Back catalogue: Techno (すべて)

Review: OHM is quickly becoming a quality imprint you can count on for techno and dub techno. The ninth addition in the series, it calls for an excellent blend of composers to balance this EP out. Veteran Jamie Anderson collabs with the brilliant Owain K on opener. The 'Aqua Dub' builds a euphoria for late night smiles. Smooth is an understatement on this linear gem. One artist on here that's been making strong appearances on many dub techno labels is the ever-talented Francisco Aguado. 'Balance' is a great tribal transition track for any DJ who can it creatively to build the means to an end. On the second side, Star Dub offers the very addictive and techy 'Forst'. Ending on a high note, the brisk and flighty 'Ever Growing' by Volpe completes the ninth edition in a rapturous mood. If you like deep techno, the OHM series is a must to collect.

Review: Needs' commendable charity drive continues to bring forth the goods, both in terms of good causes and world class club music. Rallying round in support of World Mental Health Day 2020, Shanti Celeste kicks the record off in style with the rapid fire, deep-diving workout 'Fantasma'. OCB keeps the pressure up with the psychotropic techno of 'RS3', while Michelle works up some delightfully freaky synths on playful jacker 'Aesthetic'. Bobby's 'Free Your Mind' is a 90s-tinged, full fat techno production indebted to Detroit, Peder Mannerfelt keeps things stripped and raw on 'Our Levels' and Yu Su weaves a beautiful tapestry of interweaving rhythms on 'Brittney'. Adam Pits' trippy techno sounds resplendent on 'Wind Tunnel' and DJ Sports completes the set with the inventive, dembow slanted funk of 'Needs Dub'.

Review: Luke Hess delivered a stunning, dub techno masterclass with this rather unexpected gem on the FXHE label back in 2017 with fellow Motor City great Omar S on production. The superb title track opens with shimmering dub chords and hypnotic rhythms that evolve slowly but powerfully. 'Renewal' offers a more direct approach by channelling the spirit of Brendon Moeller's Beat Pharmacy. On the flip, 'Sacred' strips things back with a staggered groove, airy pads and a one-note bassline circling deep into the night. Closing track 'Motor Dub' nods to Deepchord with its swirling delays and spacious, bass-heavy mix. For fans of Basic Channel and immersive, textured techno, this is irresistible.

Review: Faut Section's Perception Series is back with a second sizzling installment of freshly made techno. Lewis Fautzi & Norbak pair off to open up with 'Code Of Deception', a barreling cut with icy hi hats and taught bass twangs full of dusty factory floor menace. Oscar Mulero offers one of his signature loop-techno rollers in 'Zw System' Temudo then rattles walls with the mysterious bass rumbles of 'Niiv'. Completing what is an EP that is as varied as it is vital is Kessell with the dubby broken techno beats of 'Time Domain' which has fizzing synths cracking like static on a 90s TV screen.

Review: Ohm Series #10 continues to be a shining example of the remarkable work being done in the dub techno genre, consistently featuring top-tier producers who excel in their craft. On Side-1, Monomood kicks things off with 'Spring In Space,' a track that boasts deep sub-bass hits and long, blending chords. Its strong kick and clean production make it a powerful example of dub techno at its finest. Following this, Octal Industries delivers 'Rewind Repeat,' a piece that layers epic strings and a soaring melody over an abstract broken beat. Powerful and evocative! Side-2 opens with G-Prod and Taho's'"Light Forest,' an uptempo dub techno track with a techy edge. Its smooth production and dancefloor-ready vibe make it a seamless fusion of technical prowess and groove. Closing out the release is Gradient's 'Track 4,' which offers classic dub techno sounds. Gradient's exceptional craftsmanship is evident in this track, which epitomizes the lush textures and hypnotic rhythms that define the genre. Overall, Ohm Series #10 upholds its reputation by delivering high-quality dub techno that resonates with both purists and new listeners alike. This release is an ideal example to the innovative spirit of the genre.

Review: For more than 20 years Ashley Burchett has been pushing the envelope of no-nonsense techno as O [Phase] and he's been sounding more inspired than ever since launching his own Modwerks label back in 2021. Following up on some sterling releases from Saag and Tora Katsuta, now Burchett takes the reins himself for four steadfast building blocks in your game of techno Jenga. 'Merchant' is tightly wound, razor-sharp and looped-up to perfection, while 'Edge Runner' locks into some hi-octane machine funk. 'Plot Twist' keeps just a touch of swing in the mix and capitalises on hand claps and acid tweaks before 'Guess Work' ratchets down a lead-heavy low-end groove that could move mountains.

