Techno Reviews: May 2020
With Mixmag’s print edition suspended until August and no reviews being published online, I decided to get them out via this newsletter.
Originally I was going to publish them on Instagram, but that would have been too complicated and disjointed. Having them all in one place works best, I think.
There are links to buy each of the releases I’ve reviewed below and in the mix description on Soundcloud, too. Please consider buying the music if you like it.
You’re also welcome to share this page using the button below…
ALBUM OF THE MONTH
Fluxion
Perspectives
[Vibrant Music]
Flux captures sincere emotion beautifully
Greek artist Fluxion (AKA Kostas Soublis) is over twenty years deep in the techno world, delivering his unique perspective on nine albums so far. His penchant for dubby textures and ambience resulting in a signature style that is utterly sublime. Perspectives reveals new shades to his multi-layered sonic persona, taking us into a beautifully delicate, yet dense collection of tracks that aim to capture moods ‘in the moment’. This honest approach means we’re presented with an album full of feeling and a sense of authenticity. Nothing is too overworked and tracks like ‘Within’ feel like live improvisations rather than overworked productions. All the cuts sit in that difficult to achieve sweet spot between home listening and the dance floor, especially ‘Glimpses’ and ‘Dawn’, whichs up the tempo somewhat. A satisfying and wholly complete LP.
BEST TRACKS: ‘Within’, ‘Glimpses’, ‘Dawn’
9 out of 10
TUNE OF THE MONTH
Slam VS Obscure Shape & SHDW
Strategies
[Soma Records]
Strategic missile deployment
Glasgow legends Slam team up with Obscure Shape & SHDW for an absolutely firing release featuring three versions of ‘Strategy’. Every cut from the trio of tunes is blazing, with whipcracking beats, twisted ravey synth lines and playful arrangement. An awesome combination.
9 out of 10
Lenneke & Fenneke
De Rit
[Lenneke & Fenneke]
‘Aving a laugh
One of those cuts that sounds like a totally different piece of music by the time it comes to an end. Lenneke & Fenneke launch their label project with a two-track release full of whimsy. In less than six minutes ‘De Rit’ (or laugh in English) moves through several stages, maintaining its offbeat bop throughout.
7 out of 10
Customer Service
Exquisite Corpse
[Control Freak]
Death lurks in the shadows
This one has a disturbing title worthy of Ted Bundy or some other such serial killer. Customer Service cultivates a haunting feel that emphasises the track name, with shimmering pads and acidic sirens compounding the chilling atmosphere. Wait for the bass to drop in… proper weighty.
8 out of 10
Healing Force Project
Temporal Pole (Stndrd Remix)
[Jazz-O-Tech]
Stndrd procedure
This remix bears very little resemblance to the original, which is an offkilter, beatless sound experiment. Stndrd’s rework reconfigures the track, adding a stuttered kick drum accompanied by a pervasive air of menace. Elements of the original’s detuned keys seep through eventually, turning it into a strange, macabre composition.
7 out of 10
Van Boom
II (Bulma Remix)
[ANBA]
Fun and ferocious
Time to take cover in the trenches and prepare for a battering as Bulma wreaks havoc on this remix of ‘II’ by Van Boom. Riotous rave-inspired techno that harks back to the more innocent nineties is en vogue at the moment and this cut epitomises the light-hearted, though highly-charged style that’s slaughtering the clubs right now.
8 out of 10
Robin Ball
Sheep Funk (Saytek Remix)
[Memory Box]
Music made to get you moving
Master improviser Saytek conjures up a funky, break-infused remix of the oddly-titled ‘Sheep Funk’ for Robin Ball’s Memory Box. Saytek’s experience comes through loud and clear as he crafts a banging rework aimed straight at the floor. Proof that sometimes all you need is a good solid groove, punchy beats and a rousing breakdown.
8 out of 10
Tam Nisam
Periplu Euxin
[BROR]
Sooo absooorrrbing
At first this tune seems pretty minimal, but listen closer and you’ll soon be enveloped in its multi-layered density. Tam Nisam focuses on a grainy, unimposing sound, though all the ingredients are there to give it a powerful, absorbing allure. Approach with caution, you might just end up lost in another dimension.
7 out of 10
Etapp Kyle
Unseen
[Ostgut Ton]
Feel true emotion
Sometimes the inspiration behind a piece of music can be deeply personal, which is the case with this new release from Etapp Kyle. Dedicated to the fascinating land he grew up in, the release is accompanied by a short film called ‘Nolove’. ‘Unseen’ is brimming with emotional energy, propelled by an authoritarian beat. Lovely.
9 out of 10
Raven
Saint
[Rekids]
Killer debut
Some of the most exciting artists around today defy genre boundaries and splice together a world of influences, taking a very unrestrained approach. This liberating method is the spark behind Raven’s mesmerising output. Her debut on Rekids combines her songwriting and vocals with inventive production, including this saintly smasher.
9 out of 10
Brayan Valenzuela
LLMM
[0000]
Our ears are bleeding!
If there’s one thing you can say about Brayav Valenzuela’s music it’s that it is definitely not easy-listening. Prepare for uncomfortable moments as metal on metal screeches pepper the background and thunderous kick drums slam down repeatedly. It may be a bit too much for some people, but if confrontational noise is your thing then step right up.
7 out of 10
Scuba
U Tool
[Hotflush]
More goodness from Scubadoo
Scubes is back with a three-tracker on his own Hotflush outlet. ‘U Tool’ is typically crisp, with pristine production and rolling out with a groove that many of his fans would expect. At times it feels as though a storm is taking place, with drum rolls and jagged spears of lightning interrupting the flow. Top notch from the Scubemeister.
8 out of 10
JOBE
My Regrets (Feat. Haptic) (VVerses ‘Lessons Learned’ Edition)
[Chapter 24]
Mechanoid reconfigured jam
Electro, technoid flavours come flowing out of this rework by VVerses. JOBE’s track gets put into a time machine and sent back 35 years where it’s propelled to outer space to be spliced and diced by a crew of mechanoids. Dust off your body popping outfit, it’s time to do the electric boogaloo.
8 out of 10
Minimal Violence
Ravebomb
[Tresor]
Double thumbs up for the ravebomb
This duo from Vancouver have had us enthralled for a while. Distilling elements of rave, noise and techno into their often outrageous productions their latest outing is one of three that are due to drop with Berlin institution Tresor. ‘Ravebomb’ is obnoxious, rowdy and downright vibey.
9 out of 10
Niki Istrefi & Anetha
One More Cartoon, Please
[Mama Told Ya]
Straight fire from a coupla dons
Paris and Copenhagen merge ideas on this firing collaboration between Niki Istrefi and Anetha. ‘One More Cartoon, Please’ is fast-paced and full on, yet it also possesses enough character to make it accessible and very danceable. Freshness from an inspired link up.
8 out of 10
Antigone & Rødhåd
180702.1
[WSNWG]
It was all a dream
Taken from a four-track EP produced which brings two techno giants together, ‘180702.1’ has the DNA of trance, but its body language is all techno. Tough beats step forward as an air of euphoria threatens to break loose, the familiar trancey pads doing their work. Antigone & Rødhåd do a sterling job of teasing out the emotion and not overcooking the vibe. Difficult to do, but they pull it off with panache.
9 out of 10
Baby T
Portra (Hybrid Mix)
[Horo]
Techno with a sprinkling of DnB
B.Traits revives her Baby T guise for 2020, dropping several versions of a cut entitled ‘Porta’, including jungle and ambient variations. The ‘Hybrid Mix’ is exactly that, threading a stomping techno beat with a hint of breakbeat and touches of that oh-so-familiar DnB snarl. It’s a canny track and a credit to Baby T’s production skills.
8 out of 10
Dave Wincent
Unmounted Lungs 06
[Cryptic]
The end is niiiiiiigh
Dave Wincent’s production sounds sludgy in the low end, like radioactive swamp mud that has come alive and is lurching forwards with malicious intent. The drums are solid and the atmosphere fills you with dread as choir-like vocals rise and fall leading us into a cataclysmic breakdown.
8 out of 10
DJ Hyperactive & Jason Patrick
Harrier Env
[4 Track]
This will enchant the dance floor
DJ Hyperactive and Jason Patrick team up for this mystical ride into the darkside. Incorporating a range of sounds that complement the dense low end, keeping things hypnotic and engaging. This is a deadly weapon with a killer rhythm and sublime progression.
9 out of 10
Architectural
Rhythm & Souls
[R&S]
Beats that’ll bash your brains out
It sounds like Architectural hired a rock band to record the percussion in someone’s garage, such is the ferocity of the drum programming on this cut. Around the beats various ethereal sounds duck and dive to create the perfect storm of hard-hitting drums and entrancing effects.
8 out of 10
Eddie Fowlkes
Wo Wo Booty
[City Boy Music]
Booty techno grooves from a pioneer
One of the pioneers of techno, Eddie Fowlkes presents this bouncing ode to the beloved booty, in Mike Dunn-esque spoken word style. The groove will grab you right away and you’ll be bopping your head to the beat uncontrollably from start to end. Guaranteed to rock the club.
9 out of 10
Monitor
Drumcode A-Sides Vol.9 lands this month with a huge arsenal of heavy artillery, including debut monsters from Eats Everything and Dubfire.
Cleric has compiled an extra large V/A to celebrate the 20th release on his holier-than-thou label Clergy, guest contributors include Slam, Rebekah, Stef Mendesidis, Kwartz, Setaoc Mass and Roman Poncet.
Meanwhile Schake, Tin Man, nthng and Primal Code go back in time to remix Vancouver’s 747 on his own label Aquaregia, taking on a release that dropped back in 2017.
Look out for another master blaster from Regal on Ellen Allien’s BPitch Control, the ‘Ego Wars’ EP combines the Spaniard’s usual meaty beats and bass with his distinct musicality.
‘Watergate 27’ takes a humanist stance, with Hyenah using the mix compilation to express anti-racist sentiment with the aim of uniting people through music.
A special treat from fans of legendary techno act The Advent - he’s due to appear on Ben Klock’s Klockworks label with three cuts taken from his live set from the nineties.