Review: Tronic unleashes its annual compilation, which as always contains the label's favourite tracks. "Luv Can Turn Around", a deep techy track from the late, great Pascal FEOS is a reminder of the many loved ones lost in the past year, while label owner Christian Smith's rolling rhythm and surging chords on "Hallucinate" signals a time in the near future when we'll be able to return to the dance floor. At the other end of the sonic spectrum Harry Romero delivers a bruising, jacking version of DJ Rush & Eric Sneo's "Take Me Back", while Sinisa Tamamovic's "Lost Memories" is a more intense iteration of that style, a steely, bleep-heavy techno track.
Christian Smith & John Selway - "Delirium" - (7:45) 128 BPM
Dr. Motte - "Faze DJ-Set 88" (continuous DJ mix) - (1:11:07) 128 BPM
Review: Love Parade founder Dr Motte celebrates 30 years of the landmark event with this fine mix of underground classics. It starts with the timeless trance of Der Dritte Raum's "Hale Bopp" and Tube & Berger's electro house banger "The Young & The Wild Ones". As one of Berlin's most established DJs, Motte's sound is also rooted in techno, and he doesn't disappoint here, dropping the low-slung minimalism of Joey Beltram's remix of Abe Duque & Blake Baxter's "Let's Take It Back" as well as tougher tunes like the hammering, Chicago style of DJ Rush & Eric Sneo's "Take Me Back" and the bugged out acid on Christopher Kah's "Heatwaves".
Review: It's hard to believe that Gary Beck's techno has been around for a decade, and helping him to blow out the candles is a star-studded line up. First up is Chicago legend DJ Rush collaborating with the label owner to deliver the stomping ghetto techno of "Talkers". Sunčica Bari?ić aka Insolate delivers a more European-focused sound on the atmospheric, tone-laden "He Said, She Said". Changing focus again, Slam's version of JX-216's "Xingu" is a visceral peak-time affair that resounds to discordant riffs, while on Mark Broom's "Red Line", an insistent organ and firing percussion, similar to Floorplan's style, is audible. Hopefully it's the first of many birthday celebrations.
Review: 2019 has been a busy year for Tronic, and this compilation provides some of the highlights to date. There's DJ Rush & Eric Sneo's rattling percussive "Take Me Back", which draws on gritty ghetto techno for inspiration, while at the other end of the spectrum, the brilliantly named Drunken Kong duo drop a massive, bass-heavy big room workout in the shape of "Two Rivers". Orbit also provides a reminder of the label's heritage, with the shimmering, tranced out "Tesla" by veteran German artist Oliver Lieb, and Christian Smith's long-time friend and musical collaborator Jon Selway delivering an awesomely moody electro reshape of Nematic's "Pecular".
Review: Like his own 6 foot 6 inches demeanour, this release from DJ Rush is an imposing affair. It moves from the high-paced, clap-heavy ghetto techno of "In the Bag" into the grimy acid and deranged vocal narrative on the title track about a female acquaintance who is on 'crack cocaine' and 'looks like a lollipop". "Droppin' Things" sees Rush deliver a tribal roller that sounds more inspired by UK techno than his hometown, while "Slide on By" is a synapse-melting acid affair, pitched at a high tempo. "Bits & Pieces" sees the Chicago producer take the intensity level down again, albeit with a steely rhythm, while "Pay Attention to the Bass" is classic Rush, a rolling visceral groove featuring freaked out vocals.
Review: He's back! The Chicago techno and hard house legend returns on his notorious Kne Deep imprint with a new full length effort. The man who brought such legendary titles over the last couple decades such as "Motherucking Bass", "Freaks On Hubbard" and "Look'n Like A Woman" still pulls off his jackin' and relentless style as good as ever here and takes no prisoners! Getting straight down to business on the gusty and stompin' "That's What I'm Talkin' About" featuring his hilarious trademark vocals, there's two versions of the sick "Round Midnight" but we were more concerned with the "Rush Acid dub"(after all, he is from the Windy City!), while tracks like "Dirty Boy" and "Feeling Sexy" showcase his ever enduring knack for charming track titles; not mention a singular techno sound that influenced a generation of dancers and producers. He once famously said "Take more for what I am, or don't take me at all!" and we're certainly with the former. Isaiah Major: respect for doing it your way.?
