Journey through vivid sonic currents and states which might as well be regarded as Rashim’s magnum opus: the 006 release on ARR is a new height delivered as a mini-album. The more basic and primal spirit of this release encapsulates Rashim’s music in a way which makes total sense. Bound over six tracks, they all display a different perspective of this dramatic colossus.
Following on from his Floorplan album and November’s Floorplan EP, Robert Hood returns with a new double header on M-Plant, to close 2013. He delivers these two new cuts of pulsating, body-moving Techno with that classic, deep and minimal Hood sound. He builds ‘Eleven’ and ‘Alarm’, layer upon layer, gradually drawing all the elements together, until they become a penetrating attack on the senses.
Badge of Honor pushing the envelope of techno with quirky, Detroit-infused abstractions that only the masterful Dixon could conjure up. Far removed from his Population One moniker, this is Terrence Dixon’s fourth LP in an illustrious 20-year career. The album hits us with raw, all-encompassing techno cuts alongside some choice left-field experiments (View From A Lighthouse, Radio Room and Light Years), cementing Terrence’s reputation as the free-form producer of choice, not unlike a modern day Sun Ra. From the P-Funk basslines and melodies of Operation Acoustic and Incoming, to the dark, undulating Mills-esque sound of The Atlantic, this is a release that seemingly covers all the bases. Over a year in the making and already doing the rounds with those in the know, Badge of Honor represents techno from a future age, conceptualised to go well beyond the surface…
Spanish DJ and producer, Svreca has been travel ling around the world for a while and his label Semántica has earned its place amongst the best cult labels. This release comes in two versions: a four-track EP and a six-track digital release with two bonus edits by Oscar Mulero.
Terrence Dixon turns it up even higher with the third release on his own Reduction label. Chiming, melodic and magnificent abstractions from the depths.
Mon series returns with a new EP of detroitescque techno by Eduardo De La Calle. Raw, dubby and spaced out 4 tracker.
New release on Minimal Soul Recordings with 4strong minimal Detroit tracks from Population One aka Terrence Dixon.
Commencing a new series for Fred P’s Soul People imprint, Jose Cabrera and Fred himself deliver four tracks of uncharacteristically tough rhythms that suggest an exploration of more driving, DJ-focused cuts compared to the luscious soulful tones normally found on the label. Cabrera takes up the A side, kicking off with the hefty throwdown of “General Relativity”, all thunderous kick, snagging hat and desolate bleep over a fearsome high-pitched tone. “Framework” is housier in its demeanour, but still packs a mean punch as it twists out a chunky chord line. Fred P’s “Quantum Effects” on the flip is a perfectly scattered techno excursion, both minimal and engaging at the same time. “String Theory” is more twitchy with its dextrous layers of percussion and discordant notes claging around in the distance, a far cry from the soothing lullabies he can often be found crafting.
Eduardo De la Calle delivers deep minimal quality techno, clearly influenced by Sahko, Sleeparchive, Jeff Mills etc.
At the edge of failure a door to greater understanding and discovery is sometimes opened. Some of mankind ?s greatest discoveries and experiences took place by sheer coincidence or even by mistake. From the Big Bang, to Penicillin, or the “invisible light” we call x-rays, chance and human error has played a big part of our history and evolution as a species – can we really afford to be perfect when we owe our mistakes and weaknesses so much?
Swedish futurist Staffan Linzatti has joined ranks with BALANS and he delivers 4 transmissions of alienating techno. Bleeps, haunting strings and off course 909 drummachines going mental. His work has always sounded unpredictable, brooding, dark and seem to follow musical rules from another realm. It’s as if these 4 tracks are delivered to us from a wormhole from the other side of the galaxy.
Slammin’ tuff house and electro tracks from 2001 by Skatebard, Norway’s #1 Techno-Riddim-Connaisseur.
Although Michigan is well inland from the North Atlantic Ocean, it doesn’t mean Detroit can’t make techno for the high seas or uncharted waters. Terrence Dixon’s Lost At Sea 12″ for the Surface label founded by Nick Dunton and the late Richard Polson sees four tracks of “Untitled” Detroit techno traverse through a sonic field of Joey Anderson and DJ Qu house drums, while saw-wavey Drexciyan qualities and Jeff Mills techno loops also circulate the EP. A deep and heady 12″ of U-boat rhythmics for the techno underground.
The Hipodrome Of Music 