Review: Budde & Osti of 100 Records presents an experimental "playground" that offers listeners a unique perspective on their work. The sizzling six-track EP blends jazz and house and features experimental highlights from the Trash Archives, which is a collection of 99 tracks available for free on Bandcamp. All pieces were recorded live in the studio utilising, on the whole, analogue gear that best shows off the duo's raw and unfiltered creativity. From the opening jazz dance of '40' to the closing jazz-funk-techno of '57' this is a beguiling collection.
Review: A solid four track EP on Step Ball Chain records blending minimal and tech house with a splash of techno. offering a diverse range of sounds for late-night dancefloors. Side-1 starts with 'Do U Want Me', a playful peak-time house track filled with nostalgic old-school samples and a serious grooveiperfect for keeping the energy up during those late-night sets. It's followed by 'Make Me', which shifts gears into a dubby mix of dubstep and liquid drum 'n' bass, offering a bass-heavy, laid-back vibe. On Side-2, 'Bassy Bits' drives things forward with its fast-paced tech house beats and dirty bassline, making it a DJ-friendly gem designed to shake the dancefloor. Then there's 'Lick My Chain', a deeper, moodier track with a wall-shaking bassline and a futuristic, sensual atmosphereia slick, immersive cut for those looking to bring the energy down but keep the intensity up. Rounding off the EP is the 'Lick My Chain' (PSL remix), which adds a techy edge and a sexy vocal, transforming the track into a late-night anthem. Overall, Step Ball Chain Holland is a versatile release for tech house and electro fans alike.
Review: Floorspeed is a fresh Washington, DC label that brings funky techno and hardgroove from North America's heart for its debut release which taps up two standout US producers: Los Angeles' 1morning on the A-side and Detroit's 2Lanes on the B-side. 'Lifeform' opens the A1 slot with a hard-hitting Beltram-inspired beat and uplifting chords, perfect for peak-time energy. The A2 track, 'Thought Pattern' delves deeper with a hypnotic groove, highlighting 1morning's techno finesse. On 'Follow The Rabbit, the producer delivers an intense, hardgroove journey while 'The Bounce Route' closes with playful bass, lively samples and dub sirens for continuous dance floor thrills.
Review: If you were a young production twosome growing up in Cologne, you'd aim high and send your demo recordings to the city's most storied techno label, Kompakt. That's exactly what Mourad Kehalia and Sebastian Fischer AKA 90ASE did, and it led directly to this quietly impressive debut EP. The headline attraction is 'Streetpoet', a dreamy and colourful slab of breakbeat-house gorgeousness smothered in elongated church organ chords, tactile pads and auto-tune enabled Arabic vocals. The mighty Axel Boman remixes, delivering a 'Trancehall' mix that ups the dreaminess levels further while employing squelchy synth bass and pumping, tribal house style beats. To complete a rock-solid package, Kehalia and Fischer offer-up the maximal deep house headiness of 'New Ballad', which is as gorgeous as it is dancefloor-ready.
Review: Welcome to the Slippery Yard, a new label out of Spain which is sure to turn heads with this fine first release - a psychedelic blend of techno from various artists. A Morgan's 'Air' is urgent and cosmic a la Jeff Mills, Dc11's 'It's All An Act' layers up deft synth details with sleek linear rhythms and Judy's 'Bide Luzea' is a hurried, pulsing, late-night mental techno trip. A further deep and heady trio of tunes features on the B-side with Bassywax's sub-aquatic sound world on 'Amona Left Us Overnight' taking the headlines for us.
Review: A new acid/psychedelic dance duo from Italy, Acid For The Grandma follow up their two initial EPs 'Dynamic Fluo' and 'Humans' for a third contribution to their homegrown label of the same name. With this one, the story goes that "Grandma has concentrated all her miraculous hyaluronic rhythmic elixir" - (into what, we're not sure) - "delivering an intense joy of flavours with a distinctly mineral taste. A strong gluten mesh for your neurons oscillates sinuously, swelling with the ethereal sound of your dancing bodies. Stay stimulated." Evidently, all we need to sustain such nervous stimulus is this music, which themes itself thoroughly after the acid experience while also indulging classic motifs from acid techno; closer 'Pitchadj' has to be our fave.
