Review: EPM20 Ep2 goes off on an electro tangent here. On this one, we have veteran producer Cisco Ferreira aka The Advent teaming up with his son Zein on the ferocious electro dystopia of "Strangeform" and as if that was not enough, another legend, the one and only Carl Finlow appears next with the abstract, cybernetic beats of "Optogenetic". Over on the flip, we have someone by the name of Detroit's Filthiest (quite an accolade!) who is in fact Motor City stalwart Julian Shamou (Motor City Electro Company) known for his work as 313 Bass Mechanics or Digitek, and longstanding hero of the Midwest Freddie Fresh should need no introduction; his contribution here under the Modulator alias is the deep mind IDM journey "Promars".
Review: Coeur De Glace on DKO Records (DKO 34) delivers four fantastic electro tracks, each with unique influences and directions. Side-1 kicks off with Binary Digit's 'U Want Dis,' an exuberant, high-energy track that pays homage to old-school rave with its lively vocal samples. Fasme's 'Morning' follows, blending smooth electro with soft keys and a whimsical AFX melody for a perfect combination. Side-2 features GGGG's 'La Cueillette,' a feel-good, fun and melodic electro tune. The EP concludes with Mud Deep & Sans-Qui's 'Mesonyx,' offering IDM goodness reminiscent of Rephlex, Squarepusher, and AFX. Coeur De Glaceis a vibrant and diverse collection, sure to delight fans of electro and techno.
Review: This new collection offers up a quartet of tracks that are all tailored for slightly different moments on the dance floor. On side A, Dani Casarano kicks off with deep, hypnotic grooves that make for an immersive atmosphere before transitioning to punchy, bass-driven energy with other cuts. Side B introduces a new alter ego from Felian and Bruno Schmidt and the pair explore a robotic, looping groove with incidental breaks and nostalgic synths in the euphoric third track. Closing the release in style, Omar Akrhif & Lucretio present a minimalist masterpiece that is aimed at heady after-hours sessions.
Happy707 - "Where Does That Noise Come From" (4:28)
Review: Menacing EBM and dark synth billows from a Netherlands hinterland; our heralds speak of an esoteric encampment by the name of Espectro Oculto, said to be the remote incantators of an unstoppable curse in sound. Six shadowy emissaries have been sent to spread the pestilence; Trenton Chase, Martial Canterel, DJ Nephil, Exhausted Modern, Fragedis and Happy707. Clearly, the faction have recruited only the best, trusted and yet most nefarious of spies from as far-flung regions as Czechia and Argentina in the administering of such a sordid sonic plague. We're left most quivery at the centrifugal doom drones of Exhausted Modern's 'Fear Of Focus', across whose breakdown banshees are heard wailing and snarling, and Fragedis' 'Landing In Reality', a lo-fi techno freakout and sonochemical anomaly, channeling militant two-way radio samples and hellish FM synthesis.
Review: After the first in this new Mellow Bangers series got us nice and twisted we're delighted to have the follow-up from Italo Moderni. Cryk kicks off with an eerie blend of Italo arps and dark wave drums with electro overtones on 'Double Crash' then the moodiness continues with the depraved bass warbles and crashing hits of Fragedis and his 'Disco Nicotina.' Antoni Maiovvi brings a lightness of touch to his delicate arps and celestial harmonies on 'Stopping Power' and Adrian Marth layers plenty of sugar and pixelated synths into his loopy 'Modernism.'
Review: Soma sub-label Avoidant Records recently put out a fantastic collection fo electro cuts but it was a digital only release. Now some of the standouts from it get pulled together on this fresh new 12"that joins the dots between Europe and Detroit. DJ Godfather kicks off with some rapid fire 313 electro, squirrelling bass and slick claps then 'One Direct Line' from The Exaltics is more cosmic and blissed out with lush ambient synths. On the flip, Flug goes hard with mad digital patterns and Blaktony layers up jacking drums, corrugated bass and dark hits. Great stuff.
