Techno News

Vinyl Only
180g vinyl, limited copies!

Mysterious new label, let the music speak and let doves cry.

2022 Repress echocord 20th anniversary special release

This vinyl series celebrates artists who continue to inspire the echocord journey, from 2001 to 2021 and beyond.

Over the past two decades, the Kenneth Christiansen helmed echocord imprint has been at the forefront of the dub-techno scene, discovering and developing sophisticated artists globally.

The twelve-track release is an exploration, from energetic dub techno, with cuts like Luke & Jeff Hess’ “M1 Dub”, grad_u’s “Pacific Lair”, and Idealist’s “Ride” to more esoteric passages with Forest Drive West’s “Signals”, Mikkel Metal’s “Lakam Dub” and Brendon Moeller’s “Slow Return”. Heavy dub vibrations resound in Babe Roots feat Another Channel’s “Gunman” and Deadbeat’s sub-driven “The Old Doom and Gloom” while Fluxion turns it to a jazzy, dub house wave with “Slide”.

“To me music is life, thank you for your support keeping the sound of echocord resonating” –Kenneth Christiansen

Repress

Van Bonn presents with 'Control' his debut album on his label Van Bonn records. Control is the strong and logical consequence of his earlier releases. The Album presents 13 tracks at the edge of techno and dub. Van Bonn takes the opportunity to present an album full of drive, groove and power without losing the sight for his elegant musical vibes. He also opens his musical spectrum for new influences towards vocals, ambient sound scapes and dub step.

MixCult presents LO-FI sublabel CRYSTAL MUD focused on limited edition lathe cut 7" discs.

Dub Techno Music in Dubplate Culture. Highly Exclusive.

Emerging from beneath the Seine, Parisian outfit EZEPH resurface with their debut release. The French duo are no strangers to working under heavy pressure: after a long expedition spent submerged and isolated, they are finally ready to showcase their unique sound to those at surface level.

Title track Observance features a solemn sermon on the direction of society, delivered over a deep, shuffling dub techno riddim. On the flip the vocal is cut, leaving a raw chugging, high pressure version.

Greek wizard Echonomist arrives on TAU with the ‘Modern Wonder’ EP, featuring three original cuts and a remix from Ditian. Echonomist has been deep in the game for a long while and it’s safe to say he is Greece’s top DJ and producer of our times. He is an all-rounder whocan DJ, produce and perform live with confidence and panache. After his exciting contribution to Dixon’s Transmoderna release alongside tracks by Ame, Trikk and others, ‘Modern Wonder’ sees Echonomist‘s debut with the TAU family.
Opening with ‘Eyes, the EP gets off to a dramatic start as moody synth lines and a driving bassline take us into the new wave zone. Echonomist demonstrates his flair for arrangement here, with a carefully arranged track that could almost have been performed by a band. The atmosphere is gloomy and emotive, taking us for a ride into the night as flickering neon reflects off the rain covered streets in a sleazy part of town.
The title track is next, raising the energy levels somewhat with punchy beats and a searing atmosphere. Female singer Iokatsi delivers a brief vocal over the breakdown before the track continues with its melancholy yet heartfelt narrative.
‘The Touch’ follows, taking us further into realms of synth heaven. The main riff is gnarly, with electro-fied beats and a simple yet catchy rhythm.
Echonomist adds a perfectly placed synth way up high to complement the low end, creating uplifting moments that juxtapose the gruff bassline.
Finally Ditian’s ‘Snake’ remix of ‘Modern Wonder’ closes the EP. This a deep, dubby rework with heavy emphasis on the bass to begin with. Ditian takes the main vocal and chops it into pieces, using “You’re trapped” to increase the tense, chilling atmosphere. Detuned piano keys add to the macabre feeling as Ditian rolls out a nasty, haunting rework.

Whether it’s bouncy UK garage styled beats, deep dubstep excursions, skippy house, trip hop or even footwork stylings, his vision is set firmly on creating music which takes the sounds of genres like dub, downtempo, dub-techno and early dubstep in different directions but together and cohesively.

