RW016

Recycling Wax is back from sickness.

Robin Tasi
October 16, 2025

Hello everyone,

Last Sunday, October 5th, 2025, I wanted to finally get back into sports with my girlfriend after quite some time, and I was really enthusiastic and motivated about it. I had played at Objekt Klein A in Dresden on Thursday, which was fun! But since Friday was a public holiday (German Unity Day), I had the weekend off. Usually, people in Germany don’t really go out partying right after a public holiday.

However, on that Sunday, I wasn’t feeling too great, and I usually notice pretty quickly when something’s off. And that’s exactly what happened. By Monday, I had a fever and was completely knocked out for the whole week. That’s why I wasn’t able to write a newsletter last Thursday. Well, technically, I could have, but whenever I’m sick, I drop everything, because health comes first!

Today, I’m announcing the winner of the $100 Mystery Box of 10 records. You’ll find out who the winner is at the end of this newsletter.

But first, let’s begin as usual, as follows:

Recent Cuts - Fresh vinyl and digital releases worth checking out.
Essential Oldschool - Records from the 90s and early 2000s that still matter today.
Behind the Booth - Personal stories, lessons, and perspectives from life as a DJ.
What’s in my Bag? - A peek into recent gig selections, new digs, and timeless records.
Top 5 by Dylan aka dylliboi_91 - A handpicked selection, carefully curated each week by DJs.
Community Pick of the Week by ??? - One favorite from the community.

1. Recent Cuts - Fresh vinyl and digital releases worth checking out.

#1 DJ Ali - Transformation EP: Let’s start with DJ Ali and Global Pulse, and allow me to go a bit off track for a moment. You might remember my mini newsletter edition that I sent out in a rush because I was short on time and away for a little trip on a Thursday, which also happened to be my birthday. My girlfriend Kathi and I went to Amsterdam, because honestly, I just love that city. Of course, I wanted to catch up with a few friends, and as always, I completely underestimated how many records I planned to dig for and how little time was left in the end. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see Comrade Winston this time, and to make things worse, I even forgot to let him know I was coming. Sorry again, mate! :-( We also wanted to grab a beer that day with Rosati. We had planned to meet up in the evening, but we weren’t sure it would work out since Francesco already had other plans. But as luck would have it, we randomly ran into each other right in front of Killacutz! I had just pulled out my phone in front of the shop to document my arrival there for the Recycling Wax Instagram page. I noticed a cyclist in the corner of my eye and didn’t want to include him in the shot. I took the photo, checked it, and suddenly someone yelled “EY YO!” I looked up and realized it was Francesco Rosati on the bike! Hahaha, what are the odds? We then headed over to Distortion Records and spent two to three lovely hours hanging out in the Amsterdam sunshine. Such a great afternoon! Now, to circle back to DJ Ali, Francesco often shows me some of his upcoming projects whenever we meet, and that’s how I got an early look at the new Global Pulse release featuring DJ Ali. He explained the EP to me and even played a few snippets. And let me tell you: this label has an absolute must-have character for every single release. Beautiful design, perfectly curated and harmonious music, and serious floor weapons. A top-tier label all around. I’d say the same even if I didn’t know Rosati personally. TIP TIP TIP!

#2 Flits & Isaiah - Roll The Dice: Next up are two more Amsterdam producers: Flits & Isaiah. I absolutely love this combo, their sounds blend perfectly, giving both of their solo styles a whole new drive. It’s not their first release as a duo, and I have to say: it really gives me those mid-2010s vibes. Moncherry is my absolute favorite; it triggers something in me, I don’t even know what exactly, but definitely something good. It reminds me a bit of A&S. Amsterdam is truly leading the way right now when it comes to quality sound, amazing scene, amazing people, and amazing clubs. Keep it up, and much love to you, Isaiah! MUST-HAVE!

