Review: Adding yet another record to the pile that has so far been provided by the label A_A, the experimental dub artists behind said outfit (Satoshi Tomiie and Nao Gunji) have really outdone themselves out here. On pink splatter vinyl comes 'Dissonant', one of many EPs to have emerged from the same heads-down studio session that saw to its predecessor, 'Radiant'. Tracks 1-4 lock in a slew of impressive ear-scourings and dub-delayed experimentations, with the first and last tracks particularly blowing us away with their broken beats, which allow for more attention to be paid to every undulation, crackle and knock.
Review: Artificial Owl Recordings welcomes aboard New Yorkers Satoshi Tomiie and Naotake Gunji for the label's fifth release; a recording of their collaborative A_A project and live show, which first came to light at the Fridman Gallery in Manhattan. A_A, an ongoing audio project, explores the visceral tension between floor-centric ambient electronica and improvised sound/audio performance. Here, found and object-activated sounds fire a collective dub trigger, producing a distinctly somatic regrounding across five original works.
Review: By now you should all know that the MDR imprint is associated with Berlin's finest, Marcel Dettmann After a year of sporadic releases - the dude has probably been busy spinning menacing techno seven nights a week - comes this new double 12", a sort of hello from himself and his tight-knit crew over at Berlin institute of techno Berghain. All the bad boys are here, including Answer Code Request with his very singular brand of techno, The Corner man Anthony Parasole who has now become synonymous with the Berghain sound, Norman Nodge, Milton Bradley aka Alien Rain, and a few lesser known producers such as Lockertmatik and FBK. Big release, cop on sight!
Review: The only known diplomatic dance musical dialogue between Leeds and Barcelona can be found in the cross-national collective MASS, whose principal aim is to connect the two cities as identified hubs of the next-gen dance musical underground. Here the personae grata in question are a crack team of trusted delegates, known by the respective codenames AS Groove, Driahn, Monile and Nikon; each artist-negotiator delivers their own firebrand sonic missive in quick, electrific unison, appeasing the collective ear through a four-point transmissive treaty. Either breaks-laden or bleep-laden sound is stipulated depending on which fine-print line you read and/or which finely-etched groove you play; only track four, 'Seismic', trigger the break(beats) clause.
Review: On Board Music is back with a fifth Various Artists EP that explores the outer edges of the techno universe. Prolific, ambient, techno and drum & bass don ASC kicks off with a weighty collaboration with Semblance. Their 'Impulse' is a dubby, bubbly rhythmic roller then Nuversion ups the dub for his atmospheric and heady cut 'Impression.' On the B-side, Polygonia's deft melodic touch is on show with the loopy and beautiful 'Veluo' and then Morphing Territories shuts down with the late night backroom sounds of 'Black Pearls'. This is another heady and well rounded EP from the ever excellent On Board.
Review: This compilation dives deep into the Australian dub techno scene, a hotbed of producers crafting immersive rhythms and cavernous soundscapes. It's a captivating journey, showcasing four artists pushing the boundaries of dub techno. Astralure's 'Freq' sets the tone with infectious grooves and expertly crafted delays, recalling the dubby excursions of Basic Channel. Mike Nolan's 'Steady' takes a more atmospheric approach, its dreamy pads and sweeping textures evoking the vastness of the Australian outback. Silver Ash's 'Blackwood' adds a touch of darkness, its evolving grooves and relentless bassline weaving a mesmerising tapestry of sound. Noosa Sound System's 'Ah Go Build' closes the compilation with a dubby stomper, its deep drones and echoing vocals layered over massive drums, like a tribal ritual echoing through a hidden valley.
Review: Primary Colours Music shines a light on the Australian dub techno scene with the dynamic two-part release, Antipodean Dubs. Volume A showcases Melbourne's Astralure and their infectious groove 'Freq' with robust kicks, deep basslines and expertly delayed stabs. Fellow Melbourne artist Mike Nolan follows with 'Steady', a dub-infused journey of low-slung beats, dreamy pads and sweeping textures. Coastal talent Silver Ash returns with 'Blackwood' and blends intricate effects, evolving grooves and relentless bass programming. Closing the volume is Noosa Sound System, whose 'Ah Go Build' delivers hypnotic vocals, druggy grooves and deep stabs over massive drums for a true dub stomper.
