Review: Emerald's 25th outing takes the form of another superb compilation with four artists who have already released on the label and plenty of new names making an equally good impression. ANNE kicks off with the deep, thudding kicks of 'Coral Reefs' complete with lush hits to smooth the groove. There is more weight and intensity to the oversized hi-hats ringlets on Mike Konstantinidis's 'Apocalypse', DJ Plant Texture layers in plenty of gritty and grime to his gritty 'Swingers' and Jarrod Yeates goes for a twisted after-party vibe on his intense and unrelenting 'Sesh Gremlin', with many more highlights besides.
Review: 'OHM Series #11' presents a vibrant mix of techno with contributions from four talented producers, adding depth to the ongoing series. On Side-1, Christine Benz's 'Sunset' opens with warm, enveloping chords, creating a serene atmosphere that feels like a sunset on a tropical island. Following that, Brizman's 'As We Should', featuring Linn, shifts the tone with a lighter, dub-infused house sound, perfect for a more relaxed vibe. Side-2 kicks off with Hidden Sequence's 'Dub Cycle', a darker, more ominous track, weaving catchy dub techno rhythms that pull you in. Finally, Martin Jarl's '02_37 AM' brings a smooth, ambient dub feel with a traditional techno edge. This airy composition evokes the timeless sounds and reminds us of Model 500's Starlight. This edition of OHM Series showcases diverse approaches to dub techno, balancing the atmospheric with the rhythmic - and all delivered with precision.
Happy707 - "Where Does That Noise Come From" (4:28)
Review: Menacing EBM and dark synth billows from a Netherlands hinterland; our heralds speak of an esoteric encampment by the name of Espectro Oculto, said to be the remote incantators of an unstoppable curse in sound. Six shadowy emissaries have been sent to spread the pestilence; Trenton Chase, Martial Canterel, DJ Nephil, Exhausted Modern, Fragedis and Happy707. Clearly, the faction have recruited only the best, trusted and yet most nefarious of spies from as far-flung regions as Czechia and Argentina in the administering of such a sordid sonic plague. We're left most quivery at the centrifugal doom drones of Exhausted Modern's 'Fear Of Focus', across whose breakdown banshees are heard wailing and snarling, and Fragedis' 'Landing In Reality', a lo-fi techno freakout and sonochemical anomaly, channeling militant two-way radio samples and hellish FM synthesis.
Review: The Distorsion camp offers up its first sampler as a way of teasing you with the sort of quality sounds and artists it has on its roster. First up is a three-way collab between Citybox, Hankook & Orebeat whose 'Dangerous Changes' is an intense breakbeat workout for the peak time. Orebeat & Alex Clubbers keep the energy levels high and inject early 00s video-game style synths, Orebeat & Citybox keep it dark and raw with 'Gangsta' and Orebeat & JottaFrank laced up their thrilling breaks with acid lines and sleazy vocals on "Noche De Paris.' This is potent stuff for strobe-lit floors.
Review: Warg Records welcomes Habgud for a blistering new five-track EP that goes straight for the jugular. 'Backtrack' kicks off with catering drum funk and lashings of synth energy while 'Pulse' gets deep and strips things right back to moody and compelling rhythms. 'Ektenia' has glitchy drum hits and fulsome low ends designed to boom in basement spaces. 'Fleeting Feelings' then brings some weighty dub techno feels and spine-tingling vocal touches while 'Organised Crime' is dark and menacing throughout its onward march. A powerful EP that pairs form with function perfectly.
Review: Yaleesa Hall wastes no time setting the tone on this Timedance release, delivering a weighty fusion of UKG, electro and sub-heavy pressure. Opener 'Halfway Gone' lurches forward with a heady mix of swung percussion and cavernous bass, its tension building like a slow-motion collision. 'Light Headed' dials up the energy, its restless breakbeat patterns and distorted low-end hitting with unrelenting force. On the flip, 'Voices' leans into dubbed-out textures, letting ghostly vocal snippets drift through the haze as tightly coiled rhythms keep the pulse locked. Closer 'Still Here' brings the release full circle, with fractured beats and rumbling sub-bass weaving together in a hypnotic finale. It's a bold statement from Yaleesa Hallione that feels tailor-made for dancefloors that thrive on weight and space in equal measure.
