Review: As befits one of techno's most revered labels, Tresor 30 is a comprehensive collection that takes in a breath-taking array of artists and sounds. The compilation features classics, such as Underground Resistance's "Final Frontier", remixed here into a clubbier shape, the spellbinding deep techno of Juan Atkins' "I Love You" and Jeff Mills' timeless banger, "Late Night", one of Tresor's signature tracks. These eternal works sit alongside contributions from newer artists: in particular, Afrodeutsche's "Can't Stop" is a wonderfully dreamy affair, while RRoxymore's "Multiplicity" teases new twists from percussive techno. Thirty years after its inception, Tresor is showing no signs of slowing down.
Review: Blake Baxter was one of Detroit techno's most esoteric producers, but this release finds him in more banging form. "I Like (Blue Planet mix)" is a raucous affair; swathed in layers of acid, its steely rhythm supports a mysterious vocal narrative - the enduring connection with Baxter's original sound. The Black Planet version strips out this element to offer an even more visceral take, while the Jump Time version takes the intensity levels down a few notches. Focusing on bleepy, squelchy tones and a minimal backing, it harks back to the sound of DBX and 7th City - a reminder of where Baxter came from.
Review: Over the course of numerous albums and Eps, Laurel Halo has made a name with her experimental, uncompromising take on electronic music - can she do the same with her DJing? Listening to this, the 68th instalment of DJ-Kicks, the answer is a resounding 'yes'. It moves from the abstract chimes of her own "Public Art" to the bruising rhythms of Stallone the Reducer and Red Axes' low-slung electro into the next-wave Detroit techno of Fit Siegel and the bleary European sound of Dario Zenker, representing here with "Koraimer Bro". However, Halo is also aware that to understand where electronic music is going to, you must first understand its past - and the inclusion of tracks from Jeff Mills' Final Cut band and Blake Baxter's catalogue showcases her deep knowledge and passion.
Review: Slap me sideways and call me Grandpa, it's a new instalment of Killekill's Megahits series, and that means a burst of noxious techno beats from all angles. As with previous editions, we have 6 sides of wax all filled with new killers from the label's best, including Eomac, who delivers the supremely messed-up "Angel In The Marble", Bintus' nasty-as-ever acid on "Re-Clocking Knob", a gorgeous collaborative efforts from Cassegrain and Tin Man dubbed "Ad Hoc", Alex Cortex's unsurprisingly curious and marvellous "Tensegrity", and a very special appearance from Detroit legend Blake Baxter with the banging "Acid Warp Time Travel". The rest if as good, if not better - pure gold from the likes of Dez Williams, Jerome Hill, Detroit Grand Pubahs etc.
