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Hardgroove
Review: Hot on the heels of his EP for Earwiggle, Marco Bruno lands on Ben Sims' Hardgroove. "Trademark" merges depth with force, as Bruno lets a looped chord sequence and chilling strings play out over dubby beats and rasping percussion. On "Interstellar", he doubles down on dub techno influences, and over dense drums and rasping percussion, drops woozy chords. "Stepback" also follows a similar approach, but it sounds more ominous. There, repetitive chimes and a nagging bass come together to exude a sense of menace. The label owner also provides an edit of another Bruno production, "Circle Of Life". Teeming with ethereal melodies, its tough kicks mean it remains rooted to the dance floor.
Review: Mark Broom and Ben Sims are among the UK's most experienced techno producers, so it's no surprise that this split release is of the highest standard. Broom digs deep into the hardcore scene for the raw breaks and rave stabs of "W.W.W.W.W.W.W.WORK", and also takes influence from the 90s for "Nothing To Do". Mixing vocal samples with horn stabs over a rolling groove, it sounds like an update of Earth People's NY house classic "Dance". Sims takes a different approach for the steely, visceral techno "Unity", while he goes deeper for "Snapshot '99". Led by insistent percussion and soaring electronic melodies, it is reminiscent of classic Detroit techno.
Review: Following a series of EPs on We Are The Brave, Tenzella drops the aptly named Hard Grind. Moving effortlessly between house and techno while keeping a dance floor focus, it's a finely weighted release. The title track is a driving, filtered house track. Led by a repetitive organ riff and peppered with vocal snatches, it's sure to have widespread appeal. In contrast, "The Mule" is a rough-hewn, looped techno banger, while despite its name, "Discostupid" is an intense affair. Led by incessant hi hats and surging chords, it reminds the listener of Tenzella's ability to make hard edged but funky techno. "Jazz Tool" is also well worth checking too, as piano keys are fused with a tough, filtered groove, in the vein of Andrew McLauchlan's "Love Story".
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: With releases notched up on Be As One and KMS, Pushmann aka Victor Villa now debuts on Hardgroove. "Hydnum" is powered by tough kicks and clicking percussion but also has a deeply soulful sensibility thanks to the use of a repetitive vocal sample. The sound of the human voice is also audible on "Ephemera", with Pushmann deploying a looped snippet over a dense rhythm and steely, doubled-up claps. On "Huecha", the Spanish producer goes deeper; a mysterious bass is fused with muffled vocals to provide the centre piece for an arrangement that also features rasping percussion. Keeping the release varied throughout, Pushmann also drops a minimal track, "Felleus", whose dramatic percussive twists and turns have echoes of vintage Robert Hood.
Review: As befits a release on Ben Sims' label, Looking For Light offers the listener a masterclass in crafty, tough techno. Yant, who has only started to release material in the past few years, drops a raw, bleep-heavy workout on "Gas Supply", before moving into a tougher, jacking sound with the building analogue rhythm of "Hot Water". Yant veers into a more intense direction on "Red Eye Jedi", where shuffling, noisy drums are combined with doubled up claps for devastating effect. Rounding off this fine release is the deep chords and driving rhythm of the title track, which sees Yant channel the raw-form energy of vintage Jeff Mills.
Review: Veteran techno producer Samuel L Session teams up with rising star Van Czar to deliver a heads-down release on Ben Sims' Hardgroove. Inspired by the loop techno sound of the late 90s / early 00s - a period when Session first rose to prominence - this five-tracker is as nuanced as it is impactful. "Universal" revolves around a dense, layered groove and insistent percussion, while "Fetisch" is a more subtle, pulsating affair. Session and Czar opt for a peak-time approach on the chiming percussion of "Butterfly", while "Omnipresence" sees them focus on a dubby sound, with gritty kicks and a hypnotic groove prevailing.
Review: Following on from their contribution to a Symbolism compilation last year, Black Girl/White Girl now put out a full release on one of Ben Sims' other labels, Hardgroove. Inspired by the primal end of techno, Humanism is a raucous but hugely enjoyable release. "Ascension" sees cut up vocal snippets spliced over a jacking rhythm and a forceful, filtered riff. There is a similar aesthetic at play on "Metaphysical", where a call-and-response vocal sample is set to a house groove. Meanwhile the duo lay bare their tribal techno influences on "Alpha Wave", with sparse drums and a rolling groove making for an impactful combination.
Review: Laerte Marcal is the rising Techno producer and DJ from Goiania, Brazil known for his hot releases on REKIDS, Enemy or Planet Rhythm, and this year's riveting debut full-length Time Is What A Clock Reads on Suara. His latest is on Ben Sims' esteemed Hardgroove, featuring functional tackle for the main room on the Going Forward EP. Thundering Jeff Mills style 909 tom drums underpin melodic Detroit style motifs on opening cut "Neuropeptide" before things go deeper underground on the strobing, heads-down warehouse stomp of "The Only Way Is Forward" and he teams up with Gabal & Invie for their best Robert Hood impression on the hypnotic "Same Address".
