The ‘A Mind of His Own’ EP delivers four magnificent, forward thinking cuts by this experimental techno vanguardist. Expect the terse, elegant minimalism that Dixon is known for. Especially Encircle is another classic Terrence Dixon track.
detroit techno
Esteban Adame – Day Labor [EPM007V]
Following the album’s opening single ‘Home Sick’ backed by a remix from MGUN earlier this spring, LA based artist Esteban Adame delivers his first album for EPM in the shape of ‘Day Labor’. Esteban Adame is a part of the new wave of artists emerging from the Los Angeles underground scene. After releasing material on Planet E, Esteban partnered up with long time friend and colleague Santiago Salazar to start ICAN Productions. As a musician, Esteban is also a member of the Underground Resistance live act Galaxy to Galaxy, as well as being part of the new six-piece ensemble, Thee Afterdark. He has also released solo productions on labels like Underground Quality and Modelhart and boasts various remixes to his credit.
Psyk – Time Foundation [MOTELP002]
After two succesful EP releases on the label, Psyk aka Manuel Anós is back on Mote-Evolver inaugurating his first full-length album effort. “Time Foundation” proves to be an outstanding collection that shows the full spectrum of Psyk’s sound and the range of skills as he expands and explores different depths and moods. Keeping the energy level constant at the peak, there’s no downtime in “Time Foundation”. And while 10 sharp-cut tracks are all armed with clean, streamlined groove and impressive sound design therefore may soundincredibly slick and effortless, once you listened closely – and they will demand your attention – that kind of breezing through swift force is only the byproduct of Psyk’s high caliber production ability to map out meticulous structures with a great detail.
Mono Junk – Shotokai [FP004]
Given that he released his first EP way back in 1992, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Mono Junk’s latest 12″ – his first since 2011 – sounds like a blend of early ’90s intelligent techno, Kraftwerkian rhythms and Clone-ish icy electro. While “Shotokai” is a pulsating shot of woozy, off-kilter futurism, the EP’s hardest hitting moments are those that shuffle to a different beat. The glacial melodies and skittish 808 rhythms of “With You” are particularly potent, while “Bleep Number 9” sounds like a stripped-back, underground take on Brown Album-era Orbital. As for “Kime”, it comes on like a long lost Kraftwerk production circa Computer World.
Mayday – The Darkside [PC000]
Taken from a mysterious Acetate cut by Derrick May in 1987 this release was originally penned for KMS offshoot Pheerce Citi. Both these sides were later released – ‘The Darkside’ = as ‘A Relic’ (by Longer Than Long ago) and ‘Tic Tic Tic’ was later released on the limited edition compilation as Music Institute 20th Anniversary as ‘Untitled’. Both tracks are however, very hard to get on vinyl and have now been re issued as loud 45rpm pressings in Pheerce Citi artwork and remastered for 2014.
Luke Hess & Omar-S – Motown Methods EP [DL004]
The DeepLabs imprint releases it’s fourth record with a killer collaboration between label CEO Luke Hess & FXHE label boss Omar S. made specifically for the dance-floor! Automatic Night brings you a classic analog excursion – a perfect blend of Detroit Techno & Detroit House. Outerspace Drive reaches for space – sure to be played by all future space travelers who wish to boldly go where no man has gone before.
Gustavo Bramao – De La Chill [RAWAX015]
Terrence Dixon / Fred P – Two Worlds [FS022]
Considering the combined talents of Detroit veteran Terrence Dixon and Black Jazz Consortium man Fred P, you’d expect this split EP for Finale Sessions to be a lesson in warm, soul-flecked depth. Pleasingly, that’s exactly what it delivers. Dixon excels with the sub-sporting alien futurism of “To The Bridge” – the aural equivalent of staring into space while dancing to electronic jazz – and the sumptuous, minor key bliss of the casual deep house jam “Starting Over”. Fred P, meanwhile, delivers two contrasting cuts. There’s some acid-fuelled deep house futurism in the shape of “Circuit”, and a chunk of bongo-laden dancefloor humidity in “The Road”, whose rising strings and sweet melodies are arguably the highlight of a superb EP.
Mr. G – Tutonic EP [SPE003]
Effective drum machine rocking techno tracks by the unstoppable Mr.G.on the Don’t be Afraid Special Editions series.
Head Front Panel – HFP #004 [HFP004]
Raw intense techno tracks on the Head Front Panel label. Reminding a bit on the early relentless Jeff Mills productions and Terrence Dixon. Funky looped techno with bubbly and funky bassline sequences and effective percussion.
