Techno Reviews: June 2020
With Mixmag’s print edition suspended until August and no reviews being published online, I decided to get them out via this newsletter.
Big shout to everyone sending me music and all the artists and labels still putting music out there. I will continue to support as best I can.
Each review below features a buy link, so please consider supporting the artists where possible.
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH
Ellen Allien
AurAA
[BPitch Control]
You’ll be deeply touched by Ellen’s AurAA
The last three years have been particularly productive for Ellen Allien. As well as launching a new label (UFO), launching new party concepts and touring the world to play at major festivals and renowned clubs, she’s also found time to crack out three albums. AurAA is her latest effort and it continues her intrepid exploration of techno. This time the music is rooted in theories about the ‘reality’ we are currently experiencing. It’s a theme that allows her to explore sound and feeling inspired by an alternate view of the world. As usual with Ellen the productions blend the future and past effortlessly, as she dips into sounds from the nineties and catapults them into the next Century. Cuts like ‘True Romantics’ emit drama and raw emotion, while ‘Traum’ tantalises your cerebral cortex inducing a dream-like state and ‘Walking In The Dark’ adds punchy beats and rolling energy to the mix. Another triumph for a creative force of nature...
BEST TRACKS: ‘True Romantics’, ‘Traum’, ‘Walking In The Dark’
9 out of 10
TUNE OF THE MONTH
Brame & Hamo
Harzer
[Soft Computing]
Here’s your trance to dance
Breaks spliced with a bit of trance? Yes, please! Brame & Hamo blend a few different styles together across all three cuts on this EP, with ‘Harzer’ the one that could easily slip into a techno set and go OFF. Simple, emotional and highly effective, that b-line will have you Riverdancing uncontrollably.
9 out of 10
Ethel
Colonial
[RA+RE]
Fuuunnn, fuuunnn, fuuunnnn
Here’s a nutty cut from promising DJ/digger/producer, Ethel. The Frenchie takes us into a strange new world ‘where there must be aliens’. Vocal clips sampled from the TV join a buoyant synth riff, with a dubwise interlude and a little switcheroo near the end, too. ‘Colonial’ gives off a real sense of fun and enjoyment, I’d really love to hear this one on the dance floor - five minutes of outrageous japes would ensue no doubt.
7 out of 10
Slam
The Purge
[Soma]
Dark, rolling techno at its best
Glasgow legends Slam are in that phase of their career where they’re so proficient with their equipment, so experienced and so tuned in to frequency and the power of soundsystems, that their output is of a consistently high quality. Experimenting with modular systems has added new depth to their productions and ‘The Purge’ epitomises their expertise. Rolling, dark and pulsating with visceral energy, it’s a masterful workout.
8 out of 10
Ole Mic Odd
Hydro Anthem
[Nerang Recordings]
Puff the best ‘dro
This is lo-fi booty techno with a catchy vocal clip and nothing but party vibes from the one-minute mark onwards. That dirty hoover b-line will have you screwing up your face and nodding your head aggressively as soon as it drops in. Ole Mic Odd keeps it simple with beats, bass and not much else.
8 out of 10
Rizu X
Rub It
[Cómeme]
Try to keep up with this playful production
The reverb on this track is so tight and clipped, it creates a strong feeling of claustrophobia. Rizu X’s production and arrangement will mess with your head as she flips from pounding kick drums to an almost beatless segue. It’s an unusual breakdown which takes us into more throbbing beats and a rousing atmosphere culminating in another odd switch up. Madness as usual from Cómeme.
8 out of 10
Rhyw
Geomest
[Fever AM]
An out and out techno chiller
Rhyw steps up to his own Fever AM label with ‘Geomest’, a weird little number with an eerie atmosphere. This cut creeps along at a relatively slow pace, by techno standards, which adds to the unnerving feel. Rhyw uses a variety of sinister sounds and effects to intensify that chilling vibe throughout. *Shudder*.
7 out of 10
Phil Evans
Tilted
[Spaghetti Club]
Excellent storytelling
Moody electro flavours here from Phil Evans on the Spaghetti Club compilation. Pads rise and fall as the analogue bassline steadily pushes forward. Soon another layer of synth is introduced, complementing the low end as Evans carefully builds the atmosphere. Higher pitched pads drift in, taking us into the next chapter. By the end of the track, you’ll feel like you’ve been on a mini adventure.
