June: 21 techno releases you need to hear this month

Staffan Linzatti The Dynamic Dispatch' (Field)

Staffan Linzatti delivers a magnum opus with this huge three-disc LP, which is comprised of 20 intergalactic techno cuts all threaded together to create a rollercoaster of a trip into worlds beyond our own; beyond Trappist-1, even. ‘The Dynamic Dispatch’ veers between short bursts of solemnity and propulsive, galloping cosmic techno. It’s tempting to compare Staffan’s style to that of the great Jeff Mills, such is its focus on exploring deep space-orientated themes. It’s the sound of the future, of world’s yet to be discovered – and mesmerising tracks like ‘Below The Ice’ and ‘Engineering (The Impossible)’ are a perfect example of the intrepid nature of the music. Drama, energy, moments of contemplation, fear and delight are all on offer here.

9/10

Clockwork 'Scent Of Decline' (Parachute)

It’s been a while since he released some solo material, putting much of his energy into the CW/A project with Avatism. This three-track EP marks his return, and ‘Scent of Decline’ is the venomous standout cut. Laced with arsenic, it snarls and spits its way along, shifting between moments of subdued mania and pure, undistilled malevolence from the darkest of dark places.

9/10

Javi Bora 'You Know' (Underground Audio)

British label Underground Audio has been holding its own for the last couple of years with a consistent flow of respectable, under-the-radar electronic releases. Javi Bora’s tribal-esque workout ‘You Know’ is the label’s latest release, and it’s a simmering beast that’ll have everyone losing their shit at DC1O thanks to its contagious rhythm, barely-there vocal and surprising breakdown.

8/10

José Rodriguez 'Oximoron' (Redlight Music)

José Rodríguez drops a pensive cut on the ever-trusty Redlight Music. The bright notes of ‘Oximoron’ keep the mood on the jovial side, with crisp 4x4 beats helping it all tick along nicely. It grows from a slightly forlorn intro to include a fresh, jaunty riff and a cacophony of analogue effects that add depth. The laid-back vibe is soothing; this is a track that operates at the more emotive, tempered end of techno.

7/10

Rhine 'De Bron' (Delsin)

Delsin brings the heat with another classy joint – this time from Rhine, who delivers an impressively sweet collection of atmospheric techno. ‘De Bron’ skips along with aplomb, though it’s not too overpowering, as Rhine keeps things measured with a wondrous melody that slips in at just over two-and-a-half minutes. The progression is subtle but effective; this is a little beauty.

8/10

Talismann 'Gran Abuelo' (Talismann)

Talismann injects this track with a high dose of menace right from the start. Layers of skin-crawling sampled animal sounds and voices make up the bulk of the song, which is pushed along by a stunted kick drum. The producer’s use of creepy cues makes ‘Gran Abuelo’ a horrorfest from start to finish; it’s not one to listen to just before you go to bed, that’s for sure.

7/10

Mark Broom 'Myth' (EPM Music)

We love a good use of claps, and Mark Broom certainly utilises them well on this dancefloor thumper. The enthusiastic riddim uses its energy to really grip you and take you a few metres off the ground. In a similar way to Floorplan’s ‘Never Grow Old’, the old organ effect works at the core of this track, while ecstatic synth lines pump up the atmosphere so you’ll be reaching for the stars.

7/10

Gareth Whitehead, Darren Emerson, My Evil Twiin & Paris The Black Fu 'What It Is' (Gforty remix) (Bulletdodge)

A spoken-word sample kicks this one off, as sedated acid licks tremble underneath. As the vocal continues, pads seep in from the background, rising up and creating a mesmerising atmosphere. Your spine will be tingling all the way from your tailbone up to your neck and through to the top of your skull when it gets going. Those synths cut through the pads and grab you by the gut, while the soft notes do their work on your emotions.

8/10

DJ 3000 'Get It' (Chambray remix) (Motech)

Put some tinfoil over your head and try not to get hypnotised by the frequencies that come flying out of this bad-boy track from the man behind Motech. A vocal clip repeats over and over and over alongside a minimal, yet highly effective instrumental. The kick is punchy, the percussion purposeful and the bassline on point. Halfway through, Chambray brings in some horns to spice things up and all of a sudden we’re back in the 90s, throwing our hands skyward. Sick.

8/10

Brian Kage 'Wind, Spirit, Breath.' (Chaval)

This slow-building track eventually unravels into a lush soundscape. It takes a while, but it’s worth it: a soft bassline keeps things groovy in the low-end, while crisp, delicate beats carry it along with good energy. The pad work is sublime, switching from wispy, emotive sounds to more crunchy analogue effects. It all works with fluidity, though, making you feel warm inside as you do the two-step.