Review: 'Frankfurt Bass' specialist O Wells has been associated with Die Orakel since 2016, though this EP - the artist's fifth in total - is his first for the imprint for two years. Wells goes in hard from the word go, adding ragged, mind-bending TB-303 'acid' lines and intergalactic aural textures to a punchy electro beat on opener 'Consico'. Focus switches on the following track, 'Rhytim'[sic], where outer-space melodies and bubbly modular motifs are layered over a tighter electro beat. Side-B opens with the tracky, hypnotic, otherworldly techno of 'Moldoom', while the EP's concluding cut (IDM inspired number 'Spectral') boasts deep sub bass, Aphex Twin textures, subtle bleeps and oddly swung beats.

Review: The unstoppable Steve O'Sullivan brings more of his irresistible dub techno goodness to this heavyweight 12" for Taste Not Waste. By now you will be familiar with the sort of sound Steve deals in but somehow it never seems to get old. This one kicks off with a tight and tech-infused roller with clipped kicks and playful chords that bring feel-good vibes. 'Awakening' then has pinging kicks and vamping chords to enliven any floor and last of all is 'The Feels'. It's another perfectly executed club cut with oodles of warm bass and super smooth grooves.

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Fletcher and Steve O'Sullivan have often worked or appeared together in the past so it makes sense that the former now invites the latter to be the first person to release on his newly minted and always sure to be worth checking Social Currency imprint. They take the reins together across floor-focussed cuts that are marbled with deep pads and introspective sounds. 'Cold Calling Blues' is warm and airy with smoky vocal sounds and precision dub techno drum loops, 'Midnight At 1:30' hits a little harder but is still zoned out and serene and 'Shatner's Groove' takes on subtle deep space moods with deft pads and spoken word additions.

Review: A limited edition 12" vinyl with two extension cuts of Obergman's new album on Pariter! Vinyl only - No repress! Dreamy synths wash over the listener, analogue bubbles heading for the surface - imagine Drexciya in 'Wavejumper' or 'Sea Snake' mode, only with its restless electro foundations replaced by something more regular and reassuringly solid in the beats department. All in all, oozing melodic techno class.

Review: Pounding rhythms, layered melodies and relentless energy define this high-impact techno release. Across six tracks, the sound explores raw, driving percussion, deep grooves and nods to classic Detroit and Chicago influences, creating a package built for the headstrong. Opening with 'Reborn Identity', the tone is immediately setihard-hitting tribal techno wrapped in hypnotic loops, chord stabs and a beautifully melodic undercurrent. DJ Rush takes it even further with a no-holds-barred remix, pushing the track into pure Chicago mayhem with scooping kicks and aggressive energy. 'All We Imagine As Light' follows with a deeper approach, leaning into rolling percussion and a groovier, more hypnotic flow. Flipping over, 'Broken Circle' injects raw power into the mix, designed to move crowds with its high-energy pulse. 'Instinct' shifts gears slightly, merging techno's intensity with house elements, weaving in Detroit-styled melodies and rich strings for an anthemic feel. The journey wraps with Volpe's remix of 'Instinct', stripping things back to a chord-heavy, dub-influenced sound that brings warmth and depth. Each track carries its own character, yet together they form a cohesive, floor-focused collection. Hard, deep and rhythmically relentless, this EP embraces the genre's foundational sounds.

Review: Having first appeared on the monumental Techno 2: The Next Generation compilation in 1990, Octave One swiftly set out their sound to become the Detroit techno icons they currently are with the Octivation EP for 430 West. The rest they say is history. Given the reissue clamour of anything related to the birth of Detroit techno, it's quite strange that the record hasn't been licensed for an official new edition in the ensuing two decades or so, until now that is! Presented here in it's promo edition, you get a chance to here "Sonic Fusion", a track that never officially came out and was replaced by "There and Beyond". Any self respecting Detroit techno fan will know "Nicolette" and "Paradise" and anyone interested in increasing their knowledge of the genre should consider a must have!

