Review: We shall never apologise for our love for the work of Steve O'Sullivan. His contributions to the world of dub techno are second to none. They are also mad consistent both in style and quality which means they never age. Here he steps up to Lempuyang with his Blue Channel alias alongside Jonas Schachner aka Another Channel for more silky smooth fusions of authentic dub culture and Maurizo-style techno deepness. Watery synths, hissing hi-hats with long trails and dub musings all colour these dynamic grooves. They're cavernous and immersive and frankly irresistible and the sort of tracks that need to be played loud in a dark space. In that context, you'll never want them to end.
Review: EC Underground is back with more inquisitors of low-end heavy sounds on Bass Scene Investigation vol 1 and again digs deep into the worlds of electro, techno, breakbeat and IDM. The compilation kicks off with the skittish percussive patterns of Illektrolab's 'Making Heads Dip', then heads into moody ground with ADJ, Pablo Funk brings some menacing synth work and Errorbeauty gets all weird and trippy with some mad electronics. Francois Dillinger offers a dystopian electro sound full of irresistibly jacked-up drums. A fine investigation indeed.
Review: The third in Exitus Records' lightyear spanning V/A series, we again hear six new, boundary-pushing new ones from six satellite artists of the present day Berlin techno scene. Opening chord cascade 'Figure Eight' by Pink Concrete contrasts sharply to tunnelling techno-body suite 'The Dream Of Motion' by Krow, signalling several more tuff propulsions to come: most notably Sayid K's 'No Lights', a balmy nightscape from the newcomer, where digital zaps initially double up as hi-hats.
Blazej Malinowski - "Beyond The Veil Of Sleep" (6:52)
Save Your Atoll - "Psyop" (5:56)
Review: The note with this new collection from Fur:ther Sessions is a quote by the Latin thinker Cicero. "We must live to enjoy the freedom that can benefit our friends and harm no one." It is certainly something to ponder while you get lost in the deeply immersive techno that comes with it. Psyk'scaptly titled 'Static Drift' does fizz with a microscopic sense of electrical activity while Shoal's deep, speedy, meditative 'Backflash' swirls with cosmic waves. Blazej Malinowski's 'Beyond The Veil Of Sleep' has a darker core thanks to the twisted synth phrases that worm their way all through the middle and Save Your Atoll then allows a little melodic light to shine into his hallucinogenic roller 'Psyop.' Smart stuff for both head and heel.
Review: Chicago born, Detroit-raised Delano Smith is one of the foundational artists of the contemporary house scenes. In 2023, he revealed he was suffering with a rare form of cancer but as this new EP title suggests, he is still here and still crafting high-grade sounds. 'When I Was Young' kicks off with his signature smoky drum loops and train travel sense of hypnosis. 'The Rush' is another heads down jam, this time marbled with eerie pads and wet clicks and claps that oil the groove while 'Rewired' shuts down with real late night delicacy and evocative minimalism.
Review: CREDO label head and respected German DJ and producer Alex Bau offers up his first sounds under new alas Stoering here on the Dub Wax label. And the location of the music hints at what he is looking to explore with his new project, namely deep and dubbed-out techno soundscapes. They are steeped in the Basic Channel school with dusty hi-hats and fuzzy pads stretched out over frictionless drums. The pace remains steady and seductive throughout and the EP reaches its pinnacle with 'Taupo' thanks to the pairing of a gently bumping rhythm and scattering of metallic hits that widen the scope of the groove.
Review: Swayzak is a micro house, minimal and techno duo, aka James S Taylor and David Brown from the UK, whose name alone will get many older dancers hot under the collar. Their craft was second to none during their peak and here we get a reminder of that with a new outing on Rawax. 'Floyd' is a jazzy dancer with live claps, spinning hi-hats and louche grooves all topped with synthetic synths that never quit. 'Doobie' is a more deep sound with late-night headsy vibes. The drums are supple, the synths squeal and spoken word mutterings add a human touch. Two well-realised and effective cuts from Swayzak.
Review: New York City's underground stalwart Sweater On Polo returns with the debut release on Signal Route. His Mechanical Confusion EP draws inspiration from early 90s Chicago techno and basement house so it echoes the gritty, raw style of labels that dealt in that sort of stuff, like Dance Mania and Relief Records. Across the six cuts there is an intergenerational dialogue between past and present with acid house, techno and synth punk all capturing a familiar old-school angst and texture but with a fresh twist. 'Land of Code' is one of our favourites with its rising percussive tension, deeply buried bass pulse and dusty analogue drums.
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