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: After the success of their last outing, A New Chapter, from this label, Balders Audio offers up a second various artists 12" with some punchy techno for loud sound systems. Audio Units opens up with the thrilling drum programming and intense synth textures of 'Transmodality.' Linear System then keeps up the pace with '0724am' which is a sleek, linear, heady techno roller marbled with eerie little cosmic details. Tangram's 'Variant Trials' shuts down with what is a deep, dark, moody acid-laced techno mind melter. Perfect 5 am tackle if you ask us.
Review: Oh yes, we love it when Theo represses some of his most sought after tracks and this one is particularly well-timed. Leron Carson is still an unknown figure, a kid who used to make viciously raw and futuristic techno tracks in the late 1980's! "China Trax", alongside the rest of his tracks on a different Sound Signature double 12", is totally ahead of its time and if it was truly made in 1987 then it is nothing short of amazing. Of course, it's not just the year it was made in that's interesting but also the fact that it's music without an age, able to be appreciated by any generation of techno freaks. Theo's own "Insane Asylum" on the flipside is also pretty monumental; rigged beats, off-kilter grooves and that familiar spontaneity so heavily associated to the label.
Review: Those with a deep knowledge of electro and techno will be salivating at the prospect of More Than A Machine: Part 1, an EP that boasts cuts from such legends of the scene as Sterac Electronics, The Advent and Christian Smith. All deliver the goods, of course, as does rising star Client 03, whose EP-opening 'Regression Container' brilliantly flips between shimmering, deep space ambient and warming, tactile electro dreaminess. Those looking for more rugged and robust club fare should check Sterac Electronics 'Reinstated', with its' out-there lead lines and machine-gun bass, and the sleazy, up-tempo futurism of the Adveny and Zein Ferreira's 'Seven'. Christian Smith's deep, Kraftwerk-influenced 'Pressure Drop' rounds off a predictably strong EP.
Review: Transmigration return with more brilliantly psychedelic techno sounds which have been carefully dug out from the rich archives of cult UK label Hollistic Recordings. As always, those originals have been remastered and restored and this one features a devastating a-side from Iestyn Polson and Steve Dungey of Projective Vision. Their mind melting and 13 plus minute 'Elevate' is a brilliantly involving mental trip and then on the flip side comes the gurgling and acid laced widescreen prog techno trip of 'Golden Eyed' by Thunderhead aka Polson joining forces with Jason Meherin. Plenty of retro future magic to tap into here.
Review: Drei Vinyl launched back in 2023 and has slowly but surely amassed a respectable catalogue of various artists' releases. This sixth outing is the most straight-up techno offering yet and it opens with one of Spain's finest in Eduardo De La Calle. 'Deva5Vyasa' is heady and otherworld loop techno perfection with synth daubs and conscious vocals peppering the rubbery kicks. DJ Shufflemaster brings more texture to the raw, percussive madness of 'Axiom' and Tensal layers up unsettling and anxious synth murmurs with rising drum tension on 'Thermal Cycler.' Pergo's 'Lume' is a brash, industrial closer full of urgency.
Review: Hard techno is very much back in vogue right now, all across Europe and beyond. Sacred Court taps into that demand with various artists EP that is edgy, raw and effective. It is Dexphase that kicks off with 'Stay True To Yourself' layering up wooden hits, icy hi hats and slamming drums. KOZLOV's 'Darkness' has real dystopian menace to it with the wiry pads that bring unsettling energy to the distorted basslines and hammering drums. Raxeller's 'Corrupted' is hyperderiven with kicks stacked up almost on top of each other as moody trance pads light up the backdrop. Tham's 'Never The Right Time' is a fourth and final highly destructive weapon to keep the rave kids marching.
DJ Shufflemaster & Go Hiyama - "Salasa Geometric" (5:20)
Bartig Move - "Asistencia" (5:12)
Tensal - "Esbar" (6:54)
Aocram - "Dreams In NYC" (6:41)
Review: Mord has put together a bumper collection of 17 searing techno cuts as part of its Herdersmat compilation but is also seeing up four at a time on individual 12"s. There is no messing with Part 41 which opens with DJ Shufflemaster & Go Hiyama's ear-splitting, brain frazzling 'Salasa Geometric'. Bartig Move opts for a much more minimal and roomy sound on the rolling 'Asistencia' then Tensal picks up the pace once more with the rusty loops and broken beats of 'Esbar'. Aocram's 'Dreams In NYC' is a swamp, depraved closer for late night mischief.
