Review: Hailing from the Midwest, Berlin's Minneapolis transplant Jon Hester teams up with Spanish techno legend Tadeo. It marks the third release from Hester's newly founded Participation label that following its inaugural Hester debut welcomed a Cassy collaboration in 002, that now rolls over into 003. Kicking off with some sidewinding phase-action in "Cycling Taps" it's a track that progressively develops with its staccato, stuttering and percussive stabs before giving way to uplifting rays of lights simmering above its dubby tones of void. "Matching Claps" then beats down with some industrial, warehouse force, before moving into some classic groove techno territory that at some points in its percussion section almost inspires a Mike Huckaby classic "Sandcastle". Add some epic clap sequencing and you're ready to boot.
Review: This compilation was released as part of the overall "Kotti Island" artistic project - whose origins lie in artists exploring the Kotbusser Tor in Berlin. The area's communist-era architecture is captured well on the brooding ambient soundscapes of Zettka's "cS?n?r D??" and project lead Cecilia Tosh's grainy techno stomper, "Blend". On "Walking In Circles", Jon Hester reimagines this part of the German capital in a different way, with the hum and whoosh of the S-Bahn and busy streets set to a drum-heavy, hypnotic club track. Meanwhile, on "Berlin Speed Drive", Vril drops a throbbing, ominous bass; combined with firing hi hats and a driving rhythm, it brilliantly sums up the ups and downs of life on Kotti Island.
Review: The second RSPX compilation picks up where the first volume left off, with a focus on crafty house and techno jams. This aesthetic is at the heart of the raw, jacking groove of Radio Slave's "F__k Em" and "This Is Our Groove" a hypnotic, minimal house workout from Rekids regular Confidential Recipe and Lady Tazz. It's also audible on the compilation's techno contributions: Slam's "Beat Control" sees the Soma duo infuse a looped groove with insistent, pitch-bent vocal samples and V111's "East Sex Rave" is a rousing, chord heavy affair. Meanwhile, Markus Suckut's "Flux" takes inspiration from Octave One's primal funk to bring the compilation to a mesmerising climax.
Review: Having kept 2020 clear for the release of a debut album on REKIDS - Converge Part 1 - Jon Hester states his territory on the label in 2021 with its counterpart - Converge Part 2! The Chicago-born, Berlin-based transplant has had a good run in recent years following a succession of releases with the likes of Deeply Rooted, Transmat and Dystopian, with this LP adding another gold star to the techno producer's vintage yet futuristic sound. Heavily modelled on faster Detroit-styled techno with a touch of Chicago soul (best heard through the LP's melodies and synthwork in tracks like "Instant", "Contact" and "Wonder"), get your dubbier and percussive sessions from "Silver" to the broken beat drums in "Shadows" and minimal warehouse vibes of "Artificial Intelligence". Jon Hester is: Converged.
Review: Jon Hester follows last year's Momentum release on Rekids with this impressive debut album. It starts with the dramatic ambience of "Sending Signals", but quickly moves towards the dance floor with the piano key-led "Metropolitan". Continuing this musical, clubby approach is the equaling sax and snaking groove of "Haze" and the deeper, shuffling "Rain", which resounds to the sound of thunder rolling in. Hester is a talented, crafty producer and while Converge Part I is predominantly dance floor-focused, there is enough diversity on offer here to keep even the fussiest fan happy - as the rolling, "Dreamstate" and the dubbed out "Free' both effortlessly demonstrate.
Review: Since breaking through in 2016 with his Interstellar Systems EP for Berlin label Dystopian, Jon hester has since gone on to release with the likes of DJ Deep, Radio Slave and Derrick May. In four years the likes of Deeply Rooted, Transmat and Rekids have all released the American's music and this Momentum EP continues Rekids' techno assault in 2019 (see EPs from P.Leone, Roberto and the always faithful Phillipe Petit). Industrial beats all round, "Zone" sends in spiraling rhythms, claps washed in reverb and a relentless forward motion, and "Part 4" is a touch syncopated in comparison, its held together by a hypnotising vocal snippet. Same goes for "Beatwave" only with deeper atmospheres and bleep inspired notation, while a fan's favourite can be in the happy hardcore and contemporary rave of "Accelerator".
Review: Tale of Us launch their Afterlife label in style with the Realm of Consciousness compilation. Bringing together some of the best-known names in contemporary techno as well as a group of newcomers, it moves effortlessly between esoteric moods. Tale of Us contribute the ambient intro, while Monoloc and Woo York are both in more mellow form than usual on the melodic "Phoenix" and "Poseidon" respectively. Meanwhile, Recondite contributes the sad melodies and throbbing bass of "Murphy's Law" and Locked Groove balances supernaturally beautiful hooks with powerful bass pulses on "Emeralds". Even more dance floor-focused tracks, like Obscure Shape & SHDW's "Die Wiederkehr", are filled with trancey melancholia.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.