Soft Metals: "Tell Me"

Pretty snazzy Kraftwerk beat you're rocking there, Soft Metals. What epitomized 80's post-punk and synthpop so well was the combination of icy, detached riffs and potent, repressed vocals and "Tell Me" captures that effortlessly. It also frankly adds nothing new to the now 30-year old dynamic, but I'm not sure that we really exhausted the formula back in the day before neutering it with dreams of pop stardom, so a little vintage authenticity is always welcome.

[EDIT 7/20/13: added music video]:

Black Jeans: "No Safety"

Black Jeans give me hope for a Giorgio Moroder revival. Purist synth tones employed toward a scuzzy end with indiscernible lyrics is pretty much exactly what I want out of my electro right now. "No Safety" sounds like Kraftwerk held an orgy and only Death Grips responded to the invite.

MPIA3: "Crusty Juice"

Gabber-like in intensity but in a slower, more juggernaut sense, MPIA3 debuts on R&S Records with a freight train of an old school techno track called "Crusty Juice". That unwieldy handle masks the identity of Perc Trax producer Truss, who I frankly need to familiarize myself with pronto. "Acid Badger" has just gotta be a fucking monster, right?

(via FACT):

Diamond Version: "Shift the Future"

Never heard of Byetone but Alva Noto is one of my favorite minimalist beatmakers (and, if I haven't made that clear by now, minimalist, grimey techno with a simmering mean streak is my preferred form of electronica). The two hook up in new project Diamond Version after having co-run the Raster-Noton label for several years. EP2 is the second (duh) of a projected five EPs the duo plan to release on Mute over the next year, with a full length emerging sometime in 2013 as well.

Aquarian: "Motherisk"

Aquarian's Soundcloud is not exactly frothing over with generous samples or biographical info, so I can't tell you a lot about the Toronto lad, but according to URB (from which this was cribbed; respeck) his debut EP - out in October - will be released on the stellar UNO NYC label, although once again there's no fucking mention of the dude signed to the label.

Teengirl Fantasy: "End"

Tangerine Dream-y new goods from Teengirl Fantasy. "End" seems to go for that 80's-laced electronic vibe that's so prevalent in 2012 but takes a sharp veer toward instrumental soundtrack music (hence the TM reference). Even that artwork looks like a riff on the nature-based minimalism of a lot of old Dream cover art.

Tracer is out August 21 on True Panther.

Emeralds: "Does It Look Like I'm Here?" [Daphni Mixes 1 & 2]

"It's like The Smiths suing John Smith or something".  That was Daniel Victor Snaith's retort when a 2004 lawsuit from Handsome Dick Manitoba forced a name change to Caribou... apparently the Ontario native was determined to keep it both Canuck and minimalist at all costs.

When he began producing more club-oriented electronic tracks in 2011, Snaith opted for another name change, this time going with the Daphni pseudonym. Already having released nearly half a dozen EPs and singles under that name, Snaith was recently commissioned to remix Emeralds' 2010 track "Does It Look Like I'm Here?" Snaith did them one better and came up with two mixes, the first a little more dynamic and spacey, with a greater concern for the slow build, the second a harder edged trance piece. Stream both below or download them here.

NHK: "Fu2"

NHK is one of several pseudonyms used by Osaka producer Kouhei Matsunaga. "Fu2" is his side of a split 12" with SND, who he'll be touring Japan with this month (the tour is just about wrapping up, actually). Matsunaga also recently released a collection of his more accessible, dance-oriented material - suitably entitled Dance Classics Vol. 1 - on PAN under the moniker NHK'Koyxeи.

(via Tiny Mix Tapes)

Carter Tutti Void: "V3" [edit]

Now this is what I'm talking about. Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti (Throbbing Gristle) vs Nik Colk Void (Factory Floor)! A pretty inspired pairing, and if "V3" is any indication of how Transverse the LP will pan out then count me on board. I love this minimalist, grimy shit. I always associate it with German trance of the early 90s, although obviously Gristle would have something to say about that.

Transverse will be out March 26 on Mute.

Wolfgang Voigt: "Kafkatrax 2.1"

Wolfgang Voigt is best known as the founder of Kompakt, one of the leading minimalist electronic labels in the world.  In his spare time he also produces under a variety of monikers, amongst them Gas, M:I:5 and Wasserman.  Occasionally he releases music under his own name.  This paranoid, bubbling synth track accompanies a (presumably unauthorized) video scored to clips from an early Stephen Soderberg film... Kafka, of course.