Adiel slowly emerged from the Rome underground onto international dancefloors, from local residencies to renowned festival stages. Following a steady slew of quality releases for her own label, the Italian producer now signs with Figure to show just how far she’s gotten.
Right out the gate, Adiel proves her versatility. Method is an intricate, moody stepper, harking back to early Burial with its grimey atmosphere and skeletal breakbeats, complete with ghostly vocals and a cascading synth line, which ties it all together. Showing Adiel’s love for analog drum machines, Mad builds on a dry but lively pattern, with swelling acid arps slowly creeping in until it all breaks down in a sea of squelches, only to emerge again with full force.
The B-side goes deep and fast, panning percussion setting the bleak scene for a vividly arp-driven ride beneath a starry sky. Slowing things down to a half-time measure, the final composition leaves lots of room for the finely measured details such as bubbling acid, raw drums, and trippy voices to merge in one last soothing swirl of sound. With such a strong repertoire at her fingertips, Figure X27 shows Adiel as a promising producer who has found her unique voice and is sure to make her way in the years to come.
When the first Placid Angels album dropped in 1997, Jon Beltran was already an established force within dance music’s then-emerging scene. He had a knack for both the melodic side as well as intricately designed rhythmic programming. A signature style that went for his early records in the 1990s as much as it does for this new installment of the Placid Angles series.
The blissful synths, Aphex Twin-era IDM and loose percussive patterns take you right back to where it all began when genres didn’t mean anything and Beltran was just starting out to experiment with any sound that would elevate your consciousness.
The Michigan-born artist since has spanned a career of nearly four decades, remaining relevant all the while, by playing the music he found himself most drawn to express. By working with artists like Detroit veteran Carl Craig, labels such as R&S or more recently his LPs for Delsin or his joint work with Four Tet. Whether it be his more Techno-leaning or New Wave-inspired works, his takes on Ambient, or the more Latin-influenced productions - he has always stayed active and re-invented himself while painting his records with a clearly own palette that is full of beautiful melodies and a timeless sound-design.
The album Touch The Earth itself comes as diverse as the artist’s own legacy, ranging from skittish, colorful UKG to proper pulsing sub-basslines as it progresses deeper into intelligent drum programming and further into the melodic ventures of what’s at the core of Beltran’s work. Drawing to close, ambient tones overweigh, as Beltran oozes the last drops of emotion from this LP, leaving the angels to look down placidly.
Breaking out on Figure with an exciting debut double EP in 2020, Arthur Robert now returns with yet another equally impressive pair of records. Here the artist once more shows his unique mix of psychedelic elements with a deep hypnotic edge and a straight-up dancefloor approach.
This two-part release comes as a varied collection of strangely beautiful melodies and lively modular sounds that infuse each track with far more life than is visible on the surface.
Transition Part 1 starts out strong with stomping kicks and crushing percussion, it’s the glitchy effects that etch in a memorable listening experience. Similar goes for the booming, more spacious A2 and the colorful Drum and Bass-reminiscent B1. Finally, Robert closes part one with a stripped-back stepper, honing in on that sweet spot between radical melodic repetition and finely textured effects.
Transition Part 2 continues Arthur Robert’s reduced style, opening with a sleek tunnel-vision thumper, but then deviates for a playful breakbeat space exploration in collaboration with like-minded modular nerd Naty Seres. Eventually closing out the B-side of his strong 8-track package, Robert first boils the energy down to essential deep minimalist trip first, then ramps up the levels one last time for an exquisite example in rumbling dub-techno.
Both parts of the Transition EPs firmly establish Arthur Robert further as an expert craftsman, merging the sonic textures of psychedelic jams with the forceful rhythms and intricate melodies of purist techno.
What better way to start the new year than with New Dawn, the Figure premiere of Japanese techno exporter and groove connaisseur Wata Igarashi.
His psychedelic grooves are currently some of the most sought after material out there, shimmering with life, richly laden with crystalline arps and swirling synth lines.
On his first outing for Figure hi finely detailed compositions merge into a sound that is equally dense as it becomes wildly mesmerizing. Loops stacked on top of each other for maximum effect, building a sense of depth and connection, and developing their captivatingness over each track’s full runtime.
Igarashi uses strict linear progression and a set of vibrant ideas in order to create four hypnotic pieces that range from rumbling low-end bass to propulsive and driving acid to rattling percussion and finally round out the package with some trippy off-kilter rhythms.
Dutch mainstay Jeroen Search is a true genius of building linear grooves, either subtly breathing or powerfully bouncing. His Figure release following the 2018 LP Monism reflects this aptly once more. Minimalistic, hypnotic loops simply introduce the varied 5-track EP, followed up some by some heavyweight acid-house punchlines.
The flip makes its name, changing course again in order to head deeper for a more heads-down exploration of the bleep-space nebula. Sitting firmly nestled in the center of the record, Magnet Tapes is that endless loop suspended in time and space, slowly working its way into one’s consciousness with every repetition. Search cleverly captures this moment to introduce some sounds beyond the structure of track and loop, challenging our conception of music yet playfully igniting the mind’s imaginations.
Aiming for the finish line, the EP comes to a halt only after another taster of Jeroen Search’s deadpan efficient loop science, effortlessly stacking layers of rhythms for an ultimate straight-up techno workout.
In the light of the release of OPEN SPACE Volume 1, Len Faki came up with a special mix and answered some questions for Ransom Note. Fuzzy soundscapes, warm Electronica, and twinkling Ambient.
Open Space Volume 1 (FIGURELP06)
In a year of global shift and continuous changes, Figure takes a leap of faith and extends its catalog by introducing a completely new compilation series to the label. The Open Space series will feature forward-thinking Electronica and Ambient from a well-curated list of seasoned producers. Compositions that invite to let the mind wander, weaving stories, and conjuring up emotions.
While these softer genres have already played a respected role in former Figure releases, for the first time in the label’s history they are now being given the center stage. Volume 1 sets the mark by providing producers whom we’ve come to love for their dancefloor-centric output with an open space to showcase another side of their skillset. Open Space remains open to various strains of Electronica and Ambient, ranging from the introspective synth-monologues (Sebastian Muellaert / Kirilik), drony dub-experimentalism (Moritz Von Oswald), alive and breathing takes on the genre (JakoJako), to singular compositions which slowly build their own lasting narrative and thus develop a genuine, emotive quality (John Beltran / Tin Man ). Len Faki himself proves the artistic breadth of Open Space, sharing a powerful and conscious message through a rare and delicate moment of him exploring the form of spoken words. Other contributions include Jesper Dahlbäck as The Persuader, Luke Slater as 7th Plain, or Ralf Hildenbeutel - a former production partner of Sven Väth and now a successful composer of film soundtracks. Unfairly reduced to background music, it is not the kind of Ambient featured on the Open Space series. It is an engaging body of music, bonded by its contemplative, enveloping nature. Open Space bands together an array of fascinatingly skilled producers, finally given the opportunity to present some of their most creative and emotional material yet to date.
A1 kirilik - The Beginning Of Everything
A2 John Beltran - The Morning Moves The Sun
B1 Sebastian Mullaert - In The Mist We Appeared
B2 JakoJako - Deine Augen
C1 The 7th Plain - For Cocteaux and Budd
C2 Len Faki - Find Your Way
D1 The Persuader - Remembering Water Pearls
D2 Ralf Hildenbeutel - April
E1 Moritz von Oswald - Silence
E2 Kangding Ray - Treize
F1 Tin Man - Lovely Acid
F2 Antigone - Indiana Police
Benjamin Damage reports back for a fresh slice of his singular strain of modern-day Techno.
Alpha Centauri institutes the record atmospherically, setting up the scenery of ethereal winds, prowling basses, and muscular drums. Picking up the pace, Circle Machine is a busy tune, rigidly rattling towards an array of tripped-out synths, yet captivating with their off-key harmonics.
Heavier but equally distinctive, Damage opens the B-side with his skillful blend of assaulting, rough-edged machine sounds, and soothing, celestial ambiance. He then twists around again, cleverly seeing us out with a surprisingly lively arrangement of sneaky synth squelches, making for a well-rounded as accomplished EP-package.
Format: 12" & digital
Artwork: Sebastian Haeger (https://bit.ly/2ywnXd3)
Order: https://bit.ly/FIG_X21
Straight from the confines of her chosen Berlin home, Starlight impresses with an update of her singular, machine-driven techno. Ranging from banging to introspective, this record shows the artist at her most versatile yet, pairing her signature bone-dry analog output with emotive atmospherics and playful vibrancy.
