Review: Since returning to action in 2016 after a seven-year break, 1990s techno survivor Lee Renacre AKA 100 Hz has released some of the best music of his career. This fine four-tracker marks the long-serving Londoner's first outing on Romanian imprint Amphia, who are best known for serving up sparse, minimalistic tech-house. As you'd expect, there's a slightly fuller sound here, though sonically it's as pleasingly druggy and mind-mangling as much of the imprint's output. Renacre brilliantly flits between trippy, arpeggio-driven, house-tempo techno (the otherworldly 'Machines of May'), dubstep-influenced UK bass/techno fusion ('Gadget', which echoes the ethos of his early 100 Hz releases with James Chapman), intergalactic tech-house ('Dark as Night'), and frankly filthy low-end wobblers ('Swiss').
Review: Brixton-based David Agrella returns after the success of his Baby Ford-remixed 'Modulo 02', with two tracks and a nifty remix of each to boot. 'I Felt It Coming' is a heady peak time track, with Underground Resistance-style drum machine handclaps and an addictive synth hook and all the suspense and drama of a Stephen King horror tale. Domenico Rosa's remix turns that frown upside down, converting it into a perky, cheeky and altogether lighter workout that nevertheless will keep feet on the dancefloor. 'Reflexion Nocturna' (Priori remix) kicks off the B-side with fizzling dub techno stealth, subtly embellished with a smidgeon of 'Funky Drummer' breakbeat, while Agrella's original closes proceedings with head down, echo-set Leftfield-style prog house skank. Not for nothing is this chap known as one of the techno scene's fastest rising new names.
Review: Lempuyang is a label you will know and respect for its high quality stream of immersive dub techno and now the man behind it, Alastair Kelly, debuts a new label with none other than revered UK techno mainstay Ibrahim Alfa Jnr. He opens up with 'Component A' which is a moody melange of slow, broken dub beats and fizzing synths. There is further experimentation on 'Untitled B2 1' which pairs a churning dub rhythm with naive and innocent melodies and lots of li-fi static. 'Entangled' ups the ante with the suggestion of a fast paced rhythm through a skeletal groove and the flip brings broken beat dub weight, meaning and percussive bass with a 2-step swagger then deep introspection on the closer. A classy EP that suggests this label is one well worth watching.
Review: Minimal production duo Antraum are back with 'Omakase 004', their latest for the eponymous label. Through chirpy voxxes, street-slicking beats and furtive steps-down-into-the-exclusive-club, we'd've half expected this EP to have wafted up from a manhole cover in the dead of New York. Yes, this one seems to portray a world in which tech house, not modal jazz, is the sound and site of rule-flouting lasciviousness. 'Mata' fidgets away into an intuitive kind sophisti-trance, calling elegant trinkets and bespoke retro internal designs to mind. 'Dojo', meanwhile, moves ever so slightly martial-artistic, its various vocal chops and beeps resembling the various instructions and entreatments uttered by the tech house sensei.
Review: Apoena is the alias of Henrique Casanova, a DJ and producer from Brazil who heads up Allnite Music which presents his latest effort titled Oceanos Extintos. The mesmerising dub tech house of opener 'Eu Lembro' calls to mind classic Thibideau brothers, leading in to the frozen borders of the title track which will engulf you in its cavernous sound. Over on the flip, the steely and pummelling 'Trabalho Bracal' is by far the fiercest cut on offer, and the collaboration with Zenta Skai 'Fosseis' takes a u-turn on this trippy and contemplative electro jam.
Review: Washington DC's James Bangura really stands out from the rest with his truly singular take on electronic music that's appeared of late on labels like Incienso, World Building and Holding Hands. His latest comes courtesy of legendary German imprint !K7 Titled 'Harrar', a frantic and hyper aware experiment in off-the-grid post dubstep that will totally flip your mind. Over on the second side he goes for something more straightforward in the form 'Witness Dub' an emotive deep house cut that's perfect for the late night.
