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   | | Over the space of just a few releases, Etapp Kyle has established himself as one of techno's most promising new artists. Of course, it helped him significantly that those initial Eps came out on labels like Klockworks, Prologue, Unterton and now Ostgut, the mother label associated with Berlin club Berghain, where he has a residency. As Alpha shows, Kyle's approach to techno is of the non-purist variety. On the title track, the sparse rhythmic pulses of Klockworks collide with Detroit otherworldliness for an expansive track. "Quantum" is more direct and sees the Ukrainian artist use his loose sounding drums and percussion to undercut a darker approach, while clouds of filtered sound and eerie textures crash in over the doubled up drums of "Source". "Ritual" sees him complete the release with a hint of bass-heavy menace, not entirely dissimilar to Prologue's sound. | |
 | | When it comes to celebrating their tenth year in business, no one could accuse Dekmantel of doing it in half measures. For this, the fifth instalment of their 10 Years series, they have recruited well-known faces alongside some surprise appearances. German dub producer Burnt Friedman delivers "Monsun", a high-paced, heavily filtered workout that cruises along at break neck speed. By contrast, "Edge Of", from Detroit producer Ectomorph, is a model of restraint, following a dubby groove that ebbs and flows to the sound of spaced out textures and a lurching bass. Dekmantel regulars Juju & Jordash drop the uptempo, jazzed out house of "Neon Swing", while helping to blow out the birthday candles is Fatima Yamaha, with the sultry keys and synths of "Platforms (Empty Version)". | |
 | | This is Fautzi's fourth release for Figure. Expertly executed, it oozes a combination of menacing intent and dance floor efficacy. The title track sounds like a fusion of Mike Parker and Donato Dozzy at their darkest, with a tunnelling groove supported by acid-heavy bass pulses and hypnotic, reverberating effects. On "Celestial Sphere", Fautzi strips back this sound to focus on a rolling, hypnotic rhythm, thundering drums and cheese wire-sharp hats - even though a vocal is hidden deep in the mix - while on "Ancient Way" he descends into full on, tribal techno, populated by metallic drums and gargantuan kicks. Closing track "Stagger" marks a return to the tunnelling, hypnotic sound of the title track, albeit with a heavier, more distorted undercurrent. | |
 | | The second volume of the Endeavours compilation starts with the artist it is dedicated to - Trevino. "Plugged" shows why the UK producer, who sadly passed away earlier this year, was held in such high esteem - its rich, dubby chords and swaggering groove sounding effortless. By contrast, Ambivalent delivers a rough, rugged take on jacking techno with "Supertouch" under his LA-4A guise, while Lando inhabits similar territory on the grimy "Ritual Track". There are emotions of a different nature audible on TML's "Crying (Piano Mix)", where euphoric keys and haunting vocals unfold over a rolling groove. Oliver Deutschmann provides the toughest, most frenetic track in the shape of the loopy techno "Sequel", while Scuba himself works as SCB to deliver the rough, sample-heavy techno of "Rolling SN". | |
 | | Supported already by Klock, Dettmann and Sims, the latest release from Spanish producer Aiken delivers a stunning interpretation of techno purism for Non Series. It starts with the dense, spacey stabs of "Hybrid", which sounds like a more refined take on early Steve Bicknell material. The title track is a tougher, faster, big room affair that integrates dark Mills-ian riffs into its booming groove. "Somatic" sees Aiken go deeper again, with a niggling percussive arrangement playing out over a hypnotic loop, while on "Dominance", he manages to effortlessly straddle the house/techno divide, aided by gritty percussion and an insistent, pulsing rhythm. | |
 | | Supposedly this is the first in a series of collaborations between US producer Matrixxman and Sam Coates aka Setaoc Mass, a Figure regular. Certainly, this debut release will leave its audience craving more. "Vortex" is a rolling, hypnotic groove that resounds to an ominous, oppressive bass that sounds like it was lifted from No U-Turn's back catalogue, while "Second" is a leaner, more linear version of this sound. On "Reckoning", the pair takes their cues from minimalism with a visceral steely rhythm and one-note synth menace prevailing, before a ghostly synth passage takes hold. Finally, "Pitch Black" is a cold, bleepy groove that resounds to angular percussive bursts. | |
 | | Search has enjoyed a long relationship with Len Faki's label, and Time Signature shows why this is the case. Put simply, the Dutch artist is a master at crafting tough but complex dance floor techno. "Da Capo" is a chord-heavy, rolling groove, while on "Dal Segno", he provides a tougher variant on this approach, with grimy riffs and heavy drums prevailing. "Eight Four" is a more stripped back affair that resounds to resounds to rolling snares and tight, doubled-up claps. The undoubted highlight though is the title track; with its eerie synth line weaving its way in and out of a murky, jacking rhythm, it sounds like an update of the Literon classic, Machines. | |
 | | Cleric aka Jorden Hodgetts is one of the new techno artists to emerge from the UK in recent years, and he proves his worth on this, his sixth release for Len Faki's label. "Resurrect" sees him skillfully strike a balance between musical elements and dance floor strictures as epic, Detroit techno chords are fused with rasping hi hats and a wiry rhythm. By contrast, "Turbine" sees Hodgetts take inspiration from the Luke Slater playbook, underscoring a lone, one-note riff that builds and ebbs over storming kicks and "Shackled Minds" is a militaristic, percussive workout. While Hodgetts is proving himself as a techno producer, he also delivers the smoky, down tempo "Xejn (8am mix)" and "Resurrect (3pm mix)", hinting at a serious creative mind from beyond the dance floor. | |
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