Techno News

INVOLUCIJA is an experimental post-industrial collaboration with artists from ex-Yugoslavian countries, started by Michel Morin (Sneak-Thief / Polygamy Boys) and Lucija Invo.

This 2×12″ on their new Berlin label expands on their 2023 debut EP on aufnahme+wiedergabe with even fiercer inspiration from EBM, techno & Balkan musical traditions.

“Involution” is a metaphor for the ever-entangling depth of our situation – the world falls apart then re-organizes itself with unexpected and sometimes distressing connections. Increasing effort is demanded for our “productivity” and our only reward is diminishing returns. Enough is enough!

INVOLUCIJA is envisioned as a noise abrasive enough to resonate with and overcome this ever-increasing discomfort from which we try to dissociate.

We call this euphoric deprogramming.”

Deep dark techno tracks on the stabile force Lockertmatik. The replay worthy tunes are dark and gritty, like a sweaty Berlin techno basement and keep going, morphing and teasing. Proper stuff! (limited supplies!)

"Stockholm Soul" is the third album by the Swedish synth-darkwave band T.G.T.B. Sounds and composition reveal a more mature level, engaging the listeners in almost 50 min of danceable dark electronics.

Cosa Vostra kicks off with a first release delivered by Lyon based producer Carriego who sign a stunning return after his well received Dying Flutchman EP last year on barcelona's Overthink Records. His Acid Apophis EP is a 4-tracker showing his ability to juggle between genres and speeds and will please your body and your soul. Cosa Vostra is all about giving and is ready to launch!

Vladislav Delay presents the third EP in his "Hide Behind The Silence" series with five 10" releases coming throughout 2023. Intuitive and raw music, momentary and reflective, released on Ripatti's own label "Rajaton".

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Stillness is a myth. Consider concepts such as ”still water”, or ”still air” for that matter. Go to a restaurant, ask them for a glass of still water, hold it against the light and see where we’re at. Even though the water itself has been captured and imprisoned in the glass, it never stops breathing. It’s filled with tiny particles, dancing. Everything can be explained on a molecular level, but since we’re not scientists – and even if you happen to be – it’s the natural world of perception that moves me.
Still air is very similar. A hot summer’s day with zero wind feels completely still. It’s the closest I have felt to complete stillness. Or for a more urban adaptation, imagine the same vibe inside a normal apartment. In those moments, revelations and mind- blowing experiences can be had with experiments in stillness.
Try this: Just sit down for a minute on a sunny day, making sure there’s enough natural light. Do absolutely nothing. Try not to breathe for a bit. (If you need a mental anchor, you can play Cage’s 4’33” in your head but nothing else.) Watch the tiny dots of dust dancing :..’ ̈.:; ́ ́*°.,’:,. ̈ ̈ ̈ ̈:,.’
The movement is crazy, but the feeling of stillness comes from witnessing how subtle it is. In (perceived) complete stillness, every act of microscopic mobility seems to speak volumes. Yet, it feels both reassuring and oddly threatening that the stillness is never complete. What if we would need absolute stillness? Or is it just enough that we can perceive something as such? Extremes attract, so for both water and air, extraordinary movement is equally fascinating. That is also a luxury item of sorts. For us to enjoy a very ”loud” body of water or air, we need to be safe, in enough control of the situation. So when you are, it’s worthwhile to pay attention and take it all in.
A rapid flowing free with extreme strength and just barely in control. Look at that water go! No still water on this one, only ”sparkling”. A windy day when birds seem surprised how hard it is to fly, but in the end they make it. Trees bend but don’t break. The wind shows you its movement but doesn’t hurt you. It feels friendly, like a big clumsy dog that doesn’t quite understand its size.
It’s beautiful to be a guest of the elements, but not at the mercy of them. A new kind of dialogue forms.

4 Dark techno tunes, powerfull and all smae speed. Superb kicks and ambiances, alive dancefloor sounds. A must have !

SPHERES second release lands with Gilles Renneson's Callisto EP

Gilles Renneson's Callisto EP is the second release on Rua Sound's SPHERES sub-label. The second on the label following a much loved EP by Noroi in March, this EP delivers dark, UK-influenced broken techno for discerning bass music heads.

