Review: There's lots to get your teeth stuck into on this new and blistering collection of electro from Adepta Editions. And don't let the title fool you - it's not all accessible summer festival fare, in fact none of it is. It is all head down and serious tackle. 7053M4R14's '4 N3W HUM4N' is a driving, dark, visceral sound with raw breakbeats powering through the cosmos. Rec_Overflow offers a moment to catch your breath with some slower, dubby rhythms on 'Pocket Dial' and Pauk explores twitchy future synths capes and post-human transmissions on 'Shiawasena Fukushu'. Promising/Youngster shuts down with a sense of optimism and hope with the airy melodies and slithering electro drum patterns of 'Arbey.'
Review: If you like your techno slung at you in emotive waves, look no further than Alarico's latest LP. Releasers Primal Instinct speak as if to restore to techno its very essence by describing an asymptote of techno, one that must be held fast to or lost: "complex and groovy patterns generated by advanced, yet organic sound design, unifying the two antipodes that create the essence of techno: primitivism and innovation." Alarico's record is an exemplary egg of this principle, hatched from within the PI hutch: over the span of two years, many of these tunes come culled from the Milanese producer's live performances, and prefer reams of wavy emotion amid hard pummellings. Unlike many of his peers, Alarico is unafraid of varying the tonal centre, interceding stark and heavy drum design with moving progressions, yet not indulging overt tranciness, as on the drowned world of 'Mezcal & Sangre' or the opening vibe-promulgator 'Iruka'.
Review: ANAZANAUT is a time-bending audio artefact stitched together from decades of disparate sonic moments. With recordings spanning from 1984 to 2024, the techno project feels like a cosmic scrapbook-fragmented memories reborn through meticulous remixing and remastering. From the icy atmospherics of 'Voice on the Air' to the vintage grit of 'Poacher Path (Extended Mix),' these tracks vibrate with echoes of past lives stitched together by a logic only time understands. ANAZANAUT doesn't follow a linear path; it loops, folds, and bends with compelling grooves and myriad occult sounds adding character and curiosity.
Art Fact - "Rain In The South" (Francesco Farfa & Hamsa remix) (7:17)
Hamsa & Luca Piermattei - "Mystic Perc" (6:05)
Roberto Manolio - "Blue Yes" (6:40)
Review: Musek return for another V/A release, flaunting their artists' variegated hitmaking capacities. Fronting the release is a wonderful rework of Stockholm trio Art Fact's 'Rain In The South' from 1989, to which Francesco Farfa and Hamsa bring extra electronic-bodyweight to an originally dripping synth tune. A mystical mood is continually proferred across 'Mystic Perc' through to 'Blue Yes' by Roberto Manolio, traversing chime tinglings, acid breaks and dreamy vocals: "pretty blue eyes... you're mesmerised... don't look to hard... you may never come back from that..."
Review: Hand-wringing nighttime synth-Talo movements from B Ai, the curtly named new Lirica Archives signee and Motivation club night founder, based in China. While she opens this hat-trick of tracks with a rather functional, FM-driven drama, 'Hope', it's really the Diego Santana featurer 'Murderbot Diaries' that gets us going; the track breaks down into a supremely lasery, tubular, harmonically next-level strobing, conjuring alt-visions of a seedy but gaudy cyborg entertainment district. B-sider 'Once' Tron-ifies things with sweeping sines and popcorn leads, whilst 'Only We Know' utilises transitory crash cymbals and further slinky melodies, constructing a closing tech-funk number.
Review: Deeper shades of a finely sifted pedigree. Irish label Appian Sounds, helmed up by Al Blayney, champion only winnowed techno sounds, not threshed. A welcome international team huddle in, with these six artists from locales as far-flung as Amsterdam and Valencia contributing the likes of 'Tsuneo' and 'Persist'. The tunes verge melodic as they move through and beyond jankiness, distending die-cut acids and subtly synthetic humanisations, especially in the percussion department. 'Fuego' is the zen roshi's choice, its gaffered, glass-smithed pads topping off a naturalistic percussive surging forward, one best experienced with your eyes closed.
Review: Call Super delivers a superb telecommunication in the form of 'Swallow Me'. We're not sure why Call Super wants us to ingest him, but we're not going to question it too much. The new track samples Kamala Sankaram's performance at the final Resonant Bodies festival in New York in 2019. "In Ancient Greek, ololyga is the ritual shriek of women, a sound so alarming to men that it could not be uttered within their earshot" - goes the liner text. Sonically, Mr. Super blends the ololyga with Hebden-esque shuffles and glossy dance schlop, building a deeply resonant tune sure to kill egos the world over.
