Review: Canadian DJ and producer Marie Davidson returns with her latest single 'Contrarian', a collaboration with Pierre Guerineau and Soulwax, released via the DEEWEE label. Featuring a fierce blend of raw electronics, 'Contrarian' stands out as one of Davidson's strongest club tracks to date. Earlier this year, Davidson made her debut on the iconic DEEWEE imprint with her track 'Y.A.A.M. (Your Asses Are Mine)', reuniting with Soulwax, who had previously remixed her acclaimed anthem 'Work It'. This release continues to showcase her forward-thinking approach to electronic music production.
Review: Spaniard Eduardo De La Calle is one of those producers who have spent their whole musical life exploring a fairly well-defined techno sound yet always managed to find nuance within it. Here he lands on Key Germany with more of his signature belts of heady synths and physical drums. 'Kardama' is a rather edgy one to start then 'Khatvanga' slips into more smooth techno hypnosis. There are alien in his machines and they want you to know about it on 'Kankas' before 'Kala' closes with a peak time, strobe-lit energy that will send hands in the air.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Rave On Time
There's No One Left To Trust
The World Inside
Common Era
Wahr Ist Sie Dann
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
On Rave On Time, her third EP of 2020, Charlotte De Witte giddily pays tribute to the throbbing, warehouse-ready techno sound of her home city of Ghent - and particularly the intense, mind-bending brand particularly associated with R&S Records in the early 1990s. De Witte sets the tone via the razor-sharp and insanely heavy title track, where ragged acid lines and spiky synth stabs leap above a stomping techno groove, before opting for drums, drums and more drums on the restless 'There's No One Left To Trust'. Acid techno is the order of the day on 'The World Inside' and 'Common Era', while triple-time closing cut 'Wahr Ist Sie Dann' is an odd, alien-sounding treat.
Review: Deadbeat, the Montreal-based dub techno maestro, returns to Echocord with a trio of immersive and hypnotic tracks. 'Pressure Double Down' showcases Deadbeat's signature sound, a blend of dub-infused techno and minimal aesthetics that has captivated listeners for over two decades. 'Too Much Pressure' is a 15-minute odyssey through intricate percussion, dubbed-out stabs and psychedelic vocals, its subtly unfurling layers and nuanced dynamism creating a captivating sonic experience. 'Double Bubble' follows with a delicate interplay of chord melodies, sub-bass tones and a crunchy analogue rhythm section, its hypnotic groove drawing the listener into a world of sonic exploration. 'Rattle The Roof Down' closes out the EP with a heavy dose of dub reggae bass, its spacey delays and murky swells adding a layer of hypnotic depth.
Review: Karol Mozgawa is Polish techno talent Deas, and he brings his class to Planet Rhythm here, although it's Ferdinger remix of 'Dissociation' which gets things underway. It's a speedy and supple techno pile-driver with euphoric chords sure to elevate the 'floor. '8 AM' is much more mechanical and industrial with unrelenting drums and textured hooks peeling off the beats. 'Dissociation' in original form is a classic bit of soulful hi-tek Motor City goodness and 'Error' closes with some raved up synth madness and super-sized hi hats.
Review: Deas shows he has plenty of ideas (no? sorry) on this stark and futuristic techno missive from Bau Muzik. 'Red' drops you right into the heart of the dance floor at 4 am with wide eyes, flashy strobes and sweat everywhere. 'Yellow' is another hurried, hunched over, fizzy techno bomb that wrestles you along for the ride whether you like it or not and then things slow touch with the more paired back sounds of 'Black'. It's a wispy and airy blend of loops that move at pace but invite you in rather than pushing you away. 'Blue' is a lithe, funky number that exudes a sense of cool.
Border One - "Organoid" (Jeroen Search remix) (5:47)
Review: Binar's fifth outing looks to a selection of talented remixers to add their own spin to some stylish techno originals. First, it is Decka's 'Alignment' that gets reworked by Efdemin, who we haven't heard from for a while but are glad to do so now. He flips it into a straight-up and smooth techno pumper with fuzzy pads softening the edges. Next, Amotik brings some urgent synth pulses and hunched-up drum funk to 'Remains Mystery' and The Lady Machine remix of 'Run' is all fat, drunken synths tumbling about with jacked-up drums and analogue hits. Jeroen Search brings some signature future cosmic energy to his take on Border One's 'Organoid.'
