A selection of some of the highlights from the label across 2020.

This Is: Drumcode 2020

Landing 10 years after his first concept album, Wehbba’s drops his debut full-length on Drumcode, featuring collaborations with David Caretta, Thomas Gandey and Brazilian vocalist L-cio.

Following a series of globally adored EPs and inclusions within the imprint’s esteemed A-Sides compilation series, the chart-dominating São Paulo native now reflects upon his life as ‘the artist’, offering an immersive montage of stories that echo a tenacious dedication to his craft. Enlisting the talents of multi-instrumentalist Thomas Gandey, Electroclash pioneer David Carretta and fellow Brazilian L-cio, with his unparalleled flute mastery, Wehbba’s synergetic cuts span the breadth of electronic music’s sonic landscape, as he challenges the notion of genres with seasoned voices.

Birthed from the purest inspiration, the album’s 13 cuts represent a myriad of musical references close to Wehbba’s heart, running parallel with the organic sensibilities of his field recordings. An ode to eternal growth, the LP highlights a cycle of perception and projection, as Wehbba studies the morphing of genres through his own musical filter. Discussing the upcoming album, Wehbba commented:

"The musical references on these works trace back to the 90s, when I started listening to electronic music and had no judgement of what was cool - when I was totally free. So they represent, without any filter, what touched me, ranging from braindance to goa trance, from ambient to hard house, and from drum n’ bass through every single mutation of techno and house music."

As a key ambassador for Brazil’s dance music community on a global scale, Wehbba’s long-standing career has seen him affiliate with many of the industry greats on both remix and collaborative projects; testament to his flourishing reputation. Following on from the geometric-led titles of his first two albums, Straight Lines and Sharp Corners alludes to the difficult decisions and blunt shifts he has faced in his career, and their capacity to shape his identity over time. Studying the great Antoni Gaudi, Wehbba’s third LP title takes reference from his perceptive quote: "There are no straight lines or sharp corners in nature, therefore buildings must have no straight lines or sharp corners. Anything created by human beings is already in the great book of nature."

Straight Lines and Sharp Corners

Buy all

Wehbba — Deluge — Drumcode — DC220

Wehbba — Basic Pleasure — Drumcode — DC220

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.

A-Sides Vol. 9

Juliet Fox — Our Fantasy — Drumcode — DC223

Anfisa Letyago — Are U In — Drumcode — DC223

Christian Smith — Just Close Your Eyes — Drumcode — DC223

Dubfire presents Evolv — Deadbug — Drumcode — DC223

Raxon lands his first richly-deserved Drumcode EP.

There’s something distinctive about the Egyptian-born artist’s productions that provoke a special response. His debut outing on Drumcode, ‘Dream Space’ soundtracked our favourite takeaway moment from Awakenings Festival in 2019, as Adam Beyer and his three daughters danced along to their mum Ida Engberg’s set, wearing smiles the size of watermelons. More recently, when Beyer played ‘Connection’ during the ‘Drumcode Indoors II’ stream from his Ibiza home, once more, his daughters sprang into dance mode, their fists striking the sky. Raxon’s music just touches you, it’s unavoidable. 

After a pair of contributions to Truesoul and ‘Dream Space’ appearing on A-Sides Vol.8 last year, his maiden Drumcode EP is perfectly timed. ‘Connection’ is catchy intergalactic techno, driven by thick wedges of bass and an irresistible lead hook. ‘Orbit’ initially takes a crunchier and more percussive tone, before rich melodic chords sprout from the darkness to add colour to the mix.

Raxon — Orbit — Drumcode — DC227

Adam Beyer returns with his first solo EP in five years.

The Drumcode founder is measured when it comes to signing music to his own imprint, biding his time till the stars align. His last individual outing was 2015’s ‘Stone Flower’ EP, which included the thrilling label favourite ‘What You Need’. A succession of classy collaborations followed, linking with DC’s most vital artists highlighted by ‘Your Mind’ with Bart Skils, proclaimed one of the best tracks of the last decade by Mixmag.

An EP that gives a nod to uncertain times, while remaining resolutely positive, ‘No Defeat No Retreat’ was written during Beyer’s fruitful production sessions during lockdown. The opening track, ‘Park People’ sets the pace with an energetic, 80’s new wave creating the track’s spine. Its hypnotic energy stems from a powerful synth riff and vocal sample culminating in a skilfully balanced track that neatly combines the old with the new. The title track is a study in contrasts, deftly crafting a muted, nagging vocal hook and infectious bassline into a slice of forward-facing, edgy techno. With its subtle, undulating layers of melody building in the background, it ushers in an understated sense of euphoria, making it a perfect end-of-set mood-maker. A thrilling return!

Tracklist

1. Adam Beyer – Park People
2. Adam Beyer – No Defeat No Retreat

No Defeat No Retreat

Adam Beyer — Park People — Drumcode — DC229

Adam Beyer returns with his first solo EP in five years.

The Drumcode founder is measured when it comes to signing music to his own imprint, biding his time till the stars align. His last individual outing was 2015’s ‘Stone Flower’ EP, which included the thrilling label favourite ‘What You Need’. A succession of classy collaborations followed, linking with DC’s most vital artists highlighted by ‘Your Mind’ with Bart Skils, proclaimed one of the best tracks of the last decade by Mixmag.

