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12"
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QSRMX 001EP
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One year after its release, Quartet Series presents the remix EP of Nachtbraker's successful debut album, When You Find a Stranger in the Alps (QSCD 001CD/QSLP 001LP). A collection of remixes by some serious talent. These three producers were carefully selected by Nachtbraker because of their impeccable reputation and ability to bring something unique to the world of music. Humble Danish maestro Central (Help, Dekmantel) flips "Flambo" into a Jori Hulkkonen'esque summer anthem with a highly addictive bassline. Preacher of wonkiness Frits Wentink (Wolf, Heist, Bobby Donny) took "LOL" and brought it some serious keys on a solid breakbeat while maintaining its jolly character. Flipping the record, Nachtbraker offers the evolution of "Just Doing My Thang" turning it into a quirky dancefloor tune whilst also showcasing his ear for detail. Up-and-coming talent Nemo Vachez (Forest Ill, Opia Records, Rakya) dives deep into "Horsepony" as if he's cruising the depths of a rainforest in a submarine. His surreal dub mix is the perfect final track of this fine piece of wax.
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12"
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QSB 004EP
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Akufen, having previously released music on Perlon, Trapez and Karat whilst also contributing to the legendary Fabric mix series, remixing Massive Attack and Matthew Johnson, enters the realm of Quartet Series. Akufen practically invented micro house with his inimitable stylish productions now presents a warm, deep, and freaky EP. Those who get their ears around this one are in for a treat. This is the fourth and last installment of the Bodybuilder Quartet; make sure you have your Quartet complete.
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2x12"
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QSLP 001LP
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2x12" version. comes on 140 gram vinyl. Includes download code. After a string of acclaimed EPs on Heist, Dirt Crew and Quartet Series, Amsterdam's Nachtbraker presents When You Find A Stranger In The Alps, his first long-player on his own Quartet Series imprint. The good-humored Dutchman, tongue always firmly in cheek, has always refused to stick to the "sound du jour" and the industry's conventions, following his own path instead, continually willing to step out of his comfort zone. When You Find A Stranger In The Alps, a nod to his favorite Coen Brothers movie, is testament to Nachtbraker's studio prowess and drive to explore new sonic pastures and styles. The album consists of thirteen tracks, made over the course of two-and-a-half years in his studio. Constantly shifting through different settings and moods, the album feels like a deep dream, with vivid details, blurry edges and a warped sense of time. The word "stranger" in the title references the dream state in which one can sometimes be a stranger to oneself. Opener "The Dream Sequence" sets the mood with a lo-slung hip-house groove that relies on field recordings, like the sound of one of the capital's trams. "Flambo", a delectable slice of up-tempo French-filtered house, is aimed straight at the dance floor. Nachtbraker dims the lights on "NSFW", cleverly manipulating samples from adult-oriented flicks, and turns in a hilarious skit with "LOL". "Randy", a quintessential Nachtbraker track, morphs from a Balearic, tropical disco shuffler to a dance floor banger. "Driving Me Lazy" starts out as a down-tempo number but changes into a full-on drum-n-bass workout. The driving "You Can't Run" features drunken chords over a sober beat, conjuring up visions of running circles in a dark maze. "Just Doing My Thang" rides a classic broken beat, while Nachtbraker pushes the boundaries again on "Innaspace", which starts out as an instrumental hip-hop track yet finishes on a jungle tip. "Aliens" is a choppy, heads-down groover with cheeky UFO-geek samples that wouldn't be out of place on a mid-90's West Coast deep house compilation. "Horsepony" finds Nachtbraker on a sultry Nightmares On Wax tip. Finally, it ends with where it all started, the moment "When You Wake Up". The album was recorded and mixed at Nachtbraker's studio in the Amsterdam Volkshotel. All 13 tracks are run through 2" tape on a Studer A800 and are mastered at Q-lab in Basel, Switzerland.
