Browsing Tag

techno

Rafał Przewłocki & Dr Gin summoned a sonic djinn to the dancefloor with their dark techno anthem, Sila

Posted on 21 September 2024

Rafał Przewłocki and Dr Gin conjured a sonic storm with their dark techno anthem, Sila. Like the mythical djinn from which the track takes its name, the single possesses an otherworldly magnetism that commands every moment it occupies.

The deep pulsations and nuanced shifts in momentum drive listeners beyond the edge of euphoria, an experience fuelled by the high-octane energy manifested by the experimentally luminary producer. Yet, don’t mistake experimentalism for a lack of precision; Sila is a carefully orchestrated ride through a meticulously constructed soundscape.

The Middle Eastern influence permeates the production, as ethereal Eastern vocal lines and the melancholic hum of the duduk breeze through the relentless beats. These elements open a vast expanse within the track, creating a sense of depth that leaves plenty of room to sink into its electrifying power. While the rhythmic intensity of Sila will undoubtedly flood your senses through your home speakers, it’s on the dancefloor where the full weight of the track will possess and devour your senses.

There’s a seamless interplay between the feminine and the sinister in the single which submerges listeners into its darkly atmospheric world. And with every drop, every subtle shift in rhythm, Sila teeters on the edge of chaos, while retaining a scintillating sense of control.

The official music video for Sila premiered on August 31; join the 7.4k watchers who have already caught the hype by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Descend into the sonic shadows with Voidform’s seminal score, Wonder

Posted on 19 August 2024

Voidform’s single, Wonder, from the debut album Void Incarnate, is a haunting foray into an innovator’s mind. As the dark, reverberant, industrial techno-adjacent bass rolls through your speakers, they’re met with luminous synths that shimmer through striking juxtaposition, creating an avant-garde production that ensnares from the very first beat.

With the Eastern-esque synthetic rhythms weaving a thread of mysticism through the track, Voidform adds an unpredictably addictive twist to the mix which transcends unsettling sound with its cinematic scope, which lends enough eerie tension to rival a John Carpenter horror soundtrack. Prepare to be propelled into a hypnotic stupor when you hit play; the pulse of the beat becomes inescapable in the immersive soundscape of sonic shadow.

Voidform may be a fresh name on the scene, but this project is clearly one to watch. There’s a calculated precision in the chaos, a deliberate artistry in the dissonance that suggests this is just the beginning of what Voidform has to offer. Immerse yourself in the Void—if you dare.

Wonder is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bitvert – Deletist: A Techno-Punk Invocation of Resistance

Posted on 9 July 2024

Bitvert’s latest release, Deletist, is an off-kilter slice of pulse-pounding experimental electronica, crafted in the heart of East London’s artist quarter—where creativity thrives despite economic and political adversity.

The encapsulation of the struggle against a dysfunctional government and parasitic leaders embodies the spirit of liberation and defiance; the punk ethos charges the sequence of nocturnal electro, born through an amalgamation of spectral electronica, 4/4 techno beats and kinetic sub-bass frequencies.

The single’s release coincided with the new government’s election, yet it remains timely all the same, given the sense of nihilism and despair that remains pervasive in the UK’s collective psyche. Deletist serves as a bass-drenched techno resistance, a sonic uprising against the subjugation that has eroded hope and fuelled a belief in our epoch’s irreversible regression.

With punk’s spirit relegated to the shadows of the music industry, Bitvert ensures its essence endures through his frenetic rhythms that testify to the times, call for unity and vindicate through volition.

Deletist was released on the 4th of July via We Are Not Content; stream the single on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Novit Terminus Orchestrated A Darkwave Descent Into a Euphoric Descent With ‘Take Me Down’

Posted on 15 June 2024

Take Me Down by Novit Terminus plunges listeners into unchartered intersections of EBM, Post-Punk, Darkwave, and Techno and drenches its audience in an infectiously rhythmic rendition of sonic Jungian shadow work that is poised to become a sanctuary for darkwave electronica fans seeking liberation from the dark reverberations of their own minds.

