Onium - Recombinant (Harmonious Discord)

The new year calls for the return of the deep-minded dub master Onium to the Harmonious Discord label. A core part of the label sound engine, Onium has showcased an impressive evolution, adding depth and precision with every project. The Recombinant EP represents peak levels of the mastery for this artist and the label's brought in Puresine, Space Scavengers, and Floating Machine in support of this very special frosty project.

Never one to start with flair, Onium guides us gently into a sonically rich tapestry called “Dubsect”. Rumbling bass trios and perfectly controlled synth accents sit in even space in this expertly timed introduction. Puresine enters next to navigate "Dubsect" into dancefloor territory, upping the pace and introducing edgier elements. The introduction of frosted chord stabs and devilish bass responses targets this remix for late night territories as it moves ever-forward with intensity. The next original is a collaboration between Onium and Greek duo Space Scavengers. Stepping back from the intensity in the previous Puresine remix, “Shimmer and Shine” is a beautifully tempered slow burn. Complete with dancing pad interplays and screaming background textures, this selection gives the shimmer of a profound elevated experience. On remix duties for “Shimmer and Shine” is the multi-talented KiloWatts. Instead of reduxing and remixing the original, KiloWatts breaks down each shade and builds it all back up in this sexy space opera that sits somewhere between breaks and techno. "Point of Balance" pairs Onium with Puresine in a characteristic amalgam of their respective sounds. Brighter than your average Onium piece but still tempering and controlling all aspects methodically. Floating Machine plunges right into the depths with his often aquatic, silky textures — a revision of the original that crosses purposes between techno relevance and deep house philosophy.

Tony H (Dirtybird) – “These remixes are dope!”
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite) – “Really good, spacey tracks.”
Tolis Q (Quantized Music) – “Really nice release here. Loving the deep vibes.”
Taigo Onez (Bang Le’ Dex) – “This is wonderful, what a great release. Full support.”
Dave Noonan (Circulation Radio Show) – “Some good dubby soundscapes.”
Jon Fugler (XLNT radio show) – “Solid production throughout. The KiloWatts remix is the one for me, with the exceptional outro.”

Available Now From: Bandcamp, Beatport, Apple Music, And Spotify.

Various Artists - Discordian Dreaming 9 (Harmonious Discord Recordings)

Harmonious Discord continues its 20-year celebration with the ninth installment of the Discordian Dreaming sampler series. Over the years, Discordian Dreaming has been the vehicle to introduce new artists to the community but also to feature selections from established HD names. This year, label is going big with 12 forward-thinking selections covering shades of deep house, techno, urban bass, electro, and more. Listeners are sure to find a mood for all purposes, with a steel-thread of abstraction and musicality throughout.

New faces to the Harmonious Discord roster like Jon Glez, The Stoned, and Edwin Watson offer a taste of full projects slated for later in the year. Familiar friends Visions of Glosters, Lucas Ray, Elevotion, Josiah Fontenot, and Vuérs prove that their musical mastery is not contained to a simple sound definition. While HD core artists 1981US, Patchen, Onium, and Tobor Rellik offer you a glimpse into the diverse nature of their upcoming albums and extended EPs. Harmonious Discord encourages DJs to dive deep into these artists as their devotion to exploding through boundary norms are all in service of bringing innovative music to the planet.

This promo features 7 highlights from the 12 song compilation. To peep other tracks, visit hdrecordings.com.

Nick Warren (Hope Recordings) – “Some great tracks here.”
Jon Fugler (Fluke) – “Loving the slightly retro feel on some of these. All are very enjoyable with some standout tracks here.”
Strat3gy (House Afrika Records) – “Really diverse yet consistent release.”
Kosta (Vibe FM) – “Smooth. A very nice compilation.”
Klaus Benedek (Fortunea Records) – “I like the tracks by The Stoned and Vuérs here.”
DJ Firefly (Couch Dancing) – “Great variety here from some super talented cats.”
Hober Mallow (Mighty Reel Show) – “Love the variey here. Some great warm house tunes and more washed out ones as well. Perfect for my show. Thanks for the great music.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Bandcamp, Apple Music, And Spotify.

Jake Beautyman - Shadow Them Hills (Harmonious Discord Recordings)

Harmonious Discord is excited to welcome Suffolk-based producer Jake Beautyman (Bosh, Bombis, Damolh Records) to the label with an abstract-leaning dance record focused on disorienting melodies and sharp percussion. “Shadow Them Hills” is a tense and satisfying exploration of audio signals and sonic creepiness. Label mainstays Tobor Rellik and Onium provide a pair of fantastic remixes.

