Review: Ooof. Sometimes there's nothing better than that in between vibe, beats and noises that speak to genuine rave, one white glove in techno, another rooted in house. 'Sirius D' certainly speaks to that need. Squelchy in the right places, oh-so-hypnotic but fundamentally punchy, it's halfway between sending you off on a blissful cloud and slapping you around the chops in an attempt to revive at 6AM. Nicola Cruz's Debug mix opts to make sure that blow lands, stomping and slamming but not so much of a groove to hold on to. No criticism, though. The roll returns later, though, 'Declination' looking to those sparse but precious dancefloors that make you realise this is still no a mainstream competition - equal parts eerie and warm. Throw in 'Right Ascension', which essentially captures all of the above and then hits 11 on the scale of whatever we're judging this on, and the deal is sealed.
Review: JIN09 marks a significant step forward for Cosmo, one of Seoul's most dynamic DJs and producers. Since her debut in 2017, she's become a fixture in the city's vibrant club scene, holding residencies at BBCB: Beton Brut + Concrete Bar. On her first solo EP for the Jin Records label, Cosmo weaves a dreamy, ethereal sound that taps into the traditions of house and balearic music. The A-side opens with lush, flowing melodies that gently chug along, creating an atmosphere that feels both expansive and intimate. These tracks, with their atmospheric textures and hypnotic rhythms, encapsulate a sense of cosmic journeying. On the flip, Cosmo delves into grittier, more tech-focused territory. Here, the beats take on a harder edge, with driving rhythms and a rawness that pushes the energy forward. While maintaining the ethereal quality that runs throughout the EP, the B-side brings a sense of tension and release that's sure to resonate on dancefloors. With this release, Cosmo demonstrates her versatility, effortlessly blending contrasting styles while retaining a cohesive, signature sound. It's a confident, forward-thinking EP from a rising star, and one that signals even more exciting things to come from this talented producer.
Review: Unmatched textural-ambient vibesetters Mood Hut flaunt their aptitude for the style once again, this time presenting the latest five-track EP from Sydney's current-favourite musical HSP, Cousin. The origin story for HomeSoon, a dearth of synaptic reflections and blissful fuzzouts, goes something like this: on his way back from the New Year's rave, Cousin would perambulate all bleary-eyed, finding himself in the midst of a dense Angophora thicket. What followed was a deluge of plant-like eureka moments - ideas coming thick and fast, taking root in both arborescent and rhizomatic fashion - producing the likes of 'Overpass' and 'Muster', all of which present as ever-moving quasi-electronic organisms.
Review: Synchropone reissue Ellery Cowles' iconoclastic 'Sonic Control' EP, originally released in 1995 on the legendary Djax-Up-Beats label. We've no idea of the kinds of sonic preservatives Cowles injected these beats with, but we do know that the Chicago DJ and producer's debut EP has - to indulge an old but gold phrase - "stood the test of time". Just as it was, the reissue preserves the original's sound, albeit now brings it to marvellous marbled blue splatter vinyl. Best among the bunch here are Cowles' career-definer, 'It's Taking Control', across which the 4x4 still janks and tussles slightly, as though the imperfections of whatever medium it was made with were forcing it to lapse the usual perfect timing of techno. And the title track, too: tintinnabular to the point of tittilating, we're bowled over by its singular, bell-laden universe, by which point it seems more or less proven that Cowles really did exercise at least something along the way towards total "sonic control".
Review: Notorious internet motormouth Thomas Cox dropped the first EP on his own new QED label back in 2020, but only now is the vinyl arriving with us. It was worth the wait, however, because as much as it would be fun to find the sort of faults in his music that he does in everyone else's, these are three raw as you like tracks that go direct to the soul. Detroit influences of course loom large throughout, with each cut layering up dirt and grime, dusty drums and rusty synths to hypnotic effect. The standout might be the unresolved loops and cosmic-gaze of 'Starry Ave,' but any of these will make an impact on the right dance floor.
At Les (Christian Smith Tronic Treatment remix) (9:44)
At Les (Christian Smith Hypnotica remix) (9:14)
Review: Christian Smith revisits Carl Craig's iconic ambient masterpiece 'At Les' with two exceptional remixes, originally crafted in 2010. This reissue on Tronic revives the deep house genre with a fresh perspective on a track that first appeared on Craig's 1997 album, More Songs About Food and Revolutionary Art. On Side-1, the 'Tronic Treatment remix' injects a pulsating energy into the ethereal original, blending rhythmic depth with the serene atmosphere that made the track a legend. Smith's remix maintains the emotional intensity while adding a driving beat that propels the listener forward. On Side-2, the 'Hypnotica remix,' where Smith delves into a more immersive, trance-like state. This version is all about loops and intricate layers, creating a soundscape that feels both expansive and intimate. Smith's reimagining of 'At Les' pays homage to Carl Craig's genius while introducing new sonic dimensions. Still, 14 years later...this is a club ready peak time record.
