Review: Some six years after debuting via a deliciously angular and energetic EP from Jaquarius and Mono-Enzyme 307, the Acid Avengers imprint notches up release number 20. Like most of the label's EPs, it's a multi-artist affair. Sometime Balkan Vinyl and Bass Assault artist Acidulant handles side A, bouncing between rushing, piano-sporting 1992 hardcore revivalism ('Super Rave'), sub-heavy deep electro haziness ('Save The Last Rave') and throbbing, arpeggio driven trance/breakbeat techno fusion ('Hauz Trax'). Voiron, who last graced the label back in 2016, takes over on the flip. The Paris-based producer first fuses glistening, spacey melodies, twisted acid lines, post-electro beats and dirty bass on 'Bon Kick Voiron', before opting for deep acid house on 'Digital Voiron Workstation' and atmospheric, Orbital-meets-'90s tech-house on 'Sugar Voiron'.
Review: Basel-based experimental labels Amenthia Recordings and A Walking Contradiction join forces for their first collaborative release here in the form of the Flash Crash/Hack Crash EP. Both labels are known for pushing boundaries within their close-knit creative circles and this one features Agonis' heavy stepper and Konduku's whirlpool of low frequencies on the Amenthia side, while Lemont continues the low-end, tripped-out vibe. Varuna represents A Walking Contradiction and delivers swampy, slow-motion sounds in their signature style. This release embodies both labels' commitment to daring, unconventional electronic sounds.
Review: OHM is quickly becoming a quality imprint you can count on for techno and dub techno. The ninth addition in the series, it calls for an excellent blend of composers to balance this EP out. Veteran Jamie Anderson collabs with the brilliant Owain K on opener. The 'Aqua Dub' builds a euphoria for late night smiles. Smooth is an understatement on this linear gem. One artist on here that's been making strong appearances on many dub techno labels is the ever-talented Francisco Aguado. 'Balance' is a great tribal transition track for any DJ who can it creatively to build the means to an end. On the second side, Star Dub offers the very addictive and techy 'Forst'. Ending on a high note, the brisk and flighty 'Ever Growing' by Volpe completes the ninth edition in a rapturous mood. If you like deep techno, the OHM series is a must to collect.
Review: Statica's debut release, 'M2-9: Wings of a Butterfly', showcases the label's dedication to serving up diverse techno sounds. This split EP, STATICA001, opens with two intense and dancefloor-ready bangers by the prolific Central Intelligence on the A-side, and both are packed with visceral drum energy and synth unpredictability. The B0side features Madrid-based Victor Reyes, who delivers two reflective but also emotionally charged 4/4 workouts that create a compelling contrast that embodies Statica's "Forces in Equilibrium" ethos. Inspired by the unique butterfly-shaped nebula Minkowski 2-9, this release is a fresh and impactful fusion of power and sensitivity.
Review: Two years ago, Italy's Balearic Gabba Soundsystem switched from remixing and re-editing their favourite cuts to curating compilation style EPs of similarly minded fare. They're in that mode again here, presenting a trio of cuts that combine the saucer-eyed warmth and loved-up musicality of Balearic music culture with grooves and rhythms firmly focused on the dancefloor. They begin by showcasing Wallace's sublime remix of Sewell & The Gong's 'Better Worlds', a locked-in, hypnotising fusion of semi-organic deep house grooves, new age melodic motifs and the dreamiest of ambient chords. Over on the flip they dip into slo-mo Italo-disco/acid house fusion via SIRS fine revision of My Friend Dario's 'Tell Aro', before treating us to a Pedro Bertho remix of Verdo's 'Belvourdier' in which sparkling Balearic house piano riffs, undulating acid lines and mid-80s "chorus" synth sounds rise above a fluctuating synthesiser bassline and hustling beats.
Review: Paling Trax 5 is a new record by TAFKAMP and Vromo, two techno artists from Rotterdam and Amsterdam respectively1. Paling Trax, meanwhile, comes as a new sublabel of renowned club pushers Self Reflektion, focusing on the comparatively rawer and groovier. Four tracks appear: 'Trakpad #1' and 'Ghett-hoes', courtesy of TAFKAMP, establish dub-tecchy and retro, MPC-style NRG respectively. Vromo's 'Clarity' and 'Pump The Rhythm' , meanwhile, both puslate in different ways, one locking in a serious respiratory mood, and the other sounding like a Bop-It jailbroken for the club.
