is a cycle (aeon) that began with the big bang, and will gradually and eventually become so vast that it essentially empties itself of matter. This will lead to another big bang, and a new universe will be born from the remnants of ours, after which the cycle will repeat again. (Forgive me if this is a butchering of the science.)

The two pieces Aeoni shared with me are both from the second half of her record, each of the songs on which are titled for a stage of life. The first, “Senescence,” is the bit that scares most people. Growing old; experiencing the slow of the regenerative processes that most directly represent vitality. This, for many, may also signal a sort of loss of identity, when one’s view of oneself degrades as one’s body does. But maybe if one’s tempo is right, it’ll be this phase that can make one’s internal life feel most concrete and comfortable? Aeoni’s take on it would seem to suggest this; she’s woven together a gently meandering loop that feels somewhat fragile, but ultimately comfortable in itself, and comforting. The second, “Rebirth,” is the end of the EP, and reminds a little bit of an Astrid Sonne record, at least insofar as it’s built of a front-and-center semi-live drum kit supporting a flurry of resampled and recontextualized classical instruments and fluttering found sound. Aeoni seems to imagine the final cycle in the aeon not as empty and vast like Penrose, without matter to slow it down or give it a clock, but instead as determined and charging insistently towards the inevitable in resolute cadence.

Lifetime isn’t on bandcamp, unfortunately, but it’s streamable all over, and I was kindly given permission to share with you these mp3s.

Aeoni – “Senescence” (mp3)
Aeoni – “Rebirth” (mp3)

Stealthy club weapon from Somepoe and duo Winter Games, all three from the subarctic expanses of Lapland in Finland. Fun to think about a trio of Finns holed up in a winter cabin in the snowy fells of northern Finland making music inspired by Jamaican and UK sound system culture. Maybe it tracks that when trapped in the cold, one would pine for the Tropics; but it’s probably more just a product of our increasingly borderless world, in which each of us is totally free to access whatever inspires us viscerally. And as I’ve remarked on other examples of Scandinavians making UK-centric music, they almost always contribute some of that distinctly Nordic precision to the sound, achieving low end heft without sacrificing the headroom needed for spacious atmosphere. Maybe the stillness of the inselberg plain and boreal forests tune their ears for it. This is out now for streaming or on bandcamp via the trio’s label, Polar Dance.

Somepoe & Winter Games – “Inna Riddim” (bc)

More music from the Nordics, this time from Icelandic skurken (Jóhann Ástuson), who I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. ‘skurken’ is the word villain in most Nordic languages, but I hear Ástuson’s music as more hopeful than nefarious. The first track he sent over is another one from his recent album Nótt, which I covered before–it’s ascendant and upward facing two-step electronica with more of the northern character I referenced above. The other two, however, are older, both with a buzzier, self-reflective quality that gives me the impression maybe he’s experienced some transformative personal progress in the past few years–or at least that he’s seeking emotional clarity, and expressing as much in his music. Grab Nótt on bandcamp.

skurken – “Midnight” (mp3)
skurken – “Twilight” (sc)
skurken – “Freezer” (sc)

For a sharp left turn to finish things off, a collaboration between Utahns Crewless and Madge. “We Don’t Sleep” is a high energy ode to the hybrid electropop and house records of the early 2010s. It’s not the kind of thing I’ve been tuned into to lately, but I just couldn’t resist those chonky piano chords and blisteringly artificial horns that remind me of that perfect and ever-ubiquitous ‘Calabria’ loop. Vitality for days on this one. This is unfortunately not on bandcamp, but it’s out for streaming, and Crewless was kind enough to allow me to provide an mp3 here.

