Review: Turkish producer Alec Attari harbours a passion for minimal wave, EBM, and underground Italo disco, condensing each into a striking end result with 1982. The record is said to have kept in mind the early foments of electronic music, where vanguard technologies helped heroes such as Ron Hardy and Frankie Knuckles bear the best in earliest house and techno. The standout track is an exceptional remix by Italian legend Alexander Robotnick, whose version channels the spirit of his classic 'Problemes d'Amour' with a mysterious, hypnotic reversal. His remix of 'Visage' on Side A comes followed by 'Time Machine', a powerful nod to EBM and techno reminiscent of The Hacker, not long before the original 'Visage' follows, oozing a serpentine elegance. '1982' ends things on a buccal-licking, mucous acid finale.
Review: Carriego reemploys early Detroit techno and 00s minimalism, crafting a piezo powered four-track journey consisting in deeper, supersawed atmosses, and spanning electro to new wave. 'Hazard' sets a tense mood, while 'The Bridge' swells and quells pads and hip breaks voxes. 'Curtain Call' weirdens things, with popcorn string plucks piling on pylons of tension, while 'Seems Like' concludes on a snappier, momentous hush-hush. It's the fourth EP so far from the Frenchman, and an impressive one at that.
Review: New bursters onto the scene, Spain's Spirito Del Tempo present their inaugural release, Das Firmament's 'Voices Of The Past'. Their sound rodded in real-time creation, as opposed to obsessive editing in post, the Swiss duo nonetheless cut the cloth of a steely, ingenious exactitude, befitting of techno-into-dark-synth and its mechanistic mood of absolution. 'Herrscher Der Zeit' and 'Eine Frage an Disch Selbst' are bell-tower-chiming, synthpop machines, stripped of their humanity save for an irrevocable harmonic core. 'Condem Me' and 'Videodrome' move increasingly Cronenbergian, ending on an acid trance tonic traum: "television is reality, and reality is less than television".
Review: Berlin-based live techno duo Data Memory Access bottle the voltage of their 2024 stage show into four no-nonsense cuts for the third DMA label release. 'Powah' opens with piston-tight drums and a rising synth line that bites hard, while 'We Are' layers chopped vocal shards over a relentless rolling bass. Flip the vinyl and 'Neukolln' dives into darker territory, its tunnelling groove paying clear homage to the district that inspired it, before 'Reflexion' stretches gauzy pads across broken percussion for a final surge of after-hours momentum. Captured straight from their tour arsenal, these tracks are purpose-built for peak-time control-machine rhythms, crisp programming and zero excess. 'Live Chronicles Vol. 1' is a fresh release that proves Data Memory Access can translate stage heat to wax without losing an ounce of precision or power.
Waiting In The Dark (DJ Stingray 313 remix) (4:51)
Waiting In The Dark (Midnight mix) (5:33)
Voyager (The Journey mix) (6:20)
Review: Detroit's DJ 3000 has always operated at the futuristic crossroads between techno and electro, and his latest Ep does that again but also comes with heavyweight remixes by pioneers Aux 88 and DJ Stingray 313. The Motor City's rich musical heritage shines through here right from the off: 'Waiting In The Dark (Midnight mix)' is a grinding and mechanical electro-techno jam, then Aux 88 delivers a bass-heavy, machine-driven remix while DJ Stingray 313 brings high-velocity precision. DJ 3000's own 'Voyager (The Journey Mix)' is then a dusty deep house groove layered up with star gazing chords that slowly unfold with a sense of beauty.
Review: First released in the golden year of 1996 under Joe Manumaleuna's longstanding formative alias DJ Hyperactive, this founding Chi-bleep bluff-caller on 12" took the world by paretic storm just as easily back then as it surely will do now. Communique Records, executive vicars of the Sounds sublabel, now do a stellar job of reissuing this crazy-making clobberer, having first remastered it from the original DATs. 'Muzik Make You Lose Control' and 'Drummer Boy' riff off Chicago's rich percussive history, while 'Circle Of Life' and 'Alteno' go wilder on the monophonic synthwork, to eerily maddening effect.
Review: Keith Tucker aka DJ K-1 is back with more of his stripped-back electro magic, complete with trademark vocoder flair. His 'My Name Is DJ K-1' is a six-tracker EP that is reminiscent of his classic K-1 Agenda era on Direct Beat. The original mix here leans into Kraftwerk-style futurism while DMX Krew's remix adds a darker, sample-heavy twist full of Motor City-style techno and bass brilliance. The 'Beat Mix' is pure looped funk so is perfect for seamless blends while the 'Detroit Jit Mi' offers a full vocal rap with local flavor. The goodness keeps on coming with the 'SPOCK Mix' and its eerie, spacey strings, and the 'NAVI Mix' is a hypnotic bonus beat version soaked in synth puddles and absorbing rhythmic tension. Irresistible stuff.