Review: James Bangura steps into the ring with his new Shadow Boxing EP which is named in honour of his grandfather, Carroll Daniel Smith, who boxed for the US Army in WWII. It's a punchy take on tech house from the off, with 'Hazy Recall (Airdrop mix)''s off-grid beats swinging in from all directions with same the potency as a Mike Tyson uppercut. 'Drown It Out' has a garage swing to it as it slips and sides as fluidly as Mayweather's defence and 'Shadow Boxing' floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. Last of all is 'Analyze, Socialize' which will have you on the ropes and sweating in no time.
Review: Deeper shades of a finely sifted pedigree. Irish label Appian Sounds, helmed up by Al Blayney, champion only winnowed techno sounds, not threshed. A welcome international team huddle in, with these six artists from locales as far-flung as Amsterdam and Valencia contributing the likes of 'Tsuneo' and 'Persist'. The tunes verge melodic as they move through and beyond jankiness, distending die-cut acids and subtly synthetic humanisations, especially in the percussion department. 'Fuego' is the zen roshi's choice, its gaffered, glass-smithed pads topping off a naturalistic percussive surging forward, one best experienced with your eyes closed.
Review: Rising Boorloo artist Beltrac shows why he is so well thought of here with five tracks that deliver a dynamic collision of sleek, dub-infused minimal rollers reminiscent of the late '90s and early 2000s tech-house but paired with high-energy drum-driven explorations. After the bubbly synths of 'Tek Code' comes the more direct and crisp 'VIP Section (Otherworld mix)', then Side B features a standout remix of 'Echo Response' by Eora's dub master Command D who transforms the wonky bassline of the original into a hazy, after-hours dub techno gem. The meticulous production really elevates these irresistible grooves.
Review: Joey Beltram's second EP for R&S Records, which was originally released in 1991, is not as celebrated as his first, which famously included the peerless (and hugely influential) 'Energy Flash'. Yet, as this reissue proves, it remains a perfect distillation of the New York producer's breathlessly heavy, industrial-tinged and distinctively intense brand of techno. For proof, check 'My Sound', where raw, rave-igniting, Belgian-style lead lines dance atop a typically stomping, bass-heavy groove, and the fiendishly nasty, breakbeat-sporting, industrial-influenced mind-mangle that is 'Sub-Bass Experience'. Elsewhere, 'The Reflex' is a deeper and more psychedelic interpretation of Beltram's trademark sound, while 'The Melody' is a bustling breakeat techno shuffler built upon deep organ bass, occasional electro beats and sparkling lead lines.
Review: We shall never apologise for our love for the work of Steve O'Sullivan. His contributions to the world of dub techno are second to none. They are also mad consistent both in style and quality which means they never age. Here he steps up to Lempuyang with his Blue Channel alias alongside Jonas Schachner aka Another Channel for more silky smooth fusions of authentic dub culture and Maurizo-style techno deepness. Watery synths, hissing hi-hats with long trails and dub musings all colour these dynamic grooves. They're cavernous and immersive and frankly irresistible and the sort of tracks that need to be played loud in a dark space. In that context, you'll never want them to end.
Review: Boaksi's debut EP on Seb Wildblood's all my thoughts label, titled Keep Movin', features the Zurich-based producer's talent for crafting emotionally resonant electronic music. The title track sets the tone with creamy pads, impactful percussion, and subtle dub techno influences, creating a deep and dynamic groove. 'Didn't I' follows with a beautiful, progressive melody and minimalist vocals that evoke a sense of yearning and romanticism. 'Running Out Of Time' takes a more introspective turn, featuring distant textures and soft, distorted pads over stripped-back percussion. Finally, 'Wanna Be With You' closes the EP with sweet soundscapes, elemental drums, climatic chords, and a playful synth arpeggio around an unforgettable vocal hook. Boaksi demonstrates a keen understanding of atmosphere and emotion throughout the EP, making Keep Movin' a engaging and fun record.
