Techno News

Dub techno, stepper to death... once again a big Tetra Hydro release !! Don't miss !! before it's too late !!

finally repressed

Blankstairs is pleased to announce the imminent release of 'Pathfinder', the latest record from Washington State resident Archivist. 'Pathfinder' is Archivist's second release on Blankstairs, following 2015's 'Migration', which Impose Magazine celebrated as offering listeners "the possibility of transcendence." Archivist's new record is no different, featuring three original deep techno tracks along with a remix by The Bunker New York resident Eric Cloutier. With 'Pathfinder', Archivist shows himself to be one of the West Coast's most intense and interesting techno producers.

Peverelist does Peverelist on his 3rd album of Bristolian bass techno prisms, Tessellations, his first for the Livity Sound label, forming a typically stripped, acute treatise on the flux of dub, techno, D&B and ambient electronics that make up his soundsystem DNA.

Rooted in the '90s but curved and toned for 2017, Pev's sound is economically functional but not without a crucial sliver of emotive, sensual/textural pressure that bleeds thru in each cut. It's hardly hands-in-the-air material, yet his slow-burning vibes are arguably more satisfying and subtly impressive in the immediacy of the dance and for the long run.

Across a neatly plotted 48 minutes he systematically investigates and consolidates all stripes of the Peverelist sound in a way that builds on the experiments of 12000 Seconds (2014) whilst reprising and refining the heft of Jarvik Mindstate (2009).

The roiling modular tones of opener Burning Seas offers a rare, beat-less iteration of his sound before the session properly gets under way, vacillating the pressure between Under Clearing Skies dense electro-bass pulses and strobing dub chords, and the wide open lushness of Still Early, then twisting into the latinate shimmy of Sheer Chance Matters and the spiralling trills of Wireframes, which sounds almost like Plastikman meets Unique 3.

Further Inland brings a lot of originality and feeling with a misty-eyed mesh of airy Detroit/Berlin arpeggios and serpentine house swang, cooling down into the tribalism patterns of Brinks and Limits and closing on another rare, beat-less vision, Plateau from which to survey his rolling topography and then dive back in again.

Good stuff.

Next up for Rhythm Section's club focused sub-label - 'International Black' 004 is here and it is bringing the heat - this time from Tennessee, USA. Mister Saturday Night and CGI affiliate Alex Falk delivers a 4 track EP made with one thing in mind - the dancefloor. Taking influence from the likes Chevel, Levon, Redshape and Phase; Alex Falk achieves a singular vision merging American and European styles of Techno.

Opening with UPP, an effortless techno groove with a tight rolling bass line, classic lead stabs that pulsate, twist and turn as the heavy kick punishes the subs. BETA comes in next with a serious low end bounce - a distorted bass bump pushes the system to the max before being followed up by lower sub all swinging around a fat house kick and tight percussion - another club stomper for the serious rigs only.

The B side is a proper dub techno workout. Beginning with DAB a focused club tool whereupon sharp stabs progress and modulate throughout the track as tight kicks and hats hold down the groove. Its a serious wristbreaker that will cut through any mix. Closing the EP is GATES13, a more downtempo affair. Atmospheric chord stabs dub upon an 808 kick, a must for the warm up or warm down.

ZamZam 71 is the welcome return of D-Operation Drop, the multi-man crew from Cesena, Italy with a well-earned rep that continues to grow. Everything they touch becomes a bona fide killer, from traditional steppers to 140 abstractions, to full on clash material. Last year alone saw powerful releases on Scrub A Dub, Lion Charge, Green King Cuts, and Subaltern. Their second chapter on ZamZam marks yet another high point, an absolutely storming release that won’t leave any box it makes it into.

The reverb drenched melody that opens “Bronco” throws open the gate for a brutalist kick-snare riddim with one single purpose - to absolutely crush the dance. A throbbing two note sub and swinging chains sweep aside any and all challengers, leaving pure devastation in their wake. Mesmerizing in its simplicity and absolutely devasting in its efficiency, this weapon has been deployed on dubplate from the likes of J:Kenzo & The Bug - now the beast is released to wreak havoc on Sounds far & wide.

“Coldset” is the healing salve after the bruising of the A side, equally captivating and functional in the dance, swaggering at a cooler temperature with metallic rockers hi hats in the drivers’ seat and ethereal pads hovering above another signature D-Op Drop 140 scorcher. Reminding us of the roots of this music, “Dubwise” is the refrain that echoes and trail-tangles deep down the side chain into lusciously distorted sheets of sound that will have hands in the air for multiple rewinds.