An EP that gives a nod to uncertain times, while remaining resolutely positive, ‘No Defeat No Retreat’ was written during Beyer’s fruitful production sessions during lockdown. The opening track, ‘Park People’ sets the pace with an energetic, 80’s new wave creating the track’s spine. Its hypnotic energy stems from a powerful synth riff and vocal sample culminating in a skilfully balanced track that neatly combines the old with the new. The title track is a study in contrasts, deftly crafting a muted, nagging vocal hook and infectious bassline into a slice of forward-facing, edgy techno. With its subtle, undulating layers of melody building in the background, it ushers in an understated sense of euphoria, making it a perfect end-of-set mood-maker. A thrilling return!

1. Park People
2. No Defeat No Retreat

Adam Beyer — No Defeat No Retreat — Drumcode — DC229

Layton Giordani crafts his most accomplished work to date with ‘New Generation’, his second album on Drumcode. 
 
Since 2017’s critically acclaimed debut album ‘Where It Begins’, the New Yorker has entrenched himself as one of the label’s most vital artists and leader of techno’s new school brigade. At just 27, he’s collaborated with Adam Beyer and Green Velvet on multiple occasions, linked with the legendary Danny Tenaglia for the now-classic ‘Live Again’ and played everywhere from Awakenings, Melt! Festival and Warehouse Project. He’s also lived the Transatlantic life more than most, splitting his time between the Big Apple and Amsterdam, absorbing influences from across the electronic spectrum.  
 
It’s these experiences that inform ‘New Generation’, a masterclass of techno futurism and glistening example of Giordani’s ever-developing talents as a producer. Opening with the shimmering soundscapes of ‘Shinjuku’, a beatless two-and-a-half-minute mood setter, the album swings between timeless multi-faceted dancefloor weapons, and more lilting, ambient techno cuts rips for the golden hour. 
 
Already a favourite of the Drumcode faithful, the album’s title track hits with a swarm of synapsesearing synths that saw it go down a treat at Awakenings Festival, Tomorrowland and Gashouder in the second half of 2019. ‘System Majority’ balances atmosphere and propulsive rhythms on a knife’s edge and featured in Beyer’s DCR 515 radio show. Giordani reunites with the legendary Green Velvet for ‘Life Lesson’, a pulsating roller, which notably features the young New Yorker’s hypnotic vocals on loop. Teaming with friend and fellow East Coaster Avision, ‘Power’ is punchy techno at its finest, driven by energetic stabs and a stirring vocal from Chicago journeyman Cevin Fisher. After playing b2b a string of times, Layton links with good friend Bart Skils for a maiden collaborative track. Driven by a strong melodic lead, ‘Midnight Magic’ typified the moment when the duo played it at Drumcode’s Awakenings event during ADE last year. ‘Feel A Vibe’ is an album highlight centered around plump bass, reverb-heavy sonics, distorted bleeps and a spoken word vocal, which begs for a peak-time rinse. 
 
Elsewhere Giordani demonstrates his breadth with cuts such as ‘Nirvana X’, a lush breakbeat-laden cut; the laser-kissed ‘Translation Lost’, where his musicality is in full view and the progressive-tinged 
‘Memory Fragment’, which reinforces the expansive Drumcode sound palette. The beautiful ‘Human Error’ closes out the work, as muffled horns, delicate keys and sparse bed of percussion unify for a momentous finale. 
 
“This album is a summary of my life experiences up until this moment. Traveling around the world, living abroad, looking into the future and bringing atmosphere and textures from different places into my music. The evolution of music is a systematic cycle that never ends. It’s a composition of all matters experienced and visualized up until this very moment. From futuristic realms and ambiences, to city soundscapes within our reach; ‘New Generation’ is the future distilled into album form.” - Layton Giordani

Layton Giordani — System Majority — Drumcode — DC231

Layton Giordani — New Generation — Drumcode — DC231

Luigi Madonna returns for his first Drumcode EP in five years, teaming up with fellow Neapolitan and label favourite Roberto Capuano.

We got our last taste of the creative synergy that marks Luigi Madonna and Roberto Capuano’s friendship when the pair dropped ‘Limitless’ in 2017, a brilliant addition to A-Sides Vol.6. Prior to that Luigi hadn’t dropped a cut on DC since 2015’s hook-driven ‘Magic Land’, while Capuano stands as one of the label’s most infallible contributors, last year’s ‘The Walker’ EP was typically impressive. 

Crafted between two studios in a pre-COVID-19 world, the three-track conceptual EP opens with ‘Mad World’, as masterfully layered industrial hits and rides depict it’s narrative, while a pulsating melodic lead ensures heavy impact. ‘System Alert’ is inspired by the destructive effects of climate change and the track’s composition mirrors this malaise, as a pitch-bending synth elicits rhythmic chaos alongside Luigi and Roberto’s deft drum work. ‘Headquarter’ is steeped in drama and cinematic charm, backed by a distorted vocal sample, stormy oscillating synths and a sharp percussive backdrop.

Luigi Madonna & Roberto Capuano — Mad World — Drumcode — DC232

Your Lovin'

Buy On Beatport

Christian Smith - Your Lovin'

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.

This Is: Drumcode 2020

Joe mcnally-woods