deFocus is a monthly mix experiment that explores the catalogs of various netlabels via freeform audio collage. The first installment showcases a very inspirational label for me, Archipel. My ears were changed forever just after hearing their first releases, being one of the first instances where I felt I could really hear the human side of electronic music. It's been a pleasure to see this label evolve over the years, not only in forward thinking sound crafting, but also in graphic design, business model, and their overall approach to the concept of a digital label.
In regards to the mixing style, I have taken a different approach than usual, applying Archipel's idea of a "musical sandbox." A common criticism of mixing with software is that it sounds too "perfect" when your beatmatching is done for you automatically. In response I have deliberately smashed the grid by using many tracks as textures, often without regard for their tempo, time signature, or phrasing, and often utilizing time stretching fx. The end results are disorienting unpredictable rhythms and unusual tonal combinations that were totally unique to the moment of the recording. Nothing was prearranged or planned other than the order of the tracks triggered, which is chronological by release #, and no edits were made to the final mix. So in many cases the music presented is not exactly as the artists intended, but instead transforming into a new listening experience. If you like what you hear I highly recommend downloading the original tracks from Archipel's site.
Much respect goes out to the Archipel crew for all their hard work...and please enjoy the mix!
-revy
Download deFocus.01: Archipel (192 kbps mp3) runtime 2:03:57
Tracklist:
Anonym - Another Day at the Factory
Jesse Somfay - She Gave Me an Eclipse
LeCantin - Fancy Stairs
Navarro - Far Away From Your Mind
Plaster - Conspiracy Part o1
Dafluke - New Strut
Navarro - Sable Chaud
Ryan Crosson - Blue to Green
Gyges - 4-44-444
Christian Dittmann - Musica Para Robots
Half Moon Dragster - Terra
Social System - Right of Way
Sul_a - Motorik
Sul_a - Sans Nom
Anonym - Last Gate
Anonym - Cruising the Circuit
Kabale und Liebe - Blow Your Own Trompet
Ditch - Tsunami
Ditch - Son-da
Pheek v. Bored of Canada - Out of Time
Leif - Substance
Leif - Catalyst
LeCantin - Harddrive Calculation
Scout - Action Pans End Frames
Scout - Long Term
Dualism - Audio One
Dualism - Suzuki Fighter (Tractile Remix)
Alexandre Navarro - Silence
Keinzweiter - Blurred Codensa
Sul_a - Lets Hope
Tom Ellis - bb2
Tom Ellis - nm
Liebe ist Cool - Ok (Casanova Remix)
Jesse Somfay - Small Pebbled Forest
Layborn - Solitary Drive
Layborn - The Art of Stumbling
Marc Neyen - Mirror Maze
Social System - Oh Slow Crickets
Ten and Tracer - Kunstenaar
Zhao - Spatial
Jesse Voltaire - On the Prowl
Vincent Casanova - Travelling with Felix
Ben Goodwin - Bend the Walls With Your Mind
Zentex - Ask Who
Michel Lloyd - Reve Analogue
Sul_a - Apricot Blossom
Offthesky - Atmosphere
Dr. Nojoke - Desertas
Sackrai - Hundred Feet
Russian Linesman - Mouth (Roland Klinkenberg Remix)
Rico Casazza - Brickbeat
Rico Puestel - Ainz
Rudolf - Bday County
Van Valen - Robot Destroy
Inkwell - Cannonball
The second episode of deFocus delves into the works of Miga. With a vast and diverse body of work ranging from dreamy ambient glitch to dark introspective techno and electro, it was a challenge for me to compile their story into two hours, but one I felt well worth undertaking. Taking a step back from my usual mixing style, I often avoided a lot of dense layering of different rhythms to let these intricate tracks show more of their own unique personality. Also, with this being my first serious attempt as a cross-genre compilation, I took the opportunity to experiment more with tempo modulations and more time stretch warping, performed on the fly without any post production, as usual. What unfolded during this recording was a mind boggling exploration into the brains and hearts of these talented artists, which I hope is as much fun to listen to as I had putting it together.
Big thanks to Miga for their thought provoking efforts!