Review: A masterclass in stark 'Kontrast' comes by way of producer Elektrotechnik, whose latest 12" here for Gladio Operations does unsurprisingly well to contrast his prior digital-only issue for A-Traction Records. Through glommy, paralytic, salivary sound design, 'Sigma' and its corresponding remix by Larionov mission-state the EP: one pronouncedly unafraid of weight or womp, and yet which still scoops out a mercurial feel akin to a volatile solder metal prior, pre and post-solidification. 'Kontrast' and 'Die Bestie' on the B-side sound like said reflowed solder chucked through a giant techno kaleidoscope, as both tracks move increasingly hypnotic and heavy.
Review: Carl Finlow, the UK electro auteur returns with Entangled, his latest full-length salvo that finds the electro luminary weaving a dense matrix of machine soul and synthetic introspection. Known for pioneering the sound of machine soul under aliases like Silicon Scally and Random Factor, here Finlow shifts focus toward slow-burning, emotionally rich electro that feels both intricate and intimate. 'Only Words' opens with misty-eyed pads and skeletal beatwork, while 'Entangled' itself glistens with neon melancholy and subtle rhythmic mutations. There's a softness in the sequencing, a kind of analogue ache that lingers long after closer 'Chirality' fades out. Fans of classic UK electro and contemporary cinematic hardware jams will find this one quietly devastating.
Review: HERO U.D.A. aka Hiroyoshi Udaka is a Tokyo-born DJ and producer who emerged from Japan's underground techno scene after moving to London in the late '80s and being inspired by the UK's legendary acid house wave. Throughout the '90s, he played at iconic clubs like The End and Tribal Gathering, supporting techno legends on tours in Japan and this EP features tracks recorded between 2002-2005 after his return to Tokyo. He draws on broken beat, acid jazz, dub and breaks with plenty of interesting and palpable textures bringing the work to life in HD. It comes on the SAISEI label, which revives rare Japanese electronic music and Udaka's timeless, playful sound is a perfect fit.
Review: BOOOoo! returns with its fourth V/A, bringing together Ildec, Pagenty, Phase O'Matic, Gogo Gadgeto and label head BOOH for a tightly assembled five-tracker. Steering into the murkier corners of electro but with a light touch, their next comp offers a range of moods without ever dropping to fully into the abyss. From 'Volviento AMT' to 'The System Is The Matrix', each artist contributes a knowing cut, one which leans dark but stays danceable, threading twisted textures and low-slung rhythms without losing sight of playability.
Review: The always excellent Minimal Wave presents a rare EP from Greek electronic pioneers In Trance 95 here. Alex Machairas and Nik Veliotis formed the duo in 1988 and very much helped define Greece's early electronic scene with their minimal synth and EBM-inspired sound, all of it usually marked by analogue warmth, hypnotic melodies and a futuristic sensibility. This release captures their innovative spirit and cult legacy across six unreleased tracks recorded between the late 80s and early 90s in Athens. It sounds magnificent and is a long-overdue glimpse into their visionary archive for new fans, or a fine reminder of their roots for those who have always been tuned in.
Review: The latest release from Berlin-based producer Julian Reifegerste builds on the success of his previous work, channelling a vivid spectrum of 80s electronic styles into a sleek, club-ready format. Drawing from EBM, Italo, acid, electro and dark wave, the 12-track double vinyl is packed with machine funk and neon moodsibright synth lines and rubbery basslines offset by tougher, industrial textures. 'City Sights' and 'Chasing Shadows' lean into cinematic propulsion, while 'Black Gold' and 'I Am A Creator' carry heavier, dystopian overtones. Much of the material was produced on vintage hardware, lending the record an authentic retro-futurist edge. This is bold, immersive dance music with a conceptual streak, and a clear progression in sound from the artist's earlier output.
Review: Irish-born, Manchester-based artist Kerrie returns to James Ruskin's Blueprint label with her third outing for the label, continuing her evolution through weighty, precision-built techno. A fixture of the UK scene and now a resident at Berlin's Tresor, Kerrie draws on her background in record store culture and over a decade of hardware experimentation to forge tracks that are both rigorous and emotionally charged. 'Act Of Resistance' pairs dub-soaked atmospheres with serrated industrial textures, while 'Validation' rides a more urgent, tunnelling pulse. Flip it for the paranoid spirals of 'In Your Orbit' and the slow-burner 'Natural Order', each anchored by detail-rich production and layered groove. Rooted in classic hardware sensibilities but driven by a personal, future-facing vision, this is heady, unrelenting techno with purpose.
