DENISE RABE レコード& CD

Review: Aside from one 12" on Mutewax Limited and a digital release for Sonorous Wave, Denise Rabe is still in her early days of production. Her first full-length official release comes courtesy of Holland's Arts Collective, an imprint which has seen outings by none other than Radio Slave and Dax J, among others. Her sound is minimalist but punchy and aggressive, and "Sunday Blues" is a perfect blend of calmness and aggression; the remix comes from the shadowy techno lurker known as Rrose, who transforms the tune into a bleeping banger without even a hint of mercy. "Berlin Knights" heads further down the wormhole, guided by echoing percussions and cavernous melodies, while "Ten Seconds To Hide" is faster, more penetrating and inherently eerie. One to check!

Review: Mexican label Illegal Alien returns this week with XVI Vol 2, featuring some of the most respected names in underground techno. Spanish veteran Reeko kicks off the A-side with the mental overdrive of 'Arquetipo 22' soon followed by the body-bashing industrial terror of DJ Saint Pierre's 'Titan'. The B-side highlight comes from the ascendant German DJ/producer Denise Rabe, who contributes the whirlwind-like breakneck fury of 'New Ways?' in collaboration with label chief Ricardo Garduno.