Review: Emerald's 25th outing takes the form of another superb compilation with four artists who have already released on the label and plenty of new names making an equally good impression. ANNE kicks off with the deep, thudding kicks of 'Coral Reefs' complete with lush hits to smooth the groove. There is more weight and intensity to the oversized hi-hats ringlets on Mike Konstantinidis's 'Apocalypse', DJ Plant Texture layers in plenty of gritty and grime to his gritty 'Swingers' and Jarrod Yeates goes for a twisted after-party vibe on his intense and unrelenting 'Sesh Gremlin', with many more highlights besides.
Review: OMEN Recordings's next release is a big one that unites Axkan and Duellist on the same slab of wax. They take care of one side each and we're told the inspiration for their sounds was making a "shared response to the turmoil of global conflicts." Duellist kicks off and suggests with his offerings that he is anxious, unsettled and in fight mode because 'Oxidative Stress' is front-foot techno with monstrous bass energy. 'Stains Of Time' is another one with brash drums and perc and plenty of tension, then Axkan offers the hypotonic loops of 'Warfare' and broken beat menace of 'Thermobaric.
Happy707 - "Where Does That Noise Come From" (4:28)
Review: Menacing EBM and dark synth billows from a Netherlands hinterland; our heralds speak of an esoteric encampment by the name of Espectro Oculto, said to be the remote incantators of an unstoppable curse in sound. Six shadowy emissaries have been sent to spread the pestilence; Trenton Chase, Martial Canterel, DJ Nephil, Exhausted Modern, Fragedis and Happy707. Clearly, the faction have recruited only the best, trusted and yet most nefarious of spies from as far-flung regions as Czechia and Argentina in the administering of such a sordid sonic plague. We're left most quivery at the centrifugal doom drones of Exhausted Modern's 'Fear Of Focus', across whose breakdown banshees are heard wailing and snarling, and Fragedis' 'Landing In Reality', a lo-fi techno freakout and sonochemical anomaly, channeling militant two-way radio samples and hellish FM synthesis.
Review: The Spanish Hypnotic Collective label attempts to capture its take on the Detroit Legacy with what looks like a new series of various artists' EP. There is plenty of Motor City soul in the gorgeous synths of Cignol's muted acid and deep house opener 'Distance' which is a soothing and reverential groove, but then its pure party from Barce, Alex Martin offers up 313 style tech and three further tunes on the flip explore blistering electro with high-speed funk and cosmic intent. Mission accomplished and we're already looking forward to the next one.
Review: Dagobert & Kalson deliver the third instalment of their serial Stellar Mode project, which sticks out like a rogue planet amid a sea of drab and unremarkable stylistic orbiters. This four-track cosmic fulguration consists of two tracks by each artist, and is notable for its ultra-glossy action-packed ambient breaks content; they've just done something wonderfully extra to the sound here, treating each element like exoplanetary objects of study and refinement. As Kraftwerkish sequences and ambient soundscapes collide with planetary ring systems of bass and plucksynth, what's not to love here?
Review: Dajusch brings the rave to CROWD here with some feral techno beaters that will get floors going mental. 'No Mas' is lit up with euphoric vocals and trance-y pads that are impossible to ignore. 'Ambition' has barreling beats that fizz with texture and are topped by nimble chords that dance about the mix. 'Split' is another one overflowing with energy and dusty analogue edges while '36G' shuts down with a tunnelling lead and bouncy low end. This is full fat techno with real machine soul.
Review: Here is the third and final chapter of the 'Systema Naturae' series on Berlin-based 012, with fresh deep techno visions from newcomers such as Daniel(i) from Belgium (Whispering Signals) who ventures into foreboding and murky territory on the off-kilter journey of 'Carabus', and there's the return of Greek producer Alex Tomb who gets into some hypnotic minimal techno on 'Paradisaea'. Elsewhere, Leipzig-based Kontinum pushes into full mental overdrive on the strobing cut 'Octandria' and finally you have the collaboration between Mary Yuzovskaya and label head Claudio PRC titled 'Marmor' which perfectly nails that ethereal Sound Of Rome vibe.
Review: Two underground artists with many years in the scene behind them in Darwin Chamber and DJ Spun come together for the second in their Episode series on Rong Music. Once again they dig into the sounds of their formative years while also looking to the future as they blend dub, trance and techno into lithe new forms. 'The Revolution' is a mid-tempo and atmospheric roller with hypnotic vocals, while 'The Playa' is a deft bit of electronic minimalism with a deep space feel and ticking 808 sounds. Things get more loose with the warped synths and dusty tech beats of 'Dysfunction' while 'Acid Tounge' closes with trippy designs, a skeletal rhythm and a sense of late-night melodic and afterparty mischief.
