In-Tune: Cagey House

Style: Electronica

"Cagey House is an electronic psychedellic-space-exotica project from Baltimore. Here to throw a Steel Tantrum. Playful (yet dangerous) slices of electronica that aren't afraid to shoot off on tangents in the name of experimentation." - Cagey House

Visit the website:
www.home.earthlink.net/~keiferdavid/cageyhouse/

Available at:
www.archive.org

Highlights:
Outside after Bedtime
Transportation by rail (End of navigation)

In-Tune: Marko Furstenberg

Style: Tech-Dub

"'Classics' is the fifth release Thinner release of german techdub wizard Marko Fürstenberg, who is one of the most prolific artists within the realms of Netaudio. With this EP he once again provides four firm techdub rollers, that relate to the EP title as the tracks are styled the way the listener is experienced by listening to his Thinner releases. As always with Marko, the tracks are tight burners that will cause alarm on the floor. If you want to experience it by yourself then watch out for Marko's Live appearances. The first cut "T-Shape" is a perfectly building intro storm with grudging beats and flashing delay stabs. "Contract" continues with tight beats underlining dubby cut-off pads, while "Reactor3" is dark and heavy like a brewing thunderstorm where now and then lightnings erupt. The last track "Porn Infection" gambles with an obvious sample and puts it in a bed of longing faraway dubs. All tracks are easy to access and will probably make more than just your feet tap!" - Marko Furstenberg / Thinner

Visit the website:
www.surphase.com

Available at:
www.thinner.cc/releases.php?r=thn078

Highlights:
T-Shape
Porn Infection (Remix)

In-Tune: Beak

Style: IDM

"Beak, who previously released the much-loved 'Amoral Mayor Earwig EP' last year has returned with the guitar-idm specialness of 'El Hacedor EP', featuring three tracks originally composed for the Project168 collective's efforts earlier in 2005, and his mix of contemplative acoustics and carefully nimble percussion. We start proceedings with 'Baileyi', all peaking hi-hats, wolf howls, and carefully picked guitars, before moving on to the beautifully slowed-down 'The Maker', which gently weeps while pirouetting around the subject - much more a Spanish lament than anything that can be classed 'intelligent dance music', whatever the heck that means. Finally, we have 'He Descends Into His Memory', which is spectacularly complex, wonderfully driving, and a suitably fitting end to this touching sophomore effort. Long may Beak keep quacking." - Monotonik

Available at:
www.mono211.com

Highlights:
Baileyi
He Descended Into His Memory

In-Tune: Ambient Generation

Style: Electronica

"Ambient Generation writes music that is soothing, inspiring and atmospheric. Blending chillout melodies with breakbeats, classical strings with techno influenced basslines, Ambient Generation produces music that is all about contrast. If you're looking for distorted guitars then you're in the wrong place, but if you like tuneful electronica then it's well worth giving this a try..." - Ambient Generation

Visit the website:
www.ambientgeneration.com

Available at:
music.download.com/ambientgeneration

Highlights:
Hidden
Refraction

In-Tune: PNFA

Style: Downtempo / Trip-Hop

"Wolfram Gruss, now better known as PNFA was born in a small village near Frankfurt, Germany in 1980. Ever since he listened to the first attempts of the so called "Techno" music sometime in the late 80s, he became obsessed by the thought of creating electronic music on his own. As many others he started with a Commodore Amiga 500 doing Trance music at the age of 14 and gave the results to the resident dj of a small club around. After that long years of breeding on beats followed. Techno became too monotone for him so he broke the beat and started to fusionate a big bunch of different styles of music. However there is always a certain vibe that can be felt out, no matter if it is drum'n'bass or chilling downtempo. You can tell if it's a PNFA tune." - PNFA

