MethLab Mix Series // Subsistenz vs The Sect Music

Our next instalment of the MethLab mix series is a mighty offering indeed - a collaborative creation that sees the light of day for the first time here. Mixed by The Sect, representing their label 'The Sect Music' and then mashed up by Dean Rodell, representing 'Subsistenz'. Featuring exclusively tracks from their labels, and packed almost exclusively full of dubs and forthcoming tunes - this is an incredibly special mix. Sounding like a slice of the future, and delivering swathes of Neurotechnic DnB from - it's truly representative of the sound of Berlin's DnB underbelly right now. Tracks from The Sect, Machine Code, Dean Rodell and Current Value dominate the mix - serving as a weighty declaration of their manifesto. Prepare for your delivery into the future of DnB...

For bookings for The Sect, Machine Code, Dean Rodell or Current Value - contact jef@methlab-agency.com. We're taking offers for Winter // Spring right now...

Current Value // Tokyo's Dommune TV Livecast Interview and Set Recording

Current Value's 'Stay on This Planet' Japan and Australia tour continues at great velocity, with shows in Nagoya and Osaka behind him, as well as this incredible livecast for Japan's MASSIVE Dommune TV. This interview and mix went out to about 10,000 people, truly embedding CV into Japanese culture. During the interview, he breaks the news that he's planning to start his own label at some point in the future, enabling him to become more experimental than ever before.

You can watch the interview and mix by following this link

The interview is at approx 36 minutes in, and the performance at 2hrs 38minutes.

We're taking European dates for the Stay on This Planet tour now - so get in touch with jef@methlab-agency.com

Current Value // Stay on This Planet Album Tour

We're proud to announce the first MethLab tour for one of our artists in both Japan and Australia. In celebration of the launch of his most recent and widely praised album ' Stay on This Planet'; Current Value hitting the shores of the Far East in November! His cultural mission to further educate foreign dancefloors in the art of precision filtered breaks and extreme synth manipulation starts in Nagoya on 8th November, and finishes in Perth on the 30th. 

You can see from the October release roundup the extent to which CV has been busy recently, with a stack of releases for both his DnB and Dubstep sounds, as well as his partnership with Dean Rodell under the Machine Code moniker. With the Machine Code album set to drop at the end of the year, and subsequent tour, the booking schedule is set to be quite tight. However, we're now looking for a few more dates for the Stay on This Planet tour - to continue the tour in Europe through December // January. So it's time to get booking if you want to be involved in bringing Current Value to your city!

Contact: Jef@methlab-agency.com for availability

MethLab // October News Roundup

Some seriously sick things have happened and are yet to happen this month - plenty of incredible releases, intensely good mixes and great parties. Loads of activity from the MethLab DnB crew, with a slew of sick releases across the spectrum of the genre to keep Drum and Bass parties across the globe moving! Also, we have new Dubstep from Current Value, one of the first downtempo tunes from The Sect, a preview of the evolution of Oyaarss's sound into a live band. Loads of incredible sounds to process! 

// NEWS                                                                                                                                            //

Oyaarss

Oyaarss has redeveloped his incredible heavy electronic show into a more live context, having formed a band to reinterpret his sound. The collaboration with the Jerusalem Burners brings Oyaarss's sound to life in a completely new way, and they have released a video for the track 'Maldugans' (The original of which was released on the Ad Noiseam release 'BADS' earlier this year and you can listen to here). Oyaarss is still available for one man electronic live sets, but is also available for full live performances with the band. Contact jef@methlab-agency.com for more information.



Plaster

Fresh back from their performance at Taipei's Onsite festival in Taipei; some footage of Plaster's full AV show in collaboration with Lasal have started emerging. The results are completely mind-blowing and we can't recommend you watch the videos below enough. We're now looking for European dates for Plaster, so get in touch if you want to bring this show to your city - jef@methlab-agency.com

You can also listen to the latest of the new MethLab Autumn Mix series from them below - featuring a complete live set recorded at Moscow's Arma17 club.







