techno

Christopher Rau – Lost in Brooklyn [THEMA039]

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”A syncopated pattern of stabbed chords remains the benchmark of the track, anchoring a groove that initially builds using off-kilter, intentionally grating background noise. As resonators get turned up and tensions mount, the moment when the funky, hi-hat led percussion finally arrives around the 2:20 mark is met with the kind of exuberant release that dancefloor-heaven is rooted in. Lost In Brooklyn continues to ebb and flow throughout its remainder, with peaks and troughs that power through until the end and renders it more than a bit of DJ weapon. Besides Rau, Norm Talley is also back on Thema and with a kind of focused fury that only he can sustain. He infuses Raus upbeat production with his Motor City hypnotic soul and reworks it for a deeper, later hour. The motif that makes up the A-side is eschewed in favor of subdued pads, skittering cosmic washes drenched in delay, and driving drums that straddle the line between house and techno. The contrast between each side of this vinyl plays off the other nicely, but they both retain the sophisticated charisma that ties everything on Thema together.”

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Christopher Rau – Lost in Brooklyn [THEMA039]

Drvg Cvltvre – American Psychosis [Part Two] [SHIP023.2]

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Shipwrec serve up a second instalment of the American Psychosis project by pioneering Dutch producer Drvg Cvltvre. He is known for his experimental and boundary pushing sounds and it’s no different here, on either track. The first, ‘March into Nothingness’ is a truly bleak and foreboding affair with serrated synths and thick, dense fog hanging in the air above slow and purposeful drums. Like a post apocalyptic industrial estate it is a raw and arresting place to be. ‘Drown Into The Eternal Twilight’ is then an even harder edge techno stomper with angry synth lines, tough drums and tons of white noise darkening the foreboding airwaves.

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Drvg Cvltvre – American Psychosis [Part Two] [SHIP023.2]

Astronomical Telegram – Naked Index 05 [NI005]

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Horizontal Ground sub-label Naked Index introduces a new name from Columbia: Astronomical Telegram. The grungy feel of Regis’ early work can be heard throughout the entire EP, meaning this will appeal to the staunch techno heads. Higher frequencies seem to be a defining difference between “Optical Observation V1” and “Optical Observation V2”, with the latter really jamming its foot on the pedal when it comes to the harsher sonics and frenetic percussion. “Tool Part 2” by and large does away with those pesky hi-hats and lays down a heavy groove of gruelling techno.

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Astronomical Telegram – Naked Index 05 [NI005]

The Noisemaker – Travelers EP [RWXS004]

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The fourth EP from Raw Waxes includes two tracks from The Noisemaker.. Both original tracks have got a delightful groovy soul, amplified by a dark arpeggio, which drives strong energy in stomach and legs of the listeners. The sounds he chose are captivating, dynamic, and push feelings to an high vitality. The deepness of the original tracks is perfectly interpreted by the remixers, who kept his mood and added a personal touch to it. On the A side, Mike Parker keeps a sinister atmosphere and beautifies it with noisy and raw sounds, which coherently distinguish his productions from many others. On the B side, Haiku develops mostly the dance floor mood of the original track with an upbeat based production going through mind trip breaks and industrial pads, giving to the entire release a summer breathe.

juno / rebirth

The Noisemaker – Travelers EP [RWXS004]

Auden – Auden EP [HFT034]

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A fresh voice in UK techno arrives on Hotflush with a four-track debut that brandishes range and dynamics.  Unsullied atmospherics, large-scale techno, acid, dub and two-step comprise the story arc here; disparate elements woven through by the coherence of a singular vision. This is Auden.

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Auden – Auden EP [HFT034]

Jordan – Divison Point [FS023]

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Finale Sessions brings to the family a new producer from the rising cast of New York underground. Jordan is a special producer bringing a vibe like no other with his mix of house and techno attributes . ‘Night Mask’ is a nasty raw down to the ground dance track with sub like kicks and percussions and its flawless arching synth give this track its basis to move like no other. ‘Division Point’ is part deep and raw and it gives the EP its depth that it needs to transpire on different dance floors everywhere with its floating pads and it deep drums . ‘Return’ has that peek time feel to it with its techno undertones and its great drum programming which really sets this track apart from all other.

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Jordan – Divison Point [FS023]

MGUN – Wideye [FIT011]

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Manuel Gonzales aka MGUN, steps up to the plate for Fit Sound with an EP that is equal parts diverse, epic and raw. From the basement techno of “Wide Eye”, to the scuffling acidic “Debit, and finally onto the melodic/ melancholic sound of “M.S.C.”, Essential music from the underground for the underground.

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MGUN – Wideye [FIT011]

The Exaltics – Twelve EP [SHIP024]

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German producer and acid head The Exaltics is back with a new EP on Shipwrec that comes with a remix by Unit Moebius Anonymous and terrific artwork by Jaco Putker. Real name Robert Witschakowski, The Exaltics is co founder of the Solar One Music label and has turned out a steady stream of EPs and LPs on labels like Trust, Creme Organization and Clone West Coast Series until now, always coming on strong with a dense techno style. Opener ‘The New Beginning’ continues in that tradition where electro drums are run through with racing acid and more serene and tender synths colour in the backdrop. ‘Coroded’ is a much more bulky and brutal techno affair with tough drums that roll up and down, even angrier acid lines and plenty of industrial percussion. Final original ‘Downwards’ is even quicker and more abrasive and barely allows you to catch your breath with its hurried kick drums, ripping 303 and frankly manic, metallic hi hats. The Unit Moebius Anonymous remix is suitably tough and teeth clenching with paranoid sirens, gun like percussion and a true sense of unstoppable force. Serious techno for serious heads, this is an arresting EP that it is impossible to ignore.

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The Exaltics – Twelve EP [SHIP024]

Randomer – Residents [LIES050]

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With L.I.E.S. 50th official release, London’s Randomer appears as the first British artist to release on the label with his ‘Residents’ EP. On this EP we get three out there diverse tracks with the title cut being a moody rhythmic, heads down yet upbeat percussion driven affair. ‘Jakobs Dream’ steps into the abstract tweaked out techno world, while ‘Huh’ which fills the entire b-side is a massive massive electro cut for the floor.

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Randomer – Residents [LIES050]

Hermans – Zaires [ZAIRES]

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For a brief moment Hermans are cut free from their shackles and venture out from the black dungeon, dragging xylophones made from Kraken bones and drums fashioned out of reptile skins the duo summon a battle chant from deep within. Scores of allies join, endlessly banging the same rhythm relentlessly until the clouds draw and the red sun is no longer visible. A Basic Soul Unit appears from the murkiness and descends upon the racket, bringing with him booming thunder and electric lightning, a dark army marching alongside him. The massive beat continues for days, shaking all those that hear it. Slowy and steadily, the din subsides, the clouds part and the sun returns as Hermans retreat back to the darkness to wait patiently until they are called upon again.

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Hermans – Zaires [ZAIRES]