Frameworks (part 1 & 2 - Don Williams remix) (5:43)
Extract 2021-02 (6:35)
Boiling Point (DisX3 remix) (5:56)
Constant Gravitation (Border One remix) (5:24)
Review: Decka and Roseen’s Imaginary Places Remixed offers a worthy collection of techno remixes that will resonate with any fan of the genre. Side-1 kicks off with the Don Williams remix of 'Frameworks' (Part 1 & 2). This track blends catchy minimalism with a harder, more intense edge, making it an ideal opener. Following it, 'Extract 2021-02' lays down tribal grooves that are both intricate and primal, pulling listeners into a rhythmic trance. On Side-2, the DisX3 remix of 'Boiling Point' delivers a punch with its hard percussive chords and driving, hypnotic rhythm that doesn’t let up. Border One’s remix of 'Constant Gravitation' closes the record with a sci-fi-inspired soundscape, creating a sense of otherworldly tension and movement. Each track on this release is finely tuned to keep energy levels high and the dancefloor moving.
Miss Suave (Laurent Laboratoire Garnier remix) (11:18)
Miss Suave (DJ Gigola vinyl version) (5:39)
Miss Suave (Gerd Janson remix) (5:59)
Review: French techno innovator Laurent Garnier, Berlin's shape-shifting DJ Gigola and German house mainstay Gerd Janson each put their own spin on 'Miss Suave', a cult favourite from Swiss producer Deetron from the early 2000s. Garnier twists it into a deep, acid-tinged Detroit workout, layering hypnotic synth cycles over rolling percussion. DJ Gigola dials up the tension with a stripped-back rave approach, sharpening the groove into something raw and propulsive. Janson, known for his disco-inflected touch, injects a dose of swing and warmth, transforming the track into a fluid, floor-ready mover. Three distinct takes from three essential names, each pushing the original into new territory.
Review: Developer is a core part of the LA underground not just known for his work as a DJ and producer, but also his vital events which have breathed fresh inspiration into the scene. He also heads up the Modularz label and returns to it here with four more future-facing sounds that take techno into new realms. 'Ethnicanz' is rife with eerie synths that have an impish spirit. 'Modetrex' marries firmly rooted and ice-cold drum loops with more evocative synth motifs that lure you in for the chase. 'Viamont' is dense, like being trapped in the midst of a swarm of squawking birds, then 'Panotronix' completes this chilly retro-future offering with more stark synth loops that are unresolved and keep you on edge.
Review: Developer heads up the Modularz label and now returns to it with some increased BPMS and sounds that are more dark and driving, tribal and funk-infused than before. This hugely prolific producer has put out more than 100 records in the last 10 years and always finds new sonic territory to explore each time. 'Hexican 75' kicks off with some blisteringly quick deep techno rhythms, 'When They Come Knocking' is glitchy and dubby and 'She Says She's Good' then taps into more mind-melting synth and drum tapestries before 'Black Oceanz' goes sub aquatic with heavy, rolling drums and shards of light pairing the ocean surface.
Review: The Stay Up Forever label hits release number 13 but there isn't a bit of bad luck in sight - instead, this is a potent EP of eyes-wide techno from Sam DFL who links up with a quartet of different collaborators and aims, it seems, simply to blow your brains. These jams are laden with hard techno tropes and distorted, fuzzy bass as well as video game signifiers, trance-techno pads and bright, visceral, vibrant melodies. Hammer Mode & Sam DFL's 'Bad Time 4 Acid' is a particular standout here for its high speed and compelling acid grooves.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Sonic Intrusion (6:01)
23 Oil Street (5:22)
Sonic Intrusion (Julian Muller remix) (5:28)
Point Zero (5:50)
Curious Concepts (5:24)
Point Zero (Levzon remix) (5:30)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Disguised returns to TRSN with an exhilarating EP that includes standout remixes by MYLE (aka Julian Muller) and Levzon. The Berlin-based duo TRSN is admired for their dynamic and hypnotic soundscapes and continues to captivate and find new creative ground here following the success of their debut album and a remarkable first set on Boiler Room earlier this year. Across this 12" you will hear their signature blend of energy and depth, great use of vocal hooks and fine grass of how to get a 'floor in a frenzy.
Review: Chicago has many legendary figures, but one who stands proud among many is DJ Deeon, a low-end legend and widely considered to be the true Godfather of ghetto house. He dropped this EP originally back in 2013, and it is one of many that soon became classic, which is why it gets this remix from Chiwax. 'Happy' perfectly summarises Deeon's sound - booming and heavyweight kick and drums, smart samples looped perfectly and big hooks. 'The Truth' speeds things up and brings that Ghetto sleaze, and 'R U Sure' is a more minimal sound that still bangs like a heavyweight. 'Gigabytes' is full of caustic synths and blending melodies that bring sheer chaos to the club.
