Techno News

The agile, versatile Swiss artist Audiokern has put together a tightly focused body of musical work that projects his enthusiasm for a variety of genres, yet which is also colored by a peculiar ambiguity that situates him comfortably within a yet more interesting creative realm: the ever-expanding, restless, international network of artists who excel equally in building rhythmic structures and in crafting “cinema for the ear.”

Audiokern’s newest offering through his own Klangkeller imprint, Fog, is a fresh example of this tendency’s development, showcasing a coherent rhythmic drive and elastic groove, yet refusing to “give everything away” with an overly bright mix: seen this way, the record is best listened to as a series of incompletely formed environments whose exact features demand keen attention from the listener in order to be fully revealed. To that end, the additional talents of Samuel Rohrer (percussion) and Andrew Nimmo (saxophone) bring an extra degree of three-dimensionality to the proceedings.
The opening “Black Birds” vibrates with compelling noir jazz atmospheres, soldered together from fragments of cyborg electronics, saxophone and electric piano. This track calls to mind a host of possible influences (from vintage Cabaret Voltaire to mid-‘90s “illbient” hybrids), and is a most fitting soundtrack for an aimless, but sensorily engaged, stroll through an Alphaville-like atmosphere in which the present and future are indistinguishable from one another. Intriguingly, Samuel Rohrer’s “Black Birds” remix / reprise, appearing later in the program, is like an inverted image of its predecessor: it opts for a warmer and tighter atmosphere filled with hocketing percussion, showing the characteristic hallmarks of Rohrer’s vigorous style without distracting from the consistent, narrative feel of the full album.

The following title track accelerates the tempo significantly and, of course, makes good on that title, with a myriad of glimmering pulses and signals that announce themselves before tantalizingly disappearing into the tactile mist. It is another fine demonstration of Audiokern’s talent for creating an attractive ambiguity, as this network of mysteriously glowing sonic beacons may be signaling to one another or to the listener among them. “Wanted” extends the sensations sparked by “Fog,” with wordless snatches of voice fitting neatly into a sonic matrix of mixed techno-organic percussion.
“Set Off,” while adhering loosely to a “dub” template, still leaves several doors open for interpretation: the persistent clicking, plucked noises and synthetic breezes give it the sensory impact of a dense tropical forest distilled into a rhythm track. Audiokern saves the most kinetic, energetic moments on the disc for the final bow: the closer “A Dream Last Night” simmers with dark melodicism, yet again chooses to keep its secrets partially obscured. A final sample of film dialogue may provide listeners with a profound realization, that the evasiveness of virtual environments, like those we have heard up until this point, is a facsimile of the “fog” of dreams.

This classic Techno release from 2009 is available on vinyl for the first time. "A Raver's Diary" has been a milestone in the noughties with it's groovy Techno beats and magical melodies. Shortly after the 10th annviversary Isolade offers a remastered RSD release on double vinyl which contains a download code for the album plus new remixes, new versions and all b-sides from the maxi releases of the "A Raver's Diary" era. The album comes with 180g vinyl in a gatefold sleeve.

Coming hot on the heels of their debut release (a stunning record by ROAR), French imprint WORK IN PROGRESS returns here in triumphant and eclectic fashion courtesy of a record that does their reputation as serious party-starters no harm at all. Again featuring the talents of ROAR, this is a dizzyingly eclectic record that fans of smile-induing house and disco are sure to admire especially. The A1, the title track, ‘I Wanna This Record’ is a case in point. A really vibe-heavy disco-centric track that’s notable for its killer vocals and acid techno flashes, it’s an unlikely gem of the sort that will light up any floor. For their contribution, London duo The Willers Brothers turn the track on its head, opting instead for a more straight-up, 4/4 remix. Muscular and full of wonders, it’s without doubt a neat addition to the original’s charms.

