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Saturday 25 February 2017

The Jaffa Kid - In Orbit (EP Preview)

On the 13th of March we release the "In Orbit" EP from The Jaffa Kid.

6 fresh and distinct tracks from the Newcastle native that blend a fusion of intelligent electronic compositions into an outstanding formation that encompasses all manners of progressive techno, breakbeat elements, weaves of acid , IDM tendencies and atmospheric ambient passages. It's old school influences shining through on new music. Have a listen to 60 seconds or so of each of the tracks in the EP trailer below.


"In Orbit" is out on the 13/3/2017. Stay tuned.

Monday 20 February 2017

In The Loop : Episode 18

Episode 18 of "In The Loop" is long overdue and takes a look back at what the artists from our VA Volume 3 compilation have been upto. The compilation was a popular, eclectic, all Scottish affair.

First up is a brand new track from "...From The Benthic Zone". It's a psychedelic, trippy number laced with intelligent percussion and evolving layers of glitchy sounds and effects. There's a lot going on but it never gets too muddled.


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Alpha Skies most recent offering from last month is a peculiar and interesting number. "Palomar" veers in between remnants of funk and jazz with smooth guitar licks serenading their way over a very breakbeat like structure. It's melodic, experimental electronic music in it's element.


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The latest Nova Noma production is a blissed out, soothing ambient piano led piece. "Sleepyhead" starts off with a beautiful piano and some chirping birds before some well placed downtempo beats soon join the fray. Look out for a new EP/album coming later in the year.


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Dreamland Fantasy recently uploaded his submission for the Piano Soundboard Movie Scoring Challenge from late last year. The process was as follows "We were given a selection of short videos with the sound removed and had to compose a piano soundtrack for the one selected".
This short piece shows off the impressive piano range that Dreamland Fantasy possesses.


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Warm house with a tropical flow is the name of the game on the new Night Time Bassline EP "Sanity Before Vanity". All the standard NTB elements are there, upbeat melodies, solid kicks and cosy chords. You can grab the full EP here.


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"The First World" from No!z has a real Eastern flavour at its core. It's another cinematic offering from the Glasgow based Spanish producer. Full of enticing sounds and developing drums.


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Oco is known for downtempo gems and "Let Me Talk" falls perfectly into that category. A slow burning melodious number that picks up the pace half way through with some almost tribal beats working their way into the equation.


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Crae's output over the last 6 months has seen a solid body of work makes it way online. Off the back of his "Injection" EP release on Bricolage, comes another new thumper with a melodic spacey vibe running through out. "Magnetikz" is moody, mean, dramatic techno.


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Willy continues sculpting his own brand of dark electronic music on "Jers". A powerful, no frills techno banger. There's an almost militaristic edge to the drums as they plough their way through the speakers. Hopefully there's more new sounds on the way soon from the young, Edinburgh native.


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"starocean777" from Gregor Garnutsi/Upstanding Monk sees the experimentalist explore the farthest reaches of the galaxy and he's invited you along for the ride. A pulsing beat amid an array of cosmic sounds soon gives way to an ambient implosion. An intriguing composition to say the least.


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On the subject of intriguing compositions......the undefinable Swedgy Bliker returned late last year with the demented "DIC". A melting pot of off beat electronics that never sits still. It'll either puzzle your brain or make it dance. Both are positive!


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Leit Motif released his "Till We Have Faces" EP on Bricolage last November. It was three all out analogue ambient creations. His newest offering is a bubbly electronic effort that sees him come together with Bricolage founder Fragile X on "A-maireach bi e nas fhearr" which translates as "Tomorrow Will Be Better" in Scottish Gaelic. It's a slightly melancholic yet optimistic number that grows and grows into a melodic outpouring before fading out to nothing.


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Replicators latest venture is "Skin Tight" where he puts his smooth word play over the top of the "CVRL" track of the same name. It's unconventional hip hop with a distinctive ambient under current.


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You can grab your copy of VA Vol 3 (featuring all of the above artists) over at our bandcamp site or from the embed below


Sunday 19 February 2017

Headroom 08 : Guido presents "Zero Jet Lag"



Our first Headroom session of 2017 comes from young Portuguese DJ/producer, Guido. His mission when setting out to make the mix was "to make people dance". The 'Zero Jet Lag" title pays testament to the achievement of that goal. A mix that's always on the move. Guido has supplied a prime set full of smooth electronic goodies and lush, danceable beats. It's a place were playful house music meets waves of rich synths and dynamics. Overall, 'Zero Jet Lag' creates a warm musical climate that cocoons the listener with a balmy haze of tropical and atmospheric sounds. It's funk laden straight off the bat and will keep you moving right to the end as it progresses slickly between upbeat house and techno without ever losing it's warmth. It's the perfect two hours to accompany you as the nights start getting a little lighter and spring approaches.

As always you can stream the mix below or check it out over at our mixcloud.



