Review: Slip on your Speedos and prepare for a dip in the warm waters of Swimtrax, which debuts here with an EP from Mark Lando that immediately suggests this label is going to be one to watch. First up are the gorging acid lines and rubbery bass rumbles of 'Formation', a mutant techno sound heavy on the low end. 'Scope' picks up the pace with speedy but no less slick kicks and icy hi hats while a mysterious and gloopy synth lingers in the foreground. The flipside offers the psychedelic lines of minimalist masterpiece 'The Salk Zone' and comic tech of 'In This Light.'
Review: The Mannequin label strikes another perfect techno pose here with LFT aka Johannes Haas stepping up to lay it down. Opener 'I Want To Be A Witch' is a pummelling drum assault with heavy funk in its rhythms and darkness in the tortured vocals. 'No More Tears' is a gehtto-fried double-time workout with more well treated, reverb heavy vocals and unrelenting drums and 'Horst Du Das' is a dark wave, EBM and industrial post-punk techno fusion full of straight-ahead energy and warehouse grit and grime. That scuzzy lo-fi aesthetic continues through the snarled vocals and fizzing drum machine sounds of 'Panzer Tanz', percolating synths of 'Voodoo Dues' and menacing atmosphere of The Hacker's remix.
Review: Revolt proudly presents 'Night Warrior', its latest four-track EP release by the fast-rising Athenian producer Liou. Fitting the nocturnal theme comes twinkly sound design and calculating murmurs on opener 'Night Warrior', whilst the A2 'Dark Matter' adds bursty snarework and synthetic diphthongs to a murky electro pot. B-sider 'Atom' reintroduces 4x4 kicks to a haunted vista-scape made up of burbling FM design and whistling backup pads, whilst 'Equinox' brings a solstitial, peak winter climax of no less gloomy sheen to the fore. A backstair release, yet not one for those shy about moonlit dancing either.
Review: Reality Hacked Part 2 collects three more heavyweight remixes of key tracks from Lost Souls Of Saturn’s most recent album Reality. Among such jewels are the serene vocal lilts and trembling percs of UNKLE’s ‘Click’ remix, on which Lvv Gvn soars across the track in awestruck wonderment, and the playful wibbles and stark rhythms of Hessle Audio’s Pangaea on his version of the same. This second 12” in the Reality Hacked series rounds off on a heavy-set dubby take on ‘Scram City’ by Echologist.
Review: Deep techno twosome Lucid Void have only put out a handful of releases since making their debut in 2017, but their productions are not only assured and atmospheric, but also genuinely good. It feels like they need a breakthrough and this mini-album for Turkish imprint Benthic (a belated sequel to their 2021 outing on the imprint) could provide it. There's certainly plenty to set the pulse racing and synapses snapping, from the pulsing rhythm, immersive aural textures and hypnotising vibes of 'Escalate' and 'Transporter', to the yearning dancefloor soundscape 'Quasar' and the ghostly spookiness of 'Inner'. 'Signal' brilliantly blends raw, analogue electronics, locked-in beats and bittersweet chords, while closing cut 'Rhythm' is as pleasingly dreamy and heady as it is throbbing and off-kilter.
Luc Ringeisen & Funk E - "Treinta Y Siempre" (7:33)
Polyfan Polyphenix - "Polymorph 2" (7:02)
Review: There's plenty to get sucked into on this latest 12" transmission from Germany's Movida. It is Part 1 of a new Waterdrop EP from a quartet of artists. Somfay goes it alone to start with on the far-sighted and zoned-out house of 'Arborvitae (A Voice Like Water). Luc Ringeisen & Funk E then link up for 'Treinta Y Siempre' which is a lithe and sleek electro-tinged rhythm with lovely downbeat bass notes and more uplifting melodic patterns. Last of all is Polyfan Polyphenix, a jittery and rugged rhythm with razor sharp hi-hats and twisted vocals that bring a leftfield sound to 'Polymorph 2.'
Review: Cititrax's first Tracks 12" sampler did a good job in showcasing material from some of the Brooklyn-based label's favourite contemporary producers. This follow-up, arriving only a few short months after the first, aims to do the same. Returning for his second appearance, Tsuzing kicks things off with the razor-sharp shuffle of "Nonlinear War", whose intoxicating electronics and wild synth lines recall Brown Album-era Orbital, before London-based L/F/D/M takes a trip into bleak techno territory with the acid-laden "Mouth Holes". Flip for Silent Servant's deliciously grandiose, muscular electro-disco workout "The Touch", and the clanking industrial percussion, EBM attitude and humming electro beats of Maelstrom's "Lithium".
