Back catalogue: Techno (All)

Review: Some six years after debuting via a deliciously angular and energetic EP from Jaquarius and Mono-Enzyme 307, the Acid Avengers imprint notches up release number 20. Like most of the label's EPs, it's a multi-artist affair. Sometime Balkan Vinyl and Bass Assault artist Acidulant handles side A, bouncing between rushing, piano-sporting 1992 hardcore revivalism ('Super Rave'), sub-heavy deep electro haziness ('Save The Last Rave') and throbbing, arpeggio driven trance/breakbeat techno fusion ('Hauz Trax'). Voiron, who last graced the label back in 2016, takes over on the flip. The Paris-based producer first fuses glistening, spacey melodies, twisted acid lines, post-electro beats and dirty bass on 'Bon Kick Voiron', before opting for deep acid house on 'Digital Voiron Workstation' and atmospheric, Orbital-meets-'90s tech-house on 'Sugar Voiron'.

Review: Statica's debut release, 'M2-9: Wings of a Butterfly', showcases the label's dedication to serving up diverse techno sounds. This split EP, STATICA001, opens with two intense and dancefloor-ready bangers by the prolific Central Intelligence on the A-side, and both are packed with visceral drum energy and synth unpredictability. The B0side features Madrid-based Victor Reyes, who delivers two reflective but also emotionally charged 4/4 workouts that create a compelling contrast that embodies Statica's "Forces in Equilibrium" ethos. Inspired by the unique butterfly-shaped nebula Minkowski 2-9, this release is a fresh and impactful fusion of power and sensitivity.

Review: Jersey City-based Jorge Velez has long been one of the US underground's most revered figures to those in the know. Largely predating the current fascination with lo-fi analogue productions, something shown on the excellent MMT Tape Series compilation which delved into his early archives, his work as Professor Genuis on Italians Do It Better and Thisisnotanexit was followed by the conceptual Hassan LP on L.I.E.S. which provided a soundtrack to an imaginary film based on a shadowy Middle Eastern cult formed in the 11th century. Here Velez return to Ron Morelli's stable with Territories, a six-track LP that passes through "menacing drones to EBM influenced floor tracks to Sakamoto-esque melodic experiments," with a "distinct atmosphere suitable for home listening or adventurous club play." Even for those who are familiar with the odd structures Velez creates with his hardware, this is a wild trip worthy of much closer inspection.

Review: Versalife is one of the many aliases of prolific Dutch producer Versalife. It is where he explores electro in meticulous detail and this new Technofeudalism 12" is as good as it gets. 'Cataclysm' kicks off with a deft and broken beat rhythm, celestial chords and eerie little melodic details that keep you on your toes. 'Intrusion' is darker and more direct with a menacing bassline. 'Syndicate War' ups the ante once more with more energetic rhythms and jagged synths flashing across the face of the tune while 'Axon Terminal' is a moody closer with bittersweet melancholic in the pads.

Review: It's double digits for We're Going Deep who serve up a 10th bit of cub-ready weaponry here. This latest techno offering is a various artists affair with cultured Dutchman Versalife opening up with 'Skirmish 101', a booming bit of electro with the fattest synth lines you can imagine, and plenty of reverb. Acid Pimp's 'Acid Baby' is a wild and wonky 303 workout and Jamie Anderson & Owain K then combine for something much more soporific. 'Basement Dub' is as deep as you like. Konerytmi's 'Aamunkoitto' shuts down with some sleek, supple acid for mind, body and soul.

Review: Wherein Dutchman Vincent lays down a heartfelt study of the soul entitled 'Pre Melancholy'. His findings are as follows... Before the melancholy one can expect a wave of emotions and pressures, all of them ingredients for a tumultuous storm that flies in a whole flurry of directions. Technoid drum & bass causing anxiety with every rolling fill ('Mono No Aware'), timeless breaks triggering moments of unsolicited joy ('Agent Of Distraction') and spacious leftfield that's so disarming and abyssal that it comes in two forms ('Yonghegong Lama Temple Exit F'). Embrace the melancholy.

Review: A fresh perspective on classic 80s electronic sounds across this eight-track collection that moulds house, techno and early rave influences into a dynamic, rhythm-driven experience. Kicking off with 'Lightweave', the groove immediately pulls from disco's infectious energy, layering dramatic organ melodies over a crisp, propulsive beat. The journey continues with 'Cubic Pathways', where deep, stomping new beat rhythms meet spacey, evocative melodies reminiscent of the late '80s transitioning into the early '90s. Normally , a producer tied to the sound of Detroit techno for the past 15 years, Johannes Volk shifts his focus to many kids of retro influences from around the world on this album. 'Sense Of Wonder' injects an Italo house spirit with electro elements, striking a perfect balance between nostalgia and futuristic sound design. Meanwhile, 'Exposure' leans into minimal yet incredibly catchy hooks, channeling the mechanical precision of Kraftwerk while maintaining a forward momentum fit for modern sets. The collection's closing moment, 'Zero Zero, taps into the raw energy of early UK rave and new beat, drawing comparisons to the bleep-driven textures of acts like LFO. Throughout, vintage textures and deep-rooted influences are seamlessly woven together, with results that feel both reverent and fresh.

Review: With roots in electro, hip-hop, house and techno, you can never quite be sure what Orlando Voorn will serve up next. On this top-notch ten-inch single - his first for NOUN - he's in full on techno mode, puffing out his chest and striding confidently towards peak-time dancefloors. The legendary Dutch producer first offers up 'Infinite Voyage', a slamming, warehouse-ready workout that wraps buzzing, mutant electronic lead lines and star-fall around stomping beats and booming bass. On 'Straight UP' he opts for darker, bolder, stabbing bass, alien-sounding bleeps, jazzy synth stabs, heady aural textures and another tough-as-teak drum track.

