September: 17 techno releases you need to hear this month

Electrorites 'Structures' (Nightmare Factory)

Electrorites, an Italian producer who runs Nightmare Factory Records, says his debut LP ‘Structures’ marks a point in his life where his state of mind is a culmination of “energy, determination and anger”. You can hear that in every sound wave that makes up this collection of 12 abrasive tracks (each one named ‘Structure’ and numbered from one to 12). The rumble of kick drums reverberates throughout, with very little respite, but that’s why we love it. Electrorites takes those notions of energy, determination and anger and runs away with them. There’s no let-up, with tracks like ‘Structure 03’ smashing their way through seven minutes of gnarly techno rhythms with gusto. ‘Structure 06’ has an eerie menace layered over an oppressive low end, ‘Structure 09’ is hypnotic in its driller killer monotony and ‘Structure 02’ has a fidgety, frantic energy. It certainly won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, but the consistency of its energy and power, together with Electrorites’ control and detail, is admirable.

8/10

Reflec 'Cult' (Clergy)

Raw, powerful, cavernous techno takes top trumps this month, from Cleric’s trusty Clergy label. Taken from Reflec’s deadly new four-track EP, ‘Passage’ has a top-end with wiggly, revolving chimes, haunting chords that are gradually unfiltered and a jiggling bassline that’s almost aquatic in its rhythm. In juxtaposing the low-end with the highs, he creates a work of beauty that is this month’s clear winner.

9/10

Planetary Assault Systems 'KAT' (Mote Evolver)

Luke Slater’s P.A.S. alias gets busy on Mote Evolver with ‘KAT’. There’s something about the tribal-esque rhythm that wraps you around its little finger immediately. Tabla-sounding drums collide with deep, warm bass while skittish percussion drives the track forward.Slowly, a repeated vocal clip works its way from the background into the foreground and back again. Slater’s clever use of modulation and creeping progression keeps you locked in for the duration.

7/10

Florian Kupfer 'Being Me' (Technicolor)

After 40 seconds or so of quite delicate, though high-pitched, chimes, Florian Kupfer hits us in the mush with a brutish kick drum.What’s really enjoyable about this unusual workout is the way in which Kupfer plays around with rhythm. Though it has a 4x4 foundation, ‘Being Me’ stutters, stops and starts and never rolls with a steady, monotonous beat. In tandem with this, we have those strange, shrill chimes, which are almost like baby birds calling out for their mother. At the close, Kupfer lets those chimes play out for over a minute-and-a -half without a beat.

8/10

rRoxymore 'Ministry Of Silly Talks' (Lena Willikens remix) (Huntleys + Palmers)

In addition to boasting an excellent name, this is also a great piece of jittery funk from Lena Willikens on the remix tip for rRoxymore. ‘Ministry Of Silly Talks’ has an electro aesthetic,and kicks off in a jaunty manner – as new elements slide into the fray, the energy builds and unholy effects darken the mood. Before we know it the second half of the track is ushered in, with a far more frantic environment in which all the facets combine to boost the energy and have you nodding furiously.

8/10

De Sluwe Vos 'Basement Work Out III' (Unknown To The Unknown)

Sometimes there’s no need to be conceptual with one’s music – just a simple outlook and a name that tells you what the track is all about will often suffice. That’s what we reckon De Sluwe Vos was doing when he made this dancefloor cruncher. ‘Basement Work Out III’ powers through its duration with no-nonsense aplomb, just rugged rhythms and hefty squared-off bass. Midway through, De Sluwe uses the old trick of slowing things down, a la ‘French Kiss’, giving us a breather before he continues to bang it out.

7/10

Rebekah 'Anxiety' (Soma)

CLR family member Rebekah steps over to legendary Glaswegian label Soma for this three-tracker. ‘Anxiety’ is a fitting title for this unsettling cut, which takes no prisoners with its alarming, shaky flow. Over a slightly muted kick she places a series of repetitive bleeps which increase with intensity as the track progresses, luring you into its anxious web. A sense of nervous tension really comes through on this track, with Rebekah turning up the ferocity bit by bit.

9/10

Population One 'Multiple Choice' (Cosmin TRG remix) (Out-Er)

We always start salivating when a Cosmin TRG track drops into our laps, and this is another fresh jam from the bass-loving techno don. Crackling atmospherics cascade over an irresistible bassline, together with cosmic FX. It’s all very minimal and creeps along at a laidback pace, with Cosmin adding subtle layers as the track approaches its finale. At the four-minute mark there’s a tension-building breakdown, where the bassline is removed for a few seconds before continuing in its confident stride.

