Christian Kleine / Electronic Music From The Lost World: 1998-2001

A slightly new style of music for ASIP,  but for those that know me, City Centre Offices and the people that made up that label and the IDM/electronica sound of the late '90s, are big inspirations. We're very happy to host a home for some of Christian Kleine's early works - a time machine back to the early days of music software, when 808's were all that mattered and studio sessions with Arovane,. Thaddi Herrmann and Ulrich Schnauss were the Sunday norm. 

~

1998, Berlin was a pivotal time for Germany’s Christian Kleine and electronic music as a whole. Growing-up amongst a divided city’s bleak aftermath, alongside hedonistic tendencies that birthed the likes of Loveparade, it was easy to be both inspired and rebellious at the same time. The influences of Detroit techno and rave culture started to travel, and artists were turning to new techniques and machinery, at a time when the bedroom, started to become a studio. 

Christian would end up developing a new and unique sound, alongside a small but impactful community that eventually formed a cult artist roster on the City Centre Offices label. His background began in New Wave and Punk, eventually transitioning into DJ’ing in the early 90’s and then, into more electronic productions, with Jungle and drum’n bass his first muse. Christian was on the hunt for something different to what Berlin had to offer at the time, and with his first synth, (Nordlead 1995) and an Atari computer, Christian was creating his first drum’n bass tracks, sending them off to the local radio station, (Kiss FM) where he met future production partner and CCO label head, Thaddeus Herrmann. 

Sunday morning studio time alongside Thaddi (as Herrmann & Kleine), jam sessions with Arovane, and coffee with Ulrich Schnauss, continued to inspire and push Christian’s style. This small but influential group of producers would go on to define a melodic, and introspective style of music that now has a cult status amongst IDM, ambient and electronic music fans.

Becoming tired of functional productions, Christian was always interested in finding his own place and language, and continued to experiment further. Taking his inspiration from drum’n bass, and the company of City Centre Offices artists, Christian defined his unique style we know today. Intelligent drum programming met an ethereal and melodic synthesizer style. A delicate and introspective listen, or a hazy layer of bubbling activity and color, Christian’s music defies function and invites you into a world of personal reflection. 

This collection of music is Christian's own moment to reflect. Going back to a time he misses; an intense period when producing music was the only thing that mattered. This is music that never saw the light of day; recovered from DAT and pressed on vinyl; A Strangely Isolated Place and Christian Kleine present 'Electronic Music From The Lost World: 1998-2001'.

Wish you were there...

Available on transparent green double vinyl and digital download. Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri at Black Knoll Studio. Featuring original Berlin-brutalist inspired artwork by Noah M / Keep Adding with photography by Midori Hirano.

Buy at Bandcamp

Buy at Juno (UK/EU shipping)

Arovane & Hior Chronik / Into my own - now available

Arovane & Hior Chronik return with their second album as a duo, following 2015's 'In-between'.

'Into my own' finds Arovane and Hior experimenting with distinctive feelings, styles and moments throughout the twelve tracks, creating an album full of twists and turns. Featuring a similar ethereal ambience to 'In-between', delicate instruments, field recordings and more melodic electronic influences are now apparent, forming a tangible storyline, as the duo leave you standing on the edge of a journey unknown, lost and lonesome, a soundtrack to anticipated escapism. 

Conjuring many moments of discovery as you step foot into this unknown world, the appreciation of finer details and textures slowly become apparent. You wander apprehensively across fresh autumn leaves, crisp from the morning's fog amidst a glowing soft light as day turns to night. 

Field recordings add a new depth to the duo's productions, alongside the frequent manipulation of the piano, harpsichord and vibraphone. The infamous guises of the Una Corda however, forms the backbone of the album; a guiding star as you navigate through a dense forest, unexplored crystal caves and shimmering rivers.

Balancing organic, analog tones and more metallic, experimental approaches, the duo have once again found a harmonious balance of ambient, instrumental and electronic sounds that transport you into a new world; a familiar yet unexplored territory that holds your hand, as you come into your own.

"One of my wishes is that those dark trees, 
So old and firm they scarcely show the breeze, 
Were not, as ’twere, the merest mask of gloom, 
But stretched away unto the edge of doom."
- Robert Frost (“Into My Own” - 1915) 

'Into my own' will be available on double transparent LP housed in a matte gatefold sleeve & digital download, with artwork by Nick Brzostowski. Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri at Black Knoll Studio. 