Review: V2A is a brand new alias from one of electronic music's most storied studio sorts, '90s progressive house producer turned in-demand mastering engineer Gordon Pohl. The "Rodarte EP" is typical of his 21st century releases, sitting as it does somewhere between lo-fi slowed-down techno, off-kilter IDM and hazy ambient techno bliss. While some of the tracks could entrance the right dancefloors - see the sparse, hypnotic minimalism of spaced-out opener "Eins" and the slow acid pulse of "Drei", which includes a rhythmic element so distant you'll think one of your neighbours is doing DIY - it seems designed primarily for maximum immersive impact in a home listening setting. That's particularly true of closing cut "Vier", where rhythmical pulses underpin long, drawn out chords.
Review: Niels Van Gogh's Pulverturm (ANNA Rework) on Belgium's Epoque Records is a powerhouse techno ready for the mainstage. Side-1 features the ANNA rework, transforming the original into a heavy club anthem with a rolling bassline and catchy vocal. This deeper, heavier version reinvents 'Pulverturm' into a techno monster. Side-2 offers the more vintage-sounding original, characterised by its melodic and trance-inducing qualities. A great builder in its own right, this version will fit great into any trance or techno set. This release showcases two distinct yet compelling takes on a classic, making it a versatile addition to any techno collection.
Review: A powerful exploration of dynamic techno. Side-1 kicks off with 'On Point', featuring a stomping beat paired with jazzy techno elements. The track is loopy and hard-steppin', bringing a fresh energy that's both invigorating and hypnotic. On Side-2, 'Request Another Dream' takes listeners on a trip into a sci-fi techno realm. The track's eerie, alien atmosphere builds a sense of mystery, creating a vivid soundscape. Closing the EP, 'Open Sea' delivers a melodic, Detroit-inspired groove with deep, soulful beats that push the track to the next level. It's a smooth, introspective journey that adds depth and complexity to the release. This blend of hard-hitting beats and emotive, melodic elements, shows Van Orton's ability to balance raw energy with thought-provoking soundscapes and we're sure experimental and deep techno fans will really enjoy this.
Review: Belgium's Materia flaunt a preference for bracing techno angles on the new split release from Christian Varela and Marco Bailey, proving new, crisply produced motor city heat need not indulge banality or sameness. Bailey, the apparent lynchpin of the label, straddles three sides of wax with 'Wraith', 'Freal' and 'Shadowed Path', with neatly rounded and resolved chords interleaving about gutting kick chugs. Varela occupies takes up only a quarter of the groove space with 'Lac Operations', a baseline undercurrent of neural flows and rapid apparatic responses.
Review: Pomelo is one of the longest serving pillars of the ever inventive Austrian techno/electronica community and the fact It's never had the profile of a Cheap or Mego doesn't mean it's not responsible for some of the country's most exciting and most maverick material. Austria's trademarks are a general and laudable ignorance of current fads, an irresistible groove-ability and an indefinable flair in executing their ideas and the four cuts have all three of those properties in heaps. The newest addition to the Pomelo roster is Spanish talent Vedelius, who delivers the late night burner 'The Crypt' here before turning it over for a rolling breakbeat version by Phosphene, jacking techno by Lodig/Dibek and a dubbed out electro-techno stepper by Lok44.
Review: Jersey City-based Jorge Velez has long been one of the US underground's most revered figures to those in the know. Largely predating the current fascination with lo-fi analogue productions, something shown on the excellent MMT Tape Series compilation which delved into his early archives, his work as Professor Genuis on Italians Do It Better and Thisisnotanexit was followed by the conceptual Hassan LP on L.I.E.S. which provided a soundtrack to an imaginary film based on a shadowy Middle Eastern cult formed in the 11th century. Here Velez return to Ron Morelli's stable with Territories, a six-track LP that passes through "menacing drones to EBM influenced floor tracks to Sakamoto-esque melodic experiments," with a "distinct atmosphere suitable for home listening or adventurous club play." Even for those who are familiar with the odd structures Velez creates with his hardware, this is a wild trip worthy of much closer inspection.