Visit the Website:
www.pnfa.net

Available at:
www.konstrux.de/pnfa/mainsite/web-content/store.html

Highlights:
Truth Featuring Mr Feng
Float Lane

In-Tune: Barbara Morgenstern & Robert Lippok

Style: Electronica

"Barbara Morgenstern and Robert Lippok's beautiful Tesri album has its roots in a 2001 commission for Domino's Series 500 imprint, where they soundtracked the moods of each of the seasons across twenty-one near perfect minutes. On Tesri, which is an Arab-rooted Turkish word meaning "to accelerate," the music feels partly coloured by their separate visits to Istanbul. But this is not kitschy, "eastern-sounding" world music; rather, the music is exotic and rich, full of seasonal detail, moving from remote sunsets, insect hum and dust, to a crisp, wintery stillness." - Stephen Pastel


Visit the Website:
www.monika-enterprise.de

Available at:
www.finetunes.net

Highlights:
Please Wake Me For Meals

In-Tune: Phonout

Style: Tech House / Electro

We don't know much. Most of the time we just guess. Our reality isn't the truth. What do we see? What do we hear? What do we perceive? Subconscious and indirect perceptions affect our experience. Like great music is the spaces in between the notes... We invite you to check out the wicked spawn of Phonout's nebulous but inspiring theoretical concepts that translate damn well into juicy electronic music like the four gems you will be definitely enjoying when grabbing this release.

Visit the website:
www.phonout.de
Note: Site is in German

Available at:
www.comatronic.net and www.archive.org

Highlights:
Vonomo
Starust

In-Tune: Oly

Style: Vocal Electronica

"Interweaving lush melodies and keyboard loops, as well as synthesizers, melodicas, and violins, her subtle song structures reveal stories of innocence and imagination. And clocking in at just under two minutes, the songs are as fleeting as daydreams yet their impressions remain long after being heard. Innocent, minimalistic, and unique, Oly's songs are perfect for midnight strolls, lonely birthday parties, and pulling boxes out of your attic. Maybe all in the same night." - Oly

Visit the website:
www.oly.cc

Also available at:
music.download.com/Oly

Highlights:
Dead Woman
No Money Fun

In-Tune: Daedelus

Style: Electronica

"So it's with a crash, bang, distortion that I can be here today. I'm an constantly aspiring musician, hoping to be inspired at the turn of a page or sidelong glance. For a brief few years I've been releasing records and remixes under one moniker, Daedelus, or with friends as either Adventure Time (with Frosty) or soon enough The Long Lost (with Laura Darling). The labels I've been lucky enough to know have been; Plug Research, Ninja Tune, Mush, Eastern Developments, Laboratory Instinct, Phthalo, Merek, Big Dada, Soul Jazz, Distill, Hefty, Bit Of Heaven, Temporary Whatever, and in a more distant fashion Virgin, Stones Throw, and Warp." - Daedelus

Visit the website:
www.daedelusdarling.com

Available at:
www.myspace.com/daedelusdarling

Highlights:
I Have no hydraulics
Eye Wood Dice 4 U

In-Tune: Headphone Science

Style: Electronica

"The line between electronica and outright musical experimentation blurs more on a daily basis. Richard D. James and Kid 606 are hailed as pop/underground culture heroes, bringing with them work that in the past would have been at home only in the most academic or at least iconoclastic setting. The up and coming Headphone Science mines this vein, drawing from the before mentioned artists as well as John Cage, Lee Perry, and The Orb in seemingly equal measure." - Headphone Science

Visit the Website
www.observatoryonline.org

Available at:
www.archive.org

Highlights:
Cityscape Tracer
Window Eyed Ladies

In-Tune: Client

Style: Electronica

"Client are an up and coming female electro duo who formed on the road in 2002 whilst supporting Depeche Mode in Eastern Europe. Signed to Andy Fletcher's record label, Toast Hawaii, their debut album was released in 2003. An exciting and enigmatic live act Client have toured extensively in the UK and in Europe as well performing dates in the US, Russia and Mexico. Preferring to be known simply as Client A and Client B, Client produce sexy and compelling electronica grounded in strong songwriting foundations. You can catch Client DJ-ing and performing at 'Being Boiled', at the Notting Hill Arts Club every second Tuesday of the month." - Client

