Techno News

Bad news: Not much is known about pdqb, and what we do know is most likely either wrong or made up. The man who is credited for the productions is said to have gone insane due to being possessed by an alien parasite. His whereabouts remain unknown. Good news: Fortunately, Synaptic Cliffs owns about a dozen releases from whoever or whatever is behind the mysterious abbreviation and will publish every single one of them…because they are ultra awesome.

With the original tapes of this Mini-LP, pdqb left a fragmented note in the '90s stating that he decoded eight tracks originally produced with the NCO6.27 for test subjects who were all given some strange form of brain implants, and that a certain wetware could be unveiled in that manner, and that he conducted that research long before he developed a machine capable of hacking into the dreams of everyone who has ever lived.

However, the music could best be described as playful and dark, old-school Techno/Electro/Industrial blended with Chiptunes, IDM/Braindance, and Electronica. It is pressed on a beautiful green splatter vinyl.

The first 150 customers will be rewarded with a free leftover flexi disc from the '80s featuring two exclusive tracks composed by pdqb while he worked for Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset TV production company. The flexi was originally included in the November 1985 issue of the Italian Playboy Magazine (cover girl: Grace Jones) and is extremely sought after.

The Secret Sun rises once again, this time shining its light on the treasures stored in Dan Piu’s incredibly vast production archive, which dates back to the early ’90s. Selecting the music for this EP was a long but inspiring quest, a deeply rewarding dive into Dan’s artistic journey. It offers an insight into the studio universe of one of the producers we respect the most, and with whom we share the same vision and love for music.
We are grateful to once again bring to light four forgotten and unreleased productions from the ’90s, this time by Dan, infused with the novelty and ingenuity of that era, under the moniker Sensefinite.

Embark on a Journey Through the Golden Age of Electronic Music with Danceopolis !

Step into the Danceopolis planetary system and travel back in time to the golden era of electronic music, where people danced all night to the hypnotic rhythms of Goa trance. The Eyes of Goa presents a new release that captures the essence of trance music from the early 90s, blending it with a modern twist to create a unique hybrid sound. This EP is a perfect homage to the iconic Goa style, bringing the energy and spirit of that time into the present.

Takicardia Records debuts with Cyber-X-Scape, an exploration of sound and vibration as pathways to break free from the confines of the matrix. Featuring Furz, Phase O Matic, Sanctus Libido, and Volen, this compilation fuses mind-expanding beats with driving grooves that channel the raw, unfiltered energy of the underground. Each track is a sonic key, designed to resonate with the listener on a deeper level and open a gateway to the unknown. Prepare to be immersed in a space where sound becomes science, and the dancefloor is the escape route.

Rapid electro funk for your ears. Includes a banging remix from Mathis Ruffing of an old Tremors classic. Also includes three of our most popular tracks previously only available as digital download.

This is the first vinyl release of the Element Operator project by Manuel Fuentes. The music is a combination of electro and techno with dark undertones combined with metallic funk grooves.

François X, one of techno’s most innovative and introspective figures, returns with Straight Edge Society, a four-track EP that sees the Paris-based producer refine his unique blend of emotional depth and relentless, driving grooves. Set for release on January 17th via his own XX LAB imprint, this new body of work marks his first solo release since the widely lauded CEO EP.

This release feels more like a statement, it's a manifesto wrapped in four tightly composed tracks. It takes techno back to its purest form: rhythm as ritual, sound as transcendence. Known for creating spaces where emotion converges with immersive grooves, François ventures further into new territory, offering an experience that is both physically intense and emotionally rich.



TECHNO AS A PATH TO HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS

At its core, Straight Edge Society reflects François X’s ongoing journey toward clarity and self-discovery through music. This isn’t a rigid doctrine imposed on listeners; rather, it’s an invitation, an exploration of what it means to live life in “raw motion,” free from distractions or external influences. This project isn’t about abstention or lifestyle choices; it’s about finding focus and purpose, a temporary escape from the noise of the world into a space where sound serves as a pathway to clarity.

François condenses his musical philosophy into four tracks that shift between emotional depth and rhythmic force, providing a vivid exploration of clarity through sound.