Review: Planet 303 is a distant astral body where acid rules supreme but you are invited. And it's an offer we never like to refuse because the soundtracks that play out there are always unreal, just like this latest one from Acid Synthesis. 'Actu Ikulurit' blends 90s breakbeats and dreamy techno synth work with an undulating acid lien that anchors you to the floor. 'Semplicita Aciduza' is a little more serene but comes with some lovely melodic rain that falls down the face of the 303 and 'Hafna 303s' brings a psychedelic and colourful edge. 'Actu Malti' closes with plenty of journeying cosmic charm and celestial energy.
Review: Techno powerhouse Planet Rhythm is back with more vital transmissions, this time thanks to Aero. Up first is the no-messing, direct-to-dance-floor banger that is Straight From The Shoulder' with its scintillating percussion and driving kicks. 'Come Again' is even more high octane with taught bass and thundering kicks. 'Lurching' keeps it a little more funky with glitchy sounds and broken beat patterns and 'Crutch' is a final assault that is minimal in design but maximal in effect.
Review: AgainstMe makes a powerful debut on Renegade Methodz with 'Diagonal Prism', a four-track EP that offers up his refined minimalist approach to techno. Known for meticulous sound design, AgainstMe brings a fresh yet distinctive style to this Greek label and is sure to pick up plenty of new fans as a result. The EP opener 'Drama' introduces dense grooves and subtle yet impactful drum patterns that build tension, while a throbbing synth weaves in and out. The title track relies on hypnotic repetition and driving rhythms, while '4PM' brings peak-time energy with crisp, dynamic beats. Closing with 'Spasmoi' AgainstMe delivers a compelling club groove that masterfully balances intensity and rhythm.
Kidz (Elena Colombi's Are The Kids Alright remix) (6:14)
Review: This is the debut EP from DJ, producer and multidisciplinary artist Sol Leon under the moniker aka-Sol. It marks years of creative evolution and finds him blending vibrant energy with raw emotion across three tracks. aka-Sol channels a psychedelic edge into the punk roots of electronic music here by using modular synths and analogue textures to challenge modern club norms and genre boundaries. It results in a fearless offering that is equal parts love letter and provocation and invites headbanging and liberation on the dancefloor. A remix by Osare! Editions' Elena Colombi completes the EP, with experimental, post-punk and club intersections.
Review: Italian collective CREA debuts with "Crea Legacy 001," the inaugural release on its new record label. This compilation showcases the diverse talents of the party's resident artists across music and digital art. Featuring tracks from no.name, Alarico, and Endrew, with each one bringing their unique sonic identity to the collection along with a 3D sculpture by 4C. Kicking off with Alarico's energetic 'Sleeping Dog,' the compilation progresses to no.name's sleek 'Tag' and Endrew's intricate 'Rescue Of Airon' before concluding with no.name's hypnotic 'District.'
Review: Aussie techno innovator Alpharisc is back on Mutual Rytm with a standout second EP. Following his underground gem 'Ram Face' EP, Shane Yates again draws on the fact he has been immersed in techno for over 30 years, crafting raw, rugged sounds with his extensive hardware collection. 'Peace Be With You' opens with urgent synths and sharp drums, while 'Hail' adds frosty noise and an intense groove. 'Remain Seated 'features bright synths and driving bass and 'Look At This' combines slamming drums with melancholic pads. The closing track 'In Your Mind' offers cosmic, deep techno to close.
Review: Yuki Takasaki aka. Altone delivers tactile dub techno tonage with 'Wonderscape Numinous', his latest miracle EP to hit the Primary(Colours) shelves. Honouring traditional dub techno sounds while also treading new counterweighted waters, this is a short symphony of reverberative basslines and delicate synths, reminiscent of skulking Tokyo streets, gripped by a hooded curiosity for the urban alley, the railway underpass, the red lit skyline. Brendon Moeller brings a UK bassier womp to 'Self Replication' - itself a self-replicating track, as there's not one but two versions - replete with silicate sound design that both sloshes and tinkles away in the mix's midfield, like a quantum energy source, overflown with potential.
