Review: More than 20 years ago, Mark Willing & Ellis Gardner hooked up as Loft 55 and enlisted vocals from 5of9 aka Kerry Ann Willing for 1-800-Gigilo, which is one of only two EPs they ever dropped. It has become a cult classic over the years and now finding an OG copy is hard enough, let alone damned expensive. However, some mint copies have turned up, which means a lucky few will be able to cop these for a more reasonable price. 'Porn School' has bumping kicks and broken beats with taught synth stabs and sleazy vocals. 'Butterfly Lips' is deeper, warmer, a more sensuous sound for late-night back rooms.
Review: Sindh's self-titled label kicks on with a third volume in his Komudo Series and again focuses on "mind and body movement." Across four tracks, Sindh looks to merge minimalism with rhythmic invention, starting with the rugged 'Psi' with its thudding kicks and moody synths. 'Fluid' then brings more lithe, urgent rhythms with deft sound designs adding a futuristic edge and 'Interstate' then brings more raw texture and tension with heavy drones and paranoid spoken words that pan about the mix. 'Resin' shuts down with a nice tight blend of kicks and hits that is easy to latch onto and get lost in. Play it loud.
Review: Truncate sub-label WRKTRX makes its vinyl debut with four regular associates all stepping up to do the damage. The main man himself kicks off with 'That Thang' which is built on booming low end kicks, raw as you likely hi hats and has all the sleaze of a Chicago Dance Mania record and Mike Dunn classic rolled into one. Lauren Flax brings more nimble drum programming and icy techno intensity on 'Perk Dat', Gene Richards Jr's 'Shake Sequence' is a poised, body-rocking workout and Avision's 'Yo Listen' gets a precision-tooled, jacked-up Truncate 808 edit to close with aplomb.
Sean Doron & THEUSS - "Hold Out" (feat John Hood) (6:45)
Sideral - "Grace" (6:52)
CAY - "WHO I AM" (4:07)
Sam Shure - "Boom Boom" (5:16)
Gespona - "Game Over" (6:44)
Yet More - "They Want Me" (6:30)
Fat Cosmoe & My Flower - "Wanna More" (5:15)
Read The News & Julian Koerndl - "Sad Sculptures" (7:41)
Upercent - "Blue Space" (6:20)
Fedele - "Mountain Kisses" (6:04)
Remcord - "I Know" (4:52)
EdOne - "Madness Diary" (7:00)
Hardt Antoine - "Do You Want Me" (5:39)
Tiello & CCINNI - "I Love(D) You" (6:17)
Momery - "Just The Same" (5:23)
SKALA - "Unheard Tremor" (5:31)
Senzor - "Nebu" (5:10)
Timelapse & Adran - "Feeling" (5:57)
JUST IRIS - "Invisible Hug" (5:27)
Review: Wildly exaggerated future-progressive techno from the Metaflora sublabel and crew, based in London. Already having procured a steady stream of tracks from techno favourites new and old, mostly on 12" EP - by Mind Again, Dyzen, Recondite, Sideral, Toto Chiavetta - this Habitat sub-imprint now douses another yotta-litre of gasoline on the fire they started back in 2023. The hydroplane is flown hotwired here, with an 8-side LP box set compiling all their best cuts of their two years in flight so far, from Mind Against's 'Babylon' to Just Iris' 'Invisible Hug'.
Review: Mammo steps away from his usual web of aliases and imprints with General Patterns, a double vinyl LP compiled in the wake of the Amsterdam producer's ambient LP Landmarks, then under his birth name, Fabiano. It's a six-track collection, alternately quelling the pulse and barely keeping the beat abreast, tapping into the patient throb of dub techno without temptation to posture overmuch through its otherwise quite stirring sound design. Fans of his recent Puddlerunner material might recognise the grain: a low-lit surface hiss, muffled rhythm architecture, mineral random-LFO delays, as heard best on 'Traversing A Raincloud' or 'Migration'.