Review: Versalife is one of the many aliases of prolific Dutch producer Versalife. It is where he explores electro in meticulous detail and this new Technofeudalism 12" is as good as it gets. 'Cataclysm' kicks off with a deft and broken beat rhythm, celestial chords and eerie little melodic details that keep you on your toes. 'Intrusion' is darker and more direct with a menacing bassline. 'Syndicate War' ups the ante once more with more energetic rhythms and jagged synths flashing across the face of the tune while 'Axon Terminal' is a moody closer with bittersweet melancholic in the pads.
Review: It's double digits for We're Going Deep who serve up a 10th bit of cub-ready weaponry here. This latest techno offering is a various artists affair with cultured Dutchman Versalife opening up with 'Skirmish 101', a booming bit of electro with the fattest synth lines you can imagine, and plenty of reverb. Acid Pimp's 'Acid Baby' is a wild and wonky 303 workout and Jamie Anderson & Owain K then combine for something much more soporific. 'Basement Dub' is as deep as you like. Konerytmi's 'Aamunkoitto' shuts down with some sleek, supple acid for mind, body and soul.
Review: There's long been debate about the definition of "deep house", with different DJs, producers and labels offering their own interpretations of what "deep" means musically. In our opinion, you'll struggle to find better examples of pure, properly deep electronic music than the tracks released by Bristol's We're Going Deep label. Here's Exhibit A, the Facebook group-turned-label's sixth multi-artist EP. It begins with a wonderfully spacey, sci-fi-fuelled chunk of intergalactic deep house/deep electro fusion from Versalife and ends with the Larry Heard style stargazing of Morthen Kiang's 'Enter The Dream'. In between, you'll find the softly shuffling, deliciously dreamy deep electro of Mariska Neerman's 'Twin' and the deep, acid-flecked house hypnotism of 'Counterpoint' by Analog1.
Review: Originally hailing from The Isle of Wight but now based in West Norwood, South London, Vertical Cat has been releasing tunes since 2001 on imprints like Smallfish, Vice and his own rather wonderfully named Achingly Responsive, but now finds himself delivering seven varied creations for Chicago's Kimochi Sound to issue via the kind of hand-numbered, limited edition run that's sure to get trainspotters salivating like Pavlov's dogs. From the jazz-inflected phrasing, subtle phasing and jiggly sub-bass of 'Go Willy-nilly' to the Mills-esque thumpfunk of 'Oh You Mucky Bugger!', there's a bit of everything here, but every last moment is delivered with quality and clearly perceptible personality. You've also got to love outro track 'I'm Leaving', which soundtracks an awkward call to HR with some nicely cheeky, perky exotica.
Review: Viels' Pensieri Ricorrenti EP offers four intense and high-powered explorations into deep techno, each track delivering its own distinct energy. Side - opens with 'Wujhca,' a blazing sci-fi journey with aggressive, percussive elements that feel dangerous and futuristic. This track sets a fierce tone, capturing the listener with its high-tech edge. 'Effetto Bilaterale' follows, a hypnotic banger that pulses with relentless energy, drawing you deeper into its rhythmic trance. On Side-2, 'Pensieri Ricorrenti' brings a tech groove that is compelling and seamlessly blends intricate layers of sound. The EP closes with 'Magnete Permanente,' a menacing track reminiscent of Jeff Mills, with its dark, powerful beats and a relentless drive that leaves a lasting impact. Pensieri Ricorrenti EP is for techno lovers seeking tracks that push boundaries and deliver intense, deep techno experiences.
Review: Viewfinder returns to Rescan Records with their third release on the label, a four-track journey through house and techno. The A-side offers two straight-up house cuts, 'Solace' and 'Let Go', featuring infectious grooves, sampled percussion, and catchy stabs. Flip the record over for a techno turn, with 'Roxtone' pushing the BPMs higher and delivering a high-energy workout. Mihail P closes out the release with 'Natural High', a hypnotic blend of breaks, bleeps, and ethereal pads. With its diverse range of sounds and infectious energy, this release is a must-have for any fan of quality electronic music.