ZamZam 70 is our first team-up with the man of mystery known as Marcus Anbessa. An enigmatic figure whose identity must remain secret for the time being, his infrequent releases on labels such as Lion Charge, Tribe 12, and The Most High (as “Unknown Artist”) are eagerly awaited by those who know, charting an uncompromising vision down a path untrod by the weakheart or the follow-fashion. We love music that builds its own sound world with only passing reference to familiar genres or signposts, music that believes in itself utterly - for this reason we feel genuinely blessed to present these two sides.

“March of The Falasha” is pure roots music that, firmly planted in the soil of dub and sound system, reaches back even further into the mists of time through technological means. Downbeat steppers is the idiom, pure heartbeat is the pulse. Like an old soul young in years but full of wisdom, a distorted flute melody wanders ahead through the undergrowth of bass, light filtering through the ancient canopy above in the form of swung percussion and flickering echoes overlapping and intertwining like vines and creepers weaving on temple walls. Ancient-to-the-future.

“Creator” strikes a different yet equally dread chord, 140-ish post-apocalyptic Rasta business focused squarely on bass and space, hard, insistent drums and infinite echo trails flinging from the snares and percussion, creating hypnotic tracers like sparks swirling heavenward from a well-tended fire in blackest night.

Imagine African Headcharge on Jah Tubbys, or a rootsman groundation resuscitating ancient machines in the crumbling ruins of a near-future world and you begin to see what Marcus Anbessa brings. This music reminds us that nature herself will some day claim Babylon and grind it to dust, regardless of our efforts to save it or hasten its fall.

This is the first release of ODDiscos, the newborn label representing Sao Paulos' infamous ODD event series! The various arists release showcases the who is who of the Brazilian electronic music scene.

After bursting on to the scene in 2017 with the dub techno stomper ‘Zulu Blues’ on Navy Cut records, Melbourne based producers Pugilist and Mystik collaborate once again, this time around with 3 tracks on Modern Hypnosis.

The A side ‘Sabu’; a unique blend of polyrhythmic Latin inspired percussion and chanting, complemented with a rolling bass line and dreamy synthesised chord progression; is a genre blending trip, sitting at 135bpm, capable of taking a set in many directions.

On the flip side, two sophistically crafted Dub-Step pieces. 'Misty in Roots’, taken from the vaults after hypnotising dances in Melbourne on dub plate for the last 3 years. Minimal, meditative, eyes down music.

'2 Steps Backwards’ (available vinyl only) is an energetic 140bpm piece. Nostalgic roots inspired 'Dub-step of old’ is infused with creative oscillating synthesis, musicality, and post modern dubbing techniques. A subtle bass line switch up on the second drop guarantees satisfaction.

Silent Season welcomes Russian producer Toki Fuko to the roster for this special versions edition double 12"" of deeper soundscapes. Toki Fuko's music can be described as mechanical signals structured in a hypnotic substance with a dub techno groove and rhythm sequences. The Spring Ray vinyl edition features 4 versions of Spring Ray, each unique in their own sense. The versions were specially mastered and cut by Stefan Betke of Scape Mastering. Deep hypnotic dub techno.

The ever productive Conforce returns to one of his key home labels for another exploration of his prolific deep sea techno sound. His Haedron EP has a firm dance floor focus, designed to propel you ever further forwards. Hi hats glisten like light beams penetrating the deep ocean, topped off with some timeless dub techno vibes that mixes Basic Channel with Planet E to mesmeric effect.

“Introducing COSMIC RESIDENTS v. 1, the first in an ongoing compilation series from Cosmic Resonance Records. This series will showcase emerging talent from Toronto’s underground creative electronic music scene.

This first edition features local favourites and Cosmic Resonance residents Radiant Aura Faculty (aka Raf Reza), KOREA TOWN ACID and Hemingway along with (and making their vinyl and Cosmic Resonance debut) Body Butter, WeTurnToRed and Smoke & Shadows.

