The Year of the Ape in the Chinese zodiac is the one in which Frankfurt-based DJ/producer Markus Ferdinand was born, but it’s also the title of his new album under the M.in alias. Due out July 1 on Ferdinand’s own label, My Favourite Freaks Music, the record finds him becoming increasingly involved with exploring the full potential of analog synth tones. It also shows Ferdinand’s ability to achieve a broad range of sounds by collaborating with other artists.
Over the course of the album, he gets together with Fabio Macor, Marquez III, Bruno Gentile, Pete Kaltenburg, and others, turning out tracks that tech ]-house to acid and beyond. And on “Real Underground,” which you can stream below, an artistic partnership with Riven helps to highlight the thick textures Ferdinand is able to wring from his Moog Mother 32 and Sub 37, with an endlessly undulating groove that slips around like an exceptionally agile serpent across an electronic forest.