Back in stock: Techno (All)

Review: Fred P's latest release 'Singular Point of Focus' EP feels like a late-night journey into the heart of the dancefloor, a space where euphoria meets introspection. From the opening track, it's clear that Fred is steering us toward something deeper than a simple collection of club-ready cuts. His use of augmented vocals adds an otherworldly quality, with tones that feel familiar but are impossible to place. The EP is a masterclass in controlled tension, with each track building in intensity without ever losing its groove. Fred's voice, subtly manipulated, dances through the layers of deep house rhythms, creating a sound that's both timeless and distinctly now. There's a sense that this is music for those who know, for selectors and dancers alike who understand the unspoken rules of the floor. The richness of the sound design - thick basslines, textured pads, and sharp percussion - draws you in, while the overall vibe remains firmly forward-thinking. This isn't just an exercise in nostalgia; Fred P has crafted a record that speaks to the future of house music while honouring its roots. Each track offers something different, from the floor-shaking opener to the more introspective closing cut, making it a perfect addition to any discerning DJ's crate.

Review: Berlin's Exit Strategy began their 12"s game releasing EPs in browned sleeves, shortly before branching out into digital-vinyl combo releases with original artwork in the 2020s. Now with over ten years of experience under their belts, they welcome five new artists for a playful bricolage in deep and minimal techno, privileging elite, razor-sharp additive sound design and future-soulful vocal tasters. Ivory's opener 'Rain' epitomises this, while Jimi Jules squelchifies the same formula, and Aera's 'Future Holdings' rolls out the same logic to its ultimate conclusion, veering towards complex, 3D-graphic melodic techno composed entirely of climbing saws.

Review: Brenda's debut for Rupture LDN is a love letter to the dancefloor in all its phases, from early anticipation to late-night transcendence. Hailing from the UK and embedded in the country's long rave lineage, she draws on 4x4 jungle techno, deep d&b and spoken word to map out a personal and emotional arc. 'Come Undone' captures the energy of the night in full swingirushing breaks, euphoric pressure, the kind of track that commands the room. Elsewhere, 'Benda Brenda' and 'Total Danger' are raw-edged and jungle-rooted, while 'Rolling With Fabio' is deeper and more rolling. It all closes on 'A Deep Shade of Rave (Outro)', a poem dedicated to her long-running Ferry to the Underworld sessions at Corsica Studios. Spiritually full, physically rinsedithis EP nails what it means to live for the rave.