amix001 MAKE YOUR OWN AMEK MIXTAPE x FOCUS ON SOUND

Our collaboration with FOCUS magazine by former Music Map writer Nicholas Burman is one of the most exciting projects we've done in 2020. The first issue is dedicated to Sound and so we contributed an exclusive mixtape featuring 12 unpublished tracks by Entrenched, Zhe Pechorin, fashiongore, EVITCELES, krāllār, Cyberian, LATE, Phlp., Trotsky's Gut plus a few anonymous pieces. 

The catch is you are the one who's making the mixtape - you get the magazine, find the link to the music hidden in the text, xerocopy the artwork and dub the tape. Keep in mind that the link containing the music will be accessible only while the magazine is in circulation. 

While we have a few copies of the zine left at our store (with a free blank C60) tape we highly advise you support the magazine directly by ordering here. Don't forget to show off your mixtape & tracklist on social media using #amekmixtape. 

amex003 VA FRISSON MMXX CS

 

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FRISSON was a ray of light in an otherwise empty year for live music in Sofia, Bulgaria. This live compilation is our way to commemorate the event and the good times we had during its four days in early October of the cursed year 2020. The release features live and unedited bootleg recordings of new or unreleased works by the Amek Collective artists who were a part of the program alongside many other artists from the current Bulgarian electronic scene. 

Long live Studio EW!  

All tracks recorded during FRISSON FESTIVAL, Studio EW, Sofia on October 8-11, 2020.

EXPERIENCE is a tape series of live recordings, captured during Amek Collective events or guest appearances.

amek049 Non Photo Blue "Dépaysement" CS

 

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Daniel Donchov (Leaver) is returning to Amek for his second solo full-length album as Non Photo Blue. His crystal synth drones are once again inspired by travels and are a portrayal of his inner dialogs with the unknown. In "Dépaysement", Donchov is reviving and reliving a solitary journey he undertook across several US states in the Autumn of 2019, when international travel wasn't yet a distant memory. 

Beneath the deceivingly calm and warm soundscapes are lurking uncertain tones of distorted pianos, cold voices of public service announcements, various found sounds, and menacing undertones, which resemble decaying memories of train rattle. The album is a slow-paced exploration of ambient sound, but also an example how one could embrace discomfort and anxiety and transform them in an overwhelming sonic beauty. 

Written & recorded by Daniel Donchov. 

Mastered by Marius Costache (Studio148). 

Layout & photography by Kovlen Studio.

amek048 NATT "The Way You Were Made" CS

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"The Way You Were Made" is the Polish producer NATT's introduction to Amek Collective and his second solo release after a debut mini album for our partners in crime Zoharum. Spanning over eight brooding pieces, this dark and melancholic electronic offering is simultaneously bleak and beautiful. NATT throws us in a sonic world, shaped by gritty field recordings, heavy-weight bass drones, melodies soaked in desperation and synth debris. 

The music is clearly an interpretation of a very personal narrative, but its traces are subtle and non-imposing. Everything captured in "The Way You Were Made" does not make you feel unreal or detached from reality. On the contrary, NATT's music is inhabiting our very own world. It is, however, interested in exploring the shadows rather than exposing itself to the sunlight.

All music written & produced by NATT. 

Mastering by Marius Costache (Studio148).

Ambient Folklore & Leaver at Дом на киното 10/09/20 (gallery)

Ambient Folklore

Leaver

Photos by George Chelebiev

Ambient Folklore & Leaver (Hands Like Cages release show)

Дом на киното, Sept 10, 2020

Eclectic Mansarda

amek047 Conjecture "∫V" CS

 

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"∫V" by Conjecture is a companion EP to their full-length LP "V" (Amek, 2019). In mathematical language the "∫" means "complete" and so the record contains previously unheard music, written during the recording sessions of "V". With this new EP Conjecture puts the final touches of what was started over a year ago with his vinyl debut for Amek but the music on the record also hints at what we are to expect of the project's future sound explorations. 

 Alongside three previously unheard solo pieces of Conjecture's signature introspective yet powerful take on post-industrial music, "∫V" features three guest interpretations of the same material. LATE, antechamber & Талос re-envision Conjecture's music and bring its already deep and nuanced sound to a whole new level. "∫V" is not a curiosity in the project's always-evolving body of work but a must-have for both new listeners and die-hard fans of his immersive music realms.

