Back catalogue: Techno (All)

Review: Swedish techno heavyweights unite on this special EP led by the legendary Cari Lekebusch, who brings over three decades of experience to the table. Alongside two equally forward-thinking producers, the result is a fine example in minimal yet infectious techno, driven by rhythm and sonic finesse. The A-side opens with 'Brassa Pa Lite', a mechanical techno cut that sounds like a dystopian engine room in motion. Its sci-fi sheen is matched by intricately programmed percussion and eerie synth flourishes that add a cinematic drama. 'Tant Gredelin' follows with a more primal energy, marked by crisp drum programming and an unusually playful yet deliberate sense of timing. Flip to the B-side and 'Hojtarolja' kicks in with a sharper edge. Futuristic and propulsive.. 'Mega Meckaren' comes out with a stomping warehouse feel and a subtle house swing. Definitely an exciting release from these three producers.

Review: Javier Marimon returns with a set of amb-immersers shaped by architecture, memory, and the shifting continguities of sound and physical space. Made during his time in Saigon in 2018, the tracks lean into absence, with subtle, bass-free constructions predominating over a musical space that exists to be inhabited. A further remix from Vand , meanwhile, reinterprets the original material through a thinner lens, offering a contrasting perspective without overwhelming the source. A quiet but affecting punctuation mark in an already rather grand artistic discography.

Review: DIG Curated boss Marronn spotlights Tbilisi's underground powerhouse Uvall aka Irakli Bregvadze, who has long been a key figure in Georgia's techno scene. His minimalist yet mysterious sound blends enigmatic synths with undulating tempos here, always with physical grooves established in the low end. Lead track 'Northern Lights' has earth-shattering drum loops and scurrying synth details that sketch out an underwater world dripping with sweat. 'Reminiscence' has more robust drums and eerie sound designs that make for a cavernous feel and 'Bleak' is more anxious, with kicks stacked closely and unnerving synths searching for signs of life. 'Sleepwalker' is a zoned-out roller to close in hypnotic fashion.

Review: On his previous Millsart outing, 2024's X-Ray Zulu EP, Detroit great Jeff Mills - long since departed for Europe but still retaining Motor City's techno vibe - effortlessly joined the dots between techno, house, horror movie soundttracks and spaced-out jazz. On Space Outside Space, he once again touches on some of these musical themes, just in a more widescreen, science fiction-inspired way. For proof, check the deep, ambient-tinged electronic jazz of 'Interstellar Feelings', the percussion-rich, deep space headiness of 'Forevermore' (a pleasingly weird Afro-futurist affair), the immersive techno-goes-broken beat grandiosity of 'Vibrations From The Other Side' and the minor key miracle that is trippy closing cut 'Some Soul, Some Space'.

Review: Madrid's Oscar L and Sofia's Metodi Hristov come together for a heavyweight two-tracker that stretches the Drumcode sound between two distinct techno poles. 'Gravity' crashes in with brute-force energy: jagged hoovers, a fluttering chopped vocal, and thick industrial textures square up in a storm of distortion, like two machines locked in dissonant conversation. It's cinematic, dark, and demanding. 'Up & Down' keeps the pressure on, bursting forward with piston-fast percussion, cavernous reverbs and a flickering synth motif that teeters between menace and euphoria. A spoken male vocalistark and monotoneigrounds the track with a cold-eyed edge. Techno as terrain: Madrid's pulse meets Sofia's shadow.

Review: After a two-year break, Sticky Plastik returns with its third various artists release, offering a refreshed look and evolved sound. Side A features Corsican producer P.O., who delivers two standout tracks: 'Dodo', a melancholic yet hopeful journey through dark disco-tinged minimal techno, and 'Arcade', a groovy, 80s-inspired acid house cut brimming with energy. On Side B, Chinese artist B.AI teams up with Polish producer Marcelina (formerly Marcelina Wick) on 'Homesick', blending deep Asian atmospheres with a Slavic emotional edge in a lush progressive house cut. P.O. closes the release with a tougher, techno-driven remix of 'Homesick' that adds punch to the package.

Review: Belgian label Music Man Records has assembled Boccaccio Life 1987-1993, a 40-track compilation honouring the legendary Destelbergen club that helped shape Europe's electronic underground. Far more than just the birthplace of New Beat, Boccaccio championed raw, futuristic house and techno long before the genres went mainstream. Curated by resident DJ Olivier Pieters and regular Stefaan Vandenberghe, the collection features classy cuts that are also being served up on a series of VA EPs. This one hits hard with jams from QX-1, Fred Brown, Mr. Fingers and Laurent X all going dark, deep and moody.