July: 8 electro releases you have to hear this month

Com Truise 'Iteration Ghostly' (International)

Com Truise returns with his third studio album on Ghostly International, as Seth Haley jumps in his time machine once again to go back to the future. While his last two albums ‘Galactic Melt’ and ‘In Decay’ arrived just a year apart (in 2011 and 2012 respectively), the LA-based sci-fi obsessive has made us wait some six years for a follow-up. Has it been worth the wait? Yes and no. Sticking to his tested retro-futuristic aesthetic, Haley tries to find new life in well-trodden genres like synthwave and electro. He utilises the usual sci-fi tropes that inspired him to quit his job and pursue a career in music: tracks such as ‘Dryswch’ and ‘Ephemeron’ are all bright, neon synths, stodgy drums and lashing of analogue charm. At times the LP’s nostalgic outlook can be all-consuming, The likes of ‘Memory’ and ‘Vacuume’ do lighten the tone, but it would have been nice to see Haley also tackle darker timbres more often, as he does on ‘Syrthio’ and the title track.

7/10

Elliot Adamson 'Meeting House' (Me Me Me)

Man Power’s Me Me Me imprint continues to impress as it welcomes young producer Elliot Adamson to the roster for a three-track EP of absolute fire. Having previously chalked up releases on ethical imprint Weapons and more recently on Eats Everything’s Edible label, he’s on something of a roll of late. His latest, ‘Meeting House’, occupies the space between rasping electro, grubby house and angular techno – and proves once again that the North East is fast becoming a hotbed for compelling UK talent.

9/10

The Hacker 'Propagande' EP (Stilleben Records)

Twenty years is a long time for any producer to still be in the game; for many, the lure of TV and film work (and actually making money) becomes all too appealing. But not French veteran The Hacker, real name Michel Amato, who’s still finding plenty of mileage in the dark and grisly end of the electro spectrum. Here, he serves up four cuts that fall somewhere between deep, slithering EBM and Italo-flecked electro. Highlights include the heaving title track, which pops off with all the grace of an overweight hippo. ‘Still’, in contrast, is harder and more purposeful, as swelling basslines do battle with scorched synth work. B-side ‘La Marine’ lightens the tone a little with some playful Italo influences, before closing with a secondary version of ‘Propagande V2’.

9/10

Squane & Rees 'Illuminating' (Jelly Bean Farm)

Jelly Bean Farm co-founders Squane & Rees have created quite a cult following with bass-laden productions that draw from a range of varied influences including techno, dubstep, electro and UK bass. Their latest four-track EP is a heady blend of layered atmospherics, driving drums, heaving sub frequencies and robotic vocal snippets. ‘Garble’ sets the early pace as sparse rhythms entwine with pulsing basslines, before bringing all the different elements together for a complex yet minimal main drive. ‘Shards’ leans a bit more towards the bass music end of the spectrum with a dash of electro-techno thrown in for good measure. The title track is more traditional sounding, but it’s still hard to untangle its influences as the duo weave a clever fusion of timbres ranging from Italo to synthwave. On ‘Automotonic’ a contorting bassline rolls over spiked percussion and cyborgian leads, while closer ‘Aphotic’ is a beatless palette cleanser.

7/10

Jori Hulkkonen 'I Am The Night/Tinten Turdel' EP (My Favorite Robot)

Jori Hulkkonen delivers two cuts of blissed-out electro which, he says, are some of the more DJ-friendly offerings from his “rather dark and moody forthcoming album” for My Favourite Robot. ‘I Am The Night’ is a charming slice of romantic, proggy electro that begins with a robotic voice calmly declaring “I stand on the edge of darkness. I am the night”. Hulkkonen then despatches a salvo of swelling violins over punchy 808s for a subtle but impactful start. ‘Tinten Turdel’ is a little more melodramatic, as the producer pairs fizzing drum work with beaming Italo synths for a dreamy track that sounds like it could be from a sci-fi epic.

8/10

Thee J Johanz 'Tantric Temple' (Ball 105)

Inspired by an “incidental visit to the Love Temple in Arambol, India”, Dutch veteran Thee J Johanz’ latest is a modern take on acid. ‘Tantric Temple’ finds the producer crafting a cut of acidic electro that utilises sturdy 303 top-lines alongside convoluted melodies: it’s a wild ride from start to finish, especially so if you can stomach the full nine minutes. ‘Twice Upon A Time’ is equally enthralling and sounds like a gaggle of metal presses reprogrammed to play a simple percussive techno beat, as Johanz and co-producer Nathan Homan broaden its appeal with flecks of acid jazz samples. Last but not least, on ‘Tantric Bricastic’ Johanz creates a stripped-back acid backbone that’s laced with trippy melodies and stocky kicks.

7/10

Skwirl 'Attaché Case' (Skrufix)

Berlin producer Skwirl brings a six-year production hiatus to an end in spectacular fashion with three tracks of serious heat. Difficult to pigeonhole, all three cuts exhibit touches of big beat, electro, dubstep, techno and, weirdly enough, acid jazz. ‘Attaché Case’ is a wild ride of chopping and changing drums that, at times, sounds like a cleverly constructed cut of frenzied French house. ‘Prenzlauer Bird’ touts a more lo-fi aesthetic as the track’s main synths strain under the pressure of batshit crazy percussion lines (think SebastiAn meets Siriusmo – it’s that good). ‘Two Finger Exercise’ then dials the intensity down with its synthwave motifs and space-age synths.

9/10

David Carretta 'Machines Invasion' (GND Records)

GND Records revisits David Caretta’s 2000 club monster ‘Machines Invasion’ for another shot at the big time. The re-release sees the track given a thorough remastering treatment on the A-side, and it still sounds as deadly today as it did when it was tearing up warehouse raves in Paris back at the turn of the millennium. Turbo Turbo then delivers a moody remix which focuses on the original’s warehouse sensibilities; it’s already getting regular spins from electro royalty including Dave Clarke, The Hacker and DJ Hell.

7/10