Review: Pierre Bastien has a strong team record of interesting collaborations. He's done stuff with fashion designer and scent mogul Issey Miyake, legendary singer and composer Robert Wyatt, and the enigmatic electronic producer and reality-shifter Aphex Twin, releasing no less than three full length records on the latter's landmark label, Rephlex. "A mad musical scientist", the Guardian once quipped, and C(or)N(e)T doesn't break from that tradition. Instead, it offers some of the most abstract and strange, beguiling and fascinating sounds we've heard in a while. At least a few of which have been made on self-made, bespoke pieces of equipment. At a push, you might label this jazz, for the simple fact it's so free-form and avant-garde. Realistically, though, it sounds like the noises that might happen if someone attempted to tame a pack of rogue electronic hubbub-chatting things in a vaguely structured way. "Thank fuck for Pierre Bastien", the Quietus once said. We happily concur.
Review: Brighton based producer Richard Smith aka L/F/D/M who first emerged in 2013, inaugurating the Optimo Trax series with the Purple Maps EP before going on to release two EP's of hardware-driven atonal techno on Powell's Diagonal Records makes his bow on Cititrax "Dream Bleeds". Overflowing with body jerking industrial, raw acid/techno, the album hints of the warehouse sound of the late '90s and the caustic spirit of EBM. From opener "Cru" to "One Terminal", the eight tracks thread together; each starting point completely open, each new step informed by the last, shaped by emotion, inspiration and time.
Review: Braulio Lam's latest record is a unique outing, spanning pensive ambient dub and trip-hop moods, and cherrying them with an added visual element in the form of a photography insert. Born on the border region of San Diego and Tijuana, Lam's repertoire works in an expressly brooding sound that threshes its inspirations from the close but separate apposition of these two cities. The sense of a polemic being is a central theme of Lam's work; this is not only evident in his practice, which drifts back and forth between music production and photography, but also in the sonic content of Close Up itself, which drifts between depth-scouring electronica and Pacific folk in quick step, revealing them to be dialectically adjoined. Our favourites here have to be 'Buena Vista Social Dub', a crystalline immersion in dub and vocal etherics, and 'Mirror', and 'Monika', which lends a seething tape hue to a slowly moving slice of Latin blues.
Review: Originally released in 1995, Metaphor is Detroit second wave icon Kenny Larkin's sophomore full length under his own name. This is a truly timeless release which really captures the zeitgeist of the most seminal period in techno's recent history. For those that know, we know we're preaching to the choir, but to those who don't - get familiar! From the classic hi-tech soul of the title track, to the moody future funk of 'Nocturnal' and the driving Motor City energy of 'Catatonic (First State)' and more - Metaphor has certainly held its own 26 years later. Essential.
Falling Down (feat Totally Enormous Estinct Dinosaurs & A-Trak) (3:49)
Y Don't U (8:11)
Alive (feat Bloom Twins) (3:31)
R U Dreaming? (feat Mathew Jonson) (7:44)
So Low (feat Zoe Kypri) (5:56)
La Hija De Juan Simon (feat Mestiza) (7:02)
Warrior Dance (feat Jojo Abot) (9:53)
Sunrise Generation (feat Fink) (7:27)
Force (feat Jojo Abot) (4:29)
Review: Damian Lazarus's fifth studio album is another left-of-centre exploration of house and tech, often with a spiritual twist and hints of voodoo magic. It is heavy on collaborations and finds the Crosstown Rebels boss hooking up with the likes of Hem Cooke for the spine-tingling downtempo opener 'Searchin' while 'R U Dreaming? (feat Mathew Jonson)' is a more deep and bubbly late-night tech sound. 'La Hija De Juan Simon (feat Mestiza)' is laden with percussion and warped bass, and 'Sunrise Generation (feat Fink)' is a deft and progressive melodic roller that is sure to be huge this summer and beyond.
