PLINK PLONK RECORDS CURRENT AND BACK CATALOGUE TABLE OF CONTENTS PLINK PLONK RECORDS 2 SINGLES (MOST RECENT RELEASES FIRST) 2 T**PLK0017T UNDERGROUND SCIENCE 'WATERWURLD' 2 P**PLK0016T BLUE GOOSE 'SPIRALS' 2 **PLK0015T ANIMUS AMOR 'AND ON' 2 **PLK0014T LA SYNTHESIS 'AGRAPHOBIA' EP 3 *PLK0013 THE AURANAUT 'INTERACTIVE (UNDERSTAND)' 3 PLK0012 MANTRAC 'IN R' DBL EP 4 PLK0011 MEGALON 'DARKNESS' 5 PLK0010 MANTRAC 'COASTER' 6 PLK009 WILD WEST 'CITRIC' 6 PLK008 UNDERGROUND SCIENCE 'GERMINATION' 7 PLK007 MEGALON 'SORCEROR' DBL EP 7 PLK006 STRANGER 'VOLCANO' EP 8 PLK005 WILD WEST 'TERRAFORMA' 9 PLK004 PLUTO 'PLUTOBEAT' 9 PLK003 MEGALON 'SEMBLANCE' / 'INCANTATION' 10 PLK002 BULLET 'TRANCEDANCE' 11 PLK001 PLUTO 'FLOORSTRUK' 11 ALBUMS 11 **PLKLP002 MEGALON 'PANDORA'S BOX' 12 PLKLP001 VARIOUS (PLINK PLONK) 'PARASOLS' VOL 1 13 ELECTRO AUDIO RESPONSE (E.A.R.) 15 SINGLES 15 S**EARX6 UNDEGROUND SCIENCE 'SLASH' 15 *EARX5 NÜW IDOL 'ZIM' 15 *EARX4 INTERLOPER 'QUANTUM SOULS' 15 EARX3 NÜW IDOL 'WÜ MAZE' 16 EAR102 SOMNAMBULIST 'NIGHTFLYTE' 16 EAR101 VOODOO DANCE CORPORATION'INDUSTRIAL FLUID' 16 LO VOLTAGE 17 SINGLES 17 S**ISO004 UNDEGROUND SCIENCE 'ELECTRIK ZOUP' 17 *ISO003 TORRINGTON FOE 'MORNING SHUFFLE' 17 *ISO002 KASM 'PAST POWERS' 17 ISO001 UNDERGROUND SCIENCE 'COMA' EP 17 PRICE LIST 18 MAIL ORDER FORM 19 S** INDICATES A SCHEDULED RELEASE T** INDICATES A CURRENT TEST PRESSING P** INDICATES A CURRENT PROMO RELEASE ** INDICATES A NEW RELEASE * INDICATES A CURRENT RELEASE PLINK PLONK RECORDS SINGLES (MOST RECENT RELEASES FIRST) T**PLK0017T UNDERGROUND SCIENCE 'WATERWURLD' Side 1 Track 1: Bug Lyphe Side 2 Track 1: Waterwurld Dub P**PLK0016T BLUE GOOSE 'SPIRALS' Side 1 Track 1: Spirals Side 2 Track 1: Spirals (Kumo Pacific Dub 88bpm) FIRST PLINK PLONK OF THE YEAR ON THE NEW BLUE OFF-SHOOT - WHICH MEANS DEEPLY DELICIOUS SUB-136BPM HOUSE-TECHNO HYBRIDS LIKE THIS LABEL DEBUT FROM MR GOOSE. SKIPPING HOUSE BEDROCK IS TOPPED WITH SHIMMERING SYNTH ROTATION, HOVERING ORGANS AND A SWARM OF GORGEOUS STRINGS. VIBRANT, MELODIC AND WELL WORTH CATCHING A FEW DROPPINGS ON THE HEAD. FLIP IS A REMIX BY LABELMATE KUMO WHO TAKES IT DOWN TO AN 88BPM SPACED JAZZ-SKANK. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 3 **PLK0015T ANIMUS AMOR 'AND ON' Side 1 Track 1: And On Side 2 Track 1: Hi Freq THE LATTER STAGES OF 1994 HAVE SEEN PLINK PLONK EXPAND IT'S RANGE BY NOT ONLY STARTING A NEW LABEL (E.A.R.) BUT ALSO DIVERSIFYING THE MATERIAL ON THE MAIN TECHNO ROSTER. ANIMUS AMOR COME UP WITH A VERY WARM, ALMOST DUB- LIKE, ARRANGEMENT ON 'AND ON' WHICH STILL RETAINS PLINK PLONK'S EXPERT PRODUCTION TOUCHES. MAYBE A LITTLE TOO ADVENTUROUS FOR THE LABEL'S HARDCORE FOLLOWING, THIS IS NONETHELESS A SUPERB OFFERING. BRAD BEATNIK - RECORD MIRROR OKAY SO THIS ISN'T EXACTLY PUMPING PEAK TIME TURBO FRENZY GEAR BUT IT IS RATHER PRETTY. DON'T KNOW WHICH SIDE IS WHICH BUT ON ONE A LONG, SPACIOUS, DREAMY INTRO EVENTUALLY (AND I MEAN EVENTUALLY) STRETCHES AND YAWNS AND SLIDES INTO A LAZY GROOVE. THE OTHER SIDE DOES SIMILAR LUSH THINGS TOO, LATE NIGHT HAZY HOUSE WITH EVERYTHING JUST PERFECT. RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE, THIS PLACE, THIS WOULD BE HEAVENLY. PROBABLY WHY MR C HAS APPARENTLY BEEN CANING IT ALL YEAR. 4 DANCING MEN DOM PHILLIPS - UPDATE FIRST OF THE PLINK PLONK 'BLUE' TESTS [LIMITED PROMO TO TEST THE WATER]. THE BLUE COVERS BELOW 135BPM TECHNOID HOUSE AND THIS IS A DEEP BEAUT FROM THE PARASOLS ALBUM WITH SIGHING PADS AND MILD ACID. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 6 **PLK0014T LA SYNTHESIS 'AGRAPHOBIA' EP Side 1 Track 1: Agraphobia Side 2 Track 1: CBX Timelock Side 2 Track 2: Du Androids Dream THE ALL HAIL DISCORDIA PARTY IN STOKE NEWINGTON WAS ONE OF THE MORE EXTREME EVENTS I'VE DONE IN RECENT TIMES. BRILLIANT VENUE, GENTLEMAN BOUNCERS , FOUR ROOMS HEAVING UNTIL SEVEN IN THE MORNING AND A PLETHORA OF MANIACS. THEN FOUR HOURS LATER TO THE INTERNATIONAL DANCE CONVENTION IN AMSTERDAM WHERE I WAS PARTICIPATING IN THE UNDERGROUND DJ CLASH WITH LAURENT GARNIER, MIKE DUNN AND MR C [MISSING THE PLANE IN THE PROCESS!]. WHICH CONVENIENTLY BRINGS ME TO THIS REVIEW. MR C'S SET WAS SUPERB - A GAMUT OF SOUNDS FROM FULL-ON ACID TO DEEPEST HOUSE DELIVERED LIKE A MASTER. I MET HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WAS STRUCK WITH THE UNDERSTANDING AND TOTALLY OPEN PASSION HE HAS FOR HIS MUSIC. PLINK PLONK IS HIS LABEL AND HAS BEEN A FIRM NEEDS MUST FAVOURITE SINCE DAY ONE. THE PLINK PLONK SOUND MELTS THE PUREST STRAINS OF TECHNO WITH DEEP HOUSE AND ULTRA-HYPNOTIC SENSIBILITIES PLUS QUESTING ORIGINALITY. THE ORIGINAL OLD SCHOOL SPIRIT INTACT BUT SPOT ON WITH WHAT MAKES THIS TODAY'S MOST RAPIDLY-DEVELOPING STRAIN OF DANCE MUSIC. LIKE THIS SINGLE BY NEW SIGNING LA SYNTHESIS, WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE UNDERGROUND SCENE SINCE '88. ON THE FIRST CUT THE BEATS ARE ELECTRO-DERIVED, PAINTED WITH SHIMMERING SYNTHS AND A HAUNTING SONIC TOPPING WHICH RECALLS EVERYTHING FROM DEEPEST DETROIT TO THE NEW EUROPEAN SOUNDS. RICH AND MELODIC WITH TIMELESS POWER. THEN THERE'S THE ROUGHER ROBO-FUNK OF 'CBX TIMELOCK' BEFORE A GORGEOUS AMBIENT OUTING TO CLOSE IN THE FORM OF 'DU ANDROIDS DREAM'. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 1 A NEW NAME FOR THE PLINK PLONK ROSTER, LA SYNTHESIS DELVE INTO THE LIGHTER SIDE OF DEEP TECHNO WITH THIS THREE-TRACK EP. A LITTLE BUBBLIER THAN MOST PLINK PLONK RELEASES, THIS IS FULL OF COLOUR AND VITALITY WITH THE LEAD TRACK MEANDERING THROUGH A GARDEN OF BRIGHT AND DISTINCT SOUNDS. 'CBX TIMELOCK' IS A HARDER AFFAIR BUT WITH ROUNDED EDGES WHILE 'DU ANDROIDS DREAM' IS A MORE AMBIENT TECHNO PIECE. BRAD BEATNIK - RECORD MIRROR SPARKLING BUT ACCESSIBLE TECHNO AND AMBIENCE: THE HIGH QUALITY THROUGHOUT MAKES THIS PLINK PLONK'S BEST YET. YOU COULD PLAY THIS ANYWHERE AND PEOPLE WOULD GROOVE. MIXMASTER MORRIS - I-D *PLK0013 THE AURANAUT 'INTERACTIVE (UNDERSTAND)' Side 1 Track 1: Interactive (Understand) Side 2 Track 1: Euromotion Side 2 Track 2: Interactive (Over & Over) Megalon Mix HERE'S A RECORD THAT'S LOGGED MANY HOURS ON THE SL1200'S. SUPER CLEAN PRODUCTION AND BRILLIANT ARRANGEMENTS MAKE THIS TRACK A MUST FOR ANYONE WHO ORBITS AROUND THE PROGRESSIVE HOUSE PLANET. PERFECT FOR A JOURNEY INTO THE SPACE AGE, PLUS THE B-SIDE, 'EUROMOTION' IS A GREAT 5AM- SUNRISE SONG, WITH A SYNCOPATED SNARE BREAK OVER SLAMMING 909'S. WEI-EN CHANG - SLAP MAGAZINE, CALIFORNIA THE MIGHTY PLINK PLONK VENTURE INTO A VERY ACCESSIBLE FIELD OF TRANCE TECHNO WITH THEIR NEW ARTIST THE AURANAUT; IF YOU LIKE EYE Q THEN THIS TRACK IS A MUST. 'INTERACTIVE(UNDERSTAND)' IS THE TITLE TRACK, A STEADY POUNDING BEAT AND UNDULATING HIGH LINES AND CRAZY PROCESSED VOCAL CHANTS, A TRACK YOU JUST CAN'T KEEP STILL TO. 'EUROMOTION' IS PROBABLY MY FAVOURITE TRACK ON THE RECORD, A HARDER BOUNCY TUNE WITH BEAUTIFUL HIGH LINES AND HARDER SOUNDS WITH A POUNDING BEAT. THE FINAL MIX SEES LABEL MATES MEGALON TAKE ON 'INTERACTIVE (OVER & OVER)', ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL AND EPIC JOURNEY WITH SOME AMAZING SOUNDS, RECORDS LIKE THIS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE BUT AN ABSOLUTE JOY TO PLAY; A BRILLIANT RECORD THAT LEAVES YOU WANTING MORE. 4 DANCING MEN GUY OLDHAMS - UPDATE AH PLINK PLONK! A ROLLING TROUSER-RUMMAGER IN THAT INIMITABLE SPACED, HYPNOTIC STYLE. FAST AND POWERFUL BUT RENDERED WITH SUCH SUBTLETY AND CARE THAT IT STARTS IN THE INTESTINES AND WORKS INSIDIOUSLY OUT THROUGH BLOODSTREAM AS OPPOSED TO ORIFICE. MEGALON CONTRIBUTE A SKATING REMIX OF THE LEAD CUT. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 4 A HYPNOTIC TECHNO GROOVE THAT CANTERS ALONG WITH A DEEP WARBLING BASSLINE AND SOME OCCASIONAL SPOKEN VOCALS AMONG THE WINDING SYNTH NOISES. MORE DANCEFLOOR FRIENDLY THAN MANY OF THE PLINK PLONK RELEASES. THE HEAVIER 'EUROMOTION' ON THE B-SIDE WITH IT'S AGGRESSIVE BUZZY LEAD NOISE IS WELL WORTH CHECKING TOO. BRAD BEATNIK - RECORD MIRROR PLK0012 MANTRAC 'IN R' DBL EP Disc 1 Side 1 Track 1: Reaction Disc 1 Side 2 Track 1: Runaround Disc 1 Side 2 Track 2: Reminisce Disc 2 Side 1 Track 1: Rize Disc 2 Side 2 Track 1: Retrospect Disc 2 Side 2 Track 2: Retire SO-CALLED BECAUSE ALL SIX TRACKS BEGIN WITH AN 'R', THIS DOUBLEPACK MARKS THE LATEST CHAPTER IN PLINK PLONK'S TECHNO EXPERIMENTATIONS. IT'S DIFFICULT TO PICK OUT PARTICULAR TRACKS. SUFFICE TO SAY THE PRODUCTION IS ONCE AGAIN CRYSTAL CLEAR, WITH THE SPARSE SIMPLISTIC ELECTRONIC SOUNDS BEAUTIFULLY MATCHED WITH SUBDUED RUMBLING BASSLINES AND FLUTTERING KEYBOARDS. OH, AND 5P PER DOUBLEPACK GOES TO THE SAVE THE TIGERS PROJECT. BRAD BEATNIK - RECORD MIRROR GOOD WEEK FOR UK TECHNO. HERE'S THE MYSTERIOUS MANTRAC FOLLOWING COASTER WITH A DOUBLE EP. ONCE AGAIN HIS EXPLOITS CAN VEER FROM OUT THERE PURE TECHNO THROUGH SHIMMERING ELECTRO TO THE FULL-ON DANCEFLOOR PENETRATION OF RIZE VIA TENSE TROUSER TACTICS AND THAT EVER-PRESENT SUB- BASS. EXPLORATION WITH ATTITUDE AND A LOT OF BEAUTY(HEAR REMINISCE AND MELT). KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS TECHNO CHART NO 2. MANTRAC FOLLOWS UP THE ULTRA-COOL 'COASTER' EP WITH A SIX TRACK DOUBLE PACK EXTRAVAGANZA. ALL TRACKS HAVE THE NECESSARY INGREDIENTS TO MAKE A QUALITY UNDERGROUND DANCE RECORD. ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING, FRESH IDEAS, AND OF COURSE, CAPABLE SONGWRITING. THE BEST TRACKS HERE ARE THE DEEPLY EMOTIONAL 'RIZE', THE SHUFFLING, ALMOST REPETITIVE 'RUNAROUND', AND IT'S EXTREMELY CHILLED AMBIENT VERSION, 'REMINISCE'. YET ANOTHER EXCELLENT RECORD FROM PLINK PLONK. TRIP MAGAZEEN - FLORIDA 'IN R'...LEANS MORE TOWARDS MUSIC AND MELODIES THAN CERTAIN PAST WORKS ON THE LABEL; ALTHOUGH PLINK PLONK SPARSENESS IS MAINTAINED, THIS IS MORE THAN THE USUAL SPACED-OUT DUB AFFAIR - THE TRACKS COVER STYLES FROM CLUB TO BEDROOM AND A FEW 7-11S IN BETWEEN. THERE ARE SIX TRACKS IN TOTAL; A DESCRIPTION OF EACH WOULD BE TOO LENGTHY, SO ALL WE'LL SAY IS IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD 'IN R' YET DO SOMETHING TO MAKE AMENDS - IT'S UNLIKELY TO DISAPPOINT. MARK & JOSH - UPDATE PLINK PLONK ONCE AGAIN HIT THE GROOVE-NAIL ON THE HEAD WITH THIS SPAN- THE-FRACTAL-SPECTRUM DOUBLE-PACK. THEIR BEST YET? CALVIN BUSH - MELODY MAKER PLK0011 MEGALON 'DARKNESS' Side 1 Track 1: Darkness (Shaded In Mix) Side 2 Track 1: Darkness (Shaded Out Mix) PREVIEWED ON THE LABEL'S 'PARASOLS' COMPILATION, MEGALON'S THIRD RELEASE COMES IN TWO NEW MIXES. DESPITE THE TITLE, THIS IS MORE COLOURFUL THAN YOU MIGHT THINK AND ONCE AGAIN THE HIGH QUALITY TECHNO TRANCE GROOVES ARE TOTALLY MESMERISING. 'SHADED IN' IS THE STRIPPED DOWN BLISSED OUT MIX WHILE 'SHADED OUT' IS A LONGER, TWITCHING AND FLEXING MIX FULL OF ODD NOISES. BOTH DO THE BUSINESS. BRAD BEATNIK - RECORD MIRROR MR C'S LABEL KEEPS 'EM COMING THICK AND FAST WITHOUT A DROP IN QUALITY. 'SHADED IN', ON THE A-SIDE, IS NICELY PHASED WITH LUSH LAYERS OF MELLOW SYNTHS. THE OTHER SIDE'S 'SHADED OUT' IS SIMILAR BUT HAS A MORE SINISTER FEEL. VERY TASTY AND NOT TO BE MISSED. 4½ DANCING MEN NICK WARREN - UPDATE ...TALKING OF PLINK PLONK HERE'S TWO MORE MIXES OF THE CUT FROM THE PARASOLS LP, MAKING UP A THIRD SINGLE FORM THE LABEL'S FLAGSHIP DUO [IF IT GETS PAST THE NEW TEST STAGE]. ANOTHER HEAVENLY VOYAGE INTO THE DEEPEST BLACK HOLES OF HYPNO-TIGHTS HEAVEN AS KEYBOARDS SHIMMER AROUND THE URGENT DRUM PATTERNS AND SPACED TEXTURES START MAKING LOVE IN THE CORNER. PLINK PLONK STILL RULE THE EARLY HOURS. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 3 DEEP TRANCE FROM THE PLINK PLONK SCHOOL THAT'S UNSHAKEABLE COOL. MEGALON PROPEL MUTANT SPURTS OF METAL INTO A SHIMMERING DEEPNESS. EXPERTLY CRAFTED, IT'S LIKE DERRICK MAY, OR JUAN ATKINS, BUT PERHAPS A LITTLE TOO MONOCHROME. LIGHTEN UP, DUDES. N.M.E. PLK0010 MANTRAC 'COASTER' Side 1 Track 1: Autotakeover Mix Side 1 Track 2: Psyberlife Mix Side 2 Track 1: Raw Mix Side 2 Track 2: Cooked Mix WITH EACH RELEASE THIS LABEL GETS BETTER AND BETTER AND THIS IS NO EXCEPTION. ON THE A SIDE YOU GET 'AUTOTAKEOVER' WHICH IS A TWO MINUTE PERCUSSION NUMBER FOLLOWED BY 'PSYBERLIFE', VERY SQUELCHY AND METALLIC. FLIP IT OVER FOR 'RAW' AND 'COOKED'. 'RAW' IS A GORGEOUS, DEEP SLICE OF TECHNO, VERY COOL INDEED. COOKED IS SIMILAR BUT ADDS A LIQUID 303. DON'T LET THIS ONE SLIP YOU BY. 4½ DANCING MEN NICK WARREN - UPDATE UPDATE TECHNO CHART NO 5 DJ MAG HYPE CHART NO 61 MELODIES FLOAT, DRUMS KICK OFF, AND BASS ROLLS DEEP DOWN. MUSIC WITH SOUL. RHYTHM DOCTOR - ID MAGAZINE PLK009 WILD WEST 'CITRIC' Side 1 Track 1: 777 Drop Mix Side 1 Track 2: Original Mix Side 2 Track 1: Filter Mix Side 2 Track 2: Dub Mix THE SECOND RELEASE FROM WILD WEST AND AN EXCELLENT RELEASE IT IS TOO. A NICE SLICE OF ACID-TRANCE IS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE '777 DROP'. THE 'ORIGINAL MIX' HAS A STRONG BASSLINE WITH GOOD STRONG WARBLING ACID OVERTONES. FLIP IT OVER FOR A CONSTANT RUNNING GROOVE WITH PLENTY OF STRONG SYNTH LINES. A WELL CRAFTED TRACK THAT SHOULD SEE SOME PLAYS FROM THE MORE SERIOUS JOCKS AROUND. VERY FRIENDLY AND A GOOD STRONG TRACK TO PLAY. 4 DANCING MEN GUY OLDHAMS - UPDATE WILD WEST'S SECOND OUTING ON THE PLINK PLONK TRANCEBOARD AND ONE WHICH SHOWS THAT THERE'S MORE WHERE THEIR FIRST OFFERING TERRAFORMA CAME FROM. FOUR MIXES OF SPINNING ELECTRO ACID, FLOWN OVER A PROCESSION OF HYPNOTIC RHYTHMS AND SUDDEN ELECTRONIC SHOCK WAVES. AS EVER THE INTRICATE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE PLINK PLONK SOUND BEAMS OUT OF THE SHADOWY CORNERS AND THE MORE FRANTIC A-SIDE MIXES ARE BALANCED BY THE MORE CELESTIAL MIXES OF THE FLIP SIDE. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 2 & TRANCE CHART NO 3. PLK008 UNDERGROUND SCIENCE 'GERMINATION' Side 1 Track 1: Germination Side 2 Track 1: Psychosynthesis (Mix of Germination) Side 2 Track 2: Foto Dub (Mix of Germination) MY BELOVED PLINK PLONK HAVE KICKED OFF A SCHEME WHEREBY PROMOS ARE REPLACED BY TEST RELEASES - IF REACTION IS GOOD THEY GET RELEASED. IN WHICH CASE THIS GORGEOUS PLANET-HOPPING GALLOP FROM KRYPTO & CREW DESERVES IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY IF THERE'S ANY JUSTICE. LONG, LEVITATIONAL AND CURLY OF LOINCLOTH. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 5 UNDERGROUND SCIENCE SEEMS TO BE A PROJECT NAME FOR KRYPTO AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER UNNAMED ARTISTS AND PRODUCERS. