Review: Heavyweight quattro-techno from A Paul, DJ Dextro, Red Rooms, Ramon Tapia and Arkvs for Planet Rhythm. Each track serving as merciless hoisters in the vein of 'Rough' techno, the A1 is deserving of the name, bringing scraping hi-hat blurs and gulping knocks to a mean mix. Deadened, unfeeling, callous calculation follows on the follower 'Binary Codes', while Tapia tabulates a 'Ratio' on the algo-rhythmic bleeper that ensues on the B1. Finally, 'Decoration Drugs' brings a prime movement, its facelessly numbered breakdowns and shuffles assuring us that there is indeed no end to off-planet production processes such as these.
Santonio Echols - "Piano In The Light" (Emanuell Echols mix)
Brian Kage - "This Saturday Night"
Ryan Sadorus - "Down Below"
Review: Upstairs Asylum is kicking off the year in some style with a couple of killer new EPs. This one is the first in what is presumably a new series to showcase the talents of the Motor City. Mike Clark & Marcus Harris get things underway with 'Hey' which has a subtly uplifting feel thanks to the bright, sustained chords and cuddly drums. Santonio Echols's 'Piano In The Light' (DJ Emanuell Echols mix) is laidback, playful deep house with magical chord work and Brian Kage brings his classy depths to the smooth grooves of 'This Saturday Night.' Ryan Sadorus brings things to a close with the smoky 'Down Below.'
Review: Cyclic and Random combine their creative forces on what is a deeply atmospheric new EP of club-ready techno for Notta. 'I Am Happy, As Am I' gets underway with celestial synths up top and more rugged rhythms down low while the mid-section is defined by sustained drones.'Speak Dirty' sinks it grainy, smoky dub techno territory and if it rolled for days you wouldn't mind such is its depth. 'DddSP' keeps things airy with more optimistic chords floating over another set of grainy dub drums with tons of reverb. A Tm Shuffle dub shuts down with a more upright groove that hints at something playful is to come.
Review: Notta's fifth deep dive in moody techno underworlds is a coming together of Cyclic and Random and they both marvel in the details. 'I Am Happy, As I Am' is super cavernous but has rays of synth light and distant microbials glowing bright to keep you attention. 'Speak Dirty' is a more traditional dub in the Berlin style and 'DddSP' then get all liquid and watery as it ripples out to infinity all around you. 'DddSP' (Tm Shuffle dub) hits heavy and rocks back and forth on its heels to mind-melting effect.
Review: Eduardo de La Calle has always excelled at crafting economical yet impactful techno. It is often long and settled in its groove, dubbed out to the max and sprinkled with grainy chords. That simple MO has kept him at the forefront for years and here he hooks up with Reeko to serve up four more tracks of his distinctive techno gold to get 2025 underway on a fine footing. 'Track 1' is a real pressure builder with waves of synth and icy hi-hats washing over you, 'Track 2' then pulls back into murky minimalism and 'Track 3' brings the brain-melting bells. All that leaves is t cast you off into the deepest corners of the cosmos with 'Track 4' full of celestial wonderment.
Review: High-octane experimental trance via freetek via hardcore from Hamburg collective Phantasia, with an absolutely flooring, walloping debut release. The fact that four different artists might each bring their own mood to the table and yet hear their respective sounds unified bespeaks the brilliant mastering job held down here: Dolomea's 'Augural' and Rupert Marnie's 'Elastic Thoughts' commit to a mutual sonic trustfall, one seeming to writhe about in rhythmically unpredictable fashion through pressure-cooked, rubber-ballistic acids, and the other rootling its 4x4 kick snout into floors down under. The B-side goes electro, culminating on the brilliant brainwash by Finona Rider, 'The Impact', a track haunted by the voice in its own head.
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.
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: London label Fourier Transform welcome back Rekab (James Baker) and label debuter Mre for 'Ace High'. 'Armadillos' rolls up its chassis for a serious exercise in minimal weight, reconstituting tuned percussions as it trundles along, while Rekab's 'Always Having Fun' posits an ideal life-mode: a steady, direct current of enjoyment, set to hedonically calculated beats. 'Climbing High' rebates the percussions for a subtle lark's ascent in deep acid, while 'Ace' complementarily descends across cross-rhythmic breaks and harmonies.
Review: Kumquat returns with their second release, his time a various artists' EP packed with sleek tracks perfect for all sorts of movers and shakers. Four standout artists from the legendary French party scene deliver an irresistible blend of wonk and bounce across four groovy cuts. Noiro keeps it slinky and minimal on 'Yougoslash' then Belic & Mani get more stark and twisted with their tech sounds on 'The Flow.' Rancel's sound is laden with a libidinous sax line over clipped and crisp beats and Paradise City Breakers close down with the future tech of 'Mentalist.'