On the A-side, Hemingway kicks things off with Astralnauts, a deep, dubbed out boogie breakbeat burner dedicated to explorers of the astral plane featuring fellow label don Chris Evans on rhythm guitar. Radiant Aura Faculty (aka Raf Reza) takes us even deeper with the mystical 'Cid Pit Riddim', a slamming 707 acid bender sure to melt any dance floor. Things get slippery with Body Butter’s debut single ‘Lights In The Hallway’, a timeless operatic pop opus featuring Neil Rankin (aka Burt Sugar), Chris Evans (aka Mr. Bliss) and Hemingway behind the board.

On the flip side, things heat up with Shamanta Chandran’s project WeTurnToRed (recently releasing their debut EP on ORO Records), featuring the progressive modular techno odyssey 'Warm Winter', an escape from Toronto’s long and tumultuous blizzards. Emerging from the Mahogani Forest, Korea Town Acid reinterprets Hemingway’s emotional ode to the jazz aesthetic 'Blue Notes' with her trademark cerebral rhythms and a masterful bassline that elevates the original to new heights. Closing it off, we have an amazing collaboration between Curtis Clark (aka Smoke of Lab.our Music) & Em Zy (member of Nikki Fierce) called Smoke & Shadows with their stellar debut single Convincing Thoughts that features Em Zy’s hazy vocal emanations amidst a backdrop of mystical reverberations and a dark, powerful groove.”

Swedish electro-dubstar Andreas Tilliander does a mean pair of acid dubs for Dub On Arrival, a new wing of Joachim Nordwall’s iDEAL Recordings institution

A longtime affiliate of the label, both under his own name and also as Mokira, Andreas Tilliander is a prime candidate to kick off their 7” dub series, bringing decades of echo chamber experience to a brilliant pair of sloshing acid dubs.

In signature style on the A-side’s ‘Expect Resistance’, Tilliander smudges the contours of a 303 and chirruping melodica until they resemble a curdled, lysergic reflection of Jamaican dub proper, highlighting its inherent links to house and techno.

On the B-side ‘Respect Existence’ he goes slower, more spacious and plasmic, like one of Rhythm & Sound’s drowsiest, a la ‘Roll Off’, but merged with early Plastikman-esque acid for a tactfully trippy, psychedelic effect Tilliander can safely call his own.

Alexi Delano and Jesper Dahlbäck is back together. It has gone 7 years since their latest release Guts To Move on ISL.

This brand new release on Kalvaberget is a deep and dubby techno EP. The first track burst out with the classic Delano-Dahlbäck sound. Raw 909 HH Fetish Dub.

The second track is a more straightforward dirty gentle-pumping-big-industrial-room 4/4 banger.

The EP wraps up with Dub Techno deluxe. Trapezium Cluster. We find a hint of Basic Channel and Maurizio seasoning here. Tasty!

Last but not least you'll find a bonus dub tool.

The legendary Moscow club Propaganda celebrates its 20th Anniversary in April 2017 and launches a brand new record label. The label will cover different styles of intelligent electronic music, focusing on techno in the first year. At the beginning there will be released music by great artists who had performances at Propaganda club in past. More artists will be involved and more excellent music will be released over time.

Fresh from her last release which featured an essential remix from Ricardo Villolobos,
Russian artist Julia Govor is back with three more great tracks on the ever excellent
Rhythm Cult.

Julia has come a long way since playing in a military band and is now a foremost house
and techno name who has released on labels like Cocoon, Hypertone and Second
State. She can also be found rocking crowds at the likes of Awakenings, Time Warp,
ADE & Sonar often alongside Richie Hawtin, with the core of her sound built around
an emotional truth, depth and devotion to seductive rhythms.

Opening the EP is the immediately absorbing 'United', a deep electronic house tune
with a warm bed of crisp, driving beats overlaid with acid twitches and dry claps. It
really locks you in and some female musings add a pensive air.

Next is the equally excellent 'Morse Code,', an airy and cerebral, super deep roller that
is quick and slick and filled with eerie atmospheres. Razor sharp hi-hats cut up the
groove, ponderous and hollow bass synths add depth and the whole thing is made for
heady backrooms at 4am.

Last of all is the seductive 'Parallelepiped', a quick and clipped deep techno cut that
will get you on your toes. Distant synth patters and perfectly programmed, frictionless
drums all add up to a steamy and seductive sound.

This is a high class EP of heady house and techno that will find favour with
connoisseurs all over.

Agonis Remixed By Friends

WHITE 12" IN SCREEN-PRINTED PVC SLEEVE