Review: More dark and foreboding dancefloor drama courtesy of the ever reliable Senso Sounds, on which label chief Oliver Huntemann joins forces with the inimitable Dubfire for the fifth installment of the Elements Series. "Amor" comes in three different versions: there's the pumping and elevated energy levels of the Devocion mix, which is followed by the twisted minimal tech house sound of the Devocion mix, with its bass-driven groove taking it deep into the afterhours. Finally, the hypnotic Rechazo mix is perfect for those heads-down moments on the dancefloor.
Review: Oliver Huntemann's Senso Sounds label out Hamburg drops its best frequencies of the year for its annual round up. Large, heavy and progressive as f***, Andre Winter & Heerhorst go deep in "Time-Out", next to the likes of Marco Resmann, Citizen Kain and Timo Maas! The always groovy Timid Boy lands with the stripped back "The Force 2020" alongside Carlo Ruetz' synth heavy "Purple Sky" and Maksim Dark's bassline-centric "Energize". Huntemann himself turns in a minimal beat turned arpeggio-driven epic in "Tranquilizer 2.0" with Raul Facio, BOHO and Frankyeffe keeping it real with their stadium/club-ready numbers. Hats off the kick drum of "Maximizer". Sens-sational.
Review: Senso boss Oliver Huntemann is back with one of the label's most intense releases yet. "Nordpol" resounds to one of his typical growling basslines, but it's the building wave of electronic noise that will propel the track into the stratosphere. On the flip side, the German producer delivers a less dramatic but equally effective workout; building gradually, it moves from one of his typical bass-led grooves into a shrieking siren-led monster that keeps building and building, its intensity rising at every few bars. It's hard to imagine a more distinctive - and devastating techno record being released all year.
Review: More moody and brooding main room techno excursions from the ever reliable Senso Sounds camp. Matter of fact, It's harbour city sorrow all the way on 5Y, under adopted Hamburger Oliver Huntemann's careful curation - celebrating a a strong half decade in the business. Surrender to the void on label staple Andre Winter's sub bass snarler "Carte Noir", Maksim Dark from Russia truly signals the end of days on "Mega Pulse", Shaded who traded the sunny shores of Los Angeles for the black beach is on form with the slinky hypnotiser "I Got Haters" or trance out to the bleak mentalism of Carlo Ruetz' "Thunder" while Distale's "Hooka" will get your tunnel vision on with intoxicating style.
Review: We can always count on Senso Sounds for some of that moody peak time techno, and label chief Oliver Huntemann's Propaganda Remixes will sure give you that fix. Originally released back in late 2017, the album still really packs a punch - and featured are these remixes by scene heroes like Fur Coat and Olivier Giacomotto - but it's the ones by label staples that are optimised for maximum dancefloor impact. From the tension and suspense of Andre Winter's brooding rendition of "Momentum" or Shaded's tunnelling and strobed-out Dark Stab remix of "Malaria" to Berlin veteran Marco Resmann's woozy and disorienting take on "Doppelgonger". Finally, the always reliable Distale's sustained and minimal re-execution of "Trick 17" takes it all the way to the edge. This collection of sonic weapons is surefire artillery for serious DJ use.
Review: Propaganda is Oliver Huntemann's fifth studio album, and sees him expand his sound and range over the course of 12 tracks, without losing his signature style. "Taktik" and "Poltergeist" see the German producer flirt with slower tempos, but the bass is so menacing on the latter track that its intensity is unstoppable. The pace picks up on the insane filtered builds and rolling snares of "Egoist", while recent single "Rotlicht" is classic Huntemann, all spiralling foghorns, insistent percussion and the darkest sub-bass this side of late-90s tech-step. Propaganda does contain some real surprises - like the down tempo sound scapes of "Anonym" - and the eerie electro of "Momentum", but its unifying theme are bass lines that are uniquely malevolent and multi-layered.
Review: Oliver Huntemann is one of the few electronic music artists with a unique sound. It's audible on his latest release, Poltergeist. On the title track, an oppressive bass swaggers and blusters its way over a rickety rhythm that breaks down before correcting itself. It almost feels as if the German producer's subs are overpowering the backing track, causing it to fracture. Russian producer Maksim Dark sounds like he was heavily influenced by Huntemann, but that doesn't stop him from delivering his own, distinct take on "Poltergeist". The rhythm is more linear and less complex, but again it's all about the bass that throbs and pounds relentlessly.
