Kidz (Elena Colombi's Are The Kids Alright remix) (6:14)
Review: This is the debut EP from DJ, producer and multidisciplinary artist Sol Leon under the moniker aka-Sol. It marks years of creative evolution and finds him blending vibrant energy with raw emotion across three tracks. aka-Sol channels a psychedelic edge into the punk roots of electronic music here by using modular synths and analogue textures to challenge modern club norms and genre boundaries. It results in a fearless offering that is equal parts love letter and provocation and invites headbanging and liberation on the dancefloor. A remix by Osare! Editions' Elena Colombi completes the EP, with experimental, post-punk and club intersections.
Review: Four distinct late-night techno tracks, each packing a punch. Side-1 opens with 'Guilt', a tight, dark, and brooding techno banger, designed to keep the dancefloor moving with its relentless energy. Following that is 'Troia', a primal, alien-like track that mesmerises with snappy rhythms and hypnotic soundscapes. On Side-2, 'Crea' delivers a stomping, sci-fi-infused beat that feels like a journey through futuristic landscapes, perfect for intense moments in a set. Closing out the EP is 'Vowels', an eerie, dark cut with unsettling atmospheres that create a sense of mystery and tension. The 'Crea EP' is a showcase of Alarico's range in techno, blending brooding moods with driving rhythms, making it an ideal pick for late-night sessions.
Review: Aleqs Notal shares a machinic new EP of counfounding delights for the Industrial Light label, also run by the artist and based out of Paris. Named after the artist's debut release which shared equal sides with fellow producer Modern House Quintet, here Notal changes the game, occupying a full four sides of wax. The A-siders 'City Smile' and 'True I Am' bring atmospheres of motoric rigidity, functioning as premier schema for the human navigation of comparatively less human urban environments. 'Let Me In' and 'Confused Reaction' offer similar blueprints, though there's an ever so slightly upped acidity on the B2.
Review: Syncrophone presents the very first vinyl release from Aleqs Notal's label, Industrial Light. Notal here teams up with longtime friend and fellow producer Modern House Quintet, and together they lay down four pure dancefloor heaters for the contemporary disco-goer. Opening with two functional acid house bustlers, we then get deeper with things with the latter's nocturnal shuffle 'Nadrezacalenis', before ending on a return to utility with 'Disokouron' as well as an inversion of the A1, 'Message From The P', in an upped Chicago house style.
Review: It's double figures for Bruto Industries, who as the name suggest like to offer up brutalistic techno bangers. These latest six missives come from Alf who opens with lurching beat beats and zippy synth loops that lock you in the moment. 'Servil Comadreja' is another broken beat rocker this time with twitchy synth modulations and acid lines slashing through the mix. There is raw machine rigidity to 'La Tipica Historia' that echoes the vibe of EBM and three further cuts keep exploring a rase of textures and busted rhythms with 'Raquitismo' being particularly heavy.
Review: Naarm-based producer Sam Alfred shows no signs of slowing down as we continue to be impressed by the material coming out of Australia right now. After releasing the energetic 'Suzuka' EP, completing a sold-out headline tour and playing a packed set at MODE Festival, he's now back with more full flavour beats. This one disk off with a real house anthem inspired by 90s club music with punchy piano, airy synths, and a driving cowbell rhythm. 'Care 4 U' has carefree garage house vibes a la salute, 'Keep It' brings some euro dance and trance energy and 'Distance' is a peak-time acid-laced pumper. Brilliant stuff.
Review: Following up last year's Time And Nothingness on Charlotte De Witte's KNTXT, Francesco Pierfelici aka Alignment returns to the imprint for an absolutely riveting new EP. Power is a fitting title for this massive four tracker, where the Berlin-based Italian wastes no time in an attempt to fire the synapses. Pure elevation is to be experienced on the euphoric rave energy of the title track which opens up in a big way, followed by 'Disconnection' which will pummel you into submission - peak time style - with its assortment of classic dance music motifs throughout. Over on the flip, the EP's highlight exists in the form of the euphoric modern trance reconstruction titled 'Frequency'.