8 out of 10
GIGEE
Lullaby (AFFKT Remix)
[mobilee]
Bright, pumping, uplifting rework
AFFKT pumps up GIGEE’s original with punchy beats and a grizzly b-line. Whereas the original genuinely felt like a ‘Lullaby’, this rework is another but. AFFKT retains some of the dreamy sounds from GIGEE’s track but they’re laced with jump up energy, providing an electrifying breakdown and a beautifully uplifting melody.
8 out of 10
Héctor Oaks
Forwarded State Of Evidence (DJ Stingray Remix)
[Bassiani]
Mate… Ridiculous remix
Powerful remix from 313 badman DJ Stingray. ‘Warm Leatherette’-esque piston-fueled beats and a seriously warped vocal give this one its dark allure. The drum programming alone is exquisite, then you add in the heavyweight bass and the progression, and you have an almighty banger.
9 out of 10
Futurist
AMO232
[Mega Metal]
Top notch repetitive minimalism
New label Mega Metal (shouts to Stockwell!) launches with a V/A featuring a variety of artists and styles. Futurist’s ‘AMO232’ utilises minimalism to hypnotise the listener, keeping you locked in from start to end. It’s a composition that benefits from the producer’s unfussy approach, using a repetitive motif while adding subtle details along the way to increase the tension and energy.
8 out of 10
Flore
Coded Language (Hodge Remix)
[POLAAR]
DnB + hardcore x techno
Here’s a broken beat roller from the maestro Hodge on the remix for Flore. Where the original had a stuttered, footwork-esque rhythm, this one has more of a 4x4 break-driven pump. Hodge highlights Flore’s DnB influences but keeps it techno with this inspired rework. A neat hybrid with familiar samples.
8 out of 10
Nørbak
Pledge I
[Attic]
Deep, dark and deadlyyyy
Brace yourself for dense, imposing techno with this brutalist cut from Nørbak. The Portuguese producer keeps it dark and deadly, with a range of tonality evoking unsettling feelings throughout. The low end is particularly affecting, with a variety of frequencies swirling and churning against each other. His mastery of timing and tension release is impeccable, making this one an excellent cut.
8 out of 10
박혜진 Park Hye Jin
NO
[Ninja Tune]
A big YES to NO
Hye Jin Park ’s debut on Ninja is a varied collection of six tracks, with ‘NO’ standing out as the most ‘techno’ production. She demonstrates her range on the release, injecting dark vibes into this cut with its industrial aesthetic and menacing vocal refrain. Towards the end she seems to be saying, ‘Shut the f*** up’… Raw. No messing around here.
8 out of 10
Arad
Barometric Shuffle
[VOITAX]
Strings! Vocal! Drama!
Inventive production from Arad, who’s one half of Lakker, which explains a lot. This one has stirring string work, heavy reverb and skipping percussion. The vocal sample is a stand out moment, dominating the middle section before it continues to play out with a large dose of melodrama.
8 out of 10
Chlär
Artificial Supremacy (The Chronics Remix)
[Bipolar Disorder]
Rock rap sample somehow works
Now you’re talking; techno meets rock rap with The Chronics handling remix duties. On paper this shouldn’t really work and if you think you’re too cool for school you might not like this one. I’m into it, the energy absolutely fizzes and the vocal is brilliant. The Chronics do a sterling job with their rework, let’s boogie!
8 out of 10
0010x0010
Glitches. in My Brain
[Modular Freq]
Humans merge with machines
Spinetingling techno that’s been hiding away in a dark cupboard under the stairs, ready to pounce on an unwitting victim. Morose, haunting darkside vibes with thumping kick drums. This is a track that has been chopped out of a live performance, so what you’re hearing is improvised progression and arrangement. That human touch is evident at the core of this track, audible through all the layers of machine-generated sound.
7 out of 10
Fractions
NITE NRG
[Monnom Black]
NRGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!
Dax J’s label unleashes more fire this month with a four-track collection from Fractions. The title ‘NITE NRG’ is in upper case for a reason - it’s loud and unashamedly boisterous. A buzzsaw riff slices its way through the first half propelled by booming kicks, leading into the ravey second half, which somehow manages to up the already ‘upped’ ante. Outrageous fun.
