Liftoff is the debut EP from electronic live performer V-Stok. Combining analogue electronics and soundscapes, inspired by techno, drone and IDM. Live guitar playing flies between gentle and distant space wails through to ecstatic, irresponsible shredding. As such, the record is a bold and uncompromising effort which refuses to be taken hostage to any particular stylistic ideology - combining the stern intensity of techno with a genuine playfulness.
The EP was recorded in one take as a continuous performance and therefore puts greater value on the performance aspect than on creating a perfectly balanced mix.
To complement the auditory journey, the artist has put together a video collage of vintage spacecraft footage from the NASA archive -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs5n9JbOtoU
Supported by:
Dara Smith (Lakker/Electric Deluxe) - “It’s cool!”
Eomac (Eotrax/Bedouin/Lakker) - “Thanks for sharing this. Lovely textures.”
Serafino Di Rosario (A’mas/Ores) - “Air rarefaction, change of temperature, lack of gravity...this is a journey into the world up there.”
Rico Casazza (Archipel/Variance) - “Great EP man. Love the combination between guitar works/ dystopian atmosphere and electro / techno industrial combo. Also love the concept of getting out of the planet atmosphere. From ambient start to more clashing rhythms and wilder elements as you get out of our planet!! Original works and amazing sound quality.”
Kasia Kosiarska (A’mas/KP Sessions) - “I looooove your album!”
Lucien Biscop (On the 5th Day)- “Very nice EP, I particularly liked the sounds in Stratosphere and the spellbinding textures of Exosphere"
Oli Ripatti (Dieter1982) - “Sounds good, really well produced. Professional. Nice sounds.”
Masaki Uchida (Blueberry Recordings/Loose Lips) - “First 2 tracks are great. IDM Noise!”
T-Scale (Black Leather/Loose Lips/Reposition) - “Damn, I like this a lot”.
Wilhaeven (Ricochet Records) - “"V-stóK really does capture the uneasy feel of early space travel. Not the flag waving, "can do" attitude portrayed in the media of the time, but the absolute fear that something might go wrong. Passing though each layer of the atmosphere, hoping to survive. Liking the continuous mix, and even though on paper, the idea of incorporating guitar on top of those drones sounds like a recipe for disaster, it's not! I'm not going to suggest it's a throwback sounding idea either to Tangerine Dream, it's done quite well across these tracks. Nice that producers are stepping outside the tick boxes of certain genres, and adding their own flavours."
Sim Hutchins (UIQ/No Pain In Pop) - "This is absolutely fucking amazing"!"
Moritz Scharf (Gohan Tapes/Signal Zirkus) - “I really love the soundscapes and the way it is done in one session. Conceptwise it reminds me of Voices From the Lake/Edition Mego. Also the harmonic content and the feeling for space (audio mixing wise pan/depth of field) is very distinct and well set up. The tracks are different enough to be recognized as a journey through different stages. I would buy it!”
Manni Dee (PERC Trax/Earwiggle) - “good stuff, nice balance between techno and noise”
Rommek (Blueprint Records) - “Really nice stuff. Lovely atmosphere and sound design. I like the use of the guitar.”
Warlock (Hypercolour/Kool FM/Rag N Bone) - “Cool stuff, 2 and 5 I like the most.”
Malissa (Scratch Collective) - “Creating a concept bigger and more immersive than a stand alone audio experience allows us to get lost within the artists realm of imagination. To create something and record an EP in one recording and to feel like your flying through space with NASA alongside of that makes it a special experience for all of your senses combined.”
Ariadne’s Labyrinth (Touched Music) - “Great sound design on track 2 especially. I also love the distorted and crunchy drums.
End Train (Planet Rhythm, Metempsychosis) "Great EP, think V-Stok makes me think of Jimi Hendrix going to Atonal. Very interesting combination of sounds that can take a dancefloor away! Thermosphere for me!"
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