Review: The Rockets compilation series focuses on elevating new names alongside established names - and on this occasion, the emerging producers really stand out. The vampirically-named Radu Dracul delivers a killer 303 workout on "Sound Pressure", with insistent acid lines peppering the percussive backdrop, The intriguingly named Agent Orange DJ also makes an impression with "Backwoods Groove", where coruscating riffs ride a jacking rhythm, while Sofian's "Respond" combines a pulsating groove with a bleak but hypnotic synth riff. At the same time, this twelfth edition also proves that experience can count, and this is evidence by Dutch pair Kamara's "Springveer", which combines lean drums with grinding riffs.
Review: Like previous instalments, the eleventh volume of Tronic's Rockets compilation features upcoming producers alongside better-known names. Newcomer Buridan impresses with "Ripple", an atmospheric, filter-heavy deep house cut, while the veteran Belgian producer Van Czar ploughs a similar, albeit more tribal furrow on the hypnotic, looped "Underground Nation". Integral Bread, who runs the Univack label, impresses with the emotive, stepping electro of "Circuits, while Filipe Barbosa, who is known for releases on Naked Lunch, also keeps it deep, but lets his musical leanings play out against a minimalist techno backing on "Bearing". Similar to the other compilations, the eleventh Rockets is sure to go stratospheric.
Review: Established in 1994, Christian Smith's Tronic Music has long been a reliable outlet for proper main room techno, with the latest edition in its 'Rockets // Launch' compilation series out now - featuring 10 new and exclusive tracks. Highlights come in the form of: the austere and grayscale fury of D-Unity's "Across the universe", the dystopian electro funk of Basic Shape's "Cosmic Traveler", rising Indian producer Shaun Moses with the relentless "Distractions" and Pagano delivering a Detroit high-tech soul vibe on the anthemic "Desire".
