Jel Ford kicks off his return EP with two tracks of clean big room techno. The title track ‘Backyard’ is a moody affair with a low drone throughout that is complimented with layered synth stabs. Using reverb to create atmosphere within the track it subtly breaks down before a vocal hook transcends the track to deliver a killer blow. ‘Meeting of Minds’ is dubbier and uses a tripped out synth to add rhythm whilst working alongside a synth pattern to keep the track chugging along. The slow evolving pads add texture and keep the track nicely filled out whilst this timeless classic keeps on giving.

Jel Ford - Backyard - Drumcode - DC133

Jay Lumen - Departures [PURE096]

Buy On Bandcamp

Hurukan, D'Jamency  Oliver X - Kuiper Belt (Red Richards)

<p>It&#8217;s time for Sasha Carassi&#8217;s &#8220;Echoes&#8221; from a few months ago to receive remix treatment, and Skober&#8217;s interpretation is up first and focuses on the melodic elements of the Original but cleverly adds moody synths which add to the overall epicness of the affair, especially in the grandiose breakdown. Layton Giordani is up next with his trademarked shadowy sound and impeccable arrangement, offering yet another angle of attack. Last but not least are Loco &amp; Jam dubbing things out with bursts of references to the original in key moments, while maintaining a rocksteady vibe sprinkled with discordant stabs.</p>

Sasha Carassi - Echoes (Layton Giordani Remix)

Enrico Sangiuliano came up through illegal raves and is now a top DJ who plays all over the world and has his music played by the likes of Adam Beyer and Sven Vath. He has had the longest ever running techno number one on Beatport (his remix of ‘Can You Hear Me’ for DJ Boris on Alleanza) and is one of the best selling artists on the site at any one time. His music comes on Cocoon and Drumcode amongst others, and is powerful, direct stuff for the dance floor.

Written entirely in Italy, “X-Pollination (or cross-pollination) is fundamentally the key factor of growth, consciousness and life,” says the artist. “It’s the way I connect with people, share my passion, fly from one place to another and put many influences and elements into my music.”

The title track is eight minutes of slow burning but hypnotic techno funk with rolling rubber drums and nervy pads. Frazzled synths add post apocalyptic vibes to this main room anthem and many well crafted peaks and troughs along the way help make it even more standout. It is a real techno classic in the making.

Mark Reeve is the UK star who remixes. He has a long history with techno that goes back to the rave scene. Since then his education has taken in trips to techno mecca The Omen, has resulted in music on Cocoon and collabs with Pig & Dan. He has also released on Drumcode and has a big rolling sound that fills the world’s finest clubs and warehouses with his unique grooves. His take on the original is more energetic, with searing synths, cantering kicks and a dark energy that makes you pump your fist and stomp the floor. It is full of drama and is perfect balanced from start to finish.

Enrico Sangiuliano - X-Pollination (Mark Reeve Remix) [Unrilis]

Buy on Beatport

Saraceni makes his return to Truesoul with a pumping, 3 track EP. ‘Carry You Away’ displays Saraceni’s diversity as a producer with three heavy hitting yet uplifting tracks, all packed with tantalizing crescendos and deep drops. The vocal-laden EP is high energy, packed with intriguing percussion and dynamic synths and cut a deep, summer-ready groove.

Paride Saraceni - Carry You Away - Truesoul - TRUE1281

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. 

Adam Beyer & Mark Reeve - Nine Of You - Drumcode - DC159

Adam Beyer’s Drumcode is growing from strength to strength, year after year, with a non-stop release schedule showcasing both the labels new and most established artists with cutting edge techno beats. After 20 years since its inception, Drumcode continues to push the boundaries, firmly grounding their position as the world’s No.1 techno label.

Drumcode’s youngest rising star, Layton Giordani, exploded on to the scene after his debut album “Where It Begins” back in February, after scoring some of the biggest festivals in Europe this summer, he now returns with an exciting collab titled “Live Again”.

NY born and bred, Danny Tenaglia has always been a true inspiration for Layton since his teenage years, so when the opportunity to collaborate with the fellow NY legend was on the cards, it was a dream come true.

Danny and Layton join forces for the lead track ‘Live Again’. Its deep and dark with a slowly building pad wrapping around a modulating synthetic hook. The dark and effected vocal echo takes the track into a hypnotic vibe.

‘Take It Back’ delivers a pumping drive the moment it fires up. Snapping percussive force and an infectious rhythmic groove will unhinge dance floors nationwide, whilst ‘Secrets of Vibration’ has a rattling, yet blistering low end presence to it.

The New Yorkers unite on this energetic and exciting collab.

Layton Giordani feat. Danny Tenaglia - Live Again - Drumcode - DC180

Out now on Beatport

https://www.beatport.com/release/percussionix/2280205

Carl Cox is an industry figurehead whos legacy in music includes his iconic label Intec, which he runs with friend and business partner Jon Rundell.

Intec's new release is from UMEK who is a Slovenian artist accredited with kick-starting the techno scene in his home country, before earning critical acclaim on a global scale when he first started his career in the 90s.

Having released on labels ranging from CLR and Novamute right through to Toolroom, in recent years UMEK's own imprint "1605" has also become a main outlet for his music.

People with a good knowledge of technos history will be more than aware of the impact of UMEKs classics tracks, such as his anthemic Gatex that came out only a few years before his first Intec release in 2005.

Having also collaborated with many influential figures such as Chris Liebing and Joey Beltram, this new solo EP is UMEKs third release on Intec.

Titled Percussionix the EP opens with (Mix 1) which centres around a thick set bassline cut with filter sweeps and full of menacing intent. Leading the track is a combination of tribal percussion loops, which provide the track's main driving force.

Track two is UMEKs alternative mix of Percussionix which titled (Mix 2) has a more refined sound with the raw edges of the percussion being rounded off to smooth the sound, and its bassline is left unfiltered so it becomes more of a gradual sweep that grows with building tension.

ID152 1. Umek Percussionix Mix 1

Catarse

Wehbba - Catarse

Fresh from producing a blistering remix of ‘Camargue’ earlier this year, Maceo Plex returns with his first Drumcode EP in five years.

Maceo Plex hasn't dropped an original on Drumcode since 2014 when the hugely popular 'Conjure Infinity' EP was released. Despite this, he's been a significant feature at DC events over the last year. Sharing a tight relationship with Adam Beyer, the pair have laid down memorable B2B sets at Warehouse Project, Ultra Music Festival, and the Resistance opening party in Ibiza this summer, thus cementing their tight musical bond.

Produced in the early part of 2019, 'Destination Mars' marks his terrific return to Beyer's iconic label. The track is trademark Maceo, a master class in tension and release, characterized by a slick low-end bass hum that gathers steam as crunchy drum lines and breathy vocal accents combine effectively with the main vocal lead, a contribution from Josh Wink, no less. No surprise, it went down a storm when debuted at Time Warp's mammoth 25th-anniversary party in April and has been highlighting the Ellum boss' sets ever since. The ever-reliable Raxon is charged with remix duties, stripping back the track's engine to focus on a central melody, chugging bassline, and hypnotizing vocal effects. Shall Ocin's re-rub is made for misty-eyed mornings as celestial pads result in a transcendental finale to bring it home.

Buy all

Maceo Plex — Destination Mars Feat. Josh Wink — Drumcode — DC216

Independent record label owned by Adam Beyer.