Review: The man behind legendary London underground techno bash Lost, Steve Bicknell is back on KR3 with a nine-track LP that helps mark the label's fifth anniversary. Bicknell delivers seven of his raw signature sounds here and they combine the physical drive of techno with plenty of heady and atmospheric pads, all of which are frazzled, dusty and imperfect across four sides of wax. The first three are all intense and unrelenting deep techno odysseys with shadowy corners and unsettling sounds that bring a menacing presence. Side D shifts the tone with a 15-minute ambient piece that is tribal, luminous and meditative with cosmic signifiers and deep space energy, all keeping your mind locked in the moment.
Spectrums Data Forces - "Darkness In My Head" (6:04)
EC13 - "Profundo" (Interludio) (0:49)
Wicked Wes - "X1000" (feat Space Frogs From Saturn) (5:48)
Review: Granada's Cosmic Tribe know the definition of "electro" in its broadest sense; their new Xtrictly Electro comp keeps the dystopian sound endemic to the genre's most present incarnation, but refuses to restrict itself to one tempo: the standard 130-ish that has sadly infected the otherwise genius genre as a necessity. An international splinter cell of spec-ops and mercenaries are recalled from retirement here, as we hear Calagad 13, Nachtwald, EC13 and many more mechanoid ilk lay down all manner of slick utilities, making up a morbid multi-tool. 5zyl brings further lasery Lithuanian steeze on 'Vilnius Bass', whilst Spectrums Data Forces betrays the existence of a sinister corporate entity, whose business model works towards the object of instilling 'Darkness In My Head' through giant, killer mozzy basses.
Review: French label Cairo Xpress debuts with a first-ever vinyl outing and a fine one it is too, with six stylish house outings from an array of fresh talents. Wilt's 'Beoyon' has lovely gloppy drums and bass looping under harmonic chords - it's simple but effective. Hermit gets more full-bodied with his textured 'Who Dunnit' and DOTT strips it back to bumping drum track workouts on 'Twitching Softly.' There is more irresistible bounce to Lucho's 'Mesh', Artphorm layers in some old school pianos to 'Daown' and HATT D shuts down with maybe the best of the lot, 'Contrasts In Life,' which is a broken beat, analogue sound with celestial energy.
Review: Dan Curtin has been serving up genuinely far-sighted techno productions since 1992. While he's nowhere near as high-profile as he once was, Curtin is still capable of delivering dancefloor magic - as The 4 Lights, his first album in 15 years, emphatically proves. Those familiar with Curtin's spacey, futuristic and frequently funky take on techno and electro will know what to expect: think infectious, classic-sounding Motor City rhythms overlaid with funky basslines, warming chords, intergalactic-sounding lead lines and a healthy dose of electronic futurism. Curtin predictably hits the spot throughout, with highlights including future techno anthem 'What of Lazarus', the melodic and jazzy headiness of 'Trust Blind' and the sub-heavy downtempo shuffle of 'Transformations'. If that's not enough to seal the deal, this limited-edition version comes pressed to striking clear and black marbled vinyl.
Review: Astonishingly, 33 years has now passed since Cleveland native Dan Curtin made his bow via Detroit imprint 33rpm Records. More significantly, it's been 15 years since the storied techno and house scene stalwart last released an album - making this surprise excursion for Belgian imprint De:tuned a genuinely big deal. Those familiar with Curtin's spacey, far-sighted and frequently funky take on techno will know what to expect: think infectious, classic-sounding Motor City techno rhythms overlaid with funky basslines, warming chords, intergalactic-sounding lead lines and a healthy dose of electronic futurism. The myriad of highlights on show includes the densely layered tech-funk of 'Moral Imagination', the future purist techno anthem 'What of Lazarus', the melodic and jazzy headiness of 'Trust Blind' and the sub-heavy downtempo shuffle of 'Transformations'.
Review: Dookuzot is the entrancing debut from Floid & W92 aka Woody92, and it's released on their own Omen Wapta imprint. Across eight tracks, they craft a labyrinthine soundscape full of shadowy textures, tribal rhythms and eerie, dissonant tones that feels both ancient and futuristic-an ambient-techno blend that channels family history into sonic myth-making. Standout 'Maushe' hints at dancefloor tension, while 'Veriyou' is seriously deep and heady as part of what is a haunting, high-definition journey through imagined realms and moody post-human worlds.
Review: French techno DJ and producer Klint properly branched into the vinyl game after a series of digitals released before 2022, and now in 2025 he keeps the wax drip feed pumping with 'The K9 Doggo', in titular reference to the classic canine Doctor Who companion (who, as ardent fans of the fictional time lord will remember, had a laser gun in lieu of an organic snout). 'K9', 'Doggo', 'Cowboy' and 'The Mess' each wag a mechaniacal tail, the A-side ribbing us with its various organ-fidget stabs, and the B minimising the palette to reveal the genius simplicity of this robot dog's microprocessor. Another knockout from the prolific artist.
Review: Brenda's debut for Rupture LDN is a love letter to the dancefloor in all its phases, from early anticipation to late-night transcendence. Hailing from the UK and embedded in the country's long rave lineage, she draws on 4x4 jungle techno, deep d&b and spoken word to map out a personal and emotional arc. 'Come Undone' captures the energy of the night in full swingirushing breaks, euphoric pressure, the kind of track that commands the room. Elsewhere, 'Benda Brenda' and 'Total Danger' are raw-edged and jungle-rooted, while 'Rolling With Fabio' is deeper and more rolling. It all closes on 'A Deep Shade of Rave (Outro)', a poem dedicated to her long-running Ferry to the Underworld sessions at Corsica Studios. Spiritually full, physically rinsedithis EP nails what it means to live for the rave.
