techno
VA – Spirits of The Black Lodge Vol. 4 [BL006]
The fourth collection of cuts from Various Artists of The Black Lodge multiverse. The first sound offering on side A comes from The Poetic Painter M of Nation Records. A2 comes from Chilean born sonic explorer Pablo R. Ruiz, who resides in the sacred lands of Detroit and has a number of releases on Portage Garage Sounds. The flip side begins with an acidic banger from Midwest producer/ engineer Grey People who has numerous releases on great labels such as Frigio Records, Valcrond Video, Public System Recordings, and others. B2 is an experimental mind-bender from Bay City, Michigan artist Fashion Flesh aka John Talaga, a true gear head who makes his own electronic equipment, oscillators, generators, sound toys, and modulators and has released on cult labels such as Unknown Precept and Fit Sound (Est. 83’Records), among others. The EP ends with a beautiful piece defying genres from Fauna53, a collective of electronic artists from Italy, headed by Asymmetrical who runs Raw Culture Records.
E.L.I. – Violence is Bliss EP [MRT011]
E.L.I. lands on MRT shores and pollutes them with all sort of filth. The label second last instalment takes us to Britain and it is one of the most aggressive so far. The distorted screams, the ultra darkness, the violent atmosphere it creates is tinted in black and white by the stroboscopic lights of underground clubs. A perfect mixture of relentless basslines and straightforward rhythmic patterns for the dancers with no cause, with no hope for tomorrow. Places made famous by death and disaster.
Drexciya – Hydro Doorways [TRESOR137X]
Tresor Records announce forthcoming special editions of its entire catalogue of Drexciya and related projects. 2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the passing of James Stinson and the releases of the Transllusion and Shifted Phases albums. In recognition, the rightsholders, their families, and the label have commissioned Detroit-based contemporary artist Matthew Angelo Harrison to re-conceptualize the covers of Tresor’s Drexciya-related catalogue. After the album release of ‘Neptune’s Lair’ in September, its companion 12″ ‘Hydro Doorways’ will be second in the series.
2030 – Future Feelings EP [CRF015]
Full of electro bleeps, acid vibes and lovely breaks, 2030 aka Nico Campanella reveals a very exciting, terrific 4-track electro-oriented release and teams up with talented Versalife for a huge remix of ‘Maze’.
RoboDroid – From The Future EP [LDI008]
The year is 2050, humanity is collapsing and overrun by an anonymous entity, known as the Robodroid. The mission of the Robodroid is to end civilization as we know it. After their successful collaboration debut “The Darkness Is Coming” on Crobot Records, Robodroid is back once again with a new release. Now the Robodroid has traveled back through time to reprogram the future. The EP includes four dark and aggressive electro originals and two remixes by none other than Maelstrom and Dexorcist. Robodroid is a futuristic electro project ran by Przemek Kuduk (Robodrum) and Ben Evans (The Droid).
Ten Lardell – Anterspace 01 [ANTERSPACE01]
Hard driving Electro Acid Techno with a big nod to the heydays of 90’s techno by Ten Lardell.
audt98 – Ionic Bonds EP [DATO10]
Amersfoort based electro youngster audt98 makes his debut on Discos Atónicos with his EP ‘Ionic Bonds’. Three banging electro tracks that are gritty, hypnotic and dance floor ready in which he beautifully translates the ways of nature into music. Topping it off with a remix from electro veteran Fastgraph this is bound to be a ride.
Yen Sung & Photonz – A Temperanca EP [PARAISO009]
Lisbon’s purveyor of dance incantations Paraiso are back with an EP that packs a meeting of 3 legends of the local and global underground – a trio of fearless pioneers and cultural agitators from different eras. Yen Sung and Photonz have partnered up in 2020 to collaborate on new music and start a record label. Fast forward to today and this Paraiso EP is their third release, further exploring their mutual penchant for ethereal house music drenched in subtle but fiery grooves and acid basslines. Angolan-Portuguese producer DJ Satelite steps in for remix duties, adding his iconic deep afro house edge to a wonderful effect, all blissful motifs and broken percussive sonics.