TRACKLISTING

Palmbomen II - Cindy Savalas
Mucho Sueño - Sabotaje
Retrac - Shades (Ethyl remix)
Sweely - Music Is Something Special
Eric Ericksson - Love it
Perbec - Chaser
Delano Smith - Metropolis
DJ Longdick - Haze
Wax - 30003b
Mad Rey - Royal Bar
Flabaire - Rue de Cléry
Mad Rey - Hard Ferailleurs
Mad Rey - Double Jeu
Nick Höppner - She Parked Herself
Trevino - Backtracking
Roman Poncet - Route of Pain
Bambounou - Splaz
Stenny - Local Fields
Lone - Crystal Caverns 1991

Sunday 5 February 2017

Bricolage Podcast #18 : Roman Fahls



Roman Fahls is behind the decks for our February podcast with a first rate selection of tracks that flourish together perfectly from first note to last. It travels through the realms of electronic music with aplomb. There's prime cuts of ambient, gritty techno and woozy, probing electronics at every corner. It's full of slowly bruising broken beats and inventive sounds that delicately flesh themselves out into part of the journey. Drifting between moments of serenity to stormy, brooding moods and back again. All that with a few upbeat melodies and an electro thumper jarred into the middle for good effect insures a thrilling listen in the latest of our mix sessions. One to get lost in.

Stream in full below or over at our mixcloud.

Friday 3 February 2017

Every Wall Has Two Sides



On the 20th of January 2017, Donald J Trump assumed office in the world famous White House, therefore, officially becoming the 45th President of the United States of America. It's a vote that has almost split not just America, but the whole world in two. I could go into details on my feelings on the matter in general and write a politically charged rant that could literally span page after page after page. But I won't, I'll keep it short and sweet.

Personally, I think Trump has already made and will continue to make bad, possibly even horrendous, decisions whilst he is at the helm of arguably the worlds most powerful nation.

Two of those decisions have already caused widespread controversy and saw rise to a united backlash on many different levels the world over.

The first being the planned construction of a 2000 mile long wall along the Mexican border. Off the bat, it's a ridiculous idea straight away given the cost of building such a ludicrous thing and then there's also the maintenance costs. Secondly, every wall has two sides. Think about that for a minute and take what you will from that statement. Walls create division and isolation. They block out communication. This is not a positive move by any means. It's a completely unnecessary, not to mention illogical, step from an attention seeking, power hungry, megalomaniac.



The second baffling decision from Mr Trump is the one that made me write this post. I am of course referencing the executive order given by the new President that bars the citizens of seven Muslim countries from entering the USA.

Iran, Sudan, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Somalia and Yemen are the nations "barred". With people carrying dual national passports also affected. As I mentioned earlier, I won't go into a long winded rant but what I will say is that first and foremost this ban clearly puts an immediate end to the US Syrian refugee programme and is also apparently a violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Not to mention, the most vital thing of all, it's a complete disregard for basic human value and rights. That's the part that eats away at me the most.

At best, it's a knee jerk decision from a deluded, apathetic 'leader'. At worst, it could potentially start a snowball effect with other nations following suit. Although fortunately it seems the majority of the rest of the world, so far, has shown solidarity and empathy with the banned countries. Freedom, equality and the pursuit of bettering ones life in another place should not be allowed to be dictated by any person or any country. I believe that we predominantly, as a world, are more than aware and encouraging of that.

Immigration has been key to obtaining diverse, colourful and primarily peaceful cultures for centuries. It's something I hold dear to my heart. We are, ultimately, all immigrants.

I class myself mainly as Scottish, but I also descend from immigrants on my mothers side. If my grandmother didn't arrive in Scotland from Koln then I might not be here. There's traces of immigrants in every single one of us.

Trumps ban only serves to fuel more division, strain and anxious tension in an already highly strung, needlessly nervous world.

It's for that reason that today we here at Bricolage, alongside many other labels and artists, express our complete opposition to the ban by extending our support to and stand firmly alongside the American Civil Liberties Union in attempting to combat Trumps recent actions. The ACLU are non profit and are continously working around the clock in the battle against the discriminatory actions unveiled in Trumps ban.

Money helps unions like the ACLU. Every little helps that bit more.

Bandcamp, started the ball rolling by announcing that they would be donating their share of any music bought through their site to the ACLU to aid the fight against the unconstitutional operations of the new President. Since the companies announcement, the swell in support from artists and labels throughout the planet has been inspiring.

We here at Bricolage would like to do our bit to try and help. So as of midnight (which is right about now as I write this) 100% profits from any music sold on the Bricolage bandcamp over the net 24 hours will be donated directly to the ACLU to assist them as much as possible in the war for justice and equality.

We've released a wide range of top quality music spanning all sorts of genres so go on and have a dig around at the link below.

https://bricolagecollective.bandcamp.com/


John

CEO Bricolage Collective