the third release on mdrnty rec comes from a longtime favorite and friend of the house: mr. guillaume & the coutu dumonts mostly known for his productions on musique risquée, circus company, oslo or for his many other projects and aliases! our fellow canadian has crafted this ep specially for us and we are happy to welcome him on the label. on remix duties we have argentinian ernesto ferreyra (partner in crime with guillaume in the project chic miniature)! this release is a deep excursion into the groove of house and the hypnotic beauty of techno. it is designed for those late hours when everyone is dancing eyes closed, digging a little deeper into the moment! modern sublime is a long burner cinematic piece of music with its guitars, epic vocals, drum fills and acid bass lines. this track has it all and skillfully drives the tension high as the story unfolds! landing on the b side showcases a very different but equally hypnotic face of this talented and longtime celebrated producer, with its arpeggiated melodies and lush pads guillaume guides us to safe ground with this beautiful and precisely calibrated track full of emotions! last but not least, ernestos remix reconfigures the rhythmical structures of landing and masterfully transforms it into a peak time house gem, guaranteed to move any living soul in the dance floor.

vidab x returns with a new artist, faltin, who chooses to remain anonymous, plus a stepping rework by gowentgone aka label owners oliver deutschmann and stephan hill. faltin s phobos is a stripped down analogue masterclass. rolling and snaking, its arpeggiated lead growls with a hot headed tension, climbing while never losing balance and poise. the gowentgone stepper translates the original into a heavyweight, early-morning trip - a certain hybrid of broken beats and techno attitude that melts between genres. waves of euphoria are carried by rumbling drums in this essential version.

for the 23rd release on pinkman, rotterdam based mitchell goor delivers a 4 tracker of slow, raw and warped techno. the contrast between unpolished percussive instruments and ethereal melodies reoccurs throughout the release and gets polished and refined by haunting vocal samples and pungent acid bass lines. this gives the record an ability to take audiences on rollercoaster rides through tension and anger as well as hope and promise, powered by permanent, adrenaline stimulating, raw energy.

drumcode favourite harvey mckay returns to the label with a darker new sound. the glaswegian has been a regular contributor over the years, highlighted by the memorable the illusion of control ep in 2014 and his newer work with brother ryan under the alias moniker. earlier this year drumcode released the duos pentatonic ep and featured a mix on adam beyer s radio, which included black dolphin, kickstarting the hype on the track. named after the infamous russian prison, the title track is dark, tough, deeply textured brooding affair, with a menacing touch than runs through its core. mckay then brings in a huge synth line and changes up the dynamic of the track, giving it a powerful and driving feel. retox is a dark and twisted heavy-hitting cut, driven by aggressive drums and bassline, while a hypnotic synth line sustains a sense of tension throughout the six-minute track. concluding the package is cover up, a fantastic stripped back exploration into dark atmospheric techno territory that s tailor made for the winter warehouse raving season.

oaaaar again! tiger & woods are back with the follow up to unleashed tapes. flipping two sides of the same coin i.e. the tiger sound. volume 2 is as tough as it is tender. chili dip is a variation on the classic micro-boogie-sampling turned italian touch peak-time banger theme adrenergic! moonswing on the other side, takes it nice and easy: 10 minutes of tension and release. hang on, hang on!

coloured vinyl + insert
inner surface music is proud to present its next release from canadian duo mdd. falling inside opens the ep bringing together industrial and punk prototypes of the duo’s influences in the shape of a techno stomper. chunky kick drums and gnarly textures fizzle and pop to the march of the industrial rhythms before the low slung bassline and abstract vocal cuts take the track into a darker realm. tension builds and welds together heavy broken kick patterns with crisp but rusty percussion demolishing everything in sight. the elements amalgamate together creating tension with walls of sub bass, while remaining spacious and nonchalant with glacial atmospheric pads, dropping and breaking like a thunderstorm overhead.

this sought-after rarity presents a blend of ambient, new-age, 60s inspired folk music. the melancholic lyrics of singer-songwriter suzanne menzel are transformed by danish new-age pioneer, klaus schonnings, futuristic soundscape. schonning, not only produced goodbyes and beginnings, menzel also credits him as giving her the artistic courage to self-release her first and only album. goodbyes and beginnings sits at the cross-section of many genres. menzels voice is as timeless as her heartfelt, somber lyrics. while schonnings synthesizer, organ and rhythm computers offer a playful contrast. the beautiful tension between them creates a fresh, unique sound and makes goodbyes and beginnings hard to categorize even today.

