Einfach unglaublicher groove komm net klar

Out now on Rekids: lnk.to/REKIDS192

Although based in Berlin for several years, Dustin Zahn has continued to exert influence over the fertile but steadfastly underground Minneapolis techno scene as part of the Intellephunk collective whilst cultivating a worldwide rep via releases for Blueprint, Token and his own Enemy Records. The ‘Gain of Function’ LP sees Zahn channelling the groove-fuelled techno of the late ’90s and early ’00s and shaping eight powerful but funky contemporary techno tracks that display the decades of experience under his belt. 

Forged from a series of live jams with two drum machines and two synths, the album is a refined collection of raw, purist techno brilliance. Across the A-side ‘Tell Me About Paradise’ brings shimmering staccato chops under bright and airy percussion before ‘Tangie Groove’ picks up the pace with floating pads, vocal slices, and a rumbling bassline. On ‘Lucid Dreams’, scattered percussion plays with hypnotic synth licks, while ‘Smoking in Silence’ sees off-kilter leads dancing between emotive vocals and evolving drum loops.

Opening the second disc is the deep and shuffling ‘Crimson Cheeks’, with trance-inducing samples nestled between sharp drum hits and rolling synthesis, and ‘Days Like These’ takes a darker turn as twinkling arps and droning pads carry the track. ‘Shark Rodeo’ featuring Jeremy Black mangles samples into a dense rolling affair, before closing number ‘Next Level Looseness’ drops the 4/4 pattern for a raucous club track, combining oddball sound sources and unruly production techniques for a trippy finish to the album. 

Since the late ’90s, Zahn’s hypnotic and driving techno has consistently caught the ears of top DJs and labels worldwide, with anyone catching his marathon sets at the likes of Berghain exposed to expansive sets. In addition to his techno-heavy catalogue and DJing prowess, Zahn has lent production and engineering skills to bands and singers, recently working with Poliça and on Carm’s Pitchfork approved eponymous album. Beyond this, his vital work with Intellephunk includes the nearly two decades long running Communion after-hours events, cementing his invaluable contributions to the scene.

Dustin Zahn

Tangie Groove

Dustin Zahn - Tangie Groove

Buy here

Man's World

Lisbon's Paraíso bring their A&R a-game once again with a stellar EP by one of the city's most beloved techno DJs - @vilmusic - and a chef's kiss remix by the one and only queen of twisted dance, @ednd from Algarve.

VIL effortlessly strikes a balance between his seasoned raver's effective ammunition approach and his penchant for freshness that has accompanied him since his early days as a dubstep DJ. Concise elegance and banging inventiveness meet in the opener Rotari, as the A2 follows with detroitian levels of class and relentlessness, all ecstatic hats, warm stabs and beautiful percussion. Ghet09 closes the A side with tom-filled jack-infused beats and smooth keys with an instant-classic quality, all offset by eerie pads cause it's techno we're gladly witnessing after all.

Anjos, the new Birmingham brings in-your-face energy in the tight drum programming and a dash of trippy, quasi-dubby melodic elements in an ode to Lisbon's tentative premier techno neighbourhood Anjos.

Deranged yet loved-up, the B2 is a perfect peak-time dreamy mood-setter - proving we're in the hands of a skilled emotion-to-dance translator. The record closes with a stellar remix by one of Portugal's innovators, EDND herself, who drowns the opening track in mysterious waters and adds beautiful melodic elements, perfect for that much-appreciated deep dive moment on the dancefloor. There's a wonderful digi bonus for the heads, where oneiric pads are punctuated by vocal chops from a very familiar classic.

BUY VINYL/DIGI

Digital Bonus - Vil - Soul Thing

Mohem 02

Redox

Havanna

Soul Sister

For the 12th release on Paraíso, co-founder Shcuro strips things back to assert what truly remains no matter much time may pass.

‘It Lasts Forever’ is the producer’s ode to structural things in his inner life that will keep flowing on unchanged, be it the love for his wife; his reverence to techno - hence the use of classic drum machines like Roland’s 909, 808 and 707; to friendship and community - having one of his dearest mates Steffi take part via the remixer chair.

Steffi picks up the opening track and adds propulsive percussion and further melodic elements to it, creating the perfect gem to close this record. 

Label: @discosparaiso
Buy: https://discosparaiso.bandcamp.com/album/it-lasts-forever

It Lasts Forever

PREMIERE: Shcuro - Together (Steffi Remix) [Paraíso]

JR_Beats - Obey the Kick

PETROV - Don't Touch That Dial

Kill Ref and Hyperikòn's, live at work, jazzy remix of Jeff Mill's Alarms for personal use only. Not for sale. Mastered by Stefano Moretti. Beats Studio, Berlin, DE.

Unreleased

Jeff Mills - Alarms(Kill Ref & Hyperikon Jazz Remix)

After a tremendous output of twelve original tracks in 2019, Redshape is back with his first release in 2020, relaunching his techno imprint "Content" and entering the new decade with a bang. A highly energetic, rhythm-infused peak time track and one of his well-kept secret weapons for many years, "Phonkin" represents the first installment of Redshape‘s brand-new "Retro Shock" series, a three-part collection of tracks made in his earliest days. Re-touched to the highest quality standard, it authentically conveys the pure and raw rave spirit of the 1990s.

Retro Shock Part 1

Phonkin

Buy at bandcamp

Phonkin – Retro Shock Part 1

Anita Hagen, Sampled Wax
IG: @anitaahagen, @sampledwax
https://soundcloud.com/anita-hagen-943734869
https://soundcloud.com/sampledwax

Atmos-fear
IG: @atmosfearoficial
https://soundcloud.com/atmosfear666

Cuenca Schuller
IG: @cuenca.schuller
https://soundcloud.com/cuencaschuller

Jandroid
IG: @jandroid.d
https://soundcloud.com/jandroid_d

Juan Castillo
IG: @juancastillo____
https://soundcloud.com/user-948471526

Maag
IG: @maagvega
https://soundcloud.com/maagvega

Sol Ortega
IG: @solortega1111
https://soundcloud.com/solortega1111

Traquio
IG: @traquio.95
https://soundcloud.com/traquio

Shogun
IG: @shogun.gd
https://soundcloud.com/shogundisturbio

Sol Ortega - Synthtax

Booking contact: flo@npbooking.com
Production classes: https://philberg.studio

Man's World

Phil Berg

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