Review: Monty Luke's Nightdubbing project on Rekids was designed to showcase the Black Catalogue boss's deep love of dub-infused house and techno. This 13-track album combines previously unheard cuts with nine tracks previously showcased across a pair of EPs of the same name. It's a fantastic set all told, with highlights including the smacked-out electro-dub headiness of opener '40 Acres and a Terrabyte', the extra-percussive deep dub-house hypnotism of 'Bob Molly', the after-hours friendly minimalism of 'Star Storms', the Detroit-goes-dub techno pulse of 'New World/Old Future', the classic dub techno warmth of 'Dark Paradise', and the dub-wise deep house dreaminess of 'Avantgarde Dancehall'. Throw in a handful of tidy ambient and digital dub tracks, and you have a genuinely superb long-player.
Review: The second instalment of Len Faki's remixes see the storied techno producer tap his favourite artists to re-interpret his work. Luke Slater's Deep Heat take on "Shri Yantra" is redolent of his classic Planetary Assault Systems work, with firing percussion and dramatic break downs to the fore. In contrast, Amotik's version of "Make Me Scream" follows a heads-down approach, with haunting vocals wrapped into a bleep-heavy, rolling groove. In contrast, ANNA's remix of "Hymn" is a tranced out, big room track. At the other end of the spectrum, Modeselektor's interpretation of "Don't Be Stupid Day" is a moody electro stepper, led by waves of menacing low end.
Review: Ed Upton has long been one of British dance music's most prolific producers, with his latest album on Hypercolour - the typically vibrant Spiral Dance - marking his 24th full-length excursion as DMX Krew since 1996. Its' 13 tracks are typically vivid, inventive and entertaining, with the Bedford-born producer rushing between intergalactic electro ('Always Hats'), sub-heavy UK techno futurism (the bleep-influenced 'Bathtime Bobby'), house-tempo dancefloor IDM ('Spiral Dance'), Spacetime Continuum style ambient techno (the chill-out room friendly 'Back To '92'), synth-laden analogue cheeriness ('Is This Normal'), heady beat-free soundscapes ('Hammer Slowly Forming'), early Autechre style electronica ('Ankle Grinder') and sweaty acid house ('FM Assembly').
Review: Next up on Binary Cells is Klint with this hard-hitting release. The pounding, industrial rhythm of "Atlas" gets Son Heros off to an intense start. There is no let-up on "Mental 89", where Klint drops a dense, banging track. While the title track integrates trancey riffs with robust tribal drums, it is still primed for the dance floor. On "Supervision", Klint continues this approach as a surging bass ripples its way through a looped groove. There are some exceptions to the prevailing intensity: "Requiem RK" is a heads-down ebm workout, while "Cinq Sections" is a dub-influenced track, but one that still packs quite a punch.
Review: It's clear to all who follow electronic music with any level of regularity that Om Unit has become one of the most consistently impressive names to follow, with the last decade of work showcasing creativity and sonic innovation with every new outing. This latest 'Fragments' album project sees those talents again at work, from the moogy bass flicks on 'Snagged' to the icey soundscaping of 'Entity' and super sharp drum processing of 'Side Quest'. This album showcases mastery at work, with Om Unit again proving to be a level above those around him, with highlights including the colourful melodic squelches of 'Moonglade' and breaks-inspired energy-boosting qualities of 'Hard Skin'. Top work, as always!
Review: Twenty-three years since he initially released Dispatches on his own Geophone imprint, Mike Parker's debut album gets a timely reissue on Field. Listening to his debut album is a reminder of how it remains the corner stone for much contemporary techno. Parker's use of sparse rhythms is audible throughout, as is the cavernous, at times all-encompassing sound scapes he designed. While there are references to some previous techno canons - a hint of Plastikman acid in places, or echoes of Sahko's repetition - Dispatches really is in a field of its own. That it manages to still sound not just relevant but also revelatory is testament to Parker's unique talent.
Review: Acid house in sound but punk in nature, the title of Paranoid London's new album is a reference to "the cavalcade of c***s we find ourselves surrounded by". However, while there is despair there is also hope, and this long player is testament to the power of underground music. Arseholes...also demonstrates the importance of collaboration. Bobby Gillespie croons his way through the gentle tones of "People (Ah Yeah)". At the other end of the sonic spectrum, Joe Love and DJ Genesis feature on the gnarly, 303-led grooves of "Love One Self" and "Up Is Down" respectively. Somewhere between these polar opposites sits the evocative Chicago house sound of "Start To Fade" with Josh Caffe and Mutado Pintado's sonorous vocals on the pulsating "The Motion". Paranoid London proves yet again that when confronted by a***holes, music really is the only answer.
Review: Len Faki's "Fusion Remixes 01/03" on Figure delves into the acclaimed album "Fusion," reimagining its diverse tracks through the lens of renowned techno artists. This release presents a fascinating exploration, showcasing contrasting interpretations and highlighting the versatility of Faki's original work. While remaining rooted in techno, the remixes delve into various subgenres, showcasing the versatility of the original tracks and the talent of the remixers. From the stripped-back industrial of O [Phase]'s "Temple" remix to the euphoric trance influences in Planetary Assault Systems' take on "Yantra," each track offers a unique perspective. Each remixer brings their own magic. rRoxymore's "Tor 8" remix pulsates with dark energy, while Djrum's "Don't Be Stupid Day" is a distorted, raw dancefloor weapon. Pangaea's "Space Cowboys I" remix adds a touch of light and groove, making it an infectious earworm.
Review: This 2024 reissue of an all time and much love classic Raumgleiter by Der Dritte Raum presents an exceptional concept trance album that remains ahead of its time, defying the stigma once and sometimes attached to the genre. Highlighting tracks like "Hale Bopp" and "Polarstern," which made waves in big rooms at the time, the real gem lies in "Lava," transitioning seamlessly from acid builds to progressive trance, which then leads perfectly into "Hale Bopp." Der Dritte Raum's hypnotic beats and catchy melodies went far to transport listeners to other dimensions back in the day, and a fresh 2024 re-up does the same thing- groundbreaking stuff for trance enthusiasts.
Review: Seven years after Bitter Music, Perc returns with his fourth studio album. The Cut Off is bookended with the gentle ambience of "Can You Imagine" and the droning "Calcify"- and includes other divergences like the jittery electronic soundtrack on "Heartbeat Popper". "Milk Snatchers Return" also presents another unexpected turn as Perc fuses atmospheric synths with dense tribal drums. But his focus soon turns to this signature sound. The sharp percussive shapes of "Static", which features Sissel Wincent on vocals, is an industrial techno anthem in waiting. And the intense acid of "Cold Snap" and the pounding kicks and heads-down rhythm on "Full Goblin" are reminders that few producers do forward-looking, impactful techno as well as Perc.
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