Techno News

Rave stuff meltdown of a breakbeat speedaz and hard techno killaz...
A material that brings a change and a new color in the world of the oldschool sounds... BIG !

Photo by Natas3000
Artwork by PG Pasquet
Mastering by ZNZL

Following up to a pair of choice transmissions on Aussie operated imprint Vulcan Venti, Perth-based rising talent Hame DJ turns up on KOC with a debut four-track platter oozing pure elegiac acid vibes and transient, sci-fi-infused ambient, seamlessly hedge-hopping from UK bass to liquid jungle, through gauzy atmospheric techno and bastardized shades of Rephlex-style electronica.

Fresh as a cucumber, opener ‘On 1’ ushers its listener in a world of keys-loaded, faux-organic layers and rippling ’90s motifs. Threading its way betwixt garage, dub and piano house, the track brushes an equally vivid and dynamic tableau of shape-shifting floor-ready electronics. Starting off as a further mischievous affair, A2 ‘Zoot’ sounds like the outback cousin to Paul Woolford’s seminal steely burner ‘Erotic Discourse’ but soon evolves into a top-shelf breaky chugger that shall jam alien radars as much as it should have everyone on the dancefloor down on their knees in a jiffy.

Breaking the B-side in, slo-mo drifter ‘Nightlife’ turns the tempo down to ‘after-party sunrise’ mode. Implementing a lushly arranged battery of swampy 303 arpeggios, soft-spoken piano stabs and vaporous vocals, this one’s custom-cut for daydreaming with a bunch of friends by the Gold Coast’s idyllic seaside. Topping off that otherworldly journey is ‘Erosion’ – a FX-laden, hip-hop drums-strewn slab making the rounds between sepulchral, Kraut-dunked broken beat a la Tolouse Low Trax and post-Drexciyan synth wizardry. Proper mind-expanding stuff from a producer on the cusp of real big tings.

Cosmic disturbances cause emotions to run free throughout the local system on Cignol's acid-laced Craigie Knowes debut. "Misaligned Logic" is shaped in Cignol's signature electro sound across the 4-track EP.

Re-release for the first time on vinyl for this album originally from 2004 on Daft Records. “Behind The Sun” marked the return of Dirk Ivens after five years focused on other projects (The Klinik and Sonar). This time in collaboration with the Spanish musician Rafael M. Espinosa (Geistform) and with production skills of Eric van Wonterghem (Monolith, Insekt). All gained experience by Dirk shapes this album in a perfect way and the Dive-typical sobriety is not long in coming on every track with a sense of electronic menace, shown through a blaze of squeaks, hisses and subliminal aggressiveness. “Behind The Sun” is a first class work and Mr. Ivens once again confirms his exceptional position in the EBM-industrial scene.

Limited edition of 500 numbered copies on double orange vinyl record, gatefold and printed inner sleeves. Includes all original album tracks plus a bunch of extras taken from the “Frozen” EP recorded together with Diskonnekted, the complete “Lies In Your Eyes” EP and the rare song “Lost Horizon”.

We all remember with mixed feelings the past two years of domestic isolation: a temporary anomaly in which the world had to adjust to a new routine, a new rhythm. In these daunting yet precious circumstances, Italian producer Markeno has found his rhythm back, dusting off old records and re-approaching his past musical love affairs that he believed to be long forgotten. Here, in the fertile limbo that connects past and future, “Dock lown (exploring)” is born: a 3-tracker release with a chameleonic nature and an undeniable groove, in which Markeno is able to tactfully combine different genres such as indie, post-rock, African mu- sic, electro and funk.

In the contemporary music scene, overly saturated with catchy melodies and seductive lyrics, it is refreshing to encounter a composition like “Fase 01”, which starts from a purely percussive structure. Just when the ear is settled and well inserted into the tangle of drums, here comes the melodic twist, no less than at the fourth minute, injecting an unexpected groove and chalking out the contours of a track with multiple personalities: a little esoteric, a little synth-wave, quirky and badass. The temperature rises with “Zona Ros- sa”, in which the electro hint sketched in “Fase 01” becomes more pronounced, opening the doors to a dense psychedelic scenario. A shamanic loop accompanies the electric bass and escorts us through the smoke of the bonfire, veils swayed by the wind and colored lights that sparkle in the night. The ritualistic humming of ‘’Zona Rossa”’ is still hearable, floating in the rarefied atmosphere, while the last track “Limbo” makes its entrance and confirms once again the poliedric but congruous essence of this release, whose percussive attitude lures you in and whose hypnotic and groovy body makes you stay. At least for one more dance.

Sara Berton

The “A.N.E.P” release consists of three tracks which transcend you to the world of Keramati, quirky electro, splashes of acid and rave themes throughout. The A1. “A.P” is built upon crunchy and mechanical movements, laced with trippy tones throughout. Sinister synths melt together creating an illuminated atmosphere for the chugging body of the track to continue its drive forward. “Ecliptic” sits comfortably as the A2, an elasticated simmering bass line stirring
around the dusty nostalgic drums, before switching up into a bubbling groove and acid whirlpool. Taking up the whole B side is “A Never Ending Pattern” a gripping nine minute quest that showcases
Kamyar’s signature production energy. The track continues to develop throughout as many curious elements and textures are invited to the table, each of them conversing with the other. A huge sounding track that will light up club and festival spaces in the coming period.