Crewless & Madge – “We Don’t Sleep” (mp3)

Superbly inky synth pop from Molly Mogul, a nomadic artist sometimes based in Bristol (but originally from a small village near Munich). Mogul describes “Run” as a reminder that you can’t outrun your fears or hangups; an encouragement to look at yourself and your relationships with honesty. That’s certainly a universal and timely concept, especially as we collectively confront the reality of multiple generations now having grown up with the inability to escape the vanity and perpetual guilt and shame of online life. How much harder it has become for kids to develop an internally-driven sense of right and wrong, good and bad, when they have been shown from day dot a thousand versions of what they should be. The advice to try to see yourself clearly is resonant, but it also strikes me as if we’ve set people up to fail at this–how can you judge yourself with grace and honesty if you lack any firm sense of self? Mogul seems to recognize this: “You said you’ll find yourself; First you need to find the starting line.” This is the first single from Molly Mogul’s debut album A Bouquet of Hopes and Dreams, out in April; no bandcamp for this, but it’s out for streaming, and Mogul has been kind enough to let me share the mp3 here.

Molly Mogul – “Run” (mp3)

Argent, aluminum-like track from Warsaw’s Dataplanet, sitting somewhere braindance and a somber pop ballad. This is from Dataplanet’s upcoming LP, Last Human Process, which is informed by ongoing tensions and events in Eastern Europe in the context of technological evolution–including the war in Ukraine, and the erosion of democratic institutions in Hungary and elsewhere. It maps an increasingly likely world where technology may well persist longer than we do, or at least after our social structures have crumbled. It’s delicate and precise stuff, but still completely emotion-forward, which tracks well with its intention: a time when all that’s relevant about us is how we feel, and the structure around us is wholly artificial. Last Human Process is out February 1st, but Dataplanet was nice enough to let me share this mp3 with you now.

Dataplanet – “chrs” (mp3)

A giddy illustration of a hazey summer night from NYC duo Matt Swain (drums) and Kenneth Fletcher (synth), aka Outerboros. This song makes me think of kids playing in a popped hydrant at dusk, or an early evening subway showtime in August when the dancers are sweaty and tired, but charged by a day’s worth of sun and quarter waters. Outerboros also sent over another nice piece which features NYC stalwart Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire doing something softer and more melodic than I’m used to hearing from him. Lots of vibes here, I will be clocking these fellas in the future. Both tracks are from Outerboros’ third EP as a duo, which is out now for streaming or on bandcamp; they’ve also been generous enough to let me share the mp3s with you here.

Outerboros – “Night Owl” (mp3)
Outerboros – “Tonight” ft. Mr Muthafuckin’ eXquire (mp3)

Compelling submission from Bordeaux-based STABNEE. In French, papoter essentially means to chitchat or prattle. Sampling a line from French rap duo PNL, “j’papote avec ma pocket” (chat with my pocket), is meant as a reference to loneliness; talking to yourself becomes the only outlet because no one else is there. The song captures some of the often bewildering quality of anxiety and solitude, albeit mostly indirectly: it starts abruptly in the same way a wave of loneliness can come on suddenly out of nowhere; the repetitive and incessant quality of its 3 note lead line is nonetheless oddly comforting; the low end weighs heavily on the chest; and then it’s over before it really has a chance to fully develop. The song is from STABNEE’s recent album Cycle, which is out now to stream. No bandcamp, but the artist has kindly allowed me to upload the mp3 here.

STABNEE – “j’papote avec ma pocket” (mp3)

Turning from the pain of loneliness to the sweetness of yearning; a lovely bit of almost-lofi house from Dublin’s Blimp (real name Shane Smythe). I believe the vocal comes from a track by Dutch deep house producer Wolffman, but it’s possible it’s just that increasingly common problem of producers all having access to the same sample packs. Either way, Blimp flips the vocal into something really soothing. “All I Ever Wanted Was You” keeps it simple and accessible, with familiar sound design and chords, but it’s all the better for it. No reason to reinvent the wheel when you’re working with something good. This is from Blimp’s latest EP, Casio. You can grab that on bandcamp or find it for streaming, but the artist has generously offered the mp3 here too.

