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12"
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EPM 013EP
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Dan Curtin's musical quest began in the early 1990s, when, from his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, he began producing innovative sounds of every variety. His impressive discography dates back to 1992, when his first releases on Detroit's 33RPM Records and Belgium's Buzz motivated him to launch his own Metamorphic Recordings. He opens the Galaxies Merging EP with the sci-fi techno of the title-track, all trampling beats and dappled synth work. "Mind Sweep" delivers high-tech funk with a deep, soulful undercurrent, before the unpredictable late-night workout "To Modify" closes the EP with a bold wash of erratic electronics.
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CD
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MOBILEE 010CD
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Dan Curtin's Lifeblood is his ninth album. Beginning in the early '90s, Curtin established an inimitable brand of machine soul on releases for Strictly Rhythm, Peacefrog, Sublime and many others, and he hasn't slowed down since -- including three singles for Mobilee and her sister label Leena, not to mention Curtin's own acclaimed Metamorphic label, which continues to chart the deepest recesses of electronic dance music. A bona fide legend of Midwestern American techno, Curtin has never shied away from the album format, using the medium again and again as a vehicle for exploring ideas that don't fit conveniently on the space of a 12". Lifeblood is no different. Refreshingly varied and remarkably cohesive, it's a welcome reminder of techno's expressive potential. Despite its roots in classic sounds, this is no throwback. It's grounded in the here and now: drenched in funk, strengthened with silicon/analog alloys, and positively aglow with emotion. It spans 16 tracks: ten of them made with the dancefloor in mind, plus short ambient sketches and two unexpected slow-burners to remind us of techno's kinship with golden-era hip-hop. It's an album that's fine with being broken down and carted off in DJ bags, or spliced into a mixtape -- but it also rewards sustained, concentrated listening as a whole. And what a varied whole it is. "Mirrors Reflecting" combines terse, hard-knuckled percussion with ethereal pads and sci-fi bleeps, suggestive of both '90s Tokyo and '00s Hamburg, "Other (Lost In You Mix)" drops insinuating vocals over a deeply satisfying house groove, with plunging chords and atonal detailing caught in a delicious push-and-pull, "Tickets To Paris" and "Schlafwagen" are spooky and sexy in equal measure, all goosebumps and flushed skin, and so much more. Diverse? You bet. But more than that, it all holds together without ever repeating itself -- a rarity for electronic albums. The form reflects Curtin's own approach, dedicated to craft and open to possibility. Lifeblood speaks to the very essence of being -- the pulse is within you.
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12"
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MOBILEE 064EP
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Here is a taste of Dan Curtin's ninth album, Lifeblood. Dan invited renowned remixer and producer from Amsterdam, DJ Madskillz, to cook up his own special interpretation of "Mr. Bean Do An E," and the result is set to cause some club chaos. He brings a high standard of craftsmanship to this release, injecting it full of his signature energy and bounce, literally sending the Mr. Beans on the dancefloor into a frenzy... this is one to let loose to!
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12"
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MOBILEE 056EP
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Dan Curtin heads in a new, exciting direction, demonstrating his unique ability to anthologize over 15 years of electronic music within a single track. "Other" opens with a pulsating wall of sound before descending into a passage of vocal-laced house and a starkly contrasting backdrop of bells. "Sandwalk" provides a nice contrast, with a more house-oriented sound, stuttered melody and fragmented vocals. Meanwhile, the Push mix gives the vocals a dub treatment while focusing on the housier components.
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12"
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MOBILEE 047EP
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Dan Curtin releases on Mobilee, banging drums. Beat Fiend features a lone drummer in a transcendental musical village, followed by several hollow, rolling drums, heralding the pied piper. Listen closely, and you'll hear a single, faded, hip-hop lyricist leading the people to a full-blown dance party. "Amphibian" sets a more tragic and mellow tone. Rolling keyboards and flaring rockets soar, creating a virtual battleground of disturbed vocals and twisted souls, seeping into the deepest, darkest thoughts of the listener.
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12"
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PNUMA 003EP
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"Pnuma continues with its third release from techno pioneer Dan Curtin. This exciting new label is building a first class reputation for releasing quality electronic music regardless of genre. The first release was the bubbling, dub soaked techno of Oce Oce/Ice Ice by Lee Van Dowski & Quenum. Next was Scape One's Shockwave Rider EP -- a jacking four tracker of purist electro from one of the UK's masters. For the third installment the legendary Dan Curtin has delivered the floor-shaking Your Fantasy EP which contains two tracks of wonky technoid grooves to freak the dancefloor."
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2LP
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SBL LP010
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CD
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SBL 5026
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"It's been a year since we saw anything of Dan Curtin and finally here is the new material. This EP lays the foundation for his forthcoming album; it's tougher and in some places a lot more accessible and less abstract than usual, although the album will contain some gems of obscurity. This EP opens with a track that is melodic but absolutely no-nonsense dancefloor 4x4 stuff, there's the disco wonderland of 'With Me Tonight', cheeky use of that familiar Earth, Wind & Fire vocal that launches into a ruff barrage of jacking Chicago style techno. Swooping chords herald 'Sword Of Orion', a classic Curtin tune, and then his 'Latin Odyssey' mix of 1996's excellent 'I'll Take You There' that breaks off as if it's two tracks into a fiesta frenzy that shows just how classy Curtin is. Orlando Voorn bends Dan's 'Page Me' track to the breakbeat vibe and Dave Angel takes him out to the edge of deep sublime techno-scapes."
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CD
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SBL 5010
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Brilliant album of Juan Aktins-influenced techno from the Midwest. While this album can also be found as an UK Sublime pressing, this Japanese edition adds two bonus tracks (remixes by Ken Ishii and K. Hand) and has different and superior cover art. "Ohio's genius Dan Curtin's full album. Romantic and mellow techno jazz."
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