2025 Top 3 – Readers List
We take the chance to thank you, our readers, for your continuous support and we also have a look at what you enjoyed the most on hipodrome. This is a summary of the top 3 albums, compilations and recordings that you liked the most last year.
Continue reading “2025 Top 3 – Readers List”2025 Best Tracks part. 10 (of 10)
We present our favorite tracks from 2025, more or less in a chronological order and finally we are at the last set of 10 tracks.
K. Alexi – Warehouse Trax [DE-331]
Chicago legend K. Alexi returns to Dark Entries with Warehouse Trax, an EP of previously unreleased acid and house mayhem. K’Alexi Shelby’s illustrious career has included releases on legendary labels such as Trax, DJ International, and Transmat, as well as collaborations with high-profile artists like Marshall Jefferson and Pet Shop Boys. But his musical journey began at the young age of 12, when he befriended Ron Hardy and Frankie Knuckles while frequenting the Music Box and Warehouse. Dark Entries previously reissued Shelby’s debut record, Essence of a Dream, which was recorded under the name Risque III in 1987. Warehouse Trax follows with six tracks recorded in Chicago between 1991 and 1994. The material here has all the hallmarks of classic K’Alexi. Salsa-inflected rhythms, emotive basslines, and hip-house vibes are displayed on tracks like the high-octane “Jungle Line” or the low-key tearjerker “Protect and Survive.” There are also some unexpected surprises in store. “Aaaah” comes out of the gate swinging with hard-hitting beats and apocalyptic ravey vocal pads evocative of the edgier material on Saber Records or Djax Up Beats, and the surprisingly contemporary-sounding “Klub Dred” delivers half-time dub with stuttering vocal samples.
K.A. Posse – Strikes Again [DE-336]
Chicago legend K. Alexi returns to Dark Entries with K.A. Posse’s Strikes Again, an EP of preleased unreleased acid and house mayhem. K’Alexi Shelby’s illustrious career has included releases on legendary labels such as Trax, DJ International, and Transmat, as well as collaborations with high-profile artists like Marshall Jefferson and Pet Shop Boys. But his musical journey began at the young age of 12, when he befriended Ron Hardy and Frankie Knuckles while frequenting the Music Box and Warehouse. Dark Entries previously reissued Shelby’s debut record, Essence of a Dream, which was recorded under the name Risque III in 1987. Strikes Again brings us six tracks recorded in Chicago between 1988 and 1990, which come courtesy of Mike Dunn’s personal archive. This record showcases the rawer, more immediate side of Shelby’s sound, with tracks full of overdriven 808’s, careening sirens, and dangerously funky breakbeats. “Imported Taste” brings Shelby’s signature deep pads to the front of wild congo-laced percussion. “Suckas Be Ready” is a slamming hip-house cut featuring vocals from MCD-TA, while disco-samples duel with crunchy 909s on the jacking “Muzic Box.” Strikes Back showcases the real underground sound of Chicago, where sonic abstraction meets full-body kinetics.
VA – World Beats Vol. 1 [WB01]
Neapolitan DJ and producer Lello Di Franco, aka L.D.F., presents World Beats — a project driven by the intention to carve out a new, deeper mood on the dancefloor. Rooted in rhythm, raw edits and sampling, the concept draws from forgotten and classic cuts pulled straight from his vinyl collection, reshaped with a contemporary, club-focused approach. This first volume brings together like-minded artists from different corners of the world — Jesse Bru, Chicago edit master Rahaan, and Berlin-based DJ Merci — each contributing their own unique musical perspective while helping define the project’s distinctive global sound.
K. Hand – Acid Nation [WV9007]
‘Acid Nation, is one of the defining releases from US techno and house icon K. Hand (Kelli Hand). First pressed in 1995 on Loriz Sound in collaboration with Acacia Records, the record captures the raw energy and forward-thinking spirit of the American underground scene of the era. Driven by gritty acid lines, powerful rhythms, and a fearless, machine-driven groove, ‘Acid Nation’ showcases the full depth of K. Hand’s talent as a DJ and producer. Now seeing the light again on the Time To Impact imprint, the record returns in a remastered version, bringing its timeless acid power back to contemporary dancefloors.
The Hacker @ HÖR (Berlin) 14.02.2026
Asymetric80 – Frenetic Habits EP [INDMEK-011]
Asymetric80 lands at Industrias Mekanikas with an unapologetic statement: a direct immersion into the aesthetics of collapse and extreme habits. The work places you in the center of a post-apocalyptic scenario, where survival no longer relies on calm, but on your ability to endure mechanical tension. The sound is built upon solidity and saturation. You won’t find fragility here, but rather an architecture of EBM, New Beat, and Industrial Techno designed to dominate any sound system that dares to play it.
Panico En Directo – Terror For Kids [VKT003]
Voykot closes the trilogy with Panico En Directo unleashing its darkest chapter: Terror for kids. The definitive third act where terrifying melodies and aggressive soundscapes come with no parental advisory. Sounds mutated into pure shadows, an uncompromising immersion into electronic darkness that completes the cycle of a perfect nightmare.
o_b_i_e_c_t feat. Gabriel Almași – Pânzele albe [New Romanian Weird]
Modular synthesizers meet a crazy saxophone, a deranged accordion, a piano and a violin in an one-of-a kind album playing with free-jazz aesthetics in an experimental and really weird album. 100% instrumental and deconstructivism, ”Pânzele albe” (”The white curtains”) is a daring encounter with off-beat sounds and melodies, courtesy of Anghel Mailat (synths) and the multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Almași.
