From deep within the astral planes of all that is cosmic in the Northwest and through a fog of kaleidoscopic haze emerges the latest mind-expanding music makers to arrive on Sprechen in the form of the Todmorden based Lines Of Silence.
Living amongst a hotbed of UFO activity and home to the UK's highest ever beach they combine experimental analogue and digital electronics, motorik beats, polyrhythmic improvisation and drone rock guitar explosions to create an immersive, expansive and contemporary take on psychedelia.

Their long player on Sprechen: 'Lines In Opposition !' takes the listener on a visionary aural journey across 8 tracks of electronic, shamanic soundscapes where the sounds of Krautrock exist in harmony alongside drone-esque ambient excursions through an array of synths, guitars & sequenced patterns that draw heavily on the stylings of NEU!, Aphex Twin, Kraftwerk and the musical pickings of the more esoteric sets and radio shows by Andrew Weatherall.

A truly universal listening experience to take you into a higher state of electronic music consciousness...

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Sprechen continue to ply their luxurious sonic wares with a fine example of kraut-indebted, northwest psychedelia courtesy of Lines Of Silence. Not afraid to turn up the distortion and rattle the drumskins, it's a pleasantly rowdy and boisterous take on the genre that can often languish in monotonous, introspective revelry.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Wolf
A2. Lines In Opposition
A3. Kinetik
A4. Come With Us

B1. A Life Examined
B2. Aesthetik
B3. Transcendental Radiation
B4. A Life Examined

Since arriving at the back end of 2023, Chris Massey's Thief Of Time quickly evolved from a solo project into a live 3 piece alongside fellow electronic explorers; Lady Lady and Mike Grubert. The trio quickly played sold out solo shows at The Golden Lion, The Yard & YES with festival appearances and supporting the likes of Lindstrom and Hifi Sean & David McAlmont.

'We Are Cosmic' follows on from the semi-autobiographical predecessor 'Where Do I Belong?' and is a deeper voyage through neon nights with a retro-future soundtrack of stacked synths, lush, layered guitars and ethereal vocals by Massey and Lady Lady, who takes her place as an honorary Thief member on this release.

Viewpoints of love, loss, deception, mental wellbeing and the ever-evolving gentrification of Manchester City Centre along with a response to many gate keepers within are all challenged on the E.P.

Where dark is light, light is dark and emotions are electronic, 'We Are Cosmic' is a natural evolution of The Thief Of Time with elements of contemporaries like New Order, Pet Shop Boys, The Fuck Buttons, Chromatics and The Cocteau Twins being present alongside current inspirations such as Nabihah Iqbal and Night Tapes.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Manchester's no.1 synth-wave stars The Thief Of Time return with a fully loaded roster. With Lady Lady and Mike Grubert now fully enlisted, Chris Massey's project has found a natural purple patch following sold out performances at Factory International. This new EP is a great snapshot of the band at the zenith of their powers.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Metropolis Rising (building Better Worlds ?)
A2. Cosmic
B1. Gatekeepers
B2. Shadows Cast
B3. Cosmic (piano Version)

10 years ago in 2015, The Golden Lion in Todmorden opened its doors under the guidance of Gig & Waka, Cloudwater brewed their first ever beers, the dance floors of Manchester got introduced to the world of Supernature Disco and from his spare room at home in Bolton Chris Massey started Sprechen.

What followed over the next decade has been a wild ride of amazing people, memorable (though fuzzy!) parties, creativity, art, expression, performance and at the centre of it all of course, the music.
Sprechen has never been one style or sound. A reflection of varied musical tastes without any limitations of style or genres, just a passion to share good music.
Over the last decade, Sprechen has been lucky enough to both work with and meet many like-minded cosmic creatives that share this mindset and that have all played a major role in the story.

Ein Null is a collection of original tracks from some of Sprechen's nearest & dearest who, for the last 10 years, have helped shaped the label via releases, remixes or performing at events.
It's wonky & weird, banging & beautiful, cosmic & consciousness-expanding and it continues to connect the invisible dots of club music and more abstract listening experiences.

From basements & beyond to sunsets & psychedelic socials...we are pleased to present this electronically charged selection of soundscapes courtesy of like-minded musical humans including; The Utopia Strong, A Certain Ratio, Lena C., Gina Breeze, Low Pulse, Psychederek, Lindstrøm, Supernature Disco, PBR Streetgang and of course Chris Massey.

