Techno Новости

Lemak Records makes a triumphant return after a four-year break with their sixth release, showcasing Barcelona’s Prince De Takicardie as El Maquinista Hypnotica. This vibrant EP blends reimagined Miami bass, sharp acidic basslines, and retro echoes of early ‘90s Valencia.

It's the end of the liberal democratic order. We regress. Back in time. To an era of authoritarian strongmen. Fascists. Morons. Humanity in reverse. History in reverse. Time in reverse. In reverse.

There are sounds that are hard to recognize,
Others whose initial hisses awaken memories,
sensations.

We are in between,
In a no man’s land,
In a memory without a master,
In a face without light.

We scratch at the secrets of our souls,
Hoping for redemption.

We carve, without any remorse,
Words of hate into our hearts,
To guide us, to dominate us,
Unaware of their effect on ourselves.

We flee without destination, without reason.
We find ourselves among slabs of ice,
Of which our minds become the prison.
• Utopian Soul -

Headless (adj.) - a system or software operating without a user interface.

With Severance, IGLO returns to Figure with a focused yet exploratory EP that reflects his open-ended approach to contemporary techno. The release moves fluidly between restraint and expression, combining functional structures with subtle, unconventional elements that give the tracks a distinct sense of character. Rather than settling into a fixed formula, Severance highlights IGLO's curiosity and willingness to push his sound forward while remaining grounded in precision and control.

Connection opens the release with a restrained, heads-down groove. A firm low-end foundation and sparse percussion lock into a steady momentum, while understated melodic elements add depth without breaking the track's linear drive.
On Kauriraris, the energy tightens. Nervous synth motifs and crisp rhythmic details create a sense of urgency, pushing the track forward through constant micro-variation. It's a lean and effective tool built for sustained pressure.
Flipping the record, Blink Twice moves into darker, denser territory. Murky textures and a weighty groove unfold gradually, building tension through repetition and space. The track thrives on its slow burn, making it well-suited for late-night transitions.
Alive introduces a more open and flowing feel. Warmer tonal elements and a subtle swing soften the edges, while the groove remains firmly anchored and forward-moving.
Digital-only track Forlornly closes the EP with a spacious and introspective mood. Reduced rhythms and airy melodic layers create a calm, drifting atmosphere that rounds off the release with control and restraint.
With Severance, IGLO delivers a tightly structured EP that emphasizes clarity, tension and functionality - a confident addition to the Figure catalogue.

2026 Repress
I am back on Somov with 4 recordings showcasing my sound. A dimension where thought does not exist, and I reflect back on all the beautiful moments these tracks hold on the dance floor. Love.

Germany's Invexis comes back to the Manchester-based Scrap & Delete label with the 'Morphium' EP, arriving 19th September 2025. The four tracks follow up his remix for label founder Dorbachov's 'Ellesmere Street' EP earlier in 2025, which won support from Luke Slater, Jako Jako, Dave Clarke, and more. Title track 'Morphium' opens the EP in unexpected territory: an emotive, melodic crossover track that retains Invexis' mechanical backbone while reaching for something more transcendent.

With soaring synth layers and expertly balanced weight, it's a rare euphoric moment in his catalogue; one destined to erupt across festival tents. 'Nordic Noise' pulls things back into colder, rawer terrain, a frostbitten slab of functional minimalism with raw textures, fizzing hi-hats, and relentless groove cycles. 'Instinct' channels classic loop techno through a modern lens, driven by restless percussion and syncopated punch. Finally, 'RS' pays tribute to late-'90s groove science with complex, kinetic motion and heads-down intensity, reimagined for a new generation of warehouse punters.

After delivering a killer track on our Diffraction EP compilation and a series of highlighted projects on Hiver Discs, Iro Aka returns to Polychrome Audio with club-ready 4-tracker Dimensions. We are really proud to release the music of friends who create such quality electronic music. On the A side, Dimensions and Direction 0 original mixes bring a driving and bleepy techno sound shaped by the duo’s characteristic psychedelic design. The B side is a strictly remix affair: Human Space Machine turns Dimensions into deeper techno territory while French duo Atomic Moog presents a slow-burning downtempo take on Direction 0 for early or late into the night. We hope you enjoy this record as much as we do!