8/10

Nothus 'Fragments Of Loneliness' (XCPT)

Breaky business here from London-based Italian Nothus, who is Event Coordinator at the renowned illegal house and techno party Excepta. He says his EP is influenced by UK sounds, and this comes through on ‘Fragments Of Loneliness’, which has echoes of drum’n’bass in its drum patterns. The melancholy pads also have something British about them and, in conjunction with a warped bassline and forceful kick drum, work wonderfully to create an absorbing atmosphere. The remix from Andrea is a peach, too.

8/10

Violent Blondes 'Queen Of Bethnal Green' (Jason Fernandes remix) (Civil Disobedience)

Politically charged techno, here, from a label that aims to use music to raise awareness among listeners. This particular track focuses on the dangers of mephedrone. The original is superb, with deeply engrossing atmospherics, while Jason Fernandes’ remix goes that little bit harder. Tough beats, tough bass and a more apocalyptic feel all round makes it our pick of the two cuts. It stomps along with menacing intent and we love it. Looking forward to more from this interesting new project in the future.

9/10

Jeroen Search 'Metta' (Figure SPC)

The mighty Dutchman Jeroen Search closes out this series of releases from Len Faki’s Figure sub-label with ‘Figure SPC – Z’, the final EP from the alphabetically arranged collection. Across eight tracks he demonstrates why he’s one of the most renowned techno producers out there, and ‘Metta’ is our choice cut from the extended EP. That shoulder-shrugging jaunty beat, the catchy hats and the all-encompassing contagious vibe makes this one almost impossible to resist.

7/10

Loreto 'Finder' (Lisbon Bunker)

This is moody and unnerving dancefloor-ready music from Portuguese producer Loreto. Props to the guy, as this is his first release and it’s not bad at all. The sounds of some distant panting punctuate the intro, and as it revs up prepare to be confronted with a series of immersive and unusual effects. The pace is steady, allowing for a range of sounds to bounce around, while the main synth line snarls like a wolf defending its young, maintaining its aggressive nature right up until the end.

7/10

Johnson Righeira 'Vamos A La Playa' (2016 Baldelli & Dionigi remake) (Opilec Music)

This month’s oddest release comes from Opilec in Italy. The label has licensed Itali classic ‘Vamos A La Playa’ and given it several reworks (if you don’t know the tune, Google it – it’s pretty funny). This remix throws in big 80s synths, a rolling bassline and the classic vocal from the original song to create something that’s oddly catchy, although we’re not sure whether this could be dropped in any moody techno clubs – it might work at a sunny party, but it’s certainly not for the dirty dungeon at Berghain.

6/10

One Track Brain 'Private Sky' (OTB Records)

One Track Brain appears on his own OTB Records label to drop some spoken word badness with killer track ‘Private Sky’. This is a track with a narrative, inspired by the artist Calder no less – but aside from the story that lies at its foundation, ‘Private Sky’ is a nice bumping riddim that will surely do a lot of damage on the dancefloor. OTB’s rough-and-ready beats keep things punchy, while a series of FX add depth.

7/10

BKR 'Bazaar' (Whistleblower)

Naughty hunk of bleepy, driving techno here from Simon Baker under his new BKR alter-ego. This is the first time he’s used the alias to release outside of his own BKR Project series, giving these three tracks to Whistleblower, the outlet run by Reset Robot, Alan Fitzpatrick and Rhymos. ‘Bazaar’ is a polished number that bounds along with a strong pulsating kick at its core. His years of experience come through in the production and excellent use of subtle details to keep things interesting.

8/10

Martin Buttrich & DJ Tennis 'Perpetual' (Rhythm Assault)

Two behemoths team up for one of several collaborative compositions from Martin Buttrich’s Rhythm Assault label. There are some meaty pairings on the way, but we must say that this is a pretty big one to get things going. As you may expect, ‘Perpatual’ is no ordinary melodramatic techy beast: it’s a slightly stripped-back, mesmerising and above-average work of art. From the tense atmosphere to the cacophony of oddball flecks of sound that dance around the sombre bassline, it’s all very classy.

9/10

Tilliander 'Nybliven Lots' (Bright Sounds)

Hazy action on Bright Sounds with a lovely collection of music from Tilliander. ‘Nbyliven Lots’ evokes visions of some weird, dystopian city in a Japanese anime. But despite the industrial feel, the track’s ploppy effects and animal-esque sounds also give it an organic edge, too. In the distance, birds can be heard chirping as smooth pads usher in a brighter second half. You can just imagine the bizarre assortment of colourful cybernetic creatures that occupy this post-apocalyptic metropolis – all you have to do is close your eyes.

8/10