BANDCAMP
DECKS
DEEJAY

BANDCAMP
DECKS
JUNO

#3 Gesloten Cirkel - Acid Puke EP: I’m not sure if you all know this, but Justin Tinderdate and I have been running a label called Acid Wave Records for years, of course, inspired by the iconic Roland TB-303 sound. So, my collection of Acid House and Techno runs deep, and my heart still skips a beat every time I hear that squelchy little machine, whether distorted or clean. It feels like the 303 isn’t all that popular right now, at least that’s the impression I get. Whenever I post Acid Techno records on Recycling Wax’s Instagram, the reach drops dramatically. I get it, people might be a bit saturated with the sound for now, but I can’t understand how overall interest could fade so much. Acid will never die. And let’s be real, Gesloten Cirkel knows exactly how to use Acid the right way. Every track on this EP is just brilliant from start to finish. I love that gritty distortion, whether it’s raw, electro-inspired, or melodic and almost melancholic like in the closing track F-unkz3. Absolutely genius record!

#4 The Advent, Raffaele Attanasio - Coordinated Beatdown EP: Wow, tell me we needed this collaboration between The Advent and Raffaele Attanasio, without actually telling me we needed it! What a beautiful, uncompromising, stab-driven Techno release. Every track is a floor-filler. Cisco is simply unbeatable. How can someone keep producing such heavy hitters for so many years? It’s insane. As for Raffaele, I’ve got to admit: I liked his tracks back in the 2010s, but they weren’t really my sound at the time. Yet somehow, post-COVID, I’ve completely fallen in love with his productions. The same goes for Dimi Angelis’ solo. I already loved him as part of A&S, but now his solo work hits even harder. Keep it going! No filler, only killer!

BANDCAMP
DECKS
DEEJAY

#5 OFF / GRID - Back To Basics: Lastly, let’s talk about OFF / GRID. Hailing from Hamburg, Robert Lienau comes from a city mostly known for its top-tier Electro scene, while proper Techno has always been a bit in its shadow. Even though my buddy Aitch (aka Tobias Hacker) has been holding down the fort for quality Techno in Hamburg for over a decade, Robert’s sound is a fantastic addition to that scene. Refreshing, full of beautiful dubby stabs, and something genuinely new. I still remember playing B2B with Stranger at Junkyard. That was a real highlight for me, the booker of Junkyard let us residents choose someone for a B2B, and when Mitchel agreed, I was stoked. During our set, he played several OFF / GRID tracks, which later came out on his own label Revenge Techniques. And I knew right then: this guy’s going to be big. Now, with Back to Basics on Illegal Alien Records, Robert proves once again that not a single track is just filler. He, and Hacker too, are keeping Hamburg firmly on the Techno map, right next to its big brother, Electro!

BANDCAMP
DECKS
DEEJAY

2. Essential Oldschool - Records from the 90s and early 2000s that still matter today.

#1 Umek - Lanicor: Ah, is it that time again? Do we need another old Umek release? Hell yes! This is a record that’s been sitting on my wantlist for ages. Luckily, “was” is the keyword here, because I finally managed to grab it recently for a really good price, and I don’t regret it for a second. It even includes three locked grooves, which sound absolutely fantastic. I honestly have no idea how Umek produced these tracks back then or what the exact meaning behind the track titles is, but one thing’s for sure: he defined that era and firmly put Slovenia on the techno map. An absolute weapon of a record, Lanicor is my personal favorite, and I’ll definitely be playing it this weekend!

#2 Abuser - Abuser 02: Also a classic: a User release, this time under his alias “Abuser.” The cover alone already gives away who’s behind it. Three beautiful tribal cuts are spread over two sides in typical User fashion. Not much more to say here, just listen and enjoy!

DISCOGS

#3 Question - 2nd Question: How many classics do you want to throw into this Essential Oldschool section this time? Yes! The Question series by Marco Carola is an absolutely genius run of releases. At one point, I actually had almost the entire discography in my hands, but for some reason, I didn’t buy them all. I was holding so many other records that I really wanted at the time. Looking back now, I totally regret not grabbing them blind. Well, maybe I’ll get another chance someday. Don’t be as stupid as I was. If you ever come across them, an absolute MUST-HAVE label!

