Review: A hefty double 12" from Generator features a slew of basement techno bombs from both sides of the Atlantic (oh, and Australia). From the pounding, relentless throb of Abstract Science's "The Grinder" to the shuffling groove of "Detroitism" by DJ-T 1000, the eight tracks cover the full breadth of techno's rich sonic landscape. Other highlights include the broken beats and woodblock percussion on Plural's "07" and the more experimental vibe of "Fine & Mellow" by Mathematics boss and general Chicago underground legend, Jamal M. An unmissable collection of tracks packaged in highly collectable artwork by Alan Oldham, who was also responsible for the superbly illustrated Defenders Of The Deep House World EP that surfaced on Third Ear a few months back.
Review: Thankfully, Richard D. James has decided to finally release at least some of the output that he's been banging on about since mid-2000s. In a number of interviews, the might Aphex Twin hinted that he has vast artilleries of tracks stacked up and unreleased, probably more on purpose than out of laziness...or maybe not. What we do know is that AFX is reborn after the string of acid 12"s released about 10 years ago on Rephlex, that saw the alias become one of the most popular of James' alter egos. Orphaned Deejay Selek is a collection of tunes that contain all of the Twin's magic and unpredictably, but that also cut straight to the point and head to the middle of the dance floor. This is banging brain dynamite coated in the man's iconic style and flair. Welcome back AFX, and many hats off to Warp for making it happen.
Review: Religion, and specifically gospel music, always played a key part in shaping the sounds and emotions of easy house music. It is clearly going to have just as much impact on this new label God Iz Enough which debuts with an EP of the same name from Tomi Ahmedeus. His style on the opener is to lay down raw and dusty beats with an early Windy City feel and infuse them with evocative, guttural gospel vocals that really bring them to life and make them inescapably emotive. 'The Rise Of The Guttersnipe' strips things back a little and brings a shuffling tech vibe with some glistening melodies while 'Ms Ludus' is a gorgeous ambient closer.
Review: ALIEN FM / RELEASED 1995 ......definitive original broadcast double LP From the minds of Keith Tucker and Blak Tony 430 West records / Direct Beat were pushing the Detroit techno and electro sound to new heights with the original members of Aux88 doing aliases from every member this gem is no exception. Keith Tuckers and Blak Tony's work from the early nineties are master classes on the art of doing something different conceptually and musically. Electronic vocals on this lp. are classic as Tucker and Tony show from the start with the Art of illusion.......and nightmare. Pulsating arps and infectious bass lines round out the first two sides. Side two Infinity and Optaphonic Opera gives you a window into the styles of what was to come from Optic Nerve. Keith Tuckers solo project. This double LP has been sought after for a very long time.......
Review: BOOM! Our favourites, Cititrax, roll the third editions of Tracks out onto our shelves, and the results are unsurprisingly strong on this excellent various artists comp. It's a mixed bag of skills, as per usual, and the sounds are those of a new NYC, fuelled by a new sort of post-industrial sensibility. Amato Y Mariana open with the tight beats and groove of "Queires Bailar", followed closely by the ominous compositions of the EBM-flavoured "Montgat" from The Sixteen Steps. On the flip, His Dirty Secrets bleeps out some morphed acid on "Structures", and "Another Stranger" from Further Reductions churns out a slow, mild-mannered house experiment with its roots clearly planted in the coldest of waves. Sick.
Review: This new one on mysterious UK label MoonVoid Records serves up a trio of previously unreleased tracks that were originally recorded in the early 90s on tape cassette by Benjamin Wetherill under the Amethyst Moon alias. Apparently this EP is the first of a few, which is great news once you hear them. 'Lifestheme' is a crunchy and wiry electronic workout with fizzing synths and dense beats. 'Human At The Controls' brings slower rhythms and snaking synths and hissing hits while 'False Alarm (Look Over Your Shoulder)' spins you out in silky cosmic synths and snappy metallic snares.
Review: Earlier this year Minimal Wave offshoot provided one of this year's most visceral dancefloor weapons in Kino-I, the debut from Doug Lee's new An-I project. Taking inspiration from techno, jack, industrial and punk, An-I successfully drew a line under some of the Berlin-based artist's previous disco-flavoured endeavours. And then some! If you like the Kino-I 12" you will love the new triplet of An-I productions housed on this appropriately titled Gutz 12". The title track alone should come with a health warning; such is the furious onslaught of machine funk it contains, whilst the unnerving "Rut" is the most schizophrenic production you will hear this year. Best of all id closing track "Save Us" sounds like a cross between in Aeternam Vale and Silent Servant. Pressed on a rather thick and dashing slab of magenta orange vinyl!