Download deFocus.02: Miga (192 kbps mp3) runtime 2:01:43
Tracklist:
Inaqui Marin - Manana en el parque
Betelgeuse - Intro Spective
Intelec - Thx 1138
Ilbow - mi vida con lek
Coeval and Kim Cascone - 9
No More Music Komite - Elles
Zigarr - Tear Apart Day
Tape - French KO
Rec_overflow - Unexpected Flow
Winterstrand - kesk j peux faire
Voa Project - Transitorio
Luca Moka - Turin Brakes
Voa Project - Fluidi
Annie Hall - Equilibrio
Naifloop - Hidden Logics
Winterstrand - muiah
Sr. Aye - Te Partes
Burdeos - Out Voix
Danieto - Rebotica
HD Substance - Alternator
Sr. Click - Skizophrenia
Betelgeuse - Intona Rumori
Intelec - Spectrum
Animatek - Azul
Animatek - Buzims
Drunkat - El Gran Miercoles
Franco Bianco - Origenes
Tiza - Papelote
Hoffmann - Surface
Octad - Round Robin
Alex Cortex - Invierano pt. 1
Tec_overflow - Febril
Paper - Ice
Ernie - Moleculas Singulares
Sr. Click - Hassium
Bertech - The Plant
Intelec - Smog
Mark Broom - El Meson de la Reina
Animatek - Temporada Baja
Animatek - Planeta Imaginario (Roedor Gigante Mix)
For the third installment I've dug a bit deeper into the sounds of Yuki Yaki. Their catalog of glitch, dub, and deep tech references proved to be a perfect opportunity to slow down, mellow out, and gradually lose touch with time in this mix. Often disregarding tempo, the loops of clicks, cuts, and sublime pads flow and stumble over eachother with complete freedom, sometimes forming disorienting results, shifting and rearranging the thought process of any close listener. Yuki Yaki, thank you for these beautiful works!
Download deFocus.03: Yuki Yaki (192 kbps mp3) runtime 2:01:56
Tracklist:
Pellarin - Dependency 5 Cigarette
Humeka - Analeptic Act (Plakto Remix)
Humeka - Project7
Emmerichk - Absonito
Glander - Hunspired
Zofa - Avi Sccot
Sumergido - Roma (Scaff Remix)
Scaff - Foh
Humeka - Analeptic Act
Rumpistol - Plutonium2
Manziping - Tarde Al Sol
Dr. Nojoke & Choenyi - Defervescence Potpourri Mix
Transistor - Green Light
Pellarin - Dependency 1 Hunger
Emmerichk - a1
Sumergido - Clima
Choenyi - Taurean Storm
Glander - Heavyweight
Daniel Carew - Bored of Canada
Pellarin - Dependency 2 Warmth
Zofa - Aria Giovani
Scaff - Rope
82nd Ave - It Started Off Acoustic
Cocawildboars - 1sttrack
82nd Ave - Commuter Belt Booty Bass
Daniel Carew - Downtrust
Choenyi - Mime Dub (Manziping Remix)
Humeka - Elephant Haunting Season
Choenyi - Tri Ling
Manziping - Despertando (Transistor Remix)
Emmerichk - h0
Sumergido - Embalse
Zofa - Jane Darling
Dr. Nojoke - Zu-fue-schi
This month's deFocus features the Argentinean sounds of Igloo. This journey starts off with a rinseout of disorienting ambient and idm, building up into optimistic downtempo material, and quickly descending into the dark abstract minimal sounds the label may be most well known for. Take caution not to trip over the tricky glitches and fall out of the groove...
Much thanks to this crew for their innovations in an often stale world of dance music...don't forget to check out their great digital releases available for sale as well!
Download deFocus.04: Igloo (192 kbps mp3) runtime 2:00:31
Tracklist:
Elephant Pixel und Miniröcke - Goteras en Japon
Languis - I Dream in Stereo I Hear in Black and White
Mekas - Luciernaga
Violett - U
Lega - Err0r
Lega - Karma Garden
imi - Flofi
Mekas - Crush Beginner
Languis - Me and My Dreams Are Best Friends
Tri.ni.ty - Grace
Ismael Pinkler - Flote
Miniröcke - Libelulas
Miniröcke - Apnea (Wayward Toy Remix)
Ampec - Guayana Francesa
Fes - Sun
Mujuice - Rabbit
Ampec - Muelle
Danta - Salute my Insigh
Seph - Monstruitt
Shadi Megallaa - Day One
Ekkohaus - Jack the Hack
Qik - Fall (Dilo Remix)
Kasper & Papol - Orquideas Azules (Dario Zenker Remix)
Qik - Absy 1
Danta - Dik Trom (Jason Emsley Remix)
George S - Green Pill
Seph - Goust (Someone Else Remix)
Genoud - Possing a theory_plan a
Ekkohaus - Don't Believe the Hype
Seph - Dust Chords
Seuil - Copshen - (Gurtz Remix Version 1)
Kasper & Papol - Noche Magica
Seuil - Copshen
Shadi Megallaa - Hot Flash (Lee Curtiss menapause mix)
Seph - Vamp
Shadi Megallaa - Day One (Danta pasta remake)
Kasper & Papol - Noche Magia (Dilo Remix)
Danta - Dik Trom (Kasper Remix)
Qik - Absy 2
George S - Frozen
Seph - Espectros (featuring Dilo)
Seuil - Campo Verde (Seph Remix)
Elephant Pixel - My Baby is a Robot (Ivan Johnson Remix)
Let's take a journey into deep space with Miniscule. One great thing that first drew me into their sounds was the notion of including samples and loops with their releases, encouraging collaborations from all over the world. Clearly their take on deep and hypnotic minimal techno caught the ears of many talented remixers. For this mix I took a more analytical approach to the track selection by often mixing together works from either the same producer or the same samplepack, resulting in some nice long blends and another way to observe production style. Enjoy!
