Wagon Christ - Musipal

Label: Ninja Tune
Released: 2001
Style: Leftfield, Breaks, IDM, Downtempo

"Vibert Returns, this time round on Ninja Tune, with a follow up to his Virgin-released 'Tally-HO' LP. Marking a return to upright feelgood funkiness that made his name with 'Throbbing Pouch' and 'Big Soup', this is purely joyful, easy music. Elements of Hip-Hop, breaks and after-hours chillouts, this is such an incredibly undemanding LP, beautifully constructed, seamlessly flowing and always with a heavy dose of feel-good engineering. Recommended." - Boomkat

Tracklisting:

1 The Premise (3:28)
2 Bend Over (4:46)
3 Tomach (4:31)
4 Thick Stew (7:47)
5 Natural Suction (7:33)
6 Musipal (4:00)
7 It Is Always Now, All Of It Is Now (4:55)
8 Receiver (3:24)
9 Boney L (2:01)
10 Cris Chana (4:50)
11 Tomorrow Acid (3:42)
12 Step To The Music (6:30)
13 Perkission (5:31)

Link

Bochum Welt - R.O.B. (Robotic Operating Buddy)

Label: Rephlex
Released: 2008
Style: Breakbeat, Electro, IDM

"Long-standing Braindance aficionado Gianluigi Di Costanza finds himself at something of a crossroads on this release. On one disc he looks back to his Rephlex past, compiling all the rare, hotly sought after material you'd otherwise have to turn towards eBay for, while on the other he offers a glimpse of the direction in which his music's headed, with a selection of new tracks and mixes. Turns out these forking paths pretty much wind up at the same destination: exactly the kind of futuristic electro/techno/whatever amalgam of electronic disciplines you've come to love and trust the Rephlex stable for. There's something timeless about the Rephlex sound (and Bochum Welt is one of the label's key ambassadorial figures): not necessarily because it never gets old, but rather because these guys just don't feel the need for arbitrary change. There's certainly an argument to be made in favour of that mindset, after all, who really wants to hear electronic artists whose musical direction is dictated by the latest software updates they've installed? No such problems here. Both discs present a sci-fi tinged vision of a future that never quite happened, but electronica devotees will doubtless find themselves right at home in this synth squelching nonplace, comprehensively running through dystopian soundscapes, hotwired circuitry and the kind of beats that'll have you pining simultaneously for the mid-nineties and the year 2537 AD." - Boomkat

Tracklisting:

Disc 1:

1 Flag (3:00)
2 Robotic Operating Buddy (3:36)
3 Saint (Dmix) (5:05)
4 8221SB (3:23)
5 Interlude (Extended) (3:37)
6 DR2D (5:16)
7 Gyromite (4:28)
8 Test Mode (2:49)
9 HC-012 (4:45)
10 Family Computer Robot (4:11)
11 Fcs (6:17)

Disc 2:

1 Extra Life (3:40)
2 Avtomaticesk (Edit) (2:23)
3 Mechanique (Version) (3:11)
4 Paph (2:43)
5 Asteroids Over Berlin (3:19)
6 Puck (2:50)
7 Lunakhod (2:57)
8 B2 (2:59)
9 Desktop Robotics (4:31)
10 Leafs Brought By The Wind (3:19)
11 Asteroids Over Berlin (Live) (2:19)
12 Board 2 (3:30)
13 Hug Me Tight (2:56)
14 Greenwich (3:54)
15 Fortune Green (3:20)
16 Radiopropulsive (3:46)
17 That's Mutuality (2:39)
18 Feelings On A Screen (3:01)
19 Arnos Park (3:16)
20 La Nuit (Slumber Mix) (3:08)

Link (Disc 1)
Link (Disc 2)