Blimp – “All I Ever Wanted Was You” (mp3)

Last but not least is a pair of tracks from Pheonix, AZ-based Paternal (real name Benjamin Soto). Soto mentions in his submission that he sources all his samples from local musicians, and overall seems super focused on building queer community; lovely vibes all around from this one. Both tracks have a sweet almost-naive sincerity, which I think tracks with the energy Soto presents. But I’m equally charmed by the stylistic references. When I occasionally post harder wub/bass-heavy songs these days, I’ll sometimes describe them as throwbacks to Palms Out’s glory days, but these tracks both remind me that we were also something of a minor fixture at the back edge of electroclash (and what bloggers of the time lazily referred to as “indie dance”). Both of the songs Soto sent me–one older original and a remix he did for Tempe-based duo Bogan Via–have that spirit. I can picture these both playing really well in the days when we were all clamoring for new material from likes of Hot Chip, Fischerspooner, Ladytron, CSS, and Peaches. I’m glad to hear that energy is still being mined. Both of these are available to stream, but Paternal was nice enough to send me the mp3s to post here.

Paternal – “Everything” (mp3)
Bogan Via – “Everything’s OK” (Paternal Remix) (mp3)

Brilliantly precise and frenetic 140 submission from Berlin-based Valfi. This is harder than most music I cover these days, but I imagine some long-time readers will particularly appreciate it as a good example of how the sounds I used to focus on can be masterfully updated for a new generation. Besides, who can resist those microtonal balkan melodies? Also, as an extra bonus is another track from Valfi that I found on his soundcloud–this one more of a contemplative acidic IDM trip (but still with those great mictrotonal melodies he’s clearly really into crafting). Both tunes are out for streaming, or on bandcamp via Istanbul-based label Bounce.

Valfi – “Bauns!” (sc)

Valfi – “Deep Yearning” (sc)

Another wild submission, for what’s shaping up to be a sort of atypical edition of this feature. This is from Derriziel Pierce, an American artist I can’t find much information about online. This track, as well as every other on the album Metagod revolves around a heavily manipulated vocal that sounds as if it may be Turkic throat singing (or at least very clearly referential of it). The whole album may just have been inspired by Dune, but it all feels like an attempt to summon some sort of nightmare spirit from beneath the steppes. No bandcamp for this, but the artist was kind enough to let me upload the mp3 here–it’s also out for streaming all over.

Derriziel Pierce – “PlanetEaters” (mp3)

Finally, another one from left field (at least for me lately), by an enigmatic Brazilian artist named Garum Trophex. This is track is so clean and straightforward in its references and structure that it almost borders on progressive techno, but I couldn’t help but find myself captured by it. It may not be my usual speed, but it’s hard to deny how well this is put together, or how well this would work on a lot of floors. True to the artist’s apparent arcane streak, in the few weeks since this was sent to me, the track (and the whole album on which it was released) has been scrubbed from the internet. Nonetheless, the artist sent me the mp3 asking me to post it, so I’m gladly sharing it with you all now. So, no bandcamp or streaming; as far as I can tell, this post will be the only remnant of the work remaining.

Garum Trophex – “Synapsis Sporata” (mp3)

Two satisfying submissions from Zurich’s schutz und rettung (real name Rachid Freudemann), a pseudonym that literally translates to “protection and rescue” — but which is a term used for emergency services, so would more accurately be translated as something like “search and rescue.” I don’t know much about the artist, but the music is as warm as it is taut. “unterland” evokes the qualities of a Caribou b-side; energetic playful syncopation bathed in candlelight. “dumBo Centrale” strikes some of the same notes — but with a glittery and flourishing melodic quality, and a stiffer rhythm reminiscent of something AG Cook might program. No bandcamp for this record unfortunately, but it’s streaming everywhere, and Freudemann was kind enough to let me share with you the mp3s of the songs.

schutz und rettung – “unterland” (mp3)
schutz und rettung – “dumBo Centrale” (mp3)

Ambitious and compelling ambient experimentation from Italian duo Orange and Mountains (Edoardo De Din and Lorenzo Pesci). Written and produced in the Dolomites, this is a bit of an outlier on their new album Pareti, most of which is somewhat edgier, and closer to post-rock. “Via Appia Antica” instead feels like it could be an illustration of the trek up Marmolada; a slow, shuffling initial ascent supported by the twang of dynamic rope, followed by a laborious push through high altitudes, ultimately leading to ecstatic transcendence as the summit is finally reached. Pareti is out now for streaming and on bandcamp.

