quête:techno blend

Aptly named, Tranquilizer is a potent, six track EP from Brazilian producer Felix. As part of Piratao Records; a label that merges everything from baile funk, to electro and techno, Mutual Pleasure is a fitting home for the electric nature of Felix’s sound; something that is fully exercised in this EP.

Tranquilizer is a mind-expanding selection of dynamic tracks. Unrelenting, with a deeply contagious energy that acts as the engine to this project. It is entirely soaked with acid, and layered with a plethora of squelching basslines, manipulated Brazilian Vocals and trance-infused synths and melodies.

Felix coordinates a masterful blend of dark, gruelling tones, with funk-fuelled flavours of his native Brazil: an electrifying and devastating marriage that sets this Ep in motion. While tracks like Alpha Helix bring forward a more trance-ladened side to his sound, the devious breakbeat and infectious vocals of Ta Pegando Fogo bring a cutting edge to his undefinable sound.

Within this searing melting pot of genres and influences, Felix traverses from dark dubstep, to four-to-the-floor techno, and everywhere in between. It is a suitably devilish project, and a statement of his ever-evolving musical personality.

Portente presents his debut release on his own imprint, House of Color. A 12-inch record of captivating and dance-ready sonic experiences featuring the tracks Acid City, Rota & Tesouro. Three deep cuts that showcase his finely honed blends of house and techno.

The ever-evolving Bruise, purveyor of that top shelf house business drops The Skyline mini LP via Foundations Music Productions showcasing some of his finest work to date. Eight cuts that range from deep, introspective delights to hard-hitting club weapons, jazz-infused 2 step to UK bass flavours including a signature remix from esteemed stalwart of the scene, Future Beat Alliance.

Kicking off with ‘Cascade’, Bruise opens the record with a driving, emotive 4/4 vision of swirling strings and glittering pianos while a choir builds to create a club track of haunting beauty. ‘Brass Tacks’ and ‘Thunder’ follow, the former packed with driving horn riffs, euphoric chords and that classic Bruise breakdown, set to ignite dance floors across the world, with the latter a dramatic dance floor heater that mixes intensity and sensitivity to stunning effect.

Maintaining that balance of delicacy with power, elsewhere Bruise offers up both an instrumental and vocal mix of ‘Driftin’’ the atmospheric yet equally effective house stunner.

On the B side ‘The Dassy Slide’ dives deep into the basement. A rolling syncopated vocal lead dances around a nagging horn refrain all underpinned with a bass heavy 2-step inspired groove. Closing out the package Future Beat Alliance twists and turns with techno leaning trademark remix of ‘Themes’ that tips its hat to the ‘90s yet with a firm foot in the future before the UK Bass, breakbeat blending ‘Tears’ takes the final spot.

New York, NY (May 09, 2023) - Techno powerhouse, Charlotte de Witte releases her highly anticipated EP, Overdrive as the anchor to her larger Overdrive Campaign within the KNTXT Label. Following de Witte’s breakthrough to the top of the electronic music scene in 2019 with her signature sonic approach that refuses to be boxed in, Overdrive is a reflection of this ethos. The EP aims to showcase street style that is both rough and energizing, while delivering high-energy tracks meant to pull listeners into the fast-paced thrill that unlocks one's turbocharged version of themselves. Listen HERE.

“While making Overdrive, I didn’t fully realize how applicable the lyrics are to my philosophy of life,” said de Witte. “The fast-paced tempo, which goes full force without looking back, is all about the feeling of being on the edge and living life to the fullest.”

Best known for her “dark and stripped-back” brand of techno and underground music, DJ, record producer, and label head de Witte pushes the boundaries of the electronic genre with music that has a distinct and unforgettable sound that is uniquely her own. De Witte’s innovative ability allows her to seamlessly blend genres and styles that have won her a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim.

