techno. 1

Continuing his prolific run of new material for the label, Johannes Heil continues to push forward with his 'Transitions' series, here collecting four more unique tracks for Volume 2.

Opening with the serene calm and Krautrock influenced 'Transition Five', a five minute piece that opens up a rich synth landscape full of space and texture, we then move onto the first of the EP's two full-spectrum Techno trips. Hotly tipped for the Summer as an essential Festival and Open Air 'moment, the powerful and optimistic energy behind 'Transition Six' is hard to ignore. That combined with Heil's extremely well sculpted and high-end production, the scene is set for madness to ensue… 

On the flip side we visit more paranoid zones with 'Transition Seven'. Building from a minimalistic stuttering rhythm, a soaring Sci-Fi soundtrack of strings and intricate synth patterns lift the tension, while dramatic sound effects crash and shimmer across the spectrum. 

This then prepares us for 'Transition Eight', in which we find Johannes working his refined club-sound into yet further directions and angles. At once hypnotising and dominating in its driving bass register and captivating arrangement, a highly charged minimalist club tool for 2014 awaits!

Transitions Volume 2

Transition Six SNIPPET

Brujeria

Satellite

White

Go to the beat

E's uzi machine (Original Mix) [FREE DOWNLOAD]

Version 004.2

Die weiße Rose (Tale Of Us & Mind Against Version)

Call It Techno EP

Call It Techno (Carlo Lio Remix)

Brazil-born, Barcelona-based DJ and producer ANNA has garnered international accolades from Mixmag, BBC Radio 1 and others with recent releases on the likes of Diynamic and Turbo Recordings. But her skill set reaches far beyond the studio realm as 2017 marked her busiest year to date. Beyond a whirlwind of festival appearances (including Movement and Awakenings), ANNA had the opportunity to perform at iconic clubs such as DC-10 and Fabric. 
This passion for the dancefloor was fuelled by a youth spent in the DJ booth of her father’s night club – and it now leads to her first outing with Kompakt: SPEICHER 101 carries the DNA of both the studio head and the club dweller, crafting two propulsive, massive belters out of simple, but effective ingredients. HIDDEN BEAUTIES dominates the A-side with raw bass power and sizzling drops of acid, while the flipside brings you THE DANSANT, one of these spiralling minimalistic techno bangers that just seem to grow indefinitely. The release is also a personal milestone for ANNA, as Kompakt’s records have always been a staple in her sets: “I have so many records from Kompakt, I’ve had them since I started, and even though I played so many different styles through the years, I can safely say that Kompakt has always been in my crate.” Her very own release on the label, however, seemed “like a distant dream”, she says. Turns out it wasn’t that distant after all – thanks to her knack for seriously catchy techno with a punch, nurtured by hard work and persistent focus. A perfect fit for Speicher.
Available here: https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/Speicher101SD

Buy/Stream

ANNA - Hidden Beauties

Beatport: bit.ly/BeatportPetersHandEP

Michael Klein - Peter's Hand EP [SNDST043]

1: Peter's Hand
2: Broken Keys
3: Broken Keys (Heiko Laux Remix)
4: Daniel's Dream

After his hugely successful HUB EP and a string of killer releases on his own BLK DRP imprint, Second State mainstay Michael Klein returns with what may be his best work to date with his ‘Peters Hand’ EP.
Klein delivers three absolute burners that somehow embrace the purely functional floor filler prerequisites to ensure maximum range of playability yet he maintains an incredible amount of character and uniqueness setting them apart from anything else. Add to that a rework from the master Heiko Laux, and ‘Peters Hand’ is an absolute monster of an EP. Both ‘Peters Hand’ and 'Broken Keys’ span the A-Side and are a testimonial to the one of a kind approach Klein has to building grooves that are intense and gripping. Flip to the B-Side and Heiko Laux’s remix of ‘Broken Keys’ is a tour-de-force, wall of sound full of tension and euphoria. To round it out ‘Daniels Dream’ sees him finish the EP showing a fairly playful side balanced delicately over an unrelenting and one of a kind Michael Klein groove resulting in a stunning return to the label. 

@michaelkleinberlin
@secondstateaudio

Beatport

Michael Klein - Broken Keys

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.

Pig&Dan - Pushing On - Drumcode - DC195

Purchase here — bit.ly/DC197BP

Marco Faraone returns to Drumcode with some of his most inspired work ever, comprising of four tracks crossing the Techno spectrum.

Growing up Marco was surrounded by 90s Italo house and techno, which have all had a part in the current sound he produces today. Never one to stick to any individual style, he can often surprise his fans with a set pumping out peak time beats to down tempo house cuts with catchy vocals.

 “With this release, I took some inspiration from listening back to some old Vitalic sounds and giving some extra power to the use of synths in each track. It’s got a festival vibe to it, which is something I wanted to achieve” - Marco

His last Drumcode EP was back in 2016, so this October he makes a welcome return showing his multiskilled productions at their full potential on this mega 4 tracker, opening with the gargantuan ‘Never Forget’. Mutating rhythmic synths hark back to the good ol’ days of BXR and the limitless talent of the Italian Techno scene in the late 90s. Boiling over in the main break this is crowd-pleasing dance music at its finest. 

‘Cruiser’ is a bumpy upbeat ride with a strong melodic hook that will have the hands raised and the feet stomping. Title track ‘Lunar Eclipse’ is a dense, at times claustrophobic roller. Menacing to begin with, the addition of the main melodic motifs lifts the mood midway. ‘Take This Trip’ rounds out an incendiary EP. Lighter and more musical that the previous three, it offers a joyful, softer message. 

“This is a special release for me, I wanted this to have explosive power yet the perfect balance of melodies and sounds to create a different and unique atmosphere for each track” - Marco

Marco Faraone - Cruiser - Drumcode - DC197

The Reworks EP

Blue Floor (Christopher Coe Remix)

Staring back to 2011, Adam Beyer and Alan Fitzpatrick’s ‘Human Reason’ track was a huge Drumcode release and with Len Faki’s new stamp on it, he is showing the unique talent that Drumcode have within their ranks. Len Faki’s Remix incorporates the original lead sound into different rhythms and puts it against different sound textures to create a sure-fire techno track. ‘Memesis’ is a new original track from Adam Beyer and Alan Fitzpatrick that uses a deep bass line to create a solemnly dark atmosphere. It also uses synth stabs help to enforce this trippy, hypnotising ambiance that moulds the track together. 

01 - DC105 - Adam Beyer & Alan Fitzpatrick - Human Reason - Len Faki Remix - Drumcode

"Call It Techno" was the blueprint track which was written on June 4, 1989.  It was at the forefront of European Rave Culture and became a well known track in the U.K. & Germany.  The documentary "We Call It Techno" explains it right from the beginning and from that came the second & third Love Parade themes being named "The Future Is Ours" off the XL/Citibeat LP by Musto & Bones.  And "My House Is Your House" from the Break Boys which was Frankie Bones aka on Fourth Floor Records in 1990.

Frankie became the American Pioneer of Rave Culture on both coasts in 1990, playing Techno as a movement.  The Peace, Love, Unity Movement which in 1993 became PLUR after a fight broke out at an event in The Bronx which had Richie Hawtin as it's headliner.

And the rest is history.  If words can paint the picture here, the first 5 Soundcloud links will describe a DJ who has a journey of a lifetime & still is active in 2024.  The music that comes from the heart & soul of the Brooklyn Underground.

Call It Techno (Carlo Lio Remix)

frankiebones

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