Hey Guys,
Haven’t been on here in a while, hope you’re all well.
I pasted my reviews page from the first four issues of an Irish magazine called SlickDJ. Included are June, July, August and October (there was no September issue). It’s not all strictly techno, it’s now generally about 70% techno/30% electro.
Some of you may be interested in reading,
Cheers,
Sunil
OCTOBER REVIEWS:
SELECTED:
Joseph Garber – Red (Solid)
Membrane Recordings have served up some storming EPs in the past, and for the first release on their sub-label they’ve gone one better. Joseph Garber isn’t a household name by any means, but it’s a wonder why when he’s putting together tracks as good as this. Rolling acid lines meet busy, bouncing kicks and bristly percussion, in an altogether absorbing 12” of analogue funk. Officially this was released in July but only seems to have got a full release in the last few weeks - Paul Birken fans especially should get ready; this one is on the money…and on blue vinyl too! 10/10
Ed Chamberlain – Fixxy 3 (Base Logic)
The first two EPs in this series quickly elevated Ed to mini-stardom, with many hailing him as the future of UK electro. The third and final part of the series was always going to have a hard job to uphold the quality of the previous two, but he’s given it a good shot. The ones to check here are “Styge”, “Charly” and “Trapeze” - which again display Chamberlain’s quality in marrying rich Plaid like melodies to tricky electro/electronica rhythms with considerable aplomb. Complete the hat trick and make sure you track this down – there’s a good chance it’ll be worth money in years to come! 8/10
Computor Rockers – Computor Interface (Breakin’)
Rocking old skool electro business from DMX Krew here, with samples aplenty and lots of funny vocoder action. Bass Junkie’s remix of ‘Computor Interface’ takes no prisoners but it’s the two original versions of the same track that’ll be building the B-Boys into a frenzy. The return of Breakin’ has been a Godsend; let’s hope there’s more releases to follow soon. 9/10
The Pope – Ugandan Speed Trials (DN)
Records such as this on Downwards sub-label DN may be not as spectacular as previous releases on Downwards, but do if anything, re-affirm the new ground Regis and co. have achieved between the brutal industrial muscle of Birmingham and the highly textured dub techno of Berlin. Fans of Female’s previous offerings on RSB and Sandwell District will be impressed by the big, jabbing keys that have become a trademark ingredient of the Birmingham sound, with both sides here being very useful for rubbing grit into the dancefloor. It’s never pretty when it comes from Brum, but we wouldn’t want it any other way… 8/10
Boris Divider – Remote Operator (Drivecom Ltd.)
Boris Divider is consistently compared to Anthony Rother and as something of a copycat; although while this might be true to a degree, the fact is that Rother is too busy cashing in on the electro house boom of late to release anything good anymore, while his Spanish counterpart is releasing gems like this. The tension filled, vox-charged bass assault of “Recombination” alone, is worth buying this EP for. Don’t sleep on this, it’s limited! 9/10
TR One – Inner Thoughts (Fine Arts)
Young Carlow trio TR One must be commended – while only producing for a few years, their sound is one you’d expect of someone many years their senior. Smooth, silky Detroit techno is not a style easily mimicked and judging by the deep rising chords and acid tweaks displayed on “Inner Thoughts” and “Space Disco”, it’s a sound they have started to make with authority. It may be another few releases before the lads are giving Mad Mike a run for his money but at this rate that time might not be too long away. 8/10
Norman Nodge – MDR 03 (MDR)
Marcel Dettmann’s MDR imprint has been a welcome addition to the Hardwax stable, putting the spotlight both on him and other interesting producers like Norman Nodge. The track to head straight for is “3.0” – a boulder of heavily reverbed techno, with what sounds like the sampled cry of a bird as the lead sound, creeping in and out of the mix. A Basic Channel/Purpose Maker style hybrid that is one of this year’s more unique tracks. 9/10
Mhonolink & Tor Lowkrantz – Exo Planet (Mhonday Music)
Long serving Swedish producer Jonas Karlsson has never had that big release to bring him to the next level that compatriots like Hardcell and Grindvik for instance, have reached. The Substance Abuse style 303 of “Drop The Hammer” signals a new period for Mhonolink though, which could prove that working with a studio partner like Tor Lowkrantz is something he should have done a lot sooner. Not many European techno type records are worth checking anymore, but this one is. 7/10
Chymera/Sourcecode – My Love/Even Numbers (Nice & Nasty)