Review: Portuguese talent Vil has established himself at the forefront of the scene with music on Hayes, Klockworks, and Planet Rhythm. Now he unveils his first full-length album on Dolly's TS series with 'Birds Of Prey' which serves up raw, percussive grooves, distinctive house and techno elements and refined Detroit-inspired elegance. Across eight tracks, Vil proves himself to be quite versatile while serving up an immersive trip to the heart of the dancefloor while transitioning between deep, melodic, uplifting moments and darker, boundary-pushing beats. Vil's ability to balance energy, emotion and innovative soundscapes really shines through here.
Review: Ricardo Villalobos wasn't always the cult figure he is today. At the start of his career he was an underground producer still finding his feet and fomenting his own sound. It was in the first decade of his career that he cooked up this tune and had what is about as close as he will ever get to a techno anthem. 'Heike' rides on big drums with detuned synth lines layered up next to female vocal coos, pixelated synth modulations and prying bass. Its a mental workout as much as a physical one and still bags today, which his why it gets this reissue on Rawax alongside the Mood Mix on the flip which is more dubby and dialled back into to deeper beats.
Review: Novel Sound main man Levon Vincent returns to follow up a slew of releases this year, namely the terrific Enchanted Cosmos EP from a few months ago. On the A side of this one, you have the emotive and contemplative deepness of 'Julius Cease ' and its utterly hypnotic melody playing centre stage. Turn over to hear the dense bass and stirring drums on the sweaty basement jam 'Years Of Your Life' that's definitely on a vibe not too dissimilar from his 2009 classic 'Double Jointed Sex Freak'.
Review: Some 14 years after he unleashed the original version of 'The Medium Is The Message' - an attractively deep and melancholic chunk of hypnotic, dub-tinged early morning techno hypnotism - Levon Vincent has decided to revisit and re-make the track on a surprise sequel. On the A-side 'Long Mix', his full vision for the track is materialised, with the original's familiar riffs re-played in hazier, harder form atop a raw, stabbing bassline, more subtly forthright beats and effects-laden percussive fills. It's a brilliant revision all told, which maintains some of the original's sonic poignancy whilst adding a little extra weight and energy. The flip side 'Short Mix' naturally compresses the action, emphasising his breathless percussion builds and the mind-mangling sonic stabs.
Yonghegong Lama Temple Exit F (Priori remix) (5:45)
Review: Wherein Dutchman Vincent lays down a heartfelt study of the soul entitled 'Pre Melancholy'. His findings are as follows... Before the melancholy one can expect a wave of emotions and pressures, all of them ingredients for a tumultuous storm that flies in a whole flurry of directions. Technoid drum & bass causing anxiety with every rolling fill ('Mono No Aware'), timeless breaks triggering moments of unsolicited joy ('Agent Of Distraction') and spacious leftfield that's so disarming and abyssal that it comes in two forms ('Yonghegong Lama Temple Exit F'). Embrace the melancholy.
Review: The always rock-solid Rawax delivers once more here with a new addition to their family in the form of Vinyl Speed Adjust, a top duo with fresh sounds. 'All About Us' is their label debut and it pens with the percussive clatter and plunging, low-slung bass of 'Spill The Beans'. 'Psykovsky' is more stripped back and eerie with deft pads and sub-bass making for a cavernous and inviting sound and 'Chasing The Dream' then brings snappy snares and rugged bass funk. 'Where The Fields Never End' shuts down with menacing low ends and haunting atmospheres for marching dancefloors.
Review: Acid trance-inducer Johannes Volt delivers several new blissful blowouts for French label Syncrophone, demonstrating a remarkable ear for progression and variation, when the two are paired right (trust us, it's rare). 'Inner Fusion' brings a mesmerist's magic to acid trance, with opener 'Starlight Tunnel' plunging us into the titular metaphysical tube, and follow up 'Hidden Structure' revealing the abstract topological construct found at the other end. A shaman's intuition is felt on the B-side in equal measure, with 'Inner Structure' and 'Drawbridge' portraying much deeper and increasingly dubious, yet no less vital, sonic goings-on.
