Chills on a Sunny Day

Roberto Capuano has delivered Drumcode an immense 4 track EP that will blow out the cobwebs and see Roberto step back onto Drumcode with a bang. Lacing each track with pads and tantalising hook lines, Capuano’s tracks fire on all cylinders with good use of vocals and drum rhythms. His tracks have a certain swagger that only Roberto can conjure.

Roberto Capuano - Wilford - Drumcode - DC150

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Mark Reeve - Can't You See (Original Mix) [Drumcode]

Mark Reeve - Hold Me (Original Mix) [Drumcode]

Italy’s fastest rising name in house and techno returns to the respected Drumcode imprint with this blistering new 4-track EP, ‘Climax’. Featuring a distinctive vocal sample crescending over a typically thumping bassline, opening lead track ‘Climax’ grows gradually with the introduction of a single synth note and skipping hi-hats. Two beatless breakdowns increase the pressure whilst a new synth melody is introduced in the second, making for a powerful ending as all the elements join together.

‘Boost’ starts out deep and dark, with a high-pitched call echoing over a determined beat. The track changes course mid-way through with the introduction of a bassy, low-pitched synth melody, helping ‘Boost’ evolve into a catchier, more playful track.

‘Spectre’, a no-nonsense closing piece featuring a jittering synth note, rattling hi-hats and a trademark tension-filled breakdown.
‘Over The Clouds’, as its name would suggest, is the gentlest of the four tracks. Filled with dusty textures over a rumbling bassline, twinkling synths move in waves before lower-pitched chords join, adding a real sense of depth to this production.

Overall, ‘Climax’ is an outstanding example of Faraone’s ear for detail as a producer: his experience as both a resident and touring DJ clearly feeds into his skill for manipulating tension in his productions like he does on the dancefloors. Having recently warmed up for Adam Beyer at Tenax, Marco Faraone’s relationship with the iconic label continues to grow.

Marco Faraone - Climax - Drumcode - DC154

Adam Beyer’s Drumcode juggernaut attracts more fans and critical plaudits with each passing year. Holding firm on its future facing ethos, techno’s number one label presents a new volume in its acclaimed A-Sides series with 20 prime tracks to signify its 20th anniversary. 

Such is the volume of quality music Adam Beyer receives throughout the course of the year, releasing all of it would be impossible. Enter the blue chip A-Sides series: a chance for the quality-obsessive label head to issue a collection of outstanding tracks that couldn’t fit in their regular EP release schedule. 

With an eye on future talent, as much as the label’s established roster of heavy-hitters, the compilation showcases the full breadth of Drumcode’s multifaceted techno sound, equal parts inspiring and functional. 

Led by the stealth techno funk of ‘Nine of You’, Beyer’s deft collaboration with Mark Reeve, the compilation takes in exciting highlights from big guns such as Alan Fitzpatrick, Dustin Zahn, Bart Skils, Pleasurekraft, Luca Agnelli, Jay Lumen, Kaiserdisco and Gary Beck. 

The rich vein of form displayed by emerging techno talent is similarly given prime position. Rising DJ/producer Boxia makes his Drumcode debut, fresh from a well-received warm up set for the crew at the hugely successful Junction 2 festival in London, while the likes of Enrico Sangiuliano, Juan Sanchez, Ian O’Donovan and Timmo also drop fire, establishing their credentials as some of the most promising talent breaking through the ranks in 2016. 

Reinforcing the global scope of the label, artists such as The Junkies from Toronto and Layton Giordani from New York, prove techno is winning a place in the heart of the new generation of artists coming out of North America. 

Jay Lumen - Horizon - Drumcode - DC159

A work 12 months in the making, Adam Beyer continues his exciting series of collaborative EPs, teaming up with heavy-hitters Pig&Dan for an multi-faceted four-tracker.

Chances are up if you spied Adam Beyer in an airport departure lounge over the past 12 months, he’d have his head buried in his laptop, immersed in creating sound sketches. A long-time fan of collaborations, the Drumcode chief has been on an inspiring streak of form lately, teaming up with the likes of Mark Reeve, Dense & Pika and now Pig&Dan. The results have been compelling, to say the least. 

In trademark perfectionist Beyer style, the title track ‘Capsule’ – a shimmering slice of techno - involved “around 15 different versions” the track rigorously road tested by the Swede and featured in episodes of Drumcode Radio to test dancefloor reactions, before finally getting the sign off.  ‘In Love’ is a big room techno groover, driven by crisp drums and the kind of evocative vocal effect that’ll have hairs standing on ends. ‘Atmosfear’ is true to its name, centered on a menacing synth line and gritty percussion, its deep kicks and subterranean bass combining superbly to create a heady dancefloor brew. ‘We Are E’ is propelled by a catchy synth hook and a classic call-to-arms vocal, which tips its cap to the artists’ shared love of classic UK rave.

Adam Beyer Vs Pig&Dan - Capsule - Drumcode - DC171

One of the most exciting artists to emerge in techno circles in recent times, Drumcode is excited to present the label’s first EP from Boxia.

