Technatzii

LAS DROGAS   Tech House    Original Mix

A-Trak & Armand Van Helden first splashed on the scene as Duck Sauce with the breakout hit "aNYway," a breath of fresh disco air in the distorted world of electronic music. Next up was "Barbra Streisand," a surprise global #1 smash and true pop culture milestone, complete with 70 million (and counting…) YouTube views, a Grammy nomination, and even a Glee cover! DS cemented their rep as dance music's official pranksters with MTV VMA-nominated clips like "It's You" (6 million views) and scene-stealing festival appearances accompanied by a 20-foot inflatable duck… yet all of this was just to set the stage for Quack, Duck Sauce's highly-anticipated full length studio debut. Fueled by the duo’s strong connection with New York hip-hop, Chicago house, disco debauchery, slapstick comedy and, of course, UFOs, no other group is capable of bringing the rich and visual tradition of sample-heavy music into the current pop and EDM trends of 2014. QUACK IS BACK!

Duck Sauce - It's You

Foremost international techno outlet Drumcode is delighted to announce the release of its next full-length album, ‘Satellite’, by enduring Italian techno talent Sam Paganini.

Though he has been active since the mid nineties, recent years have been hugely successful for Sam, with searing techno EPs coming on revered labels such as Riche Hawtin’s Plus8, Sven Vath’s Cocoon and of course, Adam Beyer’s Drumcode. In his time he has been responsible for underground hits like ‘Zoe’, ‘Polyester’ and ‘Fire In My Arms’, all of which demonstrate his dynamic understanding of sexy, dark and hypnotic techno grooves and at the same time have earned him plenty of great Beatport chart positions as well as respect from the best in the game.

Incredibly, ‘Satellite’ is Sam’s first full-length album. Informed by his DJ gigs at legendary places like Berghain in Berlin and Cielo in New York, the album starts with a dystopian bit of sonic scene setting, as if a space ship is charging up ready to take off.

From there it’s a case of getting straight down to business. ‘Another Chance’ is a spacey bit of cantering techno and ‘White’ is rooted in devastating kick drums and is riddled with serrated synth lines that build lots of great techno pressure. ‘Down’ is an undulating bit of funky techno complete with choice vocal flourishes and tracks like ‘Lotus’ are prime offerings from the deeper end of the scale.

No two tracks sound the same on Satellite: Sam is always teasing out a new bit of texture, nailing a slightly different vibe or exploring different amounts of light and dark throughout the course of this most excellent album. This is evidenced by diverse cuts like ‘Dusty’, ‘Toxic’ and ‘Rave’.

Despite ‘Satellite’ being Sam’s debut album, it showcases his seductive style in all its glory across 12 fantastic tracks that will leave you begging for more.

Sam Paganini - Rave - Drumcode - DCCD10

Techno Code (ocean)

Satellite

Rave

Shlomi Aber makes his debut on Drumcode Ltd with a piercing four-tracker for the vinyl only offshoot.

Israel’s Shlomi Aber remains of techno’s most consistent artists, with a career stretching back 15 years. The label boss of Be As One, Aber has also had his music released on such imprints as R&S, Figure and Ovum, reinforcing his status as a purveyor of classy yet impactful techno. 

His contribution to Drumcode Ltd puts a fresh take on the classic pounding DC sound of the label’s early years, an era the DJ/producer has long been a fan of. Beginning with ‘Inflict’, the EP lays down its heavy-hitting intentions from the onset, as a persistent muffled vocal build beneath a bed of steely percussion, creating a dark tension-filled atmosphere. ‘Accelerator’ follows, the title track that was quite literally born at Basel’s own techno temple Nordstern this year when Aber crafted it into a stunning cavernous beast, using his 909 and XOXBOX Acid machine. ‘Typeface’ is stripped back and functional, an energy-packed tool for building extended techno journeys. The four-piece is rounded out by the fantastic ‘Rain Storm’, that lowers the intensity, as the six-minute cut introduces a new groovier element to the work and concludes the EP is sharp fashion.

Shlomi Aber  - Typeface - Drumcode Limited - DCLTD021

Shlomi Aber - Accelerator - Drumcode Limited - DCLTD021

Drumcode favourite Bart Skils kickstarts the new year with his sixth EP for the label Bark Skils opens new year's season with his 6th hard hitting EP released on Drumcode

Since his debut on Drumcode in 2012, Bart Skils has been one of the label’s most regular contributors, with the Dutchman’s brand of functional, hook-driven techno a go-to weapon for Adam Beyer; from his stellar ‘Shadowprint’ EP in 2014, to last year’s classy remix of Moby’s ‘Go’. One of The Netherland’s hardest working ambassadors for techno, he is the organiser of the beloved Voltt Love Summer Festival that’s has been a favourite of Beyer’s for many years. 

