Robosonic director flies the flag for solo multi-faceted project. To date, Cord Labuhn's longest running project is Robosonic, which was formed as a DJ-producer duo together with Sacha Robotti over 10 years ago. A while after their unconventional, free-spirited debut album Robosonic became an authentic figurehead for something dubbed “Golden Era House” (Juice Magazine). Not only because Cord was convincing real rap icons like Masta Ace, Jeru the Damaja and KRS-One to collaborate on house tracks, but also because Robosonic remixed legends like Todd Terry, Arthur Baker, Kerri Chandler and Eddie Amador.
Today, after his partner emigrated to the US, Cord the DJ is playing most of the Robosonic shows alone. The house & techno driven sets and releases under this moniker are internationally recognised and performances in 40+ countries (and counting).
Landing on the European House music circuit in 2007 as the versatile dancefloor-shaking project Robosonic their debut album ‘Sturm und Drang’ set the stage for a decade of domination. Robosonic enjoyed continued charting successes from 2012’s ‘Worst Love’, 2013’s Kerri Chandler ‘Hallelujah’ remix on the renowned NYC house label King Street Sounds, ‘La Fique’ on Solomun’s Diynamicthrough to 2015’s Eddie Amador remixes of ‘Rise’ and ‘House Music’ on Deep Dish’sYoshitoshi imprint. Collaboration with rap icons Jeru the Damaja and KRS-One saw releases on Low Steppa’s UK label Simma Black.
On a solo level, Labuhn is back making noise with ‘OUTTAKES’, an innovative series of new releases, mix-tapes and collaborations. His out-of-the box concept was developed to be something more than just a label. Contrary to all things House and Techno, ‘OUTTAKES’ is a series of songs, beats, tracks, sonic fragments and recordings that reflect his state of mind and consciousness further than only dance music. Each explores different themes in keeping with Cord’s unmistakeable unique sound.
Being delivered in a series format, the instalments are drip-released weekly as streams, downloads and evolving playlists. With a vision to build a bigger picture the modestly titled ‘OUTTAKES won’t be limited to sonic offerings and will include photographs, video footage and physical products in its bid to tackle real life matters.’
Spearheading the project is the hypnotic pilot ‘Sleep Out’, which comes in the form of an extended work of augmented audio exploring the human state of sleep. The 3 hour piece is bookended by Cord’s own productions ‘Unter Deck’ – coming out on Just Music (UK)’sThe Ambient Zone [28/07] – and ‘Gone Love’, [OUT#001 02/07] which bares the wealth of Labuhn’s vast globetrotting and implies a meditative state induced by sustainability and comfort, with evidently personal undertones.
Labuhn has also recently collaborated with the acclaimed Dutch DJ and Spinnin Deep signee Ferreck Dawn in produicing 'Old Dollars' - A bouncy tech track that has you tapping your feet and nodding your head without a blink.
Having listened intently to Labuhn's new projects, we have been impressed by the melodic deepness and has certainly been a welcome addition to the Berlin office. Sleepout in particualr has been very useful in chilling us out after our busy gig, radio and family schedules so we recommend it highly. The coming months are ging to be very interesting for delivering the final output of an intimate and personal journey though space and sound. ‘OUTTAKES’ is a gift to the musically minded; a critical piece for the technologists yet still an inviting piece for any set of ears. Cord Labuhn is one to keep an eye out for.
Links:
Cord Labuhn Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/cord
Cord Labuhn Website - http://www.cordlabuhn.com/