Artist: ITZONE Title: The Great Way EP Label: dream dream Cat. #: dream0001 Release Date: Jan 14, 2023
Time is circular and now a new label under Drama Universal is born; dream dream comes with heart. We are ecstatic with the first EP from co-founder DJ ITZONE aka Datura Dilema, his The Great Way EP is inspired by the expansion of the cosmos. ITZONE brings you mature sound design, dropping heavy Techno and House sounds in a minimalistic light journey. Listen carefully and you’ll see that the colors are brighter in this one, delicious in Kick, and Bass ready to move you inside out.
Artist: SN-EB Title: Reflection Label: We Are Existence Cat. #: EXE004 Format: Digital Release Date: December 9th 2022 Tracklist: 01. Reflection 02. Acid November
Danny Fontana and Annie Hill’s peak time techno record label We Are Existence is back with a new EP by Italian duo SN-EB.
SN-EB are from Padova where they are well-known as a leading force within the city’s techno scene. Playing regularly at many of the region’s best festivals and events, they have enraptured dance floors with their hard-hitting style.
Also skilled producers, SN-EB have been releasing tracks since the start of 2020 and already built up a back catalogue including releases on the likes of Syncopate, Techno Mood and Botanica.
“Reflection” opens the release with its thundering kick drum and acid stabs, which are layered with thrashing percussion rhythms to create a high-octane groove. Dark and intense, the eerie synths build tension as the namesake vocal adds to the captivating suspense.
“Acid November” has a rumbling bassline with acid tones that combine with dramatic synth stabs that have just a hint of euphoria. Leading to a spine-tingling breakdown, the track’s creepy vocal adds to its frantic energy as it unleashes hell upon the dance floor.
Artist: Double Touch Title: Storm EP Label: All Day I Dream Cat. #: ADID092 Format: Digital Release Date: December 9th 2022 Tracklist: 1. Storm 2. Serenity 3. So Free 4. Clair De Lune
All Day I Dream opens its marvellous catalogue to Double Touch, a musical crossover between the pianist Van-Anh Nguyen and Sydney DJ/Producer Olsen. Their just released ‘Storm EP’ shows another brilliant example contemporary house music, mixed with elegant shades of progressive house and dreamy elements from deep house. This whole organic ensemble of sound is enriched with the vocals of Reigan, who gets featured on the title track and on ‘So Free’, which reveals to be probably the best production of the EP with its tribal percussions and smooth bassline.
Tessellate co-founders The Trip return for a four-track cosmic journey in the form of their ‘Pacific Vision’ EP
At the helm of London’s renowned label and party series Tessellate since its creation in 2013, co-founders Max van Dijk and Oli Hiam have been shaping their sound as DJs and selectors, curating and soundtracking stellar lineups alongside the likes of Ryan Elliott, Octo Octa, Evan Baggs, Chaos In The CBD, Shanti Celeste, Youandewan, The Ghost, Christian AB, Tama Sumo and Gene On Earth to name just a few. Following various studio explorations, the pair launched their collaborative guise, The Trip, in 2020 with their ‘Wet Your Whistle’ EP, with follow-up EPs via Nuances de Nuit and Fraise Records gaining the attention of Peach, Paramida, Avalon Emerson, Nicola Cruz, and Enzo Siragusa. Returning to home turf to close out the imprint’s 2022 schedule, December welcomes an exploration into cosmic spheres as the label bosses unveil their latest material. Inspired by their time over lockdown digging through their own record collections and Discogs online, taking cues from records of the past, the four-track ‘Pacific Vision’ EP draws from 90s progressive spheres and the golden era of tech house to showcase a modern take with carefully re-worked samples – delivering a selection of productions destined for big dancefloor moments.
Opener ‘Don’t Panic’ sets the pace as swirling leads guide a tunnelling acid-flecked bassline, crisp percussion, and rapturous stabs for a lively and dynamic workout, while ‘Free Your Mind’ ups the energy even further as the duo lay down resonant organ melodies, spacey textures and menacing low-ends for an immersive yet punchy late hours trip. On the flip, ‘Everyone Needs A Break’ is a masterclass in drum work as trippy atmospherics and hypnotic off-kilter electronics combine above rolling organic percussion grooves, before closing via the echoed vocals, sugary synths, and killer acid line found across ‘Stop & Go Station’.
Artist: Ross Kiser Title: Under The Light EP Label: Curated. Cat. #: CUR002 Format: Digital Release Date: December 16th 2022 Tracklist: A1. Under The Light (Original Mix A2. No Talking, Just Listening (Original Mix) B1. No Talking, Just Listening (Juliche Hernandez Remix) B2. Timelapse (Original Mix)
After making an array of successful appearances on labels such as Bondage Music, Sit Down Recordings and Innocent Music, Ross Kiser is set to relaese his brand new ‘Under The Light EP’. With a round sound and a club inspiring concept, the whole EP reveals also a sensual and fullfilling design, things that can be appreciated mostly while listening to the original mix of ‘No Talking, Just Listening’ and ‘Timelapse’ (respectively the A2 and B2 tracks).
Artist: Truncate Title: WRKTRX007 Remixer: Ben Sims, Manao & Elektor Label: WRKTRX Cat. #: WRKTRX007 Format: Digital Release Date: 9th December 2022 Tracklist: 01 Work Ya Ass 02 Work Ya Ass (Ben Sims Edit) 03 Work Ya Ass (Manao & Elektor Remix)
Truncate enlists Ben Sims and rising stars Manao & Elektor to remix his ‘Work Ya Ass’ track on his jackin’ WRKTRX imprint.
