Review: Left-of-centre electronic maverick Randomer returns with a new EP on Anetha's label, Mama Told Ya. After what we're told was something of a reflective hiatus, the UK artist delivers five emotionally charged tracks, all bar one of which are solo cuts with the other being one co-produced with Anetha. Thematically these cuts explore life's unpredictability and encourage embracing chaos and randomness. Drawing from his deep study of melodies, Randomer blends techno, trance, techstep and sacred choral music to create a cathartic journey across several different sound worlds here and it all adds up to a powerful, introspective listening experience.
Review: London underground night train riders Deadbeat Records prioritise techno-breaks handmade for late night and early morning dancefloors, times when both the best and worst comes emerges from each of us. Their inaugural Deadbeat Breaks compilation hears six out of ten full digital curations brought to a shadowy, space-invaded black vinyl truncation, with modern talking synth vomits from Olly Rant, booty bass hups from Hunter Starkings, hackney parroting hurtles from Rnbws, and a closing breakstep broil from Hooverian Blur.
Review: The Spanish producer returns to Kompakt's and its iconic Speicher series with the 134th edition. Delivering two distinct and different tracks highlight the artists versatility in electronic music. Known for his full-length release on the label in 2021, Raxon continues to impress, contributing to the legacy of a series that has defined techno for over 25 years under Wolfgang Voigt's visionary guidance. Side -1 'Acid Call' is a quirky, minimalist delight, its driving, heavy beat underpinning a dynamic bassline that twists and turns with crisp, intricate production. The track's playful, acid-tinged elements keep it engaging without sacrificing its grooveia perfect fit for both peak-time sets and deeper exploration. On Side-2, 'Don't Cry Pluto' ventures into cinematic territory with melodic, analogue textures. Ethereal layers and fairytale-like tones combine with a powerful undercurrent, creating a dynamic contrast between weight and whimsy. Speicher 134 reaffirms Kompakt's status as a techno tastemaker and Raxon's role as an innovative, always engaging artist.
Review: This electrifying release offers a compelling journey through futuristic and otherworldly soundscapes. Side-1 opens with 'Yeli Mtkiva', a demented, sci-fi-inspired blend of techno and electro, pulsating with eerie textures and mechanical rhythms. It's a track that feels ripped from a cyberpunk dystopia. Following it, 'Triponfish' shifts the tone with celestial melodies and shimmering chimes, underpinned by an acid-tinged groove reminiscent of The Exaltics' atmospheric craftsmanship. On Side-2, 'Derealize' introduces crisp production with subtle trance elements, creating a hypnotic flow that's both driving and ethereal. The closing track, 'Story About The Murderer', stands out with its narrative-like progression. It's a dark, cinematic piece, evoking the tension of a sci-fi thriller. Each track offers a unique layer to the record's overarching futuristic vibe, making this an enjoyable trek into outerspace.
Review: Arnaud Rebotini's latest work finds him pushing the boundaries of his electronic sound yet again, with a potent blend of EBM, electronica and techno. The EP feels like a natural evolution of his signature style, diving into contrasts that oscillate between stark intensity and moments of quiet reflection. There's an emotional depth that underpins these tracks, with each one carrying an almost cinematic weightieach layer meticulously constructed to draw the listener into its world. The powerful driving beats are tempered by more introspective elements, making this EP an unpredictable but rewarding listen. Rebotini continues to carve out a distinctive niche in the electronic scene, delivering something fresh yet familiar, once again proving his reputation as an innovator.
Along Came Polly (Konstantin Sibold, Zac & Carmee remix) (5:06)
Review: A powerhouse of festival-ready techno that's primed for mainstage moments, designed to shake speakers and lift crowds. With its soaring dynamics and relentless build, it's a hands-in-the-air anthem that brings the intensity of a festival rave to life. The production is big and bold, with hard-hitting beats and an infectious rhythm that commands attention. This one-sided vinyl release is a showcase of Rebuke's ability to craft a track that resonates with newer techno lovers, making it a perfect addition to any high-energy set. A prime example of popular, mainstage techno set to electrify any dancefloor.
