Back catalogue: Electro

Review: For those too young to remember the days of glitch-house and electro-house at the turn of the noughties (think Herve, Switch, Claude Vonstroke etc), Fake Blood was one of the true masters of the style. He released a swathe of big records for Cheap Thrills and others, with the two tracks collected here - both of which date from 2009 - being the biggest. A-side 'I Think I Like It' is a superb example of the style, with the producer expertly cutting up a pleasingly silly and over-the-top disco-pop number and turning it into sweat-soaked, hands-aloft gold. 'Mars', meanwhile, gains its dancefloor power from a frankly filthy, mind-altering bassline-turned-lead-line, around which crispy drums, breakbeats and Mylo-esque synth stabs make their presence felt.

Review: Frank De Groot has an accomplished history in gnarly electronics which reaches back to the 90s, and he's been recording with Steffi's Klakson label as Fastgraph for most of that time. Here the label are returning their attention to one of his most sought-after joints, the incredible Evasive Manoeuvres EP. This is the kind of electro to make you sit up and pay attention - it's uptemo, dark and edgy, with an atmosphere you could cut with a knife and a grubby, underground attitude perhaps only bested by the Bunker Records crew. Serious gear for those who like their electro as moody as possible.

Review: There is never a lack of attitude when it comes to Fukuinn releases. This third one comes on a nice translucent blue vinyl 12" and finds a smorgasbord of producers serving up one tune each. Fazack kicked off with a sharp 'Look Left' that has powerful drum machines rhythms and neck-snapping percussion with talk box vox. Relaxant's 'Swamp Break' then layer up more jittery rhythms and coruscated synths and bass before Bohm layers up Chicago hosue drums with visceral acid lines and silvery drums on the expressive 'Acis Era Kicks.' Foreign Sequence's 'Finfemxtrd' closes in a hurry, with techno drums and twanging synths that will blow up the club.

Review: Featherstone is no longer just a parochial town in West Yorkshire, but is also the name of an interesting emerging producer who arrives on Ernest's Way for a fifth EP here. Once again it is a great blend of styles from electro to techno with both dance floor clout and indelible emotions characterising the grooves. 'Contact' kicks off with the sort of serene grooves that ensure you take flight and gaze on at the celestial synths. 'Flight Path' is a darker, more turbulent trip then 'Superchomp' is a warp speed and jittery electro classic with cyborg funk at its core. Two further masterful jams round out a rich EP.

Review: Fleck E.S.C. AKA Franck Collin makes another highly-awaited appearance on US label Science Cult with a new, meticulously crafted EP brimming with precise rhythms, intricate bass patterns, and IDM-styled synthlines, weaving throughout the impressive project. On the A-side, 'Six O'clock' feels as though it is situated in a rarely seen microscopic world, miniscule lifeforms twist and turn, weaving together at a blinding pace. On the B-side, 'Close Contact' delves into a twisted take on Fleck E.S.C.'s classic sound, where carefully crafted sound design dances between cascading percussion and a buoyant melody. A tour de force of electro, 'Night of the Notables' is certainly one for your collection.

Review: Following some great releases by DJ Cop Killer, Aerial and Santiago, Los Angeles label Private Selection is back with this one by Force Placement (aka Nu Sire) who throws down some fierce off world beats on their seventh missive. Whether it's the doomsday electro vibe of 'Lycanthrope', the space invaders smoking grass on 'Pressure Points' or the rise of the machines on the dystopian B side cut 'Seance' - the Sunken Coast EP is definitely one of this week's unexpected electro highlights - tip!

Review: 
A remix EP of tracks from the Calgary-native DJ & producer, 'Exshaw' was Ford looking for techno inspiration outdoors, as opposed to the dark and sweaty clubs of Berlin (where he was living at the time). This 5 track spectacular sees 5 DJs take the intricate sounds of 'Exshaw' for a spin. 'Honeyhole' is a layered, transcendental masterpiece by DJ Stingray, 'Kaki' from Alden Tyrell lends itself to the eerie and experimental nature of 'Exshaw', that moment when you are alone in the dark and you look across your shoulder just to make sure you aren't being followed. 'Maxwell' by Sansibar brings the tone straight back to the physical, reflecting on the European techno scene and it's synthetic hard-hitting style. 'D614G' is a progressive and ethereal electro experience from Monolith, leaning far left into the natural tones of 'Exshaw' with a crescendo that evokes the work of A.G. Cook and other producers who build soft instrumental into a grand crescendo that feels like floating. 'Kaki' by Zenker Brothers is the ankle weight that brings you crashing down, a heady and lucid hardcore experience that is Zenkerian in every sense of the word in its forward-thinking idea of what dance music can be.

