Black Merlin
Distance

ALIEN D aka Daniel Creahan is a staple in the NYC underground. He co-runs SWEAT EQUITY and is one half of DEKALB WORKS. For this EP, he’s cooked up 4 heady dance floor churners that draw influence from many points along the UK hardcore continuum and US tech-tonic landscape. These cuts are applicable and psychedelically functional for all times of the night. Early support and play by CCL, AceMo, Miley Serious, 2Lanes, Wngdu, Devoye, Ru, Masha, Mazewski, and Furtive.“Dream Burner'' opens up with a tantalizing, syncopated kick, a rim-shot rhythm, and a brain-scratching zoom…it starts out tiptoeing around the 4/4 and then fully gives the four only to end back where the track started…presenting you with the Beat in between the downs and ups. “Spicy Action” is the perfect mix of chill and party…dubbed-out breaks and synth stabs laced over traveling bass drum patterns. No seatbelts in this cruiser, so hang tight!Flip to the B side. “Party Glitters” is a sunrise outdoor rave anthem. Blissed out techno breaks for the long-haulers. At 8 minutes and some change, this is one you’ll want to let work its own magic…it’s a goer! “Sunrise Deli” ends the EP with tangible optimism, the power of the kinship found at a solid rave. Lush synths ease in more brain-tingling techno percussion and bring the EP to a bright close.300 copies pressed worldwide. Don’t sleep on this one.Written, produced and mixed by Alien D.Mastered by Dietrich Schoenemann.Design by Nick Owen.Distributed by One Eye Witness.

After having him collaborating with MER’s very own Cabanelas on the B side of MER006, Fernando Zapico aka Z@P releases a full four-track EP. A record crafted with an unique imprint covering a wide range of sound within techno. A1 Submarino stands out for its ticking drumming plates and soft synths creating a sort of suspense atmosphere. A2 Sensations travels through a classic grooving sound with bright drum plates, stomping kick drum and timeless vocal sound.On the flip side, The Box features a more hypnotic and brassy sound by moving along an oscillating bassline and a jazzy percussion set. B2 features Frank 717, a peak time track with sharpened-plates percussion with an acidic and playful bassline.

We all remember with mixed feelings the past two years of domestic isolation: a temporary anomaly in which the world had to adjust to a new routine, a new rhythm. In these daunting yet precious circumstances, Italian producer Markeno has found his rhythm back, dusting off old records and re-approaching his past musical love affairs that he believed to be long forgotten. Here, in the fertile limbo that connects past and future, “Dock lown (exploring)” is born: a 3-tracker release with a chameleonic nature and an undeniable groove, in which Markeno is able to tactfully combine different genres such as indie, post-rock, African mu- sic, electro and funk.In the contemporary music scene, overly saturated with catchy melodies and seductive lyrics, it is refreshing to encounter a composition like “Fase 01”, which starts from a purely percussive structure. Just when the ear is settled and well inserted into the tangle of drums, here comes the melodic twist, no less than at the fourth minute, injecting an unexpected groove and chalking out the contours of a track with multiple personalities: a little esoteric, a little synth-wave, quirky and badass. The temperature rises with “Zona Ros- sa”, in which the electro hint sketched in “Fase 01” becomes more pronounced, opening the doors to a dense psychedelic scenario. A shamanic loop accompanies the electric bass and escorts us through the smoke of the bonfire, veils swayed by the wind and colored lights that sparkle in the night. The ritualistic humming of ‘’Zona Rossa”’ is still hearable, floating in the rarefied atmosphere, while the last track “Limbo” makes its entrance and confirms once again the poliedric but congruous essence of this release, whose percussive attitude lures you in and whose hypnotic and groovy body makes you stay. At least for one more dance.Sara Berton

The rank of ‘legend’ is often bestowed on those of a much lesser pedigree than Ron Wells. Known for his influence in the formative years of UK techno and drum and bass. Ron hand-carved his name in the underground hall of fame through his Sound Entity imprint, their series of sub-labels and his productions across countless monikers, none less so than his Jack Smooth namesake. Ron is joined by Anthony Wilson donning his Chicago Loop guise for 4 house and techno club-bumping collaborations that compile for release as the “Effusion 7075 EP”. Super-thick beats from seasoned veterans of the UK underground.