“Overdrive is a love story between hip hop and techno, it’s inspired by both genres, but coated in a techno jacket,” said de Witte. “It’s meant to be played loud while driving at night and watching the city lights pass by, and where better to experience that than in New York City?”

Overdrive marks de Witte’s first release since her single “High Street,” and first EP on her KNTXT label since her last EP, “Apollo” which was released in October 2022 as well as her collaboration with fellow techno artist Enrico Sangiuliano on the “Reflection” EP in March 2023. De Witte had previously worked with Sangiuliano on their remix of “The Age Of Love”, which amassed over 40 million streams on Spotify and achieved certified gold status in Belgium. De Witte’s other recent releases include her “Universal Consciousness” EP in 2022 and her “Formula” EP in 2021, which featured the chart-topping lead track “Doppler”.

Limited Edition COLOR Green Dark mixed Vinyl – 75 units Hand numbered

Mourad started djing in the mid-eighties. His mixing style and musical knowledge have taken him all over Europe and all the way to Asia. Born and raised in Tunis, Tunisia where he sharpened his skills by playing hip hop and electro but also soul, reggae and rare groove. His love for soul and jazz came from an eclectic father who was and still is very serious about his music. As a DJ Mourad plays a blend of Detroit techno and deep house. His sets are known for being diverse and highly loaded with soul and funk. He has played alongside people like Larry Heard, Farley jack master funk, Derrick May, Juan Atkins, Alexi Delano, Dimitri from Amsterdam, Olivier le Castor, BRS, Club Session,Darren Price, Joel Mull , Cari Lekebusch , Subject 13, Alex Reece, Ivan Smaghe , Alton Miller, Jeff Mills , Damon Wilde, 4 Hero , etc. (too many to mention all of them here). Production wise Mourad started producing music during the early 90s and Put out his first release in 1995 as CHRISMOUR Production, in collaboration with his soul brother Calico (svek, deep touch, lace, etc ) The journey continues…

Grey Vinyl

Lobster Theremin continue a string of euphoric, rave ready techno and trance cuts with a release from Germany’s Rove Ranger that’s hard, fast and effective. Straight off the back of his latest release on ravey UK imprint 10 Pills Mate, and his incredible track ‘Stutenlove’ on Lobster’s PLUR Compilation Volume 1. Rove Ranger is the dancefloor gift that keeps on giving. ‘

Opener ‘1998’ conjures up earlier release Rave Memories, with loopy, psychedelic, thundering 140+ techno, hurtling us from acid car ride into full flight across a sunset-burnt sky. Hefty percussive techno with an old skool sound, waves or rave drift over pacey heat and compelling kicks. Then we arrive at ‘101010’. 100% warehouse body music on this driving title track. Organic, clinking, clattering shell percussion clops over a dark, endless beat. True Berlin warehouse spirit channelled into the machine.

The uplifting ‘In My Mind’ is a proper chunky club pumper, blending lush vocals, squelchy bass lines and housier elements. The peak of euphoria and a nostalgic trip back to 90’s fusion dance music. Rounding out the EP on a eurorave tip, ‘Schaltkreis’ launches down a swirling, mesmerising wormhole. Pulling together urgent trance-synth stabs, racing pulse drumwork and crushed production taking us headlong into the abyss

Holly Lester’s Duality Trax Label has quickly become synonymous for its blend of future facing sonics and mind-warping melodies, served together with a healthy dose of nostalgia. A label just as focused on making dancefloor destroyers as it is exploring left-leaning, personal projects, it’s within this duality where the label has found its success, never afraid to shy away from b side oddities or tracks edging more towards good-old-fashioned-fun.

DUALITY5 steers towards the latter, with Manchester based DJ & producer Aiden Francis providing the serotonin on tap with three lively dancefloor cuts, including a huge remix from Italy’s Matisa. Aiden had a big 2022, releasing music on Magic Carpet, Gestalt and beloved music platform and label Houseum, solidifying himself as one to watch in the euphoric unity of house, trance and techno.

