Techno News

The album was created in two versions - a limited "color in color", of which 100 numbered pieces were produced, and a classic version with black wax, of which 200 pieces were produced.

After 10 years, Kixnare returns to U Know Me Records with his fourth original album. "Asteria" is a step towards even more experimental and abstract corners of electronic music. Each of the seven songs on the album reveals a fascination with completely different musical areas - from dark ambient ("Plaga"), through oriental ("Mystic Journeyman") / dubbing downtempo ("Impass") to stronger acid ("Mutacja") and techno ( "Omnis"). What connects everything is a constant atmosphere of anxiety - a reflection of the times we live in. Despite a completely different musical climate, "Asteria" refers in its character to Kixnare's last album "Rotations" from 2014, continuing the concept of inter-genre collage. All this comes together in the weekly radio show "Rotations", in which Kixnare presents his recommendations from the world of underground and experimental electronics on Radio Kraków.

"Asteria" is an album consisting of seven songs - almost 38 minutes of an amazing journey, the sound of which was worked on by the legendary Stefan Betke from Berlin (mastering author). The cover is the work of the flawless Animisiewasz.

4 Loud bangers, fat kicks and bright high freq's : pure dancefloor Deejay Tool, Needed !

REPRESS - 4 psychedelic Trbal french hardtek tunes. Big sound. Big Up !

Hoedus releases his first solo ep on non series with a brilliant pulsating 4 tracker deep ride.

Early support by Ben Klock, DVS1 & Border One. James Ruskin welcomes back Kr!z with his third EP for Blueprint.



After new releases by Alexander Johansson & Mattias Fridell in April and Vinicius Honorio in May, James Ruskin welcomes back Kr!z with his third EP for Blueprint.

Kr!z has been at the forefront of techno for more than a decade. Influenced by the hypnotic and energetic sound helmed by veterans such as Jeff Mills, Steve Rachmad and James Ruskin, he gradually but steadily developed his own identity in the international techno scene. After making a name for himself as a skilled DJ in home country Belgium and the Netherlands, Kr!z launched Token Records in 2007. It has since been a leading outlet for heady, purist sounds. He rapidly established the label as a fixed value with a timeless and powerful sound and took it around the world with label nights on every continent.

After 12 years spent assiduously focused on curating the Token discography, showcasing artists he has nurtured and supported over this time, 2019 saw the release of his long awaited debut EP on Token. "Mantra" received high acclaim by both media and the scene's key DJs. This continued in 2020, when he released the track "Scorpion's Tail" on Voltage Imprint and "Malice" & "Imperative Needs" as part of a split EP with Pfirter on his MindTrip label. 2022 was his most prolific year to date with three full EPs seeing the light of day: "Neutrino EP" on James Ruskin's Blueprint Records, "The Tunnel" on Setaoc Mass' SK_eleven and "Atlantis" on his Token. In 2023 he released a follow up on Blueprint "Revelation", a split EP with Steve Rachmad on Reclaim Your City and "Marbles" on Token.

Now, the Belgian DJ and producer returns to Blueprint with a new 4-tracker this summer, entitled "Horo EP".

Released in 1999 on Taylor Deupree’s 12k label, »optimal.lp« was the debut album by Dan Abrams under his Shuttle358 moniker. For its 25th anniversary, Keplar presents it on vinyl for the first time with three previously unreleased tracks—the digital version also includes a alternative version of »Tank«—as well as a new artwork recreated by Daniel Castrejón and a remaster by Andreas LUPO Lubich based on the original pre-masters that were been restored and cleaned up for the reissue project by Abrams. »optimal.lp« was inspired by the rich tradition of ambient music and the rhythmic complexity of 1990s electronica while also sharing many traits with the then-emerging clicks’n’cuts movement, making it a true sui generis piece of work—both informed by tradition and visionary, idiosyncratic and seminal for many artists after him.

