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Charlotte De Witte
Reflection EPPREORDER
Review: Following two solo releases on his NINETOZERO label last year, Enrico Sangiuliano hooks up with his life partner Charlotte de Witte for Reflection. In its original form, the title track is led by an acid-frazzled rhythm and building filters, with the duo weaving in some spoken word narrative between the building siren riffs. It's less frenetic than the peak-time techno that de Witte is more commonly associated with, but it is still highly impactful. Pushing the envelope even further, the 'Intro' version of "Reflection" is an ominous piece of ambience. Building on this cerebral approach is the spoken word "Source Of Propagation".
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: Apollo provides a reminder that when it comes to big room techno, Charlotte de Witte has few peers. The release gets off to an epic start with "Missing Channel", where pounding drums and acrid 303s provide the backdrop for a ponderous vocal sample - like a fusion of Pump Panel and Jam & Spoon's vocal trance. The title track is similar in approach, with de Witte fusing ghostly vocal samples with distorted kicks and relentless percussion. "Mercury" also features vocals, but this time they augment a menacing undercurrent that de Witte conjures up with grainy 303 lines. Following these intense club tracks, the Belgian powerhouse brings the release to a close with a haunting, outer space-themed ambient jam, "PPC".
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: For the fifteenth release on KNTXT, owner Charlotte de Witte takes the helm. "Satori" is somewhat different to the sound that de Witte is known for; while still commanding the dance floor, the chanting samples and accompanying acid blips stand out from typical big room techno tracks. Similarly, "Kali" draws on the legacy of 90s dance, with de Witte mining the Goa sound to create a buzzing slice of tech-trance. The Belgian producer continues in this vein on "Universal Consciousness", where breathy vocals are fused with squelchy 303, while "Ahimsa" sees de Witte draw on ebm influences to deliver an acid-heavy banger.
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Joe T Vannelli - "Play With The Voice" (feat Csilla - John Digweed & Nick Muir Twisted dub extended mix) - (7:02) 123 BPM
Played by: Juno Recommends Progressive House
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Gabriel & Dresden - "Dangerous Power" (feat Jan Burton - Edu Imbernon extended remix) - (8:42) 124 BPM
Played by: Pajosmashup
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: Charlotte de Witte recently remixed the 90s classic, The Age of Love and its influence looms large over her latest EP. The title track has echoes of that sound, with epic trance melodies entwined with tough drums and mesmerising filters. In a similar vein is "Soma", although this sounds like de Witte was inspired by the deeper end of the sound, with dreamy, Eye Q-style hooks fused with a high-paced rhythm. "Stigma" is the toughest track on the release, as the Belgian techno superstar drops a banging drum track, but the trance sound is still audible and its looped melodies sound like a slightly more reserved version of the timeless "Orange Theme".
Charlotte de Witte/Various
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: Techno powerhouse Charlotte De Witte did not let the pandemic put her off, and she bounces back with a huge new EP. "Doppler" is a pounding, peak-time affair that resounds to dramatic rave hooks and a relentless bass. On "RPM", the KNTXT boss takes influence from 90s acid techno to deliver layer upon layer of gurgling 303 lines that unfold over a pounding rhythm. While De Witte's focus is entirely on the peak time, her approach is more nuanced than most producers in this field - an approach that is audible on the title track's combination of searing acid and intense kick drums.
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Jody Wisternoff - "Something Real" (feat Jinadu - Shadow Child Apollo extended remix) - (7:25) 126 BPM
Inner City & Idris Elba - "We All Move Together" (Kevin Saunderson & Latroit extended remix) - (4:21) 126 BPM
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: Techno superstar Charlotte de Witte returns to her KNTXT label for a banging release. The title track sets the tone for the EP with its wild, tweaked acid lines and insane rave stabs unfolding over rough kicks, while on "The World Inside", there's a variation of this sound with a ponderous vocal sample set to wild 303 lines. On "There's No One Left to Trust", de Witte channels the energy and intensity of Frankfurt Trax in a contemporary setting, with repetitive stabs combined with bruising kicks. Meanwhile on "Common Era", she drops another banging acid workout and the drum-led "Wahr Ist Sie Dann" confirm her status as big room champion.
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: Charlotte de Witte returns to her own KNTXT label with another big room release. Both in its title and sound design, there are dystopian undercurrents at play; "Sgadi Li Mi" features an apocalyptic mixture of gritty acid lines and tribal chants - playing out over one of de Witte's typical tribal rhythms - while on " Return To Nowhere" she fuses haunting looped vocals with a similar rhythmic backdrop. While "Emsemble" appears to summon up lost spirits thanks to its fusion of snaking rhythm and ghostly chants, the closing track, "What's In The Past" offers hope for the future thanks to de Witte's use of mesmerising choral loops.
