ALEXANDER KOWALSKI レコード& CD

Review: Drei Vinyl arrived with a bang earlier this year, firing off a 12" pointedly titled A New Beginning with four hi-octane slammers from the boisterous end of the techno spectrum. Now the label returns with an eagerly anticipated sophomore split-disc, The Essential Groove. Alexander Kowlaski opens the record up with the thunderous, nervy 'Breakpoint' before Thomas P. Heckmann whips out a fun and freaky throw down for peak time situations. On the B side Dejota Doblecero creates a motorik cacophony of rhythmic brilliance on 'Alta Frecuencia', Pergo creates an infectious strain of carnival techno and Vibrations Of Gravity jacks harder than anyone on the blistering 'I Think You Are Going To Like It'.

Review: Leipzig hard techno devotee Oliver Rosemann knows what he wants in his club tracks, and so his Recorded Things label continues to lay out a provocative, potent strain of looped up intensity which keeps a necessary funk in its groove. On this latest release, his collaborations with Alexander Kowalski from last year have been picked up by a host of remixers bringing the heat in their own unique ways. Roll Dann does incredible work creating slippery, grinding hooks in the midst of thunderous propulsion on the remix of 'Stinger', while Ritzi Lee opts for tension and hypnotic pressure creating a new version of 'Most Monkeys Live In Trees'. Vil & Cravo's own version of 'Stinger' keeps the kicks super punchy and lets some catchy riffs circle overhead, while Mario Berger turns 'Lucid Mind' into a tunnelling, disorienting wormhole of the highest order.

Review: Christian Smith's esteemed Tronic imprint recently deployed the second edition in its More Than Machine series which explored more underground sounds than expected, mainly in the form of electro. British newcomer Client 03 drops some sublime futurist beats on 'Default Mode Network', legendary Belgian Marco Bailey delivers something different from his usual main room techno sound on 'Smoke It'. Over on the flip, Smith's former studio collaborator John Selway makes a welcome appearance on the sci-fi bass explorations of 'Phase Vortex' and Kanzleramt staple Alexander Kowalski delivers the EP highlight on the dystopian machine funk of 'Flickering Lights'.