Review: Legendary German experimental label Mille Plateaux is back this week, with a fascinating album by Melody Tomb which is a collaboration between Tokyo artist Teruyuki Kurihara and London drone pop band The Leaf Library. Story has it that back in March 2020, The Leaf Library sent Kurihara some material to play with, in the hope that a collaboration would be born. He was indeed receptive, resulting firstly in the track 'Kite Beach' which was featured on the band's Objects Forever compilation in 2021, with the rest of the album slowly appearing over the next year that takes in drone, soundscapes, minimal techno and industrial noise throughout its eight tracks. The artists hope to continue the collaboration with another album in the near future.
Review: London producer Leeway has cooked up a brilliant album here that suggests he is obsessive about detail and magical about rhythm and groove. His tracks are super tight takes on techno and grime with elements of trance and plenty of bits for the 160 heads to get stuck into. It's one for the heart of the dancefloor or headphones alike - stoner rave for strobe lit settings, paranoid ideas fleshed out into fever dreams and alien lifeforms. It's got a hyper feel, AI feel to it but also plenty of ritualistic dance DNA that has got us mightily impressed. One of the most original albums you'll hear this year.
Review: Leftfield really managed to make lightning strike twice back in their heyday. After the pair's seminal self-titled debut album set a new benchmark for what was possible with a dance music full length, they managed to do it again with Rhythm & Stealth. It will be forever best known for the tune that was picked and used in the Guinness advert ('Phat Planet') but that is just one of the many highlights. The album originally came in 1999 and was nominated for the 2000 Mercury Music Prize as well as making number one on the UK Albums Chart. It is a full-fat mix of epic basslines, driving percussion and dark moods that adds up to a head-melting soundtrack to a damn good night.
Review: Dutchman Danny Wolfers aka Legowelt is one of the most prolific artists in the game. He has several aliases which all explore ambient, synth, house and techno, but this is his most well-known. Synths Below Sea Level is another singular long player packed with his signature machine-made sounds and vintage synth textures. There are intergalactic acid odysseys like 'A1200 The Valley Energy', brilliantly lo-fi deep house mediations like 'Maybe You See Them Fly' with melodies so meaningful they bring a tear to your eye and forward-thinking cosmic techno bangers like 'MKS100 CZ Reference Pod 9' which bend space and time. Another gem with artwork by the man himself.
Review: Legowelt is absolutely an artist unto himself. He makes a wide array of music always with equal skill and style, mostly designs his own covers and quite often devices weird and wonderful new aliases to do so. Here he returns under his most iconic moniker for A Field Guide To The Void, a superb sonic trip packed with great craft and subtle innovations. As always it's a fuzzy and fizzing kaleidoscope of retro-futuristic melodies, compelling grooves and proud analogue lines that soundtrack a cosmic adventure with happy moments, more introspective grooves and plenty in between.
Review: Robert Leiner returns with Analog Days, a celebration of electronic craftsmanship released on De:tuned Records. Known for his influential work in the early 90s on R&S and Apollo, Leiner brings a fresh yet nostalgic sound with this ten-track album. Recorded between 2005 and 2015, Analog Days blends rhythmic complexity with serene atmospheres, showcasing Leiner's skill at balancing intensity and calm. Tracks like 'Echobox' stand out for their gritty, processed beats, while 'Session 0510' captures a more melodic side, almost touching on IDM. Fans of Leiner's classic Visions of the Past album will appreciate 'My Dream,' which echoes the ambient depth of his earlier work. The album flows effortlessly between dancefloor energy and introspective moments. 'Chords' is particularly radiant, its soaring harmonies evoking the spirit of 1993's golden era. This release is a well-rounded journey through electronica, perfect for listeners who appreciate both the past and the present of techno and ambient music.
Review: Belgian independent label Detuned, hits a major milestone with its 50th release, Analog Days, a long-awaited ten track album by legendary Swedish producer Robert Leiner. Known for his pioneering role in trance, techno, and ambient music through his work with R&S Records, Leiner was instrumental in the early development of Detuned, contributing to the label's growth with his live performances and DJ sets under his alias, The Source Experience. As part of Detuned's 15th anniversary celebrations, Analog Days offers a collection of mostly hardware-based productions recorded between 2005 and 2015. These tracks, now freshly mixed and completed, highlight Leiner's mastery in crafting dynamic yet soothing soundscapes. Each piece captures his signature styleia seamless blend of rhythm and atmosphereioffering an expansive sonic experience that transports listeners through various electronic terrains. This release isn't just a retrospective but a continuation of Leiner's enduring influence on electronic music. Analog Days embodies a unique exploration of sound, delivering a journey where rhythmic motion and ambient tones coalesce.
