Reports
Reports
DMX Krew - Space Is Inside EP
The Spaces Is Inside EP (2025) by DMX Krew offers a modern take on '90s electro, featuring six tracks that showcase classic drum machines and a no-nonsense attitude. The EP stands out for its straightforward approach, relying on subtractive synthesis and rich, lush sounds, while maintaining a captivating melody. DMX Krew flirts with future funk elements and early electro inspired by Afrika Bambaataa. Soft chords, pulsating bass, and aggressive digi-distortion that evoke a retro-futuristic vibe. Overall, the EP combines nostalgia with fresh ideas, making it easy to approach.
Horses - Every Dumb Thing I Ever Did
Horses is a new project by Italian-born, UK-based producer Alessio Natalizia, also known as Not Waving. This work shifts the focus from ambient sounds to live-recorded loops, incorporating a non-genre-specific style. The album Every Dumb Thing I Ever Did (2025) draws on a broad range of influences, including folk, Balearic, medieval music, and minimalist composers like Steve Reich. It features a unique approach where instruments flow into one another, creating a cohesive soundscape. While it diverges from the ambient textures of Natalizia's previous Not Waving work, it captures the essence and feeling of folk music, enhanced by electronic elements that evoke a sense of mysticism. The album conveys emotional depth through combining folk and electronica in a captivating way.
Maeksll - When Sun Glows Through Rain
Maeksll's self-released project titled "When the Sun Goes Through Rain," released in 2025, captures emotions related to rain and modern urban life through a minimalist approach, primarily using a rounded kick drum and a bright, plucky synth. The EP showcases a haunting blend of techno beats and synth notes, while employing spacious synths and piano to create a distinct mood with uplifting textures. The music evokes imagery of city streets and rain puddles, with a mix of philosophical and heartfelt themes. The EP is described as an astral experience, both nostalgic and forward-looking, reminiscent of cinematic visuals.
Glaskin - Blue Light
The influential techno scene in Munich, Germany, cannot be understated, as the distinct sound, characterised by heavy rhythms and driving baselines, has become a mainstay of techno worldwide. The newest EP, Blue Light 2025, by the brothers Glaskin, exemplifies the club-centric ethos of the Munich style. Title of the EP: end-of-dancefloor energy and percussion, suitable for the warehouse or basement. The EP features offers for Colombians compelling beats of an unlikely influence from more ghetto tech spaces. Overall, the release reflects the groove and confidence typical of the Munich techno scene, while adding a clean, polished update to the dub techno greats of both Detroit and Berlin.
Psyk - Scope Drift
In recent months, some music industry professionals have criticised the hard dance and hard techno subgenres for being overly commercialised and focused more on visuals than sound. In contrast, a group of artists is moving toward a more minimal and intentional style known as deep techno. Spanish artist Psyk's latest EP, "Scope Drift," serves as an excellent introduction to the genre, featuring steady rhythms and immersive sounds that entrance listeners. The EP focuses on drums, captivating basslines, and intricate synthesis. It also includes a remix by Erik Luebs, which showcases a different side of deep techno with melodic depth. Psyk's title track stands out for its slow evolution and energetic feel, appealing to deep techno enthusiasts.
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.