Visit the Website:
client-online.net

Available at:
www.channel4.com

Highlights:
Radio (Rex the dog mix)
Client

In-Tune: Pristina

Style: Electronica

"Pristina is a collective. A group of talented female writers/vocalists, teamed together with writer/producer Joey B. of The Echoing Green. The idea was to create a beautiful, female-driven, sophisticated electronic record - so Joey called upon friends he had made over his many years of recording and touring with The Echoing Green, as well as some new friends to lend their talents. "I think Pristina's secret weapon is that most all of the women involved have backrounds in acoustic and rock-type genres... nothing electronic. So when I asked them to be a part of an electronic project - they were all excited to step out of their element and flex different musical muscles, so-to-speak." says Joey. Of these artists only Chrissy has written with Joey before. "Not only is she like a sister to me - but as a collaborator, Chrissy brings alot to the table. She could sing the phone book, and I'd buy it." says Joey of his long-time musical partner. " - Pristina

The voices: (click on a name for more info)
Sarah Masen
Alicia Luma
Monica Schroeder
Anita Robinson of Viva Voce
Chrissy Jeter of The Echoing Green
Sherri Youngward

Available at:
www.myspace.com/pristina

Highlights:
So Alive
Faraway

In-Tune: Solvent

Style: Electronica

"Solvent is Jason Amm, a robot music composer, analog synthesizer fetishist, and co-founder of the reknowned Suction Records label. Born in Zimbabwe in 1972, Solvent currently resides in a room full of machines in Toronto, Canada. Solvent has been releasing his unique brand of synthesizer-pop music since 1997, and is best known for his releases on Suction Records (1999's "Solvently One Listens") and Morr Music (2001's "Solvent City"). Solvent has created his own unique version of electro-pop: too elegent and sincere for the electroclash set, too complex and contemporary to sound like it was recorded in 1981, and too seeped in the time-honoured traditions of melody, songwriting and hands-on synthesis to be lost in the overcrowded world of IDM. Along with some notable remixes including Soft Cell, Adult., and Kid606, Solvent has also contributed standout tracks to several influential electronica compilations in recent years, including "Putting The Morr Back In Morrissey" (Morr Music), "Disco Nouveau" (Ghostly International), and "Misery Loves Company" (Ersatz Audio). Today, Solvent is widely regarded in the underground electronica community as being at the forefront of electro-pop's return to form." - Solvent

Visit the website:
www.solventcity.com

Available at:
www.ghostly.com

Highlights:
A panel of experts
Some assembly required

In-Tune: Dj Clever

Style: Electronica

"Clever was introduced to the sounds of drum and bass while taking a University semester abroad in London. He soon began DJing, and quickly gained gigs in his native Connecticut, before moving to NYC to work at the legendary Breakbeat Science. Fast forward a few years later, and he’s the music buyer for Breakbeat Science, a heavily in demand DJ, has released three mix CD’s (‘Xperience Drum and Bass’ and ‘Total Drum and Bass’ both on Moonshine, and ‘Troubled Waters’ on Microcosm Music), and runs his successful Offshore Recordings imprint. His productions include ‘Connect 4’ (with Anemone), Sprouts, C-Space, and Deep Sleep (all with Morgan Packard, as Tundra). Clever’s DJ sets range greatly from deepness to floor shakers, but always stray from the norm, concentrating on leftfield or off the beaten path styles of drum and bass. Without losing sight of the dancefloor, he manages to spread new sounds and educate the masses, keeping things interesting, and keeping the listener on their toes. His label, Offshore, is equally concerned with music that pushes through boundaries and searches for new ideas, holding onto the basic tenets of drum and bass music all the while. Forward thinking and forward moving are at the heart of Clever and Offshore. This is easily identifiable in his newest mix CD, ‘Troubled Waters,’ (on Microcosm Music) taking tracks from the Offshore catalogue and seamlessly mixing together drumfunk, minimal future soul, quirky technical wizardry, and neurofunk from the likes of Paradox, Deep Blue, Seba, Graphic, Justice, Pieter K, Fracture & Neptune, Sileni, ASC, and Tundra." - Dj Clever