Review: Stockholm sound architect Cari Lekebusch stops over on Lady Tazz's Mind Medizin with a four-sided EP of sleek, dark metallic, carbon-plated techno. Lekebusch's early outings on Drumcode and Planet Rhythm make for some of the best possible CV boosts you could add to such a document, and now 'XYZ' forms as the three-character update. Best among the tracks on this soon to be episodic EP series are 'Freakout' and 'Heritage', which are the two most abrasive onslaughts. Strategic sorties of sound, the tunes are placed in impeccable contrast to the relatively moving quellers 'Ninguno Es Uno' and 'Mind And Matter'.
Review: Amelie Lens is a firm part of the techno new school. The Belgian DJ came up with some vital residences in her home country and is now a regular on the world's biggest stages. Her sound matches that scale too - it's big, brash techno that is utterly unapologetic and often dark. She shows that here one on disc of her Global Underground mix, while the second follows a more emotional, melodic arc with more synths colouring the grooves. It's a fine statement, all tightly mixed, and one that proves just why she is such a sensation in the modern scene.
Review: The respected DIY hero Xin Lie's reputation has spread far from his native Bangdung in the Indonesian province of West Java - and this eight track debut album will no doubt add to his international repute even further. Electronica is one of the hardest genres in which to forge an original, distinctive path but Lie does it here effortlessly, from the juddering bass-driven half speed groover 'Parat' and the frenetic, polymetric rhythmic riddle that is 'Ngalengkah', to the tribal percussiveness meets mangled robotics of 'Papait Nu Amis', it never settles into accepted ways of doing things, constantly challenging you to keep up. "Perhaps it's best imagined as the soundtrack to a multi-sensory art installation," Lie suggests, "or a performance staged not in a gallery but in an unassuming house down your street." Fine. Or just a really compelling record, you could equally argue.
Review: Los Hermanos' On Another Level, originally released on Submerge in 2005, gets a well-deserved remaster and re-press, reaffirming its status as a Detroit techno classic. This album stands as one of the most soulful and spiritual collections to emerge from the Motor City, blending techno with rich, emotive depth that few records can match. The new tracklisting is the real highlight, now including long-sought-after anthems like 'Birth of 3000', 'Quetzal', and 'Resurrection'. These tracks, which previously only appeared on a deleted 12", are finally available again, giving fans the full experience of Los Hermanos' finest work. However, one notable omission from this re-release is 'Lines Of Nazca', arguably the strongest track from the original pressingia loss that might sting for die-hard collectors. Still, On Another Level remains a vital piece of the Detroit techno canon. It's a testament to the staying power of the genre and its capacity for emotional resonance, even within its most mechanical frameworks. This remaster brings a renewed clarity to the album's sound, making it feel as fresh and impactful as ever. For anyone with a love for Detroit's deep, soulful techno, this reissue is not to be missed.
Review: Peter Kersten, better known as Lawrence, is the veteran deep house producer and gallerist who many of you may know as chief of Hamburg's Dial Records and who made external outings previously on Japan's Mule Musiq where he released several lauded long-players. His latest one comes courtesy of Berlin's Sushitech entitled Earthshine, a 3XLP featuring 12 tracks written and produced by Kersten over the last five years. All in all it's a diverse selection put together by one of the scene's most highly regarded artists.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent working condition
Entangled (2:45)
Phantom (6:58)
Out Of Focus (8:26)
Nebula (2:12)
Escalating (2:15)
Freewalk (7:23)
Paralyzed (7:08)
Exosphere (7:19)
The Earthshine (2:15)
The Essence (Earthshine mix) (6:53)
Salty Dog (7:23)
Solstice (5:06)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent working condition***
Peter Kersten, better known as Lawrence, is the veteran deep house producer and gallerist who many of you may know as chief of Hamburg's Dial Records and who made external outings previously on Japan's Mule Musiq where he released several lauded long-players. His latest one comes courtesy of Berlin's Sushitech entitled Earthshine, a 3XLP featuring 12 tracks written and produced by Kersten over the last five years. All in all it's a diverse selection put together by one of the scene's most highly regarded artists.
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