Review: Emerald's 25th outing takes the form of another superb compilation with four artists who have already released on the label and plenty of new names making an equally good impression. ANNE kicks off with the deep, thudding kicks of 'Coral Reefs' complete with lush hits to smooth the groove. There is more weight and intensity to the oversized hi-hats ringlets on Mike Konstantinidis's 'Apocalypse', DJ Plant Texture layers in plenty of gritty and grime to his gritty 'Swingers' and Jarrod Yeates goes for a twisted after-party vibe on his intense and unrelenting 'Sesh Gremlin', with many more highlights besides.
Review: This bumper 12" covers plenty of thrilling techno ground in a variety of different ways. Raffaele Attanasio goes for the jugular from the off with steely, tightly packed drums and synth surges that electrify the groove. Markantonio brings layers of wailing diva emotion to his 90s-sounding drum funk and Mattia Trani offers the unrelenting warehouse density of 'Dogtown'. Elsewhere there are more lithe and funky cuts from ZIPPO and a synth-washed roller from MUTE8. All of these are high-impact sounds for the peak time.
Review: 'OHM Series #11' presents a vibrant mix of techno with contributions from four talented producers, adding depth to the ongoing series. On Side-1, Christine Benz's 'Sunset' opens with warm, enveloping chords, creating a serene atmosphere that feels like a sunset on a tropical island. Following that, Brizman's 'As We Should', featuring Linn, shifts the tone with a lighter, dub-infused house sound, perfect for a more relaxed vibe. Side-2 kicks off with Hidden Sequence's 'Dub Cycle', a darker, more ominous track, weaving catchy dub techno rhythms that pull you in. Finally, Martin Jarl's '02_37 AM' brings a smooth, ambient dub feel with a traditional techno edge. This airy composition evokes the timeless sounds and reminds us of Model 500's Starlight. This edition of OHM Series showcases diverse approaches to dub techno, balancing the atmospheric with the rhythmic - and all delivered with precision.
Review: A compelling compilation that delves deep into the cosmos of techno, offering four tracks that each explore different atmospheric dimensions. On Side-1, Charlou's 'Hidefaces' sets a dark, spooky tone with its stomping beats, blending elements of techno, industrial and 90s rave sounds. It's a haunting journey that captures the raw, visceral energy of underground techno. Mar C follows with 'Wentron', a spacey breakbeat track characterised by its crisp production, which elevates the atmosphere with a futuristic edge. Side-2 opens with Lanzieri's 'Vogue', a track that brings a touch of goa-trance influence, combining ethereal melodies with powerful basslines, making it feel like a cosmic flight through sound. Kvrk's 'Haunted Illusions' closes the EP with a progressive house touch, providing a deep, entrancing groove that muystifies. Each track offers a unique exploration of techno's darker, more experimental side.
Happy707 - "Where Does That Noise Come From" (4:28)
Review: Menacing EBM and dark synth billows from a Netherlands hinterland; our heralds speak of an esoteric encampment by the name of Espectro Oculto, said to be the remote incantators of an unstoppable curse in sound. Six shadowy emissaries have been sent to spread the pestilence; Trenton Chase, Martial Canterel, DJ Nephil, Exhausted Modern, Fragedis and Happy707. Clearly, the faction have recruited only the best, trusted and yet most nefarious of spies from as far-flung regions as Czechia and Argentina in the administering of such a sordid sonic plague. We're left most quivery at the centrifugal doom drones of Exhausted Modern's 'Fear Of Focus', across whose breakdown banshees are heard wailing and snarling, and Fragedis' 'Landing In Reality', a lo-fi techno freakout and sonochemical anomaly, channeling militant two-way radio samples and hellish FM synthesis.
