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HöGA NORD REKORDS

Timothy J. Fairplay

Pathfinder Theme / UFOs Over China

Timothy J Fairplay is back on the label with a 7” single containing two tracks cut from a rock of uranium. “Pathfinder Theme” and “UFO’s Over China” might differ in sound and tempo but are connected by a radiant feeling. The two tracks bathes in a greenish/yellow bright toxic aura.

This plutonium charged music carries with it some quality elements known from his earlier repertoire like for example a primitive yet crisp beat working as foundation to a few but very exquisite synth sounds.

Timothy J. Fairplay stands on the shoulders of past Italian masters and the works of John Carpenter but with an accentuated alien feel. Something otherworldly, maybe good, maybe harmful, is hidden in the vibe on both sides of this 7”. The balance between good and evil is very even - yin/yang from outer space!

TRACK LISTING

A. Pathfinder Theme
B. UFOs Over China

The word Datasal paints inner pictures for most people growing up in Sweden during the 1990’s. The datasal (a classroom for computers) was an ordinary classroom with few changes to fit the school’s 10 newly leased computers. The room represented the change of times in Sweden during this period: the fixed institutions and the awaiting digital flood wave.

The music of Datasal sounds captures the feeling of printing a downloaded picture of your favorite hockey player or music artist or the expectations building up as you wait for the modem to log in to interact with the thousands of users of the internet in 1995. The tracks this release manifests the excitement but also the bit of fright you felt connecting to the world in the mid 90’s - a time when the internet still was fun.

The sound is built around repetitive sequencer loops and programmed beats where electric bass, electric guitar and flute improvise around a theme, creating a sound that is best described as cosmic flute house. Datasal is an harmonic reminder of a time where digital progress seemed less harmful than today.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Talisman 
A2. Taxi 
A3. Max Ernst 
A4. Skjuts 
B1. Genom Det 
B2. Tyst Sol 
B3. Huggtand 
B4. Centralperspektiv 
B5. DC-8 

The electronic, experimental group Gravité from San Fransisco is releasing their third album ”III” on Höga Nord Rekords. Their sound varies from motorik and beat driven, airy compositions to heavier denser numbers with swelling pads, glittering arpeggios and powerful Moog basses.

”III”’s balanced production gives the elements in the music room to breath and the tracks on the album often stands on a solid 80’s foundation; ”Into The I” sounds like an hommage to classic arcade game soundtracks but without modern Retrowave pastiches. ”Elation” on the other hand is three and a half minutes of cool and refreshing oceanspray. Gravité moves effortlessly over genres and moods, merging some of the finest moments of analog electronic music.

Like migrating birds, Matthew Riley and Aaron Diko seem have an inner pathfinder, leading them right no matter what musical airspace they’re flying in.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Eclipse
A2. Chilled
A3. Red Horizon (feat. Al Lover)
A4. Elation
A5. Oxygen
B1. Reptile
B2. Into The I
B3. Glass
B4. Fin 

Various Artists

Music Is The Healing Force Of The Universe - Höga Nord Rekords Singles Collection Vol.4

The Mothership has come! It has arrived in the form of the strictly limited collection box “Music Is The Healing Force Of The Universe”, containing all singles released on the label between 2019 and 2021. The Höga Nord – galaxy resounds of all good between strict electro and loose jams, fluffy krautrock and moist world music to underwater techno and space funk. Although, what it is that defines the Höga Nord sound is not genres, instead it is, to cite Mathias Nilsson, founder of and boss for the label, music “strongly connected to fantasy, to the creative world.” Creativity over profit!

The collection is an overview on Gothenburg’s underground music and on an international scene that breathes similar air as the local Swedish acts that Höga Nord Rekords has chosen to highlight. The kinship between Jesse’s 80’s varnish sports car-electro and Purple Desert Rain God’s more traditional mountain sound can appear distant but the artists come together in their free spirited approach to their own productions – what all acts on this collection has in common is that they move toward something new, something beyond the genre they are in.

“Music Is The Healing Force Of The Universe ” mark the closer for Höga Nords first run. The 2010s are over and the 2020s lies open for further investigation of the cream of the Swedish and international of underground scenes!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Cosmic, EBM, DnB, drug-chug... it's all there in this 3rd crucial, catch-all collection from our Gothenburg buddies. One of our favourite labels of recent times - the DIY aesthetic and stylistic direction is some of the strongest around and their roster, varied, innovative and highly creative! In short, an imperative and beautiful release - not least because of the sexy silk scarf that you get alongside the records!