Review: Tom Carruthers takes the baton for Clone Jack For Daze here and in doing so offers up more of his irresistibly jacked-up jams. Each one distils plenty of classic tropes next to a keen eye for futurism with no-nonsense sound designs and hints of bleep techno all colouring the airwaves. 'Analysis' opens with a blend of bristling analogue beats and smooth chords, 'Confidential' has warped synth bass adding a dark edge and 'Lurk' is another menacing sound with eerie pads. 'Optic 2X' is a thumping closer with mystic atmospheres encouraging deep thought.
Review: Here's an interesting proposition: two new takes on one of Italo-disco's most celebrated tunes, Charlie's throbbing, synthesizer-powered 1983 masterpiece 'Spacer Woman'. Valentino Kanzayani steps up first, delivering an epic, 11-minute interpretation that subtly beefs up the beats and stretches out the spacey, arpeggio-driven groove before finishing on a lengthy, loved-up ambient section. Dana Ruh's flipside remix is a little more revolutionary, with punchy electro beats, a brand new, TB-303 driven bassline and undulating acid lines underpinning deep space chords, slowly shifting electronic motifs and snippets of the original vocal. It's tastefully done and pleasingly different, which is what you want from modern remixes of classic cuts.
Review: Techno doesn't come much more pure and effective than when it is served up by the Planet Rhythm label. At the helm of this fresh serving is Creznight. He goes straight in at the deep end with the muscular drum funk and tightly lopped vocal fragments of 'With You' which soon get you banging the walls. 'March on Mars' is just as direct but funky with warm and punchy kicks triggering percussive rolls and smeared synths. 'Backstab' shows no let up in the drum pressure but does have a more deft melodic touch that allows in some light and 'Instinct' shuts down with more well designed loops, a hint of 90s minimalism and a taught bassline that keeps things moving at pace.
Review: La Nota Del Diablo welcomes Lugano's rising talent Matthew Dexter with a diabolical two-tracker, showcasing the producer's extensive skills in balancing rich synthesis, intricate construction, drive and ethereal atmospheres, leaning towards the darkened dancefloor. From the opening sonic droughts and glitching judders of 'Arid Land', to the B-side's mendicant mirage, 'Sands Of The Nomad', this is a highly spirited oasis of an EP, despite the name.
Review: Stefano Di Carlo' delivers a diverse mix of upbeat, energetic techno tracks perfect for the dancefloor. The first side kicks off with the Andy Perfetti Tribal City remix of Mad DJ, an uptempo burner with a catchy lead hook that immediately hooks the listener, setting the stage for high-energy vibes. The Alex Neri DJ Mad remix takes things in a more trance-like direction, with euphoric, psychedelic elements that create a distinct uplifting feel while maintaining a strong club rhythm. On Side-2, 'The Conversion' brings a vintage, rave-inspired melodic sound, with a nostalgic yet fresh feel. Finally, the original 'Mad DJ' track offers an otherworldly, alien vibe, with early 90s techno influences and a surprising house twist. Di Carlo's ability to blend different styles and eras offers something for both old-school techno lovers and those craving a more modern, experimental edge.
Untrodden Path (Fixon & Gene Richards Jr remix) (5:55)
Review: Rudderless techno from Mexico, with saloon-door-swinging establishment ANAOH pulling the secret strings on a sand-caked standoff between producers Dig-it, Bailey Ibbs, Fixon and Gene Richards Jr. Each artist remixing one of three "Paths" outlaid by producer Dig-it, said to be one of the toughest productive techno sharpshooters in Mexico, we find ourselves sizing up and refereeing a mean faceoff here. The remixes are as soiled as the snout of a intelligence-issue mechanical mole, but Dig-it's original 'Untrodden Path' is itself wickedly textured and dextrous, with no end of classic 808s worked between percy knocks and suspended chordwork. Is there any apprehending this outlaw?
Ready When You Are (feat Hugh Newman - previously unreleased) (6:55)
Osho Drums (5:24)
Figments Of Reality (Trance mix) (5:29)
Review: Seb Taylor is a veteran of the UK's coastal psychedelic and goa trance circuit, operating under many a name but none doing so much justice to the sound as that which came out as Digitalis. Madrid's Organic Signs know this, and have set about paying tribute to Taylor's influence with a sequel release to 1998's The Third State LP. Its psycho-spiritual successor, The Fourth State now makes up a pair, both of which are ascendant trance trouncers, aural aids for the psychonaut music fan's life's work of escaping systems of global social control.
