LAYTON GIORDANI Vinilo y CD

Review: Adam Beyer's Drumcode is one of techno's most iconic outlets and it deals only in big room tackle for blowing minds. This sub-series no hits volume seven and welcomes new schoolers Marco Faraone, Eli Brown and Layton Giordani for a pair of punchy new cuts. 'Emergency' is a blast from the off with brain-frying synths and big, boisterous drums. On the flip, 'When I Push' is just as driving and driven, with rising synth tension and rolling snares over the solid kicks. Another winning slab from Drumcode, then.

Review: Layton Giordani hails from New York, and since 2017 he's been nurtured by the Drumcode stable as a reliable source of epic techno for the biggest crowds around. His new release is a short, sharp two-tracker which features two very different offerings from this highly decorated new-wave techno titan. 'Phantom' is a massive, grinding beast driven by full-fat synths, dramatic breakdowns and explosive drops - if you appreciate Drumcode, you know what the deal is. Things get mixed up on the flip as 'Thrillseeker' nudges the tempo up, toys with a nimble rhythm section and pings some tripped out effects and playful sample juggling around the frequency range. It's an intriguing look into the other side of Layton Giordani.

Review: The mighty Drumcode has retained its position at the top table of main room techno again this year. That's through a mix of big parties, big sets from theirs Adam Beyer alongside his associates, and big tunes. The last of 2022 comes from Layton Giordani and is another one that doesn't muck about. 'Digital Age' is a steam train with powerful and immovable drums and frosted synths before a breakdown brings melodic drama. On the flip, 'UFOs & LFOs' brings some big trance energy with bright, flash synths that will get hands in the air. Two more winners, then.

Review: Fresh from the runaway success of his all-star collaboration with Adam Beyer and Green Velvet, "Space Date", Layton Giordani returns to Drumcode with his first fresh solo material since 2017. All four tracks are formidably floor-friendly in the "big room techno" style that has turned the Drumcode crew into global stars in recent years. Giordani begins with the tribal drums, atmospheric chords, acid stabs and bleeping synth melodies of "New York City To Amsterdam", before doffing a cap to Italo-disco on the electro-techno chug of "Enter The Stratosphere". Over on side B, "Body Language" is an angular, acid-fired peak-time thumper, while closing cut "Black Mirror" sees him fix gated, trance style riffs to a typically throbbing, bass-heavy techno groove.

Review: Drumcode and its Swedish founder Adam Beyer have rather become synonymous with big room sounds known as business techno. They don't do anything to shed that tag here with two more epic sounds designed to wash over vast crowds in the world's largest super clubs. Layton Giordani & HI-LO aka Oliver Heldens kick off with 'Rabbit Hole' which is a wall of grainy synth and rolling drums that is simple but effective. Charles D's 'Traction' is another coarsely textured techno roller with splashes of industrial synth and a general sense of subtle elevation.