Annanan – Lyser [FP006]

The sixth release on Jurg Haller’s excellent Forbidden Planet sees the Berlin-based newcomer Annanan at the helm. Lead track “124” booms and bristles in all the right places, with an intoxicating dub techno pulse at its core which resonates brightly with sonic intensity as the A side run out groove draws ever closer. On the B side, “ACIDz x2” fluctuates superbly between grizzled acid and saturated deepness, whilst the appropriately named “Satin” reins in the madness for a supple, widescreen journey into techno loaded with atmosphere.

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Annanan – Lyser [FP006]

D’Marc Cantu – Some Kind Of Strange [SEQ011]

Cantu’s electro-heavy sound is fleshed out here and while still lean enough for dance floors, it makes bolder moves into atmospheric and melodic territory. The A side, “Some Kind Of Strange…,” begins with long synth strains before one of his signature overdriven drum workouts immediately punches through the lush spectral melody. Cantu runs through the patterns on his 808, weaving a sort of broken beat track that cruises through acidic space time. On the flipside you’re treated to the electro/freestyle jam, “A Space Age Function.” There aren’t many surprises here nor is there any need for them: just pure and grimy electro joy…right down to the pitched down vocal sample and octave-hopping bassline. “September,” the beatless coda, is an echo from a childhood spent in dark cinemas with the sounds of Carpenter and Howarth. Tinkling FM bells dot the layers of rich ethereal pads and you can practically hear the clattering of the projector somewhere behind you in the dark.

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D’Marc Cantu – Some Kind Of Strange [SEQ011]

VA – WeMe10ans [WEME10ANS]

Though many of the artists that have featured on WeMe Records have released with other labels, it’s fair to say the Brussels operation still retains a unique identity that has set it apart over the past decade. That’s certainly the impression you get from this 13 track compilation, issued to celebrate WeMe Records surpassing the 10 year mark, and a release that neatly documents the label’s commitment to electro and more esoteric fare. Entitled WeMe10ans, the compilation is filled with exclusive material and finds electro mainstays Der Zyklus, DJ Stingray and Global Goon rubbing shoulders with composers such as Francois de Roubaix and Giles Lamb and the singular Leyland Kirby.

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VA – WeMe10ans [WEME10ANS]

Clock DVA – Re-Konstructor [ARMV001]

CLOCK DVA - Re-Konstructor

Earlier this year Anterior Research Media Comm label presented Clock 2, a USB stick of Clock DVA material that covered audio and video content. Fans of the iconic ’80s Steel City industrial act who prefer their Clock DVA in a more traditional format will no doubt be pleased to see that the label have pulled two of the reworks that featured on that USB for this lovingly presented 12″ release.

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Clock DVA – Re-Konstructor [ARMV001]

Gunnar Haslam – Ataxia No Logos [DSR-C1]

Gunnar Haslam steps up with a new four track EP on Delsin that showcases his wide-ranging style. The EP opens with ‘Corridor Metaphysics’, a high-pressure bit of deep techno with urgent drums and eerie, haunting glass tinkling sounds. It’s a warm and humid track that places you right at the heart of it and everything that happens does so subtly and suggestively rather than with brute force. ‘Ataxia No Logos’ is then a spangled and disorientating track with panning and ever more manic synths encircling the listener. Incessant ticking highs and distant drones add to the sense of oppression and on a dancefloor this will do some serious damage. Flipside ‘Dunsinane Hill’ is more tender and sensitive, with deep house chords and drums peppered with loose tin pot percussion. It’s moody but purposeful, sad but cerebral and eventually makes way for ‘Discrete Markov Dub’, a rippling bit of techno with crisp hits, a fat bassline that pulls you right in and oversized hi hats leaving long trails.

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Gunnar Haslam – Ataxia No Logos [DSR-C1]

Melja – Steady Mobbin’ EP [MSN011]

For this release the New York label has exhumed from Melja three cuts of bottom-end heavy, lo-fi and distorted techno music that will beef up a house set or nestle into a rhythm section of a long haul techno session. “I Won’t Forget” is the heaviest, industrial track on this 12″ while “Steady Mobbin” is body rhythmic, but with out the slam and assault you might hear from say.

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Melja – Steady Mobbin’ EP [MSN011]

Ekman – Entropy [TTT030]

Ekman makes his TTT label debut with some crushing electronics. The Entropy EP finds Roel Dijcks expanding his palette further. There’s a sense of abstraction throughout all four tracks here, with notions of rhythm only loosely adhered too, with the overwhelming sonic pressure of “?0” and “Dissipation” offset by the lighter title track. Closer “?S” veers into the crawlspace between the insectile sound design of Mike Parker and the lysergic hardware manipulations of Hieroglyphic Being.

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Ekman – Entropy [TTT030]

Gunnar Haslam / Acid Jesus – Overcomplete / Radium [NAIF006]

Two sureshots for the acid-proof dancefloor by Naif. On side A, Gunnar Haslam who delivers a blinding acid-journey of a rare kind with the track Overcomplete. Roman Flugel serves a re-release of one of Acid Jesus finest jams: Radium (with Jorn Elling Wuttke).

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Gunnar Haslam / Acid Jesus – Overcomplete / Radium [NAIF006]

Jacob Korn – Shtum 005 [SHTUM005]

Jacob Korn makes his debut on Uncanny Valley’s sub label Shtum, to celebrate his old but not forgotten love for dark and bleepy Techno. The tracks’ origins date back to the 1990s when Jacob used to work with a MS-DOS based software sequencer called FastTracker. Imagine programming beats with Excel and look at the graphic interface on the A-side label of the record to get an idea of the workflow back then. Nevertheless, the tracks did not loose any of its intensity.

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Jacob Korn – Shtum 005 [SHTUM005]

Peter Van Hoesen – Call & Response EP [T2X024]

The Call & Response EP features five brand new tracks forged in Van Hoesen’s Berlin studio during June and July 2014. It marks a further development of the Belgian producer’s sound, combining solid dancefloor material with highly personal leftfield techno.

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Peter Van Hoesen – Call & Response EP [T2X024]

SW. – Reminder Part 2 [SUED008]

SW - Reminder Part Two

The second Reminder from SW. on the Sued label. The minimal yet driving percussive sounds of “Track 1” are complemented by the most delicate of synth backdrops, while “Track 2” sounds like the essence of Chicago house distilled down to the atomic level. “Track 3” is a much more straightforward deep house jam, and “Track 4” may call Mr Fingers to mind, but there’s enough mathematical oddity in the rhythms to please the fans of more experimental fare as well.

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SW. – Reminder Part 2 [SUED008]