BPITCH records... Ellen Allien, Sascha Funke, etc.

I need to listen to more BPitch but I've still got to catch up on the latest from Grandpa Tresor, the record label Force Tracks wants to be.

Brian, I'm curious as to how you'd say Hakan Lidbo is interesting but Kompakt is boring - what's the distinction?

I'll make a mild exception for folks like Akufen (then again, that's hardly "minimal" stuff.) The latest remix release of Cabaret Voltaire's "Nag Nag Nag" was brilliant.. but I couldn't get into most of "My Way". The microsampling is groovy, but the melodies underneath just grated on me in a way most subtle funky house grates on me.

I think this is where I plainly admit that noisy-industrial influences in modern electronic dance music will always excite me, and not much else will.

Ah, I see you're a lost cause then ;-)

"I'll make a mild exception for folks like Akufen (then again, that's hardly "minimal" stuff.) The latest remix release of Cabaret Voltaire's "Nag Nag Nag" was brilliant."

See, I thought that was him taking his approach into needlessly convoluted areas. Much prefer "Little Hop Of Horrors" for a similar but more, um, aesthetically pleasing sort of sound.

By the way, the Sascha Funke is more a remix than
a cover, unfortunately it's also (in my opinion)
his best work so far.
If I got it right, one of the Bros twins would now
be Pink's manager (tour manager ?) :)

Did you guys check BLACK STROBE's "Me & Madonna"
on Output ?

(See here)

xpost Tok Tok are about the only act on bpitch (other than some of the too-repetitive Paul Kalkbrenner stuff) that I really can't get into. Interesting (if a little big-beaty) breaks and effects but every single song on 'Run.Stop.Restore' seems to give up developing in any way after two minutes.

That's when you mix out I guess!

The rest of the bptch stuff is
usually enteresting, and i like
some of most of what they do.

But very rarely do i like a whole release.

Compilations, not sure. I hope so!

it's mentioned as an upcoming project in an XLR8R magazine interview (also available as a huge pdf download on Ellen's site)

while we're at it are any of the spielweise 7"s any good?

also ... do bpitch do 'official' (bleep.com, kompakt etc) downloads at all?

(at some point I really will get broadband and cease the need for all these pointless questions ... if slsk still works by then).

Whilst it seems like the main label has been changing things up a bit, aiming for an even bigger, ambitious (dare I say more commercial? in a good way I think) kind of sound - new Paul Kalkbrenner, "Washing Up" etc

Bit early to speculate if this is actually the case maybe, as I don't follow (and can't download) the 12"s as well as some people probably do. I'd appreciate another compilation by early/mid '06.

*speaking of which, that *must* have been their biggest hit outside of Germany by a large margin to date?

I might rank the CD releases later (if I can be arsed or anyone still cares) I have, minus 3, all of them I think! and some rekkids/mp3/label-related stuff.

Looking forward to the Tomas Anderrson and Modeselektor full lengths coming out later this year. Tomas has been on fire lately with 3 killer twelve inches ("Festivities," "Washing Up," "Hip Date") as well as great remixes for Sylvie Marks, Trick & Kubic, and Hans Nieswandt.

BPC114 TOMAS ANDERSSON – HIP DATE 12”
BPC115 MODESELEKTOR – HELLO MOM ! CD/LP
BPC116 ELLEN ALLIEN – DOWN REMIXES BY DINKY, Drama Society, FuckALoop 12”
BPC117 V.A. CAMPING 2 COMPILATION CD woo & yay!
BPC118 KIKI – SIRIUS 12”

Is this (Camping 2) going to be all new/recent stuff then? I thought that was the idea mentioned in the review of the first one... which was something I hadn't seen hinted at anywhere else. Umm, usual suspects to thread plz :)

1.Ellen Allien / Alles Sehen / Miss Kittin Rmx / BPC073 3:58
2.The Mfa / Disco 2 Break / BPC109 / 3:51
3.Kiki / So easy to forget kiki rmx / BPC102 / 4:35
4.Sascha Funke / Quiet Please / BPC075 / 4:58
5.Smash TV / TechTechTalk / BPC104 / 4:05
6.Tomas Andersson / Happy Happy / BPC100 / 3:59
7.Ellen Allien / Your body is my body kiki rmx / BPC113 / 4:47
8.Paul Kalkbrenner / Deep / BPC022 / 3:36
9.Sascha Funke / a Boy / BPC112 / 3:31
10.Ben Klock / Land of Milk & Honey / Memo 01 / 3:48
11.Ellen Allien / Naked Rain / BPC106 / 4:09
12.Paul Kalkbrenner / Gebrünn Gebrünn / BPC112 / 3:59
13.Tomas andersson / Washing Up - Tiga rmx / BPC108 / 3:38
14.Sylvie Marks & Hal9000 / My computer eats an acid trip - Dexter Remix / BPC103 / 3:52
15.Feadz / 2kind4u / BPC086 / 4:00
16.Mochipet / Beautiful belonious bits / BPC067 / 2:38
17.Modeselektor / Fake Emotion feat. Paul St.Hillaire / BPC115 / 3:23

Something like I expected, a mix of newer 'hits' and misc. 12" gems & remixes. A Memo track too. A little bit of 'archive' stuff oddly, maybe selected for flow* more than CD collection logic? I was wondering if it might be mixed this time, but can't see that mentioned anywhere.

