Techno News

For his debut album Dip Shim digs deep into his past for his most personal release yet, drawing on his childhood in Spain for a genre-bending album of electronics, combining influences from house, techno, electro, downtempo, and ambient to create one of the year’s most essential releases.

Dip Shim, who also runs the Bolero record store in Malmo, Sweden, pushes and tweaks those silver boxes to create music with one foot in the past but looking to the future, from the fluid acid house of Dalaplan Jam and Bubble Gate, uptempo electro jams like BDP Fast Life and Tusso Arcade Force, to meditative joints such as One For Regen and Impossible Connection.

But although the album is eclectic, these 12 tracks are underpinned by Dip Shim’s unique hardware-led sound, proving he’s an artist with depth and longevity.

Berlin 2059
Dark forces control the city, underground music is banned everywhere, old skool DJs, crew and collective can comunicate only via pirate radios...

Beside beeing constantly hunted from techouse police, infamous Chemistry Radio continues to transmit 90's underground music.

Not easy to stop it!

Audio visual sculptor Kero operates the multidisciplinary arts collective Detroit Underground record label and continues to produce bit crushed experimental electronic music with over two decades under his belt.

Demo Vectors showcases Kero's sonic range—bouncing back and forth between IDM fractures, broken electro shapes and an all around low-end forcefield. Splicing machined modular tunes with syncopated rhythms and Detroit-inspired slivers, Kero's fingerprints can be found on imprints like Blueprint, Wild oats, Ghostly International, Shitkatapult, Semantica, Touchin' Bass, BPitch Control, and many others.

Using different studio setups from 1998 to 2021, Demo Vectors culminated from many different locations including Detroit, Windsor, Barcelona, Berlin and Los Angeles and reveals Kero's curriculum vitae packaged in a 60 minute robust collection.

The downtempo groove of "ABSTR_B&B" offers a classic bricolage of collapsed mechanical percussion straight from the foundry as the definitive sound design and glitchy bits of "BLISS" take shape. Fluid robotics and bass jabs progress on "GROUNDZEROBACK" pushing each pixel to their breaking point. You'll also find stark industrial elements on tracks like "PREFREAK.EPS" and spastic acid on "COMOFFICE-1" displaying the wide angle lens Kero employs to capture improvised dark drill'n bass techniques with a Squarepusher sheen. From the slow burning "PILL'LATHE2" humming its way across laid back digitized acrobatics to the aptly titled "COLOR_CUB" that clicks, cuts and collects subtle low frequency modulations, Demo Vectors is a tightly compacted and forward thinking IDM album.

Sandblasted electronics mixed with shattered glass and corrosive blips'n bleeps, Demo Vectors acts as Kero's raison d'etre as each piece eclipses itself.

Grey Marbled Vinyl

Minimal Synthwave recordings with german vocals by Danilo Roost aka Second Planet (En Suite Cabinet).

Brooklyn via San Francisco. My mom would sing her lyric "my tongue is a machine gun" so passionately at the reflective toaster oven that it shakes me until this day. She really only agreed with my dad about Nina Hagen and the therapeutic prowess of ecstasy pills. I was either side-stepping or spinning between punks and hippies, painted tall tees and the last glimpses of piers laced with D N B - Lebbeus Woods lectures seemingly constant. Why didn't he just move to SF?And then Channel U changed my conception of a beat. A little later I was crushed by Japanoise' thunderous take on spirituality. I guess I realized these are communities not scenes. And sheesh! What a community I'm so grateful to have found. Anyway… This record was made during my first time getting to spend whole days working on music. Missing Tokyo crazily, listening to an endless stream of experimental downtempo from 1992-98. Perpetually graped at .08. Thankfully the machines and I had room to develop a language that not only got a message across but has evocative little tongue rolls and things as well. I desperately hope everyone is afforded that room at some point in their life. But for me meditation doesn't require an empty space. This is an EP that tells the story of a honey bee - I hope y'all find a cute and unmediated relationship together throughout the 5 tracks. This is a bit like a road-trip film through the process of forced digitization. Yes we're all cybernetic at this point but that's no excuse to dull our sensitivities. I guess the question is… since when is being calm a desirable personality trait????

Gratitude time! here's a thank you section that covers a microscopic portion of the things that inspired this ep:

The somehow both merciful and merciless lord Gina Lee I love you. My mom Saam Nomad/Sam and Sam/Gal/Tarwuk/Izumi Suzuki/Nancy Grossman/Coco Fusco/Claude Parent/Amagatsu Ushio/Alexandre Jouveaux/Soil Thornton/Gakuryu Ishii/Juergen Klauke/Tishan Hsu/Olivier Assayas

Basically all my incredibly passionate friends and the communities they help cultivate that are just intoxicating, electrifying and exceedingly thoughtful.

