The Best Reissues & Compilations Of 2023

 

 

As you know 1993 was one of the best years that electronic music has ever had, so there were several reissues for the 30th anniversary of some legendary releases! Therefore, we have selected our favorite reissues and compilations that were released in 2023 and some from late 2022 with truly outstanding music.

The full list speaks for itself, so check it out here. Link in B!

Happy Holidays 🙂

 

 

• 25 – Spincycle – Making Faces [Mint Condition] (2002)

Following on from highly successful releases on seminal labels such as Surreal, Low Pressings and their own Geek imprint, Andy Davies & Dave Clements, aka Spincycle, unleashed ‘Making Faces’ on Bushwacka’s legendary Oblong Imprint. 

Originally released in 2002, this release perfectly showcases the duo’s unique take on the tech-house & garage sounds that fuelled the UK underground. Over the next 2 decades this classic would become an in demand rarity, as the eye watering discogs prices will attest, so a reissue has been long overdue.

 

• 24 – Stryke – Introspection Parts 1 – 3 (1994 – 2022) [re:discovery records]

On behalf of re:discovery records, it is with great excitement that we announce the release of Stryke – The Introspection Trilogy (1994-2022). In 1994, Part 1 of the trilogy was featured on a west coast chill out compilation called ‘United State of Ambience 2’ on Los Angeles’s Moonshine Records. A seminal favorite by those that heard the compilation , re:discovery contacted Stryke (Greg Chin) with the hopes of releasing it alone across an entire side of vinyl. 

This opportunity inspired Stryke to completing the original idea of the trilogy with making a part 2 and a part 3. Part 2 is eerie and ominous as it builds into the powerful and triumphant part 3. Re:discovery records is releasing music for adventurous and eccletic DJ’s while equally hitting those vinyl collectors who are looking for quality vintage sounds in the shill out style.

 

• 23 – VA – The Sound Of Love International 005 – Orpheu The Wizard 

Orpheu the Wizard has a magic touch at finding records that fall between the gaps in music – oddities, curios, the weird, the wonderful. But that’s just half the trick. It takes a sensitive and selective ear to construct a coherent, accessible narrative from them. So you get DJs who can play for the crowd and «selectors» adept at mining the black gold. In Orpheu, you’ve got yourself someone who can do both. On a festival main stage, he can keep it weird enough for the heads. In an audiophile setting, he’ll keep the flow.

These skill sets come into play on the fifth The Sound of Love International compilation. Jumping between genres, decades, continents, the truly rare, and many B-side cuts that passed you by. But never eclecticism for its own sake; this collection makes sense. Orpheu never loses sight of the listener – he’s a friendly and knowledgeable guide to the cosmic outer reaches.

 

• 22 – The Bermuda Triangle – The Bermuda Triangle (1992)

Original 1992 analog to digital transfer + 2 exclusive bonus tracks

 

• 21 – Aprilheights – Archives 1995 – 1998 [Furthur Electronix]

Archives from 1996-1998 from the completely unknown and underrated Aprilheights out of Sweden. Only one release saw the light of day back in 1995 as a test pressing of 10 copies, and is the holy grail of collectors. These guys were doing Aphex sounds before Aphex …. 

This comes as a set of EP’s traffic light colours for each EP.

https://www.discogs.com/master/3023612-Aprilheights-Archives-1995-1998

 

• 20 – Photek – Modus Operandi [Proper] (1997)

Replacing a much-loved original, or adding to a collection afresh, this is a superior way to enjoy such enduring and influential music. Born in Suffolk, Parkes, learnt saxophone as a child, but by the early 90s, he like many others, got into electronic music, and by the middle of the decade was making inventive, skeletal, drum and bass.

Photek was first heard on his own label, with releases such as Seven Samurai and U.F.O, which brought him to the attention of Goldie, who released his calling card Natural Born Killa EP on his Metalheadz imprint.

Photek’s slower take on what was then known as ‘jungle’, produced a half- step breakbeat, adding a glacial, mellowness to the relentless beats. By the time of his signing to Virgin, Photek was truly making waves, and Modus Operandi was trailed by The Hidden Camera mini album, which reached the UK Top 40, as did the single Ni Ten Ichi Ryu.

