Ilian Tape Germany 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: In recent times the Zenker Brothers seem to have spent more time running their inspired Ilian Tape imprint than they have producing music. While we'd hardly criticize their choices - Ilian Tape goes from strength to strength - it's certainly good to have them back. The Munich-based siblings begin their first outing of 2020 with the melodious, far-sighted electro shuffle of "Shaketown", before wrapping mangled, mind-altering electronic riffs around a crunchy techno groove of "Chi Boost". "Bengel Mode" sees the siblings successfully combine alien-sounding riffs with a denser techno rhythm track, while closing cut "Outside" is a sparkling trip into hypnotic, slow-release ambient techno territory with nary a kick-drum in sight.

Review: Deetron's been turning out serene house and techno for many a year but he changes tact here and presents Soulmate on Ilian Tape. It's an EP with a wide array of influences and kicks off with 'Path' which is bright, melodic, electric house music with cow bells galore. 'Zoom' is tightly coiled, loopy, dusty, turbocharged tackle with a warming intensity and then 'Screen' pairs more balmy and blissed-out chords with hurried beats and layers of FX and percussion. Last of all is the best of the lot - 'Blade'. It's a tribal, percussive cut that cannot fail to sweep you off your feet.

Review: Neapolitan duo Fireground have been on a rapid ascent since debuting on Tresor in 2021, and following their Recreation 12" earlier this year they return to Ilian Tape for a second round of immersive, high-pressure techno soul. Compared to a lot of the dark and dystopian sounds infiltrating the faster reaches of the modern techno scene, Fireground have a strong sense of uplift which comes through in abundance on the likes of 'Memories', as harmonious, dubbed-out pads and thunderous drums collide for maximum positive response. If you need to inject some energy into a techno dancefloor, these tracks will achieve results beyond your wildest dreams.

Review: Releases on the Ilian Tape label are nearly always two things - a) shrouded in mystery, and b) a little unconventional. Given that the painter who created the artwork gets a credit on the 12"s label but the musician or musicians themselves get no mention, it's fair to assume a) has been fulfilled. The music itself fulfils b) too, as hard edged rhythms clocking in closer to electro than techno provide a vehicle much softer, more sensitive musical flourishes. 'WantU' is probably the overall highlight, with its crystal clear arp riffing and Kraftwerk-esque bumping, but 'Chiemgau606', the rawer 'OSC' and 'Sinister808' should all appeal to those who like their grooves esoteric and full of personality - but ultimately still dancefloor slaying.

Review: DJ Plant Texture is Donato Basile, a diverse producer from Bari. He returns to Munich-based Ilian Tape to follow up 2017's The Bongoman Archive with four slamming cuts on his latest EP. Whether it's pummelling, bass-driven ruckus of 'MPC Jam 1' (Breaks mix) or the off-kilter slam of MPC Jam 2' (Saturator mix) on the A side, to the proper, peak time heads-down stomp of 'MPC Jam 3' (Exp Forever mix). Finally, the early '90s zeitgeist of 'Ciao Ragazze Jungle Style' goes out all guns blazing. On the MPC Thangs EP, this talented Italian producer is at his most fearsome yet.

Review: The ever-excellent Ilian Tape label regular Stenny's 'Onda' comes as a limited one-time pressing "square wave homage" on 180g vinyl and as ever with this artist both tracks are devastatingly heavy and perfect for ultimate dance floor destruction. The title track takes up the A-side and is a crisp and snappy breakbeat underpinned by vast plunging bass notes and detailed with subtle electric fizzes and fills that are all-conquering. 'Quadra' is no less direct with its mix of physical low ends and microscopic details all warping mind and body in equal measure. Do not sleep on this one.

Review: Fifteen years after first starting out, Munich's masterful Ilian Tape is still finding plenty of fresh new ground to explore in its niche world of scuffed-up and broken-beat techno. The latest to do so is KW, who nails the vibe perfectly here with futurist loops 'Source Mag', hefty minimalism on 'Rats Mixing', deeper linear techno on 'ZFGT0505' and a rhythmically playful thinker in the form of 'One Day.' A superbly stylish and perfectly functional EP, as ever, from this crew.

Review: Ilian Tape have been sympathetic to the sound of UK bass for some time now, but this new drop from Atrice leans even further into the pervading energy of dubstep as a source of club pressure. The Swiss duo first appeared on Ilian Tape with Q back in 2021, and they're sounding stronger than ever on this latest missive. If 'Multiplex' brings a cybernetic sheen to headsy 140, then 'Is It Warm' does similar work with techy d&b as the pair dice up breakbeats with precision and drape exquisite, shimmering pads over the ruffness. There's also space for crafty techno propulsion on 'Broke' and high-tempo trippiness on '83 Steps', making this a versatile, consistently brilliant release from a rising force in the scene.

Review: Munich's mighty Ilian Tape is the next label on which Laksa impresses with this new Voices 12". First out of the blocks is the sound system bothering 'Tech Steppas' with its wobbly low end and percolating dark drum funk. 'LEO' brings a more brutal broken beat with elastic bass that makes you move in many different directions at once while 'The Art Of Slip' is a pounding mix of thudding kicks, tripped-out vocal loops and moody synth menace that never lets up. Last but not least is 'Enjoyment' which rides on a thrilling and airy half-speed percussive rhythm that has plenty of height to it. Another inventive EP from the Ilian crew.

Review: KW has long been a talented producer who has operated in the shadows. He emerges from them now with another EP on Ilian Tape only six or so months after his last standout effort. Altgr is another fine one that opens with 'Midnight Run', a skittish flurry of breakbeats and snares, grumbling bass and kinetic energy that never lets up. 'Paste' is just as rhythmically inventive, this time lurching backwards and forwards but with more pensive pads and 'Copy' keeps up the leftfield inventions that make this return so welcome. 'Lastmin_Res' closes out in head-spinning fashion.

Review: Everyone's favourite low-res poly-rendered rave organism DJ Plant Texture returns to their fave label Ilian Tape for their least forgiving, least fluffy and most wayside-thrown techno EP yet. Contrasting to their earlier lo-fi MPC workouts and electro freak-shows, the best of which were also released on the Amsterdam imprint, Plant Texture here switches things up, offering up four jackbooted 4x4 techno bits so menacing that they verge on a dastard take on the Brummy school. An obsession with rhythm and percussive texture rears its head; A-siders 'DDrumz' and 'Mechanical Bongos' are truly intrigued by the drum, revelling in pure, circular samply bongo and timbalero repetition; the theme continues on B-sider 'Dubbish', which only does so much as add a scopeout dub chord stab to the mix, yet still sounds sick; 'Let The Machine Speak (Jazz Mix)', finally, seems to hold the work of fellow techy rhythmusoidal geek Machinedrum firmly in mind, seeming to cleverly parody the artist's Ninja Tune/Vapor City IDM era with a jeering nu-footwork-jazz half-smile.