Review: Darwin Chamber and DJ Spun unite for a bold four-tracker here that draws on all their decades of experience to push the boundaries of trance and techno. This self-titled release is nostalgic without sacrificing innovation and opens with 'Find The Missing Letter,' a dub-tinged techno builder with hypnotic synths. 'Digits' follows with relentless beats and dark, robotic energy. The sultry 'Do It All Night' anchors the EP with a seductive groove, while 'Ants' closes with mid-tempo warmth and acidic undertones. Combining Darwin Chamber's engineering expertise and DJ Spun's club culture mastery, this one is perfectly pitched for dancefloor mayhem.
Review: It's been a few years since the rebrand of Super Furry Animals was announced. Doyens of the 1990s indie rock circus renowned for their consistently alternative and innovative contributions to a scene that was at constant risk of running out of ideas, while die hard fans and anyone who was actually there at the time will expound for days on the timeless merits of fare like Fuzzy Logic, Radiator and Guerrilla, a few decades on re-emerging as Das Koolies and rebooting does make perfect sense. First unveiled in 2019, the project is now Huw 'Bunf' Bunford, Cian Ciaran, Dafydd Ieuan and Guto Pryce's baby, Gruff Rhys still left to his own groundbreaking devices. While that may imply a weakening of the team sheet, Das Koolies proves how much talent ran through the SFA lineup. This EP is a case in point, blending synth wave, post punk, and dark pop in the title track alone, it's a veritable box of delights to unpack.
Review: Trident is dropping a couple of top EPs this month. One is from Derrek Carr, and one is this double white 12" that finds Deltamaxx and O En One join forces. They take us on a storytelling trip through cosmic techno that varies in mood and tempo. 'Conexxion' rides a nice rubbery, bumpy groove with incidental and wispy synth sounds, then 'Delta Pavonis' seems to soundtrack a beach party up amongst the stars. There are darker, more heady cuts like 'Donnager' and icy electro cinematics on 'Isonoe' to make for a worthy collection of sounds that work on the dancefloor and beyond.
Review: Enjoy The Silence, Depeche Mode's standout single from Violator, marked a significant moment in the band's career, becoming their most successful UK single since 'Master & Servant' in 1984. 'Enjoy The Silence' captured both critical and public acclaim, peaking at number six in the UK charts and achieving top spots in Denmark and Spain, as well as reaching number eight in the US. The 12" version is beloved by fans with the myriad of great remixes the song provided. This new yellow vinyl version helps meet the demand of an always desirable dance record. The single's success earned Depeche Mode their first Brit Award for Best Single of 1990. This newfound positivity extended to the subsequent reception of Violator, solidifying 'Enjoy The Silence' as an iconic track in Depeche Mode's discography. The song continues to be celebrated for its brooding, tender qualities, and its ability to resonate with audiences globally as well as the iconic video.
Before We Drown (Chris Avantgarde extended remix) (5:43)
Before We Drown (AC Wet remix) (3:59)
People Are Good (Indira Paganotto Psy remix) (9:29)
People Are Good (AC Fool remix) (6:45)
Review: The fifth edition of Depeche Mode's Memento Mori white label remixes series hears four new remixes added to the post-hoc vinyl selection, offered to the world after the release of the synthpop pioneers' most recent eponymous album. Beginning with the demure atmospherics of Chris Avantgarde's 'Before We Drown', then into two propulsive, audio-brut experimental downtempo versions by AC, but not before a brilliant pystrance B1 by Indira Paganotto, which makes for a squarely sagacious sendoff.
Review: Depeche Mode's 'Wagging Tongue' was first released in 2023 as the star number from the indelible synthpop band's comeback album and swansong, Memento Mori. Something of downtempo musical elegy, the original track is a crisp exercise in melancholy uplift, colliding the band's usual synthetic arpeggiations with grass-is-greener lyrical themes. Now, however, comes a new ten-track remix bundle, of which select remixes have been chosen for a set of limited releases on wax. Most of the artists enlisted for the job have done a stellar job, amping up the tempo to a neatly electrified 130-ish-bpm, while indulging the zeitgeist's penchant for well-rounded but beefy sonics. On this one, none other than Daniel Avery sticks out with a futureological cosmic electro take, while Hawtin Gaiser opts for knocking big-room techno, and Henning Baer cools things down with a cityscape-soaring 808 remix.