heads up! an early 2018 gift from stephan bodzins herzblut as the enigmatic luna semara returns to the label with more of her trademark striking sagas. two tracks rippling with tension and drama, its an earnest statement of evocative intent from both the label and luna alike.

vinyl 2 / c/d sides of taciturn manner lp
taciturn manner is reggy van oers’s first full length on his own telemorph imprint.
pertained in a period of strained self reflection, several field recordings have become the core upon which the album has been created. a persistant continuous movement throughout the elements of the tracks causes a certain constrasting tension and gradually transforms into lush cinematic textures.
an intricate and mesmerizing journey, full of rich and surprising details, resulting in a rather emotional expression of his constraint style and coherent distinct sound.

the empire line present six cyclonic episodes for confined spaces on their debut album, rave. comprised of posh isolation s christian stadgaard (damien dubrovnik, vanity productions), jonas ronnberg (varg), and with isak hansen (iron sight) on tantrums, the trio s marauding live shows have been translated into a slippery set of pummelling techno works, watermarked with florid noise. rave is a celebration of contemporary rave culture, focused on the everlasting and transcendent as the night slips out past the day. with living-for-the-weekend hedonism irretrievably converted into a manicured, violent cliche, building new worlds and forging new modes of intimacy takes an exceptional sincerity. naming some of the crews closest to the empire line in the album s titles, their spaces are examples of just how rave culture persists as a transgressive stronghold in people s lives. ranging from k-hole anthems to jacking, close-range sessions, rave still bears the traces of the group s experimental background, ensuring the tension is kept up through the catharsis.

the 2nd album from garrett borns aka børns.

deeply concerned with the here and now versus sister label was/is electro archaeology, is/was delivers the goods once again with this various artists 12- zeroed in on the pittsburgh scene. you can feel the steel city tension reverberating in naeem s edgy beatdown -forward facing-, while hits only takes things in a slightly cleaner, modernist direction that aligns with some of the uk soundsystem interpretations of electro that have emerged in recent years. shawn rudiman takes control for the b side with two jams that tip their cap to the veteran producer s long and accomplished career, but they sound as fresh as anything else on the record too. -derelict- is a gnarly, bloated banger of a track, and -asimolar- takes the route towards cybotron, kraftwerk and the truly foundational version of electro in all its lysergic glory.

we are pleased to welcome arkaik back to dispatch for his 2nd release, the superb timelapse ep, dropping on the main label this february.
knife edge precision separates arkaik from the crowd, with an unrivaled delivery in dark, stripped back beats and timelapse collates some of his best work to date. clinical bass stabs are rife throughout, with eerie atmospherics keeping the tension heightened as the shanghai resident consolidates his unique dancefloor style. with infectious grooves, techno inspired progression and sub pressure to test any soundsystem, timelapse is a testament to arkaik’s mastery of the minimal sound.

4 years can feel like a really long time – -long time no see- was achim maerz frst wake up! ep back in 2013, -it s been a while- is his frst track on metal and machines and it s good to see that some things don t change. it s a true achim maerz track – focused on longing melodies, warmly distorted harmonies based on deep house foundations. -listening to machines- features a kickdrum like a steam hammer in factory hall. for the right mind, even a factory can be an inspiring place. benjamin brunn s -iron copper gold- follows his manner of creating timeless and eternal soundscapes. it is less playful and takes the tension to higher grounds. just like metal, it s cold being touched and it doesn t take long until it reaches body temperature. the fourth track express mode- was released on benjamin brunns drop lp in 2015. achim maerz remix sounds like a screwed-down uptempo house track – slow and heavy, but benjamin brunn s quirkiness is undeniably there.

versand erfolgt ab dem 8.02.2018 the new year on exit strategy starts with the second strike from fideles. cerchio, the title track, really works the elements of suspense and tension over it s slow burning progression. on the flip distorted foam & panorama both fuse dark late night vibes with a hypnotic lightness.

ltd decks edition with fullcover artwork only available on decks.de - this debut from longstanding east german maestro mathias kaden is no exception a bucket-list ep for the gera-based artist whose followed and collected from winks label since inception, nova is both a personal showcase and a homage to a label thats inspired his tension-heavy signature. adding to a discography that boasts some of most respected techno labels possible (vakant, mule musiq, watergate, desolat, freude am tanzen), the nova ep flexs kadens darkest and deepest tendencies and includes certain signatures that many of the best ovum releases share: acid, a direct and effective single word sample, versions and a dj tool that will blow your dancefloors heads off.

