Techno News

Dancing as an act of rebellion is the first Abraxas LP in collaboration with the Valencian label Soil Records. A compilation of the first project recordings released between 2020 and 2021 plus some new tracks and, in addition to this, a second vinyl by other darkwave electronic artists remixing the first one: Geistform, We Are Not Brothers, Ober Dada, Melting Dogmas, SMforma, HBK1, José Rodríguez, SOJ and PanDemian.

Abraxas is a halfway project between dark dance electronic music, philosophical reflection, socio-political activism and musical entrepreneurship. Its main goal is to shake bodies and minds by spreading messages of individual and social self-criticism from the point of view of duality, extremes and contradiction, inherent to the human being and capitalist society.

Flickering ears. A sharp blue sky. You get a hint of the sun, squinting through the broken windows of the former, northern ammunition plant. Concrete slabs beneath your feet. You still taste the fume, you feel bricks and steel and your warm, inner voice purrs soothingly in last night's rhythm: „understood“.

Flimmern in den Ohren. Schneidend blau strahlt der Himmel. Du erahnst die Sonne blinzelnd durch die zerbrochenen Fenstern hinter der ehemaligen Munitionsfabrik Nord. Die grauen Betonplatten unter deinen Füßen, schmeckst du noch Rauch, fühlst Stahl und Backstein, während dir deine warme, innere Stimme beruhigend im Takt der vergangenen Nacht zuschnurrt: „verstanden.

Minimal Synth, Darkwave, EBM, Synthwave and New Wave from Sweden.

> French Electro Caster DynArec, appears almost like a living sequencer, breathing keynotes patterns among forgotten FM modulations. Four tracks for true Electro lovers…

Ladislav Zensor returns for a 3rd EP on the label with Notions of Causality. The Czech producer showcases his trademark atmospheric electronics, soundtracking a world on the verge of collapse. The EP is completed by a remix by d&b producer Overlook.

Levat strikes back on Storno with four haunted cuts for the non-believers. Unpolished hardware jams made from the dancefloors for the dancefloors.

Launched in 2016, Lunar Orbiter Program continues to prove the ability of his pilot Torai who is just back from his second moon landing.

2022 Repress

The first album in 7 years from seminal electronic music pioneers and twice Mercury Prize Nominated, Leftfield. Currently reaching a new audience through Idris Elba’s Gucci ad, this will be their 4th album in their 28 year history. The new single will be featured in the soon to launched eFootball by Konami (previously PES).

Their last tour (in 2017) featured 7 sold out UK shows (including 2 X Brixton Academies), a sold out world tour and various festival headlines.

Quote from Neil Barnes: "I wanted ‘Pulse’ to be the first statement from the new album. It felt strong. Dance floor. Human. Positive. And I love the bass. It’s Leftfield."

Full pitch notes with bio to come

CULTURE

Leftfield (originally comprised of Neil Barnes and Paul Daley), have been at the cutting edge of dance music since the 1990s, releasing albums that have become some of the most influential electronic records of all time around the world with their debut LP 'Leftism' being widely regarded as one of the most boundary-pushing electronic LPs ever released.

In 2010, Neil Barnes reignited the Leftfield name, and went on to release an acclaimed new album (Alternative Light Source) touring the world with the full live band. Neil has also been cementing his reputation as a top-tier DJ and record collector unleashing modern dance floor weapons, selling out venues, headlining festivals and creating some amazing nights with his sets.

Junction Forest is back with its second Shroom, this time by the well named notorious Wesphalian trance duo.. Trancesetters Of Westphalia.

3 trippy cuts coming right from the heart of the woods,
Pulse of The Trees is before all the untold stories of what is happening when the forest sleeps,
what can't be seen but be sensed,
what can't be conceived but be felt,
what is being concocted deep inside the woodland, beneath the brambles, where the sunlight barely makes its way through, where the darkest things happen...

Label owner Steffi and Sepehr team up!!! Fast banging contemporary electro is what they serve. Fierce Psychedeli(c)a wrapped in timelessness.

BRUCE, K-LONE, RHYTHMIC THEORY AND GLANCES line-up on this tearing 12" comp. TIP!

The 12" brings these four artists who have close ties to Chris Farrell’s Bristol based label and shop.

Bruce with a contemplative dancefloor dub in tribute to Alex T, esteemed Leeds record shop worker and DJ - sadly taken from us too young.

K-LONE delivers a subtle and subby house roller.

Rhythmic Theory makes a final appearance with a bumpy and bassy techno track.

Glances bring a deft funkiness to the broken techno sound.

This is the end of a chapter. The last Idle Hands release for the time being. The shop continues and new projects beckon.

#PF005 ITRIA VOL.3 is a slow techno-inspired cosmic journey that condenses in a single orbit a great cast of artists coming from different galaxies. It marks an evolution in sound and mood, taking us to a deeper and more visceral dimension.
The first track by Interstellar Funk is a 100% pure electronic mind-trip, a machined groove where thoughts still roam frenetically paves the way for a more intimate experience.
Tamburi Neri’s downtempo track shapes a space-time portal in which to sink; their sound is like a beat echoing from the bottom of the chest and spreading to the tips of the fingers softly.
For the first time, Salamanda co-works with Polifonic framing a Korean unknown soundscape, an ambient loop track through which we break away from this dimension and move towards the exotic.
Hiver restore a connection with reality through their pulsating bass. The heartbeat speeds up, but we still float into a dreamy techno atmosphere.
Claudio PRC & ZIPPO come into play with a powerful combination of techno textures that gets us to resurface and awaken the senses.

Morphid and x(eptional signed to Lucid Recordings in quick succession back in the day, their complementary styles helping to establish the label as a purveyor of pioneering and divergent quality techno sounds. They often worked in the studio together, and now they’re gleefully doing it all over again with this perfectly pitched platter of originals and remixes from the two duos.

x(eptional’s epic breakbeat techno sound always went down a storm at the original Lucid events – live and on disc – and second-hand prices prove their Lucid releases have lost none of their dancefloor appeal.

Morphid’s sparse, offbeat sound was always different, otherworldly. Delightfully strange while always warm and witty – and a little bit spooky!

Side 1 presents two classic originals, one by each duo: x(eptional’s a-whole-night-in-one track classic Dark Waves, a ten-minute-plus banger of epic proportions and soaring highs, followed by Morphid’s ethereal Gezouten Dessert, with its pared down bare breaks and brooding tones.

Side 2 sees x(eptional and Morphid switching roles to present radical and thrilling reworkings of each other’s tracks. Morphid strip down x(eptional’s Dark Waves into a cut-up of eerie, angular funk rhythms, voices and sounds, while x(eptional extract the beats from Morphid’s Gezouten Dessert and transpose it into a whirlwind of jazz-tinged breakbeat techno that gets a grip from the get-go and just won’t let go.

Recorded live in Birmingham, 8th of November 1997
Duration 45’30”

All Tracks written and produced by Daft Punk for Daft Life
Retouche Janvier

Published by Concorde Music Publishing for World excluding France
Delabel Editions / Daftmusic for France

Seasoned heads may already be aware of DynArec. The project of one Chris Kalera, DynArec has been a force in the electro underground for more than two decades at this point, releasing numerous records and helming the Vaporwave label to boot. He has marked himself out as a purveyor of top-quality machine-funk during his career, a producer who runs with the spirit of Detroit to craft club traxx of wicked intensity.

After a period of relative quiet in the late 2010s, Kalera has roared back into action recently, with a run of releases emerging in 2021 and 2022 across labels including Cultivated Electronics, Superluminal and Umwelt's New Flesh. Now the Vaporwave Records founder takes his Central Processing Unit bow with the Force In The Sum EP, and his hard-hitting electro style is immediately at home on the Sheffield imprint.

Force In The Sum commences with 'A Dispatching Role', a track where eerie vocal snippets and delay-drenched anti-melodies cluster around a volatile low-end wobble and crisp 808 snap. It's equal-parts ominous and invigorating, kind of like the Thom Yorke of 'Kid A' times if he'd been granted an audience with Gerald Donald. 'A Dispatching Role' is prime slalom music, and the mood carries through to following cut 'Stabilized'. After a stentorian opening of unerring kick drums and fizzing keys, 'Stabilized' soon blooms into a retro-futurist robo-electro joint which comes off like a more textured iteration of Unit Moebius.

Things open up a little more on first B-side 'Canonical Form' - at least, they do before the track's pretty opening flushes are interrupted by a vicious blurting bassline reminiscent of, say, Jensen Interceptor. There are no broken beats here, the track's unyielding four-on-the-floor thud pushing the joint a little more towards techno mode than the A-side jams. This straight beat remains on Force In The Sum closer 'Classification Of Elements', with sputtering hi-hats playing off the groovy pings of the synths to devilishly danceable effect. Slip-sliding saw sounds and spine-tingling, almost 'X-Files'-esque lead lines enter to up the ante, but the mood shifts after DynArec starts to lace lush chordal stabs and delay-drenched modular runs through the track. All the while, a voice repeats the mantra "what matters is the sound" - and who could deny the truth in this statement?

DynArec's prolific recent run continues with the four track Central Processing Unit debut Force In The Sum. Tense, expansive and worldbuilding, this is wickedly danceable electro done right. Truly, what matters is the sound.

RIYL: Jensen Interceptor, Cardopusher, Cygnus, Silicon Scally

Third iteration in OEW’s VA series, WITNESS03 brings over a fresh new quartet of heaters from another of its carefully curated cast of up-and-rising producers. Delving in the vaults of 90s rave, and spanning all things from atmospheric techno to spine-tingling bass, via electro, acid and further afield electronics.

Engaging first, CLJL flings a brick of breaksy sedition into the matrix with the mighty “System Research”. Fusing 303-emulated traction with jaw-crushing freq shifts, ruff snares and fluttering synth spirals gone astray, this one is pure woofer-busting material. Second in line, Naone “Silhouette” is an aggressive slice of dopey, bass-heavy cosmonautics, tailored to have the listener zoning out into a magnetic field of alien echoes, delays and reverbs.

Flip sides and here is LVCA and Sidd taking over your brainwaves with “Stranger” - a squelchy joint connecting the dots between Bochum Weltian spaciousness, pop-laced ethereality and a propulsive programming bound to astral project yourself into a whole other dimension. Last but not least, N-GYNN’s “Fire Rave” engineers a jagged and easy-going carnival of funkster machine talk, weird organic noises and sleazy boogie.

After appearances on Freakadelle’s ’44’ compilation series as well as on a Night Defined Recordings 12inch alongside Mesak, Even Tuell and Mary Yalex, Nurah presents his debut album, which will also be the last release of the Freakadelle imprint before entering new waters.

CTRL aims to point out that the world of perception is strongly guided by frequencies in music. CTRL combines modified sounds with minimal sonic structures and creates rhythms that transcend genres. From an artistic point of view, CTRL auditorily as well as visually hints at the versatility of earthly sensations.
Nurah explores electronic music in its many facets and places his ever-gro-wing, musical challenges at the forefront of his work.

Repress

ES-Q is back on Dolly for a 2nd round! You Create, We destroy is the name of his 4 track EP full of UK lushness. Dance floor bliss for dedicated UK house breakbeat and bleep lovers!

22RECORDINGS, Capítulo I
“El infierno está vacío, todos los demonios están aquí.” W.S.

