Sähkö is putting out a new 12" single from Finnish techno artist Ø (aka Mika Vainio of Pan Sonic): http://www.sahkorecordings.com/sahko-021.php

AH, an old project of Niko Skorpio (Reptiljen, Some Place Else, etc.) from 1998-2001, has posted their entire discography online for free download: http://kaaos.org/a/h/
Reviews compare the music to the minimal techno of fellow Finns Pan Sonic and Vladislav Delay.

MP3: Kompjotr Eplektrika - Skulldrummantra

You want more brain-melting electronics courtesy of Celebrity Lifestyle ala Pistol Disco? Well, better check out their other new release from Kompjotr Eplektrika. I wasn't 100% sold on their first album "RedisetKompjotrAllesklaar-Eplektrika" (try saying that out loud if you can), but the new one "Darrk circuits fadead waves" perfects the formula. At its very base, this is techno, albeit far more twisted and messed up than the usual pop-oriented stuff you're likely to hear at the club. The key word here is damaged 'cuz that's what it sounds like. If Pan Sonic might sometimes resembles the sound of machines falling apart, this is the sound of machines undergoing serious abuse. Everything is blown out and completely fucked up and listening to it on headphones might make your head feel the same way. A good thing? Yessiree.

Kompjotr Eplektrika - Skulldrummantra

MP3: Pan Sonic - Virta 1.

We live in a world where countless faceless musical acts are all jockeying for the same infinitely small piece of the pie, so it's totally counterintuitive for a band to not promote themselves at all. The duo's new record "Katodivaihe" ("Cathodephase") was released with essentially zero fanfare - I only knew it existed because I saw a couple mailing list postings. Of course, it's gotten a tiny bit of attention here and there recently, but you'd probably only find it if you were seeking it out. Musically, this isn't much of a departure from 2004's massive 4xCD set "Kesto" - you know it's Pan Sonic from the get-go and there are no jarring surprises, only jarring noise. The addition of Hildur Gudnadottir's cello on a number of tracks however, does broaden their melodic range quite a bit. Pan Sonic has never been as rhythmically rigid as, say, Kraftwerk for instance, so the addition of a more "human" element does not feel unnatural. Actually, it's kind of surprising they haven't done something like this sooner. All in good time, I suppose. Like I said, Pan Sonic are not ones to make much of a fuss about anything.

Pan Sonic - Virta 1.

Brainwashed reviews the new Pan Sonic record "Katodivaihe": http://brainwashed.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6231

The playlist for my radio show on Sirius this week:

01. Beyond Dawn - Far from showbiz
02. TALK 1
03. Superfamily - The radio has expressed concerns about what you did last night
04. The Fine Arts Showcase - Dance with your shadow
05. Pan Sonic - Hinaaja / Tugboat
06. TALK 2
07. Mixtapes & Cellmates - Hold
08. The Bear Quartet - I don't wanna
09. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - When she's GONE
10. TALK 3
11. Laakso - High drama
12. Park Hotell - The guest who stayed forever
13. Fun - Hold it close
14. TALK 4
15. The Book of Daniel - Rabbit boy
16. Watain - Storm of the Antichrist
17. Viktor Sjöberg - w/Nothing
18. Kristofer Åström - Fallen
19. TALK 5
20. Mainliners - Olivia
21. Oddjob - Kings are walking out
22. Lemonator - Heart burns
23. TALK 6
24. Tobias Hellkvist - Slowly but surely
25. Attrap - Just a word away
26. Sahara Hotnights - Visit to Vienna
27. TALK 7
28. The Leather Nun - No rule
29. Alog - Son of king
30. Thunder Express - Vegas
31. TALK 8
32. Closer - Sensing the wake

Friday's Sirius Blog Radio playlist:

01. The Alpine - Mondays look the same
02. TALK 1
03. Gravy - Back with the nerds
04. Giant Robot - Best match
05. Jomi Massage - A detail
06. TALK 2
07. Broder Daniel - Shoreline
08. The Grand Opening - Don't drop off
09. Moonbabies - Take me to the ballroom
10. Britta Persson - Oh how wrong
11. TALK 3
12. Lemonator - Would you die for me?
13. Trapdoor Fucking Exit - Short ends
14. Billie the Vision and the Dancers - Overdosing with you
15. TALK 4
16. Folie - Rocin
17. Robyn - Handle me
18. Laakso - Norrköping
19. TALK 5
20. Magnet - I walk the line
21. Isolation Years - Albino child
22. KVLR - Construction work
23. TALK 6
24. Anna Leong - 61
25. Tigerbombs - One giant leap
26. Motorpsycho - Hyena
27. TALK 7
28. Oskar Schönning - Other birds
29. Pan Sonic - Rähinä II / Mayhem II
30. Mercyful Fate - Evil
31. TALK 8
32. Ricochets - Come around over
33. Ghost Brigade - Based on you
34. Smalltown - The music
35. Popface - In the night
36. TALK 9
37. Circle Six - 1

Mika Vainio, one half of Finnish minimalist electronic duo Pan Sonic, has a new solo album entitled "Revitty" ("Torn") out now on Wavetrap Records. More info: http://wav.post-pop.org/wav06/

Via the pHinnWeb mailing list comes word that the new Angel album "In Transmediale" is out: http://www.discogs.com/release/835021
Angel is the duo of Ilpo Väisänen from Pan Sonic with Dirk Dresselhaus (aka Schneider TM). This live recording from 2004 also features Icelandic cellist Hildur Gudnadottir who will also be appearing on Pan Sonic's forthcoming record "Katodivaihe".

Pan Sonic's new album "Katodivaihe / Cathodephase", their sixth overall, will be released in December via Blast First Petite. Full details and tracklist: http://www.slimsmith.com/blastfirstpetite/pansonicnews.html

Brainwashed does a video interview with Finland's Pan Sonic: http://brainwashed.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5537&Itemid=61

I hear that Pan Sonic is playing NYC in early September? Anyone have details of other dates?

MP3: FAP - You golem

New track today from Swedish electronic act FAP, a name which probably stands for something, I just don't know what. The label's description actually sums up the record quite nicely, a trait sadly all-too-rare in the music biz. Here's how they see it: "FAP's debut LP is a about a half an hour of minimal, ambient and lush drones; sparkling guitars and curious sine waves." And when they say LP, they mean it - this is a vinyl only release. Imagine a more lush version of Pan Sonic or maybe think of that Viktor Sjöberg record I was hyping recently. The music is deceptively simple, but extremely satisfying. It's the kind of stuff that easily does double-duty as both ambient background music or can be cranked up for more detailed listening. It doesn't demand your full attention, but proves to be rewarding when you do. Very recommended.

FAP - You golem

Finnish electronic duo Pan Sonic will be doing a performance collaboration with Alter Ego chamber ensemble of Italy (not to be confused with German techno act Alter Ego) on March 25 at MaerzMusik, a German festival for modern music taking place in Berlin. More info: [click here]

Mika Vainio and Ilpo Väisänen, better known to some as Finnish duo Pan Sonic, have collaborated with artist John Duncan on a new album entitled "Nine suggestions". Details: http://www.allquestions.net/orderinfo.html#AQ08