Review: Cabinet is a highly cultured label for those who appreciate classy tech and house. Burden is next up with a special limited edition eco-vinyl pressing. On the A-side is 'Time 2 Play' the nice an airy, smooth and frictionless 'Time 2 Play' which is expertly designed, full of atmosphere and deft melodic hooks. 'Music Makers' brings a different kind of vibe with more wooden percussive details, a sultry spoken word weaving in and out and more minimal tech drums all serving to move mind, body and soul.
Review: Cult minimal label Cabinet is back with another vital two tracker, this time from Brudan. It kicks off with the glitchy beats and silky, warming, machine soul of 'Time 2 Play' with its silky grooves soon to lock you into a heady vibe. On the flip is the more stripped back 'Music Makers' which is a little more minimal and abstract in its designs but is just as much of a seductive sound that worms its way deep into your brain. Both of these are tasteful tools for discerning selectors.
Review: Groovin Italy landed a monumental reissue for the label with C'hantal's 'The Realm'. Originally released way back in 1990 on the dance and early Brooklyn based Powertraxx records. Staying true to the original release, it offers the 'Love In D Minor' mix but does one better in tucking in the Acapella version to the A-side so the B-side 2 versions have a little more room to breathe. The added bonus has to be putting on the more rare "Wild Club mix' to the party along with the original 'Rave Mix'. All and all, a very packed reissue of some of the best versions of the track, all on one record. This might just hold the number one spot for best techno reissue so far of 2024.
Review: French producer Caim impresses us all with their newest EP for Autodidact, 'Nebula'. Whether or not he is self-taught, we could, regardless, believe it to be true, judging just by the sound of this EP alone. Evidently undeterred by the fear of loss of vim in loss of speed, this glassy, prismatic minimal/progressive techno EP gets progressively slower in tempo, beginning on the rousing ghost-scapes of 'Space Cadet' before moving into the waterier Atlantean wonk-chugs of 'Nebula' and 'Crystal Fox'. All three tracks demonstrate the best of Caim's ability to craft dispersive, refractive soundscapes - as if its raw constituent synth parts had been granularly "shone" through a brilliant, many-faced diamond - and still fit them between otherwise gnarly sets of beats.
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: The Mysticisms label welcomes Coral D aka Duncan Stump for a debut outing here that marks the first new music to be part of the ongoing and most excellent Dubplate series. This artist has a long history of crafting "deep dub electronic swing" in his roles in Mock & Toof, FX Mchm and his 6000 Degrees project. This one finds him bringing some dub reggae influences as 'Dissolves' is built on a chugging rhythm with smeared chords. 'DR 55' is then a masterfully laidback digi-dub groove that warps space and time and so leaves you utterly hypnotised.
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.
Review: Deadbeat, the Montreal-based dub techno maestro, returns to Echocord with a trio of immersive and hypnotic tracks. 'Pressure Double Down' showcases Deadbeat's signature sound, a blend of dub-infused techno and minimal aesthetics that has captivated listeners for over two decades. 'Too Much Pressure' is a 15-minute odyssey through intricate percussion, dubbed-out stabs and psychedelic vocals, its subtly unfurling layers and nuanced dynamism creating a captivating sonic experience. 'Double Bubble' follows with a delicate interplay of chord melodies, sub-bass tones and a crunchy analogue rhythm section, its hypnotic groove drawing the listener into a world of sonic exploration. 'Rattle The Roof Down' closes out the EP with a heavy dose of dub reggae bass, its spacey delays and murky swells adding a layer of hypnotic depth.
Review: Sating minimal techno flows, Bondage Records preface their latest release with the phrase "next up". It's implied that, by sampling and cycling through many a novel artistic talent, their label becomes an unstoppable assembly line of feline sonics. Frankfurt producer and DJ Sascha Dive is next up, adding to an incredible daisy-wreath of 12"s put out since early 2005. 'I Was Deep In My Past Life' hears Dive dive back into one of his many pre-incarnate bygones via extra-mile sound synthesis and design, the resultant sound of which evokes an undulant, blobby time-tunnel. 'Dub Chronicles No7', meanwhile, has been thoroughly transient-maximised, with a snappy drum buss envelope uppercutting the technic beats like automations of an iron fist.
