We start presenting our favorite tracks from 2025. More or less in a chronological order we present here the second set of tracks.
2025 Best Tracks part. 2 (of 10)
johannes volk
VA – dolly 15YRS [DOLLY15YRSD]
As Dolly Records marks its 15th anniversary, the label celebrates with a powerful new various artists release that distills its core values: timeless quality, emotional depth, and a dedication to house, techno and beyond that moves both body and soul. Carefully assembled by label head Steffi with the same precision of her DJ sets, the compilation brings together a diverse lineup including both longtime allies and fresh additions to the Dolly family. Fifteen years in, Dolly continues to evolve without compromise. This release is both a reflection and a statement of intent.
Johannes Volk – Lightweave [RB138]
The second outing of Johannes Volk for Running Back picks up, where Extra Dimensions left us: traditional techno components, an inclination for melodies, 80s electro(nic) pop and aesthesia for ecstasy.
Johannes Volk – Inner Fusion [SYNCRO53]
Syncrophone Recordings unveils the sonic mastery of Johannes Volk with his thrilling new EP, “Inner Fusion.” Volk guides listeners through a realm of pulsating rhythms and mesmerizing soundscapes, demonstrating his exceptional production prowess. “Inner Fusion” is an essential addition for any electronic music aficionado in search of innovative and cutting-edge sounds.
DASCO – Powerful Woman EP [SNF076]
DASCO is responsible for our next Shall Not Fade release. Born in Tel Aviv, based in Berlin, she spreads her infectious energy wherever she goes. Powerful Woman captures this spirit perfectly, bursting with subaquatic syths, acid melodies and retro claps which bolster celebratory lyrics about womanhood and strength. If that weren’t enough, Johannes Volk and Chicago Skyway step up to remix duties, the former providing a punchy take on ‘Powerful Woman’, and the latter, a squelchy square-wave flip.
Johannes Volk – Mutable Motor Units [EFR008]
Johannes Volk debuts on Eternal Friction Records with a 4 track EP called “Mutable Motor Units”. The result is a powerful EP filled with powerful grooves, smooth leads and uplifting rhythms, that clearly demonstrates Johannes unique and personal approach to techno.
Johannes Volk – The Lost Capsule [ASD008]
In a distant future a spaceship crew passing the gate to an unknown civilization. The first contact takes place via telepathy, but fails due to a mental breakdown of the spaceship crew. The telepathic conversation left irreparable damage to the swarm intelligence of the unknown civilization as well and it is classified as a hostile attack. Thereupon they flee and fight their way through the unknown surroundings of the alien planet. With their remote control they are able to get their spaceship back and leave the planet. A technical defect on the spaceship causes them to drift away into infinity, but after a few weeks they reach a time journey sector and manage to activate a time portal back home. After 7000 years they return home and they have to find out that their home planet no longer exists. The only thing they can find is a lost capsule… the new album of Johannes Volk on Axis Records.
Johannes Volk – Cybernetic Ambush [EXP011]
After three years hiatus, Exploration Records is back with 4 track EP from Johannes Volk. The title track is a long upbuilding peak time smasher with strong reminiscences of early Detroit Techno. A2 delivering raw and dirty machine madness with a subtle bleep funk around stomping drums. The flip side comes with 2 driving Dub Techno tracks, filled with heavy bass, emotional soundscapes and an complex sound architecture.
VA – 2 [DOLLY030]
Basic Soul Unit, Johannes Volk, Late Night Approach and Luke Hess team up for the 2nd Various Artist EP on Dolly. Deep Detroit rooted quality techno.
Johannes Volk – Insert EP [DSTRT004]
Johannes Volk – Designing Evolution [TOKEN073]
From his very first release, Johannes Volk’s strict yet creative adherence to the Detroit tradition has garnered him a position among the greats. Renowned these days as a producer with a seemingly-unending ability to produce classic-leaning futuristic techno, Volk has built a serious discography over the past 11 years. For his first Token offering, Volk goes above and beyond with the 4-track EP Designing Evolution.
