Back catalogue: Techno (すべて)

Review: Phil Berg drops a new one, 'Raid', via Setaoc Mass' SK Elevent imprint, seguing through four teeth-gritty techno numbers of the utmost immediacy and expediency. Like the immaculate inner workings of a giant snake-mech, hell-bent on seeking out and nullifying all lifeforms in its path, comes the mathematic undulations of 'Y-Axis' and the toothily electric acid zaps of 'Raid', while B-sider 'Kamino' gears us up for a final standoff with the beast. Finally, 'Sinara' hears the mech vanquished, leaving room for some meditatively serene padwork, though the drums stay ever-present, keeping us hot on our toes for potential future encounters of the same sort.

Review: Cirkle's Vakandra's Spell delivers four serious techno burners, each track packing its own punch and depth. Side-1 kicks off with the title track, 'Vakandra's Spell,' a sci-fi stomper that echoes the hypnotic intensity of Jeff Mills' Purpose Maker work. It's slightly demented yet profoundly captivating, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that pulls you in. Following this, 'Lunar Orbit' presents a fast-paced, loopy groove that drives the energy forward, making it a perfect fit for peak-time sets. On Side-2, 'Evolving' stands out with its chord-based loop style, offering a deep, rhythmic flow that keeps the momentum going. The EP closes with 'Quantum Shift,' a pulsating techno track where rhythmic hi-hats percolate over a driving beat, delivering a high-class finish to this well-rounded release.Vakandra's Spell is a powerful offering for those looking for deep, intense techno tracks.

Review: Deluka's Mind Games EP on SK Eleven delivers four tracks of pulsating, rhythmic techno that showcases a tech-driven edge. The EP opens with the title track,'Mind Games', a minimal yet powerful techno cut that thumps with primal energy. The seductive rhythm draws you in, building layers of intensity as it moves forward, making it perfect for late-night club sets. Braunschweig follows with a subterranean vibe, featuring intricate, morphing beats and a sci-fi atmosphere. The complex rhythms keep listeners on their toes, pushing the boundaries of techno's sonic palette. On the second side, 'Everybody Talkin' brings raw drums and a rolling rhythm, packed with an infectious energy that makes it an undeniable banger. It's a track that commands the dancefloor with its relentless drive. 'Bunker' closes the EP with a futuristic, techy vibe, driven by broken beats and mechanical rhythms. The track's edgy, forward-thinking sound makes this a sharp record for bold, innovative techno.

Review: We're able to see the vanguard of New York techno with clearer eyes thanks to this new EP from Holden Federico, whose mission statement is to reinvent the early grittiness of incipient techno sounds for the present day. 'Inner Order' collects four rough and minimally-produced cuts. Like the filterpassed rave stabs on 'Emergence' or the wonky techno ambivalence of 'Hours & Hours', we can almost guarantee your mood to swing when whacking this one on the 'tables.

Review: There is something of an original 90s feel to the techno explored on this new drop from Holden Federico on the SK Eleven label: it is hard and fast, stripped-back but packed with atmosphere and also comes with artwork that harks back to the great work of Jeff Mill on Axis. After a cinematic and scene-setting opener, it's heads down on 'Myth' then 'Corner of the Room' brings some flashy synth light and 'The Beginning & The End traps you in suspenseful loops that never resolve. Two further cuts bring more physical techno thrills.

Review: Since emerging at the beginning of the last decade, Berlin-based Spaniard Kwartz (real name Mario Campos) has become a reliable source of dark, atmospheric, clandestine techno. He specialises in combining dense, thickset grooves with mildly creepy melodic motifs, minor-key riffs and bags of unabashed energy. All those sonic traits can be clearly heard on his latest EP, which marks Campos's first vinyl outing for two years. We're particularly enjoying the panicked urgency of 'Fast Focus' and the entrancing heaviness of 'Impulse', where weirdo electronics and echoing melodic loops catch the ear, but all four cuts are undoubtedly tried and tested peak-time treats.

Review: Originally founded in Manchester but now well entrenched in Berlin, SK Eleven continues to fly the flag for stern, unrelenting techno shrouded in gothic undertones with this essential drop from Zippo. The approach is one focused on needlepoint drum programming, running from the twitchy hats and thunderous kicks of 'Pulse & Distortion' to the snappy 909 hits of 'Xukro' on to the mind-warping arps of 'Cannot Stop Thinking', which also features Celina Marie's detached voice calling out the track title in the middle of the maelstrom. At all times it's techno delivered with an accomplished tone, making for must-check gear for any dedicated diggers and DJs.

Review: Z.I.P.P.O's return to Setaoc Mass's Berlin-based SK11 imprint hears the Italian producer break out from biostasis, stretching his/its tendrils out across four world-devouring tracks. 'Eleven' trades formula for feeling, its pseudopodial tempos binding to high-suction mechanics. Mournful synth phrases grate against a heavyweight pulse, as 'Hypernova' submerges into swung drum programming and murky mellifluous atmospheres. Flip it over and 'Kaus' introduces tribal momentum and swelling chords that slowly tilt the record into trance-adjacent territory; closer 'Replication' tightens the screws, bringing the most propulsive moment of the set with its warped detailing and hard-edged groove.