The wallets of classic electro addicts have been challenged around the Christmas time when several reissues have showed up. Detroit’s Direct Beat recalls early days with “Bass Magnetic”, the only album of James Stinson’s Lab Rat XL is the newest addition in Clone Aqualung series, mysterious Scopex material was reissuedRead More →
The second part of what is becoming a tradition: After listing my favourites from 2005 and from 1996, the time is ripe for another end of the year selection from the archives. The first part is here. Silicon – 4 L.L. (Vmax Records) In 1997, Vmax founder Heath Brunner releasedRead More →
Winds of change on Vortex Traks, a label that set off in Berlin two years ago and has been among the city’s exciting newcomers in electro segment. The arrival of Kimmo Rapatti aka Mono Junk could be well a sign of further electro adventures, but the Finnish analogue guru pays tribute toRead More →
Serotonin has ended decade-long absence when the New York electro outfit makes comeback with two new releases, a various artists compilation and “Scientism EP” by Synapse, a project of label founders John Selway and Jason “BPMF” Szostek. The timing is perfect because for a while I’ve been thinking to write aRead More →
If Dutch music writer Erik Müller aka E. Muul does not sound familiar, his Tintin-inspired alias Haddock & Müller may well do because it’s credited as the producer of fabulous cosmic electro conceived in the last decade by Freak Electrique (“P.H.A.S.E.R.”) for Viewlexx. For getting terminally lost in the alias jungle, let’sRead More →
Until lately I didn’t have a clue about the Irish label Xerophkz and its founder Conan O’Donnell. Exactly up to the moment I discovered his latest EP with bold references to the 313 area, in a record that genuinely deserves attention of Detroit heads. A new offering from the Dublin residentRead More →
[Updates on December 17, 2017 and September 19, 2019 – see the end of the post] After a wider audience has (re)discovered Drexciya through reissues on Clone, it’s time to pay attention to other notable moments of the nineties Detroit electro. Direct Beat makes a much-anticipated return in 2018 whenRead More →
Nachtzug – Unspoken (Vortex Traks VTX 005 – 2017) Nachtzug’s five interpretations on the theme “Unspoken” are in line with the blueprint sound of Vortex Traks, when the German duo offers lulling midsummer electro with melodic pads and smooth synth sequences. “Unspoken 3” sounds soRead More →
As everyone would guess, Detroit’s electro and bass label Black Bottom Records got its name from the area located on the city’s east side that was named Black Bottom by French settlers because of its fertile and dark soil. For the label, the ground has not been too fertile becauseRead More →
From grime and house to techno and Balearic – the Kopli.live project was initiated in Tallinn this winter by DJ JFL to bring together music lovers who are ready to drop their favourites in public recording sessions at different locations in the city. By today, over 40 sets have been tapedRead More →