Music by Vasilis Angelopoulos 2018-2019 (www.vasilisangelopoulos.com) 

Vocals on ΦΟΝΟΣ by Glen Tartaglia ]interstice[ 

Cover photo by Vaia Pilafa (www.vaiapilafa.com) 

Cover model Hawk Stigmata 

Mastered by Sotiris Laskaris

amek046 Leaver "Hands Like Cages" CS

 

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Three years after their previous record, Leaver return with "Hands Like Cages". Their new full-length album is a mixture of droning singer-songwriter music, this time more centered around vocals and lyrics, and even denser on textures and ambiance. "Hands Like Cages" was recorded in three sessions between 2018 and 2019. Those took place in Sofia, Bulgaria and Breda, The Netherlands. The album brings feelings of detachment but of togetherness as well and is more than suitable for everything that has happened to the world in 2020. More than ever are Leaver indulging in long-form pieces but those somehow still manage to feel intimate, accessible and welcoming for the listener.

Leaver is Angel Simitchiev & Daniel Donchov
Hands Like Cages was recorded by Mihail Slavov (Wind City Studio)
Mixed & mastered by Marius Costache (Studio148)
Artwork photography by Zlatina Tochkova
Front image shot during the making of "ПУСТОШ" BY SMYAH x VOΛEN

Amek Collective Pop-up Store @ Catch A Fire Records 12/09

In the past six months we've not only released a ton of new records but also gathered so much new music from partner labels from all over the world. We've decided to throw a pop-up store at our friends at Catch A Fire Records (Angel Kanchev str., 24) in Sofia. It's happening on Sept 12 from 12-19 h. Join us.

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/2655290184800396

Jozef van Wissem (solo lute, NL) & Leaver (album release) 10/09/20

Feels weird to be announcing a concert but here it is. Leaver will be presenting their upcoming album "Hands Like Cages" with a live show on September 10. The very special guest of the show is Jozef van Wissem, one of our drone duo's earliest inspiration. Don't miss out. Tickets are here: https://epaygo.bg/2495910719

RSVP: https://facebook.com/events/734057114115393

Amek Collective Takeover @ Threads Radio

August 21, 2020 (Friday) we are doing a six-hour-long Amek Collective Takeover on the Threads* stream. The show starts at 6 pm (UK time) and features mixes from label heads Angel S. & Martin L., Conjecture, Evitceles, krāllār, V-stók & Phlp. Don't miss out. 

Tune in: www.threadsradio.com

amek045 Nocktern "NoStalgia" CS

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Debuted live during Amek Bummer Nights 2019 and recorded in a single take in February 2020, Nocktern's tape debut for Amek, NoStalgia proves a watershed moment for the project as it is the last recording before its transformation from a solo act into a duo. Careful and precise, yet live and free, the three movements found on the piece herein freely cross and amalgamate disparate genres and aesthetic influences to a result that makes us long for places, feelings and time that will never be. 

 

The opening minutes of NoStalgia are abstract and atmospheric with thick synth layers gradually being introduced to build up to an almost 80s synth wave climax in the middle of the over 20-minute-long piece. With percussive elements darkening the soundscape not unlike in Mind Over Heart, Nocktern’s contribution to Vanishing Standards (2019), the piece slowly fades into its calmest and most poetic part – a delicate piano coda that quietly communicates with the reflections of all transformation the track has gone through before it all disappears in silence.

Written, performed and mixed by Stoimen Stoyanov 

Recorded live at Glitch Lab Studio, Sofia 

Mastering by Marius Costache (Studio 148) 

Artwork by Mild Kiriya

amek043 krāllār "big sad" CS

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We heard the first incarnation of the material on big sad by krāllār during Amek Bummer Nights 2019. The processes, sources and sound treatments of this very physical live show deeply intrigued us and we instantly commissioned a recording session of the material with the idea to see it not only preserved but hopefully expanded in a studio work. That session took place in February 2020 and we’re now thrilled to present big sad – Ivan Shentov’s first krāllār tape release for Amek Collective.