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: Releasing techno that's built for both deep listening and the cavernous expanse of a warehouse dancefloor is something Tresor has prided itself on for over three decades now. The latest release delivers a powerhouse of raw, underground energy with 'Life' by DJ Plant Texture from Bari, Italy, a release that feels perfectly at home on the label. Side-1 opens with 'Ripetitivo' (Stretch Mix), a frantic, sci-fi-infused cut driven by intricate percussion and a relentless tribal groove. 'Seq21' follows with hypnotic, heavy underground techno, pulling the listener into its deep, looping vortex. Closing the side, 'Cycles' introduces a rolling bassline and ravey intensity, demanding attention while maintaining a deep, driving rhythm. On Side-2, 'WTT' (Dub Mix) stands out as a massive bangerideep, tribal and hedonistic with an incessant pulse that locks dancers into its grip. Finally, the title track Life delivers a pounding finish, embodying the raw, uncompromising energy that defines this release. An intense experience that balances hypnotic depth with peak-time firepowerianother essential entry in Tresor's legacy of underground techno.
DJ Shufflemaster & Go Hiyama - "Salasa Geometric" (5:20)
Bartig Move - "Asistencia" (5:12)
Tensal - "Esbar" (6:54)
Aocram - "Dreams In NYC" (6:41)
Review: Mord has put together a bumper collection of 17 searing techno cuts as part of its Herdersmat compilation but is also seeing up four at a time on individual 12"s. There is no messing with Part 41 which opens with DJ Shufflemaster & Go Hiyama's ear-splitting, brain frazzling 'Salasa Geometric'. Bartig Move opts for a much more minimal and roomy sound on the rolling 'Asistencia' then Tensal picks up the pace once more with the rusty loops and broken beats of 'Esbar'. Aocram's 'Dreams In NYC' is a swamp, depraved closer for late night mischief.
Zarate-Fix & DJ Sotofett - "Dub State Looped" (8:15)
DJ Sotofett - "My Spirit Is Looped" (0:28)
Ronny Nyheim - "EXP" (DJ Sotofett Lockmix) (2:03)
DJ Sotofett - "Hats Loop 1" (0:37)
DJ Sotofett - "Stab Loop 1" (0:26)
DJ Sotofett - "Beater Loop 1" (1:08)
L.A.2000 & DJ Sotofett - "1st Wave Fusion" (9:49)
DJ Sotofett - "Preparation Looped" (0:33)
Review: The wonderfully idiosyncratic DJ Sottofett is back with more of his leftfield magic alongside Ronny Nyheim, Zarate_Fix and LA 2000. This outing on WANIA is a special release with alternative mixes and non-album tracks from the upcoming WANIA mk1 double album. 'Dubquartz' opens up with rattling dub techno, 'Dub State Looped' is a slow motion and heavyweight dub with rusty chords and then comes a seizes of loose for adventurous DJ fun such as the scratchy vocal of 'My Spirit Is Looped' and frosted hi-hats of 'Hats Loop 1'. '1st Wave Fusion' is the standout with its cinematic synths and widescreen grooves.
Review: Strap in for a bracing and exhilarating ride just before Christmas with this new and fierce outing from DJ Speedsick. It's hard techno in its most pure form right from the first beat, with 'A Sort Of Schizophrenic Feeling' blazing a raw, textured trail. 'Execution Style' is another dark one with a crisp broken beat and reverb-heavy bass, 'History Of Overreacting' is a moody late-night menacer and 'Death Reversed' is train-track techno with smart filters. 'God Willing' shuts down with a bang and pure dance floor power.
Review: Robert Drewek vs Tomie Nevada's 'Time 4 More' EP was originally released on Unleash Records in 2005. Nine years on and Rawax are reissuing it on black wax and the tunes sound as good as ever. 'While He's Away' is a slick blend of garage-infused house drums and warm synth pulses with catchy vocal samples that bring a hint of old school. On the flip is 'Down With the Bass' which flips the script with a stripped back and militant but silky groove, dubby pads and a head's down vibe that really hypnotises.
