Review: There's lots to get your teeth stuck into on this new and blistering collection of electro from Adepta Editions. And don't let the title fool you - it's not all accessible summer festival fare, in fact none of it is. It is all head down and serious tackle. 7053M4R14's '4 N3W HUM4N' is a driving, dark, visceral sound with raw breakbeats powering through the cosmos. Rec_Overflow offers a moment to catch your breath with some slower, dubby rhythms on 'Pocket Dial' and Pauk explores twitchy future synths capes and post-human transmissions on 'Shiawasena Fukushu'. Promising/Youngster shuts down with a sense of optimism and hope with the airy melodies and slithering electro drum patterns of 'Arbey.'
Review: Acid Sessions Vol. 3 is another white-knuckle journey into the world of acid with five top talents in the field all pushing their own limits. Acidulant opens with "Serpentacid' featuring hypnotic 303 grooves and relentless energy, then Sarufaromeo & Papaverhof deliver 'Acid Nihonshu' which blends atmospheric depth with chaotic acid vibes. G303 takes you beyond with 'Live Long and Prosper,' an interstellar anthem filled with cosmic acid and resonant grooves. Paul Renard closes with 'SO36' which is all about the fat rhythms and powerful dancefloor drive. Long live acid is what we say.
Review: Coeur De Glace on DKO Records (DKO 34) delivers four fantastic electro tracks, each with unique influences and directions. Side-1 kicks off with Binary Digit's 'U Want Dis,' an exuberant, high-energy track that pays homage to old-school rave with its lively vocal samples. Fasme's 'Morning' follows, blending smooth electro with soft keys and a whimsical AFX melody for a perfect combination. Side-2 features GGGG's 'La Cueillette,' a feel-good, fun and melodic electro tune. The EP concludes with Mud Deep & Sans-Qui's 'Mesonyx,' offering IDM goodness reminiscent of Rephlex, Squarepusher, and AFX. Coeur De Glaceis a vibrant and diverse collection, sure to delight fans of electro and techno.
Spectrums Data Forces - "Darkness In My Head" (6:04)
EC13 - "Profundo" (Interludio) (0:49)
Wicked Wes - "X1000" (feat Space Frogs From Saturn) (5:48)
Review: Granada's Cosmic Tribe know the definition of "electro" in its broadest sense; their new Xtrictly Electro comp keeps the dystopian sound endemic to the genre's most present incarnation, but refuses to restrict itself to one tempo: the standard 130-ish that has sadly infected the otherwise genius genre as a necessity. An international splinter cell of spec-ops and mercenaries are recalled from retirement here, as we hear Calagad 13, Nachtwald, EC13 and many more mechanoid ilk lay down all manner of slick utilities, making up a morbid multi-tool. 5zyl brings further lasery Lithuanian steeze on 'Vilnius Bass', whilst Spectrums Data Forces betrays the existence of a sinister corporate entity, whose business model works towards the object of instilling 'Darkness In My Head' through giant, killer mozzy basses.
Review: Those with a deep knowledge of electro and techno will be salivating at the prospect of More Than A Machine: Part 1, an EP that boasts cuts from such legends of the scene as Sterac Electronics, The Advent and Christian Smith. All deliver the goods, of course, as does rising star Client 03, whose EP-opening 'Regression Container' brilliantly flips between shimmering, deep space ambient and warming, tactile electro dreaminess. Those looking for more rugged and robust club fare should check Sterac Electronics 'Reinstated', with its' out-there lead lines and machine-gun bass, and the sleazy, up-tempo futurism of the Adveny and Zein Ferreira's 'Seven'. Christian Smith's deep, Kraftwerk-influenced 'Pressure Drop' rounds off a predictably strong EP.
