Vinyl Releases
MEIZHIYONG DAVE PHILLIPS LP
12 Inch
12.06.17
mei zhiyong had been instrumental in arranging dp’s tour of china. when mei zhiyong and dave phillips first met in beijing in july 2014, mei spoke not a word of english and dp not a word of chinese. and they we were to embark on an 18 city tour together. verbal communication between mei and dp was obviously difficult to say the least. it would often result in comical misunderstandings, total puzzlement or bewilderment, but it would also be a source of constant amusement with wonderful moments of instinctive trust. but then there is sound, the ultimate language… to return the favor, dp arranged a tour for mei and himself in october 2015 through 20 european cities. which is where the source material was recorded. dp then selected, dissected and transformed those recordings to work out something different, not just a collaboration, not just an amalgam of two styles, but something new for both. the compositions on this lp are the result.
INTER ALIA (LP)
12 Inch LP
21.12.16
ondon-based duo jamka return with inter alia, the latest evidence of their patient, intimate relationship with their analogue machines. from the start there’s a sense of event – we encounter clear, interlaced electronic textures, powerful analogue drones and well-placed beats. the tracks aren’t soundscapes so much as fertile electronic soundfields. patemp continuously expands in an incredibly subtle but powerful way and shows that jamka’s technical skills don’t preclude an emotional touch. on the tight and minimal anazmo, the coiled energy bears traces of minimal techno and radical electronica, but it’s beyond either of these. while the album passes quickly, it’s full of detail and the thoughtfulness and craft that have gone into it are evident. dwa offers the chance to appreciate the flow and the sheen of its analogue textures – the modernist romance of the power line hum and its promise of technological-cultural progress. jamka are known for their dynamic live performances and this energy is almost tangible on derazor. the stately igora is a strong, bold close to the album, offering surprises right till the end. the sharp, metallic details ripple through the mix and an anthemic sequence shines through. inter alia makes clear that jamka are worthy inheritors of slovakia’s proud late modernist traditions of radical architecture and electronic music. this is a work of craft that demands respect and repeated listening.