Blue Hour Vinyl & CDs

Review: Blue Hour is very close to a quarter of a century of releases but just ahead of that notable milestone the label daunter and eponymous techno project step up with two bangers on a nice limited 12". 'Dimensions' is a brilliantly unbalanced techno workout with distant church bells bringing some unusual chaos to the high-speed drums and prickly percussion. It's a great one that will cut any floor loose. 'Sun Dogz' on the flip gets even quicker and fires lasers out like bullets. High octane stuff that is pure fire for the club.

Review: Blue Hour have dropped a couple of essential new 12"s this month and here is one of them. It's another of their famous various artist's collections, all with a focus on the deeper end of the techno spectrum. The eponymous Blue Hour kicks off with 'Afterglow' which has wispy neon synth trail and soft, rubbery drum and bass blends that take you into a cosmic sky. Dold's 'Warning' is more textural and raw with its percussion and synth energy and Steffi's 'Volley 5' is driving, dynamic, dubby techno for intimate basements. Newa's 'Seduction' is a psychedelic wonder to close.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight surface marks ***


DJ Ali from Melbourne is up next on Berlin-based Blue Hour Music with the Regeneration EP, a collection of high-energy tribal techno tracks reminiscent of the late 90s. The EP opens with the bruising 'Interceptor', followed by the pummelling peak time track 'Paradox Cell' which maintains the tension. Over on the flip, 'Nightwatch' is more of a heads down affair that's optimised for losing yourself to under the strobe lights, and the title track goes out all guns blazing with its mesmerising tones underpinned by the most furious of rhythms.

Review: The Blue Hour crew have put together this classy four-track various artists EP to round out their year in style. Spekki Webu's 'Cycleon' is the busy opener with silky, punchy breaks and melon-twisting pads up top. DJ Ibon's 'Slug Knife' is more hard techno in vibe with flat, unrelenting drums. LDS's 'Ere Audio' (vinyl edit) keeps that hard style coming with drilling bass and glitchy synths over looped drums that lock you into a hypnotic rhythm. Vel's 'Tunnel' then brings a punishing techno sound to close with all sorts of freaky sounds scurrying throughout the arrangement.

Review: Omni is an aptly named celebration of over a decade of Blue Hour Music, capturing the label's diverse and enduring musical journey. Across nearly 50 releases in various formats, remix series, and sub-labels, Blue Hour has navigated through evolving trends with unwavering commitment to quality. The Omni compilation series showcases the label's broad spectrum of electronic music, ranging from techno to trance and breaks. Like Blue Hour's own artist output, the compilations defy easy categorization, offering a blend of hazy atmospheres and dynamic textures. It's a testament to Blue Hour's ability to carve out its own niche in a rapidly changing landscape, embracing musical diversity while maintaining a distinct sonic identity. Omni invites listeners on a stunning trip through Blue Hour's lush and vibrant world, reflecting the label's enduring impact on the electronic music scene.