A great, and thoughtful review of Untitled 23 appears in Ibiza Voice, written by Sean-Michael Yoder.

“San Francisco artist Marc Smith, once of the duo Coalition of the Killing and now holding down the popular new duo Safeword, offers up a remix collection of his previous solo release for Marc Kate’s abstract leaning Untitled & After label. Along with the Lady Blacktronika release, “Hindsight”, presents the label at its dance floor friendly side with sweet, soulful vocals by Kevin Knapp. Although there isn’t enough of his voice spread throughout the mixes to leave listeners satisfied completely, it’s nice to see the label resurrecting an obvious winner and getting some great local artists…see more.”

12.06.2011

1 – Hindsight feat. Kevin Knapp (Alland Byallo Remix)
2 – Hindsight feat. Kevin Knapp (Kendig Remix)
3 – Hindsight feat. Kevin Knapp (Kenneth Scott Remix)
4 – Hindsight feat. Kevin Knapp (Marc Smith Remix)


Following his acclaimed 2010 release Untitled 16 on Untitled & After, Marc Smith returns to “Hindsight,” his intriguing deep house track with vocalist Kevin Knapp. Now on Untitled 23, “Hindsight” is treated to four remixes that delve deeper into the moody, soulful sound of Smith’s original. In keeping with the U&A plot, the “Hindsight” remixes are cerebral and sensual, heavy dancefloor tracks to make your head spin.

The first remix is from San Francisco-by-way-of-Berlin producer Alland Byallo, delivering on big room bombast and rhythmic grit. Alland has been gaining global attention producing gems for definitive record labels like Poker Flat, Liebe*Detail, Dirt Crew, and Missive solidifying his reputation as a rising techno talent. Reigning in the cushy, atmospheric pads of the original mix, Byallo renders things a bit raw, unfurling the track on the slightly darker side of the dancefloor.
San Francisco’s Jason Kendig is a member of the Honey Soundsystem collective and has released tracks on their home label HNYTRX, Andy Butler’s (Hercules & Love Affair) MR. INTL label, and has produced a remix of Finesse on Portland’s Ecstasy Records. Slow, silky and atmospheric, Kendig’s remix takes a beach-side approach by slowing “Hindsight” down and warming it up in a sunset haze.
Kenneth Scott has managed to create a powerful string of releases with collaborators like Emilio Orlandi as Moniker, with Jason Short as Eutactic, and the aforementioned Alland Byallo alongside his own solo material. Deep, deep and pumping, Kenneth Scott’s remix spins the vocal into an atmospheric texture, awash with mysterious, drifting synths.
Marc Smith is one half of of the group Safeword alongside partner Clint Stewart, They’ve had a very busy year with releases on Dessous, Poker Flat and Paso Music just to name a few. With a slight departure from Safeword’s low slung techno esthetic Marc’s solo music embodies a deeper house vibe. Marc Smith’s own rework pulls disco elements into the mix to create a spacious, surreal version of “Hindsight” like a vivid dream of the original.

06.28.2011

1 – Say A Little Prayer
2 – Say A Little Prayer (Another Prayer)

Once again, Japanese artist Birdcage brings deep, smooth serenity to Untitled & After’s catalog, always one to approach techno as something personal and meditative, bordering on spiritual. Birdcage’s third release for Untitled & After features a pair of tracks exploring variations on a theme. “Say A Little Prayer” is deep and fragile, enveloping the listener in a shimmering fog of gleaming pads and sparkling harp melodies with subtly symphonic layers of sound. “Say A Little Prayer (Another Prayer)” is simultaneously more concrete and more abstract than its original – beats come down with a heavier hand creating a more dancefloor-oriented manifestation.

05.31.2011

1 – Big Fake Tears (Original)
2 – Big Fake Tears (Frank Bretschneider Remix)
3 – Big Fake Tears (Thomas Hildebrand Remix)
4 – Big Fake Tears (Kyoka Remix)
5 – Big Fake Tears (Groj Remix)

In their collaboration for Untitled & After, Morgan Packard and Robert Crouch apply their collective mastery of texture and depth to create a massive track of fragmented beats, mysterious drones and delicate ephemeral embellishments. The impact of their track “Big Fake Tears” is immediate and direct – simple, minimal beats upon a blanket of evolving sound. But closer listening reveals a spacious architecture of complexity – intimate sonic finials and shifting vantage points.

Focusing more deeply on the rhythmic complexity of the original, Frank Bretschneider creates a frenetic, constantly-shifting track of skips and clicks – all attack and no decay – beats that are intricately tangled.

Thomas Hildebrand’s remix moves through deeper, darker space as blurry sounds pass vaguely though the mix like fireflies through a moonlit forest.

A peak of rhythmic unpredictability, Kyoka’s remix chops and cuts “Big Fake Tears” into a thousand sharp fragments that reassemble themselves to become both playful and dangerous.

Groj closes the EP with a more rhythmically direct, even aggressive, approach, but with his unique synthetic soundscaping. He programs flourishes of melody and gristle that bend and break apart to create almost-melodies that travel with a will of their own.

In between the aftershocks of Japan’s recent tragedy, Japanese Untitled & After artist Birdcage recorded the set ‘The Day It Moved’. A mix that is deep, diverse and heartbreaking.

The U&A podcast page with tracklistings is here.
Subscribe to the podcast feed here.
Listen and subscribe via iTunes here.

A new podcast from Untitled & After artist Kevin Knapp. Deep and complex rhythms with subtle funk and swing. As you might expect from a vocalist of Knapp’s talents, he weaves diverse vocal tracks in and out of the mix.
If you’ve seen the energy he brings to the decks in person, then you know what we’re talking about. If you haven’t yet, yeah – it’s on.

The Untitled & After podcast present mixes and live performances by U&A artists and family.

The first podcast is a mix by Never Knows – over an hour of dark, textural techno and house.

The U&A podcast page with tracklistings is here.

Subscribe to the podcast feed here.

Subscribe via iTunes here.

In support of ”Untitled 20“, his most recent release on Untitled & After, Never Knows charts ten tracks for the darkest corners of the dancefloor on Beatport.

View here:
Never Knows Charting Dark Corners Chart

01.11.2011

A – Poe
B – Fear of the Known

A fusion of dancefloor techno and dark gothic atmospheres, Never Knows’ first original tracks on Untitled & After creep into the shadowy, unseen corners of clubland. Untitled 20 is a reminder that the nightclub is a site for rituals best performed at night.
With all this talk about Witch House, Grave Wave and countless other microgenres, so much attention had been thrown to utterly forgettable tracks and artists that explore vaguely dark terrain. But, looking down those dark alleys, you’re unlikely to find dance music. Or even a memorable melody. But that’s what Never Knows creates: compellingly dark body music.
While Poe is deeply atmospheric, the unmistakably techno bassline and almost post-punk rhythm section are emphatic and propulsive. Vocals ‘from beyond’ loop in rapid-fire – issuing some vague message that is at once commanding and lamenting. The eerie synth lead quivers and wanders like a theremin stinger from some vintage British horror film.
Fear of the Known slows things to a creeping gallop beneath phantasmic clouds of echoing melodies, mysterious resonance and haunting distortion. The track is a call-and-response between the unseen and the strangely familiar pairing direct techno rhythms with early-80s goth.

12.07.2010