Still figuring out my style but keep coming back to somewhat slower more bargain style.

Rise

rise

Calm Da Silence - Samurai Code

Mark Reeve - Redemption (Original Mix) DRUMCODE

Mark Reeve - Fragile (Original Mix) DRUMCODE

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.

Wehbba - Just - Drumcode - DC195

“With Transmission I wanted to produce an album which would represent me a hundred percent, without limiting myself or setting boundaries. It was important for me to make an LP where every single track could be used in a mix as well as listened to at home. The album's concept was simple: Transmission tells a story; my techno story" Julian Jeweil

France’s globetrotting techno DJ/producer Julian Jeweil set to release debut artist album Transmission via Adam Beyer’s illustrious Drumcode Records on 7 January 2019. 

Over the past decade, Julian Jeweil has risen to become one of one of electronic music’s most respected artists and synonymous with cutting-edge melodic techno. Throughout his career, the Marseille-based artist has garnered numerous accolades and achievements including releasing on esteemed imprints such as Cocoon, M-nus and Plus 8, being Beatport’s #1 top selling techno artist (2015), remixing the likes of Moby, Deadmau5, Dubfire & Oliver Huntemann and Pan-Pot and performing at some of the world’s best clubs/events such as Fabric (UK), Womb (JP), D-Edge (BR), Drumcode OFF Week 2018 (ES), Drumcode Festival (NL), BPM Festival (PT) and Resistance (MX). 




With the accumulation of all of this success and experience, the time has now come for the talented Frenchman to continue his burgeoning relationship with Drumcode by following on from his well-received debut ‘Rolling’ EP (2017) and ‘Space’ EP (2017) with his much-awaited debut long-player, Transmission – comprising of 11 stellar tracks inspired by Jeweil’s ambition to produce an album for the dancefloor that would fully represent him without setting any limitations or boundaries.

The alluring space-themed LP commences with the exquisite synth-laden beatless composition ‘Intro’ which is closely followed by one of the album’s darker standout moments, the stomping peak-time title track ‘Transmission’. Elsewhere, there’s further dancefloor weaponry such as the pulsating synth-driven roller ‘Mars’, the edgy groove-based ‘Hyoid’ and the trippy acid-tinged ‘Turbulence’.

Other highlights include, ‘Planet X’ which showcases Jeweil’s mastery of atmosphere, serving as an ambient downbeat interlude when placed between the pounding Berghain-esque workouts such as ‘Internal’ and ‘Futura’. The album continues into its final triptych with ‘Astral’ and ‘Dorsal, 2 powerful bass heavy masterpieces, concluding with the aptly named emotional soundscape ‘Final’ to round off a superb debut long-player that’s well worth the wait.

Julian Jeweil - Futura - Drumcode - DC199

Julian Jeweil - Internal - Drumcode - DC199

Wehbba collaborates with ghetto tech legend DJ Deeon, to deliver another superlative EP on Drumcode.

Since his debut on Drumcode in 2017, Brazil’s Wehbba has become one of the most dependable and impressive artists on the roster. Last year saw two standout EP’s ‘Eclipse’ and ‘Catarse’ drop on the imprint, alongside ‘Just’, his strong contribution to A-Sides Vol.7. He also made his mark playing Drumcode events at OFF Week, Resistance Ibiza and the much talked about double header in Manchester and Bristol when DC took over Warehouse Project and Motion respectively.

A true master craftsman in the studio, his first contribution for 2019 is typically impressive. A huge inspiration to Wehbba since his nascent raver days, ghetto tech icon DJ Deeon contributes a fierce vocal to ‘We Have Bass’, after a serendipitous hook up in São Paulo. A peak career moment collaborating with one of his original heroes and the artist responsible for the classic ‘Freak Like Me’, the resulting percussive-heavy cut kicks like a rodeo bull. ‘Third Wave’ is coffee geek Wehbba’s homage to his favourite brew, constructing the production to mirror the experience of a caffeine fix, as a loopy trance-inducing groove leads to powerful synth stabs that are heavy on impact. ‘Steamroller’ is a stripped back slice of techno driven by the Brazilian’s Korg MS-20 and found form after it initially begun as a studio jam inspired by Richie Hawtin’s ‘Minus Orange’. 

A Jean-Michel Jarre fan stretching back to his childhood, ‘Another Mistake’ was conceived after Wehbba saw the French legend in concert last year and was subsequently able to meet him backstage through a mutual friend. While creating the track, the producer imagined Jarre playing the main layers of the hook on his famous Laser-harp, eliciting an almost celestial quality with the melody. This is a stirring slice of techno fit for stadiums. The EP ends with ‘Purge’, the artist’s stream-of-consciousness expression recorded in one-take and a beautiful beat-less way to conclude the work.

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Wehbba - Third Wave - Drumcode - DC202

Independent record label owned by Adam Beyer.