Review: The Cimedirapax crew are back with another superb various artists collection that nudges at the borders of tech house and minimal. Eliaz's 'Enbaspremal' is an alien sound with abstract designs and trippy pads and Lapucci then gets deeper and darker on the menacing 'To Be On Top.' F_Phono brings some nu-disco energy and bright 80s arps to 'Sollievo' then Marco Biagioli heads into more occult worlds with the eerie and haunting 'Strange Mirror' before Equinox's 'Intergalactic Space' offers a caustic electro workout.
Review: Nicola Facchineri's Prog EP on Twig is a masterclass in hypnotic, groove-centric electronic music, demonstrating the label's knack for crafting compelling club tracks. Each cut on this EP reinforces Twig's reputation for pushing boundaries while keeping it grounded in dancefloor practicality. The opener, 'Lighter Cubes', immediately sets the tone with its spacey atmosphere and mesmerizing bleeps. The track's subtle melodic elements weave through a tapestry of electro sounds, creating a suspenseful build that's perfect for those crucial moments in a set when you need to heighten the tension. 'Juggle' shifts gears with a deeper groove, featuring a blend of bass and acidic synths. Its understated yet infectious rhythm makes it a standout, effortlessly blending subtlety with impact. On the flip side, 'Climbing' lives up to its name with a relentless build-up that turns the dancefloor into a dynamic playground. The track's chuggy bass and intricate drum patterns keep the energy high, demonstrating Facchineri's skill in maintaining momentum. The final track, 'Right Way', wraps things up with a touch of acid and a cool, spacey melody. Its bleepy, synth-driven vibe ensures it fits comfortably into any set, bringing a satisfying conclusion to the EP. Prog EP affirms Twig's status as a go-to label for quality deep club tracks, adding yet another gem to their impressive roster.
Review: Craigie Knowes are back at it for 2024 with a return appearance from Fader Cap. After a rapid run of first releases in 2022, we've been waiting for a follow-up from the chap and he more than delivers. As the EP title might suggest, he's exploring echo chamber processing on his tracks, but the delay and reverb is teased with precision amidst the shimmering, psy trance tinted tech house vibe he so ably builds on these incredibly accomplished club cuts. 'Kanisza' is an especially hypnotic, subtly broken workout for a more delicate kind of dancefloor, while 'Thinker' offers up punchy arps and flecks of acid for the more up-for-it crowd.
Review: Budapest's Dalmata Daniel rewire the electro efforts of Timothy K. Fairplay for their ninth 12", which also includes a B-side icing by none other than fellow producer Norwell. These four retrofuturist cosmopolitan jams are heard divided between the two artists, and do well to flaunt the specific valences of their production styles, which, while doing well to stick to the cosmic aesthetic, cannot help but betray unconscious stylistic hallmarks. Fairplay's is as tweezy and kick-phat as ever, with 'Caliber 9' being the obvious choice as the sonic equivalent of a 70s infographic on telecoms gone haywire. Norwell's take on the vibe is breaksier and more muted, with closing number 'Natives' being the cut of choice, burbling in a vat of liquid acid and emotive smoke.
Review: For those too young to remember the days of glitch-house and electro-house at the turn of the noughties (think Herve, Switch, Claude Vonstroke etc), Fake Blood was one of the true masters of the style. He released a swathe of big records for Cheap Thrills and others, with the two tracks collected here - both of which date from 2009 - being the biggest. A-side 'I Think I Like It' is a superb example of the style, with the producer expertly cutting up a pleasingly silly and over-the-top disco-pop number and turning it into sweat-soaked, hands-aloft gold. 'Mars', meanwhile, gains its dancefloor power from a frankly filthy, mind-altering bassline-turned-lead-line, around which crispy drums, breakbeats and Mylo-esque synth stabs make their presence felt.