Santonio Echols - "Piano In The Light" (Emanuell Echols mix)
Brian Kage - "This Saturday Night"
Ryan Sadorus - "Down Below"
Review: Upstairs Asylum is kicking off the year in some style with a couple of killer new EPs. This one is the first in what is presumably a new series to showcase the talents of the Motor City. Mike Clark & Marcus Harris get things underway with 'Hey' which has a subtly uplifting feel thanks to the bright, sustained chords and cuddly drums. Santonio Echols's 'Piano In The Light' (DJ Emanuell Echols mix) is laidback, playful deep house with magical chord work and Brian Kage brings his classy depths to the smooth grooves of 'This Saturday Night.' Ryan Sadorus brings things to a close with the smoky 'Down Below.'
Chris Coco - "Yawa Ze Asfos" (instrumental) (4:02)
Jake Slazenger - "168B" (3:47)
Global Goon - "Untitled" (4:39)
Ruckus (4:47)
Jodey Kendrik - "Thanx" (5:56)
Gavin Masih - "Unknown Track 1" (6:55)
Monika Subrtova - "Alata" (7:08)
Review: Furthur Electronix's first two Furthur Journeys Into compilations tune plenty of heads and shift plenty of copies. The third one keeps the quality levels high with more explorations around the periphery of underground electronics. Chris Coco opens with a soothing synth sound before Jake Slazenger brings crystalline synths and abstract modulations to the mid-tempo '168B.' There is more pace and twisted acid energy to Global Goon's untitled contribution and then old school jungle comes to the fore on the super stylish and atmospheric Gavin Masih cut. Monika Subrtova's 'Alata' is a serene and widescreen ambient synthscape that brings things to a suitably poignant close.
Review: With over 15 years of history behind it, Detroit's Cryovac label is run by producer Andy Garcia - who also happens, conveniently enough, to be an employee of the local pressing plant, Archer Record Pressing. They've released countless V/A and split 12"s, inevitably of high quality, with this one being no exception. Divided between Drivetrain on Side-1 and a certain A Garcia & M Kretsch on Side-2, it achieves a dynamic equilibrium between foundational Motor City sounds and inventive exploration and innovation. Drivetrain's '3am' is a driving electro-infused track that merges funky rhythms with melodic touches, crafting an atmosphere that is futuristic and engaging. 'Discipline' follows, bringing a raw, classic techno energy that feels timeless, with its steady groove serving as a reminder of the genre's impactful origins. The flip sees Garcia & Kretsch delve into different sonic territories. 'Ai_me' pulses with influences from Detroit and Chicago's late 80s underground, delivering a rhythm that's robust and propulsive. Rounding out the EP is 'Squeaker', a brooding piece that creates an unsettling yet intriguing landscape, blending eerie tones with an alien-like ambiance. Bridging techno's historical essence with forward-thinking creativity, this release's balance of nostalgia and innovation ensures it will resonate with listeners from across eras.
Review: The Cimedirapax crew are back with another superb various artists collection that nudges at the borders of tech house and minimal. Eliaz's 'Enbaspremal' is an alien sound with abstract designs and trippy pads and Lapucci then gets deeper and darker on the menacing 'To Be On Top.' F_Phono brings some nu-disco energy and bright 80s arps to 'Sollievo' then Marco Biagioli heads into more occult worlds with the eerie and haunting 'Strange Mirror' before Equinox's 'Intergalactic Space' offers a caustic electro workout.
