Robert Babicz’s productions and remixes spanning the past decade have made increasingly impressive ripples in the gigantic pond known as German techno – moreso, I am inclined to believe, than his work in the days of ‘true’ acid house. I am unable to accurately estimate the number of times that I have played out Joris Voorn’s remix of Babicz’s “Dark Flower” (quite the lovely track in its own right), and Babicz’s Disco Universum remix of Gui Boratto’s Mr. Decay is another personal favorite of mine.

That having been said, “Pink Trees” took a bit longer for me to appreciate. Its…

Nyquist drops a particularly strong and rich tech house track with the Iboga Records release, “Otagu.” Crafting sounds that weave between and amongst Progressive House, Tech House and Techno concurrently is no easy task; the track has true innovation supporting it. Not surprisingly, then, “Otagu” is able to drive home a wicked pulse lain atop surprisingly smoothly sweeping rhythmic bass. Percussive clasps and mid-tempo clashes give this track an internally chaotic nature that is rich with cymbals and laden with groove. “Otagu” is freshly produced tech house with elements as unique, perhaps, as even its own name.

Perfect Stranger’s remix…

The Grid’s “Floatation” EP showcases three new resurrections of the 1990 Balearic trance bomb of the same name. Slof Man, Prins Thomas and Round Table Knights contribute remixes of the popular track, whilst The Grid revamps the original for its twentieth anniversary presentation. The revamped original is characterized by luscious measures swoon with both flute and drum; working in concert with one another supports the foundation, a mélange of sluggishly driven bass. Dressed with Sacha Souter’s dreamy and echoic vocals, The Grid’s “Floatation” is a measured and contemplative resumption of a decidedly vintage track. Beyond a mere retooling of the…

Egostereo’s Renaissance debut presents ‘Paeonia,’ a production collaboration which manages to simultaneously stimulate comfort and unsettling eeriness. Paeonia is a listener’s treat, due to its intricate and multi-dimensional layering evidenced in the track’s progression. Paeonia is a passively energetic production whose moody character reflects the depth of the production duo, and its intellectual atmosphere bears striking resemblance to selected tracks by the likes of Sasha, Satoshi Tomiie and John Digweed. Egostereo’s track is a subdued venture with little established energy and verve. One must become involved in the track to truly appreciate it, and thus the lack of movement-inducing rhythm…

Здравствуйте!

Sometimes conversations with new producers can only take place thanks to the existence of Babel Fish and Google Translate. Such was the case with our russian friend Evgeniy Prokopenko. We have managed to work out that he lives in the city of Ivanovo, which is to the north east of Moscow. He is 25 years old and has been producing music since 2003 under the name Jeysound. After some releases on local russian labels, he now has secured his first release on Plastic Fantastic.

We bring you two tracks, both in original mix as well as heavier club mixes.…

Grinding, robotic and hypnotic, Sasha never fails to deliver the spiritual goods. Lowlife’s wicked bass chops lend meaning to the title. Slinking through the underbellies of the electronic underground, Lowlife’s kinky bass rhythm rattles ribcages and prolpels the track into an entirely sinister direction. Definitely a standout on Invol2ver.

Highlife (The original and the Invol2ver Remix) are decent tracks – however, the vocal intrusion leaves something to be desired for most tech-house sets. Certainly the lesser of the two tracks, ‘Highlife’ may be a reflection of Sasha’s willingness to enter melodica rather than true techno fervency. An interesting and worthwhile…

Dave Seaman and Renaissance have history deep enough to fill a novel. This, however, is is the DJ’s first EP release for the prestigious label, and one can only hope to find something spectacular within.

Dave Seaman has brought into this decade a unique techno sound, with orchestral crescendos to boot. A definite floor-stomping track, “Attack Of The Abalones” abandons the harmonious aspects of Seaman’s productions in favor of flavors reminiscent of Smith & Selway’s cerebral techno productions. As the track progresses, reverberating female vocals up the feverish pitch. With a halt, the frenzy ceases and submits itself to a…