The echoes of Stillhead’s previous alias DFRNT seem to get louder here as he takes another foray into the world of deep electronic music.

Since his days of releasing deep post-dubstep as DFRNT, Alex Cowles has been crafting his sound in multiple genres and since 2014, his Stillhead moniker has carried that torch over 4 albums and a number of EPs. His newest album “Restraint And Reverb” will be landing on 12th August on double heavyweight coloured vinyl. Released on his own Brightest Dark Place label the full 12-track album will be available in both physical format and digitally.

Vinyl Only. Limited

MixCult’s NO REPRESS sub label is represented by artists who characterize a very clear vision of what refined music is. This first release of year 2022 is a Various Artist compilation featuring Dub Tech House virtuosos: Dan Goul, Genning, Dubtommy, Komey & Anas M. Each producer provides a zest, leaving a very personal signature of groovy-ethereal and energetic cuts. This EP feels borderless, eradicating the limits in which DJs can use the tracks it contains. Definitely a must have for those elite-class sound explorers.

As the year draws to a close TAU unveils its latest release, with German duo The Cheapers handling business this time around. On this two-tracker we also get a rework from highly respected producer Dave DK, best known for his releases on labels such as Pampa and Kompakt.
The EP starts off with the title track, ‘Poem’. Throbbing bass frequencies intertwine with a sonar-esque fm-bell to establish a serious, purposefulmood. A chilling, detuned vocal sings in Spanish intermittently as The Cheapers tease in a variety of unsettling effects. This unusual, yet stirringcut epitomises the TAU sound, emotive, deep, dark and moving.
Next up is ‘M10’, a stoney-faced rumbler with more strange atmospherics and eccentric production. This is the sound of two experienced producers enjoying themselves and flexing their musical muscles. Relatively simple in its architecture, ‘M10’ shifts and evolves steadily, the energy building in subtle waves keeping you engrossed from start to finish.
Dave DK steps up to remix ‘M10’, giving it more bounce and an assertive rhythm. The pace is quickened, though the morose mood remains.
Dave’s ability to cultivate solid dancefloor movers is clear here as he demonstrates his knowledge and experience with an uptempo reinterpretation.

Left of leftfield dub and techno excursions.

Remix by Rainstick of Blazer Sound System.

To celebrate its first anniversary Lempuyang firmly stakes its claim amongst the forefront of deep techno labels with an outrageous line-up consisting of eight of the most respected heads in the business, all doing their stuff across four pieces of vinyl. Among the highlights are the growling menace of Sa Pa's 'Randomer', Gradient's fizzy, dubbed up 'Dopamine Rain' wearing its Basic Channel influence on its sleeve, the ghostly rave stabs of Deadbeat's 'Planterwald' among a sea of radioactive white noise and the clear, sculpted linear grooves of 'Growing Pains' by Bluetrain. That said, there's no weak link among the eight cuts and put together into one coherent package it's more than the sum of its part.

The Idealist is one of the many projects of Joachim Nordwall who has a long history in Swedish experimental music running the quintessential iDEAL Recordings record label since 1998, as a member of the psych-drone duo Alvars Orkester, avant punk rock trio Kid Commando and ritual drone rock group The Skull Defekts and through his many solo recordings and collaborations with people such as John Duncan, Aaron Dilloway, Mika Vainio, Mats Gustafsson, Leif Elggren, Gabi Losoncy, Mark Wastell and Christine Abdelour.
As The Idealist, he has been delving into an amalgam of experimental techno, dub and industrial music since 2006. His new A Lion Is A Lion And Not A Lamb continues this perspective unabatedly, conjuring up six tracks that shimmer with an almost psychotropic intensity, sometimes including acidic touches, dwelling in a confrontational minimalist musical stance where repetition, bursts of gorgeous noise and dubbed out skeletal rhythms make for wayward yet driving grooves at home on the dance floor and a set of headphones alike. The Idealist looks for engagement within rhythm, in its almost purest
form.

The majestic Aliens Don't Boogie was an instant banger when it was released back in 1999 and has been a regular in the bags for some of the largest DJ's in the techno scene for years. Now some of the big names in the Dub techno scene make their homage to this classic and do so with style.

