Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Purchasable with gift card
€6EUR or more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Comes in newly designed U-TRAX standard outer sleeve, white thick paper inner sleeve. Full color labels designed by Bonk Artwork and free U-TRAX sticker insert
Includes unlimited streaming of Swirling Gas EP
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 7 days
€3.50EURor more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Limited edition of 200 copies on fresh moss green vinyl. Comes in newly designed U-TRAX standard outer sleeve, white thick paper inner sleeve. Full color labels designed by Bonk Artwork and free U-TRAX sticker insert
Includes unlimited streaming of Swirling Gas EP
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Legendary Utrecht DJ and producer P.A. Presents (Peter Aarsman) returns with his first new release since 2000 with this vintage techno stunner, Swirling Gas. This EP also marks the first new music on U-TRAX in more than 21 years, kicking the label’s comeback into a higher gear.
Peter ironically is the only artist on U-TRAX that actually is born and bred in the city of Utrecht. Even more irony lies in the fact that he hasn’t lived in the city (or “stadsie” in Utregs, the local dialect) for the past 25 years.
Peter knew he wanted to be a DJ since he was ten years old, in a time when this was still a very unusual career to dream about. Long before house music had landed in Europe, Peter was fiddling around with disco and italo 12”-es and all those years of training is what made him the superior DJ that he still is today. In terms of skills, flair, energy and feel for the dance floor, there are probably not a lot of DJs that can rival with Peter.
While the era of house of techno of the late 80s and the 90s brought him countless DJ gigs, his reputation didn’t cross the city borders much, until he bought his first gear and started producing techno music himself. Again, his DJ background proved helpful with producing his tracks, as most of his tracks are dancefloor orientated and usually have an impeccable timing.
Peter debuted with the mini-album Salicylic Acid on U-TRAX in 1993, followed by the Flight Stimulator EP a year later. Both are classics today, but neither brought him as much fame as his 12” Entangled did on Deviate, a record label that was started by a couple of our friends from Utrecht a year prior to U-TRAX. Entangled made it to many charts and compilation albums, including Carl Craig’s mix CD as part of !K7’s DJ-Kicks series.
Besides two releases on U-TRAX and three 12”-es on Deviate, Peter recorded a full length album for the latter label. Unfortunately, before the album ever saw the light of day, Deviate closed their doors and the tracks remained on the shelves for the next 17 or so years. These tracks still sound surprisingly fresh and original today and we are super excited to be able to release some of them on this Swirling Gas EP!
The title track Swirling Gas obviously gets its name from the documentary sample that the track kicks off with. The almost heartbeat-like electro rhythms, layered choruses and dreamy synths will give you goose bumps all the way to the soles of your feet.
Raw is quite another thing, but way more complicated and sophisticated than the title suggests. An in-your-face electro bass drum pattern supports layer after layer of additional rhythms, some even touching on salsa, and then big fat layers of pulsating synths take you away into deep space. A unique track that will instantly reward the DJ that has the guts to play it for her/his audience.
Drum Magic on the flipside is exactly that: a magic techno trip built around complicated syncopated drum rhythms, which should serve the adventurous DJ well as a foundation for mixing all sorts of weird stuff on top of. We can’t wait to see videos appear with creative mixing ideas.
Final track Freaky is opening with some heavy pounding, yet jumpy beats before it opens up into a bit of a space trip around the 3 minute mark. Though the track has a touch of the Basic Channel sound, its echoing synth tones are very distinct and will light up any venue, no matter how big.
All tracks have been revamped and edited into more current lengths by DJ Zero One, blessed by DJ White Delight and mastered by Thee J Johanz. Label art by Bonk Artwork.
The EP is available for download and streaming and in black and limited edition moss green vinyl from March 1, 2019.
credits
released February 22, 2019
All tracks written, produced and mixed by Peter Aarsman.
Mastered by Ballyhoo Studio.
Artwork by Bonk Artwork.
Edits by DJ Zero One.
Independent Dutch label, based in Utrecht. Released 20 leftfield techno/acid/house/electro records between 1993 and 1997 on
U-TRAX and its sublabel Phoq U Phonogrammen.
After a soft re-launch in October 2018, U-TRAX is back with re-releases, re-presses and fresh new music since 2021.
Hit that Follow button to keep track of/join us on our adventures!...more
Clobbering, nearly industrial bass music with beats as big as the smoldering sun surrounded by charred electronics. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 23, 2024
