Review: Dario Zenker is back on his own brilliant Ilian Tape with four of the exotic sort of tunes that define its output. They are functional and muscular but never lacking in character with 'Wuando' kicking off with sparkling arps over hurried, punchy and dusty house kicks sweeping you up. 'Simple Days' is a broken beat loop with prickly percussive patterns and filtered synths dropped in throughout to bring the energy. There is more warehouse darkness and late night menace to the tense rhythm and frosty texture of 'Vitalizer' while 'The Edit' shuts down with percussive perfection.
Zero Days - "Neurotypical" (feat Casey Hardison) (6:04)
Zero Dayz - "War On Drugs" (feat Casey Hardison) (5:12)
Acerbic - "Acid On My Mind" (6:21)
Acerbic - "The Acid Saga" (5:58)
Review: Eddie Santini and Matthieu-F are have poured years of dedication into Resilient Recordings. Now their second addition to the catalogue appears as a split side shared between Zero Days and Acerbic, two newcomers to the scene, but freshly cut and spruced by their patrons nonetheless. 'War On Drugs' with Casey Hardison hears an expansive likening of the USA's war on drugs to a "war on mental states", suggesting an illiberal attitude which sows a repressive, anti-revelrous hell. Hardcore techno reaches its apotheosis on 'Neurotypical Consciousness', meanwhile, whose stuttering sixteenths and mega-compressed mix brings a decisive ploughing forth.
Review: The cultured La Bella Di Notte label out of Italy has already won our hearts with an array of fine reissues and here comes another one to start off 2024 right. Zero Origin's 'New Life' came in 1996 and is the work of Nathanael Heres, who dropped only a handful of EPs between 1994 and 1996. This one, like most of them, is much sought after and fairly pricey if you can find it. It is a raw exploration of stripped back house, techno and dub with well swung drums with an original, Se Da remix and more breakbeat driven Planet Earth mix.
Review: Albert Zhirnov's back on the Clergy label for a second time following his debut last year. Once again he showcases a love of fad-free, straight up techno pumpers for the main room. There is a sweep-you-off-your-feet urgency to 'Switchback' with its hurried kicks and restless synth loops all demanding you move. 'Distortion Forge' is a high-octane banger too, this time with rusty metal peeling off the bulky beats. The energy levels ramp up through another high-functioning tool in 'Wooden Lessons' and the frictionless forces of 'Stoker.' Basements won't know what's hit them.
Review: Albert Zhirnov returns to Clergy, where he has done great work in the past, and again impresses with his take on techno. 'Mogul' brings big drum energy, oversized hi hats and Detroit synth stabs. 'Viper' is then a skittish percussive workout with a tribal twist and 'Club Control' pairs things back to speedy, hi-tek soul that is warm and hypnotic. 'Komodo' closes out this classy and effective EP with some bouncy drums and well-designed synths that add light to the whole affair.
Review: Originally founded in Manchester but now well entrenched in Berlin, SK Eleven continues to fly the flag for stern, unrelenting techno shrouded in gothic undertones with this essential drop from Zippo. The approach is one focused on needlepoint drum programming, running from the twitchy hats and thunderous kicks of 'Pulse & Distortion' to the snappy 909 hits of 'Xukro' on to the mind-warping arps of 'Cannot Stop Thinking', which also features Celina Marie's detached voice calling out the track title in the middle of the maelstrom. At all times it's techno delivered with an accomplished tone, making for must-check gear for any dedicated diggers and DJs.
Review: Z.I.P.P.O's return to Setaoc Mass's Berlin-based SK11 imprint hears the Italian producer break out from biostasis, stretching his/its tendrils out across four world-devouring tracks. 'Eleven' trades formula for feeling, its pseudopodial tempos binding to high-suction mechanics. Mournful synth phrases grate against a heavyweight pulse, as 'Hypernova' submerges into swung drum programming and murky mellifluous atmospheres. Flip it over and 'Kaus' introduces tribal momentum and swelling chords that slowly tilt the record into trance-adjacent territory; closer 'Replication' tightens the screws, bringing the most propulsive moment of the set with its warped detailing and hard-edged groove.
Review: Z.I.P.P.O is an Italian born producer now based in Berlin but who brings plenty of Motor City influences to this EP on Mistress Recordings. It is one that holds emotion high up the list of things to get right while colliding both nostalgic and futuristic designs. 'We Need One Another' is an ice-cold and minimal opener and 'Last Hope' is steeped in melancholy thanks to wispy, lingering pads. 'We Need One Another' then comes in three forms with crisp as you like snares and kinetic kicks making for a busy rhythm.
