Function’s tale begins with a gregarious mother who would keep him occupied as rookie selector for neighbourhood gatherings while growing up in Brooklyn and New Jersey. Music was his world, and it wasn’t long before he found himself standing in awe before Jeff Mills in 90s NYC at the infamous nerve centre of Club Kid hedonism Limelight, where he went on to pick up a Thursday-night residency himself. Few DJs can claim to have been around during such a moment in club history, but ten years later came another. His friendships with Regis, Silent Servant and Female turned into the much acclaimed collective Sandwell District, a pivotal sound for an era that forced everyone’s attention towards Berlin. There he became Berghain resident and played a role in shaping the club’s fabled musical opus. In the years since (and following Sandwell’s dissolution) he’s matured in his own right, with a number of mesmeric releases (most recently ‘Green EP’ released on his self-run imprint Infrastructure back in May), collaborations with the likes of Vatican Shadow, Luke Slater and Steve Bicknell, a heavy touring schedule that criss-crosses the world at rapid clip and Bassiani residency to boot. Function’s techno is an ambient fog in which sinister arctic synths and perilous rhythms collide to produce an exquisite fusion that would be hard to mistake for anyone else. Those grainy textures, subterranean ripples and punishing kick drums are a hypnotic rework of his many influences: 90s loops with a more modern and sharper industrial edge. Bassiani Podcast 186 is an impassioned live-recording from the club that weaves through a number of hammering tracks and steadily climbs towards its furious climax. A hair-raising three-hour beast courtesy of this decorated techno behemoth.

BASSIANI PODCAST SERIES

Bassiani invites Function / Podcast #186

Merchant of feral-minded, steel-clad floor wares harboured by some of the finest imprints out there including Token and SK_eleven, in addition to his own outlet, Observer Station, Fuse resident Altinbas takes over the RYC broadcast with an explosive two-hour ride fusing pure raging uptempo arson and highly trenchant, indus-oriented machine funk. Blast it out full force and let the trippy winds of primitive drums patterns, 909-fuelled obsession and dubbed-out 4x4 mystique alter your senses durably, for the spirit of rave shines high and bright above us. Total heater of a mix, you’ve been warned.
 
soundcloud.com/altinbas

Reclaim Your City  

Reclaim Your City 595 | Altinbas

Next up on the Groove Podcast is @amotik. For interview and track listing, check bit.ly/AmoPod

GROOVE Podcast 425 – Amotik

Strap in and relive our 9th birthday celebrations, where Chami and OPH showcased their storytelling mastery — a testament built on mutual trust, intuition, complicity and synergy.

Under their Face 2 Face moniker, they engage in a dynamic, head-to-head exchange across 4 turntables and 2 mixers, creating a subconscious dialogue not just between themselves and with the crowd. 

The set unfolds shifting seamlessly between mental spaces and pulse-pounding moments, sometimes complementing each other, sometimes taking unexpected turns: a ritualistic yet cerebral journey with an undeniable magnetic pull. 

Sit back and enjoy this 2-hour excerpt!

https://soundcloud.com/chamixx 
https://ra.co/dj/chami
https://www.instagram.com/chami_f2f/
https://www.facebook.com/Chamixx

https://soundcloud.com/ophsound
https://ra.co/dj/ophsound
https://www.instagram.com/ophsound/
https://www.facebook.com/ophsound

Mastering by @functional_disorder

CLOSERcast #089 - CHAMI F2F OPH

This set was recorded live from QS1 at ELSE. 
@https://soundcloud.com/reka-zalan 
@https://soundcloud.com/vtrn000

Reka Zalan x Vy Tran | ELSE x QS1 | 25.08.2024

FOWRU 005 | Eerste Communie invites Stephanie Sykes

Kicking off the night from 0:00 to 3:00, Justine delivered a masterclass on May 17, 2025: A high-quality set that held the crowd in its grip from start to finish. This recording captures pure magic! 
Until next one!

Demolition Live Rec #9 -Justine Perry

Stepping in for the next chapter of our podcast series — press play and relive Isabel Soto's set at Circolo Amelia for Closer NYE celebration!

Berlin-based, Venezuelan-born DJ and producer, Isabel Soto's sets are more than just music; they’re personal, spatial, and endlessly expansive experiences. Deep rhythms and abstract textures combine to guide listeners through a deeply atmospheric, emotional terrain that lingers long after the music ends. The result is a kinetic, emotionally charged tapestry, where haunting narrative threads meet razor-sharp transitions, each shift upping the energy with precision and purpose. Prepare for a journey that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

With her own imprint, NYXII Records, and releases on respected labels, Isabel carves her path with intention and heart. Her rise isn’t driven by trends or hype, but by genuine connection: one track, one set, one unforgettable night at a time.

https://www.soundcloud.com/isabelsoto
https://ra.co/dj/isabelsoto
https://www.instagram.com/__isabelsoto
https://www.facebook.com/isabelsotom

CLOSERcast #098 - ISABEL SOTO

Buy this release here: https://freresrecords.bandcamp.com/album/estruc

Artist: Duartec, Dani Duran(ES)
Title: Estruc
Track: B&B(Dani Duran(ES) Remix)
Label:  Freres Recordings
Format: Digital
Genre:Techno
Country:Spain
Release date: 17-10-2025

