Techno News
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L+P-2 is Rivet's second album following his acclaimed debut, On Feather and Wire, released on Editions Mego in 2020. The wheels were already in motion for a subsequent album on the same label, but tragedy struck. Peter "Pita" Rehberg, the legendary owner of Editions Mego, suddenly passed away at only 53 years old, leaving the experimental electronic music community in a state of pitch-black grief. Rivet was among the many deeply affected by this loss. The inspiration and support from Rehberg had propelled Rivet to create at a level he himself was uncertain he had mastered. For Rivet, Rehberg's death felt like the death of music.
However, that brooding sentiment was abruptly shattered when Rivet's beloved dog and companion, Lilo, was diagnosed with incurable cancer just a couple of months later. They were inseparable, and now they would be separated nonetheless. The only way Rivet could cope with this double blow was to compose—for Lilo, for Pita, for his own sanity. L+P-2 is the result.
While the album naturally emerges from a place of despair, it's remarkably comforting. Partly, this stems from Rivet's singular ability to make machines not only sound human but also act human—sincere and warm, yet flawed. In more than one track on L+P-2, you'll encounter a distinctive melody and a gnarly bassline dancing hand in hand with Rivet's eccentric and captivating drum patterns. Then, seemingly on a whim, the melody takes off on its own, leaving the faithful bassline behind—much like a dear friend that suddenly vanishes from your life without warning. Yet life goes on, and so does the music. But never unchanged. Never.
L+P-2 is an album of lamentation, yet also of resolve—a dedication to those who go through life losing more than their share because they always carry too much.
Repress
Both Tracks By Sascha Dive On Minimood016 Are Destined To Transfix Those Who Like Richly Immersive Dub Techno. Mind Melting Opener Vibrating Sphere Has Wooden Hits And Drum Loops That Rock Back On Themselves To Keep On Pulling You In. Spoken Word Rastafarian Vocals Add Dubauthenticity And Gentle Sprinkles Of Toms Add Drive To The Chords. Deliciously Deep Throughout, Yet Grooving Irresistibly, This Cut Achieves A Lot From A Little. On The Flip-side, The Perfectly Crafted Gravity Is A
Smooth Rolling Track With Classic Dubchords That Echo To Infinity. Well-treated Vocals Melt Into The Mix And The Whole Thing Quickly Casts Its Spell On You And Keeps You There For The Hugely Absorbing And Atmospheric Duration.
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2025 Repress
Following the success of last years Babe Roots EP, Echocord revisits the package with reworks from Forest Drive West, Mike Schommer, Felix K, DB1 and Babe Roots themself.
London’s DB1 leads the package with his take on ‘Work Hard’, a mostly beatless interpretation fuelled by oscillating white noise, winding dub chords and snippets of the original’s dub reggae vocals. Hidden Hawai’s Felix K then ups the energy levels with a high-octane take on ‘Sufferation Time’, driven by upfront, shuffled and distorted drums and unfaltering, tension building dub swells.
The hotly tipped Forest Drive West steps up next to remix ‘Jah Nuh Dead’, a typically classy reimagining from the Livity Sound artist, stipping things back to ethereal pads, off-kilter percussion and sporadic echoes of the original composition. Former Deepchord member Mike Schommer’s take on ‘Bless Me’ follows, the pioneer of contemporary dub techno delivers a cinematic rework employing sweeping voices, glitched out electronics and resonant swells alongside the bouncy dub reggae groove of the original.
Lastly Babe Roots revisit one of their own compositions, ‘Sufferation Time’, delivering a more refined feel this time round with more impetus on drums and dark, hypnotic synths to contrast the original’s more vocal focused feel.
Dublin based artist Rustal aka Peter Sweeney brings his trademark deep, focused, dancefloor passion to New York’s finest Techno label.
Three original tracks created in one take performances at BlackCat Recordings, NY during the summer of 2024 are complimented by a contemporary dub reggae outing with label boss Jack Russell & the label artist Sonuga.