Continuing a run of highly eclectic and quirky but consistently individual releases (most recently GAMING's internationally lauded Scenes From A Deserted City 2x12" LP, out Nov), the Hobbes Music label is very excited to welcome Jacksonville aka Yorkshire-born, Edinburgh-based artist Chris Lyth, to the fold. He has carpet-bombed the last few Hobbes Music events at Edinburgh's Bongo Club with his excellent live sets and the release has been in the pipeline for some time.

The 'FON' EP (caps intentional) combines a love of classic electro and techno with dub reggae, sound system culture, the UK's contemporary bass scene etc. Mastering was done by Optimum in Bristol, who did a really lovely job, with loads of width in the mix.

This release follows Jacksonville's 'Machines Of Loving Grace' EP which dropped in November via Inner Shift. He has a pedigree spanning some 20 years plus via releases for the likes of 2020Vision, Hizou, Doppler, Thug, Plastic City, Leftroom, A.E.R, Shanti and Dan Curtin’s Metamorphic. This record's a bit of a departure for him.

While we're deeply saddened by the knowledge that there's no chance now of us ever hearing Andy Weatherall play it out, we're kinda heartened by the idea that he would have probably dug it.... RIP.

Barking-born Jane Fitz, and Transmigration label founder David Fogarty, curate a collection of tracks from East London and Essex’s rich but largely overlooked constellation of independent record labels and distributors operating from London’s E16 to the edges of the Thames estuary during the 1990s.

Mysterious Vastness documents a hidden and largely detached scene that only forms into something coherent with hindsight. From a time when record labels could press and hand-distribute 1000 copies locally, the late 80s acid house and outdoor rave scenes were moving from the fields to the clubs of London and DJs such as Colin Dale, Colin Faver and Darren Emerson were dominating the airwaves and parties with a distinct mix of other-worldly techno, trance and out-there house music. Among the seemingly bland post-war housing estates and factories, a scattered handful of producers were experimenting with early versions of music production software to create an exotic, end-of-the-century soundtrack to the suburban-meets-industrial landscape.

The compilation features a selection of finds from East London’s second hand record or charity shops over a period of 15 years. Many of which have featured in Jane’s sets over the years, most notably the “Beyond The A13" Podcast for Furthur Electronix. A mix she described at the time as the soundtrack to an area of London “totally bereft of natural beauty, but to me, somehow always full of mystery and wonder.”

Counting to forty two... I draw a breath from a single drifting oxygen molecule and swim my self into the eye of truth. Behind that eyelid floats a teardrop - falling - leaving behind a resonating noise that becomes an invisible language, echoing the questions of reality. Teardrops turns to rain, tinting existence and grounding gravity in my soil. While my footprint takes shape within a flourishing garden, I'm searching for a logical answer to the life that has never been but always existed. Through all, I remain my own nature. credits w/p: Joline Scheffler design: Janu Krohm mastering: Giuseppe Tillieci a.k.a. Neel @ Enisslab, Rome

2026 Repress

French DJ/producer Mathys Lenne's artistic vision is rooted in his deep connection to rhythm. Telling stories with his sounds while drawing inspiration from poetry and cinema and blending hypnotic textures with raw intensity, his music is widely supported across the scene via labels like Mord, Hayes and more. Across five vinyl cuts and three digital bonuses, the four-deck wizard keeps it deeply atmospheric with his label debut on SHDW's Mutual Rytm imprint, combining elements of psychedelic rock, unique voice samples and saturated synths to create a sound that feels immersive and unrestrained in contrast to the fast-paced, visceral techno he has become known for.