Review: Once again, Malor Records purvey the groove with, yes, 'Purveyors Of The Groove', enlisting the help of four of the foremost techno artists out today for help on this latest 12" EP comp. Weighty Berlin techno makes up its core concept, with Cravo's 'Sem Chance' opening up the thing with its sudden vocal shouts, huge kick womps and cantankerous melodic bubblings, before Chontane's 'Septario' and Regent's 'Satin' elevate the listener to a continually wafting stasis. Finally, Vil's 'Bret' closes things off with an intense kick-led wompy-chord-sidechainer, seeming to emphasise the madness of it all.
Review: Whatever they put out from whatever genre, you know the Furthur Electronix crew does it right. Electro is their most common sound and that's what we get here from CRC. It takes the form of a reissue of his hard-to-find, expensive and damn-good EP from Zyntax Motorcity. This one comes with an extra bonus track, too. 'Disposal Robot 139' is wonky acid and electro with prickly breaks, while the much more trippy and psychedelic 'Blueshift' has softer, smoother lines. The bleeping tones of 'Influence Device' fire at your brain while while warped bass and metallic drums get your body moving and 'Traveller' is another dreamy and rueful breakbeat viber.
Review: The mysterious Creature is back with the seventh release on the blazing hot self-titled label. We have a clue who is behind this label but we aren't 100% sure who is making these impressive slabs of house music. For this edition, 'Singing' cleverly picks out a few lines from Moloko's 'Sing It Back' and turns it into dancefloor devastation. On the second side is the exceptionally dirty and sleezy grinder called 'Freaking'. Both, when used properly, should wreak havoc on the floor and make serious waves in the minimal techno world.
Review: Nantes-based Willy Taconne is Creeds, a producer having an absolute blast operating in the crossover between psy-trance and hard dance. Rave Alert are the latest label to carry his work, and those craving the nastiest slammers for their bosh-off are going to be very pleased indeed. First up, 'Push Up' bursts with playful inventiveness, chopping between ear-snagging hi-jinks from acid licks to disco cuts, plenty of hyphy trance synths and loads more besides. 'Slap The Bassline' is a much dirtier affair with an absolute juggernaut of an acid bassline which will absolutely level the place. 'Stolen Memories' has a hard trance leaning, teasing the tension between peaks and troughs for everyone to lose their marbles good and proper, leaving it to 'Get Your Mom Down' to clean up the mess with some arch anthem material to trigger the ravers of yesteryear.
Ora Che Non Ho Piu Te (Benny Benassi club mix) (5:01)
Ora Che Non Ho Piu Te (Deborah De Luca remix) (5:47)
Ora Che Non Ho Piu Te (DJ Ralf remix) (8:37)
Ora Che Non Ho Piu Te (Samuele Sartini - Nicola Zucchi remix) (4:41)
Review: Amasser of over 100 million streams in 2024, 'Ora che non ho piu te' ('Now I No Longer Have You') was one of Italy's top electropop hits of 2024. Attracting a panoply of remixers for use in their own DJ sets, Mondo Groove now commit four of the choicest of said redoings to a vinyl press, enlisting such first magnitude stars as Benny Benassi and DJ Ralf. Progressing through fine layers of burbling synth and cooing sentiment, we're most taken, however, by Samuele Sartini's closer, which the roar of crowds into descending synth beneficences, causing all heaven to break loose.
Review: Techno doesn't come much more pure and effective than when it is served up by the Planet Rhythm label. At the helm of this fresh serving is Creznight. He goes straight in at the deep end with the muscular drum funk and tightly lopped vocal fragments of 'With You' which soon get you banging the walls. 'March on Mars' is just as direct but funky with warm and punchy kicks triggering percussive rolls and smeared synths. 'Backstab' shows no let up in the drum pressure but does have a more deft melodic touch that allows in some light and 'Instinct' shuts down with more well designed loops, a hint of 90s minimalism and a taught bassline that keeps things moving at pace.
Review: The Crime Partners duo from Nantes, French, are no strangers to this label, having dropped plenty of heat here before. This new EP is another one primed and ready for the club: 'Pumping Bush' bursts out of the blocks with musical drum funk and classic dub chords smeared over the top. 'Raindrops' is a grainy and monochrome dub techno driver with endless reverb to get lost in and 'Deep Cover' is an unsettling pumper that keeps you on edge with its nervy synth loops. There is more upright and punchy techno fun on 'You Got Our Vibe' and 'Keep Pushing' while 'One More' is a great and gritty warehouse banger.
