With “Universe Speaks”, Reggie Dokes is at the helm of the third release for Still Techno. It is rare for Reggie to drop 4 deep techno tracks on one serving but here we are. All tracks featured on “Universe Speaks” are an ode to the dancefoor and Detroit, where melodies, jazz, percussions and real electronic music collide to create a new and subtile soundscape.
Originally released on M-Plant subsidiary label, Duet in 2002. The record gets its hypnotic grooves remastered by Thomas Heckman for its 20th year anniversary,.
Vibrant acid tracks knead muscular electronic dance structures on Gerald Brunson’s debut EP. A member of the Model 500 extended family and running Dance Sacred Records, Brunson presents a restless world that beckons forth from the underground of the Midwest, full of bouncing flair and techno passion.
A stalwart of the Dutch techno scene since the mid nineties, Jeroen Search has been ploughing his own furrow aside from the typical norms and standards of the techno scene with lasting integrity and unflinching dedication throughout the years. A coinage derived from the sharp, clinically designed blends he has come to be known for, that Search-sound has long established as a blueprint for DJs seeking laser-guided weaponry into their sets, and Jeroen’s maiden effort for RYC follows that very guideline. Starting with the massive pound of the title-track, “Enigma”, the EP knocks into your system with blunt force, ushering us into a no-frills corridor of hydraulic kicks and sizzling static. As per usual with Jeroen’s compositions, minimalism serves a purpose of exponential effect.
Techno legend Jeff Mills and keyboard wizard Jean-Phi Dary embark on a live musical trip, documenting their most recent performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland – and encapsulating their mission to fuse techno and jazz. In the past Jeff has spoken of the need to “take a few steps back and try and assess what has been done, and what might need to be approached to be able to go forward.” Jeff’s reassessment manifests as jazz-hno, film music-hno, conceptechno… anything to happily build of the mad range of influences he’s drawn on over the years. Paradox: Live at Montreux is the result. Jeff Mills – electronics; Jean-Phi Dary – piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizer; Zaf Zapha – electric/upright bass.
Suction Records announces RX-101’s fifth album, “New Discoveries”. As the title suggests, “New Discoveries” is not just more of the same — this is a new side of the RX-101 sound. Rather than taking inspiration from braindance heroes like Aphex Twin and Bochum Welt, “New Discoveries” is a reflection of Erik Jong (aka RX-101)’s love for classic Detroit techno – Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Carl Craig, et al. Like some of the UK producers who mined this sound for inspiration, from B12 to Kirk DiGiorgio, the influence of Detroit techno is crystal clear, even if the sound has a distinctly EU/UK flair.
Boris Bunnik returns to the Fluid Electronics label after his remix for Rob Belleville. This is his first outing under the Vernon Felicity alias since 2016. Boris – better known for his work as Conforce and Versalife, steps up with four cuts joining the dots between sci-fi-infused scenarios, rapturous synthy vistas and AI-powered club dynamism, bound to have dance floors phasing in a paradox of hi-intensity wares and textures-splattered sonics tailored to maximal effect.
Detroit legend Jeff Mills’ returns with an exciting new LP, and as always, there’s a deep concept behind it. Mind Power Mind Control explores various techniques used for mind control, the deceptive techniques devised for such purposes and its power over people. Similarly, the music on offer here is incredibly hypnotic – this is a Mills album after all – with each track’s complex sonic tapestry sure to entrance you. All of The Wizard’s idiosyncrasies are on offer: immaculately programmed 909 rhythms underpin majestic strings and sublime tones, all delivered with his trademark style of futurist minimalism. While less dancefloor oriented than some of this revered DJ’s previous releases, it’s awe-inspiring nonetheless. Essential listening.
From 2008 comes ‘Keys, Strings, Tambourines’ – Kenny Larkin’s fourth full length LP. Yet another advanced, singular and funked out techno milestone that bears all of Larkin’s idiosyncratic stylings and melodic touches. Once more he shows us how it’s done, sounding like nothing you’ve heard from him previously, ‘Keys, Strings, Tambourines’ is a truly adventurous record that defies categorisation today. Quietly influencing producers and DJs since its release, it points to where techno can go and what it can be and is a truly and criminally overlooked modern Detroit techno classic.
Steve Rachmad’s subliminal debut album ‘Secret Life Of Machines’ was originally released way back in 1995. In 2012 the album was re-issued, although three tracks didn’t make it to the vinyl re-issue. Now ten years later this new EP now re-issues also these three tracks after all: ‘Satyricon’, ‘Hydroxy’ and ‘Draghixia’.
Talented Kilkenny-based Peter Lawlor, aka Polytunnel, rocks up on Seventh Sign Recordings and turns in a masterly release.
Finnish twosome Morphology has released some incredible records over the years – mostly of the intergalactic electro time – but we’d wager few are as sonically sparkling, life-affirming or pleasingly melodious as their latest two-tracker. ‘Destroit’, the A-side cut, is simply sublime: a far-sighted, futuristic fusion of crunchy, Chicago-influenced machine drums – all snappy snares, tough kicks and fizzing cymbals arranged into a delicious post-electro rhythm – intergalactic chords and bright, breezy electronic melodies that tap into the sci-fi sounds of purist Motor City techno. The duo opts for a warmer and woozier, acid-flecked sound on flipside ‘Distance’, a classic-sounding chunk of deep ambient techno tailor-made for late nights and early mornings.
Roi’s newest EP is titled ‘Pasture’, a play on words combining both past & future. The project draws influence from old school Detroit techno but with a ‘modern’ & ‘futuristic’ approach applied to it. The project is filled with bouncing & groovy tunes that are ready to shake the dance-floor.
The French G-Prod brothers debut on Fluid Electronics with the lavish, Detroit-flavoured “One Trice” EP. True to the Motown house scene’s idiosyncratic engineering of raw throb and velvet touch, this four-track slab pays tribute to that classic sound which still infuses far and wide in today’s musical landscape. On the menu, two original hot cakes from the Gaugain siblings complemented by a pair of remixes courtesy of Irish vibist Derek Carr and UK-based deep grooves manipulator, John Shima.
‘Other Dimensions LP’, Terrence Dixon’s latest work and the new adventure in 30D’s ExoPlanets sublabel, comes for the very first time released in full length format, split in two sides, showing Terrence’s two faces. As everyone knows, words can not describe the music of this Detroit visionary, but we’ll try. Futuristic, avant-garde-esque, mesmerizing, trippy and minimalistic / reduced techno funk as expected in A side, but highly emotional and evocative, as only he can do. On the flip side, Terrence redefines and takes to another level the concept of dark, experimental, abstract, atmospheric, alienated and dystopian music, a true musical trip (perhaps a nightmare) to dive into. An extremely personal and intimate album.
It’s not every day we see a new release from John Beltran’s alias Indio. With releases previously only on Transmat and Rhytmic Tech some 10 and 20 years ago, Detroit Dancer presents his new EP called Phoenix. Phoenix is a full on Detroit dance floor belter with warm strings and comes with strong remixes from E.R.P. and Stryke.
Premium solo material from Jordan CGZ (Magic Mountain High, Juju & Jordash). An unbounded trip around the producers musical universe. Sounds ranging from icy futuristic soundscapes to crunchy melodica techno workouts, Other-wordly Jazz explorations to hazy Rhodes washed Deep house memories.
DJ Nobu’s Bitta welcomes Refracted. The Spanish producer delivers four expertly crafted cuts of his deep diving techno, fully embracing Bitta’s hypnotic and energetic approach.
John Shima makes his debut for Rawax with “Parallels EP”, featuring four deep Detroit techno tracks.
The Hipodrome Of Music 