Gilles Renneson is one half of the highly acclaimed Brussels-based duo GoldFFinch, and he brings his exceptional production skills to the forefront with Callisto. Gilles has released on respected labels including Innervisions, Turbo, Fuse Music, 877, Dirtybird, and Glasgow's Numbers, and has made a major contribution to the post-dubstep and modern Belgian techno scene.

On Callisto, Gilles rolls out superbly creative percussion that moves between satisfying and anxious over the course of the EP, all loaded over broken kick drums. Fans of Livity Sound and Timedance take note.

The release comes packages with original artwork by Josje Bijl aka Yorobi.

Mastering by Bob Macc at Subvert Central.

Part 1 of a retrospective of sorts, compiled from dozens of unreleased tracks from literally two decades of producing, these gems were collecting dust in the vaults of Ekman. Evocative and eerie electro from the Dutch master. We think we can let the music speak for itself in this case, as it's unique and instantly recognizable.

Electro and dark techno ambiances...
Album with a cool sound dynamic through.

It is with a singular pleasure that we welcome Marc Romboy to the ever growing stable of live artists at ASW!

Marc Romboy is an artist renowned within the electronic scene for his eclectic, boundary-pushing approach and decades worth of experience working both behind the scenes and behind the decks.

In recent years he has embraced performing live as another creative outlet and, indeed, creative challenge. As an artist and performer, Marc has always pushed the boundaries of his creativity and this, Marc’s first studio album in 6 years is a true masterwork of techno from one of the masters of the genre.

Growing up in the West of Germany close to the borders of both The Netherlands and Belgium, Marc was always instinctively drawn to music. He would attend the acid house parties prevalent in the area, with an epiphany of sorts on the dancefloor of Front club in Hamburg in 1987. An avid record collector, he would listen to Krautrock, breaks, Italo disco, Chicago house and more, and experienced some of the first all house and techno clubs in Europe; the legendary Roxy club in Amsterdam and Dorian Grey in Frankfurt. Learning to DJ, and later on produce, was a natural step.

He founded the ’Le Petit Prince’ imprint in 1993 as a platform for the music of friends he was playing out, which went on to be named Label Of The Year by various German electronic music publications the following year. Its reputation led Marc into collaborating with other DJs to manage their labels too.

Meanwhile, Marc went on to notch up an impressive discography of EPs, tracks and collaborations, carving his own sound; emotive, versatile, and featuring distinctive basslines.
2004 was a landmark year for the artist, with the beginning of his own, completely self-run label Systematic. Since It's birth, the label has provided a home for productions from the likes of Robert Hood, Kenny Larkin, Omar-S, Terrence Parker, Timo Maas, kINK and many more. It also provided the platform for Marc’s first album, ‘Gemini’ in 2005, followed by four further LPs; 2008’s ‘Contrast’, 2009’s ‘6 Monde’ with Stephan Bodzin (which birthed the pair’s now-legendary track ‘Atlas’), 2013’s ‘Taiyo’ with Ken Ishii, and 2014’s three-disc retrospective compilation ‘Shades’. And his collaborative orchestral LP ‘Voyage de la Planète’, Marc’s forward-thinking last album. Pushing the boundaries between classical and electronic music, it makes for a moving , atmospheric outing for the producer - “I feel like there are still a couple of beautiful sounds to create”.

Marc’s output has been exemplary and with his inspiration rising for performing live he now brings us the wonderful “Music Made for Aliens”. A work of true electronic inspiration. Marc will be performing live at ASW events coming up soon.

The latest excursion into deep waters from the UVB-76 Music camp comes in the form of Bristol based Tavis Hitchcock AKA Karkossyn and his Troubled Youth EP.

Across six tracks Karkossyn mediates a disturbed exchange between trip hop, IDM, techno, pitched down breakbeats and guttural moans. Fully opening the next chapter from pages previously flirted with by UVB-76 Music label mates.

For its debut release, Wobbly Mob Records welcomes Newcastle and London based DJs Glockta and Shawn Cartier.

Glockta has created three dark, pulsing, Garage tracks broken up by an interlude, each with impeccable drum programming. The five track EP acts as a reaction to the energy vacuum created by lockdown, due to abandoned dance-floors and a struggling electronic scene. Shawn Cartier has orchestrated the finale with a fast-paced electro ripper, a remix of Plastic Fiver on the A side.

