Back catalogue: Techno (Alles)

Review: Alt-dub never quite found its mainstream moment, but for those attuned to its intricacies, it remains a defining undercurrent in electronic music. Unlike its dubstep cousin, which relied on aggressive basslines and in-your-face drops, alt-dub takes a more measured approach, focusing on subtlety and complexity. It's about crafting a vibe, not smashing through it. San Francisco-based artist Federsen has been a pivotal figure in this niche for over a decade, using vintage tape delays and analogue gear to build immersive, textured soundscapes. His work with labels like Silent Season, Greyscale, Lempuyang and Ohm Series perfectly embodies how dub's elements of space, decay and resonance can be transformed into hypnotic, dancefloor-driven rhythms that unfold slowly. Tracks like 'Dub Trail' and 'Silent Whispers' reflect Federsen's signature approach: slow, deliberate builds, where the bassline is felt more than heard, and the subtle shifts in atmosphere draw us into the groove. It's not about immediate impact, but rather about crafting a space where the music breathes and where the transitions are felt as much as they are heard. 'Echoes In The Void' pushes this idea even further, with its dense, evolving layers of sound, while 'Lunar Dub' offers a more stripped-back, meditative experience. Through Federsen's work, the genre stands as an exploration of depth and atmosphere, where every moment of silence and every drawling transition plays an integral part in the experience.

Review: Glispy Records makes a strong vinyl debut with a four-track showcase of Georgia's deepening electronic talent pool. Tbilisi producer Reshio opens with 'Electronic Mind', a high-octane blend of punchy electro and precise sequencing, setting the tone with clinical flair. Toke follows with 'System 32', a rolling groove machine laced with dubby atmospheres and smart modulationiweighty but agile. On the flip, DJ Astrobee injects some swagger into proceedings with the rugged, percussive funk of 'Elvis The Gator', full of low-end heft and filtered bite. Label co-founder Levan Grdzelidze rounds off with '84 Slave', an acidic slow-burner that builds intensity through tightly-wound layers. A confident and well-curated start to the Glispy vinyl era.

Review: Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but currently based in Amsterdam, Augusto Taito debuts on Renegade Methodz with a fierce techno EP that cements his rising status. Taito brings the intensity and rawness here with pounding rhythms that build on solid previous releases on Mord and Tar Hallow. Opener 'Rampage' is all tom-laced techno pressure that never quits, 'Endless Flow' twitches with sci-fi edge over thudding drums and 'Intuitive Force' gets dark and menacing. 'Arena' is bold, stripped-down, and built for dark rooms and heavy systems. With a sound that's unmistakably his, Taito delivers techno at its most uncompromising here.

Review: Electric Ballroom proudly introduces Tommahawk, a rising force from Germany's next generation of peak-progressive house producers. 'Unfolding' lends a heart-in-mouth pre-drop choir motif to an antecedent stab centrepiece, whose vestiges linger long after the refrain tapers off. Label head Thomas Schumacher remixes the track in airier and floatier tones, meanwhile, creating an abiding minimal progressive ballast to contrast the A-side's intense eschatology.

Review: Matti Turunen is no stranger to Vortex Traks as he had previously dropped music here and appeared on the label's very first release and also later as part of Morphology. This, however, is his solo debut and it's a classy exploration of melodic electro. 'Tharsis' kicks off with lithe synths and sheet metal sounds flapping in a stiff cosmic wind. 'Pavonis' is deeper and more heady, 'Arsia' is built on neck-snapping drum patterns and 'Ascraeus' rides on plaintive pads. Last but not least is a collaboration with Dora Gray, 'Daedalia', which is an ambient-laced delight.

Review: Portuguese producer Trikk returns with a five-track suite that blurs the boundaries between emotional depth and dancefloor precision. It's a new release built for impact and flow, threading through tempo shifts, genre collisions and global voices while holding fast to a focused, tactile sound. 'Rigor' kicks things off with peak-time weight and carefully sculpted drama i chest-rattling bass and stabs of unexpected piano beauty. 'Raiva (feat MEUTE)' brings brassy propulsion into the fold, fusing live energy with Trikk's slick production touch. 'Fortuna', with Kenyan vocalist Sofiya Nzau, hits a lighter, warmer stride, evoking open-air euphoria. On the flip, 'Luxo' plays with friction i industrial textures balanced with bursts of melody i before closing track 'Sagrado' delivers a radiant, sunrise moment. It's the clearest summation of the release's intent: to move, to build, to glow. Rooted in club energy but alive with personality, this one shows Trikk at his most expansive and assured.