Techno

We Do What We Want

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Alan Fitzpatrick - We Do What We Want

We Are The Brave front man Alan Fitzpatrick provides the labels next release with a typically incendiary two-tracker. Delving deep into his record collection for inspiration, the result is a brace of distinct, ear-catching cuts that tip a hat to by-gone times in rave culture and have returned big reactions from contemporary crowds all summer. 

The aptly titled “They All Called ‘Em Garys” combines droning hardcore hoovers and power piano with Fitzpatrick’s trademark heavy tech funk. While “Rhino” adopts a slung-back groove of resounding bass and tense pads overlaid with a knockout melody that bubbles away before unleashing its full chord progression through an unashamedly epic breakdown.

They All Called ‘Em Garys

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Alan Fitzpatrick - They All Called' Em Garys

Alan Fitzpatrick’s We Are The Brave imprint has undoubtedly laid down seriously solid foundations. Now well into double figure, the label’s catalogue is forming into a formidable body of work with Alan’s anthemic ‘We Do What We Want’ backed up with a string of club bangers from Gary Beck, Reset Robot and Boxia, plus Fitzpatrick’s mammoth ‘El Jefe’ collaboration with Sasha, which closed out the labels 2017 release schedule in grand style.

Never one to rest on his laurels, Fitzpatrick is back in the driving seat and raring to go again. “I feel a real strong energy right now around the label and I am massively focused on pushing on from the really great start We Are The Brave has enjoyed”, he enthuses. To be fair it is not hard to see why with landmark occasions such as the highly anticipated (and totally sold out) 5000 capacity Alan Fitzpatrick’s Day Festival happening in Dublin on 17th March. After all, who can argue with that most over-used of clichés - fortune favours the Brave!

Of course, Alan’s first release of the year is a mega one. “These tracks have all been born in a different time and space, ranging all the way back in 2015 through to the end of last year. But I think together they fit well, which goes to show that like everything really, but certainly anything creative, it doesn’t make sense to rush things” says Alan

Lead track ‘Colour Of A Dream’ comes with cleverly crafted percussion and energetic claps alongside a dominant vocal, making the track instantly recognizable in the depths of any dancefloor. “I found myself looking back through old hard drives and I guess I found a lot of fresh inspiration from rediscovering music. It feels good to know an idea that has been lay dormant can all of a sudden become relevant, given the right time and space” adds Alan.

Next up, surging with fierce authority is ‘Joy Rider’ with its trademark thumping Fitzpatrick kick drum. A ravey synthetic hook line creates a gritty warehouse vibe, which is in complete contrast to the melodic, end-of-night-euphoria experience that is ‘Together Until The End’ - a truly musical work that oozes texture and emotion.

Alan Fitzpatrick - Joy Rider

Fidelity Kastrow - Daughter Of Darkness EP - Out 26th April on 12" Vinyl 
smarturl.it/FK-DOD

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Artwork by Dan Hillier
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Fidelity Kastrow - The Huntress

FRF2 taken from Terence Fixmer's 'The Swarm EP' released via NovaMute on 12" vinyl on 24th May. 

Pre-order: http://smarturl.it/TF-THESWARM


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Terence Fixmer - FRF2

Monkey Safari - Safe (Joris Voorn Remix)

If you want a snapshot of where techno stands in any given year, and a preview of where it’s headed, look no further than Drumcode’s A-Sides compilation. Since 2012 it has marked the label debuts of countless vital Drumcode artists and affiliates, from Layton Giordani, Wehbba and Boxia, to Amelie Lens and ANNA, no less. Every year, new names are unearthed, tried and true techno contributors serve up their best, and icons of the industry land their debut on Adam Beyer’s storied label.

The 2020 edition hits with 13 tracks, eight coming from label debutants. There’s Eats Everything searing rave bomb ‘Organico’ and Dubfire’s ice-cool electro offering ‘Deadbug’, both artists landing their maiden contributions to DC after long affiliations with Beyer. With three EPs in less than two years on Truesoul, Oscar L steps up to DC, showing the breadth of his sound palette with a soaring, synth-laden gem ‘Dark Fate’. Belgians Joyhauser featured at last year’s Drumcode Festival paving the way for ‘Fierceness’, a beautiful melody-drenched cut befitting their DC cap. Anfisa Letyago is another first timer and shows why she’s one of the scene’s most highly touted new artists with the brooding beast ‘Are You In’. A growing label favourite, Juliet Fox follows up ‘Was Beautiful’, her superb track on last year’s A-Sides, with ‘Our Fantasy’, reinforcing her skill for crafting anthemic techno compositions. Thomas Schumacher & Victor Ruiz link and the result is ‘Intuit’, a sleek futuristic roller that hits you square between the eyes. Other highlights come from longtime Drumcode cohorts Reset Robot and Harvey McKay, who both dish up premium works, reinforcing their classy productions nous.

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Reset Robot — Grains — Drumcode — DC223

Joyhauser — Fierceness — Drumcode — DC223

Valborg/The Raid

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CIREZ D - Valborg (Original Mix)

One of Drumcode’s finest, Bart Skils returns for his first solo EP since 2018.

Bart Skils remains one of the label’s most consistent achievers going back to his debut in 2012. Eight original EPs, a stellar remix of Moby ‘Go’ and his now-classic collaboration with Adam Beyer ‘Your Mind’ have entrenched him as a DC treasure. All the while the Dutchman plays a nurturing role with the label’s nu-skool brigade, regularly playing B2B with Layton Giordani and teaming up with Weska for last summer’s ‘Polarize’ two-tracker.

