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”.

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Head Front Panel – HFP #003 [HFP003]

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.

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John Daly – Second Knight [TANSPLAN004]

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.

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Marco Bernardi – Floating [HPSKL004]

youAND:THEMACHINES – Behind Reshaped [ORN029LTDW]

YOUAND THEMACHINES - Behind Reshaped

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.

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youAND:THEMACHINES – Behind Reshaped [ORN029LTDW]

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”.

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Terrence Dixon / Michael Zucker – Fundamentals [AV001]

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.

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Roswell Return – This Time Around [SD033]

Aril Brikha & Deep’a & Biri – Hope [BC002]

Tel Avivs Deep’a & Biri and Iran-born producer Aril Brikha unite on a forthcoming 12” on Deeps & Biris Black Crow label, from which proceeds will be donated to a Israel/Palestine peace projects organization.

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Aril Brikha & Deep’a & Biri – Hope [BC002]

Lionel Weets – Alien Opera [MT052]

Motech Records, DJ 3000’s label heads to another new signing with two tracks by Lionel Weets, taken from his forthcoming debut album, `Stellar Orchestra’. Techno and house producer, Lionel Weets hails from Belgium and yet his style is clearly influenced by Detroit Techno with its deep, soulful and melodic sound, plus that additional funky touch.

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Lionel Weets – Alien Opera [MT052]

Santiago Salazar – Galatic Stomp EP [FB013]

Following a five-year hiatus the #Stockholm based label, Finest Blend makes its return. With previous releases from the likes of Orlando Voorn, Shawn Rudiman, Terence Dixon and label head, Kenny Black it became synonymous with hi-tech grooves, breaking barriers, crossing genres and developing new ones. For its re-launch Finest Blend turns to Santiago Salazar with three tracks of his characteristic house / techno sound. His new EP for Finest Blend opens with the upbeat ‘Galactic Stomp’ full of shimmering flourishes and a tough bassline, before the funked-up shuffle of ‘The Twang’ makes its hit, ending with the spacey electronics of ‘3000 Northend’.

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Santiago Salazar – Galatic Stomp EP [FB013]

Kuba Sojka – Pure Tone [RO006]

For those who traveled along all across the universe of techno music, for those who knows the meaning of not only classic but also mature sound of electronics. Sophisticated recipient open for frugal but at the same time full of greater meaning detail – even exacting listener looking for another sense than the sound itself only will be sure startled with its seemingly simple and raw forms. This is a musical journey starts right from the adventure. Kuba Sojka captures the essence of the genre and creates a coherent and harmonious whole thing. In subsequent works carrying the listener through controlled and straightforward wording, refined with deep emotions, which will certainly be felt strong by every enthusiast of not only modern dancefloors. Don t miss here a Daniels’ Knox aka D-Knox remix as well, some great piece of 20 years Michigan history can be found in here likewise.

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Kuba Sojka – Pure Tone [RO006]

Dj Bone – A Larger Orbit [SUB038]

Cover art - DJ Bone: A Larger Orbit

Label boss DJ Bone mans the controls for the 38th release on Subject Detroit, laying down a typically fierce, three pronged auditory attack. “What He Said” tactfully yet forcefully treads the line between house and techno, cherry picking physiognomies from each side of that ever-blurring line and constructing something fresh but bristling with familiar Subject Detroit elegances. A favourite fixture from Bone’s more recent DJ sets, “I Do” sees bubbling, arpeggiated chords simmer and swoop from foreground to background loosely as one solitary, remanipulated ticking hat keeps things in formation. Watch out for the thunderous, doubled-up drum arrangement that crashes in to the picture out of nowhere! B Side track “Rhythm Soul Funk” is a genuine hard hitter and another that tiptoes between the old school and the nouveau.

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Dj Bone – A Larger Orbit [SUB038]

Robert Hood – Eleven [MPM018]

https://imagescdn.juno.co.uk/full/CS511268-01A-BIG.jpg

Following on from his Floorplan album and November’s Floorplan EP, Robert Hood returns with a new double header on M-Plant, to close 2013. He delivers these two new cuts of pulsating, body-moving Techno with that classic, deep and minimal Hood sound. He builds ‘Eleven’ and ‘Alarm’, layer upon layer, gradually drawing all the elements together, until they become a penetrating attack on the senses.

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Robert Hood – Eleven [MPM018]