German electronic collective Cologne Tape have finished recording their debut EP, Render, set for release next month on a new label, Magazine.
The group comprises an illustrious lineup of electronic and experimental artists, including Axel Willner (AKA The Field), Ada, Jörg Burger (of Modernist and Burger and Voigt), Jens-Uwe Beyer (AKA Popnoname), John Harten, Daniel Ansorge, Philipp Janzen (of Von Spar) and John Stanier (of Battles), plus whichever other friends happened to be passing through the studio. Commenting on the formation of the group, Daniel Ansorge told Resident Advisor:The whole thing happened almost by itself. There were these people with different musical backgrounds hanging together, realising that they were listening to the same music which resulted in making music together. We think it has something to do with the place (Cologne) and time (2010). Quite a few people have left Cologne for Berlin in the last decade. Which resulted in the scenes getting smaller and smaller. So it happend that we of Cologne Tape who had always stayed, had moved here or were visiting for more than just a day realised we had the same love for the musical tradition of the city. Or should one say we got stuck together due to this same feeling?
On record, the group sound in equal parts live and electronic, with strong echoes of kraut rock competing with strains of contemporary electronic music. Render will be limited to 300 vinyl copies and 1000 downloads, and will be followed by a full-length next year.
In addition to being Cologne Tape's debut, Render will be the first release on Magazine, a new label distributed by Kompakt. Founded by the artists Barnt, Crato and PNN (all of whom are members of Cologne Tape), Magazine aims to "position itself in between the art and music markets and enhance the value of the object and its collection in an environment that is getting more and more ephemeral." Beginning with Render, all of the label's records will be packaged in high quality sleeves, and will be limited to just a few hundred copies, plus downloads. The label currently has three more releases in the pipeline, by Barnt, PNN & Doc (AKA Jaki Leibezeit) and The Field, who will appear under the name Loops of Your Heart.
Tracklist
A1. Render 1
A2. Render 2 (Magazine Edit)
B1. Render 3
B2. Render 4
B3. Render 5
Magazine will release Render on June 14th, 2010.