Tech part 3

Here is my new EP on Drumcode. You can get your copy here: http://www.beatport.com/release/fight-club/1111166

DC114 - Bart Skils - Fight Club - Drumcode [Lo_Res]

The seventh volume of Drumcode’s annual A-Sides compilation hits with no less than 10 debuts for the label, with Charlotte de Witte, ANNA, B.Traits and Scuba’s SCB project, among the collection of topline artists to release their maiden productions on the imprint. 

Over two decades into its lifespan, Drumcode keeps evolving and excelling, pushing techno forward while remaining wholly respectful of its roots. This reputation for progression was further fueled this summer with its inaugural festival at the NDSM Docklands in Amsterdam, featuring a long list of heavyweights including Nicole Moudaber, Joseph Capriati, Amelie Lens and Ida Engberg, among others. 

As ever, the A-Sides compilation provides a timely opportunity to showcase the full range of its sonic repertoire, with Adam Beyer scrupulously selecting 22 unreleased tracks that have taken prime position in his sets over recent months. 

Outstanding all-round talent ANNA kicks off the compilation with ‘Portable Paradise’, a pulsating cut that sets the tone for the top-shelf club cuts to follow. Also entering the debut field with their first ever Drumcode dalliances are B.Traits and Charlotte de Witte. The esteemed Canadian selector offers up ‘I Feel The Music’, a euphonic track that’s been sought after since spring, and the Belgian ballista unlocks a thick-edged club bomb in ‘Remember.’

Leaders of Drumcode’s new brigade, exciting Brazilian Wehbba and British techno alchemist Boxia set out to impress. Wehbba’s straight-talking ‘Just’ hits with an immediate sense of urgency before neck-snap claps strike with force, and Boxia’s ‘Final Call’ elicits physical engagement with mellifluous vocals and soaring pads. 

Continuously looking to bolster the profiles of emerging talent, Berlin-based producers Weska and Juliet Fox are brought into the fold with equally engaging razor-sharp tracks that are primed to do lasting damage. 

Other notable highlights include an exhilarating workout from Reset Robot - the most released artist on Beyer’s imprint Truesoul – as he lands on Drumcode for the first time. And tastemaker’s favourite Jel Ford makes a welcome return as he ushers in techno rhythms with bustling breaks in ‘Nightshade.’

Elsewhere, support from label mainstays comes in from Bart Skils, who offers a work of consummate skill in ‘West Of The Moon.’ Alan Fitzpatrick, who’s been heavily featured across the A-Side series, joins forces with Scuba as he operates as his uncompromising alias SCB. The result is a propulsive floor-gripper that testifies to their masterful deftness as co-producers. Formidable duos Dense & Pika and Pig&Dan also contribute with powerful compositions.

Pig&Dan - Pushing On - Drumcode - DC195

Secret Cinema & Reinier Zonneveld - Pain Thing - Drumcode - DC195

Jay Lumen - Stella Luce - Drumcode - DC195

Bart Skils - West of the Moon - Drumcode - DC195

Dense & Pika - Lemur - Drumcode - DC195

After an excellent performance at Drumcode Festival, Tiger Stripes comes strong with his first EP on the label since 2009.

Since 2015 Tiger Stripes has been an invaluable contributor to Drumcode’s ‘little brother’ Truesoul. As recent as March he released ‘Sound of the Bettest’ in collaboration with Riva Starr, their fresh raggainfluenced take on techno entrenched as a 2018 highlight for the label. Drawing from a wide palette of sounds to craft his groovy, personality-laden take on techno, the Swede has produced arguably his finest work yet with the ‘Insanity’ EP. ‘Baby’ is a melting pot of three decades worth of influences, from James Brown, to Northern Soul and indie pop of Ariel Pink.

The result is a stunning kaleidoscopic techno treat, that brims with rave, garage and funky house spirit. ‘Insane’ is a dynamic feast for the eardrums as trippy arpeggios, a persistent vocal and lush synth leads cascade throughout the seven-minute track. ‘Too Deep (to Bear) follows, an exhilarating slice of late-night techno before the EP concludes with ‘Dying Planet’, mixing up a potent environmental message with tough dancefloor functionalism.

Tiger Stripes - Insane - Drumcode - DC196

Tiger Stripes - Baby - Drumcode - DC196

Purchase here — bit.ly/DC197BP

Marco Faraone returns to Drumcode with some of his most inspired work ever, comprising of four tracks crossing the Techno spectrum.

Growing up Marco was surrounded by 90s Italo house and techno, which have all had a part in the current sound he produces today. Never one to stick to any individual style, he can often surprise his fans with a set pumping out peak time beats to down tempo house cuts with catchy vocals.

 “With this release, I took some inspiration from listening back to some old Vitalic sounds and giving some extra power to the use of synths in each track. It’s got a festival vibe to it, which is something I wanted to achieve” - Marco

His last Drumcode EP was back in 2016, so this October he makes a welcome return showing his multiskilled productions at their full potential on this mega 4 tracker, opening with the gargantuan ‘Never Forget’. Mutating rhythmic synths hark back to the good ol’ days of BXR and the limitless talent of the Italian Techno scene in the late 90s. Boiling over in the main break this is crowd-pleasing dance music at its finest. 