Abrams developed an interest in ambient music when he was still a child, scouring through cassette tapes of environmental sounds, new age music, and world percussion. Discovering Brian Eno’s »Thursday Afternoon« as a young teenager marked a turning point for him. »It gave me the idea that ambient music could be an intentional creative act, that tone itself is a legitimate form of expression,« he says today. During the 1990s, he increasingly immersed himself in the electronica scene and the output of labels such as Instinct, where Deupree worked as an Art Director and released his first records as Human Mesh Dance. Abrams found a home on 12k after sending Deupree a demo tape that would later evolve into »optimal.lp,« released as the label’s fifth catalogue number.

Abrams was still in college when he started experimenting with a sound module, his laptop and a mixer as well as a MIDI card and a small controller. »Each note was composed in MIDI and played back when I was ready to record,« he explains his working process at the time. »The tracks could be replayed, but the sound interactions with glitches and noise would be a little different each time. I decided to base the concept of the album on these interactions.« Each piece started with a single sound or tone that, as Abrams puts it, already contained the entire composition: »I let these interactions guide me, and tried to complement them as I added sounds. It’s a conversation of sorts with the medium.«

While refining this technique that he would go on to use on every album until 2004’s »Chessa,« reissued by Keplar in 2021, he also used the first-ever Native Instrument product, the Generator soft synth, to write the record’s title track—possibly making it the first album on which it was being used. »optimal.lp« is marked by this curious interplay of cutting-edge technology, the limitations with which every college student with a small budget is faced, and boundless creativity. »I’ve talked with other artists about how we feel about our early work,« Abrams says today. »We all agreed that there were elements that remain a part of us in a timeless way, despite our techniques—or lack thereof—at the time. ›optimal.lp‹ has a lot of things that will always be with me, that are me. I think I left some clues in there for my future self.«

This sense of timelessness remains tangible after a quarter of a century after the album’s original CD release and is even being expanded upon by the vinyl reissue, which is complemented by three pieces that were made while Abrams was working on the album. The digital release even features an entirely new take on the original album’s final piece, »Tank.« While Abrams let one of the masters go through his customised reverb unit when preparing the reissue, he started recording the results of this accidental dialogue between past and present. It’s a fitting tribute to an album whose delicate circular rhythms, rich textures, and ethereal melodies are precisely so exhilarating because their interplay seems to suspend the passing of time altogether.

It is time to embrace the darkness once again with "Future Wars" by The Outside Agency. Get ready for a voyage into the depths of auditory darkness. From pulsating rhythms to haunting melodies, each of the four tracks on this Genosha Recordings EP is a testament to The Outside Agency's unparalleled creativity and mastery of irresponsible distortion levels. "Future Wars" defies convention, taking listeners on a crazy trip through different tempos and moods.

Rockets Audio is back with the second part of their stunning compilation called "As Above So Below".
Part 2 contains tracks by Alessio Mereu, Doubtingthomas , Max Jacobson & Metheiu, Satoshi Tomiie!
Vinyl only & highy recommended!

Continuing the series of our popular Various Artists 12" releases, Hydraulix records brings you four of the most played and most popular tracks from the recent digital catalog.

Remastered for vinyl and cut by D.A.V.E. The Drummer at Curve Pusher, 4 tracks of slamming techno from Acerbic, Minor Dott, Andreas Kraemer & Shadym and of course, D.A.V.E. The Drummer and Phil Kershaw.

Böhm is no stranger to the electronic music scene as he has made quite a splash with his latest releases on Dolly, PARTOUT, M>O>S and Undersound Recordings. His newest outing on eudemonia acts as an ideal successor as he delivers a versatile EP with dreamy and old-school ravey moments resonating perfectly with each other.