Review: Ida Engberg's contribution to this release marks a striking departure from the Swedish techno DJ and record producer's usual sound, an unexpected, lush journey through the world of 2 step genre that's definitely not typically seen in her catalogue. The track is at once sensual and booming, designed for the late-morning hours when the dancefloor shifts from peak-time frenzy to more reflective, intimate moments. It pulses with a calm intensity, creating a smooth yet exhilarating rhythm that invites the listener into an immersive experience. On the flip side, 'Pink Monkeys' is a true sonic adventure, blending elements of EBM and sawtooth trance to produce a thrilling, psychedelic atmosphere. The track is a festival-ready anthem, charged with energy and unrestrained sound, allowing Ida to stretch her creative muscles even further. Meanwhile, Marco Resmann delivers two tracks that showcase his deep-rooted versatility. 'RIMA feat. Laatz' is a high-octane techno rollercoasterimenacing, frenetic, and impossible to ignore. Its relentless drive and chaotic energy keep the listener on their toes, offering a new, radical take on techno. Then, 'Dimensions' shifts into a more intricate, electro-driven vibe. Its low-slung groove is filled with subtle details, creating a balanced equilibrium that simultaneously engages both the mind and the body. Resmann's approach is detailed and meticulous, ensuring each sound has a purpose and brings the track to life. Together, these four tracks exemplify a mastery of genre-blending, pushing boundaries while still maintaining an infectious, danceable core that connects with listeners on a deep, visceral level.
Review: Shout out to Greek powerhouse Kinesthetik Recordings for making it all the way to a half a century of releases there. They celebrate in the best way they know - with more tranced-out sounds from artists in their orbit. Giorgio & Andreas open things up with 'Nice One' and its thudding tech drums and cosmic synth lines. Diskinesia gets much more raw and moody with the edgy drums of 'Back & Forth' and Interphase then drops a pair of industrial tech thumpers. Giorgio & Andreas reappear with a raw, roughshod and deep groove and Marcelino Sanchez's 'Motive One' offers dub techno to close.
Review: Released only a year on from Jacidorex's Unfaced, an acid techno tumbler of big proportions, now comes a new V/A sourced from many a peer in the upstart Belgian artist's orbit. First, we've the collaborative 'Midnight Express', a cleanly tenebrous slink through twinkling, bubbling, upstream synths and hypotense builds, before the hardcore-informed 'Krazchen' by Acidus serves to harrow dancefloors worldwide with evil banana slip synths and cavernous kicks. A melodic turn is marked thereafter on the call-to-dance 'Into The Floor' by Ansbro, while Mahtal 'All In This' continues this trend into hardstyle techno, with its especially clever use of pitched-up and resampled kicks.
Review: Four new prangers from France's BOOOoo! crew, startling our ears with audio-apparitions by ghosts of the resident French sceno-system: Jamahr, Mooglee, Jucid and Odeon. 'Black Loops' and 'Flex (Booty Mix)' invade elastic terrains of bass and flicky synth, churn them back through meshes of gradated beats and rond-squelching stab notes. 'The Question Is' eliminates much of the A-side's establishing layers and overdubs, harking rubbery and slip-tastic FX design, countered by the equally sticky 'Jimbeldance'.
Review: Alexander Johansson and Mattias Fridell deliver a stripped-back techno workout across four focused cuts. The A-side leads with a thundering rhythm section that drives forward with a sense of urgency that feels both raw and precise. The second track shifts gears slightly, folding intricate percussion into a rolling groove that keeps the energy simmering. On the reverse, the duo ventures into more atmospheric territory, layering subtle synth textures over a steady, hypnotic pulse. With its tight execution and unrelenting focus, this EP solidifies Johansson and Fridell place as stalwarts of the Swedish techno scene.
Review: The legendary Lagoa club in Menin is a real techno institution that this year marks its 34th anniversary. It does so in part by dropping LAGOA TRAX Vol. 1, an exclusive vinyl compilation featuring four unreleased tracks by its famous resident DJs Manu Kenton, DJ HS, Jamie Dill and Max Walder. These celebrated artists honour Lagoa's spirit with compositions that echo the club's distinctive style-driving beats and electrifying sounds. Each track embodies the energy and legacy of Lagoa's unforgettable nights and gives fans a chance to reconnect with the intense rhythms that have defined the club's reputation.