His latest work for Drumcode, ‘Bells of the Revolution’ continues his impeccable reputation for quality with everything he does, with four cuts all with their own distinct storyline. The title track is characterised by dark driving grooves and bubbling acid line that slowly evolves into a lush melodic riff. ‘Ocean Drive’ nose-dives into deeper techno territory, while maintaining a sense of exquisite tension throughout. ‘Vocalized’ follows, a stomping acid techno cut that slides into the deep courtesy of skilfully programmed vox and elegant licks of melody. The EP concludes with ‘Retrodade’, a track that’s been one of the biggest in Beyer’s sets in 2017 and features the famous vocal from Rozalla’s ‘Everybody’s Free’. The sample was used with kind permission from the iconic ‘90s singer.

Bart Skils - Vocalized - Drumcode - DC184

Bart Skils - Ocean Drive - Drumcode - DC184

Making his debut on Drumcode in 2017 with his track ‘Fake’ featured on the A-Sides Vol 6 compilation, one of Brazil’s much loved exports Wehbba brings us his first full EP this February with ‘Eclipse’.

A no nonsense 4 track offering, and all thoroughly road tested by Adam, they have gained much support from longtime Drumcode fans. Eclipse, delivers a low end rumble along with a modulating synth line. Reigning high throughout the track, is the undeniably catchy and unique synth. Leaving this track one to be recognised on dancefloors all over the world.

‘Protocol’ doesn't turn down the pace, straight into a chugging hypnotic drive, this track leaks with attitude, along it’s eerie undertones.

Probably the most acid influenced track of the EP, ‘Glasswerk’ has a futuristic modular synth riff which thunders along a hypnotic bass line which flows nicely into ‘Framework’ to close out the EP. Its punchy and powerful kick sits alongside the cleverly crafted synth pattern, taking this track into a dark zone with a groovy element still resonant.

Wehbba - Framework - Drumcode - DC185

Wehbba - Protocol - Drumcode - DC185

Wehbba - Eclipse - Drumcode - DC185

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

Boxia - Only Human - Drumcode - DC186

Boxia - No World Order - Drumcode - DC186

Mark Reeve makes his welcome return to the Drumcode fold with a powerful three-tracker ‘Far Away’.

In recent years Mark Reeve has become a pivotal member of the Drumcode crew. His 2015 EP ‘Run Back’ was a standout, before he backed it up strongly with ‘Nine of You’, his collaboration with Adam Beyer that featured on A-Sides Vol.5, ensuring his place in the hearts of DC fans. As further evidence of his importance to the collective, Beyer has selected him to suit up for the inaugural Drumcode Festival happening this August in association with Awakenings. 

Harking back to formative times in the ‘90s when he’d frequent Sven Väth’s legendary Omen in Frankfurt, the title track to Reeve’s ‘Far Away’ is a timeless beauty, driven by a celestial melody line and emotive bass notes that lobs it into the kind of laser-kissed territory that would make even the most jaded of raves throw their arms skyward. ‘Fragile’ follows, a classy bass-driven cut that makes its mark with deep subterranean stabs and punchy kicks. Rounding out the EP is ‘Redemption’ a tougher, heads-down techno workout imbued with plenty of energy thanks to a crafty bass melody that runs throughout.

Mark Reeve - Redemption - Drumcode - DC187

Mark Reeve - Fragile - Drumcode - DC187

Mark Reeve - Far Away - Drumcode - DC187

Szimpla Labyrintus (Original Mix - Master by Protokseed)

Drumcode has become a label synonymous with some of the most-cutting edge and forward-thinking techno over the last 20 years. Their artists include both emerging and established names, and one of those well recognised is Enrico Sangiuliano. Now announcing the very first concept album of his career.

The prolific Italian producer has been catapulted into the limelight after the runaway success of his past releases, and now Biomorph is born. 

A very special concept album designed to take the listener on a journey of evolution. A musical adaptation describing how biological and technological advances over numerous generations of time have all started from the same first step in our own biological journey.

Divided into 4 parts, Organisms opens with atmospheric tones, gradually blending complex textures and timbres to begin the evolutional process. The beginning of this section combines full sounding arrangements before stripping it all back to basics. From here it dissolves into the atmosphere. Organisms then progresses into a break-beat influenced, down tempo track using synths to add complexity to the straight, broken rhythms.

Galactic, futuristic elements are found in both tracks in Cosmic Forces. Upbeat, groovy, electronic synths resonate, before ‘Hidden T’ brings the tension to get things pumped up with stratospheric swirls and twirls to lay down one of the most mind meltingly deep drops.

Metamorphosis is mysterious, its opening beat is a deep and piercing tone that sends the listener into a sensory awareness of their surroundings before breaking into a fully charged, techno track, with Enrico’s trademark sounds and textures.

All evolution has an ending.

Two Probabilities shows the positive, starting out evocative and emotional, with a gentle harmony, gazing towards a ‘New Dawn’. On the other side of the spectrum lies the negative. This is influenced with a rhythm that articulates the beat of death, mathematical, cold and metallic in texture, it shows the unsustainability of its nature, with a hectic, anxious break beat influenced ending.

Technatzii

Izztekk aka DjKaktus