Firstly we have the don of the Russian techno scene Andrey Pushkarev transforming it into a ultra-deep hypnotic voyage. The Icelandic techno youngling Waage brings his hallmark dub influences and creates an after- hours delight from the source material. On the flipside, it starts with a remix from the brothers Mark & Matt Thibideau. The Canadian sensations are on their A-game with this one; creating a delicately structured atmospheric yet groovy take on the original. The release is completed with a deep and trippy remix from the Icelandic dub techno legend Octal Industries.
Thule Records is considered by many to be a pioneer in the field of dub-influenced techno music, and has been a starting point for many of Iceland's most renowned electronic musicians.

The mystical Elijah Minnelli steps away from his own imprint for the very first time, with a sublime 10" for Accidental Meetings with his trademark dub-folk sound...

There's not a huge amount of information surrounding the illustrious Elijah Minnelli, but after a run of highly sought-after 7"s with his own label, Elijah Minnelli debuts on Accidental Meetings. An exciting match-up by any means, Elijah's unique style is in full blow, with extra added hazy reverb & delay.

Turbo Recordings presents its grandest achievement yet, a reimagining of Plastikman's 1998 magnum opus "Consumed", Transformed as a new collaborative composition between original artist Richie Hawtin and musical genius Chilly Gonzales. This is an album three decades in the making, brought into the world by Executive Producer Tiga. A masterpiece of restraint, depth, and music as architectural vision, "Consumed" was profoundly influential, defining the soon-to-emerge minimal movement. Shortly after its 20th anniversary, Chilly Gonzales was inspired to compose accompanying piano pieces (counterparts) for each of the tracks and shared them with Tiga, who became the conduit between both artists and led the project to fruition on his label. Hawtin mixed the new combined work, allowing each artist their own space within the project,more of a sonic conversation between them than a conventional collaboration. Consumed in Key will be available as a deluxe triple vinyl LP. The artwork is a reinterpretation of the original album's, flipped to black and white and with the cutout size transposed to the dimensions of a piano key, the die-cut in the white outersleeve revealing a shiny black foil stamp on the black innersleeves.

Limited promo stock !

Longing melodies, warmly distorted harmonies based on deep house foundations.

4 years can feel like a really long time – “Long Time No See“ was Achim Maerz’ frst Wake Up! EP back in 2013, “It’s Been A While“ is his frst track on Metal and Machines and it’s good to see that some things don’t change. it’s a true Achim Maerz track – focused on longing melodies, warmly distorted harmonies based on deep house foundations. “Listening To Machines“ features a kickdrum like a steam hammer in factory hall. For the right mind, even a factory can be an inspiring place.
Benjamin Brunn’s “Iron Copper Gold“ follows his manner of creating timeless and eternal soundscapes. It is less playful and takes the tension to higher grounds. Just like metal, it’s cold being touched and it doesn’t take long until it reaches body temperature. The fourth track Express Mode“ was released on Benjamin Brunns Drop LP in 2015. Achim Maerz’ remix sounds like a screwed-down uptempo house track – slow and heavy, but Benjamin Brunn’s quirkiness is undeniably there.

Forest Drive West makes a welcome return to Echocord this February with the ‘Recursion’ EP, featuring one solo cut and two collaborations with DB1 and Localhost. London’s Forest Drive West has been steadily releasing his left of centre take on techno over the past five years on the likes of Livity Sound, Hidden Hawaii, Delsin, AD93 fka Whities and of course Echocord where here returns here following the ‘Parallel Space’ EP back in 2019.

Leading the release is the murky, tense atmospherics of ‘100m’, produced alongside regular collaborator DB1 the eight minute composition journeys through unfurling, expansive pads, subtly nuanced bass warbles and gritty off-kilter percussion.

Next up, Forest Drive West joins forces with Localhost for title-cut ‘Recursion’, embracing a 4/4 approach rhythmically this time and bringing hazy, ethereal pads, earth shattering subs and circling stab sequences into the limelight. Forest Drive West’s solo cut ‘Anchor’ then rounds out the release, taking things deeper into dub territory via tumbling percussive echoes, billowing chords and heavy doses of low-end drive.