Review: Neil E and Big City Bill's latest doubles as the second offering from Spincycle, yet another a split 7" single on 180g vinyl. The twins' journey began two decades ago high up in an unnamed mountain range, where they met, after which they descended onto the city in search of purpose. Thus spake Zarathustra: down below, they toiled away in dimly lit garages, decoding mysterious symbols cast on walls by home-gaffed fluorescent lights. At first, their work seemed like madness, but there comes a time in every madman's life when toil leads to breakthrough. Thus were sowed the two fine harvests you hear here: 'Dry Rub', with its tugging taut sound design, and 'The BBV', a mistier firmament of altitudinal unknowns. No need to map out the terrain first - just give in to your ears.
Review: Owen Ni invites us on a sonic exploration with this ten-track release, a journey through the realms of ambient electronica and deep listening techno music. 'Beyond Flyhigh' sets the tone, its expansive soundscapes and hypnotic rhythms drawing the listener into a world of introspection and wonder. The Raytek remix injects a pulsating energy, transforming the original into a dancefloor-ready odyssey. Elsewhere, tracks like 'Mover' and 'Arqs2600' delve deeper into hypnotic textures and intricate sound design, creating a sonic experience that's both arrestting and thought-provoking. 'We Are Here' and 'S7lverbox' offer moments of quiet contemplation, their delicate melodies and atmospheric soundscapes inviting a sense of peace and reflection. The release closes with 'Epilog', a fitting conclusion to this immersive journey through sound and emotion, leaving the listener with a lingering sense of wonder and possibility.
Review: US-born, Germany-based Oshana's solo debut on Altered Circuits is a notable one for peak time party people with high-impact jams that also bring plenty of subtle detail. The tunes are rooted in the vibe of her live sets and fuse classic and contemporary club sounds with razor-sharp studio precision. From the tense, acid-laced drive of 'Above We Soar' to the cavernous, Chicago-flavoured bounce of 'Space And Time Dimensions,' Oshana balances groove with atmosphere perfectly. 'Girls In The Front' is another gem and hypnotic, bass-heavy workout with anthem potential, while closer 'Origins' explores trance-tinged territory before diving back into genre ambiguity. It's a refined, energetic statement from an artist in her element.
Review: London underground night train riders Deadbeat Records prioritise techno-breaks handmade for late night and early morning dancefloors, times when both the best and worst comes emerges from each of us. Their inaugural Deadbeat Breaks compilation hears six out of ten full digital curations brought to a shadowy, space-invaded black vinyl truncation, with modern talking synth vomits from Olly Rant, booty bass hups from Hunter Starkings, hackney parroting hurtles from Rnbws, and a closing breakstep broil from Hooverian Blur.
Review: Rick 8 is the techno alias of Italy's Riccardo Falsini, and here he revives the pioneering spirit of his iconic Interactive Test label with this early gem, which offers an essential slice of trance, techno and progressive house history. Known for reshaping genre boundaries, the label was a beacon of innovation, as this EP shows. Each track is a potent club tool, designed for transcendental dancefloor moments and sonic ascension from the chunky tribalism of 'Hypernotes Velocity' to the standout remix of 'C'Mon' by Sound Metaphors affiliate Trent, who injects progressive firepower. 'Born To Sinthetize' is a deeper, spiritual sound with flashy synth work married to loose drum loops.
Spectrums Data Forces - "Form 900" (Umwelt remix) (5:32)
C-System - "Mind Restore" (5:48)
7H3F4M1LY - "7053M4R14" (6:20)
Review: "Emergency protocol activated. Evacuate your homes and immediately go to the bunker for your safety. The invasion has begun!" Spectrum Data Forces makes a blistering return to New Flesh, fifteen years after first touching down on the label with Exodus and Reencarnacion. 'Trinity' hears Jose Maria Moreno Vega reshuffle his arsenal, securing salted-earth electro and mecha-funk fallows across four tracks and one remix. 'form900' launches the A in full arpeggiated mode, its high-velocity synth lines and crunching drums lensed through SDF's retrofuturist sound-and-vision. Umwelt tears into the remix with typical ferocity, twerking analogue gnarls into a thumping, break-laced payload. On the flip, Moreno dons his C-System alias for 'Mind Restore', a pummelling techno cut streaked with eerie pads and flecks of IDM. '7H3 F4M1LY', finally, under the 7053M4R14 moniker, hears the whole crew round things off in wiry, off-grid style.
Review: New York City's underground stalwart Sweater On Polo returns with the debut release on Signal Route. His Mechanical Confusion EP draws inspiration from early 90s Chicago techno and basement house so it echoes the gritty, raw style of labels that dealt in that sort of stuff, like Dance Mania and Relief Records. Across the six cuts there is an intergenerational dialogue between past and present with acid house, techno and synth punk all capturing a familiar old-school angst and texture but with a fresh twist. 'Land of Code' is one of our favourites with its rising percussive tension, deeply buried bass pulse and dusty analogue drums.
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