Daedelus - Denies The Day's Demise

Label: Ninja Tune
Released: 2006
Style: Breakbeat, Experimental

"If 'Exquisite Corpse' firmly asserted itself as the Daedelus hip-hop album, then 'Denies The Days Demise' is some kind of mutant, electro-tropicalia - eschewing the collaboration rich approach of old and proffering a heady stew of all things Southern Hemisphere. The favoured name of LA-based Alfred Weisberg-Roberts, Daedelus proved his sampling credentials with the rimy beats of 'Exquisite Corpse' - and whilst a similar strain of structure is evident, the samples are much less conspicuous, leading the man himself to tag it as "Daedelus naked". Opening with 'At My Heels', Daedelus submerges the listener in a fog of multi-instrumentation that invokes the messy clatter of The Avalanches - but where they relied on an endless cycle of crazy samples, Daedelus has crafted everything from scratch, lending proceedings a frenetic intensity that is as syrupy thick as it is appealing. Pulling in strands from all his previous releases, 'Denies The Day Demise' rattles along at a fair old pace; with the Brazilian bloc-party of 'Sundown', looped-lament of 'Viva Vida' and chopped bass-clarinet of 'Bahia' all hitting the spot with a level of kinetic charm that propels you on throughout and recalls the sun-bleached aspects of Nobody's 'And Everything Else...'. Elsewhere, 'Sawtooth EKG' takes a juddering set of strings and builds a swooping delight around the solipsistic core, 'Like Clockwork Springs' pulses like a mosquito-light on a summers evening, whilst album closer 'Never None The Wiser' is a blast of vitamin C orchestration after a proper gorgeous build-up. Denial is futile..." - Boomkat

Tracklisting:

1 At My Heels (3:19)
2 Sundown (3:18)
3 Nouveau Nova (3:36)
4 Viva Vida (3:18)
5 Samba Legrand (5:48)
6 Like Clockwork Springs (2:46)
7 Lights Out (3:12)
8 Bahia (3:35)
9 Our Last Stand (5:21)
10 Patent Pending (2:35)
11 Sawtooth EKG (2:53)
12 Dreamt Of Drowning (2:43)
13 Sunrise (2:56)
14 Petite Samba (1:57)
15 Never None The Wiser (3:38)

Link

Aleksi Perälä - Project V

Label: Rephlex
Released: 2007
Style: IDM, Electro, Breakbeat

"After a hiatus of what seems like far too many years, Aleksi Perala (better known as Ovuca / Astrobotnia) makes a return to the Rephlex imprint with a brand new body of work under his own name. This is classic Reohlex territory - beautifully produced Aphex variations that lean on the side of warm, padded basslines, emotive melodies and propulsive arrangements that sit somewhere between acid, IDM, electro and classic soundtrack music. Last track "Sunbath" even harks back to the heady days of classic drill'n'bass braindance - something that's produced a good few knowing smiles in the office this afternoon. Good stuff - Rephlex heads take note!" - Boomkat

Tracklisting:

1 Rocking Chair (2:10)
2 Spacetime (2:34)
3 Path (4:23)
4 Muska (1:52)
5 Purple Rain (9:29)
6 Underwater Carousel (1:35)
7 Autumn Morning (4:14)
8 Dark Energy (4:53)
9 Lagrange Point (3:23)
10 Feast (3:11)
11 Black Leicester (4:27)
12 Sunbath (2:52)

Link

Astrobotnia - Part 03

Label: Rephlex
Released: 2002
Style: Breakbeat, IDM, Ambient

"11 tracks wide, Astrobotnia 3 falls somewhere between the ambient strokes of Part One and the mentalist outbursts of Part 2, a kind of outer space sci-fi Tron encounter of the Aphexiest kind. Head straight for ‘Portable Motor Home’ - eyewatering mishapen electronic ambience and eerie breaks, classic aquatic electronica, pure loveliness. ‘Bifidus’ continues along similar ground – all detuned keys and ‘I Care Because You Do’ breaks, nostalgic, melancholy, uplifting future music that will make you happy. We promise. It’s not all sweetness and Light, however, ‘C*nt’ gives it some junglist strokes pitched up and down, messed around for yr pleasure and reassembled for downtempo bezerkerists everywhere to tango to. Ace." - Boomkat