8/10

Violent Blondes 'Post Truth Era' (Civil Disobedience)

Violent Blondes return with three politically motivated slices of abrasive techno. Music with real purpose is so important, regardless of genre – sometimes it’s crucial to spread messages and attempt to encourage people to think about the world. ‘Post Trust Era’ focuses on the ever-growing web of lies and deceit that have punctuated the past 18 months or so – and it’s a banger, too.

8/10

Maral Salmassi & DFunc 'Coils Enchufada' (Unique DNA)

Something slightly different, here, courtesy of the inimitable Enchufada label. Maral Salmassi and DFunc have certainly got their own sound and, while it’s still straight-up techno, it feels as though it has its own unique character, a subtle break from the homogeny. Just listen and you’ll hear it: a strange lilt; odd little chirps in the background; even the beats have their own signature. Very well done.

7/10

Exercise One 'Nitrogen' (Palinoia)

Eyes low for this one, because it’s been made strictly for the floor-gazers out there. Morose vibes permeate throughout the intro, as Exercise One rolls out a gloomy number. Things perk up a bit once the track gets moving, though, with a synth riff lifting the mood and swirly pads taking things into a more ethereal territory. But an air of melancholy still underpins everything that’s happening at the top-end, keeping it grey.

7/10

A45 'Focused Rawly' (Engrave Ltd.)

Here’s a tight, minimal workout from A45. ‘Focused Rawly’ starts off sparsely, with just an occasional analogue stab popping in to liven things up. Soon though, that stab begins to become more prominent and regular, joined by a good old 90s-feeling riff taking us into the vintage warehouse rave zone. As the beats and bass are unveiled, a new energy envelopes the track and the story enters a new chapter; it’s a decent cut that’ll do the work when played at the right time.

7/10

Shade Of Drums 'Digits' (Cyclic Numbers)

This has got a sleazy groove that sounds as if it’s come from the depths of the underworld to creep around and give us a bit of a fright. Shade Of Drums instils a naughty atmosphere with fizzing effects and a highly contagious bassline: the hypnotic rhythm will have you dancing with gay abandon, while the chilling atmospherics will have you doing the old screwface pout in approval.

8/10

Monika Kruse vs Pig&Dan 'So Good' (Terminal M)

More techno madness from an awesome collaborative project. Monika Kruse and Pig&Dan drop their second EP together, with ‘So Good’ being our tip. A delightful sample is slowly filtered in from the low-end, delivering a large dollop of euphoria with its gospel-style vibe. The ditty that accompanies it is also uplifting, too; once the breakdown kicks in you’ll feel like you’ve flown up to heaven to rave with the big entity in the sky.

8/10

Carlo Ruetz 'Strangers' (RUKUS)

Carlo Ruetz has been picking up a bit of heat lately. Releases on Minus and Sci+Tec have helped push him into the limelight, and now he’s landing on Matador’s Rukus label with a four-track banger. ‘Strangers’ is going to take down dancefloors left, right and centre when it’s unleashed: the simmering menace, the bubbling bass and the smattering of synth lines make this a killer.

8/10

Luca Agnelli 'Voltumna' (Truncate mix) (Etruria Beat)

Prepare to surrender to this deeply hypnotic roll out from Truncate. This guy’s mastery as a remixer is without question, and here he proves yet again that he can flip an original work on its head and deliver something fresh. The bass will lock you in, while a cavalcade of layers (including a bright, sparkling set of chimes) sets it off nicely.

8/10

Makam 'Blinded By The Exit Light' (Amulett)

Dutchman Makam enters a slightly leftfield landscape with this crunchy oddity. It trundles along with shakers and pumping kicks producing a purposeful momentum, as strange, warped effects bounce around in the cavernous interior. It’s solemn, languid and very enjoyable. The slower pace means all of the layers really hit home; the overall atmosphere is engrossing and will keep you holding on until the end.

7/10

ItaloJohnson '07A1' (Floorplan remix) (Italojohnson)

Jimmy Edgar and Floorplan step up to remix this ItaloJohnson banger, and both mixes are pretty ridiculous. Floorplan’s rework has just the right amount of ‘oompf’ to nudge it ahead of Edgar’s mix: its vintage stabs are top notch, as is the superlative groove and the tough beats. All the elements combine in a superb track which is sure to be a big hit this summer – especially with that lush vocal clip.

8/10

Jade 'Let’s Go' (Mobilee)

Mobilee drops this hot new EP from Jade (which features a killer remix from Francesca Lombardo). ‘Let’s Go’ is a techy roller with wonderful organic samples that give it a strong sense of identity, helping it stand out a little among the huge amount of music out there. It’s one of those ‘summery’ tracks that’s going to feature in lots of sets in the coming months.

8/10