Juno Recommends Techno: April 2022

Review: It's over 25 years since Baby Ford decamped to the studio with, alternately, Mark Broom and the late Ian 'Eon' Loveday to re-examine the depths and possibilities of collaborative underground techno. The result, as we now know, was a giant step forward into a new sound, with a new label, Ifach, that would go on to define the blueprint for a more minimal sound it would take others a decade emulate. Monolense, four bittersweet, emotional, stripped bare explorations of techno has long been sought-after, commanding high prices on the secondhand market, and is finally getting a re-release. This is not just a moment in time, but a bookmark in UK techno history.

Review: WHITE VINYL REPRESS: Gary Martin is well known for his unique productions and his label Teknotika is surely a classic coming out of the famous motor city. This special 10" holds two sought after tracks that were found on a lost DAT tape by Yossi Amoyal and Gary Martin himself. On the A side we have a long time secret weapon, it's a hypnotic groove that was heard on many classic sets, Zip and Ben Klock to name a few. An extremely insane, hard to find Gigi Galaxy track that was changing hands for silly prices is on the B side, for those who know... massive release!

Review: Dutch dub house engineer Roger Gerressen released his superb Monoaware EP four years ago, and as part of Sushitech's 15 year celebrations it receives a much needed repress. The Irenic chief's distinct brand of hazy and hypnotic house of the understated kind is prevalent throughout the EP's six sublime tracks, all dialed into generous amounts of delay and long trails of reverb that add to its overall foggy aesthetic. The second track is definitely the more upbeat option to move the dancefloor with its funky and polyrhythmic groove, while the after hours option is undoubtedly the fourth track - a back room dub which gets deep enough to keep the heads down.

Review: Lempuyang's third offering is an outstanding split release between Steve O'Sullivan & Hydergine, label bosses for Mosaic/Bluetrain & Ranges. In 'Binary Riddim' Steve delivers a two-part dub track spanning >13 minutes, seriously heavy in the low end; melancholy strings in the first half, progressing to outright menacing chord stabs in the latter. A versatile track offering something for both warm-up and the dancefloor. Complimenting on the flip are 'Mystic Light' and 'Lunar Eclipse' from Hydergine. Deep, dubby atmospherics meander over a weighty 909 kick on B1. Subtle minimalism a la Terrence Dixon, pitched down on B2. Essential release!

Review: The majestic Aliens Don't Boogie was an instant banger when it was released back in 1999 and has been a regular in the bags for some of the largest DJ's in the techno scene for years. Now some of the big names in the Dub techno scene make their homage to this classic and do so with style.
Firstly we have the don of the Russian techno scene Andrey Pushkarev transforming it into a ultra-deep hypnotic voyage. The Icelandic techno youngling Waage brings his hallmark dub influences and creates an after- hours delight from the source material. On the flipside, it starts with a remix from the brothers Mark & Matt Thibideau. The Canadian sensations are on their A-game with this one; creating a delicately structured atmospheric yet groovy take on the original. The release is completed with a deep and trippy remix from the Icelandic dub techno legend Octal Industries.
Thule Records is considered by many to be a pioneer in the field of dub-influenced techno music, and has been a starting point for many of Iceland's most renowned electronic musicians.

Review: Following the release of his blisteringly heavy Funfzig album on Rekids last year, Mark Broom returns to Matt Edwards' imprint with a teaser for the hotly anticipated follow-up, 100% Juice. As you'd expect, there's no messing around from the UK techno veteran, with opener '100% Juice (Sampler Mix)' delivering a bowel-bothering, cranium-snapping blend of rave-igniting, minor key stabs, booming bass and stomping beats. In contrast, 'Contingo' is trippy in tone thanks to all manner of overlapping synth lines, while 'Nod To The D' sees Broom blend his own drum machine-driven take on techno with vintage Motor City sounds. Rounding off a rock-solid EP is 'Spiked', a raw and razor-sharp techno throb-job primed for peak-time floors.

Review: Plastikman is in the glory years of his career, and the recognition of this of late has come in the form of various reissues and deluxe editions. One move we didn't expect Mr. Hawtin to take, however, was approving an entire 'semi-classical' reimagining of his original album 'Consumed', first released in 1998. 'Consumed In Key' is a new collaborative version made between Hawtin and pianist/producer Chilly Gonzales; every track found on the original 'Consumed' now has piano flourishings and other instruments peppered over each moody techno jam, fleshing out the pangs we could only previously imagine on first listen.