Review: New this week on Bless You, the sub label of Berlin's Sound Metaphors, we have Aggelos Baltas' Anatolian Weapons project. Conceived as a way to bring together the EBM of his Dream Weapons alias and his kraut-rock exploits as Fantastikoi Hxoi, with the polyrhythmic percussion and wailing tones of Greek folk music. PT 1. features cosmic and dubbed out expeditions; the A-side cut 'Vortex' will have you trancing out in slow motion just like its name suggests. Over on flip, more strobed-out and mental tackle awaits, such as on the 100 BPM lysergic trip of 'The Goddess' and the downbeat hypnotic techno journey of 'Black Sea II' exploring the same realms of Vactrol Park or Karamika.
Review: Formerly run by both Michael Wollenhaupt and Conrad Protzmann, the Ancient Methods project is now run solo by the former producer, an artist who is clearly intending to keep the sound of the project going strong. This EP, however, launches the new Parsephonic Sirens label, and the sounds are very much grounded in something altogether more surreal. The opening "Remember Me" is a chilly, frost-bitten ambient affair, whereas "Born Of Ashes launches with a mean, fiery techno blow that sounds like the inside of a jet engine. On the flip, "I Am Blazing Sound" rolls out its deafening techno punch with melodies reminiscent of something Middle-Eastern, leaving "Now Come Closer" to offer a more traditional 4/4 stance in the most poignant of German fashions.
Review: There is no messing when it comes to the techno served up by Umwelt's essential Rave Or Die. Over the course of 14 previous EPs the label has dropped rib-rattling, brain boggling bangers aimed squarely at the floor. This time out the boss himself steps up with Ancient Methods with each providing one solo track. This one comes on limited 10" picture disc so is an extra special one to add to the collection Ancient Methods's 'Accept Light' is a harshly textured industrial banger and Umwelt's 'Shades of Security' is just as caustic and hard edged.
Review: For the third release on their admirable Melliflow label, Vera and Alexandra have turned to newcomer And.Rea, AKA debutant Andrea La Pietra. As first outings go, it's pretty darn good, with the previously unknown producer offering up eight impressive cuts over two weighty slabs of wax. After opening with the off-kilter, intergalactic funk of "Low Connection", La Pietra variously turns his hand to deep and spacey techno ("15 Ways To Make A Record"), bubbly Detroit futurism ("Microcosm"), bruk-influenced electro warmth ("Monday To Sunday", "Bubble Motion"), bleep-heavy jack-tracks ("Why On Earth"), and deeper, woozier fare ("Mutual Attraction"). Throughout, he manages to get a near perfect balance between spacey dreaminess and punchy, dancefloor-friendly grooves.
Hebula (Wata Igarashi Lost In Savannah mix) (5:58)
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: The late Susumu Yokota's deep, linear, heady take on techno as Anima Mundi gets a reissue with remixes to boot. The title track of this eighth outing from Cosmic Soup is 'Hebula' and is the sort of grinding, unrelenting pumper that is subtle but high impact, especially mentally. It is also the perfect track for the remixers to tackle: first is Dax J who ups the ante with rugged percussive patterns then Japanese maestro Wata Igarashi adds two versions. One is an organic and heady affair with sustained pads and jumbled toms, the other is a psychedelic and colourful head melter
Review: ANNE is an emerging Greek talent who backs up the early promise with this newest outing, the Chicago 1980 EP on FJAAK's Crowd label. All four of the cuts are infused with a healthy respect for the sounds of Detroit and 90s-00s techno, always with great emotional as well as physical depths. The title track is actually a pulsating tribute to Chicago's famously raw energy with crisp percussion powering hypnotic grooves under some nice dreamy chords. 'Propeller' intensifies the experience with high-energy rhythms and industrial sounds, then 'Storyteller' explores intricate layers and dystopian dissonance. Closer 'Red Bones' delivers a dark, atmospheric
Review: Guglielmo Barzacchini aka Tsvi is no stranger to AD 93, on which he presents his third release. The label says the Italian-born, London-based DJ/producer was inspired by "distant memories, fairy-tales, and transcendental experiences. Where all the souls unite, drifting as one, dancing into the night." 063 features a bunch of truly energetic grooves; whether it's the euphoric trance of 'Andromeda' or the hypnotising tribal techno journey of 'Boreale', through to the loved-up bliss of 'Venus' or the progressive breaks of 'Chimera' - which makes the perfect track to drop at sunrise.
