De:tuned Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Paul Bailey, known as Damage, proffers his sonic take on the concept of what damage is and could sound like in the abstract. Like a giant piston hurtling at us, and repeatedly crushing us from above, we're thrown menacingly into the sniffly wiggles of 'Hadal Zone' and the reinterpretive work of the likes of James Ruskin and Makaton. It's a worthy addition to the Brummy techno canon, and should be noted for its unique wonk-tech veer.

Review: UK techno mainstay Kirk Degiorgio has made a lot of great music over the years, much of it under the machine soul/tech-jazz-inspired As One alias. His latest EP is another typically impeccable slab of Motor City inspired tech-soul brilliance. Lead cut 'The Unveiling' is deep, gently uplifting, gloriously spacey and effortlessly far-sighted, bringing bags of emotion as well as authentically crunchy machine drums, immersive pads and awe-inspiring melodies. He opts for an enveloping, otherworldly ambient techno/IDM sound on 'Descend Module', with discordant notes and hallucinatory acid lines riding high in the mix. The EP also boasts two reworks of previously released cuts. Ian O'Brien goes ultra-deep and gently breakbeat-driven on a superb revision of 'The Ladder', before Luke Slater drops a hypnotic, ultra-deep revision of 'Absorption Spectra' as The 7th Plain.

Review: During the early-to-mid 1990s, Nurmad Jusat released a string of now sought-after singles on Likemind that showcased an emotive, far-sighted take on techno that still sounds timeless all these years on. This fine collection features various recordings he made - but never released - as Nuron and Fuge back in 1993 and '94. As inspired by the techno sounds of his native UK as the far-sighted brilliance of purist Detroit techno and the dreamy soundscapes of Larry Heard, it's a genuinely brilliant collection of long-lost gems. Our picks include the subtly clonk-influenced opener 'The Coded Message', the skewed deep electro shuffle of 'Another Way', the sci-fi techno brilliance of 'Contrapoin (First Version)' and the out-there ambient soundscape that is 'Dialectic Confusion'.

Review: Nuron's latest album, Blanchimont, released on De:tuned Records, reaffirms his status as a luminary in the ambient techno realm. The title track, 'Blanchimont,' is fused with Detroit's machine soul while adding some European twist, heightened by its release on vibrant orange vinyl. 'Stavelot' on Side-1 enchants with its scenic beauty and soulful melodies, reminiscent of Detroit techno's finest moments. Meanwhile, 'Masta' on Side 2 explores ambient realms, echoing the styles of CIM, As One, or Stasis. Throughout the album, Nuron's signature blend of nostalgia and innovation shines, creating a sonic experience that resonates with both longtime fans and newcomers alike. Blanchimont stands as another jewel in Nuron's discography, another bookmark in his enduring influence and creative talents in the ambient techno genre.

Review: De:tuned is the perfect home for Kirk Degiorgio's As One project, where his steeped history in deep, emotive techno and affinity for jazz melds into some of the most stunning machine soul out there. If you're familiar with the sound you'll be instantly sold on these tracks - they don't just ape a bygone sound like so many are doing with that early 90s UK techno vibe. These pieces take that approach and elevate it - the production soars and the expression comes through in startling high-definition, and that goes for the stellar remixes from Ian O'Brien and Luke Slater in The 7th Plain mode as well.

Review: Nuron's latest album, Blanchimont, stands as a reminder to his enduring influence in the ambient techno scene. Released on De:tuned Records, the same label behind his recent works, it continues his legacy of crafting soulful and intelligent electronic music. The title track, 'Blanchimont,' shines as the centerpiece of the album. With its upbeat tempo and intricate layers of sound, it channels the spirit of Detroit's machine soul music scene while infusing it with a distinct European flair. This version, pressed on vibrant orange vinyl, adds a visual dimension to the auditory experience, enhancing the listener's immersion in Nuron's sonic universe. On Side 1, 'Stavelot' captivates with its scenic beauty and soulful melodies, reminiscent of the best of Detroit techno. Meanwhile, 'Masta' delves into ambient territory, offering a chilled-out techno vibe reminiscent of CIM, As One, or Stasis. With its blend of nostalgia and innovation, this album is right on par with Nuron's other cherished releases.

Review: For anyone remotely keyed into the early wave of techno in the UK, the promise of unreleased material from Stasis is a very exciting prospect indeed. Steve Pickton's project was tantalisingly short lived, but we were gifted some seminal albums and EPs in that time. Fortunately he's now struck up a steady working relationship with De:tuned, who are coaxing some unreleased material out of unearthed DATs that allow us to hear more of that next-level machine soul he's capable of. It's staggering to think tracks this good weren't released back in the day, but fortunately they have been now, with 'Hard Emotion' possibly taking the cake thanks to its gorgeous, rounded bassline and enchanting synth lines up top.