Ghosts Again (Chris Liebing vs Luke Slater remix) (8:02)
Review: First featured on Depeche Mode's critically acclaimed, James Ford-produced 2023 album Memento Mori, 'Ghosts Again' returns in remixed form. Liverpool-based melodic techno maestro Massano (real name Sam Rose) steps up first, delivering a raw, heavy and mind-mangling take that sits somewhere between darkened new wave, moody techno, and early noughties electroclash sounds. It's a fine remix all told that showcases the best of the Basildon band's original synths and vocals, while dragging the track kicking and screaming towards the dancefloor. Techno veterans Chris Liebing and Luke Slater take over on side two, predictably delivering a fearlessly fast, weight and intoxicating take that's as stomping as they come and twice as dirty.
My Favourite Stranger (Boris Brejcha remix) (7:10)
My Favourite Stranger (Ela Minus remix) (3:46)
My Favourite Stranger (Lond Island Sound remix) (4:48)
Review: Much loved doom monger emo kids Depeche Mode have always been ripe for remixing by new generations of electronic music artists and so it is that there 'My Favourite Stranger' gets a series of re-rubs here on Columbia. Tech house mainstay Boris Brejcha remixes first and elongates the grooves with mournful pads up top. The Ela Minus remix of the same tune brings some extra textured and darker moods and the best is saved till the last if you ask us. The Lond Island Sound remix is high speed and tinged with electro synth work as the moody vocals echo about the mix to trippy effect.
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.
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: DIMDJ's newest 12" seamlessly fuses techno, electro to ambient and house, with opener 'Next On Next' proving to be a deep, heavy analogue production that features expertly sequenced toms and rave-inspired claps, creating a rich, driving beat. 'The Path' follows with its electro-machine aesthetic, brimming with mechanical warmth and rhythmic intricacy. 'Cashe' rounds out the side with vintage electro-funk vibes, blending futuristic melodies with timeless grooves. Side-2 shifts into more atmospheric territory. '10th Of May' is a dreamy balearic gem, wrapping ambient house textures in a sun-soaked haze. 'Crash' slows the pace, offering heavily processed downtempo with a reflective, cinematic feel. The EP closes with 'Ampi 00 Patern', a haunting piece of alien ambience, evoking the eerie stillness of a distant, uncharted planet. An inspiring journey through DIMDJ's artistry, weaving diverse moods and styles into a very enjoyable trip into melodic electronic music.
Review: Named after the classic Czech sci-fi animated film of the same name, veteran producer DIN returns as the nextmost focus of the Coming From Returning To label, who offer up a fresh reissue of his 1992 techno classic. Then five good years into the alias (DIN was formed in 1987), producer Pupka Frey began making his distinct brand of electro-disko as a personal exploration of futuristic and analog dance textures. This EP is an 'artificial' alt soundtrack to the movie, which was otherwise histrionic and over-funky for the tastes of most techno enjoyers. Highlights here have got to be the glassy 'B-Minis' and the opening 'Travesty' (the tune's ironically anything but).
Review: You might well have caught two thirds of Dina Summer lurking around modern minimal wave circles as Local Suicide, but now they're pressing on into further sinister synthscapes as Dina Summer. Following their standout debut LP Rimini in 2022, the trio are back with a seductive new EP that sees them strutting into 2024 with some of their best material to date. The synth hooks on 'Unter Strom' are towering triumphs of pop-minded sound design, with some discernible Italo throb happening in the low end. 'All Or Nothing' is a fierce and formidable peak time slammer, while 'Excess' is the kind of supersized electro-goth workout you'd equally expect from Miss Kittin & The Hacker.
Review: More funk for your trunk! Brussels most provocative player DJ Elephant Power stampedes back into the mix with more subversive, fully uncategorisable gold. Pick a genre, any genre and we guarantee you won't be thinking of what's here as we gently melt from the nifty ravey breaks the opening title track to the sleepy, woozy tension of the finale cut 'Infinity'. In between we have bumping bewitching house ('I Got You') and strange slow-mo electro ('Shades'). Thinking of sleeping on this? Tusk tusk tusk on you.
Review: After over 20 years of collaboration, Reggie Dokes and Red D continue their musical journey with a new release on Reggie's renowned Psychostasia label. Their first joint EP was released on Red D's We Play House Recordings and launched the label's celebrated U.S. Series. On this latest offering, Reggie showcases his signature deep house style with melancholic tones and solid beats adding up to a timeless deep house vibe. Meanwhile, Red D channels his Detroit roots into a swinging techno track reminiscent of Scan 7 and featuring a vocal homage to an Underground Resistance classic. It don't get much more authentic than this.