Modus Operandi was a critical and commercial success, reaching the Top 40 and establishing him as a go- to producer and remixer. The space around his beats and his ample yet judicious range of effects can be heard on tunes such as The Hidden Camera and the jazz influenced title track.

Photek has not released a new album in over a decade. He now is an established film and television composer in Hollywood. However, his work is fondly remembered and still sounds as fresh as a drum and bass daisy.

https://www.discogs.com/release/14404-Photek-Modus-Operandi

 

• 19 – Pan American – In Daylight Dub 

Our fourth release comes in the form of a collection of rich, pulsating ambient/dub techno from Pan•American – the solo project of post-rock trio Ladbradford’s front man Mark Nelson. Drawn to the incredible depth and texture of these tracks, we hope to shine a light on Mark’s more exploratory electronic work, reminiscent of Jan Jelenik, Fennesz and Vladislav Delay.

Mark’s work sits at a confluence of these broad influences, shedding the sound of his post rock past for a more rhythmic, computer-based approach, which culminated in 2002’s The River Made No Sound. As ever, the music is an emotional outpouring, progressing slowly through phases between stillness and movement, darkness and light.

 

• 18 – Harmon Eyes – Through The Tunnel [Proxima] (1995)

Reissue from 1995, outstanding techno/trance EP by Harmon Eyes.

Superbly multifaceted nocturnal sound journey by prolific Swedish producer Peter Benisch, known under the name “Harmon Eyes”. Beautiful synth melodies, powerful drums: three techno/trance tracks from out of space. All tracks freshly remastered. Powerful, unique and must-have EP!

 

• 17 – Mental Cube – So This Is Love [Debut] (1991)

First released over 30 years ago, this release was further instrumental in establishing a new genre of electronica within dance music. Mental Cube was the creation of Brian Dougans and Gary Cobain, “So This Is Love” the follow up to their 1990 debut “Chile Of The Bass Generation”.

 

• 16 – Dream Dolphin – Gaia: Selected Ambient & Downtempo Works (1996 – 2003) [Music From Memory]

Co-compiled by long-time friend of the label Eiji Taniguchi, it draws from a vast discography of music oscillating between IDM, Pop and Ambient. First appearing on Eiji’s compilation ’Heisei No Oto – Japanese Left-field Pop From The CD Age (1989-1996)’, this selection of rediscoveries, further shines a light on the singular musician known as Dream Dolphin and her place in Japan’s rich electronic music legacy.

Dream Dolphin released an incredible twenty albums in just eight years. In addition to her own projects, she has also put together a number of fascinating compilations herself, as well as composing ambient music to be used in hospitals and other caring contexts. ‘Gaia: Selected Ambient & Downtempo Works (1996-2003)’ contains 15 tracks thoughtfully selected from various albums that until now were only released on CD format.

 

• 15 – VA – TRIX002 [Party Tricks]

Party Tricks is back with the 2nd chapter of their reissue series. Four tracks carefully selected from different sought after releases from the 90’s and early 2000’s. 

https://www.discogs.com/release/28291288-Various-TRIX002

 

• 14 – Skyark – When It Rains it Pours [Transmigration] (1993)

Beautiful ambient techno from multiple Grammy award winner James Sanger released via acid techno label «Triumph Records» in 1993. Clocking in at over 10 minutes it’s an elegant trip that demonstrates the production skills that would see James earn collaborations with everyone from Brian Eno to Madonna.

Restored and remastered with a rolling dance floor dub from Sunju Hargun’s Eternal Injection alias on the B side.

https://www.discogs.com/release/29125531-Skyark-When-It-Rains-it-Pours

 

• 13 – VA – The Beat By DJ Spun (West Coast Breakbeat Rave Electrofunk 1988 – 1994) Vol. 2

The second installment of this remarkable journey into the underground scene maintains the same profound level of depth and significance as its precursor. Showcasing tracks from Electroliners, High Lonesome Soundsystem, Single Cell Orchestra, DJ Emma, and Spun’s own Central Fire project, all harmoniously enclosed within the captivating and arresting artwork by Villain Standard, this release stands shoulder to shoulder with its forerunner. Beyond a mere compilation, it’s an indispensable extension of the narrative that has indelibly shaped the culture of underground American dance music within the region, embodying the era and the individuals involved. This is the authentic underground sound that reverberated across San Francisco and its surrounding environs, a truly distinctive and exceptional moment in time and space.

