Drumcode

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.

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Wehbba - Steamroller - Drumcode - DC202

Wehbba - Third Wave - Drumcode - DC202

Drumcode mainstay Bart Skils links up with emerging DJ/producer Weska for a maiden collaboration.

The duo first met in 2013 when Bart played Toronto’s iconic Coda, where Weska was a regular. In friendship and in music, they clicked effortlessly. Since then, the Dutchman has become one of DC’s most vital contributors, releasing a consistent stream of standout productions on the label, highlighted by the now-classic ‘Your Mind’ with Adam Beyer. Meanwhile the rhythmic power of Weska’s productions caught the ear of Beyer who gave the young Canadian his debut on the imprint with ‘Other Places’ when ‘A-Sides Vol.7’ dropped last summer.

When Weska migrated to Berlin a plan was hatched to collaborate, with the pair swapping ideas back and forth, before linking up in Amsterdam to finish the work. The propulsive ‘Polarize’ EP is the result, a pair of cuts that have highlighted Beyer’s gigs at Department Festival in Stockholm, Junction 2 and his behemoth B2B with Cirez D at EDC Vegas. The title cut packs a punch with rugged basslines and pin-sharp percussion, while stabs of melody dip in and out with euphoric effect. ‘Lost On You’ is a heady trip into the abyss with a sinister vocal line and powerful climax.

Bart Skils & Weska — Polarize — Drumcode — DC208

‘Camargue’ gets a fresh treatment on Drumcode, as a handful of techno’s finest give new life to an R&S classic. 

Coming from the studio of CJ Bolland and Portuguese journeyman The Advent, the track was born out of a golden age of Belgium dance music and first released in 1992. It stands as one of the most treasured pieces of vinyl in Adam Beyer’s collection and this six-part compilation of remixes and remakes marks a highpoint in Drumcode’s history. 

The package consists of a punchy pin-sharp 2019 version of the original, as CJ Bolland and The Advent polish the edges of their time-honoured rave favourite. Maceo Plex makes his return to DC after 2014’s ‘Conjure Dreams’ and his is a bustling industrial take, with distorted vox that gives way to sheaths of stirring melody, before the spine-tingling chords enter the fore and the cut drops into broken beats. Vintage Maceo. Enrico Sangiuliano delivers a trademark cosmic rework underlined by tribal bass stabs and twisted synth lines to accompany the famous riff. It’s an outstanding remake that’s already a big summer favourite for the Drumcode crew. Adam Beyer and Layton Giordani team up with their own groove-injected, future-focused adaption, all the while never losing sight of the misty-eyed spirit of the original. In contrast to the peak-time prowess of the other respective versions, rising Dutch talent Keith Carnal moulds a liquid smooth interpretation heavy on hypnosis and sparse drums. The Advent rounds out the package with his own fresh version, a whip-smart cut that chops and changes between pounding drums, dreamy synth interludes and warbled effects. 

“Camargue is one of my favourite tracks of all-time and has been part of my life for 25 years. To put it out on Drumcode with fresh remixes is a dream come true.” – Adam Beyer

CJ Bolland & The Advent — Camargue 2019 (Enrico Sangiuliano Remix) — Drumcode — DC210

A testament to the growth of Adam Beyer’s scene-leading label, Drumcode annual A-Sides Vol.8 is the brand’s biggest yet.

The 25-track strong compilation features standout cuts Beyer has received over the last 12 months, but been unable to find room for in Drumcode’s regular release schedule, such is the volume and high standard of music that’s submitted.

The highlight-rich compilation includes Jamie Jones & Darius Syrossian’s buzzy Drumcode debut ‘Eyes of the Night’, Nicole Moudaber’s first DC release in 5 years with the mesmerizing ‘This Is Us’, Will Clarke’s bass-drenched re-work of Adam Beyer & Bart Skils ‘Your Mind’ and Joey Beltram’s first Drumcode release in 11 years with the retro-tinged ‘Can You Feel It’. 

The beloved Alan Fitzpatrick returns to the fold with the searing ‘Heiße Rakete’, alongside label mainstays Layton Giordani, who drops the stirring chord-driven ‘Chrome’ and Wehbba with ‘Mantra’, combining techno classicism with future-focused groove.

