Tags: IDM

Review: Some 25 years after delivering his debut 12", Richard D James hasn't lost the ability to thrill or inspire. By his obtuse standards, the material that makes up the surprise Cheetah EP is actually rather laidback and melodious. "Cheetah2 (LD Spectrum)", for example, sounds like a slow house jam written by robots, while the even deeper "Cheetah7B" shuffles along in a metronomic fashion, seemingly oblivious to the increasingly aggressive World at large. Of course, those trademark skittish IDM rhythms are present - see the B-side's lead cut - and the Cornishman has thrown in a couple of hazy ambient cuts for good measure.

Review: Dan Andrei is arguably one of the finest selectors of this generation and a master minimal producer who makes electronic music of the highest order. His latest outing sees him inaugurating his own brand-new label alongside Claudiu Stefan. Rainbow Hill is a platform for their more personal ideas and starts with four more of Andrei's brilliantly deft yet dramatic tracks. 'Numan's Touch' kicks off with rolling drums and bass and a fine eco-system of cosmic pads, twinkling keys and fizzing synths that are theatrical and involving. 'What Else?' then gets darker and more intense with heady loops and wispy pads, and again the ante is upped and the darkness pervades once more on the tense and taught dub-tech roller 'This Is What I See'. Last of all, 'Bluer Than Ever' floats above the floor with airy pads and radiant chords. A perfect 5am vibe.

Review: Serenity is a mental health charity label that is now back with more sonic gold, this time in the form of a reissue of Marco Bernardi aka Octogen's 'The Journeyman' from 2008 on Soma Recordings. It is an immersive, emotive sound with lush and ethereal pads and a moody bassline that keeps you locked. The B-side offers two original tracks from Bernardi 'Travelling to the Sun' is one to hypnotise floors with its hypnotic chimes and raw drums, while 'Little Tiny Crickets' delivers a fast-paced IDM twist with some killer synth work. As always, proceeds go to charity this time Papyrus UK who support youth suicide prevention and MusicSpace.

Review: Kompakt's Total 24 compilation is the nest episode in the label's amazing series. This cd version opens with Hamburg's Ada remixing Heiko Voss, followed by Jurgen Paape's vibrant 'Chee-Caruso.' Newcomer Deer Jade delivers the frolicsome house track 'Jukurpa,' while Jonathan Kaspar's 'Are You' captures the euphoria of his DJ sets. Hardt Antoine impresses with his dynamic style, and Sascha Funke pays homage to German showbiz with 'The Heck.' Tee Mango joins with his unique sound, and Joyce Muniz teams up with Sara Blum for the uplifting 'Beats & Lines.' Gui Boratto collaborates with Darren Emerson on the captivating 'The Shell,' and Rex The Dog offers the heartfelt 'Laika.' Raxon's 'Beskar' showcases his Star Wars inspiration, and David Hasert and Nicone's 'Wasting My Time With You' is a highlight. Reinhard Voigt's quirky 'Der, der mit dem Gummiball sang (Orange)' features various animals, while Argia's 'Love Keeps You Running' blends groove and pop. Wassermann's track concludes the compilation with a touch of Arabian Nights magic. Total 24 is a diverse and engaging collection that exemplifies Kompakt's ability to curate exceptional electronic music.

Review: The Nerve Collect label has fast become one of our favourite outlets. It's a Dutch imprint from Identified Patient and Gamma Intel that deals in hard-hitting and twisted fusions of techno, IDM, drum & bass and breakbeats. This fourth EP is another explosive one with Doctor Jeep laying down pulsing great kicks and running them through with fractured vocal fragments and well-defined layers of percussion. It's pure dancefloor weaponry of the highest possible standard. For us, the yelping vocals and cantering techno of 'Largatixa' and heavy beatdown skank of dubbed-out monster 'Oil Drum' are the standouts amongst many here.

Review: The iconic Total compilation series returns with its 24th installment, continuing to set the standard in techno music. This year's edition offers a diverse and engaging lineup that celebrates the genre's rich history while embracing fresh sounds. Tee Mango opens with 'So In Love,' a track that revives the minimal funk of early Kompakt days with a touch of English charm. Reinhart Voigt's 'Der, der mit dem Gummiball sang (Orange)' features an eclectic mix of animal sounds, adding an unconventional twist to his trademark style. Jurgen Paape's 'Chee-Caruso' blends Rhenish joy with tropical flair, creating an upbeat and whimsical track. Rex The Dogs 'Laika' pays homage to the first dog in space with its bleepy, nostalgic vibe. Michael Mayer's 'Urian' is a playful nod to his love for crossword puzzles, while Jonathan Kaspar's 'Are You' captures the vibrant spirit of Cologne's nightlife. Sascha Funke's 'The Heck' honours German showbiz with its trippy electro beats, and ARGIA's 'Love Keeps You Running' combines groove and pop in a heartwarming fusion. Jorg Burger's psychedelic contributions and Wasserman's fairy-tale-inspired track complete this eclectic mix, making Total 24 a standout in the techno landscape. Another great edition by one of the longest running and most successful techno labels of all time.

Review: Froid Dub return to the dubbing fold full of cold sang-froid with new one 'Tears Maker Chant'. The landmark 50th release for the label and editorial Ransom Note, this new progeny of Paris duo Stephane and Francois, known both for their own distinctive productions and self-released Delodio label curations, offer a stripped-back, slow-smouldering blunderbuss of bass-heavy minimalia with the sliest of sly nods to Italo disco on the B, creating what they call "low-slung mood music. Measured, murky, magnetic. It's a debut outing on Ransom Note for the duo, and a sharp alignment with the label's taste for genre-blurring system oddities.

