Review: Recorded live on September 10, 1993, for BBC Radio 1, this set strips back the studio polish in favour of raw, surging energy, breathing new life into core tracks from their Brown Album era. Their explosive 1993 John Peel session was a broadcast that captured the UK rave pioneers at their most visceral and unfiltered. The versions of 'Lush 3-1', 'Walk Now...' and 'Semi Detached' found here are looser, leaner and more urgent. 'Lush' in particular throbs with a relentless momentum, shedding its original texture in favor of a tougher, more improvised drive. It's a perfect showcase of Orbital's gift for live manipulation, transforming structured studio pieces into kinetic, spontaneous soundscapes. This reissue boasts newly commissioned artwork by Intro and aligns with the legacy of the Peel Sessions as a proving ground for boundary-pushing talent. Critics and longtime fans have praised the EP for its intensity and fluidity, supporting Orbital's status as live innovators. Radio Sessions is a nostalgic artifact and a reminder of how thrilling and forward-thinking Orbital's sound was.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: As Soul Capsule, Baby Ford and Thomas Melchior made some of minimal techno's most accomplished records. It has been many years since they stopped turning out new material - sadly - but their archive tracks are still in hot demand and undeniably relevant. While 1999's 'Lady Science' might be their most famous offering, this EP from 2001 on Aspect Music is no less vital and it will currently cost you well over L250 on second-hand markets. It is Ford's Trelik label who reissues it here in all its glory: the entirety of the a-side is taken up with 'Law Of Grace,' a delightfully deep and breezy minimal dub house roller with pensive chords draped over the frictionless drums. 'Meltdown' has a more experimental feel with brushed metal drums beneath a wordless vocal musing. The cult 'Lady Science' (Tek Mix) is also inched with the whole package being remastered by D&M to make this one utterly essential.
Review: Back by popular demand, this reissue from one of techno's true originators reminds us just how vital these tracks still sound. First released in 1992 and briefly reissued in 2000, these four cuts showcase a unique hybrid of Detroit precision and early European rave energy that continues to inspire. 'The Warning' leads the charge with classic machine-driven Detroit funk. Its rhythm is relentless yet controlled, mechanical yet human. The track feels like a transmission from a future imagined decades ago. 'Ghost' follows with a harder edge. It channels the energy of early Belgium rave with sharp chord stabs and that unmistakable Hoover-style synth. It hits fast and leaves a heavy impression. On Side-B, 'Ex-' is the most cinematic cut. Sci-fi textures, punchy drums and an off-world sense of atmosphere blend the sharpness of UK rave with Detroit's emotional weight. 'Dark Basse' is the banger of the EP with a stripped-back approach. Its minimal but moody framework makes it an instant attention grabber, offering something both haunting and dancefloor effective. These tracks remain timeless and prove once again that true underground techno never goes out of style.
Review: German electronic nerd and tactile techno master Skee Mask returns to Ilian Tape, the label run by the Munich-based Zenker Brothers, with a fresh batch of his club-ready throbbers. 'TR Nautila' rides on uneven drum breaks with claps loud in there mix, until they aren't, and a stumbling bassline that underpins a morph into jungle-adjacent madness. 'Panic Button' has springy sounds and sludgy low ends, precision-tooled drums and a celestial backlight that pushes and pulls you emotionally. 'MD25' has an industrial clang and clatter that evokes being lost in a strobe-lit warehouse and 'LCC Rotation' is a freewheeling percussive gem with moody pads for all-out assault in the club.
Review: Sub Basics's Temple Of Sound is back with new music from Henry Greenleaf who appears under his new moniker, Greenteeth. It is a project he is clearly using to cook up smart back room minimal sounds going off this evidence: 'Loxton' is a slow motion and prowling groove but one with deep, menacing bass and nice louche percussion. 'Jungle Love' is another subversive sound with a snaking rhythm and dubby low ends, dusty hi hats and late night mischief. Last of, 'On & On & On' plays out over all of the flipside with shuffling drums that are light and airy and topped with wispy drones. It's delightfully hypnotic.
