Slam’s new three track single flawlessly encaptures the modern Drumcode sound. Movement trundles forward with snare rolls and funky percussion. The synth line keeps the funky groove rolling along until the snare roll break where it then crescendos effortlessly back into the track. The Realms synth line weaves in and out of the beat, filtering up and down to create intensity before unleashing itself into aural pleasure. Irrational Numbers takes an unusual rhythmic synth pattern and creates a groove that will make the dance floor shuffle.  Layered with pads, the track uses depth to create a distinctive character.

DC116 - Slam - Movement - Clip

Disruptive

Bart Skils’ fifth Drumcode offering comes in the shape of ‘Black Vans’. A high energy, full force, four track EP of powerful techno; he showcases his skills to produce four tight and solid tracks. Layering the EP with samples, synths and hard hitting drums, the four tracks create an emotive journey that proves Bart Skils is still on top of his game.

Bart Skils - Starfighter - Drumcode - DC153

Bart Skils - Rising Sun - Drumcode - DC153

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. 

Pleasurekraft - Dopefiend - Drumcode - DC159

2017’s first Drumcode release comes in the form of chart topping regular Julian Jeweil, who’ll be putting out his first solo effort on the label. Jeweil’s ‘Rolling EP’ showcases his skill as a producer and kicks off with the emphatic title track ‘Rolling’. The perfect soundtrack for the early hours in the club, this sweaty affair proves just why he’s at the top of the game right now. ‘Venice’ and ‘Blue’ illustrate his signature sound to a tee, with the EP’s final track ‘Traffic’ an acid-tinged behemoth, guaranteed to light up any set.

Julian Jeweil – Blue – Drumcode – DC167

Drumcode favourite Bart Skils kickstarts the new year with his sixth EP for the label Bark Skils opens new year's season with his 6th hard hitting EP released on Drumcode

Since his debut on Drumcode in 2012, Bart Skils has been one of the label’s most regular contributors, with the Dutchman’s brand of functional, hook-driven techno a go-to weapon for Adam Beyer; from his stellar ‘Shadowprint’ EP in 2014, to last year’s classy remix of Moby’s ‘Go’. One of The Netherland’s hardest working ambassadors for techno, he is the organiser of the beloved Voltt Love Summer Festival that’s has been a favourite of Beyer’s for many years. 

His latest work for Drumcode, ‘Bells of the Revolution’ continues his impeccable reputation for quality with everything he does, with four cuts all with their own distinct storyline. The title track is characterised by dark driving grooves and bubbling acid line that slowly evolves into a lush melodic riff. ‘Ocean Drive’ nose-dives into deeper techno territory, while maintaining a sense of exquisite tension throughout. ‘Vocalized’ follows, a stomping acid techno cut that slides into the deep courtesy of skilfully programmed vox and elegant licks of melody. The EP concludes with ‘Retrodade’, a track that’s been one of the biggest in Beyer’s sets in 2017 and features the famous vocal from Rozalla’s ‘Everybody’s Free’. The sample was used with kind permission from the iconic ‘90s singer.

Bart Skils - Vocalized - Drumcode - DC184

Mark Reeve - Redemption (Original Mix) DRUMCODE

After bursting onto the scene in late 2017, Hyperloop makes his Drumcode debut with Green Velvet in toe. 

Followers of Truesoul will be clued up on the quality one can expect from Hyperloop. Last October he marked the label’s 100th with ‘In The Loop’, a superb three-tracker that signalled his arrival on the scene and highlighted a stunning year for the label. As 2018 picks up pace, Hyperloop returns with a tougher follow up for Drumcode. 

His ‘Mentalizm’ EP is a classy example of his versatility, a trio of original works, accompanied by two DJ tools. Beginning on a menacing tip, ‘In Your Mind (Reflections)’ is a low-end brew of industrial stabs, eerie melodies and subterranean vocals. ‘S-Sound’ is his collaboration with Chicago legend Green Velvet and is a percussive masterstroke of loops and drum riffs which drive the eight-minute track with all the puffing ferocity of a steam train. ‘Spring on the Battlefield’ is the perfect contrasting accompaniment, as a warm rush of strings covers a bed of intricate analogue effects and stomping kicks.

Hyperloop - Spring On The Battlefield - Drumcode - DC188

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 04 Alan Fitzpatrick - The Showgirl - clip

Independent record label owned by Adam Beyer.