Review: Altone aka. Yuki Takasaki is a champion channeller of dub techno trueness, having made many a wave on the Tokyo underground scene already; his efforts come to a renewed head on the new EP for Primary Colours, 'Wonderscape Numinous', a high-impedance, phantom-powered trip through figurative J-scapes; to 'Self-Replication', 'Adaptive Swarm' and 'Wonderscape Numinous', we imagine a simulacrum web of nanobots splayed across the city, their many lens refocusings and field reconfigurations emitting a syntonic electric hum. The closer is especially beautiful, haunting the nighttime itinerant ear with cutoff chord ricochets and an endless fumbling foley sound; the sound recalls a restless cyborg, endlessly fiddling with its field recording equipment as though it were a dopaminergic Rubik's cube.
Review: If you're familiar with imprints like Nous'laer Audio, AD93, Tikita, or Semantica, but haven't yet explored the galaxy of sound coming from Ahrpe Records, now's your chance. Amandra is one of two heads behind said stable, and here the French producer shows everyone what time it is with a space walk through acid warbles and tribalistic rhythms. Neither of which give a particularly accurate description of what's here, but both are defining features of the tracks and EP as a whole. Whether it's the jazz-imbued shuffle of 'Prorokini', the phat wobbling steps of 'Brera Som Som' itself, or the wall of distorted percussion on 'Fanfaron', all four originals are standouts and hard to compare, while the cherry-picked remixes show just how much can be done with what's here, if the right ears are involved.
Review: Amorphic and Tendal's latest release on Blueprint Records is a masterclass in cutting-edge techno. 'AT1' opens the EP with a heavy sci-fi banger, combining dark, industrial energy with a driving beat that instantly grabs attention. 'AT2' follows with crisp production and a fine-tuned techno loop that brings a big, commanding sound, building on the intensity with a precise, polished rhythm. On the flip side, 'AT7' takes things darker and edgier, with pulsating, minimal beats that maintain a restrained elegance while growing more aggressive as the track progresses. It's a perfect balance of tension and sophistication. Closing out the EP, AT8 strips things down even further, embracing a more minimal approach that complements the earlier tracks while adding a touch of subtlety. The release showcases Amorphic and Tendal's talent for creating forward-thinking techno, with each track offering a unique blend of aggression, elegance and innovation.
Review: Dan Andrei is arguably one of the finest selectors of this generation and a master minimal producer who makes electronic music of the highest order. His latest outing sees him inaugurating his own brand-new label alongside Claudiu Stefan. Rainbow Hill is a platform for their more personal ideas and starts with four more of Andrei's brilliantly deft yet dramatic tracks. 'Numan's Touch' kicks off with rolling drums and bass and a fine eco-system of cosmic pads, twinkling keys and fizzing synths that are theatrical and involving. 'What Else?' then gets darker and more intense with heady loops and wispy pads, and again the ante is upped and the darkness pervades once more on the tense and taught dub-tech roller 'This Is What I See'. Last of all, 'Bluer Than Ever' floats above the floor with airy pads and radiant chords. A perfect 5am vibe.
Review: Pressure Traxx secures the sounds of acclaimed minimal master and Romanian mainstay Dan Andrei on this fine new 12", Clockworks. The title track opens up and is coarse and rich in texture, with slapping hits taking centre stage while languid guitars slowly garner your attention. 'Theme For What' is another unusual one, this time with trippy melodies and tumbling drum loops, while 'Geek Groove Odyssey' layers up pulsing bass and bleeping sonar synths into a serene cosmic trip. 'Out Of Mood' is another tense tech cut with edgy synths keeping you in suspense as the dark drums march on.
Review: The cult Pillz label returns hot on the heels of a sold-out 12" last time around. For their next drop, they welcome Argentinian talent Stefano Andriezzi who is known for bringing great colour to his beats. This 'Elektronico' EP showcases his skill with four tracks that explore diverse underground moods with take cues from ravey electro, techno and hints of house. 'Elektronico' opens with turbocharged pads and bass making of an upright and urgent future tech house beat. 'Raves Weekend' is more fluid with a bouncing bassline and old-school rave sirens to get things going and 'Acid Computer' then pairs things back to a lovely organ line and 90s house vibe with colourful daubs of synth. 'Get Fanki' shuts down with a nice fist-pumping thump.
