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12"
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MODERN 019EP
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Olaf Blanch debuts on Modern Obscure Music with the Borealis EP, which also features a remix by Suzanne Kraft. The Barcelona-based producer presents four original tracks that explore different Balearic soundscapes, from the exciting adventure of "Nur Yawa" to the deep ambience of "Birds". For reference points, think Mark Barrott's Islands project or some of the great ambient records of the 1990s. This isn't all. Suzanne Kraft turns "Nur Yawa" on its head, creating a catchy and very danceable Nu Beat styled remix.
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12"
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MODERN 020EP
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Fresh from Pedro Vian's full LP release, here are club ready remixes of "Flexible Girl" and "Darwin's Nightmare". These are remixes made with the dancefloor in mind. The "Flexible Girl" remixes come from Chicago's renowned sound sculptor Hieroglyphic Being who supplies a key led version, Barcelona based Cardopusher with an '80s bass-driven revision and a submerged acid remix from Portuguese producer Da Silva. The remix of "Darwin's Nightmare" is a trippy version by legendary Ukrainian producer Vakula.
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12"
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MODERN 017EP
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The first non-electronic release on Modern Obscure Music comes from Catalan pop-rock band Univers. The EP contains two unreleased tracks from their former LP session, Limit Constant (2016). "Joventuts Unides" is a slice of melodic, uplifting and slightly melancholic rock. It is followed by the dramatic "L'Home I L'epasa", which features powerful chords and spinning guitar lines. Remixes on the B Side comes from Lake Haze, a Portuguese native based in The Hague; MOM's label boss the Amsterdam-based Pedro Vian; and the final remix is by the mysterious M.T. Formula.
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LP
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MODERN 018LP
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On Pedro Vian's second album, the now Amsterdam-based artist opens up a new sonic chapter of his life, running through depths of emotions and feelings, traversing moments of euphoria, fury, serenity, hope, and love. Recorded between 2014 and 2018, the LP opens with a melodic flourish, drops down through mournful vocal driven pieces and lands on fast moving synths across a set of 12 deeply personal tracks. A follow-up to Vian's 2016 acclaimed debut album Beautiful Things You Left Us For Memories (MODERN 005LP, 2016), this sophomore LP shows the breadth and maturity of Vian's sound, falling in between the cracks of downtempo electronica, ambient, and post rock. Pedro discloses: "I have tried to be sincere, transparent and pure. During the recording process I have avoided artificiality. I do not like the overproduction of music. I like to feel the naturalness and the essence of the beat of the instruments. I like to look inside until I find something real with which to communicate." "Seneca" features Laia Nadal.
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12"
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MODERN 016EP
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Ginno Russo follows "She Is On Fire" with his full debut for MOM. The Valencia-based DJ and producer presents a stylish four-track EP. Travelling Around Zambia features rhythms and beats inspired by Africa; all four tracks on this EP are built for club play. "Lio" is a powerful and uplifting opener, with steady textured beats, a stylish keyed groove and rising strings. "Dubby" is a relentless follow-up; exploding chords and live bass take center stage. "Rosas" features textured percussion and powerful synths alongside looped vocal fragments. "Poble" finishes off the EP with a vocal winner over a powerful bassline.
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2LP
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MODERN 015LP
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Sam Haar is best known as being one half of musical hardware loving duo Blondes with Zach Steinman. Euso is an intense exploration of sounds, textures, and feelings, with field recordings laid over coarse soundscapes. Haar's compositions are woven patchwork-like from the fabric of the sounds that he uses. There is a real feeling that his music is alive, due to the fluidity of his compositions and how the tracks mutate. The album opener "Paradiso" offers colorful synthetics alongside running water and bold sounds. "Hal (The Slip)" features urgent percussion and hypnotic bass sounds, whilst "Gold Coast" sees vibrant synths do battle over emotive strings. "Radial" splits sounds and reforms textures in an ever-changing manner and "Stabilis" snatches lost dialogue over machinery type misshapen beats and poised synths. "Awatsa" is bathed in watery synthetics and is lifted higher by combo of strings and punched beats, as "Hive" offers wonderful synth-based confusion. "Plegadas" rounds off the album with eerie strings, ghosted vocal forms, and enveloping synths.
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12"
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MODERN 014EP
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Three rousing tracks to stir the attention. "The Things We Don't Know" is a mesmerizing keys-driven journey. It features gorgeous keyed sparkles, washing waves of acid, and clopped beats. "The Disbelief Habit" is driven by a strong melody that really grabs you and won't let go. This is accompanied by a strong bassline, focused keys, and closely held percussion. "The Achievement Factory" rounds off the EP with another distinctive musical effort that marches straight into the middle of the dancefloor. Punishing percussion and an in-step cavernous bassline are joined by loose acid and riffing keys.