The Jaffa Kid joins the Cold Blow roster with a marvelous self-titled EP of hard-hitting, atmospheric techno and ethereal braindance. These analogue productions will undoubtedly evoke nostalgia in the fans of the styles’ formative years, accentuated by the warm and crisp mastering by the legendary Ed DMX. This is a record for the clubs and the armchairs alike.

Auf seinem dritten Album Stellar Drifting präsentiert George FitzGerald ein Album voller Staunen und Emotionen, voller glitzernder Melodien und schillernder Elektronik. Das Album ist ein echter Fortschritt in Bezug auf Umfang und Komposition und gilt als eines der größten Werke unserer Zeit im Bereich der atmosphärischen elektronischen Musik, das mit den Füßen auf dem Dancefloor steht, aber mit dem Herzen 1000 Meilen über der Erde selbst.

Stellar Drifting ist FitzGeralds Interpretation des Klangs völliger Freiheit, in der er das Bedürfnis anspricht, sich mit seiner inneren Welt zu konfrontieren und dem Gefühl der Begrenzung zu entkommen. Um dieses Gefühl des grenzenlosen Lebens zu erforschen, hat sich FitzGerald vom Weltraum inspirieren lassen und die Bausteine des Albums aus Weltraumbildern und Audioaufnahmen von Raumsonden zusammengesetzt. Auf dem Album sind auch einige der faszinierendsten Künstler und Songschreiber der Welt vertreten. Die für den Mercury nominierte irische Band SOAK leiht "Rainbows and Dreams" ihre Stimme, Animal Collective-Aushängeschild Panda Bear verleiht "Passed Tense" einen poetischen Schwung und London Grammar revanchiert sich mit "The Last Transmission" für FitzGeralds Arbeit an ihrem britischen #1-Album Californian Soil. George FitzGerald ist seit über einem Jahrzehnt eine herausragende Figur der elektronischen Musik, die mit einem Bein im Underground und mit dem anderen im Mainstream steht. Er war an der Spitze der britischen Szene, als er bei Londons kultigem Black Market Records arbeitete, und verbrachte dann ein Jahrzehnt in Berlin, wo er auf renommierten Labels wie Aus und Hotflush Recordings veröffentlichte, bevor er bei Domino unterschrieb und sich vom Club-Produzenten zum Albumkünstler wandelte. Es folgten zwei von der Kritik gefeierte Alben, Fading Love (2015) und All That Must Be (2018), auf denen er mit Künstlern wie Bonobo und Tracey Thorn zusammenarbeitete und seinen Sound zu einem atmosphärischen und weltweiten Status erhob.

CORDELL JOHNSON'S EXCURSIONS label returns with the first vinyl release from RONALD OVERBY (DJ RONNIE RON). Two tracks of the deep and funky bass driven grooves we've come to expect from EXCURSIONS. Full color label in paper sleeve. FYI the labels have the tracks listed incorrectly including an extra song not on the 12”. The tracklisting below is correct.

Sparsely condensed.
Intrinsically detailed.
Moody, yet goofy.
Nordic Noir.
DJ Lifegoals is a Helsinki-based beat-maker and mood-shaper.

Follow Da Groove is pleased to announce Rico Casazza for its second strike. Waves of warm sounds ranging from dub to electro. An EP that definitely has a sensuality and a charm with 4 tracks that tell a story.

A unique approach from this energetic label that's really working for us down here. Techno/dub lush soundscapes galore...tip for ravers!

White Vinyl

Rubber welcomes Swedish artist Towa Isling (towLie) under her skitungen alias. While some of you might be familiar with distorted drums and seething synth lines from the kafTen records founder, her skitungen project emits a more brazen energy. Langre an Langtan embodies Towa's raw and DIY approach, but takes an unexpected turn towards the odd and dreamy. This results in a beautiful assembly combining Towa's ethereal voice with satisfying weirdo beat music. The 7inch, pressed on Rubber's signature opaque white vinyl, is accompanied by a cover designed by Berlin-based multi media artist Puck Verkade.

No Tengas Miedo' es un disco que se gestó durante los recientes tiempos de pandemia y que nos hace recordar que no debemos de tener miedo de vivir ni de morir, que tenemos que replantear las formas de vida que teníamos antes de que todo el mundo se detuviera pero que sigue siendo un privilegio seguir vivos. Creemos que esta es
una nueva oportunidad de remediar todos los daños que le hemos hecho a la Madre Tierra, a nuestro cuerpo, a nuestra alma, a nuestros semejantes. Creemos que debemos de tener fe y esperanza en el humano, aún cuando nuestros gobernantes nos dan demasiados motivos para creer lo contrario gracias a sus acciones (y sus inacciones). Todos enfrentamos diferentes obstáculos en nuestras vidas, pero debemos de saber que no estamos solos, que nos tenemos los unos a los otros, todos como hermanos y hermanas, sin banderas ni fronteras. Muchas veces pensé en no realizar este disco por el miedo que la sociedad y gobiernos nos inculcan a siempre esperar los peores escenarios, pero estoy harto de vivir con miedo, de vivir aguantándome las ganas de averiguar lo que puede ser o no ser. Además, desde que yo recuerdo, mis abuelos ya hablaba de crisis, mis padres también, y siempre hemos sabido salir adelante, porque nuestro espirítu es más fuerte que todos sus intentos por derribarnos. He decidido que no voy a parar de luchar por lo que quiero hasta el último día de mi vida. Queremos que todo aquel que compre este disco sienta el mismo espíritu con el que fue hecho y quenos ayude a esparcir la esperanza y fe que tanta falta le hace al mundo. Queremos salir adelante junto con todos ustedes, hombro a hombro, corazón con corazón.

