01. tidebits (7:10)
02. baskets (6:47)
- full release + cover (.zip)
- archive.org

After a short break we are back, now also Twitter-powered. This time with a new release from Kalope who continues his series of aquatic-themed releases. As expected we have exceptional deep sounds from one of our favorite two artists. Perfect mixture of great sound sculpting, space manipulations and production techniques of the yesteryear.

Tidebits starts mellow, ambient-like, with a lot of pad movements and complex bassline but soon progresses in a full atmospheric dance mover. Lots of deep emotions in this one, professing his fish-like love for deep sea creatures. Always the one to break the barriers of sound design, Kalope went on to sample the sounds of deep sea fish, immersing himself in the depths of the local pond only to find the deepest of the deep music.

Baskets continues where Tidebits left, focusing more on a fully percussive driven beat, deeply enhanced with sparse vocal chants. With chord progression and reverberating ambiences all the way through the song, Kalope takes us on another highly anticipated deep sea adventure.

01. original mix (6:49)
02. baden-baden rework (7:32)
03. baden-baden beatless (6:46)
- full release + cover (.zip)
- archive.org

Next in the excellent-designed series of Norbu special-octal-guest star producer-extravaganza releases comes from Jan Nemecek. Hailing from our hometown of Belgrade, Serbia, he is most known for his excellent releases for Traffica label and some wicked releases under his Kalope moniker. The tale of 50s style detective paranoia starts with the original version of somebody's watching me that tells the whole story in an almost funky way. Percussing throughout the dark alleys of mad keyboard playing skills, main groove, enhanced with some exquisite spatial resonating plucked marimba-kalimba work, spreads outburst of raw power on the dancefloor. Baden-Baden rework as one should expect is all about the nonintrusive variations on the micro level of the feel. Many will disagree, but this edit perfectly calms every of the many anxieties brought by the original version, only to prepare us for the mind-blowing ambient version. The last edit of this track is perfect example of Jan's earlier work. As you should expect from someone that made his musical breakthrough in the ambient waters years ago, there is no compromise in this track arrangement. The sound treatment and space sculpting perfectly sits with the way that this track slowly builds, manipulating all the motives from the original.

01. tortoise (evasive maneuver) (4:40)
02. giraffe (pattern camouflage) (4:12)
03. snail (dos attack) (5:52)
- full release + cover (.zip)
- archive.org

We are proud to present you a new groundbreaking idm-influenced release from this talented producer, tosteur. As part of broadening our label interests, this release shows yet another, more experimental side of the label. First in the series of tosteur's releases, comes codename, which explores the artists interests in animal camouflage and attack tactics. This animal-themed excursion starts with tortoise, a track that is all about reinventing of the basic theme through different effected marshmallow themes. The ever-growing glitchy plucked-ness is intersected with carefully crafted microtuning woodland creatures. A sure maneuver for those pushy social group events. Little do we know about those enigmatic patterns that define this majestic beast. All we were able to deduce from this staring giraffe in its native land is the lack of appropriate hiding objects and scenery. Little did she know what was going in the nearby bush... The sky was foamy off-white, almost noise-like. Snail was getting ready, but his window of opportunity was closing. It had to be performed now, with utmost precision and speed. The snail, haunted by the images of the past and thinking only about the future, moved. Grabbing inch by inch, the snail marched forward, and their disapproval was futile. A perfect epic finish for this winter downer.

01. kalope - donner und blitzen (7:44)
02. droog - jelka, not helen (10:56)
- full release + cover (.zip)

As we settle with the octal tradition and always in tune with the holiday spirit, we are proud to bring you yet another epic holiday-themed release. After a serious reviewing phase, we chose these tracks as the most fitting for this joyous release. What can we say about lovely Donner and Blitzen that's not known already? This lovely reindeer duo, always cheerful and ready for holidays as honestly depicted on the cover, is all about freedom and harmonious living with the woodland creatures. While free from the fat bearded tyrant, their dysfunction with nature will always remain, as obvious in this Kalope track. This dysfunctional duo set on to make a name for themselves. Their brief Hollywood stint ended when they were rejected at a Cats audition for reindeer in Broadway for jet-set reindeer community. Eleanor, while always the theme of popular folk songs, was rarely referred by her true name in the community of Televisa. Her friend, Helen, always felt like a Jelka inside. Nobody ever understood this, but she devoted her life to Mexican freestyle swimming. Together with Sasha, Helen formed an alliance. Alas, Sasha would never deliver her promise, for her true love for Eleanor was never fullfilled. Sasha never knew the horrible truth about her arch-nemesis, Jelka. Jelka was indeed Eleanor, and Eleanor was Helen, but Helen was Sasha's aunt. But they never knew it until today. This truly disturbing split personality disorder story shall go down as one of the most intriguing Norbu concepts Droog ever put to plucked themes. Merry holiday and a happy new year!