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE THESE WORKS UNLESS YOU LISTEN TO THEM YOURSELVES, BUT GERMINATION AND PSYCHOSYNTHESIS ARE BOTH TRANCERS WITH STRONG ELEMENTS RUNNING THROUGHOUT. FINALLY ROUNDING OFF THE EP IS A TRACK, FOTO DUB, WHICH IS A SLOW 'INTELLIGENT TECHNO' TRACK WITH SWIRLING STRINGS AND , AGAIN, STRONG SOUNDS THROUGHOUT. A DESCRIPTION FOR THE ENTIRE EP WOULD PROBABLY BE INNOVATIVE SPACE-TRANCE. GUY OLDHAMS - UPDATE PLK007 MEGALON 'SORCEROR' DBL EP Disc 1 Side 1 Track 1: Belief Disc 1 Side 2 Track 1: Sorceror (Spellbound Mix) Disc 2 Side 1 Track 1: Transition Disc 2 Side 2 Track 1: Sorceror (Funky Magus Mix) THE LONG AWAITED FOLLOW UP TO INCANTATION AND IT'S A DOUBLE! FOUR FURTHER ODYSSEYS INTO THE DEEPEST VISTAS OF TRANCE-TECHNO HEAVEN. KIND OF THE AREA WHICH THE PSYCHICK WARRIORS ONCE RULED BUT NOW EXTENDED BURROWED BEYOND AND TAKEN TO THE OUTER LIMITS. SPACEY, TRIBAL AND MESMERISINGLY EPIC TRANCE IN IT'S TRUE SENSE. LIKE SURFING THE SPACEWAYS STRAPPED TO THE GENITALIA OF THE COSMIC OTTER. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TRANCE CHART NO 2 MIXMAG HARD CHART NO 7 DOUBLE PACK. "VERY INVENTIVE AND EFFECTIVE PERCUSSIVE TRANCE, VERY MOODY. YEAH, I'M INTO THIS. THE FUNKY MAGUS COULD DEFINITELY BE PLAYED AT HOUSE AND TRANCE CLUBS, VERY DIFFERENT, GLIDES ALONG. THE SPELLBOUND MIX IS GOOD TOO, NOT EXACTLY RAISE-YOUR-HANDS OR ANYTHING, BUT A LITTLE OUT OF THE ORDINARY". TOMMY MUSTO - DJ GUEST REVIEWER TWO MIXES OF THE LEAD TRACK PLUS 'BELIEF' AND 'TRANSITION' FILL THESE FOUR SIDES OF VINYL. EACH TUNE MARKS ANOTHER INSPIRED STEP FORWARD FOR THE MEGALON CREW AS THEY CONTINUE TO ADD COLOUR AND NEW DIRECTION TO TRANCEY TECHNO. IT'S DEEP, REPETITIVE AND HYPNOTIC, AND THE INGENIOUS VARIETY OF SOUNDS ENSURES AN INDELIBLE RESONANCE TO THE MESMERISING GROOVES. MEGALON-TASTIC. BRAD BEATNIK - RECORD MIRROR MEGALON'S SECOND PLINK PLONK RELEASE IS A DARK AND DELECTABLY DEEP DOUBLE PACK THAT REVEALS TWO MIXES OF ITS TITLE TRACK ALONGSIDE TWO MORE NEW CUTS; 'BELIEF' AND 'TRANSITION'. THE SPELLBOUND MIX CONCOCTS AN EERIE STUTTERING BASSLINE WITH INTRICATE BEATS AND ABSTRACT STRING SURGES. THE FUNKY MAGUS MIX HAS A MORE DREAMY FEEL TO IT WHICH WILL BE MORE ATTRACTIVE TO CLUB DJ'S. 'TRANSITION' IS JUST AS MYSTERIOUS WITH A FULLER PERCUSSIVE ELEMENT OF BONGOS, A TRIPPY DUB B-LINE AND MELANCHOLY PIANOS. FOR ME THOUGH, 'BELIEF' IS THE STANDOUT TRACK, A SPACEY BLEND OF BELL CHIMES, REVERBERATING DUB CHARGES AND CLEAN CUT BEATS. A MINIMALISTIC TECHNO PACKAGE WITH AMBIENT INFLUENCES THAT'S JUST AS PLAYABLE AT HOME AS IN A CLUB. 4 DANCING MEN GORDON KAYE - UPDATE PLK006 STRANGER 'VOLCANO' EP Side 1 Track 1: Acid Sun (Mix) Side 1 Track 2: Outbase (Mix) Side 2 Track 1: Vesuvius (Mix) Side 2 Track 2: Etna (Mix) PLINK PLONK BUILDS IT'S REPUTATION WITH EACH MORE INNOVATIVE RELEASE. THIS TIME FROM THE TEMPLE OF EXPERIMENTAL TECHNO COMES SOME SEARING ACID DUB, STRONGEST EITHER ON 'ACID SUN' WITH IT'S MOLTEN BASS BELCH OR THE MELLOWER 'OUTBASE' WHICH IS INFLUENCED BY DEEP CHICAGO HOUSE AS MUCH AS DETROIT TECHNO. THIS IS BUILT TO LAST. MATTHEW COLE - RECORD MIRROR MIXMAG HARD CHART NO 20 ESTABLISHED AS A PRIME SOURCE OF THE PUREST LIAISONS BETWEEN TRANCE AND TECHNO. PLINK PLONK UNVEILS A NEW SIGNING, WHOSE IDENTITY, AS USUAL, IS KEPT SECRET. THEY DO REVEAL THAT THE PERPETRATOR OF THIS BUBBLING SONIC CAULDRON WITH ITS SUBSTRATA-QUAKING BASSLINES AND SPACEY FLUTTERS HAS BEEN A MAJOR MOVER IN UK UNDERGROUND HOUSE FOR MANY MOONS. WHOEVER IT IS, NEEDS MUSTS SALUTES AND THEN PLUNGES GLEEFULLY INTO THE MOLTEN TONES AT LOOSE ON THIS TOP FOUR TRACKER (ESPECIALLY THE LAVA-LY ENDLESS SPACES OF THE PANORAMIC VESUVIUS). KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 1 THIS IS RELEASE NUMBER 6 FROM SUPERLATIVE STABLE PLINK PLONK, MUSICAL HOME OF WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL THE TRUE SOUND OF UNDERGROUND HOUSE. STRANGER EXUDES A STRONG BUBBLING BASSLINE WHILE OVERALL RETAINING A MELLOW TECHNO SOUND. SORT OF TECHNO, HOUSE AND INDUSTRIAL WHISKED INTO ONE. OUTSTANDING AND PROGRESSIVE, IN THE TRUE SENSE OF BOTH WORDS. GENERATOR PLK005 WILD WEST 'TERRAFORMA' Side 1 Track 1: Phantom (Wild West Original Trance Mix) Side 1 Track 2: Sanctum (They take it to Detroit) Side 2 Track 1: Atmos (Megalon at the controls) Side 2 Track 2: Intersunken (Underground Science Dub) FIFTH (AND BEST) RELEASE ON THIS CONSISTENTLY BRILLIANT AND UNDERRATED LABEL. A TRANCE-TRIP OF SIZZLING HI-HATS, BOOMING KICK DRUM, BUBBLING BASS LINES AND SWIRLING SYNTHS THAT BUILDS INTO A HYPNOTIC ACIDIC GROOVE. SOPHISTICATED DEEP TECHNO THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED. STEVE OATES (FLYING) - JOCKEY SLUT MIXMAG HARD CHART NO 19 WELCOME RETURN OF PLINK PLONK WITH THEIR FIFTH RELEASE AND IT'S A CORKER. MR C'S LABEL ALREADY HAS A NAME FOR THE DEEPEST TECHNO-TINGED TRANCING AND THIS COLLECTION OF SUBLIME, HYPNOTIC SPACE-GROOVES IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST RELEASES TO DATE. THE OPENER TAKES ITS TIME TO BUILD FROM A LOW THROB WITH ACID TEXTURES INTO A TRANCE ODYSSEY. SANCTUM PACKS A MOTOR CITY HEAVY BOTTOM/FLOATY TOP FEEL. MEGALON'S ATMOS MIX IS AN INTERPLANETARY JOYRIDE OF STRATOSPHERIC DUB CHARGE WITH SPLASHING SNARES ADDING TO THE MOOD. THE FINAL MIX CONTINUES WARPO PROCEDURES AND COMPLETES A CYCLE OF STUNNING, ELECTRONIC INVENTIVENESS. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 3 AFTER A TWO MONTH BREAK, THE PLINK PLONK CREW RETURN WITH NEW MATERIAL AND A NEW ARTIST. WILD WEST ARE TWO COSMOPOLITAN KINDA GUYS WHOSE HIGH BROW AND CHALLENGING TECHNO FOLLOWS THE LABEL'S TRADITION OF SUPERIOR RELEASES. SEEMINGLY SPARSE AND YET RICH IN RHYTHM, THIS COMES WITH DUBS FROM LABEL MATES MEGALON. BRAD BEATNIK - UPDATE INTERESTING FOUR-TRACKER THAT WILL SUIT HOME LISTENERS MELLOW TASTES. 'INTERSUNKEN' IS NICE TO LISTEN TO WITH IT'S DROP INS AND DIGITAL DELAYS. 'ATMOS' IS A MORE FULL ON VERSION. 'PHANTOM' & 'SANCTUM' ARE THE TRANCIER TRACKS THAT WILL SOUND GREAT IN A CAR RETURNING HOME FROM DEEP SPACE OR SIMILAR. GENERATOR N.M.E. TECHNO CHART NO 11 DJ MAGAZINE - TWITCH AND BRAINSTORM GUEST CHART NO 9 PLK004 PLUTO 'PLUTOBEAT' Side 1 Track 1: Plutobeat (Mix) Side 2 Track 1: Plutodub (Mix) Side 2 Track 2: Plutogated (Mix) RELENTLESS, TRIPPED OUT TRIBAL TRANCE. A MIXING DJ'S DELIGHT. RHYTHM DOCTOR i-D MAGAZINE PURE UNADULTERATED DEEP TRANCE FROM ONE OF THE FINEST PURVEYORS - THE PLINK PLONK LABEL. TWO MORE UPFRONT MIXES BACK THE LONGER, NUMBING GROOVE ON THE A-SIDE. BRAD BEATNIK - RECORD MIRROR BIG ISSUE CLUB CHART NO 5 DJ MAGAZINE - ORDE MEIKLE'S CHART NO 5 THIS IS NOT REALLY GOING TO STICK OUT AS A FLOORFILLER, BUT MAY BE GOOD IN THE MIX AND WITH ITS SPARSE HYPNOTICS PRETTY GOOD FOR HOME ENTERTAINMENT. LITERALLY NOTHING REALLY HAPPENS; JUST A MODULATED TONE AND SOME RHYTHMIC BEATS COMING IN AND OUT FOR A WHOLE 14 MINUTES. MUCH THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR THE FLIP. IS THIS KIND OF GEAR TOO BLATANTLY MINIMALISTIC FOR THE CURRENT SCENE? (WE CERTAINLY HOPE SO! PLINK PLONK) SEAMUS QUINN - UPDATE THE FOURTH RELEASE ON MR C'S LABEL HAS ALREADY CATAPULTED THE DEEP-FRIED REVELLERS OF LESLEY'S CAR EN ROUTE TO SATURN'S DISCO WITH ITS 14 MINUTES OF TRANCED-OUT ORGAN GROOVE BURROWING A SLOW-BURNING WORMHOLE INTO THE MASS MELON. THE OTHER SIDE HOLDS TWO MORE SPACED, DUBBY OUTINGS. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 4 PLK003 MEGALON 'SEMBLANCE' / 'INCANTATION' Side 1 Track 1: Incantation Side 1 Track 2: Semblance (Dim A. Mix) Side 2 Track 1: Semblance (Dim B. Mix) INCANTATION HAS ALL THE SENSUALITY AND GRACE YOU COULD EVER WANT IN A DEEP HOUSE INSTRUMENTAL. IT SITS IN THAT SOPHISTICATED MIDDLE GROUND BETWEEN ICY GARAGE DUBS AND ULTRA-SLICK TECHNO-TRANCE. THE BACKBONE OF THE TRACK IS A SPIKY SET OF PERCUSSIVE TRICKS UNDER WHICH THE MEGALON CREW ROLL LOW MOANS AND ALL SORTS OF SEXILY HAUNTING BASS EXCURSIONS. FLIP IT AND YOU GET SEMBLANCE WITH A ROLL OF HANDCLAPS, EERIE CHORDS AND A WICKEDLY SURGING 303 LINE. EXCELLENT STUFF AND QUALITY UNDERGROUND GROOVES WITH BAGS MORE ARTISTRY, RESTRAINT AND SUBTLETY THAN MOST OF THEIR UK COUNTERPARTS. A LABEL TO WATCH. 4 DANCING MEN TONY MARCUS - UPDATE THIRD RELEASE FROM PLINK PLONK AND POSSIBLY THE ONE THAT'S REALLY GOING TO GET THEM NOTICED. NO IDEA WHO'S BEHIND IT AS THE LABEL USES ALIASES TO DISGUISE THE ARTISTS. COULD EVEN BE SUPREMO MR. C! 'INCANTATION' HOOKED ME RIGHT AWAY - NEARLY TEN MINUTES OF DELICIOUSLY UNDULATING GROOVE LACED WITH LAZY SLIDE GUITAR SOUND, CROAKY CHANTING AND RADIOACTIVE FOREST AMBIENCE. MEANWHILE THERE ARE TWO VERSIONS OF 'SEMBLANCE', A HEAVIER ANIMAL WITH STRANGE CREAKINGS IN THE ATTIC AND ANCIENT CHANTING AGAIN. A CONGA CHAIN OF BULLFROGS ADDS GOA FEEL. THE SECOND VERSION IS HARDER STILL WITH RUDE BASS, THIGH-SLAPPING MOMENTUM AND MR 303 POKING HIS HEAD OUT FIRST GINGERLY AND THEN SAYING FUCK IT AND GOING FOR THE FULL MOON. WEIRD AND ORIGINAL BUT DYNAMITE ON THE RIGHT FLOOR. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES 10 WITH VIBES CHART ECHOES NO 2 SOME FINE BRITISH TRANCE-TECHNO COMING AT YOU FROM MR C'S NEW LABEL. THIS IS THE THIRD RELEASE AND ONCE AGAIN THE IDENTITY OF THE PRODUCER IS CLOAKED IN MYSTERY AND THE DEEPER AREAS OF THE ULTRA-HYPNOTIC GROOVE ARE EXPLORED, THIS TIME WITH SUCH ODD EQUIPMENT AS A LAZY SLIDE GUITAR LINE AND VAT OF PEYOTE. GROOVECHECK - N.M.E. PLK002 BULLET 'TRANCEDANCE' Side 1 Track 1: Entrance (Mix) Side 1 Track 2: Eclipse (Mix) Side 2 Track 1: Freefall (Mix) Side 2 Track 2: Exit (Mix) THE MYSTERIOUS BULLET COMES OUT WITH ANOTHER HYBRID - THIS TIME MERGING PURE TECHNO TONES WITH DEEPEST HOUSE TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING SERIOUSLY TRANCEY, SOMEWHAT STRANGE AND RATHER HAUNTING. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 6 PLK001 PLUTO 'FLOORSTRUK' Side 1 Track 1: Transmit Mix (Pluto) Side 1 Track 2: Intercept Mix (Pluto/Bullet) Side 2 Track 1: Resistance Mix (Bullet) THREE HELPINGS OF PURE PERCUSSIVE TRANCE, BOUNCY BASS, CHATTERING HI HATS AND HANDCLAP ECHOES IN A GROOVE DRIVEN ONWARDS AND UPWARDS BY THOSE INCREDIBLE STUTTERING SNARES. THE INTERCEPT MIX IS EFFECTIVE WITH IT'S ACID- STYLE BASS SNAKE, BUT ITS THE 11 MINUTE A SIDE EPIC FEATURING PASCAL ON THE BONGOS THAT CAN'T GO ON LONG ENOUGH........................... MATTHEW COLE - RECORD MIRROR NEW LONDON LABEL, MYSTERIOUS PRODUCER CALLED PLUTO AND PASCAL'S BONGO MASSIVE IS IN THERE SOMEWHERE TOO. THE BASIC VIBE IS PURE TECHNO - AND THIS OPERATION CAN ALREADY SIT QUITE PROUDLY NEXT TO THE UK'S ELECTRONIC CRUSADERS ON THE STRENGTH OF THIS. 