Ellum Audio Vinyl, CD & Tape 6 Items

Ellum Audio welcomes back Raxon for another of his cosmically minded techno EPs. Egypt-born but Barcelona-based, Raxon is at the forefront of the melodic techno scene thanks to always well-designed sounds on Diynamic, Kompakt, Cocoon and more. As a DJ, too, he explores an interplanetary sound that has seen him on the billing at influential festivals and clubs worldwide, from Dgtl to Resistance Ibiza at Privilege. He opens this one with the superb 'Mantis,' a terrifically twitchy and astral track. Robot vocals are stitched into the mix with turbo-charged synths and a looping bassline over heavy drums. It's the sound of intergalactic warfare with a real sense of electronic funk and cinematic design. Then comes 'Input Robot,' a jostling broken techno groove laced up with sleek cosmic chords. Alien life forms live between the beats, and the elastic bass keeps you moving as the track rolls on through a turbulent night sky. The ‘Mantis EP’ is another innovative techno exploration from Raxon.

Josh Wink joins Ellum Audio for a stellar new single backed with a remix from DJ Seinfeld. Josh Wink needs little introduction to fans, or even occasional listeners to dance music. The American DJ and producer has been one of the most enduring figures in the scene with a catalogue of music on labels like R&S, Strictly Rhythm, Nervous, Pokerflat, MNus and of course his own long standing Ovum Recordings imprint. As a DJ, he has travelled the globe since the mid-nineties, headlining festivals and clubs wherever he goes. What he has never done in his almost 30-year career is ever lose touch with the roots of underground dance music, something he demonstrates once again here with a standout new single for Maceo Plex’s label.

Avnu returns to the Ellum collective, dropping a new single in advance of his second full-length album ‘Crisis In the Simulation’ due on the Ellum this Spring. ‘Next Caller’ comes backed with a remix from another Ellum stalwart, Raxon.

Based in Scotland, DJ & producer Avnu has been deeply immersed in music for over two decades, taking inspiration from the warm tones of blues to the hard cuts from the rave and all points in between. Latest collaborations with Maceo Plex on his new album ‘93’ (‘Clickbait’, ‘Serpent Jazz’ and ‘Go Back’ feat. Desire) and remixes of Tyler Hill and Madben have solidified his association with the Ellum and Lone Romantic labels.

On his new single ‘Next Caller’, the talented producer whips up a progressive and chunky club track laced with dark energy. Raxon’s accompanying remix provides a nuanced slant on the original, kitted out with chunky drums and catchy loops to compliment the thick bassline rhythms of the original.

Avnu (uk) follows up his fantastic recent single on Ellum Audio with a long-awaited and hugely adventurous new album, ‘Tough To Love But Worth The Effort’. Avnu (uk) is based on the East Coast of Scotland and has been deeply immersed in music for twenty plus years. He has a love of everything from rock, soul and blues to disco, electro, techno, trance and rave. All of that comes out in his innovative sounds, which range from sweat-inducing club tracks to hooky and feel-good grooves. This album finds him working his magic across 15 tracks that bring plenty of fresh perspective to house, electro, synth, techno and pop. They add up to a storytelling record filled with left turns and tracks that work in a range of different contexts. 'Surprise!' opens with a glossy electro beat and shimmering 80s synths that set the tone for the whole record. 'I Love You' brings a French touch influence with plenty of filtered synth loops and crisp drums under a soulful vocal, then 'Supaflake' cuts loose on an old-school funk vibe with nods to early Daft Punk. This most colourful of records plays out through the likes of sombre cosmic techno offering 'Bad Karma,' the longing chords and heavy-hearted electronica of 'Odyssey Jam' feat Mariel Ito and distorted bass of 'Phlegm In The Street' which comes with laser-like synths and menacing vocals. The future styles continue on 'Yo E, Check This Out' which collides jungle breakbeats with brain-melting sine waves, while 'Wilkie' is a moment to catch your breath amongst bright and shiny synths and deeper drums that suspend you in a celestial sky. 'Proud You’re Mine' is a perfect electro-dance-pop gem that has potential to be a summer festival anthem and the title track closes down with six minutes of enchanting and mystical synth lines and hypnotic drums. ‘Tough To Love But Worth The Effort’ is a spectacularly broad and accomplished album that lives in a world of its own.

New school techno pioneer Avision will release his debut album ‘In My Mind’ on Ellum Audio this winter.

Avision grew up around the rich club culture of New York City and is now part of a new wave of artists defining the contemporary techno landscape. In just a couple of years, the American has become an absolute mainstay on labels like Drumcode, Machine, and We Are The Brave. His hard-hitting productions have found their way into the record bags of tastemakers like Adam Beyer, Maceo Plex and Chris Liebing. At the same time, he has been featured everywhere, from The Brooklyn Mirage and Time Warp in New York to festivals like Elrow, The BPM Festival, Electric Daisy Carnival and Dockyards. Now he offers up ‘In My Mind’, a widescreen artistic statement across 13 immersive tracks.

Says the artist, “I’m truly proud to share ‘In My Mind’ with the world, as I feel like this is another side of music that people haven’t heard from me. This album touches on a little bit of everything, and I wanted it to represent where I’m from. 90% of the album was written during the time we couldn’t be ourselves and do what we love, but I turned that frustration and disbelief into an album with emotion and meaning. I couldn’t be happier with the final outcome, and I hope everyone enjoys it.”

The LP kicks off with ‘Real Talk’, wasting no time getting going on a lush wave of Detroit-style techno full of hi-tek soul. 'Cut The Rope' features Robert Owens, the legendary house vocalist who lights up the deep, driving house drums with a typically impassioned vocal. The energy levels stay high on 'No Disco' with its oversized hi-hats, nimble bassline and chattery claps, while 'Baby' traps you in metallic techno loops with a playful vocal sample. After the bright lights of lead single 'Contrast,' and grinding peak time weapon 'In My Mind' is ‘Ground Rule’, an atmospheric spoken word interlude about NYC.

The album’s second half kicks off with the far-sighted cosmic pads of 'I'll Take You' with Xander and has you lost in another world. There is angst in the tense synth loops of interplanetary techno cut 'Your Soul' and hands-in-the-air trance energy on 'Where I Want To Be.' The monstrous 'All Night' is another wall of rich synth sound over big drums, and 'Lost Symmetry' then releases the pressure with a more dreamy melodic vibe built on tumbling breakbeats. 'In Your World' closes in an uplifting fashion across eight minutes of cantering techno and epic synth work.

‘In My Mind’ is an accomplished and adventurous album that takes melodic techno in bold new directions.

Avision storms into 2020 in fine fashion with his first EP for Maceo Plex's Ellum Audio label. Playing the decks since just 12 years of age, this American artist grew up in the musically rich New York City scene and is now at the sharp end of it with his own new school techno sound. He has released on key labels like Ben Sims’ Hardgroove, Mark Broom’s Beardman and Teksupport, and is someone that icons like Adam Beyer and Chris Liebing often reach for in their own sets.