Raudive- resistor EP. Pylon

Chatsworth

10. Armin van Buuren - The Sound Of Goodbye (Robbie Rivera Dub)

Drumcode mark their landmark 100th release with a two-track EP that comes directly from the heart of the label’s operation. Just as with the label’s first release sixteen years ago, Adam Beyer positions himself at the controls, unleashing the shimmering ‘The Color Out Of Space’ with its euphoric melody riding on the back of nagging chords and booming kick. A product of Beyer’s studio collaboration with Ida Engberg, ‘Lovecraft’ takes its place on the b-side, cutting a trippy journey through distinctive chord patterns and undulating melodies that bounce around in the mix, underpinned by a heads-down groove. 

DC100 A Adam Beyer - The Color Out Of Space - clip

A blistering buddy to the first instalment of Pig&Dan’s ‘Tunnel Vision’ EP will land in April. 

Not one to rest on their laurels, Pig&Dan have come out firing in 2020. One of the techno genre’s most prolific artists, their 17 year has seen a wealth and consistency of output unmatched by most in the industry. This is exemplified by the ‘Tunnel Vision’ series launched on Drumcode this year.

Set for release just one week after its predecessor, part 2 continues in powerful, peak-time mode. ‘Sirenism’ is a tour de force, driven by a pulsating lead that pops with acidic undertones. ‘Rinse Out The Sound’ is an intoxicating blend of warbled effects, warm synth layers and crisp drum work. ‘Perception’ is marked by an exuberant top line riff and steely percussive layers and makes for a colourful addition to any set. ‘Wasted’ is muscular techno at its finest, finished with a glistening layer of melody. No surprise the collection went down a treat at Warehouse Project, Drumcode Halloween and Dockyard Festival, among others. The duo are in irresistible form.

Tunnel Vision II

Pig&Dan — Substance — Drumcode — DC222

If you want a snapshot of where techno stands in any given year, and a preview of where it’s headed, look no further than Drumcode’s A-Sides compilation. Since 2012 it has marked the label debuts of countless vital Drumcode artists and affiliates, from Layton Giordani, Wehbba and Boxia, to Amelie Lens and ANNA, no less. Every year, new names are unearthed, tried and true techno contributors serve up their best, and icons of the industry land their debut on Adam Beyer’s storied label.

The 2020 edition hits with 13 tracks, eight coming from label debutants. There’s Eats Everything searing rave bomb ‘Organico’ and Dubfire’s ice-cool electro offering ‘Deadbug’, both artists landing their maiden contributions to DC after long affiliations with Beyer. With three EPs in less than two years on Truesoul, Oscar L steps up to DC, showing the breadth of his sound palette with a soaring, synth-laden gem ‘Dark Fate’. Belgians Joyhauser featured at last year’s Drumcode Festival paving the way for ‘Fierceness’, a beautiful melody-drenched cut befitting their DC cap. Anfisa Letyago is another first timer and shows why she’s one of the scene’s most highly touted new artists with the brooding beast ‘Are You In’. A growing label favourite, Juliet Fox follows up ‘Was Beautiful’, her superb track on last year’s A-Sides, with ‘Our Fantasy’, reinforcing her skill for crafting anthemic techno compositions. Thomas Schumacher & Victor Ruiz link and the result is ‘Intuit’, a sleek futuristic roller that hits you square between the eyes. Other highlights come from longtime Drumcode cohorts Reset Robot and Harvey McKay, who both dish up premium works, reinforcing their classy productions nous.

Buy all

Oscar L — Dark Fate — Drumcode — DC223

A rare treat for Drumcode faithful: A-Sides Vol.10 is set to drop in December, the second edition of the beloved series to come in 2020.

Fuelled by the extra time and space to be creative during lockdown, Drumcode’s collective of artists have stepped up. Across 17 contributions, the producers have gone deeper into their sonic repertoire, crafting powerful, yet reflective works that capture the range of the label’s sound.

Jay Lumen leads the way with a rousing riff-driven weapon, ‘Galactic Rainbow’, while Ramon Tapia brings us the muscular gem ‘Drum Control’, mixing up ruffneck techno with a barrage of synapse-tickling synths in the second half. Both rousing highlights of the compilation.
Victor Ruiz, Drumcode’s most prolific contributor in 2020, dishes up ‘Love Story’, led by a huge vocal lead. Zimmz also returns with ‘Tension’, which deftly combines deep squelchy grooves with a silky synth interlude. Thomas Hoffknecht follows up his debut on Vol.9 with ‘Escape’, keeping listeners on their toes with dynamic, choppy shifts throughout. Veerus joins with another stirring addition ‘I Know’, reinforcing why Beyer rates him so highly.

Elsewhere a string of debutants feature: buzzy newcomer Lilly Palmer gives us ‘Amnesie’, a brilliantly pummelling and eerie cut; Alex Lentini & Stomp Boxx serve up ‘Expanders’ mixing up drone effects, trippy vocals and an unsettling melody line; and Patrik Berg’s ‘Activated’ is full-bodied techno that drops down into funky rhythms.

Long-time DC family member Bart Skils brings his A-game with the thrilling no-nonsense ‘Solid State’ that hits like a steam train. Likewise, Alan Fitzpatrick who brings a momentous slab of techno energy with ‘Rochus’, while Thomas Schumacher, now feeling like a regular on the imprint, crafts another dark techno opus, this time in collaboration with CAITLIN.

There’s even a special appearance by the chief Adam Beyer, who makes a welcome return with the progressive-tinged ‘Changes’, driven by organic tones and spacey atmospherics. The track stands as his first original contribution to A-Sides since 2017.

Reset Robot — Distant — Drumcode — DC235

Independent record label owned by Adam Beyer.