 

12 – Anoesis – Heavy Water [Spray] (1994)

Wake up sleepyheads; after another rotation around the sun and the fog of the early year drifting across the realm, what better way to break through than breaks. Spray is once again on the archival quest, dusting off jewels for the dancers, with this time’s excavation taking us to a 1994 North London bedroom (heard that before huh?). Originally released on D*Fusion Records, at a time when the ever-rising pulsating amphetamine twitch of hardcore was side stepped, with some furthering their fury into jungle, and others receding into more cerebral and ethereal realms.

This collection of huge tunes falls into the latter from the producer Anoesis; a release for the post-post generation, when bygone specters of trance dance mania become the ghouls of the moment, the need for Rave ever increasing.

 

• 11 – Speedy J – Ginger [Warp Records] (1993)

Much can be said for the sci-fi inspirations of 90s electronic music, exploring alien worlds and hyper-technological concepts with dizzying synthetic sounds. Speedy J approached techno from a different angle, however: “No matter how electronic it goes, music is still a thing of feelings, it comes from the inside, from the heart.” 

His debut album as Speedy J is the sixth in Warp’s Artificial Intelligence series, and rather than echo AI’s cyborgian connotations, Ginger gets right to the heart of the series’ “electronic listening music” spirit with lush, worldly sounds.

 

• 10 – Optica / Optic Eye – Tribute to Jake Stephenson [re:discovery records]

On behalf of re:discovery records, it is with great excitement that we announce this tribute to the music of Jake Stephenson. Sadly, Jake passed away in 2005. A prolific producer with hundreds of credits under many names and many styles. An eccentric hippie of sorts, music historian and audio savant certainly, Jake was truly a unique, talented and special person.

While a 5 track EP hardly scratches the surface, we at re:discovery wanted to honor an artist who impacted the label owner and the history of chill out music more than maybe some know. A true visionary and audio explorer.

 

• 09 – VA – NON VOLEVO MA VOLAVO 2 [Ultimo Tango]

Non Volevo Ma Volavo strikes back for yet another trip down memory lane.

Four timelessly ecstatic cuts that survived the slow passing of time, retraced and restored from the archives of Italian dance legends: Visnadi and Gambarelli, specially crafted to make you fly over the dancefloor today, just as they did back then.

 

• 08 – Sterac – Teknitron EP [Delsin Records] (1995)

This fifth EP in the Steve Rachmad re-issue series contains a colorful combination of three tracks from different releases. Side A brings the sought after track ‘Teknitron’, originally released on his 3rd EP, originally released under his short-lived alias Black Scorpion back in 1995. ‘Transpose’ is taken from his first Sterac EP from 1994, while the last tracks ‘Alastria’ comes from his second album Thera, originally released in 1998. All tracks are re-mastered of course.

Steve Rachmad’s richly melodic strain of techno has resulted in a huge body of work he has been growing since the early 90s. His sound is the perfect distillation of machine soul – dubby atmospherics and crisp, danceable dynamics balanced in perfect unison. Amsterdam’s Delsin Records gathers together some of the Dutch techno figurehead’s most important, sought-after works in a new EP series, all remastered from the original DAT tapes from Steve’s archives. Artwork by Boris Tellegen

 

• 07 – Voices From The Lake – Voices From The Lake [Spazio Disponibile] (2012)

Voices From the Lake (consisting of Donato Dozzy and Neel) mark the 10th anniversary of their influential self-titled album with a fully remastered reissue on Spazio Disponibile. It arrives in full on vinyl for the first time, as well as on digital formats, first quarter of 2023 as the pair continues to play select live shows around the world.

The release will see the light of day as both a box set (including a photo book with exclusive pictures by the time of release) and a traditional vinyl LP release, the box set being available exclusively via the own web shop and Bandcamp channels.

 

• 06 – Spacetime Continuum – Flurescence E.P. [Musique Pour La Danse] (1993)

This time, the iconic Flurescence EP by his Spacetime Continuum solo project gets the reissue treatment, after being released on the Scotsman’s own Reflective Records back in 1993 with an unforgettable holographic center label.

There is a good reason why this EP, actually Sharp’s debut release, was so hard to find at reasonable prices and why it has appeared in countless compilations and top lists in the last 3 decades with no sign of slowing down.

