Justin Berkovi DJ / Hybrid / Live Sets

Bandcamp

In The Bag

Released some 25 years ago this was another popular release from Justin Berkovi on the legendary Djax-Up-Beats label. Maturing a little in production here, he provides 4 sublime cuts from deep hypnotic techno to snarling synth driven breakbeat.

Main, Hurt, Kill kicks things off, unashamedly an ER1 jam which Berkovi deeply integrated into his live sets at the time. Percussion pounds onwards with cheap crashes and percussion resounding alongside the rumbling bassline and detuned riffs - the track descends into madness 3/4 of the way through.

Insanitise was a big track in Justin's live show back in the day - a pounding synth lead affair that doesn't let up keeping his signature etherial weirdness intact.

Boiling Point Terminal is the track that Justin always played in his live sets and also sometimes today. A more mature restrained vibe than the other cuts this is driven by a rising lead and laid back organ percussive elements before reaching a sublime crescendo.

The Lair is a cool electro / breakbeat workout, again adopting the heavy synth action. 

Enjoy!

https://justinberkovi.bandcamp.com/album/disconnected

Disconnected

NTX01 - The City is Mine

NTX (Nightrax) continues the evolution from re-issue to new material. First releases in 2001 ‘Goodlife’ came about when label head Justin Berkovi produced a new live set for one of his seminal sets at the legendary Ostgut Club in Berlin.

‘I remember walking across deserted railway tracks to the club and was excited to showcase some of my deeper material to start my sets. The track in question was ‘Now We Do…’ and it went down well. I finished the EP on my inspired return to Brighton and ‘Goodlife’ was born’.

‘Summer’ kicks things off in a housier than usual groove, rolling chords and basslines filter towards an airy breakdown. Tribal drums complete the picture.

‘Now We Do…’ is a positive but deep techno track with signature pads midway through, ever evolving, pulsing and moving forward. Super minimal but super nonetheless.

‘Temptation’ has been slated as a favourite of many on this EP and now finally sees the light of day again. A tighter,more bass heavy polished affair it starts off with intent and then collapses into a frenzy of bells, pads and percussion.

‘Just Right’ sees Justin deviate again from the 4/4 to a breaks throwdown. Keeping in the flavour of this bass heavy B side the track then moves into a dark melodic interlude before reverting form. A deep one to finish.

Goodlife

I bought the original 'US Heritage' EP in 1991 from Jelly Jam Records in Brighton and it remains one of my favourite ever techno tracks. Whilst I was into much harder material at the time this record was a huge influence on my more melodic productions and it was an honour to be invited to remix it. 

THE VINEYARD - JUSTIN BERKOVI

My Voice...

My Voice

Buy Track

Berkovi VS Kittin - My Voice

Il Est Disparu

Berkovi Vs Kittin - Il Est Disparu

Was an absolute blast playing alongside Ken Ishii, Misstress Barbara, Steve Redhead, Zzino, Agent Orange, Axel Karakasis, Huma-Noyd et al at Technopia, Belgium on May 31st. I'm glad to be playing a harder, faster style nowadays and this set showcases a bunch of forthcoming releases which I'm looking forward to.

Tracklisting

1. DJ LOSTBOI - PETSHOPB
2. Justin Berkovi - Against All Odds
3. Ben Klock & Fadi Mohem - Prefix
4. Justin Berkovi - Anima
5. Alexander Kowalski - Machines Vortex (Pfirter Remix)
6. Justin Berkovi - Dusted
7. Dynamic Forces - Directions
8. SLV - Acid Edamame
9. Holden Federico - Corner of the Room
10. Nemesis - Bad Blood
11. Axel Karakasis - Singularity
12. FAÏG - Flag
13. Justin Berkovi - Drum Crazy (Len Faki Remix)
14. Dennis Caressa - Mrs. Jack
15. Stef Mendesidis - Red Alert
16. Gareth Wild - Ambush
17. Justin Berkovi - The House is Mine
15. Gary Beck - Upside Criminal
16. Oscar Escapa & Linear Phase - Technology Is Twisting My Mind
17. Justin Berkovi - Corrugated Iron Whelks
18. Troy - Algol
19. Justin Berkovi - Saturn