'TRANSMIT' RIPPLES AND RATTLES WITH PASCAL WHACKING AWAY FURIOUSLY - WITH SPACEY STRINGS AND SUBTLE ACID FX. 'INTERCEPT' IS MORE MUTEDLY SINISTER IN A DETROIT KIND OF WAY. 'RESISTANCE' APPEARS TO BE A REMIX OF THE FIRST CUT - ON A MORE HYPNOTIC GROVE FOR OVER 11 MINUTES. WIDE OPEN SPACES, THE SEA BREEZE IN YOUR FACE, COSMIC FORCES A- HOPPING IN YOUR PLEASURE ZONES... A TITANIC OPENING SALVO AND MAJOR STEP FOR TRIBAL DUB TECHNO. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 4 ALBUMS **PLKLP002 MEGALON 'PANDORA'S BOX' **PLKCD002 Track 1: Pandora's Box Track 2: Mission Track 3: Machine Track 4: Montage Track 5: Rotation Track 6: System Track 7: Darkness Track 8: Warloki PLINK PLONK FINALLY RELEASE THEIR FIRST ARTIST ALBUM. AS THIS YEAR'S 'PARASOLS' COMPILATION AND THEIR FEW SINGLES HAVE SHOWN, MEGALON HARNESS THE RAW POWER AND URGENCY OF TECHNO AND COAT IT IN A HARD YET PLIABLE AND DURABLE VENEER THAT CREATES A CERTAIN WARMTH AMIDST THE SOMETIMES HARSH TONES. 'PANDORA'S BOX' DOESN'T PRETEND TO HAVE ANY COMMERCIAL ASPIRATIONS, IT SIMPLY DELVES DEEP INTO THE PSYCHE WHILE KEEPING ONE EYE ON THE DANCEFLOOR. THE PRODUCTION IS BREATHTAKING AT TIMES AND SHOWS IT'S NOT JUST THE GERMANS WHO KNOW HOW TO REALLY WORK THOSE STUDIO MACHINES. MEGALON HAVE FINALLY TAKEN THE WORDS 'COLD' AND 'SOULLESS' OUT OF THE TECHNO PHRASE BOOK AND GIVEN US AN ALBUM TO CHERISH. BRAD BEATNIK - RECORD MIRROR. THE MYSTERIOUS MEGALON (BUT WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE DON'T WE CHILDREN?) FINALLY FOLLOW TRULY EXCELLENT EP'S LIKE DARKNESS (ON HERE TOO) AND SORCEROR WITH A WHOLE EIGHT-TRACK CD. MEGALON MUSIC IS DARK, GENTLY PUMPING, HYPNOTIC AND FATHOMLESSLY DEEP. GIVEN A WHOLE 70 MINUTES TO STRETCH OUT IN, THE GROOVES BECOME MORE SUBTERRANEAN AND SEARCHING WHILE SUBLIME ATMOSPHERES CREEP IN. SUPERB EARLY HOURS TROUSER! MATERIAL FOR CLUB, COUCH OR OPIUM DEN. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 3 THIS NEW MEGALON ALBUM HAS A MUCH DARKER ATMOSPHERE THAN THE USUAL PLINK PLONK STUFF AND SOME OF THE TRACKS ('WARLOKI' AND 'SYSTEM') ARE MUCH MORE DETROIT INFLUENCED THAN BEFORE. 'MISSION' IS ALSO A TRACK THAT WE TECHNO HEADS MIGHT ENJOY. THE FANS OF THE NORMAL PLINK PLONK STYLE SHOULDN'T WORRY, THERE'S ENOUGH TRANCE-TECHNO-GARAGE FUSION TRACKS ON THE ALBUM. SURREAL SOUNDS - HOLLAND HAVING MADE ALL THE RIGHT WAVES WITH A STEADY STREAM OF RELEASES SINCE APRIL '93, INCLUDING THE SUBLIME 'SORCEROR' EP, MEGALON CONTINUE THEIR SATELLITE JOYRIDE THROUGH THE SUBLIME AND THE SUBLIMINAL WITH THEIR DEBUT ALBUM, 'PANDORA'S BOX'. THIS EIGHT TRACK TRIP IS TECHNO DELICIOUSLY STRIPPED DOWN TO THE BARE BONES- SO DEEP THAT AT TIMES YOU CAN'T TOUCH THE BOTTOM, AND FIT TO TRANCE THE BASKET OFF A COBRA. IT'S A TECHNOLOGICAL COLLATION OF SCUTTLING BEATS, ACIDIC WOBBLES, WARBLES AND SPOOKY CHORDS. AND IT SLITHERS ITS MERRY WAY THROUGH A JOURNEY OF TRANSCONTINENTAL PROPORTIONS WITH SUAVE SOPHISTICATION. FROM THE BULL FROG BASSLINE OF 'MISSION' TO THE OUTBACK-AT-DAWN AMBIENCE OF DUE-FOR-VINYL-RELEASE 'ROTATION', MEGALON BEAT A PATH THROUGH THE SUB-CONSCIOUS HEMISPHERES IN ORDER TO DELIVER THE GOODS. AT TIMES THE MOOD IS SO DARK, IT SMACKS OF A NIGHT TIME RAMBLE IN A PREDATOR PACKED JUNGLE. AT OTHERS HOWEVER, MEGALON ARE WELL CAPABLE OF INSPIRING THE SENSE OF A SKIP THROUGH AN ALPINE MEADOW - THE UP TEMPO QUIRK OF THE RATHER INAPTLY CALLED 'DARKNESS' WOULD DRIVE EVEN JULIE ANDREWS TO ABSTRACTION. MINIMALIST IT MAY BE, BUT THE 'BOX' SET IS TRANCEY, DANCEY - EVEN SEXY - AND AN ENCHANTING PROMISE OF FUTURE GRANDEUR FOR THE PLINK PLONK CREW. TIM LAY - MIXMAG PLKLP001 VARIOUS (PLINK PLONK) 'PARASOLS' VOL 1 PLKCD001 Track 1: Rameses - 'Digi Space' Track 2: Mantrac - 'Apok Dub' Track 3: Underground Science - 'Protosynthesis' Track 4: Mantrac - 'Coaster' Dub Mix Track 5: Somnambulist - 'Nightflyte' Track 6: Animus Amor - 'And On' Track 7: Megalon - 'Darkness' Track 8: Wild West - 'Citric' Track 9: Underground Science - 'Metamorphic' Track 10: Megalon - 'Semblance' Track 11: Pluto - 'Plutobeat' Track 12: Stranger - 'Krakatoa' JUST GOT THE FIRST COMPILATION LP FROM THE PLINK PLONK LABEL, WHICH WAS PUT TOGETHER BY MR C AND PAUL RIP. THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE BEST TECHNO- TRANCE COMPILATION I HAVE HEARD FOR A LONG-TIME. ALL THE TRACKS HAVE A CERTAIN QUALITY THAT PUTS THEM APART FROM ANYTHING ELSE. MR C DOES SOME WORK UNDER THE MANTRAC NAME AND IS REALLY GOOD, WEIRD HOW HE CAN DO SO GOOD WHEN HE DOESN'T RAP! THE RECORD IS CALLED PARASOLS 1, AND IS DEFINITELY WORTH THE IMPORT PRICE MOHSEN (MANTRA@NETCOM.COM) - INTERNET CELEBRATING