Juno Recommends Techno Best of 2019

Review: Gary Martin is well known for his unique productions and his label Teknotika is surely a classic coming out of the famous motor city. This special 10" holds two sought after tracks that were found on a lost DAT tape by Yossi Amoyal and Gary Martin himself. On the A side we have a long time secret weapon, it's a hypnotic groove that was heard on many classic sets, Zip and Ben Klock to name a few. An extremely insane, hard to find Gigi Galaxy track that was changing hands for silly prices is on the B side, for those who know... massive release!

Review: Having established their Ilian Tape label over a wealth of 12" releases these past few years, the brothers Zenker have expanded its remit to include artist albums in the most thrilling of fashions. Their own Immersion LP set the tone early last year, and now it's the turn of fellow Munich-based DJ and producer Skee Mask with the superb Shred. This 12-track set follows a couple of Ilian Tape singles from Skee Mask which marked him out as a producer of real potential but he's really outdone himself on Shred. There is a faint concept for those that want one, an expansion on his interest in snow and glacier caps, but it's easy enough to plunge headfirst and enjoy this LP on the merits of the music alone. Ambient pieces slide into thunderous techno productions and thrilling sideways turns into broken junglist cuts and vintage IDM sounding diversions.

Review: Having delivered one of the strongest electronic albums of 2018, Skee Mask AKA Bryan Muller returns to action with a tightly floor-focused 12" of broken techno rhythms and UK rave-influenced workouts. A-side "Trackheadz" is suitably weighty and forthright, with Muller wrapping drowsy deep space chords, hardcore style breakbeats and orgasmic vocal snippets around sturdy techno drums. Both B-side cuts are far more mellow in tone, with Muller underpinning swelling ambient chords and blissful chill-out room melodies with skittish, early IDM style beats. As with a lot of the producer's work, the vintage influences and inspirations are obvious, but the resultant cuts still sound warm, fresh and life affirming.

Review: Munich-based mystery man, Skee Mask, remains at the top of our Ilian Tape favourites. While we love the work of brothers Dario and Marco Zenker, the two label founders, we think that this guy's sound is the creme de la creme of contemporary, dub-filtered techno. Serum and Junt were both absolute killer EPs, and the Shred album was also on our list of the best releases of 2016, so we're pretty psyched about this new single, the curiously named 2012. The opening "Kordman Return (Swing mix)" is Skee Mask up to his naughty break sampling and techno wizardry, all broken and loose, whereas "Palo Alto" sees the producer in a surprisingly sturdy, head-first mood driven by solid bursts of 4/4 and wondrous synths. Over on the B-side, "Fjorward Flex Dub" swings its mighty swarms of drums over a minimal flurry of melodies, in what feels like a sublime reinterpretation of heavy, 90s power-house; "Glass Museum" closes with a real twist thanks to an abstract, wide-eyed landscape of dissolving, jazzed-out percussion and moody ambience. Excellent material, as per usual.

Review: Fans of stripped-back, minimalist techno - particularly the Eastern European variant focused around Romania's thriving scene - will happily tell you that every release from Christi Cons and Vlad Caia's Sideways Invisibility Theory project (AKA SIT) is worth checking. This, a double-pack containing half of the tracks from their new album (a second part is also available) is certainly noteworthy. It features a quintet of trippy, low-slung late night workouts seemingly designed to operate in the cracks between tech-house and minimal techno. There are naturally subtle variations throughout - a nod to dub techno here, a psychedelic acid line or dreamy deep house texture there - but throughout, their focus remains firmly on wonky early morning workouts.

Review: Italian producer Enrico Sangiuliano may have been serving up dark and intoxicating techno twelves for the best part of a decade, but never before has he turned his hand to the full-length format. Biomorph is not just any old debut album, either, but rather a concept album described by Drumcode as "a journey of evolution". In practice, that means an album that ebbs and flows throughout, opening with a dash of spacey ambient, before charging off on a trip marked out by pulsating techno rhythms (crafted from both straight 4/4 beats and breakbeats), spiraling electronic motifs, booming, elongated basslines, experimental electronic interludes and more future big room techno anthems than the contents of Adam Beyer's USB stick. In other words, if you love Drumcode's particular brand of bombastic techno, you'll love Biomorph.