Review: A three-track journey through meticulously crafted linear techno. Kicking off with the title song, the sci-fi groove, pulsates with a hypnotic energy perfect for main floors in the techno club. The production feels futuristic yet grounded, drawing listeners into a deep, atmospheric rhythm. On the flip side, 'Engine' intensifies the vibe with its crisp, addictive production. The track evokes an alien world, its steady beat anchored by sharp, precision-driven elements that build a sense of both tension and release. Closing with 'Cali', the EP takes a detour into ambient territory, offering a spacey, atmospheric experience. This one has you feeling like drifting through the cosmosiits sounds evoke a sense of weightless movement, accompanied by abstract noises that conjure imagery of space junk and distant space flights. Each track offers a different layer of sonic exploration.
Review: Something is stirring deep down beneath; after lying dormant for some time, Clone's Aqualung Series is revived in order to facilitate another round of Drexciya-related goodness. Dedicated solely to the various works of Drexciya man Gerald Donald, the Aqualung label has been used sparingly by Clone since it was established in 2009 so the arrival of a new release is somewhat surprising and, more to the point, most welcome. As the title suggests, Black Sea / Wavejumper (Aqualung Versions) presents alternate takes on the Drexciya favourites and wedged inbetween is a brilliantly grotty unreleased track in "Unknown Journey XI". Another fine Drexciya document from Clone.
Review: Swedish label Borft has been digging in its archives again to assemble another volume of what it sees as its most classic cuts. And we don't disagree with these, which are taken from releases that originally landed between 1998 and 1999. Egglady's- 'Prinsessan Och Agget 1' is well-swung and deftly dubbed out with lovely analogue drum sounds cutting through. Nikolas Rowland's 'Headspin' is another smooth one with molten chords and a firm low-end drive. 'Puffy Nipples' from Kord is a wonky number with an unhinged charm and stomping groove that will stand out in any set while Crinan closes with the classy and raw house, dub and tech fusion that is 'Suit 61'.
Review: Fabio Caria launches his new label, Hoops, as a means to explore the intersection of house and techno through a minimalist lens. The debut release is a collaboration with Hubble under the moniker Fabble and it's a fine one with three meticulously crafted tracks that manage to perfectly balance compelling rhythms with plenty of synth-based introspection. 'Catharsis' introduces a three-note Rhodes piano sequence with flowing pads and psychedelic synths and 'Donald' offers a steady 4/4 beat with sombre pads and powerful sub-bass. 'Persignis' with Italian legend Claudio PRC is the most dancefloor-driven with processed pianos creating an emotional mood and in all, this EP sets a nice high watermark for the Hoops label.
Review: Luigi Tozzi and Feral join forces on Aube Rouge for a seriously deep outing. The pair cook up four collaborative tracks that are sure to appeal to fans of techno stylists like Dozzy and Neel, such is the deftness of the designs and the heady, hypnotic nature of the rhythms. 'Neon' is first and is all sub-aquatic sound and rolling drums. 'Enigma' keeps you in a hypnotic state with subtle bell loops over pulsing drums and bass and the flip is no less involving: 'Third Eye' is minimal, ambient laced deep techno sophistication and 'Trip No Trip' rounds out with a little more propulsion but no less a cinematic design.
Review: Corsican label Isula Science drop a fresh brooder of previously unknown electro knowns, this time from label founder Flash FM alongside HDV, Sweely and Man/ipulate. Spanning vertiginous dark acid, then moving on through to dreamatic neon breakbeat and expedient Italo - 'Vol de nuit' especially makes signature use of a classic slap bass synth - they've got us entirely covered here. Enticing bumps in the night from the exquisitors.
Review: Foehn & Jerome's Hermanngirl EP delivers four standout tracks perfect for house club sets. On Side-1, the title track 'Hermanngirl' offers a smooth blend of tech and minimal house, ideal for late-night or early-morning sessions. 'New Kontrol' follows with a techy, uptempo vibe and a wicked bassline that makes it a tech house bomb. Side-2 opens with 'Mrs Eleven' (Tell My Wife mix), which seamlessly blends techno and house with a catchy melody that will stay with you. The final track, 'He Was A Boy,' features an infectious acid line and a great bounce and bubble, making it a perfect dancefloor filler. This EP is excellent and ideal for fans of minimal and tech house. These underground tracks are what DJ's search for. Check these out!
