Reports
Reports
Albert van Abbe - Broken Cymbals
The "Broken Cymbals" EP by Van Abbe creates a lush, atmospheric sound influenced by My Bloody Valentine and Dub Culture. The music showcases a deep understanding of minimalism, with each track using fundamental sounds to foster creativity. Van Abbe uses enveloping, whispered horns and minimalist loops to create a haunting experience. Groggy tones combine with staccato elements and galloping subbase, showcasing dance music expertise. Van Abbe emphasises the power of selective sound choices and minimalist techniques, illustrating that creativity can thrive within self-imposed restrictions.
Blndr - Radiolaria
Blndr's HYPNUS045 release features intricately squelchy sound design and experimental rhythms that create a complex auditory experience. Blndr opens up with 'Dictyocha,' which blends unique percussion sounds with a deep atmosphere, and 'Acantharia,' inspired by Boddika's sampy vibe. 'Retaria' stands out as a dance floor anthem with evolving patterns and a darker, more occult aesthetic. The closing track introduces a cybernetic offbeat sound, reminiscent of machinery. Overall, the EP seamlessly fits into the Hypnus discography while encouraging exploration and deeper listening beyond just the dance floor energy.
Klint - Dynamo EP
Klint's latest EP, Dynamo, on ARTS, showcases a unique blend of eccentricity and proficiency. The title track sets an off-kilter tone, while 'Subculture' explores sparse dub techno elements. 'Time Flies' captures a minimalistic groove with atmospheric sounds, evoking a truly esoteric experience. For a more straightforward techno vibe, 'Supernova' delivers pulsating energy with nods to 90s techno. Klint's sound is characterised by rich details and a blend of styles, firmly rooted in warehouse music but leaning towards the experimental, which makes the sound distinct and well-suited for a more bespoke club environment.
Anysia Kym & Loraine James - Clandestine
Anysia Kym and Loraine James' Clandestine EP blends R&B with ambient music, infusing UK shoegaze elements for a refreshing yet melancholic vibe. The tracks exhibit dynamic shifts in pace, showcasing storytelling as a core theme. The EP employs chopped-and-screwed sampling techniques, creating rhythmic sections from melodic loops that feature notable contrasting rhythms and fast-paced emotional moments. It reflects a raw percussive ambience associated with recent UK artists. It evokes early Internet nostalgia through its lo-fi textures. The soft, characterful vocals enhance the storytelling, giving the EP a voyeuristic quality that feels intimate and natural.
Erik Luebs - Glimpse of Reality
Erik's minimalistic techno revitalises a classic American subgenre with immersive, dance-floor-focused productions. His release, Glimpse of Reality, features tracks that blend early American techno elements with organic influences reminiscent of Japanese artists.
The track 'Beat Lifeless Heart' showcases machine-funk rhythms and eccentric percussion, while 'Pretending' explores deep nautical themes with dark, bioluminescent synths. 'Bliss Means Leaving' offers mechanical precision, focusing on lights in murky depths. 'An Embrace' diverges into EDM influences while maintaining an unsettling quality through euphoric riffs. Luebs' work presents a crisp, fluid take on the bleep-heavy genre.
Mr. G - Getting’ somewhere? EP
Mr. G returns to his label, Phoenix G, with the Gettin' Somewhere? EP showcases a techy yet classic sound. There is a mixed bag of sounds on the record, with the opener featuring subtle house beats and a quiet vocal element, while the second track turns things up and ventures into shift techno with a revivalist vibe, employing more synthesisers and shorter samples. The closing track is a call back to 2024's The Fifth Chakra (Ambient Space Tek). It is an ambient exploration reminiscent of his earlier work, combining distant vocals and minimalistic melodies.
Edward - Deep Sea Villain
Edward's transition to a more active, dance floor-focused style retains a surrealist vibe. His music features vivid house beats with oddball ambience, highlighted in his remix of Trybet's 'Mood Setter.' The EP showcases a more rough, ready, vintage sound with dusty drums and hypnotic melodies while bringing back a resonating ambience alongside garage grooves and glitches. Deep Sea Villain is a strong addition to Edward's and Oyster Cult's discography, suited for deeper nights.
Michael J. Blood - Raven / Hemoglobin / TRGR
Michael J. Blood is a Manchester-based producer and DJ known for his innovative and saturated sound within the underground dance music scene. He has gained recognition for his dynamic song structures and ability to infuse soul into his instrumentation. His latest record features tracks like 'Raven,' which combines heavy 808s with energetic synths, and 'Hemoglobin,' showcasing his distinctive dubby chords. The closing track, 'TRGR,' pushes the limits of sampled house with chaotic yet inviting energy. Blood's eccentric and DIY approach makes his music hard to categorise, blending authenticity with a modern edge.
Helena Hauff - Multiply Your Absurdities
Helena Hauff's release, Multiply Your Absurdities, represents a shift from pure albums to focused dancefloor releases. Known for her iconic presence as a DJ in the techno and electro scenes, Hauff maintains a strong sense of self despite the industry's push for producers. Multiply Your Absurdities reflects her storied experience in various performance spaces and includes tracks like 'Multiply My Absurdities,' which features a blend of tranquil melodies and gritty rhythms, and 'Humanoid Fruit,' highlighted by acidic sounds and industrial influences. Overall, the record combines underground techno's unique essence with the raw power of industrial music, poised to become a cult classic.
Ø - Fermionit / Kulmamomentti
Before his passing in 2017, Mika Vainio was working on a new album under the name Ø. His girlfriend, Rikke Lundgreen, compiled various tracks into a posthumous release, discovering two additional tracks, "Fermionit" and "Kulmamomentti, "which were released separately with contributions from Jimi Tenor and Timo Kaukolampi.
The intricate world of microchips and electricity parallels Vainio's work and the minimalistic sound of Sähkö Recordings, which he co-founded with Tommi Grönlund. Ø's track 'Fermionit' captures the essence of electricity and cognitive dissonance, utilizing micro rhythms and a sense of isolation. In contrast, the edits of '"Kulmamomentti'" by Tenor and Kaukolampi introduce a darker, more cinematic tone, showcasing Vainio's unique approach to sound, free from traditional musical structures, allowing listeners to find their own meanings in his compositions. He is celebrated as a pioneering figure in minimal music whose creativity and influence have left a lasting impact.