Review: French producers, Kragg and RTR, split the difference between shadowy electro and jacked-up machine funk on this split release, each taking a side to show their teeth. Kragg opens with 'Shifton', a stomping cut with sizzling percussion and greyscale synth stabs, before veering into the eerie with 'Lazarus' i all twitchy arps and submerged bass i and the brittle shimmer of 'Midsummer Night Dream', which tugs the record into more introspective territory. Over on the flip, RTR brings a tauter, more acidic focus: 'Tipping-Point' spirals with tight 303 curls, while 'Npk Ending' builds an emotional weight out of melancholic pads and broken-beat rhythms. Closer 'Squer' cuts loose with thick, wet squelch and a rolling groove that sticks hard. It's a smartly sequenced release i raw, yes, but refined in structure i and a promising debut for this new label.
Review: A potent ongoing collaboration between two techno heads lands on a legendary label, delivering four cuts that span the spectrum of classic and contemporary dancefloor energy. Side-A kicks off with 'ClickClickClick', a tech house burner that lives up to its name as it is bouncy and rhythmically addictive. Its catchy loop play gives way to deeper, murkier textures midway through, maintaining its infectious swing while offering DJs a perfect mid-set curveball. Following it is 'Gearbox', a slick, electro-informed groover with a low-slung, funky bassline. It's high-energy yet controlled, laced with head-nodding bounce and shimmering detail that make it ideal for peak-time dancefloor action. On Side-B, 'Destination 909' is pure nostalgia with a modern polish, bringing in 90s techno grit, trancey atmospherics and a post-rave euphoria that's all tight kicks and laser-focused execution. The production is clean and sharp, but there's an intentional vintage flavor that pays tribute to the roots. Closing things out is 'Reach Out', a hypnotic, dub-leaning track infused with a raw vocal loop preaching unity and rave authenticity. It's spacious, meditative and subtly anthemic. The kind of track that creeps up on you in the best way. All in all, a cohesive, floor-ready EP.
Review: On his previous Millsart outing, 2024's X-Ray Zulu EP, Detroit great Jeff Mills - long since departed for Europe but still retaining Motor City's techno vibe - effortlessly joined the dots between techno, house, horror movie soundttracks and spaced-out jazz. On Space Outside Space, he once again touches on some of these musical themes, just in a more widescreen, science fiction-inspired way. For proof, check the deep, ambient-tinged electronic jazz of 'Interstellar Feelings', the percussion-rich, deep space headiness of 'Forevermore' (a pleasingly weird Afro-futurist affair), the immersive techno-goes-broken beat grandiosity of 'Vibrations From The Other Side' and the minor key miracle that is trippy closing cut 'Some Soul, Some Space'.
Review: 'Move It Or Lose It' isn't just the name of the latest release from Brit producer Joseph Nugent aka Papa Nugs, it's a mantra for our time. Emboldening Big Saldo's Chunkers imprint with an uncaged, high-octane batch of "house" cuts, this is the label's first release for 2025, dialling in to the label's signature bandwidth-filling "chunkers" sound. Rave-ready FX are the order of the moment, as flashes of early trance, progressive and hard house motifs, and Ibizan sample banks all hear Nugs truncate old-school references into a contemporary hip house come rave-breaks template. 'Turn it Down''s irresistible hook, "we're here to have a good time," has to be the bugler's choice moment.
Jauzas The Shining X Foreign Sequencer - "Enter The Body" (4:03)
Teslasonic - "Chubby Bee" (5:13)
Igors Vorobjovs - "For One" (4:40)
Review: Gladio Operations continues to bolster its catalogue with an international five-track set showcasing both label newcomers and trusted affiliates. Protocolo Sysex, the new alias of Madrid's Fabio Vinuesa, sets the tone with 'NotTheFuture'ia dense, adrenalised workout packed with rugged basslines and twitchy sequences. It's a fierce opener that signals the label's club-facing intent. Sinitsin, hailing from Russia, debuts with a moodier, machine-led cut, its melody work striking a balance between precision and drama. Jauzas the Shining returns alongside Foreign Sequence, offering a cold-blooded, cinematic highlight with shadowy synths and detached vocal fragments. Teslasonic's 'Chubby Bee' acid-kissed electro is quick and wiry, while Igors Vorobjovs brings the EP to a poignant close with a brooding IDM coda rich in ghosted textures.