Review: SIKU's various artists offerings always result in a nice and varied sound across two sides of vinyl and the sixth such drop is another one worth of attention for techno heads. Onoffon opens with 'Matter What' which rides on raw drums with slapping hits and stark synths, while Sebastian's 'Dreams Metaphors' has a ghoulish energy and dark, twisted synth menace. Rufo brings some cosmic wonder and bleeping melodic sequences to 'Mr Wonderful' and Brian Topham's 'Expressive Dimension' is a straight up tool with burrowing leads.
Review: It's time to strap in for another episode of Anaoh Invites, which is always a great way to lose your mind to some tripped out techno. Gaetano Parisio is the first one to boggle the brain with 'Human Ratio' layering up twisted synths and drums. Dig It's 'When I Get Home' is another mad melange of smeared and stretched synths, stabs and thunderous kicks that tugs you in many different directions at once. Raffaele Attanasio kees it straight up and funky with 'Ulisse' and Fixon taps into high speed dub and percussive rawness on 'Clinging To The Roots.'
Review: Milo Raad is back on Rotterdam's finest, Mord Records, with a fine follow-up to his last outing, the 'Blood Pressure' EP. This one opens at pace with 'Bushido' and its rushes of synth and hi hats, which sweep you off your feet in an instant. 'Flash Point' has a more stripped-back sound with a hypnotic meld of drums and kicks that makes for perfect 5am escapism. The deep techno of 'Yawara' is run through with eerie, searching synths that describe a desolate urban scene and 'Detour' is a final assault on both head and heel with its unrelenting drum pressure.
Radical Chic - "In Da Shadows" (Terry Francis remix) (7:31)
Space Bunny - "The Key" (Wax Trax remix) (6:37)
Review: Gems, a new label with a nose for unearthing dusty relics of the UK tech-house scene, kicks off with a double shot of pure 90s dynamite. Label boss Paul Still, Croydon luminary and veteran crate-digger, has dusted off these two bangers, ready to reignite dancefloors. First up, Terry Francis unleashes a remix of Radical Chic's 'In Da Shadows' that'll have you reaching for the lasers and sweating buckets. This ain't no polite shuffle - it's a full-on assault of pulsating basslines, swirling synths and big energy. Francis, a master of his craft, layers textures and effects like a sonic sorcerer, conjuring a tapestry of sound that's both intricate and exhilarating. Flip the wax and Space Bunny's 'The Key' unlocks a different kind of chaos. This infectious groove, built on chunky drums and a hypnotic bassline, is pure, unadulterated dancefloor hedonism. But it's the vocal snippets and playful synth stabs that truly elevate it to legendary status. The Wax Trax remix adds a contemporary twist, injecting a fresh dose of energy while retaining the original's undeniable swagger. If you're craving the authentic sounds of early tech-house, Gems is your new dealer. These aren't just reissues; they're sonic time capsules, transporting you back to a time when the dancefloor was a sweaty, euphoric escape from reality.
Review: Disco-techno-house with a headily experimental palette from Puerto-Rican favourite Juan Ramos, an artist already well known and established for his many an off-kilter mix and OG production. Now on his second release for Bless You following 'Pulse', also released this year, this phallically titled record hears the stalwart continue to offer the best in the business, serving a further two rather long 'D's on top of a third rendezvous entitled 'Collision'. The former double-serving amounts to a twin stupefaction in sensuality and roughage, unusually spanning both the top and bottom sides of the record (plenty implied). 'Collide' leans further into the record's already asserted, yet evermore primeval logical ends, following up with a hardcore experiment in retching acid and woofing kettle drums.
Review: Left-of-centre electronic maverick Randomer returns with a new EP on Anetha's label, Mama Told Ya. After what we're told was something of a reflective hiatus, the UK artist delivers five emotionally charged tracks, all bar one of which are solo cuts with the other being one co-produced with Anetha. Thematically these cuts explore life's unpredictability and encourage embracing chaos and randomness. Drawing from his deep study of melodies, Randomer blends techno, trance, techstep and sacred choral music to create a cathartic journey across several different sound worlds here and it all adds up to a powerful, introspective listening experience.
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.