Review: Robert Drewek vs Tomie Nevada's 'Time 4 More' EP was originally released on Unleash Records in 2005. Nine years on and Rawax are reissuing it on black wax and the tunes sound as good as ever. 'While He's Away' is a slick blend of garage-infused house drums and warm synth pulses with catchy vocal samples that bring a hint of old school. On the flip is 'Down With the Bass' which flips the script with a stripped back and militant but silky groove, dubby pads and a head's down vibe that really hypnotises.
Review: Illegal Alien continues its 16th anniversary celebrations here with another volume, the fifth, of its limited edition Illegal Alien XVI series. Across all eight volumes once they are out there will be a total of 44 exclusive tracks and 46 great artists all tracing the evolution of techno over the last decade and a half. This edition is a superb one that fins plenty of innovation in techno, from the paranoid and warped synth energy of DJ Shufflemaster's 'Bizarre' to the tightly woven and intricate synth layers of Urban Groove's 'Aftertouch' via Unkle Fon's dry, stepped back techno funker 'Violet.'
Review: Merman is a brand-new label from Spain bringing some searing techno heat. This debut 12" is a fierce four-track with different arts taking care of each aural assault, starting with Elektrabel. 'Sernafet' is a manic mix of loopy snares and pulsing synths, metallic drum sounds and sweeping filters. SPIDJ brings a little more heavyweight techno funk to 'Fuerza Analogica' and Akenaton then gets raw, dark and dirty with the industrial menace of 'Cambio De Actitud.' The Zenobit3 shuts down with some spritely electro-tinged techno on 'Milikis Suffering'.
Review: Nation of Jak offshoot Dirty Blends was established by label chief Melvin Oliphant as a vehicle for "interpretations" and "homages" - in plain-speak hush-hush reworks, tribute tracks and those that sample liberally. The label's latest release is a compilation of sorts, featuring as it does cuts from a trio of artists. The Falcon steps up first with title track 'Sound The Alarm', a raw, jacking, bouncy and positive mind-melding blend of lo-fi synth stabs, sweat-soaked beats, fire alarm noises and restless drum machine fills. Over on side B, Grizzly Knuckles' 'Mad Bell' - a breathless, house tempo techno workout built around a nagging synth-bell loop - is followed by label regular The Jak's 'Aftermath', which sits somewhere between jacking lo-fi techno, UK funky and stab-happy Soca-house.
DJ Polywog - "Frogs In The Fog" (Eternal Injections Spiral Swamp dub) (6:40)
Review: Transmigration marks its fifth release with a focus on overlooked psychedelic dance music from around the world, all of which blends acid, techno and rave. Ghoti's 'Rubble' gets things underway with rolling bass and menacing synth energy. Third Eye then ups the ante with molten acid lines and sleek deep techno drums on 'Ancient Future' which is an apt title. DJ Polywog then takes care of the B-side with 'Frogs In The Fog', a swampy and menacing cut with wispy synths lacerating a deep and dubby groove then Eternal Injections Spiral Swamp dub is even more heady and otherworldly.
Review: Yay Recordings closes out another solid 12 months with a various artists' EP that showcases right where the label is at. Heavy Mental kicks off with 'Dabro', a colourful and loopy house jaunt for sunny days. Twowi's 'Metaverse' takes off to the cosmos on lithe electro rhythms with ice-cold beats and widescreen pads. Parchi Pubblici & Lucretio's 'Aladdin Sane' brings some wonky deep tech vibes with of-balance drums and muffled spoken words and Rinaldo Makaj closes down with a fresh party sound perfect for cosy floors. There's plenty of variety here, which makes this a great addition to your bag.
