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  • Soulful EP

    KM004-6

    Artist: Mikael Stavostrand

    Label: Kontra-Musik

    When listening to the Soulful EP there seems to be an uncontrolled force in all of the tracks. This is music that seems to have a life of its own. Maybe it is time to let the music go, where she wants to go...

    The Soulful EP, produced by Swedish mastermind Mikael Stavostrand, takes him one step closer to his goal, to fuse experimental compositions with dance floor perfection. On the first track, My Day, a steady 4-beat tries to keep up with a sinister synth line that has broken free from its lace. Together with beautifully programmed organic percussion, this track is a dynamic roller coaster ride, aiming for the peak hour dance floor with a twist.
    The B-side and the track Blau, takes of with a vocal sample reminding us of the Kontra-Musik motto: You got to go, where you want to go. Starting of as warm hypnotic groover, Blau climbs towards a multi layered soundscape, pushed forward by a hectic arpeggio, reminding of minimalist heroes like Robert Rood and Mika Vainio. Blau is dance floor music that aims for the soul.
    The second track on the b-side, Breaka-Breaka, is a techhouse track that in the same way as Blau, evolves into something new, a creaking and acidic techno track soaked in organic percussion.

  • FORMAT

    KLK002

    Artist: MIKAEL STAVOSTRAND

    Label: Klitekture

    "Mikael Stavöstrand, one of the key figures in Sweden's electronic scene,
    label owner of Mitek (presented in Berlin) and known from his work as Vita
    on Force Inc. is responsible for he second release of the Spanish label
    Klitekture. "Format" is a Stunning 4-track EP conjuring a depth and
    atmosphere that exquisitely moves the listener in an digitalized organic
    groove. The A side consists of complex structures of minimal techno and
    deep atmospheres. Traces of unessential frequencies infect and permeate
    through his compositions, yet a solid dance floor stability hold the
    minimal tracks in place. Central to everything though is the iciest of
    echoing, delayed pads that runs throughout the duration of the track,
    rising and falling as the plug-in effects take their grip. A fascinating
    sound environment, warm and complex, where the natural mingles with the
    artificial." The B-side heads into more lo-fi territory with no bass-lines
    as such, just punchier, but altogether quieter drums and sweeping pads
    sequenced as per-usual to perfection, and more in line with the sublime
    work under his Vita moniker. All in all excellent click house tracks with
    evocative textures and atmospheres
    phosphor magazine

  • Lite

    MITEK01

    Artist: Mikael Stavöstrand

    Label: Mitek

    This Album by Mikael Stavöstrand is a radical departure from his previous work. Although repetition is a central theme and small sounds are assembled into pulses and beats, this album is more concerned with exceptions than rules. Perfect order is sacrificed for complexity, the sound is populated with swarms of tiny sounds, competing for resources among warm textures and pulses - not harsh or cold, but of different tone colours (a point of comparison could be English computer music duo Shirt Trax, who also provided source material for the track 'rmx'). A fascinating sound environment, warm and complex, where the natural mingles with the artificial.