Review: The Spanish producer returns to Kompakt's and its iconic Speicher series with the 134th edition. Delivering two distinct and different tracks highlight the artists versatility in electronic music. Known for his full-length release on the label in 2021, Raxon continues to impress, contributing to the legacy of a series that has defined techno for over 25 years under Wolfgang Voigt's visionary guidance. Side -1 'Acid Call' is a quirky, minimalist delight, its driving, heavy beat underpinning a dynamic bassline that twists and turns with crisp, intricate production. The track's playful, acid-tinged elements keep it engaging without sacrificing its grooveia perfect fit for both peak-time sets and deeper exploration. On Side-2, 'Don't Cry Pluto' ventures into cinematic territory with melodic, analogue textures. Ethereal layers and fairytale-like tones combine with a powerful undercurrent, creating a dynamic contrast between weight and whimsy. Speicher 134 reaffirms Kompakt's status as a techno tastemaker and Raxon's role as an innovative, always engaging artist.
Review: This electrifying release offers a compelling journey through futuristic and otherworldly soundscapes. Side-1 opens with 'Yeli Mtkiva', a demented, sci-fi-inspired blend of techno and electro, pulsating with eerie textures and mechanical rhythms. It's a track that feels ripped from a cyberpunk dystopia. Following it, 'Triponfish' shifts the tone with celestial melodies and shimmering chimes, underpinned by an acid-tinged groove reminiscent of The Exaltics' atmospheric craftsmanship. On Side-2, 'Derealize' introduces crisp production with subtle trance elements, creating a hypnotic flow that's both driving and ethereal. The closing track, 'Story About The Murderer', stands out with its narrative-like progression. It's a dark, cinematic piece, evoking the tension of a sci-fi thriller. Each track offers a unique layer to the record's overarching futuristic vibe, making this an enjoyable trek into outerspace.
Along Came Polly (Konstantin Sibold, Zac & Carmee remix) (5:06)
Review: A powerhouse of festival-ready techno that's primed for mainstage moments, designed to shake speakers and lift crowds. With its soaring dynamics and relentless build, it's a hands-in-the-air anthem that brings the intensity of a festival rave to life. The production is big and bold, with hard-hitting beats and an infectious rhythm that commands attention. This one-sided vinyl release is a showcase of Rebuke's ability to craft a track that resonates with newer techno lovers, making it a perfect addition to any high-energy set. A prime example of popular, mainstage techno set to electrify any dancefloor.
Review: A powerful techno EP on Germany's Habitat Recordings, further solidifying Recondite's reputation for blending genres with finesse. Side-1's 'Edge' features his mastery of peak-time energy, delivering a dynamic track that merges robust techno beats with subtle trance touches, creating a powerful and beautiful experience suited for the main stage. On Side-2, 'Nova' dives into a deeper groove, gradually evolving into an electrifying banger that feels both fresh and timeless. This EP hints at a possible revival of trance influences, but more than anything, it showcases Recondite's unique ability to fuse classic and contemporary elements. 'Nova' is another impressive release in Recondite's ever-expanding discography, proving his skill in crafting captivating techno landscapes. This is one dangerous EP.
Review: Reeko helps the KR3 label continues its anniversary celebrations here with a new EP that allows on from his recent remix outing here. His take on techno is nuanced and more than just physical. 'Para El Conjunto De Las Esferas ' has an underlapping rhythm that hypnotises while backlit pads hint at celestial energy. 'Verdugo Del Rey' is more raw like a bit of heavy machinery in meltdown and 'Morador De La Oscuridad' has a fizzing static twist and industrial tinge to the atmosphere. 'El Retorno De Saturno' brings things to a close with a slow, menacing and dubbed out prowler.
Review: A journey through dark, futuristic techno. The opening track, 'Para El Conjunto De Las Esferas', is a melodic, high-energy builder that sets the tone with its heavy beat and a rising sense of anticipation. 'Verdugo Del Rey' follows with tribal, mechanical rhythms, creating a gritty, intense atmosphere driven by dark, industrial beats. On Side-2, things begins with 'Morador De La Oscuridad', a sci-fi-inspired track that takes a hold the listener in otherworldly, atmospheric sounds, evoking a sense of deep space exploration. The title track, 'El Retorno De Saturno', brings in dub elements and swirling techno textures, creating a dramatic yet reserved vibe. The balance between its atmospheric qualities and tightly controlled energy makes it a standout piece, offering both mystery and power. Overall, 'El Retorno De Saturno' EP blends complex, layered sounds with a sense of space and movement, making it a compelling listen for fans of experimental techno.
