Techno News

Underground electronic music label Minimood celebrates ten years of existence with a special double 12" Vinyl Only release,

presenting finest dub infusions by Luke Hess & Sascha Dive, Delano Smith, Steve O'Sullivan, and Tobias.

Mid June will see the launch of Echocord sub-label Echo Echo with the 'Dream Observer' EP from Grad_u. Copenhagen's Echocord is a Dub Techno imprint with a history dating back fifteen years and a back catalogue featuring material from genre defining artists like Deepchord, Fluxion, Sven Weisemann, Pole and grad_u who launches the new off shoot imprint Echo

The release opens with 'Jacob's Dream', fifteen minutes of release date: subtly modulating synth glitches, ethereal synth drones, sweeping atmospherics and dubby echoes creating a hypnotic, ever-unfolding composition.

'Observing The Night Sky' then follows on the flip side with thunderous kick drums, rumbling low-end pulses, wandering dub chords and bubbling glitches all subtly nuanced throughout the tracks ten-minute duration.

Charles Trees. Myth, tall tale, legend of a human being, one of those people who one minute you'll be scouring reddit for obscure content and the next, stepping on stage to casually DJ to thousands of people like “no big whoop” at a French music festival. Charles is unassuming, the kind of person who effortlessly mixes ghettotech into soul for lulz, who samples a speech (/rant) by Funkmaster Flex in an acid track, or rides BMG & Derek Plaslaiko’s “True Story of a Detroit Groove” with Velvet Underground’s “Sister Ray” for 8 minutes straight.

Charles' relationship with electronic music started early. In high school, Dave Shayman (Disco D) introduced Charles to DJing and he was a regular at Dubplate Pressure*– Todd Osborn's now-legendary record store in Ann Arbor. By 1998, he was already playing on raves in Detroit. A year later, he was the first person to show Zach Saginaw (Shigeto) to Ghostly International, arguably altering the course of our lives forever. In the late 2000s, they became label mates on Moodgadget, the record label of Jakub Alexander (Heathered Pearls).

Through out the years, Charles has been a musical mentor (whether DJing, producing or throwing shows) to many, danced at every weekly at every venue in Ann Arbor & Detroit, produced Hip Hop, and fronted a psych rock band. He has released music on Moodgadget (US), Musique Large (FR), Lovemonk (ES), Vanity Press (US) and JFX Lab (FR). Today, between DJing, hosting radio shows and producing new music, Charles regularly throws shows/parties/raves, and hosts a monthly at Deluxx Fluxx.

We love Charles Trees and we're proud to present "2019," the eighth record on Portage Garage Sounds.

*Additional reading: Dubplate Pressure: was the precursor to Technical Equipment Supply; how Todd Osborn was discovered by Richard D. James and signed to Rephlex Records; where Sam Valenti IV, the founder of Ghostly International, met Tadd Mullinix (Dabrye, JTC, Charles Manier, X-Altera); one of the reasons why we're all here

"Got No"
Hit the ground running.
Chopped up vocal stabs and a playful syncopated melody accompany this percussion heavy two-step shuffle as it speeds down the Lodge on a Friday night in Detroit.

"Think First"
Undeniable rhythm section pocket.
Acoustic bass and dirty ride symbols swing alongside lush keyboards and sprinkles of light melodicism in this psych house banger.
Think St. Germain with CAN playing a warped version of "Rose Rouge."

"In Arms"
Crave the rave. Whips crack and sizzle in this dubbed out techno slapper. A modern take on a classic sound. Trees conjures an era close to his heart: when the warehouse was church and service didn't stop until the sun came up.


"Acja feat. Marcus Elliot ("12 club mix)
Beautifully understated and triumphant.
This closer marks the return of Detroit Saxophonist Marcus Elliot (Detroit pt II - PGS 001). His notes dance and soar over a creeping acid line, while driving drums and warm pads effortlessly take you home in this powerful house anthem.

154's cult 2004 album Strike is being re-issued on the producer's own NWAQ/APE label on heavyweight 180g vinyl. Mixing up ambient, techno and abstract designs into deep, sci-fi influenced soundtracks, it still sounds as fresh and unique today as it did back then, and remains an expensive and in demand record on Discogs as well as an important album that has influenced many producers since.

Planet Euphorique is bringing you it's first compilation, "Tiny Planet Vol.1"!

Don't be deceived, these four tracks are major - and sounding out to the wider universe.

Kicking off with 'Killer DJs' (two Canadian VIPs Big Zen & Dust e-1) and their "Untitled" anthem, a cosmic late night mirage, just out of reach. Throbbing low end and hypnotic atmospherics to get you lost in the smoke. DJ Donini steps up for the A2, taking you to a subsonic, dubbed out underwater acropolis, known as "Donini's Dream". Marching rhythmic militance met with tripped out euphoria. On the flip, we head to Seattle with two tru heads teaming up on the B1. CCL & Flora FM's "Liquify Interference" a propelling dance-floor refreshment; spacial, clanging drums begging you to raise your hands in the air, whilst the swirling melodics raise your consciousness. Wrapping up the compilation is Vancouver's SMP with "Natty Bop". A naughty, percussive wobbler which hits in all the right places, clanging one-shots and shuffling drums draped over dripping sub bass to provide sublime push and pull.

There’s a tiny planet calling, a new and exciting place…

Human Potential Movement

KÖNIGSFORST – following the 1997 release of ZAUBERBERG (KOMPAKT 370.1), Wolfgang Voigt’s GAS project returned with KÖNIGSFORST, a full length that has stood the test of time as a template for introducing fundamentals of 90’s techno into the principles of contemporary electronic music.

