Back catalogue: Techno (Alles)

Review: This new collection offers up a quartet of tracks that are all tailored for slightly different moments on the dance floor. On side A, Dani Casarano kicks off with deep, hypnotic grooves that make for an immersive atmosphere before transitioning to punchy, bass-driven energy with other cuts. Side B introduces a new alter ego from Felian and Bruno Schmidt and the pair explore a robotic, looping groove with incidental breaks and nostalgic synths in the euphoric third track. Closing the release in style, Omar Akrhif & Lucretio present a minimalist masterpiece that is aimed at heady after-hours sessions.

Review: Armed with analogue and modular synthesisers, Southern Italian producers Marco Cassanelli and Deckard take you on an emotive journey inspired by geometry and symmetry for T.A. Rock Records - a small indie label out of sunny Trani, Puglia established 2010. The Splitted EP starts out with the desolate dub techno textures of 'Abandoned Town' while the spaced-out cut 'Triangle' and the hypnotising 'Rectangle' (part 1) make for more experimentally minded tracks.

Review: A genuinely magical meeting of musical minds, here, as Erol Alkan delivers his interpretations of Chemical Brothers' 'Goodbye', a bleep-speckled slab of soul-seeped electro-breaks first featured on the long-serving duo's 2023 album For That beautiful Feeling. Available in vocal and instrumental mixes, Alkan's revision replaces the pair's electro breaks with a new wave synth-pop-meets-analogue techno groove. Bubbly and melancholic - even more so than the Chems' original version - Alkan's takes also throw in additional lo-fi synth lines, counter melodies and raw, electroclash influenced sounds. It's tasteful and surprisingly poignant whilst still having all the ingredients of a fully fledged peak-time workout.

Review: The new four-tracker from Chicaiza through Kimchi Records is decidedly impressive, finding reams of emotive expression in a knowing, but well-wrought gaudy-trance rawness. We clock we're in for a trippy one from the off; 'Frgil Bodies' hears an opening vocal natter with the intonation of a leprechaun under the influence of some lab-bought compound; and not long before the crudest of crude yet rudest of rude drum flows ensues. Then 'Metaphorical Nihlusiions' follows with a continually janky, but frankly wicked still, tunnel-toss through noetic synth flicks and gurglingly good bass groundings, throwing shade on false nihilations in the process. The understory opens up considerably with 'Shinobi', with trophic psychic layers and bushwalking sproutings-forth, culminating in a canopied trance lead atop. Finally, 'No Way' flushes an excess of chitinous, skin-shedded beats and leftover bass nacres, depositing them on the forest floor like lap-up fruits ripe for the taking.

Review: Chicaiza, co-owner of Berlin's Kimchi Records, makes a confident solo debut on Off The Grid. These tracks strike a balance between warm, melodic textures and a subtle melancholy that feels both introspective and grounded. Each piece reveals a careful attention to detail, with rhythms and atmospheres that evolve naturally. Perfectly aligned with the label's aesthetic, this release captures the understated refinement of an artist exploring new creative spaces while staying deeply connected to his roots in Berlin's underground.

Review: Bristol's cultured Innate label is back with a first outing of the year and it returns to their various artists format with a mix of talents all making their mark. UK veteran Tom Churchill opens up with 'Unknown Unknowns (Edit)', which brings plenty of fuzzy and lo-fi aesthetic to jacked up drums and spaced-out pads. Rai Scott then shows her class with 'Suasion' that sinks down deep into immersive drums and is subtly lit up with simmering strings. Innate co-founders Owain K and Gilbert then hook-up under their brand new alias Curved Space and showcase their love of electro with 'Reverie,' a dreamy cut that glows with nice celestial melodies and will have dance floors in a zoned-out state. Last of all it's Lisbon mainstay Jorge Caiado who debuts with the chord-laced 'Floating Without Lifting,' a sophisticated and serene jazz-techno cut that takes you to the stars.

Review: The Spanish Hypnotic Collective label attempts to capture its take on the Detroit Legacy with what looks like a new series of various artists' EP. There is plenty of Motor City soul in the gorgeous synths of Cignol's muted acid and deep house opener 'Distance' which is a soothing and reverential groove, but then its pure party from Barce, Alex Martin offers up 313 style tech and three further tunes on the flip explore blistering electro with high-speed funk and cosmic intent. Mission accomplished and we're already looking forward to the next one.

Review: Ooof. Sometimes there's nothing better than that in between vibe, beats and noises that speak to genuine rave, one white glove in techno, another rooted in house. 'Sirius D' certainly speaks to that need. Squelchy in the right places, oh-so-hypnotic but fundamentally punchy, it's halfway between sending you off on a blissful cloud and slapping you around the chops in an attempt to revive at 6AM. Nicola Cruz's Debug mix opts to make sure that blow lands, stomping and slamming but not so much of a groove to hold on to. No criticism, though. The roll returns later, though, 'Declination' looking to those sparse but precious dancefloors that make you realise this is still no a mainstream competition - equal parts eerie and warm. Throw in 'Right Ascension', which essentially captures all of the above and then hits 11 on the scale of whatever we're judging this on, and the deal is sealed.

