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viewing 1 To 10 of 25 items
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LP
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AI 031LP
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$17.00
NOT IN STOCK, SPECIAL ORDER
"Burning Decay marks the culmination of a 30-year musical journey for Emile Facey. Combining deep, emotional, melodic textures and voices with razor sharp analogue drum sounds, it brings together a wealth of ideas and influences. Music is, after all, in his blood. His great-grandfather was part of a long line of passionate and professional musicians who played clarinet as part of the Royal Philharmonic and the newly formed London Symphony Orchestra in the early to mid 1900's, performing under many great composers including Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Strauss. Emile was starting to study classical music and was hoping to follow a similar path until 1984 when he heard Kraftwerk's Tour de France for the first time. His training in classical clarinet and piano was quickly replaced by hours spent programming music in BASIC on his brand new Sinclair Spectrum and spinning about on bits of lino to the Street Sounds Electro compilations. Following this revelation, Emile spent the next twenty-five years feeding a passion for music of many types from Detroit techno and hip-hop to metal and classical, all of which combine to create his own unique sound. In the early '90s he started DJing and quickly caught the hardware bug, buying his first drum machines and synths and writing his own material under the name Plant 43. In 2000, he co-founded London-based collective Bleep43, which has become renowned for its exceptional techno and electro line-ups at Corsica Studios in London. Since2002, he has played alongside such legends as Convextion, DJ Stingray, Omar S, Surgeon, Donato Dozzy, Legowelt, Scape One and Rob Euroh, as well as performing live in Athens, Riga, Turin and at the BLOC festival. Since releasing the highly renowned Grey Sky Cracks EP on Ai Records in 2007, Emile has been steadily building an impressive discography."
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CD
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AI 026CD
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"Outstanding new album from Sinner DC which ranks right up there with such like-minded souls as Gui Boratto/The Field/M83/Ulrich Schnauss. The opening bars of 'Go for the Stream' set the tone perfectly for the 9 tracks that are to follow on Crystallized. This is their second full length outing on Ai, and a perfect opener for Ai's 10th anniversary year. 'Anyway' is the album's second cut and as with 'Go for the Stream' it lets the listener bask in the mournful beauty of the many textures on offer and builds up the anticipation for the energetic explosion that must surely follow. Sounding not unlike a digital version of Mogwai, 'Golden Horses' builds upon its sparse beginnings and steadily introduces synthesized strings, haunting wails and a variety of background effects to end up with a track that doesn't so much evolve but rather throbs with energy as it moves along its trajectory. The midpoint of the album is now upon us and its time for a gentle breather with 'V,' an almost beatless number where the subtle percussion plays only a supporting role to the soaring synths that whisk the listener away to a place of tranquility. This leads us into 'Sunrized,' a track where the title perfectly describes the thoughts invoked as the sounds emanate from the speakers. 'Glass Alley' is a slightly more upbeat 'pop' affair that perfectly balances the warm electronics, soaring strings and soft vocal touches that are so key to their appeal. The vocals are present again on 'Digital Dust,' a track that will appeal to fans of the likes of M83 and Ulrich Schnauss where playful percussion, distant vocals and rich textures are the order of the day. 'Coast' is the album's final cut and this time things are of a techno aesthetic, albeit downbeat in nature and containing the brief presence of an ethereal vocal. As with all of the work, the atmospherics are once again the key and despite the cold reverb used to create space and depth, warm synths and distorted guitars are also in use, resulting yet again in a perfectly balanced composition that will delight your senses and leave you hungry for more as the album fades to a close."
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LP
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AI 024LP
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"The first thing likely to hit you with The Third Man's (aka Toby Leeming) debut LP, Clarion Call is the striking cover art. The image is one of a series of anatomical drawings that German artist Karl Wesker devoted 8 years of his life producing for the Thieme Atlas of Anatomy. The limited edition mini-album, a selection of cuts for the DJ, delivers 8 tracks of pristine techno and electro and had The Third Man been the subject used for Karl's graphic illustration, the artist would surely have depicted the deeply electronic blood running through his veins. The Third Man's love of Detroit techno has been exhibited in some of his earlier work and this can again be heard on the album's title track; a mellow atmospheric number with a deep pulse bassline and swirling pianos, definitely a track for the 'morning after.' Influences: UR, Transmat, Metroplex, Basic Channel, Robert Hood, LFO Detroit, Scotland... & Hemsby. Sounds like: A trip through techno and electro, aimed at the dancefloor, but never losing the focus on melody."
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LP
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AI 025LP
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"Ai's 25th full length package is in fact two separate EPs delivered as a single vinyl release and sees the label return to its more experimental side with refreshingly original music from Japan's EOC. This love of such an eclectic and massively varied selection of music results in EOC's productions ending up on a genre almost of their own and this is quite simply how the artist intends it to be, having let his music be created almost from the movement of his limbs manipulating his equipment rather than trying to reach any kind of pre-meditated goal. Upon dropping the needle on side A, Information Warfare EP, the listener is almost immediately met by the layer of distortion and static that is undoubtedly the single element that helps to define EOC's sound. Opening track 'jabberer and gabber' layers the noise on top of the already distorted electro beats and ethereal melodies in order to deliver a deeply textured track focused on the floor. '0000_975' turns this approach on its head with a beatless number that juxtaposes the weightless ambience and deep, dubby reverb with a persistent hi-hat and the ever-present static lulling the listener into an almost dream-like state ahead of the tough repetitive beats of 'Icebarg.' If '0000_975' was for sitting back and relaxing, then 'Icebarg' is most definitely intended to rouse the listener from their slumber and will do so with a bang! 'White Chrysanthemum Song' opens with a choral theme equal parts ecclesiastical hymn and underwater Drexciyan wail. The distorted vocal arrangement slowly builds as the disparate effects are added ahead of the track's sudden climax, heralding the end of the first side."
