London Modular Alliance - "Lump Of Coal" (beats) (2:42)
Konerytmi - "Pulssi" (5:22)
DeFeKT - "Radar" (4:03)
Zobol - "Data Wars" (5:01)
Review: Exit Planet Earth continues its exploration of the world of electro universe with an expansive, extended six track EP, featuring The Advent x Zein Ferreira, DeFeKT, London Modular Alliance, Konertymi and Zobol. The Advent, whose weekly Gardening Club residency in the mid-90s helped to drag electro out of the realms of the retro and back into the future, team up with Zein Ferreira for a Kraftwerk-on-speed extended mix of 'CarpeDiem', before London Modular Alliance's more moderately paced but still squiggle and bleep laced 'Lump of Coal' plus a 'beats' breakdown for the DJs. The B-side brings us the acid-powered 'Pulssi' by Konerytmi, the bouncy, breakdance-friendly 'Radar' by DeFeKT, and the relatively pure, optimistic sonics of Zobol's 'Data Wars'. Thumbs up all round.
Review: Basel-based experimental labels Amenthia Recordings and A Walking Contradiction join forces for their first collaborative release here in the form of the Flash Crash/Hack Crash EP. Both labels are known for pushing boundaries within their close-knit creative circles and this one features Agonis' heavy stepper and Konduku's whirlpool of low frequencies on the Amenthia side, while Lemont continues the low-end, tripped-out vibe. Varuna represents A Walking Contradiction and delivers swampy, slow-motion sounds in their signature style. This release embodies both labels' commitment to daring, unconventional electronic sounds.
Review: Fourth part of the compilation celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Milanese record shop. This collection is entirely composed of previously unreleased music, exclusively produced for the occasion by many artists of great relevance in the worldwide music scene, who supported the store over the last ten years.
This EP features Ellen Allien, Kreggo, Timeslip89, Itinerant Dubs and Heith.
Adam Beyer - "Take Me There" (feat DJ Rush - Carl Cox remix) (6:24)
Matt Guy - "Give Me What I Want" (6:16)
ADHS - "2STEP" (6:22)
Kaiserdisco - "Get On The Dancefloor" (6:51)
Review: The big room techno don that is Adam Beyer is back with more potent techno weaponry on his own Drumcode label, this time with part two of the 12th volume of his A-Sides series. His 'Take Me There' is first up in remix form and Carl Cox flips it into a surging peak time roller. Matt Guy's 'Give Me What I Want' is an emotive banger with big synth energy and reverberating vocals while ADHS's '2STEP' hits hard with its flaming drums and trance-y synths. Kaiserdisco then brings dark, stomping warehouse energy to their raved-ready 'Get On The Dancefloor.'
Review: As part of Oscar Mulero's Unknown Landscapes mix CD his label Pole Group has done the right thing and released the first of several various artist samplers. This first body of music is opened by the rusty pings of DVS1's "Strobe", while up and coming Spanish techno producer, Kwartz, earns his Pole Group stripes with a deep and blipping "Hate". Long-time label cohort Reeko provides the elongated mind trip that is "Enlightenment Process", and the last spot is of course reserved for industrial demigod Adam X who doesn't falter with the voltage charged "Meridien Arc".
Review: Given that both producers are underground titans, traversing the blurred lines between disco, acid, deep house and wide-eyed dreaminess, you'd expect this two-track collaboration between Eddie C and Keita Sano to be pretty darn good. It is, of course, with the pair carving their own mind-mangling, breathlessly energetic niche on 'Disco Universal' - a certified throb-job in which trippy noises, exotic instrument samples and pulse-racing electronic motifs rise above a thumping beat and Italo-disco style sequenced bassline. It slows down midway through, 'French Kiss' style, before the duo brilliantly bring it back to a peak-time tempo. They explore sub-heavy, garage-influenced deep house and breakbeat pastures on the dreamy, weighty, impactful and acid-fired 'Joy Joy Joy', once more showcasing the diversity of their musical influences.
