Techno Reviews – February 10, 2006

12” Singles

Bulldozer – Matthias Tanzmann – Moon Harbour (DE)

Another rock solid release from the ever consistent Matthias Tanzmann and Moon Harbour. The “Original Mix” of the title cut holds down Side A, with simple, compelling rhythms and an absolutely monstrous bassline that literally growls at your crowd, summoning them to the dancefloor. This is THE TRACK of the moment in my bag, and went from the mailman’s hand to the top of my chart in one fell swoop.
***** (5 of 5)

Push In the Bush – Gui.tar – Careless Records (DE)

Release number four for Berlin based Careless Records, brings us three tracks of simple, atmospheric, minimal tech house. The title cut is up first, with unadorned, trippy bass, restrained rhythms and creepy, murky, Depeche Mode flavored vocals that are hot in the early part of a set. “Blender Destruction” features eccentric, almost off key, synth stabs, while “Friday Only” wraps things up in a simple, melodious fashion.
*** (3 of 5)

Trash Punk – Sandy Warez – Compressed (DE)

Four of the hardest, most ferocious, distorted techno bangers I have heard in a while. As tools in a blazing set, they are all effective drum tracks, but the one that truly stands out is “Star on 45 in 2005”, a fierce mover that breaks down to a killer funky disco loop, with horns, stabs and a drum roll from “Rock It” by Herbie Hancock. Just as your crowd lets its collective guard down, Sandy drops the ceiling on them again as the violent beats reappear. Strictly for the headstrong.
*** (3 of 5)

Beta EP – Brian Sanhaji – Enable Recordings (DE)

One of the most ingenious producers on the techno scene, Brian Sanhaji is back with another scorching release for his Enable imprint. Side A brings us a furious, electro flavored breaks jam that simply works. The B Side provides us with two head bobbing, butt shaking, techno drum tracks, that destroy anything and everything in their path. Hot release.
**** (4 of 5)

Even Steven – Phil Stumpf – Frozen North (FI)

Release number five from the superlative Frozen North Recordings brings us the work of producer Phil Stumpf. The original version of the title track is a simple, minor key influenced mover and the flip features label boss Jussi Pekka’s remix, complete with restrained keys and opulent pads. “Influencer” is an absolutely immaculate deep tech house mover, complete with quirky rhythms, trippy stabs and amazing, deep pads that irrefutably devastate.
***** (5 of 5)

Construct Groove – Mark Williams – Monoid (DE)

Mark Williams is back with four gems for Monoid. “Construct 2” kicks things off with uncomplicated beats, copious undertones and a slow building, repetitive synth line that recurs over and over, as it twists your mind into knots. “Choose Love” is a minimal grinder, and “Real Grooves” is a hot, shuffling mover. But the real gem here is “Construct 3”, with its driving beats, stunning pads and signature Mark Williams tribal thunder.
**** (4 of 5)

Ambush – DJ T – Get Physical Music (DE)

Scorching, two track EP from the ever consistent Get Physical Music, and the manic mind of DJ T. “Stalker” is a minimal tech house gem with subtle, old school flavored keys and a silky vibe. However, it is the title cut that really does the business here. Straight ahead percussion, hypnotic keys and a ton of glitchy, tension building energy. A hot way to start building from minimal to techno, this is dance floor rocker.
***** (5 of 5)

Naiv – Pierre – Horspiel Musik (DE)

Release number 50 for Horspiel brings us a wildly left field trio of minimal rockers. The title cut is undressed to the max, with plain rhythms and even simpler synth elements. “AI, Lovebot” is next, with some genuinely manic sounds and left of center vocals. The real prize here is “Marks Lovely Distorted Remix” which is part breaks, part dark tech house, and all funky. A secret weapon in your bag, this track will have the train spotters scratching their heads and the crowd on its feet.
**** (4 of 5)

The Learnings EP - Jona – Get Physical Music (DE)

