Eupasia レコード& CD

Review: he mysterious Activ-Analog has managed to keep a low profile with picking up a cult following for their always fresh techno sounds. It has been that way since a debut release in 1999 and even 21 years later the artist still finds new ground each and every time. The Lost Tracks Ep is presumably old but never before heard tackle from the vaults. 'Lifelines6' pairs punchy kicks and woody hits with a nice wonky synth phrasing, while 'The Hunter' has a more glitchy and mechanical beat with another bendy synth lead. That duality is pleasing indeed before 'Burial Ground' gets deep and heady and 'Hand Prints' closes on tripped out and airy afterparty tackle.

Review: Portuguese duo 2JACK4U go straight for the dance floor again here with a quartet of acid laced techno cuts. The first is edgy and eerie with bleeping synths and caustic snares bringing tension to the spookiness. The second track ups the pace and intensity with more fat, bobbling techno drums which are interlaced with all manner of bendy synths and jackhammer hits. On the flip side, 'Acid 01001' then layers up more loose and elastic synths and drums into something that bends space and time while 'Acid 01010' closes on a more minimal vibe, with pulsing synths and mind melting drum loops.

Review: You might not yet know the name Velvet Skin but you will surely know of VIL, a top-level Portuguese techno producer who co-founded the Hayes Collective. He has already impressed on labels like Klockworks but embraced a new electro sound for this project which arrives on Eupasia. There is a purity to his sound that is compelling from the word go. Track one begins with squirreling synths, pinging cowbells and dark bass and then things grow more frantic and paranoid on track two, trippy on track three and then slow down to get sludgy and acidic on track four. Track five ends with atmospheric ambient swampiness.