The first 12” on Nice & Nasty for a while sees Desy Balmer’s label in top form. Octagon’s remix of Chymera’s “My Love” is warm, rolling minimal without the haircut, which rubs up against the pleasant, but slightly heard-it-before “Eldar Lane” from Chymera on the A-Side. Celtec Twinz’s pounding synth driven remix of Sourcecode’s “Even Numbers” on the flip is a job well done, while Tomas Jirku finishes off the EP nicely with a tricky electro rework of the same track. 8/10
AUGUST REVIEWS:
SELECTED:
Joey Beltram & The Advent – “Fractals/Rock Bottom” (Kombination Research)
Old pals Joey and Cisco join forces to mark one of the label's best releases in some time. “Code 6” and “Signal Path” on Tresor marked a return to form for Beltram, but “Fractals” goes one better. What a pleasure it is to hear techno synth lines being done as well as this, with Joey exploring the darker territory that sets him apart from the rest. With full, singing spectral pressure in top flight, this really is a lesson in dynamics. Not to be outdone, The Advent provides the bass heavy groove of “Rock Bottom”; diced with killer cut & paste edits and drops, he once again proves that no-one does it better when it comes to the high speed, measured changes that embody his sound. Cracking release. 5/5
Various – “Guerilla EP” (ARMS)
You usually know what you’re getting with ARMS, but they’re one of the few hard techno labels that can be relied on to deliver to a high standard. Diabla Diezco and Anton Pieete weigh in with a few bruisers on the A-side, but both sound a little over compressed and lacking in clarity. The swinging kicks and swelled keys of Marco Rabe & Paul Boex’s “Garuda “ impress on the flip, but the highlight is the Advent/Sterac style hypnotism that drives Radial’s remix of DJ Boss’ “Cekuj Zmrde!” - which is reminiscent of much of Synewave's output in the late nineties. 3.5/5
Micronost – “Narcissm And The Merits Of Capitalism” (D1 Recordings)
Surprisingly, D1’s latest release owes more to the sound of R&B than it does to the deeper sound of Detroit. David Donohoe has shown a penchant for chopped up vocal tomfoolery and glitch-making in the past, and here he gels distantly recognisable vocal licks to big broken drums - interspersing them with tinges of disco, soul and electronic bleeps. For me this is more of a listening record, and it’s certainly not the sort of thing you’re going to hear being rocked out by Trevor Nelson either, but regardless of that it is a refreshing take on slowed down fractured funk, and an interesting addition to D1’s catalogue. 4/5
Decimal – “Small Moving Pieces” (Enemy Ltd.)
Dustin Zahn’s music and labels have managed to ride the wave of trends very well over the last few years, and I mean that in the best possible way. Whether it’s minimal, industrial or straight up loop techno, the standards of production and sound design have tended to eclipse most others. Decimal aka David Spacek serves up four varied cuts on Zahn’s imprint here; with the A-side contributing the two picks, in the vocal charged minimal shuffles of “Wet Dreams” and the Sleeparchive style bleeps and drones of “Hammer”. A heavyweight 2007 release, and dare I say, probably already a big Hawtin favourite. 4.5/5
JULY REVIEWS:
SELECTED:
Lief Ryan & Mascon – Generic Title EP (Growth)
Lief Ryan has been something of a revelation over the last few years. From a virtual unknown to one of the leaders of the nu-skool UK underground, Lief’s knack to masterfully trounce his way around electro, breaks and techno, has propelled him right up the ladder. While many other producers’ tracks can sound disjointed or overly laboured when trying to experiment, Lief naturally segues many diverse elements into his music, with an infectious grimey bass that's rocking dancefloors in an exciting new way. He and German producer Mascon take one side apiece, with Lief's rave-tastic “Weeklycleanup" and the stuttered sensibilities of Mascon’s playful “Boykot” impressing most. Growth continues to flourish in these uncertain and often dull times, proving that unique and daring labels are more valuable than they’ve ever been. 10/10
Various - Dinner 02 (Dinner Records)
After a super opening 12” on this new Dutch label, Jeroen Liebregts and friends bring us the next serving of Dinner. All quite percussive stuff on offer but don’t let that deter you from some of the almighty atmospherics and wiry rhythms employed, with the charging Exium influenced “Origin” by Fiend & Friend and murmuring groans of Liebregts’ “Dondernacht” standing next to the odd key shuffles of Anton Pieete’s “Goldbrown” – making this just as essential as the first release. Keep ‘em coming lads. 8/10
Ikeaboy - Metanoia Vol.1 (Invisible Agent)