REPRESS

Antonio aka Raw Ambassador is the next from the another perspective that presents us 4 tracks of Raw electro for dance floor and with their travel melodies.

2LP Gatefold with colored vinyls

Locked down and furloughed, Vitalic went back to his synths and beatboxes, resulting in his fifth album "DISSIDÆNCE" - the title of which is a whole story in itself - destined to be released in two volumes. He describes it as a return to the roots of his sonic identity, a kind of reinterpretation of the rock energy of his early albums. "More than anything, it was a question of timing. While composing I realised that eight tracks felt like too little for an album, and sixteen was really over the top, so I decided to cut the whole thing in half! The main reason though is that I felt I hadn't been able to express everything I wanted to on the first volume - like something had been left unfinished."

The two episodes of "DISSIDÆNCE" - navigating between pop and hardcore, sweat and tenderness, melancholia and anger - are a sort of boiling down of what the artist knows how to do best, after twenty years of creating, from filthy whirlwinds that make your mind explode on the dancefloor to bubble gum pop songs about love that transport us elsewhere. On these two volumes of "DISSIDÆNCE" that now form one, the powerful beats and galloping sequencers translate the social and political anger of the global pandemic, and Vitalic looks into the past, channelling his love for off-kilter synth sounds, skew-whiff pads, heady refrains, distorted vocals and heavy beats. Above all, this dancefloor marathon expresses his obsessional passion for dance music and the primal need to dance. "DISSIDÆNCE" should be taken as both a celebration of celebration and a journey back in time to an era that maybe does not exist right now, but which will - and this album is the dazzling proof - be reborn from its ashes to burn bright once more, its BPM let loose and rage still blazing, because more than ever, to dance is to live.

Incl. Schacke Remix

Having been extensively road-tested this past year by DJs including Daniel Avery, HAAi and Gerd Janson, Highdive arrives with tangible anticipation. The work of less-than-shadowy figures Gramrcy and John Loveless, the pair have passed lockdown and beyond remixing artists such as WH Lung, Discovery Zone and Ghost Culture. Debuting their first original material, closely following Gramrcy’s recent appearance on Loveless’s own Hot Concept imprint, Highdive is a long-anticipated explosion of energy.

Built around a sonic-boom breakdown, glossy rave chords and pounding post-punk drums, Highdive feels immediately at home on Phantasy. Having worked closely alongside founder Erol Alkan in recent years to shape the imprint's diverse output, Loveless' collaboration with the Peach Discs founder nods to the electro landscape of the label's earliest days. Having never left dance floors since, Gramrcy & John Loveless take a golden opportunity to plunge dancers into the sublime and the ridiculous.

While a stripped-down ‘Beats Mix’ sees the pair adopt a less-maximal approach, leave it to Schacke to stretch Highdive into hardcore rave heaven. The already-influential Copenhagen artist underscores his refreshing funk in the ‘fast-techno’ scene through which he has risen, turning the screws and upping the tempo with intense but elastic results.

Hamburg and Berlin coalesce as L.F.T. debuts on Mechatronica with a blood-soaked, club-ready blend of punked out electro, industrial, acid, techno and EBM cuts. Watch your spine.

2022 Repress

1x12" Maxi (ILG003X)
2x12" LP (ILG003)

For it's third release Infoline showcases never heard compositions
of Marco Repetto (former Grauzone). La Luna Sotto Il Ponte is a 2x12' compilation and a never used alias of Marco Repetto. The compilation features tracks written between 1983-1989.

Some years after his break up with Grauzone (1981), Marco went on
a darker and more industrial path, which was a common route for experimental composers at that time. Expect a solid mixture of unreleased Industrial/EBM cuts. The bonus EP replaces La Luna Sotto Il Pontes grim and dark compositions for a much more utopian mind-set and movement in it's heyday. It's 1988/1989 - Acid House is everywhere.

The second release of Flight Mode has landed with four artists from four different countries. On the A-side, Dawl delivers 'Microbe', a sleek acid slow burning that truly stalks the listener, before Kiddmisha ups the speed and the eerie moodiness with 'Anxiety'. Acid Charlie's 'Por La Paz' has the most old school favour of the quartet - even before sirens hit - underpinned by a thunderous drum machine. Then the mysterious producer SPAC closes the single with more cunningly employed acid shenanigans.