Head Front Panel – HFP #003 [HFP003]
Those looking for concrete information about the music they’re listening to should probably steer clear of Tabernacle Records’ offshoot Head Front Panel. They’ve yet to announce the identity of any of the producers behind the series blend of slowed-down futurism, discordant electronics and feverish techno. This third installment in the series is similarly mysterious in origin, and once again features a range of intriguing cuts. Opener “Track 1” sounds like an explosion in a “Speak & Spell” factory – a veritable whirlwind of discordant beeps and throbbing techno rhythms – while “Track 2” offers a smoother and more hypnotic variation on a similar theme. Best of all, though, is the jaunty, late night bounce of slow techno excursion “Track 3”.
John Daly – Second Knight [TANSPLAN004]
Irishman John Daly takes a rare break from his One Track label and delivers his magic to the Tanstaafl Planets imprint. Floating house and spacey techno on the b-side that seamlessly merge Daly and Tanstaafl’s aesthetics, while the A-side delivers a pulse-raising new fusion of jacking swing and dubby synths.
Marco Bernardi – Floating [HPSKL004]
For their fourth transmission, Happy Skull presents a trio of dystopian fantasies from analogue maverick Marco Bernardi. Opener ‘Floating’ is a throbbing trip in to rattling techno territory complete with discordant chords and bubbling acid lines. ‘Broken Boiler’ offers a trademark Bernardi fusion of sweet, visceral melodies and raw machine drums. Rounding things off is ‘upside In’, a fearlessly wonky voyage in to freaky techno-funk.
Denizo / Alex W – Detroit Techno Archive III [DTA003]
The third release on Detroit Techno Archive. Detroit inspired techno at it’s best with powerful tricky grooves, warm and massive.
youAND:THEMACHINES – Behind Reshaped [ORN029LTDW]
youAND:THEMACHINES is the solo moniker of Martin Müller, one half of the Berlin based luminaries youANDme. A year after the release of his ‘Behind’ LP youAND:THEMACHINES presents ‘Behind’ LP Reshaped – an opulent collection of selected edits, interpretations and remixes courtesy of a prestigious roster of distinguished producers including Matthew Herbert, Steve Bug, XDB, Boo Williams, Sascha Dive, Legowelt, Marko Fürstenberg & Luke Hess and Basic Soul Unit amongst many more. ‘Behind Reshaped’ mines deep beneath the original’s surface and is a varied compound of textures, tones and atmospheres. From Steve Bug’s glacial ‘Raw and Reduced’ edit of ‘Drift’ to The Analog Roland Orchestra’s allaying take on ‘Desire’ and from XDB’s armoured and clap-heavy remix of Perception to Freund der Familie’s lucidly textural version of ‘Entrance Room’ the listener is ferried through a broad spectrum of feeling whilst a spectral and rueful current remains consistent.
Miki Craven – Life Is Back [WHITEROSE002]
Second reference of the label White Rose (part of the Dead Rose Records project) that aims the hypnotic detroit sound of mid 90s and also the dub flavors of the mid 90s Berlin sound. The E.P. is signed by Miki Craven.
BMBF – Forgotten Rituals EP [BAD003]
Excellent spiritual techno tracks for lost rituals, dances and gatherings. Comes with a remix by Detroit veteran Claude Young.
Terrence Dixon / Michael Zucker – Fundamentals [AV001]
If you’re going to launch a label, it’s always wise to start with a bang. That’s exactly what newcomers Audio Visual have done here, recruiting Detroit veteran Terrence Dixon and Chez Damier cohort Michael Zucker (boss of Finale Recordings, no less) for a four-track trip into deep techno and intergalactic house. Dixon goes deep into the groove on the hissing, intoxicating deep techno roller “MTA”, before delivering a touch more melody on the retro-futurist gem “Over The Top”. Zucker, on the other hand, opts for a Jaydee-does-deep house feel to “Foundation (Part 1)”, before setting off towards the heavens with the deliciously deep, smooth “Reflections”.
Philippe Petit – Stars EP [KW012]
Philippe Petit delivers three hypnotic techno tracks. In addition, he invites Terrence Dixon back on Knotweed so that Terrence can give his own minimalistic interpretation of Stars.
Roswell Return – This Time Around [SD033]
This Time Around is the long awaited follow-up to the succesful Probe album by Roswell Return. The original is a mesmerizing piece of minimal electronic music, heavily inspired by composer Steve Reich. More than 10 minutes of pure synth bliss. On the b-side Syncom Data take it into deep techno territory with a shuffling and ridiculously low-end remix that’s both warm and unsettling at the same time. Deep basslines keep pushing everything forward, while the constantly rising church-like organ brings a nervous mayhem quality to it.
The Hipodrome Of Music 