3 new releases for Fall: Figure Study, Leaether Strip and INHALT

We are excited to bring you not one, but 3 new releases for the last week of September to keep you dancing into Autumn.

Dark Entries is proud to present the debut 7″ of Figure Study, a contemporary band from New York. Figure Study is the Manhattan duo of Nathan Antolik and April Chalpara, who share writing and production duties, while April handles the vocals. They began the project in 2009, after meeting one another through the Wierd Records weekly party, where they would play their first concert soon after.

For their debut single “Lesson One” they utilized small, simple analog synthesizer set up of all vintage Roland analog synths and drum machine. Figure Study’s sound includes influences from early minimal synth music such as Kirlian Camera, Nine Circles, and The Actor.

All songs have been mastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. Each 7″ is housed in a specially designed jacket by N. Antolik and includes a postcard sized insert of all lyrics.

Dark Entries is celebrating its 50th release with Leæther Strip “Teenage Demos”. Leæther Strip is the solo-project of Danish electronic industrial artist Claus Larsen. Discovered by the German techno artist and producer Talla 2XLC, Leaether Strip quickly built a buzz as one of the most exciting emerging acts in Europe in the early 90’s.

“Teenage Demos” is a collection of Claus Larsen’s earliest recordings. Nine demo songs recorded between 1982 and 1986 never before released on vinyl. Influenced by Fad Gadget, Depeche Mode and Jean Michel Jarre, Claus began creating synth-pop melodies at age 14. Though the melodies were catchy and upbeat they had a hidden melancholy because Claus knew that he was different than others. “Dreaming” was his first attempt to “come out” to himself as a queer kid. Lyrically the songs reflected what was going on in his head: youth, hope and dreams. Claus used a simple set up: Moog Prodigy, Yamaha drum machine, delay pedal and spring reverb. He would record the bass and drums on a double cassette recorder, without midi, sequencers or preset sounds. By 1985, Claus composed instrumental songs as the final three tracks on this album illustrate.

Each song has been carefully remastered from the original masters for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The vinyl comes housed in a glossy jacket with original photograph of a 15-year old Claus as well as an insert with lyrics, photos and an interview. “Teenage Demos” is a sneak peak into the world of early, emotionally intense foundations of Leæther Strip.

Dark Entries is proud to release the sophomore EP “Occupations” from San Francisco based synth trio INHALT. Consisting of European and East Coast natives– Matia Simovich, Bryan Gibbs, and Philip Winiger– INHALT’s core operative strategy is of sonic fidelity and integrity rather than nostalgia.

Living through the rise of a surveillance society, neo-liberal agendas, and the permeation of the ephemeral into popular culture, INHALT return with a focused commentary in the form of the “Occupations” EP. The record was produced over a year and a half, and mixed in both Austria and California, employing the best of modern and vintage techniques and technology. The sound is INHALT’s interpretation of the border between the voice driven song form and the expansive, extended 12″ arrangement. It is informed equally by the soundtracks of John Carpenter, as much as the vastness and sheen of Trevor Horn.

INHALT wrote and produced the EP in their own Bunker Studio in San Francisco. The A side was mixed by INHALT in San Francisco, while Side B was mixed with the help of Werner Freistätter in Türnitz, Austria. Paul Lavigne mastered the EP in London, England at Walls of Sound and George Horn put the final EQ curve at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley. Each EP is housed in a specially designed jacket by Leo Merz and includes a lyric sheet.

Plus from last time

Dark Entries is proud to release the debut vinyl EP from Bézier entitled “Ensconced.” Bézier is the moniker of all-live-analog electronic wizard Robert Yang from San Francisco. Enchanted by the Cybernetic Broadcasting System (CBS), Robert started DJing as Robot Hustle, joining the Honey Soundsystem collective in 2007. Robert writes hooks, patterns and melodies in an automatic, stream of consciousness fashion. Memory and nostalgia play a big part in constructing his music.

“Ensconced” is the follow up to Bezier’s debut cassette, released in 2012 on Break-Up records. The tile relates to themes of comfort and safety as well as complacency and entrapment. Influences range from the futuristic landscape of Syd Mead to the melodic energy of Patrick Cowley and the subdued, hidden motifs of My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless.” Bézier blends elements of Hi-NRG and dark dance to drive the mysterious underwater instrumentals of “Ensconced.” Bezier’s studio set up includes a variety of vintage Roland and Korg synthesizers as well as the Italo Disco favorite LinnDrum.

These six tracks were written, produced and mixed by Bézier at his home studio in San Francisco between 2009 and 2013. All songs have been mastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The vinyl comes housed in jacket featuring a Bézier line drawing illustration by our in-house designer Eloise Leigh. Each LP includes indivual postcards with drawings and liner notes. Let Bézier take you on an enchanted dance journey while heavily under the influence of DIY electronics.

Our next release is a special 2xLP celebrating the gay porn soundtracks of Patrick Cowley on October 19th

and then upcoming in early November:

DE-053 FIGURE STUDY – Figure Study LP
DE-054 MAX + MARA – Less Ness LP