Review: INDEX:Records founder and self-styled 'DJ and sound engineer' Conna Haraway finally makes his vinyl bow following a couple of low-key cassette and digital download releases. According to the Sydney-based imprint handling the release, Theory Therapy, the wonderfully titled Spatial Fix was partially inspired by the Glasgow-based artist's 2024 tour of Japan and South Korea. You can hear that in the subtly far eastern melodies and ambient techno style textures of ten-minute opener 'Freon', whose grooves would undoubtedly have impressed the late Andrew Weatherall, and the hushed, semi-abstract, deeply layered wonder of 'Switchback'. Elsewhere, the stretched-out, immersive and meditative '1702' joins the dots between low-tempo ambient techno and dub techno, while 'Patent' is deep, otherworldly and suitably sub-heavy mutant dancehall.
Review: Venerated veteran Len Faki is the man behind the Hardspace alias and label and it is one he uses to serve up personal edits of his own cuts and favourite classics, all for use in his own DJ sets. This time out he exhibits his meticulous approach by re-tooling two Dubspeeka cuts into pulsing, linear yet atmospheric weapons. On the flip come two different versions of Fanon Flowers's 'Chicago-Detroit' and both are acidic, jacked-up tools for locking floors into a late-night march.
Review: A record that explores deep, hypnotic rhythms with a strong tribal and mystical undercurrent, the latest Siamese Twins records pushes the boundaries of what is possibly in eastern influences underground techno. Side-1 opens with 'The Golden Triangle', an atmospheric introduction that feels cinematic, setting the stage with ambient textures before giving way to movement. 'Lens of Time' follows, locking into a deep, primal groove where rolling percussion and rich low-end create an entrancing effect. On Side-2 'Mekong' leans into tribal mysticism, blending ancient rhythmic patterns with a modern pulse. The production is detailed yet raw, drawing from rich percussive layers. 'Ruak' closes the EP with pulsating bass and deep, rolling rhythms, channeling Eastern influences into a hypnotic techno flow. A powerful release from Siamese Twins Records, driven by Sunju Hargun's distinct vision.
Review: Casper Hastings is neither a ghost nor from Hastings. He is an electronic innovator from Ireland who has built up a fine catalogue on the likes of TXTRL and Sticky Ground. He is back on the Yin Yang label here with another high class assault that draws on electro, jungle and techno. Opener 'Tangerine Meme' sets the scene with crisp drum programming and snappy drum breaks underpinned by warped acid. 'Reaper' is as menacing as the title suggests with more direct, punchy electro and Peder Mannerfelt flips it into a surging wall of techno. 'Ruthless Romance's a devastating edge of breaks-driven jungle and 'Good Medicine' has bleeping synths over wobbly low ends and caustic drum funk.
Review: It's not a scam... it's Skam! To the Skam sister label Kasm comes Russell Haswell with a mitre-sawing electro release, veering toward brash abstraction. A gobby intonation is wrought from the distortion send here, where drums near-vocally poke through the muck, like rambunctious talking ghosts in machines. Warring allusions to lost humanity take shape on titles like 'Fractured Bones' and 'Tournament Species', where cyborg gladiators rise from their catacomb internments to face off against each other again and again, in haunted perpetuity. 'Different Takes' is the best example of the record's at times tempoless ferocity, scattering what remains as an intuitive pulse across phase-distorted gargles and made-wonky beat hydraulics.
Review: Hauff's highly anticipated debut on Tresor, and it's as strikingly original as you'd expect. The title track, 'Multiplying My Absurdities', opens with a slow build of magnetic synths and acid drops that seem to pulsate with playful skepticism. It's simple yet gripping, pulling you into a dark, hypnotic space where the unexpected becomes beautiful. 'Punks in the Gym' takes the energy up a notch, drawing inspiration from a notorious Australian climbing route. The track climbs relentlessly, each bar steeper than the last, with 303-driven tremors building into a volcanic eruption of sound. It's a relentless ride that doesn't let up, pushing you to the limits. Closing out the release, 'Humanoid Fruit' ventures even deeper into the unknown. Its prehistoric soundscape, full of sharp synth bursts, feels like a chaotic journey through ancient lands where acid rain falls from the sky. Dark, eerie and transporting, this track leaves a lasting impression.
