Review: Tale Of Us curates the next volume of their epic compilation series Unity, featuring contributions from a cast of talent located all over the world. Part 3 maintains the same premise as the previous installments, gathering together a massive collection of 39 tracks designed to transport you into another realm. ANNA kicks off proceedings with the mesmerising dance floor drama of "Cosmovision" feat. Ravid, label staple Colyn takes you deep into the aether on the melodic bliss of "Unstable Gravity Alert" and esteemed German producer Recondite takes you on a descent further down the spiral on the brooding "Runner". Elsewhere, representing the new school, the ascendant Kevin de Vries nails that perfect main room techno sound on the epic "Biohazard", as does Innealea with the slinky and hypnotic "Targo", while scene veterans Argy and Dino Lenny represent their vintage with some equally impressive contributions in the form of "Mental Powers" and "Breathe" respectively.
Review: German electronic wizard Lorenz Brunner aka Recondite is back, with a new offering for Italian label Afterlife, following up 2018's Rainmaker EP. There are two enticing offerings on The Bird EP, with the sublime title track taking you deep into the aether by way of its rich tapestry of haunting melodies, backed by ethereal chord progressions. Brunner then makes his transition into the peak time with the optimised dancefloor dynamics of "Secluded". Again his penchant for infectious melody is on display with this element taking centre stage, underpinned by a minimal yet mesmerising backdrop of euphoric aesthetics.
Review: German producer Lorenz Brunner returns to Ghostly International for the first time since 2016's Corvus EP, with his sixth long player entitled 'Dwell', where windswept, moody and melodic moments linger with emotional resonance. When discussing the album title, Brunner described it as an experience 'when you're on a hike and you stop and look at the scenery; you may know which path you want to go next, but right now you are dwelling'. From the eerie yet evocative trance induction of the title track, or the seductive late night groove of "Mirror Games" to the cinematic tension and suspense of "Wire Threat" and the emotive deepness of digital bonus track "Equal", it is evident that Brunner's production style has certainly evolved to another level - a truly sublime effort.
Review: Following on from the recent 2.1 compilation, Hotflush again shows why it is such an essential dance floor label. It features established artists like Agoria, who drops the discordant tones and spiky minimalism of "Helice" and Recondit with the deep, dubbed out "Channel" , alongside emerging producers like Glaskin with the twisted acid of "You Are Simply A Machine". No Hotflush compilation would be complete without its owner Scuba's input; here it takes various forms, including a broken beat remix of "Ruptured" by Surgeon, and the SCB sub-project dropping the sub-bass led "Rope". If that wasn't reason enough to buy Floor 2.2, there is also a fine techno track from the late, great Trevino.
Review: The latest compilation from Scuba's label features some of dance music's most distinctive producers. Recondite delivers "Pour", a throbbing, spaced out groove that will leave listeners mesmerised. Locked Groove, another Hotflush regular, also focuses on the deeper end of techno with the hypnotic, flowing "From Beyond". The compilations also includes "If You Still Want Me", an evocative house cut from Yotam Anvi, where plaintive vocals unravel over a dubbed out groove, while Scuba himself impresses with the synth-heavy "Nineteen Eighty" and, working as SCB, drops the steely, stepping rhythm of "Five Degrees". Floor 2.1 is an essential release for anyone with even a passing interest in forward-facing techno and house.