Originating in Newcastle, Wobbly Mob Records first began as The Wobbly Mob, a Facebook platform for sharing music and creating an online community with an interest in similar music genres. This EP will mark a new direction for The Wobbly Mob, which has outgrown its initial purpose, now linking promoters, collectives, DJ’s and producers from all over the globe.

Wobbly Mob Records encourages and supports artists experimenting within and beyond their genre orientation, providing an open space for DJs to develop their skills.

Emerging from a stylistically varied collection of recordings made during the ongoing global pandemic, “Works and Days” is Alina Valentina’s debut album. Grounded by home confinement, she found herself back in the studio with generous time to reflect on the different directions taken in her previous work. Inspired by 70s horror, sci-fi and film noir, her work blends synth heavy darkwave and pop with misanthropic and playfully aloof lyrics. Lyrical themes vary in dealing with escapism, providence and existentialism; laying bare the struggle of maintaining a healthy balance between livelihood and creative output as an artist. “Works and Days” opens up like Pandora’s box, revealing a myriad of reflections on Valentina’s existence. The title refers to Hesiod’s poem ‘Works and Days’ which, like this debut, is filled with a vivid feeling for the rhythm of human life and the forces of nature.

Space Textures returns for our third release here we bring together talents from across the electronic spectrum. Textures is a various artists concept to facilitate the release of some of our favorite and most influential producers. In Textures 1 we present – Infinity, Petit Astronaute, Fernie, and Motion Symmetry providing 4 exclusive tracks with sweepings pads and hypnotic rhythms.

"Tenebre" is the soundtrack of the eponymous film directed by Dario
Argento in 1982, which celebrated its 40th anniversary
Even if released as 'Simonetti - Pignatelli - Morante', it's usually considered an actual Goblin album; "Tenebre" is the last great collaboration between Argento and Goblin, before a 20- year break until 2001's "Non ho sonno". Here Dario Argento moved from a warm-coloured sound to a cold hard sound of Rome. The music of "Tenebre" responds to this change: Claudio Simonetti was returning
from his first experiences in the techno/ dance field and, since the band was missing a drummer, synthesizers and samplers were used, in a mix of rock and electronic music that blends perfectly with the images of the film. Not to be missed by any horror movie and soundtrack fans.

(Early support from James Ruskin, Cio D'Or , Kr!z, & Ben Sims) Constantly searching, not wishing an end, prefer a surprise, not everything planned, so you will always be in the new age of earth.

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.

Sixth launch of the discodemuerto label.
Davit Error true to his characteristic style:
Darktechno, acid, explicit content.
Pure underground Techno. Rave sound from Valencia.

We want to share the good stuff from outsiders; specialists in summoning the extraordinary from the everyday. No set of rules, more a set of possibilities. Ludic and feral; a celebration of sound. Incubate, process, support and release. Mysteries, histories and curiosities. And just for the love of it all.
Beauty and culture surround us. Goods Outward welcomes you to the family.

Repress

France's I Hate Models has had a phenomenal rise since his first releases in 2016, now he arrives on Perc Trax to serve up the label's last release of year.

Already fitting in with the label's no nonsense aesthetic after appearances at a number of label showcases this year, this EP shows a hardening of his sound, without losing any of the melodic touches that have made his releases so memorable.

The original mix of "Spreading Plague" fills the A-side of the record with a near 10 minute journey though classic Perc Trax metallic percussion, quivering acid and soaring analogue lead lines. Epic is a word not often used in relation to Perc Trax, but
here it is perfectly applicable.

On the flip side, Perc remixes the lead track, honing in on the acid and adding swarms of claps and hihats for his first new production on Perc Trax in 2018. "Martial Order" closes the EP moving the percussion to the front of the mix once again, as metallic hits rain down on the listener, delivering a fresh take on one of Perc Trax's signature sounds.

Remix Edition

"Don't Run From The Fire" is Minuit Machine's 5th release. It's a four-track EP. One year and a half after coming back from a one-year hiatus, Minuit Machine keeps on transforming and evolving. From dark electronic, to EBM, the duo reasserts its hybrid identity, always dark wave, but with strong touches of techno and EBM. Don't Run From The Fire talks fear and desire. How love, and feelings in general affect us all as human beings. How we try to run away when we feel in danger. We run away, or we stand still, ready to attack, like a scorpio. We hide how much we're afraid, how much we'd like to hide. It's about control, trying to take control when everything is out of control. When the world around us is chaotic and dangerous. Don't Run From The Fire is about fighting, for who we are, who we want to become. It's about understanding what we truly want and embrace it. Don’t Run From The Fire – Remix Edition is a new version of the original EP with 4 additional remixes from Rein, Parallx, Crystal Geometry and Maud Geffray.

