ARTISTS | parallel-festival

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Goaultrabeat / Danza Tribale, Italy

Having made a practice to steer crowds into deep ecstasy with her hypnotic sets at famed Goa Ultrabeat parties in Rome where she operates as a resident DJ, Adiel kicked off her own label, Danza Tribale, in 2016 with a solid debut instalment, 'Anatomia Del Cavallo', that urged new ravers and dancers to join in with her densely forested musical fantasies where swirling melodic motifs, eerie atmospheres and entrancing 4/4 rhythms coexist in a rapturous communion of sorts. Orbiting around her own output, DT is intended to provide a bespoke landing platform for techno dynamics both obscure and profound, alternately wild and held-in, instinctive and sophisticated, functional yet far from merely tool-esque.

Fresh off the release of her latest EP, 'Ritmo', Adiel strikes again with 'Tokyo' - an equally mesmerising and immersive slice of spaced-out, off-kilter techno that works the hammer just as well as it does a great job of flying you off for a trip across unknown magnetic fields and NASA-only terrains. Echoing the robotic frenzy and vivid, neo-pop exoticism of the Japanese capital in all its dimensions, the record shows the producer at her boldest and most uncompromisingly intrepid, as she breaks free from the classic big-room-ready stomp of the first track's incipit to venture into further shape-shifting percussive territories, opiated synth-y horizons and the unorthodox rhythmic side roads and by-lanes that she enjoys exploring so much.

Next up at number 5 in the catalogue will be a very special record for Adiel, as she teamed up with none other than Italian dub techno legend Donato Dozzy to sculpt a truly mind-bending mosaics of delayed drums, stealth acid accents and rolling bass moves. One to keep the adrenaline rushing, and get a little weird too. With 'Cavallina' DD and Adiel unleash a steadfast tribal-indebted dub breaker that's clearly got the club for main destination, but also offers a fondly immersive backdrop for your hazy mind to wander with unrestrained freedom. Leaning deeper in the leftfield fringe, Dozzy's solo contribution 'Matta' draws in a hybrid vein of hypnagogic techno, oddball modular and chimney downtempo electronics to carve a loopy, boggling, hell of an alien-forged headtrip.

a_mal_gam_a, Spain

a_mal_gam_a is a cell dedicated to audiovisual research, based in Madrid, which develops a constant activity as musical creators and promoters, since its founding in 2016, in its sessions, Avalovara, listening club and DANCE CAVE, as well as with its curators and specific projects for institutions and independent spaces.
As creators, they have been part of the Music & Dealers 2017 programme, the Autoplacer 2017 Festival of the CA2M and Veranos de la Villa 2018, they have also made the sound intervention #BringYourourOwnPillow -within the installation of the artist Elena Alonso in Abierto x Obras de Matadero Madrid- and recently they have produced a specific live A/V within an evening in homage to Derek Jarman in MACBA Barcelona.

Crossing Avenue

Spazio Disponibile, Italy

Crossing Avenue is one of the central projects of Donato Dozzy's and Neel's Spazio Disponibile label. Their music features minimalistic and percussive beats, flashes of synth, alien life forms and subterranean ambiance, which are constant elements in their aesthetics. Their production is also characterised by the use of Folk Rhythms typical of their region, Apulia, in the south of Italy.

They were also involved in the European Spazio Disponibile Tour in 2018 hitting some of the most acclaimed European clubs like Berghain and Shelter.

Spazio Disponibile / Afterhouse, Italy

Few DJs and producers are as widely and universally acclaimed in techno circles as Italian Donato Dozzy. He has a rare ability to work his way into peoples' minds in both contemporary and classical settings, conjuring real mood and atmosphere. Never one to pay heed to the zeitgeist, he prefers to deal in hypnotic soundscapes that really take you on a trip.
Enigmatic as he is, and laidback as he seems, as an artist he is constantly unveiling new work. Displaying a large variation in terms of sound and method across many new releases each year--some of which come on his co-owned label Spazio Disponibile--he also puts out installations for public spaces and museums, uses obscure musical instruments, collaborates with likeminded producers, classical singers or visual artists. Donato seems to continuously challenge himself on a creative level: whatever method he uses, though, he is always likely to permeate your cerebral cortex and rewire it in fascinating and compelling new ways.

