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Single Of The Month: Chris Liebing ‘A,B,C,D EP Part 2' (CLR)
Album Of The Month: Chris McCormack ‘Exit To Extinction’ (MATERIALS)
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Single Of The Month:
Chris Liebing
‘A,B,C,D EP Part 2’
(CLR)
It’s almost insane to think just what has happened to techno music in the last two years. With the sound dominated by the 140 bpm loop, many of techno’s artists started to look elsewhere for their inspiration - predominately a more minimal direction. But whereas many artists choose to focus on a more funky minimal sound, Chris has tried hard to retain the element of hard darkness that his music always focused on. This second installment of his ‘A,B,C,D EP’ is pure brilliance and shows that in order to move on, you don’t necessarily have to follow the trends of the moment. Sure, this is more minimal than his early works but it’s driving forward with such a relentless and powerful energy that you can’t help but listen in complete astonishment. Great stuff from the master. M8/M8
Album Of The Month:
Chris McCormack
‘Exit To Extinction’
(MATERIALS)
Since he decided to take a break from techno music a few years ago, it’s been along time since we’ve heard anything from Chris McCormack. But now he’s made a return - although whether or not this will be permanent is another question entirely. CD1 takes us through some classic McCormack moments, the highlight of which is surely the mind-blowing Hendrix smash-up session ‘Erase Techno’. CD2 is another ball-game entirely. Reminding us of the classic ‘Chill-Out’ album from the KLF, it’s track nine before you wake up from your trance and realise just what Chris has been up to for the last two years. But just as you think you have it all figured out, he hits you with a full on sledgehammer of sound with ‘They Feed You Scraps Like Starving Bongo Dogs’ - rest assured, you will not forget the moment this track hits. A selection of new tracks follow but just as fast as he came, he leaves. And with two fingers and a puff of smoke in the air, there’s bugger all you can do about it. M8/M8
DJ Ogi
‘Zestoko’
(POLYMETIC)
Everyone’s favorite Croatian DJ Ogi can always be relied on for hard peak time woofers and this new one on Polymetic is up there with his best. The last release on Submissions was an all-time favourite from him and this is of a similar ilk. Jack-style techno but with a German Schranz edge (although there is more space here than say Natus or Wittekind). Flip over and you get a rather funky looper from Maxx. A superb release. M6/M8
Metroline
‘Clockwork Chronicles - Part 1’
(STAINLESS AUDIO WORKS)
This is an absolute must for those into bass-heavy detroit style club killers. Creating a style of it’s own, you’re treated to a godzilla-insipred bassline until an emotional melody enters the equation and your pined up against the wall. There’s an innocence about this record that sets it high above most of the more pigeon-holed releases out there this month. Can’t wait to hear more from this label. M6/M8
Various Artists
‘Faith Is Fear EP’
(DUST SCIENCE)
The best release so far on this phenomenal Sheffield-based techno imprint and it’s one for the true collectors out there. Telling a story from the moment the needle hits the record until the last track is over, this four artist colossus is in a league of it’s own. Beginning with an incredible melodic heart-string tugger from Fabric Lig, you’re soon pounded into the ground with a track entitled ‘C/Chaos’ by Regis & Female - recorded live at the legendary Orbit in Leeds. Flip over and The 65D Mavericks give you a sun-rise classic with ‘Wiretap’ until Carl Taylor rounds over nicely with ‘Scanner’. You’ll be pleased to know there is a ‘Faith Is Fear’ album to be released this month also. A ground-breaking must-have. M8/M8
Brad Lee
‘Until Death’
(MORE PUNK THAN FUNK)
The North-Wales collective give us their best release so far with this dragon-slayer of a beast by one of America’s most noticeable up and comers, Brad Lee. Using a Slobadan-style backdrop, Brad adds all type of evilness until the main pad enters and the relentless onslaught ensues. If you’re in the habit of keeping your ears to the ground, this is is one of the artists you should be searching for in the months to come. You get three other cool tracks on this EP from Distek, Seb Marx and Punk 63, but Brad Lee crosses the line first every time. M7/M8
David Carretta, Dany Rodriguez and Digital Coalition
‘Sweet EP’
(DESTINATION)
Four stunning electronic techno tracks from this fantastic trio of producers. David Carretta of course needs no introduction and he really does pull out the stops here with a remix of Dany Rodriguez’s ‘Bad Experience’. ‘Higher, do it again!’, speaks the vocal as all manner of electronic weirdness clutters the musical landscape. ‘Sweet’ from Digital Coalition is more on the minimal tip but no less floor punishing. All-in-all a solid EP. M6/M8
Moog Conspiracy
Is It Deep?
(ELEKTROTRIBE)
Interesting new release here from German label Elektrotribe. Taking the minimal techno route Moog Conspiracy inject a whole heap of funk and atmosphere into their sound with some well-worked bass and clever reverberation on key percussive sounds. There’s a massive six tracks on this EP, including remixes from Lucio & Pep as well as Digital Filth. Quirky electronica and melodic genius make this EP well-worth searching for. M5/M8
Fiend and Friend
‘Darmin’
(DINNER)
This is THE new label to look out for this month. The main track here is by Fiend and Friend entitled ‘Darmin’ and it’s more than impressive. Reminding us of Cari Lekebusch crossed with Quasi-modo, various melodic hits punch in and out, adding a clever difference that stands out big through a club system. Flip over to the B and it’s two even more daring tracks from both Fiend and Friend and Jeroen Liebregts. Expect Dinner’s second release ‘Origin’ to be release this month too. M8/M8
Steve Payne & Thomas Christopher
‘I Was Because I Wish’
(TCP)
Great to see the TCP Recordings label still going as strong, especially with the new material from label owners Steve Payne and Thomas Christopher. Here we get two original tracks and two remixes. However the one to watch out for is the Marco Nastic remix of ‘Because Of You’. A creepy crawler of a track this one scuttles along with venom and fire, spurting out various bass-line hits along the way and generally being a complete nuisance. Henze does a masterful job with the final mix, looping things up to the maximum but Nastic rocks the party big time. M7/M8
Various
‘Soma Coma’
(SOMA)
Summer is fast approaching, and as such Soma have decided to rumage through the vaults and pull out some of the best down-beat gems that they have ever released. It’s a fifteen track compilation and you’ll be hard pressed to find anything more delightful out there in the shops this month. Opening with the classic ‘This Is’ from Slam you’re soon heading through open fields with the sun on your face. Tracks such as ‘Prologue 2’ by Envoy and ‘Mental Ward Sleep Machine’ by the Black Dog are invigorating to hear once more and newer artists such as Octogen and Vector Lovers make you realise just how consistent Soma have been over the years. Always a label to trust, Soma deliver perfection in the only way they know how. M8/M8.
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