Sciahri
Stranger Infatuation EP

Mannequin Records is elated to present for the first time on vinyl the reissue of Giovanotti Mondani Meccanici’s first video soundtrack, originally released in 1984 as an audiotape in less than one hundred copies. Giovanotti Mondani Meccanici (literally Mundane Mechanical Youth) or GMM was one of the most unclassifiable audiovisual experiences to emerge from Italy in the 1980s. Maurizio Dami a.k.a. Alexander Robotnick, a pivotal member of GMM, was responsible for the group’s music output.Founded in 1984 by Antonio Glessi and Andrea Zingoni in Florence, GMM was an art collective whose production represents the quintessential expression of postmodern transmedia hybridity. GMM pioneered the genre of computer comics, created video installations, developed “multiple identity” performances, and was involved in fashion, media, and music productions, and later on produced cyberdelic environments, artificial reality projects, and proto-memes.Alexander Robotnick’s first contribution to GMM was this soundtrack for the group’s eponymous first video, the animated version of a computer comics they coincidentally published on legendary Frigidaire magazine. Restored by Dami and reissued here for the first time by Mannequin Records, the composition was also split into two “suites” and released as an audiotape distributed by Materiali Sonori, also responsible for other releases by both Robotnick and GMM.Determining in this work is Dami’s adoption of the alphaSyntauri, also known as the first affordable digital synth (priced less than $2000 when it was released in 1980), which was playable through its own software, “alphaPlus,” on the Apple II computer. The same computer was used by Glessi to “draw” the 3-bit strips scripted by Zingoni recounting the joyrides of the Giovanotti Mondani Meccanici, three merciless cyborgs in black suit and sunglasses dividing their time between nightclubs, rapes and murders.As Robotnick, Dami developed an innovative formula of Italo disco that was attractive to the dance floor yet at the same time highlighted the expressive properties of the instruments he used, notably Roland drum machines and Korg synthesizers. For the soundtrack of GMM’s videos and installations, he left aside the danceable synth rhythmics in favor of ambient sounds that produced rarefied atmospheres, psychological tensions, and enhanced states of consciousness.Dami’s scores for GMM’s artworks could be associated with Italian avant-garde music of the 1970s and 1980s, ranging from composers who adopted electronics flirting with pop and songwriting to minimalist musicians exploring seriality and drones, including Franco Battiato, Roberto Cacciapaglia, Francesco Messina, and Riccardo Sinigaglia. Analogies could also be traced with the playful and humanizing approach to personal computers that characterizes the music output of Marcello Giombini and Doris Norton.The futuristic escapism of minimal synth and ambient music’s psychological nature is infiltrated by drifting harmonics typical of new age, as if in search of a spiritual dimension of technology. Characteristic of the postmodern ethos of GMM Suite, in line with the humanizing approach to technology that is at the base of GMM’s computer comics, is the melancholic take at speculative dystopias in which human beings would find themselves increasingly trapped into identity crises: a true cyborg’s melodrama.Limited edition of 500 copies, (orange vinyl)

DMX Krew here on a timesless mind blowing ambient, IDM & deeper electronix trip. Highly recommended!

The talented Greek duo, Artificial DRM - who have already shown quality samples in their contributions on Koslif, De Stijl and Semantica - are responsible for this sixth Alpengluhen release.Enigma is a homogeneous collection of five ethereal, deep and heart-warming tracks; each with intricate rhythmic sequences, layers of emotional pads and synthetic melody. Neither techno nor ambient, but something else - in between. Intelligent dance music from the heart, that goes directly to the brain - exploring the thin line between light and darkness.As usual, 200 copies pressed.

12th Isle quickly follow on from the double LP 'Athenian Primitivism' by Christos Chondropoulos with two recordings from performance, voice and sound artist Lucy Duncombe. Cut to 10" vinyl and mastered by Morgan Buckley (Wah Wah Wino), 'Brace / Mend' are collaborative works exploring an early musical fascination with theatrical vocal transposition and its duality with machinic interference and technologies. Lucy recently expanded upon this practice with a joint tape release with DJ Crud (Al White) entitled THE RAPTURE OF CELLULAR ACCRETION. This limited run single continues 12th Isle's on-going relationship with musicians in their city of Glasgow.

With this EP James Bangura has definitely taken me to another place musically. It certainly is the deepest record on any of the Holding Hands labels and yet I was so drawn to the tracks. Something about the weight of the sub just called to me and then shot me off into an imaginary club space. I could feel myself swaying with my eyes closed in a dark space with enormous subs and it felt right.

Madrid, Malmø, Motor City – the places that influenced the sound behind the pure Electro EP, „M-Technology“. The fifth SNC Recs release fuses elements from very different cities from all around the world.The musician Dip Shim aka. Diego Ocejo unites on „M-Technology“ the Sounds of Detroit, his roots in Spain, and the current scene of Sweden. Dip Shim has many talents; in his formative years, he was active in the Graffiti scene and working as a graphic designer. Turning his lifestyle into education, he moved to Malmø, getting lost within the city’s artistic bubble. It was within this creative environment, that Dip Shim found a place to start a new project. Since 2020 he runs the record store called „Bolero Record-Store“ and started his own label „Malmø Traxx“. One thing is for sure – he knows what he’s doing. By the way, Dip Shims' first release on his own imprint was a top seller on Juno and sold out after only two weeks.„M-Technology“ is for sure the perfect soundtrack for your favorite Graffiti Film or a rave night that will hopefully take place soonish. With his full analogue producing style, using legendary equipment like the MPC2000 and a selection of classic Roland drum machines, Diego created an outstanding 4 track, full Electro EP which will probably heat up a lot of Dancefloors in the near future.