Full Length CD/ Vinyl Reviews [Back to HOME page]

Evolution - Chris Liebing - CL Recordings (Germany)

Chris Liebing is one of Techno music's biggest stars. Having released a long list of tunes for the best labels in the genre, he wanted to wait until he was ready to release his first artist album. Unlike most Techno producers whose collections amount to an assortment of 12" dance tracks, Chris wanted to create a cohesive gathering with a common theme and goal. On Evolution, you will find the requisite Techno monsters (Fires of Hell, Natural Selection and Random Process), but you will also find industrial bangers (Disorder and Chaos) and soundtrack worthy journeys (Two and Half Billion Years), all interspersed with transitions, sound effects and other elements that help the project live as one. With a constant underlying air of tension and uneasiness, this is not something you want to listen to when you are in need of calming. But if you are ready for a journey through the manic mind of a genius, jump on board.

Response - Alexander Kowalski - Kanzleramt (Germany)

When people speak of lush, gorgeous electronic music, a lot of disparate ideas and styles cross your mind. The deep sexy house of Kevin Yost, the lush smoothness of a old Sasha set or the jazzy instrumentation of Truby Trio might make an appearance, but it isn't often you would hear those adjectives and Techno thrown about in the same description. Enter Alexander Kowalski and his brand new album Response, to muddy the waters that much more. Describing this as a collection of dancefloor ready jams that will prove to be equally effectively in your living room or car, might confuse you. But you owe it to yourself to give this a proper listen and let the music take you and your mind on a journey. The TOP album of the year to this point.

Heiko Laux Presents Offshore Funk - Heiko Laux + Teo Schulte - Kanzleramt (Germany)

Combining the talents of Berlin based Electronic/ Jazz musician Teo Schulte and Kanzleramt label boss Heiko Laux, "Offshore Funk" stands as a triumph of style and diversity. Known primarily for his Tech House and Techno productions, Heiko (with the help of trained jazz musician and friend Teo) adds rock rhythms, latin percussion and jazzy chords to dance oriented kicks on this fantastically engaging album. Continuing with their streak of brilliant releases, Kanzleramt is again on the money.

Leave Luck To Heaven - Matthew Dear - Ghostly International (US)

Having released records for many labels (including Richie Hawtin's Plus 8 and Berlin's Perlon), Matthew Dear is one of the rising stars on the US Techno scene and a master of all things stark, subtle and immensely funky. From the quirky vocals of "Just Us Now", to the bleeps and clicks of "But For You" and the subtlety of "Reason and Responsibility", this is a glimpse into the future of minimal Techno and the mind of a one of its imminent luminaries.

Live Extracts - Stewart Walker - Persona (US)

From Germany and the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, to Dublin, NYC and his studio south of Boston, Stewart Walker is global in every sense of the phrase. With past releases on Tresor, Force, Tektite, High Pass, m-nus, to name a few), he is one of the finest Techno producers in the world and continues to make incomparable music release after release. In addition to studio wizardry, Mr. Walked has spent a great deal of time working on and developing his live show, into a tour de force of style and power…capable of captivating and rocking any dancefloor.

This collection released on Walker's own, Persona label, was (as the title suggests) culled from live performances and captured as it was presented. No prearranged tracks dropped from laptop, Stewart did this entire album in one go, with every variation coming as a reaction to his crowd: their feedback and energy driving the direction of each arrangement. The music itself is as stirring, funky and soulful as any electronic music you are likely to encounter and if you close your eyes tight enough, you can almost visualize being on the dancefloor at the Liquid Room in Tokyo, getting down to the genius that is Stewart Walker.