Review: Dutch duo Fouk, comprised of Daniel Leseman and Hans Peeman, unveil their latest offering in the vibrant Mirage EP for Dam Swindle's Heist Recordings! Picking up from their Blue Steel EP of 2021, these four originals take in a blend of funk and disco influences while presenting a dynamic exploration of the pair's musical palette, leaning towards a club-centric vibe. The EP not only highlights Fouk's distinctive sound but also features a powerful remix of the lead track by the talented Hardgroove artist Elisa Bee, adding an extra layer of energy to the record!
Review: Following last year's Half Full release, Hurdslenk returns to Hardgroove. Outside gets off to an exciting start thanks to "Futures". Centred on a throbbing bass and steely hi hats, this pulsating peak-time track is sure to stand out from the crowd. "Jugular" is more visceral. With a dense rhythm at is core, it sees Hurdslenk weave in layers of rasping percussion and intense filters. "Collect" marks a departure for the Hardgroove sound. Its stripped back, jacking sound sounds like Hurdslenk's take on early 00s minimal house. It's only a brief divergence though. "False Pretence" is led by a frenetic rolling groove, while the use of dramatic chords and a stuttering vocal sample will set it apart from most hard-edged techno.
Review: Following their collaboration on his 2022 album, Patanjali, Berlin-based techno producer Amotik teams up again with Tina Ramamurthy. "Chauhattar" resounds to robust tribal drums and a clanging bass, with mysterious vocal samples woven into the arrangement. On "Pachattar", the approach is deeper, with more understated kicks providing the basis for repetitive, tripped out loops. While the Amotik series is typically focused on dance floor techno, this fourteenth instalment also sees the duo explore a more esoteric sound with "Chihattar". Based on a gentle, undulating groove and dreamy, soft-focus textures, it also features stream of consciousness vocals throughout the effortless arrangement.
Review: Wehbba is launching HIFN, a new 'platform' to connect music and literature. The first release from the artist himself was recorded while he was on tour. The title track is built on Wehbba's trademark tribal beats, with its pumping electronic rhythm and rolling snares providing the backdrop for rave stabs and buzzsaw riffs. It makes for a visceral, exhilarating affair. On "Frozen", the Brazilian producer opts for a more dystopian sound, with a synapse searing riff combined with a driving rhythm. And in keeping with the overall approach for HIFN, the release also features "Nitro Wordscape", where eerie textures and a mysterious vocal narrative prevails.
Review: Never let it be said that Robert Hood is letting his listeners languish in a sonic comfort zone. The veteran producer's latest EP under his own name starts with a jolt, as the title track deploys pounding, industrial drums and a chain metal rhythm. "Pathetic" is just as intense. Based on a relentless groove, it sees Hood deploy a spiralling chord sequence that filters its way to a spine-tingling finale. "Outsider" is based on a similar premise, but this time hollowed out drums support a niggling build. This release effortlessly shatters the assumption that Hood would continue to focus on the less abrasive, house-influenced Floorplan project.
Review: Zed Bias's superb recent single with Shumba Youth is a modern fusion of dancehall and ragga that is perfect for loud deployment on top sound systems. Here though it comes in four different versions, all of which tap into different aspects of the UK hardcore continuum. The 4x4 Garage mix is just that and perfect for grotty warehouses, the 4x4 VIP Refix has a more prominent baseline feel and the Jeftuz UKG remix is a broken beat killer with wub-wub goodness. Last of all is the restless and kinetic 2-step mix to close out a high grade remix EP.
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: SHDW's label marks its twentieth release with this weighty compilation. Drawing on some of the most respected names in techno, volume three is full of peak-time bangers. There's the lean, rolling techno of Chlar's "Inside Us", while Dax J showers the listener with waves of acid tones on the steely, peak-time "Celestial Dub". The Advent's "Randomized" is a bruising and quite brilliant industrial techno workout. While Blawan's hyperactive "Don't You Dare Squawk At Me" hovers just below the 160 bpm mark, not all of the compilation is as intense. Vocals are mixed with chiming chords on Gary Beck's "Fold" and Z.I.P.P.O's "Broken Game" is a deep Detroit techno track.
Review: Ostensibly a response to techno being 'in such a sorry and predictable state', Full Pupp's latest compilation goes off in a number of wonderfully captivating tangents. Label owner Prins Thomas' "Mere Apokalypso" is a tripped-out groove, while his take on Synk's "Tool Mix" is an acid-laced chugger. In contrast, JaddajaddaPlay's "Bird No Bird" goes down a percussive route. Despite the title, techno does make an appearance. Blackbelt Engh Rhythm Combo's "Frydenlyn" is a rolling tribal affair, while trance influences bubble to the surface on Christian Engh's dubbed out "Khonsu" and Karolinski's high-paced, melodic "Slutt A Mase Eg Har Ikkje Spelt Pa Ei Veke".
Review: Next up from eatmybeat, a vibrant collection of percussive-driven rollers from the one and only D-Nite, showcasing his crazy ability with some top level production skills. We open up with 'Ominous Arrival', a fluctuating combination of high energy rhythms and subtle vocal samples, followed by both the industrial synth thumps of 'Sine DNA' and arpeggio-lead soundscaping of 'Circular' to follow. From here we then move into the highly unique title track 'Ai Amor', a glorious roll through samba-style drum patterns and catchy vocal slices, followed by the bleeping synth sweeps of 'Amargo' to close off. Awesome work!
Return Of The Luddites - "Scream Into The Darkness" - (4:52) 139 BPM
Review: Laurent Garnier and Scan X's label does a great job in showcasing emerging and established talent, and this split release is no exception. The brilliantly named Return Of The Luddites deliver the raw electro-techno of "Scream Into The Darkness". In stark contrast, Detroit techno-inspired tracks also loom large, courtesy of Skatman's string-filled "Tribute To A Dancefloor" and Squal G's more ominous "Waiting 4U". Mirroring Garnier's own wide-ranging tastes, the release also features the call and response hip-hop/drum'n'bass crossover of Joaquim Plossu, Salem Focus and Phoebe Train's "Theory Of The Tide". Taking the tempo down, Yes Basketball's "Next" is a slowed down, bugged out beatsy track.
Review: Running Back boss Gerd Janson has been a fan of Raphael Schon for some time. Last year, he reissued the German producer's 2021 breakthrough hit, 'Fiesta 2000', on the Misfit Melodies offshoot. Now he's gone further still, offering up an expansive EP of brand-new music by the producer, all of which is shot through with references to dance music's storied past. Our picks of a very strong bunch include the sparkling positivity of the 303 bass-powered 'Bearhit', the riff-happy retro-futurist smoothness of 'Do You Like That' - whose breakdowns and drops are suitably excitable - and the kaleidoscopic, near techno-tempo joy explosion that is 'Distant City Transport'. The more nu-disco and maximal house influenced 'Sometimes I Miss You' is also superb.
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