THE CHRONICS Vinyl & CDs

Review: Fearsome techni-techno through the Swiss futurists ENMODA, whose modus operandi is to actively promote and advocate for the local Swiss scene. With chilling textures and an ear for material, sonic grit, a cloister of ten producers are heard going full Eski-mode here, for the first instalment in their yearly compilation, Alpine Express Volume 1. Aptly described as a set of "dancefloor hurters", this is a record that proves the mid-European enclave still have their ears to the ground: pree the classic trance-techno of Marcism's 'Echo' or Ermatik's 'Funk Alt Delight', The Chronics' restlessly fight-or-flight revenant, 'Sonic Memory', and/or TIS' closing jit-tech piano weapon 'I Don't Mind'.

Review: Techno has become ever more coloured by trance and hard dance in recent times and this new EP from The Chronics taps into that. It opens with the bright sounds and retro-future 90s energy of 'By My Soul' with its hundred-mile-an-hour drums catchy vocal stabs. The Tommy Holohan remix) is even more physical and direct and slamming and 'Body Harmony' then sinks into a groove that feels like it floats, with reversed snares and flappy kicks. Obscure Shape remixes with more low-end heft but still some nice catchy funk.