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LP
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MODERN 012LP
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Okkre (Uge Pañeda) is producer of the Spanish duo LCC, who have released two albums on Editions Mego. This is the soundtrack to a very special performance named Épica. Directed by Aimar Pérez Galí, it was premiered at Sonar 2017. Épica brings clubbing culture inside the theater, to deliver a highly energetic performance, joining bodies, sound and voices of historic and political dissidence. The music of the soundtrack has been adapted for its release on vinyl. The piece begins with the rhythmic movement of beats, which provides a structured backdrop. They are complemented by a swirling bassline. Overlaid percussions of differing styles come in-and-out. Harsh almost metallic synths enter after a few minutes, which also have the sensation of breathing. Later on, powerful synths battle sturdy cymbal assisted percussion. In the latter stages, everything gets even more intense techno feel and the A Side ends with dense dark synths. While the other side gently mixes a melodic bassline that moves like the wind with intertwined chorus and voices, which appeal to the spirit of the artistic work, evoking space for feeling and touching. At the same time, insistent beats offer a club feeling. Scary yet empowering strings create a hypnotic atmosphere alongside falling keys and vocal impressions.
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12"
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MODERN 011EP
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No More White Presidents is an experimental film directed and soundtracked by Gavin Russom (LCD Soundsystem, DFA). This 12" contains three choice excerpts. At the start of 2017, Russom came out as a trans-woman and her transition is one of the themes explored in NMWP, as well as broader topics such as capitalism and death. "Stealth Technology" features jarring oscillating synths, angular beats, and waves of acid. "Three Trains" is a short track where tape hiss drifts over a tough rhythmic section. "Coffin Maker" finishes the release with punishing beats, oscillating acidic synth lines, and a growling bass.
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12"
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MODERN 010EP
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The Catalan duo present Drawn By Sea. "Solstici" (Solstice) is an urgent dancefloor winner with an acidic flavor to the second half. It features moody bass surges and golden keys. "Nuit" is calm yet powerful. Its strength comes from emphatic percussion and an addictive key refrain. "La Mer" is a deep journey inspired by the sea. Waves of aquatic keys are joined by expansive strings, textured percussion and subtle bass hits. "El Pas Del Temps" rounds off the release with a melodious synth driven track. The synths are backed by live overlaid percussion, shaken keys and a moving bassline.
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12"
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MODERN 008EP
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Eterna joins the Modern Obscure Music family. Here, the Barcelona based artist presents a varied EP that features beautiful melodies backed by distinctive instrumentation and percussive arrangements. Remix duties fall to LA based experimentalist DNTEL, aka Jimmy Tamborello. "Regatta" features choppy textured beats, a bold keyed melody, and a smooth bassline groove. DNTEL's remix is composed of competing parts that fit together surprisingly well. "277" is the deepest cut, with emotional strings, almost steel drum sounding keys and layered percussion. "A Day In The Life" rounds off the EP with walking paced sturdy beats, modulating synths, and a springy bassline.
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LP
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MODERN 005LP
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The founder of Modern Obscure Music (MOM) presents Beautiful Things You Left Us For Memories which culminates a creative process that has led him to work over the years as one half of Aster, releasing on respected labels like John Talabot's Hivern Discs to Hieroglyphic Being's Mathematics Recordings. Pedro Vian surprises with an album that is impossible to categorize into a single musical style. BTYLUFM guides its audience through musical scenes typically attributed to the artist, with atmospheric tracks like "Pandora". But it also travels through abstract, sonic labyrinths in songs like "Maia" or "Nine Is Nine", accentuates the rhythm with techno tracks such as "Le Fou", "Invisible Objects", or "Indian Strings", and even submerges the listener into the depths of pop with "801 Nite", where Vian collaborates with the young and talented singer of Mourn, Carla Pérez Vas. This is a kaleidoscopic work, adamantly supported by artists like Gold Panda, Laurel Halo, Barnt, bRUNA, and the North American producer Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear, among others.
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12"
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MODERN 007EP
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Beautiful Things You Left Us For Memories Remixed showcases five remixes from Eric Copeland, a member of Black Dice and frequent collaborator of Animal Collective; the Swedish producer Peder Mannerfelt; two from the exceptional musician and Tevo Howard; and Escapismo, an anonymous project of which any information cannot be shared. The release reunites the subjective and stylistic interpretation of each producer, effectively translating the tracks into a more dance-oriented, clubbing feel.
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12"
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MODERN 004EP
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A renowned producer from the Barcelona scene, Pedro Vian, has taken a significant step forward in his career with the creation of Modern Obscure Music. This time, Pedro Vian presents Black Toms EP, a new release which includes Inga Copeland and Pye Corner Audio reinterpretations. Note: last copies of 2015 release and all copies were shipped by the label w/ approx 1" seam-split covers.
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12"
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MODERN 006EP
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Hacking The Sun is a compete record that breathes a Mediterranean air and evokes Balearic Island landscapes, where Defled comes from. It is a musical trip that is defined by placid and bucolic moments, to the euphoric and chaotic. According to Defled, the concept of the 12" "revolves itself around the movement of the sun and the information of the light."
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