‘Got to work ya ass off to show you got flavour’ – these words ring true for the hard-working crew behind the seventh instalment on WKRTRX. In addition to the original by Truncate, ‘Work Ya Ass’ also hosts a powerful edit from legendary techno lynchpin Ben Sims, as well as an electro remix from two exciting new names in the scene, Manao and Elektor.
Truncate’s ‘Work Ya Ass’ establishes itself with robust drums and an earworm vocal sample, while swinging rhythmical synths shoot through the track throughout. Sims, no stranger to finding the funk in machines, breaks out the filters, stomping kick/clap combos and piercing stabs to create a raucous version while Venezuelan artists Manao and Elektor flip the track into a bass-driven electro weapon.
Launched to showcase funk-laced, jacking techno cuts, Truncate’s WRKTRX has released tracks by Lauren Flax, Gene Richards, Annika Wolfe and Avision since its inauguration in 2020.
Artist: Positive Conundrum Title: Positive Conundrum Label: CMND CTRL Cat. #: CTRL016 Format: Digital Release Date: December 2nd 2022 Tracklist: 01. Positive Conundrum 02. Deep Fried Consciousness 03. Ode to my Heros 04. Wrangler Kiez Excursion 05. Zeon Ice Atmosphere 06. Yet Another Poison 07. Diamond Grinder 08. Angle of 13.42 Arc Minutes 09. Elegant Ebbing 10. 1 and a 2 Back to my Roots 11. Touch the Sky 12. Maximum Ellipticity 13. Atmo Roller 14. Morning Things Over
CMND CTRL is a techno label run by Florida based producer B. Riley that has featured contributions from Pfirter, Psyk, Gaetano Parisio, ORBE and Ray Kajioka.
Positive Conundrum is the new production alias from American artist Tim Xavier, who is now Berlin-based and also runs Manmade Mastering with over 20 years experience in the music industry.
Tim Xavier has featured tracks and remixes on influential record labels ranging from Ellen Allien’s BPitch to Slam’s Soma.
The album is a vigorous collection of underground techno, IDM, electro and beyond, showing his love for analogue techniques and dance floor appeal alongside the skill of a seasoned creator.
The self titled album has fourteen tracks that include “Positive Conundrum” with abstract percussion and experimental hook. “Deep Fried Consciousness” has a pulsing, underwater sound with tribal clinks. “Ode to my Heroes” is wrapped in jackin’ tension while “Wrangler Kiez Excursion” is a gritty synth workout. Fifth is “Zeon Ice Atmosphere” that has a brooding menace into “Yet Another Poison” a strong, strutting jam. “Diamond Grinder” is a freaky modular cut, “Angle of 13.42 Arc Minutes” has a quirky and cool theme and “Elegant Ebbing” opts for an electro soundscape. Track ten “1 and a 2 Back to my Roots” is a raw, hypnotic trip, “Touch the Sky” lifts up the gear with instant energy and Detroit style chords. “Maximum Ellipticity” adds a drama with its percussive flair, while “Atmo Roller” takes things down to a stripped back groove and closing with “Morning Things Over” that winds down into a space-out breakbeat.
In the neverending realms of techno we put our hands on Maōh ‘Lord Of The Flies’, an intense and pounding four tracker. These intense music tools reveal warehouse inspired motifs, ready to be played in some of the most late night and underground parties. ‘Kab’raqan’ with its heavy drum loop and ‘Yellow Crane’ with its broken beat rhythm reveal to be the two most intense tracks of the whole release, unleashing dozens of raw energy all over the playback.
Artist: Angioma Title: Unusual Suspect Label: Mind Medizin Cat. #: MDZN009 Format: Digital Release Date: 9th December 2022 Tracklist: 01 Unusual Suspect 02 Unusual Suspect (Kaiser Remix)
Free-roaming French techno talent Angioma lands on Lady Tazz’s Mind Medizin with a new single that comes remixed by the legendary Kaiser.
Angioma does it all from peak time and hypnotic techno to jacking house, all with his own signature exotic twist. He is currently Berlin-based and has released on Made of Concrete, but also co-runs with BLANKA the Room Trax label and Room Lab, contemporary local art and networking space. With increasingly high-profile sets in clubs like Egg London and Anomalie Berlin, Angioma is an ever more crucial part of the modern techno landscape.
The brilliant ‘Unusual Suspect’ is darkly seductive with its high-pressure techno rhythms and silky synth lines. Pulsing keys bring late-night hypnosis and the icy hi-hats draw you in further to this shadowy and tunneling groove. It’s a warm, Mills-inspired sound that is stylish and dynamic.
Based near Bari in the south of Italy, Gianluca Caiati aka Kaiser has been tearing up the techno scene for 15 years. His tunes on the likes of Planet Rhythm and sets around Europe have established him as a man with a powerful sound. His superb remix pairs things back but the pummeling, rubbery drums remain the focal point as whip-snapping snares lash about up top, incendiary hi-hat pressure grows and the sleek synths intensify the trip.
These are two enticing and contemporary techno classics from Angioma and Kaiser.
Artist: Volaris Title: Purple Skies Label: Sola Cat. #: SOLA180 Format: Digital Release Date: December 2nd 2022 Tracklist: 1. Original Mix 2. Radio Edit
Solardo hosts on his own record label the prominent single ‘Purple Skies’ made by the Volaris duo, showing off a great energy and warmth. The production plays fluidly and gently till the first drop, when a string melody leads in, adding a big energy and epicness to the whole theme.