Review: Analog Concept Vol. 3 delivers a striking collection of forward-thinking deep techno, blending electro, acid, and sci-fi elements to push boundaries across its four tracks. Fasme opens with 'Crying Robot', a standout acid electro monster that's both raw and energetic, setting the tone with its sharp, robotic intensity. CCO's 'Solar Sail' follows, bringing a darker, sci-fi edge to the mix. Its blend of EBM and new beat creates a timeless, futuristic trip that feels immersive and cinematic. Side-2 kicks off with Unwonted's 'Frontier', a high-energy electro track laced with trance elements, adding a hypnotic, rave-ready vibe. Serge Geyzel closes the compilation with 'Flash', a heavy-hitting deep electro cut that dives into darker, alien soundscapes. Its deep techno undercurrents enhance the track's sense of foreboding and mystery. Overall, Analog Concept Vol. 3 captures a thrilling array of deep, futuristic sounds. Take a journey through techno's more experimental and atmospheric realms with this Russian label. Each track stands strong on its own while contributing to the cohesive, forward-thinking vision of the compilation.
Review: EC Underground is back with more inquisitors of low-end heavy sounds on Bass Scene Investigation vol 1 and again digs deep into the worlds of electro, techno, breakbeat and IDM. The compilation kicks off with the skittish percussive patterns of Illektrolab's 'Making Heads Dip', then heads into moody ground with ADJ, Pablo Funk brings some menacing synth work and Errorbeauty gets all weird and trippy with some mad electronics. Francois Dillinger offers a dystopian electro sound full of irresistibly jacked-up drums. A fine investigation indeed.
Review: The young but already impressive Headset label is back with a third outing and it is a various artists affair with a distinctly futuristic edge. Kami O's 'Blutak' rides on lurching rhythms that sway up and down with great force as percussion percussion and wiry electronics bring it to life. smiff's 'Blinker' is a broken beat with thudding kick and hits and clanging metallic sounds while Sweet Philly's 'Acid Siren Tool' is a raved-up jam ready to blow up the dance floor. Dubmonger & 9 Tails Fox tap into an old school,. high energy judge sound with darting rhythms and drilling sub bass nailing you to the floor on 'No Profit.'
Review: SIKU's various artists offerings always result in a nice and varied sound across two sides of vinyl and the sixth such drop is another one worth of attention for techno heads. Onoffon opens with 'Matter What' which rides on raw drums with slapping hits and stark synths, while Sebastian's 'Dreams Metaphors' has a ghoulish energy and dark, twisted synth menace. Rufo brings some cosmic wonder and bleeping melodic sequences to 'Mr Wonderful' and Brian Topham's 'Expressive Dimension' is a straight up tool with burrowing leads.
Review: Simone de Kunovich and Pancratio join forces on the 'Memory Card EP,' a captivating three-track release that marries retro video game nostalgia with cutting-edge electronic music. Inspired by early PlayStation 1 adventures, the duo masterfully weaves samples from obscure games into their compositions, crafting a sound that is both minimalist and evocative of 32-bit textures. Whether it's setting the mood in the mellow early hours or energising a peak-time crowd, this EP equips DJs with versatile tracks that promise to electrify any dancefloor. With its unique blend of exuberance and nostalgia, the 'Memory Card EP' is a must-have for enthusiasts looking to add both depth and dynamism to their sets.
Review: Fresh off his amazing remixes of classic Juan Atkins material, Santiago Salazar is quickly becoming one of thee names in techno on the west coast of America. His latest 12" 'Dynamic Allocation EP', has found its way to have a home on the top-notch Detroit label, Limited Network. The unique title track perfectly blurs the lines between techno and electro brilliantly while 'Cache Memory' succeeds in a classy retro way. For the second side, 'Accumulator' kicks things up a notch with some hi-tech electro business for the dancefloor. Things close out in great fashion on 'Data Hierarchy' which is one of our favorites on this release. Looking for a different take on Detroit styled techno? You found it here in spades.
Review: You can never go far wrong when drawing for tunes on the EYA records label and now it's back with more reliably good techno. This one comes from Bordeaux-based DJ and producer Salomee. His superb Delusions EP blends electro and techno from the starry cosmic trip of the opener to the more twisted synth lines of 'Hey23' via the slicker tech snares and kicks of 'About The Past'. A remix by synth wizard LVCA brings some inward reflection over rooted and rolling drums and closes out what is an EP full of emotion and high-grade grooves.