Review: With over 15 years of history behind it, Detroit's Cryovac label is run by producer Andy Garcia - who also happens, conveniently enough, to be an employee of the local pressing plant, Archer Record Pressing. They've released countless V/A and split 12"s, inevitably of high quality, with this one being no exception. Divided between Drivetrain on Side-1 and a certain A Garcia & M Kretsch on Side-2, it achieves a dynamic equilibrium between foundational Motor City sounds and inventive exploration and innovation. Drivetrain's '3am' is a driving electro-infused track that merges funky rhythms with melodic touches, crafting an atmosphere that is futuristic and engaging. 'Discipline' follows, bringing a raw, classic techno energy that feels timeless, with its steady groove serving as a reminder of the genre's impactful origins. The flip sees Garcia & Kretsch delve into different sonic territories. 'Ai_me' pulses with influences from Detroit and Chicago's late 80s underground, delivering a rhythm that's robust and propulsive. Rounding out the EP is 'Squeaker', a brooding piece that creates an unsettling yet intriguing landscape, blending eerie tones with an alien-like ambiance. Bridging techno's historical essence with forward-thinking creativity, this release's balance of nostalgia and innovation ensures it will resonate with listeners from across eras.
Review: Detroit Assembly Line kicks off with a powerful statement of intent, delivering four tracks of raw, intense techno from two key figures in the Detroit underground scene. A-side, Drivetrain opens with 'People!'ia relentless track that drives forward with uncompromising energy, followed by 'Notech,' which layers intricate rhythms with a futuristic edge. Over on the B-side, Antwon Faulkner brings the deep, dubby feel of 'The Dub,' before turning up the heat with 'Cyber War,' a hard-hitting track that packs all the urgency of Detroit's signature sound. This is the first release in the Detroit Assembly Line seriesia collection built to showcase the unfiltered, authentic noise of Detroit's techno legacy. It's a no-nonsense manifesto, made to remind the world of the city's continuing influence on the global underground.
Review: Kazerne is a label that deals in techno with no punches pulled. It's heart-of-the-dance floor, warehouse-ready tackle that fires every synapse in your body. Alexey Dunchyk very much taps into that aesthetic with his Dark Therapy EP. 'Uncontrolled Emotion' is dark and driving techno with caustic textures and walloping great hits. 'Barmaley' is a menacing and sludgy subterranean ouster will all manner of sleazy sound designs and 'Doom Mantra' then locks you into a tunnelling bit of automated looped techno. There is more wildness to the drum patterns of 'Specific Objects' and a pure bit of bunker funk defines 'Crime Planning'.
Review: Acquit is a super under-the-radar label that has been making some great moves in recent times. DX 9's 'Incoming Signal' is further proof of that. It's a Detroit-referencing techno outing with the sort of chord work that gets you lost deep in through while the bulky drums lock you into an intergalactic trip. The G-Prod remix brings prickly and kinetic electro beats, while the Taho remix is awash with celestial synth work and cosmic melody. 'Decoded Signal 1' is a final original that has more kick and but still plenty of machine soul. This sweet 10" is limited to 200 copies so move fast.
Dynamic Forces are indeed on show in this slamming new slab from Arts. There is a real sense of control to the opener 'Lyra' despite its forward motion and punchy kicks, while 'Vaulting' gets much wilder and looser with its manic synth lead and raw onset of percussive pressure. Switching up things once more, 'Parallel' is a dubby techno tool and 'Shimmer' reverts to the careful tweaking of a deft lead synth over incendiary beats. 'Radiant' and 'Meraki' bring more raved-up and bouncy peak-time techno fun. This is a very useful and varied 12".
Review: A Pleistocene Future may be one in which we regress to an epoch that begun almost 2.58 million years ago, but that doesn't deter the eponymous label from imagining such throwbacks as advantageous, nor from continuing to hook up mad amphibious techno jawns from producer duo Dyanmic Forces. Made up of two Brunos, Di Berardino and Ruggieri, Dynamic Forces make their Pleistocene debut here, springboarding off of four similarly rugged 2024 EPs for a fifth, wet and wriggling new four-tracker. The show-stealers on this one are 'Resolve' and 'Holding Out', both flipside aerators that wield an effortless sonic blend, adding squeezings of bandpassed bruxism, niggling arp goodness and a dash of techno industrial complexity.
