Rødhåd, Antigon - Artefacts
TSSRCT is the newest musical outlet masterminded by Hadone & UFO95. The first release on the label was a fantastic introduction not only to the label but to the new Civic Instruction alias, a collaboration between the two head honchos. The new limited EP series begins with The Future Remade (2025), a medley of hypnotic, powerful techno tracks designed for dissociative dances and extrasensory excitement. TSSRCT's ethos is described as "Meticulous, exclusive, and built for those who seek what cannot be replicated." Hadone & UFO95 aim to achieve this through ultra-limited vinyl and an engraved metal plate, as seen on the record's digital release. February 17th, so the second issue of TSSRCT, and this time around, the label shows how impressive a pull it is for genre-leading talents. The second edition, entitled Artefacts, sees Big Ginger techno Viking Rødhåd, along with the now-retired Parisian Genre-Chameleon Antigone, whose multi-genre influence continually stokes the fires of creativity within techno's hallowedest hall.
While both artists are highly respected in their own right, it feels like a touch of genius to pit them against each other. Since their styles are almost contradictory, Rødhåd has pursued a more hypnotic, organic-sounding path in recent years. The new sound of this legendary DJ and producer goes far beyond an emphasis on percussive textures, scraping stones, and organic material. Rødhåd bridges the heavily repetitive loops of techno with a much more grounded production style, like the antithesis of Bonobo. This evolution of what had sound has a component parcel with his recent love for collaboration, see him team up with artists like Kameliina, Inox Traxx and Uväll, to name a few, so the Artefact EP (2026) seems to be breaking traditions for our German friend, most likely because of the label's insistence on one-off exciting projects. The track titled 'STRUKTURES' opens with booming kick drums, accompanied only by hats. That modulates between cause shakers, fleshy slaps, and scraping bone. The maestro keeps things Tense with a combination of low-frequency glides and an extremely aquatic top, since the sound is much more likely to be a mix of sonar from the alien detectors in the hit franchise.
Alternatively, Antigone's career takes a totally different trajectory, as the multi-genre general found himself experimenting, moving seamlessly through electronic sounds, imbuing each with his own imprint. His track 'OSTINATO IV' comes straight from the archives. Antigone is restrained with percussion, allowing soft install grooves to form between his choice of high hats and shakers, which play off the comparatively soft kick drums. As I mentioned, Antigone's genre-bending style utilises traditional tropes in my Japanese techno, which itself draws heavily on electronica and ambient music. There's a subtle mix of Wata Igarashi, Barker, and DJ Nobu, as swelling bells and cosmic bleeps lay a beautiful foundation for dancing.
The second limited release on TSSRCT is bold and exciting without being overly in-your-face. It's designed to be packed full of energy without raising the bar open over the track before. If anything, it feels like the track your favourite DJ loves to play, but you've never quite got your finger on what it's called or who it's by, which is a gorgeous analogy for what the creative behind the label is looking for.
Label: TSSRCT (2026)
Rødhåd, Antigon - Artefacts
