Deadbeat
‘Eight’
(BLKRTZ)
With names like ‘The Elephant In The Poll’ and ‘Punta De Chorros’ you might have guessed that this is probably going to be a touch left-of-center. And if you know your stuff you’ll have also figured that Deadbeat is Scott Monteith, who’s done his fair share in developing the Basic Channel-inspired dub techno genre over the last ten years. This release on his own Blkrtz imprint is a three series twelve-inch release with a total of eight wonderfully hypnotic dub techno masterpieces. Essential. 8/10
The Advent
Sonic Intervention
(H-PRODUCTIONS)
The Advent don’t need an introduction. Pioneers of the modern day club-techno sound, they have been constantly evolving since the very early 90’s. This album however, is not as predicable as you might have thought. Delving into several different genres, there are influences from electronica, tech-house and house itself. One the best tracks here is actually an electro track – a style that they have always been especially good at. Nine tracks. All playable, all brilliant. 8/10
Manuel Pisu
‘Lost EP’
(INMATERIAL AUDIO)
Packaged with a bunch of remixes, this six track EP is stunning. If it’s a hard-edged dark sound you’re after, then look no further. There’s not a single bad moment. Imagine yourself on the decks in front of bunch of angry techno monsters and you’d have to be mad to even consider changing the CD here. Prizes for the best mix go to Gabben - peak time reverberated shizzle that sounds just awesome through a large sound system! 9/10
Mark Flash
‘King Of Light’
(UNDERGROUND RESISITANCE)
Anyone who remotely cares about the roots of techno will go weak at the knees when the name Underground Resisitance is mentioned. So it’s no surprise that after all these years they’re still producing quality, exciting Detroit influenced techno music. No-one else even comes close. Mark Flash is a relatively new artist to the table but he somehow manages to capture the same beauty that you’ll hear in classics from pioneers such as Galaxy To Galaxy. Buy it! 8/10
Kangding Ray
‘Monad XI’
(STROBOSCOPIC ARTEFACTS)
Stroboscopic’s ‘Monad’ series is lethal. Mind-bending music that takes everything good about dark techno, bungs it the washing machine, throws it off a twenty- story building and records the results. ‘Cercle’, the first track, sucks you in with game changing precision – abstract pads and atmospheres that delight the senses. But without hearing them, you will never understand how much the next three tracks blow you out of the water. Boom! Music just doesn’t get any better than this. 10/10
Spitzer
‘The Call’
(INFINE)
At times dark as hell, this is an interesting album indeed. You wouldn’t place it directly in the techno category but you also wouldn’t deny it’s been influenced heavily by it. In fact, there’s a definite nod to bands such as Motor in here, with that whole ‘musical’ approach to dark and metallic rhythmatics. As a techno lover, the vocal and acoustic aspects are a little hard to swallow, as are some of the more ‘progressive’ hooks, but the general ideas are clever. Definitely worth checking out. 8/10
