Taken, is the duo of former Skudge man Elias Landberg and Nihad Tule. This latest slab of techno follows their previous work in that it is functional but stylish. The drums are analogue, muscular, and perfect to hook on to, and the synths and hi-hats that peel off a rusty, glitchy and slight, but make enough of an impact to cut through.
Hotmix presents a new release by Legowelt and the Dutch Master delivered a fantastic 2 tracker on a white ten inch record.
Legowelt returns to Clone Records with yet another sonic journey that defies conventional electronic music boundaries, offering an album that is as eclectic as it is immersive. Blending different styles and textures seamlessly and proving that electronic music can still be creative and that function doesn’t always prevail style. He delivers a collection that transports listeners through a kaleidoscope of retro-futuristic sounds, deep grooves, and cosmic melodies. Despite being in the music game for more than 25 years the music from Danny Wolfers remains playful and refreshing. Stylistically taking elements from his whole musical career and not commiting to the latest trend or any genre specifically, and low-key taking the piss with everyone who takes themself to seriously. While many electronic music artists are stuck in their own void, busy pleasing the big room, Legowelt meticulously crafts rich textured soundscapes, balancing between cosmic exploration and the dancefoor, that evoke both nostalgia and futuristic visions. His ability to fuse elements of house, techno, disco and electro with cinematic influences results in an album that is not only ready for club use but also gratifying at home. Each track offers something unique–whether it’s the hypnotic rhythms, the lush synth lines, or the subtle, eerie undertones that creep in unexpectedly. Legowelt’s attention to detail and passion for his craft shine through, making this album a worthy follow up to his last album on the Clone Jack For Daze series.
Dutch label Brew returns with more moody techno that is both deep yet impactful. It’s Robert Bergman at the helm and ‘3 AM’ is his opening gambit. It has ghostly voices shimmering across the beats with a menacing low end, rugged bassline and scaring percussive sounds. ‘#5’ is another fresh sound with great sound designs and alluring rhythms and last of all is ‘Drum Trax’ which is a third and final blend of nostalgic and futuristic house tropes for heady basements.
Space Drum Meditation unveils ‘Four Tusks’, their debut album and seventh release on the label. This 12-track journey blends tribal rhythms, atmospheric textures, and electronic elements, interweaving darkness and light. The album un- folds like a ritual, revealing a murky, immersive soundscape shaped by primal beats, ethereal ambience, rumbling thunder, and the whisper of rain, reminiscent of a primeval marshland and drawing one into its depths. Featuring a wide array of instruments including deep percussion, traditional flutes, throat singing, and field recordings – Four Tusks crafts a mysterious tapestry that feels both ancient and futuristic, resonating with nature’s elements.
The Exaltics are back on Repetitive Rhythm Research with 3 tracks of intense, ravey, 90’s Detroit inspired dark, driving techno. Alden Tyrell & Serge add a razorsharp, expertly produced club friendly remix completing the 4 tracker.
The ‘Reality of Fiction’ EP from Jerical brings out four cuts of pure, unfiltered industrial techno—designed to lock listeners into an almost meditative state. With a dark, bleep-forward aesthetic, each track on the EP feels made for the murky corners of Berlin’s underground scene. The interplay of dark and dynamic in this release makes it feel alive, with each track contributing to the EP’s hypnotic pull.
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.
FRAK was the first act out on the Kontra-Musik White Label series. Back in 2012 the EP Triffid Gossip marked the return of both the band FRAK and the label Börft. Now, 12 years later, FRAK returns to KMWL with the splendid and diverse Safari Modules EP.
Electro bass cyperpunks from down under, Assembler Code & Jensen Interceptor, team up again for ”NRG LVLS” on TRUST. Four heavy-duty tracks might overclock neural interfaces with drilling synths, twitchy funk and high-pressure electro rhythms.
