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Tensal
Browse the latest digital releases by Tensal
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: Hector Sandoval keeps the hard techno flame burning brightly as his Tensal alias reaches the letter K in this alphabet-themed series. "KA1" resounds to scorched earth acid, supported by robust kicks and razor-sharp percussion. On "KA2", he delivers a looped workout, led by creaky, one-note samples, thundering drums and insistent, nagging hi hats. "KB1" represents a ramping up in intensity, with a pulsating, throbbing bass at the heart of the galloping rhythm, while
"KB2" sounds influenced by classic Jeff Mills, as bells crash in over visceral kick drums. It serves as a reminder that when it comes to club-primed, hard-edged techno, Sandoval has few peers.
"KB2" sounds influenced by classic Jeff Mills, as bells crash in over visceral kick drums. It serves as a reminder that when it comes to club-primed, hard-edged techno, Sandoval has few peers.
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: Hector Sandoval slips into Tensal mode to deliver this club-friendly release for ARTS. "Recall Damage" gets the EP off to an intense start, with pummelling kicks and a searing analogue rhythm recalling the more visceral end of the loop techno sound. In contrast, "Back to Birmingham" is a hypnotic affair, with Sandoval layering cavernous filters over dense kicks, while on "Emperor of Senses", he weaves niggling tonal blips into a rolling, percussive workout. Returning to the intense aesthetic that opened the release, "Huracan" sees the revered techno producer drop a peak-time, industrial banger, led by grimy, pounding drums and peppered with incessant riffs.
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Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
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Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
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Played by: FLEKITZA
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Played by: Kike Pravda
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Echologist - "Berserk" (feat Matrixxman) - (6:09) 134 BPM
He & AT - "& Stay Out!" - (6:34) 128 BPM
Sleeparchive - "Monochrome" - (4:55) 134 BPM
Charlton - "A Mental Sketch" - (4:31) 132 BPM
Wrong Assessment - "Gacha" - (4:58) 133 BPM
Temudo - "Alegadamente Foi Acido" (feat -2) - (8:14) 133 BPM
War Scenes - "I've Been Here Before" - (5:12) 123 BPM
Played by: Charlotte De Witte
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: The latest instalment of the Falling Ethics label is a split effort. On "Against the Cycle", Tensal unleashes a nightmarish, bleak take on techno, as waves of noisy drones unravel over lo-fi drums. "Lost In Vienna" sees the Spanish producer drop the tempo but the feeling remains the same as eerie synths unravel over slow motion drums. "1088x" also eschews the dance floor in favour of grey electronic textures and drones. Meanwhile, label owner P.E.A.R.L. also follows an individualistic approach. While "Joy of Rapture" is a tough, linear groove, populated by lone bleeps and churning filters, on "Fall Before You", he also veers into abstraction, with pummelling drums supporting chilling piano lines. Lust is a near perfect mixture of force and depth.
Played by: Electrorites
Review: Hector Sandoval's Tensal project is more linear and singular than his work as Exium, and on Archives G, he delivers a series of blistering club tracks. "G1" is a rough and rocky ride, with a metallic tribal drum pattern setting the tone of the release. "G2" is less abrasive, but still sees Sandoval drop a steely, percussive rhythm track. The Spanish producer uses it as a backdrop to unravel a twisting, rolling filter against. By the time he reaches "G3", the mood has darkened further and a predatory bass underpins the approach of grey filtered clouds. Sandoval ends the release in an unexpected manner, with the loopy "G4" drawing on Rob Hood's visceral minimalism for inspiration.
Review: Hector Sandoval's second EP for Soma finds him in impressive form. Favouring the kind of heads-down dance floor approach that has become the Tensal project's signature, the three instalments of "Proton" are tailor-made for dark, sweaty basements. "Proton 1" is a pulsing, tunnelling groove that has echoes of Sandwell District at their most linear, while on "Proton 2", the Spanish producer draws on the influence of late 90s techno to create a dense, loopy roller. The most intense track is left till last - inspired in equal measures by the white noise whooshes of late stage mmml and the wiry acid of Uwe Schmidt, Sandoval takes these seemingly incompatible elements and unites them over an abrasive rhythm.
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Review: When he's not dropping hypnotic techno as part of Exium, Hector Sandoval likes to make tougher club tracks under the Tensal banner. This side project has already yielded an artist album in 2015 as well as a brace of EPs for Pole and Modularz. Now the Spanish producer brings the project to Soma. "Development 1" sounds like an update on 90s Surgeon and Space DJz, with abrasive, acid-soaked kicks and a relentless, nosy riff prevailing. The occasional blasts of filtered noise give the track some added energy. On "Development 2", Sandoval opts for a more streamlined approach, with a linear rhythm unfolding over jackhammer kicks. The third and final "Development" isn't as intense as the others, but is a loopy, hypnotic tool set at a relentless pace.
Reeko/Various
Review: Oscar Mulero's Polegroup label closes the year with a mammoth compilation that defines the current state of the techno nation. As Unknown Landscapes shows, it is a diverse place. There's droning ambience from Daphne RXX, while Reeko, Reggy Van Oers and Mike Parker deliver bleep-heavy, hypnotic groove that draw on the influence of F.U.S.E and Sandwell District. Heads-down loopy fare is also catered for - with the spiky percussion and bleak filters of Jonas Koop's "Fu Factor" standing out - and the form also revisits the rough, analogue sound of the 90s thanks to Karl Bult and American scene veteran DJ Hyperactive's contributions.