The Exaltics & Paris The Black Fu - "Wea Poni Zedin Form" (4:02)
Alex Jann - "Android Memory" (5:31)
Lost Souls Of Saturn - "Rave Is Back" (6:31)
Kim Cosmik - "Moonrise" (6:58)
Review: Ralph Lawson's Leeds based 20/20 Vision label has made a distinctive shift into electro territory over the last couple years. It is a sound the boss has said has long been in his heart despite him being best known as a house head and longtime resident at Back to Basics, and the quality of the tunes he unearths to put out more than backs that up. The Exaltics & Paris The Black Fu kick off with a shiny, bright, visceral metallic electro workout then three further cuts take in dark wave drum machine rhythms and acid-laced bangers.
Review: French synth-dub duo Froid Dub return with a fresh sonic exploration on their new six-track album, taking their blend of synth wave and dub to new depths. Known for their organic-meets-digital sound, they push the boundaries even further with this release. The album features the unmistakable rhythms of the TR-808, now more submerged than ever in the thick, swirling echoes of digi-bass, creating a hypnotic atmosphere. Perfect for fans of experimental electronic and dub, this latest offering is another testament to Froid Dub's ability to fuse genres in a way that feels both timeless and forward-thinking.
Kai Noob & Volodymyr Gnatenko - "Noppera-Bo" (6:15)
Volodymyr Gnatenko - "Umibozu" (7:02)
Kai Noob & Volodymyr Gnatenko - "Zashiki-warashi" (5:41)
Review: Carl Hardy's Animals On Psychedelics label doesn't rush things. It has taken several years to get to release number seven, but you won't find us comparing. It is a prime example of quality over quantity and here again with have another timeless, mind-melting release designed for whacked out dance floors at 5am. Vladimir Gnatenko is back once again after previous impressive outings and both his cuts are molten affairs with liquid synths and neon colours over supple drums. He also collaborates twice with Kai Noob on a pair of similarly tripped out techno wormholes.
Review: A record that explores deep, hypnotic rhythms with a strong tribal and mystical undercurrent, the latest Siamese Twins records pushes the boundaries of what is possibly in eastern influences underground techno. Side-1 opens with 'The Golden Triangle', an atmospheric introduction that feels cinematic, setting the stage with ambient textures before giving way to movement. 'Lens of Time' follows, locking into a deep, primal groove where rolling percussion and rich low-end create an entrancing effect. On Side-2 'Mekong' leans into tribal mysticism, blending ancient rhythmic patterns with a modern pulse. The production is detailed yet raw, drawing from rich percussive layers. 'Ruak' closes the EP with pulsating bass and deep, rolling rhythms, channeling Eastern influences into a hypnotic techno flow. A powerful release from Siamese Twins Records, driven by Sunju Hargun's distinct vision.
Review: Techno tachyons Midi Mode, based in Ireland, provide a home for "warped and twisted" sounds and those who create them. After five vaporwave-tinged, reality-bending debut EPs from the likes of Ikeaboy and Power, they now present their very first selectors V/A EP on a gooey green wax edition. It's quite the assembly of Eireann techno royalty, with a host of seasoned players lead by probably the country's most esteemed DJ, Sunil Sharpe, as well as Kerrie and Wexford's Lee Holman. Quality is, naturally, at a consistently high label - with closer 'Phase-One' proving an especially computational, objectivist, mad, pitiless track.
Review: Inhuman (but not inhumane) electro-techno from Kafkactrl, bringing moods of faceless robo-bureaucracy to the Spanish label Another Perspective. Highlights on this cryosonic clatterer include the Modular K collaboration 'Weird Particules', an inner isolation chamber packed with overactive reagents, and Alonzo's version of 'Kuramoto Model', whose muddied UR-style hits resound like mechy hand-claps, as chaotic bass gunfire unloads itself across a traipsing mix.
Nordhouse (Luke Hess & Brian Kage Reference remix) (5:51)
Galaxian (Max Watts remix) (6:02)
Review: Detroit's Brian Kage is back with more Motor City goodness, this time as a remixer alongside a fine selection of peers. It is his Timeless Times album that gets reworked here and for his remix of 'Nordhouse' he works with fellow Detroiter and dub techno don Luke Hess to cook up a warm, shuffling sound. Elsewhere Delano Smith brings his signature smoky loops and plaintive keys to 'Detroit Techno City', Milton Jackson steps up with a buddy deep house roller and 'Galaxian' gets an electro remix from Max Watts to make this a classy, quality collection.