Sterac @ Dekmantel Festival 2022
Interstellar Funk @ Dekmantel Festival 2022
Terrence Dixon & Jordan GCZ – Keep In Mind I’m Out Of My Mind [RHM038]
Double LP documenting a realtime collaboration between Terrence Dixon (Metroplex/Tresor/Rush Hour) and Jordan GCZ (Off Minor/Minimal Detroit/Rush Hour). In September 2019, Motor City techno legend Terrence Dixon made a rare trip to Europe. He was introduced to Jordan Czamanski AKA Jordan GCZ. The pair hit it off immediately, so Czamanski powered up his studio and the pair began to jam. Over the following five days, the pair improvised extensively, stopping only periodically to drink coffee and discuss music, life and much more besides. While in the studio, they barely uttered a word to each other, instead responding almost psychically to the rhythms, grooves, riffs and musical motifs the other was spinning into the mix. The results of these surprisingly magical 2019 studio sessions are showcased on “Keep In Mind, I’m Out of My Mind”.
VA – Nowhere 02 [NOWHERE002]
The second chapter of the Nowhere Series brings four forgotten dance floor bangers. First up is a dark and twisted acid track “Flashback” by Laurent Garnier, from 1997. “It Talks To Me” is proper Detroit techno, with it’s abstract stabs and moody strings, by Donnell Knox and released in 1995. On the flip are two forgotten gems. “Inferno” came out in 1993, a full on acid affair, with a massive break made by Dutchies Eric de Man, Frederick Borgesius, Heiko van Eindhoven, Kamil van der Wal and Saul Poolman. “Solartrek” by Roland Klinkenberg is closing the release. This track was picked up by I-F in 1995 for his Top Secret label.
Böhm – Solar Cycle EP [DOLLY36]
Böhm delivers pure dance floor action on Dolly with this solid 3 tracker. “Solar Cycle” is serious UK rave, deep bleep and slamming breakbeat dance floor madness.
The AM – Sexworker EP [DPTX031]
Empathy is the codeword when it comes to The AM’s second solo EP: The ‘Sexworker’ EP. Sat in a not-so distant neon tomorrow, downtown Detroit, this is the vivid concept and narrative conjured by Detroit native, violinist-turned-techno artist Ann-Marie Teasley. ‘Sexworker’ is another revelation from the agenda-setting artist who’s crafted a completely immersive narrative that ranges from the playful electro beats of ‘Intercosmic Lap Dance’ to the runaway juggernaut ‘Black Galaxy’ (a collaboration with Scan 7’s Track Masta Lou). Each track adding layers of tension and intrigue, cutting through the late night sleaze and exploitation with raw machine soul.
Alden Tyrell – MicroComposer [C#DUB047]
Alden Tyrell dusts of the Roland MC202 MicroComposer for a 6 track EP based around just the one synth. Easily floating between techno, electro, IDM and ambient this collection shows the versatility of the machine and the producer.
Levon Vincent – Niresa [NS-39]
Levon Vincent creates his own tonality using his original pitch designs to take the listener to a place that did not yet exist, whilst maintaining priority dance floor focus. The Niresa tracks are using such unique musical intervals that every listener can decide where the music is taking them, and there is no wrong answer. Levon says, ”These are tracks for astral planing. The beauty of creating your own tonal dialog each time you work is that you can literally take the listener somewhere new and un-discovered with each new release.”
Galaxian – Libertine 20 [LIB20]
”Pacifying The Population” thrusts us into a world where the dominator culture acts like a ruthless drug cartel, us it’s compliant consumers. The highly-charged ten tracker LP evokes a narcotic frenzy like atmosphere that surges into the consciousness and pulses through the body like a craved hit. Once again Mark Kastner propels us through a unique musical landscape at the very edge of the sonic territories. The dominator culture enforces what is moral, ethical, worthy or valid, selling lifestyles, enforcing rituals, “pushing” values, incentivizing the pathological, imposing our needs and beliefs. Increasingly displaying hallmarks of a cruel drug cartel /drug addict, dependency dynamic. The population hooked and enslaved to it’s destructive needs.
Mike Tansella Jr. B2B Elena Sizova @ Sons Of Traders Release Showcase (Tbilisi) 10.09.2022
Tunik – 777 EP [FE076]
Furthur Electronix presents some fresh dance floor bombs from one of the most talented and uprising artists in the Barcelona Underground scene. Tunik, an Argentinian artist based in Barcelona, is still a relative newcomer, but his sound is well developed and shows rich inventions as this new mix of electro and techno proves. ’16Bits Underwater’ opens with crisp, snappy beats and coruscated acid lines, ‘Untitled Break 3 (Bleepy mix)’ has an old school feeling ‘Elektro 02’ is a dark and brain frying workout with superb drum programming before the closer wallows in a more introspective mood.