Download deFocus.05: Miniscule (192 kbps mp3) runtime 2:00:12
Tracklist:
Donor - Broken Concept
Donor - Codeisan
Donor - Deception
Donor - Circumstance
Donor - Slanted
Donor - Broken Concept (Franco Bianco Remix)
Donor - Broken Concept (Shadi Megallaa Remix)
Donor - Deception (Omar Salgado Remix)
Donor - Seeing Through (Bob Rogue Remix)
Donor - Deception (Truss Remix)
Truss - Forgehaus
Truss - Forgehaus (Donor Remix)
Donor / Truss - Laced
Bob Rogue - Ayashii Otoko
Bob Rogue - Ayashii Otoko (Sven Laux Remix)
Bob Rogue - Ayashii Otoko (OEL+Polygon Remix)
Lega - Zi Don't
Lega feat. Juilie Amadeo - Sunken Sleep (Psck Remix)
Alex Medina - Else 01
Alex Medina - Else 01 (Donor Remix)
Franco Bianco - Uruguay En El 2010
Franco Bianco - Gris Cubico
Franco Bianco - Gris Cubico (Fase Miusic Sender Remix)
Franco Bianco - Cominchiwa Trip (Sarah Goldfarb Remix)
Franco Bianco - Cominchiwa Trip (Someone Else Remix)
Franco Bianco - La Campana de la Nonna (Sven Laux Remix)
Franco Bianco - La Campana de la Nonna (Truss Remix)
Donor / Truss - Muse
Donor - Awkward Silence
Donor - Awkward Silence (Markojux Remix)
Donor - Stepping Over
Truss - Dixton
Furchi - One Sad Sunday
Mekas - Gunship
Lega - Vox 1A / Pad Final (sounds from Sunken Sleep)
Lega - Sunken Sleep (feat. Julie Amadeos)
The German netlabel Stadtgruen analyzes the fundamental connections between culture and nature, seeking harmony between the two by exploring the "possibilities of contemporary electronics." While the label separates its releases between natural and urban atmospheres, their styles of dub and techno still interact with each other in a very thoughtful and dynamic fashion. For a personal touch in creating this mix, I tried to form these tracks into a narrative similar to my future plans, relocating from the lush Pacific Northwest to the bustle of central Tokyo. I hope you enjoy the ride.
Download deFocus.06: Stadtgruen (192 kbps mp3) runtime 2:01:32
Tracklist:
Lomov - Log
Craque - Monad
Gate Zero - Cellar
Gras - Morgentau
Nights in Ural - Florakon
Lomov - Achat
Gate Zero - Mind Machine
Acidrain - The Human Mind
Dataman - Winter Panorama Window
Nights in Ural - 3rd of December
Motionfield - Masterminds
Selffish - Endless Fall
Lomov - Anysm
Passive Defence - Routine
Krill Minima - Holzwurm
Gurtz - Vacaciones
Martin Donath - Veranda
Acidrain - Poseidon
Elektronischergarten - Summer Shock
Gate Zero - Nachtschleife
Yatsuo Motoki - Disharmonie
Kazooo - Changes
Monoide - Expired Roll (Marko Fuerstenberg Mix)
Monoide - Expired Roll
Acidrain - Lava
Christian Quast - No Way Back
Frank Biedermann - Wroshyr Trees
Patrick Diessner - Schattenwurf
Frank Biedermann - Rumble the Bumblebee (Martin Donath Remix)
Martin Donath - Portland Grey Deep
Patrick Diessner - What's Next
Dataman - Plock
Sgnl_fltr - Thrust 3
Thomas Bornemann - Lockout
Rob Keens - Stratus
Renniac - Earth Night
As I find myself in geographical transition once again, I have put together a nostalgic and emotional story with the sounds of Russian netlabel Fragment. With a wide range of vibes from bleak and sparse click patterns, awkward jazz glitch, and sublime deep dub, thieir versatile catalog brings out feelings of confusion, heartbreak, and optimism all in one frosty breath. Although they haven't released in quite some time, just before uploading this mix I received word of a great coincidence, they have just launched a new sublabel, Passage. I'm excited to hear what deep aural insights are next from this crew.