Review: This third release from Dust In Grooves, curated by Olivia Mendez, is a compilation EP showcasing mind-bending tracks. Expect adventurous, challenging cuts with a groovy, raw sound. 'Bitter' by LKY is an atmospheric journey with trippy loops and changing beats, evoking the sweaty, trance-infused 90s. 'R.A.W' by Deluka glistens with mind-bending sound design, a visceral, hypnotizing track with quirky highs and stomping lows. On the flip side, 'Tamakotuma' by Metapattern beams with melting synths, intense rhythms, and skewed melodies, a dynamic, retro-futuristic journey across dimensions. 'Take Me To Detroit' by Dot Dat is a soothing dance-floor energy tamer, filled with melodic arpeggios and spacious drums. This release features an animated cover by visual artist Deniz Bicer, also known as Ojelibalon. A diverse selection of forward-thinking techno sure to ignite dancefloors and inspire adventurous DJs.
Review: Maara's debut on her very own Ancient Records lifts the lid on long-hidden truths and buried queer histories. Rein-whipping the steed of techno to redirect it towards better representations for lesbian communities in dance music, 'She's Startin' and 'Unbearable Delight' are heard resurrecting forgotten, seventh-hell secrets on a furious A-side. Faustian pacts tempt us to indulge a diabolical knowledge, while Maara holds out hope for a sapphic world, extracting simmering, fluid desires against a background of staid complacency. The Montreal producer ends on a slippery note with 'Scissor Me Timbers', where the sound design morphs into something eerily glottal, with bellowing voices, alarming hooks and knocky percs promising a ceaselessly hedonic alternate future.
Review: Italian DJ and producer Luigi Madonna sources high-technical pressure on his latest release for Planet Rhythm. The Shinto torii on the front cover appears in stark contrast to the EP’s otherwise manic mechanics, with the sonorant ‘Red Gate’ - if it is to reflect any kind of religiosity at all - bringing meaty, dreaded kicks and a reflective lead stab, as of a doomsday techno-cult, not a decentralised polytheism. Hardly the peaceful image we’re met with on the sleeve! ‘Untuned Harmonics’ files back the A1’s textural bark for a more dynamic calculation in sound, while ‘Over The Sky’ ravels automatic growls and yaps around seething hats.
Review: After releasing some non-club music on his own label The Yellow Zone, Lenny Mailleau steps into the dancefloor world with his first solo record for High Ends France. Known for his work as Zendid on High Ends, he returns to the French label with three tracks that mix up dubby house and techno. This release marks a new chapter in Mailleau's journey and showcases his versatility and skill in crafting infectious rhythms designed to move a crowd. 'Intense City' is a dubby one with lithe synths, 'Papiers Ciseaux' is icy and abstract dub and 'GGG' brings a melancholic and percussive touch.
Review: Having made his Opia bow in 2018 on the label's second release - where he shared vinyl space with Steve Marie - it has taken Luis Malon a fair old while to return to the London-based imprint's loving embrace. The good news, though, is that he's delivered a genuinely memorable, melodically bold and pleasingly imaginative collection of cuts. Compare and contrast, for example, the spacey, percussive and far-sighted tech-house bounce of opener 'Des Antenna', and the cut that follows, the bleep-and-bass-meets-intergalactic-deep-house loveliness of 'Nines'. Over on the flip, he does a bit of sci-fi soundtrack daydreaming on the cheery melodies-meets-dark bass excellence of 'Travelling Across', before wrapping fizzing, mind-mangling electronics and twisted acid lines around a crunchy breakbeat on 'Fly Or Die'. Impressive!
