Search results: bandulu

Review: Originally released in 1993 and finally being reissued now, this techno gem stands as a bold and exploratory debut that merges the pulse of Detroit techno with the UK's rich multicultural sonic landscape. The UK trio Jamie Bissmire, Lucien Thompson and John O'Connell channeled the spirit of early techno pioneers while weaving in dub, tribal rhythms, trance atmospheres and UK rave culture, creating a distinct, genre-defying sound. Tracks like 'Messenger' and 'Pacekeeper' shows their rhythmic intensity, with rolling basslines and echo-laden percussion that nod to both dub and techno traditions. 'Revelation' floats into ambient techno territory with celestial synths, while 'Earth 6' hints at what Goa trance might have sounded like had it taken cues from Detroit rather than industrial sounds. 'Better Nation' has a mesmerising rework from none other than Carl Craig, lending his Detroit touch to Bandulu's already genre-fluid sound. The album's opener, 'Guidance', blends tribal percussion, progressive structure and a mammoth bassline into something uniquely its own. Though the production bears the unmistakable marks of early 90s UK techno with its raw and experimental sounds, it's precisely this era-specific charm that gives Guidance its enduring appeal.

Review: When this superb double-pack was first released in 1996, Bandulu had already spent four years finely tuning their trademark sound - decidedly spacey and subtly percussive take on techno that offered nods aplenty to Motor City minimalism and the dub-fired end of the Berlin techno spectrum. As a result, the eight-track set became the North London trio's standout release - an album in all but name that remains the purest and most finely crafted expression of their distinctive take on techno. Now reissued on vinyl for the first time since (and in remastered form to boot), its many highlights including the pounding deep space techno of 'Serial Operations', the dub techno masterclass 'Episode 7', the Regis-esque hedonism of 'Paranormal Channels' and the restless, delay-laden riffs of 'Advirus'.

Review: Legendary Reading shoegaze band Slowdive had s short but powerful run from 1989 until 1995 (during their first spell) and that included the 5EP. In the same year, it was remixed to perfection by Bandulu and Reload and now it gets reissued on limited hand numbered vinyl. First up, Bandulu stretch the original's heavy minor chords and fatten the track out into a dubby masterclass and then the Reload version from Tom Middleton & Mark Pritchard (better known as Global Communication) is even more impressive. It's a supremely blissed out cut with a slow motion rhythm and futuristic sense of soul cut on 45 rpm but just as suited to 33rpm playback.

Review: Dance Music From Planet Earth is a new sub-label from Ransom Note that kicks off with a heritage compilation, Dream The Dream. It looks back in great detail at UK Techno, House and Breakbeat 1990-1994 with Richard Sen as the man in control. He was a DJ back in those days, playing the most epic raves around Europe and taking some of the photos which now form the artwork for this collection. His obsessive record collecting from those days is reflected here across a series of sometimes obscure but always brilliant UK tunes for the worlds of ambient, techno, tribal house, breakbeat and early trance.