Starting out deep, A1 contrasts uptempo acid licks with grand layers of strings, followed by the slowly building, equally vibey A2. Panoramic washes create an ambiance of space, the elastic kick steadily holding down the floor until a late swash of percussion seals the deal.
The flip carries one of Starlight’s most abrasive moments, featuring rave-style sirens right out the gate, treated to some crazy live filtering with epic acidic effects. Mysterious grooves on the last track, its offbeat synth swaying an electric tension, restrained yet powerful.
Indigo is an Icelandic artist’s Exos fourth studio album, arriving almost two full decades after his last LP. In the meantime, the seasoned producer has never stopped to refine his production style, mastering an aesthetic that feels at once minimalist and yet richly detailed.
Spanning the organic and the electronic, drawing from early dub techno blueprints and comprising the beauty of his austere homeland. From this Exos expands an absorbing atmosphere, sustaining the primal power of nature within compositions that hold an exalted presence yet never go over-board, instead, they gently push along even in their most intense moments thus vastly transcending the pure club context.
The albums thirteen tracks are a sonic bliss to indulge in, each element is crafted so meticulously and balanced with care against its counterparts. Whether the luminous, spaciously glowing opening tracks
“Reincarnation” or “í Skjoli Naetur ”the then-ensuing hypnotic techno-trips of "Sælureitur" and "Quad arcanum Leticia" and finally the deeply satisfying, dubbed-out backbone of the album’s main body –
a series of Exos’ signature-style dub-techno cuts that he has been perfecting now for over 20 years.
Seeing it all mesh together in this concentrated form, it’s the picture of an exceptionally experienced producer pushing himself beyond any limits to achieve his greatest feat yet.
When the fog clears and the last tracks slowly roll out, the record leaves as smoothly as it had entered, allowing for reflection and contemplation of one of techno’s most exhaustive LP-efforts yet to date.
Charlotte de Witte - Unthoughtful (Kangding Ray Remix)
CHARLOTTE DE WITTE - VISION EP
Charlotte de Witte - Vision EP
A1 Vision
A2 Out Of Balance
B1 Unthoughtful (Kangding Ray Remix)
B2 Unthoughtful
An abundant EP of Charlotte de Witte, presenting four carefully crafted tunes, both for peak time and beyond.
Title track Vision is on the prowl, baring its gnarly teeth only for flashes at a time. Even more menacing seems Out of Balance‘ a haunting tempest forming and ready to break loose at any moment. Kangding Ray surprises on the flip, his tribal stomping remix drawing a whirling vortex, breaking into realms of celestial and colorful trance. Unthoughtful reveals de Witte‘s emotive side, the cinematic stepper perfectly closing out her first release for Figure.
We are the ones who define us. Such is the message of The Eskapist. A special character in the Figure universe, his productions have come to forge their own cosmos entirely, telling a mysterious tale of love, intrigues and techno.
Technology sits at this EPs heart, its machine-made tracks creating ambience, vitality and suspense across its varied runtime. It‘s tooly at times, yet all tunes sit and breathe their own distinct air, be it the shoving chords of upbeat (A1), an inquiry into the nature of reality on (A2), tunneling abysmal buzz that is (B1), or the stark computer-stomp of (B2). Ending on a philosophical note, The Eskapist underlines their mission statement as transporting meaning beyond their musicality and reminds us of our freedom and responsibility to define ourselves.
Figure‘s newest addition to its catalog is @Nocow‘s Ualldie EP, a vivid adventure following his trilogy Vozduh/Voda/Zemlya on the main label.
Nocow’s synths stand out once again, churning out melancholic grooves over five pieces, which showcase his ability to mesh the psychedelic and the heavy, resulting in tracks both bittersweet and punishing.
It‘s a distinct Russianness, a yearning frozen within, which Nocow‘s cloud techno transports effectively using stereo panning, finely layered percussion, and wide strings to paint his imaginative landscape.
UBX127 signs back in with Figure for an EP that is maybe his most intricate as to date.
Four groovy alien transmissions, sent in directly from his headquarters somewhere in the outer rims of Saturn. Seemingly effortless these creatures build their momentum, treating the theme of miniscule power to the maximum effect. The tracks have an elegant air to them, each moving gently at its own pace. Whether through ticks and bleeps, finely plucked 303s or swaying dub chords; all the sounds on display know how to work their magic for some stellar listening experience.
The Gypsophila Remixes are in stores. Antigone, Efdemin, Margaret Dygas and Echoplex have reworked four tracks from Roman Poncet's debut album 'Gypsophila', available as 12" with full cover print designed by Sebastian Hæger, and of course digitally.
ADE 2019 | FIGURE STAGE AT DOCKYARD FESTIVAL
We're hosting a FIGURE stage at Dockyard Festival at ADE 2019.
Lineup:
Jeroen Search
kirilik live (a.k.a. KiNK)
Len Faki
Matrixxman b2b Ellen Allien
Nastia
Roman Poncet
Surgeon & Lady Starlight LIVE
+ very special Guest
KIRILIK | SOULS
FIGURE X09 | kirilik - Souls EP
kirilik is back with another load of modular emissions, this time pressed into an EP bursting with ideas, sounding as fresh and playful as ever.
Whether it‘s the full-on assault of relentless opener Quad, seemingly designed soley to make you go bonkers, or a more nuanced arrangement like Reversible that balances high-paced percussion with booming bass of the subbiest kind in order to create an usual yet irresistible dubbed-out groove.
The flip generously gives a chance to catch some breath, floating gracefully shrouded in ethereal choirs atop the cosmic nebulae. Kirilik then goes out with a bang, the vivid colours of Distant Call zooming by in an instant. It‘s an elated headrush of the most gratifying kind, rounding out an EP showing once again Strahil Velchev‘s unique potential as a producer.
This one is a very special treat, rallying up some top-notch producers from our extended circle. In a massive remix package, these artists have compiled their efforts to deliver singular takes on Len Faki‘s 'Robot Evolution' off the label‘s recent anniversary compilation FIGURE 100.
Benjamin Damage manages to mine the original track for its raw essence, harnessing a rough and lively, yet streamlined high energy track.
The clever rework of Charlotte de Witte shows off her deeper side, providing a submerged feel while not losing focus of the floor and sprinkling in the acid stab for good measure.
Emika‘s creative interpretation is pairing her bread and butter – pulsing sub-bass and battering grime-style synth-arps – with a completely new vocal dub. Her fresh fusion of genre-specific tropes serves as a delightful surprise and is one to make the heads turn.
Jensen Interceptor turns in exactly the kind of fast-moving, tightly grooving, no-nonsense electro that we‘ve come to expect from the prolific producer. Straight up and honest, a true Drexciyan descendant.
Galloping and hopping, it‘s the Midnight Operator-remix that paces at breakneck speed yet luckily offers some great breakdown moments to catch your breath before they hammer it home on this stuttering full-throttle ride. Creativity abound, this package proves a worthy successor to the original track, and has helped the robot evolve all of its model‘s specific features!
Jamming things up once more, we‘re pairing Chambray with long-time Figure-affiliate Truncate for a pair of exciting floor-killers, then go out with some fresh take on techno by Biri.
No Stress is exactly the reminder needed when letting things fling in all directions with this unpredictable, spiralling power work-out. Trax 4 The Club pays hommagge to the its heritage, but shoots way beyond the treaden template. Tongue-in-cheek and swinging widely, this one hits far more carefully than expected, yet all the more satisfying when it does!
On the flip it‘s Biri deploying his rigid style of layering sounds which he makes seem fluid and lively, never changing things up too soon or too late. By such his drive along the meticulously shaped arps on Snox101 stays a constant thriller, while Through The Fields becomes an ambient-leaning excursion through time and space, opening up the body and mind.
The Eskapist is ready to take you on his next adventure, this time posing the ever-standing question of what‘s reality and what‘s illusion – and most importantly: who has the power to define it in the end?
Volume 3.1 (Reality Is Fake) and Volume 3.2 (Long Live Reality) are in stores now!
Check the link below to listen to the Eskapists‘ new journeys further down to new depths.
