DJS: MOST CHARTED - TECHNO - MOST CHARTED IN JANUARY 2015

Review: There's a fair chance that you'll have missed Paranoid London's four singles to date; they were pressed in limited quantities, appeared in stores with no promotion, and quickly became must-have items for those obsessed with stripped back machine music and ragged acid house. Mercifully, the mysterious, no-holds-barred combo has decided to put out a double album containing much of this material, alongside a smattering of previously unheard cuts (including, most excitingly, a collaboration with Detroit legend DJ Genesis). The hard-to-find classics still sparkle - check the brilliantly sparse-but-heavy "Paris Dub 1" (with regular vocalist Paris Brightledge) and ragged "Transmission 5" (featuring a killer spoken vocal from Mutado Pintado) - while the new cuts are thankfully up to similarly high standard. Recommended.

Review: ** REPRESS ** There's been a five year gap since Stephan "STL" Laubner's last release on Echochord, so Dubs Etched Into Relief could arguably be seen as overdue, were it not for the German's prolific nature. Regardless any new STL material is cause for celebration and opener "Dub's End" is a particularly inviting proposition - a chugging dub-house opus with all the hypnotic attractiveness and crackly textures of authentic dub techno. Laubner goes deeper still on "The Dark Future", where fuzzy ambient textures, intermittent chords and yawning melodies ride a sparse, and minimal techno groove. On the flip, Lithuanian producer Grad_U offers his own interpretation of "Dub's End", turning the original into a slowly evolving dub techno epic - the kind of tackle you'd expect to lose your mind to in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Review: REPRESS ALERT: Steve O'Sullivan recently resurrected his much loved Mosaic imprint, and with it comes the Red Label Series. Following on from a first release by Ben Sims comes this new three track EP by Markus Suckut. In the last four years, German Suckut has established himself as a fine techno producer with credits on labels like Stroboscopic Aretfacts, Figure and his own SCKT. His grooves are tight, atmospheric and expertly crafted for maximum impact.
This EP kicks off with 'Turn On', a hunched over, hurried and minimal techno shuffler with doom laden spoken word snippets beaming in over the rubbery kicks. 'Tune In' is less direct, instead seeming to rock back and forth in one sport, with feint industrial sounds and distant rumbles permeating the thick groove, before finally 'Drop Out' is another dubbed out, shadowy and oppressive groove riddled with muted sine waves and rippling chords. Hugely textured, humid and inviting, these are three more killer tracks from Suckut and Mosaic.

Review: "HFP #001 - #009 WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY J. HECKLE" Those are the words printed on the back sleeve of this ninth and final Head Front Panel 12", effectively putting to bed some rampant speculation regarding who was behind the series from Tabernacle Records. More importantly, Head Front Panel has demonstrated the sheer diversity one can achieve within techno if you are as talented as Merseysider John Heckle. There's been plenty of highlights across the eight previous 12"s and fans of the series will need no real wooing to get involved here - inquisitive newcomers will however be rewarded with some vibrant, loose limbed jack material on the opening cut replete with killer laser synths. "A2" is a much more heads down affair, dominated by some wonderfully oppressive kick drums whilst the B Side is home to a production that's perfectly balanced between lightness and darkness.

Review: To complement the release of the second edition of Unknown Landscapes, Polegroup once again compile four of the previously unreleased contributions for a must have 12" sampler. With Christian Wunsch at the controls, the mix itself is of course a must have for anyone who classes themselves a fan of modern techno. Equally any techno selectors out there that prefer the vinyl format will want to indulge in the four productions here from Woo York, Tripeo, Claudio PRC and Wunsch himself. Claudio PRC opens proceedings with the stripped back and spacious warehouse boom of "Atik" which contrasts nicely with the brighter tones of "Farewell Old Friend" from Woo York. "Beta 0.5" from Wunsch is scratchy, atmospheric techno at its best and Darko Esser is on fine form with the heavenly acid flutter of Tripeo cut "Zebog".

Review: Until now, Cologne artist and selector Lena Willikens has largely been know for her Djing skills, both the range and dynamism shown when she is in a club, or the more conceptual approach taken with her Sentimental Flashbacks show for Comeme Radio. It's the Cologne label overseen by Matias Aguayo that facilitates the first tangible productions from Willikens in the shape of the dark and dystopian Phantom Delia. Produced with the assistance of Aguayo, the six tracks here are a perfect balance of the rhythmic quirkiness that seems to characterise many a Comeme release and Willikens' own grasp of the odder strains of club music. Traxx's Nation label is offered as a comparison by Comeme, and it's probably Beau Wanzer whose music is closest in spirit to the sound Willikens explores here - excellent music for those selectors that like to strange up the dancefloor.

