February: 19 techno releases you need to hear this month

FJAAK 'FJAAK' (Monkeytown)

FJAAK are a deadly trio who’ve impressed us over the last couple of years. Consistently pushing out incendiary, hugely enjoyable cuts, they’re adept both in the studio and on stage. Needless to say, then, their self-titled album ticks all the boxes, then makes a few more of its own boxes and ticks them, too… twice. The whole thing is wrapped up in a warm, analogue blanket which is surprisingly cosy at times. The previously released single ‘Wolves’ makes the cut, and there are also collaborations with Modeselektor and Rødhåd, the latter of which is actually one of the more chilled tracks on the LP (together with the dreamy trip into the cosmos of ‘Snow’). Later on, ‘Gewerbe 15’ takes us back into slamming territory with hard-hitting beats and spine-tingling organ keys. By the time the album comes to a close with bleepy opus ‘Fjkslktr’, we’ve experienced darkness and light, the beauty and the beast; everything you could have expected, and much more besides. What an absolute treat of an album.

9/10

Guy Gerber 'Army Of Stalkers' (RUMORS)

Guy Gerber is undoubtedly one of the masters of melodic techno – anyone who’s ever been to a RUMORS party will attest to that – and this new, 10-minute slice of mesmerising electronica demonstrates his wizardry. A simple melody provides the backbone of this uplifting journey into the heavenly side of techno, with live-sounding drums and layers of invigorating pads and synths that aim straight for the heart.

9/10

Austen/Scott 'The C' (Version 2 mix) (Rejected)

Prepare to lose yourself in this cracking hypnotic workout from the duo formerly known as Brodanse. Brothers Austen and Scott Smart turn their hands to techno with this release, and they construct a catchy tune that’s bound to grip dancefloors around the globe. An insistent bassline works its magic in the low-end, while menacing synth stabs get going up top and further layers add depth until the vocal comes in and lulls you into a trance.

8/10

Kevin Over 'Boney' (Underground Audio)

Muted moody vibes from an up-and-comer who’s really marking his mark with every release. Kevin Over turns to UK label Underground Audio for his latest effort, ‘Boney’, which powers along with a brooding atmosphere: the air is thick with dark vibes and the beats are tough and purposeful. Kevin’s use of a vocal clip adds to the captivating atmosphere and there’s a lovely breakdown, too, before the track trundles along to its conclusion.

8/10

Stephan Hinz 'Off Numbers' (Intec)

You’d never guess it when the jelly-like bassline first gets going, but this tune has a stupendous breakdown. Hinz injects some serious progression into this track as it slowly morphs from a chunky wobbler into an ecstatic monster. A repeated melody locks you in, growling synths add menace and the beats gets frenetic as the impending breakdown looms. When it hits, prepare to batten down the hatches as everyone around you loses their shit.

9/10

Bimas 'Feeling Good' (Nikola Gala remix) (Divergent (Media Records))

Like the sound of an old motor engine, this has a mechanical judder that’s relentless yet captivating. Gala snatches part of the vocal lead from Bimas’ original and loops it over and over again to snare you in its grip. Later on, the almost oppressive atmosphere opens up, giving way to a solid breakdown.

7/10

Ghost Culture 'Coma' (Phantasy)

Ghost Culture opts for a gentle, calming mood on this special little number. Soothing pads drift across an earworm-inducing analogue melody as snaking beats clap along, keeping things moving with a solid energy. This is the kind of track which, if you heard it at a day party, could immediately whisk you away to somewhere special, as if you’re recalling some hazy and wonderful memory from years gone by.

9/10

B12 'Indeterminate Path' (Firescope)

Something slightly more relaxed from B12, here, on his own label Firescope. The pace is slowed right down, allowing him to create an absorbing arrangement of sounds and space. The emptiness here is just as important, if not more so, than the actual instruments he uses. Serene and sombre, it’s a laid-back workout with techno sensibilities at its heart, and those retro acid bleeps that creep in midway through really give this track its character.

8/10

Paul Mac & Figure-Ground 'Digital Dialetic' (Shadow Story)

Paul Mac links up with Figure-Ground (who, we can finally reveal, are Alex from Dronelock and Boris from Ontal) for this funky jam. It kicks off with a sonar-esque effect bleeping away below the surface, like a submarine navigating the depths of ocean. Soon, a rough layer of noise descends with a parping analogue melody. This creates an interesting juxtaposition between the clean bleeps and rough beats. The distinctly retro rhythm feels very familiar, although overall there’s no doubt it’s a 21st century work.

8/10

Blind Motive 'Chapters' (Sonika)

The driving thud of a kick will still be reverberating around the inside of your head after you’ve encountered this stomper from fledgling British duo Blind Motive. That kick
is hard as nails, but their measured approach is impressive: rather than smash you in the face with an all-out aural assault, they temper the track’s layers, introducing new sounds steadily. Get ready for the apocalyptic breakdown, too, as this prepares to demolish dancefloors.

8/10

Julia Govor 'Drama C' (Akkult)

Russian powerhouse Julia Govor comes storming through with this inter-galactic trip into the trippiest nebulas in the entire techno universe. ‘Drama C’ has echoes of traditional cosmic techno, à la Jeff Mills maybe, but circumvents the norms with a simmering atmosphere and bold, left-of-centre production. It’s a familiar wolf in weird sheep’s clothing. Wicked business.

8/10

Mind Against & Aether 'Solaris' (Afterlife)

Warning, warning – incoming marauding techno monster! Mind Against team up with Aether on this sterling example of dramatic, big-room techno. This is the kind of track that raises the roof at huge techno festivals such as Time Warp and Awakenings, where legions of fans will be pummelled by its hefty beats while having their brains fried by the electrifying synth melodies and ridiculous breakdown.

9/10

DXC 'Sôô Biên Dôi' (Beste Modus)

Now this will get your head nodding. DXC drops this burner on Beste Modus and it’s one for those who want to get a dancefloor pumped full of energy. The beats are loud and tough, the top-end works off a lovely retro sounding riff and the bassline is menacing. After a couple of minutes DXC switches things up with a second riff, which is then layered on top of the original before stirring strings come
in and uproar ensues.

8/10

Petter B 'Roots Pt III' (Bond)

Time to close your eyes and disappear into dreamland with this glorious cut. Petter B laces a seriously uplifting set of pads over the top of galloping percussion and twinkling effects on his new single ‘Roots Pt III’, creating a deeply engrossing soundscape. This is a track that just drives and drives, keeping you gripped in its looping atmospherics.

7/10

6470 'Our Cognitive Dissonance' (BXR (Media Records))

Decayed kick drums lay at the foundation of this naughty bouncer from 6470.
A cacophony of high-pitched sounds squelch and filter in and out of the background, intensifying the dramatic atmosphere. Underneath all of this, the female vocals from
a haunting tribal song are chopped up and used for maximum effect. The bass has aquatic qualities, bubbling up from below the surface. All these elements together create a bloody good track.

8/10

Blush Response 'Unclean Spirit' (Sonic Groove)

Adam X’s Sonic Groove label has become a home for punishing industrial techno, with a propensity for releasing noisy and abrasive stuff that some might find offensive. The latest punk to unleash his rugged work on the world via the label is Blush Response, who specialises in giving your eardrums a good kicking. As you’d expect, ‘Unclean Spirit’ judders, squirms and pounds like a being possessed by a belligerent demon. Raw to the core.

7/10

Kaiser 'Anesthesia' (Animal Farm)

The filtered intro and intense opening minutes of Kaiser’s latest release make it clear that it’s going to bring a reign of terror to any club it’s played in. The persistent throb of the low-end is guaranteed to make your eye sockets vibrate and rattle that ribcage (at least, as long as it’s played on the right system). Combined with the urgency of the sparkling effects at the top-end, it’s a recipe for high energy raving fraught with tension – which, for us, is a definite win.

8/10

Funk D’Void 'Bad Coffee' (Charles Fenckler rave mix) (Soma)

Charles Fenckler is back with this new rambunctious remix of ‘Bad Coffee’. Here, he takes Funk D’Void’s original, slaps a set of high impact percussion on it, gets the bass bubbling away like a boiling kettle and then utilises the Malcolm X vocal sample to great effect. This is dynamic, potent techno at its finest. There’s no thinking needed here, so just move your body; you’ll find it impossible not to.

7/10

Elizabeth Merrick Jefferson 'Knowledge Revolution' (Burek)

Here’s a cosmic outing from Elizabeth on Croatian label Burek (you know, the one
with the cute cow logo). Twinkling interstellar effects combine with imposing beats and an indecipherable spoken-word sample that feels almost authoritarian in tone. As the track progresses, Elizabeth introduces more layers to make it increasingly intricate, yet it remains both danceable and entertaining. If you were gallivanting around in outer space, this is the song you’d want playing in the cockpit of your spacecraft.

7/10