Back catalogue: Electro

Review: To mark a mighty impressive 20 years of PuZZling records in 2023, the label has put together this heavyweight mix of names for an EP that sounds as good as it looks on marbled vinyl. It's a truly global affair with artists from all over the world and The Exaltics kick off with 'All Of This', a typically rugged slide of electro. From there the quality never dips with Freddie Fresh jacking your body, the legendary Neil Landstrumm bringing his textbook machine madness and Umwelt closing down with 'Celestial Mechanics'. Old school electro, acid and techno heads take note, this is a must-buy.

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 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: 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: Carl Finlow really is the electro gift that keeps on giving. It seems like he drops new music on a near-weekly basis and it never dips in quality. This time he is on the We're Going Deep label and his music-making machines are in fine fettle. 'Equi' opens up with a sense of caution - the nimble drums and chrome-plated synths keeping you on edge, while 'Aether' unfurls into a widescreen and laid-back electro journey to the stars. There is more menace and bite to 'Affinity' with its superbly reverb-enriched kicks and 'Septagon' again cuts loose on playful melodic sequences.

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: 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: 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!

Review: 
A remix EP of tracks from the Calgary-native DJ & producer, 'Exshaw' was Ford looking for techno inspiration outdoors, as opposed to the dark and sweaty clubs of Berlin (where he was living at the time). This 5 track spectacular sees 5 DJs take the intricate sounds of 'Exshaw' for a spin. 'Honeyhole' is a layered, transcendental masterpiece by DJ Stingray, 'Kaki' from Alden Tyrell lends itself to the eerie and experimental nature of 'Exshaw', that moment when you are alone in the dark and you look across your shoulder just to make sure you aren't being followed. 'Maxwell' by Sansibar brings the tone straight back to the physical, reflecting on the European techno scene and it's synthetic hard-hitting style. 'D614G' is a progressive and ethereal electro experience from Monolith, leaning far left into the natural tones of 'Exshaw' with a crescendo that evokes the work of A.G. Cook and other producers who build soft instrumental into a grand crescendo that feels like floating. 'Kaki' by Zenker Brothers is the ankle weight that brings you crashing down, a heady and lucid hardcore experience that is Zenkerian in every sense of the word in its forward-thinking idea of what dance music can be.

Review: Aiden Francis brings a superb mix of influences to this EP, from trance to breaks, house to tech house and it makes for a third fine offering from this young but promising Ellipse label. 'Atacama' opens up with blistering pace and molten synths tightly woven over the propulsive drums. 'Twilight' is another track seeped in lush melodies and with a throwback techno sounds that is full of subtle dancefloor electronics. 'Awareness' (Sunset mix) is one to get the hands in the air as the trancey chords and acid rain down. Energy levels don't dip on the flip either on this most powerful and consuming of space-techno trips.

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: In the past few years Tom Ferreira has swiftly established his Fasme project as a strident voice in the field of emotionally-charged electro. Following a string of singles for labels like Craigie Knowes, Dream Ticket and Feel My Bicep, he's now delivering his debut album to Analogical Force. Bloom should hugely appeal to those who crave heart-swooning melodic lines in the midst of their snappy machine rhythms, but there's a full spectrum of moods explored as Ferreira glides from the staccato Moroder pulse of 'Pursuit' to the playful acid strut of 'Comete'. Throughout, the feels are placed front and centre of this instantly endearing record from a fast-rising talent.