Indo Tribe - "Bring In The Pulse" (MFK mix) (5:10)
Indo Tribe - "In The Mind Of A Child" (First Born mix) (5:04)
The Future Sound Of London - "Hardhead" (Frothin' At The Mouth mix) (6:06)
The Future Sound Of London - "Pulse State" (831 AM mix) (7:20)
Review: Jumpin' & Pumpin' looks back into the seminal archives of The Future Sound of London here to reissue their fantastic The Pulse EP from 2008 which also featured tunes from Manchester pair Indo Tribe. It is they who start with 'Bring In The Pulse' which features some Happy Mondays hallelujahs, mad rave whistles and bristling electronic breaks. 'In The Mind Of A Child' (First Born mix) is then a bouncy techno cut with more visceral synth and acid lines and The Future Sound Of London kick off the flipside with 'Hardhead' (Frothin' At The Mouth mix) which is an assault of breaks, congas, whistles and rave signifiers. 'Pulse State' (831 AM mix) is that perfect tune to zone out to on a late night drive on the motorway.
Review: Griffe launches its own new split series here with Mama and Torrent kicking things off. Mama goes first with a pair of potent techno cuts. 'Electric Pjack' opens up with some acidic lines spraying about a tightly assembled groove with sliding hi-hats and well-syncopated beats. 'Cyber Pjack' then gets a little darker with a more menacing low end and snappy drums keeping the beats upright. Torrent's two cuts keep the future feels alive with the mechanical grooves and malfunctioning sounds of 'Stay In The Loop' and 'Ex Machina' shuts down with some frazzled synths adding texture to the metallic drum sounds.
Review: Thomas P. Heckmann is back with a new outing under his Metric System moniker. His return to Kontakt brings fresh house depths with opener 'Velo-City' kicking off in urgent fashion with quickened drums and spoiling synths locking you in. 'Traveller' is a dubbed out cut with a fleshy, liquid low end filled with reverb and echoing hits that disappear off to the horizon. Last of all is 'Soul 440' (Vril remix) which ups the pace and brings sleek dub house energy and majestic cosmic synth details. All three of these are nice and cultured cuts.
Review: Italian house lover Fabio Monesi returns to his Wilson label - named and styled after that unforgettable volleyball in Castaway - with a collab EP next to Tom Carruthers. It's rooted in traditional tropes from the 90s and US scenes starting with the kicking, retro flavours of 'Mi Amor' before 'The Bass Theory' brings on, yep, some more heavy bass-driven grooves. Last of all is the more synth-laden 'Killer Fruit' which is a triumph in drum programming that will enliven any crowd.
Review: AcidLab is back with a fourth dose of medicine and this one comes on translucent red vinyl with various different artists behind the beats. Musikaddikt's 'Acid War' is a straight-up techno banger with oversized hi-hats. Tassid & Eski offer up the best named tack of the year with 'Ok You Cunts' which is raved-up hard techno, Acidrats & Skandal get even more wild and unhinged with their barrage of wind-up melodies and hard-edge and flat-footed beats on 'Massive Murder' and last of all comes Crime with 'Knife Blast which is a big distorted wall of white knuckle rave-techno, not for the faint-hearted.
Review: Mental health charity label Serenity keeps it sophisticated with its sixth outing and once again donates all proceeds to charity this time Young Minds. It is underground house mainstay and DiY Discs legend Nail who steps up first with a much more breezy and balmy sound than you would expect but it sure is lush. 'Pad On' slips into his more usual and driving house sound but with swirling pads up top for summery refinement. Trixie, Connor Male & Thoma Bulwer then get deep and late night with their punchy 'Impromptune' while Trixie's solo cut 'restless sculptures' is a jacked-up and percussive number that leans into techno.
Review: Finnish label Vuo kicks off its year with a second instalment in the Ruutana City Mood Series. Once again it brings four vital dubbed out grooves to a lovely green marbled vinyl starting with Ohm & Kvadrant's 'Borsen' which is a smoky, grainy roller with icy drums. Armin Bender's 'All Or Nothing' brings a little extra light and optimism in the airy pads and Tm Shuffle pairs things right back for 'Efficient Answers' which is a gritty basement jam. Gonzalo Villarreal's 'Curanto' shits down with tons of lovely echo and reverb on a raw percussive cut.
