DISTANT ECHOES Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Ed Davenport's Counterchange imprint is back with a label compilation that demonstrates a wide variety of techno derivatives by a stellar cast. From scene legends such as UK innovator Boddika (with his hypnotic and textural epic "Broken Wave)" and elder statesman Patrik Skoog with the functional, peak-time cyclicality of "Mind Control". For more heady and atmospheric flavours, they have you covered courtesy of Puglia's Distant Echoes on the utterly sublime "Under The Influence" while Acing Seas main men Cassegrain team up with the inimitable Tin Man on the heady acid epic "Opal Stare".The harder edged, dancefloor ready weapons are provided by label head honcho Davenport on the retro, bleep driven "Fluxus", while BNJMN's abrasive "Red Tide" hammers the message home on this true beast that reaches near tribal moments.

Review: Distant Echoes's 'Lopsidedness' is a second solo entry into this non series and once again he shows how he has mastered the art of techno hypnosis. 'Modus Operandi' is a fat dub cut with drums buried deep but quick to make their mark as synths fizz and ripe across the surface of the menacing groove. 'Parallel Binary' is another dub cut with an implicit sense of tension that keeps you on edge while 'Weird Attractions' begins to play tricks on your mind with its freaky sound designs and distant bell hits. 'Moving Trees' is another wonky one for the afters before 'The Denier' gets back to warm future dub scapes.

Review: The Southern Italian now in Berlin follows up last year's Fury Road EP with some more fine selections for dark, late night warehouse parties on Alex.Do's Dystopian imprint. Starting off with the dreamy melodics of "A Last Shimmer" he then shows off his knack for cinematic sound design on the mechanical "Love Is Such A Strong Word Too". The raw and driving hypnotism of "False Prophet" is reminiscent of Cassegrain while "Desolated Society" has the kind of atmosphere and transcendental qualities of D3MENTED or Edit Select releases.

Review: Hailing from Italy, Distant Echoes is one of the lynchpins of Berlin's Dystopian crew, and here he delivers his debut record for the Berghain party's ever-impressive label, which this year has delivered heavy-hitting 12"s from Recondite and Rodhad. Seemingly taking its title and track names from the Mad Max universe, Fury Road kicks off with "Beyond Thunderdome", a stern piece of heaving 4/4 that could easily soundtrack futuristic gladiatorial combat. "Road" is a little more playful in tone, as are the Robert Hood-esque loops of "Master Blaster" and "Outback", which demonstrate the versatility of this promising new producer.

Review: Dystopian unveil their most comprehensive release yet, a 2x12" featuring music from label regulars and newcomers Gotzkowsky, Ron Albrecht and Vril. Recondite, the Berlin label's highest profile name opens the compilation with a straight-laced but dirty techno production that sounds like a classically inclined Innervisions track dragged through the mud. Don Williams throws down some pumping four-four beats like DJ Slip's classic "Every time It Takes Awhile" on steroids, while Gotzkowsky and Alex Do venture down a gurgling bleep hole of techno. Distant Echoes was responsible for the label's release before this, and here the shady producer delivers more gloomy, industrial deepness. Vril lightens things up with his famous chords, although a little disorientating this time, while man of the moment Rodhad goes big with a synth line you'll never forget. Ron Albrecht then completes the EP with a slab of Fachwerk-like techno, swapping funk for hard-nosed beats.