Author: hipodrome
Interstellar Funk – Digital Tsunami 064
Sneaker DJ – Les Yeux Orange #041
Peter Van Hoesen – Soundwall Podcast #245
Jeroen Search – Search Archives 002 [SEARCH002]
Jeroen’s commemorating his roots by re-releasing a selection of Search records from days gone by. Each has been remastered in such a way that it retains its authentic and timeless energy. Pressed onto fresh vinyl, this limited series contains some of the finest Search tracks ever to be put out, handpicked by Jeroen himself. In light of that it might be easily forgotten that Jeroen Search has been creating techno since the early nineties.
Basic Soul Unit – You Knew EP [DOLLY021]
After a small hiatus Basic Soul Unit is back on track, delivering some serious jacking club action! Four deep & intense cuts, but all still with that tremendous party vibe… all equally powerful.
Alien Rain – Alien Rain V [ALIENRAIN005]
Nitam – Retold EP [UTON006]
Its debut release time for Nitam as the Retold 12″ surfaces on Ostgut-Ton’s intermittent sublabel concern Unterton. It’s certainly the kind of friendly, melodic stuff that the Berlin label gravitates more readily towards, with a healthy amount of techno powering the machines. “Retold” strides forth with big room intent but not at the expense of the depth of the track, for it is indeed a hypnotic experience to behold. “Neotyp” meanwhile edges in a touch more groove to make for a gentler overall mood, before the muscular pump of “Value Time” brings in some sturdy bass, edgy strings and swooping synth tones. “Exiam” finishes the EP off with a drum-led workout that will have plenty of DJs swooning with mixable delight.
Iron Curtis – The K.M.S. Years EP [OFFICE004]
The record is about Johannes “Iron Curtis” Paluka’s time at Karl-Marx-Straße Berlin where he used to live next door to label head Baaz and graphic designer Chris Fladung.
Audio Atlas – Tape From The Universe EP [HM015]
Fit Siegel – Carmine / First Found [FIT012]
A moody techno classic perfect for the lonely season. Subtle, low-key and thumping, the title track revolves around a bittersweet piano lead, elegiac 303 and Blade Runner string swells. It’s a high-tech driving song in the tradition of Model 500’s low-key classic ”Pick Up The Flow” and FIT sounds more assured than ever. ”First Found” is Mills-ian jigsaw puzzle techno imbued with breathy and addictive humanity. Stacatto, free-jazz informed piano solos lock into ping-pong synths — eventually, a female vocal emerges over a bed of arpeggiated bass. Loose yet robotic, ”First Found” is first-rate Detroit techno mysticism.
Ben Boe – Leagues To Light Years [BOE026]
Ben Boe drops his very first solo EP on the label he conceived over 8 years ago. Narratives of deep space travel and journeys into the abyss permeate the release from start to finish. Ganymede graces the A-Side with its interstellar funk and sci-fi chords cutting through a heavy atmosphere like that of the namesake moon itself. A sampled, spooky tale of watery destinations round off the a-side and lead into the depths of DEEeeP-r on the flip. Fuzzy saturated textures, whispering chords and heavy bass soften the descent whilst a chopped and maipulated vocal drones “Go Deeper, Stay Longer”. Drawing influence from his home county, the early Sheffield stylings, machine-precision breakbeats and soft harmonies of Atomic Fuzz round off the EP.
Binh – Visions Of Love [PERLON104]
Perlon’s latest release is coming from a lesser known artist, Binh aka he production alias of Berlin based Germann Nguyen. He shows some punchy Perlon-worthy productions skills on the basis of his two tracks here with opener “Visio” a quite haunting cut where stripped back drum programming allows a neat bassline and detailed synth work to shine. Complementing this, it feels like “Ruski” is Nguyen letting his more urgent desires reign free and is likely to become a B side many selectors cherish.
Trenton Chase – The Manor Conspiracy EP [JUNE006]
For June Records’ sixth release, the Vampire of Sacramento returns with a live jammin’, four track techno EP, filthy and as raw as anything previously consumed by the monster. A sequel to Trenton Chase’s full blown manic episode taking place inside the Manor asylum.
Legowelt – Immensity of Cosmic Space [UTTU050]
50 releases in under four years is no mean feat, so a round of applause to Unknown to the Unknown who surpass the landmark with a new record from Legowelt. The superbly named Immensity Of Cosmic Space arrives hot on the heels of Legowelt’s fine Vaporware Tracks record for Creme and sees the Dutchman exploring the realm of rave era breakbeat techno. Of course what makes Danny Wolfers work as Legowelt so distinctive his mastery of star gazing melodies and hearing them fused with recycled drum breaks on the title track and the Amen filled “Lumeria2” is a real delight.
Trevor Jackson – Format: Lumiline [VF116-1]
Acclaimed creative director and music maker trevor jackson releases format, a collection of unreleased music & his first album in 14 years. F O R M A T is no ordinary album release – instead it charts the legacy of the physical music format, in a characteristically beautiful and uncompromising way, paying homage to physically released formats over the decades and also celebrating the artistry, design, as well as the individual experience of playing music via physical methods. Initially available as a limited edition release, each track is available on : 12″, 10″, 7″ vinyl, cd, mini cd, cassette, usb, mini disc, dat, 8 track and 1/4 reel to reel.
Raw M.T. – La Duna [MORK002]
The second Mork release finally gets out of the blocks, helmed by Italian analogue explorer Raw M.T. With some seriously heavy cuts under his belt, we coaxed him out of hiding for a varied 12” of low-slung house, dreamy beachside dreams and hammering arpeggiated techno, cut deep and heavy over two sides of wax.
Sparky – Tapes [RADSPRK1]
The in-house label from Glasgow’s Rubadub has been an infrequent affair characterised by a sense of the unpredictable thus far. A third release arrives and it’s from a source much closer to home in Sparky, aka veteran Glasgow producer Dave Clark. The two track Tapes 12″ is an unfussy affair, arriving as a stamped white label and brandishing some archival productions from Clark’s mid ’90s output. If you like your techno deep and fizzy you will cherish A side track “94Archive2/8” whilst the accompanying production veers off into tracky yet transcendental territory.
Mick Wills – Dekmantel Podcast 007
DJ QU – Redtones EP [SMR015]
By his own prolific standards, veteran deep house/techno producer Ramon Lisandro Quezada – better known since 2005 as DJ Qu – has been rather quiet of late. Several bases are covered on the Redtones EP. Contrast, for example, the drifting, sci-fi chords and dense, deep house goes tribal rhythms of the title track, with the picturesque pianos and crackly samples of downtempo bonus “Sadness In The Static”. Best of all, though, is “Sweaty”, a formidably wonky fusion of psychedelic electronics, trippy effects and throbbing, grime encrusted house beats.
