techno
PRZ – Blue Box [CHR001]
Emerging From the notorious H-town, PRZ & RAPHA open the gates of their own ‘Chateau Royal’ Imprint. First up is PRZ, with Blue Box EP. A strong 6-tracker laying out his powerful and deep electro-ish sounds Including a special collaboration with Gal Juju (Juju & Jordash) plus a remix by UK legend Timothy J. FairPlay.
VA – Djax-Re-Up Vol. 1 [DKMNTL063-1]
Dekmantel announce the re-issue of some of the most era-defining trans-Atlantic, techno cuts from the early nineties, thanks to cult label Djax-Up-Beats. The Dutch label was responsible for releasing some of underground’s most archetypal underground dance music, mixing together Chicago and European artists alike, and acting as the launch pad for some of today’s biggest producers. This timeless music is being re-issued on vinyl for the very first time. Founded in Eindhoven at the turn of the 90s, Djax-Up-Beats quickly earned an international reputation for being a reputable source of Chicago house, acid techno, and floor-filling, heavy hitting straight up, underground 12”s. This first re-issue volume sublimely blends esoteric, ambient sounds, with staunchly fierce, and energetic electronic rhythms. Throughout the eight-tracks you can hear the sounds of sequencers, drum machines, and motor-city basslines. It defined the beginning of an era that never went away. Whether you’re a collector, or DJ looking to add to the your left field techno collection, the re-issue of Djax-Up-Beats best records is not one to pass up.
Matt Whitehead & No Data Available present Manor House Boys – Temple Of Set EP [SRTX025]
For this outing on Super Rhythm Trax, Matt Whitehead is joined by No Data Available to come with something super special. ‘Sahara’ and ‘Temple Of Set’ conjure strong images that match their respective titles with the mood alternating between majestic and mystical. These two tracks are sandwiched by the hypnotic and acidic tendencies of ‘Full Resonance’ and ‘Panic In Flat 13’.
ASOK – Better Deat Than Alien [MOS025]
M>O>S Recordings kick off 2019 with a new EP from the Liverpool artist ASOK. With one foot on the dance floor and a mind lost somewhere in the cosmos, ASOK again combines breakbeats, astral synth work and prickly percussion into fresh new forms here. The title track is a twitchy and futuristic bit of house with glistening and distorted textures, Find A Way has a rubbery bassline and old school rave breaks, and Many Locations is a bumping bit of deep Detroit house with a real sense of serenity. Closer Baal ends in the heavens, with celestial ambiance, spinning hi hats and broken beats all sounding delicate yet dynamic as rasping bass ties everything together. This is another timeless and adventurous EP from ASOK.
Dmitry Distant – Machines Are Playing Us [TAT023]
Franck Sarrio – Army Of Robots EP [RM004]
After a musical break of ten years, Franck Sarrio celebrates his great return on Radio Mars with four original tracks half way between Electro and Techno genres. For his new EP on French label the Clermont-Ferrand based artist delivers a funky and cosmic trip of his typical trademark, alternating between cerebral and epic dance floor cuts of pure anthology.
Dez Williams – Running Circles [DATO04]
Electro master Dez Williams joins the Discos Atónicos camp for the label’s 4th installment and delivers 5 dystopian cuts infused with his signature sound – crunchy bass lines, spaced out drama, alien funk and a touch of acid. Strongly recommended! Hailing from the north of England, he is no stranger to the global electronic music scene yet prefers to stick to the underground and stay true to his own artistic and creative spirit.
Anopolis – Dimadou [APR01]
The third release in the Anopolis trilogy coincides with the founding of Anopolis Records. Like the previous two EPs, Dimadou takes reference points from the sound of the 90s and avoids getting bogged down with track titles. The first track, A19 is noticeably influenced by the Sheffield scene and Rising High records. The EP continues with the heavy bass line and the TR-707 drums of A18, a strong nod to the Chicago sound. On the B side, drum machines dominate in A21 and A20 with their piercing sound hinting towards the style of Ron Hardy. Rounding off the EP is the atmospheric A17 and its warm, hazy pads. This final part of the trilogy is simultaneously the beginning for further releases through the project s new imprint Anopolis Records.
Intimacy – Earth Sciences EP [AAL009]
Lovely lush emotive dance tracks full of cosmic vibes. Intimacy drags you from one musical dimension to another. His outerworld soundscapes and propelling drum rhythms make you doubt whether or not you’re still on earth.
Exzakt – EPM Podcast #113
Mr. Blatman – Space Cowboy EP [LOP06]
Tzusing – A Name Out Of Place Collected [LIES115]
Triple 12″ retrospective compilation of Tzusing’s first three now out of print EPs on L.I.E.S. spanning 2014-2016. These were the precursor to his celebrated debut LP – they’ve now re-cut and pressed in the United States. Available in limited quantities featuring classics 4 Floors of Whores, 1976, and Face of Electric, among others. Modern “World Industrial” music for the clubs.
SC-164 – Transmitter Park [SUBAPICAL04]
Greg Schappert returns to Subapical for another EP as SC-164. Best known for his Donor alias, his SC-164 project is making waves by skewing the boundaries of electro and veering into techno and industrial. For his 2nd release on Subapical the New York-based artist offers up 5 tracks of precise, gnarly electro that follows a trail through many curves and turns.
Random XS – Give Your Body [DSR/X15]
Delsin turns to this classic from 1992 EP by Random XS. Originally released by Saskia Sleger’s legendary Djax-Up Beats-label. This re-release features the original a-side – a hypnotic vocal acid anthem that has become an absolute classic of the genre – remastered and re-cut, meaning that the infamous gap in the original is no longer there. The b-side has two new remixes from Lost Trax and Delta Funktionen resulting in futuristic, electro tinged, twisted versions with crashing hits and famously busy basslines bringing real warehouse energy.
Lapien – Brumal EP [TIKITA009]
Tikita return with more of their deep and groovy techno, this time from Lapien, who is one half of Artefakt and a master of deep voodoo sounds. His ‘Brumal’ EP includes a remix from label mainstays natural/electronic.system. that completes a deep and powerful three track disc. Lapien s ‘Brumal’ kicks off with deep, swirling pads and punchy drums. It s soft and atmospheric techno with a dubby bottom end and cosmic moods that is soothing and warm. The natural/electronic.system. remix of ‘Moonset’ is simmered down into an absorbing ambient soundscape with rolling, rubbery drums deep down below. It s thoughtful mind music to get utterly lost in. Last of all, the original ‘Moonset’ is another richly layered and spacious techno groove, with gentle percussion over underlapping drums and synths smearing out in all directions. It s brilliantly expansive music for intimate dance floors.
Tracey – Metamorphosis [AUS137]
Tom Ruij aka Tracey’s palette of influences is wide and far-reaching, from the far-sighted futurism of Detroit and the deep space pulse of electro, to left-of-centre electronic experimentalism and the alien world of British and European IDM all of which are showcased on his Metamorphosis EP.
Villa Åbo – Carpet Proof Of Daily Reports [IDEAL168]
It’s a Swedish house thing. Börft boss Jan Zwarre Svensson a.k.a Frak returns to his early project, Villa Åbo, for six deep and rude acid rub downs. Villa Åbo is more than a band name. It is a former bank buliding in Johannishus in South East Sweden which was where Börft Records was founded and where the boss Jan Zwarre Svensson grew up. It was where the original location of Studio Styrka was and where the first important years of recordings by FRAK and Alvars Orkester was done. It was a creative volcano, and also a social meeting point for likeminded, teenage weirdos into electronic music. Villa Abo is the foundation for a lot of stuff still resonating today. FRAK has been active for a long time now releasing tons of records, Alvars Orkester is asleep but about to be awaken, and Villa Abo is the output for his addiction to deeper electronic dance stuff.
Betonkust & Palmbomen II – Parallel B [DKMNTL062]
Moving on from their time holed up in a leisure resort relic, the Dutch retrogressive, analogue synth machine obsessives and tape fanatics Betonkust & Palmbomen II have teamed up together once more for a new EP. An immediate follow up to their debut LP Center Parcs, the new EP pays fictional homage to a now deceased famous TV star, who instead on working on the screen, took up a new direction in making music. Once more replete with esoteric experimentalism, analogue jams, drums machines, synths, and a healthy dose of acid basslines, the production duo advance upon their aesthetic with a new extended EP of nostalgic, melancholic electro.
The Hipodrome Of Music 