The EP opens with Got Me Overnight, a showcase of François’s signature use of chopped vocals, driving a vibrant yet introspective journey that merges the club-ready energy of modern techno with an undercurrent of renewal. The pulse of Unpolarized draws listeners into a more minimalist, focused state, with repetitive rhythms designed to lock into the dancefloor while evoking a meditative mindset.

As the EP progresses, Certified DNA amplifies the emotional resonance, highlighting François’s ability to weave richly textured soundscapes. Lush pads blend with layered beats, evoking both introspection and euphoria. The journey culminates with Raw Motion, a visceral homage to the classic sounds of Chicago house, where down-pitched vocal loops and gritty textures combine to create a forward-thinking track that encapsulates the spirit of techno as both a physical and cerebral experience.
But even here, François X resists merely recreating past forms; this is techno that looks ahead, with an ear attuned to both tradition and evolution.



A SINGULAR VISION

François X delivers a work that is both personal and expansive. It’s a deeply introspective project that not only reflects the artist’s philosophy but also encourages listeners to discover their own clarity within its grooves. For François, techno transcends mere sound, it becomes a medium for reaching a higher state of consciousness, one that extends beyond the dancefloor to touch something profound.

New Label By 'Zwart Goud' By An "Unknown Identity".
It's called "Mastering Black" On 'Mastering Black'.

Darkness enshrouded the city, replacing warm crepuscular air with a fresh nightly breeze that seemed to creep between the gaps in his clothes. Looking down, the tiny hairs on his arm had stood upright in lew of the falling temperature. It really was time to head home. His family were expecting him back. Though something eerie summoned him to stay, something in his gut said to walk, walk out in the night and face the silence that awaited him in those open fields on the outskirts of the city. The last light of sunset danced its way to darkness and he was alone, but this was what he wanted.

Ilker Soylu is a man of many guises. He returns under his Mastering Black alias, breaking the silence of a three-year hiatus with a broody and atmospheric four-track EP. This release rides electro BPMs for the title track ‘Obey’ and the ‘Obey’ rework on the B side, contrasted with A2 ‘Black Palms’ and B2 ‘Master Love’ that chug with tension around a slower BPM.Varying on a darkened energy, crisp electro breaks articulate through bubbling arpeggios and ephemeral vocals. ‘Obey’ vocal drifts in and out of the title track, perhaps commanding, perhaps being commanded. This semi-neutral, ungendered voice speaks to the curiosity of the listener, with the potential for an unusual trip when heard in the stark strobe lighting of a rumbling nightclub. ‘Master Love’ continues the vocal theme with a questioning tone, embroidered with rattling hi-hats and experimental sound design.The alternative version of ‘Obey’ on the B-side skips the vocal input for a dubbed-out and rhythmic interpretation of the title track. Metallic synths and a notable groove ride throughout the revisited version. A2 track ‘Black Palms’ opens with a calm downbeat house mood, with rich mid-range pads and drums that roll in a friendlier direction. Noisier synths break the calm with staccato flecks that lead us to an energising darkness once more.

No stranger to eclectic sound production, Mastering Black provides a diverse and club-ready EP to mark his return to production. As label and record shop founder of Zwart Goud, Ilker leans on a rich background in dance music and uses his years in the industry to produce this highly kinetic and mood-enriched release. Expect this to wobble and warp its way through sound systems for years to come.

Active for over 25 years , Max Durante is a legendary figure in the Italian Techno scene. An early 90's innovator in combining the sounds of Techno , Acid and Industrial with his old school project on the legendary Italian label ACV/Hot Trax. His project 'Automatic Sound Unlimited' with D'archangelo of Rephlex Records fame was ahead of the game back then. So like glove fits hand. Max fits perfectly on Sonic Groove with a cutting edge , menacing time bomb of an EP. Sharp as a razor , hard as steel this is seriously powerful stuff for those that like there techno uncompromised.

London based brothers, Timoti, launch their new record label, Below Surface, with 4 original tracks from French artist Nikizi.