The Advent - "Passive Aggressive" (Truncate remix) (4:21)
The Advent - "Remote Viewing" (5:01)
G Flame - "Ignacio" (7:09)
Review: Long-time hard techno champion The Advent is back with more of his mind-melting work on Truncate's self-titled label. Title cut 'Passive Aggressive' opens with a loopy mental workout that is underpinned by nice dubby low ends. Truncate remixes and layers in some icy, fizzy pads and pressured drum grooves, then 'Remote Viewing' brings some uneasy peak time anxiousness with its wonky lines and prickly synths. Also included is a bonus by G Flame, which brings a direct and delicious Detroit house vibe that goes deeper.
Review: Intense but cerebral techno troubadour O Phase heads up the Modaweks imprint to which he returns here a bumper double pack of levelled-up techno tools. The wispy synths which constantly seem to be tumbling down above the liner drums of 'Ghost Coder' make you feel as though you are falling into an abyss. 'Base-Chain' is what greets you upon arrival - muscular drum funk with hurried kicks and nebulous synth colours. Elsewhere 'Proof Of Real' is a shimmering deep techno transmission and 'You Are Not The Zeitgeist' brings uneasy and paranoia in its impish and restless synth stokes. 'Change Agent' is another bit of loop techno perfection across four sides of vinyl packed with the stuff.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: It's reissue time for one of the most in demand records from the Trelik catalogue, featuring Baby Ford and Thomas Melchior under their Sunpeople alias. The flip side's opening track 'Check Your Buddah' is probably the best known of the four tracks here, with its spacious echoes, mantra-like voices and heads down beats, but there's plenty to be said for the other three. 'Lovers Eyes' is an equally dubby techno affair, but pinned down by sturdy, infectious beats, 'Sungods Wedding' is blessed with churning, warm bass action and just a smidge of cowbell and 'Make It Right' is properly hypnotic 3am gear that's a dream to mix and draws in the listener with its imperceptible builds and three note bleep magic. Worship the Sun!
Review: Wade Watts and Sir Rizio step up with this standout new EP, their debut for the label after a warmly received appearance on the always interesting Greyscale. They hail from the suburbs of Jo'burg which is where they have cooked up these seriously flavoursome and stripped-back sounds. 'Atlas' kicks off with rolling drums and widescreen dub chords that sink you into a warm world of fluid groove. 'Limitless Progression' keeps the depths coming with rattling and classic dub hits and smoky pads, while an EmmaSoul dub mix on the flip heads into heady territory and 'Innermost Existence' brings some wisps of melodic light to the fore.
Review: Legendary Dutch producer Stefan Robbers returns to De:tuned with his first new Terrace album in nearly 15 years. As the founder of Eevo Lute, Robbers forged strong ties with Detroit's first wave of producers and so really helped to put Eindhoven on the global techno map. This 10-track album showcases the signature Terrace sound, all of which has been crafted through meticulous hardware studio sessions. Branches delivers a mix of classic Motor City techno influences with a fresh Dutch perspective, with cuts like 'That Mighty Feeling' pairing low-end drive with heady synth work and 'CeCe's Dance' bringing that signature Motor City machine soul and warmth to a track full of longing.
Review: Juan Atkins's iconic Metroplex does everyone a solid here by reissuing the long-lost Future Sound EP, a rare gem from 1993 that was originally released on UK's Underground Level Recordings and Belgium's Buzz. Never reissued until now, this bit of techno history features four standout tracks: the late, great Mike Huckaby's lush 'Urban Tropics,' Reel By Reel aka Marty Bonds's deep and spacey 'Sundog' and 'Interpret' and 'Serene,' a soulful collaboration with Detroit don Anthony "Shake" Shakir. Carefully restored and remastered for the occasion, these tracks shine brighter than ever with classic Detroit-rooted futurism, making for a crucial time capsule.
