Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Two years ago, Italy's Balearic Gabba Soundsystem switched from remixing and re-editing their favourite cuts to curating compilation style EPs of similarly minded fare. They're in that mode again here, presenting a trio of cuts that combine the saucer-eyed warmth and loved-up musicality of Balearic music culture with grooves and rhythms firmly focused on the dancefloor. They begin by showcasing Wallace's sublime remix of Sewell & The Gong's 'Better Worlds', a locked-in, hypnotising fusion of semi-organic deep house grooves, new age melodic motifs and the dreamiest of ambient chords. Over on the flip they dip into slo-mo Italo-disco/acid house fusion via SIRS fine revision of My Friend Dario's 'Tell Aro', before treating us to a Pedro Bertho remix of Verdo's 'Belvourdier' in which sparkling Balearic house piano riffs, undulating acid lines and mid-80s "chorus" synth sounds rise above a fluctuating synthesiser bassline and hustling beats.

Review: The Clergy label celebrates ten years in the game by serving up another of its vital techno sermons. This one comes with the sub-head 'Charlie' and sure is a charged-up various artists affair that kicks off with the anxious synth designs and nimble drum funk of USAW's 'Kokedama'. Red Rooms coats his beats in dusty and scruffy hi-hats on 'Imaginary Pleasures' while Bidoben gets more deep and eerie with the melodic howls of 'Mimic.' SLV's 'Ohne Sonne' keeps the tension levels high with paranoid synths peeling off an unrelenting groove and two further offerings explore more paired back sounds that tunnel deep into the future.

Review: Greek producer Stelios Vassiloudid has been making techno moves since the turn of the millennium under a range of different aliases. Here he appears as himself with four supercharged dub techno cuts for Dubwax. 'Lie In Wait' is a really tight, taught affair with pinging kicks and icy hi-hat ringlets. 'MIA' is more warm and vibes with a soulful core and underlapping bass waves. There is a more minimal and abstract sound to the curious dub bumps of 'Reverse Engineer' that encourage you to be at your most fluid. 'Grains' shuts down with grainy lo-fi pads, vinyl crackle and sparse kick that soundtrack an underwater jaunt. There is plenty of subtle variation to these rhythms which makes it a dead handy dub EP.

Review: Given that he's been active as a producer since the dawn of the 90s, it would be fair to say that Sven Vath is well worthy of an authoritative, expansive retrospective. That's certainly what we get here on this quadruple-vinyl mix of classic productions and fresh, eye-catching remixes. It's the latter that dominate the early stages of the collection - see Adam Port's hypnotic, didgeridoo-sporting revision of 'Ritual of Life', Speedy J's acid-fired stomp through 'Ballet-Fusion' - before Vath showcases some of his choice cuts. There's naturally to set the pulse racing, from the twisted, sub-heavy thump of 'Cala Llonga' and the tactile hypnotism of 'Sounds That Control Your Life', to the electroclash-meets-Kraftwerk flex of 'Dein Schweiss' and the ambient techno excellence of 'The Day After', a 21- minute epic from 1995 produced alongside Steffen Britzke as Astral Pilot.

Review: One of the most dynamic producers in techno brings a fusion of dub techno, atmospheric sound design and poetic experimentation. Now based in Lisbon, the Hanover-born producer crafts a deeply introspective journey that balances weighty rhythms with hypnotic textures. Opening with 'Crystal Cell Energy'. Vril sets a cavernous moodidubby, atmospheric and steadily unfolding, with a slow-burning intro that gives way to a powerful, heavy beat. 'Bruch Im Nullpunkt' follows, a quintessential dub techno cut with deep, resonant chords and a unique rhythmic structure. The first half of the record closes with 'Secondary Devices', where Edward George's spoken-word delivery floats over swelling, sci-fi-infused ambience, creating a thought-provoking and cinematic experience. Side-B plunges deeper with 'Tasche Voller Regen', an otherworldly soundscape draped in deep textures. The mood shifts with the Steve Rachmad's Parallel 9 remix of 'Bruch Im Nullpunkt', injecting a sense of momentum with his signature melodic dub chords and precise, pulsating techno framework. Closing the record, 'Shifting' introduces another poetic collaboration, this time with Riddim Writer, layering evocative spoken-word over an ethereal, ambient arrangement. Vril demonstrates exceptional range, seamlessly bridging techno's club functionality with conceptual depth. This is a record that not only moves bodies but also stimulates the mind, another example to Vril's refined artistry.

Review: Yves Deruyter has spent forty years as a pioneering force in dance music; kown for his huge sets and anthemic musical procurements, his trajectory follows a familiar arc as an early tooth-cutter on Belgium's underground scene heralding later international recognition. His hits like 'Rave City' and 'Calling Earth' shook the earliest and staidest foundations of trance. To celebrate his career, a new ten-vinyl compilation celebrating Yves' work here proves that relevance isn't about trends - it's about a distinctive sound and an undying connection to the dancefloor.

