RW031

#1 Various Artists - TECH035 (Curated by Anne): Let’s kick things off with Nastia’s label. Techno or Nechto? I’m honestly not sure which one is correct, but one thing I do know is that the idea of starting a compilation series with changing curators is brilliant. Not only because a various artists release always gives many artists a platform, but also because it helps strengthen the community among producers and encourages connection. Anne was the first to curate the series. Her emotional techno is definitely present on the compilation. What really caught me, though, was one particular track that, in my opinion, completely overshadows the others. I’m talking about the track by Cravo. Of course, this is not a competition, and I don’t want to make it one, but I still want to highlight Cravo here. I had never seen the name Mike Konstantinidis before, but “Secret Scent” is pure emotion. Killer record, pressed on transparent orange vinyl, which looks extremely sexy.

#2 Grad_u - Redscale 02: Moving on to one of the milestones of dub techno: Grad_u and Redscale. This is exactly the kind of dub techno I grew up with. Slower, with incredible depth, simple yet extremely effective, and, above all, when I look out the window into the icy cold, it feels warm. A limited repress on beautifully sprinkled red and black vinyl, 180 grams, and simply made to be enjoyed. Absolutely brilliant and really, really, really a must have.

DECKS
DEEJAY
JUNO

BANDCAMP
DECKS

#3 Skudge - KOR011: Now my friend Dennis is going to lose it. If there is one country that should never be erased from the memory of techno history, it’s Sweden. We have written so much about Sweden in this newsletter. And when you look at the 2010s and also the present time, there is one very special name that cannot be left out. None other than Elias Landberg, better known under the alias Skudge. Honestly, what an incredible sound. Powerful, uncompromising, always has been, and it absolutely slams. When listening to “Pulse” and “Optic”, which are featured on the record, I can’t keep my feet still. An absolutely brilliant release. Big tip.

#4 Christoph Faust - The Window Upstairs: Let’s move on to Christoph Faust, one of the best house producers in Europe right now. The Berliner, who, as far as I know, has moved to Ukraine, has released another new record. And what a record it is. If you’re looking for funkiness and a truly great house atmosphere, you’re always in the right place with him. This record is going to tear up the coming summer. I honestly can’t decide which track I like more. The remix by Blanka adds another layer and a beautiful warmth. No filler, only killer. Keep it up, Christoph, and much love to you.

BANDCAMP
DECKS
HHV

CLONE
DECKS
DEEJAY

#1 Dr Macabre - Danse Macabre: I don’t know how you preview records in a record store. Personally, I usually listen for one or two seconds and then immediately decide whether I like the kick, the overall sound, and the impression I get in those first moments. With this record, I honestly spent around twenty minutes at Black Plastic in Dortmund and couldn’t stop being amazed. This record is absolutely insane, and I found it in the shop’s rare section. Sixty-five euros is a fair price, as it costs at least the same on Discogs. But damn, what a punch, what depth, what a record. If this record wasn’t available on Bandcamp, I think I would have said goodbye to sixty-five euros in my wallet without hesitation. Five unbelievably good hardcore and gabber tracks by the French producer Dr. Macabre. Spooky, dark, cold, but at the same time extremely powerful and hypnotic. A clear recommendation for anyone who loves hardcore and gabber.

#2 Samuel Onervas - Cool Songs: Yo. The day before, I was at home checking which records from my wantlist were available at Space Hall in Berlin. While doing that, I thought to myself, why not browse through everything the shop has to offer? Maybe I’ll find something else. And that’s when I discovered this white label by Samuel Onervas. One track in particular stood out to me, especially “China Trading”. It starts with an intro of two people having a conversation, followed by a playful 303 bassline and great drum elements. I really liked it right away. When I listened to the records in the shop, I had to say that I ended up loving the other tracks just as much, which ultimately confirmed my final decision to buy it. Simply a great record.

BANDCAMP
DISCOGS

DISCOGS

#3 Various Artists - Re-edits. Re-mixes. Re-works: Next up is a 2x12-inch release that I absolutely wanted to have on vinyl. It’s also one of the records that has been on my Discogs wantlist for the longest time. Then I suddenly saw an offer in my inbox and knew I had to go for it. At the moment, this record is not being traded for less than one hundred euros, and I managed to get it for fifty euros. And it was absolutely worth it. Above all, I really wanted “Rue East Birmingham” in the Ben Sims Hardgroove remix. Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful tracks of the early 2000s and an absolute must-have for me.

#4 DBX - Losing Control: A record that had been on my wantlist for even longer, for a full ten years, is Daniel Bell’s “Losing Control”. But not just any version of Losing Control, I’m talking about the original release on Daniel Bell’s DBX label, Accelerate. I never wanted the Peacefrog version; somehow, I always wanted the original. I never thought I would ever end up in this “original” reality, haha. What can I say? There was an offer once again, and I had to grab it. It was simply time. Losing Control has appeared in so many of my podcasts and mixes, as well as in clubs. Most of the time, I layer the track somewhere underneath as a third element, because the vocals are so beautifully repetitive. An absolutely insane record. And on top of that, there’s even a small story behind it, which I’ll share in the category Behind the Booth.

DISCOGS

BEATPORT
DISCOGS

#1 Dave Shock - Shokh ‘N’ Roll

#2 Nick Wilson - Light And Dark Part Seven

DISCOGS

DISCOGS

#3 The Unknown Artist - Experiment 3

#4 Adam Beyer & Lenk - Drum Code No.1 Remix E.P.

DISCOGS

DISCOGS