Artist: Jon Hester Title: Continuum EP Label: ODD Even Cat. #: ODDEVEN041 Format: Digital, vinyl Release Date: 21.04.2023 Tracklist: A1 Nonstop B1 Pace B2 Sustain
Jon Hester gets released again on Odd Even with ‘Continuum EP’, that’s a genuine three tracker: each sound is well defined and cozy, which reconnect the listener to club inspired vibes. As consequence the music brings dancefloor oriented patterns that melt into a sinuos dancing body. In the whole EP the artist proves to be skilled, bringing to light his passion for techno. ‘Sustain’ closes greatly the tracklist with a catchy and energic dub techno inspired style.
Artist: Roberto Pagliaccia Title: Without You Label: Gain Records Remixer: Alberto Remondini Cat. #: GR326 Format: Digital Release Date: 14.04.2023 Tracklist: 01. Without You 02. Without You (Alberto Remondini Remix) 03. Hold Up
Sisko Electrofanatik’s Gain Records welcomes a dark and acidic, peak time techno release from Roberto Pagliaccia which also includes a remix by Alberto Remondini.
Based in Italy, Roberto Pagliaccia is back on Gain Records with his 5th release on the imprint and it features two of his enthralling techno tracks with enrapturing synths and brooding intensity.
On remix duty, Alberto Remondini is an Italian artist who has been making waves with tracks released via labels ranging from Black Hole Recordings to Mauro Picotto’s classically revered record label, Alchemy.
“Without You” opens the release with the compelling tones of its namesake vocal sample, which is underpinned by an acid lead synth, high-velocity percussion and a rumbling bassline.
Alberto Remondini’s remix of Without You reduces the acid and chunks up the percussion to deliver a hard-hitting version with a tantalising breakdown that ramps up the tension before the drums slam back in.
“Hold Up” is the second of the original tracks and it closes out the release with its thrashing high-end percussion and hypnotic vocals that are fused with explosive elements and a pulsating bassline.
Aesthetical and futuristic techno: LDS makes it again with an outstanding vinyl release forthcoming on Monnom Black. ‘Digi Spa’ is a six track release that explores advanced and explorative styles, joining fast bpm, dub techno, rave/warehouse inspired motifs, booming drum loops and sexy patterns. In general, it can be said the listening experience is unique and mind-boggling, each song has the potential to keep a high peak of attention and at the same time to gift dancefloor inspired emotions.
Artist: Rowee Title: Begin The Life EP Label: All Day I Dream Cat. #: adid094 Format: Digital, vinyl Release Date: 24.02.2023 Tracklist: A1 Faded (feat. Eleonora) A2 Till The End (feat. One of Vas) B1 Begin The Life B2 Afterlife
Rowee gives us a reason to get into house music. His last EP on All Day I Dream is a great example of chilling and romantic organic house, proposing an embracing and calm sound that underlines its potential minute after minute. The opener ‘Faded’ with the vocals of Eleonora is pure magic: in the overall it spreads a radiant vibe which envelopes the listener since the beginning of the playback. Follows ‘Till The End’ made in collaboration with One of Vas, a song that blinks to the whole release with a dancefloor influenced style.
Colorize drops the third single extract from Estiva’s forthcoming album, this production titled ‘Carnal Emotion’ features the vocals of Jess Ball, which laids perfectly on the instrumental and of course on the melody, greatly introduced in each drop: it smells like summer, arousing late night scenarios enclosed by smooth lights and pretty good friends or partner.
Cielo Records is a new label project based in France from JC Laurent that features four underground and original works.
The inaugural EP comes from the label boss himself who has over ten years of productions under his belt for the likes of Coyu’s Suara, Abstract Division’s Dynamic Reflection, and Deepak Sharma’s Hidden Recordings amongst others.
Opening the release in style with “Prajna”, it has a quirky and brooding slice of hypnotic techno with cycling sounds and accents.
“Expander” opts for a raw percussion rhythm with bubbling atmospherics and swelling, phasing energy instilled into its spacey vibe.
Stripping things down is “Transparency” that flaunts analogue elements with a less is more approach allowing the sci-fi details to really create a dystopian atmosphere.
“Trikaya” adds a whole new angle to the EP with a stunning breakbeat and IDM-influenced track that will surely spin a dance floor into a frenzy with its creative style.