01. original mix (9:03)
02. droog's what's up mr. jellyfish, fancy a plankton? reenactment (8:31)
- full release + cover (.zip)
- archive.org

After a lengthy pause, this octal annual release brings joy and happiness to all. With his skillful production, Kalope brings us another not-so-dark release. This selection of aquatic-themed joyful tracks is a sure summer hit. This short and infectious ep is a more housey affair for these sun-filled chilled Ibiza mornings. After a mesmerizing ambient opening, In deep sea expedition continues with majestic and deep-influenced spliced chords. It is a deeper exploration of the photic zone. This tom-driven track sees some resemblance to earlier Kalope tracks with its sampled vocals, but reinvents itself with a more complex and playful rhodes theme. Building its groove with shifting chords and echoing flutters, it goes deeper preparing us the next menacing encounters. Jumping us like a jellyfish in open water, the Droog experience begins. Building its groove around the original reinvented chord progression, it continously explores the depths of original tune. Like a colourful discomedusae, Droog wobbles around like a true deep house chap he is. With its clever reenactment of the main theme with a little touch of reverberation this track builds itself to the high-pitched plucked climax. Like any good track, it abruptly ends this ep. Good subtle edit!

01. catapulto magnifico (5:30)
02. temotico (6:20)
- full release + cover (.zip)
- archive.org

After a lengthy and productive summer filled with new tracks and live festival goodness, Norbu is back with a new release. Coming this time from Droog is Catapulto Magnifico, a two-track release showcasing new tracks from his forthcoming album. This time, Droog comes to peace with his melodic side, exploring even further his plucked nature. The metaphoric A side, Catapulto Magnifico is a return to glitchy Droog roots, while Temotico lefts you wondering if the world would be better with an oversized dose of melodies. Droog on... While our designer is still on vacation, explained by artiness and unacceptable lack of catapults on the cover, we have decided to move on bringing you first from our queue of forthcoming releases. Watch out for more stuff from Droog available on a major digital retailer (whose name ends with port) and under his different aliases (rec.ept). ]]> Thu, 21 Jun 2007 11:59:59 +0200 http://www.norbumusic.com/norbu06.html Norbu releases

01. flatfield (11:52)
02. lintilla (10:53)
- full release + cover (.zip)
- archive.org

This sixth, double-track release on Norbu is marked with a return of kalope, along with his already-trademark sound combining quirky minimal with experimental ambient elements. Flatfield, the ever-evolving title track bounces and clicks, creating itself from found sounds and random claps and crackles. Intersect with subliminal number counting, the track starts off slowly developing itself with improvised percussion and sounds into an soundscape of echoes, ambience and mangled-up samples. Plucked guitar melody resonates with the rest of the tracks, paving way for more pads delayed track development. Lintilla, inspired by a mesmerizing cloning story of the yesteryear, starts off with pitched human noises and crispy percussion which serves as an introduction to melody-going-on-randomness synth line and slight reverberations. Resonating break familiarizes you with a proper ambient treatment before continuing with the rest of the track and descending into epic soundscapes.

flatfield contains sample from unfields01 by fidget ]]> Thu, 10 May 2007 11:59:59 +0200 http://www.norbumusic.com/norbu05.html Norbu releases

01. kalope - petanque (8:01)
02. kalope - petanque (droog rmx) (7:26)
03. droog - grgamrgatron (9:09)
04. droog - grgamrgatron (kalope rmx) (7:40)
- full release + cover (.zip)
- archive.org