Review: Glasgow-born veteran and techno heavyweight Gary Beck drops the much-requested ID 'Hopper' on SHDW's Mutual Rytm sub-label, Spectra. He's already well-known for underground anthems like 'Upside Criminal' and 'Fold' but now unveils this long-awaited club cut, which was born from a spontaneous studio session. Featuring a syncopated disco bassline, nods to funk and with an irresistible groove, 'Hopper' lingers long after the dancefloor empties and showcases Beck's production nous in more ways than one. Remix duties go to Bulgarian hardware wizard KiNK, who first delivers a warm, house-leaning version, then flips the script with a high-octane blend of techno and UKG.
Nordhouse (Luke Hess & Brian Kage Reference remix) (5:51)
Galaxian (Max Watts remix) (6:02)
Review: Detroit's Brian Kage is back with more Motor City goodness, this time as a remixer alongside a fine selection of peers. It is his Timeless Times album that gets reworked here and for his remix of 'Nordhouse' he works with fellow Detroiter and dub techno don Luke Hess to cook up a warm, shuffling sound. Elsewhere Delano Smith brings his signature smoky loops and plaintive keys to 'Detroit Techno City', Milton Jackson steps up with a buddy deep house roller and 'Galaxian' gets an electro remix from Max Watts to make this a classy, quality collection.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: It's reissue time for one of the most in demand records from the Trelik catalogue, featuring Baby Ford and Thomas Melchior under their Sunpeople alias. The flip side's opening track 'Check Your Buddah' is probably the best known of the four tracks here, with its spacious echoes, mantra-like voices and heads down beats, but there's plenty to be said for the other three. 'Lovers Eyes' is an equally dubby techno affair, but pinned down by sturdy, infectious beats, 'Sungods Wedding' is blessed with churning, warm bass action and just a smidge of cowbell and 'Make It Right' is properly hypnotic 3am gear that's a dream to mix and draws in the listener with its imperceptible builds and three note bleep magic. Worship the Sun!
Review: Detroit's Robert Hood returns to vinyl with a techno triptych that distils his vision into something sharp, agile and impossibly refined. Though long synonymous with minimalism, he hasn't sounded this raw in yearsi'Art Form' arrives like a jolt, all jacking 909s and acidic flickers that feel urgent and alive. It's his first straight techno release since 2024, and it pulses with a kind of stripped-down euphoria, framed by Hood's ear for clean lines and stark rhythmic discipline. 'Art Class' deepens the tone, winding through heavier acid modulations that buzz beneath a more spacious arrangement, less confrontational but just as potent. On the B-side, 'Art School' leans into the cinematic mode, pairing sci-fi synth washes with grinding low-end pressure, rolling somewhere between introspection and propulsion. Though the tracks first landed digitally earlier this year, hearing them sequenced here offers a deeper read into Hood's blueprintiacid as method, groove as design. In his own words, M-Plant is about "only what is essential", and these three cuts prove just how much feeling can be encoded in that minimal frame. It's a statement of intent, executed with absolute clarity from one of techno's true architects.
Review: Octal Industries makes a strong return to Kontakt Records with a solo outing packed with three immersive dub techno cuts that reflect his famously textured soundscapes and refined production. As always, this is a masterclass in atmosphere and depth with warm analogue tones highlighting the subtle rhythmic shifts. It's hypnotic tackle that is rooted in classic dub traditions but with a fresh, modern edge. 'Arborea (feat Oxun)' opens up with a groove that rocks back and forth on its heels, 'Locked Down' has a more free-flowing rhythm and is doused in aquatic pads and 'Alotook' brings some textural intensity and white noise for a more arresting experience.
Review: With Pattern Gardening, London-after-Leeds imprint Wisdom Teeth yank out an extra gnasher we didn't know we had. As has always been the case, label heads Facta and K-Lone could be said to have curated and curetted a new compilation from the joint dentist's chair, exacting a 22-track root canal with periodontal precision, nearly doubling the size of their V/A ambit since 2024's Club Moss. But on this selective six-track sampler for wax, we've only a further sanding down of a much larger minimal, micro and tech house selection; here's gummy textures and maxillary moods by Polygonia, rRoxymore, Lurka, Sub Basics, and newcomer Jichael Mackson. Clarity and sound design are top priorities, as is the ideal of whitened teeth flashed by the poolside. Snappy, Rhodesy, watery.