A1 ‘Church Sound’ consists of groovy baselines, dreamy pads, topped off with an array of trippy effects to keep the mind occupied.

A2 ’We Moving Forward’ is a heavy hitting breakbeat with its rumbling low ends that will have the dance floor shaking.

B1 ‘Hey Back Off’ is an uplifting groover with a constant flow of rhythmical drums to keep the energy running high.

B2 ’Space Sex’ is a mind bending, hypnotic loop with its repetitive drums and dark bouncy baselines keeping the energy going throughout and its “space”vocal delaying and panning around the room will have the listener locked infrom start to finish.

Nørus & Dj Whipr Snipr team up for Gravitational Attraction on Nerang Recordings. Queensland based DJ/producer and label head Dj Whipr Snipr has been running Nerang Recordings since 2016, putting out music from the likes of Interplanetary Criminal, Subjoi, DJ Swagger, DJ Bowlcut, J. Albert, Cassettes For Kids, and many more since its inception. Teaming up with Brazilian DJ/producer and Gestalt Records alumni Nørus here, the duo air their Second collaborative EP With flavours from Breaks, Electro, Techno and beyond.


Early support by: ÂME, Noah Pred & Eduardo De La Calle + many more!

Staples of Nerang; Ole Mic Odd and Grey People melt together in the 5 track EP.

Ole goes in hard showcasing his diversity in the music scene. This guy is on a hot tip, catch while you can! Grey People follows on the B also showing he's not shy of making the lush dreamy number but then he brings it home on the final track with a classic Grey People belter

Split 2.0 is the second Split series of Balders Audio delivering this time some Sci-Fi Techno Tools by Oliver Rosemann and label owner Bastian Balders himself including one electronica track by each artist. Limited 12'' Red Marbled Vinyl.

restock!

Written and recorded during 2020, a year marked by forced quarantine with in turn proved to be a prolific time for musical composition. It is an album about change, aging and the fading memories one has, often more of a product of the current state of a person than an accurate description of those remembered moments. With age we tend to forget or lose contact with particular moments and parts of our own story and context become erased forever, as though they never happened. With this album, peter bjärgö takes the first steps into something new, bringing along his signature sound from past projects into a slowly evolving transition to a sonic world beyond his previous achievements. Leaning towards a more ethnic, rhythmic sound, integrated with his now trademark melancholic guitar work and deep solemn vocals, these are the first steps to a new horizon he’s ceaselessly crafting for our listening pleasure.

In the enigmatic realm of electronic music, The Black Dog stands as a visionary act, responsible for crafting, among other things, the mesmerising album "Silenced". Notably, this release marks a significant milestone in the band's evolution, being the first album from the new line-up and their collaboration with the fledgling label Dust Science.

Defying industry norms, The Black Dog embodies a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) ethos. Their artistic journey remains steadfast, with a commitment to originality and creative freedom, unfettered by the limitations imposed by the commercial music industry.

The record label Dust Science takes pride in championing The Black Dog's musical prowess, with its first release being the band's 4-track EP "Bite Thee Back". However, this EP was only a prototype for the revitalised collective, eventually leading to the composition of Silenced, which followed soon after.

This creative period denotes a fresh start for The Black Dog, a testament to their resilience and a commitment to evolving their sound. The resulting album represents a new beginning, celebrating and transcending the echoes of the past. It redefines the band's sonic landscape and establishes a distinct musical narrative that resonates with dedicated followers and newcomers alike.

a A1 The Black Dog Trojan Horus Part 1 (Album Mix / Remastered) 00:05:42
b A2 The Black Dog Trojan Horus Part 2 (Album Mix / Remastered) 00:02:29














q D2 The Black Dog 4 3s 555 Part 1 (Album Mix / Remastered) 00:02:57
[r] D3 The Black Dog 4 3s 555 [Part 2] (Album Mix / Remastered) 00:08:16

[a] A1 Trojan Horus [Part 1] (Album Mix / Remastered) 00:05:42
[b] A2 Trojan Horus [Part 2] (Album Mix / Remastered) 00:02:29














[q] D2 4 3s 555 [Part 1] (Album Mix / Remastered) 00:02:57
[Part 2] (Album Mix / Remastered) 00:08:16