#4 Gaetek - Vesuvius EP: Gaetek, aka Gaetano Parisio, is one of those producers whose records I own the most of, and rightfully so, to be honest. Pure, uncompromising Italian techno. I’ve got the white label version of this one, and yes, I collect white labels too. Don’t ask me why, I don’t even know myself. But I love playing blind white label sets, just grabbing 50 random ones off the shelf and firing them off in the club. There’s always going to be something good in there. And if I happen to pull out a Gaetek, I know I’m safe anyway. It’s so much fun, especially when you not only play blind but also force yourself to actually play whatever record you pull. Justin Tinderdate and I once did exactly that, a white label only concept set for HÖR. You can still find it on YouTube, by the way. Speaking of that night, I was so drunk that I left my record bag in a bar afterward. Luckily, someone who was with us grabbed it and kept it safe. Thanks, Alisa, I’ll forever be grateful! I would’ve been heartbroken if my white label collection had ended up collecting dust in some random bar in Berlin!

DISCOGS

3. Behind the Booth - Personal stories, lessons, and perspectives from life as a DJ.

Today I want to talk with you about being present at the club when you’re playing a set.

Last weekend, Kathi and I had the pleasure of playing at Graf Karl in Kassel, and honestly, that club is a straight 10 out of 10. Back in the day, Kassel was a real hotspot for all the techno heads and nerds out there. The legendary Stammheim club in Kassel (which originally opened in 1994 as Aufschwung Ost till 1996, was renamed as Stammheim, and ran until 2002) helped pave the way for international DJs and partygoers to discover this small city in northern Hesse.

If you look it up on Wikipedia, you’ll see a long list of international DJs who played there. Being a Stammheim resident back then meant you had to be right on the pulse, and above all, you had to serve as the bridge between the club and the crowd.

And that exact spirit lives on today at Graf Karl. Not only are some of the staff there people who worked at Stammheim back in the day, and still speak about it with pure love during backstage chats, but the current team has created something new that beautifully honors that legacy.

I have to say: apart from my residency at Junkyard, I don’t think there’s another venue where I feel as comfortable as I do there. No matter where you are in the club, people take care of you, everyone’s friendly, and both the staff and guests are incredibly kind.

Still, before heading to Graf Karl, I always make sure to get 1–2 hours of sleep before my gig. I don’t want to keep mentioning my age, but I’m 34 now and have been doing this for over ten years. It’s not like back in the day when you’d pre-drink with everyone and somehow survive until the next afternoon (in my case, without drugs). I need my sleep.

That said, I still like to arrive early, not just five minutes before my set and leave five minutes after. So what’s a reasonable time to get there?

Back in the day, even when I was playing the closing set, I’d still be there for the whole night. Of course, I was hyped to finally get on the decks, but sometimes I’d also be a bit bored, alone in the club, trying to find something to do while waiting.

Still, I think it’s important to arrive at least one hour before your set. Not just in case of traffic or other unexpected stuff, but so you can arrive calmly, chat with people backstage, and get a feel for the vibe on the dance floor.

How’s the crowd? What are they into tonight? How’s the energy in the room? How many people are there? What kind of set will fit this mood?

That’s all so important, and it automatically makes you more approachable as a DJ. Not because you’re trying to score “nice guy points,” but just because you’re being authentic, kind, and polite. That’s usually all it takes!

And I also don’t like leaving right after my set. I prefer to let the adrenaline settle, reflect on the night a bit, and have some conversations. If someone’s spending money to book me, the least I can do is take the time to interact with the people there.

Of course, I totally understand that not everyone finds it easy to socialize; some people struggle with that, and that’s okay. I get socially drained, too, and for example, I really don’t like being touched. That’s not always avoidable in a club environment where everyone’s packed closely together, but still, I think it’s part of basic respect to engage with the people around you.

What about you? When do you usually arrive at the club before your set? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

P.S. At Graf Karl, I actually hosted a vinyl workshop in the afternoon, while Kathi led a FLINTA* DJ workshop. Later, we all had dinner together, and honestly, Graf Karl always picks such amazing restaurants that I can never say no! 😄

I showed up about an hour before our set, and we stayed another hour afterward. By the time we left, it was around 6:30–7:00 a.m. (we finished playing at 5:30), and we both realized, yep, it’s time for bed. Especially since Monday morning comes quickly and, of course, the cats need food by midday!

