I’ve been neglecting the netlabel scene for some time and release news have been filling my mailbox. I don’t think I’ll be able to check most out, but I never fail to check my fave netlabel WM Recordings!. Here’s some newcomers from WM and a few other pointers.

Thiaz Itch - Trodjeu Hi Hi part2
Thiaz Itch - Chevile
Thiaz Itch - Heute Mplon

* Thiaz Itch’s El baile de los fantasmas is a collection of horror and frightening musics from 2005 to 2007 says WM. “It blends dark ambient and ghostly beats together, recounting a phantasmal stunning story.” Well if you count Addams Family as Horror and Pacman as ghosts then you’re in for the right treat, because this is one hell of an EP with great beats and childish horror melodies similar to C64 era theme muzak, which is mostly humorous rather than frightening.

Elmaes - 5 (Rimbaud Version)
Necronomikon Quartett - Wave Rider
Necronomikon Quartett - Song of Tomorrow

* Elmaes is a 5 piece psychedelic orchestra from Brighton. There’s repetitive vocal invocation, sitar & tabla, but it’s not your run of the mill psychedelic ethnic band at all. There’s basically 2 songs here with different versions, like a punk version and a glitch version, but most of the music is digital postprocessing of the said orchestra (i guess:)

* Necromonikon Quartett’s more approachable work according to WM’s release page. I particularly liked this surf rock inspired piece with synth/moog sounds called Wave Rider. The band makes a leftfield instrumental rock/electronica/folk hybrid that may be worth checking for you bizarro lovers.

Spheriot - Lowloader
Spheriot - Farwalker

* 11 tracks of personal leftfield pop/electronic music from Spheriot.

Sublime Porte - Charles Quint

* The debut for the new Istanbul netlabel Sublime Porte, which is literally the Gate of the Ottoman Sultan, and in a diplomatic context the Foreign Ministry of the Ottomans. However don’t let this fool you, because there’s no trace of anything Ottoman, as the first release Charles Quint is 3 tracks of pure dancefloor oriented dub tech that should have been hailing from Germany. The title track is the most notable one of the pack with subtle melodies on top of dark dubby pads, while the closer Red Apple is both claustrophobic and futuristic (or are they the same thing?). Really solid deep techno release but I personally want to hear some different influences & vocals integrated in techno, because techno music today seems highly ephemeral and there’s just a little bit of creative space left in the whole genre. Time for some innovation kids!

JVox - 2Dial
JVox - Grey Alert

* JVox is back on Tonatom with a quality electronica EP with a fine balance between soundscapes & rhythm and ambience.