Back catalogue: Techno

Review: Netherlands outfit Planet Rhythm continues to fulfil their stated mission to explore the boundaries of dance music, and to 'design the future', with releases from talents whose music testifies the idea that techno is too big of a concept to be limited to a single idea. Yan Cook is one such talent in their eyes; his latest for PR's limited black labels series hears four laconic, calculative and dark techno numbers play back in cold step, like a one-track space probe feeling its way through a planetary ring of ice. Cook's sci-fi theme is inhospitable, with his take on the presence of 'Antimatter' in the universe amounting to a kind of fearful metallic object grating away in an echoic chamber; and 'Exomoon', which conjures the image of said celestial anomaly via frigidly bleak pads and starkly reverberative yawps and drum machines. A chilling vision of an exodic space-faring future, perhaps once in which we've been stripped of our humanities entirely.

Review: Yan Cook's 1310 EP takes listeners on an adventure through four intense and atmospheric techno tracks that delve into the depths of the genre. On Side-1, 'Rose' sets the tone with its deep techno vibes infused with a sci-fi mood, delivering a powerful and riveting experience. 'Freak Show' follows suit with its heavy, subterranean groove, immersing listeners in a cavernous sonic landscape that's both ominous and enthralling. Flipping over to Side-2, 'Quatro' introduces an alien tribal groove accompanied by eerie bells and accents, creating a beat with relentless energy. Closing out the EP is 'Loophole,' which delivers hard-hitting grooves that demand attention and leave a lasting impact. Each track on 1310 showcases Yan Cook's ability to craft serious techno that not only moves the body but also engages the mind.

Review: Ukraine's Yan Cook is one of those low-key but highly skilled producers who have mastered the art of turning out consistently excellent techno cuts. It is Planet Rhythm that snap him up now for more of his linear bangers starting with the moody and paranoid opener 'Hydraulic', a pressurised cut that will bowl any dancefloor over. 'Null' then gets more gritty and textured as it rocks back and forth and 'Imla' (Red Rooms remix) takes a more subliminal and stripped-back approach to techno hypnosis.

Review: Techno doesn't come much more pure and effective than when it is served up by the Planet Rhythm label. At the helm of this fresh serving is Creznight. He goes straight in at the deep end with the muscular drum funk and tightly lopped vocal fragments of 'With You' which soon get you banging the walls. 'March on Mars' is just as direct but funky with warm and punchy kicks triggering percussive rolls and smeared synths. 'Backstab' shows no let up in the drum pressure but does have a more deft melodic touch that allows in some light and 'Instinct' shuts down with more well designed loops, a hint of 90s minimalism and a taught bassline that keeps things moving at pace.

Review: The Crime Partners duo from Nantes, French, are no strangers to this label, having dropped plenty of heat here before. This new EP is another one primed and ready for the club: 'Pumping Bush' bursts out of the blocks with musical drum funk and classic dub chords smeared over the top. 'Raindrops' is a grainy and monochrome dub techno driver with endless reverb to get lost in and 'Deep Cover' is an unsettling pumper that keeps you on edge with its nervy synth loops. There is more upright and punchy techno fun on 'You Got Our Vibe' and 'Keep Pushing' while 'One More' is a great and gritty warehouse banger.