EMG 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Battista, John Swing and EMG's first hook-up under the SPS moniker - the thrillingly hard-to-pigeonhole Sintomi Di Gravita 12" - was arguably one of 2014's most slept-on records. Here they join forces for round two, delivering another two tracks that neatly sidestep the accepted norms of house and techno. A-side "Movimento (Consico Mix)" is a wonky chunk of well-swung, jazz-flecked deep house, smothered in filters and tipsy chords. Flip for the Inconsico Mix of the same track, a brilliantly far-out fusion of odd electronics, glitchy rhythms, shimmering synths and bubbling found sounds. It's hardly dancefloor-centric, but it's certainly really, really good.

Review: EMG's Experiential Learning label has been MIA for a while but, as we've come to appreciate, that's exactly what we love and respect about the label. The Relative Records co-founder, the second in man in command being Juno favourite John Swing, is an enigmatic figure who has preferred to do things his own way over the last five years. Neither him or Swing have ventured outside their own labels, opting instead to create and evolve their own sound, one which has become synonymous with quality. This label is reserved for the odder, more leftfield side of EMG's productions, and this latest effort is most certainly the best one yet. 255 spans over 6 tunes, and from cavernous folds of distorted noise, to pseudo techno and glitchy, analog experiments, we're into everything about it. Techno-not-techno seems to be the right way to describe this majestic voyage into sound. Warmly recommended. Be quick, these are limited, and will go!

Review: Livejam affiliate EMG's Experiential Learning imprint reaches its third release, and those who have heard the label's two previous releases will no doubt be somewhat surprised by the 4/4 kick drum that sounds at the start of "Final Call". While previous Experiential Learning efforts were decidedly in the experimental camp of analogue production, this record's A-side is hardware techno at its best; "Vu Meters" carries on with its hailstorm of percussion, pumping string loop and swelling bass. The B-side is an entirely different proposition; although the crazed hoover bass of "Warning" is like the Analogue Cops doing classic Belgian rave, "The Day Of (Ezekiel 33.3)" combines ghoulish samples and warbling analogue tones, the beatless "Alignment" sounds like the soundtrack to a hellish Lovecraftian wasteland, while "Awakening" takes a more meditative approach. The title seems to reference the date of supposed Mayan apocalypse; the music contained within sounds like it could easily soundtrack just that; the exquisite hand-painted label seals the deal.

Review: It's always refreshing to hear techno where you know the producer has gone into the studio with the attitude of "I don't give a fuck". That seems to be exactly the case with EMG's Point Of View EP on Relative - the labels ninth release. The title track says it all as a fuzzed out bassline and electronic drones rise like a toxic river only to subside. "House Ride" employs an assortment of cut up vocals and lo-fi field recordings before giving way to an italo synth line. "Euryhmic" jumps back on the industrial tip as hissing pistons and warehouse reverb freely wander around a structured four-four beat. Repetitive loops are arranged effectively in "Transit" for a convoluted piece of beat down house.

Review: Mysterious Livejam affiliate EMG returns to the fledgling Experiential Learning imprint with four cuts of jack hammer techno explorations. "Moving" smacks down hard with hollow drums that would make Blawan blush before "Heavy" sees the sounds of ripped metal twisted and reshaped to form the darkest of grooves. The flip commences with the concrete percussive stomp of "Here" which features all manner of fascinating sonic quirks, echoes and vocal snippets than only truly reveal themselves after numerous listens, before "Now" offers a beatless soundcsape pockmarked by the twitches and intermittent clicks of interrupted transmissions from another universe. Truly mind bending stuff that comes wrapped in amazing artwork - highly recommended.

Review: EMG and Battista belong amongst the clutch of Italian hardware house and techno activists whose output has surfaced on multiple labels such as Relative, Warm Sounds, Live Jam and more over the past few years. Incredibly prolific, it's hard to keep tabs on all the various production endeavours they've been involved with during this period, not least because of the militant, limited vinyl-only policy. Following a recent 12" on Berceuse Heroique from EMG, the Italian is back alongside Battista for a mind bending four-track debut on Will Bankhead's The Trilogy Tapes label. Attention grabbing in all regards (you need to have this 12" in your hands to fully appreciate that artwork) EMG & Battista seem intent on blowing insufficient sound systems with their devilish improvised machine funk concoctions. The hellish, slow lysergic throb and garbled vocal samples of "Spaceman" being a highlight.

Review: As if the Relative / Live Jam related gang needed another collective to keep their followers on their toes, here comes another project which surfaces on the newly minted Sperimentazioni Sonore imprint. There is a diverse spread between the two mixes of "Simtomi Di Gravita", kicking off with the "Conscio Mix" which flails around in a bath of fuzzy disco lick with pneumatic rhythms pushing along the heady tones. Meanwhile the "Inconseio" mix on the flip heads into noisier techno territory with a rugged kink in the groove hell bent on nailing any body shakers present to the ground. The textural work comes on thick and foreboding, making the perfect foil to the dreamy hooks of the A side.

Review: Launched in 2009, Livejam made quite a noise with five releases in a year that really put the likes of John Swing, EMG, and Appointment on the radar. Whilst Livejam has remained dormant since then, these producers have really stepped it up, consistently appearing in affiliated outlets such as Relative, Warm Sounds, Experiential Learning, Appointment and Sperimentazioni Sonore. This Awareness 12" sees Livejam revived and in a very dynamic fashion too! John Swing is up first with the fierce "Gospel" which loops up a rowdy toasting vocal over a stomping, unpredictable house beat. Instant satisfaction! Production trio Ace are on equally fine form with the undulating diva house action of "Everybody" - just wait for that vocal loop to kick in.... EMG lays down a satisfying, skeletal kick drum groove for the B side opener "On", whilst Invisible Men heads subterranean on closer "The Witness". Welcome back Livejam.

Review: The number 13 proves lucky for the Relative crew here as label regulars John Swing and EMG share sides on a raw and ready house 12" primed for deployment in basements and warehouses. Up top Mr Swing conjures the spirit of Ron Hardy on "Keep It Up", digging out ghostly remnants of disco tracks of days gone by and setting them thick within a rugged house groove that just demands turntable attention. It's much a similar vibe from EMG on the flip with "Good Inside" dominated by a tearing array of drum sounds and a great vocal hook. Word on the tweet is EMG has a record forthcoming on Will Bankhead's The Trilogy Tapes too!

Review: Spanish producer Boris Divider grew up on a diet of electro and hip-hop, and this 12" on Semantica showcases his uncanny ability to merge these sensibilities with dark, dubby techno. The title track has a vintage electro edge to it, something that would make the perfect soundtrack to a 2010 remake of Alphaville or Blade Runner. Divider creates a sense of unease, luring you in with wonderfully sequenced cuts of machine funk, utterly inhuman and endlessly intriguing. Of the three tracks on the B-Side, our favourite has to be "Genoma (Recloned)", which kicks along at a sludgey hip-hop tempo.

Review: Relative and Live Jam main men John Swing and EMG originally appeared with these dry, sampled and unashamedly analogue basement jams in 2011 and the rest is history. Swing's "Funky Scratch" is a paranoid, late night jam where said vinyl scratches over a tough beat and dark atmosphere make for a true career highlight. "Back Again" replaces "Space Jam" of the original version where a funky break and smooth piano accompany what could be Michael Jackson samples. EMG gets harsh and noisy on "The Secret Village" and finally the two collaborate as Vinalog on this tough, stripped back hard house stomper. Your second chance to own a modern classic.