Exit of the night @ Graf Karl, Kassel.

4. What’s in my Bag? - A peek into recent gig selections, new digs, and timeless records.

This weekend I’m playing two gigs, one is an in-store session at Black Plastic Record Store from 8 to 10 p.m., which will take place in the adjoining listening café called “mono.” The vibe there will be a bit more relaxed. Before me, DISPENS, a longtime friend of mine and the manager of mono, will probably play ambient and more listening-focused music. Then I’ll take over and play something more along the lines of house or techno, but slower and deeper.

Besides that, I’m also playing in Berlin on Saturday in an off-location, which I’m really looking forward to. Four hours in total, with two of those hours being a back-to-back set with Jeffrey aka DJ Saunameister. We feel like we really click as B2B partners, so we’re giving it a proper go this time.

I honestly haven’t had the headspace to think much about the weekend yet. I’ve been sick for a week, work’s been intense at the 9-to-5, and at home, I’ve just been mentally wiped out. The fact that I’m even writing this is already an achievement, hahaha. As you know, I always just write whatever comes to mind. I don’t think too much about poetic phrasing. The words just flow straight from my brain.

Even though I haven’t planned much yet, I wanted to show you three records I’ll definitely be bringing with me.

#1 Umek - Kial 05: We’ve never had Umek twice in a single Newsletter, in fact, we’ve never had the same artist twice at all! But this release on Kial is an absolute banger. It’s very minimalistic, kind of calm even, but still hits hard and drives beautifully. A perfect record for both warm-up hours and peak-time moments. I just think it might not really fit the evening in the Mono listening café.

#2 Basic Implant - Walze: Sven Dedek, also known as Basic Implant, once released a really solid record on TST, one I actually found at Black Plastic Record Store. The drums are strong and punchy, but there’s also a lovely, deep track on the B-side. Maybe I could play the A-side in Berlin and the B-side at the listening café? I’d have to pitch the B-side way down, though, maybe even play it at 33 RPM if it’s pressed at 45 (which I honestly assume it is). It could be a fun little experiment.

DISCOGS

#3 Andrew Richley & Ryan Rivera - Orange: Haha, and here’s a record I’ve had in my collection for quite a while. The funny thing is, I recently placed an order on Discogs and got it about five days ago, and that record was part of the batch. I put it on the turntable, played the first track, and immediately thought: “Wait… you already have this one!” Since I’ve got Fine Audio Recordings as its own section on the top left of my shelf, I checked right away, and yep, double. Great. I usually log every record into my Discogs account, but apparently not this one. Oh well, my girlfriend’s happy about it!

DISCOGS

5. Top 5 by Dylan aka dylliboi_91 - A handpicked selection, carefully curated each week.

I’m really excited about today’s guest for the TOP 5: none other than Münster’s finest DJ and one of my closest friends, Dylan, aka dylliboi_91. Known for his lo-fi, acid, and ghetto house records, he’s built a solid reputation over the years in a city with a long house and techno history.

These days, Münster leans heavily toward trance, probably driven by the large student population and the economic pressures clubs face. Still, Dylan has long held an important place in the local scene: pre-Corona nights at Fusion, Conny Kramer, and Club Favela are part of what he contributed to.

Yes, Dylan is my mate, and maybe it sounds a bit sentimental to praise him so highly, but that’s genuinely how I see him: modest, not a big talker, no ego. He works with great attention to detail and cares deeply about the community around Münster. I hardly know any promoter or DJ who gives so much without expecting anything in return.

To be honest, I think he deserves more recognition, whether he wants that or not, I can’t say. To me, he’s a steady presence: someone who puts music, community, and togetherness first. Dylan invited me to play in Münster and even made me a resident for his Hexagon series for a while. I was thrilled. Funny enough, we actually met via SoundCloud.