// RELEASES          (Alphabetical by Artist)                                                                                //

Cause4Concern

Long-running champions of the Drum and Bass sound, Cause4Concern have released a 2nd remix EP. Featuring remixes from well known artists such as Neonlight and Mob Tacticsl; the EP deals out 4 well reimagined steppers that faithfully elaborate on the strengths of the original material. The remix EP is available now from Beatport, and you can buy it here. Cause4Concern are currently back in the studio, working on new material that will see the light of day in the coming months.




Cooh // Balkansky

Two quite different releases from Ivan Shopov through his main aliases, Cooh and Balkansky. Prspct delivers another dancefloor crusher through Cooh's collaboration with C-Netik, that we're sure will quite confidently tear its way through a multitude of ravers in the coming months. On a completely different tip, the Balkansky - Dubsidia linkup ventures into 'EDM' territory, with big arena style synths against cut up beats and the kind of edits heavily associated to the genre. Both releases are out now and you can buy the PRSPCT release here and the Soul & Ice release here.




Current Value

The last couple of months have seen Current Value on true form, flexing his newfound trademark sound with confidence and a series of truly excellent releases that effectively showcase his current direction. We're building up now to his Japan & Australia tour that will be running through November and the first part of December, and looking to fill more tour dates in Europe across December and January.

First up is another Dubstep outing for Current Value, in collaboration with Cyberoptics for his recent Soular album. Another synthetic journey into the CV music mechanism, with layers of grinding synths gnashing their teeth atop a solid beat. You can grab the release here. 



Also now available, in true form to Subdivision Media's nature, are several incredible tracks from Current Value, Machine Code and brothers in Techno-fuellled DnB - The Sect (check further down the blog for The Sect's incredible offering). First up is a free download from Current Value's Stay on This Planet album. The track 'Plasticines' is one of our favourites from the release, so we recommend you grab it straight away from below while it's still up for free!
Current Value also features on the 'Burn The Machine EP' with 2 incredible tracks. The EP is out in advance of the incredible BTM festival at Berlin's Subland club at the beginning of November. MethLab crew will be there in force, so represent and ensure you get down there if you're local. But before that, get your hands on the EP here!





Dean Rodell

One of DnB's most under-rated producers, and lifelong contributor of incredible and original Techno, DnB and Dubstep - Dean Rodell - is working in full force at the moment. Last month saw his painstakingly developed and exquisite reimagining of one of Hecq's pieces, and he follows that up with 3 more excellent offerings this month. Our favourite of these is possibly the collaboration with Ad Noiseam's latest signing, Monolog, for their album '2 Dots Left' which will be out on 21st October, but it's a difficult call to make because also out on 21st October is Dean's remix of one of our favourite tracks from earlier this year - 'Recall' on The Sect Music. DR does this track justice, anchoring it firmly into the Techno DnB structure, whilst retaining the oldschool rave and hardcore vibes that we loved so much in the original.

If you're impatient for these releases, then you can grab the Techno-DnB label Perkussiv's latest release here - featuring excellent original tracks from both Dean Rodell and The Sect.



Machine Code

Machine Code are also appropriately featuring on the Burn The Machine EP, with a track that we can only describe as Aggressively Acidic Jungle! So sick.. we recommend again that you buy this EP immediately here!






The Sect

After a bit of a Summer hiatus, The Sect are back on full form with 2 very solid releases for the BTM EP (here) and Perkussiv's Inner Sense EP (here). The Sect continue to pioneer their hybrid Techno-DnB sound and push their own boundaries. We're really exicited to see the gears of The Sect Music label start grinding again, with the previously mentioned remix of Recall from Dean Rodell, and another very strong remix from fellow crossover artist C.A.2k, who is on remixing duties for The Sect's track 'Protected'. TSMDIGI004 is out on 21st October.

And if you've ever wondered what The Sect would sound like making something other than DnB, now you can find out - as they've released a downtempo track with a singer called Joanna Syze. Check it below!

MethLab // September Release Update

Autumn is here, and while there may be a few more sunny moments creeping in before Summer's final termination; our minds and ears at MethLab are turning to the more sultry sounds that sit so aptly in the dimming Winter light. Also awakening from post-festival induced coma season; many of our artists have been busy preparing a fresh round of releases designed to inspire and fill listeners with the kind of kinetic energy that demands release on the dancefloor..

