99LETTERS steps up on THRHNDRDSVNTNN with a collection of chugging, otherworldly house and techno excursions. Tape saturated machines groan under ghostly synth pads and layers of static, whilst over driven percussion pounds overhead.
techno
Bintus – Reincarnated Savage [BDN009]
Having previously kept his pet project Bintus on the Power Vacuum homestead, Milo Smee aligns with UAE label Bedouin for the superbly named Reincarnated Savage EP. While there can often be a slightly scary amount of distortion shaping out the Bintus sound, the lead track on the record is finely honed, pummelling electro of the highest order, albeit with plenty of unhinged noises zipping around in the mix. Fear not red-line lovers, for there’s still ample room for overloaded madness on the flipside by way of balancing out the release.
Frak – Sudden Haircut EP [DE109]
Frak are Björn Isgren, Johan Sturesson and Jan Svensson, a trio of synthesizer lovers from Sweden. The band was formed when Svensson and Isgren’s older sisters were best friends and they introduced their little brothers to each other. Inspired by Severed Heads, DAF, Human League, Devo, Skinny Puppy, the boys began collecting analog equipment and started Studio Styrka. While the band were still in their early teens they released the first FRAK cassette album in 1987 on their own record label Börft. Almost 30 years later, FRAK continue to release their bizarre brand of Scandinavian techno with their debut release on Dark Entries.
Interr-Ference (I-F) – TRAX.172
Mono Junk vs Mesak – Deep In My Mind [DUM034]
Mono Junk’s DUM Records has been dictating trends in the world of minimalistic techno since the 1990s, and its 34th release is as special as any. This one comes from label boss Kimmo Rapatti aka Mono Junk vs Mesak, who is better known as fellow Finn, Tatu Metsätähti, aka one half of Mr Velcto Fastener. Together the pair serve up three mixes of their jam and an additional track
VA – Few Tricks For Nervous Dealbreakers EP [CY004]
Contort Yourself with 4 strong outings for its fourth EP ! To begin with we have the grimacing visage of Volition Immanent, an intense live act made up of Parrish Smith and Mark Van de Maat (Knekelhuis). Nastiness is taken up a notch as noise ne’er-do-wells Zombies Under Stress take over. Static is bent and doubled across thick chords and collapsed clap in the 1986 ”Maan Zal Zijn” before the raw and raging battery of ”In Onze Tijd.” L.I.E.S. regular Svengalisghost grapples with ”Maan Zal Zijn, channelling the original’s rage into a mechanical monster. The 12” is bookended with bite as Mark Forshaw (Tabernacle/Berceuse Heroique) closes with the tortured and torrential thump of ”Submission.”
Space Knight – Space Alert / Starline [DP015]
Cosmin TRG – Invite’s Choice Podcast 348
VA – Strange Science EP [ICR003]
Invite’s Choice Records starts 2016 with a bang and releases another 4-track EP with 4 different tracks by 4 great artists. Jeroen Search has the honour of opening the EP with a four to the floor track which gets you with it’s sporadic melodramatic sting. Perfect for switching between the more deeper and more straightforward parts of your set. Adam Craft continues with a loop-track which is built around it’s powerful and deep bass. Thessaloniki based Endlec is responsible for the first track of the B-side and comes up with a track dominated by it’s percussive yet simple drive and a synthy vibe which, together with it’s short length, draws you in and sends you off in another direction quite soon. TNTUS closes the EP with a track that fits Invite’s style quite well; a drumcomputer-driven track complimented with a chaotic, repetitive synth: madness guaranteed!
Peter van Hoesen – Stealth 3/3 [T2XS303]
The last instalment of the ‘Stealth’ vinyls focuses on the productions of the Time To Express founder. Reflecting the themes of the series, Van Hoesen offers his own vision of hypnotic techno on ‘Shadows & Concern’, a powerful and expansive piece. The series is completed in appropriate fashion with ‘Unicorn’, an emotive track that displays Van Hoesen’s more melodic side.
Surgeon – Search Deep Inside Yourself [BP044]
Surgeon appears with the superb new release on Blueprint ‘Search Deep Inside Yourself’. This 4-tracker features a brand new full colour label sleeve to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this classic techno label.
VA – Construct Re-Form Free Tracks [FREE DOWNLOAD]
Free tracks from Birth Of Frequency, Zadig and Voiski on the Construct Re-Form label.
Paul du Lac – Digital Tsunami 095
Lonny & Melvin – Murdercapital EP [M001XX]
Lonny and Melvin, aka I-f versus That Nigger, aka Interr-Ference & Pametex. Deep dark brown analogue electronix from the La Haye Murdercapital heydays. Remastered and released on Murder Capital.
DJ Overdose – 05 Poly 800 Loop [DD001]
The 05 Poly 800 Loop EP was born in the name of the Dutch-Hungarian friendship when DJ Overdose collaborated with the Budapest based record label Dalmata Daniel, and Hungarian acts, S Olbricht & 12z. A wide range of styles release from dark and mid-tempo to hard-hitting electro. Just how we like it from mister Model Man. The EP also features two remixes both of which are complete reworks of the originals. S Olbricht transformed ‘Path To Wrath’ into a dark abstract techno wave that manages to end up light and romantic. Meanwhile 12z, the newest mascot of Nicolas Jaar’s ‘Other People’ label have made an experimental symphony from ‘Be(h)anger’ and this pathos covers the whole essence of this EP. A promising start for the Dalmata Daniel label.
VA – Mutant City Acid 3 [BV019]
Third part in the Mutant City Acid Series. Four new takes on the sound of the TB303 by Cardopusher, Perseus Traxx, Posthuman and Paul Mac.
Obsolete Music Technology – Lone Passenger [DOLLY024]
Steven Tang returns with a second offering for Steffi’s label as Obsolete Music Technology. Across the three tracks, Tang’s mastery of his craft is more than evident, displaying a rawness that is often craved but not always achieved these days. The title track’s classic Chicago vibe complemented by the more intense racing “Voltage Player” and the cascading rhythmic hits of “High Strung”. Class always tells, and this Love Passenger 12″ has it by the bucketload.
Sir Joe – The New Era Is Coming [LOD007]
The “legend” of Sir Joe, from Chicago to The Hague, 303 bass lines, Juno’s pads and big mama’s speech samples. Powerful and danceable pack made up by six jackin’ cosmic techno house tracks.
D’Marc Cantu – Gear Shift EP [RUNOR1009]
D’Marc Cantu marks his return to Run Out Run with the Gear Shift EP, applying his unique style across four tracks. On the A side ‘It’s Sex’ kicks things off with his signature drum programming and some serious acid business while ‘Body Jak’ is a frantic electro workout. On the B side ‘Gear Shift’ is another peak time banger while ‘Odd Feel’ brings things back down to earth to complete another solid EP from the Ann Arbor based artist.
The Hipodrome Of Music 