The latest EP on Tresor Records comes from reduction luminary Terrence Dixon. Detroit’s most puzzling genius debuted on the label in 2000 with his first ever full length work – From The Far Future. It took over a decade for its sequel to follow – From The Far Future Pt.2 released in 2012 to great public acclaim. This year, Terrence Dixon prepared a matchless four track EP, going ever further in his very own tenor of collided electronics and mesmerizing tones. Words can simply not describe.
Deep sci-fi techno by these techno veterans and Delta Funktionen’s mentors from back in the days! ‘As technology consumed the Antikytherian Empire, the council of conjunction had no choice but to take desperate measures: Probe 2187 was launched into the event horizon of Markarian 335. Its mission was to find an escape route into an alternate reality. A hazardous mission and as the orbit failed, the probe made one last transmission before it was submerged into oblivion. The Phantom Regiment, with their time manipulation abilities, managed to capture these signals. Trusted sources claim transmitters 1200 & 1210 are the only reliable outputs for these remnants of a technologically advanced society. The Antikytherian Empire, believed to be the first cosmic empire, was never heard of again…’
Delsin is to put out an eight track compilation for the tenth release on its Cameron series, taking in stronghold names as Claro Intelecto and Vril, as well as former contributors to the series Shlømo, Artefakt and Gunnar Haslam. As has been the mission for the series before, there’s eye for new talent too – in the names of recent Delsin newcomer Sentomea, The Invariants and Cameron. All contributors look beyond the dance floor to offer a mixture of moody and atmospheric sounds, and everyone was given free rein, which has resulted in a collection that covers so much stylistic ground.
Paradygm Shift is the first Robert Hood album to be released since 2012. A staggering record of techno dynamite sees the Detroit legend excelling at what he does best. Paradygm Shift is return to the distinguished style that defined Robert Hood’s music in the early 90s. It is the older, and more mature brother to Hood’s classic Minimal Nation, highlighting his more evolved, technical craftsmanship, It is an album of crisp, smooth and delicately orchestrated techno that is quintessentially minimal in focus, and grandiose in sound, juxtaposed with electronic funk, wrapped up in blisteringly urgent, and honest, pulsating techno.
Eduardo De La Calle presents his new brand, the Monogram Systems. The new and fresh 12inch will be the first reference catalog number on the Monogram Series. Four new solid techno scifi tools especially made for vinyl DJ lovers and dancefloor killers. This time Eduardo has left his imagination, leaving stereotypes and minimalist alucinations to focus on a more technical mode and puristic style in terms of music production. The whole ep is a musical journey based on a concept “modern tools for the current time we are living” and its defining itself.
Subwax Black Label Series continues their mystical Slavic underground saga with this next Techno bomb 313 stylee.
MLK presents Soul Storm (MLK1) by Mystic Letter K (aka Cari Lekebusch), the first release in the new MLK series. The EPVcontain 2 extraordinary electro sonic experiments that will continue the story of a mystery in sound architecture science.
Redshape returns to his own label with a retrovisionist release that looks back in time as much as it looks forward to the future. Revving up on the A side is ‘Shift’, a propulsive hurtle to the final frontiers. Starting off ominously with just drums, bass and a Pollock splatter of toms, the track is soon overrun by an army of relentlessly running basslines, let loose to steer in and out like searching headlights on a dark and endless highway. With a heavier kick, the track shifts into top gear with pensive pads soaring overhead, mesmerising squeaks and his signature attention to percussive detail. On the flip is ‘Drive’, which switches gears down a notch as an astrospace cruise along intergalactic coastlines – from summery California to shiny Coruscant. A rounded pounding beat with heavy sub bass bounces along to a breezy tropical melody and spacious percussive work, before riding off into a cinematic sunset that is as nostalgic as it is hopeful of the coming dawn. Once again on the edge of spatial sound but grounded in analog warmth, Redshape has presented a revision of classic record productions that truly punches as it is meant to be felt and heard – on wax.
