If love is built on trust and respect, then education and diversity are the foundations of a sublime reputation. What does it take, then, for an artist’s career to stand apart in the very big pond of electronic music producers? Germany’s XDB has been DJing since the early 90s, and his creative growth enhances his decisions of what labels and musicians he chooses to collaborate with. After years of working in a record shop, he launched his Metrolux label in 2006 and works closely with producers Atheus and Arne Weinberg.

Much of his studio work is created in the dark, beginning late at night and continuing on to the next morning, and he’ll usually take many sessions to complete a track that satisfies his own high standards.

Lately, Kosta Athanassiadis is garnering the overdue attention of popular writers and fellow musicians. In April 2009, he delivered mnml ssgs’ 25th podcast in two parts – the beloved bloggers had seen XDB perform at Tokyo’s Labyrinth festival about six months earlier, and eagerly anticipated the chance to share a live set he’d recorded in Hamburg with their readers. In the following month, Intrusion contributed a podcast to Resident Advisor, and incorporated XDB’s live version of “Descap,” which was released on Metrolux before its re-release on Francois K’s Wave Music label. The latter was his big break, and since its issue in 2007, Kosta has been developing a renowned name as both an admirable businessman and creative artist.

XDB’s throbbing basslines predate the rapid, wide-spread popularity of “the Berghain sound,” which is why one of his latest releases was a step ahead of everyone else.

Out on the still-fresh Delikat Records, his Mihon EP is as bright as the daytime, bringing techno out from dark, concrete rooms and into the sunlight. The title track is speedy and kinetic, and, like the Descap EP, the release includes both produced and live recordings of “Unago,” which has the sound of a child’s imagination gone wild. He also has a release on Sistrum, which is owned and operated by Detroit’s own Patrice Scott. The label’s discography expands slowly because Scott is highly selective, but he and XDB share the vision of pushing a sound that is influenced by Detroit but not trapped by its legacy. “I still prefer 909 drum sounds and atmospheric strings,” says Athanassiadis, but the intrinsic, storytelling element of creating music is his highest priority.

The lifestyle of the ever-touring DJ is an ideal one for XDB, which fuels his encyclopedic passion for music. When he isn’t spending time with his family, coaching tennis or growing his vinyl collection – which exceeds five thousand records, at this point – he is often working towards a production deadline or traveling to perform. Kosta intends his DJ sets to be full of organic warmth and depth, and it’s here that he lives up to his reputation as a historian of electronic music. His live sets repeatedly curate a greatest hits playlist that pores over the blueprints of dub, house and techno from the last thirty to forty years. He sees his music heading in a direction that ranges from deep and soulful Detroit house to raw, analogue sounding dub techno, which is executed brilliantly on his last Metrolux EP, Cagomi. XDB is currently looking forward to the release of the Lost Tape EP on Wave in late November 2009.

Throughout his growing popularity, XDB has kept his identity nearly silent, allowing his music to be unpolluted by preconceived notions that comes with branding one’s image. “Less is more,” he suggests, applying the advice to inspiring and established artists. In the end, it was this tactic – of letting the music speak for itself – that cultivated the respect and trust of his fans. If that isn’t love, then what is?

Pinksilver Net is proud to bring some old and new talent from their northern neighbor for the latest EP – Harbour City.

The release includes three deep and dub heavy tracks from label residents Trinity & Beyond, and three artists new to the Pinksilver family; Squarepeg, Simon Mann and Maby (also known as Magda Bytnerowicz).

Secret Life of Plankton, written by aspiring artist Squarepeg, is the perfect opening track for the EP, subtle and unassuming, full of dreamy atmospheric melodic synths united by echoic dub effects.

Little Fish, co-produced by Maby (making her debut into the production world) and Trinity & Beyond is a slow burning, late morning dub monster that builds & grows into one dark, stompy and hypnotic dub-techno track.

Dub Suds is written by up and coming producer Simon Mann, taking things on a left field bent with a glitch, broken beat dub groove. This is a finely formed love child of dub techno and deep dubstep vibes.

Tracklisting:
01:: Squarepeg – Secret Life of Plankton
02:: Trinity & Beyond, Maby – Little Fish
03:: Simon Mann – Dub Suds

Mastering: Ben Feggans
Artwork: Mark Baumann

Artist & DJ Feedback:

Eric Cloutier – ‘Quite digging these tracks, good stuff, for sure! (Trinity & Beyond and Magda) did a killer job together – nice and deep, but still pretty groovy, and the squarepeg cut is quality, dubbed out tech house stuff. Nice work! i’ll give these a go next weekend in montreal.’
Eli Verveine – ‘Love your track!…Will play it for sure!!!!!” (r.e Little Fish)
Dave Basek – Junkbeats – ‘Yeah I really like it – good to see you heading into deeper territory.’
Pablo Bolivar – ‘Yes, excelent deep vibes, really nice, thanks!’
Deepchild – ‘Super-lush dubby goodness. On point!’
Nadja Lind – ‘Great one, loving this!’
Brendon Moeller – ‘the tracks sounds pretty cool’ the first track is my fave’.

