Esp Institute 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: We were a little surprised when Lovefingers announced that German techno veteran Roman Flugel would be releasing an album on ESP Institute, but in hindsight we shouldn't have been. Flugel has always been more than a mere producer of forthright dancefloor fare, with a deep discography that includes experimental works and a keen interest in ambient soundscapes. It's the latter strand that he mostly explores on "Themes", a 13-track cut whose fluid, bubbly and ear-catching cuts variously doff a cap towards Japanese new-age business ("Theme II"), Broadcast style IDM ("Theme III"), Kraftwerk style modular electro-pop (the exotic "Theme IV"), chiming bliss ("Theme VI"), deep space creepiness ("Theme X"), Jonny Nash-esque sunset vibes ("Theme XII") and hushed, mid-tempo horror-techno ("Theme VII").

Review: This latest release on Lovefingers' admirable ESP Institute imprint is undeniably left-of-centre. Created by Black Merlin man George Thompson and Musicargo legend Gordon Pohl, it takes the form of 12 atmospheric, stretched-out compositions build around hypnotic synthesizers, droning textures and minimalist melodies. The tracks themselves range from beatless and spooky ("Ton 2"), to pulsating and industrial ("Ton 8"), via more robust, upbeat workouts (check, in particular, the hard-wired, proto-techno thrust of "Ton 4"). The krautrock influences are clear, but the dup also doffs a collective cap to classic ambient, drone, darkwave and, most pleasurably of all, blissful electronica (see the standout "Ton 11").

Review: After years spent operating in the grey area where deep house, techno and tech-house meet, Raphael Ripperton has decided to indulge his ambient side. He's touched on the style on previous albums, of course, but "Contrails" marks the first time he's completely eschewed the demands of the dancefloor. He should perhaps do it more often, because it's a genuinely evocative, atmospheric and eye-opening excursion. The double album's 14 tracks are full of subtle differences and gentle stylistic shifts, from the ghostly electronics and hissing aural textures of "Lonely Walk" and the stretched-out, Tangerine Dream style analogue synthesizer fluidity of "Lavaux", to the Pete Namlook style deep space wooziness of "Where The Wind Blows" and the Steve Reich-meets-Gaussian Curve shimmer of "Dedale".

Review: ESP Institute look to Chee Shimizu for this one. He helmed an incredible Tokyo DJ collective called Discossession alongside Dr Nishimura back in the 2000s and the now dominant ambient talent Jonny Nash was also a part of the gang. They released two EPs which got cult status and for the music on this EP Chee linked with Tokyo guitarist miku-mari a.k.a. Takahiro Matsumura for some live shows at experimental audio/visual event Sacrifice. The multi-hour sessions were recorded and then edited down to the two pieces presented here which are filed with windchimes and Andean chajchas, synths, Tibetan bells and pyramid crystals and make for wondrous listening.