Limited to 500 copies worldwide.


Heavy as f-ck and deep as hell, this devastating split album gleefully corrupts and corrodes Dub’s sunshine reflections. Celebrating rhythm & noise in its dank echo chamber, these demolition dub tracks are built from obsessive studies in distortion, overdrive and seriously ruff textures, amongst an absolutely insane amount of sub-bass level.

‘Disintegration Dubs’ is a three way low end collision, between G36 (The Bug aka Kevin Martin/Gorgonn’s rig torturing beat project) and JK Flesh (Justin Broadrick of Godflesh/Jesu etc…). As the album title suggests, this instrumental pile up of floor crawling, sound system crushers, is a clearer sign than ever, that these three producers crave their dub cuts to be mutant and heavyweight, totally damaged and completely atomised. Dub as sonic obliteration

Anyone previously smitten by Techno Animal’s deeply psychedelic face off with Porter Ricks, on the long out of print ’Symbiotics’, or who worshipped Zonal’s recent rhythmic wreckage via Relapse records, will surely gorge greedily on Disintegration Dubs’. Likewise, newbies, who have snapped up this year’s ‘Fire’ by The Bug or ‘New flesh in dub’ by Godflesh, will find endless pleasure within these dread-tech, annihilated dubs and Industrial strength steppas rhythms. Echoes of Basic Channel, early Iration Steppas, Public Image Limited or even Andy Stott can be heard within this collection’s haunted atmospherics and bulldozing rumble. Yet, these three individual producers have obviously found their own recognisably original sound, within these monolithic grooves, and what makes this album so utterly refreshing, is just how well the three disparate sound manipulators complement each other fully, as they collectively set their sights on some shared, relentlessly futuristic sci-fi vision, for a new form of dub.

Obviously, Martin as The Bug, and Broadrick with his colossal dubs of Godflesh and his filthy back catalogue of JK Flesh releases, have both long since subscribed to the genre, aesthetic and fragmentation of Dub. Meanwhile relative newcomer, Gorgonn, is The Bug’s long time, live soundman, and former bandmate with DJ Scotch Egg in Devil Man, as well as having formed Dokkebi Q with Kiki Hitomi (ex-King Midas Sound), so he is no stranger to the art of deviant dubs either…

G36 dropped their appropriately titled debut EP ’Floor Weapons’, in 2018, on PRESSURE, as well as providing the backing riddim for the first ever release from Jamaican MC phenomena Nazamba, with his startling debut, ’Vexed’. Alternately, Justin has previously released seven albums solo, as JK Flesh, that systematically contorted, distorted and completely bastardised techno for labels such as Hospital Productions, Downwards and Speedy J’s Electric Deluxe… (Next year will also see a full JK Flesh album on PRESSURE too…!)

This album is Mastered by Stefan Betke aka POLE, at Scape Mastering.

Stately Records is back with their third physical release and this time the Dutch graduated minimalist Luna Ludmila is in control. Luna delivers an incredibly diverse EP, looking back on a rough past 2 years with her title track ‘Trip On My Own’ and celebrating her Slovenian roots with the atmospheric ‘Hipnotična’. The EP is completed by the dubby opener ‘Bollenhofsedub’ and a heavy remix by one of Netherlands’ finest, Roger Gerressen. Vinyl Only!

Rolling into the spring of 2022, Mosaic turns to Berlin based Yorkshireman and co-founder of Tact Recordings, Fletcher, for Mosaic LTDX6 .

Following his impressive "Mechanical Garden" debut LP on Mosaic DTL, 'Violet Shift' focuses on Fletcher's ability to weave magic for the dancefloor with DeepChord's Mike Schommer adding a contrasting touch of class on the remix.

Title track 'Violet Shift' is a trip into the light fantastic: centring around a delicate fusion of deftly programmed beats and continuously shifting filtered chords. Brought together with muted pulses of sub bass and splashes of effects, it's a masterful exercise in restraint and a true delight with repeat listening.

