Techno

Joseph Capriati   Awake

Luke Slater’s most well known pseudonym Planetary Assault Systems is back in the fullest swing with 'No Exit', a standalone EP following his famed 'Deep Heet' installment series. 'No Exit' unmistakably bears all the hallmarks of Planetary Assault System, from mind-tripping and floor-stirring hypnotic energy to the theme of pushing the outer limits of unknown territories.
The EP kicks off with the title track, at its first breath of rolling beat already infusing an ample dose of psychedelic madness, which only to be intensified with the layers of digital chime tones that are constantly multiplying and shape-shifting. “Undertow” on the B side continues with the signature warping and reverberating bells and bleeps but this time with enticing hi-hats and distorted bass, gradually all melting into one big sinister groove. The last track of the EP “Nanendi” might fool you in the beginning with its minimalistic beat, but as soon as the demure yet ominous veil of melody - beautifully moody and almost spooky at times - starts humming and howling, it’s well on its way to make a deep, haunting emotional connection while keeps the tension boiling. Without a doubt 'No Exit' EP is the one that shows the most distinctive core DNA of Planetary Assault Systems and much like his seminal album The Messenger, it’s a deadly unique, dazzling, and powerfully effective work that will stand the test of time.

Tracklisting: 
A: No Exit
B1: Undertow
B2: Nanendi

Planetary Assault Systems - No Exit - Mote Evolver

release date (vinyl / cd / digital): 21st of October

“I've intended to do an album for a long while. The tracks draw upon ideas going back to various points over the last 12 years or so - some of the hooks I wrote years ago other bits are brand new. In some ways I wanted it to reflect a personal arc and the way I tend to do things  - never rushed”

‘Frames of Reference’ is the some 12 years in the making debut album from UK based techno producer Ø [Phase].

Best known by his work on the Belgium based Token Records his style ranges from gritty minimal techno to Detroit influenced material. His debut ‘Module Overload’ was released on London’s Lost/Cosmic records in 2000 and was followed by a string of productions for London's Surface/Inceptive Records and Ben Sims Ingoma imprint.

The move to Token came in 2007, he shortly after began DJing professionally and has since performed at parties across the globe whilst becoming a regular guest at Berlin’s techno Mecca, Berghain performing alongside esteemed peers and supporters such as Marcel Dettmann, Len Faki and Ben Klock. His continued works have seen constant support throughout the techno world and have featured in CD mixes by Robert Hood, Dave Clarke, François Kevorkian and Fumiya Tanaka amongst others. Alongside his production work Ø [Phase] is also a mastering engineer and on/off artwork designer. Starting out at London’s prestigious Sony Music/Whitfield Street Studios, he has cut records for numerous underground dance acts as well as working on projects for mainstream artists.

Now after a string of acclaimed releases on Token and a selection of remixes for the likes of Robert Hood, Mark Broom and Peter Van Hoesen comes Ø [Phase]’s debut long-player ‘Frames of Reference’. Opening with the brooding and building swirl of ‘Binary Opposition (Process 3)’ Ø [Phase] sets out his template of evolving, richly textured atmospheres underpinned by shards of dark and light. ‘The Bwiti Initiate’ revolves around a bouncing techno rhythm that could most certainly traverse the house/techno divide whilst ‘Distracted’ and ‘Misaligned’ are the kind of unadulterated, pummeling, cavernous techno tracks that have made Lost such a party institution.
Then we have tracks like the soft beating ‘Just Another Dance’ providing a lighter edge, embellished with warmth and strings and the thick, densely woven tapestry of ‘Shadow Caster’ which goes from experimental to dancefloor and back again with consummate ease. The off-kilter lilt of ‘Perplexed’ drags us further into the dark before keys and a hint of a melody draw us back upwards for air whilst the fat driving bass of ‘Dirtro II’ and funkier edged menace of ‘On The Edge’ show a virtuoso producer at the top of his game. The closing introspection of ‘Self Deceit’ wallows in subtle nuances before a mid section synth and string intervention pulls us back from the brink before finally descending into the void.


Tracklist: 

2LP 
A1. Binary Opposition (process 3)
A2. The Bwiti Initiate
B1. Distracted
B2. Dirtro II
C1. Misaligned
C2. Just Another Dance (album version)
D1. Shadow Caster
D2. Self Deceit

CD & Digital:
1. Binary Opposition (process 3)
2. The Bwiti Initiate
3. Distracted
4. Dirtro II
5. On The Edge
6. Perplexed
7. Misaligned
8. Just Another Dance (album version)
9. Shadow Caster
10. Self Deceit

www.facebook.com/ashleyphase
www.residentadvisor.net/dj/phase 
www.tokenrecords.com
www.facebook.com/tokenrecords 

Frames Of Reference

Ø [Phase] - Distracted

James Ruskin - Into A Circle

Not much more than a year has passed since the Zenker Brothers presented their debut EP – ‘Lion in Mars’ – on Tresor Records.

The follow-up record segues perfectly between a triumphant year in the studio and in performance, and a 2014 which promises to take their growing reputation for blazing techno to new heights. ‘Stratus Phunk’ is an incendiary record, developing the ideas seeded in their first release to their fullest extent.

The title track runs along the entire A-side. Building the raw acoustic sounds of wind instruments into a rolling jam which soon becomes an unstoppable locomotive, shapeshifting in and out of smoky synth lines, tracky hi-hats and acetic basslines, « Stratusphunk » is a vintage tune forged in the Tresor basement furnace.

On the flip, « Thirty-Who » and « Vamp Like » explore the more splintered dimensions of the Münich based brothers’ work, familiar to whoever follows the releases on their own Ilian Tape label.

Techno

EKL