Limited to a run of 300 vinyl with double-sided screen-printed sleeve.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Chris Massey's Sprechen celebrates 10 years in the field with a truly all-star cast and nothing short of exceptional content.

TRACK LISTING

A1. The Utopia Strong - Old Mathers
A2. A Certain Ratio - Faster But Slower
A3. Lena C - Pelago
A4. Low Pulse - Pillow Talk
A5. Psychederek - Hope & Dreams
B1. Massey & Supernature - Walk...now Walk
B2. Gina Breeze - Acid Strings
B3. The Thief Of Time & Lindstrom - Escape Into Neon Feat. Lady Lady
B4. Pbr Streetgang - Chasin' Perry

The first album release on Sprechen is a trip across the astral planes of electronica and through the neon soaked streets of South Manchester, where genres cross & styles meet on the creative peripherals away from the dance floor.

A life lived through clubs, comic books, cult movies, cosmic adventures & electronic musical endeavours have all played a role in the creation of 'Where Do I Belong?', the debut long player by The Thief Of Time, a new studio project from Sprechen founder Chris Massey.

What started as just very loose ideas and half started projects during lockdown resulted in a semi autobiographical collection of songs that draw on a lifetime love of electronic artists & synth heavy movie scores. Nods are given, toes are dipped & caps are doffed in various sonic directions whilst still treading a truly unique path of its own making.

As Chris says: 'it started really with me being in a headspace I've never really had in the studio. There was no pre-conceived ideas or agenda of what I wanted to achieve other than just going with what felt right and pursuing sounds & style I favour away from a smokey basement of ravers. Being a child of the 80's gave me a wealth of ever-evolving influences of sounds, styles, imagery, fashion, literature & art which all somehow seemed to direct this project. It's the first time I've ever created something that contains personal reflections of my own life. Good & bad alongside the high & low points have all driven this creative process which reflects my own headspace will hopefully speak to everyone on some sort of level'.

The album also features a host of Manchester artists including A Certain Ratio, Bay Bryan, Psychederek, NIIX & Love Letters From Space as well as Allison Rae from Causeway (Italians Do It Better) who were all instrumental in realising Chris' vision and bringing this exciting project into existence.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: A truly impressive body of work from Sprechen label head and local legend Chris Massey. A shimmering, psychedelic indie-dance LP with tons of crossover potential and some really impressive collaborations. Nods to Primal Scream / Andrew Weatherall, John Carpenter and Danielle Baldeli along the way. He's been keeping this in the locker but it's been worth the wait!

TRACK LISTING

A1. Celestial Heartbeats
A2. Imposter Syndrome Feat. Bay Bryan
A3. Fantasy Carnival
A4. Pavement Soul Feat. Niix
B1. The Love Letter From Space
B2. Find Each Other (song For Lisa) Feat. Allison Rae
B3. Rendezvous On A Lost World Feat. Psychederek

After supplying a couple of the hottest selling singles in recent years on their first two vinyl releases, Sprechen are back with another utterly spectacular offering on this magic number. Enlisting the talents of Manchester 6 piece See Thru Hands, and making maximum use of the fattest Rolodex around to secure remixes from Skream and Jorja Chalmers, label boss Massey (who offers his own interpretation on the B2) makes a series challenge for 12" of the year here!

'Connectivity' is a self-produced alt-pop banger from See Thru Hands which delivers 'disco-not-disco-synth-funk-dancefloor heater' vibes from start to stop. The feisty rhythm section and snappy vocals call to mind dance-punk sensations Friendly Fires, while funked up synthesisers trill and quiver around the spiky guitars, conjuring a loved up studio jam between ACR, Prince and Rufus.

There are remixes for every occasion on this one with Skream cranking up the Italo disco-o-meter to 14 on his bass driven peak time banger for large room raving while Jorja Chalmers takes the party back to a smokey shebeen on her mix that sounds like Tricky sharing a blunt with Aphex Twin whilst King Tubby twiddles the dials!

Main man Massey finishes off the package with a mucky tops-off style gutter pumper which belongs in those basements you'll often find him and many like-minded souls dwelling within.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Connectivity
A2. Connectivity (Skream Remix)
B1. Connectivity (Jorja Chalmers Electricity Remix)
B2. Connectivity (Massey Remix)