Review: JIN09 marks a significant step forward for Cosmo, one of Seoul's most dynamic DJs and producers. Since her debut in 2017, she's become a fixture in the city's vibrant club scene, holding residencies at BBCB: Beton Brut + Concrete Bar. On her first solo EP for the Jin Records label, Cosmo weaves a dreamy, ethereal sound that taps into the traditions of house and balearic music. The A-side opens with lush, flowing melodies that gently chug along, creating an atmosphere that feels both expansive and intimate. These tracks, with their atmospheric textures and hypnotic rhythms, encapsulate a sense of cosmic journeying. On the flip, Cosmo delves into grittier, more tech-focused territory. Here, the beats take on a harder edge, with driving rhythms and a rawness that pushes the energy forward. While maintaining the ethereal quality that runs throughout the EP, the B-side brings a sense of tension and release that's sure to resonate on dancefloors. With this release, Cosmo demonstrates her versatility, effortlessly blending contrasting styles while retaining a cohesive, signature sound. It's a confident, forward-thinking EP from a rising star, and one that signals even more exciting things to come from this talented producer.

Review: After the first in this new Mellow Bangers series got us nice and twisted we're delighted to have the follow-up from Italo Moderni. Cryk kicks off with an eerie blend of Italo arps and dark wave drums with electro overtones on 'Double Crash' then the moodiness continues with the depraved bass warbles and crashing hits of Fragedis and his 'Disco Nicotina.' Antoni Maiovvi brings a lightness of touch to his delicate arps and celestial harmonies on 'Stopping Power' and Adrian Marth layers plenty of sugar and pixelated synths into his loopy 'Modernism.'

Review: If you ask us, Kalahari Oyster Cult is a label as unique in sound as it is in name. You can never quite be sure what they might serve up next, but you can be sure it is worth dialling into. Alfred Czital & Ayu step up for this one, which starts at high speed and has drums and hits skating along the surface at compelling pace as warped vocal fragments loop to trippy effect. 'Talk To Me' is another groove with real urgency but plenty of inventive sound designs and clipped, underlapping bass. It's hyper modern and dead good. The Sleep D remix is more zoned out and smooth for the afters and Roza Terenzi brings a signature sense of wonkiness.

Review: Jay Tripwire has popped up a lot recently, which is always going to be good news for fans of those freaky late-night tech sounds that he is so well known and loved for. He kicks off Serenity's fifth release here alongside Jehr on 'Magic Man', a deep cut underlapping drum funk and lots of whirring machine sounds. Parisian space techno talent Cyberduck then takes care of both tunes on the flip - firstly 'Arzach', a deep and dynamic cut that hurriedly scans a vast cosmic world with silvery drums and lush melodies. Then 'Cerclon' gets a little more edgy, with dark and nagging baselines moving up through the mix as the crisp, well-swung tech drums power along.

Review: Riviera's early momentum continues here with a punchy four-tracker from six on-point artists. Lewis Taylor kicks off with 'Non Stop' which is a straight up and funky peak time then pumper with bright chords and plenty of fun in the atmosphere, Cult keeps the energy high with 'Total Kill' and X Coast & DJ RaDa then offer the acid-laced and turbocharged bass stomps of 'Come Together.' LIL NASSTY then flips the script with some sleazy trap beats with menacing bars and futuristic synth patterns on 'Get It Up So' and DJ Pacifier shuts down with some high-speed ghetto-tech in the form of the relentless 'Fried Again.'

Review: Abstrack Future's 4th release delivers a diverse blend of forward-thinking techno and otherworldly electro. On the A-side, Two Phase U's 'Soft Maz' moves you with its retro yet futuristic pulsating electro groove, reminiscent of Drexciyan aesthetics. Mat Roz's '4 AM' on the same side presents a hardcore breakbeat foundation layered with atmospheric melodies and a big acid line, creating a hypnotic and spacey atmosphere. This is unique to say the least! Flipping to the B-side, Manuk's 'Astornauta' takes us on a journey with its breaks and 90s-inspired sound, tinged with Bleep-style elements and an eerie melody. Each track on this EP offers a unique sonic experience while showing Abstrack Future's commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring the outer edges of electronic music.

Review: Dave Clarke's Red Series remains a vital benchmark in the evolution of UK techno. Released between 1993 and 1996, the three-volume run even managed to brush the UK top 40 back in the good old days when anything felt possible. Tracks like 'Wisdom To The Wise' will forever be etched in the make up of techno, and for very good reason. Now the whole series is being given a lavish reissue treatment which takes in all the original releases along with additional discs of rare, archival tracks and remixes, all bundled up in a box with a booklet and autographed by the Baron himself.

Review: The second instalment of Clayton's retrospective series, this double vinyl is a remastering of unreleased and hidden gems from the American programmer-cum-producer. Featuring staples in the San Franciscan's discography such as 'Box Selection' and 'W-Shape', which sees an exclusive remix in 'W-Shape revisited'. The result is a futuristic techno-house marvel, with it's minimal (occasionally ambient) tone, the composition is analytical in its construction. Each beat feels perfectly placed as dictated by a formula, a chemical blend of glitch, techno, and ambient house. This record is a must for fans of the 90s techno scene, especially in Detroit where you can hear the influences that those artists had on these tracks.

Review: The fully mixed version of Confidence Man's debut Fabric mix record is here on CD. In contrast to the selectors' LP version - also sold by us - this full version is a seamless, singular slab of optical laser-read musical licence, espousing the central vibe-theme of Confidence Man's message: have confidence. Well, except for want of a receiving ear, we find ourselves tentatively able to confide in Confidence Man's Fabric mix ("better than therapy" joke happily dodged) as a substitution in the meantime; for it too shows us that real, authentic, and boundless confidence can, believably, indeed, be found in bouncy dance exclusives available on CD only. Among these are Patrick Prins' kitsch chipmunk banger 'Fiesta Conga' and Cygnus X's steezy-cheesy trance stutterer 'Positron'03'. With both many a throwback and a present promo in tow, Confidence Man dice up and dole out a small slice of their huge stash of their patented auricular confidence dust.