Review: With releases already clocked up on Carl Craig's Planet-E, the Omar S-run stable FXHE and Rob Modell's Echospace, Detroit house/techno fans with a keen eye (and ear) will already know Brian Kage. Michigander is his own label and this EP - that kicks off with Taho and Kage joining forces again on its A-side - was a success when it first emerged on marbled vinyl in March 2023. So much so, in fact, that's it been given a repress. With traces of acid and uplifting piano notes undewrwritten by deep chords on the opener '909 Nights', 'Warehouse Vibes' then brings driving kicks and dubby techno bliss before the closer 'JAX' goes in the style with its fist pumping rhythms. Motor City musical magic at its best.
Review: Six releases in and Michigander label head Brian Kage teams up with the legendary French Techno producer, Taho, aka David Jacopin. The electronic music world knows to put respect on the Motor City, but the "Detroit EP" represents a fusion, emphasizing l'accent aigu - not a typo or spec on your screen that needs cleaning. Between Kage and Taho, their production pedigree includes releases for labels like FXHE, Planet-E, Delsin, F.Comm, and more, so it's no surprise the pairing makes for a masterfully produced EP covering the spectrum of Detroit house and techno sounds, with an added deft touch from its French connection.
Review: Naming his latest tunes 'Target Practice' and 'Improv', Spanish electro producer Kalcagni is determined to flaunt his care-less, unruffled streak, implying that the production of electro floor-haulage is a cakewalk. After all, the best among us eat bangers for breakfast! The A-siders rattle out like inexhaustible mags, as we hunt down bullet-holed cardboard cutouts of mortal enemies, spied in the reticle. It's only until after such an opening bloodbath that we find a moment to catch our breaths and put on a 'Clean Shirt', where rejuvenative acids resound between roomier beat. Finally, 'Drift N Shift' hears Kalcagni pack in his shift at the shooting range and steal away into a misty, chord-laden night, though the sense of urgency is not lost on us.
Review: KANZ's artist alias, when reversed, becomes ZNAK, meaning "SIGN" in Bulgarian. He hails from Lyulin, a district known for breeding either crime or art, and thankfully Kaloyan embodies the latter. This outing on MELMAK is opened with '25% Personality (with Dickie)' which is deep and atmospheric dub techno. 'Low Orbit' is just as deep but more driving with some pad laced beauty up top, 'Trench Music' then brings frosty Berlin dub techno vibes, 'Dub Tool A' has conscious vocal mutterings and 'Splais' is a slow motion gem for late night contemplation. 'Kopriva (Opa Kanz Rerub)' is a spine-tingling closer with angelic vocals.
Review: Axel Karakasis delivers a potent blend of classic and modern techno with Nightbreak EP on Planet Rhythm. The title track, 'Nightbreak', kicks things off with heavy, uptempo energy, driven by pounding percussion, perfect for the dancefloor. 'Moulder' follows, bringing a primal, tribal percussion vibe that feels raw and unrelenting. On Side-2, 'The Line' taps into the spirit of late 90s techno with its peak-time energy, channeling that classic sound into a high-octane, crowd-pleasing track. 'Radiant' closes out the EP, delivering a wicked groove with a nasty edge, making it a standout cut for those who appreciate tough, gritty techno. Nightbreak EP shows Karakasis' ability to blend driving rhythms with a primal energy.
Review: Long before Karen was a universally accepted epithet for entitled middle-class white woman, there was Karenn, an uncompromising techno duo who do artful things with menacing noise. Pariah and Blawan have been on and off making music together since first launching this project in 2011 but whenever they do, it's worth hearing. This one on Voam is another case in point: 'Feeling Horizontal' is a monstrous and ghoulish stomper with twisted vocal darkness, while 'Happy Birthday' is a more lithe and bouncy cut with rubbing low ends and zippy synth texture. 'From Hunk To Husk' carries on the brutalist approach with more intense voices, bass and drums, and 'When Lutes Were A Thing' is a brain-bogging mix of sludgy sounds, spangled percussion and metallic surfaces.
