Review: Lithuanian hardcore techno producer Somniac One returns to her very own Somniverse imprint for a rabid new EP release, 'To All My Soggy Creatures Of The Night'. Chronicling four eldritch horrors on a goopy green vinyl record, this 12" opens on a sense of berserk immediacy with 'Poly Nightmare', its crunching hardstyle kick-tears seizing upon a restless crossrhythm that only then settles back a four-beat bed after giving us a certain fright. The EP continues as rhythmically expected from there on out, although 'Damp Dreams' is similarly prodigal and pliocene, its huge overhead string synths set against hard acid, and implied to sound as though they were the harmonic calls of a leviathan rearing its huge head above water.
Review: Techno troubadour Yan Cook has a fine discography on some of the most respected labels out there. Now he heads to Ukraine's Cooked, a young but perfectly formed imprint, and kicks off his EP with 'Blades,' which is all melon twisted synths and driving techno kicks. 'Whistleblower' then slips into a deeply atmospheric groove with gurgling bass and watery effects and 'Grom' is all about the swing in the drums. Gritty textures and insistent claps add to the thrill of it all and 'Skyhigh' is a more frosty dub techno cut that leaves out breathless.
Sina XX & Dance Divine - "Dancefloor Is Hot" (6:10)
Sina XX & Metaraph - "Color Of People" (6:57)
Sina XX & Lacchesi - "Goth It" (5:43)
Enham, Lessss & Sina XX - "Le Demon" (5:10)
Review: Get your marching boots on and strap in for a white knuckle ride from fledgling label Body to Body. This second release from the French crew is another thrilling take on hard techno and gabba as Sina XX links up with different artists across four cuts. First, it is with Dance Divine for the flat-footed menace and lashing synths of 'Dancefloor Is Hot' then Metaraph joins for 'Color Of People,' a cut that burrows deep on an oversized bassline and edgy string stabs unsettle the mood. Sina XX & Lacchesi's 'Goth It' is a minimal excursion on tightly wrapped drums and bass that are full of pent-up tension then last of all is the most brain-frying and textural rave of the lot as Enahm and Lessss join in for 'Le Demon.'
Lewis Fautzi & Norbak - "Code Of Deception" (5:17)
Oscar Mulero - "Zw System" (5:20)
Temudo - "Niiv" (6:29)
Kessell - "Time Domain" (5:11)
Review: Faut Section's Perception Series is back with a second sizzling installment of freshly made techno. Lewis Fautzi & Norbak pair off to open up with 'Code Of Deception', a barreling cut with icy hi hats and taught bass twangs full of dusty factory floor menace. Oscar Mulero offers one of his signature loop-techno rollers in 'Zw System' Temudo then rattles walls with the mysterious bass rumbles of 'Niiv'. Completing what is an EP that is as varied as it is vital is Kessell with the dubby broken techno beats of 'Time Domain' which has fizzing synths cracking like static on a 90s TV screen.
Review: Strap in for a bracing and exhilarating ride just before Christmas with this new and fierce outing from DJ Speedsick. It's hard techno in its most pure form right from the first beat, with 'A Sort Of Schizophrenic Feeling' blazing a raw, textured trail. 'Execution Style' is another dark one with a crisp broken beat and reverb-heavy bass, 'History Of Overreacting' is a moody late-night menacer and 'Death Reversed' is train-track techno with smart filters. 'God Willing' shuts down with a bang and pure dance floor power.
Review: DJ Disrespect again shows no regard for the rules of electronic music on this new and visceral outing on 777. It is a 12" he dedicates to "some of the feelings associated with the tribulations of mental issues" and that's reflected in the sounds which are dense and full of duality - drums going one way, coarse synth textures and percussion puling in another direction. On 'Energy Rush' screeching synths tear through the middle of the high tempo techno drums and 'Focus' is a compelling and parboil linear banger. If his mission is to unite people and offer comfort and community with his music, DJ Disrespect has succeeded here.
Review: Portuguese power wafts our way from PoleGroup's very own Norbak, a pre-eminent producer from the label's neighbouring country. Across his relatively short career Norbak has developed a distinct personal style, ever-evolving and changing. On this latest EP, we first hear 'Regra' and 'Ferramenta', both of which aggressively ferment a series of metrically unsound stares-into-the-abyss, combining knocky, low-reg fidgets with toppier emergencies and washouts. B-siders 'Amarante 9am' and 'Nota' techno prisoners either, opting for a more classically industrial sound vis-a-vis alarming stabs and crackly lower mantles.
Review: Following up last year's Time And Nothingness on Charlotte De Witte's KNTXT, Francesco Pierfelici aka Alignment returns to the imprint for an absolutely riveting new EP. Power is a fitting title for this massive four tracker, where the Berlin-based Italian wastes no time in an attempt to fire the synapses. Pure elevation is to be experienced on the euphoric rave energy of the title track which opens up in a big way, followed by 'Disconnection' which will pummel you into submission - peak time style - with its assortment of classic dance music motifs throughout. Over on the flip, the EP's highlight exists in the form of the euphoric modern trance reconstruction titled 'Frequency'.
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