Review: A powerful techno EP on Germany's Habitat Recordings, further solidifying Recondite's reputation for blending genres with finesse. Side-1's 'Edge' features his mastery of peak-time energy, delivering a dynamic track that merges robust techno beats with subtle trance touches, creating a powerful and beautiful experience suited for the main stage. On Side-2, 'Nova' dives into a deeper groove, gradually evolving into an electrifying banger that feels both fresh and timeless. This EP hints at a possible revival of trance influences, but more than anything, it showcases Recondite's unique ability to fuse classic and contemporary elements. 'Nova' is another impressive release in Recondite's ever-expanding discography, proving his skill in crafting captivating techno landscapes. This is one dangerous EP.
Review: A journey through dark, futuristic techno. The opening track, 'Para El Conjunto De Las Esferas', is a melodic, high-energy builder that sets the tone with its heavy beat and a rising sense of anticipation. 'Verdugo Del Rey' follows with tribal, mechanical rhythms, creating a gritty, intense atmosphere driven by dark, industrial beats. On Side-2, things begins with 'Morador De La Oscuridad', a sci-fi-inspired track that takes a hold the listener in otherworldly, atmospheric sounds, evoking a sense of deep space exploration. The title track, 'El Retorno De Saturno', brings in dub elements and swirling techno textures, creating a dramatic yet reserved vibe. The balance between its atmospheric qualities and tightly controlled energy makes it a standout piece, offering both mystery and power. Overall, 'El Retorno De Saturno' EP blends complex, layered sounds with a sense of space and movement, making it a compelling listen for fans of experimental techno.
Review: Reeko helps the KR3 label continues its anniversary celebrations here with a new EP that allows on from his recent remix outing here. His take on techno is nuanced and more than just physical. 'Para El Conjunto De Las Esferas ' has an underlapping rhythm that hypnotises while backlit pads hint at celestial energy. 'Verdugo Del Rey' is more raw like a bit of heavy machinery in meltdown and 'Morador De La Oscuridad' has a fizzing static twist and industrial tinge to the atmosphere. 'El Retorno De Saturno' brings things to a close with a slow, menacing and dubbed out prowler.
Review: German label Terminal M's place in the techno world has long been established - it deals in fresh sounds for big rooms with hints of minimal. Mark Reeve now adds his work into the mix with this bold and inescapable two tracker. 'Golden' is a wave of techno with textural synth loops spraying about the mix like an untethered hose while chunky drums rattle the walls. 'All We Have' then gets even more extroverted and maximal with tortured synth stabs, big brain frying leads and more dark, all-consuming drums.
Review: After a standout contribution to Fuse's first V/A release in 2024, Reflex Blue returns to Enzo Siragusa's prolific minimal tech imprint with a fledgling EP on the label, 'Fragments'. Recalling urban galavants and seedy underbellies, 'Freakin In The Neighborhood' and 'Ruff City Dub' portray the gabardine coats and illicit wares of a dark metropolis through undulant Reese basses and ballooning acids; eventually, what goes underground must always come up for air. 'Tightening The Screw' adds a cagey speed garage stress to an already gaunt citywide panic; 'Love 2 Rhythm' is the only moment of respite, sampling Kathy Brown and Praxis' enduring soul squeal from 'Turn Me Out'.
Review: Sydney producer Will Regan has the task of serving up Xadenx Records's first ever vinyl release, and he doesn't fall short. His blend of storytelling electro and techno is both packed with detail to occupy your mind as well as coming with some fine, floor-ready rhythms for your feet. 'Haunted Quest' is a spacious one with searching pads to get things going, then 'Malevolent' has a frost synth texture and plunging bass that locks you into a steady rhythm. 'Overdrive' off-sets more pixelated synths and raw machine rhythms and last of all, 'Reverie' has a sense of impending doom that keeps you very much locked in.