Review: After the impressive scope of the first volume of Dysphoria |Euphoria, Ka-One and St-Sene have returned to their Flyance label with a second installment that goes even deeper into adventurous electronic pastures. There's a cinematic quality to the original productions that make up the first disc of Chapter Two, using mournful melodic refrains and a widescreen approach to production that draws the listener in to their emotive electro and techno world. In terms of remixers on the second disc, they haven't held back as AWB, Setaoc Mass, Luke Hess and Anetha all provide a more propulsive, club ready perspective on these thoughtfully crafted electronic gems.
Review: Who are the internet OGs, and who has a right to claim the internet as territory anyway? Present day acid house musician Rio Kawamoto queries us this in EP form, blasting us right on back to the era of static gif-laden webpages and firewall chinks, before platform-centric neoliberal whitewashing of the internet took hold. From 'Straight Outta GeoCities' to 'AOL' to 'Marathon 2', this is an extremely compelling time capsulate of the late nineties and noughts internet told through the lens of acid house. The EP makes deft use of noizy flat beats, farty cyberspatial sound design, and offbeat Kylie Minogue-ish organ hits for good measure (on Mogwaa Calle's version of 'Real Player'). The saying "you've got mail!" will never get old, not least when you find this one in package form on your doorstep.
Review: Domingo Dark makes his solo vinyl debut as Kaxtelian with an EP that really finds him stretching his legs across a mix of electro, UK hardcore and techno with a smattering of Belgian influences and the authentic sound of Valencia also peeking through. Created between the ghettos of Albacete and Badalona, the release marks a fine new chapter in Dark's career. 'Hardcore Motherfucker' is just that with its blistering drum funk and acid brightness. 'Ghetto Cyberpunkers' has booming low ends and caustic synths and 'Hardcore Boys' is a dense melange of ghoulish vocals and synth intensity that rides a slamming electro-techno rhythm.
Review: Jodey Kendrick won't necessarily be familiar to you as he is someone who rather goes under the radar, but now you know. This EP proves his unique type of production genius across a bunch of mind-warping techno cuts that fuse Detroit, 90s UK styles and brain dance into glistening and physical workouts. The future rave kicks off with the high-pressure 'Changes' and then takes in the sludgy stomper 'Malfunction All Levels' and the caustic and high-tempo industrial urgency of 'The Metal Planet'. 'Organic Matter Detected' closes down with a more cerebral and sparse vibe designed to keep you on edge.
Review: Inigo Kennedy returns to Token for its 126th release with The Calling, a three-track EP that exemplifies his unique production style, blending hypnotic and stomping club elements. Inigo has been making techno for a better part of 25 plus years now with over 50 plus releases to his name. Side-1 features 'Magnitude Seven,' a track marked by melodic dissonance and a stripped-down acid line supporting a saturated groove and noisy synths. Waves of unsettling intensity, driven by a powerful double kick sequence, make this an epic opener. The title track, 'The Calling,' on Side-2, elevates the intensity with a frantic four-to-the-floor rhythm and sustained notes that create a sense of pressure. Harmonic sections breathe life into this nail-biting record, showcasing Kennedy's ability to distance himself from the typical loop-based templates prevalent in techno. This track underscores the ongoing relevance of his long-standing career in club music. The EP concludes with 'Out of the Woods,' a fitting electronica closer that shifts focus to introspection. Drifting notes and shuffled percussion lines evoke Kennedy's UK roots, providing an ethereal epilogue to the preceding techno tracks. The Calling is another masterclass from Inigo Kennedy, highlighting his innovative production techniques and soulful approach to electronic music.
