Drumcode - part 2

Jesper Dahlback - Violent Backlash

Delanois 15 - December 2025

This Won´t be the Death of Me ft Silver Nova

Dune

The Answer

OUT NOW via @insomniacrecords

http://insom.co/Dance-Machine

Dance Machine

Spectrum welcomes another rising star to the family in Belgian DJ/Producer Hawkeys, a fast-emerging talent already catching the attention of heavyweights including Solomun, Joseph Capriati, and Joris Voorn.

Hawkeys transmits his most electrifying signal yet with the forthcoming release of new single, 'Morse Code'. Built around an addictive, staccato synth riff and a driving low-end pulse, the track delivers an immediate jolt to the dancefloor.

'Morse Code is a track that speaks groove in a digital, synthesized language,' says Hawkeys. 'The melody almost feels like it's talking to you - like it's transmitting a message.'

The inspiration for the track struck after Hawkeys witnessed Solomun's monumental 2024 set at Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels. 'There was this raw, magnetic energy in his performance that stayed with me,' he adds. 'When I got back to the studio, that feeling became the heartbeat of 'Morse Code'.'

The single cements Hawkeys as one of Belgium's most promising new exports - a producer fluent in the universal language of dancefloor communication.

Morse Code

Hawkeys - Morse Code

Download/stream: https://1001recordings.lnk.to/theanswer

With early live support from Adam Beyer, Bart Skils, KASIA & more, 1001 Recordings presents "The Answer" from Weska and Charles D, a peak time techno anthem bringing in unique elements from progressive, melodic techno and trance.

🔥 Follow 1001 Recordings On Spotify: https://1001recordings.lnk.to/Spotify

Connect with 1001 Recordings:
https://1001recordings.com/
https://www.instagram.com/1001recordings
https://x.com/1001recordings
https://www.facebook.com/1001Recordings/
https://www.tiktok.com/@1001recordings

Download/stream

Weska & Charles D - The Answer

Download/stream: https://1001recordings.lnk.to/Pas

With early live support from Solomun, Zafrir & Mila Journée hit hard with “Pas,” a high-voltage melodic-techno peak-time weapon loaded with punch. Powerful kick, rolling bass, razor-sharp percussion and hypnotic synth energy lock in fast — and French vocal cuts slice through the mix like a trigger, charging every groove with instant tension and drive.

Made for DJs chasing peak-time energy and dancefloors that won’t stop moving, “Pas” lands on 1001 Recordings as a global-grade club banger — raw, relentless and perfect for main-room takeovers.

🔥 Follow 1001 Recordings On Spotify: https://1001recordings.lnk.to/Spotify

Connect with 1001 Recordings:
https://1001recordings.com/
https://www.instagram.com/1001recordings
https://x.com/1001recordings
https://www.facebook.com/1001Recordings/
https://www.tiktok.com/@1001recordings

Zafrir, Mila Journée - Pas

BUY ON BEATPORT

Adam Beyer & Bart Skils - Your Mind [HNTR Remix]

S3X P&LLS

Having developed an impeccable reputation in the past twenty years since delving into the word of turntables and mixtapes at an early age, Sims can be called a genuine legend in the world of techno. As a producer he has remixed Jeff Mills, Chris Liebing, Adam Beyer and Kevin Saunderson as well as releasing on just about every seminal techno imprint there is. As an A&R he’s been at the helm of nine labels, including the highly influential Ingoma and KB Records inc, and continues to steward Theory and Hardgroove towards the boxes of the discerning fans. 

Most recently the London-based producer has seen his ‘Way Back Wednesday’ (with Tony Anderson), ‘Funk You’ and occasional disco radio shows garner huge support while ploughing further energy into the futurist techno club night “Machine’ alongside Kirk Degiorgio. 

It’s with Sims’ multitude of achievements and notoritey in mind that the knowledge that ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ is his debut LP is somewhat unbelievable, but fact it is. After initially hooking up with Adam Beyer’s Drumcode imprint late in 2010 after a long standing friendship, the affable and dry witted Sims’ was persuaded to deliver an LP and the lengthy writing and selection process began. The result is 11 superb productions which showcase Ben’s talents, influences and perhaps most importantly, his vision of what techno can and should be. 

From the off ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ is a technicolour affair that refuses to sit too comfortably into one groove, preferring to pull the listener through a range of vibes that, while disparate, flow together perfectly. As the album moves, snippets of new vibes bleed through before developing into themes and this is one of the brilliant elements of ‘Smoke & Mirrors’.  

The rousing and prophetically titled ‘Riots in London’ opener leads us into a frenetic, dub-tinged and filter-driven aesthetic which is neatly carried on in ‘Descent’ but subtly augmented with almost-there soulful vocal samples. This nod to soulful elements is then carried on in the less pacey, house referencing ‘ The Snake’ which fuses stabbing keys to a skipping beat which is as much New York as it is Detroit, London or Berlin. 

As ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ develops, suprises like the out-and-out tech-funk of ‘Back To The Pod’ and the street party disco of ‘Can You Feel It?’ are hinted at but never lack surprise when dropped. The emphatic drive of the huge sounding ‘I Wanna Go Back’ featuring Blake Baxter takes things back to techno territory and does so with real purpose while darker edged tracks such as the lethal ‘Bullet’ and the late-night discordance of  ‘The Afterparty’ ramp up the tension. 