Full release download including artwork & press info can be downloaded here Various – Harbour City EP..

For individual track previews and downloads, head over to our Soundcloud page at Pinksilver Music

Tonepushers are Ali Khan & Joe Silva. Hailing from Winnipeg, Canada, their collaboration as Tonepushers showcases the best each has to offer from their varied experience with dj’ing, live performance and studio production.

Their debt EP with Pinksilver Digital showcases the deeper, techier shades of house combining edgy, haunting basslines with more melodic, rhythmic elements.

The title track ‘Gasp’ captures this contrast best: dark, reverb-heavy stabs straddled with floating synth lines & keys, building a beautiful tension throughout the whole track.

‘Midnight’ traverses the more funkier elements of tech house, this time featuring swinging basslines and colourful rhythms in contrast to the title track.

‘U Feel it?’ (5am Mix) rounds out the EP by combining the more nostalgic elements that were a feature of ‘Gasp’ and the funkier undertones of ‘Midnight’ to deliver both a warm and at times elevating track.

Soul Food for lovers of deep electronic music.

Tracklisting:
01:: Gasp
02:: Midnight
03:: U Feel It? (5am Mix)

Out now on Beatport and all other major online stores on December 5th.

Pinksilver’s Net imprint delivers a classy netlabel release in the form of longtime associate Paul Derons aka Enclave, complete with a thumping Paul Agius remix.

The 3-track EP is a brooding, moody and strictly 4/4 techno affair. The title track ‘Geysers’ explores menacing soundscapes while a disturbing and at times threatening bass drum powers ahead, whilst Paul Agius’ interpretation of ‘Geysers’ ups the ante further with an even more sinister sound palette coupled with a vicious kick.

The EP is rounded off with ‘Swap’, which begins on a more introspective angle than ‘Geysers’ until it heads into more uncompromising reverberations through its journey.

Straight-up underground techno. Don’t sleep on it.

Tracklisting:
01:: Geysers
02:: Geysers (Paul Agius’ Can’t Believe Its Not Prog Remix)
03:: Swap

Download Complete Release (inc. Artwork & Press Release):

Mastering: Danny Bonnici
Artwork: Benjamin Holmes

Pinksilver Digital presents its latest EP from Sydney duo Trinity & Beyond in the form of the ‘Reign EP’, complete with dub techno maestro XDB on the remix duties.

The release straddles acid-infused, atmospheric techno together with a more down tempo & deeper approach from XDB.
The title track ‘Reign’ delves into distinctive strands of deep techno that is occasionally shaken by the underlying acid-infused synths.

XDB’s interpretation explores the original beneath the surface, creating an atmospheric journey before the track takes hold with some moving synth lines.

‘Air Bubble’ continues the acid-driven theme of the EP, floating in and out of moving landscapes, complete with a swallowing reverb that envelopes the entire track.

Deep techno for the soul.

Tracklisting:
01 Reign
02 Reign (XDB Remix)
03 Air Bubble

Mastering: Danny Bonnici (www.liquidmixes.com)
Artwork: Markojux

Available from www.beatport.com, www.juno.co.uk, www.itunes.com, wwww.whatpeopleplay.com + other leading online outlets.

Pinksilver presents Live & DJ sets from artists & friends as either direct downloads or automatic podcast updates.

OR in iTunes, go to Advanced/Subscribe To Podcast & copy + paste the following link: Subscribe

Pinksilver Podcast 20: Matic – Beyond Galileo

By way of Curitiba, Brazil and with stints in Amsterdam & Barcelona, Matic is one of Melbourne’s most gifted yet underrated deck technicians. Returning to the Pinksilver Podcast series with ‘Beyond Galileo’, Matic explores deep space soundscapes with tracks by Marcel Dettmann, Norman Nodge, Conforce & Mike Parker, among others, to deliver modern techno direct to you speakers.

