Writing about techno is quite difficult without falling into clich&eacute;: there are only so many ways that you can say something about a music whose core elements are forged on deliberate repetition; where real talent is attributed to those who can find the perfect groove where nothing needs added or subtracted to hold the listener's attention for upwards of five minutes. 

Such tracks are the hallmark of Tresor's catalogue, and this joy in repetition can be found in works from Detroit, Berlin, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and more. And it is through this lens that Parisian artist, UFO95, focuses his output, resulting in Backward Improvement, an EP that sits perfectly in the spectrum of techno found in the Tresor chronology. 

The title itself makes an abstract reference to the influence of the classics of the genre, inspiring him to take a distinct less-is-more approach to production for this collection of stripped-down yet unrelenting techno chiselled from the live set which has fixed UFO95 as one of the next holdfasts for the future of the scene. 

Perhaps it is the fact the UFO95 only performs live that had led to such crisp and focussed studio productions.; each of the tracks showcase the artist's burgeoning talent for creating the essential foundations of techno; perfect, looping, instinctual grooves that are counterbalanced by an apprehensive tension from off-key tones. 

Backward Improvement marks the addition of a new name in the list of techno's best producers and proves that while the genre may now be in its 40th year there are yet sonic explorations to be made and variations that are worth unearthing.

BANDCAMP

UFO95 - Cogitor

RHEIN Tek 1 (fast H- d swing mix - v1 )

Enter the dimension of "Zamaan - زمان" Taha One's latest EP that delves deep into the essence of Algeria's desert terrain.

Kicking of the journey is "El Derdeba," a track pulsating with unconventional rhythms that stir the soul and set the hips swaying. Evoking the spirited ambiance of Algerian wedding ceremonies, this tune invites you to partake in the jubilant festivities, capturing the essence of tradition and modernity in a vibrant fusion.

Following suit is "Sahara Raha," a track that beckons with vocals captured from a Touareg amidst the vastness of the Sahara. Through its entrancing beats and rhythmic pulses, this piece channels the warmth and spiritual resonance of the Algerian desert, transporting listeners to its soulful heart.

With "Zamaan - زمان" Taha One invites you to embark on an immersive sonic voyage, where the evocative sounds of the Algerian landscape converge with the pulsating beats of contemporary techno. Prepare to be transported to the heart of the desert, where the warmth of the sun meets the infectious rhythms of the dance floor.

Mastered by Baabax

Photo credit : Taha One ( Algeria -Tassili N’Ajjer )

2. Sahara Raha (Original Mix)

To speak to Luca Daniel Schwarz aka LDS about his music is to be enthusiastically guided into a complex world of his own creation: clean and powerful techno which pulses with life from the textured patterns and drum sequences that have fills and accents that would make anyone who's picked up a set of drumsticks envious.

Yet this ecosystem of noise is deceptive; Schwarz's process for making music is very different to how a live drummer would create the same subtlety of performance. Forever researching new technology, Luca got deeply interested in different programming languages, and created a series of probability based music tools for manoeuvring sounds and sequencing.

Manipulating those probabilities takes a skillful alchemy, needing understanding of both musical structure and how the tools he devised work. To return to the drummer analogy, if the drummer is focussed and intentional in the moment of playing, then the method used in LDS tracks is almost diametrically opposed, with all of the intention coming in the assembly of the instruments, potential paths, and gateways; once play is pressed the music flows, following all the rules that were set in advance, not unlike a domino run or Rube Goldberg machine.

And like a domino run, the results are fascinating and, ultimately, fun: staccato vocals pop in and out in 'zipp prompt'; laser-like synths pulse; background noises sweep across the aural plane of the dub techno of 'diff, blockmix' and 'pow' adding texture that brings vitality all-too-easily missed out when complex mathematical processes become entwined with music creation. The high sensitivity to texture and rhythmic detail in Stadion Progg is multiplied further on Jean Redondo's remix - whose track, Hypersonic, was the backbone of 2023's 'yet' compilation on Tresor.

The balance between technology and a sense of fun might also come from the maker; it's not easy to overstate Schwarz's passion for what is now his favourite way to make music, "it never gets boring. There's always a moment of anticipation to see what actually emerges." And the true "power of 2" comes into play when the resulting music can be fed back through the system again and again, potentiating the music in exponential ways.

PREMIERE: LDS - zipp prompt

PREMIERE: LDS - stadion progg

W133 welcomes Marteka Fair for her first appearance on the label. The North Carolina-based artist blesses us with four originals, which form the most meditative/ hypnotic Techno release on the label to date. Title track 'Ether' consists freaky laser shots and tripped-out synths randomly explode in your face and will certainly make you feel like you’re floating in some sort of vacuum.

Marteka Fair
@martekafair
www.instagram.com/marteka.fair

W133
@pinopena
https://www.instagram.com/w133.records/

Ether EP

Ether

Premiere: Marteka Fair - Ether | W133

UK–New Zealand producer Keepsakes makes a blistering debut on Turbo Recordings with Impossible (Eating The Sun)—a peak-time weapon built for maximum chaos. Fusing punishing techno mechanics with unrelenting rave energy, the title track sets the tone for an EP that’s as confrontational as it is cathartic. Out May 2nd on vinyl and digital, this one’s strictly for the bold.

@keepsakes @turborecordings

PREMIERE: Keepsakes - Impossible (Eating The Sun) [ Turbo Recordings ]

E.T. is a Kazakh DJ based in Almaty and an emerging key figure in Kazakhstan’s underground electronic music scene. A resident of the ZVUK collective and co-founder of the MOBILESUBURB label, he helps spotlight niche and experimental voices from his homeland and beyond.

The name E.T. plays on a Kazakh phrase for “meaty beats” — an apt reflection of his signature sound: dense, high-pressure, leftfield club tools loaded with bass. His sets have a rare ability to build intensity and draw even the most reserved dancers into motion.

@yelnur
instagram.com/dazedd_confusedd/

quelza - pensa poetico 
impérieux - fena
dual monitor - seoul city drift
alex r - shotts (hodge remix)
temudo - video world made flesh
yas reven - etoy
ignez - lightworker
regent - decoder
nirborna - movement
xupid - coux
hodge - so it goes
verraco - basic maneuvers
merca bae - la sonora (jasss remix)
surgeon - soul fire
peverlist - pulse xiii
simo cell - circuits
coe - skooma
lws - gum seleks
metrist - i just know
de grandi - acqua
blank patrick - canine growth backwards
tristan arp - afterimaging
isabella koen - baby at

Plovistan Podcast 045 | E.T. (Almaty)

a raw, unmastered dump of dusty files captured in one perfect, techy-dubby lo-fi moment

Download

we need to talk (dub)

Buy it, play it, rub it: https://soundcloud.com/bas-mooy/mord-004-lag-misfit-ep-incl
https://mord.bandcamp.com/album/misfit-ep

Luciferwithcurls - Whiterun (Original Mix)

Luciferwithcurls

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