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CD
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QSCD 001CD
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After a string of acclaimed EPs on Heist, Dirt Crew and Quartet Series, Amsterdam's Nachtbraker presents When You Find A Stranger In The Alps, his first long-player on his own Quartet Series imprint. The good-humored Dutchman, tongue always firmly in cheek, has always refused to stick to the "sound du jour" and the industry's conventions, following his own path instead, continually willing to step out of his comfort zone. When You Find A Stranger In The Alps, a nod to his favorite Coen Brothers movie, is testament to Nachtbraker's studio prowess and drive to explore new sonic pastures and styles. The album consists of thirteen tracks, made over the course of two-and-a-half years in his studio. Constantly shifting through different settings and moods, the album feels like a deep dream, with vivid details, blurry edges and a warped sense of time. The word "stranger" in the title references the dream state in which one can sometimes be a stranger to oneself. Opener "The Dream Sequence" sets the mood with a lo-slung hip-house groove that relies on field recordings, like the sound of one of the capital's trams. "Flambo", a delectable slice of up-tempo French-filtered house, is aimed straight at the dance floor. Nachtbraker dims the lights on "NSFW", cleverly manipulating samples from adult-oriented flicks, and turns in a hilarious skit with "LOL". "Randy", a quintessential Nachtbraker track, morphs from a Balearic, tropical disco shuffler to a dance floor banger. "Driving Me Lazy" starts out as a down-tempo number but changes into a full-on drum-n-bass workout. The driving "You Can't Run" features drunken chords over a sober beat, conjuring up visions of running circles in a dark maze. "Just Doing My Thang" rides a classic broken beat, while Nachtbraker pushes the boundaries again on "Innaspace", which starts out as an instrumental hip-hop track yet finishes on a jungle tip. "Aliens" is a choppy, heads-down groover with cheeky UFO-geek samples that wouldn't be out of place on a mid-90's West Coast deep house compilation. "Horsepony" finds Nachtbraker on a sultry Nightmares On Wax tip. Finally, it ends with where it all started, the moment "When You Wake Up". The album was recorded and mixed at Nachtbraker's studio in the Amsterdam Volkshotel. All 13 tracks are run through 2" tape on a Studer A800 and are mastered at Q-lab in Basel, Switzerland.
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12"
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QST 004EP
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Italian artist Verner to closes out the beloved Trophy Quartet. You'll start off with "L'inizio", a majestic piece of synth work. "Upset" takes you on a happy groovy tour whilst "Crash Of The Web Era" and "The Motion Pictures" takes you on a trippy and ambient voyage. Verner steps back into the groove with "Tecladista". Starting with a majestic synth intro, "Area" drops into a festive funk and jazz bomb. Closing this versatile EP is "Late Night Job", a deep, deep tune with a thriving baseline and mesmerizing synths.
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12"
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QST 003EP
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Quartet Series welcome back Parisian sample connoisseur S3A. "Presentiment" is a collaboration with Mika Blaster. Starting off with majestic strings then suddenly dropping into a massive beat with haunting samples flourishing over the thriving percussion. "Something More" picks up where Antois Benime left off. A genius mix of uplifting samples and 909 percussion makes this another club ready weapon. "Wu Impact" packs soft and sweet Rhodes chords, an insanely groovy bass line with percussion, and those mellifluous strings again. Deep slammer "Influences" again displays S3A's ability to use a wide array of elements within a single tune.
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12"
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QST 002EP
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Label boss Nachtbraker makes his solo debut on Quartet Series with his most club-orientated record to date. Taking over the full A side is the titled track "Small Towel People". An uplifting bass line accompanied by heated 909 percussion and a hypnotic thriving arp seal the deal. "Kippendijen" is a heavyweight in the house category, with some glimpses of early days jacking house and a little French touch on the filter. "Zomaar" kicks off with an energetic MPC style breakbeat before morphing into a deep jam of lush chords and a thrusting 4x4 beat.
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12"
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QSB 003EP
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For the third installment of the Bodybuilder Quartet Moscow native Kuzma Palkin serves up greasy, industrial, and glitchy sounds, floating on steady beats. "Macho Culture" is a peak-time roller for darker club spaces with its deep melodic stabs, slapping snares, and haunting synth. "Muscle Mass Increase" is cut from the same haunting cloth, but comes with an edgy saw synth. "Proper Sauna Chill" comes with a thumping kick, beautifully crafted sound design details, and an undeniable groove. "Krepkiye Bitsepsky" is another showcase of amazing sound design and warped stabs floating over a steady break beat and groovy bass line.