This time, from your favourite netlabel, from Belgrade, Serbia, we've prepared for you the perfect mixture of your favourite boule-based sporting event and a gentle giant robot story. The first annual 5th release starts off with kalope's heartwarming petanque. Watch out that cochonnet, kalope's crispy percussions and resonating pads tell a struggling story on a path to petanque stardom. Grgamrgatron is a disturbing, yet fuzzy story by droog, reflecting on a deep emotional connection between a battle robot and a lush cactus. This mesmerising love story is all about delayed and non-moving robotic jungle percussions. Filled with echoing progression, this track bears a mysterious, almost-plucked melody. A first for Norbu, this release also features two bonus not-so-well hidden tracks, remixes by kalope and droog remixing each others respective tracks. Let's bocce! ]]> Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:59:59 +0200 http://www.norbumusic.com/norbu04.html Norbu releases

01. casanova (6:06)
02. sombrero (7:10)
- full release + cover (.zip)
- archive.org

Continuing where third release left off, Norbu's new one is a deep slice of reduced minimal seduction coming from serbia's known DJ and producer Shoxy. This sexy two-track starts off with Casanova, a sexy dancefloor bomb already recognised and played by top DJ's. Chunky percussion and bleeps build this deep monster to the epic dissonant plucked break. Swoops of noise complement this track in all of its club-friendliness. Moving on from the venetian womanizer also known as track one, Sombrero is a more mexican affair, evolving with the ever-changing beats and wooshes, recombined with tones and bleeps awash with morphing echoes of percussion. Pitched hits of synthetic drums, almost-industrial sounds of filtered noise form this club bomb, ranking in at over seven minutes of dance-friendly material. This may not be a golden sombrero with "only" two tracks, but it's the best present for any minimal music lover or DJ. With several releases lined up for this year, Shoxy is a producer to watch out for. ]]> Thu, 8 Mar 2007 11:59:59 +0200 http://www.norbumusic.com/norbu03.html Norbu releases

01. alles ist hermoso (7:48)
02. muy schön (6:12)
- full release + cover (.zip)
- archive.org

This rather playful release from droog brings yet another portion of seducing minimal goodness. Coinciding with the joyful day of March the 8th, droog wishes a happy IWD to all the women around the globe and especially those in some eastern european countries. This holiday release opens with alles ist hermoso, a shaped slice of both minimal and epic proportions, intersect with deep and clicky percussion while complementing the fat analog synth melody that takes the listener on an upbringing journey through delayed subtleties. A clunky dancefloor bomb, muy schön, takes the listener on an exploration of the basic beats, clicks and imperfect interaction of offbeats. Paired with exceptionally-produced funky bass and out-of-time chunks of percussion, it is a sure keeper. This track's killer short breaks bring Norbu closer to the dance floor. ]]> Thu, 8 Feb 2007 11:59:59 +0200 http://www.norbumusic.com/norbu02.html Norbu releases

01. 12.603 (6:32)
02. 16.084 (5:48)
03. 6.485 (7:55)
- full release + cover (.zip)
- archive.org

The second coming of Norbu brings you an interesting ep from Belgrade's own kalope. Drawing roots from Berlin-induced minimal techno, 12.603 is interwoven with washes of space, showing another improvised, performance-oriented side of these tracks. Inspired by cold war numbers stations, 16.084 takes us on a heartwarming journey through plucked soundscapes and ambience, only to return to the pulsating beat and fade away with a cloud of strings. Countinuing the numbers-oriented theme, 6.485 is a more introspective piece compared to former track, focusing more on the ambience and numbers, yet keeping it in time with bitcrushed beats and further progressions of the basic theme. Four five zero, indeed! ]]> Thu, 11 Jan 2007 11:59:59 +0200 http://www.norbumusic.com/norbu01.html Norbu releases

01. vellocet (5:44)
02. synthemesc (9:05)
03. drencrom (9:37)
- full release + cover (.zip)
- archive.org

At the beginning of whole new Norbu trend, comes a release from promising young Belgrade artist droog. Starting off with the poisonous happiness of vellocet, droog takes us on a chunky glitchy journey through uplifting wooshes. Going on with synthemesc droog takes a different approach using funky minimal sounds intersect with hypnotic plucked melody. Third track, drencrom, is all about minimal ambience and feedback experiments.