Review: Sancra's Echoes of the Infinitive is a standout second release of 2025, showing the producer's versatile and emotive sounds as he heads through techno's many shades. Opening track 'Oblivion' sets the tone with driving dancefloor energy and celestial melodies, while 'Androgena' dives into deeper, darker acid-techno terrain, which is refined yet intense. On the B-side, 'Exodus' blends neo-trance and electro with uplifting, spiritual pads for something that works the mind and body and closing track 'Until We Arrive' shifts the pace with a meditative live jam that feels introspective and serene. From peak-time power to after-hours reflection, Sancra delivers on all fronts here.
Review: Enrico Sanguilano returns with new single 'Interconnection', yet one more colossal techno hymn to global connectivity and plexuses of knowledge and intel. Though perhaps we'd be misled to think it was to do with connectivity in the information age: in Enrico's own words, the release is about "the 'Interconnection' between different senses, for example sound and touch: when sound becomes vibration our perception enhances, (and) the track creates a metaphor of the concept using a voice and synthesiser that playfully evolve and merge into each other to become one, while still keeping their distinctive identities." Made for the dancefloor and yet perhaps, by chance, ready-designed for the end goal of groundless uplift, 'Interconnection' is a serious, cavernous techno number.
Intelligent Jump Rope Music (Locked Groove remix) (5:00)
Review: Bangkok-based Sarayu is an artist at the heart of the electronic music scene in Thailand, and co-runs the label More Rice. His latest releases comes courtesy of local imprint Boiled Wonderland titled Intelligent Jump Rope Music, featuring four club focused tracks with a darker edge. On the A-side, there's the atmospheric broken beat techno of 'The Bag' and the mental 'E30 Track' . On the second side, the deep and entrancing title track's knackered feel is complemented nicely by Belgian producer Locked Groove's hypnotic rendition.
Review: There are plenty of electro overtones to the brain of techno that Savtsenko kicks out here for his latest on Kinetic. 'Auto Pilot; is a raw, textural banger with corrugated basslines surging to the stars. 'Come Again' has hammering kicks and more slinky baselines this time with raw punk energy and 'Seductionizer' also brings great texture and a rather hellish vocal edge to slamming electro-techno low ends. There is no let up on 'Detox' with its slithering synth gurgles. A vivid and vicious EP, for sure.
Scan 7 - "Detroit Built The First Techno Museum" (3:35)
Inohs Sivad - "Sxerendade" (feat Charles Prophet Jr) (5:43)
EMICee - "Bounce Glxtch" (3:43)
AUX88 - "This Is What U Want" (feat Demian Monet) (4:18)
Scan 7 - "I Am From Detroit" (Dre Brown remix) (3:28)
The Man With No Name - "Devil His Due" (3:02)
Review: Hallowed Ground is a six-track compilation that showcases the depth and variety of Detroit Techno, featuring renowned artists and fresh talents alike. Opening with Scan 7's 'Detroit Built The First Techno Museum,' the track sets a sophisticated tone, rooted in the city's rich musical history. Inohs Sivad's 'Sxerendade' follows with a house anthem highlighted by sultry vocals, adding a layer of sensuality. EM-i-Cee's 'Bounce Glxtch' offers a techy groove, providing a perfect transition to the flip side. AUX88's 'This Is What U Want' delivers crunchy electro beats that will resonate with fans of classic Detroit sounds. The compilation continues with Scan 7's 'I Am From Detroit' (Dre Brown remix), a fresh take that keeps the city's spirit alive. Man With No Name's 'Devil His Due' takes listeners on a Drexciyan electro journey, adding an intriguing edge. Scott Avery closes the set with 'Sxerenade' (Low-Key Seduction mix), wrapping up the compilation with a smooth, seductive vibe. Hallowed Ground is a compelling collection for any techno enthusiast.
Review: Mainrecords returns with the 'Radiation Dance' EP which is the newest outing from co-label owner Matthias Schildger. It opens with the sleek electronic lines and Kraftwerkian hypnosis of 'CH Dance' on icy rhythms and lush synth chords. 'Radiation' is a more rugged techno sound but still artful in its pads and widescreen melodic scope. There is a retro 80s feel to 'Divine Divide' while 'Rzwodzwo's Brain' birds some more buffed metal textures, tripped-out FX and jittery rhythms. Last of all is 'Datapoppers' which is a great blend of analogue kits and drums, retro-future synths and curious cosmic moods.
