techno

Deepchord: Vantage Isle Sessions

While I wasn’t blown away by the vinyl release of this a year ago, the CD version has grown on me, especially since it makes great driving music. The other day on an afternoon trip to Albuquerque, I cranked up these mixes, and the combination of road noise and puttering chords was perfect.
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May 1, 2008 in Reviews: Techno

VA: Viewpoints Chapter One

This first compilation on Arne Weinberg’s label is a wonderful introduction to overlooked artists crafting techno in the Detroit style.
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Apr 23, 2008 in Reviews: Techno

Yard: "Detrit"

Yard takes his fascination with surface noise a step further on this new 12-inch. “Detrit” is a crunchy, crackling techno track with a slow-building melody.
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Apr 22, 2008 in Reviews: Techno

VA: Depth Perceptions Vol. 1

Despite the recent glut of dub techno records, it seems I still can’t get enough of the sound. This compilation is the first release on Detroit-area Pronounce Records. Most of the artists are new to me, but they have all perfected the art of crafting deep tracks with reverberating chords and slow, heavy bass.
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Apr 17, 2008 in Reviews: Techno

Robert Hood: Fabric 39

It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a DJ mix. Robert Hood should need no introduction. He collaborated with Mike Banks and Jeff Mills on the first Underground Resistance and Axis releases, then founded M-Plant in 1994 to focus on minimal techno. Fourteen years later, minimalism is finally mainstream in club-land.
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Mar 14, 2008 in Reviews: Techno

Claro Intelecto: Metanarrative

I’ve enjoyed this album often over the past few weeks.
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Mar 6, 2008 in Reviews: Techno

Bvdub

Bvdub is Brock Van Wey from San Francisco. In just the past year, he has had releases on Styrax Records, Quietus Records, Night Drive Music and its sub-label 2600 Records. While much of his music could be called dub techno, it has deeper roots, delving into emotional chords, retro synths, and late-night ambience. Brock was kind enough to join me for an interview over email.
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Jan 19, 2008 in Features: Interviews

Murmur: Undertone

At first blush, Murmur’s Undertone seems promising. It begins with simulated surface noise and dub techno chords. But after repeated listens, the tracks are revealed to be dry, computerized minimalism.
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Jan 15, 2008 in Reviews: Techno

Mike Huckaby: My Life With The Wave

Mike Huckaby reinforces the connection between intelligent Detroit techno and deep dub techno on a 12-inch so good it hurts. On “Wavetable No. 9” Waldorf Wave synthesizer notes are pushed to oozing decay under a cascade of Basic Channel metallic echo. The beat remains crisp while layer upon layer builds. It takes a couple of minutes until the bass joins, growling with menace.
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Jan 6, 2008 in Reviews: Techno

Fortune8

Fortune8’s nearly simultaneous release of six limited-edition 12-inches (in three colors each, including the test pressings) may mark the beginning of the end of the colored vinyl collecting fad. The first rule of playing the supply and demand game is don’t flood the market. That said, there are some good tracks here, alongside a few that sound rather familiar.
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Dec 13, 2007 in Reviews: Techno

Jason Fine: EP 01

These days in techno what’s old is new again, with scores of records echoing sounds fifteen years past. On the one hand, there’s a rebirth of dub techno. On the other, there’s a revival of the intelligent Detroit style. Think Juan Atkins at his most melodic combined with John Beltran and Terrace. (The main labels along this line are AW-Recordings, Down Low, Frantic Flowers and Millions of Moments/Styrax.)
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Dec 10, 2007 in Reviews: Techno

Newworldaquarium: The Dead Bears

This incredible album from the mysterious Dutch producer Jochem Peteri shows it’s still possible to craft a completely unique sound. Peteri bucks the trend of cookie-cutter dub techno. A couple of his tracks sound like old house records pitched down underwater.
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Dec 4, 2007 in Reviews: Techno

Terrence Dixon: Train of Thought

A flawed work, but one with several moments of genius.
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Sep 20, 2007 in Reviews: Techno

Deepchord presents Echospace: The Coldest Season

An alien world where the oceans contain waves of hissing static.
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Sep 12, 2007 in Reviews: Techno

Cane: Scint EP

The Funcken brothers’ outlet for chunky, funky acid tracks.
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Aug 20, 2007 in Reviews: Techno

June Singles

Aux 88 remixes Nukubus, Marcel Dettman remixes Mr. G, plus The Plan.
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Jun 7, 2007 in Reviews: Techno

Echospace: The Coldest Season Volume 1

A lot noisier than most Deepchord records.
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May 19, 2007 in Reviews: Techno

Quantec: Subsurface Structure EP

Dubby techno... enjoyable throughout.
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May 11, 2007 in Reviews: Techno

Claro Intelecto: Warehouse Sessions Vol. 1-4

Updated with the latest installment.
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May 7, 2007 in Reviews: Techno

E.R.P.: Alsoran

Now that IDM seems to be fading away, it’s the perfect time to start over and explore the origins of the sound.
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Apr 15, 2007 in Reviews: Techno

Patrick Pulsinger: Dogmatic Sequences: The Series 1994-2006

Ranges from hard acid and techno to future jazz.
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Apr 15, 2007 in Reviews: Techno

Deepchord: HR-01

The tastiest Berlin-style dub around, and it’s from Detroit.
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Jan 17, 2007 in Reviews: Techno

Various: Cabinet Classics 1994-1998 & Cabinet Unreleased Classics 1994-2005

Deep, clubby, and incredibly DJ-friendly.
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Dec 18, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Donnacha Costello: 6x6=36

