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	This week's techno selections Friday 6 April 2018

New this week	View all

Daniel Avery

Song For Alpha
Phantasy Sound

While undoubtedly one of dance music's greatest party-starters, Daniel Avery has never been a dance music purist. Over the years, there have been various quirky, downtempo-minded side projects and DJ mixes that show the impressive breadth of his musical knowledge. It's for this reason we're not that surprised to find that Song For Alpha, his first album since 2013, combines deeper and more trippy takes on his club-ready sound (home listening fodder, despite the drums) with escapist, early morning cuts inspired by ambient greats (Brian Eno, John Hassell etc.) and the after-hours electronica of Warp's pioneering Artificial Intelligence series. By mixing things up in this way, Avery has delivered what could well be his strongest body of work to date.

Toby Tobias

Second Stimulus / Synchro Surfer
ESP Institute

Second Stimulus is Toby Tobias' second outing on Lovefingers' label, and goes a long way to explain why the UK producer is so revered. The title track is a cosmic affair, with mysterious melodies, tripped out synth sweeps and extra helpings of reverb all unfolding over tight drum breaks. Tobias opts for a different approach on "Synchro Surfer": focusing on the dance floor from the get-go, he delivers a linear rhythm that will be well received by DJs. However, he then proceeds to daub it in bleeps, sirens and the kind of warm and woozy chords that have become his signature.

Marquis Hawkes

Returns
Dixon Avenue Basement Jams

Following a few-action packed years, Mark Hawkins brings his house project back to the label where it all began - Dixon Avenue Basement Jams. Remaining true to the Marquis Hawkes sound, "Rush Hour Traffic" revolves around rough and raw kicks, grainy bass pulses and slow-release siren riffs. On "Moonmin", he brings the tempo down to drop a synth-led groove, while on "Bodywork", Hawkins takes inspiration from Chicago's more minimal sound. Repetitive tones, jacking rhythms and insistent chord stabs make for the kind of primal affair that one would associate with Lester Fitzpatrick. Hawkins remains in this mode on closing track "Marauding Acid", where grimy acid lines and eerie synths recall DJ Skull.

Locked Groove

Progression EP
Just This

With releases to his credit on Kompakt, Hotflush and Permanent Vacation to his credit, Locked Groove now debuts on Just This, a label out of Milan. The title track is a wild cacophony of jittery chords, flailing rhythms and eerie atmospherics, making for a truly weird and wonderful track. "The Come Up" is slightly more subdued, and sees the Belgian producer deliver evocative synths over a crisp, rolling break beat. The label has tapped the mysterious Prequel Tapes for two versions of "The Come Up". The 'Going Up' version features shimmering synths and frenetic break beats, leading into an epic climax, like a re-imagined version of 90s UK techno, while the 'Going Down' version is all dubbed out drums and shimmering sound scapes.

Stimming / Dave DK

Frankfurt Main / Saida 222
Hart & Tief

Hart & Tief is a spin-off of DJ Koze's Pampa label. Translated as 'hard and deep', the imprint's aesthetic is audible on its third release, which sees Stimming opt for a more underground sound than usual. On "Frankfurt Main", the Diynamic producer drops cold techno chord stabs and the kind of rumbling, cavernous rhythm that you'd normally associate with producers like Mike Dehnert (interestingly, also a previous contributor to the label). On the flip side, veteran German producer Dave DK ventures even farther down the wormhole. Stripped of melodies, "Saida 222" centres on a rumbling, loosely arranged workout that keeps on grooving.

Alan Fitzpatrick

The Colours Of A Dream EP
We Are The Brave

Alan Fitzpatrick is one of the UK's most talented techno producers, and the latest release on his own label shows just how adept he is. "Dancing Astronaut" sees him bring together firing, steely percussion, doubled up claps and a rumbling bass as a back drop for building, searing chord sequences. It's a menacing but atmospheric arrangement that breaks down into an evocative vocal sample before reaching a snare-led crescendo. On "Together Until the End", the approach is less direct, with Fitzpatrick delivering a broken beat-led rhythm and an evocative vocal sample. However, soon enough, he's back on the dance floor with the pounding kicks and lead-weight percussion and wild rave stabs of "Joy Rider"

Philippe Petit

Fracture EP EXCLUSIVE
Knotweed

Philippe Petit is one of the unsung heroes of European techno. This is partly due to the fact that his label, Knotweed, has focused a lot of its efforts on releasing music by luminaries like Terrence Dixon and Myles Serge. However, Fracture looks certain to redress that imbalance. Designed to accommodate a range of moods and feelings, the release starts with the detuned riffs of "Killdozer", before heading to the peak time thanks to the pulsating, acid-led bass of "Five Zero". On "See The Light", the Knotweed boss focuses on a similar approach - although its whooshing synths somewhat offset the effect of its pulsating bass and hammering kicks - while on the title track, Petit calls to mind Rob Hood's visceral minimal thanks to its searing riffs and malevolent chord stabs.