Justin Berkovi @ Technopia, Belgium - May 31st 2024

Blisterpak 1

Drum Crazy

Justin Berkovi - Drum Crazy

Coming out soon on Sven Wittekind's SICK WEIRD ROUGH label

POLYMATH - SPACE DJZ - JUSTIN BERKOVI REMIX

1 Intro
2 Askkin - Yes
3 Downside - The Watcher
4 Klint - Chaos Temple
5 Against Me - Blooming
6 Justin Berkovi - Delphinus Delphinus [Forthcoming on Tronic]
7 Under Black Helmet - Cyberdreams
8 Albert Zhirnov - Club Control
9 Justin Berkovi - Echoes of Subversion [Forthcoming on MB Elektronics]
10 Jancen - Vertex
11 Joris Voorn - MPX309
12 DEAS - Flux
13 Decka - Under Influence
14 Justin Berkovi - Those Morning Wibes [Forthcoming on Somov]
15 Dj Dextro - Eon
16 Uncertain - Warp
17 Justin Berkovi - Pressure [Forthcoming on Tronic V/A]
18 Rodhad / Ignez - Vermillion 03
20 Drumsauw - Focus
21 ARKVS - Crave Slave
22 Justin Berkovi - Prelude [Re-release on Somov]

Welcoming in 2025 - Justin Berkovi Techno Mix Jan 2025

Check out my Tronic Radio on your favorite streaming platforms here: https://ssyncc.com/tronic-podcast

Make sure to check out Justin Berkovi's latest ''Activate EP'': https://www.submithub.com/link/tr529
01.Ian O’Brien - Vagalume [Peacefrog Records] ​
02.Ignez - A Love Dream [Vault Records] ​
03.Justin Berkovi - Pressure [Lucidflow] ​
04.Kenji Hina - Drilling [Emerald] ​
05.Carara - Data Explorer
06.Petter B - Before The After
07.Justin Berkovi - Delphinus Delphinus [Tronic]
08.Bidoben - Seek & Receive
09.Remco Beekwilder - Filtrator [Emerald] ​
10.Adam Mor - Yellow
11.Jnks - Refill 
12.Justin Berkovi - Activate [Tronic]
13.Lidvall - No Expectations
14.Off Grid - Constant Expression 
15.Justin Berkovi - The House is Mine [Tronic]
16.Deas - 8am 
17.Kryziek Teper - Adrenaline 
18.Dennis Caressa - Now Just Reactions ​
19.Mathew Jonson - Followed By Angels

This show is syndicated & distributed exclusively by Syndicast. If you are a radio station interested in airing the show or would like to distribute your podcast / radio show please register here: https://syndicast.co.uk/distribution/registration

Tronic Podcast 666 with Justin Berkovi

https://justinberkovi.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-bag

Released in April 1999 on the legendary 'Harthouse' Records from Germany 'In The Bag' was the album that helped my join Sven Vath's Cocoon roster and tour extensively during this time. 

Over the years Sustained Buxom Mad Chips and You're So Alien have been requested as re-releases so finally we managed to collate all the tracks and produce a worth re-issue package.

Later this year we’ll be releasing remixes and vinyl too!

Justin Berkovi - In The Bag - 09 Samurai_snippet

Justin Berkovi - In The Bag - 06 Corrado_snippet

Justin Berkovi - In The Bag - 08 Plastic Bed 45_snippet

Justin Berkovi - In The Bag - 10 Disharpekrene_snippet

Justin Berkovi - In The Bag - 07 Sustained Buxom Mad Chips_snippet

Sonic Groove Records began as the seminal record shop in Brooklyn, New York set up by Frankie Bones and then Adam X, his brother. Heather Heart also joined and the rest really IS history. For me, meeting Adam X was just incredible. There are some people in the techno scene that remain true to their roots, are hugely passionate about it and live it no matter what. Adam is one of those people. He got me to come over and play the 10 Year Sonic Groove Anniversary at a loft in New York and I'll never forget the trip.