Taking it the other way, Schommer's remix focuses on a four to the floor journey: adding tribal elements and tight percussion that inject more urgency into the mix. A tough but fair take, you wouldn't expect anything less.

Last but not least, the dawn chorus of 'BOHTS' eases you into the mood with a trimming of airy optimism and brushy bounce to the beats as warm chords sweep their way through.

Lempuyang's third offering is an outstanding split release between Steve O'Sullivan & Hydergine, label bosses for Mosaic/Bluetrain & Ranges. In 'Binary Riddim' Steve delivers a two-part dub track spanning >13 minutes, seriously heavy in the low end; melancholy strings in the first half, progressing to outright menacing chord stabs in the latter. A versatile track offering something for both warm-up and the dancefloor. Complimenting on the flip are 'Mystic Light' and 'Lunar Eclipse' from Hydergine. Deep, dubby atmospherics meander over a weighty 909 kick on B1. Subtle minimalism a la Terrence Dixon, pitched down on B2. Essential release!

After featuring on the Various Part 2 release in 2020, Keppel returns to Well Street this summer with a full EP of textural perfection. Joining club-focused percussion, dubbed out landscapes and serious sub pressure. Limited pressing!

Soft Armour is Christian Hougaard, a Danish producer. 'Multi Terrain' is his debut full length, after two ep's. The album is a mesmerizing marriage between ambient and IDM, loaded with soundscapes, field recordings, bass lines and dynamic electronic percussion. That being said, don't expect typical techno, drum & bass or dubstep beats. The ones on this album seem to breathe their own air, go their own way and drag you into an immersive audio adventure. Think Autechre, µ-Ziq or Squarepusher, that will get you closer to the sounds on this album.

Big Hands teams up with trumpeter Abraham Parker on Trule with a trio of deep, dubbed out percussion jams. Layers of drums and sparse synth work overlaid with Abrahams jazz inflected trumpet parts, all run through with dubwise echoes.

Al Wootton provides a minimal techno dub remix on the B-side.

A new addition to the label’s extended family, Tracey arrives on Dial with his debut LP, Biostar. Following previous releases on Aus Music, Voyage Direct and Intergraded, ‘Biostar’ pushes the technical and emotional craft of this vital young producer in exciting new directions, submerging listeners in thirteen tracks of sublime electro, ambient experimentation and warm, tonal techno. Based in the Netherlands, Tracey’s music is undoubtedly indebted to a legacy of emotive electronic music, the sort whose stark futurist vision cannot be equalled. Instead he strives and succeeds to create something personal and charismatic from a perhaps familiar palette of sounds. Somewhere between experimentation and understated songwriting, ‘Biostar’ is a worthy edition to Dial’s legacy of unique, artist-led albums. In the tradition of established Dial artists such as Lawrence, Roman Flugel and Efdemin, Tracey’s immediately apparent strength is an almost supernatural ability to conjure affecting and memorable melodies with minimalist intent, often just utilising the raw textures of his machines. From album-opener ‘THRRVL’, Tracey tracks the initially gentle undulations of his studio seemingly waking to life, plotting a neat melodic shuffle on ‘TRR’ and then, by, ‘CCLRT’, something dense, trippy and yearning. From hereon in, ‘Biostar’ plots an intriguing course through hypnotic, clockwork crunch (‘THWRD’), to Drexciyan submersion (‘HDRCSTCS’) and rhythmic experimentation on ‘PHTCPHRK’. Some of the more affecting moments on ‘Biostar’ emerge from it’s more obtuse sections; ‘DTFNK’ deciphers a surprisingly catchy melody among waves of scrambled signals, while the initially skittish ‘DRMRBT’ blossoms into an electro lullaby at 126bpm. By the arrival of wistful closing track ‘CLSTLBNG’, listeners are likely to emerge content from the deepest exploration yet of Tracey’s unique analogue ecosystem.

