August: 22 techno releases you need to hear this month

Gemini Voice Archive 'Paradoxical Chronicles' (Soma)

Serious techno from shadowy duo Gemini Voice Archive, who deliver this stunning range of deep, cosmic material to the legendary Soma Records. As soon as the muted tones of ‘Zero Curviture’ are unveiled, you know it’s going to be a special LP: the order of tracks makes it feel like a ‘set’, with the pace quickening by track four, ‘Framauro’s Plains’, a frantic workout with an urgent energy. Things get ethereal two tracks later with ‘Traces Of Chromaticity’, its smooth pads and synth work drifting over you like waves of soothing electricity, before the mysterious ‘Singularity’ takes us on a trip deep inside ourselves. The combination of crisp production, inventive ideas and a wholly immersive atmosphere makes this a winner.

8/10

Kobosil '40000 L' (Ostgut Ton)

You can always trust Ostgut Ton to release top-quality techno. For the label’s latest release, Berlin-born DJ and producer Kobosil produces a sterling collection of tracks on this new EP, with ‘40000 L’ standing out as a particularly brutish cut with exemplary production. That gnarly riff complements the snub-nosed kick perfectly, and when he gets to the midpoint, he lets all hell break loose. Uncompromising and utterly enthralling.

9/10

[Photo: Sven Marquardt]

Avidus 'Nekromant' (Sebastian Voigt Silver Magic remix) (Empore Music)

Seb Voigt’s experience in playing at after-hours parties is clear to hear on this excellent rework. The whirring riff is hypnotic, and the moment it gets going it creates a strong energetic pulse. As claps and other effects echo over the top, strings come in and produce a rousing atmosphere. By the time we get to the killer breakdown we’re about ready to burst, but he maintains an air of control, and the track retains its entrancing allure right until the end.

8/10

Timo Maas & Aidan Lavelle 'Body Language' (Re.You remix) (My Favorite Robot)

Some nice unusual sounds in this crisp remix by Re.You. Where the original is quite jaunty, Re.You goes for a darkside trip: the main riff supports the pitched-down vocal, building up an enticing atmosphere which eventually reaches its climax before continuing to roll out in its creeping malevolence.

7/10

Third Son (Eno) 'microCastle'

Guess who this track is an homage to? Third Son finishes his new five-track EP with this playful, beatless production, clearly inspired by ambient master Brian Eno. It comprises a kaleidoscope of synth effects which speak to each other (and to you), colluding to construct an engrossing atmosphere that’s uplifting and energising. Nicely done.

8/10

Marco Resmann 'Glide' (Upon.You)

Marco Resmann steps up for Upon.You with this riveting collection of techno cuts. Undulating bass pushes it forward with serious intent, while an analogue riff dances around, squirming in and out of the high and low-end of the filter gauge. Resmann injects a couple of breakdowns to liven things
up, and they work a treat.

7/10

Blade & Beard 'Frozen Echo' (FUTURIST)

The stars of the 2016 documentary Raving Iran, Blade & Beard are two men who battled to put on parties playing the music they love, and for that they get our utmost respect. This new EP is a peach, with ‘Frozen Echo’ typifying the kind of brooding darkness you may expect from the duo. This one will lift the roof off when the breakdown hits; it’s got an air of Afterlife while also featuring a distinctly Middle Eastern premise.

8/10

Keita Sano 'Slow Flight' (What Ever Not)

As soon as that delayed kick comes in on ‘Slow Fight’, you know you’re in for something sublime. Keita Sano’s studio seems to unleash a deluge of new music every month, and this funky little cut is definitely one of his standout moments of late. Once the track really kicks off, it’s game over. The bassline alone would be enough to make the whole thing a winner, but the extra layers of emotion, depth and sheer uplifting vibes make it even more lovely.

8/10

Dodi Palese 'Birdsong' (What Ever Not)

Just one look at Dodi Palese’s press shots tells you he’s not your conventional techno artist. In fact, he produces a variety of electronic music veering from experimental to slightly more conventional releases. ‘Birdsong’ has the right mix of experimentation and jaunty melody to make it onto this page: it’s a great piece of music and we love it.

8/10

Shlømo & AWB 'Intimate Disorder' (Taapion Records)

Rubbery synth effects and a marauding bassline give this new track from Shlømo & AWB its bite. It’s a snarky little number that whirrs and fizzes with a venomous appeal. The fidgety rhythm will have you tapping your foot furiously, while the bleak atmospherics create a grey mood all round. There’s not a whole bunch of progression, but it’s still pretty decent.