There’s a troupe of debutants donning the Drumcode jersey for the first time, including BEC, Shelley Johannson, Anthony Castaldo, Avision, Zimmz, Woo York, SAMA (in a terrific collaboration with Secret Cinema) and Ilija Djokovic, who delivers a shimmering highlight with ‘Aura’, a particular favourite of Beyer’s over the last year. Raxon also debuts on the label after a couple of quality additions to the Truesoul back catalogue.

Exciting young guns Weska and Juliet Fox bring heat to the compilation, while Veerus and Timmo follow up strong DC releases with a repeat dose. Elsewhere faithful contributors Ramon Tapia, Jay Lumen, Luca Agnelli, Marco Bailey and Mark Reeve craft powerful dancefloor weapons.

Nicole Moudaber — This Is Us — A-Sides Vol. 8 — Drumcode — DC211

Ilija Djokovic — Aura — A-Sides Vol. 8 — Drumcode — DC211

Rebūke joins the Drumcode family with a blistering three-track EP.

We got our first taste of the Irishman’s exhilarating talents when he debuted on Truesoul back in April with ’50 First Raves’. His unique alchemy of house, techno and rave has seen him become one of the breakout stars of 2019 and ensured he’s stayed firmly on the radar of Adam Beyer.

Inspired by his experiences at Drumcode’s now-legendary party at Space Miami during WMC, Rebūke’s DC debut encompasses all the dynamic energy of his previous contributions, with peak-time pounding effect. ‘Rattle’ leads the trio, a cut voraciously track I.D’d by Rebūke’s fanbase and highly anticipated across the industry after a high-impact play during Radio 1’s Weekender in Ibiza. The track pops with the producer’s trademark rubbery rhythms, pin-sharp drums, intermittent rave horns and a wicked acid line, culminating in a high-octane trip that’s one of the most thrilling we’ve heard on DC this year. ‘Operator’ spits fierce drum sequences before a tweaked-out bass melody grows with undulating intensity giving the track it’s shining character. ‘Metal’ builds with intergalactic stabs and claps before a menacing low-end melody enters the fore and his signature percussion gives the track an otherworldly tribal crunch.

Rebūke — Rattle — Drumcode — DC212

ANNA drops a triple dose of heat to mark her first EP on Drumcode.

ANNA first debuted on Drumcode with the irresistible groover ‘Portable Paradise’, which highlighted last year’s A-Sides Vol.7 and set up a busy year playing DC events in 2019. There was the memorable morning set at Space during WMC, two fiery gigs at Drumcode Festival and typically strong performances at the DC takeover at Resistance in Ibiza and Sonar. Fresh from her gargantuan collaboration with Kittin ‘Forever Ravers’, she steps up for a maiden EP on Adam Beyer’s flagship label.

‘Galactic Highways’ is propelled by an arresting peak-time riff and bombastic drums and was a storming addition to Beyer’s set at Drumcode Halloween recently. ‘Dimensions’ is the powerful brain scrambler, as a blistering wall of acid rubs shoulders with undulating bass notes for a dramatic finish. ‘Phase Two’ is a stirring, pad-laden beauty, driven by lustrous melody lines that cascade over the Brazilian’s punchy percussion.

ANNA — Galactic Highways — Drumcode — DC215

Drumcode starts 2020 with a sterling EP from genre hero Thomas Schumacher, his first on the label after a long association with Adam Beyer.

No ifs or buts, if you’re a techno fan, Thomas Schumacher holds a place in your heart. His 1997 classic ‘When I Rock’ still gets rinsed, he has a vast body of stellar work on his influential former label Spielzeug Schallplatten, including a release from Adam Beyer, and he continues to deliver pin-sharp productions via his Electric Ballroom imprint, including a scorching remix of ‘The House of House’, the 1994 classic from Cherry Moon Trax. The rework was first played by Beyer at Time Warp and has been a 2019 highlight.

He first contributed to Drumcode in 2018 with ‘The Unseen’, a stirring contribution to ‘A-Sides Vol.7’, setting up a maiden EP with ‘Crimson’. Beginning with the brilliant ‘Feist’, it’s a no-nonsense brain melter, as 303 arpeggios bloom and recede, creating a thrilling rhythmic intensity throughout. The title track ‘Crimson’ is crafted around two minutes of tension-building synths, before a beat finally appears and a rasping deep bassline commands the dancefloor. ‘Anker’ brings the rave with eagle-eye focus, unleashing a wall of fierce acid to round out the pack.
“Adam and I have both been producing and playing techno since the early ‘90s. I have deep respect for him as a person and artist. It’s an honour to have the opportunity to collaborate in this way.” – Thomas Schumacher

Crimson

Thomas Schumacher — Feist — Drumcode — DC217

Thomas Schumacher — Crimson — Drumcode — DC217

A firm Drumcode favourite, Mark Reeve is back with his latest techno opus.