Amenthia Recordings, Switzerland

There’s beauty in the art of teasing. To build the groove of a night slowly and piece by piece is a commonplace ideal, but not many are willing to sacrifice the early moments of gratification for a potentially more rewarding experience.
Enter Garçon: the Basel based music aficionado has steadily built his reputation as an expert in mood modulation. Combining hypnotic grooves from all corners of electronic music, he’s crafted a style firmly rooted in techno, with a singular affinity for the rhythmically dexterous landscapes that stretch beyond. An original resident of (now defunct) Basel institution Hinterhof, Garçon - in cooperation with ally Agonis - continues developing the Amenthia imprint’s unique sonic identity at Elysia, taking full advantage of the utilitarian space.

West Mineral Ltd, United States

Brian Leeds, better known as Huerco S., is one of the most outstanding artists coming originally from a new wave of house producers who experiment with sounds that are vaporous, mottled and inward-leaning. But his second album, “For Those Of You Who Have Never (And Also Those Who Have)”, is ambient music through and through—though it’s influenced by a memory of club music.

In 2018, under the new stage name Pendant and with his own label West Mineral Ltd, he released the album “Make me know you sweet”, broadening the scope of his experiments in ambient sound. Texture and tone accumulate in layers of uneven residue, designating a headspace where ideas spill over, serving a more expressive and dreamy sound that consciously avoids the clichés of ambient music.

Further / Frequency Domain, United Kingdom

Jo Johnson’s debut solo album ‘Weaving' was released on Further Records in 2014 and made several end of year charts. This year (2019) she has contributed a track to Frequency Domain’s second compilation alongside Anthony Child and Plant43. Jo has previously played well-received shows at Freerotation festival, the Pickle Factory, Cafe Oto and at London’s South Bank. After a year of exploring improvised performance, Jo is now focusing on writing her second LP and Paral·lel will be her only performance of 2019. Jo is also a member of London-based electronic music crew Bleep43 and she was guitarist with punk band Huggy Bear in a previous life.

Geophone / Prologue, United States

Mike Parker's experimental and ritualistic approach sets him apart from the rest and in a time of over-saturation he is still one of those few artists whose sound you can spot in a heartbeat. For 20 plus years, he has perfected a unique interpretation of techno, instantly recognisable to contemporary audiences, which has earned him a legendary global status inspiring the likes of Donato Dozzy and many of his peers for decades now. Mike first stepped onto the scene in '97 with two fiery EP's that would set the tone for his future musical endeavours. The following year would see the birth of his label Geophone which became the outlet for his long-running series of 12” records and debut album which all played a pivotal role in establishing his sonic persona. Hard work doesn't go unnoticed and after earning his stripes in the US Parker's productions would cross the Atlantic and find themselves on some of Europe's most established labels. Over the past ten years, the likes of Tresor, Semantica and Spazio Disponibile have all played host to a number of his EP's while his second studio album found a home with the mighty Prologue back in 2013 to much acclaim. In 2019 he will relight the fire with his Geophone imprint and continue to leave his mark on techno by doing so.

As a DJ, Parker rose through the mid-1990s as a mainstay in the US's emerging warehouse party scene. His hypnotic, abstract and hard-hitting approach to performing earned him a highly respected reputation and further increased his devoted following. His wealth of experience in the booth has been acquired with regular performances across North America, Europe and Asia making Parker a well-seasoned underground veteran.

From his humble beginnings to the present-day Mike Parker has amassed an impressive list of credentials paving his own lane with a unique style that breathes innovation yet honours the true values of techno. And after 20 years in the game, Mike is still a dominant figure that continues to carve his own niche in the ever-expanding world of electronic music.