Fsk24 & Felix Dulac - "Un Eclair Dans La Nuit" (7:02)
Fsk24 & Nils - "Toomai Des Elephants" (7:02)
Fsk24 & Solal Reyes - "Tongue Twister" (6:22)
Review: The twisted and trance-infused progressive techno sound of Les Disques De La Jungle is one we have been keen to hear more from, and here we have it: a new EP featuring some of the artists who have already dropped heat here. AV1 goes first with the crispy metal drums and warped synths of 'Meta2' then Fsk24 & Felix Dulac combine for the hammering tech-funk of 'Un Eclair Dans La Nuit' which would have been a Tyrant classic back in the day. Fsk24 then hooks up with Nils for the stomping and noen-lit jungle-tech of 'Toomai Des Elephants' before partnering with Solal Reyes for the tripped out but driving closer 'Tongue Twister'.
Review: Batu and Nick Leon united for this surprise release late last year and it now arrives on lovely vinyl where it sounds sublime. The four-track EP blends Latin and UK club influences with a psychedelic twist on Batu's label, A Long Strange Dream which, since its 2023 launch, has gained recognition for pushing experimental club sounds of the highest order. 'Rezz' kicks off with shuffling tight percussive rhythms and 'Yiu' is more intense in its high-fidelity loops. 'Tuvan' is a minimal broken beat stepper and 'Palo' closes with some snappy Latin rhythmic invention.
Review: Since launching in early 2020, archival techno specialists Back to Life has reissued some genuine gems from the likes of Ron Trent and Chez Damier, Bam Bam, G-Man and Leo Anibaldi. Their latest missive comes courtesy of the effervescent John Beltran and his lesser-known Nostalgic project. What we get is fully remastered versions of a trio of tracks from 2006's Going Home EP. On the A-side you'll find the original EP's standout cut, 'Placid Angles', a deliciously dreamy chunk of house-tempo Motor City techno rich in undulating analogue bass, sunny chords and intergalactic melodies. It's backed on side B by short IDM number 'Detroit Movements' and 'Going Home', a superbly emotive, atmospheric and immersive sci-fi techno number that's as blissful and positive as they come.
Review: Since launching in early 2020, archival techno specialists Back to Life has reissued some genuine gems from the likes of Ron Trent and Chez Damier, Bam Bam, G-Man and Leo Anibaldi. Their latest missive comes courtesy of the effervescent John Beltran and his lesser-known Nostalgic project. What we get is fully remastered versions of a trio of tracks from 2006's Going Home EP. On the A-side you'll find the original EP's standout cut, 'Placid Angles', a deliciously dreamy chunk of house-tempo Motor City techno rich in undulating analogue bass, sunny chords and intergalactic melodies. It's backed on side B by short IDM number 'Detroit Movements' and 'Going Home', a superbly emotive, atmospheric and immersive sci-fi techno number that's as blissful and positive as they come.
Review: Blue Hour have dropped a couple of essential new 12"s this month and here is one of them. It's another of their famous various artist's collections, all with a focus on the deeper end of the techno spectrum. The eponymous Blue Hour kicks off with 'Afterglow' which has wispy neon synth trail and soft, rubbery drum and bass blends that take you into a cosmic sky. Dold's 'Warning' is more textural and raw with its percussion and synth energy and Steffi's 'Volley 5' is driving, dynamic, dubby techno for intimate basements. Newa's 'Seduction' is a psychedelic wonder to close.
Review: Curious, various-artistic lo-fi techno from the OCFD crew, celebrating the label's tenth release in total. Striving to showcase timeless music that they feel to be appreciable as much now as in the future, here they focus on the sweats of producer Nikol, and his new duo collaboration with Vrsion for the alias known as Body Copy. Emergent from the fecund grounds of Leeds and bringing an OG's ear to the mix - both artists have been at it since at least the early 2000s - the likes of 'Pictures', 'Context' and 'The Approach' bring a subtle but motivating force to the dance.
Review: A compelling exploration of techno's diverse facets. On the A-side, Booh's 'HAL9000' delivers a relentless, industrial-tinged rhythm, its pulsating bass and sharp percussion creating an immersive atmosphere. Nizar Sarakbi's 'Black Forest Dub' on the flip side introduces a more hypnotic groove, layering dub influences over a steady techno foundation. The EP concludes with Sarakbi's 'Do It (5 AM Mix),' a track that evolves from minimalistic beginnings into a complex, driving composition. This release underscores both artists' abilities to blend traditional techno elements with innovative soundscapes, resulting in a dynamic and engaging listening experience.
