Techno Recommendations April 2010

Review: Detroit techno favourite Robert Hood is set to release an intriguing concept album this summer. As a precursor to the release, his own M Plant imprint are releasing two of its tracks as a taster of the full length.

The forthcoming Omega is a concept album based on the 1971 classic science fiction film, The Omega Man starring Charlton Heston. The film itself derived from Richard Matheson's 1954 novel I Am Legend which incidentally has also seen a Hollywood film adaptation spring from it. Hood's Omega however, is not meant to be an exact soundtrack that runs alongside the 1971 film. Instead, it is Hood's musical take on the film. He watched the film growing up and now draws inspiration from the lessons that it teaches.

"Alpha" and "Omega (End Times)" hint at what we can expect from this summer's release. "Alpha" is a thick wad of driving techno. It is relentless to the last, with an epic feel created by sustained synthesisers and some stabbing basslines. Cranking breaks and quick percussion patterns add momentum and power to this breathless piece of classic Robert Hood techno. Next up is "Omega (End Times)" which assumes a darker, more ominous quality. Still one for the clubs, this track contains more of a moody and sinister atmosphere. The crunching basslines are still there and when the beat comes in it is as steady and as powerful as the A side. Its tempo shifts are more subtle too, making this an all together much more brooding affair.

From knowing the pretence of the forthcoming full length and by only hearing these two tracks, the wait for Omega will seem unbearable now. A tight release meant to wet our appetites has gone and done exactly what it was meant to.

Review: Dustin Zahn's mix of "Kinda High Auf Und Ab" leads this release on Chris Liebing's imprint and it's a real techno treat. The vocals from the original are processed and looped stunningly over the top of a moody and hypnotic beat that maintains its momentum perfectly throughout the tune. Alex Bau's "Arctica" is also included, and it's again made up of all the classic components - dark rumbling bass and ear-piercing hats that show no mercy.

Review: Three fearlessly huge techno bangers from Belgian imprint Roots Records. Ortin Cam and Charles Black know how to bring the dark and industrial touches to their tunes, as Black's pounding kicks and robotic synths prove. The effect is big and nasty, and will make you break out in a sweat after a few seconds. Saga is even more filthy, really just an excuse for one epic long rising note that takes minutes before it drops! Truly it has to be heard to be believed.

Review: The second installment of the Universal Consciousness series on These Days sees Stephen Brown and Club Lonely go back to back for a double techno treat. Brown's Speak features some heavy kicks and delicate hollow keyboard stabs that pepper the track wonderfully and keep things nicely buzzy in a Detroit style. Club Lonely (a name given to the collaborative efforts of These Days' in-house production family) offer up Shelter on the flipside, which is a warm old-school slice of funky techno complete with a bassy organ sound that carries the whole beat along perfectly. Check out the dub version too for an ideal extended DJ tool.