Review: Fresh vintage Aphex meat in the shape of this expanded reissue of the classic rave era anthem 'Digeridoo' from 1992. Treated to a modern remastering job by Beau Thomas at Ten Eight Seven Mastering, this double pack features the four tunes on the original 12" - 'Digeridoo', 'Flaphead', 'Phloam' and 'Isoprophlex', as well as bonus versions by Richard D James himself said to be encoded through his Nakamichi CR7e cassette deck, utilising vari-speed to create versions at different speeds which "felt right at the time". The legend is that he wrote the tune to annoy hippies who liked to attend raves and jam with their digeridoos - or digeri-dont's as they quickly became known - but it's being delighting fans of that golden era between hardcore rave and jungle ever since.
Review: BLKRTZ is back in action with this riveting new EP from UK bass expert Appleblim, who himself is now resident in the German capital. Dub Conference Vol 1 features the atmospheric and off-kilter beats of 'Warsaw', which goes on to receive an enchanting remake for ancient ritual rites by Shackleton. Over on the flip, he delivers something more straight ahead in the form of 'Bladed Shogun' which is a hypnotic and bass-driven affair that uses synth textures drowned in complex effects chains to create a momentum reliant less on rhythm and to impressive effect. Label boss Deadbeat lends his expertise on the remix up next, taking the track into typically cavernous and glacial territory.
Review: Manchester's Robbie Mecrow is an acid and electro specialist who is therefore a perfect fit for the interplanetary sounds of Furthur Electronix. This marks his fourth EP on a fourth different label in three years, which might be a slow pace but the music is worth waiting for. There is roomy, IDM inspired atmosphere on 'Spatial Plucks' then more jungle leaning breaks and glistening metallic surfaces on 'Xsd'. The fantastic 'Reconbination' might just be the EP highlight however with its broad bass, twisted drum loops and forlorn sense of mood. 'Rev' (Stack Refix) is an airy, ambient laced closer that suspends you in a techno dreamscape.
Review: Philpot's Traxworx series got off to a blinding start earlier this year with the dust down from Roman Rauch and label regular Ike and it looks to be quite the promising endeavour if the line-ups remain as strong as this second duel featuring Arttu and Hakim Murphy. Neither artist really needs a formal introduction here and both are well suited for the floor focused nature of this series. Arttu is first up with "Can't Get Down" a collaboration with Kaye that bounces along with loose and deadly intent - if you liked the Geeeman stuff on Clone you will love this pappy, especially when that sax comes in! On the flip Innerspace Halflifer Hakim Murphy goes for the abstract approach on "ES1" which features some superb drum edits.
Review: James Clements continues his explorations into the depths of the grey zone as ASC with The Farthest Reaches double pack on Auxiliary. Samurai Music's Presha has excitedly called these four tracks "a definitive musical statement from one of the most important electronic musicians of our era," and who are we to argue with him? Making full usage of the format and available space, this is ASC in exploratory mode across a quartet of deep ten minute plus productions that have it all; sound design, atmosphere, groove, bass weight. To simply call these epic is selling The Farthest Reaches short!
Pulse 02(coloured vinyl 12"+ MP3 download code limited to 200 copies (comes in different coloured vinyl, we cannot guarantee which one you will receive))
Joachim Spieth - "Subtle" (Nitechord remix) (4:45)
Review: Past Inside the Present's 'Pulse' series is an investigation into ambient tech and beat-driven ambient sounds. Who better for the job on this second edition than master craftsmen ASC and Joachim Spieth? ASC opens up with 'Tidal Disruption Event', an understated, underwater rhythm with jittery percussive patterns and bright shards of melodic light piercing through the mix as more coarse soundwaves break over the top. Spieth's 'Subtle' is just as artful and delicate a mix of persuasive rhythm and melodic beauty. A classy Nitechord remix closes out this fascinating EP.