Review: Dennis Quin's back on his Eardrums label with four tracks of deep, soulful house rooted in the rich traditions of the UK, US and Dutch scenes. It's an authentic collision of OG style and new school techniques with 'The Liberation' opening with deft synth stabs that light up Detroit house beats as a Chicago gospel vocal adds the rawness. 'Muscle' has shimmering synths that jitter about over tightly programmed drums and 'Pushing Harder' then samples a classic vocal sample over turbocharged 90s house beats. It's great fun and bound to make a mark and last of all is the spun out broken beat energy of 'Tough Beat', a physical closer with astral pads.
Review: Glispy Records makes a strong vinyl debut with a four-track showcase of Georgia's deepening electronic talent pool. Tbilisi producer Reshio opens with 'Electronic Mind', a high-octane blend of punchy electro and precise sequencing, setting the tone with clinical flair. Toke follows with 'System 32', a rolling groove machine laced with dubby atmospheres and smart modulationiweighty but agile. On the flip, DJ Astrobee injects some swagger into proceedings with the rugged, percussive funk of 'Elvis The Gator', full of low-end heft and filtered bite. Label co-founder Levan Grdzelidze rounds off with '84 Slave', an acidic slow-burner that builds intensity through tightly-wound layers. A confident and well-curated start to the Glispy vinyl era.
Review: Brazilian-born, Berlin-based ROTCIV brings decades of underground weight to this four-tracker for Element of Impact, melding EBM-flecked techno, acid-laced electro and muscular synth-funk with a sense of high-stakes control. 'Enjoy Your Trip' opens with prowling low-end and distant stabs, while 'Losing Collagen' flickers with scorched textures and hi-NRG tension. On the flip, 'Entourage' rides a sleazy, broken rhythm into machine-funk territory, and 'Ancient Machines' closes on a darker, rusted-out tip. ROTCIV's sound, honed since the 90s across both Brazilian raves and Berlin basements, hits with precision hereilean, jacking and full of intent.
Review: LowMoney unites fresh global talent for another big serving of their signature club sounds. Ukrainian producer Rustam kicks things off with 'Happy Comby,' a gritty acid-tinged groove built on deep, dreamy basslines. On A2, Jordan Lakofski delivers 'The Heat,' which is a nostalgia-soaked roller with a punchy 8-bit synth and infectious bassline. Glasidum nails the warm-up vibe with his trippy, groovy and perfectly deep opener on the flipside. Closing it out, Dutch duo MASI serve up a lush, introspective house cut that floats into the sunset. From acid edge to dreamy depth, this four-tracker has got something for everyone, which makes it a hugely useful 12" from the LowMoney camp.
Review: Fun fact: unlike most commodities, whose prices tend to rise with inflation, computer technologies have a tendency to cheapen over time. Muscovy producer Sin:it:sin (Andrew Sinitsin) seems to know this intuitively, his new 'Obsolete Technology' EP channeling the deep computations of hardcore electro abandonware; salvaged, fixit circuit-tinkerer permutations. 'Eru' and 'Infoseek' twinge with the restless, eroticised search for new information that marks the 21 Century psyche like no other; 'Infra-City Transit' and 'Solar Filter', meanwhile, freight smaller sonic PCB units over a fraught, dystopian B-side.
Review: Sohrab's 'Dreams of Dawn' on his new Toneblind label is a musical story that bridges night's last whispers and dawn's first light. Blending progressive styles along the way, it marks a clear evolution from his past work and so each track throngs with transitional energy that captures dreams melting into reality. It is an EP which is a heartfelt statement reflecting friendships forged on the road and global experiences lived, while even without the backstory, the tunes make an impact from the colourful and painterly pads of 'Perplexity' to the more jacked up trance-house of 'Constance'.
Review: Belfast's Space Dimension Controller returns with six glistening slow-burners that nod to Warp's early 90s Artificial Intelligence era, while gently messing with the co-ordinates. There's a subtlety in the programming: 'Infinite Image' drifts with a low-lit acid bassline and glassy synth layers, while 'Variation Five' hints at the woozy futurism of B12 or Spacetime Continuum. 'The Mirror Dome' and 'Chemical Glass' are deeper stillibuilt less for peak-time than post-club recalibration, hovering somewhere between ambient techno and dream-sequence electro. Even the percussive flickers of 'Reflect Itself' feel fluid, while closer 'Island Eye' stretches out like mist. Not nostalgic, not entirely newijust rich, soft-focus electronics executed with typical finesse.