*I'd rather have had the other Sascha Funke newie instead of an album track off 'Bravo' I guess. But I'm not complaining, unlike the first 'Camping' I only own a couple of these, not surprisingly the tracks available on CD. Quite glad it doesn't duplicate anything off the 12"s I do have!

Wonder if this'll retail at budget price again? A lot of stores didn't actually sell it at the lower price the first time though.

I downloaded "Masturbation While Mentruation" after donut's praise... it's rubbish!

Part of me still feels slightly hanging on for something else after this new compilation passes (of course my feelings may change when I hear it properly.). Like a Camping 3 of _all new_ tracks. The Modeselektor album will probably keep me going though.

I dunno I love Bpitch pretty hard but I do wonder where they're headed to creatively. I hope they're not losing the quirk, and non-throwaway-DJ tool vibe which really is one of the things that endears them most to me for a 'dance' label. "Washing Up" for instance, it's certainly a "rocker" (emphasis intended) but there's something uneasily generic about it somehow.

The lyrics are lame and 'klash-by-the-numbers... but what did you expect? But I love the music backing.. it's essentially a Bpitch style cover of New Order's "5 8 6", with lots of weird noises zooming in and out.

Maybe 'rubbish' is harsh, unconvincing (whatever relevance that has for electroclashy stuff) perhaps might be more accurate. Apart from that one I rarely dislike *any* of their tracks! I even loved Krazeee, despite the universally lukewarm-to-bad reviews, oh well.

The edits aren't as noticable as on the first one (because I haven't played 75% of the tracks to death already here) and in fact really improve the playability. There's a fair amount of Total 6 I wouldn't mind taking scissors to...

I think I realised what bugs me about the Washing Up remix after so long... I don't like the way the synth line sounds cheap and nasty after being pitched up slightly, it kinda gets on my teeth, and I wonder if it's intentional or not. I don't know how Tiga makes his stuff, or if I'm misunderstanding the technology involved but aren't things like Ableto supposed to be able to speed parts up without taking them into chipmunk-land? Keeping the original frequencies intact?

09.01.06 - ELLEN ALLIEN - DOWN REMIXES (12")
30.01.06 - BOOGY BYTES VOL.01 - MIXED BY KIKI (CD)
06.02.06 - MARK BROOM - FROM LONDON WITH LOVE (12")
20.02.06 - MODESELEKTOR - HELLO MOM REMIXES (12") (Sleeparchive!)
06.03.06 - SMASH TV - AIR/EARTH (12")

Around March/April TOMAS ANDERSSON (tba)
In May/June we will release the next Boogy Bytes. This time it is mixed by SASCHA FUNKE

ELLEN ALLIEN & APPARAT will collaborate on a single and an album which
will be released in April.

SASCHA FUNKE is working on a single and an album as well; the release
is planned for August/September.

the audio on the front page is nearly always from an upcoming bpitch release

Just got an Amazon.de alert about Ellen's latest mix CD, Watergate 05:
http://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=11402

Anyone heard it? Thoughts?

nothing special after a few listens to be honest... similar feel and approach to her BoogyBytes mix.

Not BAD, better than average probably but I'm just not that 'into' it so far after a few listens :/

Another Amazon.de alert:

http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0034YLWCE/ref=pe_3811_18653821_snp_dp

ooh, new product?

Can't read German. Is that a new Ellen Allien recording or is it another mix/compilation?

Sool was a bit headscratching for me but Thrills remains one of my new favourite albums. I know I'm in the minority on this, but I prefer it to Orchestra of Bubbles.

a new Ellen 12" single - out in March

Sool was a bit headscratching for me but Thrills remains one of my new favourite albums. I know I'm in the minority on this, but I prefer it to Orchestra of Bubbles.

thrills and OOB are pretty much on a par for me - they're so different i find it hard to directly compare them, one so hard and cold and the other so warm and soft. two of the absolute best - maybe even THE best - dance artist albums of the 00s though.

the new mix is nice enough but i'd rather have another album now tbh

btw good to see you back k8 :)

I think it's perhaps the hardness and the clinical crunchiness on Thrills that makes me like it so much. Those sharp-as-razor distorted guitar samples. There's just this beautiful sense of precision about it, it's such an odd contrast, the abandon of the record's themes contrasted with this totally precise machine-like music. Something so wonderfully Germanic about that.

otm, they're both so physical but in contrasting ways - one where you have to move against the music, one where you sink into it.

