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Markus Guentner returns to his longstanding label, A Strangely Isolated Place following the triptych of ‘Theia’, ‘Empire’, and ‘Extropy’, presenting eight inspiring collaborations on ‘Kontrapunkt’.Collaborations are nothing new to Markus, but it’s hard to see beyond his strong singular presence as a pioneer of long-form ambient and drone. Collabs have punctuated his albums in various places over the years, and he is no stranger to working as a duo amongst other projects, with such a strong conceptual thread throughout his prior ASIP releases, Kontrapunkt represents a literal pivot and counterpoint in his production approach. Instead of music encapsulating a strong conceptual narrative, Kontrapunkt sees Markus create a dialogue between himself and a collection of inspiring production partners. Kontrapunkt opens with ‘Vanish’, a widescreen cinematic odyssey created in collaboration with fellow German and Affin label-head Joachim Spieth, forming the perfect opener with its modest subtleties. Australian-born Karen Vogt, renowned for her voice layering and looping, brings a beautiful, and natural addition to ‘All Light Will Remain’. Sonae, who appeared on ASIP’s early digital releases, demonstrates her evolution into experimental flourishes with ‘Farbe Der Nacht’, adding pulsating techno tendencies and a menacing, metallic approach to Markus’ foundations. Multi-instrumentalist Pepo Galán harmonizes beautifully with Markus on ‘Ancestral Images’, adding complex nuances to a slowly evolving euphoric piece. A master of synthesis, Arovane delivers a powerful display of supercharged electronics and coils of energy on ‘Utopian Fragments’. Benoît Pioulard's renowned expertise with guitars and tape distortion become a perfect counter to the electronics of Markus, blending styles seamlessly on ‘Father Of Waters’. ‘An unstoppable force meets an immovable object’ on ‘While Hunting Nightmares And Dreaming For Peace’, as Abul Mogard adds powerful restraint in a meeting of two drone titans. The album concludes with ‘Presence’, where Hollie  Kenniff’s uplifting vocals provide a shimmering finish, perfectly bookending an album of perfected counterpoints and evolutions on the Markus Guentner sound.Kontrapunkt will be available on Gatefold Black/Grey/Blue marble 2LP, digital and streaming on August 30th 2024. Mastered by Gio at Artefacts Mastering, Berlin, and featuring artwork by Noah M / Keep Adding.

Anthony Linell's Lundin Oil project suggests a politic and an aesthetic in one swift movement. We may make certain deductions about each, but we must work backwards from where they meet. Through the brutalising industrial mechanisms to which titles cryptically allude, we are given an exponentially urgent image of devastation. This is projected, pitch-perfectly, into a rapacious and erosive aural demonstration that barely meet metrical demands. Exploit Divisions, the first Lundin Oil release since 2016, redoubles this threatening realisation. The album pivots between seismic static waves and jagged rhythmic noise, seeking a wider vantage with melodic drone ensembles. A ferocious departure from his primary work, Exploit Divisions is a purposeful reminder of the savagery of brevity.

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

The concept of naught (Ø) has challenged Salvatore Mercatante throughout his musical career, specifically, trying to understand how the idea of ‘nothing’ fits into the realm of sound, and at the same time, exist in a world of influence at every turn. In the absence of everything, are we able to create something truly free?As a lifelong New York-based musician, Mercatante’s influences and productions run a wide spectrum. Just as happy producing 80s-inspired horror soundtracks as he is refining acute drum patterns over and over again, Salvatore is the first to ask himself, where next? When a musician’s output can be influenced today by so much, and there is no self-defined or perceived artistic goal in mind, how do you start from a place of nothingness, again and again?This approach has born many minimal and experimental albums of note in the past, but with Ø, Salvatore ended up with an almost controlled maximalist approach. Beginning with open spaces and allowing sonic textures to live and evolve past where you may expect, Ø allows the space between notes to become equally as important as the notes themselves. Walls of noise, soaring soundtracks, dense techno, glittering IDM, and minimal glitch, sit side-by-side to present an all-encompassing palette of sonic possibility.Often, even without any intent, what can be born from nothing will somehow transpire back into something more recognizable. It’s human nature after all. A subtle fingerprint, as a sequence, melody, pattern, or drum kick. Whether Salvatore intended for this record to represent his defining sound or not, only time will tell. Mastered by Giuseppe Tillieci @ Enisslab, Rome, Italy. Artwork by Brandon LocherWritten and produced by Salvatore Mercatante

Following their 2021 debut album, ‘Brama’, One MillionEyes return with their highly anticipated second album,‘Iris’, set to captivate us once more through akaleidoscope of rich analog and instrumentalfragments.The inspiration behind the album was born from apowerful symbol—the iris of the eye. Controlling theinflow of light, the iris mirrors the duo's mission for thealbum, “letting light in, even in the darkest of times”.Representing an attempt to shed new insight on theirsometimes indescribable approach, Paolo and Lucianocompare the ambition (and consequent imperfections)throughout their music to that of the imperfect, yetunique array of color found within an iris, in the hope itcan completely entrance and mesmerize.With much of the album recorded live, ‘Iris’ marks arefined evolution in the One Million Eyes sound bornunder their Tempelhof guise many years ago. Infusingorganic sound elements such as voice fragments,acoustic guitar lines, and drum beats at the forefront oftheir compositions, their vast array of analogsynthesizers once again provide added depth andwarmth, resulting in majestic, hypnotic circular motifsthat Paolo and Luciano describe as "Mantras, rising andfalling in volume and intensity."Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri, and featuring artworkby Ventral Is Golden, ‘Iris’ will be available onNovember 10th, on turquoise vinyl, digital, and streaming.There will also be a limited run of multi-colored ‘Iris’ 12”available directly on the label’s Bandcamp.

“Music gives us a place to be lost. Washing away thought, place, time and identity. It’s in the falling into the river, the dream, that we find just who we could be”. Classically trained cellist, composer and storyteller Lihla (Lih-Qun Wong) presents her debut album, ‘Socha’ for A Strangely Isolated Place. Combining a vast instrumental skillset of piano, cello, electronics and spoken word, she crafts intensely immersive aural-hallucinatory worlds of intricately shifting landscapes. A deeply personal work, Socha explores the ‘diaspora of time and space, and why we all feel so displaced.' Piano chapters capture the meeting place between memory and longing, while explorational vocal and cello textures invoke and echo the ancient, the feminine, and the otherworldly. Lihla’s voice guides us, weaving through electronics and field recordings of the ‘real-world' to set the path for a poetic and deeply haunting journey through the internal psyche that is truly transportive and escapist. ‘Socha’ will be available on transparent smoke 12” and digital. Written and produced by Lih Qun WongMixed by Sebastian Lee PhilippMastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri @ Black Knoll StudioArtwork by LIHLA and Visions of Akira