Modwerks Vinyl & CDs

Review: Intense but cerebral techno troubadour O Phase heads up the Modaweks imprint to which he returns here a bumper double pack of levelled-up techno tools. The wispy synths which constantly seem to be tumbling down above the liner drums of 'Ghost Coder' make you feel as though you are falling into an abyss. 'Base-Chain' is what greets you upon arrival - muscular drum funk with hurried kicks and nebulous synth colours. Elsewhere 'Proof Of Real' is a shimmering deep techno transmission and 'You Are Not The Zeitgeist' brings uneasy and paranoia in its impish and restless synth stokes. 'Change Agent' is another bit of loop techno perfection across four sides of vinyl packed with the stuff.

Review: O aka Phase delivers a powerful punch with the 'Living Proof EP', a high-energy techno release that keeps the momentum strong from start to finish. The first side kicks off with 'Shape Shifter', an intense and hard-hitting track that drives forward with relentless beats. Next is 'Number Zero', which adds an eerie, futuristic vibe with its dark groove and sharp, addictive rhythms, pushing the boundaries of techno. On the other side, 'Living Proof' brings in more melodic elements, balancing the EP's energy with techy precision, while 'Deluge' closes things out with an unstoppable tribal pulse, offering a raw, primal edge. Each track has its own distinct personality, making this EP a dynamic, exciting listen for anyone into heavy, forward-thinking techno.

Review: For more than 20 years Ashley Burchett has been pushing the envelope of no-nonsense techno as O [Phase] and he's been sounding more inspired than ever since launching his own Modwerks label back in 2021. Following up on some sterling releases from Saag and Tora Katsuta, now Burchett takes the reins himself for four steadfast building blocks in your game of techno Jenga. 'Merchant' is tightly wound, razor-sharp and looped-up to perfection, while 'Edge Runner' locks into some hi-octane machine funk. 'Plot Twist' keeps just a touch of swing in the mix and capitalises on hand claps and acid tweaks before 'Guess Work' ratchets down a lead-heavy low-end groove that could move mountains.

Review: Modwerks hear producer Saag deliver a second spicy round of floorshakers, all four of which are tangentially inspired by Brazilian music. Don't get confused, though, as the rhythms on this one remain starkly rooted in techno through and through. 'Puxa' and 'Void Searching' lead the charge by way of two unchanging techno stasises; unrepentant walls of fidgeting sound, which reach a head at the hard-claps and blurting chords heard at the second track's end. 'Orie' and 'Reverie' flesh out the textures moreover, with the latter track especially going especially filter-happy on the fidget lead.