Review: In 1985, rapper Tricky Tee (Edward Yates) pinned an unlikely staple to the great door of hip electro, decreeing that all those to follow him would take a bow whenever he sashayed into the room. 'Johnny The Fox' was his first release for Sleeping Bag Records, who now release it in fullest restored glory - this was the label founded by none other than indie cello superstar Arthur Russell and music mogul William Socolov, crossing between disco, stylistically crossing between avant-garde songwriting and paradise-garage house - and served to indent his name on the map in highly visible, permanent ink. Containing samples of The Kay-Gees and Thin Lizzy, Tee's voice is steeped in a short delay, a timeless technique lending the human voice a smeared-out, mechanoid feel.
Reptant - "A Glimpse From Inside The Vortex" (6:13)
MOY - "Pale Nimbus" (6:10)
Client 03 - "TranSonicDelta A5" (3:52)
Plant43 - "Tectonic Lakes" (6:16)
Abduction - "Hours/Days" (6:30)
Carl Finlow - "Woven" (6:07)
Transparent Sound - "Nervous Smiles" (5:30)
Radioactive Man - "Space Junk" (5:35)
Domenic Cappello - "Underwater Lights" (7:19)
Fasme - "Underneath" (6:01)
DMX Krew - "New Blue Goo" (4:01)
Review: Alien Communications has sent out some otherworldly transmissions to cult electro talents ERP, Client_03, Plant43 and Carl Finlow and in return they have been sent a series of killer new tunes for this bumper double 12". ERP's 'Telenovela' I first to cast off into the cosmos with solar winds gently blowing over kinetic drums and far-sighted celestial pads. MOY brings some wonky acid turbulence to the trip on 'Pale Nimbus' and Juno favourite Carl Finlow gets a little grubby with his gloopy, sordid electro wobbler 'Woven'. Another titan of the scene, Radioactive Man, comes through with a winky gem that harks back to Two Lone Swordsmen on 'Space Junk', with many other essentials from the likes of DMX Crew and Domenic Cappello making this utterly essential.
Review: New year, new vibes. Outside In kicks off its 2025 with a lush EP from fine Brazilian producer Villaca. Each of these four tracks tells its own story by weaving rich textures and cooking up moods that pull you in deep. The standout is 'Nineteen,' a powerful collab with Paraguayan artist Wildo that marries proggy, trancey pads with stiff drums and motorik energy. 'Your Eyes' is another mix of trippy vocal effects and roaming bass with starry-eyed pads. 'Surfnet' is a right, turbo-charged and electric prog techno workout and 'Same But Different' brings some celestial energy to a late night and unsettling techno bouncer.
Review: Interdance impressed with its first couple of forays onto wax and now its third release packs in more fresh talent from South America's underground. On the A-side, Buenos Aires' Vinz delivers two standout tracks: 'Instinto,' a raw, trance-tinged techno trip straight from 1992, and 'Transradio,' which is a cinematic journey with pounding drums and acidic synth lines burrowing deep. Flip to the B-side for Uruguayan producer Juan Dairecshion's deeper, more hypnotic sound on 'Rebel Rebel,' which rides a steady four-on-the-floor pulse, while 'UR Love' dives into murky, Detroit-inspired territory with eerie vocals and twisted melodies inspired by the group name-checked in the title. A bold, mind-bending four-tracker built for serious late-night floors.
Review: With nearly 20 releases under his belt, this seasoned German producer delivers a strong techno EP that fluidly bridges multiple styles while maintaining a cohesive, forward-facing vision. Drawing from techno, tech house, electroclash and even breakbeat house, the EP moves with confidence and a subtle experimental streak. 'Klobb' starts with a sleek and sleazy futuristic edge. Its dark, pulsing rhythm and eerie melody create a fun-but-serious mood. 'You're Slipping Away' follows, diving deep into EBM and darkwave-inflected territory. It's a relentless and commanding track. 'Hush' flips the energy on its head, a welcome slowdown that leans into downtempo vibes. The B-side has 'Am I Making Sense', a bold techno cut with pristine sound design and a sense of urgency. It's big and atmospheric, with drums that punch through the mix cleanly. The EP closes on 'Rana Temporaria', a track that combines dynamic groove work with melodic tension and a slightly edgy twist. An ideal closer for a set or a record that resists easy categorisation. A confident, genre-fluid EP with some versatility too.
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