PLASTER                                          //

It's been a busy month for Plaster, with 3 massive releases with well respected backing on Andrea Parker's Touchin'Bass label, Stroboscopic Artefacts and most recently SonuoS. Plaster continue to push their unique blend of darkly textural sounds through multiple mediums, contrasting between Ambience, Techno and Electro. With the backing of some of the most relevant Techno labels around at the moment, and remixes from the likes of the legendary Substance - this duo continues to build their impressive mark on the electronic landscape.

All 3 releases are out now!

For bookings: jef@methlab-agency.com

Hecq                                             //

One of the most respected sound designers working today, and truly an inspired creator of music that is happy to move both within serene ambience, and the more rugged terrain of broken beats and cut up breaks. This month saw the release of Horror Vacui, on Hymen records - a collection of unreleased pieces from the past years, and backed up with some remarkable remixes, including a particularly exemplary slice of Dean Rodell's mind. Horror Vacui is out now and available in good record stores.

To book Dean Rodell, contact: Jef@methlab-agency.com




The Sect Music                                             //

The Sect's label is back for this remix EP, with longterm Berlin collaborator Dean Rodell on remix duties alongside C.A.2k. The result is a well-suited combination, with both Dean and C.A.2k bringing very fresh and unique takes on The Sect's already powerful source material. This digital release will be available soon, so keep your ears to the ground and listen out for the far away pounding of intense Tech-focussed DnB!

For booking The Sect, or for The Sect Music label events - contact jef@methlab-agency.com

Also - on October 12th, a 2nd The Sect Music label night will be happening in Subland, Berlin, featuring the mighty Concord Dawn as a special guest. So if you're local then get down there, and if not, then get a flight ;)

Subsistenz                                            //


Later in the year, in November, will be an incredibly well formed festival in Berlin, at the ever more established Subland club. The 2nd edition of the Burn The Machine festival will feature many artists from the MethLab roster, as well as some incredibly special guests such as Svarte Greiner (a personal favourite). To celebrate the approach of this incredible event, the Burn The Machine EP will be released, and the first preview is now up. Comprising a particularly jagged piece of music from Current Value, that remains true to the theme of mechanical destruction. Brutal and uncompromising synthwork, like an agitated mental patient chained down to relatively minimal percussion.

This release is the first since Current Value's latest LP 'Stay on This Planet', which was released earlier in the month and has been widely praised. You can also listen to the album below!

For bookings for Current Value, please contact: jef@methlab-agency.com

MethLab Artist News & Release Update // MethLab Summer Mix Series

Well, we've attended some blinding festivals this year - Boomtown, Fusion, Festival Nowa Musyka to mention some - and had our brains musically splattered across various fields around Europe. We hope that you've all had an awesome time so far, and that there's still a little life in the old beast of Summer yet....

But looking at recent times and into the future, there is an awesome array of releases to enjoy from MethLab artists - all of whom are bookable for the Autumn / Winter months....

//    Current Value - Stay on This Planet

Dropping on 2nd September, this creature is full of the kind of experimental percussion that everyone knows and loves from Current Value. 'Stay on This Planet' looks to cement his status as one of DnB's leading crossover artists; unfraid to foray into unknown territories, as well as unleash his staple sounds. 

Current Value will be touring Australia and Japan between 8th November - 2nd December. But we're open for bookings in October / December as part of the European side of the tour - so get in touch asap about that if you're interested.

To whet your appetite, check out the latest Subcast, featuring tracks from the new album!

//    Plaster - Monad XV

Out now! Plaster's unique brand of darkly textural Techno sits right at home in the Stroboscopic Artefacts camp. With this release series seeing the likes of Tommy Four Seven, Dadub, and Kangding Ray - all of whom are notorious in the experimental Techno scene for very good reasons. This release sees the pair tighten their ambience into four tracks of tight and exploratory Techno, which is set to blend so perfectly with their unique live show visuals. 
Following a brief tour in Taipei at the end of September, they will be available for gigs in both Europe and Australia. Get in touch with jef@methlab-agency.com for more info.

Check out one of the tracks in full along with a fan-made video below!