9 out of 10
Linus Quick
Beteigeuze
[Korpus 9]
Dark techno Vs. Euphoric trance
The atmosphere on this tune is so opaque and concentrated to begin with that it’s like being submerged in wet concrete. Before long Linus Quick adds some hats and a glistening riff which counter the impenetrable low end. Trance influences are everywhere at the moment and ‘Beteigeuze’ has more than a hint of euphoria juxtaposed with its moody foundation. Strange at first but once you start to feel it, it’s a winner.
7 out of 10
Droughtwerk
Sentimental Thoughts
[Droughtwerk]
Pfffff, in-TENSE
Boom boom boom goes the kick drum, we’re entering another intense cut with a big wallop from the beats. You’ll be grimacing once this track gets going, though whether your gurn will be fueled by joy or rage is anyone’s guess. There’s virtually no relent from this one, besides a brief escape during the breakdown, which then goes on to increase the pressure. If you can stomach the intensity of this one right until the end, you deserve a medal!
8 out of 10
H.Bettik
Fog Station
[Solid Tracks Records]
Nice to hear something slightly different
Feeling the drum programming on H.Bettik’s new one for Solid Tracks. In fact, ‘Fog Station’ starts off really well; banging beats, a cosmic flutter here, a strange buzz there… The unusual structure gives him space to be playful, avoiding the trappings of formulaic techno framework. Really interesting and engrossing cut that showcases H.Bettik’s ability to carve out his own interpretation of techno.
8 out of 10
Detroit Grand Pubahs
Thanks For Coming
[Engineroom]
The Pubahs are always on point
I love these guys. ‘Thanks For Coming’ is a reissue of a their 2008 track. The original has a great groove and, like a lot of their work, sounds as though it was recorded live. The vocals are, of course, oddly sultry and seductive. Strip them away and you’ve got a effective instrumental. Uncomplicated, weird and bloody good.
7 out of 10
Coyu
Carola at Monegros 2004, 12pm
[Suara]
SLAMMIN’!
Coyu drops another Technostalgia EP, where he uses music to reimagine moments that shaped his musical life. Of course, all of these moments are from DJ sets in clubs and festivals around the world. ‘Carola at Monegros 2004, 12pm’ has the kind of ferocious, uptempo beats and absolutely raucous energy that you can imagine coming from a young Marco Carola at one of Spain’s biggest electronic music festivals. POWER.
8 out of 10
Locked Groove
Intergalactic Surfer
[трип]
Those strings…
Belgian maestro Locked Groove gets all loved up with this emotionally-charged cut straight out of the nineties school of trance-infused techno. This one comes from a time when there was less distinction between trance, techno, deep house and so on - it was all melded into one and no one cared because it was beautiful and life-affirming. The good news is we can all go back there with this track…
9 out of 10
Monitor
Some killer albums out this month, including Shifted with The Dirt on Our Hands. The LP was quietly released on Avian back on the 8th. It’s seriously good and you can buy it here.
Jas Shaw (of Simian Mobile Disco fame) has teamed up with Bas Grossfeldt on Klavier, a seven-track album produced using the Yamaha Disklavier - an electronic piano. Shaw’s electronic experience blends with Grossfeldt’s more traditional background to produce a moving collection. Buy it here.
Pinch drops his first album in 13 years on his Tectonic Plates label. Reality Tunnels is everything you’d expect from the experimental master, dipping into dubby atmospherics, weighty bassline, MC features (Trim and Killa P), drum’n’bass and ice-cold steppers. It’s been a long time but it was worth the wait. Buy it here.
Soundtracking The Void put out their latest album from HRZL, entitled Subtopia. Like a lot of the music on the label, it’s almost cinematic in its design, with less dance floor focus and more attention paid to sculpting emotional landscapes with electronic instrumentation. Buy it here.
Skudge has also dropped a new LP, Time Tracks. Presenting 10 cuts that all hold true to his dance floor-focused sound, while also containing moments of reflection and emotion guaranteed to get you feeling, as well as simply dancing. Buy it here.
Last up, Prequel Tapes brings us Ruin, on Mannequin Records. Following on from Everything Is Quite Now (which was Album Of The Month in September 2018) Ruins is full of depth, polished production and experimentation. Buy it here.