Out now on Split-Notes: Next Xen

Next Xen is a new compilation out on Split-Notes, our favorite xenharmonic label. The album features ~ among many others ~ Jacky Ligon (killer track) and Sevish (another scorcher), who have also collaborated with us on several Dubbhism releases. Also fine tracks by Brendan Byrnes, Steve Mueske, Carlo Serafini and Elaine Walker.  

Out Now: Sterk Water ~ Zonder te Voelen

Download: dubbhism320-023-sterk-water-zonder-te-voelen.rar

The Music House in Utrecht

The Music House in Utrecht is the place to be for Dutch A-100 users. You don't just go there to buy stuff. You get coffee, lots of bla bla, photoshoots with random female shoppers posing with vintage gear, more coffee and more bla. When this is done, you get your new gear. Martijn doesn't mind selling the odd ukelele, but Doepfer is still #1.

Out now: Binkieman ~ Strictly Binkie

Download: dubbhism-netlabel-022-binkieman-strictly-binkie.rar

Surviving the Modular Hype #3 ~ Infinity

Retro synth ads are a goldmine for students of the history of gearlust. Carefully worded vintage ads praise the quality, playability, versatility, desirability and sexuality of music gear. Some ads even sell dreams of total control, like this Casio CZ-3000 brochure, which also has a weird take on the famous infinite possibilities cliché.  

The Limbourgh Brothers ~ Kind of Blue

Ultramarine is a deep blue color, made by grinding Lapis Lazuli into a powder. During the 14th and 15th centuries, it was worth more than gold and yet it and symbolized humility and holiness. The Limbourgh Brothers, three famous painters from Nijmegen, really loved the stuff. International Klein Blue also relies heavily on ultramarine.

Music is One (with a capital O)

Nicolas Slonimsky on Frank Zappa, Edgard Varèse and big scores.

UbuWeb ~ Electronic Music Review and more

Let's build a new library, but without the books. A brand new uber expensive building is much more interesting than a big old heap of printed paper, right? Anyway... the good stuff is alive and well in cheap electronic libraries, like UbuWeb, who have a nice collection of books, periodicals, articles and interviews about electronic music.

Review ~ BeatStep Pro by Arturia

You don't have to be Nostradamus to see that this will be a hit. The Arturia BeatStep Pro has the connections, the brains and the looks. It's playable, fairly easy to use, not too expensive and it has some nice extra's that show Arturia's experience. Here's what Allert and Ben of Sonar Traffic had to say while checking out the BeatStep Pro.

Surviving the modular hype #2 ~ Design trends

Eurorack modular systems are hot. The amount of modules available on the market has grown exponentially in recent years. In part 2 of Surviving the modular hype we look at some of the design trends that have shaped the Eurorack boom.

Out now: Tony Dubshot ~ Music for Unborn Babies

Download: dubbhism-021-tony-dubshot-music-for-unborn-babies.rar

Evgeny Morozov vs. Silly Con Valley

There's a cure for Silly Con Valley tech utopianism. Evgeny Morozow dissects modern myths like Twitter-revolutions, App-democracy and "solutionism" in general. He shits on the great intellectual regression preached by Pope Kurzweil and the Holy Church of Wired, and he analyses the politrix of Google, Apple and Facebook. Well crucial!!

Manu Genius and Joggo reaching new heights

Mr. Manu Genius of Dubshelter Recordings strikes again. His new album for Joggo sounds deep and wide. Classic basslines, great horns, subtle guitars... top quality roots reggae. We can't wait for the new album with Mr. Stefaan Collieman, which is already destined to be one of the great roots reggae classics made in the Low Lands.

New Sevish album ~ Rhythm and Xen

Sevish is setting new standards for xenharmonic music. Rhythm and Xen is proud to be xenharmonic, without sounding theoretical or sonically cramped. This is simply very good music. Original, organic, written by a young composer with a strong vision, a superb sense of harmony and too little time to work out all the ideas floating around in his head. Check out what Jacky Ligon had to say over here.