Phaaar Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Good question, Phara, good question. Presenting their latest EP for their own label Phaaar - the name sounds almost akin to the involuntary noise we made on first hearing this EP - the artist's new one is a stark new portrayal of industrial techno. The augurs of Roman and Greek yore would once portend low-flying pigeons as ominous and high-flying pigeons auspicious; it's not hard to see either how the zigzagging flights of certain species of dove might inspire the comparable rise and fall of a techno flutterer-heater such as this one. From 'Beetham Tower' to 'Roses', Phara begs more questions than he answers, deliberately confounding but also propelling the dancefloor with tip-top grit and weight.

Review: Phara's Falling Forward EP is about just that - leaning into a still techno breeze and letting it sweep you off your feet. The title track is an expertly economical yet dynamic sound with panel-beaten techno loops, bulky drums and subtle synths lashing about for extra edge. 'Order Disorder' brings more intensity with its urgent and paranoid synth loops front and centre while 'Gate1' is another streamlined banger a la early Skudge. As with so many techno EPs, there is a nod to the Jeff Mills school of interplanetary minimalism on closer 'Cerulean Blue.'

Review: It is now well over a year since we got hyped by the first release from Phara on the Phaar label. Thankfully we are finally blessed with a second hand-stamped 12" that contains more brilliantly supple yet powerful techno. This is techno that is warm and has a real sense of machine soul no matter the mood or tempo. Things open in artful fashion before the pace picks up on 'Fleshy Part Of The Thigh' with its cantering kicks setting a heady pace while lush harmonics peel off the top. 'In Dubio' is a dub techno banger while 'Float' captures the essence of early and soulful Detroit techno in a modern framework.

Review: Get your techno boots on and prepare to sweat this one out as Phara kicks off a new series on the Phaaar label that pays tribute to the Korg Electribe EMX-1. It will feature tracks made on that bit of gear and played during his live sets. The first one is 'The Final Pattern' and a straight up wall banger with insistent hi hats and thudding kicks run through with fizzing, post-industrial synth lines. 'Verbs & Snares' is more dark, edgy, textural and moody with its scraping sound effects, urgent leads and sweeping filters.