VA – Datafunk v1.0 [AFSLP001]

https://imagescdn.juno.co.uk/300/CS503667-01A-MED.jpg

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.

listen

VA – Datafunk v1.0 [AFSLP001]

Steven Tang – Disconnect To Connect [SMALLVILLELP007]

https://i0.wp.com/imagescdn.juno.co.uk/300/CS492871-01A-MED.jpg

“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.”

listen

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.

listen

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.

listen

Redshape – Red Pack II [101DSR/PRESENT010]

Dez Williams – The Angel Maker EP [EAR004]

http://images.junostatic.com/300/CS489375-01A-MED.jpg

Dez Williams with a new release on Earwiggle. Starting with the melting frequencies of ‘Underground Persistent’, acid is in control, combining swingy 808 drums and masterful Detroit strings to a searing acid-line that keeps going and going. Switching things into more straight-ahead acid territory on A2, ‘Untitledacid 6’ has pretty much one intention and that’s to jack hard. ‘Freedom’ on the flip is a dense techno workout that joins a strong looped vocal and distorted percussion to swamping sound fx, in a rough but funky way. This time an expert pad progression brings the track to an unexpected but fitting finale. Finally, and showing what a complete supremo he is where dark floor-friendly electro is concerned, Dez turns in a blistering cut of sci-fi electro with ‘Courtesy Call’.

listen

Dez Williams – The Angel Maker EP [EAR004]

Erika – Hexagon Cloud [IT030]

https://imagescdn.juno.co.uk/300/CS488508-01A-MED.jpg

While ‘Hexagon Cloud’ may be Erika’s debut solo release, this is by no means her introduction to the scene. For years Erika has been a member of Detroit’s Ectomorph and co-conspirator of Interdimensional Transmissions, but since these projects play shadowy games with identity and perception, she may just need that introduction. Composing without the aid of a computer, Erika’s system is centered around a rare highly flexible hardware sequencer. The ideas flowed quickly, and what began as an EP quickly blossomed into a double album with the aid of production from BMG. Science and music, dreams of space and microscopic organisms, mutation of plant life and the birth of stars, all come together effortlessly in her work to sound like post acid techno subterranean spelunking in a quest to return to the stars. Or at least to the northern “Hexagon Cloud” of Saturn.

listen

Erika – Hexagon Cloud [IT030]

Tom Bugs – Living Leaving [FXHEBUGS]

https://imagescdn.juno.co.uk/full/CS490672-01A-BIG.jpg

Debut release from Tom Bugs on FXHE Records. Bugs is the man behind the BugBrand modular synthesizer company in the UK. His hand built electronics have become a staple in many studios including that of FXHE label head Omar-S. “Living Leaving” is a peak into the creative mind of Bugs- two extended tracks that wander amongst the outer boundaries of techno, experimental, and ambient electronic music.

listen

Tom Bugs – Living Leaving [FXHEBUGS]

Terrence Dixon aka Population One – Giant Robot [MM011]

https://imagescdn.juno.co.uk/300/CS494295-01A-MED.jpg

After  last years spectacular return to our airwaves and the world of techno with the release of the excellent album From the Far Future Pt. 2, the Detroit veteran Terrence Dixon is back with a new release entitled the Giant Robot EP on Monique Musique imprint, while that enigmatic and experimental British producer Actress has been brought in on remix duties.

listen

Terrence Dixon aka Population One – Giant Robot [MM011]