Review: Asymetric80 is a really versatile producer. He's proven that with several fresh EPs in recent years on a range of different labels and they have explored everything from menacing electro to dark techno via industrial and noise. This new outing on Oraculo somewhat blends all that together into something new and fresh. 'Rara Avis' opens with stomping drums and EBM synths, 'Instant Manifesto' is a metallic techno workout and 'Plenary Indulgence' layers up scuzzy noise and gothic designs into something stark and strobe-lit. 'Innocent Stigmanta' and 'Internal Tears' bring more late night terror.
Review: Last year Demdike Stare pair Miles Whittaker and Sean Canty surprised everyone with an album from Shinichi Atobe on their DDS label, the quite brilliant Butterfly Effect, which arrived out of nowhere following a prolonged period of inactivity from the Japanese artist. In fact Atobe had just the one release, a mythical Chain Reaction 12" called Ship Scope, that was released back in 2001, causing many to speculate it was an alias of a Basic Channel artist. With original copies of Ship Scope quite pricey on Discogs, DDS have done everyone a favour by reissuing the 12" in all new label artwork. Those wishing to experience the sublime delights of 12" highlight "The Red Line" no longer have to put up with low-bitrate Youtube videos!
Review: Atom & Tobias combine forces for this superb collection of their previous EPs. Toolbox, which is a name so smart we can't believe no other artists have used it before, brings together the EPs Cuando, Zahlenraum and Enne. All of them were written during the same writing sessions and having been put out separately before they now get boxed up with a fresh cover designed by Dextro. The music is cutting edge tehaon with deep rolling drums and icy drones making for an eerie opener while 'Cuando' (Tool I) has a more heavy low end and sounds like an automated factory floor. 'Aufmerksamkeitsspanne' is a manic machine meltdown that comes as two versions and 'NMHS' is one to warp minds.
Review: French modular wizards Atomic Moog step up the Transmigration sub-label Crystal Ceremony here for some otherworldly and psychedelic techno sounds. 'Variable Pulse' kicks off with some low key deep tech sound and rumbling bass that are topped with sci-fi details. 'Brainwave' then has more wispy synth details lashing about over an aquatic dub the no rhythm. 'Model' is slow, purposeful deep techno for heady moments and last of all is the Konduku remix of 'Brainwave' which is minimal, kinetic and full of pent-up funky.
Review: OMEN Recordings's next release is a big one that unites Axkan and Duellist on the same slab of wax. They take care of one side each and we're told the inspiration for their sounds was making a "shared response to the turmoil of global conflicts." Duellist kicks off and suggests with his offerings that he is anxious, unsettled and in fight mode because 'Oxidative Stress' is front-foot techno with monstrous bass energy. 'Stains Of Time' is another one with brash drums and perc and plenty of tension, then Axkan offers the hypotonic loops of 'Warfare' and broken beat menace of 'Thermobaric.
Ode To My Frida (Vince Watson Piano Reshape) (7:57)
Review: Joaquin Joe Claussell's Sacred Rhythm label is in a purple patch right now with a clutch of new EPs all dropping in quick succession. As well as the boss himself, Roa Azulay also steps up with more spine-tingling deep house depths here across three fresh cuts. 'Satori' opens up with dreamy melodies floating up high over nimble, lithe drums and poignant chords. 'Hope' hits harder with a more driving deep house but still melodically rich sound and 'Ode To My Frida' (Vince Watson Piano Reshape) brings plenty of Detroit soul to the rippling drums and bass.
Remco Beekwilder - "Declaration Of Penetration" (5:15)
Review: Following the sudden impact of Remco Beekwilder's Moortgat EP, his label Emerald is straight back to it with a double pack VA release of quality hi-octane techno. Beekwilder himself kicks off proceedings with the nightmarish pressure of 'Rhythm Allegiance', and then we get a merry romp through all kinds of pile-driving gear from artists like Rove Ranger, Sedvs, Parano, Alarico and Jacobworld. While the vibes range from industrial and pounding to light and funky, the tempo maintains at the upper end of the spectrum, making this a very handy collection to have for those long-haul peak time gigs when you need to keep the crowd wound up.
Review: After the first in this new Mellow Bangers series got us nice and twisted we're delighted to have the follow-up from Italo Moderni. Cryk kicks off with an eerie blend of Italo arps and dark wave drums with electro overtones on 'Double Crash' then the moodiness continues with the depraved bass warbles and crashing hits of Fragedis and his 'Disco Nicotina.' Antoni Maiovvi brings a lightness of touch to his delicate arps and celestial harmonies on 'Stopping Power' and Adrian Marth layers plenty of sugar and pixelated synths into his loopy 'Modernism.'