Sweat It Out up the perspiration levels to 10 with this modern day rework of Kwanzaa Posse's 1993 tribal infused 'Musika', by the much in form Yolanda Be Cool. A driving beat and dynamic bassline are interspersed with the Posse's euphoric chants firmly placing this a dancefloor destroyer.The first of three remixes comes from Babert. Turning Musika into a Miami Vice style synth laden boogie number, complete with uplifting piano stabs and a full bodied bass. Flip it over and things get a little more sinister. Both ideal for the basement club setting as much as they'd work in the big room clubs. GotSome revolve their remix around the chopped up tribal chants of Kwanzaa Posse - enhancing the expansive build ups and breakdowns to new heights.
To close it out, Dateless strips things back with a huge pulsating bass / kick combo whilst dubbing out the chants to be dropped in at choice moments before those heavyweight drops.

Dolly welcomes D_Roots! The Italian producer drops 4 beautifully produced, lush, atmospheric, funky baseline oriented Detroit electro tracks. This is what we like to hear on the dance floor early in the morning when shit gets serious!

Delsin welcomes Jayson Wynters into the fold for a four-track EP that embodies techno as a vibrant, expressive artform with the ability to uplift. On The Affect Heuristic, Wynters strides forth with an electrifying machine language, calling to mind the feverish, psychedelic tweaking and layering of visionaries like Dan Curtin and Lee Purkis (In Sync). Across four tracks, Wynters pivots between distinctly Motor City-indebted funk, springy electro-techno and vivid, immersive soundchasms. The artwork - a canny meld of bold geometry, bright colours and rough textures from Erosie and Erris Huigens (Graphic Surgery) - responds to the music in a wholly appropriate way.

Dalmata Daniel continue their work with the 7th release in the main flow, and this time they assigned the new experiment to the Teslasonic lab.

In this research, Teslasonic examined the case of 'Quantum Paradox' with the help of another well-known scientist: The Hacker.

The code name of the project is DD007, in which Teslasonic, a citizen of the world, has invented certain new and useful tracks. These tracks are not just sounds, they also create visions, because while we're listening to 'Quantum Paradox' and 'Aether', we feel the energy of the melody, and in our minds, we travel with them through space and time to discover new things. Furthermore, through Blitz Ciphers' and Unified Field Theory's dark and raw electro sound, we find ourselves in the cold and sterile laboratory of the spaceship, where the miracle is born and science is cultivated.

However, thanks to The Hacker, we get a new viewpoint, as in his remix, he re-examines the main theme and at the same time he invents something different - a perfect echo of the original 'Quantum Paradox'.

Blue Marbled Vinyl

Fast raving acid tracks by Binary Digit. For all fans of Roy Of The Ravers and playful, cheerful acid breakbeat electronix.

7th vinyl release from Davit Error's label. Acid techno made in Valencia.

Repress

The enigmatic CEM3340 returns with his third LP. it's also the third outing on his very own Curtis Electronix, following a strong release from DJ Overdose himself. On the A side things kick off and go straight to the point with four highly sharped hard hitting jams, cut with the usual deadly precision. Firing snares and rusty 808 kick drums with a persistent old school feel; On the B side things morph and get more evocative with three classic-influenced electro bangers. No more words needed. Just drop the needle. This is Suburbs Disorder.

Opal Sunn (Alex Kassian and Hiroaki OBA) believe in unicorns, leprechauns and mermaids. This is their first offering for the ESP Institute. The A side leads with 'The Problem With George', a percussive monster at a half-time tempo that goes deep with a dual mission; to successively build round after round while keeping the listeners mind and body in an ecstatic state of surrender. Imagine the dancefloor pumping, and at a dynamic peak the DJ halves the timing and wipes the floor with your spinal fluid. On the flip, 'The Mystery Of Mr Lee' takes a similar approach in terms of arc and arrangement, although replacing the analogue percussion with 16th-note arpeggios of synthetic steel, glass and tubes. Beneath this glistening veneer lies another scale-wandering melody constructed of machine toms that eventually opens up, morphing into a more decisive hook, wrapping more tightly around the drum pattern before retreating back beneath layers. If dropped at the opportune time, let’s say the sensitive blue morning before dawn cracks, we expect a dancefloors to reach the highest level of psychedelic escape, after which hugs are essential. These two songs will tuck you in and kiss you goodnight.