Dark techno EP by the prolific and versatile Finnish producer Empath. Four hard and distinctive tracks inspired by cold cyberpunk fiction and built for sweaty warehouses.>

Red Vinyl Repress

"The 3rd Vinyl Only Release from London Techno label Monnom Black sees 4 new original tracks from Dax J.

Acidic, rave, dance-floor weapons ready to do some damage. Released on limited edition red marbled vinyl with additional photocard insert. Highly Recommended!"

First co edition between Soil and Fill Lex records. Bestial Mouth’s creations in the last two years, the INSHROUDSS EP and the RESURRECTEDINBLACK LP, are the phoenix cries of the project’s rebirth under the guiding hand of vocalist Lynette Cerezo, melding noise and darkwave pop into a theatre of skin-shredding catharsis that brings the project’s post-punk roots to new levels of club-ready destruction—equal parts intensity and accessibility.

THOUSANDNEEDLES pierces that veil with warped reimaginings of both releases, from a diverse selection of artists in the dark underground. Each brings their own unique twist, whether it’s to a dance ritual of pounding EBM and industrialized techno, fog-shrouded darkwave dives, cosmic washes of synthpop bliss, or soul-smashing noise dredged from a sewer cathedral. Dance through the pain, and make new paths of your scars.

We are thrilled to announce opening EP of SHSH Catalog from Terror Cognitive Dissonance. Includes remixes from Couronne de Merde & LAIR.

Evil Signs evoked and unleash human malign through heavy electronics and a dark'nd morbid sound from occult dogmatic perspectives.

Tephra is the latest mesmerizing, propulsive EP by Philadelphia-based rave conjurer Furtive. With captivating woozy arpeggios, high-pressure textural progression, and sharp scintillating sound design, Furtive’s release is a fresh and powerful entry on Mild Fantasy - the brainchild of NYC-based DJ/producer Elle Dee.

Furtive is a full-gonzo rave rat, intractably committed to the dancefloor as a producer, DJ, and DIY event organizer. Tephra showcases a canny approach to creative techno dynamics most familiar to die-hard dancefloor supplicants who’ve both been in the booth and worshiping in front of the speaker stacks.

The EP kicks off with its namesake track: Tephra is a pressure-building whirlwind of dense, textural progression and explosive tension-and-release dynamics. Mounting from a muscular low-end pattern up to a dramatic break, Tephra is a proper warp-drive weapon.

With Strobe Bubble Romance, Furtive dives into pedal-to-the-metal rave acceleration with jagged arpeggio interplay and sharper sound design. In gentler, more romantic contrast, Iris Blur brings back a dizzying melodic progression to even out the blistering pulse of the former.

Question Accelerator (No Answers) is a trippy twist in the EP, comprising a high-torque psychedelic drum and bass journey. As a digital-only bonus, Furtive closes the release with Lullaby, a haunting ambient exploration.

A ferociously productive producer with over a decade of experience bending sounds, Furtive cut their teeth as a DJ and promoter in Washington, DC’s warehouses, where they also played a turnkey role in putting on some of the District’s zaniest techno parties. They’ve supported internationally celebrated non-nonsense acts and held court in dingy watering holes with eclectic selections and a steadfast focus on pacing, dynamics, and surprises. Beyond the fog and strobe lights, Furtive creates art in various mediums, including linocuts, render art, inky drawings, and tattooing.

DMX Krew on a dark rave trip! For fans of early UR, AFX etc..

“Grinding, old industrial influenced, no wave techno for outsiders…”
JK FLESH is the industrial techno alter ego of JUSTIN K BROADRICK (NAPALM DEATH, GODFLESH, JESU, TECHNO-ANIMAL, ETC). It is techno made by an extreme music pioneer, so expect techno that is heavy, brutal and psychedelic. ‘NEW RELIGIONS OLD RULES’ is the latest JK FLESH album, made up of 8 fierce dancefloor destroyers. ‘NEW RELIGIONS OLD RULES’ thematically explores mankind’s persistent obsession with indoctrination. Limited 500 copies worldwide only on double vinyl!