Review: Aiden Francis brings a superb mix of influences to this EP, from trance to breaks, house to tech house and it makes for a third fine offering from this young but promising Ellipse label. 'Atacama' opens up with blistering pace and molten synths tightly woven over the propulsive drums. 'Twilight' is another track seeped in lush melodies and with a throwback techno sounds that is full of subtle dancefloor electronics. 'Awareness' (Sunset mix) is one to get the hands in the air as the trancey chords and acid rain down. Energy levels don't dip on the flip either on this most powerful and consuming of space-techno trips.

Review: The second part of the Remember The Future series from the Greek label To Pikap is another 12" packed with electro goodness form an array of exciting artists. LEGACY opens up with 'Nom De Guerre' with its magnificently lithe and chrome plated rhythms dancing about over crunchy analogue drums. Future Draft rides a more zoned out and celestial electro vibe on 'All That Remains' and The Jaffa Kid gets into some intricate synth programming and off-grid beat work. Three further cuts on the B-side bring funky, dark and joyous tweaks to the electro format.

Review: The cultured Movida label rolls out more of its tasteful tech and minimal jams with the Water Drop EP Part 1. Somfay opens up proceedings with 'Arborvitae' (A Voice Like Water) which is a zoned out roller with chords that encourage you to gaze off to the future. The b-side starts with Luc Ringeisen & Funk E's 'Treinta Y Siempre', a tender electronic lullaby with gently broken beats and then things get much more scuffed up and dubby with Polyfan Polyphenix's 'Polymorph 2' which is a languid rhythm that makes you want to move nice and loose.

Review: We already knew what a talented and innovative producer FFF has proven himself to be, but on his new and much awaited album Eternal Mind he finds new heights even by his own high standards. He wastes no time in sweeping you off your feet with some electrifying synth work and almost juke like drum programming on the opener 'Axehead' and from there explores all manner of drum & bass sound worlds, from minimal steppers like 'Magnetic Mountain' to cosmic future funk workouts such as 'What We Once Where' and on to ice cold and warp speed gems like 'Curve of Forgetting.' Sensational work.

Review: Filmmaker is a multidimensional producer known for genre-bending creations rooted in film culture. With acclaimed releases like The Love Market and Fictional Portrayals already under his belt, he reaches new heights with his latest offering, Hollywood Cult. Across 13 tracks, he crafts a haunting journey that blends synth-driven races, infectious body music, and slow-burning nostalgia. Tracks like 'Secrecy,' 'Western Malice,' and 'Shocking Therapy' evoke cinematic tension and energy and as the album progresses, 'Vessels Wine,' 'Peacekeeper Ripper,' and 'Criminal Rite' delve into intense emotions, while 'Elite Dungeons' and 'Hanging Finale' bring a lo-fi, trance-inducing finale. Hollywood Cult, then, serves as a dark, captivating soundtrack for a new world, inviting repeated listens and immersive exploration.

Review: Not to be confused with Stefan Robbers' early alias, this Florence 12"series reaches back to 2013 amidst a string of low key club cuts with an emphasis on quality and originality. On the 14th in the series, we lead in with the snappy, mellow electro tones of 'Modmood' with its poppy vocal hooks in the midst of the 808 jamming. 'Crazy' offers another strong singalong moment as we get snatches of a Beyonce classic set to a brooding electronic backdrop. This series is a unique enterprise exploring the divide between underground dance music and mainstream pop and coming up with something truly compelling which might just create an unforgettable moment in the club.

Review: Canadian electro-industrialists FLA really do understand what consistency is. Having put out 12 official studio albums since their inception in 1986, they have remained at the top of their niche game since first landing on the scene, making tracks with this dystopian dancefloor energy, rooted in the cold and unfeeling factories of the future and deceptive humanism of warm synth work.

Nerve War was their now-legendary first mixtape, released the year they got together, and it set the bar so high its any wonder any of what followed managed to live up to these standards. Suffice to say, the fact subsequent stuff did is testament to the band's genius. Presenting everything from strange and unnerving sonic collages ('Thy Glory'), to gritty slo-mo builders ('To The World') and grand sci-fi themes with shades of neo-Gothicism ('Front Line').