STM 294 - D. Carbone

If you read our journal, you’re probably familiar with the work of Davide Carbone. The Italian-born, Berlin-based artist is an integral part of the global electronic scene as a producer, label owner, and innovator. His prolific output spans more than a decade and is deeply shaped by an ambition to develop a close-knit community as well as fresh and uncompromising sound. Most of Davide's labels—namely Repitch, 3TH, and Cosmo Rhythmatic—are the result of close collaboration with Ascion, Shapednoise, and Lucindo, aiming to create a legacy in the form of a small, recognizable, and carefully curated catalog of releases. Davide's own productions convey that same strong individual streak, evident in his two alter egos—D. Carbone and Honzo—and across various collaborations with Ascion, Shapednoise, and AnD, as well as through labels such as Innersurface Music, Ophism, Mord, and Black Sun.

Davide's alter egos function as complementary manifestations of his rich inner world. D. Carbone's sound is defined by a smart combination of old-school ethos rooted in 90s acid, rave, and current industrial techno, often reflecting social and political issues through an ongoing examination of club culture and its transformative power. Honzo, which debuted on our journal, is his noisier, darker, and more introverted side, exploring the paradoxes of the human condition. Both of these projects share an understated sensibility that resonates even through his rawest tracks. D. Carbone's latest LP, A.C.A.B., which recently came out on his solo imprint Carbone Records, is a case in point. Consisting of 10 original tracks and 8 remixes by the likes of Falhaber, Noneoftheabove, Ryuji Takeuchi, and WarinD, A.C.A.B. is a frenetic yet elegant release that skillfully balances anguish, darkness, and pure aggression.

STM 294 is as bold and mind-bending as D. Carbone's productions. It's a showcase of his broad personal taste that stretches far beyond the dancefloor. The mix starts on a particularly moving note with "A Nation" by Muslimgauze, soon infused with Tommy Four Seven's murky hit "Feed" and DJ Hell's 80s-inspired monumental track "Germania." The first part of the mix mostly revisits bleaker, more futuristic soundscapes, wandering between ambient, noise, broken beats, and the best of modern experimental techno, such as Lakker's rough, emotional track "Discourage It All" from this year's Época or Héctor Oaks' "Is Imminent."

The pace gradually picks up with Hardcore's 90s gem "I Like John," and from there, it only gets more manic. D. Carbone keeps building tension with an unpredictable array of acid, techno, and hardcore tracks, including some of his own recent productions like the bubbly banger "Comet" or the more sinister "Particles of Desire," throwing in Jeff Mills' classic "Java" and some fresh VTSS and Manni Dee for good measure.

The mood steadily shifts from euphoric to downright brutal with such astute subtlety that it's rarely experienced in hard-hitting mixes. Each time you drift off for a moment, you're sure to find yourself in a completely different universe. There's something new to discover with each listen, and D. Carbone's sick edit of Björk's "Declare Independence" closing the mix is the cherry on top.

"First of all, Secret Thirteen is my favorite podcast, as Justinas, the founder, knows.

This podcast is meant to explore my entire world, which isn’t limited to just being a raver. I’m passionate about all kinds of electronic music, though Rave is my favorite.

Throughout my career, I’ve been making and playing all sorts of electronic music while developing my style. I grew up surrounded by more House sounds, as Rave and Techno were almost killed by the cops in Italy... But with a lot of research and the start of my travels, I began to find my style more and more.

The set is almost 2 hours long, starting with ambient music, moving through broken beats and Techno, and ending with more Hardcore Rave. What I wanted to show with this podcast is that nothing is more important than the music itself. The speed ranges from 80 to 160 BPM, in a mix of old and new songs dating from 1988 to today, covering a lot of genres and influences that shaped me. I’ve included some tracks from my recent releases and an edit I made of my favorite Björk song...

Now sit back, relax, and enjoy this trip from peace to Hardcore..."