Visit the website:
www.djclever.com and www.offshore-recordings.com

Available at:
www.microcosm-music.com

Highlights:
Tundra - Sprouts

In-Tune: T-Polar

Style: Electronica

"Belfast's Gary Spence (aka T-Polar) started producing in 1997 inspired by patchwork melodies of the orb, the funky future soul of moodyman and theo parrish and the solitary oddness of two lone swordsmen not to mention a lot lot more. Always relying on the instinct of making things sound original and as personal as possible with a disregard for current trends and fashions in electronica is the main inspiration these days and payback finally came from the debut ep on longhaul which received great feedback from a series of top djs. the ep never got past promo release though as the label folded shortly before release. Next up was the escort girls ep on modernism which combined soulful grooves with future funk all tied up with a minimal vibe, this too received great feedback and chartage from a number of djs over the globe. The debut album "Department of Stealth" on Morris Audio Citysport has seen another up-change in gear has already been described as "Somehow managing to straddle the multiple divides between abstract soundscapes, druggy downtempo musings, bass-heavy club tech and glitch-ridden grooves, there's bags of spontaneity and invention on display here"

Available at:
www.electrotoxic.com

Highlights:
Plom Pollop
Abelmelan

In-Tune: Monomatik

Style: Electronica

"If you must write prose or poems, the words you use should be your own. Don't plagiarise or take "on loan". Oh no, Monomatik wouldn't do that, would they? See, and neither would we ;-) The difference between plagiarism and inspiration is the presence of a creative idea of one's own. While the plagiarist merely copies or imitates somebody else's original work, the inspired artist takes somebody else's idea and builds up his own work on that idea or simply embeds the idea into a different context. Far from being suspect to plagiarism, Monomatik play with inspiration. They take the cosy, melancholic air of one classic 80's guitar-pop album and recreate this emotional atmosphere on entirely different and entirely electronic gear, almost without words but solely with original compositions of their own. Sometimes with a wink of an eye, sometimes brooding and contemplative, sometimes light-hearted and sometimes blue and doleful, this EP is prancing along the line between electronica and pop, its head full of futuristic arrangements, its soul full of love for its roots." - Monomatik

Visit the website:
www.ideology.de

Highlights:
Keats and Yeats are on your side
I know its over (and it never really began)

In-Tune: Cooler

Style: Electronica

"Though I started dealing with making music 5-6 years ago, I'm involved in the present genre only for a few years. Like many other musicians, my first works were entirely made in software environment. I got a good chance to shape my musical taste via computers and the internet. It's quite trendy to classify songs into genres nowadays - the best attribute to describe my work is "contemporary electronic". Sometimes they refer to them as ambient, experimental(?), idm. I consider music itself in a wider range, not like what we could expect from classical definitions. But at the same time I draw a line from genres which only consist of noises generated by some interesting methods, saying that this is an exeperiment and not sticking to any normality. In my music - if it is possible to say - I always stick to values like musicality, melody and intelligibility. Apart from those things, I am not against to any new ideas. Minimalism and simplicity is important, usually those concepts don't come true in my music but I think I am on the right way to get those things to work. In 2005 I formed Bitlab Records with Banyek, and also remixed Banyek's lovely track called "Persze", which is available on Bitlab's first release." - Cooler

