Marcel Fengler – Frantic EP [OSTGUTTO060]

Marcel Fengler returns with a solo EP for Ostgut Ton. Consistently providing quality over quantity this long awaited new 12“ surprises yet again as Fengler develops his funkier side further for the label. The A-side track „Frantic“ then immediately brings the essence of peaktime energy to the point. Bathing in melodic synth stabs, it mixes with wide open fields of euphoria. Instantly moving and memorable, it’s a track that crosses borders and unites different territories of techno and house. „6 In A Row“, the first track on the B-Side, tries to deceive with a simple & mellow arrangement but soon enough grabs the listener from behind with it’s cleverly built architechture that mounts with subtle waves to an addictive groove, a lesson in how to use a less-is-more approach to maximum effect. As if this wasn’t convincing enough the Berghain Resident now ventures further into spaced out dub structures & melodies and immerses the listener into sheer silk with the smooth „Mosaique“, a side of Marcel that he has only hinted at before but a pleasure to hear it fully realized on this track.

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Marcel Fengler – Frantic EP [OSTGUTTO060]

Abdulla Rashim – Endasilasie [ARR003]

Abstract deep pulsating and hypnotizing Nordic techno from Abdulla Rashim. Slowly building and well executed tracks that stand out. We can make some sonic links to groundbreaking labels such as Detroits Strobe label, dark and acid driven introvert techno tracks.

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Abdulla Rashim – Endasilasie [ARR003]

Reeko – Ella Episodio 3 [MD016]

Juan Rico aka Reeko presents the Episodio III of Ella. Featuring two tracks “Segmento 5” and “Segmento 6” and this EP is on the dub side of techno. In terms of his quality and skill, these tracks show that he must be brimming with ideas.

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Reeko – Ella Episodio 3 [MD016]

Hieroglypic Being – The Lost Transmissions [DOSER014]

Jamal Moss is back on Morphine, although you wouldn’t think it by the sounds of these tracks. Both tracks clock in around the 13 minute mark and totally go there. Clued up sickness again on this excellent label.

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Hieroglypic Being – The Lost Transmissions [DOSER014]

Amir Alexander / Hakim Murphy – Finale Sessions #10 [FS010]

Finale Sessions presents two of Chicago’s finest producers. Amir Alexander is making a big stir in the deep house department, known for releases on his label Vanguard Sound, and brings his vibe to Finale Sessions. ”Eyes Open Mouth Shut” has deep pads and his prototype bass lines makes for a dance-floor killer. ”Bittersweet Memories” has a streamlined bass, drifting pads and flowing synth work makes for a collectve bliss. Hakim Murphy is part of the next generation Chicago heavy hitters and he brings us two tracks that are sure to open many people’ s eyes. ”Hazey Plains In Time” with a deep techno undertone and deep house appeal most def a late night killer. ”Chill” is a chill track to level off the EP with deep chords and a perfect selection of keys.

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Amir Alexander / Hakim Murphy – Finale Sessions #10 [FS010]

Hakim Murphy – Wet Analog EP [EPISODES002]

Following up on his guest appearance remixing “Subsequent” on EPISODES01, Hakim Murphy resurfaces from the abyss exploring a sub-aquatic palette of sounds for EPISODES02. This 4-track EP strips back his sound further while stepping up the funk. Limited to 200 copies, including numbered insert.

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Hakim Murphy – Wet Analog EP [EPISODES002]

Steffi – Schraper [OTON058]

Cover art - Steffi: Schraper

Steffi returns with a 12” for Ostgut Ton and shows a much tougher side to her ever-evolving sound. Steffi proves that there is much more to come from her as she produces a fine heartfelt techno sound for this EP, reminiscent of the favorites from not forgotten Warehouse parties where techno and house met on one united floor. On the A-Side “Schraper” combines a clean beat structure and scraping percussion with an epic synth arrangement to hypnotic effect with energy levels cranked right up. The string version of the B-side track “Tank” creates a mellower mood with a deeper bass and subtle bells added for a joyous ride, rounded off with bouncing metallic hi-hats. The beat version of the same track builds with fewer elements, a pumping tool to heat any dancefloor up to boiling point.

