Teknotika US Vinyl & CDs

Review: Fans of his Detroit techno veteran Gary Martin's previous releases on labels like Motech, KMS and Exceptional will not be disappointed by this latest offering from one of the Motor City's most underrated talents. The full-length LP Lagarius shows off Martin's knack for blending funk, soul and Afro-Latin influences, with a faster-tempo'ed techno sound. It's heavy on the detail, with arguably only trained ears being able to pick up on all its backing samples and intricacies (that's us, of course). So take it from us; from the sultry swang of title track, to the dystopian grit of 'Situational Awareness', you won't want to miss this one.

Review: Techno player Gary Martin was inspired by the 1963 album How to Belly Dance for Your Husband by the Sonny Lester Orchestra for this EP, which finds him transforming jazz and belly dance influences into modern techno. The release features two energetic techno bangers and one mesmerising track in 3/4 time which calls to mind his previous works like 'Casa Caugat' and 'Girlfriend.' By blending vintage inspiration with newer production techniques, he ends to his roots while never getting too fawning for what has come before.