Review: Belgian innovator CJ Bolland returns with three razor-sharp cuts that land somewhere between classic acid, metallic electro and streamlined techno. 'High Voltage' does exactly what it says on the tin: a squelching, high-intensity opener that builds tension through blistering filters and raw drum programming. On the flip, 'Venusian Storm' dials into that eerie, dystopian sci-fi mood Bolland's long masteredithink stormy pads, electro bleeps and tightly coiled 808s. 'Waves Of Derbyshire' feels like the comedown transmission, all sweeping chords and subtly shifting groove layers that still throb with club intent. For anyone who rinsed 'Camargue' or 'The Prophet', this is a reminder of Bolland's timeless touchiupdated but unmistakably his. Peak-time tackle with brains.
Review: In line with the timely reappraisal of all things R&S related, the resurgent Apollo have seen the opportunity to bring one of their most celebrated records back for another round. Aphex Twin's ambient recordings mature magnificently with age, sounding ever richer and more emotive as the rest of electronic music continues to play catch up all around. From the gentle breakbeats of "Xtal" to the aquatic techno lure of "Tha", the airy rave of "Pulsewidth" to the heartwrenching composition of "Ageispolis", every track is a perennial example of how far ambient techno could reach even back then. It's just that no-one quite had the arm-span of Richard D. James.
Our Life With The Wave (Cv313 + Federsen dub) (7:07)
Our Life With The Wave (Intrusion dub) (6:49)
Review: Originally released in 2007, 'Our Life With The Wave' stands as a prime example of the late great Detroit producer's deep, soulful approach to electronic music. Crafted entirely with the Waldorf Wave i a synth Huckaby often called one of his favourites i the track captures his distinctive blend of warmth and precision. This reissue, featuring the original alongside new remixes, is both a tribute and a celebration of his legacy. The original version remains as hypnotic as ever, its rich textures and subtle groove sounding timeless. On the Federsen live dub, the track takes on a more fluid, organic character, with shimmering layers unfolding over a sturdy, pulsating rhythm. Side-B opens with the Cv313 + Federsen dub, a deep, aquatic reimagining where ambient chords ripple over a taut, rolling bassline i a perfect dive into weightless, dubbed-out techno. Finally, the Intrusion dub stretches the track into a more expansive, airy space, full of atmospheric drift and slow-building, epic emotion. Together, these versions honor Huckaby's spirit while expanding his vision. Each dub feels reverent but also full of life, ensuring that 'Our Life With The Wave' continues to ripple forward through the evolution of deep electronic music.
Review: For those of us who find solace in music, refuge often lies in its intricate corners. Reflex Blue returns with the second release on his personal imprint which will appeal to such people and offers his unique take on wonky house music. His The Twisted Maze EP features raccoon-inspired grooves and bleepy after-hours moments that offer an intimate look into Blue's creative mind. There are lithe tech pumpers like the opener, trippy workouts like 'Got D' Funk', deep and driving throwbacks like 'Freestyle Groove"' and 'Destination' shuts down with more futuristic tech excellence.
Review: Birmingham's Jossy Mitsu and Bluetoof join headsy forces on their new collaboration for Tempa, colliding the former artist's rinsed, globetrotting UK-troit DJ sets the world over and the latter's "drum specialisms" formerly lent to labels the likes of Shall Not Fade. Transcending the one-forties for a deeper-shades descension, 'Metamorphic' and 'Acid' establish a mood of nightclub meets human biostasis facility, as sci-fi zaps meet brooding, high-sustain bass cues. 'H20' is the sole tune to heighten the mood, its stop-start rollerblade bass and necksnap 808s proffering a jammier digestif.
Review: This new one from Stefan Ringer on his FWM Entertainment combines two distinct releases in one: 3 tracks from his 2021 Meta Music EP and his darker alias Black Sued's 'Rogue' EP. It's a yin-yang journey of sound that shows his range and quality. 'Monotone' pairs signature deep chords and soulful vocals and distorted bass with minimal drums, while 'New Plan' is a driving, rhythmic workout of persistence and groove. 'YIA' offers meditative chords and affirmations set against a thunderstorm backdrop and the flip, the title cut explores shadowy jazz textures with a mysterious groove, 'Maze' marches forward with urgency and layered rhythm, while 'Deep Dirt' closes with gritty, broken-machine chaos. Together, these EPs make for a powerful emotional and sonic contrast.
