Snakes are Poor Denizens of Hell
Have come surreptitioning
Through the tall grass
To face the pool of clear frogs
The Transhumans – Beast Like State EP [MORD025]
001.Features
Positive Centre – Vorticist [SNTS008]
SNTS Records expands its reach with solo Positive Centre, who has released on Our Circula Sound and Stroboscopic Artefacts. This EP, with the intriguing title of Vorticist, shows the artist’s most visceral and raw side.
Phase Fatale – Jealous God 10 [JEL010]
Jealous God arrive at their tenth issue and it’s yet another label debut, with Berlin-based New Yorker Hayden Payne getting his most high profile release to date under the Phase Fatale name. Once heavily involved in New York’s cold wave scene, Payne’s move to Berlin and the adoption of Phase Fatale has seen him develop an EBM flavoured style of techno that is eminently suited to the Jealous God cause. Lead cut “Steel” sounds like Silent Servant hocked up on steroids, contrasting nicely with the stealthier pump of “SOL740”. On the flip, the rhythmic construction of “Cut” is reminiscent of Jam City reworking Front 242, whilst “Castor” is pure sonic brutality.
Mr. Fingers – Mr. Fingers 2016 [ML2231]
Alleviated Records present the new Mr. Fingers EP. After many years of the moniker being dormant and a long journey trying to get back into a creative mindset, we have a new offering. First up, “Outer Acid” delivers up a Minimal-Space-Acid flavor. Next, “Qwazars” continues the Space motif with a Minimal-Tech touch. “Nodyahed” moves toward a Dark Club Bounce with a dash of Tribal flavor. “Aether” offers up a more late-night Ambient-Space-House flavor.
Nick J Smith – EP1 [RL019]
Nick J Smith has been immersed in the Leeds underground music scene for ages and is one third of the DJ crew and top mixtape blog Clandestino. This EP is representative of the eclectic vibe Nick brings to the trio. The main track ‘Flashback’ bubbles with Chicago style dreamy chug and 90’s rave gaze. Planet Raider is cyborg Manc-talo Electro night driving music at its best and mega Geordie Man Power twists the ‘Flashback’ remix into an impressive and progressive 9 minute bulimic tek belch.
Miruga – Be Free [AMR036R]
Altered Moods Recordings makes its first artist foray into Asia, more specifically, it sets its sights on Nagano, Japan, where it finds a fertile and quickly expanding underground scene and one of its key players, Yoshiki Tsuchiya, also known as Miruga.
Numonika – Knoe 4/1 [KNOE4/1]
For Those That Knoe present some of the freshest and timeless sounds the UK has to offer from Numonika, sounding as good now as they would have done when recorded ten years ago. Three tracks from the original demo CD have been selected, compiled, re-mastered and pressed by For Those That Knoe onto a special 12″ for collectors and club DJs alike.
DMX Krew – You Exist [HYPELP005]
Hypercolour announce the latest long player from UK stalwart, Ed DMX AKA DMX Krew, the visionary British electronic producer who has been responsible for a slew of excellent releases since the mid 1990s. ‘You Exist’ is DMX Krew’s debut appearance on Hypercolour, and as expected the record features nine tracks of beautifully crafted, melodic electronic sounds. From the opener ‘Spiritual Encounter’, DMX sets the tone perfectly with oodles of pitch perfect synth riffs and driving drums, working his way through snappy and bright pop moments like ‘Hard Copy’ to more melancholic, darker cuts like ‘Computational Paradigm Shift’. DMX breezes in and out of electro techno territory to more contemplative IDM vibes with ease, testimony to the guy’s talent (that’s also seen him wear the hat of over 10 aliases throughout his career to date). ‘You Exist’ captures a very true and genuine musical form, produced and delivered with love from one of the scene’s unsung heroes, and makes it a great companion piece to another Hypercolour released album from similar stock. A consistent and engaging album then from DMX Krew that will pleasure the ear buds of discerning listeners everywhere.
99Letters – Drawing Days [THNS005]
99LETTERS steps up on THRHNDRDSVNTNN with a collection of chugging, otherworldly house and techno excursions. Tape saturated machines groan under ghostly synth pads and layers of static, whilst over driven percussion pounds overhead.