Truly timeless, this masterclass in forward thinking electronic music focuses on deeply textured, masterfully arranged, and skillfully morphing tracks with a cosmic tinge that feels warm instead of cold, and rewards repeat listens.

 

• 05 – Hole In One – Spiritual Ideas for Virtual Reality [Transmigration] (1996)

A beloved after hours production from Marcel Hol, immortalized as the opening track in Andrew Weatherall’s seminal 1993 Massive Mellow Mix. A beloved after hours production from Marcel Hol, immortalized as the opening track in Andrew Weatherall’s seminal 1993 Massive Mellow Mix. Reissued with two versatile remixes from Anatolian Weapons channeling 90’s chill out rooms and cosmic inclined dance floors alike.

https://www.discogs.com/release/28931140-Hole-In-One-Spiritual-Ideas-for-Virtual-Reality

 

• 04 – Sandwell District – Feed-Forward [The Point Of Departure Recording Company] (2010)

The original print of the album, described by RA a decade later as “the final transmission from a collective whose influence still colours music today”, was effectively a private press that sold out on impact – 3 days before Christmas, with no accompanying promotion and, despite it changing hands for up to 4 figure sums, it has never been repressed.

https://www.discogs.com/release/27795390-Sandwell-District-Feed-Forward

 

• 03 – VA – Artificial Intelligence [Warp Records] (1992)

«Are you sitting comfortably? Artificial Intelligence is for long journeys, quiet nights and club drowsy dawns. Listen with an open mind.” 

Back in 1992 when Warp released the Artificial Intelligence compilation it almost instantly changed both the course of Warp as a label and arguably what many would consider «club» music as an entity to be. Artificial Intelligence came housed inside a prog rock styled gatefold sleeve depicting a cover image of a robot blowing smoke rings whilst reclining on an armchair. Its extra long rolling papers and tin of tobacco just out of reach, whilst a high-end stereo plays out the sounds of Kraftwerk’s Autobahn and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon, their LP sleeves lay strewn across the floor. This image along with the above text that as printed on the sleeve acted as a guide for the listener on how to best experience this new mode of techno music, one that was designed for those nights when your body stays in but your mind steps out.

Listening back now, 30 years since its original release, it’s striking how contemporary and fresh the music of Artificial Intelligence still sounds. While many tracks from those days still and will forever sound brilliant, many AI contemporary compilations have taken on the sheen of a more retro and throwback feel. When digested with a knowledge of what has been made within the last quarter of a century, the tracks that form Artificial Intelligence still carry a strong, almost outside of time feeling that’s influence shines as strongly today as it did 30 years ago. A timeless record that will continue to point the way forward for electronic music for many years yet to come.

https://www.discogs.com/master/30010-Various-Artificial-Intelligence

 

• 02 – F.U.S.E. – Dimension Intrusion [Warp Records] (1993)

‘Dimension Intrusion’ was the first full-length studio album by Richie Hawtin, who was 22 years old at the time and living in Windsor, Canada. It was first released in June 1993 under the F.U.S.E. name on Hawtin’s own Plus 8 Records imprint and again as the second release of Warp Records seminal ‘Artificial Intelligence’ series.

The album compiled previously released F.U.S.E. EPs from Plus 8 complemented with new music specially recorded for this release. It would be a fundamental album for the young producer, who was experimenting with different themes and techniques to find his very own sound. Largely inspired by sci-fi movies he used a collection of synthesizers and drum machines, playing with their electronic yet warm sound effects and in turn discovering some of his favorite instruments.

 

• 01 – Ricardo Villalobos – Alcachofa [Perlon] (2003)

Ricardo Villalobos’ debut album receives its first reissue in over a decade, reunited with tracks from the Alcachofa Tools EP.

Villalobos’ detailed attention to sound design creates shimmering, simmering soundscapes with room to breathe, and to dance, as the tracks’ minimal palettes are lowkey yet simultaneously igniting the dancefloor.

Each spaciously sequenced snap of organic percussion floats through micro moods extended over club friendly runtimes, each wobbling bass spill is contrasted by swift pops and bursts of air. And then there is, of course, the iconic ‘Easy Lee’, with its elastic synth and liquid drum manipulations, and catchy, robotically filtered vocals.

https://www.discogs.com/release/28578964-Villalobos-Alcachofa

 

With Love ♥︎

Gerardo