The B side sees ROAR side up with Zolbaran courtesy of another cheeky and playful track, ‘Neukolln Baila La Bamba’ Starting toward pop sensibilities in a manner not dissimilar to Kompakt, this one pulls at the heartstrings in much the same way that Gui Boratto’s best work does. An emotive, pleasure-seeking cut that’s hard not to love, that’s for sure. Closing out the release is the no-less assured sounding strands of ‘Modulando El Piano’, which sees ROAR & Zolboran go toe-to-toe with Nico Forster for a sultry, piano-heavy gem that’s never boring and always unpredictable. Unconventional sounds that evoke memories of Perlon and Kompakt, WORK IN PROGRESS’ latest is a joy to behold.

Vinyl Only

"On My Way" EP is the first vinyl-only release by the Polish label Kooky Music. Gogan, the co-founder of the label, delivers 3 minimal house tracks that portray both Gogan's long-term deejaying experience, and his ambition to think out of his own box as a musician and constantly improve his production skills. What is essential, is that the Polish producer keeps the dance factor at a high level and does not forget that the main role of a clubbing track is to make people move, this is why we get 3 100% dancefloor killers, often minimalistic in form, but with totally groovy feeling. Last but not least, is the atmospheric remix provided by Silat Beksi, one of the finest producers in the world of minimal house (and more). As already said, the release is vinyl-only, so grab your copy as fast as you can, 'cause it's really hard to say if there is going to be a repress in those times that hit the clubbing scene so hard.

Anton Kubikov(half of SCSI-9 duo) returns to MAYAK with a tripy two-tracker. Strictly analog hardware polished by his talent delivered great groove. IN is a classic house track with some acidelic touch, that will make crowd dance for whole 10 minutes, while OUT is a deep dub dive.

fantastic new house mixes from this all-time disco classic!!!

Hector & David Gtronic join forces once again on the sixth installment from the Tervisio series. Including four original cuts ranging from stripped back 90s house grooves, mystical synths, massive basslines and continuous beats. After their successful ‘Holding On EP’ was released during the beginning of the year on the Vatos Locos imprint. Their collaboration project continues with 'Life's A Risk EP'.

180g Vinyl // Vinyl Only // Blue Vinyl

German label Bondage Music delivers the six instalment of its ‘Bondage Games’ series. Another vinyl only release, this time with four fresh tracks from Markus Homm, Andre Kronert, Pornbugs and Dust Yard.

Entirely off the safe path, nonconformity and badass sounds are merging for Snork #72 to send the ultimate SOS for genuine techno. Snork Enterprises meets Remute out in left field with three tracks not only to Save Our Souls, also to save our sound of raw, underground techno. In a distorted space of sound, eclectic Morse-codes come floating while persistent base lines keep the machines running. Sirens sound and tortured steel is building up a sphere ofvibrating noise spreading all over the hull and sustainedly screaming for SOS. Soaring beats forecast the last burst of strength. A freak wave of forceful sounds is rearing up. Scared minds are facing the darkness of endless depth, still longing for the last beam ofmoonlight. Yet, the all-embracing wall of infinity is merciless closing the entire surface. In an ambience of distortion, finally everlasting silence is drawing through the dark deepness devouring every vivid glance. From the distance down below there remains one inward echo - the ultimate SOS.

Berlin based Enough! Music present the 9th release >Crispy Lips Crispy Lips and Backflash<. The great musical attitude, passion and the smooth flaver are the hallmark of Eveline Fink. This time we are so happy with a fabulous remix from Daniel Stefanik, (Moon Harbour, Cocoon,). Enjoy!

VENDi - Berlin based, French artist who developed his passion for arts from childhood. After releases on Ultrastretch, Normandy at the begin of 2019,
VENDi give his debut on Subtil with an unique piece of wax. On side A, Meeram and on the flip side Hauskat impress with stunning grooves, hypnotic melodies which takes you on a magic journey. Mybtch exudes more an opaque sluggish vibe, reduced to a minimum, a stumble beat complemented by a handful thoughtful and arranged percussive elements.
Already played by Rhadoo and Priku.