Review: ZKY who minimal fans will know as one half of Cab Drivers now finds himself on fine French label Phonogramme with a new EP that offers up his lovely and warm analogue house jams. 'Love Train' kicks off with a nagging, wobbly baseline between silvery drum loops and fleshy bass. 'Instant Delight' has the sort of synths that bring to mind deep Detroit techno and they're paired with over sized hi hats and a serene sense of futurism. Last of all is the most playful - 'Punky Music' with James Brown samples, smeared chords and steamy vocals.
Review: Winthorpe Electronics signs up Dublin musician and producer Daniel Jacobson aka ZOiD for his debut on the label. What a fine one it is too with a real creative freedom in the melodies and rich sense design bringing each of these curveball cuts to life. '2-Oh-Techno' is a loose mix of bumpy drums and smeared chords, zippy leads and pixelated melodies that shine bright. 'Winthrope Acrid 2C (2-5s On The 303)' is then a double-time and wonky workout with a collage of synth textures all intertwining. 'Sunrise Acid' is another unusual but effective techno cut with a happy heart and 'Megajazz Acidhops' is a final collision of synths and rhythms that leaves you wanting more.
Review: Iowa's Zuul hand modulates the proverbial Pressure Control with a five-track slab of tightly wound menace, shifting gears from his earlier appearances on Exarde and White Scar. As head of Laik, Ollie Burgess has previously shown a taste for precise, brooding rhythms; but here, he leans rawer, drawing on EBM, new beat and the wave-inflected electronics of the late 80s, invoking spirits of early Frankfurt and Ghent while keeping an eye firmly on the functional demands of contemporary sets. There's a nitty tension running through each cut, making them as suited to murky warm-ups as to teeth-gritting peak hours.
Review: The mysterious Acid Pimp (variously also known as Tom Newman, although accounts differ) showcases their 'Theme', and in turn the ability to take a classic sound and twist it into something entirely wonky, rift-opening and reality-bending. Said mode is acid techno, and said twist is arm-burning. The eight-tracker ranges from quizzically hollow tunes like 'Top' to calm judderers like, yes, 'Crispy Toe', proving the sonic capabilities of a longstanding production madman. One of several new releases to come out after the Pimp returned to 'Acid Pimping' in 2019, we hope we get to hear even more sonic propositions of their ilk soon come.
Review: Acid Pimp, also known as Tom Newman (though details vary), unveiled their creation, 'Theme' last year and now it arrives once more on nice yellow vinyl. This track exemplifies their mastery in transforming a classic sound into a delightfully off-kilter, reality-distorting experience within the realm of acid techno. The eight-track offering explores a spectrum, from intriguingly hollow compositions like 'Top' to serenely pulsating tunes such as 'Crispy Toe,' showcasing the sonic prowess of a seasoned production virtuoso. This release follows Acid Pimp's return to 'Acid Pimping' in 2019, leaving us eager to embrace more sonic innovations from this creative maven.
Review: After a slew of teasers out earlier this year, Deepchord (Rod Modell) eases ever deeper into his overarching chordal masterscape, continuing the 'Functional' theme expressed in his music in recent years. Functional Designs is first full-length LP from the producer in five years, and the teaser 'Strangers' promises more musical development than ever before heard from the enigmatic Detroit producer. It might be best describable as 'progressive dub techno'; airier and more breathable than his early, more subdued works, we're thoroughly impressed by the movement from percussive resonances ('Strangers') to fully ambient finites ('Drassanes').
Review: Lina Filipovich's Music for an imaginary dancefloor is an exploration of the boundary between club music and the abstract, guided by analogue synthesizers and a vivid imagination. Composed from improvisations between June and December 2022, the LP delves into ethereal realms with nervous energy and atmospheric textures that evoke imagery of surreal landscapes and otherworldly experiences. Unlike her previous works which focused on deconstructing existing sounds, Filipovich collaborates with the machines themselves in this album, allowing their aesthetics to intertwine with her creative vision. The result is a collection of tracks that pulse with intensity, drawing listeners into a dreamlike state where reality blurs with fantasy. The album's sonic landscape is rich with atonal drones and intricate delays, creating a sense of unease and wonderment. It's as if the music is speaking a language of spirits, beckoning listeners to explore the allure of the dark and the unknown. Miles Whittaker of Demdike Stare lends his mastering and additional mixing expertise to enhance the album's sonic depth, further immersing listeners in its hypnotic embrace. Overall, Music for an imaginary dancefloor is a stunning trip that defies traditional categorisation. It invites listeners to step into a realm where the boundaries of reality dissolve, leaving only the pulsating rhythms and haunting melodies to guide them through the darkness. Lina Filipovich's vision is realised with remarkable clarity and depth, making this album a standout release in the realm of experimental electronic music.
