Electronic artist Stendeck has joined the Tympanik Audio label and released a new full-length album, entitled Sonnambula. The album is now available as a six-panel digipak CD, and features 17 tracks, including “Blind Army Parade,” “Hunters of the Last Summer Breeze” and “Lunar Attraction.”

Expect tracks from this on the re:automation podcast as soon as we receive a copy to play (edit: my copy came in the mail today!). For more information check out the Tympanik Audio website

Heliosphere - H8

Heliosphere is proud to announce the release of their new album “H8″! This is the first release of entirely new matieral since 2007’s “Hands On Nation.” “H8″ is the band’s most “eclectic and diverse release yet.” With tracks ranging from “anthemic trance” to “digital hardcore” to Heliosphere’s signature sound — as well as a trio of remixes.

You can download the album for free now at the official Heliosphere website

Former Pendragon band Total Harmonic Distortion will return to the scene after 10 long years of inactivity with the release of “Evolution Of Our Decay.” The band will be posting clips of several new tracks soon. We here at Re:automation are excited, to say the least!

And now something from T.H.D.’s 1993 release “Mechanical Advantage.” Enjoy!

I added a page to the blog for all our Decisive Sound Netlabel releases. Check it out by clicking on the “Netlabel Releases” link at the top of the page. We have 16 releases of varied and exciting electronic music to check out. Everything from Powernoise and IDM, to Dark Ambient and Experimental. Enjoy!

A few clips and a promo video for Covenant’s upcoming album “Modern Ruin” was posted to the official covenant website. The video is a little boring, but have a look below!

“We all have mantras we say in our heads silently everyday. Mantras to get through and tolerate our daily lives, good or bad. A Silent Mantra of Rage is a description that could be put on any political figure, any blue color worker or anyone who’s ever been in a relationship that they know deep down is wrong and or is doing the wrong thing without choice for reasons that everyone has to endure. You have to put up with your boss on a daily basis cutting you down to size so you can pay the bills for a house that has a wife in it that doesn’t respect you. You are working for a government that you know is corrupt and can truly give a shit about your well being unless it fills their palms with gold. It’s about a realization that comes to every man’s life at some point and a reality we all have to swallow forever in order to survive because there is no escape.”

“A Silent Mantra Of Rage” is the title of the upcoming and highly anticipated release coming out in March of 2009 on the Vendetta Music label. There will be a limited edition bonus CD with remixes from MONO NO AWARE, CONTAMINANT, RECEIVER, RE:CON, XOTOX, MONO-AMINE, THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF EUROPE, ALTER DER RUINE, C/A/T and more !!!

www.myspace.com/waste
www.myspace.com/vendettamusic

You Are Here

Some great news from our friends at Connexion Bizarre. “Compiled by NY-based musician/DJ/promoter Ben Dewalt (better known for his alias Terrorfakt and DJ Hellraver), “You Are Here Vol.2: a Compilation of New York Electronics” features a selection of tracks by emerging and confirmed artists from the New York electronic music underground, in styles ranging from Experimental and Industrial to IDM, Power Electronics and Rhythmic Noise. Released under a Creative Commons license, this compilation follows from last year’s compilation dedicated to the state of Wisconsin (still available from our releases section) and will soon be followed by others following the same concept. Currently in the works are compilations for the states of California, Illinois and Massachussetts, with other states and countries already being considered.”

Bounce on over to the Connexion Bizarre Website for download links and all that jazz. Tracks from this compilation will appear on the next Re:automation Podcast.

Highpoint Lowlife have, for a number of years now, been at the forefront of independent electronic record labels here in London. They specialise in challenging, strange, charming and generally not your usual run of the mill electronic music, and put a lot of work in getting this out to the indie electronic loving masses. Gigs, Club nights, free music on their website using the creative commons licence, way before Trent Reznor decided to do something with it, and giving laptop mozarts a chance to have their music heard. Tonight is one of the many occasions they’ve put live gigs on – this time in the very minimalist environment of the Cafe Oto in the back streets of Dalston; not the most charming area London has to offer, but one that seems to hold a special place in the heart of those who listen to the music. Directly opposite a pentecostal christian church, it’s a strange clash of cultures it has to be said!