Originally released in 1998 on the iconic Frankfurt imprint Mille Plateaux, and then reissued in 2016 as a part of GAS “BOX”, ZAUBERBERG is now released on his own label KOMPAKT on 180 gram 3LP vinyl in its original artwork.

KÖNIGSFORST brings glimmers of light into Voigt’s dark, magnificent forest. Melodic strings and brass are added to his signature layers of ominous intensity. The forest path is laid out by muffled kick drums as classical music loops incessantly swirl with no direction.

KÖNIGSFORST – following the 1997 release of ZAUBERBERG (KOMPAKT 370.1), Wolfgang Voigt’s GAS project returned with KÖNIGSFORST, a full length that has stood the test of time as a template for introducing fundamentals of 90’s techno into the principles of contemporary electronic music.

Originally released in 1998 on the iconic Frankfurt imprint Mille Plateaux, and then reissued in 2016 as a part of GAS “BOX”, ZAUBERBERG is now released on his own label KOMPAKT on 180 gram 3LP vinyl in its original artwork.

KÖNIGSFORST brings glimmers of light into Voigt’s dark, magnificent forest. Melodic strings and brass are added to his signature layers of ominous intensity. The forest path is laid out by muffled kick drums as classical music loops incessantly swirl with no direction.

Two collaborations between two people vibrating on the same frequency. Spacious grooves on the Aniara tip!

For those familiar with the infamous "Birmingham Techno" movement, Makaton is someone who needs little introduction. For those that aren't, the Brummie producer is the head of the inimitable Rodz-Konez and has seen himself showcase his cut-throat techno on seminal labels such as Token and Blueprint. His first contribution for Voitax came at the end of 2017, with iconic dance floor slayer Around The Throat, which went straight for the jugular on the VOI 010 V/A. A good half a year on and we get "Immaculata" - Makaton's full debut EP for VOITAX.

Early Support by Ancient Methods, AnD, Anosme, Anastasia Kristensen, Dave Clarke, Drumcell, Electric Indigo, Henning Baer, Inigo Kennedy, Kangding Ray, Kwarz, Manni Dee, Matrixxman , Marcel Dettmann, Mark Broom, Phase Fatale, Pfirter, Rebekah, Ruffhouse, Stephanie Sykes, Surgeon, Swarm Intelligence, Svreca, Tommy Four Seven, Umwelt and many more.

Egal 3 together with his alter-ego Vid has been one of the most prolific and innovative producers over the past years. No Time For Love is proud to present his last incredible work. 3 originals tracks crossing minimal and techno in a superb way. Only 300 copies. No repress!

We would like to welcome Gonzalo Medina to the Knotweed family. Gonzalo MD is a young producer coming straight from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He likes to qualify his music as hypnotic dub techno with a touch of darkness & Detroit and we think that suits his sound very well. He tests his own productions regularly in Buenos Aires at Cocoliche, where he DJs often with all the usual suspects. He has already more than a handful of releases on digital labels, but this is his first foray in the vinyl world.

Don't DJ
Laniakea

Echocord's Echo Echo sub-label continues with its third releases this August, courtesy of German producer and Credo founder Alex Bau with his 'Zenstory' EP. Germany's Alex Bau has been a prominent name on the underground DJ circuit on his home turf, and further afield, for three decaces as well as racking up an impressive back catalogue as a recording artists for labels like Cocoon, CLR, Sleaze and of course his very own Credo label which has been a platform predominantly for his own material whilst welcoming the likes of Kyle Geiger, Takkyu Ishino and Electric Rescue onto the imprint also. Here though we see Bau joining the roster of Echocord's fledgling sub-label Echo Echo with a new four-track EP and taking the lead on the package is 'Clouds' with pulsating low-end tones, hissing analogue noise and dusty drums samples all flowing in unison with ethereal chords and sweeping pads. 'Contour' follows, tipping the focus over to bubbling delayed stab hits, fluttering sub bass and evolving white noise bursts throughout. The 'Prelude' of 'Zenstory' opens the flip side and as the name would suggest it's a cinematic build up to the title-track featuring tension-building, expansive atmospherics ahead of the original mix which features a thumping muted kick, stuttering atmospheric echoes and spoken word vocal tucked into the depths of the record.

Limited 200 Copys.
Ready for the Sonar 2017 we are pround to present the Neverdogs in our music Family.

Including remixes by Franz Costa & Fortyseven as well as Drag&Drop. A Must have for you Recordcase.

Two of the leading artists in dub techno and ambient electronics produced four cuts between their extensive studios in New York and Stockholm, with the results sitting in between the powerful oscillations of Echologist's previous EP for Kynant (KYN005) and the slo-mo, Roland jams TM404 specialises in.

TM404 & Echologist (aka Andreas Tilliander and Brendon Moeller) collaborate for the first time on 'Bass Desires'.

Two of the leading artists in dub techno and ambient electronics produced four cuts between their extensive studios in New York and Stockholm, with the results sitting in between the powerful oscillations of Echologist's previous EP for Kynant (KYN005) and the slo-mo, Roland jams TM404 specialises in.

The two A-side tracks are the most direct, with hard-hitting drums, soaring atmospherics and boomy reverb. Flip over and the record spaces out into cavernous bass vibrations; first the subterranean 'Odyssey' and then the melodic, modular twists of the 105BPM title track.

Mastered by Giuseppe Tillieci aka Neel @ EnissLab Studio, Rome. Pressed at Optimal Media.