'Detlev' opens up with hefty kicks that demand you quicken your step, while industrial effects and creepy design brings the detail that makes the track pop. The classy 'Natural Born Killers' rides on firm kicks with loopy percussive details tightly coiled, ensuring you are forever on edge as the drums march on. 'Choose Your Pill' is a stripped-back and pulsing deep techno cut with deft synths that peel off the groove, before 'Untidy Echo' delivers a cavernous sound with sparse hits and low-end rumbles that place you in the centre of an underground cavern. 'Enfer ou Ciel' featuring D.E.S brings a sense of melancholy in the occasional string sounds and watery droplets that float over more frictionless, meditative beats - while the trio of digital bonus cuts brings moody subterranean rollers ranging
from snaking and dubby to more drum-led and eerie tones.

Known for her delicate, subtly psychedelic approach to production - all subtlety is thrown out of the window on the opener, “Parents and God”. We are immediately confronted with a slamming Chicago house style beat in style of Mr Fingers at his most utilitarian. It slams, jerking in and out of tempo like Ron Hardy in beast mode.

Out of nowhere a soulful church organ arrives - at first for a brief respite - but then for an extended solo, which gives way to an 80s electro style breakdown before reverting back to form. It shouldn’t work, but somehow it does - to a dizzying extent - and heirin lies Mayurashka’s magic: a blatant disregard for norms and a deft touch that makes the unorthodox so compelling.

“Notango" takes another big left turn - sitting somewhere between tribal seance and rain dance, it’s mostly organic drums and otherworldly sound effects that combine to drag us deeper into the wormhole before “ Vat Murmur” takes us back into the light with its uptempo disco energy and giving way to heavy chugging bass. This one is equally for fans of idjut boys and Larry Levan.

The EP rounds off with the title track “ LSI dreaming” - to try and describe it is almost impossible, but let’s say it starts of with a mid 2000s Perlon-era tech house energy before things quickly escalate beyond all recognition and then just hover with lysergic intensity. If I ever closed panorama bar, this is the track I’d end with.

Michael Forzza unveils Obscure, a two-track EP navigating the darker edges of atmospheric techno with precision and intent.

A) Obscure is a peak-time weapon built on powerful percussive drive and a commanding groove. The rhythm pushes forward with controlled intensity, locking the dancefloor into motion. As the track evolves, the rhythmic pressure gradually recedes, allowing a shadowed melodic atmosphere to emerge in the final moments, adding depth and contrast without losing its dark identity.

B) Torture ventures into a more industrial realm. Dense textures, mechanical tension and hypnotic repetition shape its core, creating a sustained rhythmic strain. Then, when the pulse finally withdraws, the structure opens into a striking melodic finale, transforming the track into a suspended, almost cinematic closing atmosphere.

With OBSCURE, Michael Forzza explores the fragile line between impact and introspection, pressure and release. A release crafted for intense peak-time moments and the shadows that follow.


Français

Michael Forzza dévoile Obscure, un EP deux titres qui explore les territoires les plus sombres de la techno atmosphérique avec précision et intensité.

A) Obscure est un véritable track peak time, porté par une puissance percussive affirmée et un groove implacable. La tension rythmique s’installe et maintient le dancefloor sous pression, avant de s’effacer progressivement en fin de morceau pour laisser émerger une atmosphère sombre et mélodique, apportant profondeur et contraste.

B) Torture s’aventure dans une dimension plus industrielle. Textures denses, tension mécanique et répétition hypnotique construisent une montée intense. Puis, lorsque la pression rythmique disparaît, le titre bascule vers une finale mélodique surprenante, transformant l’énergie brute en une atmosphère finale plus immersive.

Avec OBSCURE, Michael Forzza joue sur l’équilibre entre impact et relâchement, puissance et émotion. Un EP taillé pour les heures sombres et les dancefloors exigeants.

repress !