Please help this 12" remain a fable - donate to The Guardians of the Forest. tysm.

45 minute CASSETTE TAPE RELEASE - Download code included

Artificial Dance founder Interstellar Funk releases Live At The Rest Is Noise - Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. Limited to 150 cassettes, the recording documents Interstellar Funk’s performance at Amsterdam’s Muziekgebouw concert hall in October 2021. The 45-minute set ebbs and pulses, leaving behind Interstellar Funk’s penchant for hardwearing club sounds in favour of melody and texture. Some passages mirror elements from the studio album Into The Echo (Dekmantel, 2022), but the live setting allows Interstellar Funk to expand and explore richly detailed sonic spaces that highlight his skills as a composer-performer.

This started out a couple of years ago as a grounation drumming session above the old headquarters of the Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari, in Wareika Hill, Kingston, JA. Four funde, a repeta and a bass drum. Back in London, contributing flute and guitar, Kenrick Diggory unbottled the deep rootical psychedelia and sheer awe of Hunting — the Keith-Hudson-versus-Count-Ossie wonder of the world — and Tapes added electronics, a shot of Drum Song... and a giddily intense binghi dub.
Total murder.

Brian Kage’s fourth release on Michigander Music “303 in the 313 EP” features 4 uniquely gritty and acid-soaked manifestations of mid 90’s Detroit. This exercise in analog monosynth mastery directly connects the grittiness of the urban landscape with the raw spirit of creative freedom.

Detroitasaurus starts the record off with a subtle prehistoric soundscape, steadily building rhythmic tension using hypnotic toms and melodic drum patterns. Razor sharp 909 hats hammer down there through the sonic mist as the journey continues to build. Shrieking jurassic trumpets cap off each of the peaking climbs to reveal metallic broken-down structures that are bound together with oscillating 303 threads and a grooving bassline.

Van Dyke Vessel features an atmosphere of textured percussion and metallic analog synths that wind around a deep square bass groove. Suddenly, truncated growling vocal samples start to collect into the catchy phrase “Let’s take this to outer space”. Swelling pads give way to squealing acid as this track transports dancers to a nostalgic melodic dimension.

Delray Dance undulates with thick bass slowly building into a body focused groove as it winds up and gives way to a rugged 303 saw with fluttering Spanish style synth stabs. Classic Detroit pads continue to swell, adding to the tension and leaving enough sonic space for melodic mixes in and out. This tune is the perfect tool to transition between genres.


Zonin breaks the mold by combining old-school electro vibes with a heavy dose of acid and freestyle hip hop. Heavy broken beats are combined with a rockin’ nostalgic bassline and layered party vocals that transports you to the center of the dancefloor on the best night you’ve ever had.

Kinzua are Lucas Brell and Marvin Uhde (known as Qnete to some), great live band. “None Of The Above” is their debut album. Powerfully introvert and extrovert at the same time. Songs of glory, decay, rebuilding and hope that found Offen at the right moment. Many moons later the album withstood the test of time and can be enjoyed in its whole glory.

Written & produced in different spheres by Lucas Brell & Marvin Uhde at CSG Studios, Leipzig and M90 Remise, Berlin.

Voice on „The Dancing Snake“ by Giulia Fournier-Mercadante (Gigi FM) with words from „Les Fleurs de Mal“ by Charles Beaudelaire

Mastered by VRIL
Artwork by Himbeer Pepe
Sleeve by Percy

Written and produced by Lautaro Carbajal and Nicolas Ballesteros in deep Raval, Barcelona 2020, this is absolutely all you could want...

Following in the tradition of the open circuit 80s Spanish industrial scene this is a continuation feedbacking ms-20s, ominous vocals, tape cut ups and vicious distorted beats.

All of it is there, all of it is urgent, it is a reflection of daily chaos, internal battles and the sonic equivalent to the decaying society we inhabit day to day. Seven song lp, limited to 300.

The Olympos series returns with its sixth instalment, this time calling on Athena, daughter of Zeus, goddess of wisdom and warfare.

Olympos 06 features 4 tracks of trippy techno that rides space themes and strong advanced sound fx's that make listeners feel like they are travelling the galaxies.

A-side, starts with 'Enceladus D' which is a jaunt into futuristic electro. Featuring a proper continuous build that's supported by an eeriness, giving you a strong sense of space trek. Gritty breaks and next-level breakbeats just add to the tension. 'Minerva' is an adventurous tech workout not for the faint of heart. The wobbling bass makes for a bumpy mission, throwing off your equilibrium...in a good way.

The B-side is a heavy one! First off, 'Ophis' is an ominous yet powerful voyage into the abyss. A strong magnetic gravity is literally pulling your ship apart as you ride this dangerous route.
Lastly, 'Glaphcopis' pushes the boundaries of deep techno further. The 90's mood is palpable in this stargazing journey. Don't let the robot noises distract you. They are just adjusting the spaceflight travel coordinates.