Basic Soul Unit returns with another deadly EP on Dolly, further investigating the thin dividing line between techno and broken beats. A-side “Wallow” is a menacing big room stormer with a delicate pad breakdown, with Voiski providing an alternate more driving techno version of it with a splendid melodic twist midway through the track. “Radiate” and “Joyride” on the B both have BSU’s signature rhythmic ideas and fresh energy with “Radiate” even going full-on Broken Rave! “Joyride” is that upbeat funky techno nugget that’s going to sit in your DJ bag forever.
The Dutch label Balans Records returns with it’s twenty-first instalment to the series. This time Darko Esser’s imprint presents a collaboration between Z.I.P.P.O and Kalean, under their 3KZ moniker. ‘Not From Here’ opens the EP with its flowing grooves & eerie pads to create a beautiful techno track followed by ‘Nature Of Motion’ that offers an astral like immersion to the listener with its haunting melodic rhythms. On the flipside ‘Circles’ & ‘Times’ switch up the vibe in a more intense & playful mood, resulting in a finely balanced EP of atmospheric driving techno.
Classic yet fresh, part of the pantheon but exploring new forms: Module Werk continues where last year’s Interdimensional Traveler EP left off with a new stand-out four-tracker on Portuguese label Helena. Gravitational Tugs comes on in a Detroit rush of hi hats, claps and snares over an offbeat bassline, as stardust synths spin off into space overhead. Minor harmonies and a sparse breakbeat take Moment Of Inertia into darker territory, preparing the ground for the vintage Ismistik-style squiggle-and-stomp of Ritual Dance Machine. The mood lightens finally with Awakening, the kind of contemplative analogue electro to put on at an afterparty at your place, once you’ve changed into your comfiest pyjamas.
From his very first release, Johannes Volk’s strict yet creative adherence to the Detroit tradition has garnered him a position among the greats. Renowned these days as a producer with a seemingly-unending ability to produce classic-leaning futuristic techno, Volk has built a serious discography over the past 11 years. For his first Token offering, Volk goes above and beyond with the 4-track EP Designing Evolution.
Detroit rooted techno tracks with morphing synths and layers of percussions and breakbeats designed for the dancefloor.
The Fifth EP on FireScope Records, the new sub label of the legendary B12 Records, welcomes Mr John Shima. The EP entitled Elements Unknown, is pure techno for laying back in a dark room and floating away, highly detailed layers of electronic sounds interweaved together to create emotion.
Spiral Deluxe is a band led by Jeff Mills. Initially formed for the performances in Japan (Tokyo/Kobe) and released “Kobe Sessions” EP (AX070) last year, they gathered again in October 2016 for European tour, when they named themselves as Spiral Deluxe. This record is live recordings from that tour and will be our 2nd series of “Axis Audiophile Series” with HD sound.
“Parallel Reflections” is the debut album from 3KZ, the collaborative project between Z.I.P.P.O and Kaelan. This retro futuristic composition will elevate your mind, move your body, and touch your soul. Dreamy, romantic, and pure.
Rekids introduces a new vinyl only series titled Rekids Special Projects, a more techno orientated division of the label. First up is Ohio-based producer FBK, real name Kevin M. Kennedy. Intricate drums and jagged synths initiate ‘You Are Not Fixed’ whilst a looped sample recurs throughout the mix. ‘Dynamonium’ then enters deeper territories as echoing stabs join a low slung meandering groove before ‘Set It Free’ ups the energy with rumbling kicks, distorted vocal murmurs and tantalizing melodies. ‘The Final Escape’ then closes the release with a syncopated drum arrangement, mesmerising chords and ethereal atmospherics.
One day back in end of the Eighties, a pair of friends began sharing a deep love for music, the music we have been supporting, playing and now, able to put it out for your listening pleasure: ‘Mind Merge LP’ is a beautiful quintessence of Detroit electro, funk and techno, partially blending with contemporary electronic contaminations and we believe it’ll be as timeless as many of their records before.
A voyage into the outer reaches of immersive, ambient techno and electronics where boundaries are blurred between 80s bedroom boogie, Detroit electro, broken beat and Warp golden-era bleep. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Rory McPike has been putting out analogue and hardware-led sounds for a couple of years under both his techno and jungle orientated guise Dan White and Rings Around Saturn.
The Hipodrome Of Music 