Following our 15y anniversary compilation FIGURE 100 from last autumn, we‘ll release Len Faki's 'Robot Evolution' alongside remixes from Benjamin Damage, Charlotte de Witte, Emika, Jensen Interceptor and Midnight Operator (aka Mathew Jonson & Hrdvision) soon. Check out Charlotte De Witte‘s version in full now over at Resident Advisor. More to follow next week.
FIGURE X05 | INLAND - TIME LEAK
After having appeared twice on the Figure SPC series, Inland (aka Ed Davenport) now arrives on Figure, providing a trio of well-honed, first-grade club-material. Out the gate comes 'Stainless’ - an electrifying piece of machine-power which, already bursting with energy, still manages to turn it up a few notches.
Next up, the seasoned producer turns in a powerful chord-rooted tool: 'Swerv' is driven by tides of shimmering beauty along a sea of pounding drums. One to behold is the epic B-side, which amounts to a trance-inducing, enveloping synthetic vortex of sound. A long journey that is deeply rewarding, there's a bonus 'Crystalised' version for buyers of the digital release.
Joining forces for the first time are label founder Len Faki and Juxta Position, a rather fresh yet already integral member of Figure. How effectively the prolific producers worked them machines with combined strength shows in every fibre of this four-tracker.
The record‘s sides feature two alternate mixes of each track: Superstition tempts with is sultry vocal, driven by an irresistible acidic groove, fusing Juxta Position’s preference for rough and analogue sounds with the tight programming Len Faki has become renowned for. Paying tribute to UK’s gritty brand of warehouse-techno, A2 introduces a more swinging and all-out version of the track.
A lot more tender than its counterpart, Gathering Clouds slowly builds from jagged synths and droning basses, brewing up a vivid tempest of anticipation. Verging carefully on the moment of emotional release, we are left to imagine the theatrical scenery cooked up in this delicious blend of the two artists’ singular skills.
Setaoc Mass live at BeatOn Moscow
Exos - Alien Eyes [FIGURE X03]
OUT NOW | EXOS - ALIEN EYES [FIGURE X03]
Already an established artist since his early minimal and dubbed-out techno productions around the beginning of the millennium, recently re-emerged Exos is now picking up the thread. Building on his strengths also on his first EP on Figure, the Icelandic beatsmith carefully hones his sensibly arranged and richly layered tracks, which then are detached to play about for the pure pleasure of following their constant evolution. This is intense listening – we are treated to a dive in the deep end of techno and may only come up again with more clarity and focus, simply from having been lost in the groove for what felt like a moment outside of time.
FIGURE 100 x AHM
We're looking forward to finish our FIGURE 100 celebrations on Dec 27th at AHM w/ Len Faki, Nocow LIVE and Roman Poncet.
Setaoc Mass live at Drugstore Belgrade
2h recording of Setaoc Mass' set at Drugstore Belgrade December 14th 2018.
FIGURE 100 x Rex Club
We'll be at the legendary Rex Club on Sunday to celebrate FIGURE 100 and the club's 30th birthday w/ Len Faki, Pablo Mateo and Roman Poncet.
Good times at Spazio 900
We had the best time at Spazionovecento last weekend celebrating FIGURE100.
Thanks to the amazing crowd, outstanding vibe!
Jeroen Search for John Digweed's Transitions
Jeroen Search for John Digweed's Transitions Podcast (check the 2nd hour for Jeroen set).
JEROEN SEARCH - THE ONE (RA NEW TRACKS)
Shouts to Resident Advisor for sharing 'One' from Jeroen Search's LP 'Monism'!
All things come from and return to the same source – such is the theory of Monism; an ancient philosophy, but also accounting for the music of JeroenSearch. Dictated by an ethos of exclusively recording live takes and the only ever editing happening while a tune is being created, each finished track is imbued with that unique magic of the moment.
Such too is the nature of Monism, Search‘s first LP in over two decades of electronic explorations and personal as well as artistic growth. As with any of his music that has been released so far, the tracks on here hold a timeless quality, existing within their own frame of reference than – that is their immediate experience.
Across a carefully arranged course, the album naturally unravels its many ideas, ranging from moments of pensive ambient pieces to thick washes of dub echo and layers of modulated synths, all while providing an endless array of hypnotizing bare-bone grooves in the process.
A true Figure mainstay, Jeroen Search upholds his artistic relevancy without any reinventing or switching up the formula – rather by simply keeping true to his accomplished craft.
FIGURE 100 x SPAZIO 900
The FIGURE 100 tour continues next weekend in Rome w/ Len Faki, Viers and UBX127.
ESKAPIST - VOLUPTUOUS RUNNER (FIGUREX02)
FIGURE 100 x The Block
We're excited to celebrate Figure 100 at The Block, Tel Aviv this Friday! W/ Len Faki, Roman Poncet and Nocow live.
Jeroen Search interviewed by Magnetic Mag
Jeroen Search had a chat with Magnetic Magazine about his upcoming debut album 'Monism', his approach to Techno and productions.
FIGURE 100 x FACTORY 010
https://youtu.be/jtdtTYcQql4
We're back in Rotterdam this Friday for Len Faki presents Figure 100 w/ Jeroen Search LIVE, Juxta Position, Len Faki and Roman Poncet.
Get your ticket here: https://eventix.shop/nwt93vqx
ESKAPIST - ISLET OBSERVER (FIGUREX02)
FIGURE 100 x PAL
We're continuing our FIGURE 100 tour at PAL, Hamburg this coming Saturday w/ Exos, Setaoc Mass and Pablo Mateo.
OUT NOW - ESKAPIST VOLUME 2
OUT NOW
Eskapist Volume 2
The Eskapist with his second statement of personality, handing in a seasonal EP ranging from a seriously immersive Opener to the shuffling full-force rhythms of 'Islet Observer', gently flowing tides on 'Brittle' and finally some soulful electrifying alien techno, as 'Voluptuous Brittle' takes us home. This is where the Eskapist dwells, here we find freedom.
ESKAPIST - TRACKER (FIGUREX01)
COMING SOON - JEROEN SEARCH - MONISM (FIGURELP03)
Jeroen Search - Monism (FIGURELP03)
All things come from and return to the same source – such is the theory of Monism; an ancient philosophy, but also accounting for the music of Jeroen Search. Dictated by an ethos of exclusively recording live takes and the only ever editing happening while a tune is being created, each finished track is imbued with that unique magic of the moment.
Such too is the nature of 'Monism', Search‘s first LP in over two decades of electronic explorations and personal as well as artistic growth.
Release: December 3rd
Format: 3x12" + digital
OUT NOW - ESKAPIST VOLUME 1
Eskapist Volume 1
We're excited to announce a new project to make for our 101st and 102nd release.
You might feel that the Eskapist is no stranger so far, as we surely have seen him before. There‘s that certain vibrancy running through his work, the tunes brimming with life, pulsing, thumping. So undeviatingly and determined – allowing us to escape into its foreseen shadows...
Good times in Vienna at our FIGURE 100 showcase
FIGURE 100 x Nordbahnhalle Vienna
We're continuing our FIGURE 100 tour in Vienna tonight!
FIGURE 100 at Lehmann Club tonight!
w/ Regal, Shlomi Aber, Setaoc Mass and Raphael Dincsoy
Thank you for last week
Last week was amazing - celebrating FIGURE 100 at Spacehall on Thursday and then at Berghain until Monday morning.
Thanks to all who came down and to all artists for their magnificent performances!
FIGURE 100 x Berghain Timetable
FIGURE 100 x Berghain tonight! We can't f*****' wait!
Luckily the night will even be one hour longer due to the switch to winter time. See you there!
14 Essential Figure tracks
In celebration of FIGURE 100 we asked 14 of our artists to name one of their favorite Figure tracks from the whole catalog. Self-Titled-Mag
PABLO MATEO - TRAUM 2
JUXTA POSITION - ENLIGHTENMENT
FIGURE 100 x Berghain
We can't wait to be back next week and celebrate our 15y anniversary and catalogue number 100 with most of the crew! Berghain Event RA Event
OUT NOW - FIGUREJAMS005
Next up in this ongoing split-ep series are two equally talented producers from different ends of the spectrum, both sharing their unique viewpoints on that special dreamspace of self-awareness and how the way there actually sounds like!
Following his explosive Figure-EP just this recent summer, Juxta Position now reveals his more sublime side on these two technoid journeys. Keeping it raw and beautiful, the analogue lover lets his synths engage in dialogue, floating through murky realms and simply getting lost in the groove.