Review: The Aniara label out of Sweden has always come at things from its own sideways perspective whether dealing in house, techno, or something in between. This new two track 12" allows different artists to take care of one side each, beginning with DJ Marathon's 'Track 1.' It is the sort of breezy, balmy cut that encourages your mind to wander amongst the stars as you get lost in the pulsing deep house beats. Ebende's 'Elevate' picks up the pace but remains a dubby delight, with warm, molten chords rippling out to infinity and cuddly kicks carrying you to a mindful place.
Review: Eris Drew and Octo Octa are one of the hottest couples in dance music. They perfectly embody the modern way which is to make music that is diverse and inclusive, unafraid of wearing its heart on its sleeve and never too far away from damn good fun. Their transcendental ecstatic rave sounds have brought countless dance floors together all over the world, not least fabric. The London club's in house label return the favour by putting out this limited curacao coloured 12" with one track from each of the US artists. Drew's 'Day After A Night With U' opens up with real house warmth and Octo Octa's 'Stars & Water' on the flip is equally deep and delicious.
Review: The Piranha label rolls out its third offering here and it is some high class and heady dub techno excellence from Dub Fu Masters. It is their version of Son of Abe's 'Mr Frosty' that opens up with some psychedelic synths worming their way through rolling beats as acid lines bring texture. Q3's 'NJB' (vs dub Fu Masters) has a filthyTwo Lone Swordsman style bassline underlining snappy drum hits while a sultry sax line also comes in to make for a tight, original sound. Dub Fu Masters then shut down with 'Herb Was Created' which is a menacing and low-slung dub cut with plenty of reverb and another dirty and brilliant bassline.
Review: Dutch artist Frenk Dublin is evidently a master of minimalism and sublimation, with his new EP for Echo Ltd. here somehow managing to convey abyssal levels of depth, all while not seeming to reveal too much or indulge too many complex parts. It's this paradox that rests at the heart of dub techno; like dubstep, the trick is to emphasise weight and space, while layering things subtly enough not to betray the mystery. It's a well-deserved release for the esteemed label, following up priors on Dub Communication and Planet Rhythm. The most polished gem? 'Static Dub', which uniquely blends both high and low chord stabs, and gets them to take up wholly different rhythm- and freqspace.
Review: Leading Romanian minimal proponent Dubtil is packed with some literally and metaphorically heavyweight wax via the Playedby label out of his homeland. 'I' kicks off with lush under-lapping grooves and silky pads that mesh perfectly with the lithe bass. It's loose body music followed by 'II', a darker cut with snaking and paranoid bass and crispy hits pinging off the groove. 'III' brings more layers of symphonic sound over tight, pinging kicks that meander onwards and sink you into a meditative state. 'IV' closes out with a more sparse and eerie vibe, occasional hits and lazy dub vibes that cast your mind free.
Review: The good folks at Baroque Sunburst are back with a 12th EP that once again takes minimal and tech house into new realms. Jay Duncan is at the buttons and 'Bitten Dream' opens up with dark moody and abstract sound swirling around a cosmic world. 'Via Tekh' is another out-there sound with beautiful ambient pads and warped, sparse bass keeping you afloat. 'Shrine' keeps the sophisticated sounds coming with more deft designs and original drum sounds and 'Catharsis' then closes down with a smooth and absorbing fusion of synths and drums from a reduced palette.
Review: Label boss El Prevost makes a welcome return to No Speakers after something of a break. Thankfully the quality levels remain high here as he kicks off with 'Catastrophizing', a brilliantly bass-heavy cut with broken beats to make you sweat. On the flip, 'Landing' has a more inward sense of reflection with its fizzing synths and deep space atmospheres making an indelible mark. Last of all, the magic of Detroit looms large with a superb remix by Motor City mainstay Kyle Hall. His version of 'Landing' brings some jazzy melodic vibes and one of his trademark deep house and bumping grooves. Another essential 12" from No Speakers.