//    MethLab Summer Mix Series - The Teknoist

Finally the meat towards the end of the blog - the latest instalment of the MethLab Summer mix series. We have just a few more in our series left before the end of the Summer... this one will tear your nuts off...

TANK ALLIGATOR… Sounds like some fucking hefty killing machine right? Well that is what it does sounds like. A monster perhaps part mecha warship and part prehistoric immortal killing machine. This is obviously a creation of The Teknoist. His new solo album of said title has just been signed to perhaps the most influential hardcore label of all time, INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH RECORDS and is going to be appearing for war very soon.

While your waiting for this to be available, we at MethLab have a summer core mix from Miike, aptly titled ‘Kick Drum Sledgehammer’. It features a couple of tracks from the new album and a whole heap of brand new material from his friends around the globe.

As if that wasn’t enough, don’t forget that Miike’s Core label, Niinja Columbo has just released it’s latest ep also (featuring MethLab artists Dr.Bastardo and Ladyscraper). Available at the hardstore, beatport and all good stockists.

Miike is looking for as many shows as possible from now leading up to the release and around it and if you have ever seen and heard Miike’s DJ/Live shows, you’ll know that you want to get on to him asap. Especially with this brand new audio artillery.

//    Enduser European Tour

Enduser's European tour is now filled up for September, but we have just a few dates available in October - to bring the breakbeat surgeon to your city, contact - ash@methlab-agency.com


//    Hecq - Horror Vacui

(not the original album artwork)

Legend of diverse audio, from ambiently serene to intricately brutal - Hecq - has a new release coming out in September. Horror Vacui will be unleashed on the long-running and much respect-worthy 'Hymen' records and comprises a number of unreleased gems from the past 10 years, including an incredible remix from Subdivision and MethLab's Dean Rodell... With an aptly fitting name - 'Horror Vacui' means the 'fear of empty space'... resulting in filling up a piece of artwork so completely that no space is left. We believe, reference to Ben Boysen's attention to detail at a microlevel with his music, even if the filling of the space is with moments of negative space.  This is a totemic compilation of truly excellent music, and is a must buy for anyone who possesses ears. Listen for yourself in the minimix that Hecq has pulled together masterfully below -

New Release // The Sect Music vs Subsistenz Pt.2

And so comes the second part of the collaboration between the  DnB crews that haunt Berlin - The Sect Music and Subsistenz. When 2 of the finest and most forward thinking labels in this Neuroid hybrid of Techno and Drum and Bass come together; expectations are high... and we are not disappointed. In my opinion, Machine Code's 'Red Unit' represents one of the finest examples of a tilted form of this long running genre in recent times. It sounds like a form of impatient Techno, that's given up on a slower pace of life and decided to make better friends with a particularly tight snare. This is a track that resounds with clarity and both production and mastering give it the kind of high definition that begs to be heard on a huge and well balanced system. An interestingly syncopated beat in combination with squelching synths that sound like they are escaping being crushed by the weight of time itself, are set amidst the kind of beeps that are so resonant with Machine Code's sound and easily conjure the vision of being deep within some the efficient confines of a relentless machine factory. This is truly future music. 

Coupled with this are 2 tracks from him known as Current Value, which provide much the standard that we've come to expect from this towering figure of an artist.  The excellently named 'Flip Step' (it should have a genre of its own), provides a restrained assault of synth and scientifically ordered percussion. A brief but brilliant half-step breakdown in the middle of the track provides some much needed air, before the assault continues. The remaining track 't350' is somewhat of a slightly newer sounding direction for CV and wouldn't go amiss at a big arena DnB rave - in both the friendly pads and the call/answer lead. I'm guessing that these 2 tracks are a prelude of what we can expect on the new Current Value album later this Summer.. but let's eagerly wait and see.