Review: Aussie techno innovator Alpharisc is back on Mutual Rytm with a standout second EP. Following his underground gem 'Ram Face' EP, Shane Yates again draws on the fact he has been immersed in techno for over 30 years, crafting raw, rugged sounds with his extensive hardware collection. 'Peace Be With You' opens with urgent synths and sharp drums, while 'Hail' adds frosty noise and an intense groove. 'Remain Seated 'features bright synths and driving bass and 'Look At This' combines slamming drums with melancholic pads. The closing track 'In Your Mind' offers cosmic, deep techno to close.
Review: A four-track exploration of darker, vintage late-90s-inspired techno. The title track, 'Voyage', opens with sci-fi-infused melodies and an epic atmosphere, setting the tone for an immersive journey. 'Stygious Night' follows, offering crisp subterranean techno with an edge that feels both modern and timeless. On the flip side, 'Venus Ballroom' channels an otherworldly energy, reminiscent of Surgeon's intricate and industrial soundscapes. Closing the EP, 'Psychosphere' dives into tribal territory with percussive grooves and alien textures, creating a hypnotic, dancefloor-ready vibe. A unique blend of melodic, tribal, and industrial influences, not to mention a masterclass in contemporary techno sounds.
Review: Fuse is of course one of techno's most venerated clubs. It's been a hotbed of underground action for decades and has run its own in house label before, though not since 2016. After being dormant since then, it now gets revived and the first drop is from resident Altinbas. It is exactly the sort of high octane techno you could expect to hear in the club, which has been open since 1994 and is Belgium's longest-running techno venue: dark, tense, full of futuristic synths and wall-rattling basslines that take you into the next dimension.
Review: Altinbas delivers a blistering and futuristic techno release with 'Sustain' on Fuse Imprint Belgium, showing his talent for crafting elite techno tracks. Side-1 begins with 'Trail Of', a techno killer driven by pulsating bass and a fast-paced beat that packs a punch. Following is 'Life Force', which dives into a mysterious, minimal soundscape with alien-like textures and an intricate, classy rhythm that adds depth to the EP. On Side 2, 'Purpose' emerges as a melodic builder that balances minimalism with an upbeat tempo, demonstrating top-notch production and a refined touch. The EP concludes with 'Sustain', a melodic highlight that caps the record on a high note, delivering a memorable and resonant finish.
Review: Yuki Takasaki aka. Altone delivers tactile dub techno tonage with 'Wonderscape Numinous', his latest miracle EP to hit the Primary(Colours) shelves. Honouring traditional dub techno sounds while also treading new counterweighted waters, this is a short symphony of reverberative basslines and delicate synths, reminiscent of skulking Tokyo streets, gripped by a hooded curiosity for the urban alley, the railway underpass, the red lit skyline. Brendon Moeller brings a UK bassier womp to 'Self Replication' - itself a self-replicating track, as there's not one but two versions - replete with silicate sound design that both sloshes and tinkles away in the mix's midfield, like a quantum energy source, overflown with potential.
Review: Altone aka. Yuki Takasaki is a champion channeller of dub techno trueness, having made many a wave on the Tokyo underground scene already; his efforts come to a renewed head on the new EP for Primary Colours, 'Wonderscape Numinous', a high-impedance, phantom-powered trip through figurative J-scapes; to 'Self-Replication', 'Adaptive Swarm' and 'Wonderscape Numinous', we imagine a simulacrum web of nanobots splayed across the city, their many lens refocusings and field reconfigurations emitting a syntonic electric hum. The closer is especially beautiful, haunting the nighttime itinerant ear with cutoff chord ricochets and an endless fumbling foley sound; the sound recalls a restless cyborg, endlessly fiddling with its field recording equipment as though it were a dopaminergic Rubik's cube.