Damian Tubbritt aka Ikeaboy has been threatening to do a record like this for a long time. While his appetite for powerful electro bass in previous outings has been clear, this time he has set the record straight beyond any doubt. Including a ghoulish, dub shaking remix from Sir Real and a sinister dancefloor interpretation from label boss Warren Daly, it's the weird jerking feel of ghetto paced tracks like "Pallet Scrap" and “Yellow Metal”, that make this a secret weapon for bass freaks everywhere. An Irish release that deserves your attention, this is storming stuff. 8/10
Reeko & Gennaro Le Fosse – No.6 (Mental Disorder)
Spanish hoodlum Reeko has mentioned Joey Beltram as an influence in the past, and while he didn’t get to collaborate with his hero on this one, he did manage a close second in Gennaro Le Fosse – an oft forgotten New York legend who was responsible for co-production on some of Beltram’s early nineties’ hits. The A-Side here is almost as slick as this magazine, with charging industrial percussion and a neat building synth standing next to a more tripped out B-Side, where the guidance of Le Fosse links dancing tribal rhythms to hypnotic chants of ‘Mental Disorder’. Top notch. 8/10
Various – We Were Acid Part 3(Membrane)
Swedish label Membrane have slowly but surely built up an impressive catalogue of raw, driving analogue tracks that put the emphasis back on the sound of machines rather than the random nature of the latest VST plugin. They serve up five rocking (yes, you've guessed it) acid tracks on this very attractive red vinyl, with the slowed down, but dog heavy electro kicks of Sorgenkint’s “**** Off Harry Potter” and Modular Men’s vocal smattered “New Jack” standing out. 7/10
The Hacker – Space Travel (Notorious Elektro)
Thankfully Michel Amato has not let success dilute his sound too much, although it is fair to say that “Space Travel” is not his strongest offering to date. As the title suggests, it is quite spacey - lifted by some elegant Juno stabs, incessant throbbing bass and trademark knife sharp snares; but he fails to capitalise on the tension created early on and soon runs out of steam. Gino’s & Snake’s more electro house offering on the B-Side does have a nice wobbly bass vibe going on and its epic finale makes up for what The Hacker could have done in the original. Not bad, but not great. 6/10
Mike Humphries/Audioklinik – The Ages EP (Open Source)
Mastertraxx’s Mike Humphries joins London's Open Source label in a perfect marriage that combines Humphries recent old skool leanings to Open Source’s annihilating bass ambitions, as exemplified in the forceful “Automation” on the A-Side. Meanwhile, Swiss duo Audioklinik join monstrous synths with surging bottom end to provide two winners in “Chronos” and “Darkness” on the flip. Good ‘avin it material for peak time strobe light moments. 7/10
Sir Real - Apocalyptica (Satamile)
As one of the founders of the UK's legendary House Of God night, many people will also know Neil ‘Sir Real’ Spragg from releases on Kraktronik and for his efficiency at renowned Birmingham distributor Veto Music. For his debut outing on New York’s Satamile, Neil has opted for a more classic sound to that of some of his previous releases, with the anthemic “Scorched Earth” breakbeating its way to glory, alongside the suspended chords and twanging riff of “Ascension”. Finishing with the turbo charged vox injected “Landscapes”; Sir Real proves that it’s not all doom and gloom in Birmingham, with a three track EP of high fuelled, uplifting electro beauty. 10/10
Vainqueur & Substance - Remixes Chapter 1 (Scion Versions)
The Scion boys have been getting busy again, and this time they’ve toughened up the sound on their new label by drafting in British Murder Boys Surgeon and Regis to rework “Emerge 1”. Both remixes’ broken beats crash their way over heavily processed Basic Channel keys, with the first being a more elastic groove than some of the pair’s harsher work. The straighter but lively minimal pulse of Sleeparchive’s “Immersion” rework also acquits itself well, with dubbed out Berlin undertones fitting the ‘buzz’ of the label perfectly. Great dancefloor fodder indeed. 8/10
JUNE REVIEWS:
SELECTED:
Archae & Grovskopa
Emergent Properties
(Emergence)
Swedes Archae & Grovskopa have often worn the influence of Surgeon on their sleeves, although rather than go the copycat route like many others have, they have in some ways gone a step further than the Birmingham don when it comes to combining abstract elements to dancefloor techno. “Grow Lighter” is the pick of three threatening club tracks on offer; with a reflective and gently uplifting atmosphere making it one of the pair’s best tracks to date. Meanwhile, Archae’s creepy remake of “Grow Lighter” is a superlative soundscape - perfect as the intro to a set or for a quieter moment at home! While Emergence had been feeling a bit of fatigue of late, this is a big return to form and one of 2007’s essential techno releases to date.