this debut from longstanding east german maestro mathias kaden is no exception a bucket-list ep for the gera-based artist whose followed and collected from winks label since inception, nova is both a personal showcase and a homage to a label thats inspired his tension-heavy signature. adding to a discography that boasts some of most respected techno labels possible (vakant, mule musiq, watergate, desolat, freude am tanzen), the nova ep flexs kadens darkest and deepest tendencies and includes certain signatures that many of the best ovum releases share: acid, a direct and effective single word sample, versions and a dj tool that will blow your dancefloors heads off.

dixon avenue basement jams feel extremely honoured and stupidly excited to finally be able to announce this! after his first three eps on the label, the much talked about debut album from glasgows big miz is ready to drop on dixon avenue basement jams! from start to finish build/destroy really showcases his effortless feel for the weird funk. from the tweaked out organ solos on hammond groove and the live bass jam of straight thru cru to the straight up brain rattler of gear tension. this is big miz at his undiluted best and cements the fact that he is one of the uks most exciting raw talents. 2018 move aside, the big man has already owned ya.

berlin-based duo ontheground which consists of myztical and diagenetic origin, is about to release “role of the observer”, their follow-up to last year’s debut ep “touching higher ground”. this record is a snapshot of their creative development and hard work which took them at least a year to put together.
the a side takes up where the last year’s ep left off, establishing a template of industrial pummeling techno with a focus on irresistible, broken groove. a1 “the power of prayer” is a powerful banger - droning synths and dislocated samples build up the anticipation, before massive kicks drop and propel the tension onwards. a2 “controlled by faith” is similarly destructive on the dancefloor, a bundle of rasping, dirty rattles that drive on relentlessly in funky delirium.
the b side delves into the darker, more elusive recesses of the duo’s creativity. on b1 “ancient cycles”, distorted rumbles morph over pattering, primordial percussive patterns. b2 “role of the observer” ratchets out a heady mesh of fragmented, disorientating textures over frantic, propulsive beats.

behind the sstrom moniker hides one half of shxcxchcxsh and a long-time activist of sweden s experimental techno scene. having fallen in love with simple melodies and catchy arpeggios when being a member of bitpop/synth band slagsmalsklubben, he transferred these sensibilities further into his other projects. sstrom s excellent 2016 debut for semantica records was an excellent exercise in lush aquatic techno with breezy and lush atmospheres. the new ep -vitriol- is informed by the personal experience of the producer, which adds additional warmth and emotional weight to the record. the release brings back memories of earth pigments his father used when painting things in their house, the colours created were usually dark toned with some pastel lightness. this juxtaposition is felt throughout the record, which balances between cinematic futurist moods, steel-wool smoothness and subtle physicality due to its textured nature. the title track kicks-off with detroitish synth loops wrapped in dense lo-fi soundscapes, while -sienna- increases the tension by introducing more expansive melodic appeal intertwined with intensity of feather-like 4/4 rhythmics. -umbra- brings some shadowy sonic undertones immersed into a sea of crackle with melodies constantly resurfacing. the closing -ockra- bursts with more groovy patterns, yet retaining the same elegant warmth, which seems to be the signature element of this ep. while listening to all these tracks you feel like touching some alien surfaces with utmost sensitiveness with surreal landscapes stretching out in your imagination. this is carefully crafted introvert music, yet having some elegant dancefloor appeal.

the conceptual sibling to lorenzo sennis blinding quantum jelly side for editions mego in 2012, superimpositions finds the milan-based multi-disciplinary artist and owner of the brilliant presto!? records accelerating and evolving his idea of -pointillistic trance- - an ascetic, extreme approach to the aesthetics of 90s-style trance/hard-trance - in a broader range of song structures, hyper-lucid moiré patterns, and tantric dancefloor arrangements. again, he -plays- a computer-controlled jp8000 roland digital-analog modelled s-source synthesiser to juice the most potent, searing saw wave arpeggios and spiralling melodies, finding the biting point between real-time, hands-on, emotive human input, and the sleek tension of synthesis.
from the serotonin-flooding rush of opener happic to the beautiful come down of pointillistic , the album plays out a sisyphean struggle for deferred gratification, challenging limbic systems and our sense of equilibrioception thru the spine-tingling aerobic coefficients of elegant, and never tiring and the scything, strobing rhythmelody of the title track, to peak with the palpitating surge of forever headline at its white hot core. it s all more effective than a triple-barelled mitsi in the jacksy, and hasn t been off our turntable all summer...

