Sublunar Italy Schallplatten & CDs

Review: There's a raw, no-nonsense energy running through this release from the Florence-based techno producer, who continues to sharpen his sound on his own Sublunar label. It's a record that doesn't bother with pleasantries and instead goes straight for the gut, full of tight programming and tension you can feel in your chest. The opener, 'No More Time', wastes none of it. Heavy rhythms hit like a warning shot, pushing things toward a peak that feels both forceful and controlled. It's big-room material, precise, aggressive and locked-in. 'Near The Bar' follows with a more shadowy approach, sliding into tribal patterns and murky textures. The groove works just beneath the surface, subtle but with a pulse strong enough to carry a floor. Side-B digs in even further. 'Two Letters' builds around percussive momentum and clipped patterns, keeping everything tightly wound. Then 'Hit & Run' lands with a different kind of pressure. There's a ghostly melodic thread running through its stripped-down warehouse rhythms, nodding to early underground techno but with a modern polish. It's lean, effective and full of character.

Review: 'Axis Mundi' is the latest offering from label head Sciahri and Hertz Collision and it follows on from their acclaimed collaboration on Clergy. For this one, the Italian duo returns with a textured, nuanced techno journey starting with the title track which opens with razor-sharp sounds and driving rhythms setting an electrifying tone. 'Drifting' follows and weaves hypnotic grooves and floating synths into a slick voyage. On the B-side, 'Entropia' introduces a mind-bending synth that launches the track into another realm, while 'Silent Pulse' closes the vinyl edition with minimalist elegance-a refined piece suited for any moment of the night.