[a] A1 Trojan Horus [Part 1] (Album Mix / Remastered) 00:05:42
[b] A2 Trojan Horus [Part 2] (Album Mix / Remastered) 00:02:29














[q] D2 4 3s 555 [Part 1] (Album Mix / Remastered) 00:02:57
[Part 2] (Album Mix / Remastered) 00:08:16

We take immense pride in upholding the integrity of our label's name, and we're excited to announce a remix by Gregor Tresher for Mike Skinners legendary "The Streets”, which does just that. Gregor's admiration for The Streets' seminal 2002 album, "Original Pirate Material,” has fuelled his unwavering support for Mike Skinner's extraordinary musical journey.
Last year, when The Streets’ poignant EP "Brexit at Tiffany's" made its debut, Gregor crafted a remix of one of its tracks for his DJ sets. This rework quickly became a closely-guarded secret weapon, setting dance floors ablaze wherever he played it. The idea of reaching out to The Streets arose, driven by curiosity about Mike's reaction to the remix. To our delight, not only did he appreciate it, but he also granted us permission to officially release it on the label.
So without delay, we are delighted to unveil Gregor Tresher's monumental reimagining of The Streets' "3 Minutes To Midnight." This once anonymous gem has now emerged from the shadows, and we are absolutely thrilled to bring it to your eager ears.

Pressed on 180g Black Vinyl. The original orange vinyl pressing sold out back in 2020.

purple marbled vinyl

Faces Of Bass head honcho Coco Bryce once again dons his DJ Y moniker, delivering two slices of four to the floor sorcery.

Cheech Wizard is straight-for-the-throat hardcore acid, which wouldn't have sounded out of place at a turn-of-the-century squat party in a deserted warehouse in Rotterdam.

On Junk Waffle he opts for a more rave-centric jungle techno vibe: stabs galore, deep subs, pounding kick drums and a solid dose of Amens.

Ranges welcomes Elias. with an exclusive reminiscent dub EP. The A-Side opens with the expansive soundscapes in “Aquatic”, followed by a beautifully designed 4/4 dub action in “Red Lantern”. The B-side puts emphasis on faster shades of dub. “Severe” delivers a reminiscent chord action accompanied by peak-time grooves. “FM Therapy” and “Fog” showcase a darker edge of dub with raw energy supported by cold yet evocative atmospheres. A compelling collection of 5 diverse tracks making a unique contribution to the label catalog. Limited 12” pressing!

Keeping the vault classic spirit alive, SFR Records is proud to present Julio J’s Rhythm Vault. We kick offthe series release with four tracks from the Vault on Vinyl 12” available now.

Vinyl copy in a Liquid Wax housebag with a white inner sleeve. Pressed on 180g bespoke coloured vinyl, could be any colour, but mostly likely to be a darker red. Mastered by Dapz at Compound Audio. Cut by Beau at Ten Eight Seven. Limited run of 140.

Nachtstrom Schallplatten is thrilled to welcome Liza Aikin to the label family. Liza is an electronic music producer based in Berlin. Resident DJ at Tresor, she’s also a live act performer, dedicated to tailor made music production, always looking to recreate the sound she was missing in the dance floor, with field recordings and modular
synthetisers, Liza’s music has previously been released on labels such as Mord Records, Emetic, Gegen Records Evar Records, Obscuur and Voxnox.

Liza makes her debut on Nachtstrom Schallplatten in form of this beautifully crafted 4 track EP, which consists of 3 original productions and a remix by one of Berlin’s finest producers: the notorious Headless Horseman.

The 12”-version will be coming on
coloured vinyl with a fully printed sleeve and will be strictly limited to 100 copies!

Oscillating between a futuristic, sophisticated and delicate techno, Liza Aikin’s music stands out thanks to the richness of raw sounds, which she intricately sculpts, resulting in experimental, hypnotic, and cinematic techno pieces. Polyrhythmic structures, organic textures, and metallic reverberations define Liza Aikin’s music in
the techno scene, distinguishing it with its uniqueness while seamlessly blending into the landscape.