Starting the proceedings were the surprisingly entertaining Fighting Kites. I say surprisingly as generally I find ‘Post Rock’ a little lacking in entertainment value, and generally most bands of this genre tend to take themselves too seriously. Watching Fighting Kites was a joy as they looked so happy playing their brand of rock, and making a glorious racket at the same time. One of the guitarists spent time switching between guitar, drums, and setting up background loops on their laptop, whilst the bass player kept a simple rhythm going, and the lead guitarist interspersing everything else going on with understated, sweet, melodies. They made quite an impression on me utilising everything they could lay their hands on to create their music, and also apologising to the sound man for generally being a pain to soundcheck was nice of them. Well worth checking out.

Erstlaub hails from Scotland and creates moody, brooding, drone filled, soundscapes. The best way to describe the feeling of hearing Erstlaub live is drowning in black syrup!! Slightly scary, dark, but overall sweet and satisfying….if drowning in black syrup can be described in such a way If you happen to think Power Electronics is seriously sinister and scary, you should check this guy out – way more frightening than anything Power Electronics could produce in my humble opinion. The music oozes menace, and lures you in to a false sense of security, whilst pummling all of your available senses. A strange, but enjoyable experience.

Mandlebrot Set, to me, is the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde of guitar based drone music. Ranging from subtle sounds to full on chaotic noise – not disimilar to Merzbow, except take his laptops away from him and just give him guitars and effects pedals to play with instead, and I imagine what he would come out with would be similar to Mandlebrot Set. Keung is a sweet, softly spoken man and you truly do not expect him to make such a beautiful noise….particular just using guitars and effects – although having said that, his effects pedal setup is pretty damn impressive and he uses it to mesmerising effect. For me though his set was far too short, even when the noise was battering my ears, I could have listened for another hour at least. Stunning.

Ending the evenings proceeding was The Village Orchestra featuring members of The Marcia Blaine School for Girls. This was very much a performance piece, rather than a general laptop music performance, as earlier in the day The Village Orchestra walked around Dalston, and the neighbouring area of Stoke Newington, recording sounds, samples and everyday noise, and they literally used these recordings to create what we heard right there and then. It was very impressive due to the fact that it was sheer improvisation and it could have either fallen flat, or worked to great effect. Luckily for them it worked really well, and coupling it with a visual performance too, it was quite an audio visual feast. An exceptionally brave move, and definitely one that pushed some very real boundaries.

In all this was an exceptional evening of music with real depth and character. Is there any wonder that Highpoint Lowlife is one of my favourite labels when they are championing music this good? – Missyk8

Lucida

Out today is the latest release from Lucida entitled “The Unexamined Life Isn’t Worth Thinking About” on the Two Left Hands On Two Right Arms netlabel. What to expect is a mix between environmental sounds and acoustic instruments. Or with Richard Harvey’s own words: I’m interested in exploring a mix of music and environmental sounds. Not only for providing some “ambient” context for a piece like so many “campfire tapes” type albums, but to evoke some kind of collective memory. Assembled by Chard in London (UK) in the spring & summer of 2008 from various field recordings (Paris, France; Como, Italy & Gorre, France) with music by Chard (music box), Geraint (guitar) and Kye (piano).

You can download this release for free at the TLHOTRA website.

Connexion Bizarre

Our friends over at the Connexion Bizarre webzine/radio show are back from vacation with a huge update to their site. Included in this update are reviews of Roughhausen “The Agony of the Beat”, Fluorescent Grey “Gaseous Opal Orbs”, Junkboy “Three”, V/A “nucd#02″, Dissamonix “Disharmonic Universe”, FT13 “The Great Disaster”, Ebola “Mutant Dubstep Vol.1″, Logoplasm “Testa Piena D’Orche”, Psycho Shop “My Sweet Holocaust” and an interview with Dmytro Fedorenko of Kvitnu. As always, don’t forget to check out their excellent podcast as well which features music from Vorpal, Detritus, Lapsed, Flint Glass, Exillon and loads more. You can check out Connexion Bizarre online at http://www.connexionbizarre.net