Review: Dynamic Forces' The Pain To Refuse on TH Tar Hallow is a stellar homage to late 90s techno. Side-1 opens with 'Refuse' (String mix), featuring a heavy beat complemented by dramatic strings reminiscent of Purpose Maker's epic sound. 'Self Surrender (MStr-1ng)' follows with classic UK techno vibes akin to Surgeon. On Side-2 there is 'Raw Voltage Rhythms,' a track focused on heavy rhythms and chord-driven warehouse techno. Closing the EP is 'Helix,' the darkest of the bunch, offering a brooding and intense atmosphere. Each track perfectly captures the essence of 90s techno flavours.
Review: Kerrie's latest proprietorship is the Dark Machine Funk label, to which the Irish DJ and producer brings the weirder ends of techno. Proudly presenting the new K-llab series, Kerrie is here heard partnering with some of her favourite ever artists, offering a fresh take on the sounds and creative processes of each collaboration. Here the collab of choice is Italian duo Dynamic Forces, known for their heavy, old-school-leaning, industrial-influenced techno. The latter artist's 'Moralism' leads the charge with an unsettlingly slippery wonky techno tune agog with stinger plucks resembling horror movie pizzicati, while Kerrie's own 'Good Intentions' betrays perhaps less felicitous outcomes, utilising consequent, spirally leads and all-encompassing synth buzzes of the sinister variety.
Review: Fierce electronic mavericks LNS & DJ Sotofett deliver a thrilling two-tracker that's built for serious warehouse action. The A-side is a teeth-clenching, bassline-driven beast that is raw, gritty and euphoric with static rhythms, stabbing synths and a halftime arpeggio breakdown that erupts into dreamy pads. On the flip, DJ Sotofett's 'Buzzy Breaker' starts minimal with just kicks, stabs and dubs, then morphs into a breakbeat monster with polyrhythmic tension and soaring pads underpinned with jungle-inflected drops. Both tracks harness deep, hypnotic repetition while sounding bold and system-ready so make for techno with real weight but also edge and purpose that results in high class DJ and dancer tackle.
Review: Chris Liberator's experimental techno label Maximum/Minimum forms part of the Stay Up Forever Collective umbrella, which has been going for a heck of a long time (since 1995-ish), charting untouched terrains of teratological UK hardcore techno. An offshoot imprint dedicated to the "creative corruptions" of the Stay Up Forever crew, Liberator and co. would originally release these ones without catalogue numbers, that is until the market beseeched them to behave more conventionally. Now, well past their 65th V/A release, comes their latest, a decapitatory pummeller fronted by Sonico's 'Did You Say Acid?' and Zyco Seon's 'Citric Frequencies'.
Review: For the seventh V/A EP to be released by the label, End Of Perception welcome four new artists aboard their fleet; Orbe, dc11, Viels and Peryl. Each artist bringing a respective techno cogjammer to the record, the sound laid out throughout is nonetheless thoroughly misty and wayward; 'Raster' and 'Caduta Nel Vuoto' both sound like probing rovers navigating the treacherous topsoils of some far-off darkened exoplanet without breathable air; the B-side moves more subterranean, its grooves toothier and clearer-headed, as though we'd found a pocket of oxygen under a rock, yet also unfortunately the the object of predation by a wriggling, scuttling alien that's made said rock its home.
Ramon Tapia - "Fear" (Dynamic Forces remix) (5:05)
Review: Netherlands techno titan Planet Rhythm goes full percussive gas giant on their latest V/A, 'Friction', a motorsport motivator full of accelerometric elan - one of several V/As to grace their revving catalogue in recent times. Ramon Tapia leads the motorcade with 'Friction', a stabbing aerator full of overtop claps and rims, while Louis Lp's 'Radioactivity' unsettles with its seething high ringing and affectively isolated chord-stab-melody. Deas' 'Hard Dreams' nods to the real, unshakeably material core of dreams, with its rancorous full-tone acids, while Ramon Topia closes with 'Fear', a restless, chord-throttling, hard trancey, speed demonic rally racer.
Review: Eindhoven underground acidcore distributor and label Flatlife generate yet another mind-melter for the nitty masses, supercolliding tracks by four of the foremost DJs come sound-summoners on the subterranean scene. Flatlife have dispatched rapid-response rave Apaches since 2009, and A-siders 'Septic' and 'Lord Of Darkness' bring a fittingly mid-noughts feel to things, during which time the roughage of hard dance fused with the encroaching gloss and finesse that came with digital sound tech that defined the decade. The mood is horrific, with 'Saure' climaxing to apocalyptic, territorial levels through waspish yamps and kick crushings, while the aggro is not lost on the ensuing 'Out Of Order', somehow the most relaxed of the four.
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