Back catalogue: Techno (All)

Review: With Pattern Gardening, London-after-Leeds imprint Wisdom Teeth yank out an extra gnasher we didn't know we had. As has always been the case, label heads Facta and K-Lone could be said to have curated and curetted a new compilation from the joint dentist's chair, exacting a 22-track root canal with periodontal precision, nearly doubling the size of their V/A ambit since 2024's Club Moss. But on this selective six-track sampler for wax, we've only a further sanding down of a much larger minimal, micro and tech house selection; here's gummy textures and maxillary moods by Polygonia, rRoxymore, Lurka, Sub Basics, and newcomer Jichael Mackson. Clarity and sound design are top priorities, as is the ideal of whitened teeth flashed by the poolside. Snappy, Rhodesy, watery.

Review: For those of us who find solace in music, refuge often lies in its intricate corners. Reflex Blue returns with the second release on his personal imprint which will appeal to such people and offers his unique take on wonky house music. His The Twisted Maze EP features raccoon-inspired grooves and bleepy after-hours moments that offer an intimate look into Blue's creative mind. There are lithe tech pumpers like the opener, trippy workouts like 'Got D' Funk', deep and driving throwbacks like 'Freestyle Groove"' and 'Destination' shuts down with more futuristic tech excellence.

Review: Berlin's Regent returns to Mutual Rytm with a precision-crafted techno anthem backed by a trio of heavyweight remixes. 'Permean' is the kind of track built for peak-time warehouse deploymentifierce in its groove yet unusually emotional, merging surgical low-end with spiralling pads that lend it a timeless and melancholic charge. Dutch veteran Sterac pares things back with a hypnotic, tunnelling reshape that nods to classic 90s minimalism. Head High, Rene Pawlowitz's house-adjacent alias, flips it into a thudding, big-room roller with buzzing synths and tough drums primed for festival sets. Finally, Shed delivers the darkest mix of the lotihis 'Forceful Pressure' take ratchets up the intensity with distorted kicks, jagged loops and glitched-out percussion. It's a masterclass in restraint and tension, channelling the relentless energy of proper machine music. For a four-tracker, this covers a serious spectrum of club pressureifrom introspective to incendiaryiwith Regent's original anchoring the release as something both forceful and strangely beautiful.

Review: Glispy Records makes a strong vinyl debut with a four-track showcase of Georgia's deepening electronic talent pool. Tbilisi producer Reshio opens with 'Electronic Mind', a high-octane blend of punchy electro and precise sequencing, setting the tone with clinical flair. Toke follows with 'System 32', a rolling groove machine laced with dubby atmospheres and smart modulationiweighty but agile. On the flip, DJ Astrobee injects some swagger into proceedings with the rugged, percussive funk of 'Elvis The Gator', full of low-end heft and filtered bite. Label co-founder Levan Grdzelidze rounds off with '84 Slave', an acidic slow-burner that builds intensity through tightly-wound layers. A confident and well-curated start to the Glispy vinyl era.

Review: Boccaccio was one of Europe's most influential clubs back in the late 80s and early 90s. Based in rural Destelbergen, it was a place where new beat, acid, techno and house all collided, and Boccaccio Life 1987-1993 is a deep dive into the electrifying soundscapes of the time. It comes on Music Man Records and is a 40-track compilation that reclaims Boccaccio's legacy beyond the overly reductive new beat tag. Resident Olivier Pieters and club regular Stefaan Vandenberghe are behind it, and have split the full selection into four vinyl parts. Bobby Konders's 'Let There Be House' is the killer here, but all four cuts are deliciously dark and heads down club tackle from a golden era.

Review: This new one from Stefan Ringer on his FWM Entertainment combines two distinct releases in one: 3 tracks from his 2021 Meta Music EP and his darker alias Black Sued's 'Rogue' EP. It's a yin-yang journey of sound that shows his range and quality. 'Monotone' pairs signature deep chords and soulful vocals and distorted bass with minimal drums, while 'New Plan' is a driving, rhythmic workout of persistence and groove. 'YIA' offers meditative chords and affirmations set against a thunderstorm backdrop and the flip, the title cut explores shadowy jazz textures with a mysterious groove, 'Maze' marches forward with urgency and layered rhythm, while 'Deep Dirt' closes with gritty, broken-machine chaos. Together, these EPs make for a powerful emotional and sonic contrast.

Review: Each release on the Vacuity label follows a spiritual journey inspired by the chakra system. This third EP focuses on the solar plexus chakra, which represents self-confidence, action and inner power. Titled 'Chiron Key,' it also references the astrological symbol of healing and resilience and embodies a coming together of spirituality and rhythm that, hope the label, encourages you to connect deeply with your own inner strength through music. Cakkou's 'Missed Call' has tribal techno leads and trippy neon lines and Luca Ruiz's 'Safari FM' is a twitchy and futuristic world of minimal tech with sprawling bass.