Review: Marcel Dettmann brings three decades of DJing nous to Running Back's Mastermix series, curating a 3xLP compilation of long-time secret weapons and prized edits, many afore unreleased. Not to tune into the legacy of a single club as earlier Mastermix volumes have done, Dettmann turns the focus inward, drawing on his personal archive of tailored tweaks and floor-tested reworks. Raised in the former GDR and immersed in Berlin's post-unification underground, his early grounding in post-punk and industrial music still echoes throughout these selections, ranging from Cristian Vogel's 'Untitled' (1995) to fresh flips of Yello, Nitzer Ebb and K-Alexi Shelby. Also included are edits of Experimental Products, Severed Heads and Ian North, plus a closing pass at Conrad Schnitzler's 'Das Tier' that threads everything back to Berlin's anarchic, bank vault-raiding sensibility.
Future Sound Of London - "Lifeless In Limo" (3:52)
Yage - "Over Zealous" (3:49)
Review: In 2024, the legendary Future Sound of London surprised everyone with Pulse Five, a CD installation continuing their iconic Pulse EP series from more than three decades ago. Now, they've gone back to the vaults to curate The Pulse EP - Volume 5, a six-track extension of the original UK 12? collection. This release features previously unreleased DAT material from the early 90s and B-sides from the era of their acclaimed Accelerator album and sought-after singles. These vintage recordings offer a glimpse into FSOL's creative peak and are packed with the fearless innovation and experimentation that defined their early work. A must-have, whether you are new or old to their work.
Review: Djrum (Felix Manuel) presents his latest full album in six years, in what has been described as a "literal creative rebirth". Beginning in earnest in the 2020 COVID lockdown, this a record whose creation treads a path of almost archetypal infamy: all the best electronica albums, in our view, are born of hard-drive losses. And Djrum's hard-drive meltdown, of course, seemed to correspond to a literal collapse and renewal; such ostensible catastrophes are painful at first, but they tend to breed re-incarnal transformations. Reflecting in the shaking disaster-piece stutters of 'Three Foxes Chasing Each Other' to the ambi-spatially adept 'A Tune For Us', the record spans prodigious instrumentality and electronica abstractions, verging on speedcore, jazz and techno-halftime in places. From vinyl DJ to reckoner of hardcore musicianship.
Review: Much of the Black Dog's work of recent years has in some way been inspired by their long-held love of Brutalism, a heavily debated architectural style of the 1950s, 60s and 70s that's much in evidence in their home city of Sheffield. It makes sense, then, that the Steel City trio would record a sequel to 2023's This Brutal Life, a set that ranks amongst their most authentically immersive and sonically detailed of recent times. As sequels go, This Brutal Life 2 is impressive, with the long-serving collective blurring the boundaries between atmospheric IDM, ambient, dub techno and more angular concoctions. Its many highlights include the yearning, beat-free bliss of 'The End of Back To Back', the slow-burn IDM shuffle of 'Motif Lasdun' and their stunning tribute to one of British Brutalism's most famous residential buildings, 'Park Hill Forever'.
Review: Apoena is the alias of Henrique Casanova, a DJ and producer from Brazil who heads up Allnite Music which presents his latest effort titled Oceanos Extintos. The mesmerising dub tech house of opener 'Eu Lembro' calls to mind classic Thibideau brothers, leading in to the frozen borders of the title track which will engulf you in its cavernous sound. Over on the flip, the steely and pummelling 'Trabalho Bracal' is by far the fiercest cut on offer, and the collaboration with Zenta Skai 'Fosseis' takes a u-turn on this trippy and contemplative electro jam.
Review: Netherlands-based Jeroen Bohm looks back to the classic school of Detroit techno in order to head forward on this new EP for Emotions Electric. Things start slow and atmospheric on 'Data Quality', which marries sweeping pads with more detailed synth sequencing in the foreground. 'Daydreaming' then rides on ice-cold broken beats with glistening metal surfaces and Blade Runner futurism and 'Night Falls' tweaks off from that metropolis-like setting and heads for the stars with deep space pulses and a sense of the deep unknown. 'Floating In Space' is a superb mix of shimmering percussion and Millsian futurism with moody pads that has a feeling of inspirational grandeur.