A new face for Figure and definitely one to watch is Pablo Mateo. Taking a likewise subtle yet distinctly more grounded approach, his tunes unfold slowly and each tell their entirely own storyline. Tomo is an extraordinary specimen of how a track grows past its confines, into something genuinely touching and can eventually open up that space inside and what lies beyond!
Checking into our favorite record shop in Berlin always holds a dear experience for any vinyl-afflicted collector, but even more so when there‘s something to celebrate.
It‘s Figure‘s 100ths Release-Party, an anniversary come compilation, which has brought us a fine 4x12“ gatefold full of goodness from the likes of Truncate, Setaoc Mass, Len Faki himself, Juxta Position or Pablo Mateo. All of these will be DJ‘ing in Spacehall alongside a special live performance from Lady Starlight who also features on the monumental record put out this past month.
While this session surely will be one for the books, be assured that there‘s more to come the following weekend, when the majority of Figure‘s team seeks out the booth of Berghain for an extended annual get-together at their infamous Figure Nacht.
FIGURE 100 @ Nordstern Basel
We're much looking forward to celebrating FIGURE 100 with you this coming Saturday at Nordstern, Basel.
w/ Len Faki, Shlomi Aber and Nocow LIVE.
Celebrating our 15th anniversary as well as the monolithic catalogue number 100, we release this 4x12" compilation featuring 15 artists who are shaping the current sound of our label. Arriving in a unique gatefold sleeve that carries the exclusive handmade visual art by Munich artist Julia Schewalie. (Vinyl version incl download card)
w/ Amotik | Jeroen Search | Juxta Position | kirilik | Lady Starlight | Len Faki | Lewis Fautzi | Nocow | Pablo Mateo / Wrong Copy | Roman Poncet| Setaoc Mass | Shlomi Aber | Truncate | UBX127 | Viers
FIGURE100 @ Blitz Club Munich
Regal, Jeroen Search, and Nocow at BLITZ Music Club.
Big thanks to the club and all who came down to our Figure 100 showcase!
Premiere: Juxta Position - Hexagon (FIGURE100)
Ahead of the release of FIGURE 100 Mixmag stream Juxta Position's contribution to the 15y anniversary compilation called 'Hexagon' (A2). Enjoy!
FIGURE 100 tour kicking off in Barcelona and Munich
In celebration of our 15Y anniversary and upcoming FIGURE 100 compilation, our artists will perform in a series of selected events across Europe, kicking off next week in Barcelona and Munich.
14/09 - Nitsa Club, Barcelona
w/ Lady Starlight live, Len Faki, Regal FB Event
For the special occasion of our 15y anniversary munich-based artist Julia Schewalie has produced a custom made artwork, put together only from vinyl across our entire runtime. In an intricate and enduring process the artist Schewalie has cut apart all the records, then carefully rearranged the fragments, rebirthing them as one new piece of art. Compressing 15 years worth of Figure music we want to give due credit to all artists involved these years and look forward to what will follow in future.
Celebrating our 15th anniversary as well as the monolithic catalogue 100, we release a gem-packed compilation featuring 15 artists who are shaping the current sound of the label. Ranging from machine-driven stompers courtesy of Juxta Position, Kirilik or Lady Starlight, to punchy electro by Viers and UBX127, to Nocow‘s signature style wavey melancho-electronics, or the straight-up high-voltage-techno of Truncate, Shlomi Aber, Lewis Fautzi and captain Len Faki himself, all adequately framed by Setaoc Mass‘ beautiful ambient pieces – this 4 LP-set encompasses everything Figure both past, present and future. Arriving in a unique gatefolded sleeve that carries the exclusive handmade visual art by Munich artist Julia Schewalie.
a1 setaoc mass – far away from yesterday
a2 juxta position - hexagon
b1 roman poncet – turn down
b2 viers – moomin trash
b3 nocow – metha
c1 kirilik – batut
c2 lady starlight – d5-12
d1 ubx127 – vectors
d2 len faki – robot evolution
e1 pablo mateo – anfang ende immer
e2 shlomi aber – 3000 reasons why
f1 nocow – run far
f2 truncate - bassline
g1 lewis fautzi – modern humans
g2 jeroen search – rubidium
h1 amotik – neela
h2 setaoc mass - silence
GROOVE MAG PREMIERE: ROMAN PONCET - TURN DOWN (FIGURE 100)
GROOVE-Magazin kindly premier Roman Poncet's contribution to Figure 100 'Turn Down' today.
More info about our upcoming 15 y anniversary compilation and the full track.
DJ Mag Premiere: Lady Starlight
Listen to Lady Starlight's 'd5-12' in full over at DJ MAG.
Jeroen Search Podcast
Jeroen Search with a mix of unreleased material for Intimate Silence on Rinse FM.
Setaoc Mass’ fourth record for Figure displays a level of maturity an artist this young rarely inhabits. Two tracks feature his ability to craft finely layered IDM, showing another perspective of the ideas behind the cavernous techno taking up the rest of this EP.
Nestled between the electronica-pieces is Torque, heavy yet undeniably beautiful with its big breaks towards ascension, moving effortlessly despite its weight. Things turn serious on the flip side, bursting with bleeps and bulging beats. B1 is a slowly swelling beast with many heads, twisting and turning ceaselessly along its 6-minute runtime, never once letting the tension decline.
Spiraling inwards for a full-on mind trip, Search Lights is that key track to drop in the murkiest, darkest hour of the night, one that cuts through relentlessly and unites whatever is left of the dancefloor for one last frenzied commotion.
Coming back for another round after his first EP for Figure last summer, Shlomi Aber continues to explore different avenues of his multi-faceted sound, tying it all up in a nicely rounded package.
Setting the pace is driving opening track Whistler, the producer showcasing his ability to craft something big but undoubtedly refined. He then lets old school drums cruise along gentle sways of washed out ambience, giving the deep heads something to really get into... Back with more techno on the B-side, this time in true Figure-style: lean, sharp, and utterly effective Penetrate The System is sure to leave its mark and comes complete with an extended, separate intro, making for quite an experience. Staying atmospheric to the end, Aber chooses to step out in half-time, taking cues from dubstep as hollowed kicks carve out an endless tunnel that leads only ever deeper down the rabbit hole.
OUT NOW - kirilik - Infinity Is Not A Number (FIGURE97)
kirilik - Infinity Is Not A Number (FIGURE97)
Three years after presenting an original idea of arranging his own music live by using a standard DJ setup and a drum machine, Strahil Velchev alias KiNK is ready to premiere the very first EP-outing of his new project entitled kirilik.
Created with obscure studio equipment and backed by an array of sonics out of his extensive line-up of machinery, Kirilik successfully transfers to the record that unique level of levity and immediacy that his live act has already become renowned for.
Loopy and thus infinite in nature, sometimes seemingly spiraling themselves out of control even, these tracks are as versatile as they are just fun to play around with! Fittingly enough, Infinity Is Not A Number comes complete with an added bonus of four additional endless loops, edged into the final grooves of each side...
A man of many alias, the multi-faceted talent behind Juxta Position finally finds his way to Figure, leaving us an EP‘s worth of highly infectious, acid-festered analogue techno runs.
Feeding on the raw and dynamic energy of live hardware production, these jams hit the sweet spot where constant modulation and spontaneous changes transform a bunch of loops into something much more than the sum of its parts.
Whether it‘s a bouncy ride around the rings of Saturn with Elixir, the frantic sledge hammer-assault of Stepping, cascading down into the machine‘s bowels on Automated Reproduction, or the non-stop, all-out overdrive that is Pestered – every track on this record takes on a whole life of its own.
Listening back to Roman Poncet’s first releases on Figure just a couple years ago, they already hinted at the producer’s keen technical abilities and a knack for rich texturing, resulting in tracks that were both carried by force and form. What he delivers now is an impressively mature debut album, ripe with personal creative realization.
On Gypsophila the French producer uses the extended format to slowly shape up a scenery of epic proportions where surprise and constant change lurk around every corner. A certain sense of progression and evolution runs throughout Poncet’s music; it invariably keeps one locked in, no matter for the opening drones of Do Not or the patiently growing Thick Vegetation, which fuses tribal percussion and choral chants to showcase another of this LP’s key features: its dense soundscape, which at once feels inherently electronic yet deeply organic, translating the abstract futuristic themes of techno into something jam-packed and heady albeit steadily grounded - a listening experience that is as dreamy as it remains tangible.