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Steffi – Schraper [OTON058]

Third Side – Unified Fields [RSTLP001]

THIRD SIDE - Unified Fields

The hardware radicalists, that are The Analogue Cops aka Lucretion & Marieu and Steffi,  present their unification in the studio as Third Side as an LP including the best productions of the past year and this latest LP serves as both a proclamation of their shared love for the analogue sound and as a breath of fresh air for techno. ‘The Absolute’ kicks things off with rippling snare drums, a warm bass line and a sweet cocktail of atmospherics and effects. Restoration friend, nd_baumecker joins the team on ‘Jackie’, where a chopped up vocal is carried backwards and forwards by an edgy drum machine workout. ‘The Base Of All Matters’ is a progressive, heads-down beat filled with crispy snares and disjointed chords, but the trio really get going on ‘Gauge Fields’ – where a frenetic mixture of synth stabs and effects is swallowed by a montrous, syncopating bass line. Side C begins with ‘Unity’, a powerful techno tool which has recently been remixed by Steffi herself, Blawan and the mysterious Nightjars. ‘Subsequent Stages’ enters lighter house territories but still retains that signature Third Side rawness and minimalism. On the flipside, ‘Fundamental Forces’ introduces a heavy, bumping beat floating over a sea of euphoric voices and distant melodies. Finally, the amptly names ‘Shit On Me’ featuring Virginia (the talented singer and songwriter responsible for the astonishing vocals tracks ‘on the rousing hit Yours’, and on the touching ‘You Own My Mind’, both released on Berlin’s Ostgut Ton in Feb 2011) closes things off with a nasty, twisted percussion which evolves into a more experimental, bass-fuelled anthem for the small hours. Real techno excursions for the coinnasseurs.

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Third Side – Unified Fields [RSTLP001]

Paul Mac – Hotel Insomnia EP [EPM019]

https://i0.wp.com/imagescdn.juno.co.uk/300/CS469962-01A-MED.jpg

Paul Mac is one of the UK’s real techno veterans, a producer with a sizeable back catalogue spanning a variety of sounds. For this EP, a taster for an album of the same name, he focuses on deep, Detroit techno, but with a twist. The title track is a driving affair, but Mac lends it a musical sound with evocative, breezy chords combined with dramatic string stabs. “Undoubted” sees him go down a more tracky route and its heads-down groove veers close to militaristic, but he keeps it on the right side thank to the clanging drums and crashing percussion. Marcel Fengler also contributes an excellent, wobbly bass-led version of “Insomnia”.

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Paul Mac – Hotel Insomnia EP [EPM019]

Myriadd – The Way We Were [SIG.MMXII.VII]

Two stunning slices of mercurial and heartfelt British Techno from two outstanding northern producers that cuts across the M62 corridor like a night drive into oblivion. A 10” black hit of space, lovingly designed for the dark, sweaty basements of provincial, post-industrial towns and the cold light of day in the car park of Knutsford Services.

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Myriadd – The Way We Were [SIG.MMXII.VII]

Factory Floor – Two Different Ways (Remixes) [DFA2341]

Factory Floor offer up a substantial distraction while the band put the finishing touches on their debut album, due out on DFA Records in early 2013. Their last single “Two Different Ways” is remixed by two different electronic music leaders. Richard H Kirk, co-founder of both Cabaret Voltaire and Sweet Exorcist, puts his own warped spin on the single, while Perc aka Ali Wells, takes the original and piles on his signature throbbing bass for the main remix. Perc also offers up a ‘Noisy Mix’ taking avant waves of feedback and noise and shaping into something unexpectedly beautiful.

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Factory Floor – Two Different Ways (Remixes) [DFA2341]

Robert Hood – Motor: Nighttime World 3 [MMLP038]

After the legendary “Nighttime World Volume 1” and “Nighttime World Volume 2”, Robert Hood returns with the long awaited “Motor: Nighttime World 3” on Music Man. With this, Robert Hood returns to the project he first started on Austria’s Cheap label back in 1995 and subsequently continued in 2000 on M-Plant. Fusing his trademark minimal techno into jazz inspired moods and inflections, Hood emerges from the smoke-lit shadows of a downbeat, but not beaten, Motor City metropolis. Inspired by Julien Temple’s documentary ‘Requiem For Detroit?’ Robert Hood examines the life, history and future of Detroit’s motor industry and its workforce, set against a backdrop of decay, despair, hope and re-birth.

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Robert Hood – Motor: Nighttime World 3 [MMLP038]

Inigo Kennedy – Spectre / Wonderhorse [TOKEN024]

Token sticks to its guns: Inigo Kennedy delivers a big new 12inch with a double a-side. ‘Spectre’ hits hard yet gloomy. Relentless drums bathing in reverb and a strange synth line create yet another unique IK-piece. ‘Wonderhorse’ is built on the same foundations but explores a more melodic & psychedelic trajectory.

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Inigo Kennedy – Spectre / Wonderhorse [TOKEN024]