3 classic Legowelt “Slam Jack Deep Chicago Ghetto Technofunk” tracks from the Clone Records vaults get the deserved remaster treatment. The early 2000’s Yamaha DX Synth tribute by Scheveningens Jackmaster never sounded better…
Remastered reissue of the second landmark EP for Plus 8 Records by Speedy J. Again expanding on the emerging sounds of Techno Speedy J took it further into euphoric, minimal lofi and bleepy territory with ”Rise”, ”Tresor” and ”De-orbit”. All while effectively stripping it down to the bare bones rocking only a 909 and a vocal sample on ”Something For Your Mind”. This release and in particular ”Something For Your Mind” was there at the forefront of techno as we know it these days with a harder, raw and no-nonsense approach and all its variations such as Gabber that grew out of that in Rotterdam the following year.
Remastered reissue of this seminal EP by Speedy J originally released on Detroit’s Plus 8 records. Taking his inspiration from the early Detroit and Chicago imports that landed on the Dutch coast in the late 80’s Speedy J ended up creating a classic that innovated and embodied the raw energy of the then still emerging sound of Techno.
Munich’s techno powerhouse Ilian Tape is back with a new EP which, as usual, features a quarter of direct and unmistakably functional tracks but the designs are top-notch. Fireground – a male/female duo – first offer us the big, bouncy, percussive banger ‘Glare’, before ‘Stand’ keeps it just as tribal and percussive and straight up. ‘Spin’ brings a little playfulness with some sleek machine soul sounds adding warmth and a bit of Detroit colour to the clattering drums before ‘Red Night’ shuts down with jazzy blend of smeared Rhodes chords and yet more bold drums and hits.
Ukrainian producer Yan Cook hits hard with a third follow up EP on Delsin’s Inertia series. Once again a lethal pack of four to the floor techno weapons.
A new chapter in the Spazio Disponibile story. Since 2016, Donato Dozzy and Neel released a wide range of their favorite electronics on their collaborative imprint. From here they inaugurate a new side branch named Spazio Nero, focussing on heady dancefloor techno only. First edition comes from Neel himself, his Movimente EP sets the tone for what to expect. Four cuts of flawless techno pressure for the late nights.
By introducing its latest ep to the world Swedish based Kvalia Records continues to cement its position as one of Scandinavia’s most influential techno labels of today. For its 10th release founder of Kvalia Records, Linny Hex, invites techno pioneer Jeroen Search. The 4 track ep ‘Conductor’ represents the perfect blend between Search’s genre defining, inimitable sound and Hex’s uncompromising curation of deep, hypnotic soundscapes. Adding flavor to the hypnotic elements on ‘Conductor’ does up & coming Swedish producer F.LJ with a perfectly executed remix.
Time Passages celebrates their ten years of existence with a stellar line up of artists; this is the full LP to complement a shorter EP. The mood on this one is decidedly hellish yet, of course, for that very reason, tempting to cop; this being the characteristic of the flagrant provenance of DJ and producer Binh, whose brand of sinister minimal techno and electro always turns up scorched, hardened into granite, by the embered airs of hardcore. The Berlin outfit welcome The Model and DJ Hell on the A1 side, with the first opening up his own private bacchanal into the hungry streets with ‘Eat More House’ – a motto we can really chew on – while Hell’s ‘Alienation’ plays on similar themes, with a central acid riff and sniper clap pattern. Barnt and Bezier steer and slow the B-side to a canter, the latter especially on the low-slung, ominously new beat-inspired ‘Roter Faden’, while the likes of Z@p and DC Salas go on to encrust the ensuing sides with a haunted clog of synthpop and new wave judder-offs.
For Fuse’s fifth release, Brussels’ Altinbas returns for a whirlwind of meditative and harmonious techno. Solidifying his identity of focused yet vibrant club music, the Fuse resident and label co-curator offers his second contribution ‘Sustain’ as a dancefloor-enveloping take on modern techno. Known for rich chords, whipping pads, and dry percussion, Altinbas proves once again that his touch as a producer revolves around balance and calculated effect.
The Hipodrome Of Music 