Techno Reviews: December 2024
Back in business...
The last time I did any techno reviews was August 2023, so shame on me! In light of recent discussions, I am hereby committing to getting a bunch of reviews done every month and broadcasting them on my socials, too.
Here’s a mix featuring all the tunes.
Reviews below. Let’s roll…
Album Of The Month
Scan 7
Dark Territory
[Tresor]
Originally released in 1996 on Tresor, this remastered edition of Dark Territory is a potent reminder of Scan 7’s prowess. A shadowy seven-person collective from Detroit, Scan 7 had their first release in 1993. The Underground Resistance adjacent crew have been releasing music all the way up until the last few years, reppin’ The D to the fullest. With its eight remastered cuts (polished up by none other than Mike Grinser at Manmade Mastering) and two tracks mixed by one of my faves, Blake Baxter, Dark Territory sounds oh so crisp. From the opening track ‘Planet Energy’ with its propulsive drum programming and laser-sharp hats and snares, plus that chunky bassline, through to jaunty bubbler ‘Unusual Channel’ (one that has Blake Baxter’s magic touch on it), the album embodies a spirit that is wholly 313-oriented. You can try to replicate, but there’s nowhere else in the world that can make it like this.
Tune Of The Month
.VRIL
Saturn Is A Supercomputer
[Omnidisc]
This is basically electro, but I absolutely love it and I want to spotlight it here, so I am. Those mechanoid drum arrangements are straight out of the school of electric boogaloo, circa 1984. .VRIL goes full-on melodic with the pads on this one, so dreamy and heartfelt. And the emotionally charged vocals that sit right there in the middle… Proper lushhh - the emotions that arise with the pad work as those dramatic swathes of synth rise up from the ground. I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Luigi Tozzi
Uterus
[Hypnus]
I connected with the Hypnus team through the Hypnotic Techno Circle group on Facebook last year. I was on a mission to broaden the scope of my reviews and posted in the group to make more connections outside my circle. This is the first release of theirs that I have reviewed and it’s from a total boss - Luigi Tozzi. ‘Uterus’ is a typically deep and layered cut, in Tozzi’s signature style. Dense, rubbery low end, cavernous atmospherics and a sense of foreboding are key ingredients here, driven by exquisite drums. This one isn’t out for a while, so pre-order using the button below.
Linear Phase
XX 21 A1
[Molecular Recordings]
Molecular is another label I connected with via the Hypnotic Techno FB group. This Linear Phase EP showcases the Spanish producer’s penchant for immersive sounds. His background in audio engineering comes through strong across all four productions. Sound design is key to his sonic identity, but it doesn’t ever feel over-produced to the point where the energy and soul of the music is lost. ‘XX 21 A1’ is one of those raw, relentless cuts that you can really get lost in.
Wladimir M.
Kostbaar Klei
[Delsin]
If you’ve ever read any of my reviews, or listened to my old Netil Radio shows, you’ll be aware that I’m a glutton for Delsin releases. What makes this one even more appealing to me is that it’s from Eevo Lute originator Wladimir M. The whole release features his poetry set to electronic compositions that draw inspiration from a variety of electronic music pioneers; from Yazoo to Liasons Dangereuses. ‘Kostbaar Klei’ caught me straight away, the acidic synth lines combined with the poetry in his mother tongue is spellbinding. The title translates to “Precious Clay”, and I managed to grab the audio and get it translated here. How accurate the translation is, I’m not sure, but it reads pretty well.
Vexillary
A New Body (Nightcrawler ReDub)
[Con:trace]
New Yorker Vexillary handpicked 10 artists to create ReDubs of the music from his third LP, Horror in Dub. Each one taps into the dark soul of his production style to reimagine the music through the artist’s creative lens. Nightcrawler’s ReDub of ‘A New Body’ is all-out raucous, horror-core, dark wave-heavy techno and I can’t get enough. From the slamming beats to the gnarly synth layers, it’s unapologetically obnoxious. Big thumbs up from me.
Terence Fixmer
Skin On Skin
[Planet Rouge]
I met Terence in the green room at Egg a few years. Real nice bloke, whose music has featured in my sets often over the years. ‘Skin On Skin’ does a great job of threading in indecipherable (French?) vocals with slinky, modulated melodies, subtle strings and punchy beats. It gets pretty intense at various points, with all the layers in the arrangement going to work at once. A solid head trip.
Tangerine
The Shape Of Leaves
[Kinesis Recordings]
New label alert! Big love going out to Kinesis Recordings, where the focus is on the work of female, non-binary and gender non-conforming artists. This first release features five artists who all dip into the more mellow side of techno and electronica. Tangerine’s ‘The Shape Of Leaves’ has a beautifully softened atmosphere, with snub-nosed beats that add a good deal of punch. The juxtaposition between ambient textures and taut percussion is elegantly composed.
Semoha Homes
Vous Tu Return
[Return To Planet Underground]
Here’s an interesting project. A whole album of original electronic compositions created for the soundtrack of an independent film. Return To Planet Underground follows a former techno DJ-turned-lawyer on a journey into the dark side of life and the shadows of a society at war. It’s directed by Semoha’s brother Gideon. ‘Vous Tu Return’ has that cinematic quality to it, with a long old build up, punctuated by intermittent bursts of operatic vocals and an ominous, orchestral influence. At just under six minutes the beats kick in and a male spoken word vocal fills us in with a report on what’s going on…
Rødder
Mudra
[TUTU]
It’s an all-Spanish affair as Rødder lands on Edgar de Ramon’s TUTU records. Rødder’s style is uncompromising, designed for dance floors where intensity is welcolmed and embraced. ‘Mudra’ is unrelenting with its pneumatic pulsating drums and unsettling cacophony of sounds. Not for the faint of heart this one, and neither is the rest of the EP.