This holds true for the highly atmospheric synth-lead pieces, such as the cinematic intro Hello You, the elevating arp-ride Epreuve or the suspended celestial groove of Atlas. But equally goes for the floor-focused rhythms, like relentless steam engine-workout Piege or mid-album mind-trip In Aeternam. Adding even more variety and depth to the mix, the tidal title track is given its own side to explore the sheer endless expanses of dub...
Bundling the complete range of his influences, Gypsophila marks the pinnacle of Roman Poncet's work to date. Covering a spectrum this broad in his very own way, the album proves as relevant for the current club scene as it will be for repeated return visits.
Three years after presenting an original idea of arranging his own music live by using a standard DJ setup and a drum machine, Strahil Velchev alias KiNK is ready to premiere the very first EP-outing of his new project entitled kirilik.
A man of many alias, the multi-faceted talent behind Juxta Position finally finds his way to Figure, leaving us an EP‘s worth of highly infectious, acid-festered analogue techno runs.
COMING SOON ROMAN PONCET - GYPSOPHILA (FIGURELP02)
Listening back to Roman Poncet’s first releases on Figure just a couple years ago, they already hinted at the producer’s keen technical abilities and a knack for rich texturing, resulting in tracks that were both carried by force and form. What he delivers now is an impressively mature debut album, ripe with personal creative realization.
Viers clocks back in on Figure duty, showing up with up for another strong statement of his unmistakenly singular style. Here he is working it from all angles:
Straight up and searingly stoic techno opener Let My Mind Breath is grinding away grittily, while things turn surprisingly bouncy, as Genesis dishes out electrifying boom-bap-breakbeats, transporting imagery of neo-futuristic Tokyo streets.
As night sets in, so does the kinetic groove of Oyasumi, which twirls layers of energetic movement into a thick current, zooming through the city’s deep gorges of concrete and fiberglass.
Closing track Data Entry 4590 finally provides some soothing ambient tones of melancholic longing, inviting to slowly drift away into white-washed nothingness and process the bright color storm that Viers lets unfold on this intense record.
FIGURE JAMS enters the next round, setting up a pairing between two hardware-loving, no-frills techno-purists. Both artists build on vibrant, machine-made roughness, yet each leaving their uniquely flavored footprint.
Kicking things off is Eindhoven‘s Albert Van Abbe, whose wide-open soundscapes and searching synths evoke an emotional impact that goes far beyond mere tools, able to equally move and sooth even the fiercest of late-night lovers.
Low-key producer SP-X appears on the flipside, ready to get lost deep within layers of hypnotic loops. Searing percussion, rumbling bass and dubby synths engage in complex conversation, subtly swelling and swaying but always keeping the groove ever so tight.
Vozduh (air) arrives first in a trilogy of EPs by Aleksei Nikitin for Figure, showcasing the emerging signature-style of electronica-tinged techno adopted under his guise as Nocow. Drawing inspiration from the sheer endless winters of his St. Petersburg home, the series builds on the tropes of classic IDM, imbuing his productions with a noticeably Russian and deeply personal sensitivity.
As each part of the trilogy is represented by an element, the tracks on Vozduh are vaporous by nature: from the crackling ambiance of opener Bouis to the weightless vocals on stoic Forgiven, as well as a surprisingly introspective take on ghetto-house or the wafting melodies closing out the record‘s B-side – all forms seem to be in constant shift, casting a dense yet permeable body of sound.
The second volume then sees Nikitin dipping deep into the Baltic sea, exploring the water element of Voda on five subaquatic compositions, riding waves of acid and bubbly thumps, diving through underwater caves of seductive electro and gnarly techno, before finally emerging on the sunken island of Iskatel, ears ringing with shredded harmonies of ancient beauty.
The final installment Zemlya un(earth)s the artist‘s maybe most drastic work to date. While initial Libbi sprouts gently into crystalline ambient arteries, the mood soon shifts to an invasive vibe on ceaselessly stabbing Synchronicity, until Nocow offers conciliation in form of a string-led soother and subsequently lets the record spiral out in lucid sparkles, finally coming full circle.
Tune in this coming Saturday for Len Faki's BBC1 Radio Essential Mix debut!
OUT NOW - LADY STARLIGHT - WHICH ONE OF US IS ME?
Ever throughout a long-standing chameleonic career in nightlife Colleen Martin has been one to challenge expectations and confidently confront boundaries. Having established herself now firmly within the techno scene as Lady Starlight, she continues to do so on her EP for Figure, presenting a statement of bold and pounding beats.
‘Which One of Us is Me?’ showcases a completely intuitive approach to making music, with every track coming together as a direct stream of creativity, channeled straight into the solely analogue hardware. It imbues each composition with a strong sense of immediacy, a quality that only further intensifies the raw energy transmitted.
This pure form of expression translates into a record brimming with artistic authenticity - enveloping, moving and deeply impacting.
Roman Poncet with an interview and podcast for The Forgotten
Coming soon - Figure jams 004
COMING SOON
FIGURE JAMS 004
ALBERT VAN ABBE x SP-X
OUT NOW - JEROEN SEARCH - ENDLESS CIRCLES EP
After solemnly closing out the SPC-series in 2016, Jeroen Search hands in his second EP of the year for Figure. Carrying his signature style, these tunes embody the live-recording feel he is known for, perfectly executed and arranged in clean-cut layers.
Both tracks on the A-side feature big and beefy beats, their generous sub-range creating ample space for the juxtaposing elements to effectively slice through, whether it be the penetrating bleeps of ‘Deduced’ or the piercing rides on ‘Interval’.
Things get bumpy on the flip when the rugged but undeniable groove of ‘Steady Pulse’ firmly stands its ground against repeated onslaughts of flailing percussion. The jolty rhythms and tinkling loops of ‘Endless Circles’ may seem like it being the odd one out, but unexpectedly merge into an intricate mesh of sounds, making for a most memorable closer to this jam-packed EP.
Len Faki in the mix for Mixmag's In Session: Soundcloud
OUT NOW - UBX127 - VOID EP
Swedish artist UBX127 is back on Figure with what might just be his most accomplished release to date. Spanning an arc cross four diverse tracks, the story told is abstract yet full of imagination.
Gently pulsating crystalline opener Void carefully sets a vast open scene, covered in gushes of interplanetary winds. First contact is made on A2, it‘s electro-esque drive and spiky synths hinting at its alien origins. A taste of their mighty technology is given on Watch Out Below, booming with a propulsive punch and constantly swelling in intensity. Relief comes in form of Singularity, a beautiful, long-winding closer, on which soothing arps effortlessly outweigh their beauty counterparts.
Having already proven his mastery of the machines with three stellar EPs for the label last year, this record further showcases UBX127‘s special talent of crafting tunes that are as ripe with drama as they are ready for the floor.
Thanks ResidentAdvisor for spreading the news: 3 EPs from Nocow coming up early next year. check the link to stream a first cut.
Last tickets
Our Figure Nacht is almost sold out - last tickets available: Awakenings
(there will be no door sale)
COMING SOON - UBX127 - VOID EP
Swedish artist UBX127 is back on Figure with what might just be his most accomplished release to date. Spanning an arc cross four diverse tracks, the story told is abstract yet full of imagination.
Gently pulsating crystalline opener Void carefully sets a vast open scene, covered in gushes of interplanetary winds. First contact is made on A2, it‘s electro-esque drive and spiky synths hinting at its alien origins. A taste of their mighty technology is given on Watch Out Below, booming with a propulsive punch and constantly swelling in intensity. Relief comes in form of Singularity, a beautiful, long-winding closer, on which soothing arps effortlessly outweigh their beauty counterparts.
Having already proven his mastery of the machines with three stellar EPs for the label last year, this record further showcases UBX127‘s special talent of crafting tunes that are as ripe with drama as they are ready for the floor.
OUT NOW - LEN FAKi - MY BLACK SHEEP 10Y ANNIVERSARY MIXES
Originally released as a B-side in 2007 on Figure‘s then-sublabel Podium, Len Faki‘s ‚My Black Sheep‘ was one of those rare tracks that unpredictably take on a life of their own. A veritable underground hit, it not only came to define the sound of Len Faki at that time but for many became equally synonymous with the state of the scene in Berlin around that time. Now that ten years have passed since then, we felt it was about time to finally treat the sheep to a fresh shave.