Review: FoxBam Inc returns with its fourth EP featuring a powerful mix of floor-shaking productions. The release includes contributions from Gez Varley, best known for his work with LFO and classic tracks like 'Quo Vardis' alongside Italian acid producer Vikkei and label founders Foxtrot and Egebamyasi. This new one opens with the acid-heavy 'Battle Scars' while Vikkei delivers the hard techno 'Hip 'n' Crack.' Egebamyasi explores bass-driven wobbly dubstep with 'Mandubchester' and Varley's 'Saturn One' brings cinematic vibes to his signature techno style. Launched in 2023, FoxBam Inc is already becoming a key player in the underground.
Review: Dublin's techno master steps out with a release that feels both emotionally charged and technically razor sharp for his own label Xistence. Balancing precision with heart, these tracks echo the roots of Detroit techno while reaching boldly into the future. 'The Fear Of Failing' leads with a crystalline melody that feels like it's been beamed in from another dimension. The production is slick and spacious, but there's warmth in the detail, and the main motif is hard to forget. 'Homecoming' drifts in with a deep rolling groove that's part celestial drift, part afterhours love letter. Everything about it feels smooth and elevated, like watching the sunrise from orbit. Claude Young steps in on remix duties and delivers something raw and gritty. His take on 'The Fear Of Failing' strips things down to a lean acid framework. It's a trip back to techno's skeleton while still sounding sharp in the now. 'Mirror Reaction' rounds things off with pure Detroit class. Built with intent and clarity, it's the kind of track that moves both head and body. A graceful, thoughtfully crafted EP from a producer clearly in control of his sound.
Review: Hackney Electronica is a collective of underground stalwarts who came together during COVID. It comprises the mad prolific Quinn Whalley of Paranoid London, Warmduscher and Decius, as well as Unai Trotti from Cartulis Music and Margo Broom of Hermitage Working Studios. They deal in acid-laced sounds which are a perfect fit for Dark Entires and here explore twisted late-night club sounds that are alluring yet austere. As their name suggests, they capture the vibe of Hackney's backstreets in their music with 'H.E. Nuestro Circuito' and 'Whispers from the Depths' bringing 1980s DIY electronics to a contemporary dancefloor, while 'Efecto Perfecto,' 'The One' and 'Nueva Ola' deliver potent electro powered by big breakbeats. It's a superb EP of tension and transcendence.
Review: You might think that Yassin Omidi is a newcomer, but in fact it is the new-coming of an already accomplished and respected head who now delves deep into the world of dub techno on Steve O'Sullivan's Mosaic. The beatless 'Sluder Dub' is coated in heavy fog and static with conscious vocal musings and the roomiest of chords landing with great drama and tons of echo. On the flip is another analogue sound that features buffed metal dub chords, classic effects and a shapeshifting ambient hiss. It's dramatic despite being such a minimal piece.
Review: Spanish label Non Series is one of the most consistent techno labels around. For the heads, this trustworthy label is a blind buy, not that that's necessary when you have equally reliable Spanish techno doyen Psyk on production duties. 'Scope Drift' is four tracks of psychedelic techno with enough groove for your body and acid for your chakras. Add a remix from up-and-comer Erik Leubs, fresh from the excellent EP 'Nontemporal Void' on DJ Nobu's Bitta label, this is a must-buy for anyone into the deeper ends of techno.
Engage Now To Surface (Luke Slater Reassembly) (6:56)
Desert Races (Luke Slater Reassembly 2025) (6:24)
Rip The Keys (Luke Slater Reassembly) (6:13)
Review: With Planetary Assault Systems, one imagines weaponry of celestial scale, designed to zap spatial anomalies, planet-eating worms and other eldritch horrors into oblivion. 'Reassembled' hears Mote Evolver boss Luke Slater follow up last year's fifth volume on the 'Deep Heat' series, and does well to mastermind the evocation of such numb horror, such gargantuan warfare. Made up of a throng of "reassemblies" by Oscar Mulero and Len Faki, as well as Slater himself, this one makes up part of a series also involving Chlar and Rene Wise. The alien sound design here is highly believable, with the new versions of 'Engage Now To Surface' and 'Surface Noise' bringing mucusy blends and membraneous bells.