Review: A fresh perspective on classic 80s electronic sounds across this eight-track collection that moulds house, techno and early rave influences into a dynamic, rhythm-driven experience. Kicking off with 'Lightweave', the groove immediately pulls from disco's infectious energy, layering dramatic organ melodies over a crisp, propulsive beat. The journey continues with 'Cubic Pathways', where deep, stomping new beat rhythms meet spacey, evocative melodies reminiscent of the late '80s transitioning into the early '90s. Normally , a producer tied to the sound of Detroit techno for the past 15 years, Johannes Volk shifts his focus to many kids of retro influences from around the world on this album. 'Sense Of Wonder' injects an Italo house spirit with electro elements, striking a perfect balance between nostalgia and futuristic sound design. Meanwhile, 'Exposure' leans into minimal yet incredibly catchy hooks, channeling the mechanical precision of Kraftwerk while maintaining a forward momentum fit for modern sets. The collection's closing moment, 'Zero Zero, taps into the raw energy of early UK rave and new beat, drawing comparisons to the bleep-driven textures of acts like LFO. Throughout, vintage textures and deep-rooted influences are seamlessly woven together, with results that feel both reverent and fresh.
Todd Terry - "Bounce To The Beat" (Orlando Voorn remix) (9:13)
Orlando Voorn - "Pulsor" (6:41)
Fix - "Flash" (5:43)
Fix - "Dope Computer" (Ken Ishii remix) (6:11)
Review: A special, limited edition purple vinyl version of the new Pulsor EP from Orlando Voorn, with the undipsuted classic 'Flash' - utilising his Fix alias - up front, big, bouncy techno with wigged-out synths and plenty of playful energy. There's also the brand new title track 'Pulsor' a heady deep cut and two remixes making their debuts on vinyl here, namely Orlando's chunky techno reworking of 'Boucle To The Beat', one of Toddy Terry's most recognisable early tracks, and then the colourful house sound of Ken Ishii's remix of 'Dope Computer'.
Review: With roots in electro, hip-hop, house and techno, you can never quite be sure what Orlando Voorn will serve up next. On this top-notch ten-inch single - his first for NOUN - he's in full on techno mode, puffing out his chest and striding confidently towards peak-time dancefloors. The legendary Dutch producer first offers up 'Infinite Voyage', a slamming, warehouse-ready workout that wraps buzzing, mutant electronic lead lines and star-fall around stomping beats and booming bass. On 'Straight UP' he opts for darker, bolder, stabbing bass, alien-sounding bleeps, jazzy synth stabs, heady aural textures and another tough-as-teak drum track.
Review: Leon Vynehall has made himself into one of electronic music's most intriguing artists. From club bangers to soul jams, working with choirs to intricately stitched together DJ mixes, he can seemingly do it all. Now he's back with a new single that is "directed squarely at soundsystems". "I Cavallo" offers up something dark and intense that explores a "dissonant and psychedelic corner" of Vynehall's sound alongside a "ClubFront" mix of the track on the flip. Whichever version you pick, it will draw you right in for the duration.
ODESZA - "This Version Of You" (feat Julianna Barwick - Joseph Ray extended remix) (6:31)
Parra For Cuva - "Mimose" (3:47)
Agents Of Time - "Zodiac" (7:10)
Gorgin - "Heartbeater" (4:58)
Tao Andra - "Dream On" (6:42)
ANNA & Rebuke - "Ignite" (5:42)
Binaryh - "Daemon" (6:17)
Paul Roux - "Baby Baby" (3:45)
Review: Global Underground present the next release from the nextmost DJ to grace their City Series. ANNA's dynamic sound encompasses multiple styles and genres, from ambient through house to techno, and encapsulates the effortless chic and vibrant nightlife of one of the coolest cities in Europe - Lisbon. This modish Portuguese metropolis has always enjoyed a certain notoriety, but this has perhaps not been felt so intently more than in the last five years or so. ANNA now fleshes out Lisbon's essence, capturing its descending narrow streets, castellated jetties and glorious sunsets with a progressive house, trance and techno mix that satisfies all possible ends of a newfangled tourist's dream.