Featuring a variety of vibes, Deetron first takes us for an extended trip along rattling drums, his mantra-like use of the vocal drawing the listener deep into the rabbit hole. Down there things start swirling even more wildly around Jimmy Edgar‘s marimba arps, while Truncate forcefully slaps us back on track.
On the deeper flip side Cleric unexpectedly lays down a distorted barrage of broken beats amidst apocalyptic epic choirs and acid rain. Through the haunted shelters beneath the rubble Matrixxman weaves his subtle and dubbed out yet creepingly effective Isolation Mix. Coming as a digital-only bonus is Cleric‘s straightforward Y remix - its hard- hitting metallic stabs making for a powerful floor-weapon.
While ‚My Black Sheep‘ already spawned a series of high-profile re-interpretations back in the day, this diverse remix- package successfully places the original within the present context. With this creative cut, the sheep is now ready for another decade‘s run!
Figure Jams is back with a another fresh and exciting pairing of artists. This time the record is a collection of pure analogue goodness, sparkling ripe with synthesizer magic.
The A-side comes courtesy of duo-of-the-moment TWR72, who happen to distill perfection through simplicity in their stripped-back productions. While ‚Polished‘ is a pulsating bit of beatless yet captivating clean-cut loops, their other contribution shows their talent at crafting something lean, dry and punchy, which is still undeniably driving and hypnotic.
Picking up on the synth-heavy theme of this release is St. Petersburg‘s finest Aleksey Niktin aka Nocow. Inspired by the endless baltic winters, the producer packs his tracks with emtions that feel cold but not icy, engulfing the listener in winching waves of melancholic Electronica.
Figure Jams is back with a another fresh and exciting pairing of artists. This time the record is a collection of pure analogue goodness, sparkling ripe with synthesizer magic.
The A-side comes courtesy of duo-of-the-moment TWR72, who happen to distill perfection through simplicity in their stripped-back productions. While ‚Polished‘ is a pulsating bit of beatless yet captivating clean-cut loops, their other contribution shows their talent at crafting something lean, dry and punchy, which is still undeniably driving and hypnotic.
Picking up on the synth-heavy theme of this release is St. Petersburg‘s finest Aleksey Niktin aka Nocow. Inspired by the endless baltic winters, the producer packs his tracks with emtions that feel cold but not icy, engulfing the listener in winching waves of melancholic Electronica.
Lewis Fautzi hands in his fourth EP for Figure yet, a collection of tunes that interlock seamlessly in a gradual progression, displaying the producer‘s accurate skill of tailor-made tools for every energy-level.
Starting out with two elastic grooves, the A-side carefully sets the scene for what is yet to come later on. Careful layers of rich acid riffs, precise placement of atmospheric details and fine-tuned textures – this clearly is the work of a burgeoning producer on top his game. Keeping the finesse, but amping up the oomph, the B-side bursts with two heavy hitters that pull out all the stops.
Stomping, booming and driven by wild percussion, these tracks are sure to stir up a frenzy.
Listen to Seatoc Mass live @ Open Mind, Naples here: Soundcloud
Regal live @ DGTL Barcelona
Listen to Regal live @ DGTL Barcelona here: Soundcloud
LF RMX 002
LF RMX 002 is in stores now!
The recently launched series from Len Faki is exclusively featuring edits and remixes originally made for use in his own DJ sets. Now releasing them to a wider audience, the second edition presents two complementary contrasting versions of ‘Deep In’ by Stephen Brown.
Sticking to the strengths of the source material, Faki’s sleek polish makes the centerpiece acid bassline and playful cut-up vocal stand out from the mix even more. Already quite a force to begin with, the momentum only keeps growing as oldschool drum breaks and additional percussion roll in.
The original’s linear progression is traded for murky, modulating analog squelches on the Deepspace Mix, turning the tune into a dubby late-night groover, which still holds some surpises in store.
As with all releases of the non-profit platform that is LF RMX, the proceeds of this record will be forwarded to the Berlin organization Straßenkinder e.V. to be used in actions against child poverty.
Lewis Fautzi hands in his fourth EP for Figure yet, a collection of tunes that interlock seamlessly in a gradual progression, displaying the producer‘s accurate skill of tailor-made tools for every energy level.
The second release on Figure Jams continues to pursue our new concept of pairing certain artists together, this time placing the seasoned Swedish sound sculptor Patrik Skoog alongside Abstract Division, a collaborative project of Paul Boex and Dave Miller, two equally experienced Dutch producers.
The latter deliver a pair of straightforward tunes that seemingly stem from the depths of space. With an intimidating backdrop of menacing and rummaging drones, they carefully create a constant sense of alarming tension that is never lifted.
This abstract threat takes solid shape in Patrik Skoogs slamming „The Field“, a heavy hitter of immense magnitude that despite packing a bouncy punch still stays afloat thanks to its lightly dancing hats. Another agile alien groove closes the EP, with rides zooming in and out, slinging and cutting through the track‘s subtly booming body.
Last years Figure Nacht at MMA was off the hook - we're glad to be back this weekend.
OUT NOW - SHLOMI ABER - UNDER TWO WORLDS EP
With a career spanning over 20 years worth of Djing, production and label work, Shlomi Aber has gradually cemented his position as one of the scene‘s cornerstones. His first outing for Figure sees the now Barcelona-based artist drawing on his many influences to deliver a tastefully rounded three- tracker.
‚Under two Worlds‘ grooves sublty aong a funky acid riff, while anthemic synths longilgy recall bygone moments of grandeur. This unique Aber-ability, creating a composition that is as elegantly understated as it is undoubtedly epic, also comes through on the record‘s B-side.
Paced only at half-time and drenched in dubby reverb, the weighing beats of ‚Rumbles‘ engage with delicately shapedhead sounds for some seriously spaced-out head nods. ‚Matrix‘ is an tightly woven mesh of machinery insides, which Aber nevertheless manages to channel into a fairly straight- forward kinetic energy.
The second release on Figure Jams continues to pursue our new concept of pairing certain artists together, this time placing the seasoned Swedish sound sculptor Patrik Skoog alongside Abstract Division, a collaborative project of Paul Boex and Dave Miller, two equally experienced Dutch producers.
The latter deliver a pair of straight-forward tunes that seemingly stem from the depths of space. With an intimidating backdrop of menacing and rummaging drones they carefully create a constant sense of alarming tension that is never lifted.
This abstract threat takes solid shape in Patrik Skoogs slamming „The Field“, a heavy hitter of immense magnitude that despite packing a bouncy punch still stays afloat thanks to its lightly dancing hats. Another agile alien grooves closes the EP, with rides zooming in and out, slingering and cutting through the track‘s subtly booming body.
Len Faki is giving away this unique marbled record of LF RMX 001 for a good cause.
'take the unique opportunity to get this one of a kind marbled vinyl now!
it is a real collectors item and the only one available of LF RMX 001 - which actually comes in transparent vinyl only.
if you want to call this beauty your own and also do some good, send us your price offer to auction@lfrmx.com
the highest bidder will receive the record and the full amount will be donated to www.strassenkinder-ev.de - the project i am supporting with LF RMX.
deadline is Sunday at 6 pm - so don´t forget to send your offer in time. good luck and thanks for all your bids.'
Kink aka Cyrillic live at Figure Nacht x Fact Off Week
OUT NOW - FIGUREJAMS001 - FABRIZIO LAPIANA x AMOTIK
Arriving as the first release of the new sublabel series FIGURE JAMS, this split EP by Fabrizio Lapiana and Amotik serves not only as a crafty cut in its own right but also showcases a particular type of package, which we will be facilitating from now on.
The A-side is taken up by a pair of Lapiana‘s irresistably dense grooves that unmistakebly tread in the footsteps of his homeland‘s highly emotional techno, unafraid of big melodies but also injecting just the right amount of twisted acid to set the floor ablaze.
This sense of grandeur and space is also reflected in the work of fast-rising producer Amotik. Painting with his very own colours as an equally epic scenery, its bleak and post-apocalyptic landscape dominated by broken industrial beats and hypnotically swirling synths.
Figure Nacht x Fact Off Week this Saturday, June 17th in Barcelona.
With Len Faki, DVS1, Kink pres. Cyrillic live, Matrixxman, Roman Poncet, Traumer and Viers.