Review: Second Storey showcases his love of and knack for crafting sci-fi electro-futurism on this escapist new 12". Known as one of the first artists on fabric's Houndstooth label, he has also made waves on electro powerhouses Trust, Mechatronica and Frustrated Funk and is a key resident at London's underground techno and electro hub, Natural Selection. Here, Storey fuses his deep-rooted love for electro with cutting-edge sound design across five intelligent, dynamic sound system tracks that redefine the genre with lashing synths that sound like sheet-metal whips and coruscated rhythms that make you move your body.
Review: Secondo is an artist we have long been keen to hear more from so this return to vinyl is welcome indeed. It comes on a hand-stamped white label 12" in the form of 'Unlikely Companions'. This one is a cosmic deep house sound with an alien energy, crispy hits and smeared pads that bring colour and introspection. The drums are well designed to and help make this one as heady as it is cinematic. Marco Passarani's Nature remix on the flip gets a little more warped and dark with unsettling sci-fi ambiance.
Review: This is a welcome reissue of some textbook deep Detroit dub and techno. 'Verdichtung' opens up with some superb rhythms and prickly percussion, all softened by prying synth leads and smeared pads. 'Verdrangung' is just as deep with silky broken beats and more woozy, alluring pads lodging deep in your psyche. 'Einfuhlung' ups the ante with more raw and direct drums and techno leaning hi hats but still plenty of warm machine soul and 'Ersetzung' shuts down with acid-tinged lines, zippy synths and compelling, physical drum patterns.
Review: Open Channel For Dreamers is back with another essential journey into Dan Piu's extensive production archive. These cuts come under his Sensefinite alias and date back to the early '90s. The way they have been assembled makes for a superb journey into Piu's artistic evolution with four forgotten and unreleased tracks each embodying the innovation and creativity of the era. 'Manticore' is warped dub tech with a characterful bassline then 'Creation Of The Posthuman' shows the power of synth modulation to melt the mind. There's a crisp and hurried feel to 'Repto Alarm' then 'Insectoids Sighted' layers in lush ambient synth scapes to silky tech drums.
Review: Mattias Ostling returns as Rolando Simmons with the brilliant new 'Terrestrial Ultra-Doula' EP once again showcasing his signature braindance sound on Analogical Force. This four-track collection is an adventurous exploration of acid-infused rhythms that will bang on any dance floor whether a calmer back room or a more lively main room. The standout track for us is 'Multiharmony (Satyr mix)' which features soothing pads paired with lively drum machine patterns, while the title track 'Droopy (Terrestrial Ultra-Doula Mix)' blends dreamy elements with energetic rave breaks. Ostling expertly navigates the realms of rave, IDM, and techno here as he crafts lush yet fidgety beats that demonstrate his unique alchemical approach.
It's A Flesh Wound (Christopher Ledger remix) (7:35)
Review: Dubliner Noah Skelton brings a deep four-track helter-skelter to Zingiber Audio, topping up a well-travelled catalogue whose earprints are borne in the discographies of Amour, Daydream and Mayak. 'Formentario' and 'Pacer' deepen our hearts with fulsome beats n' bass, carefully constructed to manifest in the listener a looser, undammed destiny. 'It's A Flesh Wound', meanwhile, subtly balances emo-breaks and curious acid jazz, with a popout FM and dancing piano plinks proving particularly pacific, not least when set against *those* chords.
Review: Banging electrobass from Spain's Masa Series, mooting six of their roster artists for an incendiary exercise in grit and vibrancy. Having already invited a slew of artists for individual releases, the Cluster series here aims more at collectivity. All the tracks here nail the label's signature smushing of heavily heat-glued sound, moving between everything from electro to breaks, landing somewhere in the synaesthetic register of an earthen sonic purply-brown. The highlight here, though, has to be Anna Kost's 'Conjunction', which breaks this general rule through a fast dubstep-ish 150BPM exploration in nervous respiratory pad design and glance-off percs, making for a bracing potential set intro.
