Planet Rhythm Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Portuguese techno powerhouse Re:Axis has been working with Planet Rhythm for over eight years now, presenting a dynamic big room sound across a steady stream of EPs. Now he heads up a new VA 12" with 'Protoportal', a sinewy, seductive workout for those darker corners of the dance which originally came out in 2015 alongside tracks by Petter B. Petter B himself then steps up to rework 'Protoportal', twisting it into a thrumming, heads down weapon with an industrial tinge. VSK's 'Wrap' opens up the B side in a masterful display of contemporary Italian techno before the record rounds out with a collab from Scalameriya and Re:Axis, the knotty, dramatic 'Spectra'.

Review: There are no specific credits behind this drop on Dutch label Planet Rhythm, but someone has decided to take one of Nina Simone's most powerful musical moments, 'Sinnerman', and create a great big peak time techno monster out of it. The original version bristles with tension, not least thanks to Simone's dexterous piano work, and the looping quality of those keys certainly foreshadowed the cyclical nature of club music. It's not hard to see why the song inspires energy in a club setting, and on this one-track single-sided 12" you can hear Simone's creation chopped up, sampled and strapped to a thunderous kick.

Review: Planet Rhythm's third transmission is another various artists' affair that takes no prisoners. This is straight-ahead techno that is proud of its perfect planed linear loops and ability to get you in a mediative head space. Erdem Yetim kicks off with the seriously weighty 'Perfect Silence' and its panel-beaten loops. Simone Tavazzi's 'Pyramid' is another hefty kicker with icy hi hat ringlets and fleshy drums while 'Das Ego' is as good as reductive dub techno gets. Dave Simon hits the nail on the head with his 'Dubby Stomper.'