Haider

Do What You Love...
Breaker Breaker

Haider is the brains behind London label Breaker Breaker, and so far he has been happy to release material by producers like Ross From Friends and Tokyo's RGL. That's all set to change this year as Haider himself steps from the shadows to deliver two EPs and then an album. Love is a stunning debut release: it starts with the dusty beats and murky bass of "Dreams of U", with the arrangement morphing to include hushed synths and rattling percussion. "Retrofuturist" is even more impressive: over a stepping arrangement, the label boss calls to mind classic Detroit techno and electro as warm bass tones are intermingled with evocative, tingling melodies. Rounding off this exemplary release is a more visceral track, the grainy acid of "Fukouttahere", but all three tracks mean that Haider's album is sure to be one of this year's highlights.

Talismann

TALISMANN 006
Talismann

It's common knowledge by now that Talismann is the harder hitting alias of Dutch electronic music hero Guy Blanken aka Makam. Once again he serves up austere, old-school bangers for the warehouse on his eponymous imprint's sixth edition - and perfectly geared for heads down moments. From the relentless thump and clatter of "Fusion" barging through with its distorted kicks, steely claps on the kick and hypnotic pads, "Industrial Revolution" reaches near gabber moments - if the jacked up tempo won't get you, the Devilfish acid glides and adrenalised Mentasms sure as hell will!

matHame

At The Doors Of Those Spaces
Oddity

After a couple of well-received EPs on labels like ARTS and Afterlife Records, production duo Mathame now make their debut on Fur Coat's Oddity imprint. At The Doors will appeal to those who like their techno deep and layered but that still carries a functional punch. On "Starburst", this combination of crispy percussion and punchy drums provides the basis for tranced out synths, while on "Striker", the pair up the tempo further, and deliver eerie melodies coupled with firing hi hats and cavernous, doubled-up claps. The label has also chosen its remixers wisely: Locked Groove focuses on the ethereal side of Mathame's production for his evocative but pulsating take on "Starburst", while in Cassegrain's hands, "Striker" turns into a hypnotic, rolling groove.

Solipsism

Hypnagogo EXCLUSIVE
Ambidextrous Digital

Following the excellent OHM compilation, Glasgow's Ambidextrous label continues with this sterling EP from label regular Solipsism, aka Craig Murphy. With an energised, dynamic sound that positively bursts out of the speakers, Murphy is flying the flag for leftfield electronica coming out of Scotland. 'Error Hash Mirror Mountain' has the kind of overloaded yet melodic sound that you might expect from early Nathan Fake, although the wooziness is replaced by a rabid punch that shakes your cerebellum. 'Sea Dweller' by way of stark contrast dives into a low-slung trip hop vibe, and the smoked out mood continues with 'Hypnagogo'. 'Fast Rubber Taxis' is equally slow, but it sports a sassy rhythmic strut that sets it apart from the other two downtempo tracks.

TRP

Things Won't Change
Lobster Theremin

Since making his debut on Lobster Theremin back in 2016, David Willenberger AKA TRP has popped up on some impressive labels including Mork, Unknown to the Unknown and Shall Not Fade. His return to Lobster Theremin is a four-track affair rich in dusty, lo-fi productions marinated in tactile chords and glassy-eyed melodies. Really, though, it's the weightiness of his beats and basslines that catches the ear throughout, from the rubbery throb of classic U.S deep house tribute "EFX (Part 1)" and L.I.E.S-does-dream house bumper "EFX (Part 2)", to the skipping, two-step machine drums, swirling electronics and gentle melodies of opener "Things Won't Change". If you're looking for something deeper and woozier in a heads-down, early morning style, then cast your gaze towards EP standout "Conscientious".