Review: It's fair to say any 12" featuring these three artists will be on the 'must check pronto' list of any self respecting techno fan and Bloodlines fully delivers on the sense of expectation. And then some! Dettmann pulls rank and fills the A-side with "Take On", a pulsing exercise in techno nastiness that positively pulses with dancefloor energy, all of which is underpinned by a tongue in cheek robotic vocal that seems perfectly in line with The Corner's humour. Silent Servant follows with "Mechanics Of Emotion", a track that is a fine example of the dark brand of sonics Juan Mendez has been cooking in Los Angeles of late. It begins in a manner that's every bit as direct and effective as Dettmann's contribution, but as the track progresses a different mood gradually comes into focus, resulting in a perfect track to transition a set from intensity to somewhere else. Parasole closes proceedings with "Intel", a neat little journey down the wormhole of alien techno which veers into garbled abstraction without missing a beat.

Review: Mental Disorder owner Reeko arrives on the Modularz label with a truly distinguished discography to his name, featuring several albums and notable contributions to Pole Recordings. Constellation Andromeda seems like a fine addition to this body of work, brandishing a quartet of productions that really show Jose Rico's range when it comes to sculpting techno from deep and hypnotic textures. You could easily mistake the gnawing opener "To The Sun" for a production from the Geophone camp, whilst "Moon Direction" nails that tunnelling techno sensation perfectly, contrasting nicely with the incandescent synthetics that glower throughout "Star Phases". To close, "Saturn Sequences" finds Rico tuning in a deeper, more introspective track that might just be our favourite here.

Review: Delsin slip out its highest profile record of 2014 just before the year ends - a whopping Sterac single with remixes from NYC power duo Anthony Parasole & Phil Moffa, Berlin techno commander Mike Dehnert, and a booming Vril dub. The original is a classic slice of Steve Rachmad goodness, with all the cheeky synths, shuffling percussion and funk you could hope for coming from the revered Dutchman, while Vril's dub couldn't do a better service to his Delsin colleague, taking the original's essential elements, stripping them of colour then doubling them in size. Parasole & Moffa focus on the synth power of Sterac's "Hynoticus" as does Mike Dehnert, only the German's version comes straight from the resonating vaults of his Fackwerk bunker. Banging EP!

Review: Earlier this year Minimal Wave offshoot provided one of this year's most visceral dancefloor weapons in Kino-I, the debut from Doug Lee's new An-I project. Taking inspiration from techno, jack, industrial and punk, An-I successfully drew a line under some of the Berlin-based artist's previous disco-flavoured endeavours. And then some! If you like the Kino-I 12" you will love the new triplet of An-I productions housed on this appropriately titled Gutz 12". The title track alone should come with a health warning; such is the furious onslaught of machine funk it contains, whilst the unnerving "Rut" is the most schizophrenic production you will hear this year. Best of all id closing track "Save Us" sounds like a cross between in Aeternam Vale and Silent Servant. Pressed on a rather thick and dashing slab of magenta orange vinyl!

Review: If you're yet to add a Creme or L.I.E.S. record to your collection this year let this Creme Organization Valley Of Shadows x LIES EP kills two bids with the one stone. Or you could just get it for Randomer's obliterating "Ugly Drummer". Legowelt throws down some spiralling Detroitisms in "Only In America" following the colourful club construction Innershades provides in "Acid Rehearsal", and to match the brutality of Randomer's A-side cut is Ron Morelli's "Signal Jam" retooled as a darkly bending slab of cathedral techno by Greg Beato. Simoncino provides more of his usual sequenced Chicago house prowess in "Earth & Nightfall" leaving Willie Burns to let loose on the keys in "He Is Crazy Enough" when closing out this radical compilation.

Review: Mystery production unit DJ Bmx continue their thrilling, no-nonsense adventures in the underground with the Conquest of Gravity EP for MIL. Techno-fused roller "Warrior Within" gets matters underway as thumping bass and ticking hi hats form the fore of the track, marching along over off-kilter bleeps and succinct glitches. The rough n ready aesthetic of the track sets the tone excellently for the EP, leading coherently into "Wonders of Time" where slight changes and improvisations keep your attention, with dubbed out key jabs that are matched melodically against atmospheric synth pads whirling in and out over crisp percussion clicks. "Spinning Across the Sky" maintains the inspiration for myriad sources; cosmic, dreamy chimes are sprinkled over a tentatively used piano sequence, distorted key kicks and muddied percussion. Its the only moment on the EP to include a vocal, and its used beautifully as it floats around the tracks central structure, lending it a spacious and depth-charged feel. "Radim World" finishes everything off with a touch of Pepe Bradock style elegance - the multi-layered arrangements are fluid and dynamic, resulting in well-executed deep house.

Review: Darko Esser's endeavours in purist techno under the Tripeo name have resulted in a series of fine 12"s for the label of the same name, along with a drop on Clone Basement Series, and last year's Anipintiros album. The Dutch artist has pulled together a rather enticing array of his contemporaries to remix tracks from the album for two Anipintiros Reworks 12"s that have both been released this week. Any record featuring the collective production contributions of James Ruskin, Exium, and Mike Parker is likely to elicit yelps of excitement amongst techno fans and all three excel here. Ruskin goes broken, Exium tunnels deep, and Parker turns in a truly hypnotic rendition of "Anipintiros 7".