Reeko
El Retorno De Saturno
[KR3 Records]
Another Spanish release for this month, coming from Reeko (AKA Juan Rico). A second appearance for Saturn in the reviews as well - it’s a powerful planet that’s connected to a lot of symbolism (look it up if you’re unaware). This cut demonstrates Reeko’s maturity and innate ability to delve deep into sound and frequency. It rolls out almost like a clinical study of low end physics composed with restraint. Audio exploration at its finest.
Private Press
Nojzy
[Hardgroove]
I have to say, Hardgroove never seems to disappoint. Shout out to Ben Sims for staying true to himself for over three decades now. On the Very Cosmic EP, Private Press gets to work with aplomb. ‘Nojzy’ has got that vibe, the kind of vibe I just love —> Elasticity in the low end, a repeated vocal clip and those claps… my gosh, those claps. The flow and cadence of this one got me dancing in my lounge. Big!
Orly Gal
The Man Without A Face
[Hidden Symbols]
LA artist Orly Gal gets all off-kilter with this cut, the title of which got me thinking about Laurent Garnier’s classic. Anyway, this is anything but that famous track… The beats trundle along as she intersperses the soundscape with a simple-yet-deadly - and jangly - melody. Midway through there’s a savage switch up and a new jagged-edged side to this cut is unleashed. What’s not to love about this one?!
Non Reversible
Habitable Surface (Tom Hades Tribal Remix)
[Arkham Audio]
Look at that cover! Feeling the artwork on this one big time. Tom Hades steps up for a Tribal Mix of ‘Habitable Surface’ and rolls it out properly. The low end is ultra tight, sleek yet high-impact. Meanwhile, the density of the bassline is countered by the solemnity of the pads and those cutting beats. I want to be dancing to this in the middle of Labyrinth Festival in Japan, with those low end frequencies massaging my brain into alternate dimensions of reality.
MAEDON
Growing Pains
[Rant & Rave Records]
As the title alludes, this EP represents the Berlin-based producer in her transitional phase. MAEDON is shifting away from the harder end of the techno spectrum to embrace a more groove-driven form of the music. This comes through (very) loud and clear on ‘Growing Pains’. The energy across the whole EP is buzzing with delight, but I picked this track in particular because I know I’ll be playing it a lot. The drums sound so neat, and the bassline is mesmerising. A proper bit of me this is…
Konduku
Luna
[Bitta]
Dutch producer Konduku has been someone I’ve respected for quite a while. One of those artists who you’ll pretty much buy on sight when you come across their records. ‘Luna’ demonstrates why he’s that type of artist. This tune envelops you in its gauzy aesthetics with pretty straightforward arrangement, but its all in the detail and nuance of Konduku’s unique touch.
Emmanuel Top
Turkish Bazar (Chris Liebing Remake)
[CLR]
You can’t really go wrong with this classic. I remember Loco Dice opening his set at Cocoricò with the original mix of this blazer and sending the dance floor into a frenzy with it. Emmanuel Top was behind a fair few bangers in the nineties (this is one of my faves), ‘Turkish Bazar’ is up there with his best. CLR boss Chris Liebing went to work like a forensic scientist, painstakinly putting together this remake of ‘Turkish Bazar’ for 2024. What more to say? Big up Chris, and long live this techno classic.
Amotik
Peela
[30D Records | Close Encounters]
Amotik gets busy on this V/A EP release, called Final Contact, for Close Encounters, sub-label of 30D Records. This is a masterclass in minimalism, with deep driving bass at the heart of its rythmic pressure. The stuttered beats keep things moving, while a cascading series of notes slide in and out of background. All I want is to hear this cut on a powerful system to get its full impact. One of those ones that will engulf you in vibration and keep you locked on the dance floor.
Brix
Brane 2
[Flux Collective]
Taken from shiny.non.definable.rarities.02, a 15-track compilation curated by Oslo’s Flux Collective, this cut by Brix is one of my standouts this month. The tune incorporates a few influences to give it this distinctive edge. Most prominent is a trancey-progressive element, which makes it particularly appealing to me. The pulsating low end combines with hypnotic layers of sounds and effects that evoke a psy-trance kind of vibe. When its full power is unleashed around the six-minute mark, you’ll be transported out of your physical body into the realm of higher states of consciousness. Trust me.
Dockson
Verity
[Distrackt Records]
Dublin techno outfit Distrackt Records drop this weighty EP from Dockson. This one is non stop propulsive energy in your face. The percussive swing complements its unrelenting bassline, while the droning atmospherics add a morose tone. It sounds quite simple on the surface, but there’s a variety of elements bouncing off each other and combining to make this one a naughty little number. Sounds so good in the mix as well.
ICYKOF
BRING IT BACK
[RAVE NUIT]
Streetwear and style YouTuber ICYKOF drops his second release, the very catchy ‘BRING IT BACK’. Feeling the combination of drums and bass on this cut. The beats especially are layered perfectly, and the give the tune a contagious quality. You just want to move when they kick in. Add in a pitched-down vocal that repeatedly states, “Let’s bring it back” before namechecking artists like Carl Craig and Robert Hood, and you’ve got a roller that’s sure to get the dance floor full of ecstatic vibration. Extra points for the Bambounou remix.
That’s it for this month. Please share these reviews if you feel called to do so and any techno artists or labels out there who want their music considered for review, hit me up —> marcus.barnes.uk@gmail.com