Artwork by Edisson Gonzalez
Mastered by Freres Recordings

Support the label:
SC: https://soundcloud.com/frerescolectivo
IG: https://www.instagram.com/freresrecords/
BC: https://freresrecords.bandcamp.com

Support the artist:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/juanduartec/

Support Remix: 
SC: https://soundcloud.com/dani_duran 
IG: https://www.instagram.com/dani_duran_/ 

488# PREMIERE: Duartec - B&B (Dani Duran remix) [Freres Recordings]

The Bells · Jeff Mills T.A.M.F. remix

Schranz and Its Connection to Jeff Mills’ “The Bells”

Connection to Jeff Mills’ “The Bells”: Jeff Mills’ The Bells (1997, Purpose Maker, PM-002) isn’t pure Schranz but heavily influenced its development. Its raw, hypnotic loop and pounding 4/4 kick resonated with the harder, minimal techno sound that Schranz built upon. Here’s how it ties in:
* Influence on Schranz Producers: Mills’ use of repetitive, functional loops in The Bells inspired Schranz’s stripped-down aesthetic. Its 140 BPM tempo and relentless drive aligned with Schranz’s ethos, making it a proto-Schranz track for DJs like Liebing or Boris S.
* Club Play: The Bells was a staple in late ’90s hard techno sets, bridging Detroit techno’s soul with Schranz’s aggression. Its iconic bell riff added a melodic hook that Schranz often avoided but still absorbed as a reference for tension-building.
* Remixes and Legacy: Later Schranz DJs (e.g., Eric Sneo, DJ Amok) remixed or drew from The Bells’ energy. For example, the 2006 10th Anniversary The Bells 12” (PM-020) had a louder, Schranz-friendly master that fit harder sets.

Original Pressing Context: As mentioned earlier, The Bells appeared on the Kat Moda EP (1997, Purpose Maker, PM-002, 12” vinyl). Its raw production—gritty kicks, unpolished mastering—mirrors Schranz’s unrefined edge. Schranz DJs likely gravitated to originals or early represses for their analog warmth, though the track’s quieter mix (compared to 2000s Schranz cuts) required DJs to crank the gain.

Where to Find Schranz-Inspired The Bells:
* Original 1997 Vinyl: Hunt on Discogs/Reverb for PM-002 ($20–$50). Check matrix: PM 002-A/B (RE I) NSC.
* Streaming: The 1997 version (on Spotify/Beatport) retains the raw vibe Schranz fans love.
* Modern Schranz Comps: Look for The Bells in hard techno mixes or CLR/Tresor compilations. Check X posts or SoundCloud for recent Schranz sets featuring it.

Schranz Today (Oct 2025): Schranz remains a niche but vibrant scene. Recent X posts highlight new releases on labels like Schranz Total or Hard Drive, with DJs like Fernanda Martins and Luciid pushing 150+ BPM bangers. The Bells still gets play in retro sets or as a remixed bootleg in Schranz raves.
Want me to dig into a specific Schranz artist, label, or a The Bells remix in this style? Or maybe check X for recent Schranz chatter? Let me know! 🔔

Deep Dive: Schranz – The Hard Techno Beast 🦖
Since you’re doubling down on Schranz, let’s go full throttle. This is the raw, pounding heart of German hard techno—no fluff, just facts, history, essentials, and where to score it today (Oct 16, 2025). The Bells connection? It’s the proto-Schranz blueprint—hypnotic loops + brutal kick = Schranz DNA. Ready? Gas it up!

Schranz 101: What the Hell Is It?
* Born: Late 1990s, Frankfurt/Germany. Evolved from Jeff Mills/Rene Pawlowitz-style minimal techno into a weaponized sound.
* Tempo: 140–160+ BPM (faster = harder life).
* Sound: Distorted 909 kicks that hurt, razor-sharp hi-hats, zero melody (unless it’s a stab), industrial noise loops. Think: a jackhammer in a warehouse.
* Name Origin: Chris Liebing (2001) called it “Schranz” to mock haters saying hard techno was just “schrammel” (grating noise). DJs flipped it into pride.
* Ethos: Anti-EDM, sweat-soaked, 6AM warehouse raves. No peaks—just relentless drive.

Schranz vs. Regular Techno:
Feature	Schranz	Standard Techno
BPM	145–160	120–140
Kick	Distorted, punchy AF	Clean, groovy
Melodies	Minimal/none	Hooks & synth

Vibe	Dark, aggressive	Hypnotic, soulful
Clubs	Berghain, Tresor	Fabric, Output
Timeline: Schranz Evolution
Year	Milestone	Key Track/Artist
1997	The Bells drops (Mills). Proto-Schranz loop energy.	Jeff Mills – The Bells
1999	Frankfurt explosion. Liebing coins term.	Chris Liebing – American Madness


SCHRANZ ON! 🦖🔔 Drop the needle—let’s destroy some speakers.

Recording 16-10-25, 11.51.16 am

Sesión de 3 horas de DJ Pete en SYNTH Techno Club (Madrid) el pasado 28 de septiembre de 2018.

DJ Pete @ SYNTH Techno Club (Madrid)

Stay Up to date with everything QS1 and enjoy steamy memories of past events <3

Next Events: 
- QS1 @ Nachbar / ADE 🇳🇱 | 25.10.2025
- QS1 @ Renate 🇩🇪 | 15.11.2025