Arts Vinilo y CD

Review: Berlin-based techno devotee Julius Debler follows up on a run of releases for Artscore with his first drop for Arts' main imprint, bringing an assured, mature sound along with him. The title track on Nostalgia conjures precisely the feeling the name implies, using plaintive melodic phrasing over a solid techno thrum to create an introspective peak time weapon. 'Mania' is a more tightly-wound, pensive kind of workout, using nervy, interwoven arps to eke out the tension in the track. 'Burden' switches stance for a more sentimental, breakbeat driven approach which is closer to sad-eyed electronica than techno, until SAMA turns in a remix which locks the track down to some dungeon-ready 4/4.

Review: If you're looking for fresh sonic experiments which nonetheless hold fast to the dancefloor-worthiness of contemporary European techno, look no further than Rotterdam's Arts collective. Flaunting their selective prowess, the label here present a four-track release from producer Off/Grid, who impressively nails that coveted sonic tension many producers can only grasp after; a sound suspended between dreaminess and forcefulness, a mesmeric militant fist that first packs a punch, but then unclenches to sprinkle magical sand in our eyes. 'Strobe Light Memories' pins this down best; a behemoth of a beat jostles for the attention of our ears, all front-and-centre, only to give way to a cosmically faint breakdown, before returning once again.

Review: The highly respected and busy ARTS label has released their latest What Will Remain When We're Gone by Paul Roux. The title track is a melodic burner that succeeds triumphantly with heavy percussion, anthemic crescendos and at a blistering pace. Amazing! 'Burning' is a fantastic as well. Dramatic and engaging, we love the way it favors melody over the supporting rhythm giving it a more atmospheric sound. On the B-side, 'Maybe It's Love' adds some soft-spoken female singing to it giving us strong 2000s era flashbacks. This is a really strong and perhaps underrated 12". Give this the opportunity to play through and you will want to revisit these often. ARTS continues to come through with excellent techno.