Review: Extrawelt follow recent releases on Traum and Furthur Electronix with this EP for Watergate. Recorded in one take, this raw three-tracker touches on elements of trance, techno and break beat to create unique fusions. "Alpha & Oma" resound to a throbbing bass and a series of spine-tingling synth builds. In contrast, "Email Auf Klinke" is more stripped back and rugged, built on punchy, rolling drums - remaining true to Extrawelt's approach it also contains the occasional sliver of trance melody. "Automatik" closes out the release in a more haunting mood; resounding to a niggling acid bass, cinematic synth scapes lend it a truly mysterious feeling.
Review: Out of leftfield comes a fifth studio album from legendary German industrial & electro specialists Extrawelt! With a storied career built across labels like Cocoon, Traum Schallplatten and Kompass Musik, you'll find the pair with stints on labels like Border Community, Feel My Bicep and now the explosive Furthur Electronix. A lot to be excited about here, be it the dirty electronic funk of "Ungerade" to some melancholic, breakbeat noise in "Premonition Of A Flashback". Touching on something new wave and post punk in "Eigensender", synthy techno winds its way through "Das Komplott" before breaking down into something syncopated, percussive, lo-fi and melodic in "Streiflicht". With a minimal and streamlined alternative version of "Premonition Of A Flashback" ready to boot also, there's an extra dose of distorted dancefloor experimentations in "Schutt&Asche" - presenting an album that goes the distance on Furthur Electronix.
Review: It's hard to believe that Cocoon is celebrating its 20th anniversary, but what's not difficult to grasp is that Sven Vath's imprint is marking the occasion in style. Rampa and Emanuel Satie kick-start this compilation with emotive, tranced out tracks - in particular Rampa's "2000" is particularly poignant - while Cocoon mainstays like Gregor Tresher and Ricardo Tobar up the pace with the musical but clubby techno of "Nostalgia (Is The Enemy)" and "El Eterna" respectively. As always, Cocoon strikes a flawless balance between showcasing local producers and international names; 20 Years is no exception and features frazzled acid from Josh Wink as well as steely percussive bangers courtesy of Planetary Assault Systems and Jacek Sienkiewicz.
Review: Following up the terrific 'Little We Know' EP a mere few weeks ago by Hamburg heroes Extrawelt on Traum Schallplatten, they are right back with this amazing full length on the powerhouse Cocoon imprint.15 years into their careers, it was never their plan to release a 'best of' album, but here it is. 'Extra Welt Hits' is a time capsule drenched in the essence of the act's DNA. Accentuated by newly remastered tracks that serve their ever evolving, clever and out-of-the-box sound. Highlights come in the form of the brooding minimal funk of "Fernweh", the ethereal and introspective remix of Minilogue's "The Leopard" and the slinky and hypnotic live version of "Dark Side Of The Room".
Review: Cologne institution Traum Schallplatten are excited to release the brand new 'Little We Know' EP from Hamburg's techno veterans Extrawelt. If you have ever seen one of the pair's live acts, this EP very much embodies the experience with the flow of energy it generates - and it's highly addictive. The bumping and rolling groove of opening track "Mr Wednesday" harks back to their output in the mid-noughties: a wicked mixture of minimal and electro house's best elements. The title track follows and flips the script a bit on this deep and highly emotive tech house journey, and finally the hypnotic "Sem" is perfect for those heads down moments under the strobe lights.
Review: Just This celebrate their tenth anniversary with X, a compilation that skirts at the edges of ambient, techno and even pop. Those more mainstream elements are audible on Mind Against's epic remix of Blausch's "Brood" while on "Good Old Days", Woo York's thumping electronic groove also features pop vocals. There's a darker side to Just This' canon, and this comes through on Yotam Avni's brooding "Name Dropping" and the low-slung,frazzled groove of Extrawelt's "Ort Und Impuls (Alternate Version)". However, what really shines through are the dreamy techno grooves from Hunter/Game and Sterac's "Hypnotized", a powerful club track that combines firing percussion with seductive, Detroit techno-style bass.