Review: Issued on his own Senso Sounds label, Rotlicht is a taster single for Oliver Huntemann's new album, Propaganda. It suggests that his fifth long player could be the German's best yet. Populated by shrieking sirens, morose, tone-shifting stabs and some of the most oppressive bass notes that electronic music can offer, the title track swaggers in a particularly menacing fashion. There is also a less intense interpretation from Raxon. Centring on a woozy, out there riff and a loose rhythm, it still contains a punch, albeit in a more tripped out manner. If you are looking for maximum impact though, stick with Huntemann's bruising original.
Noir/Victor Ruiz - "I Am" (feat Cari Golden) - (8:15) 126 BPM
Veerus - "Mind Awake, Body Asleep" - (6:44) 125 BPM
Julian Wassermann - "Neurose" - (6:58) 125 BPM
Review: Senso Sounds is Oliver Huntemann's label for underground electronic music, based out of Hamburg and already racking up an impressive back catalogue of releases. Kickstarting a new series of EPs with exclusive tracks from various artists, Senso Sounds Level 01 ventures further into the abyss with four brand new killers from the roster. Starting off with boss man Huntemann and the brooding and adrenalised dancefloor drama of "Kamikaze", Denmark's Noir teams up with Brazilian Victor Ruiz on "I Am" (feat Cari Golden) and Italian Veerus delivers the druggy main room stomper "Mind Awake, Body Asleep". Finally Munich's Julian Wassermann serves up the EP's finest moment on with the devilish minimal tech house killer "Neurose" featuring the most razor sharp bassline you'll hear this year!
Review: Hamburg Elektronisch is the ultimate ode to the German harbour city's rich musical scene and heritage. A massive compilation comprised of a whopping thirty tracks by the city's legends (Boris Dlugosch, Lawrence, DJ Koze) and young guns (Tilman Tausendfreund, Joney, RSS Disco) alike. There's just so much great music on here but for our money, our picks are Christopher Rau with his sensual and ultra deep "RG En El Casa", Dial affiliate RVDS with the sexy late night groove of "Catwalk", local heroes Smallpeople on "Cricket Orchestra" (ultra deep, this one!) and the undisputed master of the dark journey track Oliver Huntemann with his comeback track "Kiez" that shows us that long before Tale Of Us or Mind Against: it was all about this guy!
Review: Hamburg deep house institution taps four of the Harbour City's finest for a few luscious auditory journeys. First up, the legendary Oliver Huntemann: the man who alongside Stephan Bodzin created some of the very first dark journey tracks is back doing what he does best on "Kiez" while local trio (featuring Jacob Seidnsticker) Wareika deliver the drifting and tripped out atmospheric ride that is "Teufelsbrack". Carsten Meyer aka Erobique delivers the raw analogue machine workout "Teknomusi" which truly defies categorisation and local hero Remute serves us with "Summer Slump" which keeps on with the tough and gritty analogue vibes: a driving, funky and truly wacky techno jam that's worthy of a listen!
Review: Pioneer of the Bremen sound and mid noughties minimal techno legend is back. And what better moment than now given his trademark dark journey sound has come full circle, with producers like Mind Against reviving his and close associate Stephan Bodzin's unmistakeable aesthetic. First track "Pech" features dark and sinister atmospherics and ping pong delays, all supporting a massive wonky bassline that will prove to be a one way ticket towards dancefloor hysteria. "Scwefel" features an absolutely massive drop and white noise breakdown that soon gives way to a chugging and tunnelling groove, burning away slowly beneath a dreamy melody and razor sharp bassline. Massive!
Review: There's nothing more powerful in electronic music than a great bass. From Suburban Knight's cubist tones to the desolate subs of No U-Turn, the low end has the potential to be a producer's deadliest weapon. It certainly seems to be the case for German artist Oliver Huntemann. While he rose to prominence during the noise-fixated electro house sound, his bass sounds are never messy and fuzzy, favouring instead a brutal, streamlined approach. Both "Schwarzlicht" and "Filmriss" contain little more than oppressive and sleek basslines. Granted, they are anchored in metallic rhythms and cold beats, but it's Huntemann's bleak low end that prevails on both occasions.