After a long release Pause Sued Records returns with “metro” a new Dresvn ep.

The oscillating future ahead us will not be as we imagined it. We don’t know what it will be like - yet is certain it’s an individual experience.
Abstrack Future 002 is about that.

A split that takes us through its mysterious and exotic melodies to discover a new musical place - but at the same time one that we already know.

Kaiserdisco start the single with 'El Tiburon' that has a pulsating bass line, which isn't for the feint hearted. This peak time stomper uses a melodic synth and unusual synth effects to create the building atmosphere before it kicks back into the throbbing beat. The ascending bass line on the flipside 'La Caballa', is supported by white noise and a rising synth that will make any dancefloor erupt into a heated flow of energy.

THE SCOTTISH GIANTS DELIVER A KILLER 2 TRACKER FOR DRUMCODE.

limited repress !

Vinyl only - Silky and smooth like a fox, Crihan makes his way through on Catren's third release with "Fabulistul". Eerily creeping through, "Fuse si se duse" tells a tale of fleeting forest creatures roaming at night with a classical percussion driven tool that hits just the rights spots for warming up the dancefloor with bouts of shy melodies and a beautifuly constructed drum track. Sweet and simple, just like we like it.

On the flip side, "Corbul si vulpea" moves things further into groovier waters with a bassline that pulls you deep into the track's inner workings with delayed dub stabs, haunting melodies and chilling vocals coming in from the woodwork.

2 dicke dinger...köln eben

Berlin's new born label debuts with its limited 12inch vinyl series.
Mechanical grooves, shuffled rhythms and jazzy moods combine with gummy basslines bubbling underneath and illusive wondrous
harmonies to shape this unconventional minimal techno. 'Roots
remain unseen underground in the same way that our consistence remain hidden to the common eye' Cover artwork: oil on paper by Nicolò Canova

First released by Cazzo Film in 2001, ebo hill’s Bonking Berlin Bastards has long achieved the status of an underground punk porn classic. Like the Cazzo productions of director Bruce LaBruce, hill’s vision was both ahead of its time and a playful distillation of 90s and early-2000s Berlin Zeitgeist: queer, industrial, hypersexual, exhibitionist and fueled by electronic music. The story is told in large part by the soundtrack, to be released for the first time on Ostgut Ton sublabel A-TON. The music follows a group of squatters, punks and drag queens as they fuck, party and stumble their way through an empty city at the turn of the millennium. Approaching these themes more through location than plot, the film’s narrative freedom is also a narrative of freedom; between chance encounters and sex in public, atop the maze of roofs in the city’s former East, bent over bridges and moaning in ecstasy at oncoming traffic, pants down in telephone booths, packed into sex clubs, in the shadows of abandoned factories and techno clubs lost in time. Composed by improvisational techno trio AeoX and noise / industrial producer Rouage aka CNM (respectively), the music spans a broad range of appropriately pounding industrial, weird techno, noise, ultra-stoned ambient, improvised dub and electro. It’s a sonic spectrum that connects Berlin’s queer hardcore techno and squatter party scenes from which AeoX and Rouage emerged, drawing a direct line between the likes of Berghain-forerunner OstGut (a primary meeting point for the film’s cast & crew) to the more industrial, breakcore and noise- oriented independent party collectives and locations who provided multiple settings for the film, including Grüne Hölle and Stellwerk.

*Artists:* CNM / Rouage (Kathinka): Born in 1975 and raised in East Berlin. Co-organization of subcultural events since 1998 in Berlin, Potsdam, Leipzig and Barcelona. Experimental music, collaborations, exhibitions and audiovisual shows since 2000.

AeoX: Active between 2001 and 2007. Originally a quartet, then a trio, the group eventually shrank to two permanent members: Alex.E and Hanno Hinkelbein. The latter founded Null Records, where AeoX released two album and numerous EPs. They also released on Mental.Ind.Records founded by former OstGut resident Cora S. Musically, the group experimented with combining improvisational hardware techno, breaks, traditional instruments (guitar, clarinet, piano) industrial and metal.