Review: Here's a welcome link-up between stalwarts of the electro scene, as Lunar Disko welcomes Spanish artist Annie Hall for what is sadly the Irish label's final release. It's a strong note to go out on, continuing to platform the freshest ideas within the much-mined electro magnetic field. Hall's sonic vocabulary continues to set her apart from the rest of the pack as she elicits particularly nuanced patterns and interplay between the component parts of her tracks. Hats off to Lunar Disko for always pushing quality and to Hall who continues to dazzle with every release she puts out.
Review: We have been digging in the warehouse and have found some copies of one of the faultless EPs that Detroit house royalty Mike Huckaby put out in his lifetime. It features three tracks that are all steeped in deepness and dubby goodness and are unlikely to ever age. 'Wavetable No. 9' is spaced out and rather menacing in a subtle, sparse way. 'Fantasy' is a more airy and light cut with meandering melodic leads and thinking keys that bring a cosmic feel. 'Jupiter' closes out with nimble bass and splashy hi hats joined by conversational synth leads that glow with a late-night warmth. Included in this is a CD featuring plenty of the samples used in the making of the tunes using the Waldorf synth.
Review: Looooooongish Cat and Davecoin have come together for their debut album Realizer on Adeen. It is a record that swings from the dark and mysterious to the more upbeat and playful as it explores a range of techno styles. The material originates from the pair's live set so has a real dynamism to it as well as it moves through ever-evolving psychedelic soundscapes. Vocals, synth lines, and guitars have all been laid down on tape and then resampled and deconstructed to "create an analog patchwork which floats over the hard-hitting beats and fat analog synths and bass lines." It's an immersive and inventive record that also has a fresh cover design.
Review: Jeff Mills continues to gift us some utterly astounding house-tempered work from the Millsart project on this latest 12". Neo Tantric Parts draws from the deep well of Millsart archives, with 'Tear Drop Nebula' especially benefitting from a new mix as it shuffles percussion and vibraphone chimes around microtonal cascades which give the music a particularly giddy quality. 'The Phonetic World' has a punchy presence without losing that lighter style Mills adopts under this alias, while 'Neptunian Landing' heads into spookier territory with some faithful 909 hats for guidance. Watch out for 'Unidentified' though, a truly tweaked-out slice of space lounge gear for watching the walls of you mind melt after one too many solar flares.
Review: After 2024's 'The Stranger', a new, impressionistic techno-electronica record from Oscar Mulero betrays in the Madrid artist an honest naivete, as titular techno cosmic impressions contrast a homespun, motion-blurred front cover. Can we hear the wood for the trees? 'New Horizons' and 'Invisible Star' would certainly seem to suggest not. We're always in the thick of it, even as intergalactic wow-signal comms traverse repetitive aeons, light-year, and as we travel further and further 'Outside The Time Zone', further and 'Further Away'. A cool, armrest-clenching continuation from the Spanish fave.
Review: Six brand new shakers from Omar S...This is the sh*t! Never confined to one particular genre, Omar is again blending house, techno and even minimal styles into one big pot of deep Detroit underground funk. There's even some Basic Channel / Deep Chord vibes going on there somewhere. Simply killer.
In My City (feat John FM - Rick Wilhite mix) (6:27)
Don't Leave Me Standing Yeaa (5:44)
Mell'like Boom Boom In'dair! (4:28)
Washtenaw County Horn Section (6:03)
You Gotta Beat The Clock (4:24)
Simply (7:16)
Review: There's been plenty of online chatter about the confrontational title of Omar-S's latest full-length outing, and arguably not enough focus on the music itself (or the fact that the guest list contains Rick Wilhite, Norm Talley and OB Ignitt for that matter). This is unfortunate, because as usual Alex 'Omar' Smith has hit the spot. The six untitled tracks are impressively varied, with Smith effortlessly moving between 21st century P-funk (track one), cowbell-powered deep house funk (track 2), sparse and synth-heavy acid house hypnotism (track three), disco-house jack (track four), sub-heavy Detroit-meets-Sheffield minimalism (track five) and sunrise-ready dancefloor dreaminess (track six).
Review: The cultured tech house auteur that is Julian Perez returns with another cultured new EP that pushes boundaries while staying rooted in the sonic ethos of Girada Unlimited. More than just a collection of tracks, these sounds explore energy, emotion and movement with Perez's evolving artistry at their core. His take on deep grooves with hypnotic textures stands him apart once more from the zippy synth kinetics of 'Pressurah' to the drum funk of 'Es Un Disparate' via two different, equally fresh versions of 'Alpha R'.
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