Behind the seven pieces lies a single-take studio recording of intense tape collages, reamping of found sounds, tape loops and an almost Feedbacker-style fuzz worship. Beautiful and vulnerable even at their rawest and noisiest moments, the tracks on big sad see the artist's trademark tape work reaching new planes of emotional complexity and depth. This results in the album being a very honest and touching journey through the mind of its creator. The noise on big sad is as cathartic as poetry.

credits

Writen & performed by Ivan Shentov
Recorded live at Glitch Lab Studio, Sofia
Mixed by Angel Simitchiev
Mastered by Marius Costache (Studio 148)
Artwork by Silvana Ilieva

amek044 Mytrip "Keeper" LP

The new Mytrip full-length album “Keeper” is a work of progress and growth, of pushing oneself out of comfort zones while managing to stay true to a carefully nurtured and developed aesthetic. A continuation of the sound hinted at in “Filament” (Amek, 2016) and Angel Simitchiev’s recent work with other projects, “Keeper” is a more rhythmic and loop-based work that explores and juxtaposes a plethora of atmospheres and moods, thus resulting in a sonically and emotionally complex and mature piece of music that manages to communicate its author’s singular vision.

The backbone of “Keeper” was originally written for a live performance at the Bulgarian National Radio in October 2018. Self-recorded with the intention to be preserved as a live album, most of the music retains the original structure, feeling, and intensity of this first performance but was further explored and expanded during recording sessions and selected live shows throughout the next year. Some ideas were dismissed while others were expanded on. As a result, “Keeper” has become a record that is polished and meticulous, while sounding and feeling utterly real, raw, and immediate.

Written and recorded by Angel Simitchiev between 2018-2020 
Mixed and mastered by Marius Costache (Studio 148) 
Track 04 features textures, mix and mastering by Ivan Shopov 
Artwork photography by Silvana Ilieva 
Live photography by Ivaylo Totev

amex002 Amek Drone Ensemble "Op. 1" (CS)

"Оp. 1” was performed spontaneously during Sofia Drone Day on May 25, 2019, that took place in Fabrika Avtonomia. It's a lengthy improvisational piece of mostly drone music performed on hardware synthesizers, samplers, lap steel guitar and tape loops.


On this recording Amek Drone Ensemble is:

Linus Schrab (V I C I M)
Angel Simitchiev (Mytrip)
Margarit Aleksiev (OOHS!)
Ivan Shentov (krāllār)
Maxim Mokdad (OOHS!)

Not being able to celebrate Sofia Drone Day in 2020 we are now publishing this archival recording to celebrate one year since the 2019 edition. The release is a part of EXPERIENCE, our tape series of live recordings, captured during Amek Collective events.

Recorded live by Martin Lukanov
Mastered by George Anagnostopoulos
Live photography by Silvana Ilieva

amek042 Valerinne "A Ghost Year" (CS)

In "A Ghost Year" Romanian noise rock trio Valerinne are exploring the most distant and atmospheric corners of their music. This drifting and ambient-influenced EP feels is a spiritual companion to their monumental full-length "Desire" and it reveals Valerinne's search for inner rhythm, contemplation and an offers a new chapter in their already quite free-form take on instrumental music.

 Originally self-published as a digital-only release in March 2020, "A Ghost Year" is now given a second life on a limited run of cassette tapes. This version features two exclusive, previously unpublished tracks, which were written during the same sessions. These are the finishing touches in the fragile soundscapes of "A Ghost Year". Equally filled with uncertainty and hope, the EP is the perfect soundtrack for existing among the shambles of normality. Especially when played on loud volume and solitude.

Recorded in isolation between March and April 2020 in Bucharest, Romania.
Written and produced by Valerinne.
Artwork photography by Mircea Smarandache.
Design & layout by Alexandru Das.

RIP young brother.

With heavy hearts we say goodbye to Stoyan Yovchev, whom you may know for his work as Omori. It's crushing and unfair to witness such a young, kind and talented soul's departure from the world. We feel powerless, hurt and angry because we couldn't prevent his untimely end. Our deepest love goes to his beautiful family. Together, and when the time comes, we'll do our best to preserve his music and pass it on to whoever is there to listen. Even if you didn't have the chance to know our brightest star, let his passing be a waking up call. Look around, reach out to those you hold dear. There are people who are not suited for a world that gets uglier every day, we need to be there for them.

Hours before this happened, Tony changed his account name to 'it doesn't matter anymore'. He was wrong, he will always matter and we'll never be forgotten. Rest in power, young brother.

Please, let his music in your life.

*CANCELLED* V-Stók & Mytrip playing Bristol & Birmingham, March 19-20, 2020

Mytrip is cooking a new LP scheduled for April/May while V-Stók just released 'Aquatic Rituals' via Amek. What better reason for them to team up for two shows in the UK while it's still possible to low-key tour there.