Review: SHDW's label marks its twentieth release with this weighty compilation. Drawing on some of the most respected names in techno, volume three is full of peak-time bangers. There's the lean, rolling techno of Chlar's "Inside Us", while Dax J showers the listener with waves of acid tones on the steely, peak-time "Celestial Dub". The Advent's "Randomized" is a bruising and quite brilliant industrial techno workout. While Blawan's hyperactive "Don't You Dare Squawk At Me" hovers just below the 160 bpm mark, not all of the compilation is as intense. Vocals are mixed with chiming chords on Gary Beck's "Fold" and Z.I.P.P.O's "Broken Game" is a deep Detroit techno track.
Review: Spanish techno label Secta drops a killer compilation that spans a range of styles. Stinky Producer's self-titled contribution focuses on glitchy minimalism. Cravo's "Kemu" is a more intense take, focusing on an urgent stripped back sound. In contrast, DJ Ali's "Feva Dream" is a rolling tribal techno banger. The compilation changes focus again with Alarico's "Fluid" - an urgent stepping rhythm that draws on dub influences. Volume 1 also has a strong house influence. Danny Wabbit's "Girls Like Wine" is a driving, techy affair, populated by tripped out vocal samples, while Audio Units' "C Bass" resounds to a succession of building chords.
Review: Alarico is the latest new producer to release on Klockworks, with this fine four-tracker. The release starts with the acidic undercurrent and angular rhythm of "AF 97". Featuring a creeping bass and haunted vocal samples, it makes for an offbeat start to Klockworks 38. "Chromo" is a more linear affair. It sees Alarico lay down a linear groove, peppered with time-stretched vocals. The Italian producer's love of the human voice is also audible on the percussive "Lost in Lima", where it takes the form of a low-end shriek unfolding over a punishing sub-bass. "Nisba" is the most full-on track, closing out the release with a juggernaut rhythm and piledriving claps.
Review: Alarico returns to Mutual Rytm with another killer techno release. Fans of the harder end of electronic music's spectrum will find much to love here. "0 Kelvin" is a noisy, jacking workout that is steeped in the experiments of early Neil Landstrumm and Tobias Schmidt. "One More" is based on a similarly abrasive framework - the key difference here is Alarico factors in woozy synths and vocal snatches. "Asma" is a more conventional-sounding rolling techno groove, with Alarico factoring in some well-placed vocal snatches. There's a similar approach on "Sunburn", with surging chords added to shrieking vocals. Meanwhile, "Drops of You" sees Alarico favour a deeper approach, with insistent hooks and soulful tones unravelling over staccato drums.
Review: Celebrating the first anniversary of their label, SHDW & Obscure Shape deliver a comprehensive compilation of high-octane techno. Despite most tracks clocking in over the 140 bpm mark, Federation Of Rytm II offers enough nuance and complexity to keep the listener engaged throughout. Lars Huismann's "New Way" resounds to dramatic strings and frenetic break beats, while Mark Broom offers a different perspective. The veteran producer's "Ole Ole" is a dense tribal affair that draws on the loop techno sound for inspiration. The compilation also features other, less predictable influences. Alpharisc's "Flow" draws on dub techno, while contributions from Regent and Invexis seamlessly integrate Detroit depth into peak-time rhythms.
Review: The latest release on SHDW & Obscure Shape's label comes from Alarico, a new hard techno producer who is fast making a name. Boya is sure to build on his reputation: peppered with vocal samples and powered by raucous break beats, both "Ae86" and the title track are peak time tracks with an uplifting aesthetic. "Killa Cut" sees Alarico deliver a straight techno workout, but, with a twist as he layers vocal samples over menacing synths and razor-sharp percussion. He goes deeper on the Detroit techno inspired "Lost In Time", before the release concludes with the dubbed out, filtered "The Ballad of Lisa".
Review: Launching a label isn't as straightforward as it might seem, but SHDW & Obscure Shape have opened the account on Mutual Rytm in style with this great compilation. Featuring tracks from some of techno's most talented artists, Federation moves from the powerful deep techno of Invexis' "Elektronenwind" to Vil & Cravo's dense, aptly named "Apolonia Loop" before sliding into the peak time, banging rhythm of Alarico's "I'm Into You". Lars Huismann ventures deeper again with the cavernous chords and brooding bass of "Hyper Dub", while Grindvik pushes the release in a peak time direction again with the noisy, bleep-heavy banger that is "Your Dry Lips".
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