Review: Berlin-based Nastia Reigel contributed a track to one of this label's various artists releases last year but now steps up with a full EP that is all her own. It is a fine chance for her to show her skills and that she does: 'What Can You Do' has a unique mix of hammering sounds, hulking great kicks and textural smears that are all dirty and industrial yet funky. 'If So Then' is totally different - a stripped back, deep, linear techno roller, while 'Over &' is weighty, loopy dub with a raw 90s aesthetic. 'Hold The Door Please' is another one built from well-designed loops that is sure to rattle the walls of any warehouse with its monster kicks and glitchy FX.
Review: 'Let The Spirit' is a new tune by Michael Reinboth on Compost that reworks a stone-cold deep house classic. The original was one of the many peerless tracks laid down by Chez Damier & Ron Trent back in the 1990s and is a perfect mix of steamy synth work and rumbling drums that locks you in and leads to rapture. Here it becomes more cosmic as the chords shine a little brighter. Also featuring on the 12" is 'RS6 Avant' as both a starry-eyed Cosmic version and a more driving, drum-centric club version. This one is worth it for the A1 alone, and that's just for starters.
Review: Earlier in the year, James Baker brought his long-running ReKaB project to Andy Vaz and Alessandro Vaccaro's long-running Yore imprint for the first time. This speedy sequel is similarly assured and quietly impressive. He begins by wrapping vintage drum machine beats and an angular, LFO-style bassline in unfeasibly spacey chords, bubbly electronics and woozy vocal samples ('My Inspiration'), before treating us to a warmer and more melodious slab of analogue deep house loveliness ('Soul Brother 88'). Over on the flip, 'Future Times' sees Baker pepper a hypnotic deep house beat in intergalactic, Motor City-influenced synth sounds and bubbly acid motifs, while title track 'Random Fragments' is another classy, far-sighted deep house-meets-deep techno number rich in superbly spacey sounds. Music for the head and the feet!
Review: Remotif is a fast-rising star with a sound being called 'trance fusion.' He makes his mark again to that end with a new one on Especial that brings more of his modern-day ethnic styles to the driving breaks of techno following outings on the likes of Coymix and Space Lab and sets everywhere from Fabric to Berlin's Warning parties. This one kicks off with 'U 15' which is a busy blend of shimmery timbres and sharp perc, spaced-out pads and psychedelic synths that are ever on the rise. More trance overtones define 'Glint's Pursuit' and 'The Elevated Place' is slick and sleek, ascending and always rising. 'The Sunken Place' shuts down with more slow and percolating dub mutations to round out a superb EP.
Review: Zodiak Commune's Acid Sessions series continues for a second round, this time welcoming Paul Renard in the red corner and Dima Gastroler in the blue. With two tracks shared per artist per side, Renard brings sludgy acid and alarmist leads to an arresting sonic quagmire: 'Chandra' being the best case in point, militant as they come, and 'Yessid' letting up on some of the angst whilst proportionately upping the pH level. Gastroler contrasts things dramatically on the B-side, with 'Ideal Consumer' reflecting on human biopower and subjective agency through a simple but incredibly effective ambiance, and 'Blue Spirit' bringing cleverly reversed FX and wompy growls to the intertexts that rest between the beats.
Review: If you like edgy sounds that are going to flip out a crowd that has been dosing itself high on party prescriptions all night long then check out this new EP from Repro. The first tune on his Fear Candy EP is 'What's Becoming' which is a paranoid mix of eerie melodies that almost sound out of time as they fall drunkenly about the mix over rolling techno drums. 'Traumatology' is another unhinged mix of urgent techno drums and winky sounds that are unsettled and unsettling and 'Enochian Retail' flip the script with some dreamy almost Italo melodies tooting away over snaking electronic rhythms.