Svelt and Angel Dies are two of the best tracks I've ever made and it was an honour to release this EP on Sonic Groove Records the tail end of 1999. Adam went on to produce an incredible EP for Predicaments too.

'Offramp' fuses relentless snares and Electribe free styling and dark Detroit pads.

'Svelte' is the star of the show, a pounding Detroit groove the cemented my signature tough but pad driven sound. Tight percussion and synth elements pepper the track dancing over the snarling bassline and the etherial pads float over all of this to finish off the track.

'Punchbag' continues where 'Offramp' left off, banging 909s, electribe action and modular synths a plenty.

'Angel Dies' is in a similar vein to my first vinyl release 'Deviant' on Cristian Vogel's Mosquito Records. A Nord FM bassline immediately sets the tone and it doesn't let up - dark vocals add the sinister vibe to this dark but beautiful track. Let's go!

A side note - the EP is of course named after Japan's 'Bullet train' - I'd just finished a tour there when this EP was complete.

Justin_Berkovi__Angel_Dies_45s_clip

FOLLOW:
@musictreasures
@justinberkovi

Techno veteran Justin Berkovi has been undergoing something of a renaissance of late. Whilst cemented in the techno history books with his classics on Music Man, Force Inc, Djax up and Harthouse back in the day Justin has returned to the fore with a slew of killer releases and live sets.

Refusing to be pigeonholed Justin straddles the dark brooding purposeful world of techno alongside the mesmeric beauty of his deeper, more introspective tracks. His material has seen support from Adam Beyer, Technasia, The Advent, Dave Clarke, Dubfire, Chris Liebing, Ben Sims, Shake Shakir, Claude Young, Wehbba and many more. With several EPs and remixes in the pipeline and coming out soon Berkovi continues his mantra of unique techno accompanied by a deep techno live set for the first time showcasing this aspect of his work.

Justin’s live sets have taken him all over the globe from the most intimate of clubs to the largest of festivals. Some clubs and festivals played: Tresor, Berghain, Womb (Tokyo), Ministry of Sound, Ambassada Gavioli (Slovenia), Rex (Paris), TLV (Tel Aviv), Amnesia (Ibiza), Dancevalley (Holland), Nature One / Liberty One (Germany), Love Parade (Berlin), I Love Techno (Belgium), 10 Days off (Belgium), Fuse, Florida 135 and many more. He’s not only worked dancefloors but has created experimental electronica (Charm Hostel) and produced a Peel Session for the late John Peel as well as being one of the few techno artists chosen for the Kats Karavan John Peel tribute album.
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► Justin Berkovi:

► https://linktr.ee/justinberkovi

Music Treasures Sessions 006 - Justin Berkovi

Buy on Bandcamp

The Lair_60s_clip

Main, Hurt, Kill_60s_clip

Boiling Point Terminal_60s_clip

Insanitise_60s_clip

Relaunching the seminal 90s label 'Nightrax', label boss Justin Berkovi re-issues some of the favourites before unleashing new house, techno, ambient or whatever he turns his hand to.

These 4 deep techno / electro tracks first saw the light of day over 25 years ago.

'The City is Mine' is a shuffle 909 Detroit inspired techno number with floating earnest pads throughout and signature vocals that complete the track. 'Resolutions' continues the vocal theme and melodic overtones with slower heavy broken beats. 'You Don't Exist' is propelled by a subtle throbbing sub bass throughout, stripping back everything - a classic. Finishing off the EP is the eerie dub electro of 'Life In Fire' - synthesised vocals, footsteps and a haunting uneasy vibe walks the EP into the night....