Review: This new 12" from Glaswegian producer Harvey McKay sees him reworking Daniel Avery's 'Drone Logic' into a driving, big-room missile i and it absolutely slaps. Upping the tempo and leaning into a more percussive framework, McKay doesn't just touch up the original's swirling psychedelia, he rebuilds it for peak-time pressure. The acid line is still there, twisted and stretched, but now it rides atop galloping drums, shimmering hi-hats and the kind of pneumatic swing that's become McKay's signature. It's a brand new release on Phantasy, pressed in a limited run of 500 and already a fixture in the sets of Avery, McKay and Erol Alkan. The sound is somewhere between soulful techno and heads-down warehouse hypnosis i powerful without being punishing. What's clever is how it stays true to the hazy mood of the source, but flips it into something entirely more immediate. As a one-sided 12" it's a bold statement, but one that's easy to understand: it only needs one track when it hits this hard. Built for high ceilings, smoke machines and stretched-out moments mid-set, this is an edit that earns its hype. A slow-burn classic reborn as a proper dancefloor weapon.
Review: The popular Kalahari Oyster Cult label excels at delivering decidedly psychedelic and mind-altering EPs informed by trippy sub-genres from dance music's past, most notably mid 1990s progressive house, psy-trance and acid-fired European techno. Those inspirations come to the fore on Frankfurt producer Robert Diertz's first missive for the imprint, which follows recent outings on Nous'klaer Audio and Running Back. For proof, check title track 'Stoffel', where exotic EBM-adjacent melodies and ragged TB-303 acid lines wrap around a non-stop groove, and the throbbing, minor-key madness of mind-altering throb job 'Goblin Bell'. Elsewhere, 'Kesstech' sounds like the kind of twisted and hallucinatory fare that once powered Goa's early 90s psy-trance scene, while 'Throne (Ultimo Mix)' is a more expressive nod to formative German trance circa 1993.
Review: Deadbeat teams with Paul St. Hilaire - better known as Tikiman, the unmistakable voice behind numerous Burial Mix and Main Street classics - for a new, reinterred pair of wire-stripped, dub-influenced dance cuts. Deeper into earthy texture and minimal rhythm, both tracks creolise Berlin's dub-techno heritage and Caribbean vocal traditions, 'Run Things So' especially with its crackling chords and indolent wordplays.
Review: The mysterious Transpac is back to head up the 14th outing on Curtis Electronix with the Infobahn LP, which is all about finely tuned electro. Across all the cuts, this record merges elegance with precision and results in tunes where every element has intent and purpose. It seamlessly shifts between hard-hitting 4/4 floor drivers and beatless interludes while balancing density and weightlessness. Take 'Network Control Program', which has mechanical and rugged drums and more loose, free-spirited synths lighting up the airwaves. 'Datenu Bertragung' is another one with weight low ends and more emotive top lines that create a fine push and pull. With its minimalist structure, Infobahn opens the door to great sonic complexity and real immersion.
What You Want (feat Byron Stingily - Extanded version) (6:42)
What You Want (feat Byron Stingily - dub) (5:49)
Take You Back (6:13)
Review: New York house stalwarts Victor Calderone and Mykol team up for a heavyweight double-header on Nervous Records, drawing on decades of club heritage with two cuts that balance toughness with soul. On 'What You Want', the unmistakable Byron Stingily delivers a spoken-word vocal full of presence and tension, riding a thick groove of driving drums and brooding synth stabs. The dub strips things back into a leaner, club-focused roller, layering sharp FX over its pulsing low-end. Flip to 'Take You Back' and the tone shifts-gliding synths and sultry female vocals swirl through the mix, giving the track a hazy, after-hours sensuality. It's a slick contrast to the A-side's weight, showcasing the duo's versatility and deep roots in New York's late-night lineage.