Review: Lukid and Tapes are on a proper roll with Rezzett at the moment, following up on a knockout 2023 on The Trilogy Tapes with this self-released clutch of weirdo techno-not-techno nuggets from the outer reaches. There's distortion in abundance, and a laissez faire approach to soundsystem impact in favour of textural, atmospheric sculpting. It's dripping with intention even as it stumbles inquisitively from one lo-fi tweak to the next, sounding utterly inspired and delightfully unhinged in equal measure. What's most important is the melodic warmth which peeks through the noise, edging this above the usual murk associated with noise-doused electronics.
Review: BeAvantGarde Records have been away for a while but now makes an always-welcome return with the underground favourite that is Riccardo. He does his usual do of serving up four tracks of spaced-out invention. 'In Space' opens up with nice warped bass and insistent synth stabs with jacked-up drums and perc. 'Frequency' then has a more bright and cosmic sense of mood as the drums slow down and lull you into their hypnotic patterns. There is plenty of snap and crispy bass to 'Timeout' with its searching lead synths and gritty baseline while last of all is 'Kalapas' which cuts are loose and has ragged rhythms and textures for a more arresting vibe.
Helicopter (feat Terry Francis - Eddie Smooth Landing mix) (6:03)
In The Van (7:35)
In The Van (Fractured mix) (6:42)
Review: Repeat Records are currently embarking on a multi-part series of longtime DJ Eddie Richards' earliest tracks, and this second journey - that's right - follows up the first waxen time capsule to appear so far. Richards' behind-the-booth adventurousness is often credited as one of the instrumental factors in the spread of house music in the UK, and doesn't 'Time Travel' show it. Lesser known as a producer but still much respected in said niche, several choice slab-grooves from Richards' early noughts numbers are selected here: track two from 2002's 'The Dark' EP, 'Underskopje' from that same year's Kubrickian tech house hurler 'Open The Pod Door' EP, and a legitly deep cut from the AA2 side of Richards' Othersound debut 'Dope'. One for early tech house heads, when the genre was still innocent and real experts reigned supreme.
Review: Rick 8 is the techno alias of Italy's Riccardo Falsini, and here he revives the pioneering spirit of his iconic Interactive Test label with this early gem, which offers an essential slice of trance, techno and progressive house history. Known for reshaping genre boundaries, the label was a beacon of innovation, as this EP shows. Each track is a potent club tool, designed for transcendental dancefloor moments and sonic ascension from the chunky tribalism of 'Hypernotes Velocity' to the standout remix of 'C'Mon' by Sound Metaphors affiliate Trent, who injects progressive firepower. 'Born To Sinthetize' is a deeper, spiritual sound with flashy synth work married to loose drum loops.
Review: Overground label co-founder Rickie is next up with four classy outings that operate in the worlds of minimal and tech house. First out of the blocks is the nice and futurist 'Foreknowledge' with its beeps and pulses colouring steely tech grooves. 'Controversial Sequence' is more zoned out with balmy pads bringing some far-sighted cosmic ambiance and 'Experiment X' on the flip does as all B1 cuts should - gets more loose and weirder for the late-night crew with wispy melodies and panning synth drones. 'Revolution' shuts down with a nice rueful and melancholic feel in the pads.
Review: Highly curious, difficult-to-pin-down techno/Italo-ish stuff from Prince Of Takicardia and Rifeno, who here jointly assist Backward Futura in its mission to explore the sounds of 1980s and 1990s through the lens of the new Millennium. We find this aim to be something of red herring, since these tracks sound almost entirely new in their composition, and not necessarily of those times, not least since they were made in the 2020s; while taking obvious cues from those eras, the likes of 'Arte Del Sexo' and 'La Casa Del Ritmo' flesh enough out of their respective influences to sound untied from them. Through cinematic breaks and tropical bleep, Rifeno and the Prince portray their wild but no less at easse imaginations, bringing the sunned and stressless feel of the Balearic Isles to the darker worlds of EBM and industrial, making for a complex sonic flavour.
