New releases today: Electro

Review: The latest compilation album from COD3 QR is, as always, focused on eclecticism, open-mindedness, divergence and non-conformity, featuring the usual wide range of electronic music, all handpicked by Laurent Garnier and Scan X. The vinyl edition of this very latest edition of the compilation series - which was embarked upon in not long after the longstanding but mysterious label was revealed to be the fruits of the labours of this legendary duo, who had until then ran it incognito - comes as a condensed version of the digital, on which a terse seven tracks from the likes of Calibre, Seroplexx, Costello, Marcelus, Subground 3000, Lee Trax, Jim Rivers, Melatron and Ancient Artifact all appear. Though the label has set a high expectation with their admonition against "all expectations and all prejudices", they actually do extremely well to fulfil that aim. Most contributions here - from the steppy, sloppy 'Sump Dub to the just-plain-monstrous 'I Get My Kicks' - tend towards on the uncategorisable and unpigeonholeable, at least in terms of overtly boxed-in genre norms.

Review: The latest Cultivated Electronics drop is a split disc affair which takes us right up to the forefront of modern electro, as you might well expect given the label's output. 'Darkness' opens up Steve Allman's side in a breakneck throw down of edgy synth ripples and crusty drums dialled into the machine funk frequency. 'Initiate Experiment' is no slouch either, precision tooled for punchy effectiveness on the floor. Alex Jann tips some tripped-out processing on top of his own tightly wound, motorik sequences on 'Mind Control Uses', while 'Punish Room' plays around with some artful spatial sound design on the edges of this steadfast electro workout.

Review: Electro heavyweight Marco Bernardi is back on Harbour City Sorrow with his first release in four years. Given his considerable history exploring the outer limits of machine funk, you'll be pleased to know this new single offers another two excursions into parts unknown that shirk the formulaic tendencies of so much contemporary electro. 'Shuiler' opens the record up in a shimmer of high-definition synth lines tipped towards melancholic braindance and perfectly suited to warm-up hours or the afters alike. 'Fusilli' takes a wholly different approach steeped in sharp, abrasive drums more indebted to industrial than electro, and some deadly rompler slap bass which will keep dancers on their toes in the parties adventurous enough to give this mutant beatdown a spin.

Review: It's time for a showcase of the finest electro transmitting out of Spain, as Sismo invites Dark Vektor and Gravedad Cinetica to pool their talents on a 12" trip to the dark side of the force. At a time when the electro coming out of their country is at an all time high in both quality and quantity, on this 12" the duo prove themselves to be right at the crest of the wave. 'Hoy Tengo Ganas' is a pitch-perfect slice of synth noir which calls to mind Miss Kittin & The Hacker, while 'Galactic Echo' nods to Drexciya and Jonzun Crew in equal measure. There's some more experimental angles to 'La Cuarta Dimension' and 'You Clear Me The Space To Fall' comes on heavy with the influence of the Motor City pioneers from Stinson & Donald to Aux 88.

Review: Polish label Brutaz remains a vital portal into underground realms of experimental techno, this time offering up the many-sided Stereometrix with their debut EP. If ‘Allligators’ sets the tone as a minimal, dubby experiment comfortable shirking immediate dancefloor motion, don’t be misled as ‘Freezone’ switches stance very quickly an emotive slice of electronica with cascading melodic lines spiralling around each other in spectacular formations. ‘Plan - Future’ keeps you guessing with a more direct 4/4 beat and a tendency towards shimmering, after hours tech house on the adventurous end of the spectrum. ‘Phone Number’ completes the EP in a more fractured framework, peppered with the liberal dub processing which binds the record together as a whole.

Review: Cimedirapax opts to welcome no fewer than four artists to its fourth EP, and they all take one track each. There is plenty going on with MoYA81's 'The Way We Like' from electro crash drums to wonky Italo melodies to withering sci-fi disco effects. Yu's 'Another Call Me Bad' rides on cascading synth arps that never let you settle for a moment and Gianluca Pellerano's 'Alienated Theater' then explores slamming tech house with electro style melodies bringing a cinematic vibe. NND cuts the most loose of the lot with sheet metal snares and wispy synths, prying bass and crisp tech funk drums on 'Incomingtransmission.' Innovative stuff all round.