Review: Derek Carr's brand of Detroit-influenced electronic futurism has always oozed class, with the Irish producer prioritising mood, melody and ear-pleasing synth sounds above all else. It's this blend - both club-ready and perfect for home listening - that makes his releases worth checking. We'd highly recommend Electro Statik Part One, the first in a series of vinyl excursions that as usual blur the boundaries between styles. He begins with the immersive chords, jumpy lead lines and smooth house beats of 'In Transit', before diving headlong into deep electro-meets-IDM waters on the impeccable 'Mimas'. Turn to side B for the skittish, far-sighted and picturesque electro-not-electro number 'A Star Dies', as well as the warming, pitched-down electronic melancholia of 'Dione'.

Review: Jonathan Kusuma makes his return to Cocktail d'Amore with a love letter to his Indonesian homeland. Each song steeped in the ancient textures and timbres of the gamelan yet only brought to life through modular synthesis. Awalan opens the EP with a delicate touch, imbued with otherworldly chirps and the aural colours of an early morning sunrise. Roda Rodi as Mr. Kusuma explains is his interpretation of interlocking as a traditional Indonesian way of life. "Gotong Royong" or "Mutual Assistance". The idea of mutual assistance is sharing of burdens between the member of community. Modular sequences tightly fitting into one another, helping to support one another in the structure of their momentary existence. "Kerontang" and "Racacak" are two cuts which have Jonathans signature sound design printed all over them. Big, booming and full of enraptured percussion. We're treated to a haunting close on "Lorong K". Menaced tones rising and falling, small fragments piercing through as to be bits of disintegrating concrete falling off the walls of a lost city.

Review: The Afro Acid Plastik label has been doing a fine job of carrying new and retrospective works from DJ Pierre, with the most recent focus being on extensive remix packages around the iconic 'Acid Track'. This fourth installment comes with a slightly heavy heart as fellow Chicago titan Paul Johnson leads the way with his 'Jack Nation' remix pumping out while his sad passing still weighs on our minds. Elsewhere, Marko Nastic, Shinedoe, Zombie Nation and NUDE all deliver versions which pay tribute to the legacy of one of the most important club tracks of all time.

Review: The latest project to emerge from DJ Junki Inoue's reissue-rainmaking is Thought, the debut album by Suzukiski, a prolific '90s Japanese producer whose work, as of now, has been saved from slinking into obscurity. Now available on 12" double pack vinyl for the first time, this edition contains liner notes by Rei Harakami and Masaaki Hara, who headed up the album's original releasing label, Soup Disk, in 2003. From the indeterminate tones of 'Nurse' to the spouting, speed-garage chirpsynths of 'Chelsea', this album really does paint a picture of Sukukiski's thoughts, and paints a picture of sedate techno domesticity; it's no wonder the artist went on to produce a further 8 or so hardware-based techno EPs and LPs.

Review: Mogambo is one of those fascinating projects whose scope of influences is both difficult to discern fully, yet also ends up instinctively hitting the right spot. The collaborative fruit of former snake charmer and Siamese Twin co-founder Sunju Hargan and multi-instrumentalist Jerome Doudet, the project has thus far combined influences form Thai and Indian folk, Bollywood soundtracks, and rhythmatic techno into one heady concoction. 'Urvi', their latest for Siamese Twin, is fearless in its total use of electronic sound, yet still sounds effortlessly pan-Asian, channelling Goa, India and Bangkok with its nu-trancey fusions.

Review: Veteran Los Angeles producer Truncate returns on his eponymous imprint with four heavy duty techno tools loaded directly from the factory floor. 'The Drill' follows the same Blueprint of early '90s Birmingham industrial in the vein of Downwards and Dynamic Tension, while 'The Hammer' follows in suit but with the addition of Robert Hood's style of cyclicality: steely hi-hat workouts and claps on the kick. Turn over to side B and you have the pummelling, industrial strength pressure of 'The Closer' followed by the strobey 303-led stomp of the No Gabber mix.

Review: Evan Baggs has always been one of those low key but highly rated artists that the heads lap up. It has been a while since we heard a new offering from him but time has serve him well, because this new one on Faith Beat is a perfect fusion of house, tech and techno. 'Ideas & Concepts' opens up with silvery slithers of perc, icy drums and grinding grooves overlaid with stiff vocals. 'Elixir' is another crunchy tech house cut and the DJ Qu remix then goes deep and dark on twitchy pads and rugged beats. 'Neutral Zone' closes down in cyborg fashion.

Review: Since debuting as Dawl nine years ago, Tone Dropout co-founder Darren Woollard has become one of the most trusted producers of revivalist '90s fare, with a trademark sound that mixes and matches elements from various vintage styles of techno and electro. That attractive, mind-altering personal sound is much in evidence on this EP for Unknown To The Unknown, which wholeheartedly pays tribute to the turn-of-the-'90s Yorkshire bleep & bass sound. Those versed in the style's history will notice a few knowing winks to various underground classics - the title track sounds like an unreleased track from Richard H Kirk and Rob Gordon's short-lived XON project, for example - while the important ingredients (deep sub bass, alien bleeps, unfussy house-tempo techno drums and crunchy hardcore breaks) are all present and correct. A delicious blast from the past from a genuine student of the style.

