Back in stock: Techno (すべて)

Review: Portuguese legend and 30-year scene veteran A Paul is no stranger to Planet Rhythm - in fact he has already dropped an EP on the vital label this year. But now he's back with more on this Shadow Light six tracker. The opener is fast and dubby, stripped back and seductive for body and mind. 'Magnatizm' fizzes with more electricity and alien energy and 'Nocturnal' brings manic, anxiety-inducing loops. There is glitch and pent-up tension in 'Magnolia' while 'Dramatism' and 'Naperon' close out with more streamlined and tunnelling techno depths.

Review: Following a string of explosive releases on labels like Acid Artists In Action (Triple A), Stay Up Forever, Hydraulix, and Interruption, ACERBIC is raising the stakes with a colossal triple-vinyl, limited-edition LP on the SUF/Hydraulix collaboration label. Packed with nothing but high-energy, dancefloor-destroying cuts, it kicks off with the anthemic 'Acid Way Of Life' and powers through a relentless selection of techno and acid techno bangers that push the boundaries of both genres. No filler, just pure, peaktime fire. Already road-tested by scene legends D.A.V.E. The Drummer and Chris Liberator, this one is sure to rip up rulebooks and dancefloors alike.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Minimal house legend Thomas Melchior and Montreal's Flabbergast duo bring their skills to remix Calcio Club's cool System Check EP. Melchior is one of our favs when it comes to silky, deep, minimal house and here delivers a remix that retains the original's groove while smoothly transitioning into lush synth vibes. Flabbergast's Guillaume Coutu Dumont and Vincent Lemieux have a sound just as distinctive and offer two remixes that push micro-house's limits. Their tracks feature mind-bending effects, Moog-style synth hooks and a burst of percussion that all lead the remixes to a new level of dance floor ecstasy.

Review: The Swiss producer and mastering engineer, now rooted in Lisbon, Chlar returns with an evocative slab of techno that feels both ancient and forward facing. With over a dozen EPs under their belt, this latest four-tracker solidifies his mastery of atmospheric, rhythm-heavy sound design. Side-A opens with 'Altitude', a primal and hedonistic tribal techno cut that recalls the spirit of Blueprint Records or early James Ruskin. It's a raw, driving rhythm that feels carved out of stone, a cavernous groove echoing through the walls of a rhythm cave. 'Serac' follows with a deep bassline and a futuristic, yet organic pulse that balances modern machine funk with a ceremonial, ritualistic undertone. There's a timeless quality to the way it moves. Side-B begins with 'Lamin', perhaps the EP's most cinematic piece. It's clean and spacious, yet cloaked in tension, like an alien landscape where mystery simmers beneath the surface. 'Phantom Grid' closes the record with a no-nonsense percussive workout, all warehouse minimalism and skeletal intensity, perfect for peak-hour darkness. It's atmospheric, confident and comes with a big dose of sonic storytelling. What more could you want from your techno?!

Review: J Trystero's Cantor's Paradis on Fergus Jones' FELT label is a 45-minute drift through ambient dub terrain that leaves you mesmerised. It draws on the spacious design of artists like Huerco S. and Civilistjavel!, and unfolds in a dreamlike haze of blurred melodies, submerged textures and subtle, ever-shifting rhythms. Trystero filters the DNA of '90s dub techno into soft, iridescent tones here to craft soundscapes that feel both ancient and futuristic. Tracks like 'Untitled 6' briefly emerge with dubby definition but the album thrives in ambiguity. It's a deeply immersive record that's hypnotic, calming and subtly emotive so perfect for late-night solitude or introspective mental wandering.

Review: Ten EPs in under this name and the German producer uses his background to land an important EP with this highly revered techno label. These four tracks hit with urgency but never feel one-note. There's real movement and contrast throughout, keeping things charged without being too fast. The opener, 'Fast Process', comes out swinging. It's all steam and steel, driven by a stomping kick and razor-sharp percussion. But just above that intensity floats a swirling melodic line, adding a ghostly presence that hangs over the chaos. 'Miami Nights' digs into a different groove. The low-end rolls heavy, while tough chords and tribal elements give it a more grounded, earthy energy. It's relentless but rooted. On Side-B, 'Clap Your Dubby Hands' explodes with percussion. It feels wild and physical, the kind of track that could lift a set straight into overdrive. There's a rawness here that nods to his early schranz days without feeling stuck in the past. 'Ultra Eight' pulls back just slightly, going deeper and more spaced out. It's colder, more introspective, like the soundtrack to some strange, distant city. Together, these cuts hit hard but leave plenty of air to breathe.

Review: Emerging from Glasgow's ever-thriving underground, Lifeforms make a strong debut here and offer up a fierce fusion of gritty acid and synth-fuelled electro. Crafted entirely with raw hardware, these tracks overflow with DIY spirit and machine soul. Each cut channels the intensity of basement sessions and industrial textures, all grounded in pure analogue energy and mastered by Dutch West Coast legend Alden Tyrell. 'Mindtrip is one of our favourites with its gritty low end, distorted bass and rasping synth patterns all so tactile you feel like you could reach out and grab them.

