Sticks and stones may break your bones but mutually remembered songs will brighten the deepest dark - This playlist celebrates over a decade of emotional and creative support. Amanda Weimer (Mandy) and Moritz Haas (Europa) are celebrating what started off as a teenage romance and turned into 13 years of friendship.

playlist, editorial

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Five Rhythms: Fall of Saigon

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10 Timeless Records selected by Zaltan (Antinote)

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Antinote is a young Parisian label run by Quentin “Zaltan” Vandewalle and Gwen Jamies alias Lueke. It all started with Luekes old techno tapes he produced in the early nineties. It’s release formed the basement for the future career of the label.

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interview

Interview: Mark Renner

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One could not overhear the influence of bands like Ultravox, Felt or the Yellow Magic Orchestra. The latest compilation also hosts instrumental pieces that Renner composed exclusively for an exhibition of paintings. Today Mark is still active as an artist and musician. We‘ve asked him about his recent work, his inspiration and his future plans.

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Queens

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electronic artist and frequent panda bear collaborator scott mou is the first person to admit that his debut album end times, released under the moniker queens a few weeks ago, isn’t quite what people expect.

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Column: Vinyl On Demand

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Entire volumes could be written about the output of the label Vinyl on Demand. The roughly 150 re-releases of obscure, long-forgotten material—mostly located somewhere between experimental, minimal, and early-80s noise—each has its own story. Here a mere two of our favorites briefly are introduced.

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Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

kaitlyn aurelia smith's formative years were spent communing with nature on orcas island in the northwest region of washington state, a place she describes as "one of the most magical and peaceful places i have ever been.

Sky Girl Compilation

great work by the french collectors dj sundae (who run the brilliant idle press & hollie imprints) and julien dechery. a deep sentimental journey into obscure folk and art pop.

Anish Kapoor at the Le Corbusier-designed Sainte Marie de La Tourette convent, near Lyon (France)

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An Exhibition Tour With: Tomaga

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tomaga is valentina magaletti and tom relleen. the two london musicians have toured galleries and art spaces near and far; here they share their thoughts about various exhibitions and spaces from new york to antwerp.

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interview

An Interview with: JJ Funhouse

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hello! well, first i’d like to express my absolute enthusiasm for your lovely work. i have rarely encountered a label with such a individual and innovative spirit.

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Some of Freek Kinkelaar’s Favourite Music

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"this is me on a friday, pondering about a ‘best of’ mix tape for you with the friendly ears. tough decisions to be made… i’m told to concentrate on drone/ambient stuff, but there is so much more to listen to and discover than what ends up in this list.

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interview

An Interview with Ashkan Soltani

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The Los Angeles-based film director and author Ashkan Soltani shot a documentary about Jandek together with Craig Matarrese about one of the most mysterious American musicians with a large international cult following. The film provides rare access to the elusive performer and an intimate examination of Jandek's creative process. We have the chance to raise a few questions to Soltani himself.

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Toru Takemitsu

toru takemitsu was a japanese composer and writer on aesthetics and music theory. largely self-taught, takemitsu possessed consummate skill in the subtle manipulation of instrumental and orchestral timbre.

Hot Releases

When listening to music by the likes of American label Hot Releases, one repeatedly encounters a performance-like aesthetics which seems influenced by Sonic Youth or Maurizio Bianchi. As Secret Boyfriend, Ryan Martin’s music is distinguished by neurotic noises and reduced synths combined with a lo-fi songwriter voice—see, for example, the recent Grovl release They’re Playing Themselves or the 2013 Blackest Ever Black release This Is Always Where You’ve Lived.

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TRANS-MILLENIA CONSORT (GERMAN VERSION)

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while doing research for an article about pauline anna strom, i came across an image of journalist and internet theorist hannes grassegger holing one of strom’s records. in the process of searching for the story behind the image, hannes sent me an extensive reply and explanation. read the original german text for the first time here.

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A PLAYLIST BY EUROPA AND MANDY