Review: After recently singing to Ministry of Sound, Wh0 - Robert Chetcuti, formerly of Rhythm Masters- continues his ascension in the dance music world with a 12" for esteemed label, Rekids. The original mix is a polished club weapon that blends sensual grooves with deeper house textures. Wh0's ability to layer catchy vocal hooks with finely tuned production helps the overall sound and the intricate changes. With over 30 singles to his credit in less than a decade, he keep the volume up as well as the quality. Adding firepower to the release is the remix from Catz 'n Dogz, who take the original into more intense techno territory. Their rework simmers with suspense before breaking into a charged, kinetic drop. Where Wh0's version leans into flirtation and bounce, Catz 'n Dogz opt for a tougher, warehouse edge. Together, these two versions provide a versatile one-two punch for DJs.
Review: Cocoon's iconic compilation series returns with its 22nd volume, and it soon becomes clear Sven Vath's label still knows how to curate forward-thinking electronic music with precision and style. While Cocoon has long been associated with quality techno and electro, this series has become its true hallmark. Presented on a deluxe vinyl edition where each track gets its own side, the sonic fidelity is pristine and gives each production the space it deserves. Superpitcher's 'Dream B' is a futuristic techno voyage that swells with melodic elegance and otherworldly textures. DC Salas shifts the mood with 'Escapism'. a track steeped in Goa trance vibes but grounded with a modern, polished edge. Marcel Fengler delivers 'Aura', a euphoric and high-energy techno track. Joe Metzenmacher's 'Da Freak' brings funky flavor into the mix, with an infectious bassline that demands repeat listens. Joseph Capriati surprises with 'Cosmopop', leaning into a lush 80s-inspired synth pop and electro pop. Matthias Schildger's 'Distorter' closes with pounding broken beats, injecting grit and tension into the collection.
Review: German electronic nerd and tactile techno master Skee Mask returns to Ilian Tape, the label run by the Munich-based Zenker Brothers, with a fresh batch of his club-ready throbbers. 'TR Nautila' rides on uneven drum breaks with claps loud in there mix, until they aren't, and a stumbling bassline that underpins a morph into jungle-adjacent madness. 'Panic Button' has springy sounds and sludgy low ends, precision-tooled drums and a celestial backlight that pushes and pulls you emotionally. 'MD25' has an industrial clang and clatter that evokes being lost in a strobe-lit warehouse and 'LCC Rotation' is a freewheeling percussive gem with moody pads for all-out assault in the club.
Review: North West-based techno head Tom Carruthers throws it back to the deep and dusty analogue thrills of the late 80s with this retro house pouting for the Netherlands' peerless Clone Jack For Daze. Opener 'Technique' is a steamy and lo-fi jaunt with mysterious lead. 'Beyond Time' has a classic old school bassline beneath curious, drifting melodies and tidy drums. 'Junction 12' has a little more punch and brings to mind the melancholy of Dream 2 Science and '3AM' layers in some hope and optimism in its brighter melodies, though a gurgling baseline still nags away down low.
Review: Osaka producer and DJ Insomniak steps out with a debut 12" of moody, full-bodied house leaning forward into twilight atmospheres and subtly warped club dynamics. 'Insomniak' on the A is all nervous energy and nocturnal tension, held taut by clipped vocals and an unsettled bassline. Flip it and 'I Knew Atlantic' offers something more unsteady and dreamlike, letting its groove slouch and sway around snatches of melody that shimmer and retreat. With a low-key feel and restraint that suggests a deep record collection, this first outing avoids obvious genre tropes while still speaking fluently in dancefloor dialects.
