Borrowed Language returns with their third installment by Jeff Pietro. While some influences are clearly detectable, this is not just cannon fodder; there’s enough attention to detail and panache on display here to distinguish Pietro’s take on Techno/Bass music from his peers. The results are polished, but not without sharp edges; brutal, but elegant, functional, but not faceless.
Inner Surface Music presents their second release featuring three tracks by Manchester techno duo AnD.
Paul Bennett returns with his label paying hommage to the classics. Immaculately programmed Maydayesque drum machines, emotive & expansive pitch bent synths, thundering low frequencies and clanks galore. This is a supercharged rewiring of the Detroit blueprint in three startlingly well executed flavours.
Claude Young teams up with his Takasi Nakajima to deliver the next EP on ART. Cool no-nonsense but thoughtful future-tech, with plenty of analog modulations for the heads – and dance-floor thump for the party people. On the flip, the legendary Ian O’Brien delivers a typically deep, Detroit tinged remix with trademark warm bass and glistening top lines. On the digital release two other remixes from label owner Kirk Degiorgio and TJ Korg.
The Spanish duo Exium returns to Pole headquarters with “Complex” EP. With this new release they give their style a new twist by making the synths the starring element of “Complex”, a melodic techno number, full of harmonies, portamento leads and pulsating beats. Detroit’s own legendary Dj Rolando reworks the original version in a more percussive style, but preserving the melodies and leads. A sure floor smasher. ”The Quiet Man” closes this release by returning to the classic Exium sound: hard drums, sharp hatzs and dense atmospheres, for the darkest fans of pure techno grooves.
Electric Deluxe presets an EP coming from a new and mysterious project called Back Pack Poets.
Great techno on the Frozen Border label with three solid subtle atmospheric & swinging tracks.
More uncompromising techno sounds from Russia as Unbalance starts his newly minted label of the same name with this triple header arriving on strictly limited, hand stamped clear vinyl. “Rhythm Slave” sets the tone, wasting little time settling into a heavily pressurised groove of throbbing acid oscillations and glowering bass movements, shards of percussion bouncing off in rhythmic fashion. The screw is tightened to breaking point, at which Unbalance drops some pneumatic hi-hats. Coincidentally, the track adopts a druggy, knackered sound akin to Andy Stott when played at the wrong speed. Turn over for the sci fi freakery of “Deep Journey” which eschews the locked groove dynamism of the A Side for a descent into a thick soup of growling mechanical textures. “Meteor” operates somewhere between the previous two productions, as skipping syncopation drives through the desolate industrial soundscape.
Machining Dreams no. 6 is materializing from Amir Alexander, who presents a deep project called Interdimensional Transit EP. Moving through the worm hole, a track materializes at each stop offering emotive tunes that pull at your senses. Alexander shows off his skills as you travel into four different universes encompassed within four House yet Techno musical adventures.
The sampler of the upcoming Amsterdam All Stars compilation, a release that catches the current spirit of house music from Amsterdam. This 12″ features an exclusive track from Young Marco (it will not be on the LP format) and a track from Juju & Jordash.
KILLEKILL’s next release comes from Snuff Crew, featuring two tracks. ‘Domo’ a proper acid monster and ‘Eat This’ a raw chicago jack track, that is working its way with nothing but a few drum tracks and a vocal sample and is pure raw sexual energy.