Buy the EP HERE

For bookings for both Machine Code, Current Value and The Sect - contact: jef@methlab-agency.com

New Releases // May Roundup

"April is the cruellest month..." apparently.. but for the MethLab roster, it was a pretty awesome month - seeing the releases one of the year's finest albums - Rebirth, from Cooh (one of our favourites alongside Machinecode's Under The Sun). May is set to continue this trend of sheer awesomeness, with the first part of the collaboration between Berlin's The Sect Music and Subsistenz out now, and a slew of other excellent releases incoming. Check below for some tasty previews of what's out now and what you can expect later this month...
To book any of the artists below contact: jef@methlab-agency.com


Current Value // Flip Step (The Sect Music vs. Subsistenz pt.II)

The first part of this excellent collaborative ep is available to buy from Beatport now, following its release last week. But if this left you hungry for more, then check out one of the forthcoming tracks for the second part, due at the end of the month. 




Current Value // So Loud / Go Offline / Experiment / Gear Up (Subtrakt)

Forthcoming on Subdivision Media's dubstep element - Subtrakt; comes this shuddering wall of technically precise machinestep from Current Value. Available to buy from 13/05/2013 from here. CV remains one of the most consistent producers in the scene, with his unique sound flourishing at slower tempos - providing space to concentrate on the detail of his off the wall synthesis. Current Value is available for Dubstep as well as DnB sets, so get in touch with jef@methlab-agency.com to get him to your event.




Dj Producer // Modus Operandi (Third Movement)

An absolute monster of a tune - tightly undulating breakbeats wrapped around a deliciously chunky kick. Like some bastard offspring of Crossbreed, tight halfstep DnB, Techno and Hardcore... it is nothing short of a dancefloor tremor in the high end of the richter scale. Get your hands on it on May 16th...





Balkansky // A Storm (ABCD - Free Release)

The ever generous production machine, Ivan Shopov, has released a 2 track experimental E.P. under his Balkansky moniker which you can grab for free here. 2 tracks of lovely murky downtempo electronica to evoke visions of the tense interactions of particles and static discharge of Spring storms. You can also enjoy the official video that complements it below.





Optiv & CZA // Journey Inwards EP (Cause4Concern Recordings)

Optiv (One part of Cause4Concern) in collaboration with CZA are set to put out another of their trademark forays into explorative DnB. 3 tracks with different takes on the sound, varying between minimally restrained and emotively phrased. A true demonstration of their production prowess, this EP isn't to be missed - check out the previews below and keep an eye out for a release date!





Drum Kid // Gravitation / Arel / Racks (Space Research)

Last but not least is another of Ivan Shopov's pseudonyms - Drum Kid. A project that started life as making tracks at airports and on his various journeys across the world, and focusses on minimal techno. If techno is your thing (and it's certainly ours), then check these out... and buy them here

New Release // The Sect Music vs. Subsistenz

An awesome collaboration of 2 of Berlins best evolved DnB labels is set for launch next Monday (6th May 2013), with some serious technoid business from the unarguable pioneers of the sound Current Value, The Sect and Machinecode. This EP represents the first of a 2 part release - with the first appearing through Subsistenz, and the 2nd through new, and uncompromisingly solid label - The Sect Music, at the end of the month. It's been an amazing year so far for releases from the Berlin DnB crew, with Machinecode's excellent 'Under The Sun' album seeing the light of day (or dark of night), the launch of The Sect's own label and the continuation of a heavy schedule of releases set for the coming months - including a new album from Current Value and further releases lined up from The Sect.  Check the previews of the release below, and get ready to order this essential wax on Monday.

New Release // Cooh - Rebirth LP

 Cooh's latest L.P. has is imminently to drop on Panacea's revered Position Chrome label, and my, my, my.. like a bag of angry demons, it's struggling at the hemlines to contain the sheer weight of the punishing DnB contained within. Rebirth features 20 tracks of tightly engineered sonic violence, and including collaborations from the likes of his brothers in the scene - Current Value, Panacea, Donny, Counterstrike and Gancher & Ruin. You can pre-order it on Position Chromes Band Camp - here and in the meantime.. here's a couple of clips to wet your appetite... 

For bookings for the Rebirth tour: jef@methlab-agency.com

MethLab Artist News // Something for Your Ears

A lot of exciting news for Feb/March for the MethLab roster, with more heavy releases from heavyweights both new and old! We've got a slew of mixes and previews for you to check out for these recent and upcoming behemoth system killers..  get your ears involved!