Review: Elisa Bee follows releases for Balkan and Symbolism with this killer EP on Ben Sims' other label. "Offline Matters" resounds to crispy drums and features the kind of insistent, ghostly organ riff that you'd expect to hear in a Robert Hood production, while on "Send Me A Vision", Bee ups the tempo and delivers a skipping rhythm and insistent stabs. In contrast, "Tell Me More" sees the fast-rising techno producer go down a pared back route, with a focus on rasping percussion and roughly hewn kicks. Rounding off this fine release is the frenetic "Headspinner", where insistent thunderclaps are combined with discordant riffs for a heady finale.
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: While it has the kind of title that you might expect on a DJ Sneak record, the latest release from George Tounisidis is a proper techno EP from start to finish. "Never Is Now" is led by looped stabs and skipping drums, while "Ascetic" sees him opt for a similar albeit harder approach, with sharp hi hats providing the necessary framework for insistent, menacing chords. On the title track, Tounisidis integrates vocal samples with those trademark chords and skipping drums drawing the listener in to a hypnotic arrangement. Rounding off the release is "It's Not Over" where the Greek producer delivers the most intense variation on this sound, pushing the rhythm into the red and dropping distinctive and relentless chord stabs.
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: With releases on Sistrum, Axis and Token, Johannes Volk is one of techno's most respected producers - and this four-track debut on Ben Sims' label is a reminder of his talents. "Keep Going" is based on tough kicks and firing, filtered hi-hats, but it also has a musical edge thanks to its subtle melodic shifts and airy strings. Similarly, "Changes of Gear" revolves around a stripped back percussive workout that also features ghostly synths, demonstrating again Volk's nuanced production skills. While the title track is harder and more linear, the use of pitch-bent percussion, steely drums and crafty builds once again demonstrate why he is one of the best in the techno field.
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: After releases on Odd Even and Chiwax, Andrew Guyvoronsky brings his Trackmaster Dre project to Hardgroove. "DMD" is a fine piece of modern techno, with rumbling, dubbed out drums and layered, rolling percussion providing the basis for a repetitive vocal sample. It makes for a cavernous, hypnotic track. On "RH730", Guyvoronsky ups the pace to deliver a rolling, tribal affair that still features considerable atmospheric depth and is rooted by nagging percussion. "Seems Like" is a darker workout, with the Russian producer taking inspiration from Sims' own minimal leanings, while "Sixth" sees him return to the dubby but driving approach again, sounding like a classic cut on Mosaic or Offshoot.
Review: Anthony Cardinale aka Avision returns to Hardgroove with another fine club techno EP. The title track is a funky affair, with shaking percussion and a repetitive vocal sample throughout, influenced by 90s US house as much as techno tropes. On "All Groove", he ups the tempo and intensity levels to deliver a repetitive chord-heavy jacker, while on "Send Off", a similar aesthetic applies, as Avision drops epic synths over a niggling 90s house bass. The release is also notable due to the choice of remixer: Ben Sims' label has managed to coax a rare remix from Paul Mac under his Jorge Zamacona guise, with the veteran UK producer dropping a deep but slamming affair, featuring soulful vocals.
Review: Cadans aka Jeroen Snik follows 2018's Curved release on Ben Sims' label with this killer three-tracker. The title track is like a more accessible version of Regis, with repetitive vocal samples underpinned by a rolling groove and swinging drums. On "Drench", he opts for a straighter approach, with pounding drums and ringing bells coming together for a crafty peak time affair. However, Cadans really excels when he takes the path less travelled, and on "Touch", he again chooses this route, with a stepping rhythm and churning chords making for a distinctive but impactful take on Berlin techno.
Review: Ben Sims' label celebrates twenty years in business with this split release from Mella Dee and the Subradeon duo. Dee kick-starts the release with the chord-heavy groove of "01302". The "999" mix of the track sees the Warehouse boss drop a frazzled chord build and a rolling, steely rhythm, punctuated by one-note piano drops. The 'OG mix' is deeper and more stripped back, with Dee focusing on the hypnotic chords, looped and underpinned by a solid rhythm. Things take a somewhat darker turn on Subradeon's "A New Sun Is Rising", where brooding organ riffs and ominous vocals are combined over a looped groove, while "The Light" is a leaner iteration of this sound.
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: Hardgroove have released some serious names in the techno scene before now - the likes of Mella Dee, Borrowed Identity and Charles Green. It's no surprise considering Ben Sims is at the helm, and that equally explains the fact that the legendary Mark Broom has graced the label with his latest set of taut, main room club cuts. "Outta Sight" is a mean-tempered workout with a whiff of electro in the lead synth refrain, but it's not as outwardly malevolent as noisy juggernaut "L4LV". "Five/Four" has big room chords and massive splashing rides to get fists shaking - the consummate peak time belter. "TR1" takes things in a more dungeon-esque direction, using guttural rhythmic incisions to drag you into the depths of the night.
