Back catalogue: Techno (Alles)

Review: Astonishingly, 18 years has now passed since Gilles Aiken - probably more celebrated these days for his work under the alternate Desert Sky alias - first offered up off-kilter tech-house tracks as Edward. Last year, he impressed with a wonderfully deep and unctuous EP on deep house imprint Smallville; here, he makes his bow on another must-check label, Kalahari Oyster Cult. In keeping with the imprint's love of all things trippy and otherworldly, opener 'Tentacle' sees him wrap chiming lead lines, psychedelic synth motifs, weird noises and layers of percussion to a chunky, locked-in house groove. Aiken then goes off piste via a skewed, druggy and at times dreamy tech-house remix of Trybet's 'Moodsetter'. Arguably best of all though is impossible-to-pigeonhole flip-side 'Dr Octo', which is immersive, unsettling, tactile and eccentric in equal measure.

Review: Nicole and Troy's latest collaboration sharpens their vision for Cath Records, the Berlin-based label they launched as a home for boundary-pushing techno. Their stripped-back but potent style thrives on precision, drawing from deep club lineage while keeping an eye on the future. 'Out Of Control' is a lean, tunnelling workout, its tension amplified by Z@p, the Uruguayan producer whose percussive, swing-heavy take on techno has earned him a cult following. His remix reshapes the track with a ghostly, skipping momentum. 'Woo Woo' flexes a rubbery, low-end groove, built for peak-time propulsion, while 'Fractals' twists through warped, off-kilter sequencing. A sharp, high-pressure release that reinforces the duo's deft touch.

Review: The third in Exitus Records' lightyear spanning V/A series, we again hear six new, boundary-pushing new ones from six satellite artists of the present day Berlin techno scene. Opening chord cascade 'Figure Eight' by Pink Concrete contrasts sharply to tunnelling techno-body suite 'The Dream Of Motion' by Krow, signalling several more tuff propulsions to come: most notably Sayid K's 'No Lights', a balmy nightscape from the newcomer, where digital zaps initially double up as hi-hats.

Review: If you like it deep and dubby, keep reading. Poro, Nicholas Barnes, Tm Shuffle and Monoder all work to explore exactly those types of sounds on this tenth outing for the Finnish label Vuo. Opener 'Moysiys Strip' is impossible cavernous with its rolling bass and languid chord structures, then 'Tommottos' rolls serenely on frictionless kicks and undulating bass. It's smooth like chocolate and infused with real machine soul. Last but not least, this EP of quite artists and devastating depth comes to a close with 'Limited Value'. Smeared, grainy chords arc like windscreen wipers over deft little percussive details and broad, rolling bass. Head perfecting.

Review: This installment presents a trio of deep and dubby techno cuts, each one meticulously crafted to transport the listener to a realm of spaciousness and hypnotic grooves. Nicolas Barnes' 'Limited Value' sets the stage, its subtle melodies and echoing textures creating a sense of vastness and introspection, much like a journey into the depths of a cavernous cathedral. Poro's 'Moysiys Strip' builds upon this foundation, its dubby atmospherics and mesmerising rhythms enveloping the listener in a hypnotic soundscape, reminiscent of a late-night drive through a desolate cityscape. Tm Shuffle & Monoder's 'Tammottos' adds a touch of energy to the mix with a pulsating bassline and intricate percussion interlocking to create a captivating groove that's both hypnotic and propulsive, like a heartbeat pulsing through the darkness. With its focus on atmosphere and sonic depth, this 12" is a must-have for those who appreciate the more introspective and evocative side of techno.

Review: Sub Basics is back on his own fledgling label Temple of Sound - but under a new alias. As Tommy Basics he leads into a fresh house sound but still serves it up with plenty of his textbook bass-heavy low ends. 'Latitude' is a bubbly groover with dusty drums and fleshy basslines that get you moving and warmed up. 'Longitude' is even deeper, with smeared dub chords and woody percussive hits peppering the laid-back and inviting groove. Two stylish sounds from this versatile producer.

Review: Passing Currents aims to stand out from the predictable by offering a deeply human touch in its music. This five-tracker backs that up by melding academic expertise with dancefloor intuition and the A-side features txted by Phil Moffa remixed by Yamaha DSP coder okpk after they met during doctoral studies, they flip technical mastery into bass-driven energy while Atrevido' fuses California warmth with analogue electro, Josh Dahlberg's rediscovered 2009 electro gem, 'Ass On The Floor', still bangs and Detroit's Kevin Reynolds delivers hypnotic grooves before Hazmat Live pushes boundaries with a sound rooted in soulful, experimental innovation.