Review: Acclaimed Italian duo Tale Of Us present the third Realm Of Consciousness compilation on Afterlife Recordings. A collection of spellbinding and melodic epics packed full of narratives plus plenty of dancefloor drama awaits with some rather surprising additions too - artist wise. The German hero Recondite serves up the powerful opening track "Savaaq" with its tension and suspense and those soaring melodies, fellow Italians Mind Against team up with Blausch on the hypnotic bliss of "Trust My Eyes" and Ukranian deep techno experts Woo York give us the steely heads down techno of "Discovery". Elsewhere, southern Italians Agents Of Time appear with the adrenalised and entrancing cyclicality of "Superia", frequent Tale Of Us collaborator Vaal takes you deep into the aether on "Weakness Days" and ascendant German Kevin De Vries gets into freefall on the sublime "Phoenix"
Review: Three fine tracks here from Recondite that will delight those in search of some atmospheric yet muscular techno grooves. 'Silk' itself opens with hard-hitting 4/4s, but before too long it's the dubwise bassline that's taking centre stage, as the track develops into a dubbed-out, heads-down number aimed at 3am dancefloors. 'Channel' is even harder-hitting, indeed almost industrial-sounding, in the kick drum department but is otherwise quite a sparse, otherworldly affair that comes locked and loaded with ominous synths and atmospheric FX galore, before the more sprightly and funk-fuelled 'Pour' rounds out an excellent package from Hotflush.
Review: Do you believe in the Afterlife? If Tale Of Us remain boasting of its virtues in such fine fashion, then consider us believers. The next next chapter in levitation comes courtesy of one of the scene's true finest: Lorenz Brunner. The German studio wizard delivers a massive six tracks of dancefloor drama on the Rainmaker EP, which involves a compelling narrative throughout its six tracks and a variety of moods and textures too. From the deeply brooding mood lighting of opener "Valvate", to the hypnotic and strobe-lit title track and "Aracne" that's reminiscent of his work on Dystopian - perfect for those heads-down moments in the early hours. Brunner delivers material that's right in harmony with the label's most devoted fans with the atmospheric melancholia of "Saudade" with its squeaky melodic action and the brooding dancefloor drama of "Step Back".
Review: Lorenz Brunner recently debuted his new immersive live AV show at Berlin's CTM Festival. "Daemmerlicht" (fading light) is his fifth album and developed specifically for the cavernous space of Berghain's Saule. On the album however are Brunner's interpretations of ambient, electronica, classical music and hip hop oriented soundscapes. Here he implements a different musical approach to the usual techno and house infused material that he's most usually known for. There's a cinematic score approach to the dozen or so tracks featured on the album, where lush and complex string arrangements face off with sublime melodic sequences and skillful beat programming - taking the listener on a journey of Bavaria's Black Forest after midnight.
Review: In the last several years, German producer Lorenz Brunner has established himself as one of the most defining voices in techno with his singular sound. You just know a Recondite track when you hear one: dark/epic and melodic journeys that have brought ultimate euphoria to many of the world's biggest dancefloors and courtesy of a who's who of labels. From Innervisions and Life & Death through to Dystopian, to name but a few. Another revered institution that has championed his work of course, is Hotflush, and the brilliant Bavarian is their next label stalwart to be thrust under the spotlight as part of their Update series. The much celebrated DRGN / Wist 365 EP from 2012 appears, in addition to ?2014's Caldera and last years Phalanx EP. Plus, not one, but two remixes of label boss Scuba's "The Hope".
Review: Recondite follows in the tradition of fellow Germans such as Stephan Bodzin and Oliver Huntemann, perfecting what we like to call 'dark journey tracks' optimised for maximum dancefloor drama. The artist who helped define the Life & Death sound (that's often copied but hardly matched) returns, this time for Ann Arbor institution Ghostly who present three epic and magical journeys so typical of Lorenz Brunner. Easing you into the mood with the slinky and seductive opener "Capable" with its lush layers of bell tones and and dreamy melodies, we must also mention sonic experimentalist Ricardo Donoso's "Clemency Version" of the same track. The South American producer's tunnelling and immersive rendition makes full use of the audio spectrum, proving again why he has acclaimed releases on the likes of Denovali and Further. Also worthy of mention is "Kauz" where the Bavarian producer is in his element on this brooding, mysterious and downright hypnotic excursion through the darklands.
Review: Master magician Lorenz Brunner is back as Recondite on Innervisions serving up three perfectly executed dark journey tracks for maximum dancefloor drama. Starting out with the brooding mystery groove of "Osa" whose sombre yet razor sharp melodics guide you down the abyss, he's then on to "Andever" which is a bit more uplifting with some bass driven deepness and haunting bell melodies reminiscent somewhat of the classic sound of German imprint Dial. Finally "Nick" hammers the message home in esoteric and transcendental fashion with its epic and wandering arpeggio backed by trancey atmosphere engineered for total dancefloor bliss.