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Tensal

Before The Bonfire

Soma

Jon Hester

Galvanized EP

Rekids

Charlotte De Witte

Heart Of Mine

Suara

Dave Simon / 999999999 / Robert S

303 101 EP

Planet Rhythm

Alfre

The Scientific Method

Symphonic Distribution

Daniel Avery

Clear

Kena

Marcello Perri

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Developer / DJ Surgeles

The Mercurian Particle

Modularz US

Jasper Wolff & Maarten Mittendorff

Snad

Boxia

SCB / Scuba

Slv

Soma

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Markus Suckut

New Life EP

Rekids

Yagya

Rhythm Of Snow

Delsin Holland

Dast

Simposio

Suara

2pole

Atom EP

Tronic

Scalameriya

Hellzone Megapunk

Perc Trax

Nic Fanciulli feat Damon Albarn

Saying

Saved

Slowglide

VONDA7

Featured Label: We Are The Brave	View all

Alan Fitzpatrick

Magnetic Dog
We Are The Brave

On his latest release, Alan Fitzpatrick does a lot to deconstruct the myth that he is all about linear, big room techno. The title track is a dramatic, evolving affair, with the UK producer taking influence from acid acts like Hardfloor as a cacophony of 303s squiggle and screech their way over a meaty bass and razor-sharp thunder claps. Just when you thought that the arrangement couldn't get any more intense, a siren shrieks across the spectrum - in reverse. While "Magnetic Dog" is a euphoric affair, the release is also tinged with sadness as it features a remix from the late Trevino. The respected producer opts for a more restrained approach, laying down churning chords and a ghostly strings.

Darius Syrossian

Made For Manchester
We Are The Brave

The latest release on Alan Fitzpatrick's label comes from Darius Syrossian, a DJ who is inextricably linked to Manchester thanks to his work at Sankey's. Fittingly, "Made For.." starts off with a tight, rhythm-heavy groove, but then breaks into a wide-eyed, vocal-tinged break down. It's exactly the kind of interplay that works with the big room crowds that Syrossian plays to. The label owner himself is tasked with the rework, and rises admirably to the occasion. Upping the tempo and toughening up the kicks, the larger than life producer's take centres on snappy percussion, the occasional use of the vocal sample from the original and a clanging, brutal bass.

Alan Fitzpatrick

They All Called 'Em Garys
We Are The Brave

Alan Fitzpatrick always makes sure that techno music doesn't get too serious or precious. The UK producer's latest release is a good example of his ability to draw a sonic smiley face over purist identities. Drawing on hardcore hoover riffs, out there vocals - from the drugged up to diva wailing - and atmospheric piano keys, the title track harks back to a more innocent time for electronic music. Of course it helps that Fitzpatrick frames these elements amid a driving, funk-heavy backing track. On "Rhino", Fitzpatrick uses a similar backing track, but this time it's all about euphoria inducing trance builds married to metallic snare rolls. The purists may hate it, but there's no doubting that for everyone else, Fitzpatrick's irreverence is hugely infectious.

Alan Fitzpatrick

You Got Me
We Are The Brave

No one does the big room sound like Alan Fitzpatrick and the UK producer showcases his expertise once again on You Got Me, the latest missive on his We Are The Brave label. The title track centres on his trademark lead-weight kicks, firing percussion and powerful thunder claps, but also resounds to a screeching diva vocal sample and rather unexpectedly boasts a rave riff-led break down. Soma duo Slam's take doesn't pull any punches either; focused on a linear, hammering rhythm and concrete kicks, it sees the veteran Scottish producers add a more malevolent riff, redolent of the Hoover excesses of Belgian techno, amid a seething acid line.

Alan Fitzpatrick

Friday Night Dancing
We Are The Brave

Anyone who had Alan Fitzpatrick categorised as merely a big room minimal techno artist should think again. Sure, the UK producer has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with Adam Beyer's Drumcode, but he has also released recently on Mosaic, the home of all things deep and dubby. As Dancing shows, Fitzpatrick also brings a depth of knowledge and musical history to his productions. Over a rolling, low slung groove, he adds in the kind of dubbed out vocal sample that used to prevail on San Fran house records at the turn of the millennium. Combined with a woozy rave riff, this makes for an intoxicating underground groove. The label has tasked Skream with the remix; upping the tempo, he delivers a rolling, bleep-heavy rhythm that breaks down into Fitzpatrick's frazzled rave stab before proceeding on its juggernaut course.

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Persohna

TECHNO CHART MARCH 2018

Patrik Skoog

Mind Control Counterchange

Petter B

Driverless Pattern Odd Recordings

Wisna

E-communication Planet Rhythm

Wrong Assessment

Close To Red Planet Rhythm

Evod

UnitA Float

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TOP Juno Download DJ Charts March 2018

Acid Junkies

Zurig (Thomas Heckmann remix) DJAX Upbeats

Robert Hood

Transform Dekmantel Holland

Circuit Alpha

Control Board Focus

Robert Hood

Nephesh Dekmantel Holland

Aiken

Time Timeline

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Bfractal Music

Fractal Techno Bundle (Sample Pack WAV)

BFractal Music

Bfractal Music

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BFractal Music

Industrial Strength Records

Industrial Strength Techno (Sample Pack WAV)

Industrial Strength Records

Samplestate

Dark Atonal Techno (Sample Pack WAV/APPLE/LIVE)

Samplestate

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