Blog

This is one to snap your head off, straight from the Young Echo firmament. Ishan Sound and Neek join forces to lay down some next level riddims carrying some of Manonmars and Bogues most incisive flows to date. If the names are new to you, track back to get acquainted. If you’re aware already, then this crossing of swords should be very exciting indeed. Pure firepower slated to drop early 2022.

Claire Sawers’ interview with ASTRYD from earlier in the year highlighted their work in experimental techno as promoters of queer-centric parties, live performers and DJs. Following up on their debut EP Blind Summit, the Bristol-based duo have invited four producers to deliver new abstractions of their original tracks for the Blind Summit Reworked EP. Amongst the excellent results from their findings, which lean heavily into modernist techno territory, is this snappy, industrial-tinged version of ‘Allocated Leisure Time’ by Memory Play. Be sure to check the other sure shots from Machine Woman, Delay Grounds and El Hardwick too though.

There’s something magical about a label like Skam, who by rights could have dined out on their prescient role in the development of UK electronica but instead stubbornly maintained a stealthy presence which rewards the dedicated followers and shuns hype. The latest in their deep cover endeavours is AMKS, a self-hosted, live-streaming broadcast session which pops up intermittently, with the next show scheduled for this Sunday, October 31, 2021.

You might never be sure exactly who’s on the buttons, although some names are given. It’s no surprise to see a Skam fixture like Gescom popping up, but rumour ‘pon net is there are plenty of other ‘names’ tucked away in the mysterious shows, which have been airing since lockdown began last year. It would figure, given Skam’s heritage, but equally they’re always bringing fresh names into the mix too. Whatever the case, you know the quality of the sonics will be utmost at all times.

You can look over the details of previous transmissions via the label’s Instagram, or if you want to dive into the quintessentially crunchy ‘lectronix the label still proudly carries, a useful YouTuber named Leisure Complex has unofficially archived many of them for your listening pleasure.

Out to Nate from Organic Analogue for the tip-off.

You know we don’t care about timing too much here at IO. So why not shout out the beautiful December 2020 edition of Legowelt’s Shadow Wolf cyberzine? It’s still a thing of beauty… Loads of shade thrown at ‘the scene’ with deadpan sass, some cool music tech how-tos, reams of beautiful ASCII art, Ron Morelli interviewing Huren, a free compilation featuring the likes of Chupacabras, and loads more besides. Basically a tour around Danny Wolfers’ brain, which is always thoroughly pleasant and a bit strange. Check it out here.

In the interests of being at least slightly contemporaneous, here’s a call for contributions to the next issue, which is in production RIGHT NOW:

“I am slowly putting toghether [sic] a new Issue of the SHADOW WOLF CYBERZINE! If you have any letters, hatemail, studiotips, poems, ramblings, ideas or stuff you think would be cool for the zine please send it to: shadowwolfeditor // AT // gmail.com