Take Me There (Lilly Palmer remix) - (6:38) 132 BPM
Review: Two techno giants come together as DJ Rush makes his debut appearance with Adam Beyer on Drumcode. The title track features the Chicago native's ponderous vocals set to an insistent, pumping rhythm, scatter gun percussion and a booming bass. "Control" is a more visceral affair: inspired by Rush's exploration of Schranz, its drums are gritty and the use of dramatic, chiming bells and a darker vocal lend it a real sense of urgency. "Take Me There" has an ominous edge, with pounding drums and a dramatic filter sweeping through the arrangement, while Rush's remix of the title track resounds to relentless kicks and a menacing low end.
Review: Wehbba returns to Drumcode after his 2020 album for the label. With a focus on the dance floor, the title track is a real standout, thanks to the use of gurgling acid lines and a Marlon Brando vocal sample playing out against a relentless, driving rhythm. Wehbba deploys a similar approach on "Ataraxia" - based on tight drums and percussion, the arrangement unfolds to the sound of wave upon wave of soaring synths, eventually reaching a dramatic crescendo, It's no coincidence that Wehbba says that the track was inspired by spiritual enlightenment. In contrast, "Strange Dreamz" is a stripped back workout, with frazzled riffs and a wired vocal sample building and flowing over a raw groove.
Review: Following releases on Senso and her own Spannung, Lilly Palmer debuts on Drumcode. The title track features the kind of searing, ominous bass you'd associate with Adam Beyer's label, but Palmer's own production signatures also shine through, with lithe break beats and crafty builds programmed into the arrangement. "Resistance" is a lean workout, featuring a smart combination of pulverising bass with eerie synth lines and rave sirens, while on "Plasma", Palmer goes down a percussive route, accompanied by a visceral low end. Rounding off a hugely impressive first outing on Drumcode, Palmer drops the titan weight tribal drums and brooding chords of "Don't Look Back".
Review: Adhering to the 'less is more' aesthetic, Kaiserdisco return to Drumcode with single-track EP. It's their first release on the label since 2016, and despite its brevity, "Together..." is a memorable affair. Underpinned by lead-weight kicks and insistent, firing percussion, the title track features a vocal sample from a familiar song intertwined with soaring, filtered synths and belching acid lines. The German duo have managed to strike a seamless balance between the type of club-friendly techno that has become Drumcode's signature and irresistible pop sensibilities - and it's a combination that is sure to cause mayhem on the dance floor, whenever it's played.
Review: Julian Jeweil releases regularly on Drumcode, including an album back in 2019. Listening to the title track, it's not hard to understand why he is so closely associated with the label: featuring a combination of a driving, steely rhythm with powerful, swelling synths, it's exactly the type of track you would expect to hear on Drumcode. Meanwhile, "Time" is a tough, percussive workout that plays host to twisted riffs, while "Reverse" sees Jeweil opt for a more intense approach, as swathes of frazzled electronics cascade over a filtered rhythm and menacing bass. This dark, visceral style also applies on "Cosmos", where the French producer delivers a throbbing rhythm track and wave upon wave of impactful filters.
Review: Following on from a busy 2021 that featured a slew of releases on Drumcode and his own collaboration with DJ Rush, Adam Beyer now drops a killer solo release on his label. The title track is a peak time affair, with Beyer's signature drums underpinning waves of noisy filters, rave stabs and a looped vocal. It makes for a distinctive but effective piece of club techno. "Code Is The Code" is deeper, with Beyer creating a hypnotic, tranced out synth pattern, fusing it with a repetitive vocal narrative and setting it to a pulsating groove. On "Dub Embassy", he remains in a similar territory, but on this occasion, the dramatic melodies are combined with a throbbing bass and ethereal strings.
Review: Following on from their 2019 Polarize collaboration, veteran Dutch producer Bart Skils teams up again with rising Canadian artist Weska to drop another killer two-track EP on Drumcode. "Shades of Summer" sees the pair conjure up a booming, ominous bass, which provides the backdrop for a series of dramatic, frazzled synths that swirl seductively through the arrangement. On "House of Lords" there's a different dynamic at play: tougher and more tribal sounding than the title track, its rolling groove and pummelling drums are combined with epic builds, creating the kind of dynamic club techno that will have maximum impact.
Review: Veerus returns to Drumcode for his fourth release since 2019. As we've come to expect from his previous material, Yard is full of distinctive, peak-time music. The title track combines a pulsating bass and doubled up claps with atmospheric chord sequences that keep on building, while on "Bypass", he opts for a different approach. This time, tribal drums guide a rolling groove, with these elements providing the backdrop for a dystopian synth line and a growling bass. On "Nobody", the Italian producer puts the focus once again on the rhythm and percussion, with nickel plated hi hats and an ominous bassline accompanying dramatic, swirling melody lines - a combination that is sure to cause mayhem whenever it is dropped.