Weaving his vitalising, biting techno through the seminal imprint since 2012, Reeve has since become a permanent fixture within Adam Beyer’s camp. He saw demand for his knockout ‘Run Back’ EP being matched and surpassed by his ‘Far Away’ EP, which bagged the number one spot on Beatport’s techno chart. Staunch DC fans will also be familiar with Reeve’s output on the label’s A-Sides compilation series, and clubbers hot on the tails of Drumcode events will have caught him centre stage across a string of showcases, including the inaugural Drumcode Festival.

Reeve’s music invariably endorses an arresting sonic aesthetic, with intense melodies often driving in those eye-closing moments. The title track ‘Distance’ is an atmospheric opening gambit set to sonically massage the senses with uplifting pads and a radiant melody. ‘Serum’, a track recently road-tested by Beyer at a special event in collaboration with Cercle, soars and captivates as it progresses with a low-end rumble and intricate keys. ‘Fix Me’ is a vigorous techno workout that’s intent on energising a clubroom rammed with sweat-soaked dancers. Closing off the EP, ‘Filmwave’ rides a killer groove into a pit of punchy, powerful kicks.

Distance EP

Mark Reeve — Filmwave — Drumcode — DC219

Landing 10 years after his first concept album, Wehbba’s drops his debut full-length on Drumcode, featuring collaborations with David Caretta, Thomas Gandey and Brazilian vocalist L-cio.

Following a series of globally adored EPs and inclusions within the imprint’s esteemed A-Sides compilation series, the chart-dominating São Paulo native now reflects upon his life as ‘the artist’, offering an immersive montage of stories that echo a tenacious dedication to his craft. Enlisting the talents of multi-instrumentalist Thomas Gandey, Electroclash pioneer David Carretta and fellow Brazilian L-cio, with his unparalleled flute mastery, Wehbba’s synergetic cuts span the breadth of electronic music’s sonic landscape, as he challenges the notion of genres with seasoned voices.

Birthed from the purest inspiration, the album’s 13 cuts represent a myriad of musical references close to Wehbba’s heart, running parallel with the organic sensibilities of his field recordings. An ode to eternal growth, the LP highlights a cycle of perception and projection, as Wehbba studies the morphing of genres through his own musical filter. Discussing the upcoming album, Wehbba commented:

"The musical references on these works trace back to the 90s, when I started listening to electronic music and had no judgement of what was cool - when I was totally free. So they represent, without any filter, what touched me, ranging from braindance to goa trance, from ambient to hard house, and from drum n’ bass through every single mutation of techno and house music."

As a key ambassador for Brazil’s dance music community on a global scale, Wehbba’s long-standing career has seen him affiliate with many of the industry greats on both remix and collaborative projects; testament to his flourishing reputation. Following on from the geometric-led titles of his first two albums, Straight Lines and Sharp Corners alludes to the difficult decisions and blunt shifts he has faced in his career, and their capacity to shape his identity over time. Studying the great Antoni Gaudi, Wehbba’s third LP title takes reference from his perceptive quote: "There are no straight lines or sharp corners in nature, therefore buildings must have no straight lines or sharp corners. Anything created by human beings is already in the great book of nature."

Straight Lines and Sharp Corners

Wehbba — Basic Pleasure — Drumcode — DC220

Wehbba — Hyper Real Decadence Feat Thomas Gandey — Drumcode — DC220

Pre-order: https://drumcode.ffm.to/dc223

V/A – Drumcode A-Sides Vol. 9
Cat no. DC223
Label: Drumcode
Release date: 27 April, 2020

In a brief interview around his latest Drumcode release, Oscar L explains how "When I started producing 'Dark Fate' I wanted to try something techno and groovy. I got inspired by the original soundtrack movie from ‘Terminator' and actually this is where the title of the track is coming from. I think 'Dark Fate' is a strong weapon for DJs to get the crowd into the techno mood without hitting too hard".