pater noster presents their fifth release, aposynthesis by overloper, a side project of ekman.
the a-side brims with tension both contemplative and active. ‘hope you’re close’ is a deep burner, with heavy, pounding bass and an entrancing hook ascending to space. this then escalates into the urgency of ‘aposynthesis (need more sisa)’, in which a driving, rolling rhythm is juxtaposed with an old school, dutch-style rave synth.
the b-side encircles around acid. on one hand, it is coyly playful with ‘carpe noctem’ turning cavernous in innsyter’s dark interpolation of the other.

this is high tension experimental electronica just the way i love it!

seth troxler’s always dynamite play it say it label kicks off 2018 with a thrilling three track ep from heartthrob. jesse siminski aka heartthrob has long been an essential voice in the global techno conversation. from early eps and lps on the influential minus label via a trio of releases on his own isnisnt, he has explored every facet of house and techno in great detail. always conjuring up bold melodies and slick arrangements, this is his first solo outing in a few years and marks a very welcome return.

r&s founder renaat vandepapeliere launches a new series rv trax, to reflect the sound of his dj sets. re-invigorated and inspired by contemporary dance floor sounds, after 30+ years as the label owner and figurehead renaat succumbed to the temptation to finally, at the tender age of 60, try his own hand at rocking the crowd. renaat s sets have seen him assemble a treasure trove of unreleased music that will now find a very personal home on rv trax. emblazoned with the belgian national colours of black, yellow and red these tracks proudly flaunt their floor-filling dynamics. the first, a dance floor stormer from steve legget, remixing fellow north easterners bird of paradises original a tight punchy workout that pairs distorted 909 kicks against a high tension string part and melancholic synth pads. g-prod (aka french brothers david and nicolas gaugain) provide a balmy, motor-city style number shuffling drums underpin sunrise synth washes and euphoric melodies. buenos ayres hermetics provide a frostier mood with collider - chilly fm bells pinned against serrated percussion and swirling distortion

already supported by kai alce, the revenge, sascha dive, jacques renault, thony (frank & thony), baaz, life recorder, anaxander, eric cloutier, fred berthet, lootbeg, schubert, relatif yann, did virgo, dub striker.. --- modelisme is back with a 3 pure deep raw house tracks ep, singularly cooked by gari romalis, brilliant producer from detroit. gari loves house music, whatever if that sounds deep, raw, vocals, no vocals, drummy, techy, hypno, disco, dub, friendly or unfriendly.. the only point is that must get groove, and gari romalis drives groove. he makes always his tracks as one shot based on, seeking always for right balance, sensible deepness and holding tension. we use to see him on great and famous labels like warm tapes adjustment, isgud, housewax, rawax, bosconi or dockside, developing each time slight different moods and directions. for that occasion, he delivers « mechanic ep » on modelisme, sounding trippy, housy , dubby and solid!

the fifth entry in the chronicles of slyngshot s yappin label is a four track ep, projecting his trademark hybrid style, popping on a low-bit train ride somewhere between the bronx and detroit. new era: slyng s in-house style, dirty percussion, with ailing watery rhodes. of xtc (action mix): a swift take-off, with fazed out keys over a romping kick, swashbuckling high-hat, and an insistent synth bass playing hide and seek, building the tension. of xtc (understatement mix): low end synth lines bop between singing drums, tribal chant and ethereal piano loop. stop playin part i: b-boy vocal sample with pitched up / back down again beats lending the tune a subtle drum and bass feel.

vinyl 1 / a/b sides of taciturn manner lp
taciturn manner is reggy van oers’s first full length on his own telemorph imprint.
pertained in a period of strained self reflection, several field recordings have become the core upon which the album has been created. a persistant continuous movement throughout the elements of the tracks causes a certain constrasting tension and gradually transforms into lush cinematic textures.
an intricate and mesmerizing journey, full of rich and surprising details, resulting in a rather emotional expression of his constraint style and coherent distinct sound.