Review: Dark Entries welcome back the inimitable Doc Sleep aka Melissa Maristuen for a superb new album of ghostly and ethereal house and techno. This is a welcome follow-up to last year's ambient and IDM exploration, Birds, and shows another side that draws on Maristuen's years of queer clubbing. It fuses aspects of New York house, Berlin techno and West-coast breakbeats and is "a love letter to the West Coast's magnificent natural landscape, the light of the Pacific sunrise." That is reflected in the sublime synths and silky rhythms which manage to both move your body but also captivate your mind. It's another cracking album from the Doc.

Review: Speciale 02 on Orion Italy is a collaboration between Ben Kaczor and Orion that brings together a remarkable mix of spacey, otherworldly techno sounds. Side-1 opens with Ben Kaczor's 'Gambler,' a lower BPM track that offers a refreshing change of pace for techno enthusiasts. The chill sounds and beautiful melodies woven into the composition create a soothing yet engaging atmosphere, making it a standout for those who appreciate a more relaxed vibe within the genre. Orion's 'Technocut009' follows, merging melodic techno with elements of IDM and a house-inspired bassline. This unique combination results in a track that feels both experimental and accessible, pushing the boundaries of traditional techno while maintaining a good groove. Flipping to Side-2, Orion continues to impress with 'NR2X,' an uptempo track that blends an analog groove with moody, trance-like elements. Its driving rhythm and atmospheric layers are great for deeper listening. Ben Kaczor closes the EP with 'Murano,' a track that leans into the more classic techno sound while still offering his signature touch. Overall, Speciale 02 delivers a diverse and intriguing journey through modern techno.

Review: Jorg Kuning channels the hyperactive energy and pixelated 8-bit sounds of games like Super Mario in the melodies that light up his opening cut here. 'Klarneto' as you might expect also has a clarinet lead and a Latin tech vibe that could well make it an Ibiza anthem this summer. 'Rodeo Romeo' is another Super Mario gem with all sorts of colourful effects and busy melodies, then 'Robotomy' gets a little more down and dirty but still has an array of charming and unusual sounds zipping through the mix. 'Quirl' shuts down with jazzy chord work, minimal broken beats and squelchy bass for after-party fun.

Review: AtomTM's beautifully bleak techno visions are back on new Nacht EP. Two of the four tracks are previously unreleased gems from the Neuer Mensch album, while the other two also appear on the same record, but this time out we get them as alternate versions. We're told this much was made with "the growing meta-techno dance floor in mind" and it does have a futuristic, hyper-real sense of design to it. These are fizzing experiments that range from the eerie and cold wave inspired to the more heavy and club-ready. It's a great fresh perspective from this underground mainstay.

Review: Italian-born but longtime Brooklyn-based Madteo stands at the crossroads of gritty, industrial grooves and experimental sound exploration, continuously challenging the boundaries of electronic music with his genre-defying work. Known for his love of cheap vinyl and uniquely odd records, Madteo's production style mirrors this raw, unfiltered approach i like sketching sound on a dirty napkin. Just as he seeks out imperfect, worn-out records, his music embraces the rough edges and unpredictable textures, creating a sound that's as spontaneous and unrefined as a hurried, chaotic doodle.Tracks like 'Cans People' tap into an archaic rave energy, while 'To Know Those Who' delves deep into fragmented dub techno, its non-linear structure a testament to his ability to twist familiar forms into something completely new. As the album progresses, 'Nocturnal Palates' expands the filter house universe with deep, evolving textures, and 'Rave Nite Itz Alright' surprises with its subtle yet intense chaos. The closing tracks, including 'Luglio Ottantotto' and the 15-minute odyssey 'Emo G (Sticky Wicket)', showcase Madteo's knack for manipulating time, space, and sound, offering a disorienting yet mesmerising journey into the unknown. As an artist and conversationalist, Madteo's work remains bold, unpredictable, and captivating, further cementing his place as one of the most inventive voices in modern electronic music.

Review: Schlammpeitziger gets some loving remix treatment here by a superb array of artists, many of whom will all be familiar to lovers of the famous Kompakt sound. Ada is first with a remix of 'Loch Ohne Licht' that is high in exotic melody and tropical bliss. Elsewhere a Wolfgang Voigt Megamix is dreamy and zoned out for the moments when you want to get lost in your own thoughts, and Andreas Dorau and Zwanie Jonson team up for a remix of 'Parzipan' that brings indie sleaze and underlapping groves to some skyward synth invention.

Review: Bambounou and Priori's latest collaboration offers a tantalising blend of techy playfulness and hypnotic club energy. The pair deliver crisp textures that meet the driving momentum of their electro-influenced sound design, evoking a sense of cerebral euphoria. 'Crush' expertly balances the squelchy, ice-cold synths of electro with the deep propulsion of acid house, while also drawing upon the hypnotic atmosphere of techno. The result is a carefully crafted journey through nocturnal body movement, full of rhythm and intrigue. Mixed at Jump Source Studios, the production is sleek and precise, with each track unfolding like a love letter, effortlessly evolving with each pulse.

Review: Vodkast Records continues to put a focus on Georgian musicians here with a new EP composed and performed by Tedi, while Zesknel also offers up three remixes. These are experimental sounds from the word go: 'Peru' is all fizzing textures and live jazz drums with moody spoken words, 'Upper Manuality' is a raw techno stomper with a sense of dystopian menace and 'Saturn' is a lithe, dubby and deep space techno interlude. 'Detunator' brings curious, clean synth modulations and shuffling rhythms. The remixes all bring dark energy and otherworldly motifs.