Red Laser takes us for one last spin on the waltzers. Tried and tested at their road block parties in Manchester, these edits shine a light on four primo-grade Italo face melters. Fervently excavated by Bosco over countless visits to Bel Paese and streamlined for the hydrofoil, with some extra added calories for the club.
A rare German disco experiment from 1982 by Herbert Hildebrandt-Winhauer of Rattles fame and Peter Hesslein, delivering a sleazy electro-boogie groove with funky vocal layers on the A-side and a cosmic disco instrumental with thick drums and synth magic on the flip side. Originally released as a 7-inch, this remastered 12-inch edition includes Trent’s DJ-friendly extended edit of Erotica and a high-energy reimagining of Rado-Keno.
Borusiade lands on Dark Entries with their triumphant third LP, THE FALL: A Series of Documented Experiences. The Romanian producer and DJ Miruna Boruzescu aka Borusiade has a track record of genre-bending releases on tastemaking outlets like Cómeme, Pinkman, Cititrax, and of course Dark Entries, who unleashed their stunning 2020 sophomore album Fortunate Isolation. THE FALL builds on Borusiade’s mythos with its 9 brooding and sophisticated tracks investigating the contours of memory and embodiment – the “fragile bridge between body and mind” in Borusiade’s words. Moody basslines and melancholy synths wrestle with muscular rhythms; this is electronic body music for the heart and head. This is their most diaristic work to date, as well, chronicling love and loss through the gauze of reflection. Tracks like “Save Me”, “Recovery and Redemption”, and “The Fall” sprung from painful breakups, periods which Borusiade identifies as some of their most creatively fruitful, finding themselves “making the best music when I was brokenhearted.” There are odes to musical titans we’ve lost: the minimal electro producer Porn Darsteller is comemorated on “Darsteller”, while industrial legends Genesis P-Orrige and Lady Jaye are honored on “Pandrogyne.” THE FALL comes housed in a sleeve using Gautier D’Agoty’s “Essai d’Anatomie,” an anatomical work from 1745, and also includes a lyric sheet. Trauma, from lost love to pandemic isolation, informs THE FALL, situating itself as a gap that can only be accessed through sound and the creation of art. “What can I add? When life gives you drama, make music.”
Translate and his signature sound embodied into an extended EP defining a new Sci-Fi techno era for Semantica Records.
Psyk and Orbe consolidate their joint project by releasing their third EP “Tagma2”. This time on Orbe Records with five tracks of uplifting deep and designed soundscaping techno.
Model 500’s “Deep Space,” released in 1995, is a landmark album in electronic and techno music, crafted by Detroit pioneer Juan Atkins. This work seamlessly combines atmospheric textures with pulsating beats, reflecting the innovative spirit of the Detroit techno scene. With tracks like “The Chase” and “No UFOs,” “Deep Space” captivates listeners through its hypnotic melodies and complex rhythms, creating an immersive experience that feels both expansive and futuristic. The album is revered for its groundbreaking sound and continues to inspire artists and fans alike in the electronic music landscape. This new pressing has been carefully remastered and re-cut from original sources to achieve The best sonic experience possible.
Dublin’s most dedicated Detroit district has just assembled a fresh set of space shuttles ready to take off. Xistence Records is known best from its true to the cause, hypnotic rhythms forged to the ethos of the classic Motown techno. The label owner Phil Robertson brings three variations for galloping grooves on whirling synth fields, with pulsating percussion here, chimey chords there, and even French Kiss-esque stabs appear somewhere. Last but not least, John Beltran joins the show with a beautiful Transmatic acidic bliss as his reimagination of ‘Lonely Moments’. Mesmerising.
More freaky acid waves from the unknown Lost Trax laboratories. A strong follow up to their previous ‘Mind Over Matter’ EP on Delsin where they explored a more oldschool 90’s electronics feel. Right here it’s strictly business with punchy acid lines and timeless pads on 5th Comb Sweep. The Detroit style FM freakiness of Skin Walker and stabby 303 pulses combined with smashing rides on X1 will definitely get crowds moving.
Shonky debuts on Wicked Bass with ‘The Way It Goes’, an EP of spooky and minimalistic house/techno.