Review: Dan Piu and Grant's Theory of Movement project has served up gold for lovers of heady tech and minimal. After something of a hiatus, it is now back on When The Morning Comes with more of the sort of tuneage that is going to quickly sell out and soon become the ID request du jour at your favourite underground parties. These are of course sophisticated sounds from the silky house bumps of 'Now & Then' with its seductive vocal allure to the throwback 90s sounds of 'Over Time' (Acid Mix). 'Basis' (Foundation mix) is another immediately classic house sound with analogue and dusty drums and zippy melodies next to more smooth chords. 'Motion Of Objects' shuts down with a more zoned-out vibe and widescreen melodic architecture for late nights.
Review: Alt-dub never quite found its mainstream moment, but for those attuned to its intricacies, it remains a defining undercurrent in electronic music. Unlike its dubstep cousin, which relied on aggressive basslines and in-your-face drops, alt-dub takes a more measured approach, focusing on subtlety and complexity. It's about crafting a vibe, not smashing through it. San Francisco-based artist Federsen has been a pivotal figure in this niche for over a decade, using vintage tape delays and analogue gear to build immersive, textured soundscapes. His work with labels like Silent Season, Greyscale, Lempuyang and Ohm Series perfectly embodies how dub's elements of space, decay and resonance can be transformed into hypnotic, dancefloor-driven rhythms that unfold slowly. Tracks like 'Dub Trail' and 'Silent Whispers' reflect Federsen's signature approach: slow, deliberate builds, where the bassline is felt more than heard, and the subtle shifts in atmosphere draw us into the groove. It's not about immediate impact, but rather about crafting a space where the music breathes and where the transitions are felt as much as they are heard. 'Echoes In The Void' pushes this idea even further, with its dense, evolving layers of sound, while 'Lunar Dub' offers a more stripped-back, meditative experience. Through Federsen's work, the genre stands as an exploration of depth and atmosphere, where every moment of silence and every drawling transition plays an integral part in the experience.
Review: Rene Wise returns to Dustin Zahn's Enemy Records with a potent follow-up to his 2022 debut 'Jungle House'. This EP delivers four hypnotic, heads-down techno cuts in his trademark style. The A-side leans into minimalism with 'Anxiety' and 'Insomnia' both bringing stripped-back, tripped-out moods that are built from subtle textures, deep grooves and eerie synth work. On the B-side, Rene ventures into more experimental territory while retaining the moody essence. 'Sakar' builds tension with a constantly evolving synth line, while 'Cutting Thick' brings percussive flair and staccato basslines for the release's most rhythmic, funk-infused moment.
Review: Guess who's back and peeking out of the shadows with more warehouse-ready and deadlines than ever techno? Chicago's Beau Wanzer, that's who, and this is another wonderfully unhinged release on his self-run label. Grimy, raw and as off-kilter as ever, this is wigged out techno for freaks and misfits. His twisted machine funk brings industrial grit and lo-fi crunch across a series of no-frills weapons. The opener is as unsettling as it is irresistible. 'Rhythm Track 46b' is ramshackle and grubby, 'Trial Of The Decade' is a swampy prowler, 'Excellent Exaggerator' is metal being fed into a meat grinder and 'Better Judgement' is a depraved beatdown. 'Crunch Bunch' is the best of the lot with its analogue drums, hissing leads and coruscated pads.
Review: Although their debut single 'Chime' hit the UK top 20, it's the duo's iconic second album in 1993 that marks the moment when the Hartnoll brothers transcended the UK rave underground and became bona fide electronic superstars. This faithful reissue brings back a record that didn't just capture the spirit of the time i it helped shape it. The Brown Album takes Orbital's sound to a new level of sophistication and emotional depth. Tracks like 'Halcyon + On + On' are serene, dreamlike soundscapes that remain some of the most beautiful in electronic music history. Meanwhile, 'Lush 3-1' builds and blossoms with hypnotic layers, a masterclass in dynamic progression, a perfect balance between transcendence and tension. 'Remind' and 'Impact (The Earth Is Burning)' are pulsing techno beasts that dip and drive, blending rave intensity with atmospheric richness. Each track flows into the next with seamless ease, crafting a journey that feels both epic and intimate. The Brown Album isn't just a milestone in Orbital's career i it's a timeless work that continues to influence electronic music today. Essential listening for anyone who wants to understand the genre's evolution.