Review: Sub Basics's Temple Of Sound is back with new music from Henry Greenleaf who appears under his new moniker, Greenteeth. It is a project he is clearly using to cook up smart back room minimal sounds going off this evidence: 'Loxton' is a slow motion and prowling groove but one with deep, menacing bass and nice louche percussion. 'Jungle Love' is another subversive sound with a snaking rhythm and dubby low ends, dusty hi hats and late night mischief. Last of, 'On & On & On' plays out over all of the flipside with shuffling drums that are light and airy and topped with wispy drones. It's delightfully hypnotic.
Review: GAMADON is head of Warehouse Manifesto and serves up this wonderful a limited run of picture discs featuring his original hybrid broken techno and electro anthem 'Cyborg Samba.' The release includes five powerful remixes from top-tier artists, including Umwelt, SOD 90, Jerome Hill, Kim Cosmik and Serge Geyzel. Ranging from tough electro and industrial breakbeats to old-school rhythms, fast-paced IDM breaks, and robo funk, this is high-grade DJ weaponry and part one of a planned three-part series delivering genre-blending reworks by some of the most respected remixers in the scene. The fact it looks as unique as it sounds makes it a no-brainer.
Review: Rome-based duo Donato Dozzy and Sabla reunite for a second collaborative outing-this time rooted in percussive density and minimalist form. Where 2023's Flusso cycle dealt in flow and abstraction, this follow-up sharpens its focus around rhythm and material presence. On 'Forma I', the pair strip things right back: sub-bass, skeletal drum hits, and little else. It's lean, physical, and cavernous. 'Forma II' expands that palette slightly, weaving splinters of syncopation into a staggered, off-grid structure. 'Forma III' takes a more organic path-metallic textures dissolve through reverb as if in search of their own shape. By the time 'Forma IV' rolls around, there's a sense of emergence-fluttering percussion, precise snares and forward motion suggesting rebirth from the cocoon. As ever, this is club music reimagined as architecture: subtle, studied and deeply physical.
Review: Birmingham's Jossy Mitsu and Bluetoof join headsy forces on their new collaboration for Tempa, colliding the former artist's rinsed, globetrotting UK-troit DJ sets the world over and the latter's "drum specialisms" formerly lent to labels the likes of Shall Not Fade. Transcending the one-forties for a deeper-shades descension, 'Metamorphic' and 'Acid' establish a mood of nightclub meets human biostasis facility, as sci-fi zaps meet brooding, high-sustain bass cues. 'H20' is the sole tune to heighten the mood, its stop-start rollerblade bass and necksnap 808s proffering a jammier digestif.
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: In line with the timely reappraisal of all things R&S related, the resurgent Apollo have seen the opportunity to bring one of their most celebrated records back for another round. Aphex Twin's ambient recordings mature magnificently with age, sounding ever richer and more emotive as the rest of electronic music continues to play catch up all around. From the gentle breakbeats of "Xtal" to the aquatic techno lure of "Tha", the airy rave of "Pulsewidth" to the heartwrenching composition of "Ageispolis", every track is a perennial example of how far ambient techno could reach even back then. It's just that no-one quite had the arm-span of Richard D. James.
Review: Italian techno auteurs Luigi Tozzi and Antonio Ruscito join forces for a potent four-track session of mid-tempo, deep techno pressure, their first collaborative outing on the ever-reliable Dutch imprint ARTS. Across the EP, the pair navigate shadowy rhythmic terrain and immersive atmospheres with a tightly focused sense of control and restraint. Opener 'Heat' sets the pace with a slow-burning chug, propelled by shuffling percussion and lysergic acid filigree that weaves in and out of the mix like smoke. 'Cube' follows with colder, more ominous energyisquelching acid pulses that ride atop a cavernous low-end and ghosted vocal fragments, building a menacing tension. On the flip, 'Closer' dials down the intensity for a brooding, emotive drift, where glacial tempos and misty synth washes conjure a deep introspective mood. Closing cut 'Alodrone' opens in ambient mode, unfurling a widescreen drone before detonating into heavyweight kicks, primed to open your next set.