Review: Yay Recordings closes out another solid 12 months with a various artists' EP that showcases right where the label is at. Heavy Mental kicks off with 'Dabro', a colourful and loopy house jaunt for sunny days. Twowi's 'Metaverse' takes off to the cosmos on lithe electro rhythms with ice-cold beats and widescreen pads. Parchi Pubblici & Lucretio's 'Aladdin Sane' brings some wonky deep tech vibes with of-balance drums and muffled spoken words and Rinaldo Makaj closes down with a fresh party sound perfect for cosy floors. There's plenty of variety here, which makes this a great addition to your bag.
Review: A five-track EP of pure dancefloor bangers from Hermeth, the enigmatic Valencian-raised, Swiss-based artist. It's a potent blend of breakbeat, techno, house and dubstep, showcasing Hermeth's signature sound - a dynamic fusion of styles that defies categorisation. Tracks like 'Bababoy' and 'Fvck War' are guaranteed to ignite dancefloors with their infectious energy and pulsating rhythms, while '10Min' and 'P*ta Que Pariu' delve into deeper, more hypnotic territories. The EP also features a remix from Ben Pest, adding another dimension to Hermeth's already captivating sound, and with its blend of saturated breaks and ghetto vibes, this release is a must-have for those who like their music raw, energetic and undeniably funky.
Review: Detroit-born but now based in Thailand, Scott Hess returns to show his enduring Motor City class with Redlight Bangkok Vol. 3, a third instalment of his vinyl-only series on Adeen. This one opens up with 'En Bloom' which is a Miami bass-inspired jam with crisp kicks and icy cold 808s. Rocco Universal's remix is more deep and house-leaning with some magnificent melodies then on the B-side, 'Whitelight' gets more twisted with elastic bass and snappy percussion. 'Untitles' is a cosmic journey with a funky guitar and dreamy chorus and last of all comes the smooth and serene, chord-laced soundscapes and fathom deep grooves of ''Untitles' which is a classy late-night sound.
Review: After a top first appearance in the series, Dutchman Tammo Hesselink returns to the Mantis project with another deep, immersive release full of his signature hi-fidelity sound design and meticulous drum patterns. Blending dub's echo-laden atmospheres with industrial percussion and the sparse textures of minimalism, his sound design is as distinctive as ever as once again, rather than relying on melody, he sculpts emotion and intensity through texture, space and rhythm. Metallic hits and reverberant effects create a physical, tactile experience that is both abstract and structured, designed for powerful sound system delivery while rewarding close listening. Hesselink offers a cerebral yet visceral trip here.
Review: HI-LO, the darker techno alias of Oliver Heldens, is no stranger to the techno world, having already established himself on Adam Beyer's Drumcode label. His latest collaboration with LUSU on the track 'DIZZY' is an electrifying take on hyperactive techno, blending frenetic percussion with driving synths. The track's use of a pitch-shifted vocal sample from Game's 'U Turn Me On' adds an extra layer of playfulness, yet the bassline ensures it stays grounded. The EP's second track, 'Mesmerize', offers a more emotional depth, with its Moroder-inspired bass and jazzy melodies carrying the track forward while keeping it high-energy.
Review: For those seeking a genuine experiment in the vein of dark, gritted electro-techno mixed with battle DJ-esque, medley-style hip-hop and turntablist chirps and scratches, look no further than this record. Four classy, metallurgic takes on a classic hip-hop track each - 'Paid In Full', 'Raw', 'So Whatcha Sayin'' and 'Cold Gettin' Dumb' respectively - amount to a weighty hydraulic techno pressing, neither deterred by the precious demands of the hip-hop genre (the beat-form is largely sordid, hardcore 4x4 techno) nor sacrificial of its themes. In the record's lighter moments, we hear this unknown artist make sole use of their source material's self-reflexively energising nature, with 'Raw' especially wafting off a proto-techno prescience with quantized breaks and a pre-drop "I'm coming" sample. Best of this crock, however, has to be 'So Whatcha Sayin'', unrelenting in its jacked-up flow speed and unrepentant in its splatting snares and kicks.
