Continue reading “Zenker Brothers @ Boiler Room (Munich) 12.03.2015”
Oscar Mulero – Muscle and Mind [POLEGROUP031]

”Muscle and Mind is the return of Oscar Mulero to long plays, after Grey fades to Green and Black Propaganda. ‘Muscle’ and ‘mind’ may seem antagonistic terms in real life, but in terms of music they make sense together, especially when talking about techno. The coalition of introspection and abstraction is not incompatible with the rough and the percussive, and this album is a good example of this. The underlying message behind the title refers to the reflection of mental states in the body, the genesis of emotions where body and mind are managed by the sense of hearing. Throughout these twelve tracks, one can dive into the musical world of this producer whose discourse mutates in every album, always intricate, always meticulous. Darkness acts as a thread and repetition as hypnotic therapy. But now, he sets his usual hard sound aside and looks for a much more cared for and precise sound , where there is room even for a harmony and musicality that go hand in hand with danceability. The combination of atmospheres and rhythms is constant throughout the album. Each of the cuts has been prepared with few sonic elements. He takes elements away one by one, and keeps exclusively the necessary. A record that has been developed during endless hours in airports and travelling, absorbing influences from all over the planet. Made in solitude but surrounded by people who don’t know what you are really doing on that computer. To close the circle, the album was mixed in professional studio using solid state technology, which gives this work a unique warmth that cannot be achieved in a domestic environment.”
Cosmin Trg – Uzura / Vitriol [FIZIC002]

Following almost a year of studio silence, Cosmin TRG returns with two stunning techno tracks.”Uzura” is the darkest, most abrasive music that the Romanian producer has released. Drums pound frenetically, the rhythm is plunged down a soot-caked wind tunnel and the end result is a track so frenetic and extreme that it makes everything else he has done seem understated. Even “Vitriol” doesn’t have the same clout. Like “Uzura”, it too is caked in a grimy coat, but is slower and more teased. That said, the gurgling acid lines and intense, modulating climaxes ensure that it is Cosmin Nicolae’s most visceral record to date.
Exium – Human Element EP [MORD017]

Exium add another label to their bulging discography via a debut on the similarly impressive Mord. Plenty of robust, thrusting floor-fillers.
Elyas – Olympian 2 [OLYMPIAN002]
Traxx @ Control Club (Bucharest) 15.05.2015
Andreas Gehm Live @ Don’t: 15th Birthday, Bar 512 (London) 18.04.2015
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Delta Funktionen – Wasteland – Chapter II: Chasm of Chills [RAM-X-04]

Somewhere deep in the Andromeda Galaxy lies the mysterious planet Wasteland. Little is known. Though, rumor says it inhabits lifeforms from all over the Laniakea supercluster. These lifeforms have only one thing in common: on their home planet they are part of the Mutant Society. Does Wasteland exist? And what are these lifeforms doing there? Are they desperately looking for the Lifewater Oasis? Which dangers are they opposed to? What is the Korath System? As an exclusive product for members of the Mutant Society on Earth, Radio Matrix recorded the auditory data from its latest visitor, Delta Funktionen. Spread over 4 EP’s, it tells the intense story of his journey towards Wasteland. This is the second chapter: Chasm of Chills.
Delta Funktionen – Wasteland – Chapter I: Goodbye, Galaxy! [RAM-X-03]

Somewhere deep in the Andromeda Galaxy lies the mysterious planet Wasteland. Little is known. Though, rumor says it inhabits lifeforms from all over the Laniakea supercluster. These lifeforms have only one thing in common: on their home planet they are part of the Mutant Society. Does Wasteland exist? And what are these lifeforms doing there? Are they desperately looking for the Lifewater Oasis? Which dangers are they opposed to? What is the Korath System? As an exclusive product for members of the Mutant Society on Earth, Radio Matrix recorded the auditory data from its latest visitor, Delta Funktionen. Spread over 4 EP’s, it tells the intense story of his journey towards Wasteland. This is the first chapter: Goodbye, Galaxy!
Steve Poindexter / Johnny Key / Trackmaster Scott – Streetfighter [LACR016]

Lost Ep featuring Steve Poindexter, Johnny Key and Trackmaster Scott. On wax for the first time and bought to you by L.A.C.R. Recorded in Chicago during the mid 90’s.
DJ Jus-Ed – Soundwall Podcast #253
Cliff Lothar – Soul Plonk EP [OMD003]

Fine modern electronic dance music by Cliff Lothar who is on duty for the third release on Omnidisc.
VA – Four Shades [NLRN003]

The label Unlearn is now back with a various artists EP with four tracks by Kasper Marott, JKamata, Caseer and Misi.
Mobach – XieniX Vol. 1 [NSYDE012]

nsyde is starting a new series of releases, and Volume 1 comes from close label artist and friend Mobach. Entitled XieniX (which is a phonetical Dutch spelling for “I can’t see anything”) the series is named after an influential 90s club in the city of Gouda that made a lasting impact on the young Mobach.
Paul du Lac – Creme Podcast #27
Ilija Rudman – True Colours [IIBLP003]

Surprisingly, it’s been some four years since Croat producer Ilija Rudman dropped his much-played debut album, The Reveal, on Bear Funk. Happily, True Colours – his first outing on Is It Balearic – sees him in fine form, joining the dots between kaleidoscopic synth-funk, rubbery dub-disco, spaced-out boogie and glassy-eyed downtempo jams. Rudman is an expert at capturing the sounds of bygone eras, usually through the use of vintage equipment, while delivering tracks that sound thoroughly fresh and original. It’s this that makes True Colours such a fantastic set. Highlights are plentiful, from the close dance smoothness of “Bad Passion” and boogie dub vibes of “All The Time” (check the delay-laden hits and sweeping violins) to the jaunty electro-goes-Balearic brilliance of “Wild Guess”.
JMMF – Confused House 6 [CH006]

Straight to tape action from yet another smokey production formation on Confused House… Messsages from behind the trees.
Activated – Confused House 5 [CH005]

Two long and cranium expanding adventures beyond… Psychedelic analog techno excursions from Maxmillion Dunbar & Steve Summers as Activated.
Kryptic Universe – shtum 007 [SHTUM007]

Kryptic Universe is back on track with his second EP for Shtum. And it’s a return in full glory with Kryptic Universe doing his Future Jazz thing like nobody else can do. Just listen to the seemingly never stopping “Skala”, which is building and building into twirling Techno madness. Then we have “Drifter’s Garden”, a pretty dark affair with fizzing synth effects getting out of control. “Bodies They Came Out Of” is no less gloomy and hits hard with an attitude that reminds of those glorious days when Techno was played in rough basements and ravers couldn’t see each other through the smoke. Finally, “Alphazerfall” in the Lockertmatik Remix shows off his funky side.
Ø [Phase] – Tunnel Vision / Internal Conflict [TOKEN052]

The 52nd release on Token Records is a steely and mechanical two tracker from Ø [Phase]. ‘Tunnel Vision/Internal Conflict’ 12” captures perfectly the grainy, oddball approach which has garnered Burchett’s productions so much attention in recent years. This is techno for the small hours – frantically paced, disorientating and charged with adrenaline.