Boris Divider AV/Live @ OMBRA Festival 2025
CYRK – Not Human [TZ003]
Berlin-based duo CYRK relaunches their Time Zero imprint, marking the occasion with a striking new release that dives head-first back into their electro roots. The EP showcases three tracks of pure electronic funk, delivered with the razor-sharp production and futuristic flair that has come to define the project. Adding a further layer of intrigue, the record includes a remix from the enigmatic producer Client_03, whose identity remains one of electronic music’s most compelling mysteries. Their reinterpretation pushes the release into even deeper machine-funk territory, rounding out a package that reaffirms CYRK’s command of the genre.
Hieroglyphic Being LIVE @ Sleep Olympics (Detroit) 24.01.2026
Hieroglyphic Being – Acid Issues Vol. 1 [+++-089]
Hieroglyphic Being presents Acid Issues Vol. 1 on Mathematics Plus.
Robert Bergman – 9 Lives Of The Cat [B19]
Robert Bergman fires up his hardware for a run of super-salty proto-house and techno workouts. ‘9 Lives Of The Cat – Lives 1-5’ crackles with raw jakbeat energy as his machines are pushed into the red and grooves locked tight. ‘Life 1’ bites with a nagging, bittersweet melody over chattering drums, while ‘Life 2’ spirals into demented Italo-industrial arpeggios. ‘Life 3’ drenches the floor in corrosive acid swill, and by ‘Life 5’ Bergman is deep in wire-fried hypnosis. Tripped-out and uncompromising. Taking cues from Chicago and the Westcoast (NL).
Stefan Braatz – Planet 2 Planet EP [NG171]
Founded in 1988 by Frank and Karen Mendez as a vehicle for The Burrell Brother’s prolific creative output, the legendary NYC label Nu Groove was relaunched in 2021, reinstating its cult status and quickly becoming a home for genre pioneers. Today its eclectic catalogue continues to grow with label returnee Stefan Braatz delivering his ‘Planet 2 Planet EP’, a four-track vinyl release showcasing this Berlin underground authority’s deeply synthetic club sound and timeless influences, including a collaboration with Virgo Four on the title track.
Chicago Skyway – Body Remembers EP [CCDC008]
Calder City Development Corp. returns from Michigan with CCDC008 “Body Remembers EP” by Chicago Skyway, a raw, emotional slice of pure Chicago-Detroit house energy. This is that unmistakable blend of swing, grit and soul: dusty drum programming, deep basslines and chords that feel both melancholic and hopeful at the same time. It’s music that taps directly into the body – the kind of grooves you feel in your chest before you even realize you’re moving. “Body Remembers EP” fits perfectly into the Calder City Development Corp. universe: deep but direct, underground but timeless. This is finest Detroit house designed for concrete basements, smoky backrooms and all those moments when the lights are low and the crowd is completely locked into the groove.
Surgeon LIVE @ SUPERBOOTH25
DJ PT – Oscillazione LP [LIES-224]
Absolutely killer 11 track double pack of raw techno missiles from Bari, Italy’s hero, DJ Plant Texture. Ultimate club gear that will do total damage anytime, anywhere. No nonsense, committed to the art of music..no false idol worship…just blistering true to form blasting techno cuts made to mix and send em’ into a frenzy. No trends, straight for the throat!
Mike Inzinger – Clear [MIR0006]
Austria’s Mike Inzinger began his MIR Records project in 2022, and has since released 5 EPs to great fanfare and support, providing a must-hear catalogue of tracks with each new package. Continuing to explore different realms of electronic music, be it acid, ambient, deep, electro and raw techno, his purist works are always interesting and atmospheric by focusing on overall timeless, classic creations with nods to Detroit and yesteryear excellence.
VA – Freedom, Innovation, Resonance Vol. 2 [EMSLDV002]
Some big names feature on the second volume of Ensouled’s ‘Freedom, Innovation, Resonance’ series, and they serve up suitably profound sounds. Dutch mainstay Orlando Voorn gets the hairs standing on end with his ‘Deeper’, a sumptuous blend of soft synths, undulating rhythms and spiritual keys. The Cee ElAssaad remix has still soft edges but a little more upright groove, and then Chicago legend Boo Williams cranks it up further with his loopy, melodically intense ‘Loose Cannon’. Lastly, Nawfel’s ‘Fight Or Flight’ is a textural deep house affair with mechanical, rigid rhythms softened by the lush pads.
Franck Roger – My Illusions EP [SL117]
Franck Roger lands on the Seasons Limited imprint as they head into their 30th year in 2026. This typically soulful EP opens with ‘My Illusions’, which has Roger again centreing his own vocals to beautiful effect. ‘Organika’ is a supple, subtle and smoky deep house gem for cosy vibes and ‘Emotive’ shuts down with a lush, slow-burning sound that taps right into the earliest house roots.
The Hipodrome Of Music 