Review: Dimi Angelis is back on ANGLS with the label's 12th release and offers up four hard-hitting, no-nonsense machine tracks that strike with cosmic intensity. Each one is crafted with precision while channelling a minimalistic approach that packs a maximum punch that's designed to shake any dancefloor to its core. Adding an extra dimension, Oscar Mulero contributes a remix that brings a psychedelic twist and elevates the track's hypnotic edge. This 12" balances form with function and offers relentless beats and intense atmospheres for all lovers of raw, industrial techno.
Review: Sombre sonics from Anne and Sera J, who return for the second edition of their Symbiosis series on Mutual Rytm here. Sharing three grooves per side each, we're met with lilting lathes of "groovecore" deep techno of the highest calibre, perhaps boosted by the fact that Anne and Sera are partners both in life and music, and that the Symbiosis series is intended not only as an expression of this fact, but also as the expression of the innermost feelings that accompany it. Described as "a mature and refined connection between (the artists') souls", the likes of 'Glacial Pace', 'Floating Waves' and 'Sweet Seventeen' vacillate between tunnel-vision techno of a stonier variety, and trancier forever feelings, befitting indeed of music made while in a relationship.
Review: You always know what you're gunna get with Planet Rhythm and that is classically inclined techno that is economical in design but never less than high impact. Antic Soul contributes to that fine legacy with this new EP which opens with the high speed and dubby techno lushness of 'Crd Expression' before 'Borderlands' gets more raved up and injected with some raw textures and wobbly stabs. 'Fallout' is wall-rattling, panel-beating dub techno and 'Serenity' is more icy and nimbler, with bouncy drums and stabs all making you move your body at the whim of the machines.
Review: Dublin's Xistence Records is well known for its authentic Detroit-inspired techno. Bossman Phil Robertson is responsible for that and here brings a collection of tracks under his Arbilla guise infused with classic Motor City influences. He kicks off with 'Parallel Universe' with its galloping groove and chimey chords with occasional French Kiss-style stabs. 'Sleepless Night' is more soulful and raw machine music, 'Lonely Moments' is more percussion and bright in its lush harmonies, and the release includes a standout remix by John Beltran who reimagines 'Lonely Moments' with a beautiful acidic twist.
Review: Behind The Mask's second release comes from Lorenzo Aribone, the man behind the label and someone with a sound that draws on a range of house and techno styles. The A-side kicks off with 'Again', a low slung and sleazy sound with warped basslines. 'Question' is an eerie, spacious sound with pulsing rhythms and dubby low ends then 'Fog' brings more raw percussion and insistent grooves. Last of all is 'Stone,' a heavy, marching house sound with hints of intergalactic synth work and razor sharp drums that keep you upright. Another fine offering from this young imprint.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Baby Ford is back being reissued again and we couldn't be happier about it. Few have ever matched the matter levels he achieved when it comes to deep minimal and tech house fusions. This latest on his own Trelik takes the form of three classic cuts from two much sought-after EPs - Built In and All That Nothing. The title cut is a shimmering and sublime fusion of rubbing low ends and icy hi-hats. 'All That Nothing' then picks up the pace with more dub influences and swaying drums and 'Plaza' has a tech house edge that makes for more driving grooves.
First Order Approximation - "Obsessive Behaviour" (5:45)
First Order Approximation - "Unresponsive" (5:14)
Review: Respected Italian artist Alan Backdrop joins forces with First Order Approximation for the second release from the Sense Code label. This tasteful techno split delves into the darkest realms of deep techno right from the off with 'Converging To Center' drilling down into a desolate wasteland. 'Gravity Self' is another suspensory linear groove with no signs of human life and 'Obsessive Behaviour' is a heady one with static electricity fizzing about the rubbery drums. This collection of hypnotic and ever-evolving tracks is designed for smoky basements and late-night sessions for real heads.
