New releases today: Techno

Review: The more nerdy out there will know that Keepsakes has featured on Perc Parc before having contributed to the Forever 2 various artists' release back in 2020, but now he makes his full debut with this fierce solo EP. 'Scene Analysis' is just that, a heavyweight takedown of dance music bullshit with no-frills drums and rattling percussion all topped off with a dark monologue. Label head Perc remixes and makes things even more caustic and ear-splitting, then 'Industry Anthem' does manic things with the word 'money' over taught, twanging synths and slamming drums. 'Prey For Hype' is the final potent offering, again with brash sounds and rusty textures, hard drums and no-nonsense de-humanised vocals.

Review: Global techno temptress recorded the original version of 'Tarde' in her bedroom back in 2020 and then sat on it until she felt the time was right to release it. The time came last year and predictably it became an underground hit. It's an intimate tune about love of the kind "that is so strong it could almost break you". Now it has been remixed by some serious talents and pressed up to this pink 12". There is hyper-speed trance-techno and broken beat on the A-side, then two types of bouncy hard techno on the flip, all with seductive Spanish vocals.

Review: Newa's latest EP, Equilibrium, presents a wicked journey through four distinct techno realms. On Side-1, 'Dtrance Love' emerges as a powerhouse, delivering strong linear techno infused with an abundance of energy. Its trance-like qualities are propelled by a persistent bassline, casting an eerie and futuristic atmosphere. Following suit, 'Electro 404' takes listeners on a robotic, sci-fi-inspired adventure, showcasing Newa's versatility within the electro genre. Flipping to Side-2, the title track 'Equilibrium' explores a fusion of electro and breaks, intertwining trance chord progressions with subtle hints of acid. The result is a great blend of genres, underpinned by a weighty bass presence that commands attention. The EP concludes with the Peachlyfe remix, which feels like a sonic experiment unfolding in a science lab. This reimagined version adds a fresh perspective, injecting the track with new life and dimension. Overall, Equilibrium EP helps push Newa's reputation as a boundary-pushing artist within the techno landscape.

Review: Deep techno lovers Hypnus have been showcasing the work of Paul Roeleveld aka Rambadu for some time. Only back in 2021 was he a newcomer with a sound that belied that status and now a few years on he has kept impressing. 'Yatra' is slow and deep, menacing and full of paranoia as snaking synths slithering along a desolate landscape. 'Nadi' has a dubby undercurrent and percolating grooves that gurgle and spit like molten lava, and 'Reis' is utterly stripped back to deep space pulses and a subtle, barely-there rhythm that is full of suspense. 'Setu' shuts down with more unsettling and otherworldly deepness and alien sound designs.

Review: Outside In return to the fray with a fresh EP from rising star Strange Haze, whose recent contributions to the minimal techno have earned him much credo of late. 'Temple Of Truth' is no less out-of-this-world than EPs prior, with each of its tracks seeming to evoke a mystical acid outerzone, with the likes of 'Mystery Traxxxx', 'Outer Body Experience' and 'Nihilistic Sedation' drawing on ideas of spacetime, space navigation and opiate hallucinations.

Review: The '90s Groovez Vol 1: Back The Funk' EP from Planet Rhythm is a nostalgic journey back to the golden era of techno. With its retro-sounding basslines, house elements, and early rave influences, this EP captures the essence of a time when dance music was pushing boundaries. The title track, 'Back The Funk,' is a perfect example of this, with its infectious chord progressions and powerful bassline that demands attention. 'Beginners' transports listeners to the early days of rave culture in Belgium, while 'The Funk' will battle for deck privileges on any main floor. For those who have experienced the 1990s dance music scene, this EP offers a chance to relive those glory days. And for newcomers to the genre, it provides a taste of the era that shaped contemporary electronic music. We can't wait for Volume 2.

