The return of The Nightstalker, a Childhood Intelligence endeavor written/produced by Dan Piu & Gary Rich (2022). The second album “Genetic Constitution” is the sequel of “The Tragedies Of A High-Tech World” (2020), in which The Nightstalker continues to manifest its mystic dystopian electronic prophecies. Full of haunted melodies, cinematic compositions and passages of hope and despair.
Nuron makes a spectacular return on De:tuned with a compilation of hidden treasures. Nurmad Jusat aka Nuron / Fugue, one of the originators of the UK emotive techno sound, went on a quest for archived material and unearthed a handful of DAT tapes with previously unreleased music from the early to mid 90s. The tracks offer a deeply melodic and unique masterclass. Nuron combines a pulsing four-on-the-floor signature beat of the traditional techno sound with his characteristic rhythm and harmony elements. Classic Likemind-esque material that comes with an exclusive Stasis remix of ‘Contrapoint’.
Hot off his debut for L.I.E.S. young music prodigy Tom Carruthers delivers a new 6 track LP of total Transmat worship. Jam packed with huge DX basslines, slamming 909s, and catchy melodies – this LP is made for the floor and would be hard pressed not to be thought of as a lost relic from ’89. Where as his last LP channeled more bleep elements, this one goes right to Detroit and moves the crowd as it should be…anthem after anthem.
‘Black Market EP’ is DJ Bone’s first output after a long production hiatus. A widely-respected DJ, producer, and turntablist of the 90’s and 00’s with residencies across the major clubs of Detroit, he has described himself as ‘coming out of hiding’ for this release. Drawing on the full 4/4 force of Detroit techno, ‘Rising’, ‘Fulmination’ and ‘In Solution’ charge with his renewed passion. ‘Power Of The Three’ is a rolling DnB work proving Bone’s skills reach all corners of the dancefloor.
Rod20 is a new project from Rotterdam based artist ROD. During the rise of Covid19 ROD decided to ditch the computer and dust off his vintage hardware collection, challenging himself to create strictly (analogue) hardware jams using only 1 synthesizer + 1 drum machine per track, recorded in a single take. Rod20 (as in 2020 as well as ROD 2.0) kicked off in style with ROD2001 ‘In The Mix’, a 13 track Mix CD (also pressed on 20 highly limited 3x LP copies) sold personally at the height of the pandemic, followed by 2 conceptual mini-albums ‘The Hidden Notes Project (Part 1 & 2)’ released on Jeff Mills’ Axis Records. Now with most 2022 dance floors in full swing again, it’s time to unleash the Rod20 project in full, starting with ROD2002 ‘SteraStudent EP’, a personal tribute to 1 of of ROD’s biggest inspirations and mentors in the world of techno; Sterac (aka Steve Rachmad). No computer. No edits. No nonsense. Just pure & raw stripped down (90’s) basement techno cuts designed to make you sweat.
For the fourth offering of Still Techno, newcomers Ke Thu drop a massive deep techno EP – ‘Like A Beacon Against The Fog’. Ke Thu is a Detroit-based live act consisting of Tim Barrett and Steven Stavropoulos. The two have been making music together for the last decade, developing the Ke Thu alias in 2018. Their music is an earnest exploration of techno and everything it is capable of: ethereal soundscapes, broken beats and rhythms, deep textures, and more.
Double LP documenting a realtime collaboration between Terrence Dixon (Metroplex/Tresor/Rush Hour) and Jordan GCZ (Off Minor/Minimal Detroit/Rush Hour). In September 2019, Motor City techno legend Terrence Dixon made a rare trip to Europe. He was introduced to Jordan Czamanski AKA Jordan GCZ. The pair hit it off immediately, so Czamanski powered up his studio and the pair began to jam. Over the following five days, the pair improvised extensively, stopping only periodically to drink coffee and discuss music, life and much more besides. While in the studio, they barely uttered a word to each other, instead responding almost psychically to the rhythms, grooves, riffs and musical motifs the other was spinning into the mix. The results of these surprisingly magical 2019 studio sessions are showcased on “Keep In Mind, I’m Out of My Mind”.
John Beltran aka Indio is back with a follow up to the great Detroit Dancer release earlier this year. Here with a even more Detroit sounding production that makes us think of early Detroit / Transmat releases. On the remix duty we have 2 absolutely stunning remixes from Convextion / E.R.P.
Skudge may no longer be a duo – Elias Landberg has been using the alias for his solo productions for a few years now – but the long-serving act’s sound remains as inspired, club-ready and far-sighted as ever. That much is proved by Soundworks, the first Skudge album in two years. Rooted in machine soul, it boasts tracks that variously doff a cap to Motor City futurism, the organ-tinged throb of Rob and Lyric Hood’s 21st century Floorplan productions, the sparse and dubby vibes of vintage UK bleep techno, late ’90s tech-house, and the woozy, life-affirming lusciousness of deep techno. In other words, it’s full of “proper techno” produced by a true master of his craft.
Detroit’s deep techno master, Deepchord, makes a more than welcome return to Soma after 5 years. With a brand new album dropping, Rod Modell delves deep into his ethereal sonic world to bring ‘Functional Extraits’. Built in a way that only Deepchord can, he transports you to different realms with lush soundscapes and perfectly processed electro-acoustics giving you an insight to the mind of the unique artist.
UK techno pioneer Steve Pickton has dug deep into his DAT tapes collection to unearth 2 previously unreleased recordings from the golden era ’92-’93. Both rarities offer a trademark lush and retro-futurist Detroit inspired sound that is totally unique. Fellow Likemind legend Nuron provides a stunning remix.
Originally released in 2000 this ep showcases the unique sound that is synonymous with Hood: simple but effective minimalism for the dance floor. This 4 tracker is essential for anyone considering themselves a Techno fan.
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.
The Hipodrome Of Music 