Review: Brian Dougans and Garry Cobain, the masterminds behind Future Sound of London, return with The Pulse EP Vol 3, a reissue of their classic work under various aliases on the Jumpin' & Pumpin' label. This highly anticipated 12" features tracks that showcase their 90s techno brilliance. Side-1 opens with Smart Systems' 'Tingler' (Four By Four mix), a dark, sinister track that channels Beltram's 'hover' sound into a hardcore rave anthem. Indo Tribe's 'Owl' (I Can See You mix) follows, hailed by fans as one of the greatest breakbeat hardcore tracks ever made, a retro-classic loaded with chunky, energetic beats and an unforgettable sample. Side-2 kicks off with Indo Tribe's 'Bite The Bullet Baby' (Jacques Reynoix mix), another gem that blends early 90s rave energy with a unique edge. The real highlight, however, is Yage's 'Calcium' (Elementary mix), which first appeared on Future Sound of London's Accelerator album. Even today, it sounds transcendental and timeless, its melodic piano lines and otherworldly ambiance continuing to win over listeners. This EP is a vital piece of underground rave history and an essential listen for fans of early techno and breakbeat hardcore.
Review: Into the fifth dimension flies UK producer Smev with a wicked cosmic acid journey of an EP. Billed as a bridge across the void into an alternate reality, we begin at the 'Tip Of The Iceberg' before plunging down below, concluding on a state of ending up happily 'Lost In The Realm'. Echoic squelch-synths abound, generously doused in reverb as we skirt and skip across atmospheric dusts of half-recalled affirmations - "destruction... believe in yourself..." - on 'Sweet Destruction', where the EP takes a darker turn. More energised, by comparison, is 'Rest Easy', which leaves us paradoxically, affectively unable to do anything but.
Review: Partystarting electro master Christian Smith, known as a longtime contributor to Drumcode, now lands on Truesoul for the first time, delivering two fresh dystopia-relishing electro-techno cuts in the form of 'Here To Stay', arriving on 12". The Tronic boss and all round techno stalwart flaunts teh groovier and more melodic side of his music personality here; 'Here To Stay' is a slick slice of robot fun, underlined by an elegant melodic underbelly, rugged electro riffs and an intergalactic vocal. Its accompaniment, 'Our Destiny', is a searing chord-led production, ideal for warm-ups or silky morning sets.
Review: Canadian electro stalwart Sneak-Thief has been off the radar for some ten years or so, but now he's back with the brilliantly titled Under The Synthfluence EP on Mondo Phase Rec. If you ever enjoyed Sneak-Thief in the past you'll be more than satisfied here as he leans in on that potent blend of EBM, Italo and machine funk with plenty of vocoder and nasty, throbbing baselines. 'All Let Go (dub)' is an unbridled party monster, while 'Der Herzenbrescher' has a smouldering, bombastic synth-pop feel which you'll be hard-pressed to resist. If you thirst for that turn-of-the-millennium electro sound, you'll be very happy with this record.
Review: Hess Public has not been in a hurry to put out new music having debuted back in 2021 and only now has it hit release number three, but the last two sold out in quick time and the second surely will too. It is a collaborative affair that sees French artists Arnaud is Dancing, Solma and remixer Maelit share the production duties. All four of these cuts are punchy deep tech with a penchant for progressive melodies as on 'Sugar Snake' which takes you deep into the cosmos. 'Stomatal Conductance' is riddled with bacterial sounds and the Maelita remix of 'Incomplete Integration' is a fluttering and cut of loopy, deft breakbeats.
Review: London's Lirica Archives hear two acid/electro heads go head-to-head on a new EP themed after a nominal, demented festival. Andy Somoza and Aka Juanjo are two producers from Bolivia and therein lies the four-track rub: a slickly unsettling analog house record flecked with South American flavour and fervour. With two sides shared equally between artists, Somoza handles peaktime with rubbery basses and single-hit vocal ones, while Juanjo burrows deeper into the groove, with growling basses and swarthily shadowed vocal samples arranged longitudinally across 'The Unknown' and 'Constante'.