Third part of the compilation celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Milanese record shop.

This collection is entirely composed of previously unreleased music, exclusively produced for the occasion by many artists of great relevance in the worldwide music scene, who supported the store over the last ten years.

The artists who produced the music for this compilation are Egyptian Lover, Ellen Allien, Thomas Brinkmann, Neil Landstrumm, JD Twitch, Matias Aguayo, San Proper, Tolouse Low Trax, Jay Glass Dubs, Dj Marcelle, Jorge Velez, Tamburi Neri, Fabrizio Mammarella, Heith, Itinerant Dubs, Timeslip89, Kregg

Distrito 91 presents the first installment os its Various Artists compilation series; "Our Own Algorithm" VOL.1

Uruguayans Luis Malon and Jorge Gamarra in his new alias Ecstatic are in charge of SUR’s ninth instance. House, Techno, Breaks, Electro and whatever ; Four mental and dancefloor tracks for the club or the afters.

(Emotional) Especial and Giraffi Dog join forces once more to offer up the second installment of their concept EP series. It is focussed on live and studio collaborations and this one comes in two halves: the first half kicks off with '6th Chakra' (feat DJ Deflektorschild) - a fully live deep house and hi-tek soul exploration with mind-expanding synths and Detroit drum sounds. 'King OTN' is a jack dup acid cut ripped with cosmic synth details and 'DX Metero' has sheet metal synths lashing about next to ethereal synths and busted drum breaks. 'Starfather' is a star-facing closer with elegant piano notes dancing over serene grooves. A vital showcase of this essential live artist.

Raw Takes offers up exactly that - perfectly imperfect electro jams direct from his machines. We last heard from him here at Juno back in 2020 on a VA via the Sample Delivery label but here he takes charge of all six cuts on this new Zement EP. '901 Area' opens with wobbly sheet metal synths and zippy pads that eventually coalesce around a nice snappy electro breakbeat. 'Sxx' pairs ambient pads with machine gun laser fire and 'JMS' then brings a more deep and reverential viber. The rich variation continues on the flip so that there is everything from tripped-out acid to hard-hitting and ear-drum-shattering electro-tech.

As a true cultural flagship medium, Arte expands its Arte Concert music offer with the 3 first volumes of its new vinyl collection ! A selection of Jazz, Soul & Electro Crème de la crème of ARTE TV

repressed !

Passarani debuts on Aus with his sixth studio album, The Wildlife Of The Quieter Ones. Marco's discography boasts releases on Libertine, Running Back, Peacefrog and Numbers, the diversity between each label show his versatility as as a producer, he’s seamlessly moved with the times and glides through each era with a zesty take on a timeless sound, his credentials speak for themselves and here you see a well seasoned producer at the top of his game

Maruwa bows at the altar of ‘90s prog house and IDM. Classically trained as a pianist, the St. Petersburg born Frankfurt based artist has made it her mission to join the dots between big room rave and a decidedly off-planet approach to melody. Now, making a debut for X-Kalay, that journey continues...

‘Liquid Night’ genuinely sounds like something you might have heard during Love Parade’s golden era. Meshing noirish sci-fi atmosphere with trance synths and EBM flex, the shadowy territory it occupies also carries through to A2’s ‘Midnight Caller’. That said, the followup cut evokes an essence of ‘90s dancefloor utopia, balancing euphoric melodrama with tough, propulsive NRG.

Taking inspiration from mid-‘90s acid prog, ‘Tricky Question’ summons the divine wide-eyed and sublime – less urgent, but still imbued with that '90s halcyon daze. Rudolf C then rounds things off with a fathoms-deep remix. Ushering ’Tricky Question’ into that techy space he navigates so well, the Salt Mines co-founder provides his own spin without losing the essence of the original.