Back catalogue: Techno (All)

Review: Seclusion debuts with its first vinyl release here and it decides to use the opportunity to showcase four remixes from three different techno titans. UK favourite Ben Sims goes first with his turbocharged take on Elyas/Anta's 'Real 13130 G's' and then Elyas offers the first two remixes. His version of Geto Mark and DJ Deeon's 'In This House' is seriously heavy, with rock solid kicks and muted acid spraying about them, then he remixes Player's 'Player Three' into a funked up and loopy house banger for the peak time. Mark Broom is the last to remix and goes for a fusion of smeared Detroit-style synth soul over hefty techno drums.

Review: The Third Room concludes its so far excellent various artists series with a third and final instalment of yet more future-facing and heady cosmic techno. Justine Perry kicks things off with the deep space synths and paired back hypnosis of 'Diversion' while Hadone then bangs a little harder with 'Strain Relief' which has twitchy synth motifs and hard, hammering beats. HWRD's 'Mirage' is a buoyant techno bouncer with loopy synth ringlets all interacting with each other to mind-melting effect and Quelza's 'Domino' dips into deepest of dub techno territory to shut down a nice diverse EP.

Review: Strap in for a classic ride into the realms of techno's future here with a spellbinding EP from Falcon on SK Eleven. The opener is one of those perfectly designed and frictionless tunneling techno mind melters that you never want to end. 'Aerial' also hurries forward urgently but this time with bells and percussive texture for company. 'Outer Edge' then gets more dirty with a grubbier low end and hunched-over kick drum loops that keep you on edge. 'Circadian' shuts down with a sense of urgency and unsettling synth energy that will have you looking over your shoulder.

Review: Adeen Records is on a roll right now and this time out they welcome the Detroit hero that is Marcellus Pittman for a new and beguiling four-track 12". Known for his work with The 3 Chairs collective as well as his solo jams, this Motor City mainstay opens up with 'You Always Hank Bank One Time' which is a real mental maze of rickety loops and blurts of degraded synth. 'Another Spring Lover' is another rusty and lo-fi piece of archetypal Detroit house that is very clearly machine music but with a unique sense of human soul. 'I'm Gonna Be The Everything' is a raw drum track with sparse, heartwarming chords and 'Slick Nickle Pladium Investment' is a knackered downbeat hip-hop closer. Magnificent.

Review: Fresh from a surprise - but no less surprisingly sublime - appearance on Timedance, Ploy returns home to the Deaf Test imprint he set up as a vehicle for his productions back in 2022. As usual, what's on offer is a fresh-but-nostalgic set of cuts full of audible nods to heavyweight dancefloor styles of the 90s. The A-side boasts two top-notch takes on 'Vortex': the bleep-and-breaks style sub-heavy shuffle of the 'Stripped Mix' and the early 90s UK techno heaviness of the more expansive 'Busy Mix'. Over on side B, trippy and energy-packed throb-job 'In Your Head' is followed by the moody bass propelled breakbeat house of 'Eyes On You' and the early Orbital-esque excellence of 'Sending'.

Review: This joint EP titled 'SPOOR 3' by artists Prince De Takicardie and Young Adults showcases a diverse range of electronic music styles, from eerie techno to celestial breakbeats. Prince De Takicardie's 'ALLO?' opens the EP with a strange and captivating narrative voiceover set to a backdrop of sci-fi techno. The track's heavy acid and melodic breaks create an otherworldly atmosphere. Their second track 'Yoho!', is a more upbeat and playful early 90s techno number with mechanical undertones. Young Adults' contributions offer a different sonic experience. 'Rub-a-scrub' is an alien and trance-inducing track with a strong baseline, while 'Dielektricum' is a spacey electro number. Overall, 'SPOOR 3' is a well-crafted and diverse EP that showcases the talents of both artists well and all four tracks offer a journey through different electronic music landscapes, providing something for every taste.

Review: One Eye Witness is mostly known for doing reissues of treasured 90s breakbeat, techno and trance under the name Kalahari Oyster Cult but this outlet under their name is for new music. Similar to the previous, the fifth edition is a compilation with submissions from different artists around the world. Starting out the EP is the Montreal producer Priori with the very atmospheric 'Weight'. Those who follow the label, know that every release will get a bit of trance and sure enough, Eversines deliver with wicked 'Vigilance'. For the second side, the 'Bustlin' Monk' by O Fourtyfour, bounces along with a trippy, broken, electro groove. Lastly, 'J2PX' by Reflex Blue is a sick, robotic funker that we expect to get a lot of attention by those who get this record. You can always expect some excellent music from One Eye Witness.

Review: Punx Soundcheck is an iconic Italo disco and electro clash duo hailing from Argentine Patagonia and now they unveil a treasure trove of enigmatic cuts on their second release. Up first is the turbocharged Italo anthem ' Nano,'. It is thumping and sweaty with rugged drums and zippy synth line. Also featured is ' Blow Your Speaker,' which is an aquatic Italo-electro-techno pumper. 'Sonic Playground' ups the ante more with flashy synths whipping about the mix, 'Sonic Playground' is lit up with vocoder vocals and mind melting synth sequences and 'Mutant' is just that.

Review: Seven years after his last album, UK techno mainstay Perc is back with another thrilling full length that brings together the past, present and future of his sound. Hard techno is very much in right now but Perc has always dealt in a tough take on the genre that is at odds with the usual tropes and he showcases that again here with plenty of high-energy tracks and a healthy dose of his signature industrial texture. In between percussive workouts, there are some flashy acid lines and all manner of deeply penetrating drones. A great return for this vital artist.

Review: The highly anticipated secnd full length album from Polar Inertia is here. It makes absolute sense that 'Environment Control' makes its way to the Swedish label Northern Electronics. For those that know the label and this artist, it seems like the perfect pairing. Formed in 2010, Polar Inertia has been one of the leading new producers of darker techno. The title track is opener and a sign of things to come. Futuristic techno of the upmost. These tracks engulf you with their power and depth. Some tracks are sinister and foreboding while others are atmospheric and cavernous. 'Artic Horizon' shows the deft touch of his producing ability. Sinister techno beats shrouded in a deep haze of ambience give off the impression that you are almost outside a club listening to the techno inside. For fans of techno and ambient, you are hard pressed to find a producer who does it better. These copies are sure to go fast so pick one up as quick as you can.

Review: Chicago trio Purelink prove themselves to be sonic alchemists once more as they serve up a bewitching brew that pulls apart the essence of ambient, dub tech and electronica to rebuild all new musical forms. Ever since forming first in 2020, Tommy Paslaski (aka Concave Reflection), Ben Paulson (aka Kindtree), and Akeem Asani (aka Millia) have regularly got together in a studio workshop to explore "the endless possibilities of a laptop" armed with banks of samples. Now they distill those sessions into music that is beautifully delicate yet captivating - slow and subtle rhythms, deft chords and icy minimalism all unfurl into a richly immersive soundscape here.