Title track ‘Plastic Fantasy’ is the star of the show, a suitably sassy roller that places everyone's favorite blonde icon front left of the speakers. Subtle old school strings contrast with alien electronics, providing familiarity in an otherwise unfamiliar world. A bubble-gum vocal then rolls in cheekily over a driving bassline and dynamic percussion - used in a way I’m not sure the original creators had in mind. ‘Future Proof’ meanwhile demonstrates Aidens’ knack for contemporary progressive house music. With warm pads, swirling sonic textures and moments of blissful euphoria, it’s energetic enough to move a dancefloor, but gentle enough for home listening too.

The record comes to a close with ‘Aquamarine’, with Aiden opting in favour of free flowing breakbeats and mind expanding synths, together radiating a feeling of warmth and hope for days to come. Italian DJ and producer Matisa is on hand to round the EP off with a bass-heavy rendition of ‘Plastic Fantasy’ a no-holds-barred speed garage licked stomper, with the power to lure smokers back inside the club with their feet firmly planted on the dancefloor.

After “Refined”, their first release on Thisbe Recordings back in April 2021, Radial Gaze are back on the Berlin-based independent label with “Tetra Seeds”, their brand new EP. It includes 3 original tracks and three remixes by Dominik Marz, Balam, and label owner Pyrame.

The two St-Petersburg-based brothers , Andrey – electronic musician and producer, mixing and mastering engineer – along with Stas – sound designer, guitarist, and theatre director – stay true to their identity : In “Tetra Seeds”, they deliver an irresistible blend of slow techno, ethnic-infused electro, and percussive wonders.

Printed on a yellow vinyl, the 6 tracks 12″ is a limited edition with astonishing artwork by Maksim Cherny.

SAISEI founder Junki Inoue continues his vital archival work uncovering the riches of Japan’s distinctive electronic music scene and bringing them to new audiences around the world.
The PMA EP compiles four dynamic tracks recorded around 30 years ago by the duo of Shigeru Nakamura (drums/vocals) and Mikio Kato (synths) aka B-2DEP’T.

Nakamura and Kato’s first album as B-2DEP’T, Products Plus, appeared on cassette in 1993 on Trigger Records, the predecessor label to Transonic (given a retrospective on SAIS004). Its bright yellow and blue retro-futurist artwork – which is echoed in the design for this reissue on SAISEI – matched the sounds held within: inventive, out-of-the-box dance music blending overseas influences with an idiosyncratic Japanese sensibility.
Two tracks from Products Plus appear on this EP, All tracks re-edited by Junki Inoue and regular collaborator Yuzo Iwata for vinyl extended play and available now for the first time on vinyl. ‘Clockwork Giant Panda’ appearing in a version co-produced with Yoshinori Sunahara (ex - Denki Groove), merges a breezy US house groove and bassline with twinkling, almost parodic Japanese keys that act as a kind of meta commentary on Western perceptions of Japan (a concept pioneered by Yellow Magic Orchestra). The two parts of ‘BSMH’, or Body Sonic Mental Health from ‘Products Plus’, were originally remixed by Daishi Hisakawa of Tanzmuzik, who draws on darker sounds from Europe and the UK: restless Depeche Mode synth harmonies spiral above a pacy EBM pulse, with robot vocals intoning the titular slogan. The package is completed by the unreleased track ‘PMA’, whose driving, bass-heavy mood falls somewhere between Sheffield bleep and the ambient techno of early Biosphere.

SAISEI is a Japanese word which translates to ‘reproduction’ and ‘to play’ (as in playing records). Japanese culture is widely known for its traditional nature just as much as it is for being forward into the future and this label’s concept does justice to exactly that. Having started digging for records as early as 16 years old, Inoue delved into productions from 1990s Japan to uncover these native gems. SAISEI’s core concept is to recapture and reintroduce unique pieces of Japanese electronic music onto vinyl, to an audience it never reached before as most of this music was only released in Japan.