Fans of VNV Nation, Ari Mason, Electro Spectre, and Black Nail Cabaret will find themselves irresistibly drawn to this release, which offers a cathartic outlet for emotions as blackened as the industrial-tinged, Eastern-rhythm-influenced progressions.

Each element of Take Me Down attests to Novit Terminus’ cultivated skills as a sonic architect. The euphoria-inducing crescendos, tension-fraught build-ups, and spectral whispers of philosophical poetry come together seamlessly. The result is a track that permeates the soul as deeply as the rhythmic pulses permeate the body.

Novit Terminus’ return to music after a successful tenure in historic preservation and higher education is marked by a profound exploration of trauma and recovery. This project is not just a return to form but a therapeutic journey through shadow work, making Take Me Down a significant and poignant piece in the artist’s discography.

Take Me Down was officially released on May 31; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Embers’ Breakbeats are as Hard-Hitting as Her Bite in ‘Teeth’

Posted on 2 June 2024

By anchoring the transcendent house elements with the forcefully resonant undertones of the bass that reverberate through the entrancing breakbeat production against techno beats and vocal pop hooks, Embers’ started a fire that will never go out with her latest single, Teeth.

Sensually sonorous in one breath and rhythmically liberating in the next, every progression is a revelation in stylistic motion in Teeth, which attests to the London-based singer-songwriter and producer’s triple-threat talent that is making waves in the UK electronica scene and tearing attention away from the likes of Sylvan Esso, Lapsley, and Maggie Rogers.

While the instrumentals deliver an expansive brand of alchemy, Embers brings the intimacy with her ever-ascending vocal lines, making Teeth fitting for late-night sessions of reflection, your after-party playlists, and whenever you need reminding of the transformative power of sound orchestrated by a visionary who knows exactly to stir the soul with melody.

Teeth was officially released on May 24; stream the single on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

FCF’s U AND I is a dynamically exhilarant dancefloor catalyst

Posted on 21 April 2024

“U AND I” by FCF is a revolutionary dancefloor catalyst that ignited the sphere of alt-electronica and added intense anticipation around the producer’s upcoming LP.

The track launches with a tender progressive house pop prelude, where deep reverberating basslines and soulfully intoxicating vocal lines set the stage for the impending infectious aural oblivion to come. As the mix escalates, it transitions into a hypersonic entrancing hit that promises not just to bring listeners to the brink of euphoria but to climax with them through an exhilarating fusion of psytrance electronic layers and Spanish guitars. But don’t think the peak is reached here; before long, FCF introduces adrenalizing rap bars that evoke raw tribal energy, seamlessly interwoven with reprising female vocal harmonies. This blend is not just innovative; it’s evolutionary; while some artists are content with constructing floor fillers, FCF went one step further by dropping a track that could start a riot on even the most subdued dancefloor.

FCF, hailing from Lisbon and inspired by artists like Rosália and Travis Scott, has a proven track record of breaking boundaries in electronic music. His eclectic influence—ranging from techno and house to hip-hop and reggaeton—allows him to craft tracks that challenge the conventional frameworks of music production.

“U AND I” exemplifies FCF’s unparalleled ability to fuse fire, fervour, soul, and rhythmic magnetism into a coherent whole that resonates across diverse audiences.

U AND I was officially released on March 2nd; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

JBRRMUSIC produced the visceral ‘Feeling of XTC’ in his latest EDM hit

Posted on 9 March 2024

JBRRMUSIC refused to follow in anyone’s footsteps with his latest hit EDM single, Feeling of XTC, which brings everything that it says on the titular tin.

The EDM track which unravels as equal parts progressive house pop and euphoric techno follows a series of critically acclaimed and relentlessly playlisted and airplayed hits from the rising UK EDM producer who always thinks forward and takes his fans into the future of electronica with his innovative approach to alchemising aural ecstasy.

Feeling of XTC broke the EDM mould with its short and exhilaratingly sweet 2-minute duration. The succinct whirlwind of massive beats, build-ups so intense you may forget to breathe, and gravity-defying crescendos created a kinetically electrifying platform for the crystalline-with-soul female pop vocals to allude to the immense power of falling in love.