2024 Reissue

EQ is a legend in the game of hardcore and rave. The former in-house engineer for Formation Records and DJ SS and the head honcho at F-Project Records, this guy has been involved in so much of the scene’s history. But around 1994 he stopped producing under the name EQ and moved onto other things. That is until now. He is back once again and reinvigorated by the popularity of the rave repress culture and has started to write new material… but in the style of the early 90’s, using lots of old skool hardware to produce his music to keep that authentic UK sound.

His first EP for nearly 30 years takes us right back to the raves of the Midlands, the music of an era. Creative sample usage, rolling breaks, kick drums… melodies and rave stabs! This EP has something for all. Not only that, he has completed his follow up EP already which is due out in 2023 and is as equally impressive.

Back again, the renegade master!

The brand new EP "Wellental" by Extrawelt on Traum is herewith reveled to the fans. Their new 3 track vinyl 12" gives a nod to the mayhem and urgency of techno all finely tuned. Straightforward in its brilliance and simplicity, yet carefully measured with a maturity that speaks the language of Extrawelt´s minimalism.

We attest: a unique techno track for the dance-floor on the a side, a trippy track on b1 and a very musical one as B2.

What happens within these 3 tracks is nothing short of alchemy, traversing all sorts of grounds without ever losing the plot. It’s due to the duo’s keen grasp of sound design—they always exchange ideas, on an expansive set of hardware, so no matter what tunnel they’re traveling down head-first, the sounds are always pristine, filled with unexpected details.

The EP opens with the title track "Wellental" which translates as "wave trough". Wave trough valley refers in particular to the points of maximum negative deflection in a traveling wave. In contrast, the points of maximum positive deflection are called wave crests. Musically this converts in a way that, although the title track "Wellental" has a lot of forceful steady forward motion and zig zag sequences cutting into it, it also has that "hanging time" feeling that adds unpredictability and tension to the track. You can defiantly sense that Detroit theme in a post Detroit interpretation here.

The flip-side starts with "Unter Wasser" which is illustrated by urgent uptempo beats that can push it on the dance floor and dreamy, surreal soundscapes on the other hand that account for that great under water feel. The track sounds a bit like the "Deep End" film soundtrack from CAN in that respect.

The B2 track is called "Samtstrand" and there is a reason for this since the track is very gentle and brushes over a surface with velvet hands but in contrast to that, the Extrawelt beats are kicking out the jams here! So this song has a twin drive going!

Lool2Luul's debut LP on Lustpoderosa introduces listeners to a captivating realm, where uncharted adventures await. This sonic journey transports you to an enigmatic cityscape, perhaps named Worynea, set in an undefined future. The music is haunting, pulsating, and imbued with intricate textures, creating an immersive experience. Within this lo-fi landscape, warmth and chill coexist, offering a paradoxical yet mesmerizing atmosphere. The vast spectrum of frequencies in this meticulously crafted musical narrative paints a vivid picture, blurring the lines between reality and imagination. Embark on this masterfully woven tale and allow yourself to be engulfed in its spellbinding allure.

All tracks written and produced by Lucas Delmenico
Mastering by Never Enough System

Repress

On 2018’s Voids, long-time Berghain / Panorama Bar resident Martyn returned to his deep, percussive roots, nimbly constructing webs of rhythm, space and inventive basslines centered around his near-death experience following a heart attack in his Washington D.C. studio (documented in RA’s 2018 mini-documentary). Since then, these parameters have continued to shape Martyn’s unified approach to drum 'n' bass, gqom, post-dubstep and rhythmic offshoots. On Odds Against Us, the producer projects the common denominator as a spirit of sampling innovated by drum 'n' bass, but which operates independent of BPM, as shown by the title track’s floating, Havoc-like piano riff over minimal, mutant UKG and a snarling, amorphous bassline. From there, “B.C. 2” drives full-on at 170 – Detroit deepness through a London lens; emotion meets sci-fi. EP closer “Rhythm Ritual” delivers on the title’s promise, with layers of interlocking drums, melody and chopped vocals that is at once whole and broken down into component parts. While Odds Against Us sees Martyn revisiting his musical beginnings, the sound and emotion once again emerge from a holistic perspective to rhythm and dance music.