If you want a snapshot of where techno stands in any given year, and a preview of where it’s headed, look no further than Drumcode’s A-Sides compilation. Since 2012 it has marked the label debuts of countless vital Drumcode artists and affiliates, from Layton Giordani, Wehbba and Boxia, to Amelie Lens and ANNA, no less. Every year, new names are unearthed, tried and true techno contributors serve up their best, and icons of the industry land their debut on Adam Beyer’s storied label.

The 2020 edition hits with 13 tracks, eight coming from label debutants. There’s Eats Everything searing rave bomb ‘Organico’ and Dubfire’s ice-cool electro offering ‘Deadbug’, both artists landing their maiden contributions to DC after long affiliations with Beyer. With three EPs in less than two years on Truesoul, Oscar L steps up to DC, showing the breadth of his sound palette with a soaring, synth-laden gem ‘Dark Fate’. Belgians Joyhauser featured at last year’s Drumcode Festival paving the way for ‘Fierceness’, a beautiful melody-drenched cut befitting their DC cap. Anfisa Letyago is another first timer and shows why she’s one of the scene’s most highly touted new artists with the brooding beast ‘Are You In’. A growing label favourite, Juliet Fox follows up ‘Was Beautiful’, her superb track on last year’s A-Sides, with ‘Our Fantasy’, reinforcing her skill for crafting anthemic techno compositions. Victor Ruiz & Thomas Schumacher link and the result is ‘Intuit’, a sleek futuristic roller that hits you square between the eyes. Other highlights come from longtime Drumcode cohorts Reset Robot and Harvey McKay, who both dish up premium works, reinforcing their classy productions nous.

1. Joyhauser - Fierceness
2. Dubfire - Deadbug
3. Christian Smith - Just Close Your Eyes
4. Thomas Schumacher & Victor Ruiz - Intuit
5. Eats Everything - Organico
6. Balthazar & JackRock - Red Village Disco Hustle
7. Reset Robot - Grains
8. Thomas Hoffknecht - Code 1
9. Oscar L - Dark Fate
10. Anfisa Letyago - Are U In
11. Harvey McKay - Find Yourself
12. Loco & Jam - Addicted
13. Juliet Fox - Our Fantasy

Premiere: Oscar L - Dark Fate

A blistering buddy to the first instalment of Pig&Dan’s ‘Tunnel Vision’ EP will land in April. 

Not one to rest on their laurels, Pig&Dan have come out firing in 2020. One of the techno genre’s most prolific artists, their 17 year has seen a wealth and consistency of output unmatched by most in the industry. This is exemplified by the ‘Tunnel Vision’ series launched on Drumcode this year.

Set for release just one week after its predecessor, part 2 continues in powerful, peak-time mode. ‘Sirenism’ is a tour de force, driven by a pulsating lead that pops with acidic undertones. ‘Rinse Out The Sound’ is an intoxicating blend of warbled effects, warm synth layers and crisp drum work. ‘Perception’ is marked by an exuberant top line riff and steely percussive layers and makes for a colourful addition to any set. ‘Wasted’ is muscular techno at its finest, finished with a glistening layer of melody. No surprise the collection went down a treat at Warehouse Project, Drumcode Halloween and Dockyard Festival, among others. The duo are in irresistible form.

Tunnel Vision II

Pig&Dan — Substance — Drumcode — DC222

If you want a snapshot of where techno stands in any given year, and a preview of where it’s headed, look no further than Drumcode’s A-Sides compilation. Since 2012 it has marked the label debuts of countless vital Drumcode artists and affiliates, from Layton Giordani, Wehbba and Boxia, to Amelie Lens and ANNA, no less. Every year, new names are unearthed, tried and true techno contributors serve up their best, and icons of the industry land their debut on Adam Beyer’s storied label.