‘The Path’ signifies Rustal’s clarity of vision and intense focus, for creating groovy, soulful yet powerful dancefloor music and firmly establishes him as Ireland's most important Dub Techno artist.
a a1. Angel Of Light 15:06
b b1. Flower Brick [08:54]
[c] c1. Ukiyo [10:56]
[08.35]
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El Choop makes a welcome return to Echocord this March with the ‘Closing Motif’ EP, Deadbeat and Luke Hess step in on remix duties.
Harvey Jones, better known to most as El Choop, is a London based producer and DJ most notably known his Dub leaning House and Techno output for the likes of Greyscale, Ornate Music, Ranges, Etui Records and of course Echocord where he returns here following the 2021 ‘Insane Sends’ EP.
Leading the way on this new project is the original mix of ‘Faith’, a six-minute journey through cascading dub stabs, fluttering low-end pulsations, dynamically evolving percussion and intricate nuance throughout. Deadbeat’s ‘In The Chapel Dub’ mix of ‘Faith’ follows next, stripping things back to a swaying, heavily dubbed out feel via heavy sub bass swells, a bouncy rhythmic drive and echoing elements of the original composition. Title-cut ‘Closing Motif’ is up next on the b-side, employing a murky, plucked bass melody which ebbs and flows around hazy atmospherics, rattling hi-hats and muted drums. Luke Hess then steps in on remix duties for ‘Closing Motif’ to round things out, the Detroit native delivers a typically classy interpretation, taking the core of the original and twisting it into an IDM tinged cut via crunchy broken drums and shimmering synth textures.
BLUE/TURQUOISE VINYL.
Echocord welcomes the return of Mathimidori to the imprint with his ‘Anata’ EP, accompanied by a remix from New Yorker and Novel Sound boss Levon Vincent.
Mathimidori is the dub techno leaning guise of Germany’s Mathias Kaden, known for his works under his own name on imprints such as REKIDS, Ovum and Freude Am Tanzen, while Mathimidori material has found a home on the likes of Mule Musiq, Raum, Ornaments and of course Echocord where he returns here following 2020’s ‘Akebono’ LP.
Opening the release is ‘Anata’, a texturally dense six-and-a-half-minute composition fusing pulsating subs, billowing synth atmospherics, spiralling dub echoes and sporadic dubbed out spoken word running atop a crisp 4/4 rhythm. ‘Zanziba’ follows and dives deeper via ethereal pads, snaking low-end pulsations, choppy stab sequences and heavily echoing reggae chants.
Levon Vincent steps up to remix ‘Zanziba’ next, delivering a typically raw and dynamic rework, upping the energy levels as dub stabs dynamically unfold and retract amongst a thunderous low-end drive, intricate synth flutters and low-slung drums across its ten minute duration.
Japanese artist Tomoki Tsukamoto aka W-Moon, co-founder of Metro Juice Records.
Three unreleased tracks produced back in 1999, finally seeing the light of day.
Includes a remix of Slow Didi, originally featured on his 2012 album INNERVOICE.
Mastered by Isao Kumano.
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Limited Black Repress! Kontakt proudly welcomes J.S.Zeiter to the label family with this massive Detroit-dub four tracker. Zeiter needs no introduction to dubtechno fans and this release yet again proves why his productions have been highly appreciated by fans over the years. Fluxion gives Regenerate a proper dub treatment and adds a unique melodic vibe carefully combined with complex soundscapes which has a resemblance to his early stuff on Chain Reaction. The original mix is an interpretation of his own Rework and he turns it into a unique broken beats dub escapade.