Review: Fasme, aka Tom Ferreira, has made a couple of decisive moves over the past couple of years. First appearing alongside Maelstrom on Central Processing Unit, and then landing a release on Feel My Bicep, the man's talents in the field of emotionally charged electro and braindance is showcased structures of 'A Year'. Even at its more angular, the EP is grounded by Ferreira's strong sense of melody, giving it a proper quality on this outstanding four-tracker, from the warm, lightly acid-flecked climes of 'Launcher' to the more mechanoid structures of 'A Year'.
Review: Fasme is a fast rising start who made a head turning debut on the Craigie Knowles label back in September and now ends his year with Nocta a fine outing on Numerica. It kick off with a delightful upbeat and playful acid laced electro jaunt in the form of 'Nocta Numerica' then 'Flower Path' has a quicker stepping rhythm. 'Sky With No Stars' bumps on a nice corruscated low end and 'Planance' shuts down with nice far-sighted chords and lashings of ambient pad work.
Review: Analog Concept Vol. 3 delivers a striking collection of forward-thinking deep techno, blending electro, acid, and sci-fi elements to push boundaries across its four tracks. Fasme opens with 'Crying Robot', a standout acid electro monster that's both raw and energetic, setting the tone with its sharp, robotic intensity. CCO's 'Solar Sail' follows, bringing a darker, sci-fi edge to the mix. Its blend of EBM and new beat creates a timeless, futuristic trip that feels immersive and cinematic. Side-2 kicks off with Unwonted's 'Frontier', a high-energy electro track laced with trance elements, adding a hypnotic, rave-ready vibe. Serge Geyzel closes the compilation with 'Flash', a heavy-hitting deep electro cut that dives into darker, alien soundscapes. Its deep techno undercurrents enhance the track's sense of foreboding and mystery. Overall, Analog Concept Vol. 3 captures a thrilling array of deep, futuristic sounds. Take a journey through techno's more experimental and atmospheric realms with this Russian label. Each track stands strong on its own while contributing to the cohesive, forward-thinking vision of the compilation.
Review: Frank De Groot has an accomplished history in gnarly electronics which reaches back to the 90s, and he's been recording with Steffi's Klakson label as Fastgraph for most of that time. Here the label are returning their attention to one of his most sought-after joints, the incredible Evasive Manoeuvres EP. This is the kind of electro to make you sit up and pay attention - it's uptemo, dark and edgy, with an atmosphere you could cut with a knife and a grubby, underground attitude perhaps only bested by the Bunker Records crew. Serious gear for those who like their electro as moody as possible.
Review: The fifth release on Kimchi Records comes wrestled from the hands of Ecuadorian mastermind Fauna Extinta, aka. Nicola Cruz. The First EP under the alias, we hear Nicola make use of electro analogia to explore idea of a biology that once was, but no longer is, and now lingers only in memory or myth. Drawing on ideas of creation, biogeography, evolution and extinction, the likes of 'Everything Is A Green Screen' and 'Features Of Human Beings' serve as biosynthetic, existential meditations on change, urging us to imagine new realms, alternative means for actualizing the human spirit.
Review: Featherstone is no longer just a parochial town in West Yorkshire, but is also the name of an interesting emerging producer who arrives on Ernest's Way for a fifth EP here. Once again it is a great blend of styles from electro to techno with both dance floor clout and indelible emotions characterising the grooves. 'Contact' kicks off with the sort of serene grooves that ensure you take flight and gaze on at the celestial synths. 'Flight Path' is a darker, more turbulent trip then 'Superchomp' is a warp speed and jittery electro classic with cyborg funk at its core. Two further masterful jams round out a rich EP.
Review: Italian DJ/producer Fedele Ladisa may have parted ways with Agents Of Time some time ago, but he still rolls tight with his fellow Barese friends and their label Obscura which presents its tenth release and the second edition in the Awake series. On the first side, 'Spike Express' is a wacky afterhours cut that's equal parts techno, electro and disco. It receives a twisted and dystopian rework by French legend The Hacker, followed with one more by Golden Virgo.