Review: The dynamic pairing of Alex Lentini & STOMP BOXX return to Drumcode after their fine Natural Desire release earlier this year. "Solstice" is a dark but impactful affair, with the duo conjuring up booming bass, air raid siren-led builds and gloomy synths, with these elements supported by a lean, linear rhythm. The title track is based on a similar approach - this time the arrangement focuses on steely hi hats aligned to a pulverising low end, with vocal sample snippets and atmospheric builds playing out in the background. "Azimuth" sees the pair veer in a tribal direction, before they open up the track to a cacophony of textured sounds, while "Equimulate" swings towards house music thanks to its groovy rhythm and swinging drums.
Review: It's hard to believe that it's been four years since Ilario Alicante last appeared on Drumcode, but his brand of club-primed techno will never fall out of favour. On "Rave Atlas", Alicante proves why he has released on high profile labels like Soma and Cocoon. Fuelled by a booming bass, the arrangement also features cheeky, rave-sampling vocals. It's an alluring combination that sees Alicante carve out a distinct musical sound. Vocal samples also feature on "Again", but in this instance they are aligned to thunder-claps and the kind of menacing acid squiggles that call to mind old school Joey Beltram records. Rounding off this fine EP is "Rave Soul", which sees Alicante fuse rave piano lines with a jacking rhythm.
Review: Oliver Heldens brings his HI-LO alter ego to Drumcode. While the project is still best known for the remix that Helden did of Nina Kraviz's "Skyscrapers", this two-tracker shows that his original material under this name is also well worth a spin. The title track is led by a pounding, booming bass that Heldens combines with building filters, making for a dynamic, punchy club track. On "Hera", he goes down a different route; using clicky drums as the basis for a catchy, euphoric hook that surges and builds, it's a crafty arrangement that scales epic heights without ever sounding like the trajectory is obvious.
Review: Oliver Heldens teams up with HI-LO for this powerful, menacing outing on Drumcode. The title track is built on a menacing bass that growls and purrs its way through a series of filtered breakdowns, supported all the way by steely kicks. It sounds like what would happen if Kevin Saunderson's Reese project got stuck in an elevator with Oliver Huntemann. In contrast, "Hera" sees the Dutch producers go down a different route, but it has the same effect. While the rhythm is still insistent, the arrangement centres on musical chords and melodic builds that come together to create a euphoric crescendo.
Review: Drumcode delivers a heavyweight package to mark its 250th release, commissioning a stellar list of house and techno artists to remix Kevin Saunderson's finest work. Len Faki drops a chugging, tribal take on Saunderson's "World of Deep" as E-Dancer, while Paul Woolford adds menacing sub-bass and frazzled filters to the evergreen late 80s track "Rock To The Beat", recorded as Reese. There's also good representation from Detroit on this compilation, with DJ Bone delivering a rich, chord-heavy take on "Behold", and Robert Hood adding steely drums and swirling pads to Inner City's "Anongay". Drumcode also deserves kudos for providing a platform to rRoxymore, who turns "Human Bond" into a rickety, stripped back affair.
Review: While this EP was recorded during the pandemic, the latest Drumcode offering from Tiger Stripes still brims with positive energy. The title track alternates between a buzzing groove and robust break beats, with the arrangement peppered with a sweet vocal sample informing us 'I get high'. On "Fire", the Swedish producer opts for a straight clubby release, but here too he peppers the rolling rhythm with intense riffs and a vocal intoning the track's title. Meanwhile, "We Love You" is powered by a throbbing, rave-influenced bass, with Tiger Stripes adding further levity by using vocoder-led samples. Rounding off this infectious EP are the pumping but atmospheric strains of "Song for Debbie".
Review: Mark Reeve has released a series of acclaimed EPs on Drumcode, and now he delivers his latest artist album for the label. "Silent Whisper" starts the release with tranced out synths and skeletal break beats, while on the title track, he goes for the dance floor jugular, with skipping drums supporting a menacing bass. "Pragmatic" and the rolling "Irregular Choice" both mark a more tranced out take on club techno, while "Take You Back" sees the UK producer unleash a killer tribal groove. However, Reeve's musical sensibilities are never too far away, and on "Theme" he drops the kind of dreamy, melodic techno that will have across the board appeal.
Review: Italy has long been a reliable source of tough, looping techno, and if that's what you're into then this four-tracker from Drumcode regular Luigi Madonna is unlikely to disappoint: the title track, an eyes-down pounder built to be played in big, dark rooms at 3am, sets the pace from the off and the other three tracks have very little to offer in the way of respite! That's not to say it all sounds the same, though: 'This Is The Future' somehow manages a new beat-ish feel despite the considerably higher tempo, while the standout for this ageing raver is 'Interfrequencies', with its nods to early 90s hardcore. Play LOUD.
Review: With many clubs re-opening, Drumcode's latest missive from Bart Skils is sure to get heavy play. Teaming up with Superchumbo for "All Over My Body", Skils fuses a repetitive, hypnotic vocal sample with a pulsating bass and smart filtering to create a catchy peak-time track. On "Golden Temple", the Dutch producer changes tact: focusing on shimmering, tranced out synths and pounding kicks, it's a tougher, more direct take on club techno. Meanwhile, on "Dub Killer", Skils shifts his focus again - underpinned by tribal house drums, he layers in hypnotic ethnic vocals and brass stabs to create a deeper but equally mesmerising track.