The landscapes of Orlan 19 resembled the dream of a mad cartographer: cliffs were floating above the surface, horizons were bending and vanishing into infinity, and energy vortices were flaring up beneath their feet in psychedelic patterns. The familiar laws of physics didn’t apply here — gravity shifted chaotically, and time flew with unpredictable intensity. As Spacelunch, absorbed in thought, stroked the ground which distorted like a mirage under his touch, Cat’s grumbling echoed simultaneously from the past and future:
— Doc, don’t you think we’re just walking in circles?
— No wonder. That’s how inverse modelling works. Every action we take reshapes the surrounding space.
— Can you explain it in simpler terms? There’s only one genius here.
— Ever heard of the Philadelphia Experiment?
— Of course! You know how much I love sushi rolls!
— Well, I set myself up for this predicament… Back in my university days, we experimented with magnetic fields trying to program them by thought. You get where I’m going, don’t you? The planet is reacting to our intentions. So, focus on visualizing the portal.
The confusion on Cat’s face gave way to a mask of detachment. Clusters of matter began to tremble pulling the threads of reality to their breaking point before finally forming a vortex. Having devoured as much as it could, the vortex snapped shut with a loud pop and dissolved in a blinding flash.
As the scene began to take shape, silhouettes emerged under the soft glow of a desk lamp, evoking an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. A worn desk and a small bed stood by the wall adorned with faded photographs, while the floor let out a gentle creak underfoot. The clearer the interior came to be, the more paralyzing the realization, and the more elusive the explanation for what had happened became.
— Holy…! Cat, are we looking at the same thing?
— Yeah, but… This can’t be real.
Spacelunch slowly approached the window and froze still. A single thought raced through his mind: “The only force strong enough to pull me this far… was love.”
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also available
Black Vinyl[11,98 €]
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also available
Part 1 (Black vinyl)[11,72 €]
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A heavyweight lineup of dub techno talent comes together for a deep and textured journey. Krystian Shek and Milly James join forces on Promise, delivering two original productions alongside with reworks from Yagya and grad_u. As a bonus, this collection expands even further with digital-exclusive remixes from Raytek and Noosa Sound System that come with the original purchase.
'Glow & Shine' locks into a hypnotic groove from the outset, its analog warmth and weighty percussion forming a solid foundation. A crisp snare and hi-hat pattern provide an irresistible swing, while chords and vocals land together in perfect sync, draped in a rich layer of delay. Spacey breakdowns allow the ride cymbal to subtly emerge, giving the track an evolving energy. The closing moments strip things back, with the chords guiding everything to a natural finish. 'Better That Way' shifts into a more melodic space, balancing intricate drum programming with an emotive vocal delivery. The initial rhythmic stutter adds a unique touch before settling into a flowing beat. As layers build, the chords and voice intertwine seamlessly, evoking a deep, contemplative feel. The breakdown smooths everything out, allowing the track to breathe before a striking bassline shift in the final section brings fresh momentum. The last ambient passage is particularly stunning, offering a moment of reflection.
The legendary Icelandic producer Yagya creates his interpretation of 'Glow & Shine' sees it drifting into dreamlike territory, wrapping the original's elements in a lush, aquatic atmosphere. More of a song than a club tool, it glides effortlessly, capturing a serene, almost weightless mood. On the flip side, grad_u reshapes 'Better That Way' into a crisp, rolling dub excursion. Airy chords swirl above a commanding groove, with well-placed melodic flourishes adding an elegant touch. The arrangement continuously morphs, deepening its hypnotic pull.
Raytek's remix of 'Glow & Shine' injects a sharper rhythmic intensity, pushing the track into darker, more driving territory. The vocal treatment becomes a focal point, cleverly reshaped to make the singing the true hook. Meanwhile, Noosa Sound System takes 'Better That Way' into stripped-down, immersive terrain. The off-kilter drum work and layered percussion create a mesmerizing flow, while the winding structure makes it a DJ-friendly tool.
This well-rounded collection that explores multiple shades of dub techno, this release has both dancefloor energy and introspective depth. With a strong roster of contributors, it delivers a blend of classic textures and fresh perspectives.