Review: They don't call him Bay Boy for nothing - Bad Boy Pete is indeed that and shows it here with four fierce cuts of blazing techno for grotty, strobe-lit warehouses. Kicking off this wild and in your face ride of anarchistic bangers is the unrelenting 'Is That All You Got?' with its manic saw tooth synths spraying about over hard, edgy drums. 'What Shall We Say' is another one that fires out of the speakers with some menacing leeds and kinetic drum funk, 'Filthy Dark Bass Techno' then hammers it home with more hundred mile an hour drums and 'Morning Warehouse Techno' is pure sleaze and filth. Brilliant.
Review: Strap yourself in here for a third volume of Basic Bastard beats on the DBH label out of Germany. 'Bounce' kicks off and is brilliantly warm, tight and funky. It's made from minimal elements but has a maximal impact. 'Deep City' is more house-leaning but is fast and urgent with sleek pads and gurgling acidic basslines all adding to the richness of the sounds. Last but not least is 'Signals' which closes down with more speedy drum funk, this time laced up with molten acid lines and snappy drum hits. Three timeless cuts for sure.
Review: A thrilling ride through energetic and innovative techno. Opening with 'Funken', the track delivers hi-tech funk with stomping melodic work, driven by vibrant chords and an uptempo, atmospheric vibe that sets the tone for the release. 'Groove Constructor' follows, offering a playful, creative take on techno with infectious grooves and clever sound design that keep the energy flowing. On Side-2, 'Quartz' brings high-energy tech house, perfectly suited for peak-time moments, with a relentless beat and captivating rhythms that propel the track forward. Closing with 'Liebherr', the track incorporates fast tribal beats and melodic breaks, expertly building tension before releasing in powerful, dynamic moments. This release showcases Baugruppe90's ability to blend energy, creativity and rhythm into a cohesive, exciting listening experience.
Review: Rising Boorloo artist Beltrac shows why he is so well thought of here with five tracks that deliver a dynamic collision of sleek, dub-infused minimal rollers reminiscent of the late '90s and early 2000s tech-house but paired with high-energy drum-driven explorations. After the bubbly synths of 'Tek Code' comes the more direct and crisp 'VIP Section (Otherworld mix)', then Side B features a standout remix of 'Echo Response' by Eora's dub master Command D who transforms the wonky bassline of the original into a hazy, after-hours dub techno gem. The meticulous production really elevates these irresistible grooves.
Review: We're told that returning to Berlin has sparked a new playful side to Benjamin Damage's techno creations. Inspired by NIX's bold approach, he challenges his own sound on this new EP which brims with sharp sound design and dancefloor energy. Each track originates from live studio sessions where long takes of experimentation and play are carefully chopped and refined. Benjamin focuses on maintaining a seamless energy flow while ensuring top-tier sound quality and as you would expect of someone with his skills, the result is a meticulously crafted release full of dynamic and fresh techno.
Review: Dutch label Brew returns with more moody techno that is both deep yet impactful. It's Robert Bergman at the helm and '3 AM' is his opening gambit. It has ghostly voices shimmering across the beats with a menacing low end, rugged bassline and scaring percussive sounds. '#5' is another fresh sound with great sound designs and alluring rhythms and last of all is 'Drum Trax' which is a third and final blend of nostalgic and futuristic house tropes for heady basements.
Have You Ever Played In Abidjan? (feat Tutsy N'zore) (6:37)
Review: Lyon-based Brazilian Pedro Bertho is an accomplished producer who now steps out with his own label, fittingly enough called Chez Pedro. It kicks off with a new EP 'Starlit Crates' which has already been teased by the well-received 'Have You Ever Played in Abidjan' (exclusive aired on Juno Daily), which paid tribute to that vibrant city and the Ivory Coast. 'Have You....' is a collaboration with percussionist Tutsy N'Zore, who adds great layers to Bertho's deep grooves, but there's loads going onelsewhere too.. 'Let Me Show You' has what sound like ambient recordings from a bustling market over bass-driven beats. 'Blue Hot Monday' is another humid and muggy deep techno mind melter and 'Shaved' is a crisp, tech-edged cut with frazzled synth work for peal time deployment. A great example of making functional, floor-pleasing grooves that have oodles of personality and character at the same time.