Clear Vinyl

Early last decade, Brooklyn based .thejass. created two, out-of-body, hour length recordings as part of the Slabs of the Tabernacle mix series, with the now legendary, 'Murdered Out Techno' Volumes 1 and 2. Several years on .thejass. returns with their full-length debut LP entirely in keeping with their 'Murdered Out' sound. Putting the listener in an almost sleep paralysis state, without any sense of time or space, the only constant being a pulsing throb from within. This record is a mesmerising and at times terrifying experience which immerses you deeper with each listen. Transparent crystal vinyl, 200 copies.

Periphylla the sub-label of Diffuse Reality releases its first vinyl reference with an album by the duo I Tpame I Tvrame,formed by Franc Kurti, from Albania, and Dina Hajrullahu, from Kosovo. The duo’s style is a mixture of darkwave, industrial and other post-punk genres, and they have a sound of their own, led by Dina’s mystical voice and the wide range of sound they possess.

incl. Codex Empire Rmx + D. Carbone Rmx

Token sees the return of Brussels-based Border One for 4 tracks of no nonsense, body focused music. This collection of tracks, meant to deliver uncompromising groove, affirms Border One's sonic identity through his use of evolving yet persistent tension brewing above hypnotic elements. This signature storm adds a dimension to Cyclone that guides the listener between club and mind by adding this constant yet recognizable anticipation.

The EP opens up at full capacity with the title track; bent metallics over an intimidatingly deep kick are stalked and circled by a sinister pad that leaves only to release maximum tension. This peak-time cut is followed by the subdued A2 'Halo' where, this time, melodic ambience is prioritized. Light toms drive us forward to undress a track with a patiently strained arrangement, partially through a filter only opening fully midway through, imposing the producer's pace. Border One then lifts the energy with 'Stratus' through 1/16th rhythmics with an almost psychotic arpeggio and tunneling hi hats in a track that can be visually described as racing fractals. The invigoratingly hypnotic quality of 'Stratus' creates an ultimate closed-eye dance floor experience to then pull us into 'Spheric' that closes the EP out in an entirely new but familiar cosmic atmosphere. Space is given to this last cut, with short plucked synths resonating through vast soundscapes, giving the project an ethereal closing over lighter, bouncing percussion.

A limited edition 12" blue and white mixed with black colored vinyl record.

"Organic textures and industrial experiments."

Supporters of HYPNUS003 by BLNDR:
Alessio Pili, Antonio de Angelis, Astronomical Telegram, Cassegrain, Chris Page, Cio D'Or, Deepbass, Eomac, Gianluca Meloni (Modern Heads), Hector Sandoval (Exium), Mattias Fridell, Samuli Kemppi, Subforms, Takaaki Itoh, Unam Zetineb, Reggy van Oers, Xhin, Yuka, DJ Sandrien, Eric Cloutier, Echologist, Slam, Dubfire, Arnaud le Texier, Adriana Lopez, Ness, Kriz, Surgeon, Speedy J, Tadeo, Attemporal, Chris Leibing, CTRLS and many others.

Defiance is a collection of tracks constructed while experimentation was underway in the ASC studio between 170BPM Techno and the creation of the Grey Area sound. Upon revision, the vitality and strength of these tunes as a collection became apparent. Leaving these unreleased would be a travesty in our mission to be part of documenting the evolution of the voluminous ASC production legacy. While heavy on effective floor tunes that ASC utilised in his last tour of Europe, Defiance is given an ethereal LP narrative with tunes like opener Exulansis, Tensile, and Sarif. Defiance helps to complete the story of the development of the ASC sound as we know it today.

Experimental electro, hard and dark. Original style !

Terrence Dixon and M.R.E.U.X are back in business!

A stylish return on the stage with 4 tracks of pure Detroit style techno. Psychedelic sounds demorstate, again, the great mentality of these two artists, loyal to old school underground techno. Terrence presents two minimalist tracks which will capture attention from everybody on the dancefloor; M.R.E.U.X insists with his unique style, distinguished by dizzying rithms and pure energy.

Big return for this duo, you must better move your ass!