joran van pol is back on minus with edge, a fantastic four track ep that is his first on the label since 2013. in the years since, the amsterdam based artist has set up his own fade label and has continued to evolve his cinematic techno sound. previously, van pol has also released on labels like rejected, sci+tec and ideal audio, and has the support of all the big techno players who often reach for his tunes in their sets. as a dj he is just as in demand, with headline slots everywhere from space ibiza to time warp all behind him. having recently set up a new studio, he is still coming on strong with fresh inspiration and ever more essential grooves. ‘illos opens things with seven spooky minutes of icy techno. rolling rubbery drums pump away below, and the details up top make for an evocative soundscape with distant industrial sounds, groaning bass and razor sharp hi hats all filling your mind with imagery. next comes title track ‘edge, another brilliant sonic landscape with tense chords repeating over ticking percussion. its a track that builds tension throughout, and keeps you looking over your shoulder into the eerie blackness. the perfectly high pressure ‘return is one that locks you in and never lets up, with warped synths snaking above traintrack like drums and hits. a dark, rumbling bassline and the sounds of pistons releasing air all add to the intensity of this brainmelting bit of futuristic techno. last but not least, ‘frostbite is then the most spacious and spooky offering of the lot. it has freaky alien sound designs scattered around the track with supple kicks driving the whole thing forwards. its an absorbing cut that hurries along and takes you for a thrilling ride. these are four more inventive techno tracks from one of the contemporary scenes brightest stars.

action, tension and drama rhythms from 1970 - 1980.

kin-ben label that is one of japanese techno label in ehime, western japan releases brand new 12 vinyl by ann who is a dj / producer in saijo, ehime. a side is a deep techno tune with his gradually amplifying tension and the gentle bass-line’s reiteration sympathizing with metallic sounds like as sharpening a katana. and b side is the remix by hironori takahashi, who is still a worldwide dj / producer in japan and has released from many awesome label as informa records and arts.

like a message in a bottle, carried round by the ocean streams for decades, henrik rylander’s album “fran en obestamd plats i rummet” has floated around in the space of swedish underground music. hoga nord pulls the cork and unfolds the message that is a piece of music that was ahead of its time, sounding now 20 years after its first release in the late nineties. this album is a well-kept secret even for the most initiated music lovers in sweden! the music, influenced by flying saucer attack and other reverb/distortion drenched acts from the early nineties, harmonia and some of kraftwerks earlier works and minimalism, still sounds fresh!
rylander, a member of legendary acts such as union carbide productions and the skull defekts, has been pushing the envelope for electronic music, varying between ambient and noise. rylander’s solo works could be described as sophisticated music and “fran en obestamd plats i rummet” combines the sophisticated sides with his band oriented works that holds another kind of tension.
this record is the first release on the sub label hoga nord arkiv on which releases from the past, that hasn’t got as much attention they deserve gets re-released in an appropriate context.

bienvenue beton! a brand-new act making his mark straight out of the block. little is known about him besides the fact hes from belgium, hes clearly a graduate of the hardfloor school of knocks, hes invested in some serious analogue gear and he knows his way around a kick-ass groove! his latest project sees the launch of his own label trek u plan, which will also have a vinyl imprint. the debut release is the double header balloon/juegd already picking up major support from francois k, catz & dogz, phil kieran, slam, marco carola, psychatron to name a few. balloon is raw rumbling techno hybrid with the backbone a dark thundering drum and sharp pummelling hi hats. jeugd is a collaboration between beton & fellow belgian stealdrum, who introduce flanger madness that transitions into a warm stabbing synth, giving the track it s funk. it is rooted in classic ideas yet updated with the mind on present. for the remix of jeugd, schmutz delivers a uncompromising belter reminiscent of the i love techno days with the likes of dj rush and dave clarke. using one of the long synths in jeugd it creates a tension throughout that, together with frantic drums, give the track immense drive. beton recently presented his debut release on pets records, immediately getting support from carl cox, eats everything, paul ritch, huxley, anja schnieder, yousef, sidney charles, sante and many more. showcasing his raw sound, with straight to the floor slabs of gritty technoid machine funk, bruxelles paid homage to the citys visceral new beat and ebm roots but with contemporary muscle and a titanium jacking groove almost wink-like hypnosis to the acid as it stripped back. voice 64 continued this theme of stark leftfield savagery, once again another physical, concentrated piece of frank, honest techno. pressed on black vinyl in a hand stamped sleeve. early support from francois k, marco carola, audio injection, davide squillace, sasha carassi, slam, luigi madonna