Review: Here is the third and final chapter of the 'Systema Naturae' series on Berlin-based 012, with fresh deep techno visions from newcomers such as Daniel(i) from Belgium (Whispering Signals) who ventures into foreboding and murky territory on the off-kilter journey of 'Carabus', and there's the return of Greek producer Alex Tomb who gets into some hypnotic minimal techno on 'Paradisaea'. Elsewhere, Leipzig-based Kontinum pushes into full mental overdrive on the strobing cut 'Octandria' and finally you have the collaboration between Mary Yuzovskaya and label head Claudio PRC titled 'Marmor' which perfectly nails that ethereal Sound Of Rome vibe.
Review: Only a hard techno label would be brazen enough to call itself Danger Wank. There is much more worth investigating here though than just the semantics: Fist Of Fury grabs you by the throat with its overdriven percussive loops and flat, slamming drums on 'Minimaythm Demoniae.' It sounds like what happens when you have too many windows open on your computer with sound playing from one that crashes. Al Core brings squealing synths and horrorcore sleaze to '007 Bald Frenchcore' and Celsius tickles the inner war with the abstract sounds and malfunctioning drum patterns of 'L'Appel Du Vide.' Kyo_O's 'Releaser Fucking' gets a brutal LeeloO Hardcoholics remix to close down this serious sonic assault.
Review: EC Underground is back with more inquisitors of low-end heavy sounds on Bass Scene Investigation vol 1 and again digs deep into the worlds of electro, techno, breakbeat and IDM. The compilation kicks off with the skittish percussive patterns of Illektrolab's 'Making Heads Dip', then heads into moody ground with ADJ, Pablo Funk brings some menacing synth work and Errorbeauty gets all weird and trippy with some mad electronics. Francois Dillinger offers a dystopian electro sound full of irresistibly jacked-up drums. A fine investigation indeed.
Review: During the 1990s, there were few techno producers in Spain who were quite as prolific - or successful, for that matter - as Alex Martin. This superb double-pack delivers proof of the Barcelona-based artist's impressive early form by gathering together some of the best cuts he released between '94 and '98 under a variety of aliases, most notably Sideral and The Fat DB. Interestingly, there's plenty of variety to be found within the collected cuts, with sparkling sci-fi ambient ('Elipse') and deep, shuffling IDM (the acid-flecked brilliance of 'Mare Nostrum' and 'Butterly') nestling side by side with deep techno ('I Wanna Look at the Stars'), ragged futurist acid ('Incognita'), intergalactic techno ('Planetarium') and even cuts inspired by the soul, bass-weight and shuffle of the then emerging UK garage sound ('Can Make It').
Review: In order to celebrate arriving at their tenth year, Jus Ed's Underground Quality label picks up on Unity Kolabo, a vinyl series that has laid dormant for a while, and there is a suitably high profile cast of contributing talent. The presence of DJ Koze and Lawrence is likely to stop many a deep house appreciator in their tracks, and contributions from this European pair are complemented by some under the radar talent. Tape Club's Jo Nathan sets the tone with the crisp, warbling deepness of "That Other Train", and it's nice to see Koze turn in one of his most joyous productions in recent memory in the shape of "NYC Dub". The subsequent six cuts all retain that Underground Quality and demonstrate Unity Kolabo Part 6 & 7 to be a fine way to celebrate 10 years. PS do check the mind bending Son Of Sound contribution - our personal favourite!
Review: The sixth edition of the Luther Vine-curated Fragments Of Reality offers up four new workouts bulging with urgency and style. Upfront and upbeat disco house from Rhythms of Prescott opens the collection like a volcanic eruption, 'Three One Two' being the work of Irish-born, London-based Wizkid, definitely a name to watch out for. 'Dress 2 Sweat' by Aguila follows, with 90s-inspired filtered vocal samples gliding on top of a warm, sun-kissed bassline. Flip it over for 'Delayed Fizz' by Douwe and Picasso with its chiselled grooves and urbanesque electro twists, while the brassy, cheeky 'Unintended Consequences' by Tom Frankel completes the set in style.