Empathy is the codeword when it comes to The AM’s second solo EP: The ‘Sexworker’ EP. A short story through music and art, allowing you a moment to walk a mile in another seasoned professional’s shoes… Imagine life through her eyes, her thoughts, her feelings, her actions and motivations as her work takes her from flirty fun to a much more severe and fierce role as a vigilante, fighting for justice and retribution for women who’ve been abused and wronged. As the EP progresses, the further we’re plunged into this dark nocturnal world of carnal chaos, deceit and danger.

Sat in a not-so distant neon tomorrow, downtown Detroit, this is the vivid concept and narrative conjured by Detroit native, violinist-turned-techno artist The AM (Ann-Marie Teasley) Sliding into our collections since her debut tracks last year as one half of HLX-1, 2022 has been all about The AM solo releases; in March we had ‘Black Majik’ on Tresor. Now on Deeptrax ‘Sexworker’ is another revelation from the agenda-setting artist who’s crafted a completely immersive narrative that ranges from the playful electro beats of ‘Intercosmic Lap Dance’ to the runaway juggernaut ‘Black Galaxy’ (a collaboration with Scan 7's Track Masta Lou). Each track adding layers of tension and intrigue, cutting through the late night sleaze and exploitation with raw machine soul, ‘Sexworker’ is steeped in detail… But loaded with enough space for your imagination.

Fronted by a stark futuristic city artwork, ‘Sexworker’ takes place in The AM’s stomping ground but could just as easily happen anywhere in the world… Amsterdam, London and right now, our speakers. This bumps in an exciting yet timeless way. It’s AM 24/7 right now.

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Exit Planet Earth continues its exploration of the world of electro universe with an expansive, extended six track EP, featuring The Advent x Zein Ferreira, DeFeKT, London Modular Alliance, Konertymi and Zobol. The Advent, whose weekly Gardening Club residency in the mid-90s helped to drag electro out of the realms of the retro and back into the future, team up with Zein Ferreira for a Kraftwerk-on-speed extended mix of 'CarpeDiem', before London Modular Alliance's more moderately paced but still squiggle and bleep laced 'Lump of Coal' plus a 'beats' breakdown for the DJs. The B-side brings us the acid-powered 'Pulssi' by Konerytmi, the bouncy, breakdance-friendly 'Radar' by DeFeKT, and the relatively pure, optimistic sonics of Zobol's 'Data Wars'. Thumbs up all round.

Our fifth release sees FTVA evolve with a four-track release from label co-owner Samuel Jabba. Based on his journeys into the mind and the unknown.

“Accept the existence of the void as a real entity, in which atoms can move and rearrange themselves”.

Limited hand stamped copies..

Limited hand stamped copies..

E2-E8 continues to put new local talent under the spotlight. This time it's the Orphic duo, made up of Kieran Jandu and Babak Faraji.

Shelter EP is perhaps the release with the clearest, most identifiable sound that we've put out so far. ACSXD and Macoubea are firmly rooted in deep techno that wouldn't sound out of place on labels such as Delsin, Hypnus, or Semantica. Ména is geared for peak-time with its relentless beat and vocal snippets. Half Ten is angular, articulate and colourful.

If all this wasn't enough, Marco Shuttle steps in with an atmospheric, almost beatless remix of ACSXD which reminds us of some glorious Aphex Twin moments. We can't thank him enough for contributing with such a delightful piece.

Early support comes from Sunju Hargun, Sybil, Pyramid Of Knowledge, Marco Shuttle.

Having previously celebrated the deep and colourful world of late ‘80s and early ‘80s Italian house via the popular Welcome To Paradise compilation series, Safe Trip has now turned its attention to the roots and formative years of trance music.

Planet Love: Early Transmissions 1990-95 showcases the roots and formative years of trance via 13 loved-up, psychedelic, colourful, melodious and surprisingly varied dancefloor experiments from Europe, Australia and the United States.

The compilation includes pioneering proto-trance and early trance tracks from the likes of Hawke (AKA influential San Francisco producer Gavin Hardkiss), Epilson 9, Spooky, Oliver Lieb, Holy Ghost Inc, Morgan Wild (an outfit whose members included early NYC techno titan Damon Wild), Mijk van Dijk, Glam and Paul van Dyk.

Packed with must-have cuts, slept-on gems and sought-after rarities, Planet Love: Early Transmissions 1990-95 maintains the loved-up, listenable vibe of Welcome to Paradise while broadening its musical horizons. It is not a definitive history of trance music’s early years, but rather a colourful, life-affirming celebration of the varied strands that came together to create one of dance music’s most popular and enduring styles.

In the beginning, woman was the sun, and then the monster put its hand in the fire.
Knowing without knowing.
Nature versus Nurture.