Datura Dilema with the second installment on Drama Universal label. Out with a bang and staying tuned to the already known repetitive sweeping electronics that his sound embraces. Addicted to hardware, bringing deep and dark euphoric modular techno trance type excursions reminiscent of the early Ambient Techno days. Heavy synth lines, flowing patterns, running baselines and solid rhythms suited for the night or early morning.
Last Known Trajectory proudly presents reinterpretations of In Sync’s undisputed UK techno classic, namely ‘Storm’, alongside new versions of accompanying tracks, ‘Warm’ and ‘Subway Route’. Split over two separately available twelve inch EPs. Here, lovingly reinvented by E.R.P. (aka Gerard Hanson), Maarten van der Vleuten (Evo-Lute Muzik) and Ramjac (of Irdial vintage).
‘Our time is now’ and ‘Extra credit’, are two detroit-flavoured house tracks with sequences coming from Mars and melancholic keys with the unmistakable Marcellus Pittman mood. The release is closed by ‘Happy to be here’, a gloomy downbeat-Hip hop track made with MPC.
After a successful year for both Big Strick and Generation Next, they come with the CD album titled ‘Like Father Like Son’. Four months after they collaborated on the ‘Like Father Like Son’ EP , this 10-track masterpiece shows off skills from two eras of dance music on one platform with an array of styles and versatility. Big Strick’s latest full-length offering on his own 7 Days Entertainment label is a family affair, mixing tracks from the veteran Detroit producer with similarly deep and woozy jams from his 16 year-old son Tre Strickland, aka Generation Next. The father-and-son team’s approach to house – wringing atmospheric soul from bubbling rhythms, warm chords and blazed melodies – is surprisingly similar, as shown by the two deep, jazz-flecked collaborations showcased here. Elsewhere, both impress with their individual contributions, with Strickland Junior’s slap bass-infused deep head-nodder “Flynn’s” and sweet, winding “Mo Money” standing out.
Alex Omar Smith drops another bomb via his always-solid FXHE label. True Detroit Techno, blazing House jams and prickly acid cuts, as always in the inimitable Omar S mould.
John Barera & Will Martin delivering some straight up & effective no-nonsense house music on Dolly 18. Three powerful and euphoric contemporary club tracks with both that classic club feel and that esoteric Detroit touch, effectively combining the best of both worlds. Third Side on the other hand (the hardware techno formation consisting of Dolly labelboss Steffi & The Analogue Cops) is taking things into slightly deeper and darker techno territories with their driving and hypnotic remix of ‘Milestones’… Great allround dj package that will stay in many bags for a long time.
The opening track, ‘Home Sick’ is taken from Esteban’s forthcoming album, while ‘Search For Resolution’ is exclusive to the EP. And with their deep techno grooves, heavy basslines and melodious synth work. Detroit’s MGUN remixes the title track.
The first Supply showcase: four label-newcomers range with veteran authority from deep house to driving techno. The opener is a grooving house burner: an infectious loop and low-slung drums build triumphantly. Anders Hellberg drops in some acid, with a strident 909 beat stalking an open, melodic soundscape. Kicking off the flip, label co-owner JB teams up with Bostonian Paul Morse in an icy, tantalizing variation of elastic, swinging deep-house; before Stojche’s Outward opens up an ending, its pounding beat laced with bitter-sweet Detroit strings.
Raw, analogue-drenched album by Syncom Data. Ranging from deep and dubby to detroit-inspired electro and industrial-influenced bass music.
Dimi Angelis & Jeroen Search continue on their very own imprint A&S with an outspaced and hypnotic 4 tracker.
Red Point Alert with a new Eduardo De La Calle release. A Dark and minimalist trip , marked by its atmosphere and intensity. Fine advanced techno by this prolific Spanish producer.
Staffan Linzatti returns for his second release on Chronicle with another uncompromising selection of linear techno constructions sculpted with an unfaltering vision of how hypnotic body music can transcend simple rhythmic needs. Icy atmospherics and razor-sharp production make for one of the strongest manifestations of Linzatti’s distinctive sound.
It may still be early days for S3A but in a short space of time he has managed to carve a niche in the sample-a-delic world of disco and funk fuelled house music, as the vocal sample attests to in the opening track on his latest EP for Hold Youth. There’s certainly no shortage of low-slung goodness to be enjoyed here, From the wistful lilt of “Those Voices” to the rougher tumbling beats of “No More Pretty” S3A has done a bang up job of reappropriating sound sources and working them to his own design, without sounding like yet another knock-off re-edit producer.
Wild Oats come through with the double plated goodness, as the oft-hinted label debut of Jay Daniel arrives in the shape of the Karmatic Equations EP. A resident at Detroit party Fundamentals alongside Kyle Hall, Jay Daniel has been a hot tip ever since he made his 12″ debut last year in illustrious fashion with the rugged Scorpio Rising EP for Theo’s Sound Signature label. Since then, Daniel has become an increasingly regular presence on the European club circuit – recently making his debut at Panorama Bar – lauded by FACT and dropped a guest mix on Benji B. So you could say there was a sense of expectation surrounding young Jay’s next release. The five track Karmatic Equations is likely to be as popular as that SS release, further refining Daniel’s rugged approach with C Side cut “Change 4 Me” and the bumping final track “4 Red” likely to be the cuts most selectors pull for again and again. Housed in a full colour reverse board record sleeve and full colour centre labels, Daniel’s EP for Wild Oats precedes the promised launch of his own Watusi High label later this year.
Repress of this amazing Spencer Kincy 1998 release on Earth Recordings. Pure & honest house music as they don’t make it anymore.
Okay dozens of Jeff Mills inspired techno tracks come out these days… which doesn’t really matter actually, as long as they are tasty… like these 4 tracks by Dutchman Mike Storm.
Sistrum ventures ever deeper into the cold, dark nights of winter, conjuring the hidden warmth that lies within each waveform. Genesis Tracks showcases a collection of deep techno talents who aren’t afraid to stand their ground for purity of sound – featuring Modular One (Patrice Scott and Chris Mitchell), Johannes Volk, Marco Zenker, and Sharif Anderson.
Soulful, classic and futuristic tracks by Los Hermanos member Santiago Salazar on the dutch Fanzine Records.
After 20 years of experience, Gary Martin couldn’t resist a 12” that is also the 50th release for Teknotika: a label from Detroit that didn’t exactly stick with the game when it switched to the mp3 format. “Basking In Blackness” is a composition of textured broken beat then classic four on the floor old school soul.“Synthotika” is what would happen if a synthasizer could take over an orchestra. A track inspired by Detroit peers no doubt. “Every Bit As Beautiful” goes sensative deep house piano, a lil Latin percussion and soaring Eno-esque synths to top it off. The title is a bit sarcastic, let’s face it, there is no life after techno.
The Hipodrome Of Music 