Review: Vuo returns with another entry into his ongoing Ruutana City Mood Series, with this one being on eco black wax but a green vinyl version is also available. Ohm & Kvadrant open with a smoky, textured roller driven by icy drums. Armin Bender follows with 'All Or Nothing' which offers a lighter, more optimistic vibe with airy pads. Tm Shuffle strips things back on 'Efficient Answers' to deliver a gritty, minimalist basement groove. Closing the EP, Gonzalo Villarreal presents 'Curanto', a raw, percussive cut bathed in rich echo and reverb for a captivating close.
Review: The third in Exitus Records' lightyear spanning V/A series, we again hear six new, boundary-pushing new ones from six satellite artists of the present day Berlin techno scene. Opening chord cascade 'Figure Eight' by Pink Concrete contrasts sharply to tunnelling techno-body suite 'The Dream Of Motion' by Krow, signalling several more tuff propulsions to come: most notably Sayid K's 'No Lights', a balmy nightscape from the newcomer, where digital zaps initially double up as hi-hats.
Review: If you like it deep and dubby, keep reading. Poro, Nicholas Barnes, Tm Shuffle and Monoder all work to explore exactly those types of sounds on this tenth outing for the Finnish label Vuo. Opener 'Moysiys Strip' is impossible cavernous with its rolling bass and languid chord structures, then 'Tommottos' rolls serenely on frictionless kicks and undulating bass. It's smooth like chocolate and infused with real machine soul. Last but not least, this EP of quite artists and devastating depth comes to a close with 'Limited Value'. Smeared, grainy chords arc like windscreen wipers over deft little percussive details and broad, rolling bass. Head perfecting.
Review: Kulture Galerie is back with more wax and the third time proves a charm here with Doc Sleep, Rambal Cochet, The Jaffa Kid, Mesmerist, Jack Bags and Undsidedly all coming correct under the stewardship of label head Filippo MSM of Metropolitan Soul Museum. Cochet kicks off with some trance-infused prog techno, Doc Sleep offers jacked-up and analogue house, there is lithe cosmic tech from The Jaffa Kid and twisted machine sounds from Jack Bags, while Undsidedly's dreamy electro and The Mesmerist's peak time synth techno close down in style.
Review: Rave Or Die recently minted a new series called Raverbreakerz and now it squeezes out another one just in time for the silly season. Again featuring five electrifying tracks, this one is all about powerful rave, techno, breakbeat, and dark, doomy hard sounds crafted by skilled artists Mental Fear Productions brings some savage synth textures to 'Final Bastion', Tripped builds wall-rattling drum foundations on 'Spank' and Nite Fleit's 'Disillusion' is a writing blend of slamming kicks and tortured leads. Whether you're a seasoned raver or a newcomer, these bangers promise to ignite any set with musical menace.
Review: The correctly titled All Killer No Filler series from the Memphis/Monevideo label is back with a second instalment to back up the fine first outing. This effective various artists release kicks off with Elias Sternin's 'Loop Hole' which is a warm, fleshy techno kicker backed up by Stonem's more lithe and broken beat workout, 'Festichola', which brings some retro 90s synth sounds and plenty of colour. Alfalfa's 'Rising Down' is the flipside opener and is a turbocharged retro-future tech sound with cyborg energy. Last of all is a deeper, slower, heavier sound from Two Phase U with the pensive 'You Are'.
Review: First cropping up in 2012, the mammoth A-Sides series from the titanic Swedish techno label Drumcode charges ahead into its 11th installment (can you believe it?) while also managing to split said installment alone across seven slices of vinyl. This is the fourth record of seven in part eleven. Only gigantic-room techno could justify this waxen audacity; the music is braggadocious to boot, with contributions from Nicolas Taboada, BEC, Avision and Cosmic Boys. The tracks here are as dreamy as they are goosebump-inducing, easily seguing between massive transitions and drops to cathartic reesebound trances.
Review: Following up two volumes in the Sextant various artist EP series, the enigmatic Tachyon makes their full proper EP debut here on Swiss imprint Unruh. 'Fried' is very much an advanced take on the minimal techno sound and will effectively warp minds at the afterhour, followed by the mutant electro textures of 'PCM' (dub). Over on the flip, the icy and spatial 'Traffic' takes its cues as much from 2-step as dub techno, followed by the eerie twilight beats of 'Late Chatter'. Tip!
