Back catalogue: Techno

Review: Well Curated is a series of releases and parties that - in its own words - "reflects the ethnomusicology of the last 50 years of music" - and aims to reach into all genres, merging classic styles and breaking down barriers. Steve Spacek occupies the A-side with the breezy broken beat and soul-in-space of 'Alone In Da Sun', while Lukid's 'Hair Of The Dog' is a more intense counterpart, with wobbling sub-bass and swirling, surging atmospherics hovering above.

Review: White Fetish X, the latest release by enigmatic collaboration between Dataintrang and Luke Eargoggle on the Italian label Pareidolia Recordings, is a hypnotic and eerie exploration of the dark side of electronica. The album's six tracks veritably pulsate with a sinister energy, blending elements of EBM, electro clash, and sci-fi to create a truly unique and unsettling soundscape. 'Starting Shift' sets the tone with its menacing EBM stomp and early techno sound, while 'Mann Gegen Mann' ups the ante with its sinister electroclash beats. The title track is a hypnotic and eerie soundscape, with its sci-fi synths and demented, horror-like atmosphere. 'Radiowelt' is a heavy electro track with a pulsing body funk rhythm, while 'Audio Warrior' closes the album out with its dark and evil-sounding but funky bassline. Overall, White Fetish X is a challenging and rewarding listen for fans of dark electronica. Its sinister soundscapes and hypnotic rhythms create a truly unique and unsettling experience that will stay with you long after the final track has faded out.

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: Good friends Arnaud Le Texier and Antonio De Angelis have been collaborating for many, many years now. Both long time veterans of the scene, each time they get together, fans get a big treat hearing the results. Peer to peer producer influence drives them to the same high level of what being competitive DJs also does. The Split EP, aptly named, has each producer taking a side of vinyl to themselves to express their current direction. Arnaud Le Texier's 'Chocked' is a no-nonsense warehouse techno banger. Fans of artists like Surgeon or Sandwell District, this is right up your alley. The track 'Discover' has a great liquid groove to it reminding us of classic 90s material off Primate Recordings. For Antonio De Angelis's side, 'Sicario' adds a bit of house elements to this big techno sound while 'Destination' has a great melodic approach to it. For those that say techno is safe and boring, tell them about this record.

Review: Luke Eargoggle joins forces with Dataintrang here for a seasonally appropriate ice-cold electro outing on Return to Disorder. It kick off with side-long opener 'Top Of The Pyramid' which is full of sidewinding synths and squealing analogue lines over corrugated bass. After that one comes the manic and high tempo electro-shocks of 'Not Unique' with snappy snares and darkened vocals. Last but not least is the most brutal assault of them all - '7 Days A Week', a melange of wild acid lines and liquid metal leads with turbulent bass and a general sense of intergalactic warfare.

Review: Jay Lumen remains a true titan of Hungarian techno, continually pushing a sound which happily gorges on psy and trance elements without losing that all-important big room thrust. On the latest single for his Footwork Audio label, 'Universe' toys with big synth strokes and high emotional stakes peppered with incredible sound design flair before the explosive drop, while 'Grooveride' rolls out on a funked up undercarriage and incisive rave stabs. 'Ode To Earth' is another gargantuan, throbbing monster of tech-trance and 'Once Again' channels a bit of high-pressure Midwest intensity alongside the gnarly modernist elements which make his releases so potent in the dark techno zeitgeist.