His ninth Drumcode EP ‘Settle In The Sun’ delivers the first productions from his new studio after six months of preparation. The title track was inspired by an extended stay in LA over New Years, channelling the energy of Venice Beach’s vibrant skate culture to create an uplifting, big riff weapon. ‘Tropical Heat’ took influence from Bart’s experiences touring South America, as an evocative vocal sample and rave-kissed melody line run alongside a wicked rolling groove. ‘Shiva Says’ is a peak-time, brain-mangler in the best of ways, driven by a monster synth line that grows and contorts as the track progresses.

Bart Skils — Tropical Heat — Drumcode — DC226

Bart Skils — Settle In The Sun — Drumcode — DC226

Filterheadz - Emphasis

Konrad (Italy) - Keep On Movin

Raxon lands his first richly-deserved Drumcode EP.

There’s something distinctive about the Egyptian-born artist’s productions that provoke a special response. His debut outing on Drumcode, ‘Dream Space’ soundtracked our favourite takeaway moment from Awakenings Festival in 2019, as Adam Beyer and his three daughters danced along to their mum Ida Engberg’s set, wearing smiles the size of watermelons. More recently, when Beyer played ‘Connection’ during the ‘Drumcode Indoors II’ stream from his Ibiza home, once more, his daughters sprang into dance mode, their fists striking the sky. Raxon’s music just touches you, it’s unavoidable. 

After a pair of contributions to Truesoul and ‘Dream Space’ appearing on A-Sides Vol.8 last year, his maiden Drumcode EP is perfectly timed. ‘Connection’ is catchy intergalactic techno, driven by thick wedges of bass and an irresistible lead hook. ‘Orbit’ initially takes a crunchier and more percussive tone, before rich melodic chords sprout from the darkness to add colour to the mix.

Raxon — Orbit — Drumcode — DC227

Raxon — Connection — Drumcode — DC227

Alan Fitzpatrick - Simpatico

One of Drumcode’s most indispensable talents, Tiger Stripes blesses us with another classy two-tracker.

In the last 11 years Mikael Nordgren aka Tiger Stripes has appeared on Adam Beyer’s Drumcode and Truesoul labels a total of eight times. The Swede has a masterful command of his machines and is an inspired sound designer, imbuing his productions with bags of creativity and cross-genre futurism. His last outing on DC ‘Into Isolation’ was a colourful five-piece of super-charged techno, reinforcing the breadth and strength of his studio work. Nine months on, we have another offering to add to the canon.

‘Jack The Garage’ is a fast and furious leader, mixing up jacking dancefloor functionalism with raw and distorted sounds inspired by garage rock bands such as The 13 Floor Elevators and The Stooges. ‘Back in Black’ draws influence from unlikely sources, Nordgren mining latent inspiration from the smooth synthesized sounds of Travis Scott after his daughter introduced him to the hip-hop maestro. The resulting cut is a slick slice of electro-fuelled techno, with as many sides as a rubik cube, as bass stabs, muffled vocal effects and distorted guitar stabs keep things interesting throughout.

Tiger Stripes — Back In Black — Drumcode — DC228

Tiger Stripes — Jack The Garage — Drumcode — DC228

Adam Beyer returns with his first solo EP in five years.

The Drumcode founder is measured when it comes to signing music to his own imprint, biding his time till the stars align. His last individual outing was 2015’s ‘Stone Flower’ EP, which included the thrilling label favourite ‘What You Need’. A succession of classy collaborations followed, linking with DC’s most vital artists highlighted by ‘Your Mind’ with Bart Skils, proclaimed one of the best tracks of the last decade by Mixmag.

An EP that gives a nod to uncertain times, while remaining resolutely positive, ‘No Defeat No Retreat’ was written during Beyer’s fruitful production sessions during lockdown. The opening track, ‘Park People’ sets the pace with an energetic, 80’s new wave creating the track’s spine. Its hypnotic energy stems from a powerful synth riff and vocal sample culminating in a skilfully balanced track that neatly combines the old with the new. The title track is a study in contrasts, deftly crafting a muted, nagging vocal hook and infectious bassline into a slice of forward-facing, edgy techno. With its subtle, undulating layers of melody building in the background, it ushers in an understated sense of euphoria, making it a perfect end-of-set mood-maker. A thrilling return!

Tracklist

1. Adam Beyer – Park People
2. Adam Beyer – No Defeat No Retreat

No Defeat No Retreat

Adam Beyer — Park People — Drumcode — DC229

Adam Beyer returns with his first solo EP in five years.

The Drumcode founder is measured when it comes to signing music to his own imprint, biding his time till the stars align. His last individual outing was 2015’s ‘Stone Flower’ EP, which included the thrilling label favourite ‘What You Need’. A succession of classy collaborations followed, linking with DC’s most vital artists highlighted by ‘Your Mind’ with Bart Skils, proclaimed one of the best tracks of the last decade by Mixmag.

An EP that gives a nod to uncertain times, while remaining resolutely positive, ‘No Defeat No Retreat’ was written during Beyer’s fruitful production sessions during lockdown. The opening track, ‘Park People’ sets the pace with an energetic, 80’s new wave creating the track’s spine. Its hypnotic energy stems from a powerful synth riff and vocal sample culminating in a skilfully balanced track that neatly combines the old with the new. The title track is a study in contrasts, deftly crafting a muted, nagging vocal hook and infectious bassline into a slice of forward-facing, edgy techno. With its subtle, undulating layers of melody building in the background, it ushers in an understated sense of euphoria, making it a perfect end-of-set mood-maker. A thrilling return!

1. Park People
2. No Defeat No Retreat

Techno

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