Download deFocus.07: Fragment (192 kbps mp3) runtime 2:03:07
Tracklist:
Lazzich - Night Jingle (feat. Leavemotte)
Mujuice - Piano Version
Killahertz - Die Schwerste Belastung
Killahertz - Official Pillow
Killahertz - Cafe Abyss
Microboss - Morning Fog
Leavemotte - Hey Joke
Juan Frank - Morning
Lazzich - After Sensual
Eric Delay - Vollheim
Microboss - Flight to the Moon
Ecoform - Pale Blue Dot
Lazzich - Steps For Kids
Lazzich - Steps For Kids (Anrilov's Tired Nrse Mix)
Lazzich - Steps for Kids (Leavemotte's Ne Rnx Mix)
Leavemotte - Hare Timur
Microboss - Drunken Band
Gorje Hewek - Monta Sight
SCSI-9 - Ich Kann Nicht Anders
Killahertz - Ave Somebody
Motor - Asidfake
Motor - Eyeland Janet
Mujuice - Silver Highways
Modul - Tea 22 Travel Journal Rework
Mujuice - Deer's Tears
Juan Frank - Lonely
Eric Delay - Kindheitstraum
Gorje Hewek - Sudden Care
Juan Frank - Limited Day
Modul - Mauna Interpretation
With my recent move to Pennsylvania, I couldn't imagine a better time to reach across the state and feature Unfoundsound, based in Philadelphia. Their use of field recordings and everyday mundane sounds in their music highlights the innovative techniques and styles of their talented international roster, and results in infectious grooves with an organic feel. While their impressive collection of releases has been well used by many digital djs for mixes, I felt it was well worth recording a longer and densely layered journey to dig deeper into their works, including some of their field recordings. Dive in!
Download deFocus.08: Unfoundsound (192 kbps mp3) runtime 2:28:20
Tracklist:
Fidget - sesame street fun
Andrew Grant - street construction
Tleilaxu - theserocks
Fusiphorm - tracked by the beast (Monta remix)
Someone Else - dink n strum
Tleilaxu - just a thought
Mark Henning - booty breakfast
Socks and Sandals - lucidrill
David Last - sporty ankles
David Last - sporty ankles (Ditch remix)
Barem + Dilo - igloo
Fusiphorm - beastification
Butane - finger control (i lost control rework)
The Suffragettes - homework 2
[a]ppendics shuffle - secret dummy
Bruno Pronsato - write that down ken
Dapayk - loopo
Marcoerre - observe your breath
Ezekiel Honig - under the covers (Someone Else remix)
Pheek and Agnes - aube
Ryo Miyashita - subway line
Larry Flint - circus
Cesare vs Disorder - clowns
Omar Salgado - trukko
Ben Parris - breakfast with thorialanus (Seth Troxler remix)
Easy Changes - next level
Barem - kleine kloob
Greenbeam and Leon - distance
Dario Zenker - zwetschgendetlef
Sarah Goldfarb - forty years ago i sold my body
Markojux - monotreme
Monta - disappointment (Diss0nance deconstruction remix)
Diss0nance - addict (Dilo remix)
Mark Henning - motorrad da douche
Omar Salgado - cuarzzo
Ben Parris - chris needs a nickname (Seph remix)
Santos Resiak - miercoles
Kriss - adventures in jax
Quenum - calimero
Barem - suki
Dot - arrival
Duran Duran Duran - minimal brain power
Minimorph - real place
Gurtz - paseo por el bosque
David Last - where it falls (Suz rip up the rug remix)
Tleilaxu - aphturours
Kriss - undersun
Fidget - bucket of fun
So Inagawa - model e
Olene Kadar - disco college
Ditch - yack
Roberto Clementi - valencia
Seph - downstairs
Fidget - bye bye boing
After an eight month hiatus, deFocus is back! While I don't expect to maintain a consistent monthly output from here on, great netlabels continue to inspire my drive to continue the series when I can find the free time between two jobs and managing bleepsequence. So on a balmy evening in Pittsburgh, settled in with a bottle of Spanish wine, I began my explorations of Inoquo. And really only scraped the surface of their library of top notch techno.
