premiere

From the Grenoble-based Carton-Pâte label comes an artist on the rise with an aim to take the French Touch sound to a new level. On his first EP, Mantrakt, Jeanne (a.k.a. Thomas Aymar) crafts a sound that brings together the influences of electro, techno and pop to create a sonic paradigm that is more than the sum of its parts.

The opening track from that EP, “Crystal,” which you can catch below, offers up an excellent indication of where Jeanne is coming from and how his subtle, atmospheric synth lines can combine with his dark, pulsing beats for a moody kind of magic.

It takes you someplace you hadn’t even realized you wanted to go, but once you get there, you’re glad you took the ride.

Deo & Z-Man hail from Hamburg, but the influences they bring to bear in their music are a global mix of flavors and feels. German techno, American hip-hop and electro, Italo-disco, it’s all there simmering beneath the surface of their sound. And one of the interesting things about their new EP, which showcases several remixes of the track “Rambrendt,” is that different pieces of the duo’s sonic puzzle pop up to the surface depending on which remix you’re listening to. The EP offers a Private Party mix, a Superguru & DJ Kaos mix, a Profi mix, and — as premiered here — a Panthera Krause remix. In the case of the latter, it’s a full-on electro assault, as 808-style beats bounce across your brain with glee. The EP is out November 12 on the hfn label, but in the meantime, grab this sneak peek at what it’s got in store.

Deo & Z-Man’s Rambrendt EP is out November 13 on hafendisko.

Youcef Elaid‘s upcoming Backstage EP on Stacey Pullen’s Blackflag label makes it clear that the young French DJ/producer has hit upon a distinctive method for merging his minimal house and techno influences with something entirely his own. In the world premiere of the EP track “Ellips” below, you can hear him working his knack for an intense, driving beat and his way with a drill-down-deep bassline. As a producer, Elaid has worked with the likes of the aforementioned Pullen as well as Marco Carola and David Squillace. In addition to his work with Blackflag, he has already been involved with InMotion Music and Carola’s Music On label. He’s already worked up a pretty impressive CV, and he’s just getting started. But with tracks like “Ellips” to his credit, it seems like the sky’s the limit.

Japanese electronic music producer Kazumichi Komatsu‘s star has quietly been on the rise for some time now. Recording and performing under his Madegg alias, the Kyoto phenom has remixed an array of artists (Izumi Macra, Quruli, Akira Kosemura) and has a pair of acclaimed albums to his credit. Additionally, he’s supported genre heavyweights including Clark, Mount Kimbie, Tim Hecker and The Field.

Komatsu‘s beautiful, ever-evolving musical ethos serves as the foundation for his upcoming third album, NEW,  in which he continues along his path of artistic innovation, effortlessly blurring the lines between techno, house, experimental and a host of other genres.

We’re extremely pleased to world premiere the deep, woozy and addictive bass-driven “Chandelier” from NEW, which is released November 20 on Tokyo-based flau music.