Review: Domenico Torti is best known for his high profile remixes of Daft Punk, but this outing on Ed Banger finds him indulge in his first love: the sounds, colours and scenes of New York City in the 1980s. To help authenticate his quest, he enlists expert beat maker Afrika Bambaataa. Their single "Radar" is a wild disco ride with electro synth work and plenty of future retro motifs, from the vocoder vocals to the sounds of spacecrafts taking off. Deena Abdelwahed flips it into a heavy drum work out with rising chords, Dimitri From Paris layers in brilliantly funky bass and Adesse Versions and Borussia go for jacking club workouts.
Review: The recent resurgence in interest in mid 1990s ambient techno has been one of the most positive trends of recent times, primarily because it has resulted in reissues of some long-forgotten and genuinely overlooked gems. A Positive Life's sophomore album Synaethetic, which was originally released by Beyond Records in 1994, falls into that category. Offering a suitably intergalactic, heady blend of undulating, psychedelic acid lines, ambient sound washes, bubbly beats, far-sighted sounds and stretched-out epics, it's an album that's as close to the original ambient techno blueprint as you're likely to find. If you love that style, it's a genuine must-have.
Review: A Rocket In Dub is just one of Stefan Schwander's many aliases. The Dusseldorf-based producer has recorded ample works as Harmonious Thelonious, Repeat Orchestra Antonelli Electr and in groups like The Durian Brothers. With a sound naturally aligned to the fabled Salon Des Amateurs, he's returning focus to his A Rocket In Dub project, which previously did the rounds some 20 years ago and now comes back to life via Krachladen Dub. His approach is absolutely informed by true roots dub music, but Schwander's particular minimalist palette becomes the defining factor in this wonderful collection of leftfield, digi-dub miniatures.
Review: Aside from a few one-off appearances for imprints such as Secretsundaze or Hype_LTD, Bristol house and techno mystic A Sagittariun has released all of his music through his own Elastic Dream label, and that makes the perfect home to his jagged, diverse, and improvisational approach. He's back with a new LP this time around, a sweet and seductive mash-up of dance hybrids held tougher under the name of Elasticity. In a sense, this LP perfectly embodies everything that is singular about A Sagittariun's music, and much like the term 'elasticity', it feels like his music is always in a state of beta; never gliding too close to any one genre, the Bristolian eccentric paints a glorious picture with the help of placid nu-disco, pseudo Balearic house, and quirky techno-not-techno. It's both a great listening experience, and a glorious dance-starter.
Review: A2L were active between 1988 and 1990 and released two albums and several EPs on labels like 1st Bass, Big One and Force Inc. Their sound blended British psychedelic house with elements of new beat, industrial, EBM and early acid house and in doing so captured the raw energy of the UK rave scene. Notably different from typical acid house acts of the time, A2L's music took in machine funk, samplers and turntable techniques to create trippy, infectious grooves. This collection compiles rare underground gems from them from 1989 and features standout tracks like 'Even Though It's Make Believe' and 'Come On.' It's a great look back to the experimental spirit of the late 80s.
Review: Sama' Abdulhadi is a DJ who very proudly represents her Palestinian roots and is the first artist from her homeland to break out onto the international stage. She has a passion for sound design and has famously been arrested and jailed for eight days for desecrating a religious site when she played a set, with permission, at Nabi Musa. Her entry into the legendary fabric series is a doozy with emotive techno and cavernous deep house from the likes of Michael Klein, Carbon & Peter Groskreutz and Acid Arab as well as her own cut 'Well Fee' (feat Walaa Sbait).
Review: UK artist David Duncan recorded only one EP as Ability II and it recently got reissued and soon snapped up. Now, much to the delight of fans of the man behind the classic tune 'Pressure Dub' he is back. This album features an exclusive collection of tunes he made back in his heyday in the 90s, none of which were released at the time, and none of which you will have ever heard before anywhere. They feature his signature sound designs across seven cuts that sound as futuristic now as they ever could as they combine jacked-up house, techno and tech into scintillating and dub-weighted sounds for the club.
Review: The Abstract Eye often works live and crafts tunes in one take, and that MO is the idea behind this new collection. It features plenty of hard-to-define sounds from over the last ten years, many of them with a cosmic synth outlook and raw analogue drums. 'Skyfather' is a real eye opener with its sense of mystic cosmic wonder, 'Real Myths' fizzes bring as burning phosphorus and 'A Yearning Feeling' is more paired back and introspective with jittery drums and electro rhythms all soothed by the melancholic synth work.