A mixture of a few well-chosen percussion elements, a
steady groove and cleverly constructed harmonies creates
Eddi Shkiper's clean, hypnotic yet positive signature sound
ubiquitous in the vast array of tracks he has released,
especially over the course of the last year. With "Le Reveur
EP", the ambitious Siberian-based artist takes us into a world
of bright and spiritual dreams. Roger Gerressen (Yoyaku,
Sushitec Records, Irenic) enhances the EP with his dub
rework of “Le Reveur”. The four-tracker is the second release
of the new Salin Records sub-label Salin Deep. Each record
sleeve is hand-printed by Daria Salin (limited edition of 300).

black Vinyl

New Maastricht-based label with a release from the mysterious J.S. Zeiter.

feat. Earl 16

We would like to welcome Ezeph, an enigmatic duo out of Paris, France in the evergrowing Moonshine family. We have the extreme pleasure to bring you their debut release. Limited to 400 pcs 10" marbled black clouds vinyl.

Almost a year ago, dBridge reached out after hearing a self released album I made in the summer of 2020. I’ve been a fan of his work since I started listening to electronic music ten years ago, and still stand by a comment I posted stating that Inhibited LP is the best album of 2020. Naturally, I accepted the offer to work together.

The Noir Music sub-label relaunches itself with a bang - a heavy double A-sider with strong Remixes from Skudge and André Kronert - finished off with a nice new overall cover artwork.

The electronic musician and Poker Flat founder's contemplative new studio album takes in minimal house music, moody techno and effervescent breaks across 11 unique tracks. His previous LP Paradise Sold alongside Langenberg was released in 2018 to critical acclaim, and described as "elegantly euphoric" by Mixmag. Never Ending Winding Roads is an entirely solo release however, with much of it produced during the months of enforced isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many of the track titles reflect Steve's headspace during this time, with themes of solitude, contemplation and reflection brought to the fore perhaps more than with any of his previous work. Steve's formative musical years were spent during Germany's techno and acid-house heyday, with his love for a perfect groove as apparent now as it was back then. His DJ skills and a keen, innovative ear led him not down the typical path of the early nineties trance and harder dance scene, but instead towards a fresher, hybrid sound-merging stripped deep house, tweaked out acid and more minimal forms of techno and electronic music: a strand of music he fiercely champions to this day.
"My mindset when making Never Ending Winding Roads was completely different to any other project I have embarked on. I didn't have to tour, and instead could focus 100% on writing music without having the dancefloor as a constant influence. This allowed me creative freedom to explore a range of styles and emotions, and as a result, it is the album I feel most satisfied with to date." says Steve Bug.

With 11 brand new tracks, Never Ending Winding Roads is a meticulously produced and deeply engaging electronic album; one that explores various shades of house, techno and broken beat with Steve's celebrated attention to detail and consummate originality. Album opener Lucid Loops perfectly sets the tone, immediately ensnaring you with a hypnotic, undulating synth line and a faintly menacing undertone thanks to hushed, discordant strings and unnerving vocal stabs. This atmosphere of quiet paranoia permeates many of the tracks on Never Ending Winding Roads, most explicitly in the sinewy groove and sketchy, panic-inducing synth line of Locked Away In My Head.
This album more than perhaps any other in his career sees Steve experimenting with broken-beats, to incredible effect. Tracks like A Conscious Machine and Electro Harmonix are melodic, emotionally-rich cuts: burst of radiant optimism that juxtapose beautifully with the album's darker moments. Elsewhere tracks like Yellow Snake find Steve exploring deep, dubby territory, while album closer Upon Mountains is a cosmic, arpeggiated masterpiece: an 8bit computer game soundtrack reimagined as a poignant electro ballad.

DEEPINTEL...a revolutionary excercise in electronic beat perception

Vinyl Only. Limited

MCRV012 VA Tripping Dubs 2 is a profound gaze for a living, gasping sound of dub elements, this time featuring timeless masters like Ohm & Tm Shuffle and other virtuosos such as Bruit Blanc & Moodeep,
Atart, Genning and DJ<3. The 4 track EP presents a compilation of singular workspace moments, each one with an unique atmosphere for the most demanding listeners.

Modernism Italian duo

Born from a passion for these machines and a belief that these machine each carry with them a soul.

Dub house and techno sound culture.