Tracklisting:

1 Muminaa (1:06)
2 B (4:23)
3 Acidophilus II (3:06)
4 Portable Motor Home (3:52)
5 Drops (5:03)
6 Thoarse (4:57)
7 Esther Calling Jennifer (5:05)
8 Bifidus (4:04)
9 Leftovers (3:27)
10 Cunt (3:36)
11 I Am Mr. P (2:51)

Link

Astrobotnia - Part 02

Label: Rephlex
Released: 2002
Style: Breakbeat, IDM

"Astrobotnia 2 is a set of six untitled songs that follow the celebrated hype of the Astrobotnia series. Unlike Astrobotnia 1's ambient-oriented electronica, part 2 is an agressive world of electronic beats, where breakbeats dominate every song. Nowhere had the term "braindance" been so clearly established as it is on these six tracks, which bring new sounds and interesting beats through their every second of progression. The songs are a mind boggling world of fun, with electronic beats going all over the place and a sinister feeling abounding the entire EP. In "A3," electronic beats begin the song for the usual mind boggling as disturbing human blowing sounds develop and synthesizer harmonies begin to create an entirely different song, and all different sounds break down into one big fest for the mind to dance along to. In "B1," we hear the familiar "Whoo, Yeah!" electronic sounds that disguise the dark ambient oriented background of the song, as beats envelop the entire masterpiece, and the song goes through an insane amount of styles. In "B2," strange voices are heard throughout the entire song as they speak in a strange language (reminiscent of spanish, but most likely made up) as jungle beats abound throughout the track, in a more slowed down tempo than your typical jungle song. Hectic yet slower than usual. The EP ends with a more agressive track that has its breakbeats heights and lows as atmospheric sounds bring upon reflection. The entire album is a clear masterpiece and one of the most amazing electronic breakthroughs heard in recent years, blending in typical electronic styles with mind boggling sensations, atmospheric sounds, a sinister mood and layers upon layers of different sounds to hear and experience. Go pick it up now." - Kludge

Tracklisting:

1 Untitled (4:59)
2 Untitled (3:49)
3 Untitled (4:36)
4 Untitled (4:36)
5 Untitled (4:58)
6 Untitled (4:55)

Link

Astrobotnia - Part 01

Label: Rephlex
Released: 2002
Style: Breakbeat, IDM, Ambient

"Who exactly is Astrobotnia? Described in the press release as a ‘Mystery Rephlex Artist’, it seems almost inconceiveable that anybody but Richard D James could be behind this staggeringly well-produced material. OK, so that’s precisely what we’re meant to think, right? But, alas, you really would have to conclude that no one but the Twin is capable of production at this level. Take ‘Everyone’, for example, percussive treatments lifted straight off Icct Hedral, sped up funky drummerisms stretched into Drukqs-flavoured breakbeat mentalisms, all the while accompanied by pure Aphex strings and harmonies. Or ‘Miss June’s’ stripped crisp tweaks and slight harmonic adjustments that ever so slightly Jar, all thrusted so unbeleivably effortlessly into perfection. As if to confuse or affirm your suspicions even further, the closing ‘Applause’ even sounds as if it employs the same Prepared Piano that sprinkled Drukqs with it’s Satie-esque charm late last year. To conclude, this really has to be the Twin, and if it ain’t.....erm....Rephlex have just landed themselves the debut electronic material of the decade. Essential." - Boomkat

Tracklisting:

1 Lightworks (3:33)
2 Hallo (4:07)
3 Everyone (3:50)
4 Acidophilus (4:37)
5 Untitled (4:02)
6 The Wing Thing (3:11)
7 Miss June (4:38)
8 Sweden (4:27)
9 Applause (3:20)

Link