Paranoid London, the electronic band of Gerardo Delgado and Quinn Whalley, has become synonymous with stripping acid house back down to its basics, rescuing the sound from smiley faces, rave, and sugary excess while paying respects to its gay, black, American roots. Performing mainly live with hardware only, often with vocal guests, as well as unique hybrid DJ sets, the duo has established a tongue in cheek, grumpy punk sound and attitude without taking it too seriously.

Following 2019’s latest album PL and a bunch of 12” singles and edits, their new long-player Arseholes, Liars, and Electronic Pioneers refers to the cavalcade of c***s we find ourselves surrounded by. Our only respite being the joy that musical geniuses bring. The cover artwork and gatefold of the vinyl reflect this with a collage-like poster including personalities of all kinds, from politicians and royalty to music legends. When we asked them to highlight key music pioneers from their picks, they mentioned American electro don Aldo Marin, British producer Andrea Parker and Post Punk band WIRE.

Inspired by early ‘90s British prog house on the likes of Sabres Of Paradise Records and Guerilla Records, the album presents a step up on their production while the anarchic attitude remains unaltered, unadulterated and undiluted.

In Quinn’s words: the album has a slightly more Hi-Fi sound than previous efforts, but retains the urgency and punk rock attitude that we're known for. It was tested over the summer, where it lit up festival stages at Glastonbury, Houghton, Love International, and many, many others.

As expected, PL has recruited a bunch of special guests on vocals including Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie, US house veteran Monica “DJ Genesis” Lockett, the novo-New Romantic/gothic, Jennifer Touch, and Joe Love, from Fat Dog, Brixton’s current ones-to-watch. As well, previous collaborators Josh Caffe and Mutado Pintado return for new recordings. All bring something unique to the party, while integrating perfectly with PL’s Fuck you! circuitry.

2025 Repress

Music For Stalagmites is a slow-form, immersive album, marking the accumulation of over 20 years of experimentation from the Middlesbrough based artist.

The album explores the duality of both primal and futuristic worlds, drawing inspiration from nature, technology and evolution to create a body of work that transcends beyond any timeline that has come before us. Forging vivid and otherworldly subterranean environments that transport the listener to an alternate haven. Music for Stalagmites embodies the sound of animism, a concept where all forms of nature hold a spiritual essence.

Sicion & Maris Shilton with their first joint release on BCCO

2024 Repress

The first installment of Vault Records is finally here.

Stef Mendesidis takes the baton with a ravaging, no-nonsense, 4 tracker EP.

With this label we aim to focus on the art itself, we'll let the music to the talking!

2026 Repress
Temudo - Meteora (FUSE06) by Noah Hocker

A leader of the Portuguese wave in techno co-founding Hayes Collective while boasting acclaimed releases on Klockworks, Blueprint, and Soma, Temudo grabs the reins to take club music back to its days of audacity and risk taking. A more than promising up-and-comer turned modern reference, Temudo defends his reputation with a release showcasing depth in his various sonic universes and a deep understanding of his music's history. For its seventh release, Temudo's 'Meteora' is a logical next step for the club's direction - a sweet spot between dancefloor efficiency and enduring aesthetic.

Combining the intrigue of mental soundscapes with the reliability of imposing rhythm, 'Meteora' finds itself collected, expressing effect through restraint. The title track, claiming the EP's A1, is just that - a force of interweaving sound design and powerful micro transitions. Some believe the best techno records are able to express emotion and attitude despite its dissonant and machinelike nature; if that's the case then Temudo has mastered the craft. 'When I Grow Up', however, puts the focus back on the body. What sounds like warbling tape modulation over a percussive lead makes this record an addictively delirious ride from start to finish, fitting in with the track before while shifting to different priorities. Proving his versatility, 'Vrthng' at first seems reminiscent of the minimal Berlin style with a higher pace, but quickly progresses into something intensely euphoric. With experience and measure, an out of the box approach can really pay off, and the added emotion in 'Vrthng' is certainly a turning point in the EP. This mindset is clearly carried over in the project's conclusion : 'It's Always Past'. A surprising use of harmony and storytelling, this final chapter ends with Temudo sealing his style with confidence. The track is mystified by its chords, ending 'Meteora' with a question mark that leaves us in anticipation for what Temudo dares to do next.

20025 Repress
KEY Vinyl welcomes Brazil born and Berlin based power woman The Lady Machine for her debut on the label with Kudos, a no-nonsense showcase of tough, effective club techno. Rooted in old-school sensibilities yet charged with a forward-thinking edge, the EP offers four tracks engineered for the dancefloor, each distinct yet united by their raw energy.

We begin with Precursor, a big-room stomper that immediately commands attention. Its thick bassline and driving percussive thrust create an uplifting, high-impact sound that burns with intensity one for the peak time moments. Next up is Motto, a powerfully driven cut thatdoubles down on insistence and energy. Every element here feels deliberate and with a strong propulsion. Mantra follows with a massive groove and rhythm focused sound design. Open hi-hats, a sturdy bassline, and perfectly placed claps build a magnetic, suspenseful atmosphere. Oscillating synths add tension, while the sharpcomposition makes it clear why this one stands out: its a certified club hit and hip shaker. On closing duties is Abracadabra, defined by a returning thick bassline, pushing the tracks momentum to its limit. Pure, pounding techno at its core a fitting conclusion to an EP built for high-energy spaces and untamed dancefloor energy. With Kudos, The Lady Machine makes a bold first impression on KEY Vinyl, bringing a set of tough, dynamic and high-impact tracks.

Georgian artist and FACTION co-founder Uvall debuts on Conundrum Records with the Vertigo EP - a tightly crafted collection of four techno cuts built for the club.

With previous releases on WSNWG, FLOAT, INGUMA, OECUS, and CANTICLE, Uvall brings deep low-end pressure, precise percussion, and atmospheric tension across a versatile set. From driving grooves to slower, chugging rhythms, Vertigo delivers a dynamic snapshot of his evolving sound.

Like the evershifting sound, KYSH is never standing still. After eight digital releases, the time has come to introduce our style to the techno vinyl market. Five powerful gems from five titans in the present day scene.
They're well established, yet fresh in their approach to sound and dancefloor spark. From aquatic, bleepy grooves delivered by the Munich duo Glaskin, through perfectly deep, enigmatic cut by the talented IGLO, playful minimalism of our French brother Sicion, then rich and pacey firecracker from the Georgian temper Yanamaste, to the label regular, our own Sept, with an epic finale full of tension and poignant chords.
This is our statement of quality and timelessness - a material that we are more than proud to press onto vinyl to prolong its resonance. Vital and elegant techno expressing the dance-like power of maximalism through minimalism.

Valvula Records returns with its third EP, reinforcing its identity through a powerful release that brings together Swedish and Brazilian artists in a compelling convergence of contemporary Techno. The project highlights the creative strength of artists who are actively shaping Raw and Hypnotic Techno with personality, consistency, and a clear artistic vision.

Alexander Johansson and Mattias Fridell deliver an intense and precisely crafted collaboration, reflecting the maturity of a partnership built on deep, impactful productions. Brankelo continues to expand his international presence following recent releases on the renowned Planet Rhythm, contributing a track driven by raw energy and sonic intensity.

Sev Dah maintains his distinctive contemporary groove, offering an exclusive track that adds tension and movement to the EP. Alvinho L. Noise and Steel Force join forces on a hypnotic, driving track powered by a solid and immersive groove, reinforcing the EP's raw and uncompromising character.

Designed for the dancefloor, DJs, and true Techno enthusiasts, this release marks another strong step forward for Valvula Records in building an authentic and relevant catalog.

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Reframed is Vitess’ third album, released on his own label Retro Futura, and marks a new turning point in his artistic journey. Unlike his previous albums — the first fully exploring the Retro aesthetic, the second embodying the Futura — Reframed brings these two worlds together within a single, coherent yet eclectic body of work. The album opens with sounds inspired by 90s progressive music and gradually moves toward more futuristic textures. This album format gives Vitess complete freedom: the freedom to build a full, living musical experience, introducing for the first time a strong instrumental dimension — most notably through the use of live drums — and allowing each track to interact with others, transform, or mirror one another, while maintaining a clear narrative thread that guides the listener throughout.