“Shadow Them Hills” tempers warehouse drum construction with carefully-placed sampling. Escalating arpeggios dance around each other as siren sounds move the music forward. Theremin-esque haunted leads sweep through during the multiple reprises. “Shadow Them Hills” is a fantastic tool for turning up the energy and setting sail for darker waters.

Tobor Rellik puts forth an amazing bass-driven rework. Focusing on the processed effects and rumbling sub-bass, the rework is guaranteed to wake the neighbors. Onium dives deeper with a dub techno re-imagination. Swirling pads settle the sampled material and the raw techno elements are preserved but rolled in with precision. Jake closes out the project with a fitting b-side called “Release and Guidance.” The selection features a similar focus on the abstract now accompanied by vocal samples and detuned modular plucks.

Colin Dale (Abstrakt Dance Records) – “Excellent EP. All cuts are rocking. A+”
Lcaise (Tanztone Records) – “Strong release. Tobor Rellik and Onium remixes for me, but the originals are also great. Will play for sure.”
Al Mackenzie (Great Outdoors) – “The Onium mix is really nice.”
Brian Busto (Serious Soul) – “Excellent tracks all around. Full support on this one.”
Lee Guthrie (Wiggle / Click Therapy) – “The Original of Shadow Them Hills is for me here.”
Dean Facer (OurHouse Magazine) – “A truly excellent release.”
SimonG (Volcano Radio) – “These are some solid late night beats.”
Brandon Bass (Aspect Ratios – KMET Radio) – “I really dig the Tobor Rellik remix. Supporting.”
Rob Zile (Brain Food Radio Show) – “Great deep, techy beats.”
Rob Pearson (Sinefm.com) – “Lovely EP here from Jake. The title cut stands out at first listen, but I’m looking forward to working with all of these cuts.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Bandcamp, Apple Music, And Spotify.

Onium & Ivan Torres - Dub Excursions (Harmonious Discord)

As winter lingers longer than expected, waves of indecisive weather permeate the planet. The Harmonious Discord camp is picking up on deep connotations distilled in dreary afternoons. It’s a perfect time to revisit some of the label’s dub-minded artists with a special collaboration called Dub Excursions. Dub Excursions features label familiar Onium as well as two rising stars in the expansive dub techno arena, Ivan Torres and James Kelley.

Onium’s “Intentions” is a breathing invitation to rise. Artifacts of ambient works and eco-botanal shades temper organic dub influences with expressive synthesizer design. Cascading momentum drives this pensive powerhouse to a floaty array of melodic bliss. Next, “Perceptions” compliments “Intentions” as that selection set the path and “Perceptions” moves things deeper. The soundscape is filled with vinyl remnants and complex pads, but the other elements bring a more aggressive techno flavor to the later sections.

“Dub 7,” the EP’s first cut from Ivan Torres, cracks a smile in this rather serious project. It begins with evolving pads and a muted, dusty drum machine. The cut starts to open up in the middle with brushes of melodic leads that dance in-between the lush soundscapes. Its successor “Dub 8” is a good order sharper. Driving interstellar melodies and tense bass deliver on the dance-floor presence of Ivan’s contribution. Expect more from Ivan to come on Harmonious Discord.

On the remix tip, longtime Dallas-based sleeper sensation James Kelley (Subspec/Momentum League) drives the subtle but tense properties of “Intentions” into a skin-crawling warehouse techno piece. The once calming breaths now breed uncertainty as James layers on heady atmospheres. James gives us a crippling bass-bin workout for the after hours.

Nice Warren (The Soundgarden) – “A great EP!”
Anthony Pappa (Red Light District) – “Cool EP. I love ‘Intentions’. Some nice tracks that will be used.”
Greg Gow (Transmat) – “Love this EP. Nice and moody and deep.”
Craig Steward (DCSTrax) – “Stunning deepness here. Absolutely superb, great work!”
Haris Custovic (Laus Music) – “This is super!”
Jean Jérome (Kut ‘N’ Paste) – “Lovely deep vibes, will play.”
Taigo Onez (Bang Le’ Dex) – “James Kelley comes correct with the righteousness. Great tracks by Ivan Torres.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Breathtaking stuff here. Love it.”
Sharlese (KEXP) – “Nice chill vibe sounds.”
juSt b (Melodic Deep) – “Great collection! I love ‘Intentions’ – such warm, inviting & dreamy vibes with such a fierce remix!”

Available Now From: Beatport, Traxsource, Apple Music, And Spotify.