techno
Tobias – A Series Of Shocks [OSTGUTLP016]
Second solo album from accomplished Berlin based producer Tobias Freund. Continuing his exploration into ‘non-standard’ electronic music, and expanding on the rich sound palette charted in his first LP, ‘Leaning Over Backwards’, this new chapter presents 10 versatile tracks taking us ever further into the purist, evolving sonic world of Tobias. ‘A Series of Shocks is Tobias’ is an impressive return to longtime home Ostgut Ton. Beginning with the beatless melodic pulse of the Steve Reich-influenced “Entire”, Freund works his way through a range of clandestine techno compositions, touching on claustrophobic acid and intense late night thump (“Testcard”, “Ya Po”), scratchy Chicago jack (“Instant”), deeper moods (“The Scheme of Things”) and, most thrillingly, early ’90s influenced intelligent techno. It’s in these moments – “If” and tactile ambient breaks of “Cursor Item Only” – that A Series of Shocks really flies.
R-Zone – R-Zone 09 [RZONE009]
Just a year after starting and the irrepressible R-Zone series is up to release number 9. Again this time there is no real word on who is behind the music, but again it is fierce, searing techno for darkened dancefloors. The barrelling, stomping ‘Down You Go’ opens this EP with blocky metal beats, spares synth lines which bleed in and out of focus and plenty of rattling percussion. ‘Give Me More’ goes a little slower and deeper, with rubbery kick drums forming the base of the track as molten and melted acid gurgles percolate up through the mix. On the flipside, ‘Too Much TV’ is a more elastic groove that undulates up and down with short little acid stabs buried deep within as the bass drops in and out. Supple and propulsive, it’s arresting stuff that gets completed with final track ‘VHC Beats’. Whichever producers are behind the R-Zone series always manages to come up with the goods, so if you like fizzing, textured techno that pulls no punches, this remains the series for you.
Mick Wills @ These Guys, Trouw (Amsterdam) 14.03.2014
D’Marc Cantu – Long Weekend [MOSDEEP019]
This new EP from D’Marc Cantu, Long Weekend, features three new tracks of fully formed house and techno with more than a touch of acid along the way. The title track opens the EP with a lively house jam that has proud kick drums, plenty of muffled and deeply buried chords and a busy bassline that darts about like a kangaroo on hot rocks. It’s propulsive and emotive as it surges along, taking you with it every step of the way. Next up, ‘1Lb Of Flesh’ is a much more jagged and serrated track, mainly because of the manic acid squiggle that runs right through the heart of the slapping snares and icy cold hi hats. Full throttle and as ever delightfully frayed and analogue sounding, it’s a real face melter. Last but by no means least, ‘Acid Test’ is the quickest of the lot, coming over like a slick, powerful fusion of electro and techno that whips and snaps as Dance Mania style snares flap about above a grilling bassline and acid wiggles in and out. It’s a busy, fulsome track but never feels cluttered and rounds out another exceptional EP from both MOS and main man D’Marc Cantu.
Hissman – The Ultimate Degradation EP [HM001]
Hardmoon London is a new independent platform solely focused to release music by the analog militants who are struggling against the loudness war of digital industry and want to spread the love of that warm, distorted sound exclusively through vinyl or special tapes. The first release comes by way of courtesy from the mysterious Hissman who captures, with his name, the vey essense of the tape’s sound: Hissssss… that’s the sound you hear when a tape starts rolling.
G. Marcell – The Coming (Future) [SYNAPSIS011]
Steve Parker – Sugar High EP [OVM240]
Ovum Recordings are taking you back to the darker side of techno with Sugar High EP from Steve Parker. His deep and hypnotic sound, combining groove-heavy rhythms with a minimal-tech production style, sees Steve able to move effortlessly from sultry warm basement sounds to full on vicious arena moments.
Anomaly – Red Clouds [SPM021]
Fred P is never short of ways to get deep, but here he’s kicking off a new alias for a slight twist on how he approaches his signature plush chords and hypnotic constructions. Anomaly did previously appear on a Soul People compilation with “Above Below”, which appears here as the B2 and represents everything you can love about classic Fred P with its soaring pads and dreamlike finish. Elsewhere there are more rough edges to be found, as on the more abstract roll of “Tunnel Vision” and the moody grind of “Dark Room” with its spooked out synth strafes and poised sound design.
VA – Tape Sampler Series 02 [TSS002]
2nd installement in the Tape Sampler Series. Again only local artists: Berend & Jeroen, Interstellar Funk, Mark Du Mosch and Deniro.