The 2020 edition hits with 13 tracks, eight coming from label debutants. There’s Eats Everything searing rave bomb ‘Organico’ and Dubfire’s ice-cool electro offering ‘Deadbug’, both artists landing their maiden contributions to DC after long affiliations with Beyer. With three EPs in less than two years on Truesoul, Oscar L steps up to DC, showing the breadth of his sound palette with a soaring, synth-laden gem ‘Dark Fate’. Belgians Joyhauser featured at last year’s Drumcode Festival paving the way for ‘Fierceness’, a beautiful melody-drenched cut befitting their DC cap. Anfisa Letyago is another first timer and shows why she’s one of the scene’s most highly touted new artists with the brooding beast ‘Are You In’. A growing label favourite, Juliet Fox follows up ‘Was Beautiful’, her superb track on last year’s A-Sides, with ‘Our Fantasy’, reinforcing her skill for crafting anthemic techno compositions. Thomas Schumacher & Victor Ruiz link and the result is ‘Intuit’, a sleek futuristic roller that hits you square between the eyes. Other highlights come from longtime Drumcode cohorts Reset Robot and Harvey McKay, who both dish up premium works, reinforcing their classy productions nous.

Thomas Schumacher & Victor Ruiz — Intuit — Drumcode — DC223

Christian Smith — Just Close Your Eyes — Drumcode — DC223

‘Hypnosis’ was one of Drumcode’s most vital under-the-radar releases of 2019. Its creator, Veerus, returns to the mothership for another top-shelf offering.

The Italian’s career is a brilliant slow burner, releasing EPs sparingly over the course of his 14-year career. There’s a narrative quality too each track too, the artist reveling in a drama-laden call-and-response dynamic. All three cuts from his latest ‘System’ EP are made for big moments. The title track was created with Amsterdam’s holy rave cauldron the Gashouder in mind, and was completed by Veerus just a few days before ADE last year. Balancing on a knife’s edge between tension and euphoria, the track’s twisted synth lines sent an energy surge through the iconic venue. ‘Year’ is a deadly one-two combo of synapse-searing synths and sharp drums as jagged waves of sound throb with panoramic effect. It was a captivating highlight of Beyer’s set at Amnesia in Milan in February, the final session before the lockdown. ‘Pyramid’ was debuted at Beyer’s Cercle performance last September, sound tracking a blissful post-sunset moment at the Théâtre antique de Lugdunum in Lyon.

Veerus — System — Drumcode — DC224

Hot off the back of a contribution to A-Sides Vol.9, Victor Ruiz returns for his second EP on Drumcode.

The Brazilian artist has been an industrious contributor to DC over the past 12 months, beginning with his excellent debut EP ‘Nimbus’ last May. Since then, he’s played Drumcode Festival, was part of the iconic Warehouse Project party in November and also featured in the first Drumcode Indoors session in March. His production prowess will be fresh in the minds of DC faithful after ‘Intuit’, his collaboration with Thomas Schumacher, was a standout of the recent A-Sides Vol.9 compilation.

The ‘Freedom’ EP is Ruiz’s next offering and emblematic of the creative breakthrough he experienced while crafting the four-track work. The title track is led by hypnotic rhythms and deep bass stabs before a vox enters the fore and builds to a delicious climax. ‘Illusions’ is a pulsating bassline-led groover that builds alongside mystical vocal effects. ‘Senses’ exudes an understated touch of Detroit soul and is a handy DJ tool for varying occasions. ‘Existence’ is a searing late-night techno affair, as layers of melody and swelling pads conjure a thrilling laser-kissed atmosphere.

Victor Ruiz — Senses — Drumcode — DC225

One of Drumcode’s finest, Bart Skils returns for his first solo EP since 2018.

Bart Skils remains one of the label’s most consistent achievers going back to his debut in 2012. Eight original EPs, a stellar remix of Moby ‘Go’ and his now-classic collaboration with Adam Beyer ‘Your Mind’ have entrenched him as a DC treasure. All the while the Dutchman plays a nurturing role with the label’s nu-skool brigade, regularly playing B2B with Layton Giordani and teaming up with Weska for last summer’s ‘Polarize’ two-tracker.

His ninth Drumcode EP ‘Settle In The Sun’ delivers the first productions from his new studio after six months of preparation. The title track was inspired by an extended stay in LA over New Years, channelling the energy of Venice Beach’s vibrant skate culture to create an uplifting, big riff weapon. ‘Tropical Heat’ took influence from Bart’s experiences touring South America, as an evocative vocal sample and rave-kissed melody line run alongside a wicked rolling groove. ‘Shiva Says’ is a peak-time, brain-mangler in the best of ways, driven by a monster synth line that grows and contorts as the track progresses.

Drumcode

Stefanello