Review: Drumcode supremo Adam Beyer has become increasingly more prolific in recent years, signalling a creative renaissance that recalls the undoubted quality of his work in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His first outing of 2024, which follows a quartet of EPs last year, is predictably strong and packed to the rafters with future Drumcode anthems. Fittingly, he starts with 'Let's Begin', where mutilated vocal loops, mind-mangling rave noises and unsettling melodic motifs dance atop a typically thunderous and breathless big room techno groove, before opting for a dirtier, acid-flecked groove, metallic noises and sped-up hip-hop vocal samples on 'Computerized' (hip-techno anyone?). To round things off, he goes darker and denser still on the loopy techno power of 'Red Room', which pleasingly also boasts the same Aisha vocal sample as the Orb's 'Blue Room'.

Review: There is a big-hitting trio of Detroit techno titans all featuring on this one EP: DJ 3000 is behind the originals which are 'Kazani', a serrated and corrugated electro-techno bumper with rigid metal synths and flashy synth melodies that dart about like fireflies, and thumping deep dub techno in the form of 'Work In Progress'. It is Jon Dixon who first remixes this one and remodelled it as a more hurried, hard edge and alien techno rhythm with bunce in the beats, and last of all DJ Godfather's remix races off to the cosmos with a classic bit of high-speed, frantic and synth-laced Detroit techno minimalism.

Review: Cyphon Recordings celebrates its tenth release with Emotive Technology, a new project by Chilean artist Massiande. The five-track EP offers soul-stirring techno spanning various styles. Despite being his debut under this alias, Massiande boasts a decade-long career, releasing music on esteemed labels like Housewax and Phonica. The EP kicks off with 'Rise,' a fusion of new beat and arp-operated techno, setting the stage for peak-time euphoria. Tracks like 'It's On' and 'Your Zone' dive deeper into hypnotic rhythms, while 'Walk Into The Light' pays homage to Detroit's techno legacy. Closing with 'The Swing,' the EP captivates with its resonating synths and pulsating basslines, embodying machine music with soulful depth.

Review: Open Secret is a brand new label and production alias that kicks off here with four unnamed tracks. Whoever is behind this clearly wants to remain in the shadows but the music is going to make a splash amongst deep house heads who will no doubt be keen to work out who could be responsible. The opening is wrought in tension with screeching synths over rockety beats all convening some sort of intergalactic drama. 'Track 2' layers up old school 8-bit video game melodies and mid-tempo drums and 'Track 3' then brings Afro vocals, rhythms and percussion to the party. Last of all, 'Track 4' is a zoned-out and multi-layered track with acoustic strings and shimmering organic rhythms that will lock you into a trance.

Review: Lawrence's Epiphany Remixes, a release from the German record label Giegling, presents four distinct interpretations of the title track. Each remixer brings a unique approach to the original piece, resulting in a diverse and captivating soundscape. Zoe Polanski's version transforms the track into a crystallized melody, creating a cold yet beautiful atmosphere. Lowtec's remix explores deep techno, delivering a smooth and dreamy ambiance with a touch of sadness. M Pittman Ladder's interpretation adds a gritty, chunky bassline, while Tobias' remix elevates the tempo, creating a pulsating and mechanical percussion elements. These remixes showcase the versatility of Lawrence's original composition, demonstrating how different artists can reinterpret and reshape it to create new and engaging experiences.

Review: Spaced Repetitions is a new label by veteran producer Manuel Tur who has always been known for his deliciously deep sound. For the imprint's fourth outing, he serves up two versions of a tune by Ingrid Lukas taken from last year's album ELUMELOODIA. The Estonian-Swiss singer, pianist and composer's angelic vocals remain in place up top as the dubby drums roll down low and all manner of icy synths and gassy melodic tinkles pepper the groove and get you into a celestial state of mind. The dub version allows that to come to the fore even more.

Review: Mosaic main man and peerless UK dub techno titan Steve O'Sullivan has paired off against Fletcher for this latest heavyweight 12". As ever the foundations are solid on the opener 'Passenger' - smooth drums and bass perfectly sit with one another, but this one really comes alive with the most impossibly subtle but inescapably uplifting little chords that suggest that no matter what shit you have going on in your life, things will be OK. It's a classic amongst many on this label. 'With That' is another tight, compelling and tech tinged dub roller with real bite and drive, and 'Treading Water' then blisses you out with its liquid chords and sense of endless infinite groove.