Played by: S-File
Review: Despite having just a few releases to his name, Charles Green shows on Routes, his Hardgroove debut, that he is a highly proficient producer. "Rave No Name", with its pounding kicks and backwards looped organ riff, is redolent of early Dave Clarke. On "Musikbox", Green changes tact to deliver a deeper, rolling groove, led by rickety break beats and melodic twists and turns. "Strange Leader" sees this emerging UK artist shift back to the harder and more chilling territory occupied by "Rave..", while on the title track, he opts for a more mellow approach, with filtered chords and tough, dubbed out drums prevailing.
Review: UK techno veteran Ben Sims is one of the most renowned proponents of the tribal techno sound - his revered Hardgroove imprint being synonymous with such. Comprised of cuts from the Londoner's recent 'Tribology' mix-compilation, it features long time colleague and fellow London legend Mark Broom (Beardyman) on the fiercely hypnotic tool "Loop It" calling to mind his seminal work as Rue East more than a decade ago, the dub-inflected factory floor assault of Marco Bruno's "Any Given Sunday" as well as Dutch artist Cadans on the funky stomper "Bite". Closing out the EP is label regular Avision delivering the mentalist minimalism of "Rebel" geared for proper tunnel vision under the strobe light.
Played by: Juno Recommends Techno
Review: Jeroen Snik aka Cadans has a small but impressive back catalogue, and has appeared on labels like Wolfskuil, Clone Basement Series and Tripeo. This release on Ben Sims' Hardgroove imprint is a natural move; it sees the Dutch artist combine tribal house drums with stepping rhythms and insistent samples to create hypnotic tracks. This approach is audible on the rolling groove and pitch-bent vocals of "Creep", while on "Dang", a more lithe, linear rhythm prevails. The title track may resound to more unusual samples, but the basic premise of hypnotic, tribal grooves prevails, while "Chant" rounds off the release in high-octane firing form.
Review: For the third and final part of Disco Trix 4, Sims again revisits his disco roots. "Raise Your Hands" is based on a larger than life rolling, filtered rhythm that houses samba samples, sassy stabs and loads of Spanish language vocals. It sounds like Sims took a few weeks off from making banging techno and spent his free time sipping pina coladas on the Costa Del Sol. Mr G's take on "Hands" is far moodier. Turning the original into a lean, jacking rhythm, he adds in thundering claps and jarring bleeps to create a relentless, heads-down workout for peak-time usage.
Review: The second section of Volume 4 sees Sims move from disco evangelist back to loopy terrain. That said, the UK producer's new version of his "Freaks" track isn't just standard one-note monotony, and in its new format, the rolling tribal rhythm features a female vocal claiming 'I'm gonna miss you right now' alongside the 'it goes like this' sample that was used on Run DMC's chart hit "It's Like That". Gary Beck's take on "Love & Hurt" is just as distinctive; over a slamming rhythm, he unleashes screeching riffs that are reminiscent of Daft Punk's 90s techno classic, Indo Silver Club.
Review: Ben Sims is in playful mood on this first installment of Volume 4. Putting his hard techno signature on hold but maintaining a high-octane approach, "Love & Hurt" is a slamming, rolling disco groove, peppered with a series of vocal samples ranging from the seemingly innocuous - "I'll take you in" - to the more provocative - "work this pussy". Sims has recruited KiNK to rework "Freaks", and his version is in keeping with the general tone of the Disco Trix series. Starting with a pitched down vocal and a tracky rhythm, the track culminates with a screeching diva vocal and churning, relentless filters.
Review: Sims has gone back to his roots for his second release on Hardgroove this week. The vocal version of "Dollar Bill Y'all" revisits the late 90s/early 00s period, with insistent drums supporting intense filter builds and a ponderous black vocal. The instrumental version sees Sims get busy with stabbing techno chords and a series of effective breakdowns, while his approach is more musical on "In The Middle". There, a hard funking track provides the backing for the kind of jazzy piano keys that made I:Cube's "Disco Cubizm" a classic. Sims also has a softer side and as "Reject" demonstrates, this is articulated through skipping drums and deep chords.
Played by: Millhouse, Matt K, A.Paul, Darkmode, Aaron Liberator, Juno Recommends Techno, Technopodcast.com
Review: It's slamming techno all the way as Hardgroove drops four killer remixes. Advent and Industrialyzer are the first to tackle "Welcome to the Club" and do so in a typically up-tempo fashion, with rolling, dense techno abandon. The duo is mindful of Sims's disco fixation and amid the intense, doubled-up beats; vocal snippets and subtle filters are audible. Sims's own version is more restrained, but only slightly, as a series of smart drops support his filters. It's a similar situation on his take on "Gotta Have House", but the bassline is darker and rumbling and the undercurrent more menacing. Finally, the Paul Mac take on "House" is the most distinctive remix, with a double bass and insistent, rolling drums fused with what sounds like a car alarm filtered through a space invader console.
Played by: Sergio Vilas
