VA036 Nico Purman – Visions EP

The ever evolving ever inspiring Argentinean turned Berliner musical talent that we call our Nico Purman, once again honors the House of Vakant with his latest disco inspired offering to the Gods entitled Visions EP.

In such a short period of time Nico has come so far both physically and meta-musically. Within just a few releases one can easily hear him developing, maturing, and mastering his chosen art medium. From the mechanical tech funk of his Tuesday EP (VA017) and Euphrasia EP (VA025), to the space jazz masterpiece that was Rhapsodies (VA032), his first step toward disco was in fact with his contribution ‘Xpress Yourself’ to the Family Values compilation (VA034).

With Visions EP, once again Nico effortlessly transgresses whatever style he wishes and makes it his own. Taking a few pages from the book of disco as well as a touch of Chicago and a pinch of early New York house, Nico both tips his hat to those influences as well as taking things several steps further to create something completely original.

VA034 Family Values EP

After the digital release of the 8-track ‚Family Values’ compilation late summer this year, Vakant is ready to follow up with a ‘Family Values EP‘ on vinyl this autumn. 4 selected tracks have made it onto the black gold, even we`re loving each tune like a mother loves her umh.. eight children.

Mathias Kaden presents a 2010 edit of his first ever solo release ‚Circle Pit’ (VA004!), followed by DeWalta’s deep but yet bouncing ‚Stringer Bell’ string experience.
On the flip, this EP opens up with Nico Purman`s ‚Xpress Yourself’ which lands somewhere between Rick James and Francois K, followed by Alex Smoke`s freaky ‚I-73 Night’ which, to quote Vakant pal Tolga Fidan, is ‚A reminder of how dance music should have been if it hadn’t gone generic…its punk.`We agree.

VA034 Family Values

  1. va034_cover Nico Purman – Xpress Yourself
  2. Tolga Fidan – Linnz
  3. Alex Smoke – I73-Night
  4. DeWalta – Stringer Bell
  5. Robag Wruhme – Kuttenrolch 1996
  6. Anthony Collins – Boys S.times Cry
  7. Mathias Kaden – Circle Pit 2010
  8. Dario Zenker – Apollo 910

Tis the season for grilling, afternoon beers in the park, and the family reunion. What better way to spend a Sunday then getting into a fight with your drunk uncle over hot dogs and questionable shorts \ socked footwear combinations?

Tis also the season for Vakant the label, the mythos, the family to reunite and drop the blazing ‘Family Values’ compilation for your late summer revelry.

The unmixed compilation starts off with our distant Argentinean cousin Nico Purman. His ‘Xpress Yourself’ lands somewhere between Rick James and Francois K. Second is bro wonder Tolga Fidan who continues to impress with his ‘Linnz’ contribution. Not one to leave all the fun to the kids, Godfather Alex Smoke (VA001) gives his army of robots free rein and out the other end comes ‘I-73 Nightʼ, freaky yet reassuring like advanced techno should be. Rounding out the first half is our other prodigy DeWalta whose favorite pastime happens to be breaking subwoofers. His deep yet bouncing ʻStringer Bellʼ is sure to result in a run on replacement woofer cones.

The wise and the freaky family elder Robag Wruhme (VA002) bestows upon us ʻKuttenrolch 1996ʼ, a light and airy electro tinged piece produced solely on a Korg Trinity in 1996 while sounding just as fresh as if produced yesterday. Next up is visiting uncle by way of marriage Anthony Collins who imparts ʻBoys Sometimes Cryʼ showing his depth, musicality, and maturity. Then everyoneʼs brother Mathias Kaden presents us with a 2010 edit of his own first ever solo release, ʻCircle Pitʼ (VA004) which is as sick as the original was in 2005. Finally comes our Bavarian son Dario Zenker who puts a big red ribbon on the ʻFamily Valuesʼ package with perhaps his slickest, sexiest, and expansive track to date with ʻApollo 910ʼ.

So enjoy the Vakant familyʼs tech house fruits, partake in its freaky family love, but please try not to get burned.