The City is Mine

Resolutions

You Don't Exist

Lie In Fire

Temptation_90s_clip

Now We Do_90s_clip

Summer_90s_clip

Just Right_90s_clip

I See Fury - 90s Clip

The Return - 90s Clip

The Afterlife - 90s Clip

Linear Sin - 90s Clip

Ukraine is a place close to my heart. Many years ago in my other world as a tech person I worked with an amazing developer Dmitry from Zhytomyr. We spoke often and I wondered what Ukraine was like but never visited. Over the next 20 years I worked with a bunch of amazing Ukrainians and of course discovered the incredible techno talent from Ukraine. I was working with a Ukrainian team when the war kicked off and tried to do anything I could to support including donations to get incubators in hospitals and more.

As the past few years unfolded not a day goes by where I want an end to this meaningless conflict. It accompanies me daily.

When I visited https://k41community.fund/en/ in October with the amazing Mike Konstantinidis it was a hugely emotional moment. I don't play too often nowadays but the experience was magic for me. It reminded me of how much techno means to me on a personal level but also how it can build incredible bridges around the world.

At some point I'll stitch together some video footage I shot whilst there. But this is a (bit scrappy) DJ mix that is inspired by the set I played at K41 on 25th October 2025.

My heart is always with Ukraine - Slava Ukraini! 💙💛

Journey to Kyiv

As a live act and not a DJ this isn't a 'mix' as such but more a collection of just a few of my old techno favourites from back in the day. I could have gone back even further to my hip hop roots / electro such as Mantronix, Big Daddy Kane, MC Shan, KRS1, Hijack, Gunshot and so many more. One of my most exciting times musically was when I was very young, writing on London's 'Little Met' and listening to old hip hop. Some of these techno tracks inspired me at the time to produce. Tracklisting below:

EON - Inner Mind
CUSP - Drone Um Futurisma
THE MOVER - Nightflight (Nonstop to Kaos)
DISINTEGRATOR - Dark Black Ominous Clouds
NEXUS 21 - Logical Progression 
ACID JUNKIES - Sector 9
ROBERT ARMANI - Ambulance 2
INDUSTRIAL HIGH (White label from 1992) Not sure if this is Lenny Dee or Caspar Pound!
EDGE OF MOTION - Overvolt
JOEY BELTRAM - Energy Flash
SUBURBAN KNIGHT - The Worlds
CARL CRAIG - Landcruising
DARK COMEDY - War of the Worlds (Dark Mix)
FORCE LEGATO - System
TERRACE - Chimera
SCHATRAX - Mispent Years

Electric Deluxe Podcast Episode 18

'IN THE BAG' was released on Harthouse Records some thirteen years ago. After having released two previous albums on FORCE INC. Justin Berkovi's 'In the Bag' LP was a direct assault on the dancefloor and instantly captured the imagination of punters and DJs' alike leading to worldwide tours and the joining of the famed Cocoon roster.

Two of the most popular tracks were the oddly titled 'Sustained Buxom Mad Chips' and 'You're So Alien'. Both featuring heavy analog basslines they become signature tracks for the young producer at the time.

Justin Berkovi Youre So Alien

I first played Berghain in 2007, never forgot it! This is my live set from the 7 year anniversary event which was on December 10/11th 2011.

Justin Berkovi LIVE Berghain 10 12 11

Exclusive LIVE set for Chris Liebing's CLR Podcast. Go to www.clr.net to download the mix once you've registered.

JUSTIN BERKOVI CLR 186 PODCAST

Don't Go

Don't Go - Justin Berkovi EDIT

I ran Predicaments from 1998 until 2003. The mantra was simply to release music that I liked from my friends. The label featured tracks by myself, Dave Tarrida, Subhead, Miss Kittin, Adam X and many more. You can check the discography here: http://www.discogs.com/label/Predicaments

I plan on releasing more of the older stuff soon.

justinberkovi

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