Review: Motion Potion Records returns with a second release from the Australian label founded by Jono Xidias, Mehmet Alpdogan, and ritmiq. This collaborative project sees ritmiq teaming up with Lewba and Louis for the 'Signals' EP, a heady exploration of spacey club sounds. Standout track 'Transmitting From Space' (with Lewba) glides through cosmic synths, subtle breaks and hypnotic melodies so is sure to become a certified late-night burner. On the A-side, Louis and ritmiq deliver 'Interplanetary Prisoner' and 'Parallax,' which are both rich in mood and groove. ritmiq's solo cut 'Nebularae' closes the EP with high energy and dancefloor heat. Signals is a stylish, cosmic journey worth taking.
Review: It's always exciting to hear from a brand new label and get to grips with that it may become way before the wider world cottons on. Side B is just that and this inaugural outing is a belter from Rkeat. 'Risky Endeavours' sets a heady tone with dubby, stripped back drums that remind of early Skudge. 'Whereabouts' draws on a similar aesthetic for some rather evocative late night tech rollers littered with glitchy sounds, and 'End Of Tips' then rolls on frictionless drums with deep space sounds roaming about the mix. 'Indol' offers a physical broken beat workout to close.
Review: Ukraine has been a hotbed of house and techno innovation going back a good few years now. Nechto is a label that has more than played its part in that and now kicks on with a new EP as it hurtles towards 30 releases in all. RMK is behind this one and opens up with some impassioned vocal cries over sleek linear beats. 'Vessel' is a tightly woven deep techno tapestry with soulful synth warmth lighting things up. There is no let up on 'Factory Streets' with its driving drums and pulling synths adding meat to the bones and last of all is 'Keys', another triumphant example of how both form and function can happily co-exist in the techno world.
Review: With over 25 years in the game and a legacy as one half of the revered German electronic duo Wighnomy Brothers, this veteran artist shows no signs of slowing down. His latest EP delivers a slick blend of minimal and tech house flavors with undeniable character. 'Frandga' kicks off with a sultry vocal performance by Delhia, layered over a groovy, addictive minimal tech foundation i funky, hypnoti, and impossible to resist. 'Wortkabular' follows with a more stripped-back micro-tech approach, sharp and precise yet full of subtle movement. On Side-B, 'Beatkutter' flips the energy into a playful, techy party stormer, driven by a nasty, elastic bassline that's pure dancefloor mischief. 'Kopfnikker' closes things out with a surprising twist i a broken IDM-inspired rhythm paired with unique melodic touches, offering a textured and thoughtful finish. This EP proves why his influence still runs deep, blending masterful technique with a fresh, free-spirited edge.
Review: Arthur Robert breaks new ground with Particle Accelerator, the latest EP from The Third Room, a label known for its innovative techno releases and events. This four-track release marks the label's first full EP by a guest artist and showcases Robert's unique ability to blend deep, dynamic techno with crisp sound design and powerful drum arrangements. This EP pays tribute to the interaction of minute particles that unleash vast power, drawing inspiration from quantum mechanics. Robert's style is defined by fast-paced, hard-hitting club sounds that weave melodic elements and disruptive beeps into a foundation of compressed and, at times, distorted rhythms. His ability to craft intricate, sound-rich environments while maintaining relentless energy is on full display here. Describing the release as a sonic exploration of the universe's elemental forces, Robert channels minimal techno with nods to Detroit and a fascination with the cosmos. All and all, a powerful techno record that is as futuristic as it comes.
Review: Gigerian horror is evoked on Roi's new EP 'Six Nine' for Nachstrom Schallplatten. The German label specialises in producing these kinds of dark, otherworldly wax flying saucers, and new resident artist Roi, hailing from Spain, knows just how to replicate the mood sonically. This is techno extrapolated to its hardest, most humanity-jettisoning proportions. It also adds a neat idiomatic side-order to an otherwise sprawling discographic *table d'hote*, with Roi temporarily adapting his sound to suit the topic of cosmic horror. Never letting up, the record reaches its peak on the gnarly title track, the lead synth line on which snaffles up the surrounding texture like a mass-consuming beast.