Review: German label Terminal M's place in the techno world has long been established - it deals in fresh sounds for big rooms with hints of minimal. Mark Reeve now adds his work into the mix with this bold and inescapable two tracker. 'Golden' is a wave of techno with textural synth loops spraying about the mix like an untethered hose while chunky drums rattle the walls. 'All We Have' then gets even more extroverted and maximal with tortured synth stabs, big brain frying leads and more dark, all-consuming drums.
Review: After a standout contribution to Fuse's first V/A release in 2024, Reflex Blue returns to Enzo Siragusa's prolific minimal tech imprint with a fledgling EP on the label, 'Fragments'. Recalling urban galavants and seedy underbellies, 'Freakin In The Neighborhood' and 'Ruff City Dub' portray the gabardine coats and illicit wares of a dark metropolis through undulant Reese basses and ballooning acids; eventually, what goes underground must always come up for air. 'Tightening The Screw' adds a cagey speed garage stress to an already gaunt citywide panic; 'Love 2 Rhythm' is the only moment of respite, sampling Kathy Brown and Praxis' enduring soul squeal from 'Turn Me Out'.
Review: Sydney producer Will Regan has the task of serving up Xadenx Records's first ever vinyl release, and he doesn't fall short. His blend of storytelling electro and techno is both packed with detail to occupy your mind as well as coming with some fine, floor-ready rhythms for your feet. 'Haunted Quest' is a spacious one with searching pads to get things going, then 'Malevolent' has a frost synth texture and plunging bass that locks you into a steady rhythm. 'Overdrive' off-sets more pixelated synths and raw machine rhythms and last of all, 'Reverie' has a sense of impending doom that keeps you very much locked in.
Review: Berlin-based Nastia Reigel contributed a track to one of this label's various artists releases last year but now steps up with a full EP that is all her own. It is a fine chance for her to show her skills and that she does: 'What Can You Do' has a unique mix of hammering sounds, hulking great kicks and textural smears that are all dirty and industrial yet funky. 'If So Then' is totally different - a stripped back, deep, linear techno roller, while 'Over &' is weighty, loopy dub with a raw 90s aesthetic. 'Hold The Door Please' is another one built from well-designed loops that is sure to rattle the walls of any warehouse with its monster kicks and glitchy FX.
Review: Earlier in the year, James Baker brought his long-running ReKaB project to Andy Vaz and Alessandro Vaccaro's long-running Yore imprint for the first time. This speedy sequel is similarly assured and quietly impressive. He begins by wrapping vintage drum machine beats and an angular, LFO-style bassline in unfeasibly spacey chords, bubbly electronics and woozy vocal samples ('My Inspiration'), before treating us to a warmer and more melodious slab of analogue deep house loveliness ('Soul Brother 88'). Over on the flip, 'Future Times' sees Baker pepper a hypnotic deep house beat in intergalactic, Motor City-influenced synth sounds and bubbly acid motifs, while title track 'Random Fragments' is another classy, far-sighted deep house-meets-deep techno number rich in superbly spacey sounds. Music for the head and the feet!
Review: On the debut release for their newly minted label, Manchester's Response and Buda make a bold statement with this EP. 'Evolutions' opens, delivering an immediate rush that churns up dark rave stabs and pounding percussion, invoking memories of the early 90s Jungle scene. Yet, there's a modern sharpness in the track's evolving structure, making it feel fresh without losing the classic vibe. 'Fintons Dub' adds a layer of atmosphere, with its subdued bass and cinematic samples adding depth. Double 0's remix of 'Fintons Dub' hits like a freight train, its forceful bass and raw breaks cutting through the mix. Rounding out the EP, 'Acid Vein' slows things down with acid house influences, merging acid squelches with a deeper, more contemplative breakbeat rhythm that adds tension to the release.
Review: BeAvantGarde Records have been away for a while but now makes an always-welcome return with the underground favourite that is Riccardo. He does his usual do of serving up four tracks of spaced-out invention. 'In Space' opens up with nice warped bass and insistent synth stabs with jacked-up drums and perc. 'Frequency' then has a more bright and cosmic sense of mood as the drums slow down and lull you into their hypnotic patterns. There is plenty of snap and crispy bass to 'Timeout' with its searching lead synths and gritty baseline while last of all is 'Kalapas' which cuts are loose and has ragged rhythms and textures for a more arresting vibe.