Buy vinyl & digital on Bandcamp.

Buy vinyl at Juno (UK/EU shipping)

“So lovely, just chiming, very simply in the dark of the night...”

— Mary Anne Hobbs BBC Radio6

Leandro Fresco & Rafael Anton Irisarri - La Espera (digital EP) now available

As many of you know by now, we have had struggles with the final pressing of Leandro Fresco & Rafael Anton Irisarri's album, La Equidistancia. You can read more about it here.

In light of these problems, Leandro & Rafael worked to put together this new companion EP to help raise funds for their album repress. 

Continuing the theme of La Equidistancia, Leandro & Rafael explore more of their deep, swirling and mysterious textures. 'The Wait' is the sound of being barricaded in isolation, as the world moves around you.

Featuring a photo by Todd Diemer, the artwork continues the theme of La Equidistancia, pairing with the overall theme of 'The Wait', as the vinyl repress gets underway. 

Available on Bandcamp

Leandro Fresco & Rafael Anton Irisarri - vinyl press update & new EP

As many of you who've been following us know, there have been multiple unfortunate issues with the final vinyl pressing of Leandro Fresco & Rafael Anton Irisarri's, “La Equidistancia.”

Namely, the audio quality of the final pressing is poor, even though test-presses sounded fine and the artists approved it back in February. There are also multiple issues with the print quality and the color vinyl “marbled” swirl.

After going through two unsuccessful attempts at a final press, the manufacturer has made it abundantly clear they cannot create the final quality product we (and you) expect.

We will be starting from scratch with a new pressing plant, as we need to cut our losses, despite not being refunded in full by the current manufacturer.

Financially, we are at a substantial loss from this ordeal, which is a big blow for a small operation like ASIP (and of course, the artists themselves).  We also have to find an ecologically-friendly way to dispose of 1,000 copies of someone’s art (instead of shipping them all the buyers) which is extremely draining and hard to do.

Thus, to help soften the blow, Leandro and Rafael have created this companion three-track EP titled “La Espera”. It's a superb release in its own right and we're lucky Leandro & Rafael have prioritized their time and put their talent together once again.

Continuing the theme of La Equidistancia, Leandro & Rafael explore more of their deep, swirling and mysterious textures over this three-track EP. 'The Wait' is the sound of being barricaded in isolation, as the world moves around you.

La Espera, is now available on Bandcamp.

eBay auction of entire ASIP test press catalog...

Lastly, we've put up an entire catalog of test presses for auction over on eBay. This includes every ASIP release so far in test pressing format (black vinyl/white label) - 9 releases, including the sold-out Uncharted Places, Europe, 36 and many more. No one owns them all, these are from Ryan's (ASIP founder) personal collection, so be kind, and happy bidding! 

Thank you to everyone who has been on this rollercoaster journey with us, and continues to support and listen to our music. We have a standard which we want to keep to make everyone a proud ASIP vinyl owner.

We will keep you posted as the new press is underway. Anyone waiting to purchase the vinyl, it will be available in a few months once a successful repress is received.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we get rolling with another press.

We'll get there!

Ryan, Leandro and Rafael.

Leandro Fresco & Rafael Anton Irisarri / La Equidistancia - Now Available

I am very grateful to have two of my favorite producers combine for a release on ASIP, Leandro Fresco (Kompakt) and Rafael Anton Irisarri (Ghostly, Room40).

Their emotional, detailed and epic collaboration album, La Equidistancia is now available. Check out some of the soundbites coming in below, and read about the album in full over on the release page.  

Buy on Bandcamp.

“The album’s slow, lugubrious sounds engulf the listener like molasses
”

— A Closer Listen

“... a gorgeous slab of thick ambient environment with a pulsating heart to it.”

— Tiny Mix Tapes

“Achingly beautiful”

— XLR8R

“...deep ambient of the most epic kind”

— Inverted Audio

PLEASE NOTE. The final delivery of  the vinyl has been delayed due to a faulty press. You can still secure your copy of the vinyl at Bandcamp, and it will ship when it arrives - currently expected in May, potentially earlier. You can also sign up to be notified when Juno will receive their copies here where they have cheaper shipping to Europe and ROW.