Bintus – Reincarnated Savage [BDN009]
Having previously kept his pet project Bintus on the Power Vacuum homestead, Milo Smee aligns with UAE label Bedouin for the superbly named Reincarnated Savage EP. While there can often be a slightly scary amount of distortion shaping out the Bintus sound, the lead track on the record is finely honed, pummelling electro of the highest order, albeit with plenty of unhinged noises zipping around in the mix. Fear not red-line lovers, for there’s still ample room for overloaded madness on the flipside by way of balancing out the release.
DJ Krime – Drm Box [DIZZY009]
Dizzy Tunes’ DJ Krime jets out with yet another well produced, most distinguished pinpoint production – sounding both classic and modern at the same time, this acid house & ghetto acid music sums it all up to please your needs!
Frak – Sudden Haircut EP [DE109]
Frak are Björn Isgren, Johan Sturesson and Jan Svensson, a trio of synthesizer lovers from Sweden. The band was formed when Svensson and Isgren’s older sisters were best friends and they introduced their little brothers to each other. Inspired by Severed Heads, DAF, Human League, Devo, Skinny Puppy, the boys began collecting analog equipment and started Studio Styrka. While the band were still in their early teens they released the first FRAK cassette album in 1987 on their own record label Börft. Almost 30 years later, FRAK continue to release their bizarre brand of Scandinavian techno with their debut release on Dark Entries.
Mono Junk vs Mesak – Deep In My Mind [DUM034]
Mono Junk’s DUM Records has been dictating trends in the world of minimalistic techno since the 1990s, and its 34th release is as special as any. This one comes from label boss Kimmo Rapatti aka Mono Junk vs Mesak, who is better known as fellow Finn, Tatu Metsätähti, aka one half of Mr Velcto Fastener. Together the pair serve up three mixes of their jam and an additional track
VA – Few Tricks For Nervous Dealbreakers EP [CY004]
Contort Yourself with 4 strong outings for its fourth EP ! To begin with we have the grimacing visage of Volition Immanent, an intense live act made up of Parrish Smith and Mark Van de Maat (Knekelhuis). Nastiness is taken up a notch as noise ne’er-do-wells Zombies Under Stress take over. Static is bent and doubled across thick chords and collapsed clap in the 1986 ”Maan Zal Zijn” before the raw and raging battery of ”In Onze Tijd.” L.I.E.S. regular Svengalisghost grapples with ”Maan Zal Zijn, channelling the original’s rage into a mechanical monster. The 12” is bookended with bite as Mark Forshaw (Tabernacle/Berceuse Heroique) closes with the tortured and torrential thump of ”Submission.”
Space Knight – Space Alert / Starline [DP015]
VA – Strange Science EP [ICR003]
Invite’s Choice Records starts 2016 with a bang and releases another 4-track EP with 4 different tracks by 4 great artists. Jeroen Search has the honour of opening the EP with a four to the floor track which gets you with it’s sporadic melodramatic sting. Perfect for switching between the more deeper and more straightforward parts of your set. Adam Craft continues with a loop-track which is built around it’s powerful and deep bass. Thessaloniki based Endlec is responsible for the first track of the B-side and comes up with a track dominated by it’s percussive yet simple drive and a synthy vibe which, together with it’s short length, draws you in and sends you off in another direction quite soon. TNTUS closes the EP with a track that fits Invite’s style quite well; a drumcomputer-driven track complimented with a chaotic, repetitive synth: madness guaranteed!
Peter van Hoesen – Stealth 3/3 [T2XS303]
The last instalment of the ‘Stealth’ vinyls focuses on the productions of the Time To Express founder. Reflecting the themes of the series, Van Hoesen offers his own vision of hypnotic techno on ‘Shadows & Concern’, a powerful and expansive piece. The series is completed in appropriate fashion with ‘Unicorn’, an emotive track that displays Van Hoesen’s more melodic side.
Surgeon – Search Deep Inside Yourself [BP044]
Surgeon appears with the superb new release on Blueprint ‘Search Deep Inside Yourself’. This 4-tracker features a brand new full colour label sleeve to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this classic techno label.
VA – Construct Re-Form Free Tracks [FREE DOWNLOAD]
Free tracks from Birth Of Frequency, Zadig and Voiski on the Construct Re-Form label.
The Hipodrome Of Music 