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AFFIN 010LTD
24 Jun 13 Techno
AFFIN 117
25 Jun 12 Techno
AFFIN 133
28 Jan 13 Techno
Review:
The German label delivers its most purist techno record yet with Module. The title track is a slamming, almost claustrophobic affair, lent some sense of light thanks to its surging chords. Roberto's take on "Module" serves to heighten the interplay between these elements with its dark, scuffled beats and insistent percussion prevailing over the chords, making for a jarring sound. Advanced Human explores dub techno on "Satellite State", but with a difference as the beats are pushed to the point of distortion as the reverb filters and ebbs. Finally, "Satellite Club" features loose, organic drums, but the end result is more tracky and upfront than "State".
055
20 May 10 Minimal/Tech House
053
06 May 10 Deep House
AFFIN 122
03 Sep 12 Deep House
AFFIN 137
22 Apr 13 Minimal/Tech House
Played by: Joachim Spieth (Affin)
Review:
Angelo Mele will do Affin's techno credentials no harm. The title track is a tough techno affair, its heavy claps and dramatic chords underscored by a wall of hissing percussion and a dark, churning bassline. The Danilo Schneider take focuses more on a contemporary flavour, with tribal drums powering the loose groove and a sweeping filter building and building. Mele also impresses on "Room After"; deep keys and dramatic chords lend the arrangement an epic touch, but without losing any of its dance floor dynamism. Think a more melodic version of Spain's Psyk and you're close to the direction Mele is pushing in.
066
03 Sep 10 Minimal/Tech House
047
17 Feb 10 Minimal/Tech House
023
21 Aug 09 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 006
16 May 08 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 111
11 Apr 12 Minimal/Tech House
Played by: Joachim Spieth (Affin)
Review:
Acids is reminiscent of an older era in German techno, when producers like Mike Ink and Thomas Heckmann reigned supreme and distorted kick drums were the order of the day. For starters, it's faster than most minimal releases, with both the title track and "Boric" clocking in at almost 130bpm. Tempos aside, it's the loose and rough acid lines, visceral claps and throbbing, distorted rhythms that really set it apart and remind the listener of a time when Sven Vath was more menacing than a Slipknot mosh pit. "Nitric", by contrast sounds almost restrained with its wired 303s cruising at close to 125bpm.
068
08 Oct 10 Techno
AFFIN 097
19 Sep 11 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 106
06 Feb 12 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 007LTD
01 Apr 13 Techno
Review:
This German label has won its reputation by straddling the house/techno divide, but there is no such ambiguity on Chosen 3. Focusing heavily on harder sounds, it opens with Rebekah's remix of Chris Page's "Derailleur", a steamrolling, fist-pumping affair, littered with belligerent chord stabs. Advanced Human's "Satellite Club" is in a similar vein, its dark drums and soldered iron riffs sounding similar to Jeff Mills. The Jeroen Search take on Egor Boss' "Inversion 2.2" isn't short of high-paced thrills either, and its doubled up claps and tracky rhythm provide a hard-edged basis for Boss' ghostly synths; the release highlight however is Dax J's "New Beginnings", a chord-heavy groove that throbs and filters to infinity.
073
24 Nov 10 Minimal/Tech House
074
02 Dec 10 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 125
15 Oct 12 Techno
Review:
Affin continues its transition from house to deepest techno on Tremor. The title track revolves around a throbbing, dubby bass, ticking percussion and wave upon wave of building chords. Niereich's remix pushes the track closer to a contemporary Berlin sound, its stepping rhythms and chiming bells coming across like a mixture of Shed's Equalized project and Efdemin. Paul Boex's version is surprisingly mellow, given his background with Dynamic Reflection, and it's based on dubby beats and mellow, wispy chords. Meanwhile, Dax J does his bit to reaccquant listeners with 90s techno, and on the churning chords of "New Beginnings", he sounds like Dave Clarke at his most bombastic.
072
10 Nov 10 Minimal/Tech House
Played by: Sebastian Bayne [if? Records], Joachim Spieth (Affin), Deepchild, Affin, Sean Danke, Siz.da
AFFIN 099
10 Oct 11 Minimal/Tech House
Played by: Sebastian Bayne [if? Records], Joachim Spieth (Affin), Deepchild, Juno Recommends Minimal/Tech House, Sean Danke
Review:
The overall tone on this release is one of blissed out relaxation. "Immer Liebe" is a good case in point: over a head-nodding, undulating groove, Deepchild lets gentle, breath atmospherics unfold. A similar approach is audible on Brendon Moeller's versions of the title track. On his dub version (as Echologist), the rhythm is stripped back yet solid as wispy chords unfold, while on the tougher and more aptly named "Pub Tech Tool", Moeller ups the tempo and makes the groove tougher, more steadfast. Finally, Deepchld raises the intensity levels with "Gnade". Featuring the same kind of system-leveling bassline as the other tracks, it's the pace and warbling acid line that'll keep the dance floor rattling!