Review: Serenity is a mental health charity label that is now back with more sonic gold, this time in the form of a reissue of Marco Bernardi aka Octogen's 'The Journeyman' from 2008 on Soma Recordings. It is an immersive, emotive sound with lush and ethereal pads and a moody bassline that keeps you locked. The B-side offers two original tracks from Bernardi 'Travelling to the Sun' is one to hypnotise floors with its hypnotic chimes and raw drums, while 'Little Tiny Crickets' delivers a fast-paced IDM twist with some killer synth work. As always, proceeds go to charity this time Papyrus UK who support youth suicide prevention and MusicSpace.

Review: Bjarnar & Jonas's last album back in 2023 was critically well-received and now it is back in all-new form as a selection of four classy remixes. First up it is Seven Villas label boss Pablo Bolivar who gets all blissed out and paddy on 'Bara', while Merv brings some nice smeared chords to the rolling, hypnotic dub of 'Erebus'. On the flip, Philipp Priebe Saeti's take on 'Stratospheric Clouds' reworks it as a shimmering and bottomless dub lit up by some warming chords and last of all, Waage flips 'Anguta' into a dark, stark and punchy dub-tech monster that comes on like an unstoppable wall of noise. A quartet of seriously meaty sounds overall.

Review: Over the past couple of years the Ohm Series of 12"s has quietly become one of the best in the field of dub techno, always carrying a respectable range of artists pushing the sound forwards, and now carrying the kind of weight which tells you you're getting the best these artists have to offer. On the seventh entry we can hear Ohm himself, aka Bjarnar Jonsson and Octal Industries teaming up for the deeply submerged creeper 'System (vs Federson)', while Lee Holman brings something brighter, more Motor City-inspired to the table on 'Absorbed By The Elements'. Andrea Cichecki slinks into a mellow, swung house mood on 'Universe Blue' and El Choop leans in on the sound design around his chord sounds to create the rhythmic heat in his outstanding 'FORPOD'. As ever, the bar remains high with the Ohm Series offerings.

Review: It is hard to believe this EP is now more than 15 years old, because it certainly doesn't sound like it. It is one of literally hundreds of Omar S tunes that has more than stood the test of time for the way it so beguiling blends cold machine sounds and mechanical rhythms with irresistible synth craft. 'The Further You Look The Less You Will See' is all low-fi low end minimalism and glowing melodic warmth. 'Tecky Alexander' is a playful take on that with jittery rhythms and poppy melodies that allow your mind to wander and get lost in the subtly shifting loops. Perfection.

Review: The new EP from Image Recordings makes up their third release since their start in 2023, marking out an impressively chill but still poised undertaking in surreal funky techno. Evidencing on their part a keen understanding of the meditative instillations sought by DJs at the early outset of the UK techno explosion. Every track is swung and prescient of the UK funky sound that would emerge later, though this record doesn't quite qualify as UK funky since the latter sound is marked by a soulful (often vocal) influence of jazzdance; rather the likes of 'Same Being' and 'Life In The Shade' are strange ones indeed, with a strangely nocturning, mechanic, speechless quality.

Review: Iceland's Thule offshoot label 66 Degrees was a vital label back in the day. After a 20-year hiatus, it came back strong in August and now follows up quickly with a second superb EP. This one is a carefully curated various artists collection that pulls together some local house anthems new and old. Ozy's 'Sequential Dub' is a super smooth deep house number with lush chord work. Sanasol brings heavier, more raw house drums and grinding bass that will get floors in a sweat. Oz Artists mixes up a raw, mechanical groove with balmy, dreamy pads up top to make for something utterly compelling on 'Atomox; while last of all Terry Cummingz pays homage to dusty Windy City house on his perfectly lo-fi 'Cherry Bon Bon. Classy business for sure.

Review: Kelly Lee Owens' highly anticipated fourth studio album Dreamstate offers a liberating, euphoric sound, reflecting the emotional growth she apparently experienced following a significant romantic breakup. It's a record full of release and renewal, urging listeners to find their own freedom. Owens collaborated with heavyweights like Bicep, Tom Rowlands from The Chemical Brothers and George Daniel from The 1975 to craft this immersive soundscape. Dreamstate is also her first release on the newly launched dh2 label, part of Dirty Hit, spearheaded by George Daniel.