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.
Review: The master of dark journey tracks known as Recondite returns, this time for Scuba's esteemed Hotflush imprint. The sombre and doomy vibes of the title track are a bit more restrained than Lorenz Brunner's usual tracks but just as foreboding with those now trademark 'wonky' melodies which truly work a treat. "Warg" on the flip has a bit more momentum and definitely more elements incorporated into its sound. It's funky, in a brooding way of course; with another epic melody for some seriously dramatic dancefloor moments that he's known for.
Review: The boss is back! The legendary UK pioneer and Bedrock head honcho gives us a live set from Canada's second city, complete with crowd noise. Digweed's knack for sniffing out the most cutting edge progressive and tech house grooves is second to none and you can bet that this set is chock block full of narrative, innovative grooves: one journey you'll never forget! Featuring contributions from Germany's Recondite ("Tame"/"Baro"), Glasgow's Sei A ("You Can Bring"), Berlin's Smash TV ("Cascadia"/"God Key") and Los Angeles' Eagles & Butterflies amongst a host of other big names. Also comes as six continuous mixes for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!
Review: Having previously impressed with the robust On Acid on Absurd/Acid Test, and more thoughtful Hinterland on Ghostly International, Recondite transfers to Innervisions for this third full-length excursion. The German producer seems to be in a particularly introspective mood on Iffy, delivering tracks that variously explore deep, spacious techno (see "Baro"), evocative deep house and bittersweet electronica. For all the sparse rhythms and clandestine atmospherics, there's plenty of picturesque moments, from the unfurling beauty of "Konter" and glacial downtempo shuffle of "Steady", to the tear-jerking shimmer of "Jim Jams" and gorgeous "Levo". As a result, it's probably his strongest set to date.
Review: It feels like we've been here before, but this time it sounds different. Trance used to be a dirty word, but in Recondite's deft hands, it has turned into something mysterious and alluring - or so it seems on PSY. The release title appears to make reference to tie-dyed T-shirts and hippie trance-dance, but in reality it's the more out there sounds of the late to mid '80s in Goa, with sluggish drums combined with a tripped out arc of synths'n'bleeps. "Fiery" is blatantly influenced by Eye Q '90s trance, but here too Recondite offers his own version, with spine-tingling minor keys fused with dubby drums.
Review: Bavaria's infamous Recondite lands on the ever-impressive Ghostly International with a jarring, ice-cold sampler EP ahead of his forthcoming "Hinterland" LP. The mood is tense and the sounds are sunken; much like the rest of his work, it's a pure, direct and minimalist take on the warehouse scene. Two versions of "Stems" lie within, both of them sure winners on the floor. Cop 'em.
Review: With his debut album under his belt, German producer Recondite returns to the Plangent label for the fourth Plan instalment. The underlying mood here is introspective; while "Dawn" flirts with the Traum/Trapez school of evocative trance, its foundations also lie in the minimal house of early Dial. "Slack" is even more ponderous, its widescreen melodies looming over stripped back beats and heavy claps. Finally, there's "Gloom", one of the most aptly-named tracks this reviewer has heard. A textured, melancholic bass rumbles over a lithe rhythm, Pantha Du Prince-style chiming bells and microscopic beats. It's a gloriously understated end to a truly evocative release.
Review: While it might be tricky in these open-minded times for Scuba to shatter preconceptions the way that he did with his Sub:Stance mix a few years ago, this compilation should be seen really as a celebration of the man himself as a DJ. After launching with a decidedly minimalist approach, the mix meanders between pacey techno, bluesy broken beat and rolling dubstep tempos. At times the flow feels unsteady, but then it just rings true that he put this mix together for himself. Without a dancefloor to look after, who knows where many of our favourite DJs might take us?
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