Raw & gritty peak-time analogue techno cuts by ROD’s new hardware project Rod20.
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Rod20 – SteraStudent EP [ROD2002]
Rod20 is a new project from Rotterdam based artist ROD. During the rise of Covid19 ROD decided to ditch the computer and dust off his vintage hardware collection, challenging himself to create strictly (analogue) hardware jams using only 1 synthesizer + 1 drum machine per track, recorded in a single take. Rod20 (as in 2020 as well as ROD 2.0) kicked off in style with ROD2001 ‘In The Mix’, a 13 track Mix CD (also pressed on 20 highly limited 3x LP copies) sold personally at the height of the pandemic, followed by 2 conceptual mini-albums ‘The Hidden Notes Project (Part 1 & 2)’ released on Jeff Mills’ Axis Records. Now with most 2022 dance floors in full swing again, it’s time to unleash the Rod20 project in full, starting with ROD2002 ‘SteraStudent EP’, a personal tribute to 1 of of ROD’s biggest inspirations and mentors in the world of techno; Sterac (aka Steve Rachmad). No computer. No edits. No nonsense. Just pure & raw stripped down (90’s) basement techno cuts designed to make you sweat.
Juan Sanchez / ROD – Uros / Sundt [NOV001]
ROD – Brighten Up Bunny EP [AL026]
ROD is a new artist for Afterlife Recordings and ‘Brighten Up Bunny’ is another high-quality entry in Benny Rodrigues’ acclaimed discography. The EP’s title track opens the record with bright, uplifting synth notes and a weighty kick drum – Rodrigues’ fresh take on the Afterlife sound. Getting deeper and darker with ‘Welcome Back Mama’, ROD fuses razor-sharp claps and a punchy bassline to dazzling effect. ‘Melodi’ takes an eerie turn, burying the drums under metallic shimmers and disorientating reverberations. On the remix, FJAAK treat ‘Welcome Back Mama’ with a warehouse-ready pulse and sharpen its edges.
VA – Tribology Sampler 2 [MACHINESAMPLER002]
Ben Sims delivers Sampler 2, another four incredibly artists taken from his Tribology compilation. From the 808 driven hypnotics of Berghain’s Steffi through to ROD’s strident ‘Embase’ via Jeroen Search’s masterful, bleeping ‘Ostinato Pattern’ and Sims’ own punchy edit of unreleased Robert Hood cut ‘Gun Talk’ this is an unmissable 12″. A total of 5 samplers will drop as part of the Ben Sims pres Tribology mix compilation project.
VA – Mistress Special Release [MR096]
Minimalist, swinging, fast paced DJ tool Techno exclusives from DVS1’s ‘Fabric Mix’.
TWR72 – Lucid Remixes [FLOAT022]
The complete TWR72 – Lucid release wasn t enough so it gets a remix treatment by Psyk, Henning Baer, ROD, Neznan and TWR72 itself.
VA – Klockworks 20 [KLOCKWORKS020]
Perfectionist comprehensive Techno compilation coming from the Ben Klock collective. Dance music of the highest calibre, from a collection of artists who have truly crafted a neat and elegant vision of techno music. There’s a mixture of old and new faces all coming together to showcase the sound they’ve been so close to over the years: Etapp Kyle, Jon Hester, Sterac, DVS1, Trevino, Heiko Laux, Ritzi Lee, Adam Craft and others.
Rod – Distance [KW015]
Orlando Voorn – Gain Upwards (Remixes) [OUT015]
Gain Upwards from Orlando Voorn, part of Black Diamond double LP. From the twelve gems Voorn created for Out-ER, Gain Upwards is the cut we selected to be reinterpreted by Voorn’s long-standing friend Juan Atkins, dutch heavyweight ROD, Ostgut-Ton magician Efdemin and Inkblots and Raw Waxes label owner Haiku
VA – MDR 14.2 [MDR014.2]
Taras van de Voorde & David Vunk – Need You Tonight [MTECHS003]
The dark and cold winter above the north of Rotterdam was the inspiration for a new and exciting collaboration between best friends: Taras van de Voorde and David Vunk. This resulted in the top hit – Need you tonight – this A1 killer tune a la Aril Brikha’s Groove la Chord is a brilliant 2014 diamont techno house underground mainstage track. B1 is Need you tonight in the Alden Tyrell Remix… super dark building up power mono techno track… Berlin/London/Rotterdam style. B2 is made by the legendary ROD … a deep techno track with great groove perfect dj tool. Yeah looks like this record is made by longtime friends, a real Rotterdams product with underground love from Rotterdam… of course on David Vunk’s Cult recordlabel Moustache Records.
Rod – Anindica [KLOCKWORKS011]
Benny Rodrigues’ (Alves Fortes Monteiro) Rod alias debuted on Klockworks in 2007 giving Ben Klock’s label its seventh release. Following Etapp Kyle’s debut on Klockworks earlier this year, Rod returns with the first creatively titled EP the label has released. Anindica (Klockworks 11) provides two productions, and the title track is in line with a zapping Detroit style of techno, and perhaps something you may hear played in a current Eddie ‘Flashin” Fowlkes DJ set, while the muscular, dub-tinged, European B-side of “Hux” is well a truly destined for some heavy Ben Klock rotation.
Eduardo De La Calle – Emerging Era EP [DREF015]
Two originals, Speedlight Speedmind and Dynamic Arrangements, complimented by a rework of ROD. The A-Sides minute soundscaping, Hood, Mills and Search-esque sounds, precise filtering and delicate accents throughout and the flipsides wicked Basic Channel-like stabs turn both originals into weapons. Classic techno done in an impeccable manner. ROD strips, shuffles and roughens Speedlight Speedmind up in his trademark get to the point fashion. Aimed at destroying any dancefloor RODs rework keeps the original close, but lets only its basic instincts deftly filter through at just the right moments. Bomb, its really that simple.
Ilario Alicante – V_Chronicles EP [PM003]
Pushmaster Discs welcomes Ilario Alicante with a solid EP including two original dubbed out techno tracks plus two stunning remixes from ROD and Markus Suckut.
VA – Field 06 [FIELD006]
The sixth release in the Field’s various artist series showcases four peerless Dutch producers – Delta Funktionen, ROD, Mark Du Mosch and Roberto Auser. Delta Funktionen turns in a dry, concrete techno track, ROD a more frantic and amped up number whilst Mark Du Mosch goes for some heavy bass swing with his clipped and heavy house effort. Auser closes out a nicely rounded EP with some glistening ambient synth sounds that swirl around in your head like a calming breeze.
Rod – Malmok [KLOCKWORKS007]
The latest addition to the Ben Klock’s Klockworks series comes from the mysterious Rod. Three tracks of stripped down, motorik techno that stays true to the Berghain sound associated with mr Klock.
The Hipodrome Of Music 