CHONTANE 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Dutch label Illegal Alien is rightly celebrating its last 16 years in existence. It's doing so with a bumper collection of 44 exclusive tracks from 46 of its best artists across an eight-volume vinyl and digital series. The series not only traces the label's evolution, but that of techno itself and this sixth outing once again offers no-nonsense, heady and atmospheric techno that is both physical and inventive. Legendary names old and new like Fixon, The Advent, Cari Lekebusch & Orion and Mari Mattham & Jessse all contribute a range of essential dancefloor weapons.

Review: Chontane is the alias for Ukranian producer and DJ David Natochen, who operates these days from Berlin and has steadily built up a formidable presence releasing on labels like THEM, REKIDS and Arts. Now he's arrived on Mutual Rytm with some slamming peak time gear loaded with his distinctive sound design instinct. 'Graze' is a raucous, swinging slice of industrial intensity, while 'Cumaru' brings the loopy techno fireworks to the buoyant uptempo scene. 'Schima' and 'Lauan' are just as explosive, piling on slabs of percussive noise and toying with atmospherics in between the unrelenting beats.

Review: From THEM to REKIDS and now on Arts, Berlin-based Ukrainian producer Chontane has covered a lot of ground in the few years he's been releasing music, arriving at a hi-octane sound that doesn't sacrifice depth and atmosphere in the process. 'Tiama' is a fierce and energised juggernaut bolstered with thick waves of dub tech chords that swirl and surge like a volatile storm cloud about to burst. 'Moellex' creates a similar mood with a different set of tools, using less conventional percussive elements and getting knottier in the groove. There's also bomb-blast garage-techno devastation on 'Apeth' - the kind of heavy-duty gear you could picture Objekt having some fun with.

Review: Once again, Malor Records purvey the groove with, yes, 'Purveyors Of The Groove', enlisting the help of four of the foremost techno artists out today for help on this latest 12" EP comp. Weighty Berlin techno makes up its core concept, with Cravo's 'Sem Chance' opening up the thing with its sudden vocal shouts, huge kick womps and cantankerous melodic bubblings, before Chontane's 'Septario' and Regent's 'Satin' elevate the listener to a continually wafting stasis. Finally, Vil's 'Bret' closes things off with an intense kick-led wompy-chord-sidechainer, seeming to emphasise the madness of it all.