FIREGROUND Vinyl & CDs

Review: Munich's techno powerhouse Ilian Tape is back with a new EP which, as usual, features a quarter of direct and unmistakably functional tracks but the designs are top-notch. Fireground - a male/female duo - first offer us the big, bouncy, percussive banger 'Glare', before 'Stand' keeps it just as tribal and percussive and straight up. 'Spin' brings a little playfulness with some sleek machine soul sounds adding warmth and a bit of Detroit colour to the clattering drums before 'Red Night' shuts down with jazzy blend of smeared Rhodes chords and yet more bold drums and hits.

Review: Fireground's Love Letter EP on the legendary techno label Tresor delivers a dynamic journey through the realms of early 90s techno and house fusion. On Side-1, 'The Element' ignites the dancefloor with its big, rave-inspired sounds and UK rave influences, while 'Riva' seamlessly blends high-energy house and techno, punctuated by catchy melodic moments. On Side-2, 'Love Letter' takes the listener on a deeper voyage with its mid-90s warehouse vibe, exuding a late-night atmosphere with subtle disco undertones. Closing the EP, 'Etereo' serves as a perfect end-of-the-night track, enveloping the listener in its atmospheric soundscape. Firegrounds' talented ability to mix nostalgic elements with contemporary production techniques shines throughout Love Letter, making it a peak time record that will go over great at the disco.

Review: Angela and Daniele are an Italian pair from Naples who work together as Fireground. They turned heads from their first EP Dualism on Tresor in 2021 and have remained with the label since. It is there that they return with what is presumably a new series, Refreshing Part, as this is installment one. They have a frantic and frantic techno sounds rooted in the 90s school of box banging. 'Never Sleep' opens on that manic tip before 'Gaze' is a little more stripped back but no less potent. Elsewhere the caustic textures of 'Into A Diamond' are almost enough make your eyes water.