Review: Despite boasting an existential title, veteran producer Ramon Tapia's debut on Drumcode is the opposite of introspection. The title track is a thunderous affair built on a throbbing bass and pounding kicks that support dramatic melodic sweeps. "Song of Sirens" sees Tapia go for a deeper approach and features swirling synth lines, but underpinning these musical elements are dense, tribal drums. "Screwdriver" is more typical of the Drumcode sound, as Tapia fires off bursts of white noise against the backdrop of intense bass drums, while he rounds out the EP with the soaring hooks and ghostly vocal samples of "Hold On".
Review: Label boss Adam Beyer teams up with DJ Rush for the Chicago legend's debut on Drumcode. The duo know each other from the 90s European techno circuit, and you can hear flashes from that period on the title track, with Rush's rumbling vocals underpinned by a hypnotic drum track. "Control" is more grainy, as the revered duo deliver a pulsating bass that unfolds over heavy kicks, and again Rush's ominous vocal tones play out over the arrangement. "Take Me There" is typical of the Drumcode big room sound, with a sawtooth riff and surging chords set to a pounding groove, while Rush's own bass heavy take on the title track completing this heavyweight package.
Review: Layton Giordani returns to Adam Beyer's label after 2020's New Generation album with this intense two track EP. The title track features grinding riffs playing out over a pulsating rhythm and a brooding bass as Giordani adds in some spooky synth lines. It makes for a tough but distinctive slice of peak-time techno. "Astro" follows in a different vein: as its title suggests, it's built on a pulsating rhythm and majestic synths making for an atmospheric but impactful track. Like his previous release on Drumcode, Hyper World consolidates the American producer's reputation for making lean but effective club techno.
Review: 2020 was a pivotal year for Marco Faraone, with his No Filter album consolidating his position as an emerging techno force. Now he's back on Drumcode with his fourth standout EP for the label. "Burn Down" centres on a humming bass and epic hooks, which provide the backdrop for dazed indie vocals. The title track sees Faraone focus on a similarly foreboding bass, but this time he deploys it in combination with eerie synths and a stream of consciousness vocal narrative. "Orbital" is a more tranced out affair, with Faraone laying down a pulsating bass and atmospheric melodies, while the warbling hooks of "Magic Sunset" close out the release in epic fashion.
Review: Two techno heavyweights come together for their debut collaboration - and naturally Drumcode is the perfect outlet. In its original format, "We Don't Know.." draws on Fitzpatrick's trademark drums and and Mull's ability to craft searing, impactful basslines. Combined with Frangie's ponderous vocal narrative and tranced out synths, these elements all come together to create a compelling track. The release is also remarkable in that it features the first remix in over two years from label boss Adam Beyer. In his hands, it morphs into a lean, linear affair. Centred on dubbed out drum, snappy percussion and a menacing bass - the perfect backdrop for those alluring vocals.
Review: After 15 years putting out dance floor techno, Jay Lumen finally makes his solo debut for Drumcode. While it's hard to believe that this is the first time he has flown solo for Adam Beyer's imprint, rest assured that the Footwork Audio boss doesn't disappoint: the title track upholds the label's tradition of using powerful, moody bass. In this instance, Lumen combines a rumbling low end with dramatic chords, subtle vocal snatches and a succession of impactful drops and filters. Meanwhile, "Mind" is more intense: Lumen deploys insistent acid bleeps and repetitive vocal samples over doubled up claps and a jacking, pile-driving rhythm.
Review: It's fair to say that Irish producer Rebuke is on a roll; riding high on the success of previ-ous releases on Drumcode, he consolidates his reputation for delivering impactful club techno with Wasp. The title track is led by detuned tones and eerie synth sweeps cascad-ing over a bleary bass. It's an alluring combination that sets him apart from the wave of identikit club techno. On "Evolution", the Irish producer opts for a more moody approach, dropping a dark, ominous groove populated by barb wire percussion and epic filter sweeps. Meanwhile, "Clarity" integrates trance elements with a metallic rhythm, while "Redemption" resounds to atmospheric synths and clanging, broken down percussion.
Review: Having previously released on Drumcode's A-Sides compilations, Thomas Hoffknecht now gets a full EP on the label. Combining tough drums with musical elements, this fast rising producer's work shines brightly here. "Sirius" combines tranced out synths with dreamy vocal samples, while on the title track, whooshing filters roll in over a pounding groove. "Comet" is based on a similar rhythm track, but this time the musical elements are darker, with synth stabs and razor sharp percussion hitting hard. "Wega" is more understated, but the power of its belching acid line and vocal snatches should not be underestimated, while "Regulus" rounds out this fine Drumcode debut with chiming bells and dramatic synths.