the last essential outing of 2017 for the play it say it label is from legendary dj and producer harry romero. globally acclaimed and recognised star harry romero has been a driving force in the scene since the 90s. he’s released on such seminal labels as sex mania, power music and strictly rhythm, but also contemporary imprints like ovum and defected. never far from the dance charts and an inductee into pete tong s hall of fame, harry’s own bambossa records is another fine chapter in his definitive story. here he shows off his current sound across three fresh tracks. opening up the ep is the arresting ‘mother earth,’ a percussive and tribal number with pinging kicks and loose hits all encouraging you to cut shapes. bright synths rise up through the mix to bring some tension and drama and crowds are certain to react with hands in the air. the masterfully mangled ‘lesson on swing’ is a vibrant brew of skewed synths and surging bass, vocal yelps and wonky chords that will freak out any floor. it’s another robust and full fat tune from the studio of harry romero. last of all is ‘scatter’, a high-pressure tune with characteristically big drums and fat bass all overlaid with vocal effects that build the intensity. hooky little synth motifs and metallic percussion all add to the steaminess and ensure this a huge anthem in the making. this is a top trio of tunes that are imbued with all the knowledge and know how of a real house legend

the third release for la freund recordings comes from amsterdam resident beraber. consisting of four strong and diverse tracks and a jazzy, piano-heavy remix by chicago house legend vincent floyd, sun ritual works just as well in the club as it does at home. after working on hiphop and downtempo electronica under different aliases, this ep sees baris akardere venturing into up-tempo territories, marking the debut of his beraber moniker. all tracks were written and produced during the last two years, combining digital instruments like the korg m1 and yamaha dx7 with analog gear like the roland juno-6 and korg ms-10. kicking things off on the a-side is title track sun ritual, a positive and warm tune with lush chords and arpeggiated synths. after a surprising outro, it gets the remix treatment by deep house pioneer vincent floyd, who adds multiple layers to it and delivers a stunning, dreamy eight-minute take on the original. the flipside opens with ugly, a soulful club workout with a deep bassline, rolling drums with crisp hi-hats and a hypnotic melody. next up is introspect, a serious electro-tinged cut with heavy juno chords building up tension as the track evolves. rounding it up nicely, forest rain treats us to an intimate broken-beat affair laced with rhodes chords and field recordings from bali.

steve moore (zombi) returns with another hypnotizing new score for the acclaimed action/horror film mayhem, starring steven yeun (the walking dead, okja). a veritable portrait of shock and dread across seventy-plus minutes of analog synth tension, steve moore methodically crafts pulsating rhythms and penetrating arpeggios that constrict the listener into a deep sense of aural anxiety. with four soundtracks under his belt, steve moore is quickly becoming one of the most sought out synth composers in the horror realm and mayhem is the ultimate demonstration of his unquestionable mastery of the style.
double vinyl in gatefold sleeve with download code included.

legendary los hermanos member santiago salazar’s album ‘aspirations for young xol’ is given a vinyl release courtesy of rekids. a heartfelt dedication to his son isaias, ‘aspirations for young xol’ takes us through the life of a pillar in the electronic music community - santiago salazar. from his formative years spent in california to his connection with detroit and the passing of a childhood friend, the long-player’s tracks signpost the musician’s significant experiences, both positive and negative. this meaningful body of work was released digitally on pastel voids and now rekids release the album on wax. ‘saturated fear’ sets a deep tone for the lp, flanging melodies and echoing claps float through the composition before the album’s title track ‘aspirations for young xol’ offers haunting arpeggios with occasional acidic overtones which are cleverly offset by beautifully designed lead synth transitions. ‘bloodlines’ follows a similar musical vein with delayed bass riffs that are suspended above shimmering hihats and a weighted kick. santiago provides three beatless pieces throughout, which digress into more emotional territory whilst offering brief respite from his heavier drum work. ‘xol’s pain’ combines orchestral strings and swelling synthesisers which build tension with a subtly complex, evolving motif. both ‘dark matter’ and ‘ode to stinson’ use arresting atmospheres, warped arpeggios and ethereal pads which lull the listener into a retrospective mood. an intensity builds in the later tracks, a gritty but powerful low end provides a solid foundation in ‘orange blossom thump”, eventually making way for a hectic and elastic lead synth before ‘pachuco dub’ displays drones that build a dissonant pressure in which the complex tom rhythms and rolling hi hats can grow. ‘sarah rivera’ hypnotises with its delectable chord progressions and complimentary melodies which seem to float above a rigid drum composition to close the album with style

helmed by a crew of ex-pats in hong kong craving the musical stimulation of their birthplaces, homesick is a celebration of the nostalgia and passion at the root of all musical experience, as channeled through seriously on-point disco edits. after choice turns from general ludd, marquis hawkes and others, this various artists 12inch brings back former guests in an implied fashion for more of that worldly, adventurous boogie business. apocalypse now simmers with unresolved tension, tart drums and gnarled synth lines, while african temperament lets the percussion tumble in a cavernous space. summer madness is a simmering, drum led version of kc flightt s classic, and then gik gwong zung pings the record off into cosmic synth disco territory for a perfect finishing move.

