Review: Float has a strong track record when it comes to cultivating new talent, and the label's latest release is no exception. The work of newcomer Axling, it balances atmospheric textures with seductive dance floor arrangements to create a distinctive EP. "Launch" features a fusion of insistent bleeps, lush pads and a pulsating rhythm. Meanwhile on the title track, Axling shifts focus; favouring a more stripped back approach, the hypnotic tones and reverberating hand claps sound like a compelling amalgamation of Function and Mike Parker. Although "Passage" is more hard-hitting, Axling counterbalances the tough, industrial rhythm with wave upon wave of ghostly synths.
Review: Teo 'Translate' Pellegrino follows last year's release on Float with this fine six-track release. The title track is a slow-paced, tonal track that sounds inspired by Jeff Mills' more abstract leanings, while experimentation is also at play on the stripped back groove of "Functions Domain", a slow-burning affair that gradually unwinds. Pellegrino picks up the pace for "Nonlinearity", with its repetitive pulses and layered bleeps coming across like a combination of Sleeparchive and Mike Parker - with its eerie synth builds only adding to the sense of drama. "Exact Sciences" is similarly themed, albeit more understated, while "Fenure" sees Pellegrino venture into a tripped out denouement, led by 90s sounding synth swirls.
Review: Float has been successful in spotting and signing new talent, and Vhudu is a case in point. The work of newcomer Pulso, it features a remarkable selection of purist techno. The title track sets the tone for the EP, with dense, doubled up drums combined with deep space synths. While "Strike Mission" is more dance floor focused, it sees Pulso craft a sub-tonal arrangement that has echoes of Jeff Mills. "The Decline" is much more direct, with spiky percussion and layered, outer space tones combined to create a more clubby sound, but on "Flammin Passion", Pulso once again shows his predilection for abstract electronic music and drops the kind of spaced out sounds that would not sound out of place on a Mills or Steve Bicknell record.
Review: TWR72 mark the fiftieth release on their Float imprint with a pure techno EP. The title track is a dense, looped affair, while on "Zero", the Dutch act refines the sound of Lost Recordings with cavernous, rolling drums unfolding in linear fashion. On "Total", TWR72 pick up the pace to deliver a lean rhythm and insistent percussion, with these elements making for an impactful combination. The only divergence from this approach comes on the aptly named closing track, "Quiet". While it resonates to a dubbed out rhythm, its atmospheric, textured synths project it into a more ethereal space than the previous tracks.
Review: An artist found deep within echelons on techno music through the 2010s you could say Swedish producer Alexander Johansson rose through the ranks alongside the likes of Wata Igarshi, Advanced Human and production-mate Mattias Fridell through his association with Counterpulse. Enjoying something of a renaissance in the 2020s, Alexander Johansson counts the likes of Philippe Petit (Decision Making Theory) and TWR72 (Float Records) his closest allies thanks to the release of Farden, Polymorphism and Bipolar before that. On Polymorphism, Johansson turns in a booming five-track EP done the 2010 way in supplying a bevvy of bangers good enough for the likes of Oscar Mulero, Christian Wunsch and Reeko any day of the week.
Review: NO! may be a newcomer, but as his debut release for Float demonstrates, this emerging artist brings a fresh approach to dance floor techno. "Luna Rover" resounds to dramatic violin stabs and a dense, looped groove, like an update on the moodier end of Envoy's catalogue. Meanwhile on "Fake, Fun and Narcissism" and "No Heart", NO! delivers visceral, metallic rhythms with the latter sunning like Jeff Mills at his most intense. For the parting shot, NO! offers a surprise: despite its name, "Afterthought" is anything but, and resounds to a cacophony of discordant bells that unravels over a forceful bass and tough kicks.