Review: Talk about keeping things on a knife edge. The first, and title track on this powerhouse EP is pretty much destined to whip any venue into a storm of expectation, not-so-much building but rather opening with this full-sounding, heavily atmospheric, space-y, proggy, could be techno, could be electro, could be trance arrangement. The kind of thing where there might as well be flairs firing into the sky warning you how much stomping a floor can take.
Similar vibes on 'Medusa', only on a deeper, darker, more menacing tip, a tune that sucks ears into another world entirely, one that's a little unsettling, and certainly difficult to find your way back out of. Elsewhere, things embrace a high-NRG ethic, with both 'Plasma' and 'Onda Sotto' taking things up to almost-gabber tempos, but without actually committing to the pounding fours.
Review: Blackmarket is a New York party that has always led from the front and been a rare underground haven for threads. The label reflects that similar mindset and here label boss Taimur and long-time Costa Rican friend Artro link up for a four-track techno trip. 'Know Your Friends (Vox)' is a percussive workout with sinewy synths reaching into the cosmos. There is more low-end heft to 'Machina' which is weighty and dubby. A second version of 'Know Your Friends' is surging and metallic and last of all 'Elements' brings a touch of high-speed funk to a techno framework.
Review: Rotterdam techno label TH Tar Hallow is all about providing peak-time techno nourishment. Next to cook up the goods is Augusto Taito who kicks off with the caustic intensity of 'Kanji' which has unsettling bleeps and big rusty drum loops. 'Paradox Of Choice' captures, in techno form, the unresolved anxiety of being lost with infinite options on your Netflix home page then 'O1.2' is a more wispy and roomy blend of dubby low ends and intricate sound designs that trigger your synapses. It's all heavy drums and unrelenting synth loops on closer 'A Sip Of Blood '.
Review: Taken, in case you didn't know, is the duo of former Skudge man Elias Landberg and Nihad Tule. This latest slab of techno follows their previous work in that it is functional but stylish. The drums are analogue, muscular, and perfect to hook on to, and the synths and hi-hats that peel off a rusty, glitchy and slight, but make enough of an impact to cut through. 'Hybrid' is a sleek opener, 'Drumcode' is more dubby and raw and 'Ice Truck' has a more mysterious sense of intergalactic exploration thanks to the sonar-like synths. 'Standard Truck' shuts down with mind-melting and warped synth lines all twisted around one another.
Review: You'll struggle to find any deeper or more alluring tracks in Norm Talley's catalogue than 'Powder', the wonderfully hypnotic, locked in and subtly spacey opener from the Motor City producer's 2011 EP on Mixmode, Tracks From The Asylum. It's a good thing, then, that Talley has decided to reissue the sought-after EP on his own label. The Detroiter doesn't put a foot wrong throughout, with the chugging, beatdown-inspired brilliance of 'Lost', which boasts some sublime piano solos, and the up-beat hustle of 'Private Party' being equally as essential as 'Powder'. Speaking of that track, Delano Smith's 'More Powder' version is also worth a listen, featuring as it does slightly bolder synth riffs and a tougher, techno-influenced groove.
Review: Anonymous label Tartan kicks off with two tracks that should pique the interest of anyone who seeks out unusual swerves to spice up their DJ sets. On the A side, 'Took My Heart Away' fuses uncanny sounds from rolling thunder to South Asian vocals, strapped to a brooding beat that should be compatible with the chugging crowd. On the flip, 'Sun' nudges up the tempo a touch and spaces things out considerably, creating a swirling deepest techno mood which might well herald the odd sunrise given half a chance.
Review: Riviera's early momentum continues here with a punchy four-tracker from six on-point artists. Lewis Taylor kicks off with 'Non Stop' which is a straight up and funky peak time then pumper with bright chords and plenty of fun in the atmosphere, Cult keeps the energy high with 'Total Kill' and X Coast & DJ RaDa then offer the acid-laced and turbocharged bass stomps of 'Come Together.' LIL NASSTY then flips the script with some sleazy trap beats with menacing bars and futuristic synth patterns on 'Get It Up So' and DJ Pacifier shuts down with some high-speed ghetto-tech in the form of the relentless 'Fried Again.'