MasCon (Mord, Illegal Alien, Konsequent) returns to Nachtstrom with this effective and stomping EP. The vinyl is strictly limited to 100 copies and will not be repressed!

Mist Gasp is a London-based techno duo hailing from the misty Galicia, renowned for their hypnotic, dark techno sound. With a career spanning several years, Mist Gasp have established themselves as a prominent figure in the underground music scene, releasing on well-known labels such as Mord and Soma Records. Now they return to
Nachtstrom with this extraordinary release, containing 4 brilliantly crafted, raw and powerful techno tracks. The vinyl is strictly limited to 100 copies and will not be repressed!

All The Hits is the speedy follow up to Myriad Myriads’ debut album, Shardcore (released on Trilogy Tapes in September 2024). 200 vinyl pressed. Myriad Myriads was FKA Bass Clef. Wrong Speed Records have released two albums by Bass Clef (the 2020 limited vinyl reissue of 2011 cassette Inner Space Break Free and 2021 album Magnetic Chapters). Both organic and beautiful, both differing takes on electronic dancefloor - from 70's Germany, late 80's UK, and 90's Detroit. Myriad Myriads closed out the 2024 Wrong Speed Fest Weekender in the back room of a rowdy pub in Glastonbury (real Glastonbury, not Pilton). To watch up close and see the physicality was rapturous, to hear this music at volume positively transformative. All The Hits, recorded in Myriad Myriad's hometown of The Hague, Netherlands, is Carl Stone meets Sonz Of A Loop Da Loop Era. Carl Cox meets Harmonia. It's a headphone monster. Through a PA it will destroy. At home it's a living room shuffle, a synapse burster. It's a privilege for us to somehow be in the position to release records by Myriad Myriads / Bass Clef. We've known him for a long time. He's remixed a couple of Hey Colossus tunes. Check out the recent Patrick Cowley/Jorge Socarras covers 12" You Laugh At My Face on State 51 Conspiracy. His 22-minute-long reworking is a masterpiece. We love to be connected. We love Wrong Speed Records switching from Part Chimp to Myriad Myriads and on to Deep Cabaret via Jacken Elswyth. All come from the same place, if you feel it you know. This is our record collection

Ohm & Kvadrant return to their home label with two stellar dub techno tracks. The A-side is a mesmerizing melodic dub gem, while the B-side is an exquisite electro-dub masterpiece.

For Peggy Gou, recording an instalment of !K7’s DJ-Kicks series was one of the items on her list of career goals. “It’s the premier class of DJ mixes,” she says. “Some of my favourite selectors have contributed to it.” In 2019, Peggy Gou was able to tick that off her list as she proudly presented the 69th edition of the mix series.

To kickstart 2025, which is !K7's 40th anniversary year, the release is re-issued on a tigerfur-coloured 2LP. Peggy started working on the mix in 2018. It was a busy time for the then 28-year-old: she’d just scored her first Mixmag cover and her single ‘It Makes You Forget (Itgehane)’ was receiving awards and critical acclaim. Each month she would DJ in 20 nightclubs all over the world. And yet, the goal for her mix was ambitious: instead of trying to capture the energy of her DJ sets, she aimed to create a portrayal of her own musical journey.

An 18-track listening session that takes you straight into Peggy Gou’s living room where she plays you the formative tunes from her collection. No genre boundaries – she moves across disco, house, techno and electro. No tempo limits – the mix ranges from 90 to 150 BPM. And no age restriction – the earliest tunes on the mix are from 1983.

The same level of attention was brought to the arresting cover artwork, in which the well-documented animal lover references both Korean iconography and the endangered status of the creature of the country's foundational mythology, the tiger. The album artwork shows Gou posing alongside a tiger. "As the first Korean woman to contribute to the DJ-Kicks series I wanted to do something from my heritage," she said in a statement. "I chose the tiger, which is very important in Korean traditions and a metaphor for my personality. As it is inhumane to shoot with a real tiger, I and the photographer Jonas Lindstroem used a library image to make a composite. The tiger disappears when you turn to the inside-cover photo, to highlight that these beautiful animals are already extinct in my home country and in danger of disappearing from our world entirely.”

