October: 8 Electro releases you need to hear this month

Acid Arab 'Musique De France' (Crammed Discs)

When we first put Acid Arab’s new album on in the Mixmag office, we all agreed about one thing: it’s completely wild. As soon as you press play, you’re greeted with ‘Buzq Blues’ and its Prodigy-esque synth rumblings before a brain-melting array of sitars come pummelling in. The Parisian duo have always drawn from worldwide influences, particularly of an Eastern flavour, with the sounds of North Africa, Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey all getting a look in. This is evident on all 11 tracks here and, whether it’s in the tribal drums, sensual vocals or huge range of instruments, you’re unlikely to hear a more diverse collection of music this year. ‘Le Disco’ sounds like an arpeggiated synth monster spliced with Arabian riffs. ‘Houria’ is a trappy half-time number that injects dread into the LP, before ‘Tamuzica’ brings everything back to the light with a more traditional take on the Eastern sound. In a world filled with monotony, it’s refreshing to hear something like this.

8/10

Solitary Dancer 'Desire & Apathy' (Graded)

Midland’s exceptional Graded label is an outlet for house and disco of the highest calibre, but its fourth release is staggered, Detroit-styled electro. The title track of the debut EP from Montreal-based Solitary Dancer is a wriggling cut that comes in at a mean 130bpm pace. The eerie synths float in the background with an ominous melancholy while bass notes stab and cymbals flutter. B-side ‘Paradise Found’ follows a similar vein but ramps up the dread, and the two together combine to make one fantastic EP.
9/10

Josh Wink 'Shoelaces' (Boysnoize Records)

Ever since ‘Higher State Of Consciousness’ dropped back in 1995, Josh Wink has been blazing a trail for all to follow. As Winx he released another classic, ‘Don’t Laugh’, the following year, and his acidic electro and techno tendencies have been at the forefront of the scene for decades. Now it’s time for something new and Wink is heading to Boysnoize Records, a match that seems made in heaven (or hell, depending on which way you look at it). ‘Shoelaces’ is everything a BNR and Wink collaboration should be. The staggered electro kicks set the pace, while intricate tones and demonic vocal slurs rumble in the forefront. It’s a potent combination and one that reaffirms why Wink has stayed in the spotlight all these years.

8/10

Rondell Adams 'Acid Slut' (Ultramajic)

We’re gonna say it: Jimmy Edgar may well be one of the best label A&Rs in the world. It’s a bold assertion, but ever since he started up his Ultramajic label, he’s hand-picked some of the freshest and most exciting artists to release via the imprint. There’s been the wild and stabby tendencies of Chambray, the mysterious house stylings of Aden, the introduction of 23-year-old football star Keeno18 and a whole lot of ‘majic’ from Edgar himself. Now comes another new player; in fact, Rondell Adams is the son of The Jackson 5’s first producer. Of the six tracks on his incredible ‘Threshold To Madness’, ‘Acid Slut’ is the one people will be going crazy for. The name is questionable, but the content isn’t: it’s an all out destroyer with trance-like riffs and plenty of drum fills. It’s utter madness and unashamedly silly.

8/10

DJ Sonikku 'Chemical Plant' (Lobster Theremin)

We love Lobster Theremin, we really do. Asquith’s London-based imprint has gone from small-time label to worldwide force-to-be-reckoned with. It’s also brought through artists like Palms Trax, Route 8, Daze and Panthera Krause, and we covered the blinding Steve Murphy release not too long ago, too. Now we focus on DJ Sonikku’s latest. ‘Chemical Plant’ is taken from the ‘All My Friends’ EP and is a fruity affair. Tropical synths, naughty basslines and a whole lotta love come packed into the six minute run-time. It’s perfect for squeezing the last bit of juice out of the summer months, and another fine LT addition.

8/10

Matthew Styles 'Metro' (Ostgut Ton)

The last thing we covered from German powerhouse Ostgut Ton was Virginia’s debut album ‘Fierce For The Night’. The electro-flecked LP came loaded with house and techno jams, fully showing off how diverse Ostgut can be. It ain’t all techno, and the new EP from UK producer Matthew Styles further demonstrates that. While two of the three cuts would fall into the Berghain band, the lead track ‘Metro’ is a synth-laden masterpiece and one that has the potential to light up a full Panorama Bar. Expect mesmerising builds, huge progression and enough arms-in-the-air moments to warrant a full body massage shortly after it’s finished.

8/10

Jensen Interceptor 'Memorial Park Tapes Vol 1' (Boysnoize Records)

We must have reviewed the last five of Jensen Interceptor’s releases, and every single one has been a high-octane, razor-sharp lesson in how to rile up a crowd. After appearing on a few ‘Miami Noize’ compilations, Jensen makes his first full EP debut on Boysnoize Records, and ‘Memorial Park Tapes Vol 1’ is a fine first step. ‘Collect Those Ends’ is simply savage, with gangster slurs and bellowing broken beats firing from all angles. ‘UK Storage Unit’ is just as wicked, sounding like a Kamikaze Space Program track on speed, while ‘XL’ is the most subdued of the three – although that does depend on your definition of subdued.

8/10

Danny Daze and rHr 'Ginga' (Warung Recordings)

Danny Daze has been on tremendous form over the past 12 months. His cuts for Kompakt have found their way into the world’s best DJ’s record bags (Papa Sven can’t stop playing ‘Swim’), his label Omnidisc is firing on all cylinders and he’s been playing an obscene amount of dates all over the world. He’s teamed up with rHr for ‘Ginga’ on Warung Recordings, and if you’re looking for voodoo-inspired electro, this one is for you. The delicate tones are almost relaxing, the stompy kicks fever away in the background and the haunting vocals are classic Daze.

8/10