Review: Keppel was last on this label with a contribution to a various artist collection but now steps up with a full solo EP of his own. His unique take on techno is exhibited from the off on 'Stanley Knife' with its scurrying synths, drunken synth loops and drums that go nowhere fast but still draw you in. '194' is awash with kinetic synth sequences and distant dub chords that bring colour and 'Life Takes Rise' rides on another inventive and alluring rhythm pattern while the warming synth work gets you lost in thought. Closer 'Diesel', meanwhile, is tough, frosty, and more techno-leaning.
Review: Snappy breakdance come electro from Kid Ginseng, 'I Go Off', the third in a series of samply 12"s retrograding the inimitable sound of the diskette floppy disc, and its timely usage throughout the 80s and 90s in cities like Detroit, LA and New York. Channelling an 8-16 bit sound - and influenced by DJs Di'jital, Arabian Prince, and the LA X-Men - the centring of these influences is undeniably the instrumental Techno Hop label; Ginseng truly does go off on one in response to their legacy, with the title track forcing us to spit out the teabag with an abrupt "ptooey", in light of its spicy choral samples and bitty acid line. The runner-ups 'Romancing The Droid' and 'Konstrukt' also offer variable takes on the Techno Hop sound, the former especially bringing a downtempo proto-industrial hip-hop jaunt to an already totalised, militarised sonic zone.
Review: To date, Kim Cosmk has generally done her own thing - self-releasing a string of digital-only singles and albums which variously mix and mangle elements of electro, IDM, techno and dubstep. Here she pops up on an established label - Ralph Lawson's 2020 Vision to be exact - for the very first time. First, she whips up a frenzy courtesy of the fuzzy and aggressive riffs of techno roller 'Night Flight', complete with creepy chords and foreboding motifs. She then delivers raw, heavy, industrial-fired electro on 'Ore', whilst warped dubstep and electro are brilliantly mixed on 'Nocturnal'. To round things up nicely, 'Drifting' is a partial vocal number built around a wobbling dubstep bass with punchy electro drums and twinkling pianos.
Train Music (Andres Aguirre Spicy Paracousia remix) (7:05)
Review: It is over to Sapporo's Jun Kimata aka BirdMan for the Forbidden Colours imprint out of Bilbao (Spain), who've previously delivered great work by the likes of label boss Aitor Etxebarria aka EL_TXEF_A, Eduardo de la Calle and Andres Aguirre. The Shape Of My Voice EP starts off with the driving and tunneling deep electro workout "Two Billion Light-Years Of Silence" that's dripping in futurist aesthetic, while "Track 2" is a more dystopian affair on this dark ambient/drone piece. On the flip, we have got "Train Music" which effectively bridges the gap between hypnotic techno and deep house (the label's preferred aesthetic of late) and rather inventively indeed. The "Spicy Paracousia remix" by the aforementioned Aguirre takes the track on wonderfully spaced out deep house journey over its glorious seven minutes. Nice one!
Review: Well Street continue to offer up some of the most inventive gear on techno's multi-faceted outer limits, this time welcoming South London's Kincaid to the table. There's certainly a vaguely defined style around the label now, and Kincaid fits right in with a dexterous line in rhythmic programming and hi-def sound design, but like all the other artists he's got plenty of individual personality as well. 'OOO' quivers and surges with a braindance demeanour, while 'Nothing Is' deals in a swampy, dislocated kind of soundsystem music. This is dense, brilliantly rendered club music for those who require the freshest of the fresh ideas.
Review: The last of the Konduko series from Emotional Rescue arrives now and quite possibly it is the best of the lot from Noel Williams. His 'Fantasy' saw him work with Larry Dermer aka Der Mer on what is an effective and catchy electro jam that operates at the higher end of the tempo chart with some classic vocoder vocal action to really make it pop. Despite being released originally in 1984 this one still bangs with its emulated TR-808 beats and nagging melodies. The instrumental heightens that and then the Jonny Rock Discomix shuts down with long-form rework that shows why the DJ, editor and all-round amiable bloke is so well regarded.