Gore Tech //                               Bookings //    Ash@methlab-agency.com

Machine Throne - Ad Noiseam - March 11

A man who's seemingly appeared out of nowhere, and has quickly been selected for a succession of awesome releases through labels very close to our heart like Peace Off, Murder Channel and now Ad Noiseam. 'Machine Throne' is set for release March 11thRead more about it and get you pre-orders in over at Ad Noiseam and in the meantime - check out the taster medley of tracks from the EP below, as well as his recent 'Mainframe Warfare' mix covering many of his upcoming releases for the first quarter of this year!

Machine Code //                         Bookings //    Jef@methlab-agency.com

Under The Sun - Subsistenz - March 4

We've had a lot to say about this album in the past couple of months, and simply that's because it's amazing. One of the tightest sounding DnB albums we've heard in the past year, but with some unusual and nice amen rinseouts amongst the precise kick and snare experimentation going on here. You can get your pre-orders in for the vinyl and album CD pack here at Tirple Vision, and in addition to this, we're taking bookings between Feb-April for the release tour.

Current Value //                         Bookings //    Jef@methlab-agency.com

Stay On This Planet LP - Subsistenz - March / April

Perhaps one of the busiest and more prolific experimenters in the world of DnB, and hot off the heels of the Machine Code LP... there's also word of a new CV album set to drop suddenly in the next few months. You can probably hear some of the tracks on this forthcoming album in his most recent Ultramonics mix - which you can listen to below!



Techno Sedation (CV Remix) - Underground Promotions - Feb 25

A heavy dubstep - techno hybrid that has one of the most brutal and well designed kick drums that I've heard in recent times. A 'sedation' of Mystification original DnB piece on the flip of the record; this futuristic, primarily techno stepper, with it's smeared and twisted bass elements, is an essential purchase - you can grab it from Triple Vision here or purchase online.

The Sect Music //                         Bookings //    Jef@methlab-agency.com

Current Value - The Sect - Dean Rodell // BURN IN / GLITCH / THOUGHT MACHINES - Out Now

Another road cut in the path Berlin DnB residents' DnB // Techno // Neurofunk crossover sound. 3 of the sound's most productive and forward thinking pioneers on a single release.. and incredibly loaded slab of vinyl for this label's 2nd physical output. We're looking for promoters to put on TSM label nights across Europe currently - with successful events already underway in Bristol and Berlin... more cities need to get close and personal with this powerful form of DnB.

2methylBulbe1ol //                         Bookings //    Jef@methlab-agency.com

Your Computer is Under Arrest (2methylBulbe1ol Testify) - Acroplane - T.B.A

A faster and glitchy melodic IDM affair from 2methyl, on another great label - Acroplane. This from Stazma's Acid Bleep EP, which features more of the amazing artwork from Artist Shift.. whose logos and artwork adorn the covers of many of our favourite artists.

Cooh //                         Bookings //    Jef@methlab-agency.com

Rebirth LP - Position Chrome - T.B.A

A new full-length LP from heavy DnB legend Cooh, also featuring tracks from a selection of artists from the heavy hall of fame, including Limewax, Current Value, Counterstrike, Donny and The Panacea. Cooh continues to innovate and generate an inhuman amount of music through his various aliases... one of the most talented producers in this scene today.

New Mix // Current Value - Ultramonics V

It's been a rich couple of weeks for output from the Berlin DnB crew.. first the amazing mix from Machine Code to promote their imminently dropping album, and now a fresh new Ultramonics mix from Current Value. In keeping with the pattern of previous Ultramonics mixes, this freshest instalment is packed full of upcoming dubs and  genre boundary-pushing DnB. All in all, another epicly well put together mix from one of DnB's finest!

New Mix // Machine Code

 To promote the launch of their upcoming 'Under The Sun' LP, the mighty Machine Code duo have put out a mix featuring both tracks from the album, and loads of future thinking DnB from both the combined and separate forces of Dean Rodell and Current Value.

Be warned though - this mix is heavy as fuck! Guaranteed to have you reinvested in the future of DnB, and wanting this vital LP in your collection. Under The Sun is out in February and we are currently taking bookings for tour dates - get in touch with jef@methlab-agency.com if you'd like to bag one. Check the mix and tracklist below, and if you want to download then head to www.machinecode.eu!

