Techno Reviews: April 2025
Better late than never :-)
So it’s been a furiously busy couple of months and I’m behind on my techno reviews. Here’s a batch from April, plus a mix below. May’s reviews are coming very soon…
Voiski
Sunspill
[SUPERCLUB]
Man, Voiski always comes correct. This is one of four from an all-killer, no-filler release on Superclub. ‘Sunspill’ blends galloping low end frequencies with illuminating synth lines and immersive atmospheric elements. With every nuanced iteration and shift, you’re plunged further into an ocean of wavelengths, sinking deeper into the vibrations. Exquisite.
Nicole & Troy Vladislavovich
Out Of Control (Z@p remix)
[Cath Records]
Love a bit of Z@p and this is typically bleep-fueled and moody from the Uruguayan producer. Clean, vibey and rolling out with a gloomy temperament, he takes the original into a whole new field of its own. The drums are especially crisp and impactful, while that lead synth feels quite gothic in its nature.
Steve Bicknell
Myths And Inventions
[KR3 Records]
What to say about Mr. Bicknell without sounding like a sycophant?… The mastermind behind London’s legendary Lost parties drops this powerful and uncompromising six-tracker. ‘Myths And Inventions’ is dense and intense, with a cacophony of bleepy and gravely effects layered over the taut low end. A mesmerising breakdown gives some breathing space before the onslaught continues… Rude.
Nadia Struiwigh
Synk C
[Blueprint]
Dutch producer Nadia Struiwigh loads this cut with plenty of bulbous low end frequencies and an almost “didgeridoo”-esque riff. Precision sound design lies at the heart of this one’s power, there are so many little details and elements that add to its captivating atmosphere. Every track on this EP is multi-layered and complex without being overproduced. Excellent.
JLTZ
Splintered Echoes
[30D ExoPlanets]
Italian producer JLTZ messes with our heads on this cut. While the bassline maintains a constant presence, the unsettling high-pitched sounds layered over the top keep shifting and changing. The juxtaposition between the jaunty, off-centre bleeps and the foundational b-line is a key aspect of this cut’s appeal.
Robert Hood
Art School
[M-Plant]
A master at work here, the man himself Robert Hood on his own M-Plant label with two versions: ‘Art Class’ and ‘Art School’. At “school” we get a longer version that retains the same energy and rhythm as “class”. An extended intro sets the scene, with Hood patiently building up the track from its core components. When it gets going, we’re whisked away into a menagerie of bleepy melodies and squelchy effects, with that bassline keeping things rolling throughout.
David Castellani
Unforgivable (ft. Brittney Vandal)
[Noetic]
Here’s Castellani on a proper dance floor flex. ‘Unforgivable’ has sturdy kicks and a carefully considered build up… I love how gently he eases in the different elements, building up to Brittney’s provocative vocals perfectly. Her contribution really sets this one off, her spoken word drawl oozes seductive energy and, combined with the punchy beats and bass, creates a naughty little cut.
Trois-Quarts Taxi System
Metamorphism
[Bait]
Great artist name here. The music itself is haunting, more of a soundscape than an straight up tune… for the first two and a half minutes anyway. Then we get trundling beats, surrounded by darkside atmospherics and an evolving composition that morphs and shifts like an advanced alien lifeform.
Spekki Webu
Cyclebender
[Beyond The Bridge]
High octane bouncy business here. Dutch artist Spekki Webu creates a masterful production with nuanced sound design that envelops you in its reverberations. This would be extra powerful on a four-way surround sound system. I can imagine closing my eyes and letting this one transport me out of my body to somewhere otherworldly. Wait for the slamming breakdown close to the end, POWER.
Roi
Arise
[No Static / Automatic]
Here’s an analogue heavy workout from Roi. Verging on the side of electro, this cut combines a variety of layers that are oddly jaunty and joyful, while also being a little dark and gnarly. It’s busy and relentless, and sounds like it could have been made in the early nineties. The beats are surely made with an 808. Absolutely love this one.
Enrico Sangiuliano
The Techno Code
[NINETOZERO]
No nonsense techno business from an old hand… ‘The Techno Code’ has been a secret weapon in Enrico’s sets for a little while and now he’s unleashed it for all of us to have in our artillery. A spoken word vocal walks us through the different parts of the track, narrating for us. It’s tongue-in-cheek, and has a strong flavour of years gone by, with some vintage sounds added to the mix to really give this one impact.
Hybrasil
Release
[CLR]
This is one of those tracks that will have me losing my mind on the dance floor. Right from the beginning, the energy is potent. Hybrasil builds it up quickly, adding percussive elements and the vocal clip within the first minute or so. The rising tension culminates with a stuttered breakdown, leading into the main body of the track. It’s frenetic and unrelenting, with plenty of groove.
Hiroma Keo
Nunca (Ciel's Flangemix)
[Eterna]
Ciel steps up for a remix of Hiroma Keo and it’s glorious. The funky bassline and sonar-esque effect work together to mesmerise. The tempo is lower than other tracks this month, giving this more of a sleazy feel. Production-wise, it’s top notch, as usual from Ciel. This one really tells a story from start to finish.
DJ SUN
Highway Rituals
[Otium Records]
Grainy and unsettling production on this cut from DJ SUN. The whispered “Bring the pressure” sample keeps making think of Keith from The Prodigy. This rolls out with menace and a simple, structure that complements its dark and brooding nature.
Biemsix
I Know It's Demons (Alpha Tracks Remix)
[Execute]
Biemsix gets the remix treatment from Alpha Tracks and it’s a fidgety, driving excursion. The progression on this one is divine. With the beats and bass providing the central foundation, various elements drift in and out of the background. A female vocal (“Open your mind, close your eyes, move your head… and forget”) and a child laughing are among the samples that add character. The swathes of darkness that appear in the second half are particularly special.
Acid Love Letters
Pt 3
[Hypercolour]
Oooo, nice bit of crunch on this. The chopped up and warped vocal is so trippy. It’s the main hook and it keeps your mind locked in, while the beats and bass do their work on your body. The instrumental doesn’t really deviate from its main purpose, but the vocals contort and twist throughout. Banger!
Alignment
The Deepest Truth
[KNTXT]
Proper unfussy, in your face business. Alignment goes all out with the thunderous production and big room vocal about discovering the deepest truth. I can see this one dropping at a big festival or Ibiza superclub and sending people into a euphoric frenzy, especially when it drops. Ooooofff!
Pittsburgh Track Authority
Tech 97 (Calm Mix)
[Pittsburgh Tracks]
Full disclosure, I chat to Adam from Pittsburgh Track Authority via email and he sends me their releases. This is the first time I’ve reviewed something of theirs in a while though. ‘Tech 97’ is inspired by their experiences at warehouse raves in the nineties and comes in three versions. I like all of them, but the Calm Mix really sparked something in me. I think it’s because it takes you deeper than the already-deep other versions… Deeeeeep!