Orange and Mountains – “Via Appia Antica” (bc)

Last but certainly not least is a brilliant tune from Finnish Planum Collective, comprising producers Recue and Tuune Pauler, and brass player Aki Himanen. This is their first song as a trio — a pristine piece of electronica that manages to marry sharp and busy drum programming with layer after layer of textured enveloping atmosphere, without ever running out of enough headroom for Himanen’s brass to float away. Really beautifully executed stuff, I’m eager to hear more. Out now for streaming or on bandcamp.

Planum Collective (Recue, Aki Himanen, Tuune Pauler) – “Loess” (bc)

Delightfully chonky tune submitted by Australia’s Leotrix, out now on Gud Vibrations. Sludge and euphoria all mixed up. No bandcamp unfortunately, but out for streaming all over.

Leotrix – “Dub for Moving On” (sc)

Two elegant and atmospheric pieces submitted recently by Icelandic artist, skurken (real name Jóhann Ástuson). It’s a cliche to say that Iceland itself inspires this sort of halcyon and serene electronica, but listening to these, it’s kind of hard not to imagine yourself 500 miles away from the rest of civilization lying on volcanic earth staring up at a sky-wide pale green and pink auroral display. Grab these on bandcamp as part of skurken’s latest full length Nótt, out earlier this year on Touched Music.

skurken – “Móatún 7” (bc)

skurken – “Monstrum Nox” (bc)

Last up is a track that evokes the Palms Out of yesteryear. A collaboration between Australian Hydraulix and American Chef Boyarbeatz, this is classic 140, full of sharpened wubs, familiar break fills, and skittering steppy drums. Can’t be too mad at a tried and true formula when it’s properly executed. I don’t know about you, but original or not, this kind of thing can still put a nice big smile on my face. No bandcamp for this, but out for steaming all over.

Hydraulix & Chef Boyarbeatz – “Rudeboi” (sc)

Aren’t we all looking for love? A constant ringing in my ear lately has been that Jungian idea that loving someone else is easy, but loving yourself is as painful as gripping a red-hot iron. Loving someone else is an escape, but no matter how hard we try to avoid it, we eventually must return to ourselves.

I’ve written about Melbourne-based re:abel (real name Ryan Gasparini) a couple of times in the past. He sent over this bouncy lil’ roller the other day, and it’s a gem. Not overly complicated, but super infectious. Consistent with the subject matter, a brief escape to permit a little relief from the process of individuation and self actualization. No bandcamp for this one, I’m afraid, but the artist has been kind enough to let me share the mp3. Also available for streaming all over.

re:abel – “LFL” (mp3)

After a long summer vacation, I returned to this record in my inbox, sent over by an artist named To the Tide, who also makes music as Silk Static, based in Vancouver, BC. According to the artist, Sleepless Sunrise is meant to reflect those sweet mornings after a night too exciting to consciously close. Seeing the sun rise on those mornings is probably among the last swells in a series of heart gushing or positively delirious moments. It might have been the euphoria of the rave; or that intuitive bond between friends that bordered on the telepathic, keeping them rapt all night long; or just the buzz and unstoppable flutter of a new crush. But the dawn comes nonetheless, bittersweet as it might be.

Sleepless Sunrise is without doubt a romantic record, from the deeply tender and brittle closer “Flourish,” which is my favorite of the six, to the lumbering optimism of “Cathartic Koto” and traipsing serenity of “Thoughts Unclouded.” But as much as this may be a record primarily concerned with capturing the warmheartedness of a morning following a night of human connection, it could probably equally serve as a comfort for those who’ve been up all night for the opposite reasons. It could be a gentle reminder that even those hypomanic lonely nights anxiously flitting from one distraction to another can end in a nourishing cleanse of light and quiet.

Sleepless Sunrise is out now on bandcamp, or for streaming.