031
23 Oct 09 Minimal/Tech House
366158 5653127
14 Feb 11 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 116
11 Jun 12 Minimal/Tech House
Review:
Many producers have returned to deep house, but in the case of Dirty Culture, it sounds like they have embraced the garage sound of New York. "After" has an irresistible shuffle to it, with the robust steely drums reminiscent of Todd Edwards and the filtered chord breakdown certain to remind older listeners of the time during the late 90s when UK house and garage was a blurry, indistinct mass. "Dusty Girls" has a more contemporary flavour, as wood block drums support a searing acid line, and the remixes, by Sean Danke and Clark Davis, retain this modern day feel, with glitchy percussion and lithe, minimal rhythms prevailing.
AFFIN 089
16 May 11 Minimal/Tech House
076
15 Dec 10 Minimal/Tech House
049
12 Mar 10 Deep House
061
15 Jul 10 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 096
29 Aug 11 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 123
17 Sep 12 Techno
Review:
This Russian producer has been bubbling under for a few years, but hopefully Inversion 2 will help him to gain recognition in what is an intensely competitive scene. "2.1" is a breaking number housing eerie synths, heavy claps and bleak acidic undercurrents. By contrast, "2.2" is far more straightforward - this time the bleeps are underpinned by a tunnelling, pulsing rhythm, the mood of austerity offset somewhat by dreamy chords as the track reaches its denouement. There is no such concession on the Jeroen Search remix, with spiky, metallic claps providing the basis for a tight club groove, but Boss allows some light to shine once again on "2.3", which is anchored by a droning, Sandwell-style bass.
AFFIN 005LTD
14 Jan 13 Minimal/Tech House
Review:
This German label originally made its mark as a house imprint, but increasingly, it has moved into techno circles - and Chosen 2 continues down that path. Egor Boss's "Inversion 2.1" is an impressive stab at Berlin techno, its dense rhythm housing insistent bleeps, eerie synths and a screeching vocal sample. Jeroen Search's take on Ad.lib & Silvision's "Collide" ventures into industrial territories, with its razor-sharp percussion and stepping rhythm, as does Roberto's "Going Nowhere Fast", where reverberating drums unfold over heavy broken beats. Affin have also catered for the peak time audience, with Reggie van Oers's "Untitled x 2" led by a pumping groove and insistent chord stabs.
AFFIN 091
13 Jun 11 Progressive House
052
30 Apr 10 Minimal/Tech House
062
22 Jul 10 Minimal/Tech House
081
26 Jan 11 Deep House
065
26 Aug 10 Deep House
AFFIN 107
20 Feb 12 Minimal/Tech House
Review:
Like Superpitcher, James Hunter has an unerring knack for marrying the most sensuous musical elements with gentle dance floor nous. In this instance it's a subtle woodwind progression wrapping itself around understated beats as jazzy keys plink away seductively. "Stay Between The Lines" achieves a similar effect, albeit by different means. There, dubby beats and a sassy rhythm support reflective keys, and Daniko Schneider matches these moods with a great evrson of "Heart". Like the original version, jazzy keys weave in and out of the arrangement but on this version the groove is more rolling and club-friendly. Siz Da's take is also distinctive but pushes in the opposite direction as a plaintive guitar is strummed over clipped beats.
088
25 Apr 11 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 129
26 Nov 12 Minimal/Tech House
Review:
Affin continues to impress by operating at the edge of house and techno, and Kabiko is more of the same. The title track is house music at its most out there; shaking castanets and a pitched down vocal intoning phrases like 'house music' and 'here we go again' accompany woozy, druggy chords to a tripped out climax. "Doctor Says" sees Hunter come back down to earth with a drummy, slamming groove that is in line with Affin's techno leanings. However, it seems that house music is on the menu for this release and "The Clown Is Down", with its mixture of forceful bass and jazzy keys, is just right for deep house heads.