Review: Dan Piu and Grant's Theory of Movement project has served up gold for lovers of heady tech and minimal. After something of a hiatus, it is now back on When The Morning Comes with more of the sort of tuneage that is going to quickly sell out and soon become the ID request du jour at your favourite underground parties. These are of course sophisticated sounds from the silky house bumps of 'Now & Then' with its seductive vocal allure to the throwback 90s sounds of 'Over Time' (Acid Mix). 'Basis' (Foundation mix) is another immediately classic house sound with analogue and dusty drums and zippy melodies next to more smooth chords. 'Motion Of Objects' shuts down with a more zoned-out vibe and widescreen melodic architecture for late nights.
Review: Primal Instinct Rec explain that a call and response isn't just a musical form-it's a fundamental impulse. Every sound, track, or creative act is a call into the unknown that seeks a reaction. With that in mind, this new Neo EP explores this dynamic, tracing how the act of reaching outward through sound can trigger emotion, movement and transformation. With immersive production and a precise sense of space, Neo examines the powerful moments that arise when a real connection is forged. His techno is atmospheric and marbled with spoken words, freaky designs and the sort of texture that will always evoke primal reactions.
Review: French-Moroccan producer Bidoben joins the Sublunar roster with six tracks of precision-tooled techno that strike a balance between hypnosis and intensity. 'Suspended Relief' opens with pounding low-end and swirling mids, laying down a floor-focused blueprint that's all control and momentum. '28-33' dials in a looping, restrained groove with subtle modulations, while 'Torment' pushes into more psychedelic terrain-acid-licked textures layered over a linear, uncoiling arrangement. On the flip, 'Unfair' hits hardest: peak-time pressure with no excess. 'Calx' trades impact for introspection, coiling inward with murky synthwork and tight, recursive rhythm. 'Snakeholes' brings it to a close with melodic shimmer and just a trace of nostalgia. It's a smart, tightly constructed EP that showcases Bidoben's ear for function, detail and emotional tone.
Review: Paris-based duo Blame The Mono return to Molekul with four genre-mutating techno workouts that double down on their signature blend of rave maximalism and left-field flair. 'Podgorica' opens with squelching acid lines and breakbeat pressure, recalling the raw intensity of early 2000s bunker sets. 'Flip The Phase' veers off-script entirely, pairing stuttering dub chords and chopped vox with a sudden jungle break that detonates mid-track. 'Digital Diva' rides a looping 80s vocal over a dense, dubby groove-equal parts playful and pummelling. Closing cut 'Molly Pop', a collaboration with German producer Lifka, leans into psy-tinged intensity, fusing peak-time power with a cheeky, rave-brained energy. Fun, fearless, and bristling with attitude, it's a release built for high-pressure moments and DJs unafraid to swerve.
Review: 'Resilience' captures the unmistakable energy of Detroit's streets, signature high-tech soul and underground grit into one essential release on the long-essential Soiree label. Drivetrain's 'Persuasion' kicks off with churning mechanical funk, equal parts seductive and relentless. DJ Cent's 'Send Me' follows with a sub-heavy rhythm barrage built to shake foundations and Distant Lover's 'Green Eyes' injects disco-infused heat aimed squarely at the dancefloor with infectious string loops and a hella funky bassline. Marshall Applewhite closes with 'Front to Back' a fast-paced, no-holds-barred techno assault that pushes BPMs and boundaries, but remains warm and supple. This is Detroit distilled into rough, resilient and futuristic sounds.
Review: Cosmin TRG is a Romanian producer who crafted some of the underground's most innovative sounds a decade or so ago, before going off to work in other creative worlds. Here, for the first time, he links with countryman DYL for a special EP that is decidedly futuristic. 'Manevre' is Romanian for 'manoeuvres' and comes in three different parts. Each one is fluid minimal sound with deft rhythms, fizzing pads, eerie melodies, sub-aquatic motifs and always absorbing atmospheres. Tammo Hesselink also adds a remix that has more prominent drums, lurching loops and menacing dystopian energy.