Review: This is a new EP that was inspired by a volcano and named after Mount Etna which is where Mirko Felicioli lives, and which is why it has been pressed up to red vinyl. It features five fresh techno cuts starting with 'Lava Waves' which is lively and elastic, with soft synth patterns moving about the mix over acid lines and crisp drums. 'Grave & Weep' has a deeper, dirtier vibe, while 'Aeolus' has a cosmic outlook with thinking stars and lots of open space around the drums. Two further cuts blend tech and house into future-facing and club-ready weapons.
Review: Ferrari's Terrooooir takes a more restrained approach to electronic music, with each track unfolding at its own pace. 'Terrooooir' kicks things off with steady percussion that forms a solid foundation, while the atmospheric synths gradually build tension without overwhelming the listener. 'Echoes of Silence' leans into ambient territory, the bassline providing a subtle drive beneath the delicate pads, creating a sense of calm. In contrast, 'Midnight Mirage' adds more bite with syncopated rhythms that bring a bit of urgency, though it never disrupts the EP's overall flow. Closing with 'Fading Light,' the track combines melancholy with an undercurrent of energy, leaving a lasting impression with its refined balance. Ferrari's ability to create space and movement within each track shows a strong command of electronic music's subtleties.
Review: Fidelio and Luca Piermattei hook up here to explore worlds where acid, techno and electro all happily coexist. Fidelio's A-side offers three cuts that fuse 90s acid rawness with baroque drama that results in a unique mix of classical organ melodies and razor-sharp basslines. Punchy kicks and sizzling hi-hats drive the energy as you're happily lost on a neon-lit techno odyssey. On the flip, Piermattei's 'Gas' features a fluid bassline and glitching robotic vocals that are eerie yet inviting and 'Third Rec' (with Tascam 122) rounds out the release with pulse-driven electro and intricate percussion, perfect for late-night explorations.
Review: Human techno wildcard Carl Finlow drops his latest EP 'Terminus' through Fanzine Records, following up his pre-release fan exciter 'Phalanx'. No less than a futuristic electro EP, Finlow's chosen aesthetic permutation this time is snappy and high-end-centric, with saturated textures circumfusing designed, tire-puncturing beats. Desiccant sound design keeps the cool bag dry, as the war formation 'Phalanx' and its brilliantly named B-side complement 'Syncussion' break all the rules governing what one is "supposed" to do when making big-concept electro such as this.
Review: Carl Finlow has produced an astonishing catalogue of music over a career spanning three decades, with his discography including hundreds of releases and remixes under a variety of monikers. 'Desequence' is the latest edition to Finlow's expansive productions and a masterclass in electronic music.
'Desequence' kicks off the record with a heavy dose of integalactic funk with interstellar beats rockin' over squelchy bass lines and razor sharp glitches. While 'Downstream' delivers a warped groove wrapped up in Finlow's intricate programming.
'Guttural' is an overwhelming assault of rapid fire elements, forming complex off kilter breaks littered with robotic licks and served over deep, low end bass. 'Wavefront' closes yet another impeccable addition to Finlow's highly accomplished works, with an off planet adventure through extraterrestrial soundscapes.
Review: Every new Carl Finlow record release brings an enthusiastic interest to those who follow him. Carl's robotic electro prowess is on full display on the A-side in 'Heed'. Fans of early 80s electro, Kraftwerk and the future of the genre, swear by this guy. 'Overlord' is a deeper groove that reminds of his otherworldly Silicon Scally moniker. 'Expansion' is just down right dirty. Nuff said! Dangerous stuff from one of the most consistent producers in futuristic electro.