Review: With over half a dozen releases on the techno instituion that is this label, Spanish producer Toni Alvarez continues to perfect his ability to craft tracks that resonate with both energy and depth that are ideal to represent the label. The title track, 'Groove System', kicks off with looped melodic chords and immaculate production, creating an irresistible rhythm that captures the essence of modern techno. 'Jingo' follows with a pounding beat, tribal undertones and a primal energy that veers into sci-fi territory, making it perfect for adventurous DJs. On Side-2, 'Magalenha' dives deeper into tribal elements, delivering a thunderous groove that commands the dancefloor. Closing the release, 'Land Of Nowhere' offers hypnotic loops and hard-hitting percussion, seamlessly blending upbeat energy with an entrancing rhythm. With this EP, Alvarez not only reinforces his status as a Planet Rhythm mainstay but also continues to push boundaries, delivering tracks that are as functional as they are engaging.
Review: Mutual Pleasure clocks up a sixth outing here with more searing electro sounds. Behind the beats is Amadeezy who is from Boston and behind the much-loved trap and dirty south night PVRPLE. He makes plenty of sleazy sounds as demonstrated here on a fun, party-starting EP that is not low on quality. 'Freak Syndrome' (feat partiboi69) kicks off with booty-shaking bass and tight bars while 'Freaky Bitch' is just that with its bumping bottom ends over oversized kick drum funk next to a classic vocal sample. Two further, even more frenzied bass-driven bangers round out the b-side.
Review: If you're familiar with imprints like Nous'laer Audio, AD93, Tikita, or Semantica, but haven't yet explored the galaxy of sound coming from Ahrpe Records, now's your chance. Amandra is one of two heads behind said stable, and here the French producer shows everyone what time it is with a space walk through acid warbles and tribalistic rhythms. Neither of which give a particularly accurate description of what's here, but both are defining features of the tracks and EP as a whole. Whether it's the jazz-imbued shuffle of 'Prorokini', the phat wobbling steps of 'Brera Som Som' itself, or the wall of distorted percussion on 'Fanfaron', all four originals are standouts and hard to compare, while the cherry-picked remixes show just how much can be done with what's here, if the right ears are involved.
Review: Sophie Sweetland and Daniel Rincon don't release that many records as Ambien Baby, and those that they do serve up - particularly their previous outings on Isla and Planet Euphorique - tend to be undeniably special. This outing on Tiga's Turbo label certainly hits the spot, with the duo offering up a trio of enticing original productions - the dubby, intoxicating and psychedelic deep house excellence of 'Jaulas En El Cielo', the extra-percussive Latin tribal house wonkiness of 'Baila', and the unflinchingly sub-heavy moodiness of 'Salseros'. Over on the flip, we're treated to two alternative interpretations of 'Bailia': an up-tempo, hot-stepping and subtly energy-packed version by the mighty Roza Terenzi, and a more intense, psychedelic and spaced-out rub by rising stars DNGDNGDNG.
Review: Rob Amboule makes a compelling debut on Raum... musik with his 'Digerital' EP, offering a fusion of minimal, techno, and progressive trance. The three tracks exhibit Amboule's mature musical ideas and finely tuned production skills, with 'Chairfix' setting expectations with its hypnotic intro morphing into stompy, pulsating techno, evoking a state of rave euphoria and the title track offering a more banging four-to-the-floor techno with atmospheric elements and nods to acid and progressive trance. Closer 'Klenkl', meanwhile, continues the hypno heady grooves and arrangements. Amboule pays homage to the golden age of ravey techno and trance, reinterpreting these genres for modern audiences. Raum... musik's 117th release solidifies its reputation as a quality label for introducing fresh talent and pushing boundaries in electronic music.
Review: German duo Ame, consisting of Kristian Beyer and Frank Wiedemann, makes a striking comeback with their new single, 'Asa,' marking their first original release in three years through Innervisions. 'Asa' epitomises their approach to dance music, blending vibrant joy and euphoric energy into an unforgettable track. The composition thrives on repetition, yet each element is dynamic and ever-evolving. The piece weaves together bold synths, pulsating beats, and intricate melodies into a catchy dance track. This track demonstrates their knack for creating exhilarating, peak-time dance anthems while maintaining their signature adventurous sound.
