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2x12"
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DIRT 111LP
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An artist as versatile as Alex Krüger is a rare find these days, not only did he release numerous EPs and albums as Tigerskin or Korsakow since the mid-90s, he's also been on the forefront of the dub techno movement since 1999 with outings on classic labels such as Raum...Musik, Force Tracks, and 3B/ United States of Mars. Now ten years after his last album on Opossum Recordings (2008) Alex is back with this well-crafted, genre-bending full-length Caves & Cages. From deep techno cuts through rippling ambient excursions to funky reggae infused live jams with Haushausen this work is yet another milestone in the creative bubble Alex lives in (i.e. his studio). A predominantly analog producer, Alex recorded most sounds for Caves & Cages on his modular synths and vintage gear at Organic Domain during 2017 and early 2018. Throughout the album tension ebbs and flows effortlessly via syncopated subs, analog improvisation, subtle chord stabs, and sustained swells interspersed with textured field and home recordings. The ambient opener "Intra" sets the tone for the album. Rich with alien atmospheres, distant soundscapes, out-of-reach voices, and licks of live instruments dug up from numerous recordings dating back as far as 30 years, even before Alex started his electronic journey. The sojourn ventures deeper from there. Subaquatic dub techno is the mood on "King's Cave", "Helix", and "In Air" only surfacing ever so slightly for moments of clarity where shimmering tops and glistening synth lines shed some light on the steady grooves. The tracks "Future History" and "Transition State CIV" border on deep house territory. A punchy, gruff bass line and shaken percussion on the first adds suspense and energy, while the second quivers slowly with jungle-tainted toms and blips and squelches from machines. Laidback dub reggae is the tempo for "Last First Time" as well as "Ghost Button" and "R.U.G" where Alex is joined by his Berlin studio neighbors Haushausen. Seasoned musicians in their own right they jammed with him on these two tracks, delivering deft performances on drums, bass and guitar and adding yet another, more human dimension to the unfolding release. The feeling peaks becoming almost aerial on "Nervana" and "Self-Similarity", where quicker tempos, glitchy modular patterns dart along while seemingly eternal reverb tails and strings transcend space and time. Caves & Cages is an inter-dimensional hour of sound from the mind of Alex Krüger.
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12"
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RC 031EP
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Nice, dubby, trippin' tech tracks from Dub Taylor. On red/black-swirl-colored vinyl.
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12"
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MANUAL 008EP
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"Manual Music is a Dutch label focusing on quality house music, aiming at the serious dance music lover. This label will not release music in any specific genre in house music. We don't like to categorize! So expect minimaltechfunkyproghouse releases on this label without boundaries. With previous releases on labels such as Raum...musik, Force Tracks, Organic Domain, Morris/Audio etc., Dub Taylor is not an unknown name to the global dance scene. The man behind the Dub Taylor project is Alex Krüger from Berlin, which you might also know as the same person behind the popular Tigerskin alias. Dub Taylor is his alias for his deeper tech house/minimal crossover material, and this is exactly what he provides on this 4 track EP on Manual Music. All four tracks are equally strong and well produced by this German master and will find the way into many DJ sets in the months to come."
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