Perc Trax Vinyl & CDs

Review: You can always depend on Ali Wells' mighty Perc Trax for the most brutal industrial strength tackle and its latest release certainly delivers that. Scottish enfant terribles Clouds take up the reins on TPT 096 titled Clubmatter. All the classic tropes of 90s dance music are mashed together in an unholy mixture on the foreboding energy of 'Ravesight', heading into post Y2K peak time techno on the functional main room affair of 'NRG - Density' and 'Corestyle' respectively - the latter's injection of classic trance arpeggios adding to its adrenalised effects. Finally, the Perth drug legends go out all guns blazing on the pummeling 'Liquid Tank' with its foreboding bassline underpinned by the most visceral kicks.

Review: Seven years after his last album, UK techno mainstay Perc is back with another thrilling full length that brings together the past, present and future of his sound. Hard techno is very much in right now but Perc has always dealt in a tough take on the genre that is at odds with the usual tropes and he showcases that again here with plenty of high-energy tracks and a healthy dose of his signature industrial texture. In between percussive workouts, there are some flashy acid lines and all manner of deeply penetrating drones. A great return for this vital artist.

Review: Perc Trax has been a gold standard for proper hard-assed and industrial techno for as long as well care to remember now. Somniac One is an artist who had a standout cut on the label in 'Junkyard Shift' so is now back to repeat that success with her 'I Hope This EP Finds You Well' EP. Once again it pulls no punches with caustic synths and slamming drums defining each tune. 'Instigator' is a squared off banger with unrelenting edginess, 'Infiltrator' fires its synths out of a machine gun over closely stacked kicks and 'Buzz Pollinator' is the most restless of the lot - a funky hard techno banger lit up with rave synths.

Review: Perc Trax has long been excelling at caustic and industrial-tinged, white-knuckle techno excursions. Former 3 is another case in point as various artists come together to nail you to the floor of a gritty warehouse. The boss himself, Perc, appears with Million on the squealing, blistering workout that is 'Rotopod' while EAS brings wild video game soundtrack madness to his intense 'Ryu Acid.' Add in linear bangers from Somniac One with 'Junkyard Shift' and Exos's gabber-tinged, flat-footed stomper 'Warlion' and you have an absolutely monster EP of techno.