Review: Milan-based 'multi-disciplinary' project Opal looks to countryman Marco Maggi, aka Mama, for a new techno investigation that finds the producer heading into new territory. There is still a real focus on the dance floor here but rich sound designs make these tunes more than just functional fodder. 'Demo35' has a nice rugged and loopy rhythm which is paced well and marked with spooky synths. 'Demo39' is more snappy with alien motifs bringing the beats and swollen bass notes to life. 'Demo29' keeps the deep rhythm going, this time with some bright back-lit synth glows and 'Demo21' shuts down with a more physical broken beat and late night urban intrigue.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Reconnect (6:08)
Reconnect (Reboot Outahere rework) (7:48)
This Is My Ticket (7:00)
This Is My Ticket (Johnny D remix) (7:36)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Francesco Mami and Julien Chaptal deliver a compelling deep house experience with their 'Reconnect' release, blending smooth minimalism and melodic tech house grooves. The title track, 'Reconnect', is an addictive mix of fluid rhythms and rich melodies, striking the perfect balance between sleek production and dancefloor appeal. Reboot's 'Outahere Rework' of the same track deepens the vibe, adding a fun, groovy energy that's primed for late-night sets. Side-2 shifts gears with 'This Is My Ticket', a standout deep tech house cut that pairs intricate production with a memorable, catchy drive. The track's hypnotic layers create a textured soundscape, ideal for dancefloor workouts. Johnny D's remix of 'This Is My Ticket' ups the tempo, injecting high-energy beats and an infectious bounce that transforms it into a peak-time anthem. Each version bringing a unique energy while remaining cohesive. It's a well-rounded EP for dance music fans.
Review: Francesco Mami and Julien Chaptal deliver a compelling deep house experience with their 'Reconnect' release, blending smooth minimalism and melodic tech house grooves. The title track, 'Reconnect', is an addictive mix of fluid rhythms and rich melodies, striking the perfect balance between sleek production and dancefloor appeal. Reboot's 'Outahere Rework' of the same track deepens the vibe, adding a fun, groovy energy that's primed for late-night sets. Side-2 shifts gears with 'This Is My Ticket', a standout deep tech house cut that pairs intricate production with a memorable, catchy drive. The track's hypnotic layers create a textured soundscape, ideal for dancefloor workouts. Johnny D's remix of 'This Is My Ticket' ups the tempo, injecting high-energy beats and an infectious bounce that transforms it into a peak-time anthem. Each version bringing a unique energy while remaining cohesive. It's a well-rounded EP for dance music fans.
Review: MarcelDune returns with a fierce new outing on Intrepid Skin. Based in London and rooted in Athens, MarcelDune's musical DNA spans jazz, opera and punk DIY so he is known for creating a sound that champions resistance, authenticity and liberation. This release embodies that ethos with euphoric energy, heavy drums and unrestrained fun all butting out of the beats. The title track opens with serrated industrial grooves, while 'Remedy for Evil' brings bouncy, relentless rhythm. 'Tell Me Who They Are' features ricocheting vocal chops and angular percussion and 'Romantic and Other Fantasies' closes with pounding beats and a whirlwind of effects.
Review: Brazil's Marcio M shows that Latin America loves hard techno too, which is not something we necessarily knew before we heard this. His outing on Triple A is triple X rated from the off: 'Deja Vu' is a jacked-up hard techno slammer with snuggling acid lines, caustic pads and dark vocals all trapped in the relentless rhythm. 'GTFO' has undulating loops that lock you in the here and now and unleashes bright, flashy, raved-up mentasm stabs and 'Let's Go MTF' daisy it back to a more minimal but no less driving and destructive mix of drums and synths. 'The Voice' is the final guaranteed hell-raiser with its pacey drum patterns and rusty synth textures.
Review: Chris Liberator's experimental techno label Maximum/Minimum forms part of the Stay Up Forever Collective umbrella, which has been going for a heck of a long time (since 1995-ish), charting untouched terrains of teratological UK hardcore techno. An offshoot imprint dedicated to the "creative corruptions" of the Stay Up Forever crew, Liberator and co. would originally release these ones without catalogue numbers, that is until the market beseeched them to behave more conventionally. Now, well past their 65th V/A release, comes their latest, a decapitatory pummeller fronted by Sonico's 'Did You Say Acid?' and Zyco Seon's 'Citric Frequencies'.
