Back catalogue: Techno (すべて)

Review: In celebration of their tenth birthday, Selador marks the occasion in style with a four-track collaborative EP, featuring tracks from 3D, Robert Owens, Olivier Giacomotto, Quivver, Dave Seaman, Hernan Cattaneo, Argia, and Jepe. The opening track, 'Known Love', is a deep, pulasting house tune that feels like an instant classic, perhaps thanks to the soulful, pop-tinged vocals - think LCD soundsystem meets Four Tet. 'Snailblazer', the second track on the EP, takes a much darker turn, with a chugging, EBM-esque feel. Full-bodied and complete with obscured vocals, this is the kind of track to pull out your bag when it's time to really get stuck in. On the B-side, 'Napkin Knowledge' draws on the glistening synths of eurodance, yet still securing the melodies to a grounded bassline and rhythm section. 'Salitre' is the perfect closing track, rising up in a gleaming, ecstatic melody, before delicately returning to ground level. A varied yet firmly cohesive collaborative release - the perfect way for Selador to kick off their 2023 catalogue.

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: Halvtrak is hardly prolific - this EP is just his fourth solo vinyl outing in a decade - but what he does release is invariably excellent. The Finnish producer's trademark sound is rooted in the past, referencing British breakbeats, ambient techno, bleep, Motor City futurism and Chicago house, but always sounds fresh, pleasingly melodic and analogue rich. Opener 'X-Pressed' is probably the most peak-time ready of the strong bunch of tracks on show, with glassy-eyed chords and spacey melodies riding a thrusting bassline and sweaty breakbeats, though the house-tempo melodic techno strut of 'Rhythm Overture' pushes it close. Elsewhere, 'Phase Distorshun' is a more angular, deeper and lo-fi techno excursion, while 'Doubt' sounds like a cross between deep bleep minimalism and hypnotic, mid-90s Detroit techno.

Review: Hamatsuki and DJ Astrobee have the honour of being the first artists to release on the newly formed Summoning label. They take one side each with Hamatsuki's 'Nemolizubam' licking off with some intense, synth-laden techno that is lithe and dynamic as it unfolds. 'Whitecap' is more textured and riddled with bleeping synths and tumbling melodic rain. DJ Astrobee gets dubby with 'Oslo' which has warped synth smears and snappy kick and clap combos. His second offering 'Mother Sun' is a richly emotive techno sound that oozes hi-tek soul.

Review: A couple of years back, the revitalised Hooj Choons label released an album of orchestra-sporting covers of classic dance cuts of the 1990s under the HEO: Hooj Ensemble Orchestra tag, then got rave revivalists Borai and Denham Audio to remix their new version of trance classic 'Cafe Del Mar'. Here those mixes - a frankly filthy, bass-propelled 'Rave Booty' mix and a more acid-flecked, grandiose breakdown-sporting 'Pluck Dub' - finally make it onto wax, alongside the Club Glow duo's similarly previously digital-only reworks of Transformer 2's early 90s 'Hooj' classic 'Fruit of Love'. More tactile and loved up, with tactile bass, pleasing pianos and glassy-eyed vocal snippets, the pair's 'Redux' mix is simply sublime, while Borai's solo dub is a deliciously dreamy, rush-inducing affair that sounds like a future rave classic.

Review: Following their successful Get Closer club nights in Nuremberg, Homebase and Jurgen Kirsch are launching a music label under the same name. The label's mission is clear: to release timeless electronic music on vinyl while returning to the essence of what truly mattersipure, straightforward quality. For their debut release, they've signed two tracks by renowned Pokerflat and 8Bit artist Markus Homm, with remixes crafted by the label founders themselves. All four of these are stripped back and floor-ready minimal and tech fusions with robust low ends and plenty of craft in the sound designs to elevate them above mere fodder.

Review: Killowat Hour is a collection of 90s-inspired gems that seamlessly blend new and old influences. On Side-1, LP Rhythm's 'Want Your Love' kicks things off with a nostalgic nod to prog and euro house, delivering a distinctly 90s vibe. Aida's title track, 'Killowat Hour,' ventures into futuristic techno territory, incorporating elements of new beat for a modern twist. Mance's 'Cross Reference' follows with bouncy techno rhythms, smooth melodies, and trance influences that keep the energy flowing. Other highlights include Hottpretty's 'Make Me Yours,' which takes listeners on a trancey, heady journey through early 90s techno, offering a vibrant and energetic experience. Mad Again's 'The Night' closes the collection with deep euro house vibes, adding a layer of sophistication to the nostalgic set. This compilation is idea for those who like deep house and those who appreciate the balance of classic and contemporary sounds.

Review: Tiga's stripped-down electronic funk and Hudson Mohawke's bold beats share a common threadian idea Tiga dubs "hardcore romance." Recorded in Los Angeles, their collaboration evolved across various tracks that ultimately shaped their debut album, L'Ecstasy. Turbo revisits the project with a series of club-ready remixes featuring Keinemusik's Reznik, Montreal duo Priori & Patrick Holland as Jump Source and Berghain regular Quelza. These hard-hitting remixes are pressed loudly on a striking 12" picture disc featuring iconic imagery from renowned photographer Wolfgang Tillmans.