Flowing acidic lava from new Abstract Acid discovery, Etcher, who we have absolutely no prior knowledge of, but this matters not as this is solid acid-techno through-and-through, reminiscent perhaps of an early nineties European sound, which of course we favour greatly here at Interstellar HQ. Quite simply really, really good acid.
An explosive caustic acid concoction awaits from within the grooves of this gargantuan twelve inch from Chicago heavyweight, Hieroglyphic Being. ‘Free the Energy (No Vocal Energy)’ is highly volatile, with severely unforgiving and distorted drum programming, this violently radioactive adventure is nothing short of brutal and certainly not for the squeamish. Title cut, ‘Acid Rain Under the Stars’ paints a dreamy landscape, while the acidic protons and neutrons busily rebound in the background on this elongated, hypnosis-inducing and beautifully mind-distorting headtrip.
Louis Guilliaume has come a long way and with his every release he has proven to deserve his space amongst the finest techno producers out there. Unknown Forces EP is a straight forward techno EP which shows influences from his hometown Rotterdam to Detroit and back to Berlin. The EP opens up with ”Digital Stone”. A sensitive acid sledgehammer which bounces gently on to your head. ”Ghost In The Shell” is no different with its massive basslines and dark synths drenched in that typical uncompromising Guilliaume flavor. With ”X-11-101”, mr. Guilliaume didnt hold back. This here is what you call an instant peak time floor filler. Bigroom techno, sinister and compelling all the way. After that we finish with the tense and dark title track ”Unknown Forces” which balances somewhere on the edge between hope and desperation.
Solar One Music is back with their “The Crystal Issue” series. After Mantra’s debut now Nigel Rogers better known as Perseus Traxx presents his authentic chicago house on this series. Moody synths, rattling drum machines and bubbling Acid at its best. Two tracks for the dancefloor and for your mind.
After his highly acclaimed debut for the Balans label Stefan Vincent has been getting attention and plays from luminaries such as Jeff Mills, Laurent Garnier and ART owner Kirk Degiorgio. ART have wasted no time in securing Stefan’s next release – a storming 3 tracker ranging from deep, modern acidic techno of Cynosure to the wide Mills-esque soundscapes of Paranal One and Two.
Milton Bradley lands his extra-terrestrial alias back on home soil. This fourth Alien Rain 12″ is arguably the best release of the series so far, with “Alienated 4A” tumbling through a wormhole of fluctuating acid pulses and a sturdy 4/4 kicks, while “Alienated 4B” shares a similar make up, the acid is coarser and the drums harder. “Alienated 4C” then sees Bradley in deeper techno mode, as ambient textures float around two voices of acid – one high the other low – making for a moody workout similar to his 303-driven productions on Prologue.
The fist release on the new As It Is label, coming from Kogui. Moody techno tracks with that euphoric/melancholic early nineties feel and a Steven Tang remix included.
Japenese guy, Takeshi Kouzuki is well known for his productions on Mathematics, Abstract Acid or Hotmix. Here he delivers this EP with 3 tracks of Nu-Chicago/Acid/Jakbeat, be certain that the voodoo is this wax. ‘Whirlwind’ will hypnotize you with its beautiful acidic melodies.’Aoiro’ is a massive jakbeat raw track on which you can feel the influence of traditional Japanese music, absolute dancefloor killer! ‘Moon’ is just beautiful in all those points, it will put you in the trance.
The debut full-length by Achterbahn D’amour (Johannes “Iron Curtis” Paluka and Jurgen “Jool” Albert), captures two artists coaxing the most emotional sounds to date out of classic Roland boxes. The album is the natural extension of the duo’s live-rooted sound, further defining the oblique dance moves contained on their three Acid Test EPs. They demonstrate a true reverence for the 303 and 606. On “Odd Movements”, lush pads and abrupt toms create a literal pedestal for the bassline machine. The duo have hit on a sound well-suited for dark rooms and towering sound systems.
Bio Rhythm seems to be spiraling deeper & deeper into the rabbit hole… Six brand new tracks by Villa Abo (a Frak side project) and his first release since the 1997 Borft releases. Fix yourself the full-length audio package and get lost on the other side through these six little Scandinavian fairy tales full of desolate techno mysticizm, pressed on 2×12” for maximum dj delight.
Willie Burns returns on the great Trilogy Tapes. The title track is akin to traveling in a time machine to 4am on a Saturday night in Den Haag circa 1994 – real grotty basement acid techno! Providing contrast in a way Burnett does so well, the B-side offers two tracks of a more immersive nature, with “She Left In Spring” an exercise in dubby techno as pensive as the title would suggest.
The Power of Hydrogen EP collects three of Subspec’s finest Acid tracks as the label’s debut vinyl release, including a Hardfloor remix.
Strong release with trippy acid injected tracks to more psychotic trippy techno. Juho Kahilainen – the man who actually inspired label owner Max_M to conceive the Grey Series sublabel – returns with a new EP of experimental excursions that delve into the darkest realms of dance music. Max_M and his Grey Series continue to grant freedom to artists deviating from cliches and formulas. Juho’s “Dyson Sphere” encompasses that exact desire.
A love of new wave, new beat, UK Bleep and Detroit techno all feature in B-Ultras and the aptly titled, Neu Beat. Both cuts are heavily soaked in the pitch black, smoke machine funk and strob-laden fug of Andy’s (and co-hort Joe Hart) infamous World Unknown dancefloor. Running at around 10 minutes the tracks are essentially an examination of acid house’s ideals. Clattering hats, throbbing basslines, stabbing keys and doses of 303. Keeping it pretty simple but all about a pure groove on and on. Backing these up is a remix of B-Ultras from Jamie Paton that accentuates the groove and drags the acid deeper down to some B-boy Dub throwdown – with more to follow from all protagonists in 2014.
The third release from the label and artist Papers. PAPS003 brings a varied 4 track EP, exploring squelchy saw waves, slow and fast acid laden jams and everything else inbetween.
The Hipodrome Of Music 