Get your Ticket here
OUT NOW - MATRIXXMAN X SETAOC MASS - PITCH BLACK EP
Figure is excited to present the first outing of what might soon prove to be one of techno‘s most promising collaborations. While Seatoc Mass‘ two pristinely crafted EPs have already left their mark on the label, Matrixxman has been turning heads across the scenes with his exceptionally prolific track record.
Drawing upon common thoughts on futuristic themes and their respective strengths as producers from different continents, their joint effort clearly conveys one distinct approach, yet unites the seemingly opposite. Regardless of being no-nonsense dancefloor-weapons, the four tracks still brim with detail, their vibrant elements communicating playfully.
On their shared EP these artists have struck a rare balance. They delicately hover between the spacious and the claustrophobic, the modern and the classic, the stern and the elated – while never losing focus of their mutual mission.
Arriving as the first release of the new sublabel series FIGURE JAMS, this split EP by Fabrizio Lapiana and Amotik serves not only as a crafty cut in its own right but also showcases a particular type of package, which we will be facilitating from now on.
The A-side is taken up by a pair of Lapiana‘s irresistably dense grooves that unmistakebly tread in the footsteps of his homeland‘s highly emotional techno, unafraid of big melodies but also injecting just the right amount of twisted acid to set the floor ablaze.
This sense of grandeur and space is also reflected in the work of fast-rising producer Amotik. Painting with his very own colours as an equally epic scenery, its bleak and post-apocalyptic landscape dominated by broken industrial beats and hypnotically swirling synths.
OUT NOW - 2000 AND ONE - GET DOWN - LEN FAKI MIXES
Figure 86 finds the label‘s headmaster revisiting a dormant classic from 2005, delivering two extended excursions that pick up on the lunatic vibe instilled by the original while each mix provides for a uniquely new experience.
Sitting on the record‘s A-side is the Hardspace Mix, a sparse and bone dry rhythmic affair, built around the originals characteristic cut-up vocal sample. A hammering thump carries along the track relentlessly, the air of oppression created only amplified by a heavy assault of clangig claps. The digital bundle comes with an even more stripped-back Hardspace Tool version, making it an excellent surprise to throw in and out of mixes.
On the flip Faki takes opportunity to show us one of his lesser known sides, taking time to gently develop this Deepspace Mix into a meandering meditative journey. Trading in the vocal for a spaced-out synth opens the track up for the shifting tribal drums to truly work their magic and makes this piece of music feel equally mysterious as it sways with cosmic energy.
A year after his extremely versatile debut EP for Figure, Viers comes out with another batch of tunes that again set him apart from his peers both in production value and creativeness.
Touching on the tropes of classic detroit techno, Saxton presents a beautifully delicate opening track, rife with life from within the machines while still steadily thumping ahead. It‘s the mix of this vital momentum together with a certain restraint, allowing each element to breath. So much that even the slightest adjuments cause maximum effectmetro, as felt on suitably titled stomper „Nothing Changed“ where everything hits in exactly the right place. Same goes for the incessant dialogue of tones on „Zehn“, which Sigha expands into a pensive piece, layering soothing washes of synths.
Not only an exceptional EP in its own right, FIGURE 85 further cements Viers as a skilled craftsman with seemingly endless imagination.
Setaoc Mass and Matrixxman join forces for Figure 87
Figure is excited to present the first outing of what might soon prove to be one of techno‘s most promising collaborations. While Seatoc Mass‘ two pristinely crafted EPs have already left their mark on the label, Matrixxman has been turning heads across the scenes with his exceptionally prolific track record.
On the occasion of the release of Figure 84, Jeroen Search shared some insights regarding each track of the Time Signature EP.
"Here is the story behind the Time Signature EP, I think it turned out to be a very diverse one. To me, it is a nice example of the full palette of techno which I try to incorporate into my work.
A1 Da Capo:
Da Capo is a term used in music theory, meaning “from the beginning”. It is often used as a directive by a composer to signal the musician to repeat the previous bars of notes in a composition. I recorded this track back in 2006, only using a drum computer a Jupiter 6 synth and effects. The synth keeps on repeating, but also has slight variations in the sounds at the same time, like a real musician going back over the same piece again and again. I am really happy that this track is finally released after all those years.
A2 Dal Segno:
This track is a more recent one, and I think it is a very nice addition to the previous track. Dal Segno again, is a term borrowed from musical notation, where it functions as a ‘navigation marker’ attending you to go back to the start. The track reflects the more dubby side of me, but still is very playable in a club setting.
B1 Eight-Four:
Eight-Four was the most difficult one to record. The separate loops of this track were originally meant exclusively as for use in my liveset. However after playing them live, I noticed some serious dancefloor madness was going onwhenever I played these loops, so I decided to record it my studio afterwards. Yet, it's very hard to create the same sort of energy in the studio as during the party, so it took me a couple tries before I got in the groove, but I think it worked out quite nice.
B2 Time Signature:
This one is all about combining the power of the dancefloor with the emotions inside. I probably recorded this during an early Monday morning session after a great weekend, sort of a come-down session if you want."
A regular contributor to Figure SPC, it was Jeroen Search who both started the series and also put an end to its story. With this creative chapter neatly closed, he is now bringing his ever-impressive work back to the main label.
Across the EP the Dutch artist doesn‘t stick to one style, instead he lets his infamous machines roam about freely. They take us for a smooth ride along swaying dub chords and gentle ripples until bellowing eches slowly rise above a hypnotic groove.
On the B-side Search then pulls out all the stops and barges right in with fidgety claps and whirling bleeps, leaving the track itself gasping for air. This is the renowned ferocity of his live act – carved into wax! Ensuing the sonic assault, a simple synth figure emerges stoically over an almost housy bounce as nostalgic rave strings bring the EP to an epic ending.
Firmly rooted in the past while always looking forward, Jeroen Search clearly is still on the top of his game. He simply keeps coming up with timeless techno – time and time again.
A year after his versatile debut EP, Viers comes out with another batch of tunes that again set him apart from his peers both in production value and creativeness. Furthermore Sigha expands "Zehn" into a pensive piece, layering soothing washes of synths.
Jeroen Search speaks on the synths that have been essential during his two decade career.
Groove Podcast 93 + Interview by Jeroen Search
"I just love it, I love doing techno in my studio, on stage – I just love it!"
Jeroen Search with an interview and the newest GROOVE-Magazin Podcast: http://bit.ly/JeroPod
COMING SOON - JEROEN SEARCH - TIME SIGNATURE EP
A regular contributor to Figure SPC, it was Jeroen Search who both started the series and also put an end to its story. With this creative chapter neatly closed, he is now bringing his ever-impressive work back to the main label.
Its cover artwork shows a photography by Stephen Hodgetts who already was resposible for the one on Cleric's former 'Key Of The Night' EP (Figure 72) and whos footage has been seen on Clergy many times, Cleric's own imprint.
For this edition of Figured Out By we invited Stephen Hodgetts to share some insights into his search for photo subjects:
"The cover image for the Cleric release was taken in the far North West Coast of Scotland.
I am drawn to pattens in nature. They are naturally occurring, forever changing and without boundaries.
I was hiking to the remote Sandwood Beach, some 6k from the road, most of the walk is through a peat bog where white foam typically accumulates in eddies and slow moving parts of the bog.
I can’t explain why or how I see shapes and forms that other people might overlook,
it must be something about how my brain is wired!
The equipment I was using then was a Nikon D700 with a prime lens.
Although an old digital camera of mine, it still records more than enough detail to prove a A3 print.
Technically my images are not perfect, I am more interested in how interesting the image is."
Please check out his website to get more impressions of his art.
With a constant slew of quality releases Jorden Hodgetts has not only become in demand internationally, but keeps holding a vital spot on the Figure roster. His unyielding tracks as Cleric proudly wear their Manchester heritage on the sleeve, and this bold EP makes no exception.
Exploring various angles of the city’s musical lineage, Cleric creates a sound scape that seems industrial and yet futuristic. As broken and straight rhythms repeatedly alternate over the course of this record, the mixes implicate both force and elegance, thanks to clever pacing and immaculate sound design.
Whether it be narrow, bleeping stompers, epic wide-screen breakdowns or intricately assembled percussion – across this fresh and dynamic EP Cleric further sharpens his profile, not only revealing his roots but even more importantly his individual vision.
