Alex Omar Smith drops another bomb via his always-solid FXHE label. True Detroit Techno, blazing House jams and prickly acid cuts, as always in the inimitable Omar S mould.
techno
Carlos Souffront @ As You Like It & The Bunker, Monarch (SF, USA) 08.03.2014
Tripeo – Antipintiros [TRILP001]
Since adopting the Tripeo alias back in late 2012, Dutch techno producer Darko Esser has been in inspired form with the project showcasing his more direct approach to the medium across a succession of 12″ releases. First announced earlier this year, this debut Tripeo album Anipintiros allows Esser the chance to explore the project in more extensive fashion, and listening to the album demonstrates the Dutchman clearly enjoyed the process. Consisting of eight tracks of purist techno executed with both software and hardware, Anipintiros bristles with dancefloor intent at times sounding alien (“Anipintiros #3” & “Anipintiros #5”), others stripped back and hypnotic (“Anipintiros #4”). It’s hard to pick out highlights, but the busted, bleep laden “Anipintiros #6” and the subsequent acid bathtub that is “#7” have been causing the Juno office turntable some damage.
Coefficient – Blood Red EP [MRECLTD020]
The world of M_Rec refocuses on unassuming and dedicated dancefloor tracks with this release on the original Ltd. imprint by british producer and sound engineer Coefficient. Steering away from the saturated world of big and harsh techno, Coefficient concentrates on the craft of reviving and re-exploring archetypical mind-altering techno, rooted halfway between the American midwest and the heyday of british rave culture…..
Sawlin – Niedertracht [ANN019]
It’s now almost two years since German producer Sawlin made his debut on Ann Aimee, but now he is back for a third EP on the Delsin sister label. Entitled ‘Niedertracht’, it features four more tracks of searing techno in truly uncompromising Sawlin style. ‘Kontraktion’ goes first with heavy metallic hits, lots of industrial machinery found sounds and thumping kick drums. It’s lumpy, mechanical and stiff stuff that is slow and purposeful. The surface of ‘Padjam’ is then covered in squirming, scratchy little effects as syncopated drums swing deep down below. Eventually the thing gets fleshed out with some malfunctioning melodies and slurred vocal stabs yet still it sounds like no other techno out there. ‘Niedertracht’ takes up the b1 with a spangled techno track that has gurgling synths and fizzing drills all encased in a ravey arrangement of horns and windy howls. The broken sounding ‘Weisshaupt’ is made up of metal loops, punctured drums and rasping synths that sound like factories in melt down. This is truly inventive electronic music that’s laced with a very real and unmistakable sense of industrialism, and proves Sawlin is one of the day’s most exciting producers.
VA – Selected Edits 4 [SELECTEDEDITS004]
More driving Techno cuts from the Selected Edits project. The A-side sees Italian Techno mainstay Giorgio Gigli team up with Edit Select, while the flip side offers two massive remixes of ”Asperity” from the very first Edit Select release: First, a stone cold killer from Cassegrain, then Edit Select himself joins forces with Markus Suckut to revisit the track.
John Barera & Will Martin – Milestones [DOLLY018]
John Barera & Will Martin delivering some straight up & effective no-nonsense house music on Dolly 18. Three powerful and euphoric contemporary club tracks with both that classic club feel and that esoteric Detroit touch, effectively combining the best of both worlds. Third Side on the other hand (the hardware techno formation consisting of Dolly labelboss Steffi & The Analogue Cops) is taking things into slightly deeper and darker techno territories with their driving and hypnotic remix of ‘Milestones’… Great allround dj package that will stay in many bags for a long time.
Esteban Adame – Home Sick EP [EPM006V]
The opening track, ‘Home Sick’ is taken from Esteban’s forthcoming album, while ‘Search For Resolution’ is exclusive to the EP. And with their deep techno grooves, heavy basslines and melodious synth work. Detroit’s MGUN remixes the title track.
Traxx @ Knekelhuis, Doka (Amsterdam) 04.04.2014
Delta Funktionen @ Zeitgeist, Animal Social Club (Roma) 07.03.2014
Frak – Saturate You [MID002]
Second release on Midlight, by the notorious FRAK, is in sight. One mighty tune on each side, both nearly 10 minutes. This mysterious group from Sweden has a history rooted in the late 80’s releasing cassettes, later many tripped out releases and lauded livesets. This fresh 12” gives proof, once more, of their intriguingly stripped sound. First limited pressing comes with a limited inlay.
Matrixxman – 808 State Of Mind [DELFT001]
After the introductory acid dose of DELFT 00X, label founder LA-4A’s Levelled EP, Delft introduces the second of its repertory players, Matrixxman. DELFT 001 delivers more tough dancefloor-focused machine music, crafted by the San Francisco producer who already made a splash in 2013 with the killer techno cut ‘Protocol’.
Paul Mac vs Ritzi Lee – Theory 048 [THEORY048]
VA – Co-Ops Vol.1 [COUNTER004]
COUNTER004 brings together three new artists to the label, Berliners Roman Lindau, Cassegrain and Savas Pascalidis, alongside Counterchange family member Nubian Mindz for this 4 track Various Artists 12”.The result offers four distinct, expertly crafted techno jams in the classic tradition. Real DJ tools to come back to, that mature with repeat listening.Versatile moments to work into non-linear sets, from four artists who each propose unique blueprints for club music today. Counterchange, 2014
Helena Hauff b2b Daniele Cosmo @ LOVESTREAM 05.01.2014
Chris Mitchell – Din Gir Dialect EP [AC004]
Muzikalist – Flightcast007
VA – Fields Of Light [PF005]
‘Fields Of Light’ is an ambitious compilation release containing 6 tracks by BNJMN, Aroy Dee, Lerosa, Metropolis, Perseus Traxx and Tr One, that focuses on other qualities than the usual style-similarities. Here, the focus has been put on some other aspect; their soulful and melancholic nature. On each side 15 minutes of dreamily emotive and sometimes alienating works from these 6 producers have been pressed. Some of them appeared earlier on Photic Fields, others are new here. Among these works you’ll find a deep and multilayered sonic excursion (by BNJMN), a dark, futuristic and movie-inspired piece (by Metropolis) and an emotion-drenched late 80’s inspired house music-cut (by Perseus Traxx). Each of these tracks may have their moment to be played, some might work on dancefloors while other are ‘just’ for the home-listener. But a true sentimentalist should find these moments.
Sean Dixon – Perspective EP [FINALCHAPTER002]
The second Final Chapter release. Once again Stockholm’s Sean Dixon perfectly executes a pair of heavy, late night, club tracks kicking off with “Perspective” with its subtle organ stabs, tight percussion, solid bass and inspirational vocal. Detroit´s Jared Wilson remakes it with with an older feel, then twists it into something more raw, dusty and intense. “Anxiety” wobbles subtly into being with haunting synth parts and pleasurably disjointed percussive elements, which keep interest and maintain a groove, only to be straightened into something much more linear as it’s remade by Perseus Traxx, spreading the heavy and unsettling tones of his own anxieties.
Chaos In The CBD – DeLorean Dreams EP [HOTSHIT007]
Chaos In The CBD drop down on Hot Haus Recs In Effekt with 2 outsider house bangers backed with a Legowelt remix. Having released records on Clek Clek Boom to much fanfare the New Zealand brothers have honed a more analogue houz sound for their Hot Haus 12 keeping with Unknown To The Unknown spirit of “offf the wall bangers”.
The Hipodrome Of Music 