Peer

11/08/2024

OUT NOW- PEER010 - Images of Light EP by Jason Patrick

Amid a crossfire of colorless carbon copies of a long-forgotten idea, Jason Patrick’s latest effort makes a luminary statement. The Images of Light EP arrives by way of Bay Area electronic music label Peer. Each of its five tracks casts a purposeful shadow across the boundless void that is modern techno.

“Xpx997” ushers in the effort with uncanny brightness for a cut otherwise defined by dissonance and atonal foley effects. Radiant bursts rip through a layer of exospheric noise, halted by an organic drum groove at the hearth of the soundscape.

Next on the EP’s tracklist is the psychedelic yet functional “Code Cracking.” A metallic orator laments over its digital shackles on the high end while borderline Gregorian atmospheres seem to taunt it from below. Only in the final few bars do the two reconcile.

“Foreshadow” portrays the precise sonic imagery suggested by its title. Subtle and slow burning, a coarse veil of tension wafts its way down from overhead, flickering madly like negative film reel footage of a wind-hewn flame.

Eliciting an immediate visceral reaction is the exceptionally produced “Off World.” It leads with dissociative oscillations, ratcheting up the intensity with each new layer added to the arrangement. By the time a unique double breakdown cuts through the cacophony, haunting mechanical whispers fill the track’s negative space.

“Interpretation” closes out the Images of Light EP on a sullen note. Cold ambiance lays an unshakeable foundation for this contemplative palette cleanser. As the occasional stereo artifact rattles its way up and down the dynamic range, the listener is left to reflect on all that they’ve taken in.

Only Peer could provide a home for an artistic statement like the Images of Light EP. Well into its third year, the imprint has eked out a niche in the refined yet experimental range of the electronic music spectrum. Contributions such as that of Jason Patrick project a bright future out ahead for Peer and its tight-knit community of supporters.

Written and Produced by Jason Patrick
Mastering by Matt Salamone
Artwork by Adra
Description by John Cameron

http://weareyourpeers.com

05/24/2024

PEER009 - Out now on all platforms!
Max Gardner - The Complicator (incl Truncate remix)

Peer interrupts your regularly scheduled programming to deliver a record purpose-built for the peak hour. The Complicator EP by label boss Max Gardner stands out as one of the most driving entries on the Bay Area record label’s rapidly unfolding discography. Truncate was gracious enough to reimagine the title track as a maximalist hardgroove cut, making this a must-have in your arsenal.

Early Support from:
Dave Clarke, Luke Slater, Dax J, Laurent Garnier, Slam, Richie Hawtin, Takaaki Itoh, Juana, The Advent, Norman Nodge, Joel Mull, Ilario Alicante, ANNĒ, Arjun Vagale, DJ Shufflemaster, Marcel Dettmann, Yant, Dimi Angelis, Border One, Amotik, Electric Rescue, Alexander Kowalski, Cari Lekebusch, Carl Craig, Endlec, Alexi Delano, JakoJako, Kaiser, Ricardo Garduno, Josh Wink, Arnaud Le Texier, Endlec, Antonio De Angelis, Marco Faraone, Camea, Joseph Capriati, Kwartz, Ray Kajioka, Joton, Kangding Ray

Tracklist:
1. The Complicator
2. The Complicator (Truncate remix)
3. The Agitator.

Mixed and Produced by
Mastering by
Artwork by
EP Description by

Over the course of its catalog, Peer has never shied away from exploring the derelict fringes of underground music. Max Gardner’s Complicator EP is no exception. The label’s experimental philosophy finds a new form as three pieces of functional dance music in this latest endeavor

03/26/2024

FRIDAY THIS BANGER DROPS

Peer proudly presents ‘Kide’ EP by Spanish DJ and producer Judy. Judy’s thought-provoking style has found releases on Fernanda Martins’ Devotion, Joton’s Newrhythmic, BCCO, and Pushmann’s N&N Records. Peer is the underground techno label from San Francisco, USA that has featured contribu...

01/05/2024

OUT NOW: peer007 - Symbolic Function by Declan James with remixes by Max Gardner and Secus

Buy Link: https://peeraudio.bandcamp.com/album/symbolic-function

“Declan James makes his celebrated Peer debut with the five-track Symbolic Function EP. The Dallas, Texas producer and VOIDWARE founder’s stripped-back style of techno is well suited for the Bay Area label’s forward-thinking yet time-tested approach to techno.

A familiar structure slowly takes shape from amorphous, shimmering tones throughout the runtime of the title track. A remix of “Symbolic Function” also appears on the EP of its namesake. Offered up by Peer stalwart Secus, it gives the concept more groove in the form of resonant basses and bristling percussion.

Next is “Homeostasis,” a sonic exercise in subtlety. Each element introduced sneaks up on the listener, from new drum layers to the alternating sonar tones that virtually drown out all else underneath. Conventional wisdom suggests that “Homeostasis” shouldn’t sound right. Against all odds, it does.

