Back catalogue: Techno (Alles)

Review: This EP first arrived back in 2001 on the legendary Swiss label Acquit. It's a favourite of underground heads who appreciated it futuristic electro and techno styles and so now all these years later is getting a repress. It sounds as good as ever, with the thumping kick drums and sparse chords of Niels Jensen's 'Oasis' opening up in blistering physical fashion. Diego's 'Import' then roll on a more liquid and dubby rhythm and Sevn's 'Angelic' is a masterful bit of booming drums programming that is thrilling stripped back but inescapably effective.

Review: The glowing warmth of 'Did You Love Me?' has quietly been DJ Sotofett and LNS's secret weapon this season. Built on a foundation of lush strings, dreamy pads, and driving basslines, its classic house breakbeats give it an immediate, nostalgic pull. Originally mistaken for "the proper house remix of Current 82," this white label release has gained a life of its own, leaving dancefloors humming. The flip side shifts gears with a fierce blend of acid and dub, marked by an intense sonic depth and a steady, chugging rhythm that drives the track forward. But it's on the full B-side where the record truly hits its stride. 'Dub You Loved Me?' is a nearly ten-minute epic that embodies the spirit of dub techno at its finest. Pulsing with heavy pressure and swirling harmonies, this remix transcends its club roots, taking listeners on a journey through pulse, punch, and atmospheric richness. This is dub in its truest form, designed for the dancefloor but loaded with layers that will resonate long after the night ends. An essential addition for any dub-techno aficionado.

Review: The low-key but high-class Acquit label is back with some more brilliance from DX 9 press dup to nice translucent orange vinyl. 'Beans' (Owen Ni remix) opens up with elastic deep house beats and heady pad swirls. In original form the cut is a weight dub house pumper and elsewhere is the quick-stepping deep house of 'Galaxy', stripped back and scruffy dub house of 'Greed' and the cosmic trip that is 'Orange' with its swirling synth clouds and wispy lead lines over a deep, meaningful bassline. This is hi-tek soul with a timeless edge.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Proceeding the well-received 'Move Like Atoms', @morelian returns with a three-track EP 'Radical Spectacular' to be released on Fever AM - the label she runs with @rhyw.

Marking Mor's ninth release, 'Radical Spectacular' continues to highlight her unique take on techno. Her interpretation of the genre is influenced by the fascination with layering multiple drum patterns, pulling from styles she grew up on such as UKG, electro and IDM as well as the more traditional ethic sequence, leading to her own hybrid style.

Taking an alternative direction with 'Radical Spectacular', the release showcases Mor's dynamic production palette. As the title track and 'Wave Alienation' build upon atmospheric melodies and murky basslines, the EP rounds off with 'Farewell to The Snare'; a heldback whirlwind of tight breaks and robotic, paranoid arpeggios.

Review: There is such a great amount of force and weight to the techno served up here by Owen NI that it feels as though his kick drums could move whole mountains. Opener 'The Test Sequence' has mid-tempo but brutal drums with razor-sharp hi-hats, clipped vocal yelps and a lively siren style lead adding further intensity to this most muscular of warehouse tracks. The DX-9 remix layers up more balmy pads to soften the edges and the drums become a little more rounded and dubbed out, while the Arbilla remix takes things into paranoid afters territory. 'Wiggle Room' is a dubby, forceful and heady roller.

Review: Swiss label Acquit Records has got a couple of superb outings lined up this month and Nate Nubia is behind this one which offers up a single and three different mixes of it. Original cut 'Dracula Vs. Frankenstein' is a warm analogue world of smeared synths and dusty drums over a crisp broken beat. It's full of machine soul and melancholic moods. The Info Remix is more edgy and driven, while the Kenny Hooper remix layers in extra light and melody. The G-Prod remix is one with its head amongst the stars and plenty of celestial synths.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


'Cosmic progressive house' is a relatively rare denomination for new dance releases, but that hasn't stopped Rand MUZIK, who here welcome Australian newcomer Reflex Blue to their roster for four tracks of acid heat. Electro, acid, vocal gates and modular jams are checked off in the space between 'Implant' and 'Gore', as we're left dumbfounded and hypnotised by the repeated assertion made by one vox: "this place distorts reality".