While all of these tracks are well-produced, they don’t strike me as especially original.
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Nov 17, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Anders Ilar: Nightwidth

Compiles three EPs of minimal techno bliss.
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Oct 29, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Reynold: My Favorite Film Remixes

To promote Reynold’s upcoming downtempo album, Donato Dozzy and Stewart Walker crafted two techno mixes.
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Oct 15, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Anders Ilar: Downhill EP

Watery washes, low bass, and heavy beats make for a deep, atmospheric late-night treat.
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Sep 17, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Andy Stott: Merciless

Frustratingly close to being a masterpiece.
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Sep 15, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Arctic Hospital: Citystream

Minimal Berlin-style techno with slow sweeps over hard beats.
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Sep 2, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Andy Stott: The Nervous EP

A wonderfully primal record.
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Aug 26, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Brothomstates vs. Blamstrain: Brothomstrain vs. Blamstates

Putting the D back in IDM.
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Aug 20, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

A Guy Called Gerald: Proto Acid: The Berlin Sessions

UK acid legend Gerald Simpson delivers a long mix of new, exclusive techno.
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Aug 10, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Monolake: "Alaska"/"Melting"

This is essential, innovative dance music.
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Jul 26, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Shed: Well Done My Son

While there’s been a wave of retro records lately, Shed truly stands out.
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Jun 24, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Urban Tribe: Authorized Clinical Trials

Ingram is a Detroit techno legend. His second full-length spans bass-heavy electro to downtempo braindance.
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Jun 15, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Rhythm & Sound: See Mi Yah Remixes

Despite the big names, these mixes are hit or miss.
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Jun 13, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

John Tejada: "Eurotunnel"/"Calibration"

This is groovy minimal techno (which seems to be undergoing a revival of late).
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Jun 11, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Various: min2MAX

A generous minimal techno compilation featuring exclusive tracks from twelve different producers.
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Jun 6, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

The Collectors: Trainer EP

I haven’t been this excited about a 12-inch in ages!
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May 29, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica

Isomer Transition: Shadowlands EP

A deep techno 12-inch from a brand new UK label.
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May 26, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Monolake: Plumbicon Versions

This CD compiles five remixes of “Plumbicon” off the Polygon_Cities album.
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May 19, 2006 in Reviews: Techno

Modeselektor: Hello Mom! The Remixes

This superb 12-inch features an epic ten-minute techno mix on one side, and dub and grime on the flip.
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Mar 19, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica

Oasis (Omar-S/Shadow Ray): Album II

For the past couple of years, Omar-S has issued an amazing series of 12-inches on his own Detroit label, FXHE.
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Mar 12, 2006 in Reviews: House

Thomas Brinkmann: Lucky Hands

One of my favorite prolific artists.
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Nov 8, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica

Metope: Kobol

Lovers of solid techno, rejoice!
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Sep 13, 2005 in Reviews: Techno

Juan Atkins: 20 Years Metroplex: 1985-2005

An essential release.
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Aug 19, 2005 in Reviews: Techno

Monolake: Polygon_Cities

It works on and off the dancefloor.
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Jun 6, 2005 in Reviews: Techno

Monolake: Momentum

Dark, detailed soundscapes.
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Oct 21, 2003 in Reviews: Techno

Being Monolake

Robert Henke.
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Oct 14, 2003 in Features: Interviews

Monolake: "Linear"

Henke’s best material since his Chain Reaction days.
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Jul 25, 2003 in Reviews: Techno

Sustainer: Cuantico

Could share a shelf with Basic Channel 12"s.
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May 31, 2003 in Reviews: Techno

Various: Triple R--Friends

It’s rare to find a mix CD with much complexity.
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Jan 10, 2003 in Reviews: Techno

Lawrence: Lawrence

Lawrence: Lawrence...
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Oct 8, 2002 in Reviews: Techno

Octex: Idei Lahesna

Octex: Idei Lahesna...
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Sep 29, 2002 in Reviews: Techno

Temponauta: 155.521.981.589.103

Temponauta: 155.521.981.589.103...
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Apr 28, 2002 in Reviews: Techno

Random Logic: Numrebs

Random Logic: Numrebs...
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Mar 22, 2002 in Reviews: Techno

Various: Tehnika 1

Various: Tehnika 1...
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Dec 7, 2001 in Reviews: Techno

Monolake: Cinemascope

Monolake: Cinemascope...
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Oct 1, 2001 in Reviews: Techno

Richie Hawtin: Decks, EFX & 909

Richie Hawtin: Decks, EFX & 909...
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Nov 20, 1999 in Reviews: Techno

Richie Hawtin and Thomas Brinkmann: Concept 1 96:VR

Richie Hawtin and Thomas Brinkmann: Concept 1 96:VR...
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Jul 12, 1998 in Reviews: Techno

Richie Hawtin: Concept 1 96:CD

Richie Hawtin: Concept 1 96:CD...
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Jul 12, 1998 in Reviews: Techno

Plastikman: Consumed

Plastikman: Consumed...
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May 31, 1998 in Reviews: Techno

Plastikman: "Sickness"

Plastikman: “Sickness”...
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Jan 4, 1998 in Reviews: Electronica

The Kooky Scientist: Unpopular Science

The Kooky Scientist: Unpopular Science...
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Oct 26, 1997 in Reviews: Techno

Kenny Larkin: Azimuth

Kenny Larkin: Azimuth...
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Oct 19, 1997 in Reviews: Techno

Various: Mixmag Live: Richie Hawtin

Various: Mixmag Live: Richie Hawtin...
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May 19, 1996 in Reviews: Techno