A Love From Outer Space

 

15 years ago, Andrew Weatherall and Sean Johnson founded the club series A Love From Outer Space, which quickly developed into a British institution, expanded and reached an international audience. ALFOS took a slower, more sustained approach at a maximum tempo of 122 bpm and became known for his eclectic and hypnotic sound, blending everything from cosmic and house to dub and post-punk.

Sean Johnson has now put together an anniversary sampler that reflects the music of ALFOS over the last 15 years, which stands for unforgettable club nights that I was unfortunately never able to attend. Sean Johnson has now put together an anniversary sampler that reflects the music of ALFOS over the last 15 years, which stands for unforgettable club nights that I was unfortunately never able to attend. The double album contains numerous tracks that are sometimes lost or only available at horrendous prices. The album will be released on Valentine's Day.

One Up From Five

 

Another great piece of music was released at the end of the week by London's tici taci label. A few songs by Sons Of Slough, a band featuring label owner Duncan Gray and Ian Weatherall. It is the result of a preparation for Convenanza festival this year. This one shows another time how great electronic music can be. A steady beat mixed with synth snippets for a short excursion in another sphere. Not to bad to start into the Sunday with a cup of good coffee.

Y Llwynog

 

Tici Taci is a British record label and well known for their releases in electronic music. This label is at work since ten years and now they celebrate their anniversary with two albums containing stuff they released during these years. I discovered many artists in the last years and especially Duncan Gray and The Long Champs were featured on this pages. Y Llwynog is a song by The Long Champs released in 2016 and to be frankly new to me. As far as I know the title is welsh and means fox. And like a fox this song creeps into my ears. A fantastic Peter Hook-like bass line is the center of this song where harp and guitar appears to make this song unique. If you want more, you can get it here.

Nodcast

While I am typing these word I watch the quarter final of Champions League between Manchester City and Bayern Munich. I have to admit that I don't like any of those teams and I am steady watching the game. Our players, who are highly praised here in Germany, are showing what they can do today. Just playing along and not having the opportunities in the first half to keep the game open. No matter how it ends, I'm more on City's side than Bayern's. Anyway this is a new release by Duncan Gray and another great electronic release by him. Warm synths and an easy flow that can make you an easy start into a new day.

Monday's Long Song

 

The past years have seen Duncan Gray champion a sludgy, slow-mo take on dance music that favors chuggy bass guitars and psychedelic sound palettes and drag and drop samples. He was featured at this place several times and often with new releases that were all over the usual average of new releases in electronic music. Now he's back with a new release on London's tici taca label. Short Haul is a bassy song inspired by the sound of Bill Laswell and Eno's/Byrne's Bush of Ghosts with great guitar parts in the second half. Anyway a one of the best songs this year so far.

Monday's Long Song

 

Another new release I got aware last week was the Hyena Hopscotch Remixes a remix project of an album London based DJ and producer Pete Bones released earlier this year. The original album was hybrid of industrial funk with a massive pop feeling and psychedelic elements. Now the re-work of this album is made by today's most talented DJ's like Duncan Gray, Justin Robertson and Jezebell. This album will be released next week and will reach probably in my years end list.

Drowning In Acid

 

After one week of struggling with with Covid 19 it was the first day without symptoms. I didn't expected that this virus could keep me away from things I used to and stole my power for thing I used to to do easily. And today is the first day I can step out of my home although I only have to walk to the test center half a mile away. I can't describe the feeling going out again and take a walk.

London's tici taci label who brought us electronic highlights during the last years like Duncan Gray or The Long Champs have released the latest album by Staffordshire's DJ and producer Jack Butters. It is electronic dance floor music with a massive touch of a bluesy/country twang guitar and far better than many other new releases. 

May Your Toes Kiss The Sand Again

 

I got aware of this song by cleaning my inbox from promotion mails the other day. I gave that mail promoting the new release by Duncan Gray a listen because it was released on the same label who gave us the superb album by The Long Champs. Gray is a British DJ, producer and founder of Tici Taci label and known for several collaborations with Sean Johnson. May your toes kiss the sand again has a remarkable bass and is inspired by Latin grooves and a perfect soundtrack to start in a bank holiday. Probably the best title of this year so far.