To the Tide – “Flourish” (sc)

First up today is this pair of strong submissions from Her Waveform, an artist from Naarm (Melbourne), Australia. Both of these are from an upcoming album, due later this year, all of which is built largely from improvised stereo track recordings with no editing after the fact. The first is a cut of gritty propulsive abstract modular techno, where the second tends towards the dreamy and transcendent side of midtempo broken beat and glitch hop. You can grab both of these on bandcamp or stream them wherever you tend to do that sort of thing.

Her Waveform – “Study” (sc)

Her Waveform – “Plictisit” (bc)

Next up is a heavenly bit of melancholy throwback euro-dance-pop. A collaboration between Danish artist The Bird (real name Yunus Rosenzweig) and True Blue (Maya Laner), whose earworm single “No Water” became a surprise rinse of mine a few years ago. Notably, Rosenzweig appears to have collaborated with a who’s who of the Danish pop-arthouse scene, and Laner is currently a member of Caroline Polachek’s excellent live band. No bandcamp for this unfortunately, but you can find it on all the streamers, and the artists have generously allowed me to share with you the mp3.

True Blue & The Bird – “Truest of Blues” (mp3)

True Blue – “No Water” (sc)

Last but not least is this energetic roller from Dutch producer not yes, a nod to the ravier side of US breaks. I don’t know anything else about not yes, but this track is a straightforward and effective dancefloor tool, so I can definitely recommend it. You can grab this on bandcamp or for streaming, but not yes has generously provided the mp3 for all the DJs out there interested in taking this for a spin.

not yes – “switchblade knife shit” (mp3)

First up this week is a patient and intricate cut of dubby electronica from Lansing, Michigan-based bioPrism, real name Josh Epperly. Implied perhaps by his pseudonym, Epperly is a biologist—specifically an ecologist—whose research has focused on the study of river insect communities. His fascination with the natural world has informed his music, with the aim of reflecting the complexity of living systems through sound design. You can grab this on bandcamp as part of the Anthropocene EP or via the typical streamers, but Epperly has also generously allowed me to share an mp3 with you all here.

bioPrism – “Neon Mirage” (mp3)

Next up is this vibrant, playful, exploration of 9/8 polymeters from Toronto-based producer Katret. This embodies for me the inclination to jump two feet first into a puddle in the middle of a summer rainstorm; irrepressible exuberance in defiance of one’s surroundings. This is unfortunately not on bandcamp, but you can find it on all the typical streaming outlets.

Katret – “Kat Tracker” (sc)

Last up today is a track from Aaron Horn, the second offering from his upcoming debut LP All the Love Within. I’ve written about Horn a couple of times before, including posting the first single from the LP, and some of his work as part of the Grammy Nominated duo Crate Classics. This one centers around a contemplative looping vocal refrain, and is underpinned by a simple and effective combination of midtempo dembow drums and a gently meandering bass line. No bandcamp, but Horn has kindly offered up the mp3 for you all here. The song is also available on all the streamers.

Aaron Horn – “In Your Arms Again” (mp3)

More fire from Ottawan stalwart So Durand, who I’ve been following closely the last few years. I’ve covered him a few times, but this is definitely my favorite release from him thus far. 2-step ragga meets revivalist heavy bass. That kick drum also just has a perfect woody stomp. And keep an ear out for some classic loon calls. Out now on bandcamp and for streaming.

So Durand – “Révolte” (bc)

Next up is this near-perfect tune from Danish-Argentinian producer and pianist, CAPITANA, real name Nanna Fittipaldi Giobbi. Giobbi’s music is meant to reflect themes of rootlessness, as someone whose sense of social identity is divided between Scandinavia and Latin America. I can definitely identify with this notion, as a half-Dane, half-American whose life has been spent grappling with the questions of where my roots run deepest, and where to put down new ones. I may be reading into the music too literally here, but I definitely hear that rootless quality in Giobbi’s music, particularly in the airy untethered quality of her piano melodies. CAPITANA has had some heavy co-signs, having contributed piano to a King Krule record a few years ago, and recently garnering the support of the likes of Erica De Casier. No bandcamp for this, but Giobbi has been generous enough to let me share with you the mp3. It’s also available all over for streaming.