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Dub Regulator (4:44)
Wired Version (4:14)
Thin Dub (5:51)
Chemical (version) (5:52)
Dub Craft (2:25)
Lobotomy (version) (5:10)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Ghost Dubs aka. Michael Fiedler returns to pile on the Pressure. Following recent acclaim-gatherer Damaged, this extension of the LP further serves to distend the dub, surveying and excavating fossil-rich terrains of soiled bass and coarse texture. Six reconstructed dub reformations, only two tracks, ';Chemical Version' and 'Wired Version', were previously available digitally; both introduce the record as warped yet unassuming undercuts, ripe for the meditating-to. 'Thin Dub' dissolves the mood into an echo-drenched texture; the track is marked by an up-down, contradistinct set of tuned impacts. 'Dub Craft', meanwhile, snatches the crown for most subby tune of the year.
Review: GiGi FM continues to shape out the sound of her Sea Rene label with another round of intricate, distinctive techno workouts which speak to her non-conformist style. 'Gabriella' is a fierce, uptempo cut with tumbling percussion that feels indebted to a Motor City energy, capped off with some dramatic jazz piano flex which is frankly spine-tingling. 'Tempelhof' has a lighter feel, even as the densely packed drums continue to drive the track forwards at a rate of knots, while 'Awakening The World's Heart' maintains the pressure by balancing sizzling hats and low end thrum with gorgeous streaks of arpeggio and a restless, infectious joie de vivre. High impact techno with a delicate soulfulness - this is truly outstanding stuff.
Review: Uruguay has been a low-key hotspot for new school techno and house for sometime. Adding its own voice into the mix for the first time here is new label Ascendancy with a debut EP from Arturo Hernzama. 'Charamusca' is tough, industrial but also astral tech with stark hits and motorised bass. 'Pichikatero' is a little more loose with wonky basslines and shimmering sci-fi synths. There is a spaced-out and trance-inducing magic to the thumping beats of 'Chucaro' and 'Break Manada' closes on a fresh and crisp broken beat.
Review: Imperieux - or Alper Durmush to use the Bulgarian-raised, Berlin-based producer's real name - is not one to follow the crowd, as his debut CD on the always excelling Macro label testifies. He's clearly versed in a number of electronic sub-sets, from breakbeat to techno and bass music, but the ten tracks here follow very much their own path. Not that it's some way-out-leftfield experiment. Durmush clearly knows how to construct a decent groove - see the gliding opener 'Fo Pio'. Our favourite? Possibly the choppy breaks of 'Almost Had It', or the sheer hypnotics of 'Phase Rotation'. But there's no weak links here, just a producer well versed in the spectrum of dance production and, even more importantly, how to make it work for him.
Review: Innershades delivers a nostalgic techno experience with The Beat EP on Impakto Records, channeling the essence of New Beat and Belgian proto-techno. The EP kicks off with 'The Beat,' a track that sets the tone with its driving rhythms and classic synthesiser textures. The 'Ibiza Mix' of 'The Beat' offers a sun-soaked, slightly more relaxed take, perfect for summer nights. On Side-2, 'What's To Come' dives into deep, atmospheric sounds, showcasing a blend of old-school synths and modern techno elements. The EP concludes with 'It's 1990,' a tribute to the era with punchy beats and an authentic retro vibe. Using iconic gear like the Roland TB-303 and SH-101, Innershades crafts a timeless set that resonates with fans of vintage techno.
Review: Jooice, yet another sublabel of London-based proggy dance and electro label Lirica Archives, drop a swell new dark acid trance release collectively smithed by five sound-stokers: J6, Christian Sarde, Aline Umber, Krol and Otis. Each titans in their respective scenes (between which there is much crossover on this release), the overarching mood is one of renegade sci-fi escapism and revolution, with glitching, quivering robo-vocals and technic, sciencey sound-tunnellings aplenty.
Review: After a couple of hot and heavy drops from Nuclear Waster on Unusual Systems sub label Impakto, it's the turn of Jacky Meurisse Project to bring the energy with some muscular workouts which split the difference between house-spirited sass and ominous techno pressure. The MIDI brass weaving through 'Diskoteka' gives a little warmth to an otherwise imposing workout, while 'Crystal (Dub Mix)' leans in on crunchy synths with an industrial feel. 'In Da Place' revels in unabashed Goa trance lead lines which will go down a storm with any contemporary dance party, and 'Are You Real?' turns back towards that housey thump thanks to an addictive DX7 organ bassline primed for maximum satisfaction.
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