‘Cruiser’ is a bumpy upbeat ride with a strong melodic hook that will have the hands raised and the feet stomping. Title track ‘Lunar Eclipse’ is a dense, at times claustrophobic roller. Menacing to begin with, the addition of the main melodic motifs lifts the mood midway. ‘Take This Trip’ rounds out an incendiary EP. Lighter and more musical that the previous three, it offers a joyful, softer message. 

“This is a special release for me, I wanted this to have explosive power yet the perfect balance of melodies and sounds to create a different and unique atmosphere for each track” - Marco

Marco Faraone - Take This Trip - Drumcode - DC197

Marco Faraone - Lunar Eclipse - Drumcode - DC197

Marco Faraone - Cruiser - Drumcode - DC197

Layton Giordani steps up for his first solo EP of 2018.

In terms of pedigrees, it doesn’t get finer than Layton Giordani. The Brooklyn-born DJ/producer followed up his lauded debut album of 2017, with a collaboration with Danny Tenaglia to close out the year and marked the summer of 2018 with a three-way collaboration with Adam Beyer and Green Velvet, ‘Space Date’. The period has been a big one for Layton personally, also. From humble beginnings in his native NYC as an Output resident, to being thrust into the bustle of the European club and festival circuit, he’s enjoyed a stint living in Amsterdam, growing and developing over this time. All these experiences have had a fundamental influence on him and his music. The four-track EP ‘Phase II’ represents a new chapter for this exciting talent.

Beginning with ‘New York to Amsterdam’, a track that draws inspiration from a classic by Yves Deruyter, Layton’s work packs a memorable punch as tough acidic undertones and brain scrambling synth effects undulate raising the intensity, making it a perfect opener for Adam Beyer when he played Berghain earlier this year. ‘Body Language’ follows, a track written when Layton was scrubbed out of touring for a month courtesy of a shattered elbow from a skating accident. Not wasting the downtime, he’s crafted a cut that’s sleek, sexy and smart, with a seductive vocal and rousing melodic riff that runs throughout. ‘Black Mirror’, stays true to its dystopic name, a stomping rave cut that pummels dancefloors with a menacing lead synth that’s purpose built for the cold months ahead. ‘Enter the Stratosphere’ is steely electro-tinged techno paired with atmospheric licks of melody, awhile maintaining the artist’s trademark low-end chug. A classy conclusion to an EP from one of techno’s brightest talents.

Layton Giordani - Black Mirror - Drumcode - DC198

Pig&Dan signal their first solo outing on Drumcode since 2016, with a stirring four-track work.

The duo stands as one of electronic music’s most prolific artists, shapeshifting between different shades of house and techno over a 15+ year period, all the while displaying a startling breadth that’s ensured their enduring demand. Their relationship with Adam Beyer has solidified over the years, first impressing with a debut EP ‘Mexico’ in 2016, before collaborating with the Swede himself in 2017 for the fantastic four-tracker ‘Capsule’, a notable highlight. With their contribution to last year’s A-Sides compilation ‘La Bruja’ one of the strongest of the bunch, their return for a full-length EP is timely. 

Title track ‘Infinity’ is rave-infused stadium techno crafted to perfection, driven by an undulating melodic lead that builds to a tension-packed break, before the chords re-appear and propel the track toward a trippy finale. Vocal cut ‘Losing Part of Me’ is momentous, with punchy bass and pin-sharp percussion juxtaposing superbly with the emotive vocal and laser-kissed melodic touches. ‘Terrax’ is propelled by woozy synth leads that escalate in intensity, before unexpectedly dropping into a series of soothing synth interludes, before slamming back in with purpose. The EP concludes with ‘Plex’, as a brooding melody line is paired with pumping percussion for an atmosphere-heavy finale. 

Tracklist: 

1. Pig&Dan – Infinity 
2. Pig&Dan – Losing Part of Me
3. Pig&Dan – Terrax
4. Pig&Dan – Plex

Buy all

Pig&Dan - Losing Part of Me - Drumcode - DC201

Pig&Dan - Infinity - Drumcode - DC201

Wehbba collaborates with ghetto tech legend DJ Deeon, to deliver another superlative EP on Drumcode.

Since his debut on Drumcode in 2017, Brazil’s Wehbba has become one of the most dependable and impressive artists on the roster. Last year saw two standout EP’s ‘Eclipse’ and ‘Catarse’ drop on the imprint, alongside ‘Just’, his strong contribution to A-Sides Vol.7. He also made his mark playing Drumcode events at OFF Week, Resistance Ibiza and the much talked about double header in Manchester and Bristol when DC took over Warehouse Project and Motion respectively.

