Flowing acidic lava from new Abstract Acid discovery, Etcher, who we have absolutely no prior knowledge of, but this matters not as this is solid acid-techno through-and-through, reminiscent perhaps of an early nineties European sound, which of course we favour greatly here at Interstellar HQ. Quite simply really, really good acid.
An explosive caustic acid concoction awaits from within the grooves of this gargantuan twelve inch from Chicago heavyweight, Hieroglyphic Being. ‘Free the Energy (No Vocal Energy)’ is highly volatile, with severely unforgiving and distorted drum programming, this violently radioactive adventure is nothing short of brutal and certainly not for the squeamish. Title cut, ‘Acid Rain Under the Stars’ paints a dreamy landscape, while the acidic protons and neutrons busily rebound in the background on this elongated, hypnosis-inducing and beautifully mind-distorting headtrip.
Louis Guilliaume has come a long way and with his every release he has proven to deserve his space amongst the finest techno producers out there. Unknown Forces EP is a straight forward techno EP which shows influences from his hometown Rotterdam to Detroit and back to Berlin. The EP opens up with ”Digital Stone”. A sensitive acid sledgehammer which bounces gently on to your head. ”Ghost In The Shell” is no different with its massive basslines and dark synths drenched in that typical uncompromising Guilliaume flavor. With ”X-11-101”, mr. Guilliaume didnt hold back. This here is what you call an instant peak time floor filler. Bigroom techno, sinister and compelling all the way. After that we finish with the tense and dark title track ”Unknown Forces” which balances somewhere on the edge between hope and desperation.
Spaced out 4 track project from duo of Hakim Murphy & Ike Release. Emotional & cosmic tunes that focus on outer space themes & share common thread of infinite possibilities. Neo-acid house to straight deep house.
Layered rhythms force these tracks forward to an unspoken conclusion, although there cannot be any doubt about the tracks’ intentions! Roger 23 has a reputation for producing music that combines great intuition with a roughness that is equally as challenging as it is soothing. ‘Future State’ is no exception to this rule. Bursts of melody and atmosphere draw the attention to relentless, yet not straight rhythmic patterns and vice versa. These five tracks are a remorseless leap into what dance music can be. Made with optimism and an open mind, they explore darker territories in an inviting and open-ended way. The last track on this EP being a short, blissful Ambient piece that abstractly channels the energy of the other tracks serves as one last lap on the rings of Saturn. ‘Future State’ plays with meaning, intention and focus and in the process refocuses itself time and again. It is an extremely versatile exploration that is as engaging and believing as can be.
Another strong Bokhari release. Beautiful deep house tracks with a hint to early Chicago and bits of the mid 90’s IDM techno wave from the UK. Side a by Life Recorder and flip side by French producer Semerka (incl Fudge Fingas remix).
A new name we’re all enjoying meeting is Kobosil, and after a release on Ostgut Ton sub-label Unterton, Max Kobosil appears on Marcel Dettmann’s MDR, not a bad endorsement at all. He delivers six tracks, all of which are good, and starting with the gloomy broken-techno-beats of “Ein”, it moves into the confused computer bleeps of “Asle”, with the A-side concluding with a Giorgio Gigli-sounding “V762_Cas”. On the flip we’re met with the toxic and at some points middle-eastern sounds of a snare-skittery “Path”, while “Oath” is a dirty techno bomb. Finally there’s the industrial ambient “There” score with similar atmospherics to his aforementioned Unterton 12″.
Arguably the two biggest R’s in techno at the moment remix [Phase], with Rodhad revealing a more emotive side to his techno, while Robert Hood delivers the goods like only he can. Rodhad’s interpretation takes away some of the original low-end heard in “Perplexed”, resulting in something that’s groovy, but still tough, while noticeable increasing the blue-noted tones of the track. Robert Hood’s love affair with “Dirto II” continues with the Detroit legend joining in on the cold temperaments for a clinical and percussively slicing remix. With rapid fire 12″s like this, it seems trying to match Token’s dominance of club techno at the moment would be a futile act.
Some serious cool and banging techno on this 2nd Head Front Panel release, the new Tabernacle sub label with a focus on Techno. Not the looped kinda thing but proper tracks. Techno as techno once used to be… full of energy, cool sounds, exciting basslines, and no taboo’s (who the F**k gives a shit if the tracks are faster then then 125… techno never had any speed regulations). These tracks makes you wanna go to a party and rave all night long.
Head Front Panel is a new sub-label from Tabernacle Records focusing on techno from anonymous artists in 2014. This first one contains some serious techno bangers.
Some killer techno tracks. two deep tracks with layers of strings, and one fierce 909 driven straight forward cut.
Joe Drive’s music is always an intricate affair, it spirals you down and never lets you go. His freeform composition dwell within the depth of machines. Exposing their buried truth. And so is this EP. A journey into electric catacombs of forgotten impulses where at every corner menacing shadows await you. Spine shivers, ghosts of children or unthinkable creatures? It is all there, and yet you can’t see. To enter Joe Drive’s dreams you need a key, Lux Rec provides it.
With every release Spanish duo Exium do it’s like they grow an extra muscle, and at the moment they’re starting to look like a well conditioned iron man. This split release with fellow booming techno cohort Developer sees the duo, on their side of the EP, deliver a stripped and sinisterly grubby “Diverse Population”, while “Pulstar” sounds like a reserved and dubbed-out Sandwell District production. On the Developer-side the American provides a drivelling up-and-down arpeggio in “Promiscuous”, while there’s only two words that can really explain “Indigenous” properly: Developer techno.
Samuli Kemppi made a 4 tracks EP that clearly show the continuing outbound quality from Children Of Tomorrow. Between Detroit and analog raw techno with his modern touch, Samuli Kemppi proved again his knowledge of making quality Techno.
Argentinian Alexander D’niel delivers the debut release for Nulabel LTD. He starts with “Ellie”, a world of drums, cymbals and synthesizers in a restless and powerful techno´s key. Meanwhile, the Swedish Mattias Fridell´s remix shows us a smart and elegant construction of technoid rhythms performed in a depth and accurate way. “Kingdom” is the second original track of Alexander D’niel, and where he shows his most aggressive side with a wrenching techno as a continuous sound storm. Ungar´s remix respects the original track´s style but it breaks its rhythm giving more depth and versatility to a techno packed of groove.”
The first Answer Code Request EP on Ostgut Ton. Patrick Graeser has already caused a stir with his recent releases for MDR and his own ACR label. His debut 12” for Ostgut Ton begins with ”The 4th Verdict” and immediately shows clear direction.
The Hipodrome Of Music 