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Mysticisms continues its global journey with an EP of previously unreleased ethereal House meets IDM by Romania’s HAN aka Dan Handrabur, taken from his early studio recordings, 1991-95.

Born in Bucharest, Handrabur’s music talents began with violin and classical training, leading to a scholarship at the Conservatoire de Geneve at just 16. An even earlier fascination with tapes machines and manipulation, furthered from listening to Radio Free Europe, led to seeking more experimental and contemporary sounds, obtaining a Korg Polisix, Roland TR606 Beat Box and TEAC deck while still in his teens.

Soon hanging around record stores, meeting DJs and securing a residency at Geneva’s landmark, Club 58, he dropped out of studies to pursue the dream of producing. After links were made and a relocation to Vancouver, Canada, his first release – as ‘X Drone’ with Adham Shaikh – in ‘93, led Handrabur to become an integral part of the City’s electronic scene, with dozens of collaborations and releases across a myriad of respected labels, from Harthouse, Exist Dance, Eye Q Records and many more, plus a notably, close relationship with the legendary Phil Western.

The sole HAN release appeared on Interchill Records in ‘98, going on to be a collector’s item that saw a recent, timely repress. The music on “Reflections” comes from the similar space, a timeframe that combines a mastery of Ambient and House textures.

Opening with Floating, featuring the vocals of partner Cristina, captures the essence perfectly. Ethereal and uplifting, with the well placed optimism of the period as this new music movement was mutating. Echoes of the UK post-rave sound is evident, a pulsing 303 and piano counter, a gentle melodic adventure over tight breakbeats.

The title track is a deeper, darker affair, closer to Handrabur and Western’s seminal ’93 ‘Frequencies From The Edge Of The Tektonic Plate’ album, as well a nod to The Drum Club and the post-British Prog House sound.

The B side takes on the “Ambient House” lost genre with the swirling oscillations and beats of Phantasme, a companion to fellow travelers, Pilgirms Of The Mind’s “Subtropique”, before Give In And Resist channels floating arpeggios and vocal samples, a la Irresistible Force,’s “Rising High”; closing another chapter of Handrabur’s archival releases that continue to captivate DJs and collectors ears in equal abandon.

Reflect the Mystery.

Feed the Mystery.