Ellen Allien Apparat
Orchestra Of Bubbles

Hania RANIEsjaGondwanaSince launching a few years back, Matthew Halsall's Gondwana Records has released some terrific albums from a string of talented but often little-known artists. This brilliant set is another. It comes from Hania Rani, a pianist, composer and producer better known for her collaborative work with the likes of Christian Loffler, Dobrawa Czocher and Hior Chronik. "Esja" is Rani's solo debut and sees her sashay between atmospheric, often poignant pieces that put her impeccable piano playing at the heart of the action. It's exceedingly elegant and picturesque, with Rani's subtle use of field recordings and crackling background noise only enhancing the listening experience.

The duo behind the double album “Duets”, consisting of musicians Bendik Baksaas & Kristoffer Eikrem, is a minimalistic and cinematic ambient experience with emotion, creatively conducted by simple melodies and sounds. Duets’ emotional nerve has some emphasis on the traditional ambient form of music, but at the same time has more of an imaginary and comprehensive take on structure, form and melodies with organic elements spontaneously scattered throughout the music. These organic elements can be heard through the trumpet’s lyrical sounds, field recordings from various parts of the world (recorded by Baksaas) and percussion loops. Baksaas & Eikrem are interested in maintaining the same playfulness and communication often found in jazz bands.Baksaas & Eikrem had already worked together several years prior in 2015, when Baksaas worked with the jazz band Mopti, which Eikrem was already a member of. Their musical collaboration however developed after one concert, where the band Mopti decided that the two of them should perform a duo piece. Both were positively surprised by the result (takes from the concert can be heard on the track “This is nothing personal”) and decided to continue their collaboration together aside from Mopti.Apart from some musical and field recordings, the the album was recorded in Baksaas’ studio, improvised over various ideas. Bendik Baksaas has mixed the album and it is mastered by Christian Obermayer at Strype Audio.

A1 128 / A2 130 / B1 127 / B2 130

Klein Zage veers away from dance music and into a world of innovative alt pop with an emotional portrayal of fondness, detachment and monotony. Sage Redman (aka Klein Zage) has moved around from Seattle, to South East London, and now finds herself in upstate New York. She has always kept close a desire to reinvent herself as an artist against this backdrop of ever-changing scenery. Klein Zage established herself with previous releases on her own label, Orphan, which she runs with long term collaborator Joey G ii (real name Joe Gillick). Her previous work fuses electronic sounds with spoken social commentaries about themes of the city, femininity, and the hospitality industry. Sage’s new album, ‘Feed The Dog’ is her debut release on Rhythm Section INTL. The feel of these songs have a disassociated longing to them. A sort of serene, catatonic beauty that leaves an inwardly emotional imprint. After the music finds time to sit with the listener, Klein’s poetic vision becomes even more sublime.Written in a combination of Seattle, a remote Washington fjord called Hood Canal, and London, her music covers a lot of ground. The album is full of songs that merge lines of ethereal dream pop over to left field synth-heavy incantations bursting with electronic energy and haunting ambience. ‘Feed The Dog’ may sound like a transformation of the former Klein Zage sound. But this is the music she’s always been making. Her career-long ambitions have come to fruition with these songs, and now seems like a perfect time for people to hear them. In her own words, Sage says the album “is about the mundane, the routines that tether you to reality, caring for a living breathing being that needs you. Defending the ones you love”. These themes, apart from being a literal ode to her dog Steves, provide a metaphor for a defining moment in Klein’s career as a musician and lyricist. ‘Feed the Dog’ is another evolution of Klein Zage’s sound as she reinterprets her own creativity once again. This constantly shifting motion is something that has always been with her through each musical endeavor. And will carry on to the next, wherever her artistic direction takes us.

Maxx Mann were the gay New Wave duo of Frank Oldham Jr (vocals, lyrics) and Paul Hamman (music) from New York City formed in 1981. Frank studied voice and acting at the Herbert Bergdorf School idolizing Eartha Kitt, Nancy Wilson, Johnny Mathis and Shirley Bassey. Paul was playing piano for a cabaret singer at a bar in Greenwich Village where Frank met him and their friendship began. Paul and Frank worked together 3 to 4 times a week recording their debut self-titled album released in 1982, limited to 500 copies.Songs provide interesting insights into the homosexual experience before the AIDS crisis: cruising backroom bars, BDSM and one-night stands. The music is "Neo-realistic rock" heavily influenced by punk, titillating, synthesized body and soul with Frank’s dramatized vocal stylings. The original press release sent to radio stations stated, "Because this is a completely innovative sound, we hope you will give it several listenings. It is adventurous, daring, and certain to cause reactions from your listeners.” For this first time vinyl/CD reissue we’ve added two bonus instrumental tracks, so the album now contains all four original vocal cuts and their corresponding instrumental versions. Paul sadly passed away in 1986 aged 33 from AIDS-related illness and we dedicate this reissue to him. All songs have been remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios. Each copy is housed in an exact replica of the 1982 jacket and includes a fold-post poster with photos, lyrics and notes by Frank Oldham Jr.