6/10

Ada Kaleh 'Devotare' (Cosmin TRG remix) (R&S)

Ada Kaleh is a name that seems to be on everyone’s lips at the moment. The Romanian artist has become renowned for his organic techno productions, and here we have Cosmin TRG on the remix for R&S (a great combo). This minimal composition is everything you might expect: weird, dainty and full of personality. Cosmin takes the original and puts it on a diet for his remix, and it’s not half-bad, either.

7/10

Electrorites 'Archive 001' (Structures)

Slamming – that’s how we’d describe this apocalyptic bad boy. No namby-pamby lightweight pads or anything here, just big, bashy beats and a deliciously dark high-pitched riff that makes this sound like the soundtrack to a battle to save the universe. You’ll want to get right in the thick of it when you hear this.

8/10

GOG 'Friction' (InfraDig Records)

There’s an 80s synth-pop groove at the heart of this sublime cut from GOG. When it eventually starts to roll out, things get all squelchy and acidic, which is a hell of a lot of fun. Who doesn’t love a bit of squelch once in a while? This track has it in abundance, and is bound to go off when dropped.

7/10

Pascal Hetzel 'Motion Blur' (Caduceus)

Twinkly, cosmic effects get this one off to a bright start, but the thud of a kick drum below reminds us that it’s probably going to get darker. Almost three minutes in comes a solemn breakdown which takes us in a new direction, as Pascal introduces a simple, spine-tingling melody and a warm bassline.

7/10

Rekord 61 'Gyration' (Ari Atai remix) (Monocode)

Nice chunky synth lines on this one, with Ari Atai on the remix for Rekord 61. Pulsating beats pump this one along, with that synth providing the main riff. It’s simple in its composition, which works in its favour – Ari never deviates from the main rhythm and, as a result, it has a potency and effectiveness that is evident throughout. Top drawer.

8/10

Hannes Bieger 'Strato' (Poker Flat)

One of Europe’s most sought-after studio mixers steps out from the shadows to resume his own solo career with this debut EP on Poker Flat. Here on Steve Bug’s label, Hannes Bieger proves he can throw down with the best of them, with two tracks that are full of drama. ‘Strato’ builds neatly, with a variety of analogue elements epitomising the Poker Flat sound and getting him off
to a flying start.

8/10

Mark Fanciulli 'Final Approach' (Motech)

Mark Fanciulli lands on Motech with this thumping cut that’s aimed straight at the dancefloor. The track’s 4x4 beats are crisp and punchy, perfectly supporting the buzzsaw-esque synth riff and making this a surefire bet for mid-set mayhem. A bright top-line adds more depth, running parallel to the synth and giving the track an even more vibrant outlook.

7/10

DJ Deep 'La Grande Brasserie' (Rekids)

The donski himself, DJ Deep, is back with two separate EPs this month. His Rekids release is our focus here, and ‘La Grande Brasserie’ is undoubtedly the standout track A deeply hypnotic bassline catches you straight away, while unpredictable percussive elements and a cheeky hint of acid that quickly becomes increasingly prominent add to the contagious energy. This is a stone-cold killer.

7/10

David Douglas 'C’est La Nuit' (LOR remix) (Atomnation)

Creeping, almost timid techno here, with Belfast boy LOR on the remix for David Douglas. This one has a really slow build and plays out in a very measured way. A French female vocal punctuates the breakdown and repeats throughout the rest of this hypnosis-inducing workout, which uses clever understatement to lure you into its sultry web.

8/10

Ben Long 'Calling Broadsword' (Jamie Bissmire remix) (EPM Music)

Jamie Bissmire’s remix of Ben Long’s ‘Calling Broadsword’ starts out slightly coyly, but it’s not long before the classic steeping techno beats really kick in and he unleashes some simmering fury. This is heavyweight and slick, and you should get ready for the siren that comes in after the two-and-a-half minute mark; it gives the tune a whole other dimension. A brief breakdown allows some breathing space before we’re thrown back in the mix again.

7/10

Bleak 'Abyss' (Cabrera)

Anything called ‘Abyss’ is bound to be kinda deep, right? Bleak gets it spot on with this energetic slice of rolling techno: it’s one of those tunes that spreads its energy around like a contagious disease, subtle but still deep, dark and rolling. A perfect weapon for those wanting to take everyone on the floor a few leagues below the surface.

8/10

Patrice Bäumel 'Sorcery' (Speicher)

The title of this track says everything that needs to be said, as Patrice flexes his wizard-like skills to produce a mesmerising tune full of atmospherics that will engulf and transport you into a mythical land of wonder. It takes a while to really get going but when it does… boy oh boy, it’s magic. We’ll refrain from making a joke about his wand, though.

9/10

[Kobosil photo credit: Sven Marquardt]