Paul Kalkbrenner
Altes Kamuffel
(B-Pitch Control)
Paul Kalkbrenner has been a staple part of the B-Pitch setup for some time now and is certainly consistent if anything. “Altes Kamuffel“ is a throbbing, big room groove carried a towering trance like synth, which overall is probably the highlight of this 12” with “Ick Muss Aus Dit Milieu Heraus” being a quite plain and monotonous offering on the flip. B-Pitch lob out record after record and often hope for the best; sometimes it works, other times it results in records like this that don’t quite hit the mark.
Black Arts
Booty Shaker
(Black Arts)
Dean Cole and Frank Hunter seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth; however this new joint project sees them back on form. Cole is maybe best known for his reputed involvement in the User tracks that littered Richie Hawtin’s “Dex, FX and 909” mix CD, while Hunter was a promising force before he went AWOL. Here they’ve got together for four cuts of deep groovin’ broken beats to file alongside your Purpose Maker or Steve Bicknell records, with title track “Booty Shaker” being the pick of the bunch. This is nothing too new but is an old sound done well.
Fiend & Friend / Jeroen Liebregts
Dinner 01
(Dinner)
Jeroen Liebgregts has emerged from the increasingly redundant hard techno scene of the last few years, to consistently release some of the most well produced, intelligent and more importantly killer tracks going. Teaming up with fellow Dutchmen and co-label owners Fiend & Friend, they’ve hit a perfect combination between minimal and tough techno, with brooding hooks underplayed by rumbling bass and creative digital funk. Exploring the territory that more techno producers should perhaps be doing, this is a very promising start for this new label.
Fabio Gianelli
Nasty Chamber – Stock The Confusion
(Maschine)
Oliver Lieb’s label has enjoyed some of the better moments of nu-minimal, not least for the fact that it concentrates on developing proper synth hooks rather than barely-there bleeps. “Stock The Stick” plods and isn’t anything remarkable however “Land Of Confusion” enters more adventurous territory - a warm bass driven slice of minimal with a soaring melody that keeps on moving, this is a more standout offering than most of the click, bleep and a-big-dash-of-reverb-for-the-break merchants have to offer.
Chris McCormack
Exit To Extinction
(Materials)
Chris messed around before by telling everyone he had given up techno, which both annoyed and saddened a lot of people. His return to the scene is a very welcome one though as his presence had been missed. “They Feed You Scraps Like Starving Bongo Dogs” is a relentless McCormack bulldozer that takes no prisoners; however it’s the theatrical atmosphere of “Exit To Extinction” that sees Chris conjure up a new and bizarre energy that could probably be best described as hard techno-opera. As a limited 12” to accompany his new double CD album, this one is another essential purchase for McCormack fans.
DJ 3000/ Fabrice Lig
Balkan Bridge EP
(Motech)
Motech has been one of the few labels in Detroit in recent years worth checking with DJ 3000’s profile growing steadily in tandem. Here he is joined by Belgium’s Fabrice Lig with each producer taking one side apiece. DJ 3000’s “Balkan Bridge” is a shaking tribal groove that could work in a variety of sets and clubs, while Lig’s “Au Pont Des Ames Perdues” is one of his typically soulful Motor City contributions that will delight many sentimental listeners out there.
Various
I’m In The Pocket
(Tonewrecker)
Label boss Paul Birken is joined by three debutants to the label to add their interpretations to “I’m In The Pocket”. Birken wonks it up with a blend of skipping beats and crazy edits while Cannibal Cooking Club keep their rackety version confusing throughout. Miro Pajic’s dark, spooky take on minimal is a highlight, while DJ TJR’s driving acid cut falls in between classic Landstrumm and the odder techno moments of Freddie Fresh. A great mix of tracks on offer here for those demanding a bit of flavour.
