DJs: Most Charted - Techno - May 2011

Review: After debuting on Deeply Rooted last year with the ingeniously titled EP 1, French producer Marcelus serves further notice of his burgeoning talent for twisted raw techno rattlers with a sequel for the label. Equally simplistic in its titular leanings EP 2 begins in stomping fashion with the naturally acidic tones of "Sulfuric", with the sort of heavy flourishes throughout that can only elicit gleeful responses. This contrasts nicely with the rumbling heads down vibe of "Shape" which is all reverberant metallic textures cascading around the depths of the gloopy rhythms. Special mention for how Marcelus teases out those vocals! Flip over for the high level intensity of "Life Cycle" and the relentless alien rattle of "Mutation". Do check!

Review: It's a double helping of Swiss techno bliss with a Belgian twist as Depth Frame sees Deetron and Ripperton get it on for the first time ever (weird huh?) for the Music Man imprint. For those immune to clues, "In Depth" is the sort of peak time ruff deep jack these two excel at, throwing a cacophony of vocals around the depths of a swampy backing as percussion in need of some WD40 brings the Detroit flavour. "Out of Frame'' is far rowdier, handclaps barely noticeable amidst the lysergic menace of the bass growl which is offset by the undulating patterns of glistening musical colour.

Review: London based label Sect salute Spain's techno history with their tenth release, represented by highly respected techno producer and DJ Victor Martinez. Psychedelia-tinged tracks are the order of the day here as Victor steps up the pace and sets the standard. "The Infiltrator", Chapters 1 & 2 are both moody and mysterious slices of voodoo magic from Martinez and firmly nod to the dark hours of techno. Flip to the B, and "Lessons On Emptiness" is just as menacing, with weird samples and indecipherable vocals flying throughout. "Motor Zerox" leans to a slightly lighter atmosphere with rumbling percussion sections and a hook melody. Another killer 12" from Sect.

Review: The fourth round of Time To Express's 61 Center Returning series arrives with label boss Van Hoesen once again at the helm alongside the ever excellent Donato Dozzy! "Dock" is a druggy epic, with menacing sonics gurgling around the tightly wound bass drum throb that propels your senses on a dark and long journey into the recesses of repetitive brilliance. Ensuring this release gets full marks from Juno, Stroboscopic Artefacts boss Lucy makes his debut on T2X with a booming remix of Van Hoesen's "Defense Against The Self" with dusty textures stretched across the rising machine funk dissonance. It's the kind of sweat inducing kick drum thumper that's designed specifically for darkened concrete spaces.
against the self (lucy remix)

Review: The only way to improve on a label named as brilliantly as Moustache Records is to launch an offshoot called Moustache Techno. The Dutch imprint launches their new initiative in impressive style with four powerful techno cuts from the elusive and mysterious Gesloten Cirkel. "Yamagic" opens on an expansive experimental Detroit tip, with the rough percussive edges a nice contrast to the crisper jacking qualities that run through the guttural acid flex of "Moustache". Proceedings change up on the flip with the scratched industrial wooziness of "Insummer" brilliantly offset by a crunching half step kick. "Slample" closes proceedings on a decidedly odd note, sounding like Moodymann remixing Neucleus at the bottom of a well.