Review: Deeper shades of a finely sifted pedigree. Irish label Appian Sounds, helmed up by Al Blayney, champion only winnowed techno sounds, not threshed. A welcome international team huddle in, with these six artists from locales as far-flung as Amsterdam and Valencia contributing the likes of 'Tsuneo' and 'Persist'. The tunes verge melodic as they move through and beyond jankiness, distending die-cut acids and subtly synthetic humanisations, especially in the percussion department. 'Fuego' is the zen roshi's choice, its gaffered, glass-smithed pads topping off a naturalistic percussive surging forward, one best experienced with your eyes closed.
Review: Boris Brejcha tops up his functionally named 'Club Vibes' series with a refreshing pair of minimal/deep techno tunes, both of which provide a unique take on the style. 'In The Shadows' is a big-room EDM number replete with talking bass 'yuhh's, sinister horror voices, and It-madhouse melodies, pulling of the difficult-to-nail mood of cheeky, yet horrific. 'Schwartz', meanwhile, plunges us into the void with farty reeses and soft synth whoops, building to an overall cavernous sonic image.
Review: This new collection offers up a quartet of tracks that are all tailored for slightly different moments on the dance floor. On side A, Dani Casarano kicks off with deep, hypnotic grooves that make for an immersive atmosphere before transitioning to punchy, bass-driven energy with other cuts. Side B introduces a new alter ego from Felian and Bruno Schmidt and the pair explore a robotic, looping groove with incidental breaks and nostalgic synths in the euphoric third track. Closing the release in style, Omar Akrhif & Lucretio present a minimalist masterpiece that is aimed at heady after-hours sessions.
Review: The Fourier Transform label outlay an arresting sonic journey on their debut release, bringing together breakbeat, ambient IDM, ambient techno, and prog house under a single banner. Opening with Inkipak's 'Betwixt', we're met with sonorous low-mid square waves and machine-gun-fire breaks, recalling the breathtaking, verging on apocalyptic expanse of a warehouse rave turned laser light show turned warzone. We break from this warring weir with 'Omnicron Acid' and 'City Of Tomorrow' by Gimmik and Brian Kage respectively, which lowers the intensity and sonic flow via spacious atmospheres and dudding percussive pops. Finally, the perfect fusion of the former two moods is achieved on 'Corrosive Tongue', the lead synth on which sounds like just that.
Review: The No Agenda label takes its bow here with a new EP that features a first appearance from the US's Bridget Barkan. Kimono is behind the beats and they are couched in house. 'Waiting' opens with rattling chords that bring steely determination next to the time-keeping hi-hats and echoing vocal swirls that speak of a patient wait. The Aubrey rework is super fresh with daubs of dancing synth and sci-fi details over a barely-there rhythm. Shuffling deep house sound 'Forgiveness' closes out with more slight sound designs, dusty drums and plenty of suggestion rather than in-your-face maximalism.
O Superman (Robag's Pumper-Nikkel 2008 RMKS) (6:48)
Review: M.A.N.D.Y and Booka Shade's creative collaboration brought us some of the most inspired tech-house and off-kilter house anthems of the noughties, not least 'Body Language' and 'O Superman', a Laurie Anderson-sampling number that was one of the most recognisable club cuts of 2008. Here it gets a fresh vinyl pressing, with the German outfit accompanying a freshly remastered take on their original mix (A1) with various old and new reworks. The fresh Man Power revision (A2) is the standout - a slow build delight that sees the long-serving Geordie producer reach for boisterous jazz-house breaks, raw TB-303 trickery, weighty bass and tidy tech-house stabs. The EP also boasts SIS's 2020 deep tech-house rub and Robag Wruhme's brilliant 2008 minimal techno re-wire, which remains one of the German's most impactful and off-kilter revisions.
Review: Neil E and Big City Bill's latest doubles as the second offering from Spincycle, yet another a split 7" single on 180g vinyl. The twins' journey began two decades ago high up in an unnamed mountain range, where they met, after which they descended onto the city in search of purpose. Thus spake Zarathustra: down below, they toiled away in dimly lit garages, decoding mysterious symbols cast on walls by home-gaffed fluorescent lights. At first, their work seemed like madness, but there comes a time in every madman's life when toil leads to breakthrough. Thus were sowed the two fine harvests you hear here: 'Dry Rub', with its tugging taut sound design, and 'The BBV', a mistier firmament of altitudinal unknowns. No need to map out the terrain first - just give in to your ears.
Mehmet Akar - "Roll The Dice" (Matias Chilano remix)
Mango & Gullen - "Manitoba" (Sinerider remix)
Review: Amsterdam based Patrice Baumel is a deep thinker with a unique signature sound. He has released on some of the most vital labels in the scene from Balance to Afterlife and has played every major club and festival in the world. He knows the Berlin scene inside out and now serves up his version of what it sounds like on his latest entry into the hallowed and long running Global Underground series. He runs his own HALO label and traverses the electronic spectrum from deep to melodic and back again here, always with a sense of control and storytelling of the sort that leaves crowds spellbound.
Review: After a run of reissues and a boundary-blurring fusion of classical music and electronica (January 2021's Angel's Flight), Norwegian ambient veteran Geir Jennsen AKA Biosphere has gone back to basics on Shortwave Memories. Ditching software and computers for analogue synths, drum machines and effects units, Jennsen has delivered album that he claims was inspired by the post-punk era electronics of Daniel Miller and Matin Hannett, but instead sounds like a new, less dancefloor-conscious take on the hybrid ambient/techno sound he was famous for in the early 1990s. The results are uniformly brilliant, making this one of the Norwegian trailblazer's most alluring and sonically comforting albums for decades.
Review: Body Mechanic has been turning out definitive Motor City techno on solid labels like Cryovac, and GASS for several years. This time out he lands-on Detroit Techno and serves up, well, some electro. It's classic 313 tackle though - heavy on the kicks, snappy snares and filthy dirty basslines that make you want to move. Ghoulish vocals add extra grit to the opener and from there 'Dance' gets more playful with jittery drum funk and scratching, 'Beautiful Bum' has a gorgeously tender and reflective vibe thanks to the minor chords and smooth electro rhythms, 'Magic (feat Tay) ' slips into a deep and soulful house groove and 'Househead' is jacked up, loopy and well swung amongst several more timeless cuts. All in all, a killer double 12".
Review: Ben Bohmer's upcoming album Bloom marks a significant milestone in his musical journey, offering a reset from the pressures of his previous successes. The album, shows his growth as an artist, emphasising spontaneity and a return to his improvisational roots. The lead single, 'Best Life,' featuring Jonah, explores themes of life's fleeting nature and the importance of cherishing each moment. 'Best Life also represents a sonic departure for Bohmer, signaling his intention to break free from predefined musical boundaries. The album promises a diverse range of styles and tempos, featuring collaborations with artists like Lykke Li, Oh Wonder and Enfant Sauvage. Overall, Bloom appears to be a deeply personal and musically adventurous project that reflects Bohmer's evolution as a musician.
Review: T4T LUV NRG welcomes Brooklyn's Russell E.L. Butler who now makes a welcome returning with a new album that comes some five years after their critically acclaimed LP The Home I'd Build For Myself and All My Friends on Left Hand Path. The years since then have seen Butler live thorough various experiences which they explore through melody on Call Me G. It's a fusion of New York house, poetry and dub techno that works both in the right club setting but also as a more intimate listening experience at home or in headphones.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.