Amsterdam-based DJ/producer Dirk Wiertz has spent decades immersed in music, working at the iconic Concerto record store and crafting his sound in his studio filled with drum machines and synthesizers. With this six-track digital EP on LDI Records, Dirk showcases his modern electro sound. Blending crisp, precise drum programming with lush and dreamy pads, he delivers a thoughtful and immersive journey, reflecting on the complexities of our current time with a sound that is both contemporary and timeless.
From the debut album of cold wave/new wave acts of Konstant, La Nuit Je Mens and Oliver Decrow, to the electro art of veterans Anthony Rother, Dark Vektor, E.R.P. and Legowelt; from the roughness of Filmmaker, Gesloten Cirkel and Howard Thomas to the melodic synthscapes of Steve Moore; from the jacking house of Paranoid London and Timothy J. Fairplay to arpeggiated madness of Rodion & Fabrizio Mammarella, here are our favorite 20 albums from 2024, compiled in chronological order.
Roma techno legend Marco Passarani dusts off his Studiomaster moniker to present a selection of vibey dancefloor burners on 12” vinyl brimming with energy and packed with 303 squelch, thumping drums, moody synths and perfectly-placed vocal cuts.
Omar S, the FXHE label boss, wastes no time in dropping heat this New Year as he once again hooks up with vocalist Desire for this latest house gem. Up first is ‘Something Real’, in the classic Omar S mould of laying down a deep, heartfelt drum line and then topping it with a mad emotive vocal hook that is filled with r&b goodness and joined by the most subtle cosmic chord motifs. ‘Hard Leaf Rag’ follows next, so raw it will make your ears tickle with its busted drums and serrated stabs. Then flip it over for ‘Conant Leaf Rag’, which pairs warbling synth sounds with dusty hi-hats and tight kicks for a nice, full mind and body workout.
DYL presents a live-recorded set that embodies his experimental approach to sound design. By reprocessing stems from both completed and unfinished tracks through his modular system, he gives these pieces a renewed purpose and direction. The set offers a cohesive yet dynamic listening experience, reflecting DYL’s refined production techniques.
The story of “Inner | Outer” begins in 2015, when two members of Berlin bass combo X.A.Cute and Jerusalem’s psych grooves expert, Markey Funk, set up a spontaneous jam session in the basement of an ex-spring factory building. The outcome of that meeting – now known as “Aquasonic Research Society” (Som Recordings, 2020) – was so inspiring for the three that they determined to record again the next time Markey is in Berlin. Eventually, two more sessions took place in consecutive years at Oberbaumstübchen, overlooking river Spree, U-Bahn tracks and Universal Music headquarters. The change of location also led them to depart from the bubbling aquatic motives towards darker mesmerizing soundscapes that explore themes and mysteries of deep outer space and the human body (sometimes described as “inner space”).
This album holds an undeniable significance, serving as a cornerstone of both techno and Tresor’s legacy. Its story is deeply entwined with that of the label, following Robert Hood’s Waveform Transmission 2 under his The Vision moniker, released just one year earlier and reissued on Tresor in 2023. On Internal Empire Robert Hood perfected his signature sound already present on Waveform Transmission 2, marking a pivotal moment in techno’s history. It elevates its maker as master, sharing an irrefutable singular magic, sounding as present and indispensable as when first created. To understand this work fully is to stand back and celebrate its impact. Originally released in 1994, the album marks a point of transition for Robert Hood moving on from his previous collaborations within Underground Resistance. Robert Hood advanced, uncovering the power of true minimalism. Deep soul through a simplicity that showed how much could be done with so little. The devastating rhythms of this album forge the unmatched spirit of this sound, influencing generations to come.
The Hipodrome Of Music 