Track Listing :

Current Value - Semiconductor - Subtrakt
Machine Code - Red Unit - The Sect Music Vs Subsistenz
Machine Code - Suspend - Subsistenz - Under The Sun
Machine Code - Dischord - Subsistenz - Under The Sun
Dean Rodell - Modules - The Sect Music
Machine Code - Rhea - Subsistenz - Under The Sun
Machine Code Vs The Sect - Channel 18 - Subsistenz - Under The Sun
Current Value feat. Hostile MC - Mezmerized - Subsistenz
Machine Code - Under The Sun - Subsistenz - Under The Sun
The sect - Magma - Subsistenz Vs The Sect Music
Machine Code - Reptile - Subsistenz - Under The Sun
Machine Code - Earth - Subsistenz - Under The S

Event // Current Value - Cologne 25/1/13

New Release // The Sect & Current Value

 

Out today and available in Beatport now is the latest from The Sect's awesome new label 'The Sect Music'. Comprising the 2nd digital release on the label and featuring 2 tracks of the kind of calibre that you would expect of The Sect and Current Value, this is a must have for any self-respecting purveyor of hard technoid DnB. The Sect's track 'Recall' brings us back to the days of prodigy style rave and hardcore, but twisted into the mould of their own brand of DnB... a wicked combination that won't fail to get people dancing. Current Value's 'Hydrolic' features his typically heavily compressed sound with a flurry and pattering of restlessly fast stabs, and is perfect fare for the early hours of warehouse raves everywhere.  Listen below and then head over to Beatport to get your hands on these necessary components in your collection!

New Release // Machinecode - Under The Sun

The mighty collaboration between 2 of the most significant artists in contemporary experimental Drum and Bass, Dean Rodell and Current Value, is set to release their 2nd full length L.P. in the first half of February. 

Machinecode first came to my attention a few years ago with a mix that they created for Combat Recordings; the complexity and dynamic nature of which totally blew me away. The precise technicality of the drum edits, with soaring and beautiful lead lines and shimmering ambient vistas setting the background for the brutal annihilatory techno infused syncopation... this duo plugged a hole musical gap that was begging to be filled since the inception of this technoid form. Following their early release, their first album 'Environments' was nothing short of a manifesto of experimentation of kick/snare placement, spanning multiple genres and defining new territory in each.

However, this new album represents a slight shift in sound - retaining their influences, while really placing focus on creating a truly DnB led album with 'riff led main arena smashers' alongside 'organic gritty rollers'. Seeking to take their potential that they've accrued to date to put out a truly towering record that is set to set the world of Drum and Bass alight, or perhaps rather mechanise this landscape and bend it to their vision. The release will include a collaboration with fellow MethLab artists 'The Sect' and a remix by the ever forward thinking dancefloor destroyer 'Dj Hidden'.

You can check out a few previews of 3 of the 11 tracks in the Soundcloud player below.. and this will be continually updated as more previews are added in the run up to the release, so keep checking back! Also expect an imminent mix incoming, which we'll be putting out everywhere humanly possible... everybody needs to hear this!

Now Out // Current Value - Quantum Physics LP, Filthcast & Interview

Out and available to buy on Beatport now!

Following a long, evolving and successful career in electronic music production, Current Value continues to clamber the heights of notoriety. Some of the highlights of 2012 brought him the prestige of collaborating with Bjork on her acclaimed Biophilia album, as well as releasing the 1st and 4th parts of her remix series; with forward thinking DnB reinterpretations of Crystalline and Thunderbolt. The year also saw the re-release of his Noisia remix ‘Soul Purge’ on the famed Mau5trap label, another example of his continuing collaboration with some of the world’s top artists.

Tim Eliot’s sound has continued to push the boundaries of Drum and Bass production; with his perfectionism in creating frenetic beats lushly underscored by driving deep bass and complex undulating harmonies. The Quantum Physics L.P. is a crux point in Current Value’s production path, taking the raw, kinetically charged drum maelstroms of his past, but putting them in a new context with higher production values that match his ever-increasing abilities. This, in combination with tracks that showcase his deep appreciation of highly polished and lean Neurofunk and Rave music; showcases both the evolution of Current Value’s older sound against the establishment of the new – whilst maintaining the bridge and connection between both. 

