The third release on So Low is a 5-track EP from Ian Hicks, formerly one half of Soft Metals. Ian also appeared on our “Now & Then” compilation EP. Here he commands his own release and sets the synths to stun with 5 tracks of analogue waves ranging from the XTC bliss out of “Character Collapse” and “Depths Of Psyche” to the shockwave klang of “Chemical Environments” and “Specter”, perhaps leaving the very best to last with the ultimate hypno, sex slug groove of “Continuous”. Subliminal vocals. Wrecked drum boxes. Synths spiralling.

Full colour picture sleeve designed by So Low collective member and acclaimed Glasgow artist Katie Shannon.—SoundCloud

Alias Harbour is used for text throughout.

So Low is an occasional night in Glasgow run by Iona Fortune, Katie Shambles, Becky Marshall & JD Twitch. So Low is strictly for creatures of the night and plays music that could perhaps be described by the words Dark Waves / Cold Waves / Minimal Synthesis / Maximal Industrial / Lo-Nrg / Forgotten Flemish Goth Bands / Teutonic Apocalyptic Beats.

It is now also a label, administered by Optimo Music.

Here is the first 12″ release, “Now & Then”, a various artists 4-track EP featuring two tracks from now and two from then. — Soundcloud

The 12″ comes housed in a bespoke hand printed fold out poster sleeve inserted into a plastic sleeve with screen printed text on the plastic, designed and created by Katie Shambles.

Alias Harbour is used for title graphics.

Fold-out poster

12″ comes has a plastic sleeve with screen printed text on the plastic, here without the foldout poster

12″ comes has a plastic sleeve with screen printed text on the plastic, here without the foldout poster

Front and back covers

The Vinyl Factory —

Join the industrial dance party.

Released as part of the So Low Remixes EP, Helena Hauff has remixed cult cut ‘Moving Hands’ by Belgian EBM pioneers The Klinik. Guttering graphics and shadowy outlines come together in the electric music video – watch above.

Smothering the vocals, Hauff adds glistening synths for a paranoid techno track caught in frenzied animation between the delicacy of the melody and the raw power of the rhythm.

The remix EP, which also features industrial enthusiast Powell, follows the release of JD Twitch’s So Low compilation.

Credits
Produced by The Vinyl Factory
Directed by Katie Shannon and Marianne Wilson
Edited by Dave Clark

See also the 1980s techno compilation So Low by JD Twitch, which also uses Harbour.

Vinyl Factory —

Optimo’s prolific DJ/producer/label boss JD Twitch aka Keith McIvor has curated a compilation of early ’80s synth, industrial and cold wave classics and undiscovered gems in collaboration with The Vinyl Factory.

So Low Remixes — front cover