Bpitch Control Germany Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Ellen Allien remains at the top of her game for big, pounding Berlin techno with a deviant edge, and that's no more apparent than on 'Rave Luv'. Chopping up vocals and messing with the synth shapes, she proves that just a few tweaks can take a tried and tested formula into wild and weird new territory, which is why she's such a vital artist after all these years. Backing up that consummate A side is 'Lust', a more melancholic affair balancing menacing undercurrents with mournful melodics in the middle distance, strapped, of course, to a 4/4 beat.

Review: Ellen Allien's label BPitch is one of Europe's finest and surely one of the most prominent labels to be headed up by any of the women in the scene. It is Gotshell behind this last 12" on the Berlin mainstay with four cuts of dark, artful techno from the Columbian that mark a welcome return to the label. He navigates between chaos and tranquility, blending disparate sonic elements seamlessly across the tracks starting with 'Forest,' which kicks off with misty dissonances and psychedelic pads over a driving kick drum. 'Who I Am' ventures into dubstep territory with echoey vocals and airy synths. 'Fluctuacion Paralela' delves into ambient realms, while 'Acid and Die' explores harsh acid coils. Sintaxis showcases Gotshell's unique aesthetic expertly.

Review: Two new tracks of cinematic, dessert-inspired, "Paris, Texas" sampling, hypnotic, dubby techno from Kiki.

Review: Southern Italian DJ/producer Uncrat follows up great releases on Moral Standards, Subsist and his own Proper Line label with this riveting new effort which signals that he's really hit the big time now - it's for Ellen Allien's mighty Bpitch Control. 'Xilo' is an adventurous main room workout that sets the scene perfectly before the direct execution of 'Efien' a slamming tribal techno tool mixed with gnarly acid squelch. Over on the flip, the dystopian electro beats of 'Gemini Leaks' mix it up a bit more, and closing it out is the strobe lit frenzy of 'SIT' with its Detroit style chord progression that will have you reaching for the lasers.

Review: Ellen Allien is about as properly Berlin as it gets. She was there at the first Love Parade and she is still there now, as a dancer and also a discerning DJ, producer and label head at Bpitch. This New Year it starts off on a solid footing with We Are Not Alone Part 7 taking a deep dive into the many artistic talents associated with the imprint. As well as tunes from Ellen herself, there are fine collars between Ayako Mori and Raul Alvarez, solo cuts from Rhys Fulber, Andree Bohlin and Under Black Helmet and much more besides, all of which explore the outing edge of dark, moody techno.