Review: This record is named after Vedanta, an ancient philosophy based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India. The music, originally composed and produced by Joseph S Joyce and later remixed by Sebastian Mullaert of Minilogue, was greatly inspired, after reading commentaries from Swami Rama Tirtha's biography "The Scientist & Mahatma" - Chapter 1 - Vedanta and The Secret of Success. Now, some nine years later, it gets served up as a remix EP. There's a dark El Choop Reconstruct, a gorgeous ambient version from Sebastian Mullaert, a minimal headscape from Van Bonn, Federson SF goes warm and dubby and then a crisp, tech-edged vibe from Paul 90 ends the EP in style.
Review: Spanish techno powerhouse Andres Campo hits hard with four uncompromising club weapons for DCLTD. 'Conte Bleu' wastes no timeiit's heads-down tunnel techno with acidic flashes, reverb-drenched vocals and glimmering melodies swirling inside the chaos. 'Nuit Blanche' flips the script with a more syncopated, breaksy structure, its flickering metallic textures and jazzy FX giving way to an enormous vocal-led breakdown that manages to be both weird and raucously effective. On the B-side, 'Ligne Jaune' is all pressure and paranoia: distorted spoken samples swim through the mix as punishing percussion surges forward. 'Pois Gris' closes the set in sci-fi mode, splicing synthetic sirens, looping vocal chants and relentless stomping drums into something as dystopian as it is danceable. Designed for big systems and dim lights, this is techno with teeth.
Review: A cornerstone of early 90s electronic music, Orbital's Lush resurfaces with renewed energy through the Orbital LEDs reissue campaign. Originally released in 1993, the EP is a masterclass in melodic techno, featuring the iconic 'Lush 3-1' and 'Lush 3-2', two seamlessly interwoven tracks that exemplify the Hartnoll brothers' knack for crafting emotionally resonant, rhythmically complex soundscapes. Reissued on 12" with striking new artwork by Intro, this edition includes heavyweight remixes by Underworld and CJ Bolland, whose reworks push the tracks deeper into the club stratosphere. Underworld brings a dense, propulsive momentum, while Bolland injects a sleek, hard-edged urgency. Yet it's Orbital's originals that remain the centerpiece. Those epic gliding arpeggios, layered synths and rolling percussion conjure both introspection and euphoria. A vital part of their Brown Album, Lush helped define the progressive techno movement, influencing generations of producers. Three decades on, the tracks still pulse with a timeless vibrancy.
Jean-Michel Jarre X Martin Gore - "Brutalism" (take 2)
Jean-Michel Jarre X Brian Eno - "Epica Extension"
Jean-Michel Jarre X Deathpact - "Brutalism" (reprise)
Jean-Michel Jarre X French79 - "Epica" (take 2)
Jean-Michel Jarre X Adiescar Chase - "Synthy Sisters" (take 2)
Jean-Michel Jarre X Armin Van Buuren - "Epica Maxima"
Jean-Michel Jarre X Nina Kraviz - "Sex In The Machine" (take 2)
Jean-Michel Jarre X NSDOS - "Zeitgeist" (take 2)
Jean-Michel Jarre X Irene Dresel - "Zeitgeist Botanica"
Review: Second time around for Jean-Michel Jarre's 2022 album Oxymore, a loving tribute to French composer and 'music concrete' pioneer Pierre Henry. As the title suggests, this version features new remixes of album tracks (all of which feature sounds originally created by Henry) by a disparate group of musical talents. That makes for an interesting mix of interpretations, with armin Van Buuren's sizable trance translation of 'Epica' rubbing shoulders with a trippy, off-kilter electro take on 'Sex In The Machine' by Nina Kraviz, a moody Martin Gore interpretation of 'Brutalism', Irene Dresel's raw techno revision of 'Zeitgeist Botanica', and ambient pioneer Brian Eno putting his spin on 'Epica'.
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