Review: There is some serious electro talent on this new EP from Fanzine, starting with now US-based, UK-favourite Carl Finlow. His machines are in fine fettle once more as crisp, kicking electro rhythms are overlaid with bright, silvery, pixelated melodic fireworks on the sublime 'Organoiods'. Hoax Believers get more gritty with the sheet metal snares and in-your-face arps of 'Short Circuit' while Sound Synthesis offers something moody and unsettling on their 'Vertex43'. Univac will make your eyes water with the abrasive textures of 'H Beat.'
Review: Italian nightclub and label Sound Department issues a new ministerial decree come EBM-infused techno EP by one Fisherman. Angling big hauls of raw and raunchy, yet still ethereal dance builds, the DJ and producer flexes both vocal and production chops here. 'Walking' is a duly strange track, with wordless vocals gliding across cutting FM syntheses, whilst 'Lagoon' sounds to reflux a so far unidentifiable form of alien sonic bile. 'Go To Sleep' brings back the energy with a wackier, one-shot-voxxing turn, while closer 'Bang' hears the EP save its full-bodied heaviness for last, being the track with the least sensitivity and most bulk, as a commandeering voice booms over the tannoy.
Review: Five Ten's Near End EP, released on Flight Mode, is a masterclass in fusing nostalgia with modern techno. The EP seamlessly blends various influences, making it a refreshing and exciting listen. 'Destructive Habits' kicks off the EP with a powerful mix of EBM and classic 90s techno percussion and rhythm. Its energy is relentless, setting the tone for what's to come. 'Evil Forces' dives into darker territory with its Belgian-style early 90s techno sounds. The track's mid-tempo heater vibe and excellent use of acid make it a standout, packed with thrilling sonic elements. 'Decentralized' takes a unique approach, progressing more like an industrial/EBM track in the vein of Clock DVA more than traditional techno. This distinctive difference adds an higher level to the production and intriguing layer to the EP. The title track, 'Near End,' incorporates elements of trance, electro, and even new wave. The result is a rich blend of great-sounding electronics that feels both fresh and nostalgic. Overall, Near End EP is a stellar example of how to harness EBM into techno done right, blending past influences into a modern package.
Review: Techno-titanic title-holder Roman Flugel needs no introduction. On his latest vinyl EP, 'No Solutions', the artist returns to Erol Alkan's Phantasy Sound with his second release of 2024, keeping the hype afloat with just three short rain-makings in the vein of glistening, retro trance and house - contrasting to some of his earlier, more percussive outings released round the turn of this decade. This time, Flugel plugs the sensibility of 80s dance music and pop production into a more kick-implantable, danceable dream, bridging gaps between retro and modern dancefloors. 'No Solutions', 'Sapphire' and 'Dragged' each plod through finessed synth flicks, torrential Moog mambos, and dizzily detuned decontractions, all of which portray a blued, armoured alternate vision of an eighties that never crossed the threshold of the next decade, continuing frozen in time while we nonetheless bowled towards the oncoming singularity.
Review: Given the label's commitment to "plasma house, sub-aquatic electro and cybernetik techno all brought back from the year 2097" you should have a good idea of the flavour in store on this third release on Lost Control 2097. This time it comes from The Fly Insect, who imparts six exquisite slices of electro reaching across all kinds of moods. 'An Afternoon With Mr Ginge' has a blissful, Other People Place quality for the most tender of moments, while 'Decay' favours clanking, metallic synth tones for something much more abrasive. The ideas are bright and bold, and The Fly Insect proves themselves to be truly worthy of the time portal back from the far-flung future.
Review: Following some great releases by DJ Cop Killer, Aerial and Santiago, Los Angeles label Private Selection is back with this one by Force Placement (aka Nu Sire) who throws down some fierce off world beats on their seventh missive. Whether it's the doomsday electro vibe of 'Lycanthrope', the space invaders smoking grass on 'Pressure Points' or the rise of the machines on the dystopian B side cut 'Seance' - the Sunken Coast EP is definitely one of this week's unexpected electro highlights - tip!
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