The third Mollono.Bass Album is dedicated to what we need most. We as inhabitants of the same planet, we as members of a free society, and we as a culture. We have to stick together more than ever, rather than drifting further and further apart. At the same time, Together brings together everything Mollono.Bass stands for since more than 20 years: Ritualist Afro-influences and acid loops, the sensual physicality of House, the laid-back boost of Dub Techno, analogue depth and digital highs, hope transcribed into groove and utopia set into rhythmic motion. It’s the dynamic novelty and pioneering spirit of the arrangements that reflect the unmistakable signature style of this producer. True to the traditional idea of an album, complete with previously unreleased tracks and special versions, Together is a highly immersive listening experience from start to end and works beautifully on the dancefloor and far beyond it.

Emerging from the dark recesses of the Chicago and London underground, in 2000 Omni a.m. relocated to New York. This EP marked their first release in their new surroundings, it's an intense and highly sought after 4 tracker that showcases the duo's continuing originality and guile.

First up 'Smurfette's Big Night Out' is imaginative in it's approach, there's punchy beats and cascading percussion that drive the track along and really deliver the funk. Psychedelic acid touches interweave with haunting pads and a super deep b-line creates a chemistry like no other. Next is 'Buckshot' a more stripped back rolling affair. Undulating synths and swathes of infectious bass build the track throughout, whilst spacious analog delays and dub influenced sonic tricks abound. Over to the flip where 'I On U' is a wonderful floor friendly roller coaster of a ride, intro'd by a super phat kick, there's stuttering snares that jack and swing, whilst warm synths bubble and filter. Lastly 'Sick Sense' sets the controls for deep space, the bold throbbing bass makes it proper heads down groovin' affair, and the expertly programmed spoken word vocals interplay to add intrigue and atmosphere.

New York Sessions is a cherished release from the Omni a.m. catalogue, a classic where all 4 tracks ooze class and character. This EP has certainly stood the test of time and has been lovingly remastered by Curvepusher for today's discerning minds and dance floors, full support already coming from Raresh and SIT.

Repress

Brand new EP from the boss showcasing his new perspective and vision about techno along five cuts. Oscar Mulero's sound it's always changing and evolving, it can be physical and muscular or deep and sci-fi or both at the same time as this record shows.

On this occasion Spanish titles explain the feeling of each track perfectly, Flujo Fatal is the first slice, Fatal Flow in English, a mental and deep voyage into intelligent techno: full of detail but with an energetic pulse below that activates the dance while the mind is traveling in unveiled territories.

Nueva y Oscura Era is the second cut, fast and obsessive, with detailed percussive elements crossing the stereo field while continuous synth lines run over the precise beat. An ideal mix tool for the peak time hours in the dancefloor.

Noches de Menta reminds us of the good old Birmingham days, intense, rugged and fast. Minimal in the components and pristine in the sound processing. Music for those who dance with closed eyes in the shadows and strobe lights.

Dos Esqueletos is the last cut on vinyl, an elastic and liquid piece made of shuffled rhythms almost 90% percussive. Perfect mixing tool for those who know.

On the digital release appears an extra track called Aire Silencioso, sibilant and resonant textures fly on the high part of the sound spectrum while a compact groove keeps the pace for a full physical experience. The extreme frequency treatment will cause waves in people's minds while dancing... immersive and expansive at the same time.

Qnete’s back in the building for a third X-Kalay release and it’s an anticipated return for the prominent purveyor of prog. Four diverse but coherently related tracks with pit stops in deep house and electro territory.

We open proceedings with a dose of the lysergic sound that has become his trademark since debuting on the label in 2021. Evoking ritual and ceremony, ‘Going Short‘ commences with choral pads that beckon to the altar. A slo-mo exercise in dancefloor hypnosis with trace echoes of bleep.