Ursprünglich 2001 von Cazzo Film veröffentlicht, hat Bonking Berlin Bastards von ebo hill längst den Status eines Underground-Punk-Pornoklassikers erreicht. Wie die Cazzo- Produktionen von Regisseur Bruce LaBruce, war auch hills Vision seiner Zeit voraus und ein spielerisches Destillat des 90er- und Anfang-2000er Berlin-Zeitgeists: queer, industriell, hypersexuell, exhibitionistisch, angetrieben von elektronischer Musik. Die Geschichte wird größtenteils über den Soundtrack erzählt, der auf Ostgut Tons Sublabel A-TON zum ersten Mal veröffentlicht wird. Die Musik folgt einer Gruppe von Hausbesetzern, Punks und Drags, die ficken, feiern und durch die leere Stadt um die Jahrtausendwende streifen. Bonking Berlin Bastards erzählt diese Themen mehr über die Drehorte als über die Handlung. Die erzählerische Freiheit des filmischen Narrativs ist gleichzeitig eine Erzählung von Freiheit: Von zufälligen Begegnungen bis hin zu Sex in der Öffentlichkeit, auf Dächern im früheren Osten Berlins, sich über die Brüstungen von Straßenbrücken beugen, trotz und wegen des Verkehrs stöhnen, mit heruntergelassenen Hosen in Telefonzellen, in überfüllten Sexclubs, im Schatten aufgegebener Fabriken, zeitverloren in Technoclubs. Der Soundtrack wurde sowohl vom Improvisationstechnotrio AeoX als auch von Noise-/Industrial-Producer Rouage aka CNM komponiert und spannt einen weiten Bogen von explizit pumpendem Industrial, schräg klingendem Techno, Noise, ultra-stoned Ambient, improvisiertem Dub und Electro. Das musikalische Spektrum verbindet Berlins queere Hardcore-, Techno- und Hausbesetzer-Party-Szenen, aus denen AeoX und Rouage selbst hervorgingen und zieht dabei eine direkte Linie zwischen dem Berghain- Vorgängerclub OstGut (ein wichtiger Treffpunkt für die Darsteller und Crew des Films) und den eher Industrial-, Breakcore- und Noise-orientierten Independent-Partykollektiven und -Locations wie Grüne Hölle und Stellwerk, welche mehrfach als Drehort und Kulisse des Films auftauchen.

CNM / Rouage (Kathinka): 1975 geboren nd aufgewachsen in Ost- Berlin. Co-Organisation subkultureller Events seit 1998 in Berlin, Potsdam, Leipzig und Barcelona. Experimentelle Musik, Kollaborationen, Ausstellungen und audiovisuelle Shows seit 2000.

AeoX: Aktiv zwischen 2001 und 2007. Ursprünglich ein Quartett, dann ein Trio, dann verkleinerte sich die Gruppe auf zwei permanente Mitglieder: Alex.E und Hanno Hinkelbein. Letzterer gründete Null Records, auf dem AeoX zwei Alben und zahlreiche EPs veröffentlichte. Ebenfalls Veröffentlichungen auf Mental.Ind.Records, welches von der ehemaligen OstGut resident Cora S. gegründet wurde. Musikalisch kombiniert die Gruppe improvisierten Hardware- Techno mit Breaks, traditionellen Instrumenten (Gitarre, Klarinette, Klavier), Industrial und Metal.

Another outstanding release by Noah Skelton on Amour - highly recommended! 180 gramm, vinyl only!