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: The Distorsion camp offers up its first sampler as a way of teasing you with the sort of quality sounds and artists it has on its roster. First up is a three-way collab between Citybox, Hankook & Orebeat whose 'Dangerous Changes' is an intense breakbeat workout for the peak time. Orebeat & Alex Clubbers keep the energy levels high and inject early 00s video-game style synths, Orebeat & Citybox keep it dark and raw with 'Gangsta' and Orebeat & JottaFrank laced up their thrilling breaks with acid lines and sleazy vocals on "Noche De Paris.' This is potent stuff for strobe-lit floors.
AudioChain - "Back To The Time" (Tm Shuffle Myotatuuli dub remix)
Celestial Sphere Aka Hirotaka - "Concept Depth"
Review: Swiss label Introspection Audio Limited hist 12" number five with some exceptional techno workouts from producers based in Switzerland, Finland and Japan. Each track delivers a distinct atmosphere and emotion, perfectly crafted for the dance floor. Alessandro Crimi's 'Always' keeps it deep, dubby and minimalist, Needless layers up delightfully smooth drums and dub chords and a Tm Shuffle Myotatuuli dub remix is frosted with icy static and chilly winds. Celestial Sphere Aka Hirotaka shuts down with a more textured and snappy dub tech vibe.
Ajakaja & Mart Avi - "Symmerty Of Human Body Jimmy Winkle Waltz" (9:52)
Neuronphase - "Dissapointed" (5:50)
Superstar & Star - "Looking At The Star & Heavens" (Rhythm Doctor Youtube remould) (5:58)
Review: With Ajukaja, Maria Minerva and Hypnosaurus now something of recognised names thanks to Tallinn-based Porridge Bullet, the label reinstates its Bullet various artist series that helped the label find its footing in 2012. Sporting a new batch of emerging artists, this second edition is as fresh-faced as the first, and perhaps the wildcard of the four tracks is Trinidad's Neville Lawrence, aka Superstar & Star, whom Porridge Bullet apparently fell in love with after discovering his YouTube channel. S&S's cut "Looking At The Star & Heavens" makes the grade thanks to Tallinn-based London ex-pat DJ Rhythm Doctor cyphering the smoky vocals and air-pushing drums of the original into a 'YouTube Mould'. Ajukaja hooks up with Porridge Bullet solid Mart Avi for an eerily minimal and quiet "Symmerty Of Human Body Jimmy Winkle Waltz", while Neuronphase makes a second VA appearance (still no solo release) with a dusty slo-mo jam joining the dots between the tropes of Madteo and Lobster Theremin records. Meanwhile Dima Disk's is given A1 privileges with a lo-fi sweety of a tune - "Casino".
Review: Swedish label Borft has been digging in its archives again to assemble another volume of what it sees as its most classic cuts. And we don't disagree with these, which are taken from releases that originally landed between 1998 and 1999. Egglady's- 'Prinsessan Och Agget 1' is well-swung and deftly dubbed out with lovely analogue drum sounds cutting through. Nikolas Rowland's 'Headspin' is another smooth one with molten chords and a firm low-end drive. 'Puffy Nipples' from Kord is a wonky number with an unhinged charm and stomping groove that will stand out in any set while Crinan closes with the classy and raw house, dub and tech fusion that is 'Suit 61'.
Review: A label's first release is always a big one which hints at what to expect in the long term and for that reason Introspective debuts with this new five track compilation. They say that "Instinctive Senses is a compilation focusing on precise and cutting sonorities." We say it is a fresh techno offering with plenty of interesting details. Grafin drops 'Vespers' which is tightly looped and quick as hell then SDB & B2 get more dark, heavy and gritty on the twisted 'Reunite.' The flip side kick off with more rough and ready hard edged techno from Specific Objects, sleek tribal loops from Versus on 'Those Things' and Nano Rinnegato gets paranoid and revs up the sirens on 'Ghetto K.'
Review: Greyscale continues to mine a particularly engaging corner of dubby minimal tech house with this high-grade compilation featuring some emergent names from the underground. Grush exercises great restraint unfurling the sublimely reduced groove around 'Raizel' while Philipp Priebe locks into a slinky strain of house with some premium metallic chords shimmering through the haze. Nicolas Barnes has a fine combination of rugged low end and pin prick bleeps up top on 'Sonic Shadows' and Cirkel Square locks into the snappiest swing on the record with the funked up 'Grey Rythem', proving Greyscale to be right on the money like always.
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