Review: The Achterbahn D'Amour pairing of Johannes "Iron Curtis" Paluka and Jurgen "Jool" Albert (formerly Edit Piafra) return to the Acid Test series with a debut album Odd Movements. Since the project first emerged on Absurd's dedicated acid offshoot in 2011, Achterbahn D'Amour have become mainstays of the series and encapsulated the experimental ethos of the series and displayed a true reverence for the classic 303 and 606 Roland machines. After a relatively low key 2013 with just the two Acid Test releases from regular contributor Tin Man and famed Frenchman Pepe Bradock, Odd Movements is a statement of intent and sits nicely alongside the other Acid Test long players from Recondite and Tin Man whilst demonstrating the format suits Albert and Pakula well.
Review: Electronic music is guilty of so many injustices it's hard to know where to begin. Among the least talked about historically is the lack of space made for South Asian and South Asian-heritage artists, who, despite the written pantheons doing their best not to emphasise it, have contributed an incredible amount to the canon's many genres. Things are improving in terms of representation and visibility, but there is still a very, very long way to go.
Even without the urgent need for more equal coverage, it was always going to be hugely exciting to get a copy of an Acid Arab album. And Trois does not disappoint. The Paris-based production duo invite us into ever-deeper corners of their sound, from the tense prog chug of 'Ya Mahla' and the stripped techno build of 'Rachid Trip', to the slick and sexy, writhing broken gem 'Gouloulou', it's as varied as the influences involved.
Review: While the artist has branched out onto several different labels dealing in cold, mechanical techno, Acronym's main output has come through Sweden's excellent Northern Electronics imprint. That in itself is already plenty of reason to consider this producer. It's no coincidence that he's been called up by Spain's Semantica label to deliver a new LP, and we couldn't ask for anything better. Entangled In Vines is an intricate collection of tracks that span across the entire techno realm, from slow-burning hypnotics to high-tech warehouse blasters. "Enter" is the perfect example of this man's style, a largely beatless tune that still drags plenty of movement across the groove, and "Getting Closer" quickly ups the tempo with a fine layer of bass and kicks. "Escape" transports us across a deep techno wormhole, and "Wrapped" delivers Acronym's inimitable swarm of hollow tones in the same vein as artists like Donato Dozzy. There is just so much quality on this LP that we think it merits album of the week - highly recommended!
Review: New York City techno veteran Adam X returns to Long Island Electrical Systems under the ADMX71 alias, where he once again explores the outer fringes of experimental electronics on his latest LP The Aging Process, existing at the intersection of industrial, EBM and techno. Beginning with the contorted noise soundscape of 'Speaking Via Telepathy' he soon unleashes the seething brain bash of 'Sensor-Tised' followed by the strobing tunnel vision of 'Walking Through Walls'. Elsewhere, there's more dystopian themes aplenty as heard on the static TBM pulse of 'They've Instilled Fear In Us', or the pitch black war funk of 'Leading The Way' and the muscular slow burner 'Leading The Way'.
Review: Attack Decay Sustain Release (ADSR) originated as Todd Nickolas and Dominic Paterson's synthesiser project during high school and was conducted in the serene surroundings of Todd's family farm in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Amidst the pastoral setting, natural sounds intertwined with the hum of machinery. Inspired by CBC Radio's Brave New Waves program, they soaked up diverse musical influences from ELO's futuristic rock to Skinny Puppy's electronic body music. Now, unearthed cassette recordings from this era offer a nostalgic glimpse into their fearless exploration. Curated by Todd and Linus Booth, this collection embodies their spirit of discovery and experimentation back between the years of 1987 and 1991.
Review: Barely six weeks after dropping her debut single on River Rapid, Henrietta Smith-Rolla pops up on Skam with a surprise debut album. As first full length excursions go, "Break Before Make" is undeniably impressive. Beginning with the spooky, minor key electronics and angular IDM rhythms of "Day Turner", the 14 track set sees Smith-Rolla successfully turn her hand to bittersweet synth-wave ("And!"), dystopian pitched-down electronica ("Guess What"), spacey electro ("Work It", "Wtfwtfwtf"), clandestine electronic soundscapes (the panicked shuffle of "Blanket Ban") and grandiose sci-fi soundtrack fare ("The Middle Middle"). Throughout, the Manchester-based producer consistently delivers otherworldly musical melancholia with a panache not associated with a producer of her relative inexperience.
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