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12"
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QSB 002EP
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For this sophomore release is Quartet Series' bodybuilder series, Nachtbraker sourced some serious talent The Netherlands. For the Portamento Boys' first ever release, they go full-frontal Italo and pull it off with great panache. The Italo express jets off with "Been There Come Back", a banging workout paying homage to the glorious '80s. "Portamento 101" feels like you're playing the 1986 version of Out Run on your Sega. "Final Dinner" serves up some fine Asian-Italian fusion cuisine. With "Eighty Ain't", the P Boys acknowledge that even though the tracks are clearly inspired by the '80s, they don't emulate, they innovate.
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12"
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QST 001EP
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Parisian boy-wonder Tell kicks off the Trophy Quartet series with Faster Than Light. The title track serves up some intergalactic French filter house dubbed, which brings back Daft Punk and Armand van Helden vibes. "Ya'll Feel That Honey (Paradise Mix)" is a tune with undeniable swing and moody chords that ultimately collide beautifully with a delectable big room piano riff. The leisurely-paced jam "What Can U Do For Me" is the "pretty one" with a high-pitched vocal flies over rubbery Rhodes chords with groovy neat percussion. "Vamos A La Playa" closes -- keywords: coconuts, sand, bikini, six-pack, and tan.
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12"
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QSB 001EP
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Amsterdam-based Scott Franka's music encompasses influences from dub and dark techno to classic drum-computer and synth-heavy house, taking cues from Detroit, Chicago and the UK. The Gym is his solo debut. "The Gym" starts off with sweet, melancholic chords and 808 hats. You won't be able to keep your head steady. "Toenail" is up next, and its undeniable groove and incredible amalgamation of synths and strings make for an absolute early hours melter. "Sorry" sees Franka knock it out of the ballpark with its heavy breakbeat and UK-style bass. "Street", a mesmerizing groover.
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12"
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QS 004EP
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Will the bad guys sucker-punch the good guys into oblivion, or do the good guys have an epic death-move in store? Amsterdam native Nachtbraker steps back into the arena for the good guys- piano chords, chopper effects and toms provide a funk-laden and groovy energy drink. Laurence Guy tugs at your heartstrings with lush keys and deep pads. Tommy Vicari Jnr comes barging in on the B side with slamming snares and a wobbly bassline swinging around a phat kick. LK adds some extra meat with a deep, heavy bass groove.
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12"
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QS 003EP
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Round three of the Quartet Series. Rising talent Tell from Paris confirms that Paris is rapidly reclaiming its former status as a hotbed for raw and moody house music, offering up a delectable blend of lavish chords, distorted sounds and melancholic vocals. The Croation beat-smith Darko Kustura throws in some additional punches, treating the crowd to a wobbling groovy baseline and sugary sweet chords. Loz Goddard steps out of his comfort zone and delivers a sonic uppercut with a mad piece of swinging acid. Hungary's BAL 5000 flexes his acid muscle to disorientate and a dubby bass to sedate.
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12"
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QS 002EP
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For the second outing in the Quartet Series, S3A infuses the good guys with some positive energy. One simply cannot ignore the good vibes being thrown down here. S3A shares his side of the record with Ponty Mython. His "Lovin You Is A Pleasure" is a glorious exploration of Afro-rhythms and unconventional sounds against an Adriatic backbeat. NY*AK walks over to the dark side. Don't be fooled by the "love" chants throughout or soothing Rhodes chords - the raw MPC beats will hit you hard. D-Ribeiro provides the proverbial dragon-punch with synths hammering down like chainsaws and a devastating bassline.
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12"
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QS 001EP
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Quartet Series Vol 1. features four artists and has a commissioned storyboard comics on the sleeve. The "Good Guys" take care of the A side, while the "Bad Guys" take things over on the flip. The "Good Guys" will be represented by piano-wizard Crackazat, bringing the optimistic vibes, while Saine - the king of subtle moods - provides that voice of reason. The "Bad Guys" enlisted the services of groove maestro Nachtbraker to help out with the detailed footwork and master of multiple galaxies Gnork steps up to the plate with unmatched stamina to roughen things up.
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