Born and raised in the heart of the French Alps, and now residing in Paris, DJ Physical’s sound is one of a harsh romance. Perhaps it was the beauty and serenity of the snow-covered mountain tops and the ferocious nature of French techno moulding together that spawned his ‘Raw Poetry’ aesthetic; an emotive blend of dark and light that feels like it could belong in concert halls and theatres as well as underground clubs. Now the Parisian local serves up five deadly cuts of brooding electro and techno for 1Ø PILLS MATE.

‘Not So Human’ delivers the influence of trance on the contemporary techno soundscape, but doesn’t over-do it. Trance-licked, not dominated, the uncompromising cut of wave-driven techno is the perfect accompaniment for when you want to take things up a notch. ‘Sex Club’ maintains DJ Physicals’ fascination with Raw Poetry - brimming with breaks-driven breakdowns, spine-tingling atmospherics and low-pressure basslines that highlight the variety of influence the emerging producer brings to the table.

Acid synth-lines and lively trance-inspo create an altogether lighter mood as we flip the record on ‘Mortal Dance’, before ‘Easy Dancer’ changes its tune altogether with a pounding cut of progressive, freaky electronica.

Closing the release is ‘Go Further’ - misty electro, Southern-trap samples and those distinctive, high-culture ambient interludes creating a sense of emotive mystery. A well-rounded release with plenty of left-turns, this is DJ Physical’s ‘Raw Poetry’ at its finest.

Tiptoes makes a welcome return to SlothBoogie Records with a fresh four-track EP, entitled ‘The Akai Samurai Strikes Again’.

Glasgow’s Tiptoes has long been a respected name in the Scottish electronic music circuit, bringing his eclectic style to the table as a DJ, blending everything from jazz to jungle, house to techno, garage, broken beat and many more genres. His productions are a nod to his many influences and once again with this EP were treated to an amalgamation of sounds.

‘Techno Woo’ leads the way and see Tiptoes embracing a filter house feel, merging a number of choppy funk licks, vocal chants, and bass lines in an ever-unfolding dynamic matter, while dusty drums carry the bouncy groove throughout. ‘Brotherman’ then tips the focus on to soul drenched guitar lines, brass melodies, snaking bass grooves and hypnotic vocal lines alongside loose, swinging percussion.

Opening the flip side is ‘Mars Landings’, embracing a deeper house aesthetic courtesy of hazy Rhodes chords, swelling vocal loops and organic drums before ‘Strings’ rounds things out, as the name would suggest the composition is built around expansive string melodies, gritty bass stabs and sturdy, thunderous drums.

"Delivering his first solo EP in over two years, Blue Hour releases Origins, the 21st release on Blue Hour Music. Following a succession of remixes, V/A contributions and an EP under his Tracing Xircles alias earlier this year, the Berlin-based producer and DJ shares four tracks diving deeper into his UK roots. Channelling breakbeat, techno and trance with the hallmarks of 90’s rave, Origins builds upon the foundations created from his EP ‘Devotion’ in 2020.

In this eclectic EP, Blue Hour explores several sonic palettes. The title track blends celestial chords with urgent drums and acid basslines, while uplifting vocals and subtle melodies wind through the track. ‘True’ dips more heavily into breakbeat territory with evolving and immersive pads, soaring strings and a twinkling synth-line. A dynamic fusion of fast-paced energy and soft touches.

On the flip, ‘Emergence’ dances a delicate line between melancholia and elation, as dystopian chords pool with a squelchy acid sequence and a classic house vocal. ‘Searching’ closes on an ambient tip with spell-binding pads and an angelic melody, conveying a bright side to Blue Hour’s aesthetic, akin to Origins as a whole."

