Diamonds and Pearls Music

Controlled Violence – Fergus Sweetland / Vohkinne / Kontinum / I C S – CVR XVI – CVR XVI






Controlled Violence presents its third Various Artists release on vinyl, seeing its two base cities uniting to showcase the sounds of both Melbourne and Leipzig. CVR XVI exhibits four artists who truly represent the sounds of their cities and scenes, demonstrating that Controlled Violence is not only defined by unearthing talented artists, but also by presenting individuals who express an endless devotion to the world of electronic music.
Representing Melbourne with a diverse mix of warped, ethereal, and dynamic sonic works are Fergus Sweetland and Vohkinne. In opening the A-Side, Fergus Sweetland launches listeners on a cyclic and evolving, yet atemporal journey through space. Backing up is Vohkinne, who bends reality with a contorting, low-slung belter, wholly summarising Controlled Violence’s stylistic persuasions.
On the B-Side, and giving the gift of Leipzig’s sounds are Kontinum and I C S. Hypnotic heads, Kontinum present a symphony brimming with delayed stabs, thick oscillator pulses, and orderly percussion. Turning the dial further is I C S., who expresses a twisted yet slamming piece of work, broken up with melodic and breaks-influenced sections, speaking to all corners of the audio spectrum, and concluding the release perfectly.
Controlled Violence is proud to present this body of work, composed and influenced by the artists and artistic ideas of its diverse surroundings. For a timeless journey into Melbourne and Leipzig, CVR XVI is the answer.



A1: Fergus Sweetland – Strange Weird Weather

A2: Vohkinne – Self Immolation




B1: Kontinum – In The Tiles




B2: I C S. – Beneath The Surface





Gradient – Jamaica Suk – Whispers EP – GRA 002







With recent appearances on Boiler Room and the Groove Magazine Podcast plus sets across Asia and Europe, Jamaica Suk’s fearsome techno sounds are winning fans far and wide. A year on from her debut release on her own Gradient label comes this stunning second volume.
A1 Stinger Ray kicks off the EP with zingy modular-style synth sounds pulsing over a bubbling, murky bassline. Sheet metal snares punctuate the beat, with a switch-up halfway through into gnarled, distorted synth crunches catching you unaware. These brutalised rhythms morph in and out of hypnotic arpeggiated pulses to make for a hallucinatory ride with ample dashes of psychedelia throughout.
A2 Fallen sets it outs stall immediately, with filtered down acidic bass playing out a jagged groove. A manic counterpart mimics its rhythm but dizzyingly delayed off the beat to create a rugged, funk-fuelled feel. Cymbal rides pitch up and down; unidentified snarls of FX mutate around the edges; all the while the sharp hi-hats keep the metronomic heartbeat going.
B1 Whispers ups the intensity. Delicate, arpeggiated chime sounds set a crystalline mood before swathes of intense, darkly-tinged synths swell in and out of focus atop the throbbing kick drums. The effect is that of a factory full of machines growing a mind of their own, malfunctioning in a pleasing harmonic dissonance.
B2 Twilight Rain (Vinyl only) completes the set with infectious triple kick drum patterns underpinning dramatic drum hits and warped atmospheric shivers that create a spooky feel as droning bass tones carve a path through your speakers.



A1: Jamaica Suk – Stinger Ray




A2: Jamaica Suk – Fallen




B1: Jamaica Suk – Whispers




B2: Jamaica Suk – Twilight Rain





Muller Records – Beroshima – Hexaline EP – Muller Records 2089







Frank Muller AKA Beroshima and is back on his own Muller Records with a brand new single that features remixes from Japanese stars Hiroshi Watanabe and A. Mochi. It comes a month after his ‘Encounter EP’ and is another fantastic release from this techno scene stalwart.
First emerging in the nineties, Muller has since become a techno great who has played from Asia to South America. He’s had plenty of underground hits on the likes of Cocoon and Soma and held residencies at key clubs over the years.
In original form his single ‘Hexaline’ is an intense and driving bit of techno with majestic synth patterns that light up the whole track as they dance up and down the scale whilst the slick drums power on below. It’s a terrific techno cut for the peak of the night to get hands in the air, with a powerful sound courtesy of Ulrich Schnauss’ masterful mixdown.
Hiroshi Watanabe then steps up to remix after strong outings on labels like Transmat earlier in the year. He is one of Japan’s leading electronic producers on labels likes Mule, King Street Sounds and Kompakt and here he totally reworks the track into a nine minute techno symphony with icy drums doing a restless dance as swirling pads bring a cosmic feel. It’s epic, elegant techno that takes you on a real trip.
The next remix is from A.Mochi, one of Len Faki’s key label associates on Figure and someone with a live PA and DJ set that leaves you spellbound. From CLR to Mote-Evolver he has released on the best contemporary techno labels and played at places like Berghain so is an unquestionably vital artist. His excellent rework is deep, slow burning and hugely atmospheric, with pensive pads and tender one-finger synth notes ringing out into the sky.
Techno rarely gets better than this EP.



A: Hiroshi Watanabe mix




B1: A. Mochi mix




B2: Original mix