Another dependable release from the Get Physical crew, this time featuring the talents of young buck, Jonathan (aka Jona.) “Learning from the Mistakes” is an unhurried retro house track, with quirky stabs, drops, edits and a rising bassline that does some real destruction as it develop. “Full Pool” is an innovative cross between electro, 80s synth pop and groovy house, that is sure to please forward thinking DJs. Quality stuff.
*** (3 of 5)

On The Dancefloor (Remixes) – One Fingered Pocket – Amfibius Recordings (US)

Seattle based Amfibius is back with another tight EP featuring remixes from The Notbotz and the Greenskeepers. The “Original Mix” is the one for me, with slow building percussion, trippy stabs, vocal samples, and a foundation rocking kick drum that will rock any sound system.
**** (4 of 5)

Save Yourself Sucka – Adultnapper – Rhythmic (US)

Francis Harris (aka Adultnapper), has been on quite a streak lately. With a slew of top notch release in 2005, and EPs about to drop on Kompakt, Mule, Dirt Crew, Audiomatique and Superfreq (to name a few), Harris is sure to break even more ground during 2006. “Save Yourself Sucka” is up first, complete with rolling beats, drop bass and a truly massive electro bassline that grows and grows over time. The flip “Curved by a Thought”, is an emergent, dim, nominal jam, with verdant pads, malevolent undertones and a ton of hip, late night flavor.
**** (4 of 5)

Return of Harold Heath EP – Harold Heath – KG Beats (US)

Smooth, funky, airy tech house from Harold Heath and Chicago based KG Beats. “Boxed” is an unpretentious track with jazzy flute, plucked guitar and ton of hypnotic flavor. Side B brings us the “Boxed Dub”, an undressed, body rocking tech house bomb that starts off easy and expands into a dance floor gem.
*** (3 of 5)

One More Time – Rob Pearson vs. Chris Pascoe – Drugsex (US)

Two tech house heavyweights, Rob Pearson and Chris Pascoe team up on the rocking EP recorded at Online Studios in London. While “Shadow Maker” has some impressive moments, it is the title cut that really does it for me. Rolling bass, forward moving drums and a ton of sinister, brooding tang. Ready for your late night sets, this is an outstanding release that will find favor with DJs form many different parts of the EDM scene.
*** (3 of 5)

Tsunami Aid Volume 3 – Various – Abiotic Recordings (US)

Volume three in this exceptional series from Minneapolis based techno imprint, Abiotic Recordings, takes things in a decidedly more minimal direction. While tracks from Inigo Kennedy, Grovskopa and Luka Baumann, all work, it is the brilliant “Moskito” from Brothers Yard (aka Petar Dundov) that really steals the show. Simple, repetitive, trippy synth stabs and gnashing beats slowly develop and rise over time. Another top notch release.
*** (3 of 5)

Primativeedge EP – Kan Shinomura – Futago Traxx (US)

Rennie Foster and Kan Shinomura have risen from relative obscurity to take their place amongst the most consistent producers in the world of techno. Diversity rules the day when Futago Traxx drops a new release, and this EP is no exception. “Mirai 815” kicks things off in true experimental, Detroit style. But it’s the flip where the real work here is undertaken, starting with “Lodi Beat”, a unpretentious, stripped down, techno rocker with nominal beats, retro flavored keys and a ton of ass shaking, tribal infused rhythms. On the “D1 Remix”, Eamon Doyle takes things way down tempo, dropping the BPM to 102 and building a lush, laid back, late night mood setter. Top release.
**** (4 of 5)

Untitled – Silvio Marquardt – FL Recordings (DE)

Release number 6 from Silvio Marquardt and German based, FL Recordings. “Mandela” is an austere, tech house mover with abundant undertones, and insurgent stabs that trip you out as the tension intensifies. “Die Rote Clara” is a funky, minimal mover complete with head bobbing percussion, inviting, Nord style keys and an immense, rumbling bassline that will rocks.
**** (4 of 5)