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LP
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AI 022LP
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$19.00
NOT IN STOCK, SPECIAL ORDER
"This release brings to a close a series of EPs from the three artists featured on this picture disc. The disc itself is something you will have never seen before and should amaze and surprise. This final release in the dot series EPs brings Ai's color series to a close and serves up two tracks from each of the three artists behind the solo EPs. The Third Man opens proceedings on a peak-time electro tip with 'Circadian Rhythms,' a track underpinned by a dark growling bass line that will get your internal organs rattling and do some serious damage to your speakers. Najem Sworb is up next with 'Rodstac,' a mellow introduction to the EP with bubbling electroid vocals, playful synths and washes of filtered sound all wrapped around a brooding percussive hook reminiscent of Plastikman's 'Spastik.' Plant 43's closer for side A, 'Warehouse Window,' delivers a superb contrasting cut based around his trademark melodies and subtle electronics. Sounds like a snapshot of electro's past, present and future. Influences: Drexciya, ERP/Convextion, Juan Atkins, Underground Resistance, and Kraftwerk." 400 only, pressed on clear, polka-dotted vinyl.
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CD
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AI 023CD
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"Due in part to satisfy the requests for CD-based material, Ai's next full-length offering is a sampler showcasing the breadth of talent and styles signed to the label's roster. Deep, dubby techno is represented on 'Teranidian,' the LP's opener and the final track from Najem Sworb's critically-acclaimed debut EP from late 2007. Plant43's Drexciyan-tinged electro is up next in the shape of the title track from his Grey Sky Cracks EP before we move swiftly onto the The Third Man's warm techno journey along the 'A14.' Hot on the heels of his first full-length opus, the midpoint of the LP is handed over to Datassette; firstly with 'Damage Report,' his futuristic take on machine funk and then the medieval tones of 'Pluck,' a track akin to dropping a court lyre player into a modern day recording studio and allowing him to tinker merrily. Electronica is where the label first made its mark and the latter half of the sampler shows that while recent releases have had more of structured dancefloor feel, this genre is still very much part of the label's repertoire. Michael Manning delivers a pair of previously-unreleased tracks both of which have a strong string content although vary in their approach with 'Center of the Universe' being a full scale orchestral affair with complementary electronics, whereas 'Release' gently works the strings between broken beat and game-like patterns. Strings also play a part in Sinner DC's 'Summer 57,' a distorted electro workout sounding like a slowed-down version of Underworld's 'Rez' and another brand new track exclusive to this release. The LP is then finally brought to a close with the ambient electronica of Michael Manning's 'Lost Aberrant Dragonfly,' the oldest cut on the sampler coming from his earlier EP of the same name."
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AI 021LP
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$19.00
NOT IN STOCK, SPECIAL ORDER
"Seemingly not wanting to be pigeonholed into any one genre, Datassette's first full-length album is an action-packed journey through many different styles and moods that maintains a satisfying quirky inventiveness throughout. Opening with 'Vapour Trails' the listener is bathed in layers of machine-made sonic textures contrasted against super heavy bass stabs, sharp dubstep-tinged rhythms and playful synth passages that wouldn't sound out of place on a Metro Area release. The initial slow-paced opener then migrates into electro territory as the listener is treated to a sparsely populated rhythmbox landscape which is gradually infested by an array of peculiar sounds wriggling their way into view. On the home stretch, the pace slows down a notch with Datassette's take on minimal: 'Damage Report' goes deep and dishes up a helping of contemplative rhythmical chord progressions, percussive pops, clicks and 8-bit bass stabs. Finally, 'Melting Faces' brings proceedings to a close with an electro lullaby that provides a luscious ending to this refreshingly rich album. Influences: Italodisco & electrofunk, Boards of Canada, Vangelis, C64 Music, The Soft Pink Truth, Anthony Rother, Dopplereffekt, Extrawelt, Arovane, Jackson And His Computer Band."
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12"
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AI 020EP
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"This latest release brings you the debut 6 track EP/LP from The Third Man. Before We Begin is packed full of ideas but the key themes of keeping ears tuned to some of Detroit's past masters and eyes focused firmly on the dancefloor resonate throughout. 'Onwards and Upwards' wastes no time in setting the pace, opening immediately with a punchy kick drum and a wash of Maurizio-style synths before dropping the bass line and letting this carry you towards the smooth melodies and vintage UR jazz stylings that follow. Sounds like: Mad Mike, Laurent Garnier and Monolake having a 3-way face off."
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12"
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AI 018EP
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$11.00
NOT IN STOCK, SPECIAL ORDER
"Excellent 4 track limited edition (400 only) EP from Emile Facey aka Plant 43. This EP takes its inspiration from living out in the country during the lush autumn and long, cold winter of '06. Combining the intricate soaring strings of classic Motor City music of the highest order with the raw analog drum sounds of early Kraftwerk. There's an effortless flow to these tracks that builds on string transitions that at times bring to mind the work of Convextion, who is also a big fan of Plant 43's music."
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12"
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AI 017EP
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$15.00
NOT IN STOCK, SPECIAL ORDER
"Ai records is pleased to announce Sinner DC's latest collaboration. The sleek Swiss outfit have invited their friends and peers to remix tracks from their critically acclaimed debut album, Mount Age. Montage showcases the talents of new up-and-coming artists to electronica and established artists such as Sonic Boom and Piano Magic. To celebrate the release, Ai has commissioned artist Geoff McFetridge to design the sleeve. L.A.-based McFetridge has worked for the likes of Sofia Coppola, Nike, Stussy and Marc Jacobs. Montage is available on limited edition vinyl (500)."
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viewing 1 To 10 of 25 items
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