The twilight sections of Sims’ debut are perfectly judged. The dubbed (and blissed) out title track lightens the mood before the slightly more aggressive but widescreen ‘The Calling’ trips proceedings out in anticipation of the closer, the Tyree Cooper vocalled and aptly titled ‘I Feel It Deep’

‘Smoke & Mirrors’ has been more than worth the wait. It’s as balanced, entertaining, engaging and powerful as you’d expect from such an artist as Ben Sims and, complete with artwork from Alan Oldham and collaborations from Blake Baxter and Tyree Cooper, is essential stuff.

Ben Sims - Bullet

Ben Sims - The Calling

Artist: Ben Sims 
Title:  Smoke & Mirrors 
Label:  Drumcode 
Release: 27th October 2011 
Format: Vinyl / CD / DigiCat No:  DCCD005 

Late-October sees the long awaited release of Ben Simsʼ debut LP, ʻSmoke & Mirrorsʼ, on Swedish techno imprint 
Drumcode.  
 
Having developed an impeccable reputation in the past twenty years since delving into the word of turntables and mixtapes at an early age, Sims can be called a genuine legend in the world of techno. As a producer he has remixed Jeff Mills, Chris Liebing, Adam Beyer and Kevin Saunderson as well as releasing on just about every 
seminal techno imprint there is. As an A&R heʼs been at the helm of nine labels, including the highly influential Ingoma and KB Records inc, and continues to steward Theory and Hardgroove towards the boxes of the discerning fans.  
 
Most recently the London-based producer has seen his ʻWay Back Wednesdayʼ (with Tony Anderson), ʻFunk Youʼ and occasional disco radio shows garner huge support while ploughing further energy into the futurist techno club 
night “Machineʼ alongside Kirk Degiorgio.  
 
Itʼs with Simsʼ multitude of achievements and notoritey in mind that the knowledge that ʻSmoke & Mirrorsʼ is his debut LP is somewhat unbelievable, but fact it is. After initially hooking up with Adam Beyerʼs Drumcode imprint late in 2010 after a long standing friendship, the affable and dry witted Simsʼ was persuaded to deliver an LP and the lengthy writing and selection process began. The result is 11 superb productions which showcase Benʼs talents, influences and perhaps most importantly, his vision of what techno can and should be.  
 
From the off ʻSmoke & Mirrorsʼ is a technicolour affair that refuses to sit too comfortably into one groove, preferring to pull the listener through a range of vibes that, while disparate, flow together perfectly. As the album moves, snippets of new vibes bleed through before developing into themes and this is one of the brilliant elements of ʻSmoke & Mirrorsʼ.   
 
The rousing and prophetically titled ʻRiots in Londonʼ opener leads us into a frenetic, dub-tinged and filter-driven aesthetic which is neatly carried on in ʻDescentʼ but subtly augmented with almost-there soulful vocal samples. This 
nod to soulful elements is then carried on in the less pacey, house referencing ʻ The Snakeʼ which fuses stabbing keys to a skipping beat which is as much New York as it is Detroit, London or Berlin.  
 
As ʻSmoke & Mirrorsʼ develops, suprises like the out-and-out tech-funk of ʻBack To The Podʼ and the street party disco of ʻCan You Feel It?ʼ are hinted at but never lack surprise when dropped. The emphatic drive of the huge 
sounding ʻI Wanna Go Backʼ featuring Blake Baxter takes things back to techno territory and does so with real purpose while darker edged tracks such as the lethal ʻBulletʼ and the late-night discordance of  ʻThe Afterpartyʼ ramp up the tension.  
 
The twilight sections of Simsʼ debut are perfectly judged. The dubbed (and blissed) out title track lightens the mood before the slightly more aggressive but widescreen ʻThe Callingʼ trips proceedings out in anticipation of the closer, 
the Tyree Cooper vocalled and aptly titled ʻI Feel It Deepʼ 
 
ʻSmoke & Mirrorsʼ has been more than worth the wait. Itʼs as balanced, entertaining, engaging and powerful as youʼd expect from such an artist as Ben Sims and, comfrom Blake Baxter and Tyree Cooper, is essential stuff. 

DJ SUPPORT FROM: ADAM BEYER, SLAM, BEN KLOCK, MARCEL DETTMANN, CARI LEKEBUSCH, TECHNASIA and many more.

Ben Sims-Smoke & Mirrors 'Drumcode Album Mini Mix'

Ben Sims - The Afterparty (Original Mix)

Adam Beyers unique vision of The Afterparty uses phased percussion, tripped out drums and an ethereal like pad and melody to create a stand out remix that blends together two unique ideas momentously. Ben Klock steps up to take on The Afterparty too with the sound ever so synonymous with him. He uses rhythmic stabs and an unusual melody that works so well within the atmospheric landscape he has created. Joseph Capriatis remix of Can you feel it is a funky techno track that uses stabs to really build a solid groove that will be a sure fire hit. The Sandwell District remix of I Feel it Deep uses the original vocal in an ambient journey with pads and percussion to tell a story. Alan Fitzpatrick yet again doesnt disappoint with his remix of Riots in London that uses delayed stabs and a rolling bass line to construct another dark peak time player. Jerome Sydenhams Carbon Dub of Smoke and Mirrors is heavily dynamic and uses a piano chord and the original vocal to create an energetic vibe. Cari Lekebusch remix of Bullet uses a phased underlying melody to really drive the track forward before the bleep melody is introduced later into the track. Jeromes Looking Glass Dub also of Smoke and Mirrors uses a throbbing bass line to power through the early hours of the morning with the use of the delayed vocal and rhythmic hi hats creating a funky techno groove.

DC110 - Ben Sims - I Feel It Deep (Featuring Tyree Cooper) - Sandwell District Remix - Drumcode

Independent record label owned by Adam Beyer.

Jesper Dahlback - Violent Backlash

Drumcode

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