Jerome Sydenham - Trombipolution

After appearing on our sister label Truesoul and also the A-sides Volume 2, dubspeeka releases his first full EP on Drumcode. Basing his sound heavily on his uniquely dark and twisted melodies, dubspeeka has created a brooding, atmospheric EP that capture each individual feeling on the techno scale from bouncing, energetic tracks to melancholic offerings. His use of Percussive sounds add energy to tracks such as Primary K290 and his array of eloquent lead lines add depth and character that can be heard on Primary K293.

dubspeeka - Primary K256 - Drumcode - DC137

Bandcamp

Caribe

This track comes from a very emotional moment in my life. “I Lift You High” is about that rare feeling when someone lifts your spirit at the exact moment you’re falling apart. I tried to capture the warmth, the tension, and the fragile hope inside that moment. The whole progressive-dub flow is built around one emotion, the feeling of rising above the darkness, even if just for a few minutes.

I Lift You High (Progressive Dub)

The seventh volume of Drumcode’s annual A-Sides compilation hits with no less than 10 debuts for the label, with Charlotte de Witte, ANNA, B.Traits and Scuba’s SCB project, among the collection of topline artists to release their maiden productions on the imprint. 

Over two decades into its lifespan, Drumcode keeps evolving and excelling, pushing techno forward while remaining wholly respectful of its roots. This reputation for progression was further fueled this summer with its inaugural festival at the NDSM Docklands in Amsterdam, featuring a long list of heavyweights including Nicole Moudaber, Joseph Capriati, Amelie Lens and Ida Engberg, among others. 

As ever, the A-Sides compilation provides a timely opportunity to showcase the full range of its sonic repertoire, with Adam Beyer scrupulously selecting 22 unreleased tracks that have taken prime position in his sets over recent months. 

Outstanding all-round talent ANNA kicks off the compilation with ‘Portable Paradise’, a pulsating cut that sets the tone for the top-shelf club cuts to follow. Also entering the debut field with their first ever Drumcode dalliances are B.Traits and Charlotte de Witte. The esteemed Canadian selector offers up ‘I Feel The Music’, a euphonic track that’s been sought after since spring, and the Belgian ballista unlocks a thick-edged club bomb in ‘Remember.’

Leaders of Drumcode’s new brigade, exciting Brazilian Wehbba and British techno alchemist Boxia set out to impress. Wehbba’s straight-talking ‘Just’ hits with an immediate sense of urgency before neck-snap claps strike with force, and Boxia’s ‘Final Call’ elicits physical engagement with mellifluous vocals and soaring pads. 

Continuously looking to bolster the profiles of emerging talent, Berlin-based producers Weska and Juliet Fox are brought into the fold with equally engaging razor-sharp tracks that are primed to do lasting damage. 

Other notable highlights include an exhilarating workout from Reset Robot - the most released artist on Beyer’s imprint Truesoul – as he lands on Drumcode for the first time. And tastemaker’s favourite Jel Ford makes a welcome return as he ushers in techno rhythms with bustling breaks in ‘Nightshade.’

Elsewhere, support from label mainstays comes in from Bart Skils, who offers a work of consummate skill in ‘West Of The Moon.’ Alan Fitzpatrick, who’s been heavily featured across the A-Side series, joins forces with Scuba as he operates as his uncompromising alias SCB. The result is a propulsive floor-gripper that testifies to their masterful deftness as co-producers. Formidable duos Dense & Pika and Pig&Dan also contribute with powerful compositions.

Reset Robot - Self Existence - Drumcode - DC195

Contained within this eleven-track compilation is a collection of tracks submitted to Drumcode as demos but which didn’t have other tracks to be partnered with to make up a classical Drumcode EP. Such was the quality and quantity of these stunning one-off tracks that the idea of making them into a compilation was born primarily for practical reasons. As the project grew the idea became a theme and the theme evolved into a finished project – A-Sides - which tells both the story of Drumcode’s recent past with familiarly high-octane tracks from Adam Beyer, Alan Fitzpatrick, Joseph Capriati, Gary Beck, Gregor Tresher and Dustin Zahn & Rachel Palmer but also gives a glance into what is to come as the likes of Patrick Siech, Luigi Madonna, Roberto Capuano, Dhillon and Manic Brothers get their chance to contribute to the shaping Drumcode’s future.

DC97 01 Dustin Zahn & Rachel Palmer - Melange - clip

The EP starts with Mikael Jonasson’s, ‘Benefit of the Doubt’ which uses dark, melodic bleeps to create tension before the epic chord stabs kick in that resonate over the throbbing bass line. Adam Beyer steps up with the second track ‘Never Really Left Home’ that uses a rhythmic synth-line to create a dark and moody piece of music. Ida Engberg then delivers her unique style of techno using old rave sounds and a huge hoover style synth to create a driving techno track that will keep any dancefloor moving. The Manic Brother’s supply another big track named ‘Different Directions’ using reverberated stabs to create an atmospheric, but still functional track with lots of rhythmic percussion thrown in. Patrick Siech then steps up with the next track, ‘Kill Room’ that also uses atmospheric percussion and stabs to build into a funky drum groove. Joel Mull presents the sixth track on the compilation; ‘Rimson’ that uses hypnotic drums to captures the listener’s attention to lead into a floaty synth and vocal line before the track introduces a pulsating bass line. ‘Second Coming’ is the next offering with Petter B using recurrent percussion to full effect to create a purposeful, heavy hitting techno track. The final track by Cari Lekebusch called ‘Xylopeggiator’, conveys a dark, pounding 5 AM rhythm that uses vocal samples and a melodic synth to create a hypnotic drum pattern.

02 - DC107 - Adam Beyer - Never Really Left Home - Drumcode

DC109 - Roberto Capuano -- New Chapter -- Drumcode

Drumcode storms into 2013 after releasing some superb tracks in 2012 which included celebrating their 100th release with an outstanding EP from Adam Beyer and Ida Engberg. Also releasing some exceptional tracks from artists such as Alan Fitzpatrick, Jay Lumen and Gary Beck, Joseph Capriati, Gregor Tresher, Sam Paganini, Nicole Moudaber and Ben Sims. Heading into 2013 Drumcode are keeping up the refined techno that they have displayed and are making sure that they continue to keep up this form throughout the coming year.
Roberto Capuano is a name heard before at Drumcode, releasing his debut release on the 15 year anniversary compilation with his track ‘Oblique’. Gaining support as a producer, Roberto has released on record labels such as Analytic Trail, Phobique, MKT, Monique Musique and Suara. He has gained a lot of support from Adam Beyer, Richie Hawtin, Joseph Capriati, Umek, Carl Cox and Alex Under amongst others. Roberto has also been Djing around the world at venues in Europe including the famous, “Old River Park” amongst others.
‘Vertigo’ is the A side on this four track EP by Roberto Capuano that uses reverberated kick drum’s and piano chords to create a groove that was designed for peak-time play. The second track, ‘Inversion’ uses rising and filtering synths with the use of space and influxes of pitched hi hats and percussion loops to create a 5am track that will keep people rooted to their spot. ‘New Chapter’ uses a repetitive percussion-like stab to keep the deep atmospheric sounds together over the industrial techno drums.The final track ‘Earth’ uses phased sporadic stabs to create an interesting groove that compliments the driving drums that are ever present.

Roberto Capuano - New Chapter [Drumcode]

Independent record label owned by Adam Beyer.