Spectrums Data Forces - "Form 900" (Umwelt remix) (5:32)
C-System - "Mind Restore" (5:48)
7H3F4M1LY - "7053M4R14" (6:20)
Review: "Emergency protocol activated. Evacuate your homes and immediately go to the bunker for your safety. The invasion has begun!" Spectrum Data Forces makes a blistering return to New Flesh, fifteen years after first touching down on the label with Exodus and Reencarnacion. 'Trinity' hears Jose Maria Moreno Vega reshuffle his arsenal, securing salted-earth electro and mecha-funk fallows across four tracks and one remix. 'form900' launches the A in full arpeggiated mode, its high-velocity synth lines and crunching drums lensed through SDF's retrofuturist sound-and-vision. Umwelt tears into the remix with typical ferocity, twerking analogue gnarls into a thumping, break-laced payload. On the flip, Moreno dons his C-System alias for 'Mind Restore', a pummelling techno cut streaked with eerie pads and flecks of IDM. '7H3 F4M1LY', finally, under the 7053M4R14 moniker, hears the whole crew round things off in wiry, off-grid style.
Review: Spooky Wooky return with a newly nourished Pandora's box worth of tunes, welcoming four new producers each for their own scare, as well as an opening fourfold fright. Joining forces only under the name Spooky Wooky, 'Cauchemard Ambulant' puns on the French term for "waking nightmare" terming it a "walking nightmare", with fidgety, motile synth snaps and pops aligned alongside bow can scrape samples and strange monstrous gurgles. Our faves among the solo cuts have to be Lazer Man's 'Fuck The Bass' and Gogo Gadgeto's 'FREAK', both of which seem to convey a sort of crazed elvish otherworld.
Review: Zombie technology sounds to ooze and overflow with battery acid, as US producer John Spring reissues four future-facing, yet technically millennial-made tracks for Pitched Peach. Produced in the early 2000s by the minimal master-don, real name Johannes Mai, 'FMMF' and its three follow-up tracks prove the durability of an 80s industrial and EBM sound, and that it cannot go extinct: especially when mixed impressively with the tempo and sensibility of tricky minimal techno. 'Traum.a' adds to this with globs of kick, power-up riser and bass stab, exegeting a forward marches reminiscent of platform gaming. Falcko Brockseiper's remix is the only melodic cut, highlighting Spring's advantage taken over an intriguing homophonic happenstance: "traum, oder trauma?"
Review: Ste Roberts, under his STEDIT alias, has been building a reputation for taking beloved classics and flipping them on their head. This latest release is no exception. Two synthpop anthems, once the defining sound of an era, have been reimagined, reworked, and unleashed across dancefloors all summer. It's not about the big-room bombast or predictable edits that cater to easy thrills. No, Roberts is more nuanced than thaticrafting something that feels at once familiar and alien. The first rework, Depeche Mode's 'It's No Good,' is a masterclass in restraint. The track's dark undertones remain, but Roberts pulls it into a gritty, subterranean space. It's a slow burn, keeping the tension tight while the vocals float above a relentless, pulsing beat. Then comes the flipiHuman League's 'Don't You Want Me.' What was once pure pop joy is now something altogether darker, more elusive. Roberts has stripped it back, laying bare the iconic vocals against a stripped-down, funky groove that simmers beneath the surface.
Review: Back in November 2022, Steffi dropped her The Red Hunter album in dedication to her mother. It was a typically fierce offering from the Dutch talent and now three of its tracks get reworks by some of her finest pers. The 12" on Candy Mountain opens with 'Irreversible Cessation' (Convextion remix) which is a rumbling and futuristic techno twister, then 'Individuals From All Walks' (Rosati Remix) picks up the pace with some high speed dub techno that powers through the night in hypnotic fashion. Last off all, 'North Facing Shade' (Tracing Xircles remix) is a broken beat excursion with more astral synth sounds and a smooth overall aesthetic that is utterly absorbing.
