A quite different article on Audioteka was published yesterday at Far From Russia, a magazine/portal focused on on new Russian music and based on UCLA in Los Angeles. Prof. David MacFadyen digs deep into the more cultural aspects of their recent Astor Bell release Just So Simple, analysing not so much the music in itself but rather the context of it; the artwork, the liner notes and other available info on the boys. Matching this with a bit of Siberian history and other shares of Mr MacFadyen’s academic knowledge, it makes for an interesting read.

See for yourself here.

One day we turned our transmitter antennas sharp east and managed to obtain signals from Krasnoyarsk, Russia. And what sounds we received! The most beautiful minimal techno soundscapes, carrying underlying echoes of the Siberian wilderness and disintegrated post Sovietian dreams.

As a service for the greater good we pressed record, compressed and packaged it up and hence we now have another release for you, our beloved followers. Embrace the debut 12” from Audioteka.

Read all about it, listen and download here. For free as always.

Hi all,

Just wanted to pass along a very thoughtful article by the always articulate Steve Mizek over at what might be the webs finest blog/web mag on electronic music right now, Little White Earbuds. It’s on the subject of quality control in these times of numerous releases on numerous labels. Simple production and distribution ways brings along the need for filters and curating middle hands - especially in times when a dj’s only way to get gigs (and hence to make any money) is to put out a number of original releases. Who’s to take on this role when costs aren’t forcing the labels to do it?

None of this is new, but Steve has some interesting thoughts on the subject, go read it if you’re interested in the future of electronic music.

http://www.littlewhiteearbuds.com/the-trouble-with-abundance/

Digital-only labels need to remember that although they don’t endure the costs of putting out music, they bear responsibility for what they put into the world; shoveling hundreds of tracks out the door in hopes three will stick is an ignoble way to run a label.

We here at Astor Bell fully share Steve’s philosophy on quantity over quality and we try to live by it. I do hope you all agree and don’t see his line of argument as a declaration for the superfluity of our little imprint.

If you happen to spend the coming holiday somewhere around northwestern Germany, we’ve got good news. On christmas day Dan Brasco will play an exclusive live set at Zucker Club in Bremen. Escape the family (or bring them along) and shake that fat food out of your body while your head floats away to the hypnotic sounds. There’ll also be a set by the fabulous Dogs of Shame.

More info to come on the Zucker Club web.

(The video is from Dan’s DJ gig there earlier this year)

It’s been a bit longer than usual between releases, but we’re back, and it was worth the wait. Dan Brasco returns with another nifty two track EP along the same lines as his debut Two-tier Society from earlier this year.  This time, however, focus is on domestic issues rather than the inequalities of modern society.  Dan offers us quite a pleasant way of tackling these matters, I must say.

Read more and download the EP here.