Listen to the Filthcast that he's put together for Barcode Recordings below, and read on for the interview to find out what he has to say! 

For bookings: jef@methlab-agency.com

- Your sound has undeniably evolved over the past decade, seemingly becoming more focussed and stepping up the tightness of production even further. Do you consider the latest album to be a manifesto of where you stand musically right now?

I was aiming to take the ‘old’ Current Value sound and give it a new production level, such as in ‘Uncertainty Principle, which I think shows this evolution. But, this is as well as showing a different side of the Current Value sound, that feels at home in the realms of Neurofunk and Rave; finding a clearer formula in the tracks ‘Rollin Hi’ or ‘Crusader’. I've been introducing and building up to that with tracks like ‘Grin’, ‘Harm’ or the CV & Cooh collaboration ‘Reket’ already.

The tunes do speak a similar language though, which is a major statement of this album. My intention was to show that my heart beats for both directions and to make visible the transition between the two. I feel that the track ‘Face Its Measure’ serves this purpose here.

- Tell us a little bit about what was going through you head and your life when you were working on this album…

I was in a producing rush in January and February. I had many ideas and feelings that had to be transformed into music early this year to ‘top off’ what I was working on before.

- You mentioned ‘Grin’, ‘Harm’ and ‘Reket’ as some tracks that served as preparation from some of the more Neurofunk flavoured tracks on the album. In terms of continuity – are there other tracks that you feel led to this?

It's to a vast extent been the Bjork remixes that were really experimenting but remaining on quite a dancefloor-oriented side.

Also, the track ‘Burn In’, which will be released on The Sect’s new label TSM (The Sect Music).

- Just when cutting amen breaks seems to be an area of production that’s been exhausted, you continue to innovate. Do you have fixed ideas in mind about your drum break experiments prior to working on the tune?

Often my work is based on ‘blueprints’ that are most of the time whole tune parts that go through my head. So yes, I would say I have fixed ideas prior to working on a tune.

- Your intense bombardment and barrage of drum breaks are perfectly contrasted against some ambient breakdowns of a truly epic nature, such as in the tune ‘Requiem’. Have you ever considered making something totally ambient? Or at least unconstrained by the pressures of the dance floor?

I have never really felt I wanted to miss out on the ‘fun’ part of electronic music production, which for me is and has always been the bass and drum elements. Furthermore I'd like to say that the pressures of the dance floor are a really nice limitation and challenge to the production values. It is as if you had a further musical dimension to work or deal with through this constraint.

- You seem to have had a good relationship with Barcode since your relationship began in 2007, with multiple release on the label. Are you happy with the label being the home for your latest L.P.?

Barcode has had many quality releases, and in that regard a good reputation over the many years it has existed. Donny and I were talking about releasing new tunes on Barcode again and Cyall and him were prepped to rebuild the label properly earlier this year. So I sent a couple of tunes to them, with the initial idea being to have another Current Value 12’ - maybe an EP released soon. Shortly thereafter Donny came up with the idea to have a whole album released. As it happened to be many more tunes that I had at a certain point produced, than was required for the album, I was able to come up with a very fresh selection of tracks; while at the same time giving the opportunity to release some ‘most wanted’ candidates such as ‘Hybrid’ which, despite it being an almost old tune, people are really really thankful for!

New Release // Current Value - Quantum Physics

We told you it was going to be a month of heavy releases, and what better way to approach the end of the month than with the announcement of Current Value's latest albu on Barcode dropping. You'll have heard several of these tracks on the MethLab Ultramonics mix that he put together for us, and certainly if you've seen him live recently, you'll have witnessed these tearing through crowded rooms. Well, the good news is that you can wet your appetite with 3 of the tracks on vinyl - now available from Triple Vision.. PLUS - you can look forward to a fresh filthcast from CV himself with the launch of the album. The album itself is set to drop on Monday 29th October. Check the player below for previews of tracks from the album - each day there'll be another one uploaded until the day of the release. Get your bookings in asap - this year is almost full (New Year's Eve is still open, but won't be for long!): jef@methlab-agency.com