FRACTURE — Slow Astro, Vol.3 & 4 (tape)

Fracture – Slow Astro, Vol.3 & 4 (TAPE) arrives on Astrophonica as catalogue APHAC04, a neon-green cassette that continues the label’s deep-dive into slowed-down back-catalogue edits. The release, dated 13 November 2026, sits squarely in the electro, beats techno, dubstep techno and bass techno terrain, offering a deliberate 97 bpm tempo that turns familiar Astrophonica material into a more spacious, nocturnal landscape. Within Astrophonica’s 2026 output, Slow Astro, Vol.3 & 4 follows the same-day arrival of Fracture’s Slow Astro Vol 1 & 2 (APHAC03) and joins earlier statements such as Damian’s Ghost – Universalis (APHA035), Sully – Swandive (APHA023) and LMajor – Can’t Do It (APHA025). The cassette also builds on the label’s 2025 release Erase Everything / Good Stuff (APHA034) – a Fracture / Neptune collaboration – and the 2024 SLOW860 (APHASLOW860), further cementing the “slow edit” thread that the label has been cultivating. Side A opens with “Client_03 – Suspect Dispenser”, a title that hints at a questioning, perhaps fragmented mood, setting a reflective tone that carries through the side. “Fracture & Sam Binga – EBP” follows, its abbreviation suggesting a concise, perhaps procedural feel, while “Fracture – Verhoeven” evokes cinematic movement, linking the side’s narrative. “Fracture – Get Raw” pushes the atmosphere toward a stripped-back intensity, and “Fracture & Sam Binga – Conditional” adds a sense of possibility before “Client_03 – Thought Disposal” offers a mental clearing. “Fracture – Dropping You” deepens the groove, leading into “Client_03 – WAVEFILE_Dayjob”, a title that merges digital terminology with everyday labor, and closing with “Moresounds – You Don’t Know”, a reminder of hidden depths as Side A concludes. Side B begins with “Dawn Day Night – Alcoholic Dance Flow”, a title that juxtaposes intoxication and movement, priming the listener for a kinetic shift. “Chimpo – Buzz Army” follows, its buzzing connotation amplifying the side’s energy, while “Nikki Nair – Its NP Complicated” introduces a personal, perhaps tangled texture. “Damian’s Ghost – All I Remember” brings a reflective echo, leading into “BSN Posse – No Matter How Far”, a statement of perseverance that propels the set forward. “Philip D Kick – Funk 160” injects a rhythmic nod, and “Tehbis & Touchy Subject – 1988” summons a nostalgic reference point before “Dawn Day Night – Mister Meaner” adds a mischievous edge. The cassette closes with “Fracture & Neptune – The Limit”, a collaborative finale that caps the slowed-down journey with a sense of boundary-pushing resolution. The Slow Astro series has become a defining thread in Fracture’s recent output. After the 2024 SLOW860 (APHASLOW860) and the 2025 collaborations APHAFR001 and APHA034, the current cassette marks the third and fourth installments of a concept that reinterprets Astrophonica’s own archive at a deliberately languid pace. By recording live on a Mackie mixing desk and layering dub sirens and FX, Fracture creates a texture that feels like an overnight sleeper train moving through the label’s deeper corners, a notion echoed in the artist’s own comments about pitch manipulation and the dream-like quality that emerges when familiar material is slowed. For DJs, the 97 bpm framework offers a unique tempo that can bridge slower techno or dub techno moments with more driving sections, making the cassette a valuable tool for late-night transitions or mood-setting interludes. The neon-green cassette format also provides a tactile, visual cue that can be leveraged in sets that celebrate physical media. Collectors will appreciate the continuation of the Slow Astro narrative, the limited-run aesthetic, and the inclusion of tracks from a range of Astrophonica regulars, from Client_03 to Dawn Day Night, each rendered in a slower, more spacious guise. The release is presented as a 12-track cassette, the format specified as “Cassette” with the added feature of a limited neon-green presentation. The physical package aligns with the label’s ongoing exploration of analog media as a conduit for experimental tempo play. Fracture – Slow Astro, Vol.3 & 4 (TAPE), Astrophonica, catalogue APHAC04, cassette, 12 tracks, electro / beats techno / dubstep techno / bass techno, released 13 November 2026. Tracklist: A1. Client_03 – Suspect Dispenser A2. Fracture & Sam Binga – EBP A3. Fracture – Verhoeven A4. Fracture – Get Raw A5. Fracture & Sam Binga – Conditional A6. Client_03 – Thought Disposal A7. Fracture – Dropping You A8. Client_03 – WAVEFILE_Dayjob A9. Moresounds – You Don’t Know B1. Dawn Day Night – Alcoholic Dance Flow B2. Chimpo – Buzz Army B3. Nikki Nair – Its NP Complicated B4. Damian’s Ghost – All I Remember B5. BSN Posse – No Matter How Far B6. Philip D Kick – Funk 160 B7. Tehbis & Touchy Subject – 1988 B8. Dawn Day Night – Mister Meaner B9. Fracture & Neptune – The Limit