Rave Or Die’s sixteenth release signs a 100% frenchies masterpiece that will leave you breathless. As an absolute must-have for anyone who loves old-school music, this collectible double 10″ features tracks from techno pioneers The Hacker, David Carretta, Terence Fixmer, and Umwelt.
Umwelt knows his craft. From no-nonsense acid-drenched electro assaults to more thought-provoking works, the Frenchman can shred speakers as well as soothe souls. The two sides of the New Flesh boss’ sound combine as he returns to Shipwrec with the five tracks of “Collapsar”.
Label owner Kalcagni returns with another 4 tracker of vibey electro and breaks for the second Cosmoba release. Kicking off with ‘Mute Mode’, which channels deep house and acid influences, laced over chunky breaks and a warm analog bass. ‘Up Here (In The Head)’ follows up with another 303 workout, layered with infectious bass hooks and effected synth trills. On the flip side, ’System Addict’ ups the BPM’s and flexes a more upfront electro groove, with beefy drums, gnarly melodic stabs and a twisted, resonant bassline. Whilst ‘Worn Out Version’ provides a more mellow and alternative vibe to close
This is Robotron – a cyborg designed for cybersonic purposes. He has been hit by an electro-static blast and suffers a technosis trauma. As a result, his programming is disrupted – causing him to transform into LO-FI algo-rhythms. The Transformation has just begun by adopting ballistic identities and relearning AI-abilities – to continue his advanced exist-dance of termination. All 4 trax are pressed on 45 RPM to be transformed into a serious SLOW-FI nightmare via 33 RPM.
Gladio Operations inaugurates 2023 with its seventh release titled “Split Machine”, a new series of shared EPs, where in this first episode the producers Jauzas The Shining and Cycloplex go halves on the EP. The French producer returns to Gladio with three cuts which possess his peculiar and characteristic rugged sound. The EP launches with “Business Machines” and “Isla De Encanto”, two powerful cuts with aggressive and noticeable basslines filled-up with dark textures. Jauzas gifts us a last cut titled “Equation”, a nod to the EBM sound, where he preserves the same darkness as in the previous cuts. On side B we encounter the Spanish producer Francisco Aguado, who has recently released his first work under the “Cultivated Electronics” label under his new electro alias, Cycloplex. With two cuts titled “Intercepted” and “Acid Machine”, Cycloplex reveals his particular minimalist vision of electro sound in an abstract journey of excellent monotonous rhythms.
Convextion steps up under his “Event Related Potential” alias and delivers 4 special cuts for om:nia that push his sound into new realms.
Detroit-native Kenny Hooper steps up for his debut release on Elypsia Records with not one but three 12 inches full of prime Motor City techno and electro escapism. Titled ,,Detroit Orbiter Volume 1 – 3″, each EP features four tracks, showcasing Hooper’s brilliant personal take on classic Detroit sounds. The twelve tracks of the ,,Detroit Orbiter” trilogy signal the arrival of yet another Motor City talent ready to rake the world and dance floors by storm with his chunky and funkafied sonic fictions.
Andrew Red Hand is back on Chiwax with his 3rd release. Nostalgia EP is a very personal and intimate release for Andrew.
Bordello Travels presents the second volume of ‘Buone Vacanze’ with your tour guides Ali Renault, Señor Chugger, Back From The Wave & Umatik and CT Kidobo.
Black smoke coming from the chimney; we have a blast off! Intergalactic Gary launches massive 4 tracker from his his lab.
Polish Electro/EBM duo Pleasuredome FM, contributes to Barcelona based imprint Italo Moderni with a masterpiece EP with a collaboration with Silky Oolong. Selecting 4 pieces on a convulsive breaks and bleepy motifs, with a special Electro punch for club and with a few emotional sequences.
Josef Tumari is an artist from the Sublimation collective from Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He produces a mix of breaks, electro and techno with oriental influences at times. MAQOL98 is his most substantial work up to now.
Curtis Electronix reaches its 10th drop presenting the second album from his owner and founder CEM3340, “Macchine”. The double 12” draws together 8 new tracks all made and recorded using only hardware. Spanning from pumped up machine-led cyber-funk beats, to darting powerful techno out-kilters, but always maintaining a stable focus on CEM3340 personal signature, it explores those ravines where techno and electro collide. ”Macchine” is pure dedication to the machines. With no compromise.
Entering the two-digit era, Clear Memory presents this carefully curated compilation. Oscillating between Dark Acid Rain and L-Town-(Ultra)-Funk. Six surprises, six boxes of pandora, six welcoming arms, six uncanny offers.
The Italian proto-house bomb from Masarima on Clone Royal Oak gets a well deserved remix treatment. Originally produced by Mystic Jungle and Whodamanny, this one gets a work over by The Egyptian Lover who gets his freak on and delivers in his inimitable style. Pure west coast 808 electro funk bliss. Luca Luzano also comes correct with two remixes where he takes it another route on both. On the ‘Breakbeat Guy Remix’ the early 90s inspire him to a uk breakbeat version. And Karlos Moran joins him for the Tribal Workout Dub not unlike NY’s garage era.
On 26 February, hundreds of Israeli settlers went on a violent late-night rampage in Huwara and other villages in the northern West Bank, leaving one local resident dead and 100 others injured and the town ablaze. This compilation of music was put together in order to raise funds that can hopefully give some aid to the residents of Huwara, all of the proceeds Confused Machines make from digital sales will go directly to Physicians For Human Rights – Israel (PHRI) www.phr.org.il An NGO that works in the occupied Palestinian territory, promoting Palestinians’ right to health and providing direct medical and humanitarian assistance. The compilation hosts a roster of both local and international artists spanning a wide spectrum of leftfield electronic music. Acid, Drone, Noise, Downtempo, Techno, SoundCollage and more. All of these tracks are new and have not been heard before, many of them have been created with Huwara and Palestine in mind.
Kri Records strike back with a cassette compilation under an appropriate name: Trust the Rust! Nasty electro cuts are served by LA-based Ole Mic Odd, Italian producer and the Gravitational Waves owner DJ Nephil, British veteran Chupacabras and Russian producer Larionov. The Electro part of the compilation is closed by the local Ljubljana legend operating as a DJ and Honest Work label owner, 198319831983. EBM-ish march is saluted by Black Dot, the duo of Christian Kroupa and Le Chocolat Noir. Christian has also joined forces with the Dallas and Science Cult native Aura Nox. NYC and wave EBM bangers are represented by R Gamble, Spinal is an up-and-coming producer from Chile having released a great EP on Pildoras Tapes, while Bianco Negativo from Marguerite Records wraps up the release.
Following their 2021 debut on Mindri, Ernestas Sadau, Rapha & PRZ return to the Pinkman fold as Pluto Junkies with a 7 track mini-LP recorded at the furthest reaches of the solar system. After the swirling synths and cryptic messages on opener Launch, the record quickly descends into a frenzied supernova of metallic synths and propulsive drums. From the twitching Italo-informed techno of Astronaut Dolphine Detective to the frenetic speedball electro in Black Eye Galaxy Battle, this collection of hardware jams is straight up sonic fuel for sweat-drenched hours at wide eyed raves right around the galaxy. With the snarling acid riffs on Captain Blade and the punishing pulse in Cosmo Scooter Race, Pluto Junkies continue to ride the wave of manic energy from their first release, providing further soundtracks for only the most serious space travellers.
The Hipodrome Of Music 