Details Sound presents ‘Illumination Through Feedback Distortion’ EP a three-track release of irresistible rhythms, vibrant analogue workouts, displaying the intuitive DIY compositional approach of talented Dutch artist Maarten Epskamp, under his Klankman pseudonym.
Terminal Operations 002 sees the Berlin based imprint unleash four tracks of raw fire power. Kuno and Spaceinvasion take a side each and deliver some unruly cuts of acidic techno.
Lost Trax embody the idea of underground techno. The shadowy group, members unknown, began their music careers over 20 years ago. Output may be low, but quality is high; the style being no compromise techno brilliance. And that’s what’s on show here. Kick drums and squirming acid bars are at the core of “Faith”, a track where soaring strings shift and reshape. The chiselled claps and barbed bass of “Flatliner” follows, taking its cue from the heyday of Detroit. A watery world of analogue abstraction greets the listener on the flip, “Lost” being an atmospheric journey into to the squelching swamps of the TB303. Sniping beats introduce the lush tones of “Renderer.” Blurring the lines of electro and techno the track is an elegant end to an EP of deep and dense layers.
With Noblesse Oblige you find yourself among the aristocracy of the mind and body. A gathering of artists with a different heartbeat and mindset. Fitting the Gooiland Elektro spirit as they operate far away from contemporary music standards. In this case this means sweaty EBM, dark techno and industrial acid.
I Love Acid reaches number nine, with Barcelona native Cardopusher at the helm. Four dirty acid jams aimed straight at the floor.
ITW003 MANIFESTO There is an audience to our drama. Like the hero of a dream, he works for us, in our behalf. there is an Strange world that waits and watches. And an Ancient dread of non – existence. ISTHEWAY 003 will be released in the spring and remixed by the legend Jamal Moss aka Hieroglyphic Being. He considers himself a child of many. Growing up in 1980s Chicago, he was a child of the city’s loft party heyday, pulled into the club scene by the grooves of Ron Hardy and Derrick Carter and kept there by the manic acid of Adonis and Steve Pointdexter. His key influence, though, is Sun Ra; the Afrofuturist jazz pioneer whose cosmic philosophies have permeated his own production work. For Moss, club space and headspace have merged into one. His releases and the catalog of his label Mathematics Recordings have a cult following worldwide, but it didn’t happen overnight: with a DIY ethic and all-consuming passion, he’s been pounding the streets of Chicago as a foot soldier for House Music since the edge of the early 1990s.
Ed DMX delivering some deeply rooted techno and acid tracks reminding of the heydays of Detroit Techno. The first EP features the lighter side, while the second the heavier gyro workout from Ed DMX on his duo release for this fresh label, Ride The Gyroscope.
Conforce alias Vernon Felicity with his first Delft EP, heavy with Detroit leanings and acid crackles.
Toeing the line between divinity and profanity, blurring beauty and debasement, is Drvg Cvltvre. Following Offender Status and Gauwvuur is an eight track album: Into the Endless Night. From the guttural emotion of “Where Embers Die” to the bleak ferocity of “Brakes are Death”, a complex and hardened array is on display. Buried angst is never far away. “There Were Rumours” flexes with embittered bars before the unrefined purity of “Jericho Flats.” Respite from this whirring carnival is a rarity, relief from the seesawing serration of “Shock Corridor” or rollicking jeer of “Charge of the Haploids.” But there is reprieve, radiance breaks through. “Into the Endless Night” pulses with brightening hope, one which is reflected in the gritty finale of “Winnerden Flats.” Heartening warmth piercing the hail. Balancing on the precipice, an album of scared and soulful sounds from this darkeyed light in modern electronic music.
Jamal Moss AKA Hieroglyphic Being with the Gherkin inspired treats. Combining tracks from CDR releases, of the same name, that were circulating at the end of 2015.
Two sides of the Chicago boy Jon Doppler. Two of the tracks is pure Deep Electric housemusic. While the other two has a more free-style feeling but in space of course.
DJ Nomad and Dirk Leyers’ Africaine 808 project has been responsible for some of the most inventive and enjoyable music of the last few years. It’s little surprise, then, to find that the Berlin-based outfit’s debut album, Basar, is rather special. Built around their now famous polyrhythmic, Afro and Latin influenced drum machine programming, it begins with a touch of snaking jazz, and climaxes with a dense, rising, uplifting Afro-gospel workout that should leave listeners thrilled and breathless. In between, you’ll find 21st century broken beat, delicious downtempo torch songs about break-ups, Juke-influenced Cajun blies bangers, and hard-to-define – but thoroughly engaging – dancefloor wig-outs.
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’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
The “legend” of Sir Joe, from Chicago to The Hague, 303 bass lines, Juno’s pads and big mama’s speech samples. Powerful and danceable pack made up by six jackin’ cosmic techno house tracks.
D’Marc Cantu marks his return to Run Out Run with the Gear Shift EP, applying his unique style across four tracks. On the A side ‘It’s Sex’ kicks things off with his signature drum programming and some serious acid business while ‘Body Jak’ is a frantic electro workout. On the B side ‘Gear Shift’ is another peak time banger while ‘Odd Feel’ brings things back down to earth to complete another solid EP from the Ann Arbor based artist.
New Yorks not so secret weapon Reade Truth is back for his solo EP on n s y d e. After the well received split EP together with release brother Mobach on nsyde008, which received quite some attention from the Technocircle not at least, due to the support of a man called Marcel Dettmann, the true New York Techno at its best is taking place on nsyde014!
The Hipodrome Of Music 