VA – Epheremal Nature [SEQ010]
For the 10th release Sequencias presents a various artists release with works by Metropolis , Shawn O’Sullivan, Echo 106.
Eduardo De La Calle – Somebody Has To Lose [RPA001]
Red Point Alert with a new Eduardo De La Calle release. A Dark and minimalist trip , marked by its atmosphere and intensity. Fine advanced techno by this prolific Spanish producer.
Aubrey – Floating Point 7 [FER302]
New Aubrey release on the long going Ferox label. Following up his earlier Ferox releases he drops two sweet cuts on this techno jazz fuelled 4 -tracker. Label head honcho Russ Gabriel, Hans Thalau come with the remixes.
A Sagittariun – The Jupiter Chronicles EP [EDREAMS009]
Having established a particular style of house music with a series of releases on his own Elastic Dreams label, A Sagittariun. the supposed Bristol elder turned in one of last year’s finer debut long players in the shape of Dream Ritual. His first release since then is The Jupiter Chronicles EP, a four track 12″ of diverse productions that will please A Sagittariun fans no end. Lead track “Wave Upon Wave” is a fairly well titled exercise in unrelenting breakbeats and rolling Roland 303-esque riffs, and the shifts upwards as the EP progresses. There’s an undeniably subtle euphoria to “Re-Ignition” whilst wonderful chaos seems to grip A Sagittariun with the two B Side cuts, where the freneticism of “Ascella” is well complemented by the rugged yet playful “And The Moon Be Still As Bright”.
Inhalants – Inhalants [LIES042]
Inhalants is a duo comprising of Jahiliyya Fields & Patricia….ooh and it’s killer combination.
Lumigraph / D.K. – Skull Bone [FRQ001]
Odd Frequencies is a brand new label coming straight from Paris. This split EP brings two young producers together (irish Lumigraph and parisian D.K.) and is the first of a series of releases confronting a local French producer to an international artist. 1 track on each side, 2 mutant bombs pushing the drum machines to their limits.
Frak – Ultrasaw [BORFT115]
This 12″ contains some true oddities. Frak is not known for doing remixes but here is one of the few that exists. A nice acid remix of Dave ID – Soul reprise. Also they did a special track to finish off the 2013 tours and here’s the splendid studio version of … phase.
VA – Uncanny Valley 20 [UVCD020]
It’s time to celebrate! At catalogue number 20 Uncanny Valley extends its compilation-concept to 12 tracks spread over three records (or as a bundle if you prefer digital). The tracks will also be released as a CD compilation. With new music by label-regulars like Jacob Korn, Cuthead and Credit 00, friends like RVDS & K’Alexi or Filburt and fresh talents like Goetterkreis & Steve Kasper it is an exciting ride along the winding roads through the Uncanny Valley. The three records are visually linked with distinctive artwork by the ever-reliable Paul Waak.
VA – Frigio All Stars Vol. 1 [FRV014]
Frigio Records is packing a bag and setting off on a global electronic music trip for this new series ‘All Stars Vol.1’ First stop: Great Britain. Isle of Wight denizen I-Land Beat returns to Frigio following his excellent Cybernautics EP. The South of England artist doesn’t take any prisoners, dishing up a churning pot of atomic House. Stabbing synthlines call up memories of Altern-8 as chords rampage alongside samples and chopped beats for an especially spicy starter. Next, Korea. Pera Yang is a young exciting producer with a raucous message. From his digital album, TCNO1 , ‘Automagical’ is chosen for some special vinyl attention. The track is a raging piece of industrially warped Techno. Pulsating beats jostle against one another before Yang sends all through the shredder. Honored Matres is the blackened acid moniker of Croatian artist Le Chocolat Noir aka Jasmin Yas (the man behind Disco Panonia.) 303 venom drips from beginning to end as claps, cymbals and snares dissect looping vocals for a dark and disturbing floor destroyer. For the finale Frigio returns home, Spain’s Vagon Brei, aka Victor Ramos, delivering ‘80861M.’ The Spaniard is best known for his dreaming Ambient soundscapes on labels like Strange Life and Further Records, but here he is in playful humour. Warbling acid chords thrill, bending under skillfully programmed beat patterns for an intoxicating close.
Trenton Chase – The Vampire Of Sacramento EP [JUNE004]
For its fourth release June Records presents London based Trenton Chase’s debut E.P. The Vampire Of Sacramento ep consists of furious acid warehouse tracks, which were sequenced and recorded live on the MPC. Chaos comes to an end with the illusory closer, P.I.S.C.A
The Hipodrome Of Music 