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Shoal - Interlocking ISO004 — Shoal corrals three original solo productions into ISOTOOP’s fourth record, each demonstrating refinement of the artist’s sound and technique, finished by a fitting retelling of ‘Interlocking’ by Antony Linell. It begins with helical hypnotism; ‘Strange Blue Knots’ drives directly forward on muscular bass, but pointillistic synthwork creates an aural illusion of a spiral aperture tightening; the landscape remains broad, but focus is drawn down to the loci of motion. All containment is blown away by the incomparable force of ‘Roxellana’. Here, the forward motion is not illusory but the irrefutable command of hurricane tailwinds. Thunder heralds full-band waves of unbridled sound, and though the rudder is surrendered to the billowing storm, no part of the weapon is directionless chaos. Shoal’s tale concludes with ‘Interlocking’, a step back from the monstrous energy of the preceding track (anything and all would be); attention is built again on guile and quiet magnetism, commonly felt attributes throughout the artist’s repertoire. This concept of restraint as force receives a sharpening by Antony Linell, whose sonic influence is present throughout the record, like fossilised footprints. In the calm, sheltered lee of the mountain, the slope behind the wave’s punching crest, Linell’s calmer, stripped-back version feels like a fireside retelling of a myth; still full of the magnitude of the original events, the space surrounding the action is foregrounded. Every tale may be reduced to the same core elements: the hand; the knife it holds; vivid silence presaging the moment of action. Fitting that the tale of three parts is summarised by a fourth, wider perspective. — W&P by Kenny Dean Kneefel Remix by Anthony Linell Mastered by Giuseppe Tillieci Artwork by Angelina Nikolayeva Words by Freddie Hudson Pressed by AFG Record Manufacturing Distributed by Space Cadets Distribution

Voal - Jinx
 ISO003 — Voal — Vand and Shoal — reveal five more cuts on their home label ISOTOOP, taken from the pair’s time living together in Utrecht. Whereas the debut EP, ‘Saffron’, dropped the listener into psychedelic aesthetics and atypical rhythmic structures, the sequel ‘Jinx’ has a more crystal-cut vision of club music, made for no less exploratory dancefloors. Possessing a natural progression almost as fluid as a contiguous live set, with imagination each track can form the basis of the next through the fingerprints of a barely-perceptible ghost leaving a piecemeal narrative impression, an exposure in negative that develops over repeated exposure to the five versatile tracks. Relative to Saffron’s sidestepping repertoire, this latest EP goes for the jugular with insistent club dynamics from the get-go. Summoning steps on air, a self-contained package of breezy dancefloor initiation and escalation, all-in-one, and from the foothold of this thermal vortex Crosswind ups the drama with storm-hued dynamics and blustery club debris. The knife of aesthetics is freshly sharpened for the flip: Jinx takes the record out of earthbound atmospheres and deep into sci-fi territory. A jigsawwing bassline seems to drill ever-deeper into an expanding landscape, as it does so uncovering small sonic treasures locked in the bedrock. A mirror to this scene, The Chain digresses with bubbling verve and psychedelic strut, a combo-finishing left hook that simultaneously holds playfulness alongside dour dramatics, a duality shared by vinyl-exclusive closing track Ouah, which blows out the lights with a smirk, and premium hallucinatory dub psychosis. — W&P by Kenny Dean Kneefel & Viktor van der Riet Mastered by Giuseppe Tillieci Artwork by Angelina Nikolayeva Words by Freddie Hudson Pressed by AFG Record Manufacturing Distributed by Space Cadets Distribution

Vand - Trialism
 ISO002 — The second release from ISOTOOP sees Vand venture out solo on three divergent and introspective cuts, each cultivated from the Dutch musician’s live repertoire, and an austere remix from the ever-accurate Italian duo natural.electronic/system tops off the release. Throughout each of his original compositions Vand explores his varied definitions of club music: opener Futureshock showcases an isolated groove, sights centred on the dancefloor through its foreboding and uncertain tone, but a self-assuredness is palpable in the craftsmanship. Gaze takes lithe shuffle-ups of the tracks’ sharp snares, woozy atmospherics, snarling frequencies and shadowy basslines — intrigue is gathered, and kept through the prominent yet minimalist dub-minded elements. Vand’s final original offering Trialism blends gravitas and grace together on top of the unlevel ground of the syncopated, impulsive drumline. Close friends of the label, certified maestros of the dancefloor natural.electronic/system take Trialism for a spin on the closing piece; the Italian duo establish a sound based on restrained loop hypnosis, evocative and suggestive, leaving space for more to be said. A spacious and dark realm, but far from a void; pearlescent light pools, reflections beaming back pale starlight. — W&P by Viktor van der Riet
 Remix by Antonio Giova & Valerio Gomez de Ayala
 Mastered by Giuseppe Tillieci
 Artwork by Jessica Dreu
 Words by Freddie Hudson
 Pressed by AFG Record Manufacturing
 Distributed by Space Cadets Distribution

“I saw people dancing with huge smiles on their faces; no one left the dance floor! As I finished my set, I rushed straight into the crowd,” shares Giuseppe, reminiscing about the time spent in the desert. “You often sense some distance between the artist and the audience; but there, it felt like everyone was on the same side, together as a whole. In just two days, we managed to build a community.” - https://soundcloud.com/neel Read the full story: https://inverted-audio.com/listen-back-to-neels-live-set-at-under-the-desert-stars/

Live recorded set on 11/10/2019 at ISOTOOP at Worm. @rogergerressen

Live recorded at het Magazijn 13th of July 2019 @willoirson

Recorded at ISOTOOP at Worm on 16 Feb 2019 sc: https://soundcloud.com/benbui fb: https://www.facebook.com/benbuiben/

Recorded at Operator on 10th May 2019 @dee-bee-one

Recorded on 14.12.2018 at Closer (Kiev) @igor_glushko

Live improvised - recorded at Isotoop Sunday Ambient at MONO Rotterdam 27.01.2019 @shoall

Recorded at Isotoop 16th of June at Worm Rotterdam. @koen-hoets

Recorded at Isotoop radio show at Operator 11th of August 2017 @refracted-music

Recorded at Isotoop radio show at Operator 24th of June. Amsterdam-based duo Wanderwelle joined us at Operator to play music and talk about their upcoming debut album on Silent Season 'Lost in a Sea of Trees'. @wanderwelle

Live improvised - Recorded at MONO Rotterdam 16.02.2017 @maspaventi

@svartvit & @thetideoftheend