techno
UnknownmiX – Chew Some More [LXRC031]
UnknownmiX was a band active in Zürich between 1983 and 1992. Their music is a mixture of free vocalism, new wave and industrial, they released five LPs and three EPs. Out of their discography Lux Rec selected four tracks, remastered from the original tapes, and presented as a sampler EP. Four tracks that fit perfectly to the label’s tonal view. An ode to those Zürich days, when excesses and uncompromising choices were a badge of honour. And music was something to fight for, or fight with, or dive in and die.
Broken English Club – The English Beach [LIES094]
British techno veteran Oliver Ho has released some fine material as Broken English Club since debuting the alias back in 2014. The English Beach, Ho’s second BEC full-length and first for L.I.E.S, is the audio equivalent of a trip to a run-down North Sea coastal resort on a wet Wednesday in November. Full of end-of-days electronics, stripped-back industrial techno, moody minimal wave shufflers and bubbly EBM workouts, it’s as authentic a tribute to early ’80s electronic experimentalism as you’re likely to hear all year. Highlights include the Nitzer Ebb style bounce of “Pylon”, the foreboding, desolate electronica of “Rust Ballad”, the angry electro moodiness of “Carrion” and the rolling, organ-laden autumnal bliss of “The English Beach”.
Steffi – Fabric 94 [FABRIC187]
Given that there have been 93 previous editions of Fabric’s long-running mix series, you’d think DJs would struggle to find a new angle. Steffi, though, has had no such problems. The Berlin-based Dutchwoman has flipped the script by commissioning all 16 tracks especially for the mix. It’s a neat trick and works well, with the result being a typically impressively put-together stroll through a myriad of techno, house, IDM and electro-related sounds. There are two exclusive Steffi collaborations (one with Martyn as Doms and Deykers, the other with Shed), alongside seriously good cuts from pals Dexter (solo and alongside Virginia), Late Night Approach, Answer Code Request, Privacy and UAS.
VA – Dollydeluxe3 [DOLLYDELUXE003]
Number 3 of this 4 piece exclusive 12-inch series! All tracks are specially produced for Steffi’s Fabric 94 mix CD.
Heinrich Dressel – The Styx Swamp [BAR014]
Roman producer (and a force behind MinimalRome label) Valerio Lombardozzi known as Heinrich Dressel returns to Barba with a second release for our label, titled “The Styx Swamp”. Heinrich has a unique way of combining classic techno and electro sounds with elements from the beloved Drexcyan universe and John Carpenter leitmotifs, and making them come together in a manner that both moves your body and pushes your mind beyond the point of awareness. “Gray Slope”, “Sailing The Nether Waterways” and “The Styx Swamp” are all quite moody and deep, rich with sound and thick with vibe. However, the tracks feel equally at home in 4 am techno situation and a heady afterhours affair. He truly is a master of crafting hybrids whose influences get so flawlessly embedded that it’s hard to point them out. If that’s not enough, “The Styx Swamp” got a treatment by Nigel Rogers aka Perseus Traxx, a multi-faceted producer and a mighty live act performer. Nigel stayed respectful to the original but made the original’s bouncy groove into something more direct and reduced, while retaining the same feel conditioned by lead synth’s hypnotic quality.
Obergman – Quantum Eraser [BT008]
BT08 brings back Obergman to brokntoys after his appearance on the Guests of Reality compilation. The Stockholm based producer showcases here his trademark sound, off-key driving excursions complemented by an icy beatless number.
Jasen Loveland – Acid Series Vol.1 [IT038]
Jasen Loveland is a doctor of medicine, with interests in house music and computer dating. This is his recorded debut. Recorded in LA and mixed in Detroit at the IT studios. To celebrate 10 years of No Way Back (a regular party in Detroit…and beyond), the label is launching the Acid Series, a series of records on Interdimensional Transmissions inspired by the No Way Back parties.
Richard Fearles – Sweet Venus [DRONE011]
Richard Fearless from Death In Vegas on his own imprint with two tracks in his distinctive wavey and trippy style.
