The Walker - EP

The Walker

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Breger & Manu Ferrantini & Alekai - Walking On This Planet (Manu Steps Liquid)

Hurukan - NZT (Red Richards  )

IF THE BEAT HITS .

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.

Luca Agnelli - Shipment - Drumcode - DC195

A*S*Y*S - The Acid Original Version

A rare treat for Drumcode faithful: A-Sides Vol.10 is set to drop in December, the second edition of the beloved series to come in 2020.

Fuelled by the extra time and space to be creative during lockdown, Drumcode’s collective of artists have stepped up. Across 17 contributions, the producers have gone deeper into their sonic repertoire, crafting powerful, yet reflective works that capture the range of the label’s sound.

Jay Lumen leads the way with a rousing riff-driven weapon, ‘Galactic Rainbow’, while Ramon Tapia brings us the muscular gem ‘Drum Control’, mixing up ruffneck techno with a barrage of synapse-tickling synths in the second half. Both rousing highlights of the compilation.
Victor Ruiz, Drumcode’s most prolific contributor in 2020, dishes up ‘Love Story’, led by a huge vocal lead. Zimmz also returns with ‘Tension’, which deftly combines deep squelchy grooves with a silky synth interlude. Thomas Hoffknecht follows up his debut on Vol.9 with ‘Escape’, keeping listeners on their toes with dynamic, choppy shifts throughout. Veerus joins with another stirring addition ‘I Know’, reinforcing why Beyer rates him so highly.

Elsewhere a string of debutants feature: buzzy newcomer Lilly Palmer gives us ‘Amnesie’, a brilliantly pummelling and eerie cut; Alex Lentini & Stomp Boxx serve up ‘Expanders’ mixing up drone effects, trippy vocals and an unsettling melody line; and Patrik Berg’s ‘Activated’ is full-bodied techno that drops down into funky rhythms.

Long-time DC family member Bart Skils brings his A-game with the thrilling no-nonsense ‘Solid State’ that hits like a steam train. Likewise, Alan Fitzpatrick who brings a momentous slab of techno energy with ‘Rochus’, while Thomas Schumacher, now feeling like a regular on the imprint, crafts another dark techno opus, this time in collaboration with CAITLIN.

There’s even a special appearance by the chief Adam Beyer, who makes a welcome return with the progressive-tinged ‘Changes’, driven by organic tones and spacey atmospherics. The track stands as his first original contribution to A-Sides since 2017.

Lilly Palmer — Amnesie — Drumcode — DC235

Born in 1987 and raised in the Neapolitan underground, Roberto Capuano has become one of the more recent generation’s brightest stars and a fine ambassador of the Naples techno sound worldwide.

Coming from a city with such a rich history in electronic dance music, Capuano has always worked with the highest standards in mind. Since his early days training as a sound engineer or as A&R for a prominent local label Unrilis, he has fully immersed himself in the scene around him, learning from the greats who have gone before and shaping these influences into something of his own.
Capuano’s story as a recording artist begins in 2009, with an EP on Markantonio’s label MKT. From his very first release he showed a special ability for expressing personality through his tracks and a knack for ear-worm melodies - the infectious 'Never Stop' on Truesoul being a fine example.
Having appeared on one of Adam Beyer's label Drumcode's compilations, Capuano released his first full EP on the widely influential imprint in 2013. The Inner City-referencing track 'Vertigo' was a hit with many of the world’s biggest DJs and a fixture in the year's Beatport charts. As was the dub techno-inspired groove of ‘Obsessed’, which followed as part of his 'Wilford EP' in 2015, Drumcode's milestone 150th release.
Capuano has always the relished the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded artists and this has made for some spectacular results. In 2014 he formed a live duo with his buddy Luigi Madonna called Black Division. They combined parts of their studios on-stage to explore their ideas of improvised, avant-garde techno to mesmerizing effect. More recently he has worked together with (and remixed) Jay Lumen for Footwork Audio and with Pleasurekraft on Kraftek, with each release showing an impressive range to his style.
Capuano's fascination for the art of DJing began on the dancefloor, where he learnt what it takes to control and manoeuvre a crowd’s energy - something he now does with great skill. Spending days and nights at the region’s legendary venues like Old River Park, he embarked on a journey that would soon take him to play in the very same booths.
Now Capuano is an in-demand act worldwide. Regular back-to-back sets with Luigi Madonna or Markantonio have helped make him the DJ he is today, as well as playing high profile events like Monegros, Sonar OFF Week and the Drumcode showcases. Embracing technology with a hybrid DJ setup, Capuano thrives on the creative possibilities of modern equipment and has become an expert at creating unforgettable moments on the dancefloor through looping and layering tracks. He ought to be seen live to be fully appreciated, as the atmosphere in the club and connection with the dancers is what inspires Capuano, from his formative experience right up until today.

The Walker

Roberto Capuano

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