THE FIRST YEAR OF ONE OF THE UK'S MOST INNOVATIVE TECHNO LABELS, THIS 75 MINUTE COMPILATION OF OLD AND NEW IS SOMETHING OF A MASTERWORK. IF YOU'RE INTO MINIMALIST TRANCEY TECHNO BEATS, THEN YOU CAN'T REALLY GO WRONG HERE. THE HIGH STANDARDS ARE UPHELD BY THE LIKES OF MANTRAC, MEGALON, WILD WEST AND PLUTO (WHOEVER THEY MAY REALLY BE), MAKING THIS ONE TO SPEND ONLY YOUR QUALITY TIME WITH. VERY DEFINITELY UNDERGROUND IN DIRECTION, THIS IS CERTAINLY AN ALBUM FOR THE FAITHFUL, BUT THEN IF YOU'RE A FAN OF ANYONE FROM ENO TO KRAFTWERK, YOU'LL RESPECT THE INVENTION AND STYLE WITHIN THE SPARSE GROOVES. THE PERFECT LATE NIGHT LIGHTS OUT SOUNDTRACK. BRAD BEATNIK - RECORD MIRROR KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TRANCE CHART NO 6 IN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME PLINK PLONK HAS FOUND IT'S OWN NICHE AND SOUND. THIS LP IS FULL OF DUBBY BASS, HEAVY TECHNO THAT WILL KEEP YOUR INTEREST FROM START TO FINISH, TAKING YOU ON A JOURNEY THROUGH METRONOMIC MULTI- DELAY LINE PCB'S AND ANALOGUE BASS GENERATORS. SOMNAMBULIST COMBINES MORODER FLANGES WITH OLD SCHOOL HIDDEN ACID. PLUTO THRUSTS SOME WIGGED OUT HOUSE SOUNDS, UNDERGROUND SCIENCE MAKE TRANCE AURALLY INTERESTING. A FINE LP, WORTHY OF A PURCHASE. 4 DANCING MEN DAVE CLARKE - UPDATE DEEP TECHNO FROM THE LONDON UNDERGROUND AS MR C AND PAUL RIP'S SECRETIVE LABEL ISSUES ITS FIRST COMPILATION. THE ARTISTS WORK UNDER COOL PSEUDONYMS LIKE MEGALON, PLUTO AND MANTRAC BUT SHARE THE SAME TASTE IN MINIMAL, BASS HEAVY ELECTRONIC, INNOVATION. STRICTLY LATE NIGHT GROOVES AND THERE'S NOT A VOCAL IN SIGHT AS REVERB, COMPRESSED ACID AND SLINKY HI- HATS FORM THE MAIN SONIC INGREDIENTS. WORKING ON LOW BPM'S THESE ARE CAREFUL GROOVES THAT AT THEIR BEST SIMMER WITH RESTRAINT BEFORE FIERCELY HOT B-LINES TRANSFORM SQUELCHY 303 INTO MOLTEN BABBLE AND SEND HIGH-END PERCUSSIVES FLYING IN SHARDS OF WHITE HOT METAL. OF THE 12 TRACKS ANIMUS AMOR'S 'AND ON' IS A NAGGINGLY INSISTENT TRANCER WORKING WITH GENTLE, BUT IRRESISTIBLE HOOKS WHILST UNDERGROUND SCIENCE'S 'PROTOSYNTHESIS' IS PURE DETROIT WITH SHARP RHYTHM PATTERNS AND A STRANGELY ATTRACTIVE TOUCH OF HI-NRG BASS. MEGALON'S 'SEMBLANCE' HAS A DEEP GRAVITY ALL OF IT'S OWN BUT THE STANDOUT IS STRANGER'S 'KRAKATOA'. BREATHING DISCO CHANTS OVER AMBIENT BEAUTY IT FLOWS WITH SUBSONIC DEPTH, ASKING YOU TO DANCE WITH BASS IN A DARK AND WOMBLIKE ATMOSPHERE. WARPING DANCEFLOOR NORMS INTO OUTER SPACE, 'KRAKATOA' IS A REVELATION AND YOU CAN'T HELP WISHING THAT THE REST OF TRACKS HERE HAD THE CONFIDENCE TO BRING THIS KIND OF SWEETNESS, PASSION AND MAGIC INTO THEIR TWILIGHT GROOVES. TONY MARCUS - MIXMAG JUST A LITTLE POINTLESS...WHICH IS CERTAINLY NOT AN ACCUSATION THAT COULD EVER BE LEVELLED AT MR C'S PLINK PLONK LABEL. THE COTERIE OF CREATIVE BUT ANONYMOUS HOT-HEADS (INCLUDING, PROBABLY, THE BIG C HIMSELF) HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS. THE NEXT RELEASE IS 'PARASOLS' A TRIPLE- PACK WHICH IS COOLER THAN A WINDSURFING POLAR BEAR. IF ONLY THEY'D BRING BACK THOSE WONDERFUL CRESTA ADVERTS... CALVIN BUSH - MELODY MAKER ANOTHER ONE I SHOULD'VE DONE EARLIER. THREE RECORDS OF PRIME PLINK PLONK TECHNO FROM THAT MYSTERIOUS ROLL-CALL WITH NAMES LIKE MEGALON, PLUTO, MANTRAC AND WILD WEST PLUNGING DEEP INTO THE NIGHT ON SHIMMERING BEDS OF SONIC WALLOW FODDER. FOR THE EARLY HOURS WHEN LOUD VOICES AND CHORD CHANGES ARE A PAIN IN THE MELON. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS TECHNO CHART ECHOES NO 6 THIS IS THE FIRST COMPILATION (AND FIRST EVER ALBUM) FROM PLINK PLONK RECORDS. IT COVERS A DIVERSE RANGE OF UNDERGROUND ELECTRONIC SOUNDS FROM THE DEEP AND DUBBY TECHNO THROUGH TO SMOOTH AND SILKY TRANCE. THIS LABEL IS NOT AFRAID TO PLAY AROUND WITH SOUNDS AND IDEAS, AND EXPERIMENTATION IS THE NAME OF THE GAME HERE. OF ALL THE CUTS ON THE ALBUM THE EFFORTS BY THE ARTIST(S) MEGALON ARE QUITE SUPERB, DEEP ACID EXCURSIONS, TINGED WITH SUBTLE ELECTRONIC PULSES, AND A SERIOUS MUST FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE THEIR MUSIC EXPERIMENTAL AND ABSTRACT. 9/10. BARNEY YORK - GENERATOR ELECTRO AUDIO RESPONSE (E.A.R.) SINGLES S**EARX6 UNDEGROUND SCIENCE 'SLASH' Side 1 Track 1: Kut 1 Side 1 Track 2: Kut 2 Side 2 Track 1: Kut 3 Side 2 Track 2: Kut 4 *EARX5 NÜW IDOL 'ZIM' Side 1 Track 1: Zim Side 2 Track 1: Zim (Blue Mix) PLINK PLONK'S ELECTRO AUDIO RESPONSE OFFSHOOT FOLLOWS LAST WEEK'S CHART- TOPPING LA SYNTHESIS WITH THE LATEST FROM THE SWISS/FRENCH BLOKE WHO HAS ALREADY NAPALMED MANY A FLOOR WITH WÜ MAZE. FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS FOR THIS ONE AS BREAKNECK SEQUENCES, LIGHTNING FLASH ACID AND GALLOPING PULSES HARNESS A MONSTER WHICH COULD BECOME A TROUSER MILESTONE. IF YOU'RE GONNA START BANDYING WORDS LIKE ENERGY LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THIS BEAUTIFULLY-CRAFTED RHYTHM BARRAGE WHICH ACTS LIKE A BOLT OF PURE AMPHETAMINE, CAFFEINE, WHATEVER GETS YOU OUT OF THE CHAIR. I'M NOT OFTEN ON THE CARPET SHAKING AND CLAWING CHUNKS OUT OF THE FURNITURE WITH GLEE AT NEW TUNES BUT THIS BLEW ME CLEAN AWAY. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 1 *EARX4 INTERLOPER 'QUANTUM SOULS' Side 1 Track 1: Quantum Souls Side 2 Track 1: Man 5 Side 2 Track 2: Hidden Empire WAVES OF 303 ACIDIC NOISES AND ORCHESTRATED EFFECTS HERALD THE ARRIVAL OF THIS HARD TECHNO TRANCE EPIC. THE MOMENTUM NEVER LETS UP AS MR INTERLOPER, JON RYMAN, LAYS ON THE DRAMATIC TONES WHICH, THANKFULLY, COME SWATHED IN A SATISFYING MELODY IN THE BREAK. SLICK, ENERGETIC AND FULL OF WARMTH DESPITE THE ODD EERIE FEEL. BRAD BEATNIK - RECORD MIRROR. THE PLINK PLONK SUBSIDIARY UNCORKS A SECOND RELEASE TO FOLLOW THAT NÜW IDOL EP. JON RYMAN MAKES HIS DEBUT WITH A FULL ON, SCARY INDUSTRIAL TECHNO EXCURSION WITH HORROR MOVIE INTRO AND ELECTRO INFLUENCES. THE FLIP'S ROAD-DRILLTASTIC MAN 5 IS A BRUTAL ELECTRO JUGGERNAUT WHILE THE CLOSING HIDDEN EMPIRE IS RADIOACTIVE CREEPERS-ROUND-THE-GONADS OFF ITS TREE WITH DEEP TECHNO ROOTS. KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES KRIS NEEDS ECHOES TECHNO CHART NO 10 EARX3 NÜW IDOL 'WÜ MAZE' Side 1 Track 1: Wü Maze Side 2 Track 1: Drimax Phenyl NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND, COURTESY OF PLINK PLONK'S SISTER LABEL. HARDER AND FASTER, NÜW IDOL WEAVES AN INTRICATE BLEND OF SUPERB TECHNO WHICH MAY REQUIRE SOME JUDICIOUS USE OF PITCH CONTROL SINCE IT HEADS STRAIGHT FOR THE 220BPM MARK. CHECK OUT THE FORTHCOMING MOONSHINE ALBUM 'PSYCHOTRANCE' TO SEE JUST HOW EFFECTIVE THIS FAST BUT FUNKY OUTING CAN BE. BACKED WITH THE EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE 'DRIMAX PHENYL', THIS IS ESSENTIAL FOR THOSE WHO PREFER THE EUROPEAN TOUCH. MUSIC FOR THE FUTURE! TIM BARR - CLUBSCENE EAR102 SOMNAMBULIST 'NIGHTFLYTE' Side 1 Track 1: Vibration Migration (Mix) Side 1 Track 2: Ride & Tickle (Mix) Side 2 Track 1: Deeper Sleeper (Mix) TALKING OF SERIOUS ACID MADNESS, PLINK PLONK RECORDS' SISTER LABEL E.A.R. RECORDS HAVE JUST TURNED IN THEIR NEW ONE, 'NIGHTFLYTE' BY SOMNAMBULIST. PURE OLD SCHOOL '88 ACID MINIMALISM, I'M SURE THAT MY MAN CHIP E HAS A HAND IN THIS. A SUBTERRANEAN GEM THAT PROVES THAT NOT ALL ELECTRONIC MUSIC HAS TO BE OVER 135BPM. DEFINITELY THE AUTHENTIC ARTICLE, IT'S WHAT REAL 'TECHNO' SHOULD SOUND LIKE. ALAN RUSSELL - ECHOES SECOND RELEASE ON ELECTRO AUDIO RESPONSE AND IT'S ANOTHER SOUL-WARMING VOYAGE INTO THE HYPNOTIC NETHER-REGIONS KICKING OFF WITH THE LEAD CUT'S 11 MINUTE STRETCH THROUGH A TRIBAL-TECHNO SOUNDSCAPE WHICH TAKES TIME TO UNFOLD INTO A GENTLY SLORCHING 303. THE SECOND CUT TRAVERSES A WOBBLY TECHNO PATH WHILE DEEPER SLEEPER IS TOTALLY AMBIENT. APPARENTLY CREATED BY UK HOUSE PIONEERS KRYPTO AND MANTRAC, WHO IS RENOWNED FOR HIS LOVE OF BOSS DRUMS. AHA! KRIS NEEDS - ECHOES 'VIBRATION MIGRATION' STARTS WITH A TRIBAL TECHNO RHYTHM TRACK THAT GROOVES, IT SEEMS, ENDLESSLY WITH CUTTING PIERCING HATS AND SNARES TURNING INTO ACID MADNESS. STRIPPED DOWN TRIPPINESS TO THE FULL. ON THE FLIP A MORE RADIO FRIENDLY FULL SOUNDING TECHNO MIX CALLED RIDE & TICKLE COULD WORK ON ANYONE'S DANCE FLOOR WITH DEEP STRINGS A GO GO. THE THIRD MIX CALLED 'DEEPER SLEEPER' IS THE AMBIENT VERSION THAT CAN LITERALLY PUT YOU TRANCED OUT INTO SLEEP. EXCELLENT 12". 5 DANCING MEN MR C - UPDATE EAR101 VOODOO DANCE CORPORATION 'INDUSTRIAL FLUID' Side 1 Track 1: Industrial Fluid (Main Mix) Side 2 Track 1: Demonstrate (Mix) Side 2 Track 2: Evaporate (Mix) TECHNO MUSIC FOR THE INTELLIGENT AND SERIOUS. AN OBSCURE RHYTHM AND PERCUSSION CARRY THIS TRACK RIGHT TO THE EDGE WITH PITCH BENT BELLS AND ALL. ON THE DARK SIDE AND VERY EERIE, THIS COULD LEAVE YOU HAVING NIGHTMARES. ANOTHER NEW BRITISH LABEL WORTH LOOKING OUT FOR. 4 DANCING MEN MR C - UPDATE LO VOLTAGE SINGLES S**ISO004 UNDEGROUND SCIENCE 'ELECTRIK ZOUP' Side 1 Track 1: Kut 1 Side 1 Track 2: Kut 2 Side 2 Track 1: Kut 3 Side 2 Track 2: Kut 4 *ISO003 TORRINGTON FOE 'MORNING SHUFFLE' Side 1 Track 1: Morning Shuffle Side 1 Track 2: Khan (Morrocan Curse) Side 2 Track 1: Cosmic Template *ISO002 KASM 'PAST POWERS' Side 1 Track 1: Past Powers Side 2 Track 1: Blind Dreams ISO001 UNDERGROUND SCIENCE 'COMA' EP Side 1 Track 1: Coma Side 2 Track 1: The Tempest Side 2 Track 2: Uranus The Lo Voltage 'sound' is Detroit influenced deep melodic techno. The label and the releases have received a number of reviews but as with original Plink Plonk releases the material is released on it's own merit. We therefore recommend that you search and buy from your local record store. They can contact Kudos Distribution if they have any trouble on +44 (0)171 372 0391. For information about ordering any of these records or other enquiries please contact Giles: PLINK PLONK RECORDS PO BOX 2977 LONDON N1 2SG INTERNET & EMAIL: info@plink.demon.co.uk. PHONE: +44 (0)171 490 0385 FAX: +44 (0)171 490 8289. Page 19 of 19 THIS CATALOGUE CURRENT AT 17/02/95