Ilian Tape Germany

Review: The ball of Ilian Tape keeps getting bigger and bigger and adding to it this time is new name Rupcy (our guess, a Marko Zenker alias). Chances are this record is already getting major play throughout Europe's clubs at the moment and it's likely that the A1, "Utow", is what's getting worn away most. This is because of the killer call and response combo between the bleeps and short air raid siren. With its Markus Suckut kick drum, "Can" is a dirty club track perfect for DJs looking to transition into something deeper while still wanting to remain hard-edged. On the B-side the title "Assemblage" has a slight Fachwerk ring to it, as does the crunchy hi-hats and other aggravated fizzes of the track which leads into an Aphex Twin-sounding ambient broken-beat session called "Bows".

Review: Ilian Tape continues to be code for "absolutely killing it mate" with the Zenker brothers introducing us and you to the production talents of Sciahri with the Mysterious Love 12". Spend some time with the sound clips here and you'll be hard pushed to believe this is Sciahriar Tavakoli's debut 12" as Sciahri, such is the standard of productions. Tavakoli's stated interest in the loop techno pioneered in 90s era Birmingham is very much evident on a cut like "The Dream Is True" but there's some nice little touches slipped in that give it some true personality such as the spin back in the breakdown. The title cut is a stern faced dubby number that just tunnels and tunnels away, whilst there's a cheeky strut to the way Tavakoli implements the filters on "Mind". The final track "Emblema" is the kind of techno number you want to drop right when everyone has forgotten their names.

Review: The Zenker Brothers and their Ilian Tape venture get stronger by the minute, and here Marco flies solo with this latest EP, sounding in utterly rude health with it. "Geezin" is a distinctive opener, ditching standard 4/4 propulsion in favour of an airy drum machine arrangement infected with the slightest flurries of hardcore breaks and offset by wistful synth patterns. It's a curious combination that works magnificently, but for those wanting something a little more direct "Splifer" is on hand to deliver a more classically Zenker techno mantra. "Darai" brings the swing back in fine style, throwing down a chunky stomp to match the sizzling hats, and then "Lubiana" wrecks the surroundings with its magnificent pummel of low end percussion and gritty production values.