Review: After the stunning Ostati album released on Organic Analogue last year, Georgia's HVL is back with a new album on the label for his home turf, Bassiani. As a resident of the infamous Tbilisi club, he knows innately how to communicate the vibe of one of the world's most widely discussed techno clubs, only this time he's taken a slightly tougher stance. "Eyes In The Sky" has a fierce, paranoid acid edge, while "F12 (Korg Patch Mix)" gets into freaky, cerebral techno territory. There are intriguing interludes and skits, and plenty more dancefloor heaters delivered with an inventiveness that once again affirms HVL's status as one of the brightest talents operating in the loosely defined field of deep techno.

Review: REPRESS ALERT: Cisco Ferreira continues to fly the flag for rugged hardware powered techno with personality, well over 20 years since he first emerged. The Advent is rightly hailed as a mark of assured quality for good reason, and Thema make a smart move in signing up this fresh grip of tracks from the veteran producer. "Kombination 100" is a lurid, slightly unhinged acid workout from the outer limits, while "Dorian Blue" sets a more moody, aquatic tone with a dash of electro thrown in for good measure. "In Time" brings things up in tempo and attitude, sporting some surging 909 drums guaranteed to get bodies striding with purpose, and then "Rhythm" spins out into trippy electro territory for the heads-down travelers to get spiritually expanded to.

Review: REPRESS ALERT: Following on from his killer album on Organic Anaolgue, HVL presents an EP for movers, with work that draws together a refreshing variety of styles on an upbeat selection.

Review: You have to admire Alex "Omar" Smith's work rate. He's been slinging out regular releases now for the best part of a decade and shows no sign of slowing down. "1992" is his second EP of 2019 and contains a trio of contrasting cuts in his distinctive, hardware-driven sound. Perhaps the biggest surprise is closing cut "Homey Trinitron", a techno-tempo workout that wraps fuzzy, lo-fi synth motifs around weighty and distorted, ghetto-house influenced drums. He provides a chunk of loose but locked-in deep house drowsiness (see the warm, shuffling and punchy title track), as well as a cheery, piano-driven A-side that's as warm, rush-inducing and anthem-like as anything he's released to date.

Review: Asad Rizvi's Silverlining return to form (and archive purge) continues unabated with this latest instalment on his label. The tech house originator kicks off this ninth part in the Silverlining Dubs series with a fresh production, the stripped back and highly technical "Groundhog Rave". It's followed up by an older jam originally released on Eukahouse back in 1997. "Stolen Baggage" is a sweet, poignant club track with lingering keys that positively melt between the snaking beats. "Spinach, Mystery & Insult" brings things back to the here and now with a shimmering set of drums and sonar bleep synths aimed squarely at the deep end. Brief diversion "Sticky Snails" completes the package with a surprise foray into kosmische-inspired territory, pointing to the diversity tucked away in this seasoned producer's repertoire.

Review: When it comes to jackin' Chicago style acid house revivalism, few can hold a candle to Paranoid London. As this long-awaited second album proves, the duo is the undisputed masters of sweaty, TB-303 driven jack-tracks and - as recent single "(Vi-Vi) Vicious Games" and LP opener "Starting Fights" prove - classic-sounding vocal cuts that recall the glory years of Fingers, Inc in the mid-to-late 1980s. Interestingly, "PL" boasts far more collaborations than we've seen from Paranoid London before, including a string of ragged club cuts blessed with evocative spoken word vocals, a thrusting acid throb-job with lead vocals by Simon Topping and a suitably twisted, machine-driven hook up with Arthur Baker and Alan Vega (the raw and weighty "Angel Of Hell").

Review: Roy Of The Ravers returns to his Acid Waxa stomping ground with a much needed vinyl pressing of last year's insanely good "Who Are Ya??" album. Keeping tracks these potent trapped on cassette would have been a crime, but fear not as they've been cut in all their squelchy, 303-baiting glory. There's a particular snappy appeal to Roy's style that makes it some of the most refreshing acid we've heard in some time, whether it's the proper naughty "Roy Shat Over Ref" or the slow-creeping acid of "All Aboard !!!" The vibe is raw and nasty throughout, just like how proper acid should be.