fergie veröffentlicht mit »double dutchess« endlich ihr lang erwartetes zweites studioalbum. mit dem pre-order-start präsentiert die mehrfach mit platin ausgezeichnete künstlerin erstmals neue songs und videos zu »you already know« featuring nicki minaj und »hungry« featuring rick ross. elf jahre nachdem ihr fünffach-platin solo album »the dutchess« die popmusik für immer veränderte, ist die achtfache grammy-gewinnerin fergie endlich zurück. »double dutchess« erscheint auf fergies eigenem label dutchess music/bmg.

shimza, real name ashley raphala, is one of south africas brightest young talents. ascendent, his 4 tracks debut e.p. on cadenza reveals solid production skills and an innate instinct for peak-time bangers. the opening track, congo congo is a dark ride over abysmal tom-tom drums, lively percussions and a gloomy bass lead, ignited dramatically by an ensemble of wide synthetic stabs and chords. in its dub- mix, the drums and the percussion become lighter without diminishing its dynamic tension. the overall weight of the leads and the stabs is reduced, leaving more space to its intense piano and string chords and swinging sub bass. shimza - secret melodies starts with an obscure bass line, but the intense twist of fractioned rolls and arpeggios bring an ascending piano progression that quickly blooms into an uplifting symphony. selector is a deeper cut that keeps the gaze on the dancefloor: the incessant hand clapping and a cloud of low frequencies bumps unexpectedly drag its hypnotic harmonies into a breath-taking drop.

as the head of grounded theory and manhigh, henning baer has since 2009 presented his downcast, experimental interpretation of modern electronic music to wide critical acclaim, establishing his forceful presence on berlin’s scene with immaculate curatorial skills and equally imposing dj abilities. his discography so far, concentrated on adam x’s legendary sonic groove imprint and his own k209 and manhigh imprints, amongst others, keeps step with his formidable reputation and wide-ranging tastes, moving across the spectrum of hard-edged, aggressively modern techno. with ‘shatterproof’, his long-germinating debut album for manhigh, he offers for the first time his unified vision in extended format, a varied exploration into the outer limits of the genre. at its centre a work of dark minimalism, he sets and maintains the pensive tone on ambient pieces like ‘angel dust’, ‘all over’, and ‘mil-std 461’, which foreground the exploratory electronics that maintain their presence throughout. the corroded textures of the sounds, enveloped in decaying reverb, bring life to pieces like ‘never ending’ or ‘bliss’, which sit between rhythmic interludes and the stricter dancefloor material found on the remainder of the album. once he shifts into techno, he does it unremittingly, from the uptempo fury of ‘code buster’ and ‘burning chrome’, whose starkness only heighten the tension, to denser pieces like ‘drama sky’ or closer ‘vermillion red’, where the cavernous impacts of drum hits punch holes through beds of seesawing synthesizers. shatterproof like its title suggests, henning baer’s first album unifies and strengthens the work of an artist whose legacy is already assured.

ltd marbled vinyl --- ‘urge theory’ is the debut solo ep from japanese artist maiko okimoto aka lemna. following on from her collaborative ep as ourea alongside sam kdc, urge theory sets about establishing the lemna style. rollicking hypnotic polyrhythms and a distinctive touch to creating driving tension are maiko’s signatures, with a track like dlpfc interjecting an elastic vigor into her style. after introducing her live set to europe at berlin atonal 2017 to rapturous applause, urge theory delivers on the promise of a new sound for modern techno

following a live debut at berghain and standout shows at de school and institut fuer zukunft, daniel martin-mccormick returns as relaxer with the fourth installment in the projects eponymous ep series. jamie lee takes over the a-side harrowing screams are framed by strobing chords and a deadly groove. simultaneously euphoric, agonizing and cathartic, jamie lee was written as the climax of relaxers live set and is a prime example of the artists uniquely feral techno. drawing equally on punk confrontations and more haunting emotional explorations, jamie lee is a lacerating and visceral descent. on the b-side, unwind oozes from the speakers, a miasmic cut that builds on the white knuckle tension of jamie lee. a lone synth figure worms its way through pulsating 3d drones, shimmering dissonances and hiccuping drums, rocking out into a quasi catatonic infinity. finally regime change gently floats on the surface of a trash-filled sea, a fading, smog choked reverie.