Borusiade / The Sixteen Steps – Promises & Infatuation [CITI022]
Cititrax present a split EP by two massive talents, Borusiade and The Sixteen Steps. Borusiade, originally from Bucharest, Romania began as a DJ in the early 2000s and then started producing music in 2005. With a background in classical music, she combined her love of raw electronics, obscure themes and melodic lines to create her own signature sound. She has released on the Cómeme label as well as Corresepondent. Infatuation and Confutation are dark, moody and intense tracks that catch you upon first listen. The flip side of the Promises and Infatuation EP features The Sixteen Steps, the brainchild of George Lanham who cut his musical teeth DJing and running events in the south of England. We have been listening to many of his tracks endlessly for a while now. Signals From The South and Promises On The Run are both immaculately produced, hypnotic, dance floor killers. They are sparse ebm meets smoky warehouse techno, and offer a wonderful contrast to Borusiade’s layered emotive tracks that reminisce of an East Village club in the 1980s. Themes of infatuation, appearances, and anonymity appear throughout this EP from the music itself right through to the cover art.
Delta Funktionen – Junior High School Excursion To The Parallel World [RAM-X-10]
Following a near two-year hiatus, Delta Funktionen resurfaces in order to invite us on his Junior High School Excursion To The Parallel World. While the title evokes images of bad 1980s teen movies, musically the Dutch producer has delivered a double-pack full of what we would describe as “proper” techno and electro. That means thrusting rhythms, bold and restless basslines, intergalactic electronics and melodies that sound like they’ve been beamed down from, well, a parallel world. There’s naturally plenty of subtle variation – compare and contrast, for example, the booming rhythmic intensity and creepy melodies of “Torpedo” and the winding late night acid trip that is “Stingoperation” – but Delta Funktionen keeps his eyes firmly fixed on the dancefloor throughout.
Techno Bert – Neue Dimensionen [MNQ094]
Originally released in 1990 on Doremix Records, Techno Bert was the studio project of Robert Passera and Stefano Cundari, co-owner of Memory Records and mastermind behind some italo disco classic names like Hipnosis, Koto, Faxe. “Neue Dimensionen” was developed on Siouxsie & The Banshees’s well-known guitar riff of ‘Happy House’, in a techno crescendo, where the duo would have enjoyed inserting as many samples as possible by stopping only when the capacity of the sampler Akai S1000 memory would be full.
Black Seed – SBZ004 [SBZ004]
Sign Bit Zero’s next output is Black Seed, the alternate identity of Turin-based DJ and producer Matteo Viani. The project is a showcase of his excavations into the realm of electro-tinged techno and live experimentation. Using the sharp edges of a raw, tribalistic robot funk sound as tools for crafting rhythm, Black Seed generates unsettling yet grooving scenarios, basemental bangers of danger dunked in smoke and hypnosis.
Jasper Wolff & Maarten Mittendorff – The Bunker Podcast 146
Agents Of Time – Xylo EP [CURLE059]
Italian based trio Agents Of Time with their debut EP for Curle ‘Xylo’, offering both atmospheric but firm techno, complemented by a healthy dose of floating melodies.
Skudge – Circles / Tundra [SKUDGE010]
Skudge levitates into 2017 with tracks from a well-known place… Infectious groove and stabs reflects our most fond warehouse memories. For starters, ‘Circles’ reminds us of the first three releases, but in a updated shape – the beats are as tight as ever, with the accompanying melodies fitting right into their place. The A-side track has that special Skudge vibe that managed to establish them as a force to reckon with. As proven with the LP from last year, things are sounding and looking as exciting as ever! In stark contrast to the straight to the floor A-side, ‘Tundra’ on the flip resembles the calmer and on the edge of careful sound that Skudge has been running in parallel of their club oriented material. Sure, this one works well in that environment too, but it’s more minded approach might require some extra attention on the floor – however, this first EP of the new year facilitates what was promised with the LP: this is exciting times for Skudge.
DJ Skull – Mo Funk EP [CDJS002]
Ron Maney aka DJ Skull presents some new tracks on the second part of his own series called “The Dj Skull Saga”.
DJ Stingray 313 @ We Are Radar Szpitalna 1, (Kraków) 13.01.2017
The Hacker – Propagande EP [STILLEBEN048]
Finally we can announce that The Hacker is onboard at the Stilleben ship with some amazing electro that lurks in the shades of Kraftwerk and other fine electronic acts, but with his own significant style and signature. 3 electro songs and one more italo/electro disco that was hidden on a old hard disk. We are very happy to continue the electro journey on Eargoggles Stilleben with this strong and beautiful release.
The Hipodrome Of Music 