Back catalogue: Techno

Review: In celebration of their tenth birthday, Selador marks the occasion in style with a four-track collaborative EP, featuring tracks from 3D, Robert Owens, Olivier Giacomotto, Quivver, Dave Seaman, Hernan Cattaneo, Argia, and Jepe. The opening track, 'Known Love', is a deep, pulasting house tune that feels like an instant classic, perhaps thanks to the soulful, pop-tinged vocals - think LCD soundsystem meets Four Tet. 'Snailblazer', the second track on the EP, takes a much darker turn, with a chugging, EBM-esque feel. Full-bodied and complete with obscured vocals, this is the kind of track to pull out your bag when it's time to really get stuck in. On the B-side, 'Napkin Knowledge' draws on the glistening synths of eurodance, yet still securing the melodies to a grounded bassline and rhythm section. 'Salitre' is the perfect closing track, rising up in a gleaming, ecstatic melody, before delicately returning to ground level. A varied yet firmly cohesive collaborative release - the perfect way for Selador to kick off their 2023 catalogue.

Review: The Third Room concludes its so far excellent various artists series with a third and final instalment of yet more future-facing and heady cosmic techno. Justine Perry kicks things off with the deep space synths and paired back hypnosis of 'Diversion' while Hadone then bangs a little harder with 'Strain Relief' which has twitchy synth motifs and hard, hammering beats. HWRD's 'Mirage' is a buoyant techno bouncer with loopy synth ringlets all interacting with each other to mind-melting effect and Quelza's 'Domino' dips into deepest of dub techno territory to shut down a nice diverse EP.

Review: Quelza dropped a superb double pack in the form of their Les Malicieuses EP on More and now comes back with more deep techno brilliance. This is another bumper eight tack offering of well-crafted rhythms and deft atmospheres. 'And Suddenly, I Was Reborn' is an icy and unsettling opener with slithering synths and minimal drum sounds then 'La Rive' is quick, slick and ghostly in its vibes. There are also hi-fidelity and dubby cuts like 'Souviens Toi D'Oublier' gorgeously hypnotic pieces like 'He Didn't Say A Word' which float in space and rock back on forth on heady loops. An artful, impactful selection from Quelza.

Review: Smokey and mysterious Dutch dance from Immaterial.Archives, who here nail a sound that falls neatly in between something made by Burial and I.O Mulen. A compilation EP for the more nocturnal and detail-hungry listener, it includes Quelza's 'La Panthere Bleue', which contains guttural backalley groans and lighter-flicks; Eric Fletcher's control-room trancer 'Spiral 176'; 'Forma No Pura' by Oscar Mulero, with pressurized pink noise aplenty; and Divide's 'Nemesi', which judders and stop-starts like the cross-planetary calls of an alien race.

Review: Quince makes fluid and timeless techno music influenced by the soulful high tech sounds of Detroit. His latest release is a four-track EP on the Nowhere series which features tracks like 'Udon', a hypnotic and pulsating tune with a synth melody and a vocal sample that create a heady atmosphere, as well as 'Noodles', a more upbeat and groovy track with a catchy keyboard stab and a sultry bassline that add some energy and funk. 'Anthology Of Interest' is a solid EP that showcases the veteran Dutch producer's talent and style.

Review: Waage is a firm favourite amongst dub techno fans. The Icelandic producer has long been turning out icy and atmospheric rollers for the heads and here he works alongside a fresh name, Quantal, who is sure to go on to big things. Here they land on Thule Records, a legendary label in its own right with roots going back to 1995. They kick off with the textured dub of 'WQ1' which has glitchy sounds paying over the rolling drums. 'WQ2' is much more smooth and streamlined, with an underwater current that sweeps you off your feet, then 'WQ3' leans into the wind with hypnotic techno drums and vamping chords that melt the mind. Last of all comes 'WQ4', a timeless dub with infinite horizons and the most frictionless drum loops.