Review: The ever-excellent Ilian Tape label regular Stenny's 'Onda' comes as a limited one-time pressing "square wave homage" on 180g vinyl and as ever with this artist both tracks are devastatingly heavy and perfect for ultimate dance floor destruction. The title track takes up the A-side and is a crisp and snappy breakbeat underpinned by vast plunging bass notes and detailed with subtle electric fizzes and fills that are all-conquering. 'Quadra' is no less direct with its mix of physical low ends and microscopic details all warping mind and body in equal measure. Do not sleep on this one.
Review: Ratiug Recordings presents a new record with Uruguayans Elias Sternin and Nicolas Arin in tow; it is their fifth to date. Touted as four hypnotising tunes set for puppetted dancefloors, Sternin and Arin procure two tough-stuff yet eerie possessors each, releasing them all in a single sweet bowl in time for Halloween. Sternin's 'Reina' and 'Venemo' contrast one other by way of pinched lead synths and boomy basses thrumming under; both claw at an early Detroit techno style and yet still manage to tease a glowing vivid goo from its otherwise mechanistic productive veins. Arin moves things much more noble gaseous, irradiating light trails of ensembled top synth against heads-down nodder kicks and basses.
Review: Brazilian electro provocateurs STK have been carving out a distinctive niche with their stripped back machine funk on their own Sudd label, dropping two quality EPs last year. They're at it once again with this fresh crop of workouts from the Drexciyan school of electronics, offering three original tracks which aren't afraid to head into more experimental pastures. Meanwhile Unique Reason steps up for a remix of 'Stoned' which holds true to the title's vibe while offering a different slant on the STK sound.
Review: Ilian Tape is back with a new entry into their ITX Series and as always it comes with four interesting but unhelpful keywords from the Munich crew themselves: Mind-expanding Spaceship Customer Support. The music sure is cosmic and mind-expanding from Struciton, who opens with the thrilling breakbeats of 'Just' which are wired up with fizzing synths and whirring machine noises. 'Flip' then gets busy with a nimble rhythm and bright, pixelated synth sequences and spangled percussion. 'Givven' strips things back a little to a more deep and dubbed-out but still vital groove while 'Sunray' is a mind-melting deep space trip. Unique as always, this one.
Review: Lithuanian producer Subliminal debuts on Distrito 91 with a dynamic six-track EP crafted purely for the dancefloor. It blends electro and techno across a series of raw analogue soundscapes that were all recorded at a studio in Kaunas. Each track boasts driving four-on-the-floor drums and resonant basslines as well as acid tones and lush pads all created using hardware instruments. From the jostling drums and synth tension of 'Inside The Wave' to the frosty jack of 'Submarine Acid' via the glistening celestial melodies and jagged synth lines of 'Lost Together' this is one potent EP.
Review: London's Lonewolf are an unstoppable machine, unerring in their ability to output solo artists' EPs while juggling outputting huger year-end compilations. This latest from Suicide Aftr 7 is a higher-calibre acid techno stirrer, doing a rather sophisticated justice to the otherwise broad aesthetic that is "eerie atmospheres and mystic soundscapes". 'Double Speak' pairs naive vocals with strobing lead lines, while 'Tomorrow's Past' darkens the proceedings by way of descendingly gothic minor tones, before 'Rubber Lover' flattens the mood through classic Chi-claps and breathy vocals.
Review: It's time to clock up more Air Miles here as the small but well-formed label invites Supreems for another excursion into emotional yet robust breakbeats. 'Being' floats above the dancefloor on perfect frictionless drum loops that lurch to and fro and 'Touch' is a deep space trip with pensive cosmic pads and delightfully delicate but dynamic breaks. There is more weight and crispy texture to the zoned out sounds of 'Running Back', then 'Soft Spring' brings a heart aching female vocal to a loose cluster of beats, breaks, hits and churchy chords. 'Yunnan' shuts things down with a dark yet alluring energy. There is great craft in these cuts as well as plenty of dancefloor clout.
Review: Three South American artists - SV3, Trajano, Sebastian - converge alongside French maestro TC-80 on a new, gung-ho vinyl release from Coqueto. Reflecting a para-militant mood, from 'Armament Belico' to 'Hipnosis Global', hi-tech metanoia is balanced with a crude militancy here, reflecting an aggressive permutation of trance. Closer 'Desapariciones' (from Spanish, "disappearances"), we round out on a scathing but ghostly judgment call, with gasping transitions and tanky poundings.
