Various
Hypnotic Mindscapes Vol. 1

After a couple of solo EPs to start the label, FAC-3 is comprised of four different artists, each with their own unique sound. Although a mix of up-and-coming and established producers, old and new music, there’s a common thread running through the EP.First up, Justin Zerbst’s Waverider is an atmospheric nod to Detroit. Unearthed from a 90’s DAT, it’s built around some heavily modulated chords and 808 percussion which carry the track through to its string-laden climax.Italian mainstay Luca Piermattei’s Venice is distinct end-of-night fare. Haunting pads sit atop a deftly-programmed bass which provides most of the movement over a tight drum groove.While the A side has a undoubted warmth to it, the B dials things back and ups the intensity with two techier cuts. UK producer Skelter’s first release is a spacious acid groove, with the bassline taking centre stage amidst a nervy backdrop of percussive textures and reverb hits.Finally, Brisbane’s Loif rounds things off with the simmering Digiburra; a dense, electro-tinged breakbeat aimed squarely at the dancefloor.

Next M.U.S.A release by the enigmatic Spoiled Drama with remixes by L.F.T and Kris Baha.

After recent resurrection from the early 90s on labels Mirror Zone, Animals on Psychedelics and Klasse Wrecks, Memphis returns with the Essences EP brought to you from timezones past and present.Staring at the eye peering from the centre of Side A you’ll find yourself aboard an Obsidian Submarine roaming through an alien world’s vast oceans battered by clanking synths, drenched by foaming acid and awash in tense pads.Coming ashore the buzzing tribal rhythms and floating ambience of Essences provide an immersive hyper-real landscape to consider the fundamentals of where we’ve been and what we’ve seen.Moving over to Side B, where the eye seems to have melted into a distant nebula, On Stranger Tides conjures a liana-covered lost temple built from ancient rock kickdrums and bone-dry hihats permeated with stuttering chants and a plaintive call into the night.Finally we head back to 1994 to rediscover an old prog house gem dug up from the Beneath a Different Sun EP, omitted due to time constraints from the Mirror Zone 2018 re-release, and now given a chance to breathe again.Thanks to Jeremy Hegge for his beautiful field recordings and Snoozy of Rat Face Records for all his sonic guidance.