Helicopter (feat Terry Francis - Eddie Smooth Landing mix) (6:03)
In The Van (7:35)
In The Van (Fractured mix) (6:42)
Review: Repeat Records are currently embarking on a multi-part series of longtime DJ Eddie Richards' earliest tracks, and this second journey - that's right - follows up the first waxen time capsule to appear so far. Richards' behind-the-booth adventurousness is often credited as one of the instrumental factors in the spread of house music in the UK, and doesn't 'Time Travel' show it. Lesser known as a producer but still much respected in said niche, several choice slab-grooves from Richards' early noughts numbers are selected here: track two from 2002's 'The Dark' EP, 'Underskopje' from that same year's Kubrickian tech house hurler 'Open The Pod Door' EP, and a legitly deep cut from the AA2 side of Richards' Othersound debut 'Dope'. One for early tech house heads, when the genre was still innocent and real experts reigned supreme.
Review: Rick 8 is the techno alias of Italy's Riccardo Falsini, and here he revives the pioneering spirit of his iconic Interactive Test label with this early gem, which offers an essential slice of trance, techno and progressive house history. Known for reshaping genre boundaries, the label was a beacon of innovation, as this EP shows. Each track is a potent club tool, designed for transcendental dancefloor moments and sonic ascension from the chunky tribalism of 'Hypernotes Velocity' to the standout remix of 'C'Mon' by Sound Metaphors affiliate Trent, who injects progressive firepower. 'Born To Sinthetize' is a deeper, spiritual sound with flashy synth work married to loose drum loops.
Review: Motion Potion Records returns with a second release from the Australian label founded by Jono Xidias, Mehmet Alpdogan, and ritmiq. This collaborative project sees ritmiq teaming up with Lewba and Louis for the 'Signals' EP, a heady exploration of spacey club sounds. Standout track 'Transmitting From Space' (with Lewba) glides through cosmic synths, subtle breaks and hypnotic melodies so is sure to become a certified late-night burner. On the A-side, Louis and ritmiq deliver 'Interplanetary Prisoner' and 'Parallax,' which are both rich in mood and groove. ritmiq's solo cut 'Nebularae' closes the EP with high energy and dancefloor heat. Signals is a stylish, cosmic journey worth taking.
Review: It's always exciting to hear from a brand new label and get to grips with that it may become way before the wider world cottons on. Side B is just that and this inaugural outing is a belter from Rkeat. 'Risky Endeavours' sets a heady tone with dubby, stripped back drums that remind of early Skudge. 'Whereabouts' draws on a similar aesthetic for some rather evocative late night tech rollers littered with glitchy sounds, and 'End Of Tips' then rolls on frictionless drums with deep space sounds roaming about the mix. 'Indol' offers a physical broken beat workout to close.
Review: Ukraine has been a hotbed of house and techno innovation going back a good few years now. Nechto is a label that has more than played its part in that and now kicks on with a new EP as it hurtles towards 30 releases in all. RMK is behind this one and opens up with some impassioned vocal cries over sleek linear beats. 'Vessel' is a tightly woven deep techno tapestry with soulful synth warmth lighting things up. There is no let up on 'Factory Streets' with its driving drums and pulling synths adding meat to the bones and last of all is 'Keys', another triumphant example of how both form and function can happily co-exist in the techno world.
Review: With over 25 years in the game and a legacy as one half of the revered German electronic duo Wighnomy Brothers, this veteran artist shows no signs of slowing down. His latest EP delivers a slick blend of minimal and tech house flavors with undeniable character. 'Frandga' kicks off with a sultry vocal performance by Delhia, layered over a groovy, addictive minimal tech foundation i funky, hypnoti, and impossible to resist. 'Wortkabular' follows with a more stripped-back micro-tech approach, sharp and precise yet full of subtle movement. On Side-B, 'Beatkutter' flips the energy into a playful, techy party stormer, driven by a nasty, elastic bassline that's pure dancefloor mischief. 'Kopfnikker' closes things out with a surprising twist i a broken IDM-inspired rhythm paired with unique melodic touches, offering a textured and thoughtful finish. This EP proves why his influence still runs deep, blending masterful technique with a fresh, free-spirited edge.
Review: Gigerian horror is evoked on Roi's new EP 'Six Nine' for Nachstrom Schallplatten. The German label specialises in producing these kinds of dark, otherworldly wax flying saucers, and new resident artist Roi, hailing from Spain, knows just how to replicate the mood sonically. This is techno extrapolated to its hardest, most humanity-jettisoning proportions. It also adds a neat idiomatic side-order to an otherwise sprawling discographic *table d'hote*, with Roi temporarily adapting his sound to suit the topic of cosmic horror. Never letting up, the record reaches its peak on the gnarly title track, the lead synth line on which snaffles up the surrounding texture like a mass-consuming beast.
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