I think that's the problem with OoB, I don't really have the desire to move to it. Thrills, however, makes me bounce around like a demented feret.

I was just listening to it on the way to work this morning (it's good way to work music) and it's one of those albums that makes people move away from me on the tube coz I'm bouncing up and down in my seat. I don't really get the same experience with OoB.

Not BAD, better than average probably but I'm just not that 'into' it so far after a few listens :/

Sounds like everything she's ever done.
Well, orchestra of bubbles is really great, but at this point I feel like caring about Ellen Allien is just a tedious effort with an empty reward.

Kate has nailed my thoughts and feelings re. Thrills.

Thrills, however, makes me bounce around like a demented feret.

Google Image Search for "demented ferret" brings up a picture of Fergie, fwiw.

That's funny. GIS for demented ferret brings up this for me.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Die_ENIAC-Einheiten_-_links_wahrscheinlich_der_Speicher_für_eine_einzige_Dezimalziffer.jpg

Which is very Ellen Allien picture if you ask me so that suits me just fine.

So the We Love album is pretty great.

http://www.myspace.com/welovewelove

it is really, really great.

I like how the album kept surprising me a bit as it went. *Always* a good sign.

What's it like?

I hate to be lazy but I haven't figured out the best words for it yet. Lex or anyone else, want to give it a try?

i haven't either, and i'm too hungover today :/

um, kind of paranoid propulsive electro that's just really beautifully and inventively produced; constant left turns as ned says, but very immediate and accessible too; comparisons that come to mind include ellen allien's thrills and chloé's the waiting room though it's not exactly like either. i've been rinsing it for about a month and it feels like i still hear something new every time.

I love the fact that the biggest/most immediate pop numbers appear at the END of the album. More bands should be so confident.

Pls remind me about this tomorrow when I'm back at work...

i honestly see no way that you won't love this, k8.

listening to it now and as well as the sounds they use being constantly inventive and surprising, the textures are just absolutely gorgeous. talking orchestra of bubbles-level gorgeous here.

This is an incredibly hard band name to search for. Way too many "we love techno" and "we love 80s music" results.

i think the only place you can hear their stuff atm is the myspazz that ned linked - i couldn't find anything on youtube and the album's not out til sept.

That might be the other reason I couldn't find anything. Dammit.

I hate using MySpace these days, it's like MS have gone out of their way to make it cumbersome and difficult to use. :-(

oh, you seem to be able to d/l an edit of "hide me" here - http://www.kompakt.fm/blog/2DT5aPpAB7kY

...and i think the album must be out/about to be out now, and there are youtubes emerging, and i love this track

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU654l6ozi4

must have this

The We Love album really is amazing, love how it starts off all dark and gradually becomes more and more celebratory, and is just hands-in-the-air by the end.

They're great live too, DIY robot/Stormtrooper suits and a load of weird instruments. Good theremin action as well.

It made me appreciate the new Ellen Allien record so much more as well.

was double booked the night they played London, it makes me happy & sad to hear they were great.

more people need to be talking about this album

Thought about starting a thread for it but there isn't really anything to say about it.

yeah i know - it's basically "stuff you like, but done PERFECTLY" - and so consistently great that whenever i try to list my favourites off it, i end up listing half the album

yep really like this and 'Dust'. wish they'd do a vinyl pressing of the We Love lp.

Forthcoming collection of Dust remixes is pretty great. Tim Hecker, We Love, Nicolas Jaar, Bodycode...

want!

Anyone following this year's releases? Chaim "Alive" and Aerea Negrot "Arabxilla" are on my "give another chance" pile, feel like the latter has more interesting highs in terms of straying from the Bpitch archetype but some of the tracks about Berlin hipsters are nigh unlistenable.

Haven't got past the title track off Arabxilla yet where she's singing about buying carrots at Tesco etc.

The Werkschau compilation from the start of the year is a very mixed back, but there are some great tracks on it - Ellen Allien's "The Kiss" and Kiki & Lenz's "Morning Maniacs" are the obvious standouts, and I really like the Telefon Tel Aviv track with Robin Guthrie at the end ("The Sky Is Black") despite its obviousness.

i could not take that aérea negrot record at all

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4f1VjjsMdk

Was killing myself trying to remember what mix this was, remembered what "Maria" sounded like but not the track name ... remembered Freaky Bitches and that put me over the top.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgKv3m7GYeM

It's great.