Back catalogue: Techno

Review: Ah yes, The Tresor Demo line...what could be a better surprise on a Thursday? Whether you're into it or not, the German institution is a bloody techno power-house and recent released by the Zenker Brothers have been truly killer. This time, Northern Electronics man, Acronym steps up for a rattling, shape-shifting chest-burster on "Nabu" and tracks from newbies JC and Zadig both detonate splinter-like floor dynamite. It's heavy, be warned.

Review: As the excellent Kern series from Tresor hits its second installment via DJ Hell, so the welcome vinyl sampler drops with some rare gems lovingly reissued for a fresh set of ears. Jonas Kopp's "X" sounds as taut and deadly as ever, displaying the true meaning of minimalism across a barren soundscape, while Capracara's utterly sexy acid house jam "Flashback '86" shows just how erotic a 303 bassline can be. Old classic "Bliss" by Halogen gets a modern revamp from DJ Hell himself, creating a functional thud with ample tripped-out techno elements present in fine slithers for an elegant finish.

Review: Great deep techno tracks by Drexciya (Positron Island), Atkins (aka Infniti). Personal faves of Atkins.

Review: Following their 'Free Your Mind' record from earlier this year, Jensen Interceptor and DeFeKT are back on Tresor with an appropriate follow-up, 'Free Your Body'. As you would expect from these two heavyweights, electro is the order of the day across five tracks as fun as they are serious. 'Free Your Body' has a brooding, prowling quality to it, while 'Mr Kinney' features everyone's favourite robot cop and some gnarly, party-starting monosynth lines. There's space for the straight-up 4/4 thrust of 'Bipolar' and the dirty acid clang of 'Life', leaving '7000 Miles' to mop up with another assault on the senses through the power of gargantuan analogue synths.

Review: Tresor joins forces with Carhartt - a company that can trace its roots back to the Motor City - to celebrate techno's two premier cities, Detroit and Berlin. The formula is devilishly simple: brand new cuts from artists based in one of the two cities, with stone-cold legends being joined by rising stars. There are headline-grabbing contributions from Juan Atkins as Model 500 (the warped, alien, dub-flecked and Cybotron-esque electrofunk of 'I.D.L.E') and DJ Stingray 313 (the industrial electro clank of 'Dynamic Instability'), plus fine contributions from JakoJako (the early morning techno hypnotism of 'Metal Goat'), AMX (the wonderfully hazy, deep and dubbed-out electro shuffle of 'Your Body') and Erik Jabari (the mind-mangling modular madness of 'Screamore').

Review: Juan Atkins' Skynet under the Infiniti alias showcases a different side of his sound compared to his iconic work as Model 500 or Cybotron. This album leans towards a minimalist, soulful Detroit techno approach, with fewer layers and a relaxed, mid-paced flow that allows the rich synth sweeps and harmonic pads to shine. Tracks like 'Postcard From The Future' and 'Higher' are tracks that blend subtle melodies with atmospheric percussion and a groovy, uplifting energy. 'Thought Process' is stunning with its ticking, minimal beats, while 'Walking On Water' and 'Coffee Shop (Connection)' explore dub techno influences and soulful elements. While Skynet may not be as recognisable as some of Atkins' most celebrated works like Deep Space, it's still a very enjoyable album that in some ways is more well-rounded. The hypnotic repetition and sparse arrangements offer a fresh perspective on his sound, reminiscent of Detroit techno legends like Carl Craig and Kenny Larkin. For fans of pure Detroit techno with a lighter touch, Skynet delivers.