When you hear what Bryan Hervieu, the mastermind behind Vibes And Pepper Records, has assembled on the Jazz Avengers EP, you’ll surely be impressed. Igaxx and DJ Dreamboy start with sophisticated and elegant house tracks. Jarren continues with ethereal synth lines and analog drum sounds that evoke a late-night atmosphere. Hanna delivers one of his best tracks to date, “Prayin’”, which is both breezy and driving, with a touch of unique melancholy. Finally, Brazilian producer Zopelar concludes the EP with raw drums and deep chords, rounding off an irresistible collection.
Black Eyes aka Matthew Jesus delivers a brilliant deep and warm piece of art on his debut release for Housewax, called ‘Pressure System’.
Baba Zula, the legendary Istanbul band, remains the most experimental exponent of the hotly-tipped contemporary Turkish psych-rock scene. BaBa ZuLa are revered sonic trailblazers who have built a cult following in all corners of the globe and have counted members of Einstürzende Neubauten, Can and Nick Cave the Bad Seeds as their fans. Pulsing, hypnotic tracks powered by Turkish percussion, glitched electronics, deep bass, electric saz and dual male/female vocals. İstanbul Sokakları (Streets of Istanbul) is a vivid sonic and political statement from a band that continues to show us the future.
In the Summer of 2023, Unknown To Known recorded their first studio album onboard a ‘Lightship’ in the docklands of East London. Sculpted through long form improvisations, this music reflects their personal transformations as well as the rapidly evolving world in which we live. With its gradually unveiling intricacies and soundscapes rich in colour and depth, we sincerely hope this album can provide some moments of calm and joy. Moody, gliding, ranging improvisations, fronted by the closely-knit harmonies and melodies of woodwind duo Idris Rahman and Tamar Osbourne, and under-pinned by the propulsive, layered rhythms of Yusuf Ahmed’s drums and Jihad Darwish’s sitar and bass.
The Maltasian master Sound Synthesis with a brand new album! Another fine timeless journey into electro and electronix that will stand the test of time..
Dalmata Daniel’s third LP comes from Rapha, marking his return to the label after contributing to its split and compilation series. Known for bold acid treatments and dark, futuristic tones, Rapha takes his craft to new heights on ‘Midnight Dancer’, which also features remixes by CT Kidobó and PRZ. In ‘Midnight Dancer’, Rapha showcases his ability to blend industrial grit with cosmic melodies, delivering hard-hitting electro suited for both club play and immersive listening at home or on a night ride.
Lectromagnetique dystopian soundscapes are a reflection of the nature of radioactive Chernobyl, poisoned by humanity, it still looks deceptively alive, but invisible acid flows easily cause side effects.
With ‘Multiply Your Absurdities’, Helena Hauff delivers her long-awaited 12-inch debut on Tresor: a multi-colored inauguration, masterfully crafted by the inimitable Hamburg producer and DJ.
Red Laser Records continue their stellar form with another knockout release, blending Manctalo fire from old hands and fresh faces alike. Frank Butters opens the EP with The Call Of The Wild, a dazzling blast of crystalline synths, thunderous bass, and cosmic effects that showcase his forward-thinking production skills. Bob Swans delivers ‘Bodyform4U’, a dreamy arpeggiated groove that builds an uplifting, futuristic atmosphere, perfect for igniting the dancefloor. Lone Saxon switches things up with ‘Hypersleep’ a breakbeat-infused piano gem that oozes nostalgic charm, before Franz Scala and Il Bosco finish strong with Webo, a late-night, tension-filled Manctalo banger.
One of legendary filmmaker John Carpenter’s few forays into electro-disco proper, ‘Die Klapperschlange’ is an instant throwback, the title theme from the 1981 sci-fi film Escape From New York. It’s as if this track was made for the anarcho-discos of the future, its inherent darkness rendering it seemingly unassailable by the crumbling of society or public breakouts of violence depicted in the film.
For its landmark 20th anniversary, Apnea Records proudly presents XX, a double 12″ compilation that chronicles the label’s journey from its inception to its current cutting-edge form. Featuring both original innovators and fresh talents from its recent relaunch, this release is a sonic time capsule and a forward-looking statement. Spanning from deep techno to Detroit-infused house, Jamal Moss’s abstract house, electro, and E.R.P.’s signature machine funk, XX dives into the label’s broad sonic spectrum. With contributions from Alex Under, Damian Schwartz, Jamal Moss, E.R.P., Dopplereffekt, Thomas Brinkmann, and Kyle Hall & Kero, this collection serves as both a reflection of Apnea’s past and a bold vision for the future.
The Hipodrome Of Music 