Back catalogue: Techno (All)

Review: A masterful exploration of techno that showcases a range of styles across its four tracks. Side-1 opens with 'Phylyps Frequencies', an epic techno monster that pays homage to Basic Channel with its deep, resonant beats and atmospheric textures. Following this, 'Eternal Source' delivers heavy chord progressions reminiscent of Steve Rachmad, creating an expansive and emotionally charged soundscape. On Side-2, 'Forgotten City' brings a melodic Detroit techno influence, combining nostalgic elements with a driving rhythm that captivates from start to finish. The EP concludes with 'Frost Will Never Come', a brisk and clean tech house track that feels light and flighty, evoking a sense of soaring through the air. This energetic finale rounds out a release that perfectly balances depth and dynamism, making 'The Forgotten City' EP a standout in Ecilo's discography.

Review: EBY is an acid house artist who has more than made his mark over the years. 40 years, to be exact, and to mark that rather notable occasion he is back with a special release on Foxbam Inc called ACID Thing and it comes in various different formats. This is a grey vinyl version that celebrates the classic acid sound while infusing it with a modern twist and plenty of big basslines, squelchy synths, and potent rhythms. The standout 'Acidanus' includes MC Soph who made her debut on Acid Indigestion Pt4 at just eight years old and now returns at 25. The EP also features a remix of 'Eggtrip' by renowned Belgian producer Outlander who you will likely remember from his iconic cut 'Vamp.'

Review: To make it to 40 years in any job is a fine achievement, but to do it in the fast-paced world of electronic music is even more rare. But that is exactly what EBY has done - he has been turning out acid house jams for four full decades now and to celebrate the milestone has put together a special release on Foxbam Inc called "it's an ACID thing" and it comes in various different formats. This one is a black and grey splattered 12" limited to just 100 copies. It features the ragga vocals and crushing beats of 'Bun Da Acid', the brilliantly gurgling 303 lines and ice-cold drums of 'Acidanus" (feat Soap MC) and the darker and more moody vibes of 'Eggtrip'. An Outlander Eggs & Shells remix shuts down in style.

Review: An EP that's as hypnotic as it is forceful, with each track contributing to a dark, almost oppressive soundscape, merging bleeps, gritty textures, and throbbing rhythms that move like clockwork machinery. The EP is a focused exploration of tension and release, with each cut showcasing Endlec's ability to sculpt vast, minimal layers while retaining a heavy, metallic edge. The sound is cavernous yet controlled, filling the space with an intense, meditative energy, perfect for late-night immersion or darkened rooms.

Review: Ida Engberg's contribution to this release marks a striking departure from the Swedish techno DJ and record producer's usual sound, an unexpected, lush journey through the world of 2 step genre that's definitely not typically seen in her catalogue. The track is at once sensual and booming, designed for the late-morning hours when the dancefloor shifts from peak-time frenzy to more reflective, intimate moments. It pulses with a calm intensity, creating a smooth yet exhilarating rhythm that invites the listener into an immersive experience. On the flip side, 'Pink Monkeys' is a true sonic adventure, blending elements of EBM and sawtooth trance to produce a thrilling, psychedelic atmosphere. The track is a festival-ready anthem, charged with energy and unrestrained sound, allowing Ida to stretch her creative muscles even further. Meanwhile, Marco Resmann delivers two tracks that showcase his deep-rooted versatility. 'RIMA feat. Laatz' is a high-octane techno rollercoasterimenacing, frenetic, and impossible to ignore. Its relentless drive and chaotic energy keep the listener on their toes, offering a new, radical take on techno. Then, 'Dimensions' shifts into a more intricate, electro-driven vibe. Its low-slung groove is filled with subtle details, creating a balanced equilibrium that simultaneously engages both the mind and the body. Resmann's approach is detailed and meticulous, ensuring each sound has a purpose and brings the track to life. Together, these four tracks exemplify a mastery of genre-blending, pushing boundaries while still maintaining an infectious, danceable core that connects with listeners on a deep, visceral level.

Review: It never rains but it pours for fans of Etch at the moment, with not only an extensive long player set to drop on Sneaker Social Club in November 2024, but also this four tracker on that other much loved and consistently wonderful label Ilian Tape. His work is stepped in the textures of jungle, drum & bass, grime, dubstep and bass but rarely enslaved by their limitations. Admittedly, the final of the four tracks here, 'Clockwork Romance', vaguely resembles a late 90s techstep workout, with a hint of junglist roughneck-ness, but the other offerings are very much their own beasts, from the clattering turntablist-constructed beat of 'Jack's Design' to the gnarly, scratchy groove of 'Asami' - imagine Basic Channel and Burial jamming - and the breezy, sunny-sounding opener 'Liz's Track'. Eclectic, individual and bursting with rich flavours.

Review: Nheoma clocks up a quarter of a century of releases here with a potent new techno outing from Exum. The opener is a brilliantly constructed but of loopy techno madness where the while thing seems to be tumbling ever deeper down the rabbit hole. 'Phase Modulation Nexus' ups the ante with skittish broken beats and is wired up with intense synth arps and the dystopian aesthetic carries on through the squealing storm of 'Metasonic' and the driving power of 'Mutation Machines'.

Review: Serious seriality from the OHM Series, an imprint and sole patent owner of the rare, aurally administered chemical known as Omega X. The alphabetic Greek letter ohm determines impedance / resistance in an electrical circuit, and so too do each of the dub techno tracks released on the OHM Series amount to tergiversating transductions, their chillout chord-knocks and hardened beats never quite letting us settle. Though titles like 'Innocence' and 'Downtime' persist here, the tracks perhaps inadvertently prove that flow is impossible without resistance: Separation's track is especially unorthodox in its strange reordering of phaser, pan and saturation effects on the pad-stab, which produces an unusual swirling effect.

Review: Eindhoven underground acidcore distributor and label Flatlife generate yet another mind-melter for the nitty masses, supercolliding tracks by four of the foremost DJs come sound-summoners on the subterranean scene. Flatlife have dispatched rapid-response rave Apaches since 2009, and A-siders 'Septic' and 'Lord Of Darkness' bring a fittingly mid-noughts feel to things, during which time the roughage of hard dance fused with the encroaching gloss and finesse that came with digital sound tech that defined the decade. The mood is horrific, with 'Saure' climaxing to apocalyptic, territorial levels through waspish yamps and kick crushings, while the aggro is not lost on the ensuing 'Out Of Order', somehow the most relaxed of the four.