Review: Elements Electric is a brand new label out of Dublin that kicks off with revered local talent Peter Sweeney who has also worked as Rustal on labels such as 393 Records and Diffuse Reality. His delightful electro, techno and house fusion sound brings plenty of key Detroit references with it and opener 'Celestial Flame' features pitch-bent acid streaks over kinetic drums. 'Love Not Lost' is another one laced with the sound of the 303 and has glistening celestial melodic details over deep drums. 'Motor City Man' is a classic Mid-Western cut with turbocharged drums and future synth soul while 'Aurora Lake' shows a more melodic side with nostalgic synths intertwining with each other over jacked up beats.
Review: Matt White and Paul Baines make a welcome studio return, dusting off their collection of synths and drum machines to resume their previously fruitful and, until recently, paused Synaptic Voyager collaboration. The Sheffield-based duo's work draws upon the Steel City's vast electronic music heritage, and their latest effort, arriving on the always-reliable Cyphon Recordings, is a masterclass of emotive electro futurism. The title track sets the EP off on the strongest possible footing, with lush pads and gorgeously evocative melodies looped over crisp drums and thick analogue bass. The growling funk bass of 'Lonely Promontory' combines with blissed-out synths and jagged rhythms, while the alien bleeps and driving kick of 'Stellar Engine' power through hypnotic harmonics and rolling bass. 'Once Exposed' adds a layer of Motor City grit to the sonic palette, before the 4/4 thrust and arpeggiated bass of 'Cognitive Network' drives smoke machines and strobes for a nocturnal warehouse workout.
Review: Acquit Records takes it back to its roots with ACQR00 marking a new beginning with Synaptic Voyager. This artist always cooks up Detroit-influenced techno and house tracks that ooze sophisticated synth craft and absorbing atmospheres. This fantastic seven-track double 12" features more club-ready stunners like 'Auditory Imagery' which marry disuse chords with tightly programmed beats. 'Echo Location' has punchy analogue beats softened with widescreen chords straight from the Motor City and 'Preordained Destiny' goes slower, with percolating bass funk and wispy, glowing keys slowing worming their way into the cosmos.
Review: The newly formed Shades Of Blur label comes out blazing with this electro and new wave firework, an EP drawing on various subgenres like electroclash, punk and nu-romantic. Each track here explores strong visions of classic sounding bands - 'Plama 1' is pure electro post-punk that infuses a bit of EBM and techno while 'Plama 2' has echoes of New Order's Confusion. We especially like 'Plama 3' with the slower electro funk that sounds like a mix of Severed Heads, Chris & Cosey and Throbbing Gristle and 'Plama 4' sounds like some kind of YMO outtake. If these are any sign of what's to come, than Shades Of Blur will be a label to look out for.
Review: Cititrax's first Tracks 12" sampler did a good job in showcasing material from some of the Brooklyn-based label's favourite contemporary producers. This follow-up, arriving only a few short months after the first, aims to do the same. Returning for his second appearance, Tsuzing kicks things off with the razor-sharp shuffle of "Nonlinear War", whose intoxicating electronics and wild synth lines recall Brown Album-era Orbital, before London-based L/F/D/M takes a trip into bleak techno territory with the acid-laden "Mouth Holes". Flip for Silent Servant's deliciously grandiose, muscular electro-disco workout "The Touch", and the clanking industrial percussion, EBM attitude and humming electro beats of Maelstrom's "Lithium".
Review: While most party DJs lament their wedding gigs while lauding their fun cool jobs, Wedding Acid Group - the openers of this latest V/A by Undersound Recordings - marks a point of going beyond mere cultural Stockholm syndrome, not just making light of our matrimonial masters, but redirecting those cheugy energies into a killer beatific-corrosive intro.AThen come three more riveting uplifts of a blissful and bouncey variety, from 'Do As I Say' by Albert Ess to 'Singlestranded' by Systelman to 'Love2' by J. Mono, seguing from industrial anvil clankage to a nightbus-bound house closer.
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