Review: If you were actively exploring the outer reaches of club music where dubstep and techno were cross-pollinating some ten years ago, you might have come across the F4TMusic label when they put out records from the likes of Afriqua and Myrkur. It's been quite some time, but now the label is back with a release from Alessandro Crimi, whose dub-spirited techno excursions make for a perfect welcome back for the label. 'Atropos' in particular is a refined dub techno workout with king-sized chords shimmering over a steadfast rhythm section in the time-honoured style. With space for delicate reflection as well as floor-focused functionality, Crimi helps toast F4TMusic's comeback in compelling fashion.
AudioChain - "Back To The Time" (Tm Shuffle Myotatuuli dub remix)
Celestial Sphere Aka Hirotaka - "Concept Depth"
Review: Swiss label Introspection Audio Limited hist 12" number five with some exceptional techno workouts from producers based in Switzerland, Finland and Japan. Each track delivers a distinct atmosphere and emotion, perfectly crafted for the dance floor. Alessandro Crimi's 'Always' keeps it deep, dubby and minimalist, Needless layers up delightfully smooth drums and dub chords and a Tm Shuffle Myotatuuli dub remix is frosted with icy static and chilly winds. Celestial Sphere Aka Hirotaka shuts down with a more textured and snappy dub tech vibe.
Review: A powerful and raw techno EP from Italian producer Domenico Crisci, who delivers four tracks of uncompromising hard groove via Hungarian label BRVTAL. The EP opens with the title track 'Born Under Another Sun' which imposes an austere cyclicality upon you that is aimed squarely at the peak time dancefloor. 'Sons Of The Sea' continues the same vibe on yet another steely DJ tool conducive to layering or long mixes. The B-side starts with 'Double Trip', which is another minimal and stripped-down track with visceral elements, while 'New Skin' is one more homage to the classic Birmingham sound reminiscent of Surgeon or Regis.
Review: After a fine collaborative outing on Semantica last year, Napoli tastemakers Retina.it and Domenico Crisci combine their skills once more for the tenth release from Summa Cum Laude. 'A Man With A Suitcase' opens up with a mix of textural synth details and long-form linear techno drums that all work you into a lather. 'Dead End Street' ups the pace and gets more manic with a hurried rhythm and urgent synth flashes peeling off the drums and 'Cross Road' then gets more weird with warped synth circles bringing tension and menace. 'Nocturnal Noise' closes out with reverberating synth leads and wispy curlicues bringing some rave mentality to the rooted beats.
Review: Cromic lands on Memento Records with a brace of tunes that demonstrate his ability to weave weird and wonderful field recordings into his electronic sounds, as much for texture as anything else. 'Like A Spring' has dark sub-bass borrowed from 90s jungle. It's vast, humid and throbbing beneath snatched vocal yelps that land a freak sense of tension as the chunky techno drums bounce. Tribal touches and hints of melodic colour drive later on to keep it fresh. 'For Me' then marries a pitched-up and trancey vocal with cantering and muscular techno drums lit up with warped synth stabs. It's full-body music for those who like it tough.
Review: The Opal label continues to establish itself in the electro realm with a second searing new release. This one comes from Cruz and is a full throttle outing that opens with 'Marine's Odissey', a journeying cut with searching synths and coruscated low ends. 'Tecnologica' has an even more rugged mix of raw drums and kicks and bumping basslines that never allow you to settle. There is increased turbulence on 'Los Misterios' with its zippy low ends and squelchy bass all firing every synapse in your brain then 'Los Finales Annunciados' shuts down with knick-snapping snares and alien sounds bringing the whole thing to life.
Review: Cruz returns to Griffe with the new EP 'La Pasion Paga', delivering a wicked set of five elements in the form of neon-drenched electro and wearable wetware Italo. The title track throws us into an extrasensory fervour, serving visions of streaklit motorbikes burning phosphenic light trails onto our retinas, be this due to the various LED filter-cutoff stabs, flash-photo gated snares or two-tone melodic glow discharges heard thereupon. 'Music Addicted' furthers this sense of lubricious but psychotic drive, as we're continually bewitched and bedazzled by murderous murmurations and piquant flicks and guttural saws, glued by the clever working of police sirens into the mix's distance. B-sider 'Always My Illusion' finds a moment of brief respite, deploying a detuned synth xerogel that glues each otherwise sparse, janky electro element into a well-soldered prosthetic. 'Los Atajos Del Delirio' builds on similar themes of futural disillusion, yet ramps things up to yet another accelerative exponent, ending on a juddering but bittersweet note of finality.
Review: Ecuadorian maestro Nicolas Cruz is back on Rhythm Seciton to follow up his last EP Subtropique which proved a big hit. "I'm always trying to re-interpret this Afro-Caribbean feeling, and trying to figure out how I could humanize this through the machines," he says of his approach and it certain is the case here. He mixes up some worlds rhythms with twitchy techno drums and electronic synths to make for something totally new on all of the tracks. The heavy, skipping kicks of 'Residual Heat' is a real favourite while 'Self Oscillation' is a catering percussive jam to pack the floor. Another great outing.