In short: top bloke, I’m really glad to call him a friend. Dylan, even if we don’t become superstar DJs in this life, you should be proud: you’re a major part of Münster’s scene. Keep doing what you do and stay as you are. Love you!

Over to you, Dylan:

#1 Cinthie - 803 Crystal Grooves 002: I love playing this record because its driving acid and techno sound creates a raw, high-energy atmosphere that immediately gets the dance floor moving. The combination of deep grooves and classic acid flair delivers a timeless yet powerful dynamic in any set.

#2 Vin Sol, Matrixxman - Backside / Freaker: I love spinning this one for its raw ghetto house groove and dirty acid edge that radiates pure club energy. It brings that rough, no-compromise vibe that hits straight away, no warm-up needed.

DISCOGS

#3 Innershades - Toxic Trax: This record is one of my favorites for its raw, analog sound that perfectly blends classic acid and ghetto house vibes. It delivers a hypnotic, driving energy that keeps any dance floor moving from start to finish.

#4 Mitchell Goor / Tafkamp - Paling Trax 3: I often play Paling Trax 3 by Mitchell Goor / Tafkamp both at home and in the club because the mix of techno, house, and electro works perfectly for both warm-up and peak-time moments. The tracks strike the perfect balance between tension and rawness, keeping floors in motion while radiating that true underground charm.

DISCOGS

#5 X-Coast - Transformations EP: Many people praise this EP for being perfect to build tension, the tracks combine driving ’90s rave influences with groove and energy, laced with breakbeat passages and occult, airy vocals that don’t hit you straight in the face but definitely make their presence felt. At the same time, Borrowed Identity’s remix delivers a more stripped-down version focused on rhythm and space, beautifully highlighting the shift between denser textures and open dance floor feeling.
One of my absolute favorite records.

DISCOGS

6. Community Pick of the Week by ??? - One favorite from the community.

Error - Nothing (error): Hey everyone,

Unfortunately, I didn’t receive any submissions from you this time. :-(
That’s totally fine; it’s not mandatory to send in songs or records you love.

However, I’d really like to keep this section alive, and to be honest, sure, I could just make up a first name and a short story or pull a random record out of a hat. But that’s not my style. I’m not into fakes; I want to keep this newsletter authentic.

So, to keep this section going, I’d like to ask you all:
👉 Send me your favorite songs or records!
Tell me the story behind them, or simply share a link, whatever feels right to you.

This community is the most important part of everything, and that’s exactly why it deserves its own space in the newsletter. Let’s fill it together.

I’m really looking forward to your submissions at [email protected]

So… who won the giveaway?

I put a lot of effort into selecting 10 solid records, not just focused on one subgenre, but covering a broad range of electronic music. It was really important to me that these aren’t just records I don’t like anymore, but quality pieces. I don’t want to give away junk; it should actually be fun!

And you guys really went all out to get your names in the draw. Unfortunately, I noticed that some emails are still marked as “pending”. You’ve all confirmed your accounts and activated them, but it seems that the confirmation email sometimes slips through the cracks.

Anyway, back to the records:
The whole Mystery Gift idea is, of course, exciting, but to be honest, these are 10 records I’d personally play in a club at the right time. They actually come straight from my own collection. Some I reordered new, and others you can’t even find on Discogs anymore. So yes, it’s definitely going to be a surprise!

And now, I won’t keep you waiting any longer. It’s time to announce the winner!

🥁 Drum roll, please…
…
..
.

🎉 auryn**9@p*****.de 🎉

Please get in touch with me via email at [email protected] with your address so I can send the records your way!

And to everyone who didn’t win this time, don’t worry! I’ll be organizing more giveaways in the future… maybe even sooner than you think. 😉

Thanks so much for tuning in to this week’s edition.
Have a wonderful rest of your week, and see you next time!

And don’t forget: keep sending me your favorite track or record. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one curating the next pick in the Community section.

Simply reply to this email or comment here with a link to your favorite E.P.

Catch you next week! Be ready to drop the needle on my next picks.

Keep it spinning,
Robin Tasi @ Recycling Wax

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