Drivetrain - "This Is Detroit" (Rolando remix) (6:40)
Zadig - "Maniac Manson" (Rolando remix) (6:33)
Malvito - "Origin" (Rolando remix) (6:51)
Review: Pumping new Syncrophone remixes from producer Rolando, who helps the label celebrate its 60th outing with a fresh crock of remixes of star releases from its back catalogue. Including versions of Derrick Thompson, Zadig and Malvito, this collection brings a powerful Detroit-inspired sound to a cutting-edge modern feel, not getting too bogged down in tradition and yet keeping quite true to the raw and unvarnished finish incipient of the early motorised sound. Best here has to be the B2, which heads in a broken direction, splitting rhythmic hairs with auto-somatic woodblock strikes and deep pads.
Review: After a decade-long hiatus, Blake Baxter (Underground Resistance, Tresor) and Marc Romboy (Systematic, Kompakt) reunite over their latest track, 'Muzik is Love'. More than just a song, it represents a philosophy, a mindset, and a tribute to 'authentic' techno, in their own words - this move follows on logically from the 'meta' arc of many of their more recent releases, which routinely focus titularly and thematically on the form of music itself, rather than using the form as a means to express another content. 'Muzik Is Love' follows up the likes of 'Muzik', 'Where Would You Be' and 'House Ya', and includes an excited set of rhythmic fixations on on the B-side, in the form of a locked groove take.
Review: Ron & Roland was a mid-90s collaboration between Matt Hodgson (7th Voyage) and Laurant Webb (Housey Doingz) and at their peak they made some untouchable records that perfectly straddled the house and techno divide. This new reissue on Pariter is one of them and it features a trio of cuts laced with visceral acid energy. 'Nassaur Bassed Party' kicks off with crispy drums and snares that cut through the rich bass. 'Acidless Party' gets wilder with extra 303 energy and 'Track Ball Treck' balances dynamic drive with sonic detail for a dubby, elastic groove that was initially recorded at Swag Studios Croydon in 1996 and, with these other cuts, was initially released on Surreal. It's been a cult favourite ever since and still sounds magnificent.
Review: Rosati's debut release on his new imprint, Global Pulse, heralds a bold venture into the future of techno. The Automatic Response EP is a four-track exploration of sonic innovation, blending powerful dynamics with intricate textures. From the hypnotic energy of Automatic Response to the atmospheric depths of Ufo Memory, each track pulls you in with the futuristic landscape of sound. 'Feeling' pays homage to the late 90s era with its percussive loops and funky bass lines. Global Pulse promises to be a platform dedicated to sustainability and authenticity in Electronic Music, setting the stage for a series of releases that push the boundaries of the genre.
Review: Berlin's Tobias Rosin aka Roseen makes a strong debut on the a.r.t.less label with four raw, club-focused tracks that channel classic Detroit techno energy. Each one delivers relentless rhythms and deep grooves, but with an all-important stripped-back sci-fi atmosphere that feels at once classic and forward-thinking. 'Re-Calibrated' is one that stands out with its broken kick patterns and shapeshifting synth filters that suspend you above the 'floor. 'Toxic Glitch' is more frenzied and 'Hyperdrive' doesn't let up either. This release also includes an endless loop and a locked groove and the X-side also features a rare 'parallel cut', a technique pioneered by Detroit legend Ron Murphy.
Review: Roseen, Dold, Hurdslenk and Slight Function are in full-on battle mode here as they offer up a collection of four high-class techno weapons aimed purely at the dancefloor. Roseen goes first with he pulsating synths and glitchy drums and claps of the mind-melting 'Model 2813' and Dold backs that up with the panel-beaten loops and urgent sense of funk that underlines 'Cave.' Hurdslenk's 'Span' brigs more in your face energy with its pounding claps and Slight Function shuts down with 'Misery' which takes you into the farthest recesses of deep space.
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