Using rolling percussion and a thumping kick, Luigi’s four track EP starts with a bang as the title suggests; ‘Primo’ really is unbeatable! Luigi uses synth stabs that add character and finesse to this outstanding piece of music. ‘I Believe’ uses dubby drums and an infectious vocal to really tear things apart before dropping into a melodic synth section that will make anyone move. Tantra’s melodic groove synths help this early morning track really come into its own before the main melodic section, accompanied by strings, will take any clubber to their own dimension. Hypnotizek rounds off the EP being more upfront about where it’s going. This cheeky, groove based track will warm up a dance floor quickly and get people in the mood for a real party!

DC122 - Luigi Madonna - Hypnotizek - Drumcode

Luigi Madonna returns to Drumcode a year after his superb single ‘Primo’ using familiar hooks, huge stabs and monstrous drums that storm across the dance floor which, are common with Mr Madonna. The hard hitting raw vibe of this EP gives Luigi an edge, with fluttering high’s and saturated lows, Luigi’s tracks are a mainstay in all DJ sets. The EP encompasses different emotions throughout that can be felt within the track ‘Singer One’, offering a more mellow side to Luigi’s already expansive catalogue.

Luigi Madonna - Why Not - Drumcode - DC135

The Drumcode A-Sides compilation is quickly becoming synonymous within the techno world as a go to compilation for the hottest tracks that are deservedly A-side material in their own right. Each specific track has it own unique character that brings an outstanding and electrifying aspect to the compilation that as a whole makes it something extremely special. Mixing both highly experienced and new artists has helped to bring a new dimension to the compilation that makes it such a special array of tracks.

Roberto Capuano - Flashback - Drumcode - DC142

Trail Juicer

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

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. 

The Junkies - Masters Of Nothing - Drumcode - DC159

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 - Unreal - Drumcode - DC186

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.

Luca Agnelli - Shipment - Drumcode - DC195

Pig&Dan signal their first solo outing on Drumcode since 2016, with a stirring four-track work.

The duo stands as one of electronic music’s most prolific artists, shapeshifting between different shades of house and techno over a 15+ year period, all the while displaying a startling breadth that’s ensured their enduring demand. Their relationship with Adam Beyer has solidified over the years, first impressing with a debut EP ‘Mexico’ in 2016, before collaborating with the Swede himself in 2017 for the fantastic four-tracker ‘Capsule’, a notable highlight. With their contribution to last year’s A-Sides compilation ‘La Bruja’ one of the strongest of the bunch, their return for a full-length EP is timely. 

Title track ‘Infinity’ is rave-infused stadium techno crafted to perfection, driven by an undulating melodic lead that builds to a tension-packed break, before the chords re-appear and propel the track toward a trippy finale. Vocal cut ‘Losing Part of Me’ is momentous, with punchy bass and pin-sharp percussion juxtaposing superbly with the emotive vocal and laser-kissed melodic touches. ‘Terrax’ is propelled by woozy synth leads that escalate in intensity, before unexpectedly dropping into a series of soothing synth interludes, before slamming back in with purpose. The EP concludes with ‘Plex’, as a brooding melody line is paired with pumping percussion for an atmosphere-heavy finale. 

Tracklist: 

1. Pig&Dan – Infinity 
2. Pig&Dan – Losing Part of Me
3. Pig&Dan – Terrax
4. Pig&Dan – Plex

Buy all

Pig&Dan - Plex - Drumcode - DC201

Techno stalwarts Heiko Laux & Joel Mull return to Drumcode for their first outing since 2016.

Friends and collaborators for over a decade, Heiko Laux and Joel Mull continue their fruitful partnership with a searing four-piece work. ‘Centipede’ is a thematic follow-up to ‘Rooter’, their last atmosphere-heavy production that dropped on Laux’s Kanzleramt imprint in 2017. A year earlier they teamed up for the vinyl-only ‘Munch’ EP on Drumcode Limited that explored subterranean techno grooves. 

Their latest work was created during an extended stay at Mull’s home in Stockholm while Laux was visiting for a show. The evocative ‘Contour’ brings the EP into focus, as delicate strings set an atmospheric tone. The title track ‘Centipede’ follows, a track tailor-made for deep Sunday afternoon rave explorations as a menacing riff runs throughout. ‘Bullet Ant’ is driven by industrial percussion and brain-bending synth effects that dip in and out throughout the muscular work. ‘Centipede’ (Morph) follows on from its namesake, teasing out some space and introducing melody to the palette for a deep late-night impact.

Heiko Laux & Joel Mull - Centipede - Drumcode - DC204

My new track is out now on Drumcode. :)
Get your copy here, https://www.beatport.com/track/razor-original-mix/12516234

Jay Lumen - Razor (Original Mix) Low Quality Preview

Independent record label owned by Adam Beyer.