NAIMA, Spain

Salva Coromina is mouseDown, regular dj of the Barcelona scene since the late 90's, resident in The Loft and usual of Sonar for many years, has always been exploring the deepest side of electronic music, currently presents us with F-ON, from Madrid, parties under the name of NAIMA, The motto is only good electronic music in Vinyl or analog live. He is also deepening his facet of producer with his project ABSIS where we can see him doing lives.

Pole Group / Semantica / Mind Express / Silent Season, Spain

Refracted’s music feels as fundamentally human as it sounds otherworldly. It is techno more as an idea and conduit, than as an easily- labeled sound. It is dance music where layered rhythms act almost on a neural, sub epidermal level, while moving and evolving soundscapes acquire a tactile, understated physicality. Paramount examples of this can be found on releases on
Refracted’s own Mind Express label, and on celebrated labels like PoleGroup, Semantica and Canadian ambient/deep-techno imprint Silent Season. His path unravelling further, a mind set on favouring unflinching quality over quantity.
Spiritual, almost meditative, his sets also possess a strong kinetic energy, which is a clear indication of a DJ who knows the fundamental role of dancing as part of the ritual. He wants to take us somewhere, the “where” being of our own choosing, the trail never being the most travelled.

Eaux, UK

A veteran producer with an alter ego who lives for atmospheric industrial sound, but whose other discography straddles experimental house and austere piano compositions, Rrose stands in the shadows on stage, going by he and she interchangeably – an implied interrogation of gender norms and artistry (Rrose’s name and image allude to Duchamp) in techno circles, yet not without a sense of humour. Rrose’s first release in 2011 on Sandwell District, came cloaked in mystery as to its Californian creator, as did the following collaboration featuring Bob Ostertag’s Buchla 200E synth and several 12”s on his/her own U.S. based Eaux label starting in 2012. Rrose layers swirling, foggy effects and noise on top of high-and-wide-toned bleeping synth melodies that rise and fall with crisp, solid bass beats. In live sets, Rrose subverts performance itself while pursuing a perfectly designed and essentially queered techno. In the past year, Rrose has played Europe, Asia and the U.S., including commanding sets in the Berghain big room, Unsound in Poland, the Russian Outline Festival and MoMA PS1. Rrose is part of the LOTUS EATER project together with Lucy.

Semantica, Spain

The Madrid based DJ and Semantica label boss Svreca creates slow-evolving techno sets that oscillate between experimental, listening and club music. Alongside the driving, rhythmical elements always present in his track selections, paying little heed to current trends where no compromises are made generating concentrated sets that reach far beyond the dance floor.
Not bound by any rules or borders, Svreca releases a steady stream of music and always keeps the quality levels high, whether it is something he has made himself or something he has commissioned from another. Proving techno is about much more than just a thudding kick drum, Svreca is right at the sharp end of electronic music and as such is regularly found laying out his vision at seminal clubs from Tresor and Berghain in Berlin to Labyrinth in Japan via many different clubs and festivals all around Europe.

From his base in Madrid, Enrique Mena has worked with a long list of techno's best and most-respected artists, while peppering the label with his own standout productions. Semantica has showcased music from heavyweights like Surgeon, Oscar Mulero, Regis or Donato Dozzy and new generations: Acronym, Stanislav Tolkachev, Abdulla Rashim, Shifted, Varg to name a few. Ever since 2006 Svreca has been sharpening his vision thorough his own label, but also collaborating and recording for labels like Jealous God, Warm Up Recordings or Spazio Disponibile and continues to evolve through a wide range of textures and tempos.

Malka Tuti - ESP Institute, United Kingdom

Vactrol Park are Guido Zen and Kyle Martin, two producers based in a Hawaiian themed laboratory-come-studio in East London.
With live sets of narcotized techno described by some as ‘Heroin House’; the bpm clocks in around the mechanical pulse of 100 or 110. Their deep, bone-shaking, sonic journeys are performed using the same home-soldered equipment – and are mostly improvised, making each live rendering an almost unique occurrence.