ASIP Label Showcase @ Public Records, New York: OKRAA + Salvatore Mercantante + Aspetuck

A Strangely Isolated Place presents an evening of room-filled atmospherics, taking over the Public Records Sound Room.

Colombian-born, OKRAA, presents his intense analog walls of sound and complex IDM, as heard throughout his new album on A Strangely Isolated Place, ‘La Gran Corriente’, as well as his previous outings, ‘1994’ and his more beat-driven alias ‘Laudrup’.

Debuting on the label earlier this year, New York-based artist Salvatore Mercatante is quickly defining a sharp and soaring IDM style, with complex drum patterns and clinical progressions, that cry out for a big system, and now finally unleashed in his hometown.

With a release set to arrive on the label next year, local producer, and Hudson NY native, Aspetuck will be opening the evening with a DJ set, highlighting his unique ear for a blend of electronic styles, and a taste of what’s to come on the label in 2025.

Tickets via Dice

RSVP to the event on Resident Advisor.

OKRAA / Es Hora (ASIPV051) Official video by Dead Society

Watch a new video for the single, ‘Es Hora’ taken from OKRAA’s upcoming album, La Gran Corriente.

Created by Dead Society, the visualizer captures an organic energy and momentum of Juan’s new beat-focused approach, highlighting its IDM sensibilities through abstract and hypnotic visuals.

La Gran Corriente, is now available for preorder on gatefold 2LP and digital. View the release page for more details and links to listen and buy.

Join us on October 23rd for the album listening party and full album playthrough over on Bandcamp, at 11am PST. RSVP here.

Markus Guentner & Karen Vogt - All Light Will Remain (Music video by Guillaume Eymenier)

Watch a beautiful new video for the track ‘All Light Will Remain’ by Markus Guentner & Karen Vogt, directed by Guillaume Eymenier.

Inverted Audio have the video premiere and additional details on the inspiration and approach from Guillaume.

Markus Guentner’s new album Kontrapunkt is now available on digital and gatefold 2LP, with copies going fast!

Head to the release page for more details and links to buy.

Markus Guentner / Trilogy Mix (ASIP041)

A retrospective 2.40hr mix of all 3 Markus Guentner albums, Theia, Empire and Extropy now available on Bandcamp as free/Name Your Price. Before we present Markus’s next chapter, ‘Kontrapunkt’, absorb yourself in the triptych of music Markus contributed to ASIP over these 3 albums in one extended session.

For fans of long-form ambient, space ambient, and dense atmospheric drone. One to get lost in without interruptions.

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Markus Guentner presents a long-form mix of all tracks from his trilogy of albums on ASIP, Theia, Empire and Extropy. 

Over eight years and three LPs, Markus Guentner weaved a conceptual narrative that spanned millions of years. The German musician’s first album for the label, Theia explored the legend of the planet believed to have collided with Earth to form the Moon. This was followed by Empire (2018), narrating the creation of life on Earth, and the trilogy concluded with Extropy (2020), centered on the concept of limitless growth and what potentially lies ahead of us all. 

Together, the mix embodies Markus’ most defining chapter in style and sound, available as one complete high-quality and immersive long-form listening experience. 

Original albums:

Theia (2015)

Empire (2018)

Extropy (2020)

Mixed and sequenced by Markus Guentner. 
Original tracks mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri.
Original artwork for albums by Nick Brzostowski and Noah M / Keep Adding.
Trilogy Mix artwork edit by ASIP.

Markus Guentner / Kontrapunkt (ASIPV050)

Even though we are well over fifty vinyl releases now (thanks to my bad vinyl catalog nomenclature), it’s still a celebratory moment to reach the ASIPV050 milestone. And of course, it had to be with Markus.

Markus has been with the label since our first digital release series - The Places Series, with his Talking Clouds EP. I still remember clearly emailing Markus to see if he was interested in my rather humble proposal, and like the true gentleman he has been ever since, he graciously accepted and turned out an amazing set of music.

Since then, Markus has gone on to release three 2LPs through the accidental triptych of Theia, Empire and Extropy, as well as two digital releases; Gradient Spirits, and a single track for Charity - Overtone (David’s Song). He has become the label’s most prolific partner, and has been a pleasure to work with since day one. So it is my absolute honor to introduce his new album which features eight similarly brilliant producers, in Kontrapunkt.

Markus Guentner returns to his longstanding label, A Strangely Isolated Place, following the triptych of Theia, Empire, and Extropy, presenting eight inspiring collaborations on Kontrapunkt.

Collaborations are nothing new to Markus, but it’s hard to see beyond his strong singular presence as a pioneer of long-form ambient and drone. Collabs have punctuated his albums in various places over the years, and he is no stranger to working as a duo amongst other projects, with such a strong conceptual thread throughout his prior ASIP releases, Kontrapunkt represents a literal pivot and counterpoint in his production approach. Instead of music encapsulating a strong conceptual narrative, Kontrapunkt sees Markus create a dialogue between himself and a collection of inspiring production partners. 

Kontrapunkt opens with ‘Vanish’, a widescreen cinematic odyssey created in collaboration with fellow German and Affin label-head Joachim Spieth, forming the perfect opener with its modest subtleties. Australian-born Karen Vogt, renowned for her voice layering and looping, brings a beautiful, and natural addition to ‘All Light Will Remain’. 

Sonae, who appeared on ASIP’s early digital releases, demonstrates her evolution into experimental flourishes with ‘Farbe Der Nacht’, adding pulsating techno tendencies and a menacing, metallic approach to Markus’ foundations. Multi-instrumentalist Pepo Galán harmonizes beautifully with Markus on ‘Ancestral Images’, adding complex nuances to a slowly evolving euphoric piece. 

A master of synthesis, Arovane delivers a powerful display of supercharged electronics and coils of energy on ‘Utopian Fragments’. Benoît Pioulard's renowned expertise with guitars and tape distortion become a perfect counter to the electronics of Markus, blending styles seamlessly on ‘Father Of Waters’. 

‘An unstoppable force meets an immovable object’ on ‘While Hunting Nightmares And Dreaming For Peace’, as Abul Mogard adds powerful restraint in a meeting of two drone titans. The album concludes with ‘Presence’, where Hollie Kenniff’s uplifting vocals provide a shimmering finish, perfectly bookending an album of perfected counterpoints and evolutions on the Markus Guentner sound.

Kontrapunkt will be available on Gatefold Black/Grey/Blue marble 2LP, digital and streaming on August 30th 2024. Mastered by Gio at Artefacts Mastering, Berlin, and featuring artwork by Noah M / Keep Adding.