Laurine Frost's debut album 'LENA' reinterpretates Dostoyevsky's surreal novel and presents an utopistic self-revelation that leads to an exquisite musical journey. A weird collage of jazz and dub-fusions as an extension of wonky polyrhythmic patterns and the organic abstraction of bass-heavy drums, breaks and percussions. Call it as electronica, IDM or techno – anyhow, you are wrong. This album doesn't seem to fit into any genre. Laurine Frost tends to master his story-telling skills by inviting the listener to 13 imaginary scenes that can be approached, heard and understood from different points of view. A living and stirring masterpiece that is independent from time and actual trends.

new keinemusik records with great support by Tiefschwarz, Popof , Dubfire, Monika Kruse, Steve Lawner, Someone Else, Solomun (Diynamic), Kiki, DJ Emerson, Patrick Lindsey, Joris Voorn, Claude Von Stroke and many more!!!!

2″ - EP – Onesided Picture Disc Limited Editon

One for the collectors and all round connoisseurs of quality contemporary techno. Oliver Huntemann teams up with compadre André Winter for the phenomenal Reeperbahn - released on an equally impressive single-sided 12″ picture disc. The track comes courtesy of Senso Sounds - Huntemann’s boutique label for technoid-leaning electronic music. Senso Sounds is now starting its 5th year and here with release #50, Huntemann and Winter kickin’ it with a driving slice of slick techno full of dramatic twists and turns. Kontakt is the label’s new release series presenting the teamwork of respectively two prodcuers. More to follow soon…

repressed !

Kling Klong celebrates its 10. birthday with the selections of their biggest selling tracks & remixes from the past

after a long silence Buttha comes back with four beautiful tracks

Hailing from Los Angeles, Jimmy Tamborello has been a key figure in refining what today is considered electronica for over 20 years. "The Seas Trees See" is the first of two Dntel albums to be released in 2021 by Morr Music in collaboration with Les Albums Claus: a free-floating and rather loose stroke of musical genius, giving ambience a whole new meaningful context. It combines crackles and hiss with deep, yet modest, synths and poignant, yet elegant, vocals and lyrics. "Away", its counterpart album, will follow later in 2021. It will showcase Dntel’s unapologetic love for pop music from a long-gone era, presenting yet another aspect of his multi-faceted personality. Dntel has always covered many musical grounds – from the pop-infused hits on "Life Is Full Of Possibilities" (Plug Research, 2001) to his much more abstract works on "Aimlessness" (Pampa Records, 2012), "Human Voice” (Leaving Records, 2014), and his electronics for The Postal Service (Sub Pop). Whatever his style – Tamborello has retained his very own musical voice.

When it comes to producing music, it can be a good idea to get away from the studio and find a more relaxed environment. Inspiration does not necessarily require huge bass bins. Fewer pieces of gear make it easier to really focus on ideas first and let them be. After recording "Hate In My Heart" – his most recent album, released in 2018 – this way, Tamborello continued working in that fashion, mainly jamming and getting ideas together for upcoming live shows. One of the first results of this creative process was the opening track of "The Seas Trees See" – a cover version of "The Lilac and the Apple", originally recorded by Californian folk singer Kate Wolf in 1977. Tamborello turns the acapella song into a vocoder-like extravaganza. Working with the original recording, the track perfectly sets the tone for what "The Seas Trees See" turns out to be – a quiet yet mesmerizing journey through sound and emotion, bringing together his very own sound design, disguised samples and an incredible feel for moods and atmospheres.

"I thought a lot about making an album that you would find in a thrift store", Tamborello remembers. Something "like a mysterious collection of sketches that leaves a lot unanswered. It doesn’t beg for attention or have any big moments." Despite its perfect and gentle flow, it is worth digging deeper, to surrender oneself to all the painstakingly placed details. Whether the beautiful and haunting piano work on "Movie Tears" or the almost sidechained-sounding "Yoga App" – every aspect of this album has been beautifully crafted, often bringing one of life’s biggest questions to the table: What if? What would have happened if Tamborello would have done this on that track or that on this track? It is good that he did not. Small things add up to something great, diverse and riveting.

The subtlety of his latest endeavor is fascinating. It opens up a new world, in which small musical sketches mean at least as much as perfectly produced pop anthems – if not more.