Review: King Sporty is something of a chameleonic artists, not that many people know. He started out int he 70s making reggae and soul 7"s, then moved into disco, boogie, hip-hop and electro 12"s during the 80s, and then when house music hit in the 90s he evolved once more. This new drop from Emotional Rescue takes a tune from that late era. 'Computer Music' is four to the floor with electro influences and a lazy break that pull you in deep. Far-sighted chords bring a serene sense of cosmic majesty while a filtered vocal adds space age vibes. A dub is included as well as the Universal Cave Discomix by the Philadelphia DJ and production crew. A retro-future EP indeed..
Review: Soundscape Versions delivers its third edition of the various artists series and offers four effective cuts between subtle house breaks, acid house, electro and atmospheric techno. Featuring Kintaro 89, Faune, Arian Alexander and Douala.
Review: Kitchen Plug is a Parisian trio that seeks to combine "the rebellious energy of punk and the synth-driven chaos of electro." This new EP on Chat Noir does bear that out with some playful and quirky cuts packed with fresh sound designs and charming vocals over some effective drum programming. 'A New Kind Of Peace' is a hooky opener with a carefree vibe, 'L'amante (feat Vica)' brings some disco licks and 'La Nuit' gets more raw and direct. 'Confusao' is a balmy and widescreen number that encourages you to daydream and 'Captain Nikouze' shuts down with some pixelated synth madness.
Review: More proper tacker makes it way to vinyl here courtesy of the blow label who enlist four more producers of this latest various artists EP. Kitchen Plug's 'Cheat Code' marries the best of tech, garage, dub and house into a kinetic bit of body music that oozes warm and lo-fi soul. CYMKA brings kaleidoscopic colour and squelchy acid to 'Sweet Peach' then it's all pout old school piano rave madness from Batenko on 'Inside Summer 21'. Last of all is the searing electro funk of Les Hauts with 'Passing Clouds', a blisteringly quick trip into another dimension with some rueful chord work. Sensational EP.
Review: Before I Die have been putting out some high-grade leftfield delights from respected operators like Bernardino Femminelli, Tungusku and most recently Sewell & The Gong. Now it's the turn of Klangkollektor, indulging a collection of hazy dub excursions which sit somewhere near Balearic splendour, piano-charged melancholy and isolation tank meditation. In the dub tradition the approach is consistent and evenly paced, but it's certainly not aiming for any kind of typical Jamaican sound. Instead, there's a gentle introspection to the melodic content which gels perfectly with the spacious approach to mixing, unfurling across four sides of wax for an album you can just melt into.
Review: Knowone Records continues to deliver exceptional dub techno with their latest release, honoring the classic sound of Basic Channel. The first track is a nod to Maurizio's iconic M5, expertly capturing its deep, rolling basslines and hypnotic atmosphere while adding a unique twist. The production is immaculate, with a driving yet subdued energy that immerses the listener in its echoing soundscape. On the flip side, 'Track 2' takes a more minimalist approach, stripping away layers to create a deeper, more haunting dub experience. The track feels like a dub of a dub, with its cavernous spaces and subtle, shifting textures. The result is a track that feels both timeless and fresh, maintaining the label's commitment to high-quality, atmospheric techno. This release is a welcome addition to Knowone catalogue, pleasing both long-time fans and newcomers alike with its expertly crafted, immersive sound.
Review: Proper early hardcore sounds from Brussels' Koma, whose 'Ity' EP released back in march of 2023 but whose vinyl edition now hits our shelves. As suggested by the nostalgic familial image on the front cover, the EP tells the implicit story of a life encoded in the cipher of rave; of Koma's earliest experiences and choicest memories magnified via ecstatic breaks propulsions and fantastical digital audio tricks. In Koma's world, piano stutterings poke through monstrous basses ('Conifurious'), while transitional stop-starts hint at bygone memories ('It's Your Track'), experienced in the dance and left there.
Review: Four electroclash/Italo dancefloor bangers recovered from the vaults of electro producer 'Konerytmi' under his alias 'The Klash'. Mixing contempoary sounds with samples and motifs reminiscent of the TV docs, newscasts and movie soundtracks of the 1980s, 'Disko Varasto A' is a boxy, arpy cascader of blipping synths plucks, flatulent basses, and gated snares, best represented by the airtight, hermetic melodic wave machine of a track that is '1982'.
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