RW029

#1 Chaz - Soul Contract EP: Kuje Records is back with a new release. The label run by Lotta, aka Carmen Electro, has immediately caused a stir. Uncompromising, timeless, and very twisted techno. I really like what Lotta is building here. This time with Chaz, a producer from Bangalore. To be honest, this is the first time I’ve ever listened to a track by an Indian techno producer. Shame on me, especially since I’ve been told that a lot is happening in India. I seem to remember that Lotta played there a few months ago as well. Maybe that’s where the connection was made? I’ll ask her when I get the chance. Back to “Soul Contract”: four tracks, hard, dark, and, as mentioned, twisted. I’m not even sure if that word makes the same kind of sense in English as it does in German. It just drives you forward, like a blossom floating down a stream. Killer release, must have!

#2 Idu Berg & Mython - Headless: Next up are two producers, Idu Berg (which somehow immediately made me think of Ida Engberg) and Mython. I’d never heard of either of them before, but I have to say: “HEADLESS” takes me straight back to the 2010s. Bleepy, dreamy, sci-fi techno at its best. I really love this release, even though I’ve heard this kind of sound many times before. A wonderful release, timeless and simply classic. Big tip!

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#3 STIPP, Vromo & Khas - UUUU 03: Whenever I see the name Vromo, I always stop and pay attention. Jim is just a really great producer from Amsterdam, whom I’ve met twice at Junkyard. The last time he was even there with his family and played for us before heading off on a ski vacation with them, if I remember correctly. STIPP should also be from Amsterdam, as far as I know, right? I’m writing this completely blind without doing any research, but I’m pretty sure I’ve already featured him in the newsletter before. I don’t know Khas, however, but the B-side, which is entirely dedicated to him, strongly reminds me of tracks that Ben Klock would definitely play. Simply a solid record, and great artwork!

#4 Arnaud Rebotini & Acid Washed - Redshifts To Blueshifts: Last but not least, we come to Arnaud Rebotini and Acid Washed. And somehow I don’t even want to write that much here, because the music from these two really speaks for itself. A very versatile record with many facets, which I personally find far more exciting than straightforward four-track EPs where everything sounds almost the same. Or as a friend once said, “cast from a single mold.” Probably some strange German saying that somehow ends up making sense in the end. B1 and B2 are my favorites.

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#1 Frozen Sun - The Coldest: Sometimes with this section, I honestly don’t know anymore whether I’ve already featured a record in the newsletter or not. For the Recycling Wax Instagram page, I have an Excel spreadsheet, but not here. And honestly, I don’t really need one anyway, I can always write about a record again. With this Frozen Sun release, however, I can say for sure: I’ve never written about this legendary record before. But last Thursday I saw Emsen play it. Of course it was “Cold”, obviously. And that’s when it hit me again: damn, what a massive record. For my taste, it’s a bit too expensive, mainly because I already have the track digitally and don’t necessarily need it on vinyl. But if you don’t play digitally and don’t know this record, you should absolutely buy it, no matter the price. Classic, killer!

#2 The Advent - Shaded Elementz: “Added 8 Years ago”. Yeah, of course, this one is just as much of a classic as the Frozen Sun record. By far my favorite is “Overseeya” in the Mark Bell remix, which I find insanely good. I actually only discovered it thanks to Recycling Wax; before that, I had never really paid attention to it. “It One Jah” in the Damon Wild remix was usually the track I played instead. Such a great coincidence. This record is full of surprises and packed with incredibly strong producers. A must-have, no question about it!

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#3 Vinny Vincent & Harry Hash - The Siren: Another record that I added to my Discogs collection eight years ago. For a long time, I thought the break was way too much, and in my early days as a DJ, I was always afraid people might boo me during such a long breakdown or something like that. Which of course never happened, why would it? But yeah, that’s how I thought in my early twenties. Nowadays, I play this record in almost every set. Thanks to Recycling Wax, I keep rediscovering old, forgotten, and long-unplayed weapons that once got on my nerves at some point. Vinny Vincent and Harry Hash, or more precisely Dan Zamani and Tim Taylor, who actually share the same birthday as me and with whom I occasionally exchanged birthday wishes on Facebook walls, hahaha, are simply legends, there’s no other way to put it. Today I fully enjoy that break in the original version, and you know what? People go absolutely crazy for it. When the bass drops back in while the siren comes up, it’s pure ecstasy, hahaha. Must have!

#4 Union Jack - Two Full Moon And A Trout: One of my absolute favorite records ever. I’m listening to it right now, I’m at second ten, and I already have goosebumps. If trance, then old school trance. Why? Because this is not trash. So much emotion, so many beautiful strings, such a firework of creativity, it’s incredible. The 14-minute mix is, for me, the definition of great trance. What a beautiful acid bassline, what gorgeous sounds and drums, and then this playful quality throughout the track, that break, I don’t even know how to describe it. This track just triggers so much inside me. I really need to play it again. I think the last time I played it was before COVID-19. Sad.

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#5 Silent Breed - Sync In: Last but not least, another classic by Thomas P. Heckmann, aka Silent Breed. As you can probably tell, this newsletter is a bit nostalgic. This track always makes me think of an old video from the legendary Soundgarden club in Dortmund, located at Funkenburg. Hall 2 was the place to be back then, and everyone in their forties and fifties knows exactly what I’m talking about. There’s a video on YouTube where the lights were already on, but the track was still playing. Check it out from minute 3:00 here. Legendary!

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#1 F.U.S.E. - Substance Abuse

#2 D.J. Deeon - Funk City

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#3 Dave Angel - Royal Techno EP

#4 André Walter - Sam Hain

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#1 The Third Man - Pipes At Helios Canyon: Strong, deep, and detail-rich release from The Third Man, with a massive remix by the Dutch Synthesizer legend Legowelt. Once that bassline hits, guaranteed bassface.

#2 Michael De Hey Vs. Literon - Transmitter: Amazing machine funk techno that will turn the house upside down inside out, by Literon and the Dutch House legend Michel de Hey! The Jamie Anderson remix apparently got a lot of play back in the day, but the title track original is where it’s at!

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#3 Hound Scales - Sabbath Lillie Hawks EP: Raw and lofi UK Techno from 2014, the stand out here is the Forward Strategy Group remix who deliver a very nasty remix with a bassline that comes out of the blue to absolutely rip.

#4 Robert Owens / Mr. Fingers - I’m Strong: How is it possible that this track was produced in 1987? It is truly mind-boggling how futuristic this sounds, hats off to the House Legend Larry Heard, aka Mr Fingers. The Instrumental Mix to me sounds like a techno banger.

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#5 Clint Foster - Sound Photos: The man, Joey Beltram, as his alias, Clint Foster. Very trippy, hypnotic techno that sounds as fresh now as it did when it was released! Unfortunately, my copy is completely worn out, so I will have to buy a new one soon.

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