Back in stock: Techno

Review: Cirkle's Vakandra's Spell delivers four serious techno burners, each track packing its own punch and depth. Side-1 kicks off with the title track, 'Vakandra's Spell,' a sci-fi stomper that echoes the hypnotic intensity of Jeff Mills' Purpose Maker work. It's slightly demented yet profoundly captivating, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that pulls you in. Following this, 'Lunar Orbit' presents a fast-paced, loopy groove that drives the energy forward, making it a perfect fit for peak-time sets. On Side-2, 'Evolving' stands out with its chord-based loop style, offering a deep, rhythmic flow that keeps the momentum going. The EP closes with 'Quantum Shift,' a pulsating techno track where rhythmic hi-hats percolate over a driving beat, delivering a high-class finish to this well-rounded release.Vakandra's Spell is a powerful offering for those looking for deep, intense techno tracks.

Review: Deluka's Mind Games EP on SK Eleven delivers four tracks of pulsating, rhythmic techno that showcases a tech-driven edge. The EP opens with the title track,'Mind Games', a minimal yet powerful techno cut that thumps with primal energy. The seductive rhythm draws you in, building layers of intensity as it moves forward, making it perfect for late-night club sets. Braunschweig follows with a subterranean vibe, featuring intricate, morphing beats and a sci-fi atmosphere. The complex rhythms keep listeners on their toes, pushing the boundaries of techno's sonic palette. On the second side, 'Everybody Talkin' brings raw drums and a rolling rhythm, packed with an infectious energy that makes it an undeniable banger. It's a track that commands the dancefloor with its relentless drive. 'Bunker' closes the EP with a futuristic, techy vibe, driven by broken beats and mechanical rhythms. The track's edgy, forward-thinking sound makes this a sharp record for bold, innovative techno.

Review: Italian producer J.P Energy resurfaces with a reissue of two rare late-90s works-deep, percussive hybrids from a fertile moment in underground Italian club culture. Originally released in 1997, 'Prima Dell'Alba' and 'Forbidden Planet' blur the lines between early trance and stripped-back techno, brimming with cinematic tension and pulsing groove. 'Prima Dell'Alba' is the more mysterious of the pair: tribal rhythms, eerie pads and a gradual rise in intensity evoke a kind of sunrise ritual for the dancefloor. The original mix of 'Forbidden Planet' delivers a leaner, more mechanical energy-icy and forceful but with a meditative undertow. A 2025 revisited mix by J.P Energy himself kicks things off on the A-side, reimagining the track with updated production and added spatial depth, without losing the spirit of the original. As part of the Sound Migration series, this reissue pays tribute to a singular voice in Italian electronic music-subtle, rhythmic, and visionary.