Review: Medellin producer Marck D (Charlie Escobar) is a new Planet Rhythm poster child, though his digital releasing repertoire is nonetheless colossal even without them, his many affairs including Illegal Alien, Phobiq and IAMT. Shocker it is, then, that 'Dune' is Escobar's first ever 12"; the record brings ultraphonic chord slurries ('Behind The Chord') and federated, intergalactic-dynastic codes of techno honour ('Atreides'), riding the sand-wormed thematics of the Frank Herbert sci-fi classic.
Review: Serious seriality from the OHM Series, an imprint and sole patent owner of the rare, aurally administered chemical known as Omega X. The alphabetic Greek letter ohm determines impedance / resistance in an electrical circuit, and so too do each of the dub techno tracks released on the OHM Series amount to tergiversating transductions, their chillout chord-knocks and hardened beats never quite letting us settle. Though titles like 'Innocence' and 'Downtime' persist here, the tracks perhaps inadvertently prove that flow is impossible without resistance: Separation's track is especially unorthodox in its strange reordering of phaser, pan and saturation effects on the pad-stab, which produces an unusual swirling effect.
Review: The Martian's 'The Long Winter Of Mars' marks a triumphant return, celebrating 30 years since Red Planet 5's original release. This reissue spotlights two iconic tracks, each occupying a side of the EP, and serves as a potent reminder of Detroit's techno legacy. Side-1 features 'Skypainter,' a track that transports the listener to uncharted sonic territories. It's beautifully layered, with an emotional depth that keeps the energy constant from start to finish - Detroit techno at its most expressive. On Side-2, 'Season Of The Solar Wind' delivers a powerful punch. This track is a prime example of dynamic Detroit-style techno, with a rhythm that captures the raw energy and innovation that defined the genre. This reissue from Red Planet, Underground Resistance's legendary sublabel, is an essential piece for anyone who reveres the Detroit sound.
Review: The Martian's Ghostdancer, reissued by the iconic Red Planet label, is a true gem in the world of Detroit techno. This record radiates a warm, soulful funk, blending vintage Detroit sounds with a unique twist. Side-1 kicks off with 'Medicine Man,' a track steeped in classic Detroit vibes, followed by 'The Vanishing Race,' both tracks reflecting The Martian's mastery in crafting timeless techno. Side-2 brings an intriguing contrast. 'Windwalker' is an uplifting, jazzy piece that exudes happiness, while 'The Talking Rocks Of Mars' ventures into darker, rougher territory, offering a captivating divergence from the other tracks. This contrast on Side-2 highlights The Martian's exceptional production skills, showcasing both depth and versatility. As Red Planet begins reissuing its catalogue for the first time, Ghostdancer is set to be in high demand. For any Detroit techno enthusiast, this release is essential, a standout from one of the genre's most influential artists.
Review: Techno player Gary Martin was inspired by the 1963 album How to Belly Dance for Your Husband by the Sonny Lester Orchestra for this EP, which finds him transforming jazz and belly dance influences into modern techno. The release features two energetic techno bangers and one mesmerising track in 3/4 time which calls to mind his previous works like 'Casa Caugat' and 'Girlfriend.' By blending vintage inspiration with newer production techniques, he ends to his roots while never getting too fawning for what has come before.
Review: Like the orographic cloud formed around the hill on the front cover, Martinou's latest record is a restorative future garage via techno myst. Released through the German minimalists Fauxpas - who've confirmed their pride at having finally gotten to release with the Swedish artist - this vinyl edition contains an exclusive track on the fifth runout, 'Thoughtless'. But the fact is, all the tunes here are more than worthy for soundtracking a condensate moment of downtime and renewal. Paced blissfully, our faves are 'Woven' and 'Hold Then Release', both of which exculpate all our anxieties through burbling, filtered woodblocks and field-studied sonics, hand-picked to arrest and wow. A sublime new outing from the Sewer Sender founder.
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