Review: Minimal Man is the legendary studio partnership between Eon (aka Ian Loveday) and Baby Ford. They cooked up some of minimal's most essential tunes some 20-odd years ago and they have become expensive and highly sought after since. This EP is one of them and it features three killer cuts that will move a dancefloor as much today as ever. 'Make A Move' has a pent-up energy and forward drive that sweeps you up and keeps you locked amongst soft hi-hats and vamping chords. Part 2 is a little darker and more mysterious, with the drum loops a little edgier and the mood that bit more mischievous. 'Stay On' closes down with bubbling drum funk and swirling abstract synth world from deep inside some distant nebula in the sky.
Santonio Echols - "Piano In The Light" (Emanuell Echols mix)
Brian Kage - "This Saturday Night"
Ryan Sadorus - "Down Below"
Review: Upstairs Asylum is kicking off the year in some style with a couple of killer new EPs. This one is the first in what is presumably a new series to showcase the talents of the Motor City. Mike Clark & Marcus Harris get things underway with 'Hey' which has a subtly uplifting feel thanks to the bright, sustained chords and cuddly drums. Santonio Echols's 'Piano In The Light' (DJ Emanuell Echols mix) is laidback, playful deep house with magical chord work and Brian Kage brings his classy depths to the smooth grooves of 'This Saturday Night.' Ryan Sadorus brings things to a close with the smoky 'Down Below.'
Review: Berlin-based producer Arkan lands on SK_Eleven with four immersive techno cuts that draw tension from subtlety. 'Attraction' opens with icy, glistening percussion and a subdued, shifting groove that balances dissonance and flow with careful restraint. 'Nasty Tool' is more skeletal still-built on pulsing low-end and whispered gestures that feel almost internal, less club banger than whispered command. On the flip, 'Raubtier' brings some pressure with rolling drums and warped bell patterns, its odd claps puncturing the trance with mechanical precision. 'Up & Down' closes the set on a more introspective note, its rubbery tension and detuned chords conjuring the hazy recursion of memory. This is techno that moves less with velocity than gravity.
Mathys Lenne - "The Road Is Wider Than Long" (5:26)
Time Traveler - "Astaroth 4" (5:18)
Review: Rotterdam label Mord is back with a bumper selection of techno treats here from a range of new school producers. Across an incredible eight sides of vinyl, all shades and rhythms are explored, starting with Radial & Bas Moot's loopy, dark, sludgy 'Jacht' and going on through Temudo's silky and stripped back minimal prowler 'Leaving The Old Flesh,' Rommek's industrial and edgy 'Vaporized' and Roll Dann's twitchy, paranoid 'Human Furniture'. Elsewhere Shaney & Zadig offer up unrelenting pressure with 'Downwards' and Mathys Lenne's 'The Road Is Wider Than Long' is all about sparse techno atmospherics from a dystopian world.
Review: British heavyweights Underworld delivered one of the 90s' most enduring dance albums with their second LPivisionary, sprawling, and wired with tension. This 2025 reissue does it justice, pressed onto heavyweight vinyl with a half-speed cut that gives its deep, hypnotic sonics fresh bite. From the moment 'Juanita : Kiteless : To Dream Of Love' opens with glitchy insistence and locked grooves, it's clear how ahead of its time this was. The glitch-techno swirl of 'Banstyle/Sappy's Curry' and the growling 'Rowla' nod to Sheffield and Detroit in equal measure, while 'Pearl's Girl' pulses with breakbeat aggression and warped vocals, its grit sharpened here by the remaster. 'Confusion the Waitress' and 'Air Towel' show the band at their most meditative, layering ambience and submerged breaks into something closer to sound design than club tool. Even 'Blueski' and 'Stagger'ishorter, sketch-like piecesifeel essential to the album's industrial-sublime mood. Still fiercely modern, still haunted, still euphoric. An artefact of the past that belongs squarely in the now.
Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen - "Tonight In Belfast" (feat Mike Garry) (11:58)
Orbital - "Belfast" (David Holmes remix) (12:03)
Review: Poet, librarian, Mancunian, father, husband, uncle, brother. Mike Garry is many things to many people, but tonight, Matthew, his voices guides our eyes upwards, inviting us to stargaze to one of Orbital's most emotionally resonant and timeless pieces of rave noise. Belfast Revisited would be one way to describe it, taking some of the classic and unmistakable elements of that anthem and turning it into something new. First and foremost freshness comes with the spoken word addition - a thoroughly positive, passionate and amorous declaration of unending love that could feel jarring depending on whether you always felt 'Belfast' was reflective and slightly melancholy, or not. Gone too are the breaks, replaced now by stadium-sized four-to-the-floor turning what was once the end of the night walking home at dawn into something that sounds way more 11PM at the concert.
Review: A potent ongoing collaboration between two techno heads lands on a legendary label, delivering four cuts that span the spectrum of classic and contemporary dancefloor energy. Side-A kicks off with 'ClickClickClick', a tech house burner that lives up to its name as it is bouncy and rhythmically addictive. Its catchy loop play gives way to deeper, murkier textures midway through, maintaining its infectious swing while offering DJs a perfect mid-set curveball. Following it is 'Gearbox', a slick, electro-informed groover with a low-slung, funky bassline. It's high-energy yet controlled, laced with head-nodding bounce and shimmering detail that make it ideal for peak-time dancefloor action. On Side-B, 'Destination 909' is pure nostalgia with a modern polish, bringing in 90s techno grit, trancey atmospherics and a post-rave euphoria that's all tight kicks and laser-focused execution. The production is clean and sharp, but there's an intentional vintage flavor that pays tribute to the roots. Closing things out is 'Reach Out', a hypnotic, dub-leaning track infused with a raw vocal loop preaching unity and rave authenticity. It's spacious, meditative and subtly anthemic. The kind of track that creeps up on you in the best way. All in all, a cohesive, floor-ready EP.
Review: After recently singing to Ministry of Sound, Wh0 - Robert Chetcuti, formerly of Rhythm Masters- continues his ascension in the dance music world with a 12" for esteemed label, Rekids. The original mix is a polished club weapon that blends sensual grooves with deeper house textures. Wh0's ability to layer catchy vocal hooks with finely tuned production helps the overall sound and the intricate changes. With over 30 singles to his credit in less than a decade, he keep the volume up as well as the quality. Adding firepower to the release is the remix from Catz 'n Dogz, who take the original into more intense techno territory. Their rework simmers with suspense before breaking into a charged, kinetic drop. Where Wh0's version leans into flirtation and bounce, Catz 'n Dogz opt for a tougher, warehouse edge. Together, these two versions provide a versatile one-two punch for DJs.
Review: New week, new Planet Rhythm, same old tech class. Aero is no stranger to this label and hail from Northside Dublin, where they Baldoyle native has been cooking up his take on techno - it's always driven by punchy rhythms but with plenty of synth craft making it much more than mere DJ tool fodder. 'Buried In Noise' has urgent and anxious melodies lighting up the drums while 'Velvet Kiss' is a deeper, more late-night prowler. 'State Of Burn' then bangs with steel-plated loops and 'Scarred' layers up synths that feel like they're going to fall over themselves with a hypnotic and time-keeping drum thud. 'The 242' closes with astral anxiety and a never-ending sense of rush.
Review: We shall never apologise for our love for the work of Steve O'Sullivan. His contributions to the world of dub techno are second to none. They are also mad consistent both in style and quality which means they never age. Here he steps up to Lempuyang with his Blue Channel alias alongside Jonas Schachner aka Another Channel for more silky smooth fusions of authentic dub culture and Maurizo-style techno deepness. Watery synths, hissing hi-hats with long trails and dub musings all colour these dynamic grooves. They're cavernous and immersive and frankly irresistible and the sort of tracks that need to be played loud in a dark space. In that context, you'll never want them to end.
Review: New music from LA resident Fields of Mist is always worth hearing. He's previously proven to be a master of bringing a hip-hop sensibility to his work, as well as a jazzy and broken beat bone on his 2022 album Iluminated60. This latest turn to Illian Tape is another standout with a mix of dreamy, suspenseful pads and killer rhythms. 'Dreams Of The Lost Moon' isa fine example of that with its far-sighted gaze but body popping drums and 'Darkstar System M312' then gets more moody with a speedy low end and astral pads. 'Moss Nebula Tidal Dance' is another blend of deep space ambience with minimal but impactful rhythms.