VALT4 Nico Purman – All That Glitters Ain’t Gold

Vakant is continuing its VALT series with Nico Purman after Dario Zenker’s excursion into Detroit techno some months ago.

Nico, who just moved to Berlin recently, drops a dirty disco bomb which is our soundtrack to your spring! Enjoy.

VA032 Nico Purman – Rhapsodies

  1. va032why what
  2. funk forest
  3. chamomile

Nico Purman, our Argentinean (soon to be Berlin based) drumline captain and all around groove slinger is back for his third instalment on the marching band in the sky that we call our Vakant home.

Purman’s sound continues to evolve, covering truly large distances with every release. Since his robo-strobe inspired earlier Vakant works Tuesday EP (VA017) and Euphrasia EP (VA025), Nico drops 3 large-and-very-much-in-charge space jazz masterpieces that he fermented in what sounds like a mid-nineties New York house basement.
First up is ‘Why What’ where Nico sets the free-flowing rhapsodic mood that covers so much ground with one track. Starting in what sounds like Tenaglia’s beloved Chelsea, the track slowly moves uptown landing at the Blue Note where Rollins, Monk, and Roach sit in on the session.
‘ Funk Forest’ follows with more pep and less mood. Upbeat and popping percussion blend with Rhodes while a diva whispers in your ear until late seventies Hancock shows up with his synth and brings the hands way up.
‘Chamomile’ finishes the EP off in style. Moody while maintaining the jazz feel, ‘Chamomile’ peaks with futuro baritone sax and piano in unison. Smooth and steady all the way.

VA025: Nico Purman – Euphrasia EP

  1. va025 Euphrasia
  2. My Own Band
  3. Da Roots

Who said techno isn’t seasonal? Summer’s ebullience must invariably lead to winter’s depravity. Short days, collapsing economies, and assorted mavericks have set the mood for the return of Argentinean Nico Purman, our winter cycle heavy hitter, with his second EP on Vakant since last January’s Tuesday EP (VA 017).

A-side ‘Euphrasia’ is your very own space tourism trip minus the Soyuz-FG rocket and associated $25 million price tag. Are we going to make it to the International Space Station? Will we break up in the upper atmosphere? Will there be a FSB agent waiting for us in the ISS? All good questions. Nico’s got the ascension covered here, complete with drama, apprehension, and aerospace wizardry.

B1 ‘My Own Band’ provides reassured relief after finally docking with the Pirs module only to find a bunch of inebriated astronauts complete with hydroponics and atomizers. Space is indeed fun and full of love and melody.

With B2 ‘Da Roots’, Nico proves once and for all that there are indeed Africans in space, and they probably spent a considerable amount of time in Chicago. ‘Da Roots’ jacks as robustly as a solid Kazakh Steppe landing. Plump and stout, Nico’s B2 celebrates earth and space at once with feet firmly on the ground staring back up yearning for the next ride.

VA017: Nico Purman – Tuesday EP

  1. va017 Tuesday
  2. Muela Pain

Fresh talent has joined the Vakant Berlin Boys Tec Team (VBBTT). Argentinean Nico Purman, drummer and no stranger to the world’s dark throbbing dance floor scene, brings us a release nothing short of spontaneous combustion.

A-side ´Tuesday´ takes perhaps the most direct approach to dark loud strobo room stimulation seen in some time from the perspective of deep expanding techno. Taking classic clues from no frills techno history, Nico takes things way further with a sound all his own, vast and bottomless. At once thick and enveloping, ´Tuesday´ ferries you on an outing to a submarine rave whether you remember getting on the boat or not.

B-side ´Muela Pain´, also not for those faint of heart or easily unhinged, could be easily placed in some of Kubrik’s darker cinematic moments. ´Muela Pain´ foreshadows impending doom in a way that a wall of speakers could ever hope to. It is at once dubby, clinical, heavy, and just plain freaky.

Just in time for the cold, dark indoor season, VA017 is here to happily assist in your winter downward spiral.