Review: Spiral Tribe's Network 23 label take a hyper-kinetic trip back into the archives for this 12", pulling out classic material from core members Crystal Distortion and 69db. 'Jailbreak 96' originally came out as an untitled track on 1995 release Part 2 and it sounds as punishing as ever as Simon Carter rides bloated kicks and annihilating textures turned up to a rampant tempo. We're not sure on where 'Fridgetrax 2' was pulled from, but it's a vintage slice of freetekno nonetheless, piling on the psychoactive pressure in a style which aligns with the harder, faster strains of techno knocking about these days. On the flip, 69db's 'Night Life' keeps the pressure up - free party fodder doesn't get any more real than this.
Review: The third welcome release in the vital NETWORK 23 remastered repress series comprises another three essential tracks. The A-Side showcases 'Panasonic,' a solo cut by Crystal Distortion that is pure experimental techno-madness. Flip it over and on the B-side you will find two tracks by 69db. 'Water' is a fizzing, dense, caustic mix of impenetrable rhythm and groove, and the second 'Drivin' is a collaboration with the original Spiral Tribe member, Meltdown Mickey, that again sounds like little else with its skittish loops, fizzing synth textures and unrelenting rhythms.
Review: The fourth of a series of reissues from Network 23 - which focuses on classic tracks by and adjacent to R-ZAC (Crystal Distortion and 69db) of Spiral Tribe, and which made up the bulk of the OG rave collective's live sets - the 'NET23 04' EP is a mesmerising sauna of tekno entrainments and mental sonic mares. Starting with a subtle mind-melter from Crystal Distortion, 'ESV', we move into increasingly propagandistic vibes from R-Zac - whose 'LSP23' sounds like a numbers station stuck on loop and set to a technoization - and then followed by 69db and Meltdown Mickey's 'Drivin', which returns things to their initial minimal but maddening state.
Review: Irish producer Cult you may know from outings on Molekul or Aktivv but here he steps up for the second drop from young imprint Seclusion. He comes correct with a trio of gritty, nuance tech offerings that are marbled with spooky designs and malfunctioning electronics which bring the beats to life in your mind while your body tries to keep up with the grooves. 'Brickwall' is a chunky, wall-rattling classic with an unnerving edge and the Specific Objects remix reworks it at a higher pace but with just as much twitchy anxiety built in. Elyas and Isaiah also offer their own take on two originals to make this a brilliant and bumper package.
Review: It is 30 years since Curley and R-Zac joined forces to cook up their Sahara Tekniq EP way back in 1994. Surely, the legendary Dutch free party scene hero is sadly no longer with us, but with R-Zac he very much laid down a definitive blueprint for this type of textural, dense techno. It is the first of a big series of newly remastered reissues from the Network23 label and it offers up four visceral, high-impact, live-sounding techno workouts that are packed with anxious synths and whirring machine sounds, unrelenting drums and more which is sure to bring real chaos to the clubs.
Review: Dan Curtin has been serving up genuinely far-sighted techno productions since 1992. While he's nowhere near as high-profile as he once was, Curtin is still capable of delivering dancefloor magic - as The 4 Lights, his first album in 15 years, emphatically proves. Those familiar with Curtin's spacey, futuristic and frequently funky take on techno and electro will know what to expect: think infectious, classic-sounding Motor City rhythms overlaid with funky basslines, warming chords, intergalactic-sounding lead lines and a healthy dose of electronic futurism. Curtin predictably hits the spot throughout, with highlights including future techno anthem 'What of Lazarus', the melodic and jazzy headiness of 'Trust Blind' and the sub-heavy downtempo shuffle of 'Transformations'. If that's not enough to seal the deal, this limited-edition version comes pressed to striking clear and black marbled vinyl.
Review: Astonishingly, 33 years has now passed since Cleveland native Dan Curtin made his bow via Detroit imprint 33rpm Records. More significantly, it's been 15 years since the storied techno and house scene stalwart last released an album - making this surprise excursion for Belgian imprint De:tuned a genuinely big deal. Those familiar with Curtin's spacey, far-sighted and frequently funky take on techno will know what to expect: think infectious, classic-sounding Motor City techno rhythms overlaid with funky basslines, warming chords, intergalactic-sounding lead lines and a healthy dose of electronic futurism. The myriad of highlights on show includes the densely layered tech-funk of 'Moral Imagination', the future purist techno anthem 'What of Lazarus', the melodic and jazzy headiness of 'Trust Blind' and the sub-heavy downtempo shuffle of 'Transformations'.
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