Forest On Stasys
Lotus Island EP

‘Techniques 4 Life’ is a metaphysical adventure of sub-genres. Brainy and bouncy like Denzel’s sense of humor. It’s not necessarily about making something different per se, or having something to say. It’s more about filling your day-to-day, finding reasons to stay. Exploring techniques for life. First four tracks to come out from an era that’s marked by a paradigm shift in world-building.

The second release on Tonight’s Dream Records is delivered by Baltimore-based ambient and new-school Kosmische guitar musician PJ Dorsey, better known as Tarotplane. The Ektachrome Dawn follows on from the stunning Horizontology (12th Isle) and Light Self All Others (Impatience). He describes the album as a collage of work collated since 2017. Drawing in on inspirations from guitar-oriented psych and modern ambient music, using elements he values and revere in older 70’s head records and mixes it with modern techniques and influences. The tracks fuse traditional rock music, ethereal ambient textures and downtempo electronica, blended together seamlessly to create an engaging and unique listen throughout.The artwork has once again been designed by Tonight’s Dream Art Director Jonny Edmund-Jones. The circular sun collage was formed from various textures and curves collected over time—a similar idea as each of Tarotplanes tracks, starting as separate pieces. When the collage curves are viewed together, they create a whole/circle/sun, like the completed album. The album has been mastered by prolific producer and mastering engineer Rafael Anton Irisarri at Black Knoll Studio who has worked on album for artists such as Inhmost, Juliana Barwick, Grouper, Steve Hauschildt, Loscil, Telefon Tel Aviv and Tycho amongst hundreds of others.

After a long period of significant changes, comes a release that will set a mark on the label, in this pack the tempo has risen up, the usual chords, delays & reverbs this time evoke (till a certain point) an almost extinct sound where techno and trance manage to go hand in hand in a stylized and subtle way that in today´s field is hard to find. This release, aside from being the artist's first solo reference, also marks an evolution of the label's sound towards new horizons without losing the essence that has characterized the brand from the beginning.Long live the 10th.

The second in a series of self-released Liquid Earth Physical Records, “The Breakdown” is a front flip into curbside clubbing.The Aside offers two impeccably tight mixes of the 12” title tune, both providing different licks of pleasure for the casual clubber. “Charms Of Gaia” is forward leaning, equipped with big room, big energy type vocal breaks. “Trips & Skips” is an ode to the stripped down wigglyness of one of UK Tech House’s greatest, Nathan Coles - a clear influence of Mr. Earths.From here, we are sat next to the two black sheep of the 12” on what seems like the most pleasurable road trip of a record. B1 being the beefed-out break tune titled “The Closer” and B2 the straight and narrow slammings of “Cobblestone Stomper,” a track surely given its holy legs by the OG Jerusalem Cruiser.What you won’t find on this record is senseless filler, instead, you’ll surely be pumping your face with the permanent botox that is Liquid Earth. Now let’s see that smile!

OPIA’s 14th release sees them digging deep into the archives with old school UK producer, Solar Plexus. The innovative work from the early 90s stands the test of time today as the London based label serves up four tracks from way back when. The A1 remastered and reissued from Jay’s Tanglefoot Alias, and the three others are all unreleased from recently found tapes. All to be brought up to scratch the label have called on LVCA to re-edit all the tracks, adding more character than ever to these productions. An authentic exploration of progressive house and trance full of 90s emotion..