Download deFocus.09: Inoquo (192 kbps mp3) runtime 1:43:05
Tracklist:
Mikel Mendia - Re-all
Licuadora System - Not Deep Enough
Clasemuzique - Simplifica
Bogdan - Fluctuations
Manuel Romero - Pasajes
Mikel Mendia - Clouds Melting
Waveform - Moments
Saccobros - Poblano
Hermético - Senso-red
Daniel Ceballos - Deep-blue
Sr. Click - Winter
Liquid Level - Kopcha
Sr. Click - Retraso
Mikel Mendia - Crystal
Coldicus - Startearscatchers
Hermético - Remac
Systemton - Closed Entry
Sr. Click - Hi baby
Monokao - En Casa de Paola
Licuadora System - Playing With Sticks
Saccobros - Modular
Mikel Mendia - Focus On Blur
0L - Soft Astenie
Sr. Click - Minimal Rustic 1
Dessben - Sintetico
Hermético - Senzeni-na
Monokao - Inmersion Corrupta
Sr. Click - Ejecucion Sistematica
Tizia - May Green
A7 - Mechanika
Saccobros - Jalapeno
Sr. Click - Minimal Rustic 2
Systemton - Dog Eats Dog (Hermético Remix)
0L - Cream Room
Hermético - Espejos (Drugstore Remix)
Hermético - Bus
Systemton - The Midnight Runner
Sr. Click - Fucked Up
Sr. Click - InoQuo
Sr. Click - Scalextric
There's no questioning the impact of Miniatura in the wide world of netaudio, thanks to a massive back catalog of releases that has fostered so much creative growth and experimentalism. With a dynamic range of feeling, from abstract microgrooves to deep and moody minimal, I've tried to encapsulate that variety with a densely layered selection in this 10th episode of the deFocus series. No fx or edits on this one, just straight up weirdtechfunkglitchtripsmoothbrainbending jams.
Download deFocus.10: Miniatura (192 kbps mp3) runtime 1:48:22
Tracklist:
Christian Szer - Radio Glitch FM
Proeff - Somthin Like This
Sven Laux - Monc Another Strange Guy
Andres Marcos - Espace Wurst
Grifin - Professeur Henry (Paulice's Destudiants Remix)
Brausebruder - Fiepobratz (Paulice's Tool Edit)
Grau - Maria's Pickup (Tilman Remix)
Sven Laux - Hoy & Monk (Keinzweiter Remix)
Shotten Synapse - I'm Pissin Cockroaches
Paulice & Grifin - Beautiful Horse Bandit
Marteaux - 55 View
Playmod ft. Pavth3Gr33k - Lola There's a Butterfly
Grau - La Isla Del Ibuprofeno
Humeka - A Late Spring
Christian Dittmann - Y la Culebra
Juan Farcik - Back to the City
Zoran Relic - Double Clip
Kobalt - In Between Hammocks
Grau - Paulita (Dr. Nojoke Remix)
Neroh Wassa - Winter Heat
Safir - Minalco (Eke Remix)
Andy James - Decay
Mirco Violi - Italian Breakfast
Proeff - Chingki Gun
Cesar Chamero - Titiritero (Alex Medina Remix)
Christian Szer - Mi Sillon de Ikea (Foam Remix)
Christian Szer - Mi Sillon de Ikea (Medu Remix)
Grau - Friky Lady
Skitish - Perplexity
Juan Farcik - Ivy Gray
choenyi - Gnostic
ckTwo - Harassed Aardvark
Trigerfinger - Hidden Pongo
Audioleptique - Christmas Snowball (Konvndrvm Remix)
Alexis Cabrera - Not Updated
Soroa - Atomico Mato al Quien (Mirco Violi Atomic Bubbles Remix)
Moog Control - CFGC
Loopin - Liquid Phase (Medu Remix)
Bubblaloop - Scuba Loves a Train
Seq feat. Egho - Subway Song (Seq Edit)
ckTwo - Dwarf on the Rhinoceros
San Miguel - Grobian!
Jean Murder - Kotel Mountain
Humeka - Fall Arises (choenyi Orangophilic Remix)