Zyx Germany Vinilo y CD

Review: Mario Piu is a tried and tested techno workhorse who has been at this since almost day once. He started in the golden days of the 90s and still keeps on turning out the jams today. This new coloured album on ZYX brings together some of his best bits from over those years. Some are originals, some are remixes, all of them are detuned to remind you of his great contribution to the scene as well as light up clubs all over again. Of course, his most successful tune was a real club classic, the 1999 single 'Communication', which is included here.

Review: A great compilation for fans of the techno sound of the 1980s, featuring eight rare and classic tracks from the pioneers of the genre. The tracks are presented in their original extended versions, which showcase the diversity and innovation of the early techno scene. The tracks range from the synth-pop influenced electro of MCL's 'New York' and Moskwa TV's 'Generator 7/8', to the dark and industrial sounds of Hypnopedia's '666' and Bigod 20's 'Body To Body'. There are also some examples of the EBM style, such as Aircrash Bureau's 'Exhibition' and The Invincible Spirit's 'Push!', which combine hard beats, distorted vocals and aggressive synths. The compilation also features some more experimental and atmospheric tracks, such as Moskwa TV's 'Tekno Talk' and Bigod 20's 'America'.

Review: Those who enjoy the more intense, mind-mangling end of techno (particularly the trance-tinged, big room-ready European variants) should check out this three-disc mix-up on ZYX. Felix Reichwelt handles disc one, surging through tracks from the likes of Uncertain (the warehouse-ready excellence of 'Whack'), Thomas Schumacher (the acid-fired Jam & Spoon revivalism of 'Come Closer') and Spartaque (the fiendishly brutal 'Exhausted'), before SLT and Schwarze Puppen take over on disc two with a mix tailor made for massive venues with enormous soundsystems, minimal lighting, and thousands of wild ravers reaching for the strobes. NK4!D handles the third and final disc, offering a fine balance between riffs, melodies, intense acid lines and thunderous techno beats.

Review: 80s Techno Tracks Volume 1 was originally a CD-only compilation put out back in 2019 by the ZYX Music label. It has proved so popular that it now comes on a special vinyl release that packs in eight of the best tunes to feature on the CD. It makes for a fun and throwback listen that very much chimes with the current trend for these sorts of sounds - hi-nrg, eurobeat, EBM, synth-pop, industrial and new beat with a bit of proto-acid house town in for good measure. It is the unmistakable characteristics of the machines that made these tunes that make them so instantly lovable and transportive.