Regal let us know background info on his tracks of his recent 'From Other Sounds' EP which was just released. (further links below)
"The tracks that are composing this EP are kinda mix of the different styles i love besides the acid techno which is usually conected to me. Even if some tracks are quite old, i think they get the idea of what i wanted to show in what i consider an openminded EP.
From other sounds
i started this track from a vocal sample that some friends showed to me when i was living in Berlin and sharing some studio time with them. I really liked the vocal and the sensations transmitted to me so I decided to make an only percussion track where vocal was the main element and the constant games of hit hats plus the basseline creates a groove to surround it, giving an industrial touch to the classic percussion sounds. Reverbs and delays are playing the main role here.
Did you see it
As many people know i'm a big fan of melodies. This track was built to surround a main melody, trying to mix the techno sound with a bit more housy and groovy style. In this case the vocal it's just an extra element in the track but not the main one as in the previous track. I think this is kind of eclectic track which can be used for both techno and house djs and gives a cool energy to a dj set. I’ve listened to it thousand times and i always get into the melody loop but depending on the situation it gives me different feeling, but always good vibes.
Slab
Probably the most old tune of the EP. I personally consider this track as a tool or maybe an opening set track. There are some really cool dub tracks out there composed with just few elements but creating an addictive grove that gets you into the soul of the track, so basically that's what i tried to do. I felt hypnotized by the chords loop accompained with the opaque sound of the kick and sub. Hit hats and snare are just the landscape of the trip.
I'm really happy to be remixed by Radio Slave, i think Matt did an excellent job and i hope the people could get the idea and goal behind every single track."
Having earned himself the status as one of Madrid’s hottest techno-exports, Regal is back on Figure with a special EP comprising both new works from him plus two creative re-interpretations by none other than Radio Slave.
Original and remix rub shoulders on the record’s A-side, both revolving around its enticing vocal hook. While Regal employs a skipping beat and skittish percussion to conjure up an air of mystery, Radioslave crawls down further the rabbit’s hole and uncovers the track’s slumbering lunatic qualities.
On the flipside Regal is back in full control, albeit this time operating in a framework a tad more housy than usual: snappy snares slice up the bubbling acid-line on the fast whirling while it’s eponymus vocal sample ironically asks ‘Did you see it?’. Equally aptly-titled Slab barges right in, wielding hefty drums and a bassline that oozes groove out of every loop.
As part of the digital release, the EP comes with another atmospheric Radioslave-rework of From Other Sounds, leaning on the ambient and heavy on the subs - one for the headz!
Lewis Fautzi shared some insights into the ideas and feelings behind the tracks on 'Elocution' which just hit the stores. (links further below)
"When I started to work on the EP it was Tabula Rasa - I didn’t have a specific plan, but just wanted something that could work really good on the dance floor but could also be used to relax at home.
Personally, this style I adopted has become one of the most important things to me when producing. I love to hear a track of mine and instantly recognize in it a bit of me, of my work. In “Elocution”, the track that named the EP, the synth was the first thing I created and the connection with the pads felt immediately right. I think I smiled when I played both of them at same time.
After that the process changed a bit. I was looking to create elements that could fit right and could take me to the goal I had defined. Although the track has a low pitch range when played original, the hi hats can give an intense rhythm to it and this way it can be appreciated the way I wanted and perfectly playable to a crowd.
I'm glad of what I've accomplished here. The tracks are different from each other. But each one has its own story, its own charisma and all of them fit outstandingly right on the path I've been creating for many years.
Maybe that's one of the most difficult things to an artist, to create a path and a unique style and being able to apply it in every single thing he does. Hope that this EP can make its way directly to a lot of artists’ bags and that they enjoy it as much as I do."
Elocution, the third Figure EP from portuguese producer Lewis Fautzi, again displays a high degree of versatility but still comes cleary cut for the club.
Employing a rich yet spacious sound design, Fautzi creates cinematic scapes that are at once both brimming with the hums of colossal interstellar machinery yet at the same time leave enough room for a range of carefully sculpted elements to do their work. Whether it be the twisted acid arpeggio on opener Shizophrenia, the imposing drones underscoring the mighty Mirror or the propulsive percussion of centerpiece 37B. Testament to Fautzi’s talent of engaging arrangement, never do the tracks here feel hurried nor do they become stagnant – but rather given just the right time to ripe into their full captivating potential.
No matter if one is to approach this records as already an avid lover of Lewis Fautzi’s work or comes to it simply looking for fresh takes on the classic formula, this enthralling EP certainly will satisfy everyone’s needs.
Massive thanks to all artists and the amazing crowd at Berghain. That was a magnificent Figure Nacht, from start to finish.
Big love to the whole crew and everyone involved, who made this last week such a memorable one.
UBX127 shared some insights into the ideas behind the tracks of Constant Permutation Pt1 & Pt 2, which both just came out. (links further below)
"This is the output of the constant permutation in my studio. These tracks are based on the idea of using a limited amount of machines, whose role in the production is constantly shifting. My focus was to refine and clarify the melodies and grooves but also finding new ways of working with these machines. Here are some of my ideas and thoughts around the tracks on these two releases.
Han:
The inspiration for this track is a whole bunch of old house records that i love. I wanted the track to have a really driving melody and a really basic arrangement. It's a pretty moody melody but the high tempo still gives it drive.
Create & Destroy:
The idea behind track was to create a track that modulates to something else during its progression. It's a busy arrangement to match the hectic melody.
Barabrus:
'Bara brus' is swedish for 'just noise'. The only sound source for this whole track white noise which is routed to different sequenced filters.
Swells:
A made the bass line by accident and built the track around that. From the tracks on this record I would say this is the most straight forward club tool.
Explorations:
For me it's hard to define or pinpoint what techno is exactly. This track is exploration on the idea of making a track without rhythm that still has the feel of techno.
Felt:
Most of this tracks is the bass line made by an old FM synth. There is a decent amount of noise coming from this synth due to aliasing errors (and long unbalanced audio cables). I'm using this noise to build most of the rhythms in the higher frequencies.
Örnsberg:
This is club techno, plain and simple. I always love sparse productions like this on big club systems as there is space in mix for the reverberations of the room to be part of the track.
Cyclic Soundscape:
The background for this one is the modulating patch the runs trough the track. I liked the idea of a track that constantly grows and falls so i simply underpinned the patch with a rhythm track.
I hope you find these varied tracks interesting and that you get some value from knowing about the ideas behind the production.
When hitting a streak its best to keep going.
For a prolific producer like UBX127 one EP just wasnt enough to keep up with his continuous output of high quality techno.
Constant Permutation Part 2 picks up where its predecessor left off and provides for another batch of deadly club weapons. Living up to its title, beatless Explorations sends out eerie signals deep into outer space, anticipating with suspense to maybe find some life forms response. It arrives in form of driving track Felt and its ricocheting, arpeggiated synths, which would aptly soundtrack the decent of alien attack ships on our planet. Weighty, yet mysterious Ornsberg seems to echo with the cries of long lost souls that have been trapped eternally inside its icy caverns.
The EP ends with a masterclass in immersive sound design, a constant ebb and flow of layers, winding their way into the listeners subconscious. Filling up a pair of twelves to the brim with tunes this well thought out and executed, UBX127 further displays his vast potential and leaves us with excitement for whatever he might be coming up with next.
Popping up for the first time on Figure SPC Y, it was the remarkable synth-work of UBX127 that instantly struck a chord with the label’s demand for substantial techno. Now the Stockholm artist proves himself loyal and hits back twofold with a pair of EPs that further highlight his mastery of both vivid modulation and effective sequencing.
Leading into this batch of new tunes are the crafty and beautifully fleshed-out synth-arpeggios of opener Han, which UBX127 complements gracefully by adding tender touches of melody. A2 cut Create and Destroy displays a new side to the producer that verges on the manic, building upon a swirling theme that soon flies into a lunatic frenzy. Soothing then are the spacious sounds of Barabrus, a crisp piece of floating breakbeats and shoving sub-bass. Living up to its name, Swells starts as a bold synth-led groove and slowly grows into a romping beast that rebels against glistening sonic whiplashes.
Even in its own right Constant Permutation Part 1 stands as a cohesive and compelling record that will add to any collection. But with its equally strong successor already waiting in the wings, it is UBX127 himself who will make a lasting impression.