Visit the website:
cooler.underground.hu

Availble at:
www.bitlabrecords.com

Highlights:
Yearning
Her Voice Reminds Me of a Xylophone

In-Tune: Cajita

Style: Downtempo

"Cajita (pronounced "ka-heeta") is the invention of Jay Chakravorty, a young indo-irish-english welshman based in Bristol. Having written songs and played guitar in his bedroom for years, he was given some dance-music software by an acid-techno DJ and former housemate, forcing him to put his guitars into storage for a year while he learned how to use his computer. Satisfied that it wouldn't necessarily crash every time he tried to use it, he started combining his acoustic and electric guitars with the bleeps and beats he created, and Cajita was born. With the addition of new software and new band members over the years, Cajita has developed into a live outfit that sometimes performs as a full, five-piece band, sometimes as a duo, trio or quartet, and sometimes simply as a solo act. cajita means 'little box' in spanish, by the way. it's not as interesting a story as you might think. . . " - Cajita

Visit the website:
www.cajita.co.uk

Available at:
www.myspace.com/cajita

Highlights:
If I were you
Your own death and how to deal with it

In-Tune Planet Boelex

Style: Electronica

"Boelex, also known as long-time .MOD artist Tweeter, a noted alumni of early labels such as Voodoo, continues to delight allcomers with his beautifully composed, wonderfully melodic idm sound - oddly retro, but somehow still relevant. The 'Second Thoughts EP' starts with the slow build of 'Shower Curtain', all shimmering melody and regular, gorgeously staged, before 'Windbreak' ups the ante with even more gorgeous, smooth electronics, and 'Seed Of Steel' vibrates in the air, marvellously circumspect, before we get to the last track, a wonderful remix of ST's previously Monotonik-released 'I Met A Girl With Butterfly Wings', only this time the girl is echo-strewn and distant and inspired and electronic and just so evocative, thanks to the marvel of the Planet that is Boelex." - Planet Boelex

Visit the website:
www.mono211.com

Available at:
www.archive.org

Highlights:
Windbreak
Butterfly Wings (Planet Boelex Remix)

In-Tune: Skytree

Style: Electronica

"Knotwork is a mix of acoustic and electronic elements; boundless as mountain scapes, lively as a fresh water canal. it seems to segue from autumn to spring while weaving a steady euphoria." - Skytree

Visit the website:
www.earstroke.com

Available at:
www.archive.org

Highlights:
An Effort for a Translucent Globe
And Then I am Not What is

In-Tune: Paza

Style: Electronica

"As most people who are familiar with Paza's music know him for his chippy ninja-album "Ninjani Diskus" on 8bitpeoples, as well as the remixes he made for international superstar Beck, The X-Dump now reveals his more experimental, drum 'n' bass-influenced X-Dump electronica-side. Beware of flying popcorn, as Paza raises Hell on a Cornfield!!!" - Paza

Visit the website:
paza.x-dump.com

Available at:
www.x-dump.com

Highlights:
Crazy Bird
Trampoline Trick Divers in 0 Gravity

In-Tune: Temple City

Style: Electronica

"Temple City is the intercontinental, Internet collaboration of Dietmar Quistorf and Christoph Kolodziej. Working over a 6,000-mile wire between L.A, California, and Frankfurt, Germany, Kolodziej and Quistorf pass songs back and forth until they reach the sound that's Temple City's own a unique cross of Kraftwerk and Mother Nature, with a dash of sci-fi. Their lyrics, written in the wee hours of different time zones, range from the hard stuff of geology to the gossamer of dreams." - Temple City

Available at:
music.download.com/templecity

Highlights:
Worlds Apart (Trance Mix)
What you mean to me

In-Tune: Blue T-shirt

Style: Electronica

"Blue T-shirt is a music-maker guy from winnipeg, manitoba, canada. The music that he and his computer make is available for free from this site and also through netlabels such as hippocamp, who are based out of manchester in the UK. Most of it is released under a liberal creative commons license, meaning it's free to share, use and modify." - Blue T-shirt

Visit the Website:
www.bluetshirt.ca

Available at:
www.scene.org

Highlights;
What if we just keep going?
Don't Ruin Everything (No Food or Drink)