Review: DJ Sotofett returns with a double 12" packed with eight hard-hitting, underground techno tracks. Featuring frequent collaborators LNS, L.A. 2000, Ronny Nyheim, and Zarate_Fix, this release is a direct nod to the no-nonsense techno nights at Berlin's iconic Tresor club, where Sotofett holds residency. Each track is crafted with pure dancefloor energy in mind, moving through dub-driven techno, acidic overtones, and percussive basslines, all delivered with a raw, uncompromising edge. WANIA mk1 is a masterclass in DJ-ready versatility, perfect for those who love their techno stripped back and potent. Standout cuts include the bombastic, percussion-heavy Preparation and the 909-vocoder-fuelled My Spirit Is In Techno Music, both of which exemplify the release's dedication to the underground essence of the genre. With alternative mixes from WANIA mk2 making an appearance, the album offers both continuity and innovation, keeping true techno fans hooked from start to finish. Sotofett's attention to detail in programming, mixing, and mastering is evident throughout, making this a must-have for DJs and clubbers who live and breathe the core of real, unfiltered techno music. WANIA mk1 isn't just an album; it's a statement for those who value authenticity in their club experience.

Review: Sonic Groove Records marks a full three decades of boundary-pushing electronic music with an uncompromising compilation of unreleased tracks from an array of techno and industrial legends. Since 1995, the New York label has stood for fearless innovation and this anniversary release is no exception as it delivers a front-to-back barrage of expertly crafted, high-impact cuts. Each artist contributes fresh material that feels vital and honed, capturing the label's ethos of dark energy, sonic precision and underground credibility. From Frankie Bones's clunking loops of acid-laced menace on 'Clip On' to Adam X's pending analogue barrage 'Change Of Gameplan' via Outlander's strangely slow and strobe-lit synth weapon 'Presence Of Absence', this is a fitting tribute to Sonic Groove's storied past.

Review: 10 years of Amsterdam's Vault Records is celebrated on this latest edition of their Vault Sessions techno compilation. While many a label can lay claim to ownership of and control over a "vault" of music, how many of them can submit to surrender 20 such golden sonic ingots when faced with a ransom to release music, *and* still keep enough in the strongroom to keep the books balanced? While we've now the keys to many a high-profile private client's dirtiest collateral deposits - Jpsrv35's twinkling blood garnet 'Soulsearch', Quelza's illegal software 'Automated Assistance Program', Grace Dahl's precious heirloom 'The Green Room' , Stef Mendesidis' diplomatically immune 'License To Fly' - we suspect that many more such greats lay hidden behind astringent locks, impervious to the next heist. All tunes leave us Vaulting!

Review: Following on from the first various artists E 'Outer Base' on Boomstraat 1818 comes Pollurian, another vital collection of 7 minimal techno tools. There really is something for every occasion here with Casual Treatment one with some mind-melting 90s synth madness and DBFB then laying down quick, urgent and paired-back dub techno that takes you to another level. Itzaac twists squeaky synths and broad synth smears over a linear groove on 'Elasticomanae' and Stefan Vincent & Stroef aim to melt your mind with their percussive and high cerebral workout "2bm1ib1ia'. Jerome From shuts down with a more atmospheric and slower sound that provokes introspection.

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


It was probably inevitable that Nina Kraviz would launch her own label. Even so, the fact that she's chosen to do it with an eight-track compilation featuring previously unheard material from herself and a mix of veterans (Exos, Steve Stoll, Terrence Dixon under the Population One alias) and newcomers (Parrish Smith, Bjarki) is particularly noteworthy. While Kraviz's own contributions have an unsettling, off-kilter tech-house feel, for the most part The Deviant Octopus is as dark and intense as its' fuzzy sleeve art suggests. That means Berlin-friendly late night techno and throbbing, otherworldly jack tracks aplenty, with occasional lapses into distorted analogue acid. The slowed down vocal mix of "Out Of Control" from the recent Population One LP is a real highlight too!

Review: To celebrate a decade of electronic excellence, Rotterdam label On Board Music has assembled this fine compilation featuring plenty of great tunes from its nearest and dearest. It spans an impressively diverse range of sounds, from Altinbas' atmospheric' Submersion' to Polygonia's intricate, rhythmic 'Broken Temptation'. There is also GiGi FM's ethereal dub-techno piece 'Maova' and Dorisburg's Nordic-techno exploration 'Sensorik'. Lenty of these cuts balance introspective atmospheres with dancefloor energy, which means the double vinyl is suitable in a range of different settings, all of which capture the essence of On Board Music-atmospheric, trippy, dubby, ambient and techno.