Mote Evolver Vinyl & CDs

Review: The Swiss producer and mastering engineer, now rooted in Lisbon, Chlar returns with an evocative slab of techno that feels both ancient and forward facing. With over a dozen EPs under their belt, this latest four-tracker solidifies his mastery of atmospheric, rhythm-heavy sound design. Side-A opens with 'Altitude', a primal and hedonistic tribal techno cut that recalls the spirit of Blueprint Records or early James Ruskin. It's a raw, driving rhythm that feels carved out of stone, a cavernous groove echoing through the walls of a rhythm cave. 'Serac' follows with a deep bassline and a futuristic, yet organic pulse that balances modern machine funk with a ceremonial, ritualistic undertone. There's a timeless quality to the way it moves. Side-B begins with 'Lamin', perhaps the EP's most cinematic piece. It's clean and spacious, yet cloaked in tension, like an alien landscape where mystery simmers beneath the surface. 'Phantom Grid' closes the record with a no-nonsense percussive workout, all warehouse minimalism and skeletal intensity, perfect for peak-hour darkness. It's atmospheric, confident and comes with a big dose of sonic storytelling. What more could you want from your techno?!

Review: To celebrate the passing of three decades since the release of his first EP as Planetary Assault Systems, Luke Slater has served up new reworks of the single's most celebrated cut, 'In From The Night'. The first to have a crack at transforming Slater's 1993 original, a throbbing techno stomper rich in alien-sounding electronics and razor-sharp TB-303 motifs, are old pal Adam Beyer and Drumcode regular Webhha. They retain the original's intensity and sweaty techno breathlessness, adding raw, tech-trance style riffs and a grand, big room-ready sound. Over on the flip, Slater provides two tweaks of his own: a classic, build-and-release 'Edit' with added murky noises and extra TB-303 tweakery, and a blisteringly energetic, off-kilter, on-the-fly 'Live Edit' that re-imagines the track as a jumpy, broken techno beast.

Review: Planetary Assault Systems' latest offering, Deep Heet Vol 5 on Mote Evolver, marks a powerful return for UK techno luminary Luke Slater's enduring alias. True to form, the release delves into the shadowy depths of the club scene with relentless intensity. Side-1 kicks off with 'Clap Trap,' an otherworldly journey through techno's outer reaches with its uptempo alien soundscape and heavy, percussive beats that evoke a sense of impending destruction on the dancefloor. Following suit is 'Sidewinder,' a relentless banger that embodies the underground ethos with its intense energy and headstrong groove. On Side-2, 'Electric Culp' emerges as a peak-time anthem, its big, bold sound commanding attention and igniting the dancefloor with its pulsating rhythms and infectious energy. Closing the release is 'Grid Livers,' a deeper exploration into the darker realms of techno, with subliminal undertones that captivate the listener and keep them locked in the sonic grip until the very end. With Deep Heet Vol 5, Planetary Assault Systems demonstrates once again his vision of forward-thinking techno, delivering a visceral experience that seamlessly bridges the gap between the studio and the stage.

Review: With Planetary Assault Systems, one imagines weaponry of celestial scale, designed to zap spatial anomalies, planet-eating worms and other eldritch horrors into oblivion. 'Reassembled' hears Mote Evolver boss Luke Slater follow up last year's fifth volume on the 'Deep Heat' series, and does well to mastermind the evocation of such numb horror, such gargantuan warfare. Made up of a throng of "reassemblies" by Oscar Mulero and Len Faki, as well as Slater himself, this one makes up part of a series also involving Chlar and Rene Wise. The alien sound design here is highly believable, with the new versions of 'Engage Now To Surface' and 'Surface Noise' bringing mucusy blends and membraneous bells.

Review: Mote Eovler has only ever dealt in serious techno and that's what we get here from Roogunit. Across four fierce tracks various different moods and grooves are offered up. It is the brutal drum patterns and brushed metal textures of 'Bash Box' which open up with urgent siren sounds up top, then 'Don't Let Go' is more fulsome and freaky, with funky drums and dark vocals looping up top. 'Koox' then layers in glassy melodies and silky synths that unravel in linear fashion and 'Sanity Regard' is the eerier and edgy closer. This is some serious techno for those who like it proper.