Review: In the post-minimal years, and after the deep house revival, dark techno and electro became the most fertile ground for new producers. Hamburg-born Helena Hauff was one of those who brought through such sounds and she has since become a global tastemaker who has perfected the art of dark and hard-hitting soundscapes. She shows that off once more here with her selections for the mighty Fabric presents series. It is raw, fierce and rough yet seamlessly moves through breakbeat, electro and the still magical charms of Autechre's remix of D-Breeze's 'Crazy For Love' from 1999 which closes the mix in style.

Review: Always hot on the steel-hard plates and murky subterranean atmospheres, Public System turns in a haunted double package from the crypt. Spanning hi-octane indus bullets, half-baked mutant salvos and shadow-clad juicers from a host of reputed names and rabid underdogs, this new comp collates ruff’n’tuff joints from gritty techno don Container, genre-unbound explorer E-Saggila, Berlin’s electro arsonist Privacy, acid-spitting hydra DJ Loser x Penelopes Fiance, basement guerillero Yabboq Penuel alias Le Syndicat Electronique, neo-punk beat thrasher Crave, Yves Tumor collaborator and sine-wave crusher Anthem, expert circuit dissector Beau Wanzer, Liquid G as remixed by Mick Wills, Night Gaunt’s Lower Tar, occult machine funk preacher Maenad Veyl, DJ Chupacabras under new guise 110, soundwaves cross-pollinator DJ Richard, vibrant mood-scapist Gavilán Rayna Russom, as well as label boss Myn going ubiquitous with studio fellows Kluentah as Myntha, and R Gamble as Fade Accompli. A much desirable feast of raw, unhinged, all-round spine-tingling jams for the club and not.

Review: Parisian imprint Antinote has long been an eclectic outlet for left-of-centre dance music and carved out a musical lane truly of its own. It celebrates its 10 year anniversary with this well curated compilation featuring new music by the label's graphic designer Nico Motte on the low slung acid boogie of 'All The Money In The World', Domenique Dumount appears with the dubby underground pop of 'La Dolce Vita', local producer Low Jack pursuing his typically relentless sound on the off-kilter 'Feel' and sometime collaborator (and LIES Records chief) Ron Morelli getting those classic Detroit vibes of old in effect on 'Tribute' among many more.

Review: Outcast Planet's with outing is a serious collection of techno heat from a selection of artists each with their own sound. Bakked kicks off with the stomping, teeth grinding machine energy of 'Dentro Il Sistema' then Munir Nadir's 'Push It' takes things even more intergalactic with searching synths and futuristic grooves. Elsewhere Cristian Sarde offers chunky industrial tech with 'Technology Flot', Emanuele Montalto's 'The Electric Transformation' brings a bit of taught techno bounce and Paul Lution's 'More Than 80%' layers up vocoder vocals with retro 80s synth sounds and slap-funk drums. This is a varied collection of fresh sounds that will wrk in a wide range of settings.

Review: Kompakt's Total 24 compilation is the nest episode in the label's amazing series. This cd version opens with Hamburg's Ada remixing Heiko Voss, followed by Jurgen Paape's vibrant 'Chee-Caruso.' Newcomer Deer Jade delivers the frolicsome house track 'Jukurpa,' while Jonathan Kaspar's 'Are You' captures the euphoria of his DJ sets. Hardt Antoine impresses with his dynamic style, and Sascha Funke pays homage to German showbiz with 'The Heck.' Tee Mango joins with his unique sound, and Joyce Muniz teams up with Sara Blum for the uplifting 'Beats & Lines.' Gui Boratto collaborates with Darren Emerson on the captivating 'The Shell,' and Rex The Dog offers the heartfelt 'Laika.' Raxon's 'Beskar' showcases his Star Wars inspiration, and David Hasert and Nicone's 'Wasting My Time With You' is a highlight. Reinhard Voigt's quirky 'Der, der mit dem Gummiball sang (Orange)' features various animals, while Argia's 'Love Keeps You Running' blends groove and pop. Wassermann's track concludes the compilation with a touch of Arabian Nights magic. Total 24 is a diverse and engaging collection that exemplifies Kompakt's ability to curate exceptional electronic music.

Review: When it comes to crafting melodious, emotion-stirring music, few producers are quite as capable as Samuel van Dijk AKA VC-118A. His latest album, "Inside" - his third in total and first for Delsin - offers further proof of his mastery of the craft. The set's genius lies in van Dijk's ability to flit between dark and light, joy and pain. So while some tracks are warm, fuzzy and far-sighted in the classically futurist vibe of the best Motor City electro, many others feel poignant and melancholic. It's a deep and colourful blend that guarantees an emotive ride from straight to finish. Check, for example, the yearning sadness at the heart of "Time Variant", the atmospheric ambience of "Integrated Circuits", the stripped-back and spaced-out brilliance of "Inside" and the swelling dancefloor hustle of "Dither".

Review: Moxie is a fitting title for the latest offering by Volruptus, here delivering a stunning mini-LP of alien electro on Herrensauna. Extra processing on the Reeses, added melodies on the arps, unusual choices of snare - we really are spoiled for choice on this snippy and ice-cold album. It's a neat exercise in storytelling from the Egyptian producer, who summons simple excitement from minimal, shrill combinations of parts.