Review: On his long-awaited debut, Osaka's Takuya Matsumoto draws a clear line between the tactile futurism of 90s IDM and the emotional depth of Detroit techno, finding beauty in grit and structure in chaos. There's a cinematic quality to the sequencing, from the shimmering opener 'Drifting On The Ocean' to the gnarled syncopations of 'Dril and Acid' and the broken funk of 'Fonseca'. But what makes this record truly sing is its refusal to sit still: 'Mini' dances with jazzy irreverence, while 'Triangles' feels like a dusted-off memory from a lost Rephlex archive. Matsumoto's palette is warm, spiky, and full of movementian album built not on pastiche but on devotion to groove and experimentation in equal measure. You hear shades of Underground Resistance's urgency, Mike Paradinas' off-grid detail, and Floating Points' melodic intricacy, but none of it feels borrowed. 'Traverse' and 'Mercy on the floor' close things with a spacious melancholy that lingers beyond the final fade. This is a conversation with dance music history, spoken fluently in rhythm and mood. A richly detailed, deeply personal statement from one of Japan's most quietly consistent producers.

Review: For those of us who find solace in music, refuge often lies in its intricate corners. Reflex Blue returns with the second release on his personal imprint which will appeal to such people and offers his unique take on wonky house music. His The Twisted Maze EP features raccoon-inspired grooves and bleepy after-hours moments that offer an intimate look into Blue's creative mind. There are lithe tech pumpers like the opener, trippy workouts like 'Got D' Funk', deep and driving throwbacks like 'Freestyle Groove"' and 'Destination' shuts down with more futuristic tech excellence.

Review: "Yeah, as I gaze upon you, I am overwhelmed by the fact that beauty is an insufficient phrase to describe you. You are the definition of pure perfection, and though many have tried and failed to get close to you, I run that walk into the flame." Echoing the seductive vocal soliloquies heard overlaid in much deep Chicago house - the work of the late Paul Johnson springs to mind - K' Alexi Shelby marks a terrific introduction to this new V/A from Cod3 QR. The label was long the subject of much speculative chinstroking; only in recent years was it revealed to be the brainchild of Laurent Garnier and Oliver Way. Here on this latest output from the label, we hear a mix of technical and tribal moods traverse across a mostly slow-burner sensibility, pinnacling on DJ Bone's bosomy chord viber 'DD'.

Review: Portuguese producer Trikk returns with a five-track suite that blurs the boundaries between emotional depth and dancefloor precision. It's a new release built for impact and flow, threading through tempo shifts, genre collisions and global voices while holding fast to a focused, tactile sound. 'Rigor' kicks things off with peak-time weight and carefully sculpted drama i chest-rattling bass and stabs of unexpected piano beauty. 'Raiva (feat MEUTE)' brings brassy propulsion into the fold, fusing live energy with Trikk's slick production touch. 'Fortuna', with Kenyan vocalist Sofiya Nzau, hits a lighter, warmer stride, evoking open-air euphoria. On the flip, 'Luxo' plays with friction i industrial textures balanced with bursts of melody i before closing track 'Sagrado' delivers a radiant, sunrise moment. It's the clearest summation of the release's intent: to move, to build, to glow. Rooted in club energy but alive with personality, this one shows Trikk at his most expansive and assured.

Review: A new-ish name, but Obscure Shape and classically trained musician Conrad - the two halves of Urban CC - are already experts at blending high-energy techno with deep, playful textures. Side-A kicks off with 'Mana', a nicely paced, uptempo techno weapon that channels a vintage 90s spirit, full of raw drive and momentum. 'Azul' follows, switching gears into a bouncier, tech house-flavored groove. Deep basslines anchor the track while playful, urban-tinged sound effects add a fresh, streetwise character. On Side-B, label head Traumer steps in with a remix of 'Mana', reimagining the original into a deeper, more melodic journey. Rich chords flow over a hypnotic groove making this a sophisticated and atmospheric alternative to the more direct original. Finally, 'Kredo' closes the EP on a high note i a sleek and classy techno cut. Its clean production, hazy euphoria and warm atmosphere create the perfect vibe for those special late-night or early-morning moments. A dynamic and well-rounded EP that shows both a respect for techno's roots and a clear creative vision for where it can go next.

Review: The third and final chapter of R3volution Records' 3volution trilogy is a powerful meeting point between past and future. Bridging sci-fi-laced techno with 90s minimalism, it features deep sound design and muscular drum patterns that combine for real club potency. UVALL from Tbilisi offers refined, deep rhythms with his cut, then Operator brings seasoned UK innovation and label co-founder Divide delivers precision and weight with global pedigree. Elsewhere, Belgium's PTTRNRCRRNT tunnels through textures with futuristic, conceptual drive. Each track is a standout weapon but together they make for a cohesive, forward-thinking statement from a label closing its vinyl trilogy on a high.