KFR - "There Is Something I Can't Find" (feat Mayah Alkhateri) (3:29)
Slim Soledad - "Vai Toma Na Rave" (3:22)
Manni Dee - "Break Me" (feat BODUR) (3:47)
Schacke - "Control Freak" (6:06)
Otta - "Mao Na Parede" (5:39)
Anna Lann - "Silver Plug" (5:59)
TINKERHELL - "Cross Ways" (5:15)
David Lohlein - "El Baile" (4:33)
Isaiah - "Lone Soldier" (4:40)
Dj Babatr - "Kick The Floor" (4:42)
Ilya Gadaev - "Pleasuredom" (5:21)
MarcelDune - "Run & Dream, Kiss & Bye" (4:09)
SCNTST - "Feedback" (4:02)
Baseck - "Let It Go" (3:15)
DJ WIFI - "Like 2 Ride" (3:20)
AERO NOVA - "B1te" (3:12)
Boys Noize - "Sireneh" (3:08)
Review: Boys Noize has been tearing up dance floors and serving up arresting electronic assaults for ages, often on his own self-titled label. He branches out here though with a new one, Ones & Zeros, which he has said is a "concept label reflecting new modes of creative and subcultural circulation". it launches with a bumper compilation featuring 22 blistering sounds across six sides of wax. Two of them come from the bas himself, one is a collar with Locked Club, and elsewhere new school and more established names like Skee Mask, Safety Trance and Manni Dee all offer up the sort of high impact tracks that will always be useful to have at your disposal for when the rave really is ready to peak.
Review: Bushwacka deserves any plaudits that come his way. He was there at the birth of acid house and went on to foment his own take on tech house. He held a legendary residency at the End in London and of course dropped countless seminal tunes alongside Layo, not least their epic 'Love Story' mash-up. Now the acclaimed but still relevant UK veteran dives back into his roots to serve up the sounds that came before tech house with highlights that would have been heard at the time at parties like Heart & Soul, Release, The Drop, Vapour Space, and at venues like Heaven and The End. Skippy, dubbed garage and driving house all feature in a fine collection.
Persian - "Morning Sun" (feat Hannah Small) (5:02)
Seekers International - "FurdaMurda" (4:31)
EBE - "Thinking" (6:13)
Gideon Jackson - "Taj-Mahal" (7:00)
Perpetual - "Awakenings" (6:46)
Mark Seven - "Crank" (5:23)
Paco Pack - "Slap That Bass" (3:05)
Cari Lekebusch - "Output 2" (7:33)
Pauline Anna Strom - "In Flight Suspension" (7:47)
Review: Sadly, there was no Love International festival this year, but the team behind it have given us the next best thing: a new volume in their superb "The Sound of Love International" compilation series from friend-of-the-family and beach stage mainstay Shanti Celeste. After opening with a typically spacey and dreamy new collaboration with her friend Saoirse - the intergalactic techno haziness of "Solid Mass", the Peach Discs co-founder treats us to a heady mixture of chunky, sunrise-ready breaks (Persian), drowsy ambient dub (Seekers International), deep space house and techno (EBE, Gideon Jackson, Carl Lekebusch), Barbarella's-ready peak-time fare (Perpetual, Paco Pack), angular late night dancefloor sleaze (Mark Seven) and weightless ambient bliss (Pauline Anna Stom).
Confidence Man & IN2STELLAR - "Break It Down (On The Bassline)" (5:04)
Sweely - "Getup (& Move Your Butt)" (5:41)
Wallace - "Breathe" (6:13)
Jex Opolis - "Wide Awake" (dub) (5:25)
Joe Goddard - "Flex" (feat Suku Of Ward 21) (4:21)
Joshua James - "God Is Coming (She Is Pissed)" (5:38)
The Emanations - "Rhythm Is Easy" (feat Janet Planet - Che Luca Lucid Rave mix) (8:56)
Confidence Man - "Let Them Bells Ring" (4:19)
Review: Here is Confidence Man debut for Fabric's acclaimed Fabric Presents mix series, flaunting the lesser-heard DJing chops of this contemporary pop-dance duo. "Have confidence, man" is the central motto of the collaborative pair made up of Janet Planet and Sugar Bones, who first came up in Brisbane, Australia band found rapid acclaim for their easily assimilable blend of electro pop, dance and indie. Their debut mix for Fabric flexes an adroit ear for the vim-affirming ends of life, scouring the hidden depths of their well-threshed record crate of 90s rave and trance, with tunes by the likes of Joe Goddard, Jex Opolis, Wallace and Sweely all implying an innate, strutting, blue-steel-over-the-shoulder confidence, innate to all yet realised by few.
