Netherlands

Following last year’s compilation of archival recordings by Suso Saiz titled ’Odisea’, Music From Memory are thrilled to mark their 20th release to date with an album of new works by the Spanish electronic music pioneer. Recorded in Madrid between January and February 2016, this is Suso Saiz’s first release of new music in nearly 10 years.Titled ‘Rainworks’ this double LP release was originally part of a commission from a Canary Islands water company. The first ideas for the compositions developed from a documentary that Suso had seen suggesting the possibility of water molecules having their own ‘memory’. As Suso himself explains, he became fascinated with the “possibility of an eternal being, changing its cyclical condition from solid to gaseous state, travelling through and between the Earth and the Sky, as a witness and keeper of the true history of Earth and Mankind”.Suso, his son Emil Saiz and pianist Raph Killhertz set out to explore this metaphysical process of cyclical movement through music in ‘Rainworks’. Developing from the original commissioned tracks into a much more elaborate project, the album’s process became something of a mystical journey, drawing on aspects of minimalism and modernism. The music is also embedded in textured natural soundscapes and spoken word passages which were recorded and processed by Suso himself.Despite having the immediacy of an improvised piece, ‘Rainworks’ was in entirely composed by Suso. Whilst on one hand it appears very much as an electronic album there are in fact many acoustic elements to the recording. A resonant piano (a grand piano re-amplified using its resonant box and harp to generate effects) as well as guitars (with simple effects) are played in Suso’s inimitable hypnotic way, slowly drawing the listener into a transportive state or lucid dream.

Music From Memory hit it just right yet again- this time it's Richenel from the Netherlands who's lost tracks get the dusting off. 6 tracks of funkified lo fi bliss... For their first release of 2017 Music From Memory present the work of a Dutch musician for the first time with an EP of tracks by singer Richenel taken from his debut album 'La Diferencia'. Originally released in 1982 on the cult Amsterdam cassette only label Fetisj the tracks on Music From Memory’s release are alternate takes drawn from Richenel’s personal copy of the album and feature two original compositions which didn’t make it onto the original Fetisj tape.Studying set and costume design whilst making a name for himself as a singer and performer in Amsterdam’s underground clubs, Richenel played with several disco acts and cultivated an extravagant cross-gender stage persona before connecting with members of the local label. Hooking up through their time together at the Rietveld art academy in Amsterdam, Fetisj was an experimental multi media collective which revolved around a loose mix of various young artists and musicians. Having developed a house band with artists going by a number of different pseudonyms the label set up their own small makeshift studio and would produce and sell the cassettes through their distribution network and at events across the city. Recorded amongst the turmoiled punk and squatter scene of Amsterdam against a backdrop of drugs and social unrest, the ‘La Diferencia’ sessions reflect a unique mix of punk aesthetics with a synthesized ‘bedroom’ funkiness.A somewhat illustrious figure in Dutch pop history with his flamboyant appearance as well as having one of the more exceptional male voices to come out of the country, Richenel would go on to record a number of successful albums and hit singles in the Netherlands and beyond. This largely unknown album on Fetisj however, seems to embody the spirit of another time; a particularly unique and richly creative moment in Amsterdam’s musical and cultural history and one that is deserving of a much wider audience. Co-compiled by Orpheu de Jong this six track EP will be followed later with further works from Richenel and the Fetisj label.

Young Dutch producer releases his debut EP with 4 productions featuring the vocals of Ebu Gaye Mada and Ljubiša Arsenović (Paya)

Travelling extensively across Asia and Africa between 1974-1985 to study music, Roberto made many field recordings and collected many instruments on his travels which he would then combine with synthesizers and electronics back in Italy.Music From Memory returns with their penultimate release of 2016, this time bringing together a compilation of works by the Italian composer and musician Roberto Musci. Whilst studying guitar and saxophone in his hometown of Milan, Musci developed a deep fascination for non-western music and set out to travel across India, Asia and Africa, which he would do extensively between 1974-1985. During his many journeys Roberto would become deeply embedded in each unique world of rhythms, scales and approaches to making and performing music. Throughout this period of travel he would make many field recordings as well as collect and study many traditional and indigenous instruments that he would then later combine with synthesizers and electronics on his return to Italy.Combining personal documents of music and sounds deeply connected to the history and cultures of those lands, with his own explorations and experiments with cutting edge sound technology Roberto Musci would develop through his music a very unique and at times wholly mystical space, where ancient and modern would evolve into a new musical language.As well as making his own music, during the 1980’s and 1990’s Roberto would also regularly broadcast radio shows of experimental and indigenous music on Italian radio stations such as Rai and Radio Popolare. Deeply connected to the arts he would also compose and perform numerous pieces of music for theatre, dance and performance art pieces as well as soundtracks for film and television.‘Tower of Silence’ brings together a double LP of material from Roberto Musci’s solo recordings commencing with the Loa of Music sessions from 1984 up until later very recent works. The compilation also includes a number of collaborative pieces, many performed and written in collaboration with Giovanni Venosa, such as material taken from their ‘Water Messages On Desert Sand’, which as an album was Grammy-nominated in in the UK in 1987. A unique and at times intensely mesmerising musical world ‘Tower of Silence’ offers an introduction to the work of a unique and visionary artist.

Long awaited restocks of the third Loosefingers from Larry Heard. Fresh and remastered cut of What Is House? which is one of the dopest acid tracks that has been released in recent years! On this 12 the great extended version. Very stubborn and fierce track that has an endless cool groove that's just plain basic, but as most of Larry Heard's releases so powerful! On the flip side a long version of the deep and smooth Dreaming Of Better Days, that has that trademark jazzy sound of Larry Heard. Essential house record!

Killer selection of adventurous electronic dance music. Craigie Knowes are back with the second instalment of their Annual Fundraiser series for War Child. Music spanning from instrumental to experimental, and from electro to techno... all killer, no filler!!!! They welcome back Neville Watson and The Burrell Connection to the series along with a wealth of new friends like Legowelt, Andy Hart, Aroy Dee, Chaos In The CBD and more. Recommended!

Official re-issue of DJ Joe Lewis' 1988 Change Reaction EP. Remastered for Clone Classic Cuts.