Review: Cultured Swiss techno label Acquit has put together this cheeky little 7" from Trecci with one great tune on each side. 'Invisible Self' is the opener and it is a delightfully curious, inviting blend of soft focus synth loops and smeared pads that sounds like waking up on a distant planet. On the flip, 'Sit And Wonder' starts with pensive piano chords which are eventually carried away on a supple deep house grove with loopy bongos and a feel-good sense of late-night cruising. Tasteful stuff for sure.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight surface marks ***


The latest offering from the WSNWG label is a special coming together of French producer and live performer UFO95 and notorious German techno talent and label head Rodhad. Back in January of this year, the duo got together in the studio and had a week-long jam session that they have since turned into Lavande. It takes the form of four high intensity, well sculpted techno pumpers that are quietly intense with puling synths, drum that keep you on edge and dubby low ends. Phsytcial yet cerebral, these are quality club cuts from two top techno innovators.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Case slightly cracked, product in perfect working order***


Past Inside The Present welcomes back accomplished and prolific ambient master zake, this time alongside Oss and Fax who released the original featured track, 'Polymorph' on Module. Here it gets revisited by a top contemporary team after the hazy and absorbing extended mix kicks things off. ASC then goes dark with his mood rework and Zake himself remixes with a more optimistic sense of crepuscular synth lushness. Aural Imbalance layers in some fizzing and malfunctioning electronic sounds, Ossa suspends you amongst his heavenly rays and Influx brings gently broken beats. Fax shuts down this varied offering with a more edgy ambient sound.

Review: After its initial release on vinyl on Omar S's FXHE last summer, Diners Club International have put together a new CD version of Hi Tech's Dttwat album featuring some new bonus cuts. It's a stylish blend of Motor City beats, ghetto energy and r&b vocals that all get cut up and chopped and spliced into short, quickfire but potent tunes that make a lasting impact. A wide range of guest vocals come from Cheapskate Skutta, Dastardly Kids, Nlghind and many more so these beats brim with colour and character. With the added bonus cuts this is a must-cop CD direct from the D.

Review: This is a new CD version including bonus tracks of Hi Tech's self-titled album which comes here on Diners Club International but first landed on Omar S's FXHE. It is a full ghetto tech workout with pumped-up booty-bouncing beats that traverse a wide range of tempos. The high energy highlights come thick and fast with the likes of 'Big Prism' riding on juke beats, 'Milf Milo' bringing some lithe synth chords and raw claps and 'I Swear It's A Bop' (feat KAYY & ALLGIRLSALLOWED) featuring broken drum patterns, glistening synth stabs and r&b vocals full of soul.

Review: Jon Hopkins' forthcoming album Ritual spans 41 minutes of uninterrupted sonic exploration, drawing inspiration from ceremony, spiritual liberation and the hero's journey and creating a dense and immersive soundscape that showcases his mastery of depth and contrast. Collaborating with long-term partners like Vylana, 7RAYS, and Ishq, as well as newcomers like Clark and Emma Smith, Hopkins weaves together cavernous subs, hypnotic drumming, and transcendent melodies to craft a sonic experience that is both emotionally and sonically weight. Ritual sees Hopkins' evolution as an artist, building upon themes explored throughout his 22-year career while venturing into new sonic territories. The album's first single, 'Ritual(evocation),' offers a tantalising glimpse into this expansive sonic landscape, with its hypnotic rhythms and darkened soundscapes drawing listeners into a world of introspection and catharsis. With its warm, live feel and seamless blend of softness and intensity, Ritual promises to be a transformative listening experience for fans of electronic music and beyond.

Review: In Signal, Brendon Moeller takes his expertise in techno, ambient and dub techno into deeper ambient and drone territory, crafting a richly atmospheric journey through sound for Constellation Tatsu's thoughtful cassette label. This album gently balances textures, merging natural and synthetic elements for a unique sonic experience. Highlights include the track 'Light', which opens with a minimal drone and subtle, pulsing sub-bass notes, setting a calm yet immersive tone. In 'Wires', Moeller skillfully intertwines organic and electronic soundscapes, bringing together the natural and technological in seamless harmony. 'Nowhere' shifts to a more aquatic feel, conjuring the sensation of being submerged in an otherworldly lagoon. The serene, electronic layering in 'Bask' adds beauty and peace through calm sequencing and warm tones. Closing with 'Beam', Moeller expertly blends real-world sounds and hints of a surreal, alien atmosphere, rounding out an album that's both tranquil and otherworldly. Signal encapsulates Moeller's thoughtful production approach, giving listeners a deep dive into ambient landscapes that feel as expansive as they are introspective and adventurous.