CAPITANA – “Real” (mp3)

Last up is this lovely cut of lofi house from Belgrade-based producer Scasca. This is like duvet music. True to its title, it’s delicate and warm, with no harsh edges, just comfort. I don’t know much about Scasca, but they’re current with an EP called Spring Station, of which this is one third. It’s out now on bandcamp or for streaming.

Scasca – “Give Me Just a Little Warmth” (sc)

Lush glitch and bass from Los Angeles producer Iris Ipsum, real name Sol Rosenthal. This is meticulously produced and sharp stuff, but with enough round-around-the-edges to keep it pleasant enough for a sunny day. Properly LA forward-thinking electronic music. If you’re intrigued by the production techniques on this, I also suggest you check out Rosenthal’s gumroad, which has a slew of really exciting M4L patches available for free (or whatever you wish to donate). “Subspace” is out now on bandcamp as part of the Xtilde EP; it’s also available for streaming wherever.

Iris Ipsum – “Subspace” (sc)

Another artist from LA, next up is a punchy cut from Lake Hills that sits somewhere between electro and US breaks. Plenty of waggle to this one, shimmery overtones, and a nice murky vocal undertone. All that works for me. When I heard this at first, I could sense Lake Hills was probably fond of Elektron gear; I then stumbled across this fun live in-studio session he did with edIT a few months ago, which confirmed that suspicion. Hard not to love those Swedish rytm boxes. This is out now for streaming anywhere and everywhere.

Lake Hills – “Picking Flowers” (sc)

Finally, a shift back to my side of the country with some sweet vocal electronica from Indian-born and New York-based producer and vocalist, tanvi everywhere. Inspired by a long-distance relationship, this mines the infinite well that is longing and dull heartache. No shade, it’s always effective subject matter because we’ve all pined for someone, whether separated geographically or otherwise. This is out now for streaming all over. No bandcamp, I’m afraid, but thankfully tanvi and her label have been kind enough to let me share the mp3 with you below.

tanvi everywhere – “Need You Now” (mp3)

Another soaring beauty from Sound of Fractures, aka Jamie Reddington, who I’ve covered a number of times here. Reddington’s music is much like what he reflects on socials: open, sincere, and willing to embrace the flush of emotions that comes from being a father. This is the next to final single from his interactive Scenes project, for which the final single is currently accepting submissions. Head over here to participate.

Sound of Fractures – “Meant To Be” (bc)

Next up is an touching slice of leftfield/glitch hop from Australian BKLV. Lovely sludgy stuff here, with moments of pure melancholia. Fitting, as the song was written in memory of the artist’s cat and studio buddy (listen for the audible purring). I recently spent a huge part of my savings to rescue my cat from near-certain death, so I can definitely empathize with how important and deserving of honor our feline friends are. This is out now for streaming, but you can also grab it as a free download below, thanks to the artist’s generosity.

BKLV – “Boundless” (mp3)

Last but not least is this excellent bit of club fusion from St. Louis’s Umami (aka Pajmon Porshahidy). At the encouragement of Palms Out stalwart, Bianca Oblivion, Umami merged elements reflective of their Persian heritage with breakbeat, bass, and jersey club. Straightforward and effective dancefloor material here, I expect this would hit perfectly for the right audience. This is out now for streaming, but Porshahidy has also kindly provided the mp3 for all the DJs out there eager to test this out for themselves.

Umami – “Djadou” (mp3)

I’ve posted about Mattr (aka Matthew Clugston) a few times, and I like each track he puts out more than the last. This is one is no different. Intricate and elegant electronica; all whispers, gauze, and pearls. This is from his forthcoming album, due out May 31st. It’s out now on bandcamp and for streaming, but Clugston has kindly offered it for free download below.