Over the last 12 months the UK artist has impressed with his classy take on techno that mines two decades of rave. Last year’s ‘Colour Sequence’ EP on We Are The Brave marked one of 2017’s standout releases, before being tapped by Maya Jane Coles to remix a track from her latest album ‘Take Flight’, while B.Traits also shone the spotlight on him for a Future 12 residency on BBC Radio 1 throughout September. Boxia first came into contact with Adam Beyer when he opened the Car Park at Tobacco Dock for LWE’s NYD event in 2016, and since then the pair have spoken regularly sharing similar tastes in music and DJing. He dropped his first cut on DC during the summer of ’16, with ‘Revolution’ that featured on A-Sides Vol. 5, making him primed and ready for his first full length EP in 2018.

The four-track work lives up to his growing reputation for crafting beautiful, nuanced and ultimately very powerful electronic music. The EP opens with ‘No World Order’, a deep transcendental slice of techno propelled by a wicked acid line and vocal that leads to a galloping finish. ‘Only Human’ is drenched in atmosphere and old skool wonder, a brilliant composition of punchy multi-layered drum work, catchy synth lines and cutting acid that reveals its tender side with emotive broken beat interludes. ‘Unreal’ is a big peak time belter, raising the tempo to sweaty palms level, as a propulsion of acid and a memorable riff fill the technosphere. The title track ‘Ethereal Education’ closes out the work, a beautiful chord-driven vocal cut that evokes images of the classic dance that characterised Boxia’s earlier years and makes a fitting outro to this outstanding EP.

Boxia - Only Human - Drumcode - DC186

Black Out -  Klanglos Remix

In  many  ways,  it’s  difficult  to  believe  Wehbba  only  dropped  his  first  full-length  EP  on  Drumcode  this  year.  Released  in  February,  the  four-tracker  ‘Eclipse’  was  a  monster  statement  piece  of  the  Brazilian’s  talents  and  followed  on  superbly  from  ‘Fake’,  his  contribution  to  last  year’s  A-Sides  Vol.6  –  inarguably  one  of  the  biggest  tracks  on  the  compilation.  With  the  confirmation  that  Wehbba  will  take  part  in  Drumcode’s  Off  Week  party  in  Barcelona,  followed  by  the  brand’s  takeover  of  Resistance  in  Ibiza,  it’s  indisputable  proof  that  his  crisp,  chord-driven  take  on  techno  has  become  a  vital  component  to  the  expansive  palette  of  sound  Adam  Beyer  has  drawn  for  the  label  in  2018  and  beyond.    

‘Catarse’  marks  the  rapid-fire  follow-up  from  the  prolific  producer.  Opening  with  the  eerie  ‘She  Lost  Control’,  Wehbba  says  he  took  inspiration  from  the  Joy  Division  track  of  almost  the  same  name  (‘She’s  Lost  Control’),  but  instead  of  crafting  the  dense  sonic  atmosphere  with  vocals,  he  employs  an  analogue  kick  drum  and  stealth-like  moog  bass  with  dramatic  results.  ‘Process’  follows,  a  cut  which  begun  as  a  cover  jam  of  Laurent  Garnier’s  ‘Crispy  Bacon’and  ends  up  incorporating  the  cut-up  vocals  of  legendary  minimal  composer  Steve  Reich,  who  is  one  of  Wehbba’s  chief  inspirators.  The  resulting  track  is  an  ice-cool  percussive  work  that’s  rich  in  dancefloor  functionalism.  The  title  track  will  befamiliar  to  many  who  follow  Drumcode  Radio,  a  goose-bump  inducing  highlight  of  Beyer’s  DCR392  at  Awakenings  in  Eindhoven,  ‘Catarse’  is  driven  by  a  memorable  melodic  riff  resplendent  in  90’s  techno  euphoria.  The  EP  concludes  with  the  terrific  ‘Mind  Awake’,  a  powerful  concoction  of  reverb  heavy  basslines  and  glitchy  effects,  that’s  been  thoroughly  road  tested  by  both  Beyer  and  Wehbba  and  kicks  like  a  rodeo  bull.

Wehbba - Catarse - Drumcode - DC192

Hot off the back of a contribution to A-Sides Vol.9, Victor Ruiz returns for his second EP on Drumcode.

The Brazilian artist has been an industrious contributor to DC over the past 12 months, beginning with his excellent debut EP ‘Nimbus’ last May. Since then, he’s played Drumcode Festival, was part of the iconic Warehouse Project party in November and also featured in the first Drumcode Indoors session in March. His production prowess will be fresh in the minds of DC faithful after ‘Intuit’, his collaboration with Thomas Schumacher, was a standout of the recent A-Sides Vol.9 compilation.

The ‘Freedom’ EP is Ruiz’s next offering and emblematic of the creative breakthrough he experienced while crafting the four-track work. The title track is led by hypnotic rhythms and deep bass stabs before a vox enters the fore and builds to a delicious climax. ‘Illusions’ is a pulsating bassline-led groover that builds alongside mystical vocal effects. ‘Senses’ exudes an understated touch of Detroit soul and is a handy DJ tool for varying occasions. ‘Existence’ is a searing late-night techno affair, as layers of melody and swelling pads conjure a thrilling laser-kissed atmosphere.

Buy all

Victor Ruiz — Senses — Drumcode — DC225

Independent record label owned by Adam Beyer.