Shakesphere Vinilo y CD

Review: The second salvo on Further Electronix's Shakesphere sub-label comes courtesy of Charles Green, a producer of underground techno and electro previously best known for his releases on Four Triangles and Hardgroove. His trademark style - forthright, energetic and often intense - comes to the fore on EP opener 'Edit Generation', a slamming slab of warehouse-ready techno-pump rich in beefy kickdrums, creepy sounds and loopy late-night riffs, and can also be heard on 'Mind Restore', which sounds like a wholehearted tribute to rave-era techno (all fizzing melodic riffs, deep bass and sweaty drums). Over on side B, 'Resolve Jam' is a more sci-fi flavoured techno joint, while 'Solus' is a gorgeous fusion of echoing dub techno motifs, broken techno drums and glassy-eyed electronics.

Review: After a couple of impressive releases on Madrid's Semantica Records, the enigmatic MA returns with their latest outing on Furthur Electronix sub label Shakespeare, with four deep and heady techno cuts on Japanese Swords. The A side features two functional tracks in the form of 'Katana' and 'Adachi' respectively, which although being obviously for DJ use, will work their mesmerising magic on you upon first listen - perfect for playing out in their entirety or during long mixes. But the B side is where the real energy is at, with the deep space sonar transmission of 'Tanto' followed by the strobing and cerebral energy of 'Yari'.