Review: Millsart is an alias of Jeff Mills which the Detroit tech pioneer and cosmic ambient maestro uses to explore some of his most melodic sounds. 'Theme From Star Child' is a lush soundscape with rich piano chords and glowing synths all over a mid-tempo beat that is perfectly inviting. 'Satori' is more percussive with loopy drums and scintillating hi-hats dancing over the beats. 'Love Warrior' is a broken beat trip with orchestral melodies and sustained chords that all glow like distant stars. Last but not least is the jazz-dancer 'Starlight Trance Dancer' with its rippling keys bringing future soul to the supple rhythms.
Review: "Yeah, as I gaze upon you, I am overwhelmed by the fact that beauty is an insufficient phrase to describe you. You are the definition of pure perfection, and though many have tried and failed to get close to you, I run that walk into the flame." Echoing the seductive vocal soliloquies heard overlaid in much deep Chicago house - the work of the late Paul Johnson springs to mind - K' Alexi Shelby marks a terrific introduction to this new V/A from Cod3 QR. The label was long the subject of much speculative chinstroking; only in recent years was it revealed to be the brainchild of Laurent Garnier and Oliver Way. Here on this latest output from the label, we hear a mix of technical and tribal moods traverse across a mostly slow-burner sensibility, pinnacling on DJ Bone's bosomy chord viber 'DD'.
Review: The Clergy Ten Year anniversary celebrations continue with a fourth special instalment of their various artists series. It's packed again with the sort of high-functioning techno that DJs always need to construct powerful sets, and that dancers will respond well to thanks to its detailing. Norbak opens with the moody minimalism of 'Sinto', Sciahri explore a more uptempo sound with grainy, gritty loops on 'Antartide' and Phara's 'Faint' gets more twisted with hellish effects and caustic textures all getting you on edge while the pummelling drums bounce out their muscular rhythm. These are evocative cuts for techno storytelling.
Review: Clergy is rightly making a big deal of arching the big one-oh with a fifth instalment of its fine Clergy 10 Years series. This various artists excursion is another blistering one that opens with Cravo's rubbery and rumbling 'Cosmic Drift' before Benza breaks up the beats into more chunky, cantering and swinging affairs on 'Mech Encounter.' Julieta Kopp drills deep into a heady cosmic minimalism on 'Nothing Feels Right', then Marcal's 'Lua' brings some grit and grime and Habgud's 'False Flag' is a pared-back and dubby sound with paranoid whispers. Last of all is the mind-melting Obscure Shape cut 'Elemental' (Cleric 5/10 remix) for a nice eerie finish.
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Review: This 2025 reissue of the British duo's 1995 breakthrough offering captures the raw energy and genre-blending brilliance that made it an instant classic. Still revered for its fusion of techno, house, and ambient with a distinctly industrial edge, the album's resonance continues to define electronic music today. Tracks like 'Dark & Long' and 'Surfboy' showcase their ability to create expansive, atmospheric soundscapes that are both tough and emotive. The low-end drive of 'Cowgirl' and the serene tones of 'River of Bass' reflect the duo's mastery in blending dancefloor-ready beats with intricate textures. Hailing from the UK, the duo pushed boundaries with their dark, melodic sensibility, crafting a sound that remains influential. Their influence on modern electronic music is undeniable, and this reissue serves as a vital reminder of how they redefined the genre back in the 90s, keeping the core of their vision intact while inspiring new generations of listeners.
Review: Cape Town ambient producer Jason van Wyk pares his sound down to its barest, most expressive elements, doing sound justice to the name Inherent (though he's always interested in ideas of transparency and simplicity, with the similarly themed Opacity dropping on Home Normal in 2017). He now leans into stillness in motion, folding ghost-traced piano lines and gauzy drones into long, slow exhalations, where just when things threaten to dissolve entirely, he rejigs the frame. Brittle guitars now creak in, synth arps flicker like faulty neon, rhythms emerge with princely precision. It's not a departure so much as a consolidation, as van Wyk revisits old tools with rewed restraint, preferring unembellished ambiences. Like the innate returns of close reading, we're invited to closely listen here, since glints of detail glister just below the surface.
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