071
28 Oct 10 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 018
16 Jan 09 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 108
05 Mar 12 Minimal/Tech House
Played by: Sonarpilot (Sonarpilot Audio), S-Tek (Gynoid, Audiolabor, Berlin), Joachim Spieth (Affin), Dirk Schoenhoefer, Juno Recommends Minimal/Tech House, Sean Danke, Mattias Fridell, Siz.da
Review:
Joachim Spieth shows that dub techno is an integral part of the German psyche on Sensualized. "Sensual" contains all those elements that Chain Reaction and Basic Channel pioneered - dubby beats, cavernous chords and epic basslines, but it's testament to Spieth's skills that it doesn't sound staid. The remixers also do a fine job of reshaping "Sensual". Jamal Moulay's take features harder beats and a more upfront, rolling groove, while Reggy van Oers pushes in the opposite direction, with dreamy chords unravelling over a languid groove. Best of all though is Brendon Moeller's take, where an eerie organ riff and swelling chords combine for an arrangement that's very much in the spirit of Maurizio.
025
04 Sep 09 Techno
AFFIN 102
05 Dec 11 Minimal/Tech House
Played by: Joachim Spieth (Affin)
Review:
Fresh from releasing their 100 compilation, Affin delivers another record that is sure to prove to be attention-catching. The title track is an anthem in waiting, its stuttering synth line looped in a similar way to Carl Craig's big room approach. Unsurprisingly, it also gradually builds into an epic climax. Reggy Van Oers's take is less upfront and the synths sound more evocative, but the end result is more reflective, favouring a constant, steady arrangement instead of going for the jugular. Przezdziecki also proves that he's not a one-trick pony on "You Say Tonight", where a shuffling house rhythm is littered with discordant bleeps, tonal stabs and an amusing German vocal.
028
25 Sep 09 Minimal/Tech House
038
18 Dec 09 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 019
31 Jul 09 Minimal/Tech House
033
06 Nov 09 Minimal/Tech House
070
21 Oct 10 Deep House
AFFIN 130
10 Dec 12 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 105
16 Jan 12 Minimal/Tech House
085
28 Mar 11 Minimal/Tech House
042
01 Jan 10 Minimal/Tech House
069
15 Oct 10 Minimal/Tech House
035
27 Nov 09 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 011-X
29 Aug 08 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 003-X
09 Apr 08 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 017-X
09 Jan 09 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 002-X
17 Mar 08 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 120
06 Aug 12 Minimal/Tech House
Review:
Mattias Fridell is fast developing a reputation for crafting subsonic techno and Artificial Personality Layer is no exception. Although it is deeper and more introspective, fans of Fridell's layered soundscapes and relentless rhythms will find it rewarding. The title track sees a dubby bass support the interplay between chiming chords and visceral riffs. Meanwhile "Life Recycling Raw" veers into more typical Fridell mode as a churning, rolling groove underscores insistent, one-note stabs and "Fictional Stories" is all panning riffs and insistent chord sequences. Finally, "Attract Inhibitor" sees him move back towards a more introspective approach, with rasping percussion underpinning atmospheric textures.
AFFIN 110
26 Mar 12 Minimal/Tech House
040
25 Dec 09 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 118
09 Jul 12 Minimal/Tech House
AFFIN 133
11 Feb 13 Minimal/Tech House
Review:
This Danish DJ/producer has been one of the key names in European minimalism, but Oxo sees him change tack, with devastating results. "Oxo 1" revolves around a massive stepping rhythm, its eerie chords and haunting vocal samples swept along by its dense groove. "Oxo 2" sees Bateman further explore this route, but on this occasion the beats are straighter and more slamming and the brooding chords hover over a series of percussive ticks and whirrs. "Oxo 3" is deeper, with Bateman uniting a croaking vocal with jittery percussion, while the Woo York take on "Oxo 2" is tearing and aggressive, yet it somehow finds the space to include the eerie chords from the original track.
AFFIN 008LTD
20 May 13 Techno
Review:
German label Affin impresses with a release that showcases a deeper but darker take on techno music. Danish DJ Patrick Bateman kicks off the release with Woo York's remix of "Oxo 2". Centred on deep, layered chords, it unfolds gradually over a rolling, dubby groove and provides a taster for what is to come. The Joachim Spieth remix of Platypus' "The Streets Have A Voice" follows Bateman's contribution, leaning towards a deep but more ominous approach, while Viktoria Rebeka's "Radiation Menu" ramps up the intensity thanks to a dark, bass groove and an ominous swarm of bleeps. Finally, Mattias Fridell's "Life Recycling Law" is slightly more melodic thanks to its catchy hooks, but the same textured, menacing feeling prevails.
AFFIN 009LTD
10 Jun 13 Techno
084
14 Mar 11 Minimal/Tech House
048
03 Mar 10 Minimal/Tech House
050
30 Apr 10 Minimal/Tech House |