Mattr – “Cholia” (mp3)

More exquisitely delicate electronica, this time from San Diego-based Blaine Counter, aka Graffick. I’ve previously posted a couple of his other singles, which were both propulsive and drummy affairs. He’s back now with something more contemplative, a lush nighttime hike up Cuyamaca Peak. Heavenly stuff. From his upcoming LP, Spectra, out later this year. No bandcamp for this, but you can find it streaming, and Counter has generously allowed me to share the mp3 with you below.

Graffick – “Messages / In the Wake” (mp3)

In a nod to their heritage, Hanover-based duo pølaroit recorded a massive organ in a local church, holding chords and simultaneously pulling the organ stops, gradually filling its pipes with air until the organ’s sound had swelled immense. These recordings were incorporated into this nice bit of warm and gentle piano-driven house. No bandcamp for this unfortunately, but you can catch it on any of the streamers.

pølaroit – “The Organ, Pt. 1” (sc)

Celestial dembow from 1tbsp (real name Maxwell Byrne aka Golden Vessel). This has that satisfying balance of serenity and energy that would make it great for rolling (or just dancing) on a beach as dusk sets in. This is from 1tbsp’s upcoming Megacity1000 album, and is available now on bandcamp and for streaming; but he’s also kindly allowed me share with you the mp3 below.

1tbsp – “Starchitect” (mp3)

Next up is this bouncy hi-NRG UKG number from Danish producer SAGE D. (apparently a new pseudonym, but not sure what the old one was). Love the distortion level on the percussion here—flirting with the edge of over-distortion can really add extra life to a song. No bandcamp here, but available for streaming. Grab the mp3 below (or head to soundcloud if you’d like the WAV). There are a bunch of other strong tracks there for free download.

SAGE D. – “THE WAY U FEEL” (mp3)

Last up, but definitely not least, is this sublime track from Aaron Horn, whose Crate Classics project I posted about a couple of weeks ago. From his upcoming album All the Love Within, this is somewhere between footwork and jungle, but in the gentlest of ways, all anchored by a Horn’s delicate vocal refrain. No bandcamp for this, but Horn generously provided the mp3 below, and you can also catch this for streaming.

Aaron Horn – “UPWRDS” (mp3)

Sugary, airy jungle/liquid from Sydney duo Possible People (producers Pinz and Tulett). This is my kind of easy listening, I could listen to this sort of thing in the foreground or background all day long. This is part of Possible People’s upcoming sophomore release Drop In, out on April 26th on Sydney label Extra Spicy, but in the meantime the artist have given me permission to share the mp3 below. Preorder the record on bandcamp or find it for streaming once it’s out.

Possible People – “Fall in 2” (mp3)

Sharp left turn now to this gnarled, humid, sex anthem for club goblins, from LA’s Tony Pops. This is all sweat, sex, and leather. There’s even an interpolation of the “Thong Song” in there, which can almost never be a bad thing. No bandcamp for this, but Tony has been generous enough to let me share the mp3 below. You can also find it for streaming all over.

Tony Pops – “Playa” (mp3)

Last but not least is yet another top-notch track from Big Dope P, who rarely delivers anything I dislike. I’ve covered a couple of the other prerelease singles for his upcoming sophomore album Toto La Castagne, but this might be my favorite so far. Low-key by Doppie’s standards, and featuring vocals from Spanish artist BFlecha, it sounds like a mellow late-80s freestyle B-side for wooing the uptown girls. Few compliments could be greater coming from me. Preorder the album on bandcamp and get this and the other prerelease singles right away. The album’s out May 10th.

Big Dope P – “Event Horizon” ft. BFlecha (sc)

Scandinavian/Baltic theme to today’s roundup post. First up is this piece from Helsinki-based Jonas Verwijnen from his debut EP1. The record is a personal one, and an attempt to navigate the complexities of human interaction as someone living with autism spectrum disorder. Really beautiful stuff. No bandcamp for this, but it’s available for streaming all over.

Jonas Verwijnen – “This Is Going Down The Wrong Path” (bc)

Next up is a striking cut of broken techno from Seal Pup, about whom I know next to nothing, except that they’re Latvian, based in Riga. This is from their debut EP First Swim, which is fittingly ocean themed, intended to illustrate the chaos and brutality of the open sea. Strong first showing here. Seal Pup has generously allowed me to share the mp3 of my pick from the record below, but grab the whole thing on bandcamp or stream it all over.