Review: There is a simple yet cunning concept to the Petite sub-division of Gent label Curle that continues to pay dividends; forgotten gems from house and techno past get fully relicensed and reissued backed with a contemporary remix. The 2010 reissue of Walt J's "Reborn" was a particular highlight thanks to the "DJ Qu's Journey Towards Birth" reinterpretation Curle secured. The first Petite release in 3 years draws for the one DJ Boom production Matthew Herbert and Charles Webster completed back in 1999, the ultra deep "Kinda Kickin", and pairs it up with a remix from Efdemin. It's a good match with Phillip Solman retaining that distinctive vocal hook whilst implementing the kind of textural detail which made this year's Efdemin LP Decay so memorable.

Review: There are times when the ocean is not the ocean - not blue, not even water, but some violent explosion of energy and danger: ferocity on a scale only gods can summon. It hurls itself at the island, sending spray right over the top of the lighthouse, biting pieces off the cliff. And the sound is a roaring of a beast whose anger knows no limits. Those are the nights the light is needed most. - M.L. Stedman

Review: Christian Viers is fast becoming a prominent name on UK underground house and techno circuits, either as part of Lazlo Dancehall alongside Leon Vynehall or his long running A1 Bassline project. Techno-focused releases on his own label, Source Unknown captured the attention of the ears behind the newly formed FINA White resulting in the Bad Timing EP, which the label state is a "strikingly clear indication of the distinctive direction" they plan to take moving forward. Title track "Bad Timing" is a straight up techno banger whose menacingly melodic low-end tones, relentless thump and rolling toms are the driving force behind its robust and looming groove. "Without Time" is a similarly complex percussive cut, but with its jungle inspired Arabic horns, trancey synth-lead breakdowns and acid squelches, whilst UK house veteran Nail offers a more direct 4/4 take on the track with his typically classy remix.

Review: In advance of a new album for Delsin due later this month, the ascent of Giegling artist Vril continues apace with an appearance on Index Marcel Fengler, the label overseen by Berghain resident Marcel Fengler. Founded in 2011, the label was put on hold for various reasons but returned last year with 12?s from Echoplex and Thomas Hessler which confirmed IMF's new focus on operating as a platform for other artists. Along with Vril deep and dubby banger "Throwagen", both Echoplex and Hessler also feature on the Unit EP whilst label boss Fengler turns in his first original production in some time too.

Review: This release comes from a misterious guy with two untitled tracks on the a-side that have the intention to open the project and marking guidelines and sounds that you will hear on the whole series. On the b-side you find the remix of the track "Untitled 02" by the swedish artist Rivet and the "Secret Rave Mix" of "Rhythm Sticks" by G-23, originally released on London based label No Logo, done by the same author of the two originals.
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The graphic of SECRET RAVE 01 is composed with a photo by Molly Macindoe. Heavily influenced by her father, a world traveller and architect, and her mother, a university lecturer and author, she developed a love for international travel and visited many faraway places - documenting the many diverse cultures she encountered. However, her attention was always drawn back to the free party community and, since 1997, she has participated in and documented the underground scene. Also she has already released a book called "Out Of Order" that is the culmination of ten years of work and a photographic celebration of the free party scene. Only 300 pressed....

Review: In terms of current US artists, no one seems to have made as much of an impact in recent times as the the superbly named Charles McCloud Duff has done under his Matrixxman name. Unknown To The Unknown, Spectral Sound, Soo Wavey Records are some of the labels that have put the call out for material from Matrixxman, whose club ready style of house and techno has always been complemented by a clear sense of humour. Originally scheduled for release last month, Matrixxman's superb debut for Dekmantel makes for a perfect start to 2015 for the increasingly influential Dutch label and is hopefully the start of a prosperous working relationship. Opener "Sermons" is loose and jacking, with a decidedly haywire acid line at it's core, whilst "Cybernetic Implant" reins in the rhythmic madness in order to let those deep bleeps catch you off guard. If you like rolling vocals a la Hodge's "Amor Fati" do check closer "System Blackout" which is our pick!

Review: Milos Martinov follows last year's Misfit debut release on Mord with this equally dark record. "Trema" is exactly the kind of dense, rolling techno groove that you'd expect to hear on Bas Mooy's label, with grainy drums and a juggernaut rhythm prevailing. Clouds' remix ramps up the pressure further, a heavy, loopy affair that could be Ben Sims on steroids, while the label owner delivers a pounding, abrasive take on "Kontrola". However, it's the original version of this track that really stands out; less direct and upfront than the other tracks, it still captures the listener's attention thanks to its furious, lurching rhythm and disturbed, high-pitched vocal samples.