Johannes Volk / Savas Pascalidis – Suburban Avenue 007 [SAV007]
Suburban Avenue welcomes two other great artists in its team. SAV007 is a splitted EP between the German-based djs and producers, Johannes Volk and Savas Pascalidis. Volk delivers two works: A1, “Dont Be Afraid, Theres No Hope” is a an elegant and minimalistic techno tune, that seems to reveal his dystopian vision of the future, A2, “Wrong Prophecy” is a proper Detroit banger track. Pascalidis gives his contribution to this release with other two amazing cuts: B1, “Night Force” is a perfect track, ready for the big floor: noisy, boomy with a straight groove. B2, “Strobe” is a classy and effective techno tool, lost in space.
Griessmühle Weekend Ahead
This weekend we are heading again to Berlin for a quality and diverse music cure. It’s been 2 years already since our last visit to the techno city, so we will try to make the best of it, as always.
This time will be a first as we will spend out entire weekend in the same club. Griessmühle has lined up some great artists this weekend, so we decided to make it our home until in the late hours of the Monday morning.
Friday night we will have Bleak, Johannes Volk and Savas Pascalidis in the techno room and DJ Overdose and Hakim Murphy for some electro and acid in the second room.
Saturday is the main night for us when the things start to get deep & sick. In one room we will have L.I.E.S.’ Florian Kupfer and AN-i aka Lee Douglas from Cititrax and our personal favorite June. Doug Lee played last November in Bucharest and we were raving, so we have great expectations. In the other room house and techno will be spinned by Zadig with his new side project Kern Space Adventures, Daniela la Luz live and Tallmen.785.
Johannes Volk – Mutual Codes [EXP010]
After 5 years of Exploration, it’s time for the first album on the label. Johannes Volk proudly presents Mutual Codes, a conceptual album which contains 12 tracks between detroit infected techno and experimental classical compositions. Colourful synth adventures which take you on a journey to far away galaxies and beyond.
Johannes Volk – Fanzine Podcast 041
Johannes Volk – Asteroid Riding EP [PLTR014]
Johannes Volk returns to Polytone with his debut EP. Two excellent techno tracks are in place and a spaced out ambient piece called “It Could Happen” describes the mysterious view from a spacecraft cockpit into the wideness of the universe. On the A-Side Volk blows the whistle of the EP’s title “Asteroid Riding” with funky chords accompanied by a wide deep bassline, short samples, classic percussions and a cropped stomping kick-drum, that let you ride through the orbit. On the B-Side “Earthbound” pounds with a broad hollow kick, arpeggiated synth’s, alerting sounds and a harmonically settled type of string-line that eases the element’s diversity like the blue planet’s gravity. Within the tracks that have been built to transport the feel of time and space, Johannes Volk again pushes himself on the cutting edge of electronic music.
Johannes Volk – Emerald Tunnel [TIEF009]
Two original techno tracks aimed straight at the floor plus a big remix version by Efdemin in his well known fine style.
Johannes Volk – Hydro Funk [DOLLY023]
This is Johannes Volk’s second EP for Dolly. Two fierce but club friendly rolling techno tracks featuring an epic Luke Hess remix. With their warm and euphoric chords ‘Hydro Funk’ and ‘Shadow Section’ will take you right back to the golden days of techno. Detroit’s Luke Hess on remix duties takes ‘Hydro Funk’ into even deeper territories. An hypnotic and melancholic, yet very driving detroit techno tool.
Johannes Volk – Planetary Mosaic [EXP009]
Exploration is back with 3 techno bangers. „Planetary Mosaic“ comes with slow building synths and a majestic piano, constructed around a heavy stomping bassdrum. „Simplexity“ is a stripped down track with spaced out bleeps and a subtle snare staccato attack. „Light Module“ projects a dystopian environment with jacking synth structures, robot voices and a dramatic atmosphere.
The Hipodrome Of Music 