Drumcode

Adam Beyer’s Drumcode juggernaut attracts more fans and critical plaudits with each passing year. Holding firm on its future facing ethos, techno’s number one label presents a new volume in its acclaimed A-Sides series with 20 prime tracks to signify its 20th anniversary. 

Such is the volume of quality music Adam Beyer receives throughout the course of the year, releasing all of it would be impossible. Enter the blue chip A-Sides series: a chance for the quality-obsessive label head to issue a collection of outstanding tracks that couldn’t fit in their regular EP release schedule. 

With an eye on future talent, as much as the label’s established roster of heavy-hitters, the compilation showcases the full breadth of Drumcode’s multifaceted techno sound, equal parts inspiring and functional. 

Led by the stealth techno funk of ‘Nine of You’, Beyer’s deft collaboration with Mark Reeve, the compilation takes in exciting highlights from big guns such as Alan Fitzpatrick, Dustin Zahn, Bart Skils, Pleasurekraft, Luca Agnelli, Jay Lumen, Kaiserdisco and Gary Beck. 

The rich vein of form displayed by emerging techno talent is similarly given prime position. Rising DJ/producer Boxia makes his Drumcode debut, fresh from a well-received warm up set for the crew at the hugely successful Junction 2 festival in London, while the likes of Enrico Sangiuliano, Juan Sanchez, Ian O’Donovan and Timmo also drop fire, establishing their credentials as some of the most promising talent breaking through the ranks in 2016. 

Reinforcing the global scope of the label, artists such as The Junkies from Toronto and Layton Giordani from New York, prove techno is winning a place in the heart of the new generation of artists coming out of North America. 

Layton Giordani - Rivington - Drumcode - DC159

Kevin de Vries - Eternity - Drumcode - DC159

Hot on the heels of the A-Sides Volume 5 compilation, Enrico Sangiuliano makes his return to Drumcode with his highly anticipated EP ‘Moon Rocks’. The heavy hitting four track EP shines a light on Sangiuliano’s tight, thundering production skills. The hoover heavy lead track ‘Moon Rocks’ is packed with booming percussion, intricate synths and brooding crescendos. The EP encapsulates Sangiuliano’s wide spectrum of sounds ranging from the fat bass line of ‘Moon Rocks’ to the more delicate harmonies shown within the ‘Dutch Kiss’ mixes whilst ‘Ghettoblaster’ sits somewhere in between.

Enrico Sangiuliano - Dutch Kiss (Straight Mix) - Drumcode - DC160

Enrico Sangiuliano - Moon Rocks - Drumcode - DC160

Sam Paganini makes his return to Drumcode after his chart topping album ‘Satellite’ with a four track, pounding EP. ‘The Beat’, is crammed with thudding drums, reverberated vocals and floaty synth lines. The EP, packed with tantalising synths and explosive drops, will ignite any dance floor.  

Sam Paganini - Mega - Drumcode - DC162

Sam Paganini - The Beat (ft. Zøe)- Drumcode - DC162

Up first is Get Enough, seven minutes of seductive techno that has an almost machine-gun like disco synth firing across the groove. It is a rumbling peak time track with real force and energy that will bring any floor to life. The title track, Toleranz, is a gritty and stripped back basement cut with dry hits and burrowing acid bass that takes you deep into the night. Cobra then proves this pair have real breadth in the studio and is a barrel chested house cut with more big hits, rib rattling bass and incendiary techno hi hats that really get you on your toes. Remixing are the tech duo of Pleasurekraft, whose releases on Octopus and Mood Records have won them plenty of DJ and dancing fans. They layer in some dark melodies to SQ80 and build it steadily before allowing the militant drums and crisp snares to explode and drive you and the whole club forwards.

Kaiserdisco - SQ80 (Pleasurekraft Remix)- Drumcode - DC163

Moby is a name synonymous with us all in the electronic music world and we are lucky enough to have been able to hand select some Drumcode artists to remix his work. This 9 track package included remixes from Enrico Sangiuliano, Dense & Pika, Bart Skils, Alan Fitzpatrick, Marco Faraone, Tiger Stripes, Manic Brothers and Luca Agnelli. Each one has been thought out and accomplished with precision using some of Moby’s synonymous samples.

Drumcode

Monika Budzik