Review: Not content with his role as musical director at Frankfurt institution Live At Robert Johnson, Oliver Hafenbauer unveils his new personal label shaped endeavour Die Orakel with a killer 12" from a familiar friend. TCB is the latest production alias of Live At Robert Johnson fixture Christian BeiBwenger and a man who's studio work with Hafenbauer as B.H.F.V. ranks amongst our favourite releases in the LARJ canon. Essentially an acronymic take on The Citizen Band, BeiBwenger's most recent creative concern, TCB aligns snugly with the warm, rich Frankfurt sound on both "Monogamie" and the delightful "Unchained". The latter track is remixed in suitably smudged and lopsided fashion by Leipzig pair Kassem Mosse and Mix Mup, as MM/KM. A great 12" now how about some more B.H.F.V. Oliver?
Review: Shut Off Notice welcomes Teakup - a local Columbus, Ohio DJ and producer born Lauri Reponen and known for his stylish techno - for a second outing on the label. 'Forest Bed Moss' kicks off with dusty mid-tempo breaks and deep basslines full of soul, while 'Mhm' is a mechanical groove with dubby undertones and nice chopped vocals. 'Rain Groove Revisit' is a deep, percolating and stumbling rhythm with a smattering of percussion and bubbly feel infused with cooing female vocals. Finally, Teakup remixes Rew's 'Fragile Abundance' into a deft and lithe minimal dub for the small hours. Sophisticated stuff once more from Teakup.
Review: Columbus, Ohio DJ, producer and scene instigator Teakup aka Lauri Reponen is back with another EP that follows in the footsteps of local forefathers such as Titonton Duvante, Archetype and Todd Sines. His music blends perfectly the sounds of UKG, breaks, minimal and techno both past and present. 'Signal 23' is a quick-stepping dub tech cut with clipped and funky drum programming while 'Valve' is more rhythmically loose and playful in its elastic approach. 'Felopzd' has tightly wound melodic motifs and clattering percussion over a glitchy but swinging beat and 'Pad Thai Mystic' (feat Foi Oi Oi) closes out with some tense late-night minimalism.
Review: The word Teakup conjures up a most polite British image of sipping on a warm brew from one's finest china. There is nothing quite so charming about this third EP from the label of that name, however: it is deep and dubby techno to start with as 'Pillar of Light' layers up elastic bass and tightly stacked rums into a high-pressure wedge of body music. 'Interpreter' is a little more busy and frantic with more kinetic drums and squelchy synths while 'Plasma' also locks you in and closer 'Various Round Shapes' is another perfect reduced dub techno concoction with glitchy hits and deft pads all some flair. A tasty EP indeed.
Review: Vodkast Records continues to put a focus on Georgian musicians here with a new EP composed and performed by Tedi, while Zesknel also offers up three remixes. These are experimental sounds from the word go: 'Peru' is all fizzing textures and live jazz drums with moody spoken words, 'Upper Manuality' is a raw techno stomper with a sense of dystopian menace and 'Saturn' is a lithe, dubby and deep space techno interlude. 'Detunator' brings curious, clean synth modulations and shuffling rhythms. The remixes all bring dark energy and otherworldly motifs.
Review: Planet Trip returns with its twelfth release which is by Tempo Temple aka label staples Caravan & Lord Safari, with a heavy 12' of elevated machine jams and dancefloor ready heaters. It begins with the celestial acid of 'Spell' followed by the deep and tunnelling chugger 'Enter The Temple' (Outstanding Invoice mix). On the flip, venture deep into the exotic on 'Days Of Chandra', be further entranced on 'Nights Of Chandra' before the break of dawn that sets the stage for some sunrise breaks on the Transit State remix of the A1 track.
Review: Rhythmic innovator Reza Terenzi returns with a bold EP that again invites us into her signature genre-bending sound which ranges from ethereal to gritty. As such, this one offers something for every moment-whether it's for deep dancefloor energy or reflective stargazing. Recorded between Berlin and Perth, mythical adrenaline and personal introspection all colour the sounds with unpredictable twists and dynamic shifts along the way. 'Ministry Of Wish' is a spangled sound with lithe synths and fluid rhythms, 'Sweatbox' is a twisted club cut, 'Magnetize Me Baby' is more roomy and percolating and 'Endurance' is futurist minimal.