Where ‘Wrapped’ takes a turn toward mellow, ‘Stepperals’, like its A1 counterpart, recalibrates trance tropes into something more chugging and restrained. Another example of Qnete smudging his third eye on a tunnelling, wormhole flex.

And finally, the Leipzig native signs off with a nod to the American Midwest. Opening cerebral gates in a way that recalls classic Detroit In Effect, closing track ‘Circuit Friends’ taps into the futurist utopia imagined by Detroit electro’s pioneers.

First Various Artists EP on eudemonia with four electro tracks by Sound Synthesis, Hermeth, Caramel Chameleon and Larionov each exploring the acid side of the universe.

This classic House Gem from Cologne for the very first time on 45 with the Instrumental on the flip

This obscure record showcases a selection of 10 tracks created between 1986 and 2002.
Remastered and reworked, this material provides a unique insight into SF aka Schielfried Frankenstein's journey as a performance artist and musician during that period. While Manuel Göttsching produced SF's first record (Ordal/1985), this release, proudly presented by Lustpoderosa, introduces a fresh perspective. Partly reworked and mixed by Ismael Zouaoui and mastered by @Sneaker at Tailout Studios, it is complemented by remixes from contemporary artists, bridging the gap between the past and present.

2024 Reissue

With this debut album from Lake Haze entitled “Glitching Dreams” the E-Beamz label ushers in a new phase in the labels output. Lake Haze characterises the new direction perfectly and showcases the full spectrum of frequencies to be encapsulated in future releases. Intergalactic space cowboy LakeHaze otherwise known as Gonçalo Salgado has been exploring the territories that can only be described as otherworldly in one form or another since his inaugural release on Unknown to the Unknown way back in 2013.

Think Legowelt jamming with early 90’s “Selected Ambient” era-Aphex Twin. Expect menacing ruffneck electro coupled with introspective space-infected arpeggios built to transport the listener to an alternative, but ultimately bliss dimension. A proper long-player in an era of short attention spans and streaming algorithms. Join us on the journey and embrace the opportunity to get completely fucking lost.

Steve Redhead returns to Mutual Rytm with second searing EP, 'Cosmic Alchemy'.

Belgium pioneer Steve Redhead is the founder of Reda Recordings and has spent his life immersed in techno. His potent take on the genre has appeared on labels like MB Elektronics, Zync, and Primate and has helped define the sound of the underground within his home country over the last 25 years. Returning to SHDW's Mutual Rytm imprint following his well-received 'Eastbook Isle' EP last year, he's back to impress again as he uncovers six new productions with his latest EP, 'Cosmic Alchemy'.

He shows his class from the off here with opener 'Sincfala', bringing the heat with banging drums and rusty percussive loops. Yelping vocals add raved-up intensity, while 'Rapidshare' is energetic and loopy with funky drum patterns and loose-limbed percussive madness. The fantastic 'Ad Valvas' is another straight-up linear banger with tightly woven drums, percussion and lithe synth lines that take you to the heart of the dance floor and 'Nusakan' is a muscular wall of drums and toms with urgent synth stabs powering it forwards with great intensity. 'Asmodeus'
brings a more zoned-out feel with soulful pads and subtle vocals layered over the elastic drums and bass, before digital bonus 'Voice Incident' delivers another perfectly textural techno workout with melancholic motifs and surging synths that bring warm rushes of emotion to the grooves.

4aklisme (prononce Katalsim) first EP !
Bangiog tribe in the hardfloor style wit ha pinch of tribecore spices !

Absis returns to Hivern Discs with his Fenix EP. Six cuts that dive deep into Salva's more abstract and slow side keeping his signature reverberating drums and droning landscapes. Comes with poster that will be printed, together with the sleeve, at L'Anacronica in Barcelona, with letterpress on a shiny silver cardboard.

Extremely rare UK techno - raw, beautiful and haunting all in equal measure. Originally pressed in 1996 on a run of just 500 copies, this was the only record to be released on Alien Liaison Recordings. With no production credits on the original label, the record remained mysterious for many years. Fortunately in recent years the producer was identified to be South London resident Arinze Uyanneh. Now officially licensed, restored and remastered for modern use.

Although his released body of work is relatively small, Dirk De Saever's EPs come with a rather unique aesthetic in sound. Once New Beat was established and exploded as a dancefloor craze in Europe, there seems to have been a bit of a flood of attempts at making “a hit” within the style, filter through most of that and you'll eventually land on Dirk's mini catalogue of top grade Belgian New Beat. This 12” is a compilation of De Saever's 3 EPs combined in one, featuring original mixes on the A-side and instrumentals on the B-side. First track comes with a simple synthesized melody that would have been New Beat chart material, but maybe the sampled lyric was too vulgar for radio play, and maybe Dirk didn't care. The kind of track that makes you think you already know it, yet it's still fresh to the pallet. A2 is like the soundtrack to a stroll down a rough neighborhood in the outskirts of Brussels when all of a sudden the drug dealer, obviously too high on his own supply, jumps out from behind a Friet met Maiyonaise stand trying to sell you some kind of illicit candy in rough translation from Flemish to enthusiastic English – take two of whatever it is he's selling and hope for the best. Later that night, in some warehouse after hours party the DJ plays A3 as your bad trip derails into full on nightmarish Belgian waffle brain damage - New Beat at its best. Always cruising around the 110 bpm marker, waiting to see what happens, no rush, nowhere to go, easy does it.

For the next chapter of No Signal Records, Deluka invites DHAEUR, an Italian-born and Berlin-raised talent. The bleepy landscapes of Italian producer DHAEUR are finally seeing the light they deserve. The artist's selection reflects his reserved nature, delivering a sophisticated and minimalistic essence that resonates throughout the whole EP. Each track on NS008 is a carefully balanced creation, showcasing DHAEUR's keen awareness of the interplay between elements and their effect on the other. His meticulous approach to proportions ensures a harmonious fusion, resulting in high-quality material that captivates the listener into a limbo of minimalistic bliss.

New electro release from the Detroit homie Dr. Di'jital, who's celebrating his PHD in mechanical engineering. The man throws the classic Direct Beat hit Automatic Activity in the rebound, but not before going back to the European hood and grabbing Carl Finlow & Will Webb to drop two awesome remixes. Guaranteed 2 get the dance floor hoppin!

Mental and progressive tribe sound on the A side and experimenta lindustrial/broken techno on the flip :)

Having built a cult following with his live hardware performances and releases on Orson and Varial, Ninechecker disembarks for a solo EP displaying his versatility. The blistering A Very English Wind opens procedures, followed up by the evocative gliding dub of Antennas. On the Bside, shifting gears again with the Rephlex-informed menace of Curtain Twitcher and closing with the lush, woozy cassette ambiance of Proposal.

White labels, handwritten, numbered and limited to 80. Includes an A4 insert.

Mastered by Dietrich Schoenemann

Inspired by his first bought techno vinyls back in the late 90s, TWR72 crafted his new project for OOM Records. Titled "iOi", it symbolizes a drum, with the 'i's as arms/hands or sticks and the 'O' as the drum itself.
Each of the ten tracks boasts its own title, yet when the initial letters are combined, they spell out 'percussion.' Drums and percussion have long been pivotal to the essence of music, evolving from primitive beginnings to intricate forms. Their significance spans cultures worldwide, each with its own rich narrative.
In techno, percussion is key, capable of moving listeners without other instruments. The late 90s and early 20s witnessed a surge of percussion-driven techno, enduring as timeless and functional pieces still embraced today. Yet, this enchantment has only been fleetingly replicated in the past two decades. "iOi" serves as an homage to that distinctive era.

The new Teknosucks !!
Superb Freetek to acid !