Truesoul brings back to life ‘Soulcatcher’, an album made by Pig&Dan and Gregor Tresher that was only available in streaming platforms since July 2021. After two years the sound concept is still amazing and visionary, the whole tracklist reveals to be fresh and embracing, sign of a worthy rebirth which will fill soon a few gaps in contemporary electronic music. The robustness from Pig&Dan’s style meets the melodic and dreamy approach to the synths by Gregor Tresher, creating pacific and enveloping soundscapes.
“It’s great to finally release Soulcatcher on all platforms and on vinyl as well – it´s only been out on Spotify up until now and the feedback on it was amazing, so the decision to finally give it a proper release came naturally for Adam and us as well. We are very excited!” – Gregor Tresher
It’s Good To Be A Tree is a deep and atmospheric record label run by Sergey Pushkin, which focuses on downtempo/organic house with indigenous sounds, flowing percussion and heart-warming melodies.
The label’s focus is to create a collaborative environment where artists from different genres can come together on one platform and this latest release is an eight-track compilation featuring solo music by Daniel Hokum, Kuumba, Last Gentleman On Playa, Valique, Yassen, Zoe Reijue and Sergey Pushkin. There is also a three-way collaboration between Betelgeize, Beznosuk and Valique.
Daniel Hokum is the only artist on the release who hasn’t previously featured on It’s Good To Be A Tree and collectively the artists have individually featured on other influential record labels including the likes of Kosa, Underyourskin, down., LNDKHN, Leveldva, Compost, Serafin Audio Imprint and Heimlich Musik.
Yassen’s “Moon Camp” has bleeping synth melodies and swelling pads layered with a deep bassline and shaking percussion that forms the foundation for a hallucinatory vocal sample.
Zoe Reijue’s “Slow Me Down” has poignant piano chords and digitised vocals layered with a juddering bassline and stripped back percussion.
Daniel Hokum’s “Equilibrium” is an electro-tinged downtempo track with bursts of white noise and eerie synths layered over breakbeat percussion and a lurching bassline.
Last Gentleman On Playa’s “Horny Elephants” fuses dramatic percussion with deep breathing and elephant samples that intertwine with dubby guitar chords washed in delay.
The collaborative track by Betelgeize, Beznosuk and Valique titled “La Tribu Triangular” orientates around earth congas and an assortment of sounds ranging from psychedelic guitar licks to marimba style melodies.
Kuumba’s “Homecomforts” focuses on trippy synths that flutter between shuffling percussion and throbbing bass notes.
Valique’s “Phetoho” has tribal rhythms and tropical atmosphere combined with spiralling synths that together create an upbeat Afro house groove.
Sergey Pushkin’s “Fading Away” has a sensual vocal by Unibird which is nestled on a bed of liquid textures and ripening synths, all while the funk of the bassline carries the groove.
UMEK is back on his record label 1605 with another stomping peak time techno EP that features two of his original tracks.
2023 is the year that marks UMEK’s three decades in the electronic music industry and he has been marking the landmark with a flurry of new releases. Continuing to dominate Beatport’s sales charts, UMEK’s latest offering is another fusion of explosive percussion, exuberant synths and captivating vocals.
Based in Slovenia, UMEK is one of Europe’s most accomplished techno producers who has a dazzling catalogue of releases on ranging from underground classics on Chris Liebing’s CLR to big room hits on Reinier Zonneveld’s Filth On Acid.
1605 has become the main outlet for UMEK’s music and this latest release is another brutal techno release that’s shrouded in dark atmosphere.
“Exodus” opens the release with its hard-hitting percussion and pounding kick drum, which is underpinned by a pulsating bassline as it builds towards the euphoria of the breakdown. Its eerie sci-fi vocal about machines taking over the world creates an intense atmosphere that is taken to the next level when the drums slam back in.
“Night Will Never End” is another high-velocity track with fast-flowing rhythms and a rumbling bassline. It’s got old-school chord stabs and compelling vocals that celebrate the unity of rave culture. It’s a timeless track that has got dance floor energy and a thought-provoking vibe.
Techno music studies highlights: Chontane drops a robust and pounding EP, self releasing it on a brand new label called TANE. The artist brings to life these productions previously published by Lobster Theremin in 2022, founding again his own space into this fresh and energetic musical movement, featuring deeply rave and warehouse inspired sounds. Aside the revitalized songs we can find two digital bonus which elevate the potential of the whole EP, strengthening and elevating its durability.