If anything can come close to the feeling of surrendering to someone completely and the subsequent addiction to the way that person makes you feel, it’s this monolith of an earworm which carries endless cross-over appeal. The sporadic tumultuous touches to the production became an efficacious sonic visualisation of love’s capacity to shake you to your core, leave you head over heels, and out of touch with gravity.

Feeling of XTC was officially released on February 23; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Darth Athena took us into the depths of techno’s shadow with ‘Black Mojo’

Posted on 25 January 2024

Dark Athena’s tempestuous latest release, Black Mojo, plunges into the depths of techno’s shadow. With its monochromatic palette, this piece from the Atlanta-based producer is a bold foray into the heart of darkwave electronica, where precision and chaos dance in a delicate balance.

Darth Athena, the architect behind this auditory odyssey, weaves a tapestry of sound that reflects his eclectic musical upbringing. From the pulsating beats of EDM to the haunting echoes of darkwave and the rhythmic complexity of jazz and R&B, Black Mojo is the culmination of a lifetime spent in the company of diverse genres.

The track’s progression is a masterclass in tension and release. Each beat is meticulously crafted, ebbing and flowing with a rhythm that seems to sync with your heartbeat. For seven minutes, you are lost in a world where time bends to the will of the music. The laser-like strobes and sci-fi motifs add a layer of dynamism, yet it’s the relentless, hypnotic beats that anchor you in Darth Athena’s universe.

Black Mojo will do more than just fill dancefloors; it will command them. It’s a siren song for the night, calling out to those who find solace in the pulsating heart of techno. As the final beat fades, you’re left with an insatiable hunger for more – a testament to the enduring power of Darth Athena’s musical alchemy.

Black Mojo was officially released on January 19; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

IDN synthesised an electrifying electronica hybrid in his sophomore LP, Voyager

Posted on 21 January 2024

IDN’s LP “Voyager” is an electrifying escapade into a realm where electronica melds with a kaleidoscope of genres. Each of the 14 tracks on this LP is a crucial fragment of an intricate cosmic voyage, transcending the norms of conventional electronica with audacious flair.

IDN, an LA-based queer Iranian-American polymath, infuses his diverse inspirations – from video games to sci-fi and psychedelia – into a groundbreaking sound. This LP is a unified interstellar journey, which pulses with life, intertwining industrial, dub, and psytrance into a hybrid tapestry of sound.

The genius of “Voyager” lies in its seamless blend of hi-fi sophistication and lo-fi rawness. This juxtaposition creates a soundscape that feels both futuristic and deeply rooted. With glitchy breakbeats and dub-infused electronic twists leading the listener through a labyrinth of auditory discovery, you will want to grab your passport to the 5th dimension before delving in.

The Voyager LP landed on January 12; embark on it via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bitvert oscillated doom through his harbingering experimental deep bass track, Distress Signal

Posted on 4 December 2023

Bitvert’s experimental deep bass single ‘Distress Signal’ is an scintillating foray into the realm of underground electronica, seamlessly merging dark textures and tonalities with an omnipresent sense of impending doom. More than just a composition; it’s an experience, an auditory journey through the depths of electronic music’s more shadowy corridors.

Distress Signal starts the transmission with a harbingering sense of doom that is immediately palpable, it pulsates through the oscillating basslines that forge the spine of this musical beast. To evoke a primal response, enthralling and unsettling in equal measure, Bitvert bolstered the resonance in the bass which exhibits his reverence for the DIY ethos of punk.

The sharp cuts of the snares in Distress Signal add a layer of urgency to the track; they are meticulously crafted to cut through the deep bass, serving as a stark contrast that enhances the overall texture of the piece. This percussive element lends the track a glitchy trip-hop nuance, further diversifying the auditory palette.

When you hit play on the filmic, almost Lynchian ingenuity, you are more than a passive recipient of sound, you’re transported to a dark, brooding and intensely atmospheric realm. It’s an auditory odyssey that pushes the boundaries of electronic music and leaves a lasting impression.

Distress Signal will be transmitted on December 4th; stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast