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2LP
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AWAY 002LP
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Stathis Kalatzis, aka Mr. Statik, is a resident at Athens's multi-purpose cultural space Six D.O.G.S. He's not only been one of the scene's pivotal figures, but since he started to release his first solo releases in the mid-00s, the now Berlin-based Greek DJ has earned a reputation for being a trend-ignoring, unconventional producer. Mr. Statik enjoys thinking outside the box by crossing his diverse pop-cultural interests and pulling in expertise and perspective from beyond the usual functional formulas. After a decade of not staying in one comfort zone or sticking to one musical direction, he finds himself more comfortable in his producer shoes presenting his debut album Metamorphose. Housing a few film references in this for Mr. Statik typical nebulous fashion, the ten tracks not only carrying the narrative potential of an imaginary score, but primarily exploring a versatile array of influences, themes, and contradictions (which Mr. Statik as an illustrator also united on the album's artwork). Ranging from the sci-fi infused album opener "Insomnia", the first non-dancefloor piece he ever produced around 2011, over "Κatastrophe", an homage to ancient Greek theater, to collaborate with others such as Beatrice Ballabile, Jan Niklas Jansen (Locas In Love), and Claude Speeed, who contributed synth work on "Soulfur". Metamorphose succeeds in constantly changing its tones, while maintaining an emotional frame, in which Mr. Statik's melancholic, introvert, at times hopeful and euphoric, bottom end inclined electronic music can elaborate. Mr. Statik on his debut album: "I have always tried to approach producing as storytelling exercises. This allowed me to experiment finding myself in uncharted territories, more specifically in music that doesn't necessarily fit to a dance floor -- unless it's a very adventurous one. Metamorphose is loyal to that mindset. I usually draw inspiration from cinema and comic books and have always been fascinated with sci-fi, south Asian culture, surrealism, and the dreamworld. Initially the album was supposed to be a collage of the various influences that had shaped my life, but ended up being something very different. During the conceptualization and recording process a lot of things around us have changed, primarily for the worse. I became more and more sensitive and susceptible to pessimism and trendy visions of 'dystopian futurism', so that the LP emerged being an exercise in positivity." Also features Dave Aju and Nastya.
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12"
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AWAY 005EP
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The Greek all-rounder Mr. Statik debuts as a producer on Away. Starting off with an ingenious medley assembled through samples, rhythmic elements, and a funk-infused bass-line, Rogue Cherub EP highlights the Greek's unordinary approach to house music. Despite the partly broken, partly playful vibe, it's Dave Aju's distinctive voice holding everything together in a serene fashion. No less than the acknowledged master Matthew Herbert himself scales the hybrid down, attaching just the right disco-house touches to create yet another dancefloor gem. "Morning Star" tops off Away's fifth catalog number by a well-crafted techno-meets-dub workout.
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12"
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MFP 068EP
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Mr. Statik returns to Mo's Ferry with his EP Roll Down the Shutters, which has received massive support from Sasha Perera (Jahcoozi). She also performed the laid-back vocals on this release. Remixes by Dapayk and Daze Maxim complete the package. The original track shows influences in dub, but with an elegant touch. Statik also uses minimalistic '80s drum-sound patterns, smooth bass lines, tape-echoed chord sounds and Perera's vocals. Dapayk moves his remix more in the tech-house genre, while Daze Maxim's remix is more in the minimal direction. Mr. Statik himself marks the finish of the EP, and his dub mix slowly rolls down the shutters.
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12"
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BPC 235EP
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With "Ganymedes," Mr. Statik adds an elegant footnote to techno history by releasing the first dance music track which pays direct homage to a figure from Greek mythology. Mr. Statik gives him a warm serenade with a subtle spring in the bassline, jubilant hand claps, an uplifting melody line and a misty-eyed vocal from the Telefon Tel Aviv singer Joshua Eustis. "Be Free" features vocals from K.atou and "Imagine" dives deep into peak-time vocal tech-house with hypnotic crooning from Carlos Valdes.
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12"
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MFP 052EP
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This is Mr. Statik's first 12" for Mo's Ferry. On "Come On People," you can tell immediately that breakbeat is one of Mr. Statik's roots. Short drum loop slices inconspicuously stacked with the driving hi-hat give this merrily jumping house track a special touch. A varied bass line and talk-box vocals take "Workin' It Like We Do" to a higher dimension. "Hittin' The Jack" (feat. Dave Vega) features jazzy drums, a piano and skillfully-used reverb for a trippy closing piece.
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12"
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MEMO 009EP
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Memo welcomes Stathis Kalatzis aka Mr. Statik, who pumps new energy into minimal with his artificial and upright house constructs. "Smoothest Cat On The Block!" features a jazz organ, flamenco guitar samples, and spaghetti Western sentiments. "A Cradle Of Smiles" serves up minimal house with dub, while "Dubbinezon" surges in realms of fluttery echoes and tape delays. Finally, "Poops, I Dit It Again" pushes relentlessly further, shrouded in murky delay that allows every tonal detail to shine brighter.
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12"
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RC 014EP
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"Fine chords-driven heavy tripping house cuts including remixes by Keron (Cecille) & Dapayk (Mos Ferry)."
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12"
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PPX 004EP
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"The Berlin-based label Perplex Recordings announces the release of their so far darkest yet, most eccentric record. PPX 004EP by Mr. Statik, the epic remix by Siopis and the bonus mix by Charles Widmore and Ricardo Esposito make a strong statement as the most specific release of the label, due to its rich diversity and therefore completes the birth-year of the imprint immaculately. Mr. Statik's 'Interracial Amour' is a complex arrangement, an almost 10-minute-long after-hour-composition that leads the dancing crowd into a swinging insomnia. The compressed drum loops with their cutting hi-hats and whipping snares hold the tension from the very beginning up to the very end of the track. Last perpetuated on the label Get Physical, Siopis aka DJ Silversurfer reappears, garnishing the grinding bass with an ideal type of hypnotic sequence and a range of smaller sound-splitters that dazzle, due to his precise dose of synthetic sound. New dimensions of space are created, silent but persisting strings appear, and an almost trancey, extremely deep and obscure touch will not let go of you. Finally, Widmore and Esposito's bonus-mix does not in any sense loose the intensity of the original track. It is raw, rough and full of unbelievably analog echo-worlds, sweeping you off your feet. A bouncy, stomping track with a range of echoes in the background and minimal funk elements in exactly the right moments. Clever arrangements and a polished sound-design permeates the entire release. Support by: Ewan Pearson, Jesse Rose, M.A.N.D.Y., Jerome Sydenham, Laurent Garnier, Agaric, Markus Fix, Popnebo, Larson, Alex Tsiridris."
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12"
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IMM 038EP
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"This month Immigrant brings you a startling EP-- the Feelarmonics EP from Mr. Statik. Hailing from Athens, Greece, he's notched up some exciting work for the likes of Ware, Karloff, Stock5 and Balkon, and is now settling in at the Immigrant house. These extremely sophisticated and more than a little quirky tracks are fittingly remixed and reworked by Kreon and Lemos (Cecille, Resopal, Below), both adding new dimensions of seismic proportions. Here's a release that really can't be ignored. A1. 'A Flock of Guitars (feat. BODJ)': Deep, dub and slightly ominous, this opening track distorts all the harmony of a day in the country. Mocking vocal snippets, organic off beat drum patterns and quirky ass arrangement scare the hell out of a flock of who-knows-what, whilst a funky, grooving baseline and an almost satirical guitar sample stops the track from becoming too dark. Building to a multi-layered treat of a climax, this track will have great impact."
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12"
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OCT 002EP
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"Second Octopus is Mr. Statik with an excellent 3 Channels remix. Statik is a Greek gentleman of some refinement, his tracks caught our ear on Mathias Schaffhauser's Ware imprint as part of the MudMax duo and his talent for combining careful modern production and late night hysteria drew us to him as a future roster artist. Then we come to 3 Channels, who have blown up on Crosstown Rebels and Trapez and their own imprint, Channel. Their DJ sets kick ass all over the place and their remixes, from Claude Vonstroke to Decryptor have proved them as the bright stars of the European house movement. This mix is inspired, relentless, unusually energetic and yet typically 3 Channels, aimed straight into the heat and haze of the night."
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