The 9th release on BLKMARKET MUSIC is the second follow up release by Taimur, Amo, and Ostara under their T.A.O. alias. TAO stands for the absolute principle underlying the universe, combining within itself the principles of yin and yang and signifying the way, or code of behavior, that is in harmony with the natural order.

On the A side, the opening A1 breakbeat track ‘Ready Set Flow’ keeps on building and building with Ostara on the vox. The track sets the tone for a party with sleaze and constant tease. The A2 electro turns into techno on the track ‘Sevn’, a journey into time and space. On the B side, B1 is a minimal after-hours space nugget that takes you ‘To the Moon.’ B2 closes out the EP with a hypnotic and twisted 4 on the floor track ‘Shadow In the Maze.’

Tobias Schmid produced his latest work, “The FU EP” (AND23), during the first Corona lockdown. When pandemic control measures were announced, half of Audision’s team took it lightly and thought: “It's wonderful that this pandemic falls at a time when I'm settled down enough that I don’t have to worry about the price of a bottle of red wine anymore.” He paid a visit to Jaques’ wine depot and back at home put his feet up, cranked up the Netflix machine and let himself go for a few weeks. Another thought slowly developed, too: The pandemic might also fall at a time when you can buy clones of legendary drum machines and bass sequencers for less cash – a thought that instantly inspired him. He ordered everything he needed and later picked up the Thomann packages from his neighbour. Our hero soon realised, that no viral infection had yet set in, so nothing stood in the way of letting his ideas, beats and basslines flow freely. He disappeared into the studio... ... and this is what he came up with: A1: Acid 672
This number refers to Studio 672 in Cologne, where the legendary Total Confusion clubnights took place. Hardcore Acid purists will probably shout: “Fake!” but are quickly hooked by the autumnal strings – a Mathew Jonson and Lawrence reference from the early 2000s. A2: PVSHL-202
PVSHL-202 – is that a new drum machine’s name or a track from Aphex Twin’s lost hard disk? A Basic Channel-like dub, originally paired with a Hi-NRG bassline. The hihat work is self-quoting (well done, Audision). The track is packed with suspense – ideal for listening to while waiting for your PCR test result. B1: Acid 672 (Tensnake Quarantine Remix)
It’s nice for Tobias that he isn’t the only one in quarantine. His buddy Marco Niemerski comes round for a glass of Bordeaux and delivers an alarmist-bouncing acid-stomper, where he filters out the bass line with a skill akin to top German virologist Christian Drosten who filters out those false positive results. B2: Glimmer Schwarzes Kerosin 
A sizzling-spherical minimal track with skilful frequency management in the style of GAS’ Zauberberg or Jan Jelinek's loop finding-jazz-records. It’s also a reference to the Augsburg former nightlife and the clubs that died with it.

The new Macarena Musica release by the Spanish master of machines Eduardo De La Calle!

We program the time machine to take us to 1999 with this new EP from INVŌKER. Based in Paris, the Frenchman specialises in nuanced me- lodic electronica that delivers absorbing rhythmic energy, cerebral enchantment and spiritual alignment all at once. This four-tracker sees him move through a variety of moods, while holding true to his distinct sound from start to end, while DC Salas steps up for remix duties.

The Hanover based Label Malonian returns with their 3rd release "Calimero EP" by the german producer-team Fusal. In addition to the 2 tracks there is a locked groove, called Dalailoop on the record. Based on friendships, which started in Mamaia.

After several releases on labels like Bar25, Microtonal, Dantze and Etui Records End Of Tape finally hit the box with their Tape Jam EP.

These guys don´t talk with each other, they just do music and that´s the best. The result of this gone wrong musician friendship (but tight producer team at the same time) you can celebrate with this EP.

This is no snow from yesterday, it´s the musical climatic change of tomorrow - without any opportunity. Played & supported by Paco Osuna, Anderson Noise, Lexy, Electric Rescue, Beatamines, Gabriel Ananda, Piemont, Carlo Lio, Markus Kavka and many more.

5th one from the MOi camp. 180 Grams black vinyl only.