Direct Link: Pinksilver Podcast 20

Tracklisting

01. X-102 – The Rings of Saturn [Underground Resistance]
02. Obtane & Giorgio Gigli – The Different Perception Of Silence (Drone|Edit) [Zooloft]
03. Jeff Mills – Hallucinations [Axis]
04. Norman Nodge – Body To Body [Ostgut Ton]
05. Ø – Kuvio [Sähkö]
06. Ben Gibson – Florentine [M_Rec Ltd]
07. Tioneb – Unconsciousness [Edensonic]
08. Planetary Assault Systems – Raid [Mote-Evolver]
09. Scuba – Tracers (Deadbeat Remix) [Hotflush]
10. Jeff Mills – Detached [Music Man]
11. Ben Gibson – Implex [M_Rec Ltd]
12. Traversable Wormhole – Exiting The Milkyway (Surgeon Remix) [CLR]
13. Marcel Dettmann – Factory Report Two [Kontra-Musik]
14. Inigo Kennedy – Obsidian [Token]
15. Jeff Mills – The Intruder Emerges [Axis]
16. P.God – Approaching An Ocean Planet [Komisch]
17. Silent Servant – El Salvaje [Modularz]
18. Jeroen Search – Rise [M_Rec Ltd]
19. Conforce – Vulcan [Clone Basement Series]
20. O/V/R – Post-Traumatic Son (DVS1 Pessimist Mix) [Blueprint]
21. Damon Wild & Echoplex – Fraction Off The Past [Synewave]
22. Mike Parker – Subterranean Liquid [Prologue]
23. James Ruskin – Time & Place [Blueprint] 24. Reynold – Over There (Donato Dozzy Mix) [Persona]

Sikander is a collaboration (some say “misadventure”) between sound-designer and crate-digger Pradip Sarkar, classically-trained musician Prem CJ, and visual artist Paul Rodgers, aka Arnold Irons – three men with very diverse backgrounds and experiences.

With Sikander, they blend their influences, ranging from experimental sounds, ambient electronica, krautrock, industrial, South Indian classical, Central and South East Asian music, to Detroit techno, dub-tech, acid-house, and UK Bass.

Cinema for the Dead is Sikander’s debut EP, proudly released on Melbourne’s Pinksilver Net imprint.

It features 3 tracks written in the manner of film score, from the early Detroit-influenced opener, Trojan Hound – an ode to the era of Sergio Corleone’s spaghetti westerns to Tiger Muffin, with its funk riffs and fuzzy guitar samples, owes its influences to 1970s Blaxploitation and Bollywood.

The sounds of industrial machinery and 80′s science-fiction led to the conception of the moody Machine Dreams.

Tracklisting:

01:: Trojan Hound
02:: Tiger Muffin
03:: Machine Dreams

Download Complete Release (inc. Artwork & Press Release):

[psnet018] Sikander – Cinema For The Dead [ Volume 1 ]

Mastering: Danny Bonnici

Artwork: Benjamin Holmes

Real Name: Lawrence Michell
Aliases: 9×10ba

When it comes down to appreciating techno on a full scale system you’ll find him at the front.

Lorenzo originates from the U.K. where electronic music first took a hold in his life.

He now finds himself based in Melbourne, Australia and in a position where he has a studio and is able to dedicate time to writing his own vision of electronic music.

In terms of influential sounds; Depth, Momentum, and Sub Bass are the keys and he is continually refining his skills to create these elements in his own productions.

As a DJ, although he is open to the advancement of technology within music he can’t ditch the vinyl habit. So if you happen to catch him at a gig, he will be one of the few people left who will play a set entirely of vinyl.

The music will do the rest of the talking…

Spiritual and pulsating. Impulsive and sensual. These words only begin to describe the debt EP of Berlin’s Nadja Lind and studio partner Helmut Ebritsch together as Klartraum, in the form of the ‘Downunder Dub’ EP on Pinksilver Digital.

Known for their work on their own label Lucidflow in addition to releases on Darkroom Dubs & Soma Records, ‘Downunder Dub’ delves into dubby sonic soundscapes with a dash of emotion and nostalgia.
The title track ‘Downunder Dub’ delivers subtle, dubby synths amongst a gliding bass drum entwined with vocals that emerge from deep with your sub consciousness.

‘India’ is a 17 minute journey into your inner emotions and back again. Equally art as it is music; ‘India’ is full of rich, complete sonic soundscapes that take the listener deep into the abyss then back again. In a world of very disposable music, ‘India’ is a rare diamond that shines brightly.

The EP is supported by remixes from Pinksilver’s Markojux & Trinity & Beyond. Markojux’s re-touch of ‘Downunder Dub’ retains the dubby synths of the original but adds a more sinister touch to the remix, straddling the finer elements of dub house vibes.

Trinity & Beyond’s remix of ‘Downunder Dub’ puts the focus back on the dreamy synth line as it glides effortlessly throughout its journey, again with a heavy emphasis on the more dubbier strains techno.

An EP for connoisseurs of avant-garde house & techno.

Tracklisting:

01 Nadja_Lind_-_Downunder_Dub
02 Klartraum_-_India
03 Nadja_Lind_-_Downunder_Dub_(Markojux_Remix)
04 Nadja_Lind_-_Downunder_Dub_(Trinity_&_Beyond_Remix)

Mastering: Danny Bonnici (www.liquidmixes.com)
Artwork: Ben Holmes

Available from August 19th exclusive to Beatport