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Selections: Eomac

In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their Bandcamp collections. This week, as he celebrates the release of his new album on Planet Mu, Eomac highlights an eclectic range of sounds: from devotional singing and harsh noise to high-energy club music and blissful electronics

In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their Bandcamp collections. While hearing new music played out by your favourite selectors has been put on hold as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s never been easier, or more important, to support the artists and imprints releasing tracks, albums, EPs and comps in the midst of all the madness. In lieu of opportunities to discover new records on the dancefloor, Selections will give you the chance to nab sounds from the crates of tastemakers, and support the people behind them while you’re at it. Win-win, right?

This week, Irish producer Eomac highlights a wide range of sounds, from devotional singing, balafon music and found sound experiments to energising club music, harsh noise and blissful electronics. The eclecticism of Eomac’s Selections is mirrored in his own music, which frequently pulls from a range of influences and styles to create a type of experimental techno that feels organic and mysterious, as rewarding on headphones as it is on dark dancefloors. 

Eomac’s new album, ‘Cracks’, is out now on Planet Mu, and is informed in part by the environment in which it was recorded; he recently moved to a rural area in Wicklow, Ireland, after spending the past several years in Berlin. There’s a delicate balance of light and dark at play between the rumbling kicks, cavernous melodies and buzzing electronics across these 10 tracks, informed as much by Leonard Cohen’s notion that cracks are “how the light gets in”, as they are by the socio-political/environmental cracks in the world in 2021. Samples of Akala’s impassioned words against systemic racism become the rousing hook in the album’s percussive opening track, ‘Mandate For Murder’, while the refrain of “I know you are loved by somebody” on ‘Reasons To Live’ is a glimmer of hope beaming through a shadowy rhythmic foundation. You can listen to and buy ‘Cracks’ here

Check out Eomac’s Selections below. 

Ustad Saami
‘God Is Not A Terrorist’ [Glitterbeat Records]

“I came across Ustad Saami the other day while researching music for an upcoming project. I was blown away the minute I hit play! The depth of emotion and devotion is incredible. The story behind the artist (from the little I've read) is interesting too. He's the last living practitioner of a musical tradition called surti - a 13th century tradition that has been passed down through generations. According to the Bandcamp description it's 'a precursor of the ancient, Islamic devotional music of qawwali.' It's breathtaking music.”

Drumcorps
‘Better Days’

“I've been a fan of Aaron Spectre's since the mid 2000's when breakcore was huge in Ireland but I haven't listened to him in a while. I came upon his Bandcamp page recently and saw there were new Drumcorps releases. Which do not disappoint! The mix of distorted metal guitars and breakbeats works so well and there's a huge energy in the tracks.”

Sorry
‘Cigarette Packet / Separate’ [Domino]

Buy on Bandcamp

“Sorry are one of those bands I only know about through Bandcamp digging. I don't know how I came across them first and I don't know that much about them (only that they release on Domino) but I love their sound. It's kinda basic and raw but there's an energy and quality about the music that grabs me. This is a recent 7" that has since been released as an EP with more tracks.”

Ronce
‘Lolita’ [DAWN RECORDS]

“This is a difficult but important listen in my opinion. It's a kind of noise / experimental EP described as ‘a subversive feminist inversion of ASMR and contemporary porn themes...a disturbing take on the male gaze'. It highlights and criticises the use of underage (or underage looking) girls in mainstream pornography and the male gaze that objectifies and sexualises them. It's interesting to hear this subject matter tackled in electronic (or any) music, as it's not often talked about.”

V/A
‘Kparr Dirè - Balafon Music from Lobi Country’ [Mirror World Music]

“Beautiful rhythmic and melodic music from Burkina Faso. I came across this while digging through Mirror World Music - the label run by Schneider TM and kptmichigan. It has a really uplifting and raw vibe. I love live recordings where you can hear the background noise, people talking and cheering / clapping. It makes for a very human and real listening experience, where the music feels like a living thing in the present rather than a recorded document.”

Maral
‘Push’ [LEAVING RECORDS]

“This is one of my favourite recent albums. I love music that samples and expands on other forms and music that has a collage-like approach. This does both really well, bringing together different styles and strands, from contemporary club and dub to Iranian folk and classical, in a very organic and natural way with real feeling and depth behind it.”

Yazzus
‘Voltagem’

“Banging and interesting club music from an artist I only just came across but will be paying attention to from now on. Colourful, melodic, beautifully produced with great rhythms this really stood out for me amongst the wealth of club music around at the moment. I bought it initially for the track 'Voltagem', which is a real highlight, but the whole EP is wicked.”

Marie Davidson & L’Œil Nu
‘C’est parce que j’m’en fous (Jlin Remix)’ [Ninja Tune]

“Two interesting artists with their own unique visions come together and the results are a complete success! Fizzing with playful energy. I bought this one a few seconds after I hit play.”

Koenig
‘Messing’

“I hadn't heard of Koenig until recently. I don't know how I arrived on his page, I think it was through Ventril Records, but I'm glad I did. This album is a weird mix of found sound, sound design and odd tracks with vocal features from the likes of Coco Béchamel and my favourite track 'Mr Kiwi's' with rapper Sensational. I'm excited to dive into more of his discography.”

Pauline Anna Strom
‘Angel Tears in Sunlight’ [RVNG Intl.]

“Another artist I didn't know 'til recently. I came across the pre-order of this a while back, before she sadly passed away. I thought it was a new artist and only recently read about her history in electronic music and spiritual healing. Everything about this album is beautiful, filled with energy, light and life, from the track titles, the artwork, the album name and of course the music itself.”