What: “It`s Not Normal” by Todern Malking
Netlabel: DAST Net Recordings
This bright, three-song electronic EP was released in September 2013 by Todern Malking out of Germany. I can’t find much detailed information about this netlabel or artist, but did discover that Todern Malking is actually Benjamin Strehm, who goes by many aliases and seems to be quite a productive musician based on what I found surfing around. (As I write this, I’m Ben’s only Twitter follower and he has no tweets, so no clues their either.) I guess lots of background details don’t matter – it’s all about the music.
And wonderful music it is. It’s hard to sit still listening to these tracks; you’ll want to bob your head or get up and dance. I hear hints of some well-known electronic artists (Kraftwerk, Bruce Haack, etc.), but they are just small pieces; none of the influences overshadow the whole. It’s all polished up into a nice original shiny electro disc.
DAST Net Recordings is a netlabel from Germany that has been around since 2009, but again there is not lots of detail available about the label. They describe themselves as The Synthetic Tune Experiments Netlabel and as an Electronic Music Netlabel. Even with their internet presence I guess it’s nice to still leave a little mystery in our relationship.
And finally, here’s a video for one of the tracks called “Future Lady.” Perhaps there are some clues here? The video seems to show (or at least suggest) the Voyager Golden Record that was sent to space in 1977 and some images from the Pioneer Plaques of the early 70’s. Was that the inspiration for the music? Is the female on the plaque the “Future Lady”? Many mysteries…