“Serpents Tone” concludes the EP on a simple yet suspenseful note. Spine-tingling atmospherics offset gnashing foley effects while restrained drum hits give the arrangement some semblance of order. Also included is label boss Max Gardner’s rendition, which incorporates psychedelic oscillations set to an intensifying rhythm.

In the Symbolic Function EP, Declan James contributes thought-provoking ideas to the worldwide conversation that is underground music. Peer is the perfect home for such an effort. The label’s recent release cadence promises that dance floor moments such as these will not be in short supply.”

1. Symbolic Function
2. Symbolic Function ( remix )
3. Homeostasis
4. Serpents Tone
5. Serpents Tone ( remix )

Written and Produced by Declan James
Remixes by Max Gardner and Secus
Mastering by Matt Salamone
Artwork by Moe Espinosa
Description by John Cameron

10/30/2023

OUT NOW: peer006 - Examination EP by Annika Wolfe

Available now on Bandcamp and all digital stores

Buy link: https://peeraudio.bandcamp.com/album/examination

10/06/2023

ATTENTION: peer006 will release on October 30th by a very special act who's blowing up out of LA. More news related to the release coming soon...

07/26/2023

Next up, on August 11th peer joins the Techno Snobs in Phoenix, Arizona for a label showcase featuring Drumcell, Max Gardner and Knowbody

06/08/2023

OUT NOW: peer005 Gehenna EP by Knowbody, Cory Simpson and Max Gardner. Available on Bandcamp and all digital stores

1. Hellhound
2. Gehenna
3. Dynasoar

https://peeraudio.bandcamp.com/album/gehenna-ep

_knowbody Max Gardner Cory Simpson

06/01/2023

July 14th peer invades the Direct to Earth space pod in San Francisco. Here we go!

04/03/2023

Happy release day! peer004 is out now, the Energy Punk EP by Max Gardner. This 5 track EP has something for everyone. Get it today on bandcamp and all digital stores.

https://peeraudio.bandcamp.com/album/energy-punk-ep

03/21/2023

Preoder peer004 now! The Energy Punk EP by Max Gardner drops on April 3rd, 2023 and we’re going to release it slightly early to those who get in on the preorder. The release contains 5 original songs by Max. All tracks were mastered by Brian Sanhaji, except for the West Coast is Back which had it’s mastering treatment done by Sean Raya. Moe Espinosa fleshed out the artwork for the release and John Cameron wrote up the lovely track descriptions.

http://peeraudio.bandcamp.com/album/energy-punk-ep

Get ready for the big one!

03/09/2023

Read the full interview Max, Cory and Moe (Drumcell) to learn more about the idea behind peer, west coast techno, where the scene’s heading and more. Big thanks to Sean Ocean and Dirty Epic for the invite ❤️

https://dirty-epic.com/2023/03/09/peer-interview-bringing-west-coast-techno-into-the-light/

02/18/2023

It's nice to see our new EP from drumcell included on the front page for Raw/Deep/Hypnotic techno on Beatport today.

Go grab the EP while it's fresh!

02/17/2023

*OUT NOW* peer003 | Drumcell - Fallbrook EP

Available on all digital stores and here on Bandcamp: https://peeraudio.bandcamp.com/album/fallbrook

"Peer continues to push the sonic extremities of underground electronic music with the Fallbrook EP courtesy of U.S. techno figurehead Drumcell.

Born Moe Espinosa in Los Angeles, Drumcell is not only a disc jockey and music producer, but also a cofounder of the celebrated Observe gatherings alongside Truncate and Oktaform. Once a product specialist for music software and hardware company Native Instruments, he commands a strong presence in techno strictly thanks to the merit of his musical output.

The EP’s title track speaks to the refinement of his sound signature. Rolling kick drums weave through stripped-down square wave basses in the early bars of the soundscape, only to be overshadowed by shrill synths that ring out with eerily human intensity.

Peer Cofounder Max Gardner rearranges these elements in his remix of “Fallbrook,” whose core motif is a syncopated call and response between the arrangement’s low and high ends. A mechanical voice emerges from the crossfire around the midway point, fading back into the digital ether by the outro.

“Fever Pitch” concludes the EP with comparatively accessible elements: resonant plucks assigned to familiar sequences of notes. A dissonant stab intermittently pierces this liminal structure as hissing risers demand room in the dynamic range.

Between his remix on Peer’s inaugural EP and his ongoing art direction, Drumcell’s artistic touch has helped shape the bedrock of the forward-thinking label. The Fallbrook EP marks his first full release on the imprint." - Description by John Cameron

Written and Produced by Drumcell
Remix by Max Gardner
Mastering by Sean Raya
Art by Moe Espinosa