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Various/Alan Fitzpatrick
Review: Vision is Charlotte de Wiite's debut on Len Faki's Figure imprint and follows on from her trio of releases in 2019 on KNTXT. The title track echoes the popular techno DJ's club sound, resounding to rough, visceral beats and ticking percussion, while on "Out of Balance", she drops a throbbing, hypnotic groove that pulsates against the backdrop of atmospheric filters. "Unthoughtful" reveals another side to de Witte's musical personality, with slow-motion beats providing the basis for dreamy textures. Figure has tapped Kangding Ray for a remix and he drops a dreamy but powerful take on "Unthoughtful" that steps and swaggers majestically.
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Alexey Emelyanov/Fairtone - "Compromise" (Patryk Molinari & Underrated People remix) - (7:33) 122 BPM
Review: Belgian techno heroine Charlotte de Witte presents the first of a new double EP here. On the subject of the release, De Witte says that this duality is essential to explore her interests, both as a producer and DJ, and it was only natural to release them simultaneously for release on her ever reliable KNTXT imprint. The Selected EP features three stark and austere expressions in main room, peak time techno such as "Form" and "Time" - all featuring the signature grunt of the Roland TB-303 throughout, while final cut "Amar" is a sublime and soothing ambient cut that's perfect to close the EP out.
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Review: Adam Beyer's label notches up the seventh A-Sides compilation in as many years. In keeping with its approach of featuring well-known Drumcode artists alongside newer artists, Volume 7 shines a light ion emerging techno talent. This includes the deep and dubbed out "Portable Paradise" by Anna, alongside upcoming Canadian artist Weska with the searing acid of "Other Places" and recent Drumcode debutant Boxia with the dreamy but rolling "Final Call". These emerging artists sit alongside techno veteran Thomas Schumacher, who drops the eerie but jacking "The Unseen", Alan Fitzpatrick collaborating with Scuba's SCB offshoot to deliver the tough tribal techno of "Untitled" and Dutch producer Bart Skills weighing in with the ominous big-room monster that is "West Of The Moon".
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Played by: Alert
Review: Charlotte De Witte has been threatening to break into the big time ever since her earliest releases on Tiga's Turbo label back in 2015. Following a prolific 2017 in which she released a string of acclaimed EPs, the Belgian producer makes her first appearance on Spanish imprint Suara. Check first the relentless, full throttle techno heaviness of "This" - think foreboding voices, constantly building drum machine percussion and occasional creepy electronics - before turning your attention to the strangely beguiling "This Heart of Mine", where solo vocal snippets echo over another bombastic rhythm track. To round off a fine EP, Lewis Fautzi delivers an intoxicating rework of "This" that's in the same sonic ball park as Kowton's remix of Throwing Shade's "Chancer" on Happy Skull.
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Dimitri Nakov & John Monkman - "Don't Stop" (feat Cari Golden - Alan Fitzpatrick remix) - (7:39) 126 BPM
Review: Although she is still in her mid-20s, Charlotte de Witte is quickly establishing herself as one of the most promising new talents in European techno. Closer is her second release for this Dutch label, and it shows who she is so highly rated. The title track resounds to high pitched acid lines, robotic female vocals and whip-cracking percussion. "Nothing" is more pared back and functional and sees the Belgian producer deploy a Hawtin-eseque 303, snappy hi hats and a tough, dense drum pattern to devastating effect. Closing track "Motion" is the most basic arrangement on offer here, but its combination of impenetrable kicks and stuttering vocal sample proves highly effective and shows why she is so well regarded.
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Review: !K7 Records launches a new compilation series entitled Kollections: Club which inaugurates the project. The tracklist features artists of the partner labels under the !K7 umbrella such as Turbo, AUS Music, Mobilee, Mister Saturday Night and Hypercolour. Each edition explores a different musical theme but this first installment, naturally, is all about the club! Highlights here include Midland's recent hit "Blush", Maya Jane Coles' funky afterhours tech house jam "Not Listening" (from a few years ago), KiNK's roaring remix of Kerrier District's (Luke Vibert) "Techno Disco" and Lauer's recent feelgood number "Killian" showing off his knack for classic retro vibes like no other.
Review: You might have heard Charlotte De Witte under her previous alias of Raving George, but her new solo project under her own name is a harder, more military take on techno. In fact, "Sehnsucht" itself is about as direct and penetrative as you can get with a techno missile, and the same goes for "My Feeling" and "Enough", the latter addinig in some fine vocal chops for added effect. "Den Ganzen Abend" is a muscular Berghain belter, and you also get a beatless, "Melodic Theme" remix of Sehnsucht"; Coyu remix of "My Feeling" adds to the techno beatings.
Played by: Laylae
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