V.A. - Milnor Modern [mnlv003]

Milnormodern has been one of the most promising new vinyl labels of 2005. And we have to thank minlove for bringing these new labels to netaudio's public - just as they did with Microcosm and Sued Electronic before. MMR presents itself with six artists here, with half of them having given an appearance on the vinyl outlet already (Suffragettes, Dubnoodles, Bruno Pronsato). It's hard to pick a favorite here but if I had to, it would be Dubnoodles (Awesome!). But after listening to this release, I can't wait to here more of great minimal stuff on Milnormodern...

6x MP3, 256kbit/s, 68.2MB ZIP-file (incl. cover):
Download here.

Official text:
Our last release for 2005 features Milnor Modern, a refreshing and truly promisingly project based in Dessau, Germany; initiated and crafted by Nils Scheibe aka Treplec. Milnor has a strong focus on a style called "minimal.deep.freakin´techno" - a surprisingly concise and appropriate description that applies well to the labels output. Also the tracks on this exquisite mini compilation are taking the listener on a truly intense and freaked out mission between subtle, yet funky grooves and more repetitive structures all covered by sophisticated arrangements and inventive sound designs.
With crazed love for detail, this collection not only melts six unique, almost unusual approaches. It also delivers a couple of forceful musically statements, done by an eclectic global roster of artists from diverse musical backgrounds whose only commonality seems to be the passion for a pulsating and constantly redefining genre.

Ditch - K.Y.U [audio808.009]

Finally, audio808 offer an English version of their website. And a new release by Japan-based Ditch. Its a nice 3-tracker with an excellent minimal style. His tracks are not spectacular or straining after effect, just dryly kickin' from below. That's exactly what I like, especially with this slighly melancholic color ("Shellproof"!).

3x MP3, 192kbit/s, all together 24.9MB:
Download here.

No official text available.

Phour Trakk - Lost In Transition EP [id028]

Ideology comes with a new release-doublepack and while the german female hip hop of Fleur Earth & Frosch on id029 is absolutely nothing for my taste, this surely is. It's a mixture of ambientish breakbeat and oriental-sounding influences. In its best moments it sounds almost like a real live band ("Long Transfer", "A forest"). Don't know if there are real instruments integrated... It definitely takes you into a far foreign world with its unique soundscapes - which is always something for my listening habits. =)

12x MP3, 192kbit/s, all together 52.9MB:
Download here.

Official text:
Too long to quote - see webpage!

Sul.a - Don't Forget To Turn Off The Light [arch013]

Jeez! Another release on Archipel and it's simply kickin' my ass again! Just imagine you are running a high-quality netlabel and there's some guy living in your area producing awesome electronica. That's probably what happened to Pheek and Sul.a - the latter one releasing the first LP on Archipel. Like I just said: Awesome electronica, ass-kickin listening stuff. Get it or die...

9x MP3, 256kbit/s, 64MB ZIP-file:
Download here.

Official text:
One could have blinked and missed the entire past year, but not with Archipel. It has been a year of sound adventures and creative mass. And to celebrate we bring you two new netreleases. The first of which is local Quebec artist Sul.a's stunning Archipel debut net LP entitled "Don't Forget to Turn Off the Lights."

Markus Masuhr - Body Dismorphic Disorder [1bit011]

As usual: No comment, just the official text...

4x MP3, 192kbit/s, 31.0MB ZIP-file (incl. cover):
Download here.

Official text:
Markus' introduction to the world of bits is an EP with heavy moving breakbits, combining a reduced minimal sound setup with a composition style that is essentially pop. Not exactly the type of stuff you would want to hear on a christmas dinner with your parents - but 1bit has never been about kitsch anyway. So lean back and let Markus paint the ice flowers on your windows...

V.A. - Musica Inalterable [audio808.008]

Wow - a netlabel from Argentina. And it's a good one - audio808's latest release is a compilation featuring nine different artists, throwing in their understanding of contemporary minimal stuff. The first four tracks (recommended: Ditch & Kai) show a somewhat deeper approach while Rend and Omar Salgado deliver some heavy bombs - the first one a wonderful melancholic shuffle monster, the latter a bouncing dancefloor shaker. The journey ends with some experimental stuff by Yard and Picnic on stereo and an aweful disco-contribution by Dr.Kesler (Sorry, this is really not my cup of tea...).
Sadly, the webpage is only available in Spanish so far. And a cover-JPEG or PDF would be nice as well. But still, the music is more than just compensation for these small handicaps...

9x MP3, 192kbit/s, all together 74.2MB:
Download here.

No official text available.

Hermetico - Rutinas EP [nore007]

YES! No-response.org is back! And the long time waiting was absolutely worth it: What a phaaat release! Four tracks and each one puts you into a win-win-situation. Dark, heavy, minimal techno cuts with an excellent thick atmosphere. Might be suitable for some very special dancefloor moments!

4x MP3, 256kbit/s, all together 42.1MB:
Download here.

Official text:
The as slowest known netlabel on the world is back on track again with a small release. The one or the other might have wondered, "Hey! What´s the matter with the guys from no-response.org?" Well...not much! :-P We were simply too lazy.
Now since the summer is definately over and the days are much colder, we are forced to spent more time again in the digital world. We are opening the new release season with "Hermetico - runtinas". nore007 brings us grim, minimalistic beats into our warm snuggery, with a soft touch of melancholy.
Long live the Internet, enjoy this 4 tracker release.

V.A. - Unhappy Anniversary [unfound13]

Thanks to its strong vinyl-sister Foundsound, Unfoundsound has managed to become one of the most respected netlabels within only one year. Their first anniversary is celebrated with a monster compilation of 26 (!) tracks. And there's not even one blackout among them - no wonder, when you gather works from well-known vinyl artists. And even though there are 26 different artists, all tracks kind of sound absolutely characteristic for Unfoundsound. That's quite amazing - but you've got to be a big fan of minimal music to listen to all of these 157 minutes back-to-back.

26x MP3, 256kbit/s, 303MB ZIP-file (incl. cover):
Download here.

Official text:
we, at foundsound wanted to celebrate the first anniversary of our netlabel unfoundsound by offering something special to everybody who supported us throughout this first year. we therefore asked some of our favorite artists, most of them already recognized and not represented on the netlabel scene, to give us a single track that we would include in a compilation. the response was overwhelmingly positive. we then completed the line-up with several foundsound and unfoundsound artists. and here is the result: 2h 45mn to explore numerous genres of electronic music through 26 tracks. the best netrelease ever? we don't know. the longest? maybe!

Lomov - Fehlfarben [plx004]

Nice deep clicky shit. Nothing for a romantic candle light dinner but definitely something for those of you who like to listen closely. Trippy stuff, comes with an excellent mastering by... Twerk!



5x MP3, high quality VBR, 60.5MB ZIP-file (incl. cover):
Download here.

Official text (straight to the point):
Smooth, deep and slightly melancholic music for your winter nights !

Gate Zero - 6 Rooms [gruen13]

I've always liked the gruen releases more than the stadt ones on Stadtgruen. This one is another reassurance of my attitude: Though I don't get the efforts the Stadtgruen guys put into some pseudo-intellectual conceptual background, the music stands for itself. It's relaxed but not depressing; just puts you into a nice mood. There are a lot of ambient elements with some glimpses of deep minimal clicks'n'beats. However conceptual - this one simply sound good!

6x MP3, 192kbit/s, 30.7MB ZIP-file (incl. cover):
Download here.

Official text:
Gate Zero comes with six impressions of walls, ceilings and grounds - or let's say what lies within them. Music about cubes and atmospheres...but rooms don't have to be cubic, do they?