LUKE HESS Vinilo y CD

Review: Detroit's Luke Hess is a dub and techno don who keeps on finding fresh new musical territory to explore each time he steps out. Here he lands on the respected European outlet Dolly with a pair of brand new and captivating cuts that come with a couple of solid remixes. 'Woodward Ave' is pure dub techno bliss with carefully evolving synths over driving drums and fluttering percussion with some added synth fizz for extra texture. 'E Grand Blvd' is a lush wedge of deep techno soul which becomes a more emotionally and physically intense vibe with the Fireground remix while the Vil remix of 'Woodward Ave' is thumping and high speed dub techno bliss.

Review: Defining what is, and isn't, "deep" has long been a popular argument amongst house and techno heads, with plenty of records that describe themselves as such more often than not featuring only a veneer of deepness. Luke Hess's latest EP, Into The Deep, is not one of those records. Atmospheric, unearthly and wonderfully immersive, it sees Hess move between the deep techno hypnotism of opener 'Breakers' - think Motor City techno meets classic sci-fi house and you're close - the drifting, dubbed-out chords and locked-in rhythms of 'Depths', and the gorgeously picturesque deep electro shimmer of 'Submissions'. If you love club cuts that tend towards the spacey and emotive, Into The Deep ticks that box and then some.

Review: There are few surprises on Luke Hess's latest vinyl outing on Echochord's colour series, just a trio of fluttering, tried-and-tested techno workouts. Opener "Emerald" boasts a typically trippy and hypnotic groove, but also some heart-aching chord progressions and suitably melancholic melody lines. The late night hypnotism is also present on the slightly more boisterous "Lumen", in which the producer fires darting synthesizer lines and cyclical melody loops at a locked-in groove. In a possible bid to impress those who like their techno funkier and more forthright, he reaches for the foreboding acid lines and pounding kick-drums on cymbal-heavy closer "Myriads".

Review: Despite being born and raised in Detroit, Luke Hess is rarely mentioned in the same breath as his Motor City peers. Then again, his brand and dub-infused techno doesn't fit neatly into the futurist narrative. This latest full-length flips the script slightly. While it has plenty of dub-flecked moments (see "Overcome" and "Humility"), there's a greater reliance on melody over mood. While this could be a reflection of the involvement of collaborator Omar-S, it's more likely an indication of Hess's development as a producer. Moving from hypnotic deep house to robust techno via beatless interludes, Keep On is Hess's most accessible set to date.

Review: Detroit techno veteran Luke Hess is back on his DeepLabs imprint, and on this one he teams up with brother Jeff who makes another rare appearance since his great debut on FXHE back in 2012. There's some sublime dub techno on offer here (as you'd well expect from the pair), and you will immediately feel lost in the groove of slinky and hypnotic A side cut 'Most High' as it glides elegantly through layers of vintage delay and glacial reverbs. The following cut 'Twelve Gates' is a stomping DJ tool that takes it cues from the timeless aesthetic of Axis/Purposemaker releases. The flipside belongs to the majestic deep techno epic 'Dwelling Place', the perfect soundtrack for a winter night drive along Lake Michigan. This is the 10th anniversary release on Hess's label, featuring full sleeve artwork by Haqq.

Review: Finale Sessions continues to fly the flag for the freshest variations on deep techno with a distinct Detroit flavour, and now the label is celebrating five years of operations with a split release that calls upon some label regulars to turn out the goods. Luke Hess is up first with the dynamic whipcrack dub techno pulse of "Deliverer", while Patrice Scott continues his fine run of form with the meditative "Future Funk". Basic Soul Unit meanwhile strikes the balance between experimentation and immersion with the sharp-angled yet soothing "Torn Satin", and then label boss Michael Zucker drops a punchy but poignant offering in the shape of "YHWH".

Review: The key to the Echocord's longevity has been to focus on the deeper, dubbier side of techno, without worrying too much about what all around them are doing. Put simply, Echocord - now celebrating its 10th year - was releasing textured techno for the head and the floor before and after it was trendy to do so. This second sampler 12" showcasing the wares of Kenneth Christiansen's label ahead of a full 'best of' compilation release sees Onmutu Mechanicks, Brendon Moeller, Luke Hess and Resoe all making an appearance. Mechanicks's contribution turns the mood slightly more menacing as "Calyx" marches to the beat of metallic drums and teems with foreboding chords. This being Echocord however, reflective and evocative sensibilities are never too far away, and Luke Hess's "Kratos", although based on clipped drums, boasts breathy, shimmering melodies. Highly recommended.