The title Reframed directly reflects this approach. The album is built around tracks conceived as Recto / Verso, offering a form of double listening experience. On the one hand, electronic, club-oriented and progressive versions, designed for energy and dancefloor movement; on the other hand, more introspective, pop and instrumental counterparts, created for listening and storytelling. Starting from the same musical foundation — a vocal sample, a percussion element, or a melody — Vitess develops two distinct interpretations of the same track, generating contrasting yet deeply connected sonic worlds. This method, central to his creative process, highlights his ability to explore a single detail in depth and let a micro-element lead him toward radically different sonic dimensions, while ensuring coherence and a strong identity across the album.

For Reframed, Vitess also collaborates for the first time with other artists: Stupid Flash, ATOEM, and Lucile, selected for their ability to enrich his universe and push it toward new aesthetics. These collaborations recreate a sense of collective energy reminiscent of his early days playing in bands, while remaining true to the essence of the Vitess project: a primarily solitary approach rooted in exploration, experimentation, and embracing the unexpected paths each idea can take.

2026 repress

For the decennial release on Punctuality Warsaw duo W.A.C., aka Private Press step up with their Forever W.A.C EP. Moving away from their more techno-oriented offerings, Forever W.A.C. keeps the tempo and energy of their earlier work but suffuses the mood with warm, glowing trance and prog energy. This is peak-time Punctuality business in its purest form– on time as ever. “No More No Show” comes in hot from the get-go: galloping snare rolls, raved-up breakbeats, uplifting pads, big basslines, acid licks, and the low-end wubs that have become synonymous with the Punctuality sound. One for that point in the night when the dancefloor has melted into sweaty, eyes-closed, hands-up amorphia.

Barely recognisable to its original counterpart, the Rhyw remix strips the A1 down to the bare essentials. Preserving only a few percussive elements, the euphoria of No More No Show is replaced with hazy, cinematic synth washes that drone around a skeletal groove loaded with bassweight, warping the original into a dubbed out psychedelic UK stepper. Shifting to the morning light, “Only Froggerz” is a shimmering roller that ebbs and flows around barreling kick drums, kaleidoscopic synth lines, and vaporous FX, with lustrous chord work driving the emotion dial to 11. Elegant and restrained but relentlessly pummeling, it’s early-morning club gear at its finest.

Rounding out the EP with an essential slice of modern prog, “Close” utilises all the good bits: skippy basslines, filtered squelches, tribal-leaning percussion, and a relentless groove that builds around the subtle interplay between the stabs and the vocals. An epic closer that feels as true to the Punctuality canon as ever.

Detroit house and techno fans with their ear to the ground are well tuned to the sounds of Brian Kage. He's shown his skills on the likes of Omar S' FXHE, Carl Craig's Planet-E and Rob Modell's Echospace. Now it is his own label Michigander where he appears with a new EP that kicks off with Taho and Kage combining forces once more. There is acid to start with next to uplifting piano notes underwritten by deep chords on the opener, 'Warehouse Vibes' then brings driving kicks and dubby techno bliss. Things step up again on 'JAX' which is a full-body workout with first pumping rhythms. This is another EP that adds to the rich heritage of Motor City musical magic.

Breakthrough opens a new chapter for Primal Instinct. After nine releases built around our stickman tribe, this EP is the first in a new visual era where each cover is sourced from the open archive of Wikipedia and subtly reworked. Choosing these images is not aesthetic coincidence but a statement: if the label is about the human condition, then it makes sense to dig into one of the biggest, most accessible repositories of our collective memory. For breakthrough, a karateka high-kicking a punching ball becomes the perfect symbol: direct, physical, and aimed at breaking through limits-of self, of sound, of format.