hybrid techno tracks full of tension on time to express number 30, presented by label founder peter van hoesen. the belgian producer takes up the opportunity to expand upon his previous work on the coast to coast ep. no longer exclusively restricted to straight 4/4 rhythms, van hoesen s music investigates hybrid, broken grooves infused with a clear sense of spatial sonic awareness. this is made clear with the first two tracks, towards manifestation and fox tactics. on the second half of the ep van hoesen launches two solid techno cuts, shifting from dense bassline work (concrete varition) to percussive, shuffling grooves (fox tactics). as with all previous time to express outings a specific i ching hexagram was chosen to accompany this release. hexagram #10 ( treading upon the tail of the tiger ) refers to advancement with care and ways of respectful progress. the title of the ep is a direct reference to the first line of this intriguing hexagram. nine at the beginning will be released on vinyl and digital formats on october 23rd 2017. a specially designed t-shirt will be made available at the same time, interpreting hexagram #10 through its design.

phase fatale creates techno from disparate subcultures of dead industrial with a post-punk spirit, bringing back an immediacy and aggressive energy sorely missing in the contemporary electronic landscape.
with “redeemer,” the debut full length from phase fatale, conceived by dj and producer hayden payne in new york by way of berlin, deepens his exploration of the tension—both sonic and conceptual—begun on his eps released over the last three years on the jealous god and unterton labels. in intent and impact, phase fatale bears allegiance to the surreal influence of juan mendez aka silent servant, with whom payne has worked closely in collaboration.

xixa balance ep (apa002) abstract places audio elusive producer xixa delivers the second abstract places audio release. balance is a three-track ep where the co-founder of the label packs a solid techno sound drowned in complex and evolving atmospheres. as first label’s release (clip - gebre, 2016), this is not a 100% club record, we can hear ambient and idm influences, but a1 and b1 are perfect tracks to keep a techno set full of rhythm and tension, and will get its place on any dj record bag. a1 balance is built around a distorted but controlled techno beat. patiently, a wide palette of drones and other-worldly artefacts are growing next to carefully crafted percussive sounds. 1984 opens the b side of the 12”, with a 4 to the floor overdriven bass drum and a reverse reverb announcing its main synth sequence, accompanied by organic hi-hats and clap sounds. a collection of ethereal drones and noises is also used, giving the track a sense of cohesion and gluing its different parts. life inside a snow ball is xixa s personal take on ambient. some of the drones and artefacts from a1 are now mixed with new quasi- harmonic emotional textures and subtle noises emerging from a deep unknown space and forming a complete new sonic experience. balance ep is a very solid second release by abstract places audio that confirms the label sound and philosophy.

this 4-track ep combines ambient and techno elements to create immersive landscapes, which later on transform into the techno grooves. the concept of this release, “unknown frequency”, defines the limited nature of human perception, which is unable to experience the full universe of the sound.
on the a-side lies the main concept track as well as its landscape/ambient version. both works express the positive tension and harmonious excitement of the discoveries to come. on the b-side, first track - “traces” continues the search of the unknown. this time, darker regions of mind are explored by the sinister grooves and minimalistic atmospheres. final track “looking for the exit” is supposed to give an answer and release the tension of the ep, but after experiencing the unknown, nothing is the same anymore.

kmyle is back after his powerful ep skryptöm 31, with a new massive album. in this upcoming masterpiece he is combining deep melodies and energetic forces to create a constant atmospheric tension. cohesive and modern, this album shows us the multi-faceted expression of kmyle s music. designed beetwen skipping beat, skittish drums and powerfull bassline, «northern landscapes» is made with sensibility and precision. each track reflects a moment of his life and a side of his personality. together, they bring us to a cosmic journey through space and time, surfing on a melancholic vibe. worn between hypnothic state and powerfull sonorities, this album delivers us a pure and emotional techno. full of elegance and sensitivity for your beautiful soul... enjoy !

action, tension and drama rhythms from 1972 - 1982.