Ronny Nyheim & DJ Sotofett - "Piezoelectric" (7:00)
LA 2000 & DJ Sotofett - "Dub Toner" (dub 1) (5:58)
DJ Sotofett - "My Spirit Is In Techno Music" (7:24)
DJ Sotofett - "Tommer Bliss" (feat LNS) (5:43)
LA 2000 - "Safety" (DJ Sotofett dubmix) (6:22)
LNS & DJ Sotofett - "909 Nite Stepper" (6:58)
Review: DJ Sotofett returns with a double 12" packed with eight hard-hitting, underground techno tracks. Featuring frequent collaborators LNS, L.A. 2000, Ronny Nyheim, and Zarate_Fix, this release is a direct nod to the no-nonsense techno nights at Berlin's iconic Tresor club, where Sotofett holds residency. Each track is crafted with pure dancefloor energy in mind, moving through dub-driven techno, acidic overtones, and percussive basslines, all delivered with a raw, uncompromising edge. WANIA mk1 is a masterclass in DJ-ready versatility, perfect for those who love their techno stripped back and potent. Standout cuts include the bombastic, percussion-heavy Preparation and the 909-vocoder-fuelled My Spirit Is In Techno Music, both of which exemplify the release's dedication to the underground essence of the genre. With alternative mixes from WANIA mk2 making an appearance, the album offers both continuity and innovation, keeping true techno fans hooked from start to finish. Sotofett's attention to detail in programming, mixing, and mastering is evident throughout, making this a must-have for DJs and clubbers who live and breathe the core of real, unfiltered techno music. WANIA mk1 isn't just an album; it's a statement for those who value authenticity in their club experience.
D-Breeze - "Crazy For Love" (Autechre remix) (6:11)
MicroControlUnit - "Save The World" (MCU Apocalypse mix) (6:19)
Magda Rot - "Alter Simus" (5:23)
Signaltype - "In Abyss" (7:16)
Radioactive Man - "Night Bus To Nowhere" (5:59)
Illektrolab - "Overdrive" (5:29)
Ement - "Despite Of Time" (4:59)
Dynarec - "Sunken Park" (4:13)
Helena Hauff - "Turn Your Sights Inward" (6:40)
Review: In the post-minimal years, and after the deep house revival, dark techno and electro became the most fertile ground for new producers. Hamburg-born Helena Hauff was one of those who brought through such sounds and she has since become a global tastemaker who has perfected the art of dark and hard-hitting soundscapes. She shows that off once more here with her selections for the mighty Fabric presents series. It is raw, fierce and rough yet seamlessly moves through breakbeat, electro and the still magical charms of Autechre's remix of D-Breeze's 'Crazy For Love' from 1999 which closes the mix in style.
Review: RECOMMENDED
The DJ Kicks series has managed to outlast the vast majority of other DJ mixes we can think of - the good, the bad, the populist, and the plain cash cow. Even the mighty fabric compilations have rebranded and rethought, bringing the original legacy, FABRICLIVE included, to a respectful end at 200 outings. Strange, then, to think, that !K7's mighty offering to the world of "What should we listen to at the afters?" has arguably managed to become more relevant as the years have flown by.
There was a time when the series existed at the lighter end of club fare, with some examples barely even matching that description. These days, though, there's often a dance floor heaviness central to the selections, with Jessy Lanza's broken, bass-driven set a case in point. Pointless attempts to describe the music, and lazy track list namedropping aside, this is energy-packed, heads down, futurist stuff packed with infectious percussion.
French Audacity - "The Final One" (feat Valerie) (4:34)
DJ Spike - "Gaps In Space" (2:55)
Interdance - "Kurz" (5:25)
Bad Behaviour - "Living On Smoke" (Edgware mix) (4:09)
Frequency - "Systematic Input" (4:53)
Diffusion - "Lushes" (5:49)
MFA - "Blue To Be Happy" (7:18)
RIP - "EOPan" (5:49)
Mad Professor - "Oh Hell" (4:02)
Review: Orpheu The Wizard is a Dutch DJ and co-founder of the infamous but sadly now defunct Red Light Radio. Coming through for the fifth edition of the Sound Of Love International series - which showcases the eclectic musical tastes of the DJs who play at the Love International festival in Croatia - this fresh selectors' comp hears Orpheu crate-fiddle through cosmic disco, Balearic pop, synthwave and ambient, by the likes of Khidja, Benedek, Donato Dozzy and Gaussian Curve.
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