Hot on the heels of last year's Dear Diary EP on Lobster Theremin, explosive performances on HOR and an intimate interview with celebrated German publication Groove Magazine, frequent Berlin & Leipzig DJ Narciss comes through with four deep and groovy cuts of bass-driven techno.

'Feather Boa Constrictor' features one of Copenhagen's most exciting emerging producers in recent years - Vixen - fresh off her own acclaimed release, Hard Magik For Soft Souls, on Lobster Theremin in December. Now the pair link up on the DJ Mag Breakthrough Label of the Year imprint that blends all the best elements of the Berlin and Copenhagen scenes in a highspeed trip through psy-trance, synth-wave and techno.

Narciss is on his ones as we enter the A2; 'Lovechild' (Outrun Mix) is aptly named with its reference to the 1986 arcade game Outrun, which featured some of the best video-game music to ever be created. Deep basslines, swirling synth-stabs and a soothing deepness and contemplativeness that can only come with driving a virtual car down a never-ending highway. 'Tokyo' makes use of polyrhythms and textures blended with what sounds like an old Sampha record. It's a wonderful combination of dark, deep and forward-thinking sound, before Copenhagen producer Repro comes through with a typically EBM-focused remix combining elements of every track.

SAISEI founder Junki Inoue continues his vital archival work uncovering the riches of Japan’s distinctive electronic music scene and bringing them to new audiences around the world. The Sounds Of Transonic compiles six tracks recorded in Tokyo between 1991 and 1995 and released by the pioneering Transonic label, founded in 1994 by Kazunao Nagata and active until 2004.

Transonic’s catalogue is a glittering roll call of the scene’s major players, whose inventive and genre-blending work established forward-thinking house and techno in Japan in a way that would shape the country’s electronic sound for years to come. Transonic was instrumental in giving exposure to the work of these artists with its emblematic series of CD compilations, released over a short couple of years in the mid 90s. Beginning with 970-1450km/h, Feedback and Range, the series also included The Roots Of Transonic, featuring music from parent label Trigger. Alongside these compilations came much sought-after solo albums each packaged with striking cover art that makes the discs a visual treat for collectors to this day.

The Sounds Of Transonic brings together six tracks from the catalogue into one breath-taking package. The influence of hi-tech jazz and machine funk from Detroit is undeniable in ‘Dream Trance’ (Mind Design) and ‘Blasting Soul’ (Interferon), while ‘Under The Ground’ (Palomatic) and ‘Chelsea’ (Suzukiski) are permeated by the artificial intelligence and trip hop emanating from the UK at the time. The compilation is bookended by two tracks by Nagata himself (as Organization): ‘Space Ball’, a Model 500-worthy chase through the cosmos, and ‘Call’, an eerie echo of Kraftwerk’s telephone, transmitting expectantly out into the void and, finally, receiving its celestial answer.

With The Sounds Of Transonic these formative pieces of music will now be available internationally and, for the first time, on vinyl.

SAISEI is a Japanese word which translates to ‘reproduction’ and ‘to play’ (as in playing records). Japanese culture is widely known for its traditional nature just as much as it is for being forward into the future and this label’s concept does justice to exactly that. Having started digging for records as early as 16 years old, Inoue delved into productions from 1990s Japan to uncover these native gems. SAISEI’s core concept is to recapture and reintroduce unique pieces of Japanese electronic music onto vinyl, to an audience it never reached before as most of this music was only released in Japan.

Dublin producer Lukey has his finger firmly on the pulse of the sounds emanating from Berlin and London’s newly awakening dancefloors, as proven by this stellar debut for Carpet & Snares’ LAB series. Contemporary club music is all about opening up the space between genres and filling it with something at once referential and new, and this EP is no exception.

Other Worlds Vol. 1 effortlessly blends house, techno, electro and breaks into a mature sound world that’s both tight and expansive, funky and tough, contemplative and right down to business. Get moving with Vol. 1, and watch out for Vol. 2 coming soon!