Review: Terrace is a guise of Stefan Robbers and there is a sombre sense of end of the world finality to this new EP on Cyphon. 'Territorial' is a dubby electro cut that seems to want to fight for its right to party, while 'Thermon' has a nagging bassline and bittersweet chords that suggest the end is near and resistance is futile. 'Woodward' picks up the pace with some swinging drum funk and muted acid lines that all come with a healthy dose of futurism and 'Ritual' is the most prickly and kinetic rhythm of the lot. A classy EP full of cinematic musical adventures.
Review: Some urgent, foreboding and breathlessly energetic techno here, as Greek producer Thanos Hana makes his first appearance on DJ Maarten Lammers' Pleistoscene Future imprint. There's a lot of swagger to be found on opener 'Het Hoog', where creepy loops and mind-mangling electronics rise above a fiendishly weighty techno groove, while 'Ton Zelf' is a more bass-heavy affair in which nagging melodic motifs strut atop a slamming techno groove. Over on side B, Hana wraps raw and nasty electronic motifs around a jacking techno groove ('Version Seven'), before dousing densely layered beats and bass in trippy textures and hypnotic loops on 'The Drums'.
Review: Dan Piu and Grant's Theory of Movement project has served up gold for lovers of heady tech and minimal. After something of a hiatus, it is now back on When The Morning Comes with more of the sort of tuneage that is going to quickly sell out and soon become the ID request du jour at your favourite underground parties. These are of course sophisticated sounds from the silky house bumps of 'Now & Then' with its seductive vocal allure to the throwback 90s sounds of 'Over Time' (Acid Mix). 'Basis' (Foundation mix) is another immediately classic house sound with analogue and dusty drums and zippy melodies next to more smooth chords. 'Motion Of Objects' shuts down with a more zoned-out vibe and widescreen melodic architecture for late nights.
Review: As well as a nice yellow pressing of this new EP from veteran producer Matt Thibideau, Kontakt is serving it up on good old-fashioned black wax. He has over 30 years of experience and his latest dub techno outing, Subduction & Shadows, is up there with the best of them. The first side features 'Subduction,' a vibrant track with uptempo dub techno beats perfect for the dancefloor while 'Glow' on the flip enchants with Detroit-inspired '90s chords and refined production enhanced by epic strings for a hypnotic touch. The EP closes with 'Shadow,' a deep, driving dub techno piece that wraps up with a smooth melody that means this artist continues to impress with his innovative sound.
Review: Pretty much all Drumcode releases are colossal and anthem-like - it's the imprint's niche, after all - but this two-tracker from Stockholm stalwart Tiger Stripes is particularly sizeable. A-side 'Nocturne', for example, is as driving, mind-altering and breathless as they come, with Hardfloor style acid motifs, twinkling piano breakdowns, trancey riffs and enveloping aural textures rising above a blisteringly tough and intense beat. The pulsating tech-trance vibe is further explored on 'Renegade', a track whose elongated, slowly rising breakdown - which comes complete with glassy-eyed vocal samples, does a brilliant job in stirring the senses and raising the pressure out on the dancefloor.
Review: Joachim Wilhelm and Ulrich Wilhelm recorded as a variety of aliases in the early 90s, from Deep Thought and Intact through to Time Modem. Their sound was typical of the Central European vibe, with a pronounced Belgian new beat slant to the music in those dark but playful synth lines and arch film samples. Originally released on BOY in 1990, The Time Of The Gathering is everything you want from a release in this era, teasing a kind of proto trance vibe without any of the fluff, just trippy synth lines and an unrelenting, throbbing pulse. It's all about the Highlander-sampling title track, but every tune on this much-needed reissue is gold, sounding beautifully buffed up for 21st Century mixing.
Review: The Vuo label comes correct with another heavyweight vinyl 12" that features a trio of techno talents. Ohm & Kvadrant join forces first up for the mighty 'Under Krystallen' which is a brilliantly textured and enthralling dub techno cut with brilliantly loopy bass swinging down low and rattling chords melting off to an infinite horizon. On the flip is Trackmaster Shuffle with 'Under Strobe' which is a more amped-up and techno-leaning cut with pent-up energy and darker bass rumbles. Two tasteful and timeless cuts for heady crowds only
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