Review: Techno tachyons Midi Mode, based in Ireland, provide a home for "warped and twisted" sounds and those who create them. After five vaporwave-tinged, reality-bending debut EPs from the likes of Ikeaboy and Power, they now present their very first selectors V/A EP on a gooey green wax edition. It's quite the assembly of Eireann techno royalty, with a host of seasoned players lead by probably the country's most esteemed DJ, Sunil Sharpe, as well as Kerrie and Wexford's Lee Holman. Quality is, naturally, at a consistently high label - with closer 'Phase-One' proving an especially computational, objectivist, mad, pitiless track.
Review: Tommy Holohan's newest EP is a high-energy tour de force, blending techno, jungle and rave elements. Opening with 'Show Me The Sky', the trance-infused keyboard stabs and massive build-ups create a cinematic techno anthem. The title track, 'Temple Theatre', brings tribal loops, hard-nosed percussion and funky momentum for a relentless dancefloor roller. 'Make Me Feel' dives deep with a rumbling bassline and jungle-inspired drums, enhanced by clever house samples and a commanding vocal drop. Side-2 showcases two mixes of 'Your Lovin Arms'. The Warehouse Mix delivers a heavy rave vibe with raw energy and techno grit, while the Jungle Mix adds a melodic touch with breakbeats, creating a unique fusion of styles. A bold, diverse release, proving Holohan's real knack for blending old-school influences with modern techno innovation.
Review: Following their successful Get Closer club nights in Nuremberg, Homebase and Jurgen Kirsch are launching a music label under the same name. The label's mission is clear: to release timeless electronic music on vinyl while returning to the essence of what truly mattersipure, straightforward quality. For their debut release, they've signed two tracks by renowned Pokerflat and 8Bit artist Markus Homm, with remixes crafted by the label founders themselves. All four of these are stripped back and floor-ready minimal and tech fusions with robust low ends and plenty of craft in the sound designs to elevate them above mere fodder.
Review: Entrancing deep techno from Bristol's Moth Club, embracing the umbral charge of longtime producer How Do, a recent populariser of the sound. 'Void' and its '128 Version' carry an essence of the original dub techno sound and its emphasis on atmosphere, though there are fewer percussive knocks or scrapes here; the track is more a sustained tonic glom of energy, and alludes cleverly, preconsciously, to the more UK-bass informed B-side, with its echoic vocals almost barely perceptible as such until we flip the record over.
Review: A dynamic journey through the roots and evolution of techno, blending nostalgic sounds with fresh energy, this EP begs to be played loudly. Side-1 opens with the title track, 'Love Generator', a powerful, rave-infused anthem that captures the essence of the 1991 vintage techno sound, full of raw energy and passion. 'Flawless Victory' follows with a heavy Belgian techno influence, harking back to rave's origins but with a modern, revitalised beat that feels both classic and innovative. On Side-2, 'Watch The Collapse' begins with a heavy breakbeat and iconic Hoover-type sound, before seamlessly transitioning into acid techno that builds tension and intensity. 'Code Breaker' brings a minimal, bleepy techno vibe with space probe-like sounds, steadily building towards a climactic peak. The EP closes with 'Nocturnal Beings (vs Human Rebellion)', an electro-sci-fi masterpiece that wraps up the journey with otherworldly sounds and a futuristic edge. A forward-thinking, genre-defining release that honours techno's past while pushing its boundaries.
Review: Huey Mnemonic's Brainscraatch is a futuristic cruise through Detroit's Afrotechno. Opening with the earth-shaking 'Ankhobi', Mnemonic builds a soundscape where ancient rhythms meet sci-fi, as drums pulse like a ritual ceremony projected into the year 3000. The title track, 'Brainscraatch', amps up the intensity with hypnotic beats and piercing electronics that make even the back-of-the-room heads take notice. Closing with the darkly mesmerising 'Slipping Into Madness', Mnemonic transcends dancefloor limits. Sard's 'Rescratch' adds an acidic twist, grounding the EP in Midwest roots while looking boldly ahead.