Review: We're not yet familiar with FM therapy as a psychotherapeutic modality, but we'd sure as hell like to try it. Producer Elias, welcomed for the first time here to the Ranges label, offers up a sampler of this as yet esoteric, but sure-to-become-popular aural masseuse's technique. Admittedly, it doesn't sound far off dub techno; opening with the rainsoaked, padded piner 'Aquatic', it's as if we've entered a parlour doubling up as a humid human greenhouse, with palm plants on the inside and a backlit rainforest vista on the outside. Follow-ups 'Red Lantern' and 'Severe' go further into the dub techno mode, but the latter is especially interesting for its fusion with jukey sonics; finally, the titular 'FM Therapy' rounds things off with a neat return to crackle and ricochet.
Anthony Georges Patrice - "Easy To Love" (Tunnel Vision mix) (9:50)
Review: Anthony Georges Patrice's Ausblick label has trod a fine path over the course of its first five releases and the good work continues on its sixth outing which is a new various artists affair. It is Berlin based Ephem who kicks off with 'Dizzy' and all its bumpy beast and raw perc, then Koln's Hidden Sequence follows with 'Optical Drive' that is more stripped back and powered by warming sub bass. Anthony Georges Patrice himself then completes the hat trick with 'Easy To Love' (Tunnel Vision Mix) which over ten sublime minutes brings some more airy, double doit flavoured and has already been getting plays from Mosaic boss Steve O'Sullivan.
Review: Blackinstock Records is a new branch of Mixcult Records and it debuts with the Reel Phase EP which is a showcase of the purest essence of dub techno. This most timeless release features the legendary Federsen alongside the innovative talents of Yagya and Ohm who are in remix mode. Each track on this 12" delves into minimalism and sonic depth to make for rather profound grooves that sweep you up and never let you go. The spacious, intricate soundscapes crafted by these artists explore every facet if dub techno with a slightly different personality which makes it a must-have for those who like their sounds deep, cuddly, and propulsive.
Review: One of Detroit's finest, Lauren Flax aligns with the Chiwax label for a debut offering of ultra-rough, juking, retrofuturistic daydreams in four tracks. Like a rose blossoming from a thorny stem, this EP starts out raw and slowly fans out into the subtler tricks of multilayering and accoutrement. 'Jack The Haus' is the tweezy, 16-bit hardware jam; then there's 'The Cheeky Whistle Song', which, compared to the first track, betrays a contrasting taste for cascading arps and subtle melodies in the surround mix. 'D-Troit' returns somewhat to the initial Detroit bounce mood, while Lis Sarroca's remix rounds things off with a softer, out-your-face breaks-house beeper.
Review: Last year's superb Pura Lempuyang album has been pulled apart and served up on a couple of separate 12"s and this is the second one. It comes on limited turquoise vinyl and offers four cuts of stylish deep dub and techno. Fletcher's 'It's A Virtue' goes first with taught, twanging bass and grubby basslines then Mike Schommer's 'Kingmaker' offers liquid dub funk with watery pads and hissing static. Nicolas Barnes picks it up a little with a darker but still warm dub techno roller in 'Sonic Dial' and Redrop's 'Genesis' is the more driving of the lot but again exists right on the ocean floor.
Review: Fred P continues to be a prolific driving force in deep house, with his own Private Society label carrying a huge amount of his work these days. On this latest single he maintains one of his other close working relationships with Parisian institution Synchrophone, delivering three cuts of his refined, endlessly immersive music. 'Dance Of Rhythms' is a driving, sharply defined cut with a lot of action occurring in the lower register while the higher frequencies have acres of space to stretch out in, all the better to keep your head mellow while the hips sway. 'The Beauty In The Sound' is a more pattering affair and 'Vibe Science' favours a nagging drum pattern which nods towards jazz funk as much as techno. This is quintessential Fred P mastery, through and through.
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