On Lila, his debut LP, Moroccan artist Karim presents a series of undulating electronic rhythms laser-etched into tessellated form: drumless techno from the pre-Sahara, built for communal psychic expansion.

Drumless, yes, but not percussionless. There are shakers, castanets, stabs, plonks, thuds. There are insistent basslines propelling forward, pulsing with energy, rippling in time. There are tones interlocking, rolling, fluttering, pattering. Dancing within, around, between each other. Considered in terms of sheer geometry, Lila is a techno record, unmistakably. But it sounds quite unlike any other techno record you've heard lately.

To write the album, Karim borrowed from the music of the Gnawa, a religious-spiritual musical tradition descended from West African peoples brought to Morocco as slaves hundreds of years ago. Now integrated deeply into Moroccan culture, the centerpiece of Gnawa music is the lila—or "night," in Arabic—an all-night-long ritual of rhythm designed to induce participants and musicians alike into a healing trance state. Which, if you're a dedicated raver, may sound familiar, yes?

Crafted entirely with modular synthesizers, Lila conjures a range of textures and moods. The show opens with "Bakh," a blissful exercise in beatlessness, clear and crystalline. On "Philipoussis," "Kiyex," and "Sonic," arpeggiated synths approximate Gnawa chants while interlaid percussion keeps time in multiple meters. "La" and "Kille" pulse in half-time, ideal for creative mixing. "Joul à lèvre" bristles with electricity, the sound of a charged lightning rod. "Pamil," woozy and lurching, feels like being shipwrecked on a forgotten island. Last and absolutely certainly not least, on the final track, "Miloir," Karim faces West and unleashes the album's only kick drum for a ten-minute psychedelic techno masterpiece. The mind warps; the body moves. 

Lila is released on Tikita, Karim's own record label, founded in 2014. Tikita's discography, spare but tightly curated, features artists from across the globe pushing outwards into techno's deepest reaches. Karim's album pushes even farther. Listen for yourself.

On Lila, his debut LP, Moroccan artist Karim presents a series of undulating electronic rhythms laser-etched into tessellated form: drumless techno from the pre-Sahara, built for communal psychic expansion.

Drumless, yes, but not percussionless. There are shakers, castanets, stabs, plonks, thuds. There are insistent basslines propelling forward, pulsing with energy, rippling in time. There are tones interlocking, rolling, fluttering, pattering. Dancing within, around, between each other. Considered in terms of sheer geometry, Lila is a techno record, unmistakably. But it sounds quite unlike any other techno record you've heard lately.

To write the album, Karim borrowed from the music of the Gnawa, a religious-spiritual musical tradition descended from West African peoples brought to Morocco as slaves hundreds of years ago. Now integrated deeply into Moroccan culture, the centerpiece of Gnawa music is the lila—or "night," in Arabic—an all-night-long ritual of rhythm designed to induce participants and musicians alike into a healing trance state. Which, if you're a dedicated raver, may sound familiar, yes?

Crafted entirely with modular synthesizers, Lila conjures a range of textures and moods. The show opens with "Bakh," a blissful exercise in beatlessness, clear and crystalline. On "Philipoussis," "Kiyex," and "Sonic," arpeggiated synths approximate Gnawa chants while interlaid percussion keeps time in multiple meters. "La" and "Kille" pulse in half-time, ideal for creative mixing. "Joul à lèvre" bristles with electricity, the sound of a charged lightning rod. "Pamil," woozy and lurching, feels like being shipwrecked on a forgotten island. Last and absolutely certainly not least, on the final track, "Miloir," Karim faces West and unleashes the album's only kick drum for a ten-minute psychedelic techno masterpiece. The mind warps; the body moves. 

Lila is released on Tikita, Karim's own record label, founded in 2014. Tikita's discography, spare but tightly curated, features artists from across the globe pushing outwards into techno's deepest reaches. Karim's album pushes even farther. Listen for yourself.