Review: Adam Beyer continues to refine his vision of techno with a release that melds intricate sound design with driving rhythms. The lead track layers ethereal synths and hypnotic vocal refrains, morphing into a pulsing, primal groove anchored by precise percussion. It's a masterclass in atmospheric tension, balancing futuristic elements with raw energy. The second track delves deeper, driven by metallic basslines and siren-like hoover tones, creating a dystopian soundscape that's both immersive and ominous. Beyer's ability to seamlessly fuse cutting-edge sound design with dancefloor functionality reaffirms his status as a cornerstone of modern techno.
Review: Adam Beyer shares his first collaboration with Vintage Culture, 'Lift Me Up' featuring Kyozo. A suspenseful covenant formed between three huge-room techno striators, 'Lift Me Up' was born from a fruitful back-and-forth shared on the road to Sonus Festival in Croatia. Packing a clenched sawtooth lead - one that hardly requires the development that the track nonetheless indulges by way of tuned impacts and chord transitions - this one ends up a dramatic build, as a vaunted vocal lines abjures us to "lift me up", as we listeners end up, paradoxically, the ones uplifted.
Review: An outlet at first dedicated entirely to releasing solo material by the artist Setaoc Mass, SK_eleven has since gone on to purvey several new releases by other artists, the latest of which is Blanka with 'Breaking Rules'. Blanka does indeed set about creating a kind of rulebreaking music here; this is technoboss night-driving music for those who've refused to be bound by their masters any longer, preferring instead to dance well into the night. 'La Danza Nocturna' is a worthy opening dance, its punchbowl sonics and rambunctious reverse claps making for a crazed headspace, come nightfall; B-siders 'Tripping' and 'Klock' make for a continually eerie B-side too, the former stretching out a set of atmospheric background vocals to properly ghostly effect, and the latter veering more Detroit-style, reworking the low rumbles of what sound like an engine room or reactor core.
Review: 'Felt Cute' debuted on Kalahari 12 months ago and now the producer behind it, Blu:sh, is back with a new record that captures the electric tension of a dancefloor caught between peak-time euphoria and a vision quest. The Pinky Promise EP pushes the limits with six powerful, groove-driven tracks that maintain the seductive essence of its predecessor but with added intensity. The album channels Benoit's signature exploratory style and delivers some of his toughest material yet. With strong influences from Eurocentric sounds, particularly trance, the record starts with a bang and maintains a murky, psychedelic vibe throughout that keeps listeners entranced and moving from start to finish.
Review: Blue Hour shows a different look with this new outing on Arsenik as he delves into some deep and driving dub techno realms. 'Trekia' opens up and is a kinetic melange of prickly percussion and slamming drums with plenty of smeared and smudged chords and refuel synth leads. 'Osirus' has a sense of menace and unease in the grinding chord work and unsettled hi-hats which are off-grid and edgy. 'Atoll' strips things back with some smooth drums driving onward beneath melodic chords that bring a celestial feel. 'Triton' shuts down with a classic Detroit techno sound that keeps you on your toes.
Review: Blue Hour have dropped a couple of essential new 12"s this month and here is one of them. It's another of their famous various artist's collections, all with a focus on the deeper end of the techno spectrum. The eponymous Blue Hour kicks off with 'Afterglow' which has wispy neon synth trail and soft, rubbery drum and bass blends that take you into a cosmic sky. Dold's 'Warning' is more textural and raw with its percussion and synth energy and Steffi's 'Volley 5' is driving, dynamic, dubby techno for intimate basements. Newa's 'Seduction' is a psychedelic wonder to close.
Review: BBC Radio 6Music favourites Tom Ravenscroft and Nemone are already backing +33JOY's The Wellness Remixes, a year on from Bopperson & Bikbaye's original Wellness Project. This 12-inch release sees four UK-based producers reimagine the message for the dancefloor. Frankson brings an atmospheric, found-sound collage, perfect for closing sets, amplifying Bikbaye's powerful words. K15 takes 'Consumption' deeper, blending Rhodes melodies with shuffling percussion and sub-heavy basslines. Titeknots flips 'Changes' into a tropical journey, all hypnotic guitars and infectious grooves. Michael J. Blood wraps things up with a 15-minute, cavernous techno stomper, pushing boundaries and commanding the B-side in style.
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