Seal Pup – “Tides” (mp3)

Finally, another monster of a track from Norway’s Dr. Sepi, who I’ve posted about a couple of times now. Its title and hook may be a vague shout-out to Daft Punk, but there’s nothing French Touch about this. The track is all claws out Scandinavian mongrel carioca on PCP. Out now on bandcamp and for streaming, but Dr. Sepi has kindly provided the mp3 below for dance floor annihilation.

Dr. Sepi – “Drop it, Force it, Kill it” (mp3)

Two excellent submissions from Dutch producer Eauki (real name Merijn Bergé). “Nectarine” is a perfect sun ray of a 2-step track; all melting icicles and evaporative cloud generation; just right on one of the first warm days of the year up here where I am. “Kinda Lovin” is a brief but contemplative hit of minimalist breakbeat; a song for preparing to make the hard choice to leave while remaining filled with affection for whatever or whomever you’re leaving. No bandcamp for these, unfortunately, but Bergé has been kind enough to let me share with you the mp3s, in case you want to play these out or include them in a mix; they’re also both available for streaming.

Eauki – “Nectarine” (mp3)

Eauki – “Kinda Lovin” (mp3)

Next up, a glowing and playful piece of emotive house music from Leeds-based Stuart Thomas, aka Mountain Range. This lands somewhere between the warm plasticity of folks like Tom VR or Two Shell, and the naturalistic, blooming quality of a a mid-era Bonobo or Hebden record. Quality stuff. No bandcamp for some reason, so no luck for any DJs out there, but streamers be streaming.

Mountain Range – TwoTwoTwo (sc)

Finally, another two solid cuts of vibrant breakbeat sent over by Bosnian-born, Arizona-raised Lore. Warm, shimmering, escapist, club melancholia like this is the new bubblegum, I’d say. Nothing wrong with some weepy bubblegum. These are both from Lore’s debut four-track self-titled EP, which you can find on bandcamp or for streaming all over. The other two tracks definitely worth checking for too.

Lore & Keenan Mathias- “Anytime (Needed You)” (sc)

Lore – “Gleam” (sc)

Crate Classics is Jamie Rodigan and Aaron Horn. Both have an impressive pedigree in the music industry (Horn is the son of producer Trevor Horn, Rodigan the song of radio DJ David Rodigan). Together, they’ve got a UK #1 under their belts, and they won a grammy for their co-production on Doja Cat’s “Woman.” This track, featuring crooning from Omar+, is a slice of tight breakbeats under a sample that I just can’t put my finger on. Like so many pop songs at this tempo in the wake of PinkPantheress, the track is less than 2 minutes long, but I guess that’s all you need to make a point these days (and to be fair, there is an extended mix available, which is just over 3 minutes). Rodigan and Horn have been kind enough to let me provide the mp3 here, but go support Crate Classics on bandcamp or on the streamers.

Crate Classics – “Westside” ft. Omar+ (mp3)

Glittery hyper-breakbeat from ♥ GOJII ♥, an artist from the States (not sure where exactly) pushing a warm, welcoming, and inclusive take on technicolor uptempo dance music. I generally gravitate towards the more melancholy or gloomy, but it’s really nice to have a musical burst of optimism every so often. This provides just that. Check for this on bandcamp (and explore the rest of their catalog) or find it on any of the streamers.

♥ GOJII ♥ – “All I Wanna Do” (sc)

Lovely moody bit of broken beat house from Midlands-based producer Fdluxx (real name Fouad Dehghan). Yavosh is roughly translated from Farsi or Turkish as “slow down.” The vocal sample that runs throughout the track repeats the phrase “take it slow,” which is always worth being reminded of, whether in dealing with genral stress and anxiety, completing a difficult task, or on the road. No bandcamp here, but Fdluxx has kindly provided the mp3 here, and it’s available on all the streamers.

Fdluxx – “Yavosh” (mp3)