New releases this week: Techno (すべて)

Review: In the realm of electronic music, 'In Your Face' EP by Acerbic emerges as a sonic assault that shatters boundaries and plunges listeners into an abyss of acid-tinged techno. An adrenaline-fueled shot, this four-track E.P. pulsates with raw energy and uncompromising intensity. 'In Your Face' sets the tone with its relentless 90s acid techno grooves, transporting listeners to the heart of the rave scene. Its abrasive and confrontational energy creates an atmosphere both exhilarating and intimidating. 'Assimilate' takes on a darker and more menacing persona, as the stomping beats and menacing synths evoke images of underground warehouse parties. 'I'm Fvxked' cranks up the intensity ever higher, pushing the boundaries of acid techno with its relentless pace and distorted soundscapes. The E.P. concludes with 'Never Changes', a testament to the enduring power of hardcore techno. Acerbic's In Your Face E.P. is a sonic tour de force that pushes the limits of techno music. Its aggressive and confrontational approach leaves an indelible mark on the listener. Hardcore, you know the score!

Review: Everyone's favourite low-res poly-rendered rave organism DJ Plant Texture returns to their fave label Ilian Tape for their least forgiving, least fluffy and most wayside-thrown techno EP yet. Contrasting to their earlier lo-fi MPC workouts and electro freak-shows, the best of which were also released on the Amsterdam imprint, Plant Texture here switches things up, offering up four jackbooted 4x4 techno bits so menacing that they verge on a dastard take on the Brummy school. An obsession with rhythm and percussive texture rears its head; A-siders 'DDrumz' and 'Mechanical Bongos' are truly intrigued by the drum, revelling in pure, circular samply bongo and timbalero repetition; the theme continues on B-sider 'Dubbish', which only does so much as add a scopeout dub chord stab to the mix, yet still sounds sick; 'Let The Machine Speak (Jazz Mix)', finally, seems to hold the work of fellow techy rhythmusoidal geek Machinedrum firmly in mind, seeming to cleverly parody the artist's Ninja Tune/Vapor City IDM era with a jeering nu-footwork-jazz half-smile.

Review: The now ten year old 'Acid Test 09' sees a special tenth Anniversary Edition repress with a new vocal mix of the track 'Test 3'. The original EP, released in 2014, saw acid nomad Tin Man team up with techno dreamweaver Donato Dozzy for three slices of deep acid and dubby, bleepy ambient; this special anniversary version adds a surprise new vocal mix on the A2, with either Dozzy or Tin Man himself gracing the beats with a set of carefree, moony phonic impressions, lyrically concerning the object of his affections looking oh so good on the dancefloor. We already know and love the rest; it's up to you to put the new addition to the test.

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: Moving Pressure makes its inaugural bow here with a first 12" from Rene Wise. Wise by name, wise by nature it seems, cause this is some seriously fresh techno that looks outside the usual reference points. 'Escaping Siro' is busy, energetic, persuasive in its layering of quickened drums, twisted synths and cosmic atmospheres while 'Caging Green' is stripped back but not minimal - paddy drums and floating synths surge onwards as future tribal percussion peppers the beats. 'Dry Beetle' brings dome depth and dub, with warped synths panning about the mix and the linear beats soon sweeping you up. 'Lonely Singing' shuts down with more deep space eeriness.

Review: This is techno, but not as we know it from the Vigenere. Sparagamos (a fitting name given the word originally means to render, tear apart, or mangle) is behind these freaky beats but we nothing more about the artist. Suffice it to say they sure do have a fine grip of their studio and can manipulate sound in some thrilling ways. The opener is a warp-speed warehouse banger with distorted bass and manic energy, track two explores sludgy acid techno underworlds and track there is a twitchy cosmic workout with serene pads. 'Track 4' is a world of dystopian robotics while the flip side offers tripped-out, double-time dub techno, more acid intensity and experimental mind melters with exceptional sound design.

Review: Orbital's debut and self-titled album (also known as the green album) is a classic example of the UK rave sound in 1991. Featuring the hits 'Belfast' and 'Chime', this important piece of electronic music gets some loving attention in the form of being remastered for the first time since release. But that's not the only thing - this CD edition also comes with a bonus CD featuring rarities and remixes from the time. What better way to celebrate 25 years of this amazing band and its cherished history for their role in helping create the sound of techno.

Review: New label Alt Dub debuts with this drop from Federsen and Hidden Sequence, who operate in different formations across the four tracks to spell out some supremely reduced, subliminal minimal techno. Their sound is schooled in the dub abstractions from labels like Background and ~scape, a little warm but ultimately reduced to an elegant murmur which becomes profound the harder you listen. Hidden Sequence's 'Switch' has a steady-ticking thrust while Federsen's 'Polarity' splashes around in deep chasms of delay and reverb, before they switch stance to remix each other in complementary ways.

Review: The always-quality Lempuyang is back with a scorching pink vinyl that packs a deliciously deep dub techno punch. It is a collaboration between Hidden Sequence and Milly James that opens with the super smooth and aquatic 'Legends' which rolls along the ocean floor with sparse chords and alluring vocals drifting way up above the surface. The 'dub' strips them away and allows things to move even an even more heady manner while 'All I Need' has a little more drift but no less depth to it and a Paul Simmons Off Curve Re Rub brings upright drum kicks and a little extra skip in the beats to close out a heady EP.