Review: Returning to his own M-Plant imprint after a brief sojourn on Radio Slave's REKIDS label, Robert Hood is in particularly wild and wonderful form on Toxin 12. There's no messing around from start to finish, with the Motor City veteran focusing on jackin', sweaty-soaked techno beats, gnarled basslines, red-raw electronic motifs, freaky noises and twisted TB-303 acid lines. The most potent example of this intense and excitement-packed sound is arguably opener 'H-Formula', though the mutilated Hoover noises (and fast-slow-fast tempo) of 'A-472.0' and the tipsy, sub-heavy wonkiness of closing cut 'Dread' (an accurate title for a dark and heady concoction) push it close.

Review: Zodiak Commune reaches right back into the early days of the Dutch acid techno and electro scene, and it remains an essential outlet for tough and gnarly rave gear for darkened souls. This new record is a split between Umwelt and Serge Geyzel, continuing a series of split discs pitting serious underground operators against each other. Umwelt's side kicks off with the blistering acid electro of 'The Wake Of The Anthropocene' and follows up with heavy but melodic pearler 'Cosmic Dancer'. Geyzel's 'Off The Ground' is a nervy slice of acid with sad-hearted undertones, and 'Hostage' completes the set with a moody, percussive throwdown.

Review: There are few more decorated and respected electro artists than Anthony Rother. He has been kicking out the jams for decades and seen many electro trends come and go while doing so. His own sound is in constant flux and next up is an out on Bad Manners that finds him in fine form over four cuts. First is the fizzing and visceral 'Trooper', with bumping drums and robotic vocals firmly nailed to the floor. 'Male Function' is another bulky and macho cut with blistering bass and 'Eighty Four' has thundering synths over rugged drums. 'Com' closes out with an industrial edge.

Review: REPRESS: If powerful and percussive techno is your passion, it's likely that you already own a swathe of 12" singles from Los Angeles' producer Truncate (real name David Flores). It's also likely that you'll enjoy his latest EP, First Phase, which arrives in stores in limited numbers, on coloured vinyl. The two original tracks on show are naturally formidable workouts. 'First Phase' is a dense and murky tribal techno stomper, while 'The Eve' is a jacking, drum machine driven affair blessed with some intensely psychedelic acid lines. Former Truncate collaborator James Ruskin remixes that tune, turning a sharper, heavier and mildly wonky revision, while Luke Slater delivers a Planetary Assault Systems take on 'First Phase' that cloaks the producer's dense drums in spacey electronics and hypnotic synthesizer motifs.

Review: There are no specific credits behind this drop on Dutch label Planet Rhythm, but someone has decided to take one of Nina Simone's most powerful musical moments, 'Sinnerman', and create a great big peak time techno monster out of it. The original version bristles with tension, not least thanks to Simone's dexterous piano work, and the looping quality of those keys certainly foreshadowed the cyclical nature of club music. It's not hard to see why the song inspires energy in a club setting, and on this one-track single-sided 12" you can hear Simone's creation chopped up, sampled and strapped to a thunderous kick.

Review: Erol Alkan's mighty Phantasy Sound welcomes Joshua James for a powerful new EP that kicks off with some spoken word from performance artist, club promoter and designer Leigh Bowery. Bulky, chunky techno beats form the foundation and on top samples of Bowery saying things like "piss drinking, finger frigging, tit tweaking, love biting, arse licking, shit stabbing" are carefully deployed. It's a sweaty, rave-inducing tune for warehouse spaces. The Peaches remix is heavy more industrial and heavy, with fizzing textures and distorted drums bringing pure energy.

Review: Next up on Psyk's NON Series is fellow Madrid native Orbe, who follows up excellent releases on Axis, Mote-Evolver and Token. It's straight-up and proper techno across all sides of the new Binary Function EP: from the deep space transmissions of opening cut 'Prisma' to the droning and cerebral Sound Of Rome aesthetic of the title track, while the entrancing tribal polyrhythms of B side offering 'Arc' offers up more heady tackle until the frantic strobe light motion of 'Repetitions' closes it out 6AM style - tip!

