New release by Brommage Dub on a fresh new label created by Jean-Louis Huhta. Brommage Dub is one of Sweden’s most creative exports. Consisting of two veteran producers, Jesper Dahlbäck and Jean-Louis Huhta, Brommage Dub journeys deep into uncharted dubbed out techno territory that is both powerful and meditative.
ESHU Records returns with a 4 track EP that shows the many sides of the techno spectrum ESHU Records admires. An excellent selection with tracks from Mattias Fridell, Tomas Rubeck, Myles Sergé and Imugem Orihasam. Smoking techno tracks with influences from Detroit techno, dubby Berlin sounds and more straight forward club bangers.
Bristol’s Elastic Dreams present its third release introducing Sheffield based DJ / producer, Nyra. “Uno 10” is raw basement techno, shuffling along at a frantic rate and devilish energy. The thunderously low kick drum should bounce around most rave dungeons like a cannonball and the repeating synth shards and sizzling percussion keep you locked right down. Skudge provided a remix for this. Finally Nyra gets back on the controls for “So So Such” which is minimalist k-techno. Stripped back and rattling, with tight wood blocks and a nuclear throb resonating from within. This is a really strong, totally head-turning track for the very late hours and sure to get lots of kids scratching the heads and stumbling up to the decks salivating at the chops.
October’s new EP for Skudge is one for the warehouse: both in nostalgic and progressive terms, October seem to have recorded the timelessness and his soul into the forth installment of Skudge Presents. ‘Push’ accelerates and keeps on going until it ends, where a lot of weight is put on keeping the groove. Sparse vocal repetition, used perfectly as a glue for the beat, brings a lot of promise and delivers—this is one for those hours where everything comes together. A more personal track sees the light on the B side, where ‘Empire of Man’ is even more of a journey. Where a lot of music seem to focus on function, this track combines both function and style into perfection.
Bill Youngman has become one of the most important parts of the Killekill family. This record displays his wide range of interests: from dark techno in Shadent he crosses over to drone monster alert in Wespe to his very own style of melodic electro in Centrumcircuit.
For the 10th release, Taberbacle Records Trackmasta Lou of Scan 7 delivers a warm, uplifting house track straight from the hood of Detroit. In contrast the b-side features two spanking remixes from Tabernacle cohorts John Heckle and The Analogue Cops.
Szare is well known for his releases on Horizontal Ground and Syndrome Z. Now he is back on Krill Music with another high quality deep and jacking UKG steppers 4 tracker.
Justin Berkovi normally should not need an introduction, being involved in multiple techno-projects in the past, and still standing strong nowadays. His track ‘Old Timer’ reflects his musical personality and history and is being reinterpreted by another techno-historian, Aubrey. On the b-side newcomers Jack Dixon and Henning Baer make their introduction on Other Heights with two total different interpretations which are to become oldtimers themselves.
Dominick Fernow might be best known for his industrial incantations under the Prurient moniker, but in recent months his attention has shifted towards a different outlet. Fernow’s interest in electronic music (from the clamorous grind of Muslimgauze to the recently defunct Sandwell District imprint) has been well documented, and it comes to a frothy head with his Vatican Shadow project. Revolving around themes gleaned from Iraq war propaganda and yellowing stacks of newspaper clippings, the tracks on ‘Kneel Before Religious Icons’ are a perfect representation of Fernow’s modus operandi. Behind a wall of tape hiss, drum machine rhythms beat out memories of early Ministry and AFX while sickly FM synthesizer pads crawl and heave into the abyss. Like much of Fernow’s output prior to this, the emphasis is on society’s darker crevices, but Vatican Shadow is steeped in an alarming mystery and sulfuric smoke that is sure to surprise recent converts.
Blackest Ever Black presents a much needed vinyl pressing of two tracks from Vatican Shadow’s debut cassette release, backed with Regis remix. For anyone familiar with the original 2010 tape or mp3 release, we should say this record sounds radically different, thanks in no small part to a pedigree mastering to vinyl by Matt Colton at London’s Air facilities. The haunting synth washes, grinding bass distortion and chopper blades of ‘Cairo Sword Unsheathed’, and the subharmonic bass of ‘Gunmen With Silencer’ are illuminated with a cold hard light, while their physical shape feels viscerally intimated. Regis transforms ‘Church Of All Images’ from Vatican Shadow’s ‘Kneel Before Religious Icons’ LP, adding another vividly compelling episode to his important cache.
Initials imprint delivers its second release this spring, Jay Blissʼ ʻThe Art of Doing Nothingʼ backed with a remix from Petre Inspirescu. In both original tracks Jay Bliss relies on little else than careful manipulation of structure and sound to create captivating fare. Lead track ʻDoing Nothingʼ revolves around a lumpy, satisfying groove and a three note hit while Jay Bliss teases out every detail to just before breaking point while ʻXʼ takes a deeper, more immersive route. Petre Inspirescu delivers a typically dense, rhythmic interpretation of ʻXʼ which clocks in at just over 14 minutes and rallies around padding kicks, sonic oddities and a ever-evolving percussion. Incredibly bass heavy, itʼs a version that gives an intense, sub-aquatic view of the original.
Another entry into the Lonesome Hero roster, Ed Shepherd. Having hoarded an arsenal of hardware goodies, Shepherd employs his passion for all things analog into a beast of a 3-track EP. ‘Remedy’ grabs 90s acid house by the shirt collar and shoves it into the modern vinyl scene with a heady LFO drone that just won’t quit. Changing direction, ‘Britta’ epitomizes the fleshed-out inner romanticism Shepherd continually uncovers throughout his ever-evolving studio process. And then ‘Beaker’, an homage to Techno’s sequenced-and-squelchy Dan Bell era.
First part of a trilogy, Unforeseen Alliances is a meeting of the French artist Voiski aka Kartei and the duo Deception Plan, Doryan Javan based in Paris and R. Hernandez (Historia and Violencia, Droid Behaviour) based in Los Angeles. The techno in its purest expression.
Following on from last year’s Mini LP comes another reflective and resonant record from Lost Trax and The Connection Machine.
Vinalog again with four darker 90′s detroit raw and funky house tracks recorded Live for Relative.Pure raw analogue vinyl power.
Brooks Mosher’s return on Dolly with three hot new tracks, with his trademark analog synths and catchy hooks all present, effectively shape-shifting between moody Detroit / classic Chicago house and just plain & uplifting comtemporary underground club music.
Next FXHE Records 12″ with contributions from Omar-S and a massive techno track by Patrik Sieren.