Review: After a brief hiatus, Synapsis Records makes a triumphant return with a standout 12" release from Iranian artist Siamak Amidi, complemented by reinterpretations from hm505. Synapsis-019, Crack A Love Ball, offers a sublime mix of minimalism and complexity, showcasing Amidi's deft touch for immersive sound design on the A-side. His original tracks, 'Crack A Love Ball' and 'Mess with You', are masterclasses in subtle intricacy, blending rich percussion with understated grooves. Meanwhile, the B-side sees hm505's reinterpretations take the originals in new directions, layering lush melodies and swirling arpeggios that pull at the heartstrings. Synapsis-019 is a sonic journey that demonstrates both Amidi's thoughtful craftsmanship and hm505's ability to transform tracks into emotive experiences.
Review: There is a murky underworld feel to these new techno sounds from Ireen Amnes. They come on the cultured KR3 label and soon hook you in as 'Images Of Us' is both deep and moody but dynamic and impactful. 'Surrounded' flips the script with more industrial drums and an unsettling sense of urgency then 'October' daisy it back to cavernous dub 'scapes with lonely vocal musings. 'KTO' brings lithe broken beats and 'I'd Rather Be Sleeping' is a suspenseful ambient sound.
Review: Amorphic and Tendal's latest release on Blueprint Records is a masterclass in cutting-edge techno. 'AT1' opens the EP with a heavy sci-fi banger, combining dark, industrial energy with a driving beat that instantly grabs attention. 'AT2' follows with crisp production and a fine-tuned techno loop that brings a big, commanding sound, building on the intensity with a precise, polished rhythm. On the flip side, 'AT7' takes things darker and edgier, with pulsating, minimal beats that maintain a restrained elegance while growing more aggressive as the track progresses. It's a perfect balance of tension and sophistication. Closing out the EP, AT8 strips things down even further, embracing a more minimal approach that complements the earlier tracks while adding a touch of subtlety. The release showcases Amorphic and Tendal's talent for creating forward-thinking techno, with each track offering a unique blend of aggression, elegance and innovation.
Review: Amplified People is a prolific French artist based in Paris who roams from minimal glitch to bleeping house and driving techno. Here he brings his class to the fledgling Arpanet label following a debut EP from founder and French veteran DJ Speep back in October last year. It's Ghost Black that opens up with sleazy and ghetto-friend tech complete with plenty of Motor City style. There are then melodic stompers like 'Canon Jack' and brilliantly deep and sleepy cosmic techno trips like 'Solitaire Wargames' to make this a real doozy.
Review: An-i is the alias of Berlin-based Korean-American Doug Lee, an artist with over two decades in the game already under several different monikers. This is the third EP to come under this name since debuting it in 2015 and finds him in an even more bold and adventurous mode than ever. Opener 'Rabble' is controlled techno chaos, a flurry of whirring machines and unrelenting drums that will frazzle your brain. 'Rubble' is just as intense, a big wall of rusted synth work and industrial noise mangled into something rhythmic and futuristic. 'Chapel Perilous' on the flip then offers up a spaced-out journey deep into the inner psyche. A welcome return from a truly singular artist that comes on fluorescent yellow wax.
Review: ANAZANAUT is a time-bending audio artefact stitched together from decades of disparate sonic moments. With recordings spanning from 1984 to 2024, the techno project feels like a cosmic scrapbook-fragmented memories reborn through meticulous remixing and remastering. From the icy atmospherics of 'Voice on the Air' to the vintage grit of 'Poacher Path (Extended Mix),' these tracks vibrate with echoes of past lives stitched together by a logic only time understands. ANAZANAUT doesn't follow a linear path; it loops, folds, and bends with compelling grooves and myriad occult sounds adding character and curiosity.
Review: It doesn't seem like the hard techno revolution is going anywhere any time soon. AnD (techno) is a label making sure of that and its sixth missive from the boss is another one to make the eyes water and the heart race. The white knuckle slammer that is 'I Got So Much' kicks off and then 'Screeching' does just that with a terrifying sense of anxiety and menace. 'Your Energy' is all glitchy sounds, squealing textures, hard techno drums and twisted sirens and the final part of this techno equivalent of a Monster energy drink overload is the rip-snorting 'On A Mission.'
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