PHARA Vinyl & CDs

Review: Legendary Belgium club Fuse knows a thing or several about techno and so it makes sense they have not got the label going once more. Phara is in charge for this one and pulls no punches. 'The Wall' will have you pinned to just that with its unrelenting loops and howling synth winds. 'Blaes 208' is more bouncy and buoyant with bright neon synth lines glowing warm and rich through the middle of the mix. 'Hush Now 206' hits hard once more with a dark warehouse sound and unsettling synth riffs, while 'Motion Steps' closes out with thudding kicks and twitch synths that take you into the future.

Review: Get your techno boots on and prepare to sweat this one out as Phara kicks off a new series on the Phaaar label that pays tribute to the Korg Electribe EMX-1. It will feature tracks made on that bit of gear and played during his live sets. The first one is 'The Final Pattern' and a straight up wall banger with insistent hi hats and thudding kicks run through with fizzing, post-industrial synth lines. 'Verbs & Snares' is more dark, edgy, textural and moody with its scraping sound effects, urgent leads and sweeping filters.

Review: Phara's Falling Forward EP is about just that - leaning into a still techno breeze and letting it sweep you off your feet. The title track is an expertly economical yet dynamic sound with panel-beaten techno loops, bulky drums and subtle synths lashing about for extra edge. 'Order Disorder' brings more intensity with its urgent and paranoid synth loops front and centre while 'Gate1' is another streamlined banger a la early Skudge. As with so many techno EPs, there is a nod to the Jeff Mills school of interplanetary minimalism on closer 'Cerulean Blue.'

Review: It is now well over a year since we got hyped by the first release from Phara on the Phaar label. Thankfully we are finally blessed with a second hand-stamped 12" that contains more brilliantly supple yet powerful techno. This is techno that is warm and has a real sense of machine soul no matter the mood or tempo. Things open in artful fashion before the pace picks up on 'Fleshy Part Of The Thigh' with its cantering kicks setting a heady pace while lush harmonics peel off the top. 'In Dubio' is a dub techno banger while 'Float' captures the essence of early and soulful Detroit techno in a modern framework.