Christian Kleine
Touch & Fuse

Shipping from EU: ✅Shipping from UK: ✅The Intergalactic Research Institute for Sounds is proud to present Requiem for Robots. For this latest transmission, Florina Speth aka Schloss Mirabell joined forces with a group of robots that were built by Kay Sievers (versioduo.com). The musical question this record states is: “Who animates what?”The physical body of these robots consists of a wooden cuboid, a single string around which a round, internally strung bow revolves, and a motorized finger which can press down the string. They produce sounds that are very similar to the cello. They display unusual characteristics such as motor noises, infinite sounds or sometimes scratchy and gruff qualities. In addition, there is the extraordinary level of kinetic expression created by the bow circling around the string. Taken together, precisely these peculiarities form a unique instrument profile, a character which is emphasized in the presented project.Florina Speth, born 1983 in the mountains near Salzburg, started playing the cello and piano at the age of 6 and began studying music at the “University Mozarteum Salzburg'' at Clemens Hagen when she was 11. She won several prizes and was part of orchestras such as the Bayerisches Landesjugend Orchester and Salzburger Junge Philharmonie. Always keenly interested in contemporary music, she loves bridging experimental arts with science. She composes and works with cello and cello robots. She regularly collaborates with Dasha Rush, Hüma Utuku, Nicholas Bussmann, Lucile Desamory and Larissa Lackner.

Shipping from EU: ❌Shipping from UK: ✅A showcase of individual tracks from A Strangely Isolated Place’s 2021 labelreleases and a special continuous DJ mix by todos.~~For last year's label compilation, I mentioned how I hoped to invite a guest DJto compile the next edition, and here we are. Of course, it just had to be ourlong-term musical companion, a good friend of mine, and well-respected DJ,todos.I was first introduced to todos through his well-respected Kilchurn Mix series.I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, they remain some of my favoritemixes of all time (listen to them all on the ASIP site when you get a chance).His ability to craft a narrative, manipulate samples and respect the grey areabetween ambient and electronic music, is second-to-none.Since blogging about his mixes all the way back in 2008, and inviting him tocompile a special isolatedmix a few years later, Doug (todos) and I havestayed in touch and connected further after learning we grew up with verysimilar musical trajectories. Doug also coincidentally, ended up living wheremy family are today (and where I spent my life growing up) in a surprisingtwist of fate. And in 2021, after years of speaking online, we finally got tomeet, playrecords (in real life!), and go for a long overdue beer.I always earmarked Doug to be a part of ASIP somehow, so it is my absolutepleasure to hand over the DJ reins for the 2021 compilation edition. Doughad free choice over which tracks to choose, as long as he included one trackfrom each release of the year. The result is a very special mix, taking usthrough the ASIP 2021 release catalog in his unique, signature, todos style.“2021 has been another tough year but the music that has come out of it hasbeen wonderful. With so many excellent releases on the ASIP label, it wasexciting yet challenging to be asked to showcase a few on this mix. Massivethanks go out to Ryan for the opportunity and trust in letting me do this, theartists for their incredible talent and hard work, and lastly all the supportersof this music we love, I hope you enjoy.”- todosI’m excited for 2022, despite what will undoubtedly be a challenging year forall small labels, navigating the ever-increasing vinyl challenges. As you arenow evidently the beholder of the classic CD format and reading this, youmay be excited to learn that a few more shiny discs are coming very soon...ASIP