Seven years after the classic ‘Theater of a Confused Mind’ (as Population One), Detroit techno phenomenon Terrence Dixon is back on Rush Hour with a new album, this time under his own name. ‘Reporting from Detroit’ is another prime example of the distinctly unique sound language Dixon has developed over the last three decades – defiant, forward-thinking afrofuturist techno that could only have been made in the Motor City.
MÉTIER is the new label from Jack! Who? and his UK based deathtechno.com project that is set to journey into deep, dreamy, dub, techno, acid, electro and ambient that will surprise and delight from release to release. AX15 is a new alias of the veteran Alex Dolby. “Ascension” is a wonderful, bleeping cut that uses uplifting chords and modular licks over soft drums to create a lighthearted, ethereal atmosphere. The second track “Orbital” uses a spacey funk to turn the energy up to a level. Delayed electronic sound effects and abstract synth parts make up the main hook of this understated masterpiece. Closing this release with “Moon Landing”, a track that instantly takes off with a classic electro beat from pulsing, acid stabs and crushed claps. Fuelled by astronaut vocal samples, there’s a moody vibe locked into the stellar groove.
Schrödinger’s Box have collected three juggernauts of wave tainted electronics for the latest. Dmitry Distant teams up with Norwell for a partnership of serious intent. The pair deliver a trio of blackened tracks, opening with the ghoulish caverns of “Transient State” before the long shadows, acid stains and painful echoes of “Visionary.” The duo venture into brighter territory with the computer funk of “On A Verge of Veil”, crisp beats and bubbling melodies changing the tone. Following Beyond the War, Cute Heels returns to occupy the flip. The Colombian is immediately on it with the swirling mirrors of “Kuriyaki Horizons,” a kick drum offering solid footing in this entrancing piece. An aloof, yet alluring, disco hook takes hold for “Litua”, a low thump keeping time. The finale arrives with the clipped industrial gait of “Determinated In Order.” Marching to a military beat, this work is industrial inspired with Cute Heels keeping a close ear to the pressure release gauge.
A spectacular debut by this mystery production team by way of London and Berlin. Deep EBM influenced Electro from beyond the rim with a dash of acidic retro futurism.
Death Decay Magic Remixes Vol. 1 draws on the first three releases from the label: Black Light Smoke “Lines & Shadows”, Daniel Holt “Traveler”, and Man 2.0, Black Light Smoke “Holy Hammer”. With remixes from The Hacker, Cardopusher and others, DDM05 hits hard with EBM and electro vibes.
Umwelt is back on Midnight Shift, with another scorching 5-track EP designed to be listened in continuity. Ascending chorals, acidic swirls and horrific echoes rise above a mash of abrasive, caustic electro/breakbeat chaos with shapeshifting moods. Ambient track ‘Gate of Nothingness’ echoes and feeds back into ‘Fear On The Dark Planet’ with its arpeggiated refrain.
Four emotive cuts of Chicago flavoured, acidic deep house by Utrecht based producer and 030303 crew member Böhm.
Casey Tucker under his Variable Frequency Technician moniker. “Cross Section”, the anthem that closed the B-Side of the original 1995 release on Plus 8’s sub-label Probe is getting now a re-release on Certain Music with two remixes from Fit Siegel and Marc Piñol plus a proper retake from Tucker himself.
Deathtrippers was formed by Sasha Raoul in Leeds, UK, 2015, his influences being classic 80s’ gothic rock / psych / electronica / 80s’ indie. They have also contributed a couple of tracks to compilations in 2020. Each song is a dancefloor smasher in its own style. Dead Wax Records have gathered all their recorded output (previously on digital formats only), some of which has been edited, some remixed and all of it newly mastered specifically for this vinyl, making it flow and sound better than ever.
Karl Kave makes his appearance on Lux Rec for their first release in 7″ format. Four terse tracks influenced by his past experiences, high and low as they come, tumultuous thoughts and life events. The result is a sombre nostalgia for all that is not there anymore. Coming from Rheintal, a valley on the eastern part of Switzerland, he uses English, German and his native Swiss dialect to sing. Dive into it, meet sadness.
Celebrating one year of music From The Void Above third release consists of five cuts by the Spanish maestro Do Or Die. On the A-Side the record opens with Autoflanger, a driving techno track with trancey elements which gives no rest. A2, 25 Seconds, presents a biting electro cut where the vocals and synths take us on a apocaliptic journey. Heaven in Hell closes the A-Side with a tranquil but tense acid track where the interaction of the bassline, drums, leads and pads create an ascent into the enlightenment brought by the glimpse of this new universe. The B-Side opens up with Out Run 2020, a warped break-beat phantasmagoria where detuned synths constantly fight aganst the driving bassline. Finally, B2 gives us Overdose, a gloomy electro cut with sounds brought up from the darkest places of this new universe.
An enduring fixture in the techno and electronic music landscape, Dave Sumner continues to step through new terrains, reinforcing his spike and vision. He returns to Tresor Records with a new Function record, entitled Awakening From The Illusory Self.
The second release from the Italian label 616 Lab, comes with 4 purely analog tracks written and produced in 2020 by the Sicilian artist 616.
The debut release by the German underground label Panther Schallplatten, from the core artists Der Panther and Die Gestalten, is here. Deep electro that pulls the flow with acid synths and eccentric spoken words on the beats of analog drum machines.
Perill features on the debut release of Plata Morgana with some post avant-garde neo-acid micro electro tracks.
The Hipodrome Of Music 