Review: The third release on Float this year from FLAWS aka Kai Hickinson shows that this emerging producer deserves serious kudos for his varied productions. The hammering kicks and insistent bleeps of "Healing" show that he is adept at delivering crafty peak time techno, but that only tells part of the story. "Guide" is a dense affair, built on rolling drums and deft percussion, while on "Within", the UK producer draws on dub techno influences to craft a high-tempo groove that resounds to clanging, metallic chords. Best of all though is "Mindfull", where Hickinson conjures up dubbed out, moody soundscapes, supported by an angular rhythm.
Review: Divide is part of Italy's EVOD crew and he makes his debut on Float with a fine purist techno EP that draws on some of the sound's most notable proponents. "Emersione" starts the release with the kind of pared back drums and subtle percussion that characterised Steve Bicknell's work during the 90s. "Turbolenza" is darker and sees this emerging producer layer eerie tonal sequences over a dubbed out groove. On "Sonar", Divide goes farther down the abstract route as dense offbeats underpin spaced out tones and bleeps, while he pivots back towards the dance floor for the visceral kicks of the Millsian closer, "Immersione".
Review: Circular Balance is Translate's debut on Dutch label Float, and it delivers four outstanding underground techno tracks. The insistent, hypnotic drums and organic-sounding percussion on "Arcnex" is redolent of Oliver Ho's early tribal techno releases. In sharp contrast, "Surface Radar' sees Translate up the tempo and intensity levels, with Sleeparchive-style tonal bleeps unfolding over bleak synths and busy hi-hats. "Inoculum" marks another change in direction and features a dubbed out groove underpinning shifting tonal sequences. Rounding off the release, Translate sets sail for more experimental territory with the frazzled bass and spooky effects of "Division Selectiva".
Review: Flaws is a new name, but this release on Float shows that he has already developed a distinctive sound. "Humankind" and "Decedent" are both based on loose, tribal rhythms that sit somewhere between Oliver Ho's early work and original London tech-house. On "Peace", this emerging UK producer opts for a more mysterious approach that echoes Jeff Mill's style on the Something in the Sky series, while on "Unity", he weaves high-pitched vocal snatches into a similar pacey rhythm as "Humankind". Clearly, Flaws is a significant new talent and on "Prophet", the dubbed out closing track, once again demonstrates his skills.
Review: Dutch imprint Float has decided to celebrate five years in business with two split releases. This second volume starts with the visceral, spiky minimalism of Sleeparchive's "Recreant", with the revered producer substituting tonal bleeps for coruscating percussion. On "Ruffle", label owners Twr72 drop a firing, tribal banger, while Eric Fetcher goes deeper on "Vein". Forsaking the straight dance floor approach in favour of frosty synths and rickety electro drums, it provides some relief before Jeroen Search delivers the lean, streamlined Robert Hood-style techno of "Radaris" and Sev Dah brings this second instalment of the label's fifth anniversary celebrations to a close with the visceral, crunchy rhythm of "Izolacija".
Review: Leghau aka C?dric Rebagliato has built up an impressive catalogue of releases on imprints like Dynamic Reflection, Knotweed and Trapez, and now brings his idiosyncratic craft to Float. "Collapse" starts the release with what sounds like a wall of angry electronic bees venting their frustration over a dense rhythm. In contrast, "Jazz 5000" is stripped back, with a Robert Hood-style approach to minimalism and microscopic, pared back beats. "Resist" sees him explore a more murky, shadowy approach, as dense drum patterns roll in like thunder, while he offers another surprise turn on closing track "Stars", where a more atmospheric version of the minimal style explored on "Jazz 5000" prevails.
Review: In spite of his somewhat goofy sounding name, there is nothing cosmic about James Bong, and he delivers a superb purist release for Float. First up is "Shift", where a spiky metallic rhythm is powered by doubled-up claps and features high-pitched tonal bleeps. It sounds like early Robert Hood getting it on with Sleeparchive. The title track also resounds to jittery, metallic hi hats, but here the groove is more looped and rolling, with Bong dropping moody chord builds over the arrangement. Closing out the release is "Anrine", where this talented producer drops a grainy, reduced rhythm, full of twitchy percussion and reminiscent of early Lost Recordings material.
