Miltiades – EPK.X [US001]

Expansive, discordant, deep house from Greeces newest electronic imprint Nous. The labels name hints at what to expect from this stable, exploring its own cultural heritage (the word means Mind in Greek) whilst looking at a future in which commonality and harmony need to take center stage. This debut release from the label navigates a curiously melancholy space in which the Motor Citys dissonant influence melds with a robust club sensibility, to construct a late night, eyes down, dance floor narrative. As well as a quartet of original cuts from the EPs author, Chicagos Hakim Murphy contributes a subterraneous take on the lead track that will no doubt charm fans of Theos Sound Signature or Rick Wades Harmonie Park.

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Miltiades – EPK.X [US001]

Stellar OM Source – Elite Excel [RVNGNL019]

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“Elite Excel” is the lead track from Joy One Mile, the new album by French visual artist and musician Stellar OM Source. Furthering her sound from the formless soundscapes of her earlier work by digging into the roots of Detroit electro and techno primitivism, Christelle Gualdi’s version of dance music is unpredictable and inventive. “Elite Excel” pits a puckish synthline against a morose 303 bassline and icey arpeggiation, sharing a similar frequency with LFO’s classic output. The b-side features a top-notch remix by techno recluse producer Kassem Mosse, who also arranged and mixed Joy One Mile.

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Stellar OM Source – Elite Excel [RVNGNL019]

Andy Ash / Circular Rhythms – Dub 2 [SCN003]

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A heavy lead rhythm provides the foundation from which spiralling elements project. They coruscate, pulse with light and collapse inwards, until just the echoes of Dub2 are left. Rising from these depths, the sharpness of Distribution Theorys crisp hi-hats and snapping claps provide forward momentum to a series of stabs. The house element. Beginning as a mystery but ending as a certainty, the ethereal theme that opens Untitled Document gives way as it increases velocity, shaking and rattling under the strain. The apex. Hands reach, seeking, The elusive moment has already passed, all left is pure. Bliss. Circumflex kicks hard, a final statement of intent. Powerful. Corrosive. This is late night techno, played over a system on which the squelching acid-lines converge within the mind. The body jacks.

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Andy Ash / Circular Rhythms – Dub 2 [SCN003]

VA – Datafunk v1.0 [AFSLP001]

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Adventurous electro project featuring a what might be regarded as a who’s-who in the current electro scene, reeling-in names such as DJ Stingray, DMX Krew, Ian Martin, Shemale, Elec Pt.1; with perhaps lesser known talents such as Linear Synthesis, Federico Leocata, Koova and Das Muster. A fine selection of tracks which successfully presents fresh sounds by tried-and-tested names, while simultaneously introducing upcoming and arguably lesser known, but by no means any less talented artists.

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VA – Datafunk v1.0 [AFSLP001]

Steven Tang – Disconnect To Connect [SMALLVILLELP007]

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“Every producers dream is to one day complete and release a full length album. After a string of well received 12inch singles on my own label, Emphasis Recordings, and most recently, on labels like Aesthetic Audio, Machining Dreams, Syncrophone, and Dolly, I thought now is the time to start realizing that dream of the full length album.”

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Steven Tang – Disconnect To Connect [SMALLVILLELP007]

Tin Man – Underdog EP Part 1 [POM033]

Cover art - Tin Man: Underdog EP Pt. 1

After delivering Absurd Recordings with its first Acid Test in 2011, Tin Man lines up some more acid for Pomelo. For DJs in search of drum track acid techno, “UR”, is a good start. Taking a break from acid, but remaining on the drum trax tip, “Stay Down”, is a brooding and synthy production that keeps itself from straying to close to the red – a perfect DJ tool for more reasons than just functionality.

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Tin Man – Underdog EP Part 1 [POM033]

Redshape – Red Pack II [101DSR/PRESENT010]

Red Pack II

Almost exactly three years after the first, Redshape has readied his second Red Pack, due for co release by his own Present imprint alongside his frequent Dutch home, Delsin. Whilst the world is still enjoying the German’s latest album “Square”, the man himself has typically moved on once more. On Red Pack II he offers up six tracks new of hugely atmospheric and romantically industrial techno across two pieces of vinyl. First up, ‘Disco Marauder’ has raw, jangling beats, traumatised vocal cries and plenty of sci-fi ambiance all coalescing into a filmic techno tapestry, before ‘Path Dub’ goes deeper and more streamlined with rattling claps peeling off taught synth cables in hypnotic fashion. ‘The Source’ is a track slowed to a crawl that almost seems to want to collapse under its own weight. Machines gurgle and gargle, the beats march on with a heavy heart and widescreen synths all that ever present sense of cinematism that makes Redshape such a unique producer. Standout track ‘Daft Mode’ features a beautiful Reese bassline and rich layers of classic Detroit chords of the sort Inner City once championed. Redshape then pairs them with slicing percussion and loose limbed but tough edged beats and lets them roll on to a blissfully emotive oblivion. Last track ‘Bulp Head’ is one of Redshape’s more euphoric tracks thanks to the glistening and pixelated melodies which rise up and up through choppy, metallic percussion. It closes out another release from Redshape that offers six more classic pieces that are as idiosyncratic as they innovative.

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Redshape – Red Pack II [101DSR/PRESENT010]