Review: REPRESS ALERT: MDA Analog is the brainchild of Colin McGraw, and first came to light in the mid '90s in Belgium with a seminal self-titled released on Nova Zembla. Now, after years being coveted by devout techno diggers, the project is back in action with a new label, MDA Labs, seeking to present classic and sought after tracks as well as new unreleased gems from the vaults. "Shine" is an original MDA Analog track from 1996 that comes on joyful and invigorating with its bold lead synths and hopped up beats, while equally classic track "Paris" appears here in a newly mixed form. Brokn Mind's edit of "Shine" is a slightly clubbier twist on the original, and "Good Morning" completes the set with a rampant slice of technicolour techno for the fist-shaking masses to get delirious to.

Review: REPRESS ALERT: Thule are back on the Icelandic techno reissue trip, this time returning to a serious classic from Sanasol (Yagya & Thor) that originally came out in 1997. This particular, highly sought after, gem leads in with the majorly heady house throb of "Seveneleven (Original Mix)" which piles the dubby processing and lush melodics on heavy while still retaining a sense of airiness to uplift the soul. By contrast, the "Closedonsundays Mix" focuses on a tough but crooked beat and that undulating bassline for a completely different flavour. On the flip, the "Sanaramalonger Mix" returns to the mellower flow of the original but with a more submerged finish and some pronounced dub stabs. Then the "Ozzy Mix" finishes the package with a minimal take that prefigures the upsurge of dubby clicks n' cuts laptop beats that would explode in the years to come. Essential tackle for all deep techno explorers.

Review: For the latest volume in his ongoing retrospective series "The Director's Cut", Jeff Mills has decided to offer us another chance to own his most iconic and celebrated track, "The Bells". All techno heads should know the 1996 original version that kicks off the EP, but if you don't, it's a stomping, heavily percussive romp rich in looped synth stabs and chiming melodies. Here it comes accompanied by the stunning version found on the "Blue Potential" DVD, in which Mills performed live with Montpellier Philharmonic Orchestra), and bonus cut "The Homosapien Sapiens", which appears to be a previously unreleased cut. While of interest, it's the version of "The Bells" that make the EP an essential purchase.

Review: Some tip-top Transatlantic business here, as EPM Music brings together Motor City legend Robert Hood AKA Floorplan, and veteran UK techno producer Mark Broom. There's a treat on side A as Broom finally allows us access to one of his secret weapons: a previously dubplate-only remix he did of the Floorplan gospel-techno throbber "Never Grow Old". Broom's version is tough and percussive, but also makes great use of rumbling bass, restless organ stabs and glassy-eyed late night rave riffs. Broom's own techno jack-track "Jungle" - a blizzard of distorted percussion and wild electronic noises - opens side B, before Hood offers up a chunky "Re-Plant" of classic Floorplan roller "He Can Save You". It not only features spoken word preacher-man vocals, but also a mind-altering riff reminiscent of Lil' Louis classic "French Kiss".

Review: Talaboman's The Night Land LP was a definite 2017 highlight, as it managed to cross-pollinate all the best elements of the 'outsider' house debacle into one cohesive collection of tracks. Out through Belgium's mighty R&S, it was certain from the start that there would be some form of follow-up to the producer's wild and explorative shades of electronic dance. As such, the imprint have called up a selection of trusted characters from around the globe, starting with Superpitcher's deep and mystical version of "Dins El Llit", a reinterpretation that truly merits some attention of its own, particularly for how beautifully it levitates the original. TTT's newfound homeboy, Samo DJ, morphs the dreary sonics of "The Ghosts Hood" into an even deeper wormhole of dread, short of heading into total 303 oblivion; synth-head LB dub-Corp takes on "Brutal Chugga Chugga" and spins the original with the help of his characteristically edgy and off-kilter percussion work. A fine remix initiative. Recommended.

Review: Some five years after re-launching his Crayon label via a fine EP of vintage "Tracks From The Vault", original 1990s tech-house producer Mark Ambrose serves up more gems from his bulging archives. The quality threshold remains dizzyingly high throughout. Check first the moody, back room dub of "Nightshift (Deeper Mix)", where gentle, alien synth lines and deep space chords tumble down over a heavy analogue bassline and locked-in beats, before turning your attention to "Space Animals", a deliciously dubbed-out affair rich in sub bass and drifting, deep space chords. If that's not enough, flip over and trance out to B side "Seduction" and finally, the slamming techno beats, looped electronics and mind-mangling TB-303 motifs of closer "Dusty Acid".

