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Various - Hypercolour Patterns Volume 12

Hypercolour Patterns Volume 12 Hypercolour

A confirmed presence within the landscape of UK dance music for the best part of 15 years, Hypercolour has cultivated its own constellation of artists while becoming a port of call for those hitting their peak within pseudo-mainstream house music. It's Patterns compilation series has always offered rare cuts and remixes from its roster of artists and from the get go here a lesser known Zodiac impresses out of the blocks with a banging dub techno joint "GhostNet". Sebastian Mullaert & Boelja go hardcore Swedish bleeptronic in "Who Are You Really?" with FRAK also included with an old school and lo-fi 909 workout "Berga Magic". Roman Flugel hits a sweetspot as usual next to some lowly jackin tracks by London Modular Alliance, a vocal breakbeat number of classical drum and bass refrain by Mathew Herbert to some tongue cheek rave by Luke Vibert and much much more! Approved.

Various

Ellum Sampler Volume 2 Ellum

The latest compilation on Maceo Plex's label brings together some names that would not normally share a release. Most notably, it features a rare production from Pete Tong - in collaboration with John Monkman - that follows a decidedly tripped out techno sound. The Radio 1 host features alongside a broad cast of characters, including US industrial pioneer Adam X. Working under the ADMX-71 guise, his "Bound & Broken" is turned into a slinky ebm track by Maetrik. There's also deeper material from Avision, with the rolling atmospherics of "In My Mind", while Citizen Kain is sure to keep listeners guessing with the brooding, pulsating "Charly Charly".

Zachary Lubin

Omronicon Modularz

Lubin follows his 2015 debut album, Revisions Of You, with this expansive second long player on Modularz. It begins in haunting mode with the eerie textures of " Vessel", but soon afterwards, Lubin shifts into heads-down mode with the dense kicks of "Keeper Of Visions" and " Xenon", while on "Probe" he delivers a claustrophobic, bleep-heavy banger. The title track sees the US producer take a few steps back to deliver an angular, percussive workout, while "Synthetics Processing" resounds to sheet metal percussion and robust kicks. While tailored exclusively for the dance floor, this collection also caters for deeper tastes and the hypnotic grooves of "EMP" and "ESP" showcase Lubin's ability to craft more atmospheric techno.

Slam

Scourge EP Soma

Soma owners Slam have been making techno records for over 30 years and their latest EP sees them focus on peak-time sounds. "The Passage" sounds like it took inspiration from the hypnotic tones of Plastikman's remix of System 7's "Alphawave", fusing these elements with massive kick drums and sweeping percussion. Meanwhile, on the title track, Slam draw on classic early 90s records from UR and Jeff Mills as inspiration for its searing rave/industrial riffs. This intense release also features "Deflect": more linear than the other tracks, its pounding drums and layer upon layer of metallic percussion is no-thing short of exhilarating.

Wanderist

Translucid Dreams Aus Music

Maarten Smeets, one half of Detroit Swindle, introduces his Wanderist project through Aus Music, and vice-versa. It presents a second record for Smeets on Aus (see the Rhythm Girl Swing EP) with the Wanderist project setting itself up as a place for electro breaks, acid and new age synths ("Translucid Dreams") to funky, stripped-back and pacey vocal house numbers ("Machines Have Feelings Too"). A minimal yet harder techno groove arrives in the pumping drum track "U Got Love" (tip) next to the sundrenched trance-ala-house music of "Astral Highways"!

Forest Drive West

Dualism EP Livity Sound Recordings

Adding a wild card flavour to Livity Sound ever since appearing on its Dnuos Ytivil sub-label back in 2016, Forest Drive West has used the parent label as his more club-centric vibe. This EP follows his 2018 Aspirations album, and leading with the linear kicks and offbeat hats of "Dualism", Forest Drive West heads its production in the direction of misty techno designed to be heard in the woods - before turning toward a more classic Italian polyrhythmic sound and atmosphere via "Ritual". That saddles up next to some Leo Anibaldi-like basslines in "New Day" with something of a bonus track coming in "Scorpion" which sees FDW hook up with the live and acoustic drums of Australian instrumentalist Lucky Pereira.