Review: On the fourth instalment of this collaborative series between photographer Thomas Aangeenbrug, graphic designer Merijn van Velsen and TWR72, a purist sound prevails. "Fuzzy Gold" sees the Dutch techno pair fuse an insistent rhythm with high-pitched tonal yelps, coming across like a lean, mean version of Sleeparchive. "Glossy Indigo" continues in a similar vein, albeit with tougher drums and steely percussive bursts that propel the track on its linear journey. Last but by no means least is "Muddy Pink"; its heads-down approach, resonating tones and metallic snares see it operating in the same sonic field as Mike Parker.
Mike Parker - "Internalized Action" - (4:59) 108 BPM
Cirkle - "Oblate Spheroid" - (5:36) 130 BPM
Cirkle - "Cygnus" - (5:59) 132 BPM
Cirkle - "Pulses From Beyond" - (5:19) 135 BPM
Review: Float is the imprint for Dutch duo TWR72, and since its inception a few years ago, they have released material by underground acts like Tensal and Sleeparchive. However, this latest release is probably Float's biggest coup so far as it sees them secure the services of Mike Parker. On "Internalized Action", Parker surprises with a slowed down, teased out take on his hypnotic sound, but on the title track, he reverts to type. "Metamora" is an intense banger, centring on those woozy tones that the US producer has made his own. On the flip side, Cirkle contributes the rolling "Oblate Spheroid" and the atmospheric, tunnelling "Cygnus", but it's all about Parker here.
Review: Having released material before by Sleeparchive, Float welcomes another experimental producer, Leghau aka C?dric Rebagliato to the fold. The title track has a light but slightly eerie touch as a spacey loop plays out over loose drums, while there is a similar feeling on "Oppressive Environment", albeit with more intense percussion and tough drums. "In Order To" features a different dynamic. The arrangement is faster, more linear and robotic as cold bleeps that call to mind Sahko run riot over the rhythm. Rebagliato shifts approach once again with "Time", where an insistent minimal track provides the basis for abrasive, metallic riffs.
Review: On the second instalment of the Error series, production pair TWR72 mine classic purist techno. "Liquid Blue", with its looped chord stabs, punchy kicks and thunder clap bursts, comes across like a particularly functional take on Rob Hood's early Floorplan releases. "Juicy Grey" on the other hand, mines a more intense minimal techno path, with hypnotic, one-note riffs tied to dense, rolling drum loops. It's a linear, relentless sound, but still alluring and hypnotic. On "Mellow Black", the Dutch duo remain focused on minimal techno; the hi-hats rasp incessantly in the background over a looped tonal bleep and understated kicks - proof that when it comes to purist techno, few modern acts come close to TWR72 .
Review: TWR72 aka Tom Doorschodt and Roger van der Zwan continue on their journey to redefine techno with this new series. Based on the concept that "errors exist to let something develop", the first instalment is a master class in heads-down, purist techno. "Dusty White" is a dense, scratchy techno groove that'll appeal to fans of locked-on grooves, while on "Satin Navy", the Dutch pair opt for a cleaner arrangement that evolves to the sound of doubled up claps and concrete beats, its central riff luring the listener in gradually. Finally, "Vivid Lime" sees them re-focus on stripped back, bleep techno, with shades of Robert Hood and Steve Bicknell guiding them.
Review: Float is home to well-known names like Sleeparchive and Tensal, but the Dutch imprint also supports newer artists like Altinbas. Having previously appeared on one of the label's compilations, this upcoming artist is given free reign to deliver a full EP. "SZ01" is a lean, lithe techno stepper, like the steely resolve of vintage Frozen Border mixed with Regis' more playful style. On "Intonation", Altinbas switches to murky techno that packs a punch thanks to the dense kicks that underpin its grungy textures. "Emphasis" is a droning, abstract affair, while on the title track, Altinbas goes for the jugular with a psychedelic slice of club techno. It's an impressive debut release.