Review: Belgian techno bossman Insider has unveiled a masterful remix of the equally iconic Belgian classic by Dr Phibes, aka Bruno Sanchioni from Age Of Love, on the esteemed Diki Records Classics label. This exclusive 12" showcases two distinct versions on nice white vinyl: a high-energy, pulsating techno mix and a deeper, UK-inspired interpretation. Both capture the era's essence and have been crafted akin to the way that producers from techno's golden age wild, but with a contemporary edge. First class tackle to get modern floors in a big old state.
Review: Drab Majesty's latest EP 'An Object In Motion' is a deep mix of blackgaze and goth psychedelia, consisting of just four tracks flirting with a mystical, guitar-driven spirit. Don't let the number of tracks deceive; the project clocks in at just under half an hour, in large part thanks to the long-form number 'Yield To Force', which pits strange distant alarm sounds against graveyard-shifting fingerstyle guitars, in what amounts to a night-drive around old town suited well to any atmospheric surrealist crime flick. Only your first and last tracks use vocals, and when they do, the combination of deeply high-and-low-end registers are great complements for the artists' lyrical musings on misery and wonderment.
Review: Contemporary LA cold-punks Drab Majesty bring together coldwave and and shoegaze for their latest EP, An Object In Motion. The four tracks therein are examples of those styles' most atmospheric and ethereal facets, showing off the distinctive vocals and guitarwork of the project's mastermind, Deb DeMure, the androgynous alter ego of one Andrew Clinco. A swirling, emotive fusion, something between Slowdive (enlisting the help of Rachel Goswell one track) and Romo, emerges.
Review: Drab Majesty was first set up by Andrew Clinco in the beating heart of the US music industry, Los Angeles. It's here, in a metropolis defined by both glitz, glamour and plastic, and wild experimentation and unconventional thinking, that the artist once best known as drummer in Marriages adopted a new androgynous persona, Deb Demure, and then drafted Mona D (Alex Nocolaou) as keyboardist and vocalist. That was 2016. Now here we are today, a few albums deep and faced with their latest offering. An Object in Motion takes bold strides in many directions, from the beautiful, natural ambient of 'Cape Perpetua' to goth-shoegaze worthy of Gary Numan himself, 'Vanity', the EP moves away from typical readings of genres like dark wave and takes us on a journey to a place defined by synthesised ethereality.
Review: After lurking on the internet as an outlet for Dreamlogicc's solo and collaborative work, cheeky Peak Time Dance Music launches its physical imprint with a half dozen tracks of drum-driven madness. Drawing raw rhythms and rugged sound design from gqom, integrating elements of electro, grime, and techno, these flexible beats absolutely stomp. While the core sound remains, the moody grooves from his Kimochi Sound releases and bassy halftime from Main Drain Studios take the back seat here: it's a 12" for the club.
Review: Dsum's latest outing Double Distance on Back Door comes on clear vinyl and is another celestial electro voyage. Opener 'Protons' has all the energy of the particles it is named after while 'Running Around' is a deft blend of melancholic chords and silky electro drums. The title cut is an introspective one with pristine electro soundscapes imbued with plenty of thoughtful pads and a touch of acid. 'Nebula' takes off a little more of a pace but never forgoes gorgeous ambient melodies and closer 'Silent Spreaders' is a suspensory bit of interplanetary ambient with synth sequences riding up and down the scale to beautiful effect.
Review: The House Of Web is a new project that brings together music with a range of international origins across two EPs. They feature material originally by Takuya Sogimoto on this label in 2020 and 2022 as well as some unreleased cuts from 1994 and 1995. Dynamo Dreesen & Robotron go first as Dynatron ahead of a debut solo EP on SUED that is due soon. Then comes Dresvn aka Dynamo Dreesen & SVN, YPY aka Koshiro Hino from Osaka and a member of the Japanese band Goat, plus the next level beat maker A Made Up Sound. All four of these cuts offer superbly fresh takes on techno.
Review: Shout out to Greek powerhouse Kinesthetik Recordings for making it all the way to a half a century of releases there. They celebrate in the best way they know - with more tranced-out sounds from artists in their orbit. Giorgio & Andreas open things up with 'Nice One' and its thudding tech drums and cosmic synth lines. Diskinesia gets much more raw and moody with the edgy drums of 'Back & Forth' and Interphase then drops a pair of industrial tech thumpers. Giorgio & Andreas reappear with a raw, roughshod and deep groove and Marcelino Sanchez's 'Motive One' offers dub techno to close.
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