Review: Fresh from the label's second release 'Robot Romance', supported by the likes of Laurent Garnier, Fred P, Jane Fitz, Jennifer Cardini, Rossko and more. David Agrella returns via his spaced-out house EP 'Freedom Unfolding'. Remixes are delivered by London favourite N-Gynn (Pleasure Club) known for drawing on left-field, ravey sounds and esteemed German live techno act and Muller Records/Acid Orange boss Beroshima.
Elastic basslines and tumbling percussion unfasten the A-Side with 'Walking Loud' as sinister synths convulse around the beat before N-Gynn provides a frisky reshape with sharp snares, golden keys and subtle, loopy vocal samples on a chuggier tip. The eclectic experience continues on the B-Side with title track 'Freedom Unfolding' as swinging basslines carry dream-like pads and fluttering samples, while Beroshima's acid-infused, broken beat rework provides an anthemic finale to the release.

Review: The latest exercise in what we like to call 'sublime landscape techno', Artefakt here curate a four-track EP of collaborations previously released on their own imprint, De Stijl. Based on live sessions involving fellow live instrumentalists and producers, this first EP focuses on Claudio PRC, who has released on Delsin and Semantica Records to name a few. This being minimal and emotive techno of the highest order, 'Gaia' and 'Sonic Rite' give off an earthy yet airy feel (we know earthy and airy are counterparts, but working their magic, Artefakt reconcile them), while 'Distant Light' recalls everything from Gidge to Peter Broderick in its cliff-face neoclassical dirgings.

Review: The Kompakt labels now very much one of the underground's elder statesmen when it comes to techno but the Cologne crew still manage to find new artists to do a fine job of mining its familiar sound. It is debutant Nicky Elisabeth who makes a fine impression here having played at plenty of the label's parties and various European festivals in the last couple of years. Her sounds is synth heavy, spacious and epic techno with shimmering chords and bristling drum work offset by more breathy and soulful vocals. It is a perfect fit for this label.

Review: Belgium's vital Token label comes correct here with a bumper collection across four sides of vinyl. It is a contemporary snapshot of the current techno landscape from a bunch of lesser known but intriguing artists. Ignez gets spooky with the opener and its mystic melodies and reflective surfaces, and Alarico's impresses with the paranoid vocal loops and unsettling synth puddles of 'Spit.' Elsewhere there is an unhinged vibe to the wonky synth stabs of Marcal's 'Dancing Pursuit' and
Altinbas & Cirkle come together for the eatery sound effects and rolling liquid techno beats of 'Uhlanga.' This is super fresh tackle.

Review: Few artists have quite as impressive a track record of delivering trippy, mind-altering electronic music as Black Merlin, whose previous outings on Berceuse Heroique, Pinkman and Island of the Gods, amongst others, have frequently shifted tone stylistically whilst promoting a pleasingly intoxicated sound palette. 'Surface Air', the lead cut from his latest single, is an immersive, mind-mangling gem that adds psychedelic spoken word vocals to a chugging groove, swirling ambient techno chords and pulsing, stabbing electronics. The accompanying 'Wata Igarashi Air Remix' re-imagines it as a weightless, Pete Namlook style 1990s ambient trip, while bonus cut 'Mohican Trance Leopard' is an ultra-deep chunk of ambient techno hypnotism full of echoing electronics, opaque aural textures and locked-in grooves.

Review: Egyptian artist Raxon continues to make big waves with his widescreen astral techno. He has often landed on Maceo Plex's Ellum Audio label land that is where he returns now with another club-ready two tracker that is designed to make for some epic moments in big spaces. Opener 'Mantis' has heavy, churning drums and plenty of twitchy synths, turbo-charged sci-fi stabs and cosmic intentions. On the flip is 'Input Robot', a bouncy bit of elastic techno with more jostling drum work and plenty of astral synths make it an expansive groove. This one marks another big outing from this ever evolving artist.

Review: Trauma Collective returns to shock your system on their fifth release, which comes courtesy of Spain's Rafael M. Espinosa aka Geistform. The Barcelona-based artist, also known for his exploits under the Univac alias, has crafted a singular style that exists at the interzone of IDM, digital noise and electro and having earned him releases on Pi Electronics, Femur and Hands Productions in recent years.

Espinosa executes four programs in sonic warfare on the Antena EP, all sounding akin to complex bitstream amplification. A multi-level barrage of frequencies play offense on opening cut "Proxima B", which sets the theme for more widescreen pulsations that gash the senses, as heard on the syntax error of "Note Repeat" and building up to a climax on the monochromatic soundstage of "Norc" - a jagged and angular exploration in bass artefacts and static redux.

Since unleashing the austere techno of Birmingham legend Mick Harris (as Monrella) and hometown hero Kwartz on unsuspecting ears, the Madrid-based collective has now ventured into more experimental spheres, as heard on the off-kilter mentalism of ASC's Loop Research and the brooding atmosphere of Makunaimadama's limited cassette release last year. Antena is the logical progression for the label's next chapter, where it continues to push the threshold of electronic music's outer limits.