TRACK LISTING

Record 1 - A. Global Tracks - Hither Green
Record 1 - B. GlobalTracks - Shelley
Record 2 - A. Kanot - Bottenmannen
Record 2 - B. Kanot - La Danse Des Corneilles
Record 3 - A. Tecwaa - Cï
Record 3 - B. Tecwaa - Xentæh
Record 4 - A. Dame Bonnet - Portamento
Record 4 - B. Dame Bonett - Dark, Slow
Record 5 - A. Birds - Transcendental Phases
Record 5 - B. Birds - Tunnel Vision
Record 6 - A. Purple Desert Rain God - Invisible Matter
Record 6 - B. Purple Desert Rain God - Bridge To Nowhere
Record 7 - A. Jesse - Possibilities
Record 7 - B. Jesse - Shazzy
Record 8 - A. The Exorcist GBG - Stonerdisco
Record 8 - B. The Exorcist GBG - Superstandard
Record 9 - A. Timothy J. Fairplay - Pathfinder Theme
Record 9 - B. Timothy J. Fairplay - UFOs Over China
Record 10 - A. Pink Skull - Taki Chrome
Record 10 - B. Pink Skull - Strummer Maxx

Höga Nord Rekords kindly welcomes Teecwa back to the label, following up his last full length-album “Beyond the Altai” with “Elysian on Moon Lake”. He is still exploring the intersections between house, electro, techno and dub and once again he manages to harness the analogue electronics in his machines to produce modern psychedelia.

“Elysian On Moon Lake” is rawer, less airy and not as sparkling as his last album. This is a tighter, and slightly darker experience than Teecwa’s previous work, maybe caused by being in quarantine for extensive time during production, letting some of the dreaminess aside for the harsher reality in a pandemic world. Still, you get a mind-altering experience in a lot of tracks since the album starts off in a lighter tone than how it later develops. Switching from the A to the B-side works as a rite of passage going from dusk to night; the sun rays through the blinders are replaced by neon light dancing on the walls and ceiling.

Regarding the dramaturgy of “Elysian On Moon Lake”, this album has movielike qualities; a well-directed piece from the opening impact and setup through the confrontational part where intensity builds up to the climax in “Hythmdoser” to the cooling down effect of the peaceful closer “Celestial Trails”. The trip eventually ends up in a safe and happy place after the cathartic finale.

This is not a just collection of songs, this is an album made to experience in full length without interruptions. 


TRACK LISTING

A1. Never, There. Was
A2. Tropic Notations
A3. No Lies To Her Fire
A4. Hunting Lights
B1. Solar City
B2. Welcome Dystopia!
B3. To Reach Apogee
B4. Hythmdoser
B5. Celestial Trails

Rudolf Abramov

Paracetamol / Clonex

Rudolf Abramov is taking a step in a different direction from his last release on Höga Nord Rekords. This 7” contains the works of deep mining in an old hard drive during the introversion of the pandemic quarantine. These two gems have been given a bit of tasteful polishing before reaching the point of release and the result is a punk meets stoner rock experience propelled by hard sequencers and drum machines.

This record is as English / Irish as you find em: straight forward instrumentation and lyrical performance presented with a dirty and rough production. The beats are stripped with an edgy punch and the synthesizers are overdriven, giving them guitar like qualities.

The “Paracetamol / Clonex” 7” is a release of covid demons, and the sound of spitting out the bitter taste of isolation, or to use his own words: ‘On this 7" you will find absurd and desperate lyrics accompanied by heavy English and Irish accents, driven robotic drum machines, dirty synths, crunching bass, and as unpolished as your dad's old Angle grinder.’


STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: One of the shining lights of the underground, Höga Nord Rekords, continues to usher in a crucial roster of artists eschewing music trends and Instagram stardom for a dark, nocturnal, gothy inspired sound all of their own. Equally at home in the rock club or warehouse; this is uncompromising music strictly for those who like it strange!

TRACK LISTING

A. Paracetamol Feat. Matthew Johnson
B. Clonex Feat. Brendan Cleary

Birds’ second Höga Nord offering is a 4 track EP created entirely during the first UK Coronavirus lockdown in spring / summer 2020. The themes throughout the record are inspired by various thoughts, feelings and coping mechanisms adapted by herself and her peers; from live streams to micro-dosing, to exercising patience and trying to feel comfort in the fact that there will be other opportunities and we’ve just got to wait this thing out whilst trying to stick together for emotional support. Sonically it moves around a lot from gurgling 303 bass lines, to breakbeats, to dubby guitar breakdowns, to heavy club inspired 909 kick drums, whilst always maintaining a droney undertone.

It's another wonderfully sincere and individual crafted document from this incredibly singular label - one of our 'best label's of 2021' infact! 


STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Warehouse mutants and nightclub goths have yet another instalment of freakishness from our good friends at Höga Nord Rekords. Black eye-liner not included.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Solitary Dancers
A2. Night Time Life
B1. Dont Drink The Acid Water
B2. Young Blood


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