Unapologetically cinematic, intricate, full-on bangers here to melt your brains - Quelza is an absolute monster in the studio and generated four glorious cuts on this piece of wax. This collection of tunes from the Frenchman are primed for your fullest of dance floors - both sides of this EP show a side of techno's sonic future, and in keeping with the ethos of Palinoia this is a proper home for his vinyl debut.

The seventh release in the Secondary Series, Primary Colours welcomes all around deep and dub master from Scotland - Stillhead. We first came to know of Alex in the early 2000s and have followed his music under several monikers ever since. Stillhead o ,ers us three orginal cuts for this six track EP with remix support from the one and only Mike Schommer and label heads Echo Inspectors plus a beatless rework of Recreation Beats. This release seamlessly blurs genre lines, merging dub-techno with elements of bass, downtempo, deep-house, and ambient influences. The result is a release that feels familiar yet enigmatic, while simultaneously forging a unique and attractive fusion of styles. Stillhead is a master of his craft, and we are very pleased to bring this release to life with a heavy-weight 12Inch press and availability on digital outlets.

FTV004 is an artist mini album from Spains Sergio Garcia recording under his Uf0 Alias. His recognisable breaks and electronic melodies keep in style of previous releases on Altered Sense, Further Electronix, Gated and Withhold, which drift in and out of lush pad heaven breakdowns and skipping breakbeats. Limited to 140 copies worldwide on eco coloured vinyl in eitherblue, pink or purple. Comes with an insert instructions of how to make a crop circle/Uf0 landing site. 5/5 reactions from Carl Craig, Ame, Michel De Hey, Doc Scott, Moy, Nick Warren.

Unex Pected Records, the advanced sub-label of Mixcult Records, is proud to present its first release compiled by none other than Ultranoise, a master. The “Color Filters EP” UNX001 is a sonic tour that conveniently merges the current and past of electronic music offering an enthralling amalgam of progressive, tribal and garage influences in today’s jazzy wrapping.

From the moment the first beat drops until the closing note, it is clear that every Ultranoise composition has been crafted with love and attention to details, meaning that this album will not only make you feel nostalgic but also excited about what lies ahead. Each track on this record aims at attracting all those who love dancing; they come with entrancing melodies that are backed up by pulsating beats which can either be deep or infectious making one respond by simply moving.

Rediscover the old school essence of electronic music in new colours. If you are already a seasoned collector of vinyl records or if you want to attract more beauty into your ears as a beginner, then this piece should never be out of your shelves. Don’t be left out when Unex Pected Records’ debut ever comes calling.

This is a highly recommended album for any serious collector interested in adding some new life onto their dancefloor.

This release brings you moods influenced by the rich cultures of the Eastern World. The A1 by Paul Tellimerg is a special piece where deepness meets energy. For the A2 Locky’s track makes you groove with his signature percussion and unique basslines. Marco Donato, another legend of the game and part of the Italoboyz, presents you the B1! He provided us with a big driving tune surrounded by a mystic atmosphere. Concluding the VA as the B2, Shaque was inspired by his Bangladeshi roots when he hit the notes on the synths alongside Tjizza.

2023 Repress

The portuguese matador "VIL" is on the 6th episode of Shlomi Aber's limited vinyl only series "Lost Episodes", with a 4 tracker EP of stomping Techno groovers.
Not to be missed.

** CASSETTE RELEASE

Spanish-born producer Digge Shim relocated to Malmö, Sweden a few years back and found his calling in the reincarnation of electro through his relentless output of acid-flavored 303 jams. Besides establishing the Malmø Traxx label he also ran the city’s foremost record shop for electronic dance music.

For his first release on @blundar.co the producer has sourced tracks from his archive of tapes and found a batch of unreleased gems that seemed to fit nicely together in a sort of megamix style. On Side I, he collects some indica-infused ambient and goes all in on Gregorian chants and samples of political speeches. Side II is a head nodding trip through leftfield experiments in downtempo, dubby disco and the tropical ghosts of boom bap.