A true master craftsman in the studio, his first contribution for 2019 is typically impressive. A huge inspiration to Wehbba since his nascent raver days, ghetto tech icon DJ Deeon contributes a fierce vocal to ‘We Have Bass’, after a serendipitous hook up in São Paulo. A peak career moment collaborating with one of his original heroes and the artist responsible for the classic ‘Freak Like Me’, the resulting percussive-heavy cut kicks like a rodeo bull. ‘Third Wave’ is coffee geek Wehbba’s homage to his favourite brew, constructing the production to mirror the experience of a caffeine fix, as a loopy trance-inducing groove leads to powerful synth stabs that are heavy on impact. ‘Steamroller’ is a stripped back slice of techno driven by the Brazilian’s Korg MS-20 and found form after it initially begun as a studio jam inspired by Richie Hawtin’s ‘Minus Orange’. 

A Jean-Michel Jarre fan stretching back to his childhood, ‘Another Mistake’ was conceived after Wehbba saw the French legend in concert last year and was subsequently able to meet him backstage through a mutual friend. While creating the track, the producer imagined Jarre playing the main layers of the hook on his famous Laser-harp, eliciting an almost celestial quality with the melody. This is a stirring slice of techno fit for stadiums. The EP ends with ‘Purge’, the artist’s stream-of-consciousness expression recorded in one-take and a beautiful beat-less way to conclude the work.

Wehbba - Third Wave - Drumcode - DC202

Veerus makes his Drumcode debut, after an impressive contribution to Truesoul’s VA EP in 2017.

The Italian has built up an impressive discography over the last decade, dropping records on labels including Terminal M, Octopus, Filth on Acid and his own Le Club imprint. His collaborative with Maxie Devine ‘My Train’ was a highlight of Solomun’s classic Boiler Room in Tulum, which has clocked 37 million views. In late 2017 he linked up with Brits OC & Verde for the fantastic ‘Naaki’ that featured on Truesoul’s first Various Artists EP, ensuring he was an artist well and truly in Adam Beyer’s sights. 

His maiden outing for Drumcode mines 20 years of history, taking inspiration from classic trance and acid from the ‘90s, which he distils to create powerful modern techno works. ‘Hypnosis’ was a huge highlight of Beyer’s Awakenings show at Gashouder during ADE. It’s characterised by an engrossing call-and-response dynamic Veerus builds between the 303 acid warbles and the melodic stabs that run throughout. A track custom made for big moments.  ‘Apocalypse’, like its name, is more menacing. Veerus constructs the work to mimic the dramatic theatre of a gladiatorial scene in a film, as heart-fluttering chord progressions, a piercing synth line and dystopian melody mark this memorable track.

Veerus - Apocalypse - Drumcode - DC203

Veerus - Hypnosis - Drumcode - DC203

Techno stalwarts Heiko Laux & Joel Mull return to Drumcode for their first outing since 2016.

Friends and collaborators for over a decade, Heiko Laux and Joel Mull continue their fruitful partnership with a searing four-piece work. ‘Centipede’ is a thematic follow-up to ‘Rooter’, their last atmosphere-heavy production that dropped on Laux’s Kanzleramt imprint in 2017. A year earlier they teamed up for the vinyl-only ‘Munch’ EP on Drumcode Limited that explored subterranean techno grooves. 

Their latest work was created during an extended stay at Mull’s home in Stockholm while Laux was visiting for a show. The evocative ‘Contour’ brings the EP into focus, as delicate strings set an atmospheric tone. The title track ‘Centipede’ follows, a track tailor-made for deep Sunday afternoon rave explorations as a menacing riff runs throughout. ‘Bullet Ant’ is driven by industrial percussion and brain-bending synth effects that dip in and out throughout the muscular work. ‘Centipede’ (Morph) follows on from its namesake, teasing out some space and introducing melody to the palette for a deep late-night impact.

Heiko Laux & Joel Mull - Centipede - Drumcode - DC204

Victor Ruiz lands his Debut EP on Drumcode.

Victor first released on Drumcode last year on their most recent edition of the famous A-Sides Vol.7 compilation with his colossal track ‘Pulso’. Victor has been relentless when it comes to producing absolutely huge sounding tracks, which are heavily suited to the big club room vibe. This May he steps up for his debut EP on Drumcode with ‘Nimbus’.

The title track ‘Nimbus’ marked an important milestone in his life, his arrival to Berlin, his new home. Due to the lack of studio space and set up, he made Nimbus entirely with headphones and laptop. A piercing track with a punctuated kick drum that cuts through the mix, alongside some industrial tones which build an eerie tension. A track that really sits on the darker side of the progressive techno world.

Victor explains that this release is “very much a mix of old and new” representing two stages of his life. ‘Unveil’ was a track he produced back in Sao Paulo, when day dreaming of his move to Europe. A chunky low end combined with big percussion that makes it more of a heady introspective track on the release. It most definitely shows a more experimental side Victor but is welcomed and makes for a thunderous dancefloor track.

Tech part 3

Nathh_Alsop