Review: By now, at least one dimension of the electro genre has turned out so misanthropic that one of its keystone artists has called itself Human Rebellion - as if to suggest humanity is the exception, not the rule. With the artist now debuting on Hilltown Disco after a wonderful eight EPs so far, this one hears the so far faceless bot push themselves to 'Outer Limits' by way of a waspish bluebottle buzz line, then break through the proverbial 'Magnetic Field' to revelatory effect: deep pulse leads and firm kicks, awash in a sense of broken-free elation. 'Endless Day' and 'Exploration' harken the B-side, dystopi-fying the proceedings through a relative industrial feel, implying a robot crackdown on human insurgency. The former has a brilliant breakdown, with a short cyborg monologue opining, railing against guinea pig-style entrapment: "I want to get out if this experiment. Aren't there enough testable subjects...?"
Hertz Collision X Programma 101 - "Concrete Skin" (5:03)
Rebecca Delle Piane - "Ten Dosis Of Melatonin" (4:11)
Disguised - "Kaki" (5:12)
Temudo - "In Chains" (Cleric 2/10 remix) (5:45)
Review: British label Clergy marks a decade in the game with a special 12" featuring a range of artists who have ties to the imprint. Stef Mendesidis comes with the trance tinged overtones of 'Hydra' and its slamming drums and bass blend. Regent's 'Decoder' is a more minimal sound but unfurls high speed with a deep vibe and Hertz Collision/Programma 101's 'Concrete Skin' is all about masterful loops and eerie synths. On the flip, 'Rebecca Delle Piane stands out with the heady minimalism and 90s techno vibes of 'Ten Doses Of Melatonin'.
Review: Opal Sunn's 'Elastic' lands on Test Pressing Recordings as the first in a trilogy, bringing together Alex Kassian and Hiroaki Oba's knack for genre-blending electronic soundscapes. Known for their captivating live sets, they've crafted an EP that traverses moods and styles. The A-side opens with hypnotic deep trance, layering rich synth textures and rolling grooves. Over on the B-side, things get lush and atmospheric: one track dives into dub influences, saturated with warm basslines and echoing chords, while the final cut drifts into serene, ambient territory. It's an impressive start that shows their mastery of both rhythm and space.
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.
Silence Of Love (feat Jesse Boykins III - Reznik remix) (7:05)
Review: Tiga's stripped-down electronic funk and Hudson Mohawke's bold beats share a common threadian idea Tiga dubs "hardcore romance." Recorded in Los Angeles, their collaboration evolved across various tracks that ultimately shaped their debut album, L'Ecstasy. Turbo revisits the project with a series of club-ready remixes featuring Keinemusik's Reznik, Montreal duo Priori & Patrick Holland as Jump Source and Berghain regular Quelza. These hard-hitting remixes are pressed loudly on a striking 12" picture disc featuring iconic imagery from renowned photographer Wolfgang Tillmans.
Review: After five years apart, Italian composer Eraldo Bernochi and Japanese violinist, electronica producer and current Tangerine Dream member Hoshiko Yamana return with a sequel to their much-loved 2020 album Mujo. Described by the pair's label, Denovali, as "a deeply cinematic experience", Sabi cannily combines the slow-burn, trance-inducing synthesizer sequences of Tangerine Dream, the intergalactic electronic expressiveness of ambient techno, the thematic movements of modern classical, Yamana's emotive violin motifs and the spaced-out ambient iciness often associated with Geir Jensson's Biosphere project. It's a genuinely brilliant album all told, with the pair smartly sashaying between hazy melancholia, string-laden creepiness and picturesque aural colour.
Review: Since founding DiN in 1999, Ian Boddy has been driven by a passion for collaboration, particularly with artists connected to the pioneering German electronic scene of the 1970s. When a chance meeting with Harald Grosskopf at a Dutch music festival presented the opportunity to work together, Boddy eagerly embraced Grosskopf's ear; the latter's tutelage at the Berlin school spans decades, and he is most notably for his fellowship as a drummer with Klaus Schulze, whose influence looms large over Boddy's own work. But beyond percussion, Grosskopf's Synthesist album revealed his distinct melodic sensibilities, making him an ideal creative partner for Doppelganger. Blending Berlin-schooled sequencing with evocative grooves. Boddy's modular synth textures shine on tracks like 'Boulevard Horizon', while Grosskopf's rhythmic playfulness is evident in 'Livewire'.
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