Review: Following sterling releases from NAP, Same Same and SMP, Isla are back with this smoking joint from I Believe. This is 90s flavoured techno with plenty of sass and sexiness rubbed into its joints - from the throbbing bassline to the steamy samples and subtle dubbiness, this is a late night cut geared towards beautiful, blurry hours of the dance. "Harumi's Groove" and "Outside Time" take things deep and spaced out, while "Red Planet" returns to a more driving, old-skool approach without losing that heady atmosphere. A strongly recommended tip for all those who like to incite passion at peak time.

Review: AE Recordings turns its attention to Oculus, who they describe as a "titan of the Icelandic techno scene", famed for his live sets that have kept bodies moving for the past decade. He commits some of his sounds to wax here, maintaining the otherworldly emotional lilt that often comes from the scene orbiting AE and Thule Records, but with a bolder sound palette than some of the icy dubbed out artists he rubs shoulders with. "Nostalgia" deals in powerful, swooning chord progressions, while "Rydgad" pings a set of metallic percussion around a sturdy but crooked low end groove. "Morph" takes things deeper, while "Flod" offers up a classy take on the minimal techno aesthetic, with added sound design trysts for good measure.

Review: Given that acid revivalists Paranoid London have yet to put a foot wrong, it's no surprise to find that "(Vi-Vi) Vicious Games" is another absolute belter. It's taken from the duo's forthcoming album and features sometime Posthuman collaborator Josh Caffe channeling his inner Robert Owens and Jamie Principle over a retro-futurist backing track. In its full length, the track brilliantly combines Paranoid London's jacking drums and thrusting acid bass with dreamy chords and just the right amount of glassy-eyed melodic flourishes. It sounds like a classic TRAX release given the Paranoid London treatment, which I'm sure we all agree is a very good thing indeed. If you're in the mood for something even sleazier and more driving, the Bam Bam-inspired Dub has it covered.

Review: Nyra continues to use his Canoe label as a vessel for his most personal creative impulses across the dance music spectrum. The ninth instalment on the label kicks off with the ravey flashes of "Make It" before swerving into the rugged, bassweight techno stomp of "Xecute." Edging in a little Italo sauce to meet with tough and gritty techno force, "Comet Commuter" is a clear highlight on the record, and then "Globe Gazer" seals the deal with an upfront charger carefully crafted for the peak time hour and carrying bountiful synth lines to lift the energy of the room skywards.

Review: Last year Skee Mask put the Ilian Skee Series on hold in order to release the brilliant "Compro" album on parent label Ilian Tape. Here he presents the second undeniably dancefloor-focused ISS EP of the year - a robust and forthright floor-tracker full of what the Munich-based composer calls "unstoppable fruity brain benders". It's certainly a vibrant collection of cuts capable of setting the pulse racing, with highlights including the mind-mangling analogue electro/techno/breakbeat fusion of opener "Juug", the deep two-step techno skip of "RZZ", and the IDM influenced shuffle of "Slow Music". Arguably best of all though is the teak-tough analogue electro wonkiness of "Play Ha".

Review: For the west coast techno scene of America, Developer and Truncate are a one stop shop for club techno. Where Developer's production goes large, Truncate's focus is primitive techno minimalism - for David Flores, his peak time productions come packaged as Audio Injection. Truncate fans will notice the similarities of "Control V1" to "Concentrate" (recently commissioned for Pangaea's fabric live 73) from 2011. Truncate manages to strip back "Control V2" even more, which puts greater emphasis on the ketamine drugged computer vocal, while "Reflex V1" and "Reflex V2" are also incarnations of themselves; one minimal, the other more so.

Review: UK dub techno maestro Steve O'Sullivan is back with another payload of deep immersion heaters under his Bluetrain guise, this time on the Future Primitive label. There's a deadly restraint at work on "Congo Shuffle", where the elements get reduced to needlepoint precision and the low end rhythm section stalks with purpose. "Invisible Guest" takes things in an explicitly dubwise direction, channelling serious Rhythm & Sound vibes for an immaculate head-nodder, before "Paralyzed Dub" slows down further into an end of the line skank for the weary to find solace in - masterful movements in the echo chamber from start to finish.