Stroboscopic Artefacts

A1: Zeitgeber - Totemism B1: L.b Dub Corp - Take It Down Again (In Dub)

SA5YEARS02
Stroboscopic Artefacts

Zeitgeber and L.B Dub Corp split the second in Stroboscopic Artefacts' series of fifth anniversary records. Zeitgeber is the collaborative project of SA label boss Lucy and Dutch techno royalty Speedy J. Their joint alias birthed an exceptional long-player last year and has since been presented as a b2b act at festivals and clubs around the world. 'Totemism' is their first officially released output since that album, and is every bit as compelling. 'Totemism' opens with distant, reverberating bells and a thin film of hiss and crackle. But, one minute in, heavy and incessant drums cut through the ambience, hitting you straight in the chest. The surrounding atmosphere evolves and filters in-and-out of the mix until, halfway through, the track takes an unexpected turn with an elastic bassline and acid squelches. Then, the drums hit you again. This is an 11 minute masterclass in widescreen, narrative techno from two of the scene's most experienced and inventive producers. Luke Slater, a man of many aliases, slips into L.B Dub Corp mode for the B-side of this record. This particular moniker of Slater's generally trades in raw, culturally-inspired house music, though has also appeared on Stroboscopic's Stellate series with two deep and beatless dubs. For his contribution to SA's 5 Year anniversary, Slater re-visits a classic club cut of his own, delivering 'Take It Down Again (In Dub)'. 'Take It Down Again' is a brilliantly-realised exercise in tension, dub delay and mixing board creativity, all made to shine by a dose of oddball musicality and sampling. This version of 2010's 'Take It Down' is more restrained and tonally varied, equipped to instil a brooding and tribal darkness on the floor.

A1: Rrose - Drowned By Sight A2: Perc - Tri-City
B1: Pfirter - Atman B2: Lakker - Pier

SA5YEARS01
Stroboscopic Artefacts

Stroboscopic Artefacts celebrate five years in business with a series of special anniversary releases, featuring selected artists from the SA story-so-far who have strongly shaped the label's identity. In 'Drowned By Sight', Rrose sets the tone for the record with a deep and twisting take on club techno. A thick, low-end groove rolls out at unhurried pace, and widescreen, hissing synths fill the high-end. The track's brilliance lies in its tense, narrative arrangement: a five-minute, detailed climb followed by euphoric release as the drums fade away. Perc's 'Tri-City' is a more direct assault on the dancefloor. The kicks pump like pistons, held together by weighty sub bass, cymbals and claps. The defining feature, though, is the haunting piano keys that emerge in the breakdown. Set against the harsh textures Perc is known for, the keys sound especially vivid and transcend the track beyond standard peak-time fare. Flip the record to find Pfirter's exceptional 'Atman'. This track comes from the more reserved end of Pfirter's discography, deriving its impact from titanic sound design rather than brute muscle. The concise range of elements interact both tonally and rhymically to create a masterful piece of music that's fit to move both body and mind. Irish duo Lakker provide the closing track, 'Pier'. In typical style, they re-imagine classic IDM influences into something totally unique, where mangled vocals sit amongst eerie atmospheres and drones. Skipping along way above traditional techno tempo, 'Pier' is the most experimental offering on this record, and represents a key part of the Stroboscopic sound. 'V - Five Years Of Artefacts - Chapter One' provides a well-rounded snapshot of what Lucy's label has explored since its conception.

A1: Xhin - Blade Moth A2: Tommy Four Seven - Fffff
B1: Kangding Ray - Luna Gay B2: Dscrd - Apparition Hill

SA5YEARS03
Stroboscopic Artefacts

For the third in its fifth anniversary release series, Stroboscopic Artefacts brings together tracks from Xhin, Tommy Four Seven, Kangding Ray and Dsrcd. Xhin's Blade Moth', previously released digitally by Meerestief, finds today new (and remastered) life on SA. It is deep and propulsive, with scattershot percussion reverberating around finely tuned kicks and sci-fi oscillations. The detailed sound design and experimental quirks are typical of the producer; they made for a stunning debut album on SA in 2011, and here elevate the functional 4x4 skeleton into a fantastically ethereal piece of dance music. On 'FFFFF', an incessant bass groove channels pounding kicks and high-end distortion into powerful form. Tommy Four Seven's experience in the DJ booth informs the less-is-more approach, as carefully selected elements roll dynamically and to gripping effect. Flip the record over and Kangding Ray provides the most dramatic offering in 'Luna'. Warehouse-style synths slide from behind drums and throbbing pulses of sub bass, driving the track forward with vigour. 'Luna' closes with an extended and euphoric outro, it heightens the peak-time force and lends itself to spellbinding mixes. Parisian act Dscrd end the EP with slow, grinding techno cut 'Apparition Hill'. It opts for tension over release, ebbing and flowing with restrained arrangement and masterful guile. Illusory vocal samples and washes of noise rise from the murky atmosphere, filling the mid-range with harsh textures. Dscrd's contribution offers something slower and more heady, finishing a special record with finesse.

A1: Jonas Kopp - Shibu A2: Dadub - Force Continuum Abuse
B1: Eomac - I Am Starting To Believe B2: Chevel - Alicia

SA5YEARS04
Stroboscopic Artefacts