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There's plenty of quality techno and electro to take us into the fall, so let's put the needle to some of the pieces in the pile and see what we come up with. We'll start in Hong Kong with the techno. The third release from Technasia (the name of the artist and the label) is "The Declamation", a fourtracker celebrating the Future Mix Radio Show, a weekly electronic music program broadcast across mainland China. The label was started a year ago by the Hong Kong based Amil Khan; Paris-based Charles Siegling joins Khan under the recording version of the name. Here we have two innovative pieces that add needed intrigue to the 4/4, balanced by a short cinematic piece and intros from Future Mix.. They're currently playing out live in Europe. Fine material from the Swedish Left Right imprint comes in the form of Peter Benisch's "Lindego" package; its warm groove comes in two Benisch takes and a remix from J. Dahlbeck, a name some might recognize. Tresor has a busy schedule planned for this year's third season, with a number of albums ready or already on the shelves. Singles-wise, the newie is release number 104 for the label, "The Test" EP from Scots Dave Tarrida and Tobias Schimdt. The outside cuts lean more toward the busier end with a plethora of noises to keep the ears clean, while the ones closer to the runoff pare things to a snaky wiggle that will work wonders in a variety of set times. Leo Laker's latest for Tresor is "6AM", 4 tight reptracks for cutting up in the mix. From Berlin to Munich now, where Disko B unleash their first eepee from Kurbel head Richard Bartz in two years. Mr. Acid Scout has outdone himself on "Evolution Revolution" (labeled as coming in versions 1-4, though sounding disimilar) as he serves up necessary doses of bassline propulsion, atmosphere, and rhythmwork. Merricks, the German pop contingent, gets thrown in the DB blender for the first in a remix series that promises to be a bucket of laughs. DJ Naughty loops up the vocodered title to "Ciao Ciao Disco" with Silver Convention-style disco strings and a funky undertow, while Organic strip away the electronics for a percussion workout a la BT Express (the 70s band sampled by the likes of S-Express and Chicago's Joe Lewis). Flip it over for Abe Duque and Gene Le Fosse 's teaming up to turn "Schwabing Girls" into an ode to Giorgio Moroder. Bliss. One more German release before we travel to the UK: DJ La Monde sees his "Magneto" remixed by DJ Slip, Lexicon, and Cherry Bomb on a gritty Monoid double 12 full of reversed hooks and little spit and polish. Nottingham's Magic Trax have a new release on the way before the end of the year, for now check the drum exercises on Tim Baker's "Outpost Beta" EP, 3 originals and a James Ruskin remix. Speaking of Ruskin, do not sleep on his "Further Design" 2 X LP on Blueprint. His is one of those albums that you can work on the tables and relax to at home. Now that Jeff Mills has settled into his new home in England, I guess we can refer to his British Purpose Maker label now. Still doing the rounds is the "Vanishing Hot" EP, nothing mindblowing considering past Mills releases. Kinda has us waiting for him to get back to some of the experimentalism of Axis or, probably more importantly, the new enterprises he has been talking about of late. Artform's "Altered Arts" balances the tracky material with two more inviting pieces; the label isn't totally clear, but "Dolphin" is remixed by Jerome twice, while Laidback Luke does his thing to "Secret Weapon" (complete with a sample from the Riddler?) and Modal Impro lay down a new rhythm foundation for the pleasing pads of "Earth Summit". Check it out. Dave Angel has turned into a one man recording machine since he parted ways with his major label. This time he's recording for the Jericho label (whose catalog numbers start with JEL instead of JER; sure there's a good reason for that). It's called "Excursions" with one building dancefloor destroyer backed with plenty of panned sweeps that have to be heard on a big system. (Mom: "Turn that down!" Kid: "But Mom, you've gotta hear this LOUD to really appreciate it.") Getting domestic, Dacheboard's "The Motorist" EP on Vancouver's Lowdown is an absolute must. Arlo Renwick has a knack for coming up with just the right amount of ingenious bits and babbles that his tracks are a real pleasure to hear. Grab two copies and the fun really begins. California sees John Tejada, the poster boy for productivity, still at it-and we're so glad he is. He's ready to drop release number 9 on his Palette, but don't get left behind on the wondrous "City Of Drumrolls, City Of Headaches" EP. Definitely deserves extra points for the recent titles he's been using, too. More of Mr. Tejada's knack for a song can be found on Seventh City ("The Blue Dawn" is another must have) and Plug Research ("On The Avenue" as Mr. Hazeltine, complete with a Mannequin Lung remix). Tejada's "Little Green Lites And Four Inch Faders" album is coming out on the British A13. Speaking of PR and Mannequin Lung, the label's newest 12" comes from a hip hop act, the Shadow Huntaz. Allen "ML" Avanessian and Danny "Low Res" Zelonky provide the beats and atmospherics and it works a charm. And any of you who are scared of quality rhymes can play out the bonus beats. Low Res' "Approximate Love Boat" album is available now as well. New York, just like I pictured it. For the smoother sounds, definitely find room in your crate for Skai's "The Art Of Skai Diving" on Plastic City, the latest from Savvas Ysatis and Taylor Deupree. Can we have an album from these two in this style please? Getting minimal in the Basic Channel camp kinda way is Kevin Tobbler on the second CSM release, aptly titled "CSM II". Very good. Cleveland's Metamorphic sees Hanna switch the tempo to a lower gear and create beauty in a Larry Heard way on "Freshglow", while you'll want to grab Titonton's "Endorphin" EP before the next batch arrives. Tougher NY pieces can be had on the Synewave label, with Soul Destroyaz (aka The Advent, ever heard of them?) on the "Present Day" 3 track EP, while what will be the label's 40th release features Equinox and Damon Wild moonlighting as Nitevision. The standouts are the electro-rhythms and strings of the Nitevision pieces, "2111" and "2110", variations on "2112" from Wild's "Somewhere In Time" album for Synewave UK. Synewave continue to impress. Jacking things up a notch is Robert Armani on his 3track "The Specialist" on Hyperspace. Soon come is his "Spectacular" full length. The Transmissions offshoot of the label unveils the "High IQ" doublepack from Frankie Bones, funky tech on 10". Nu Futura (A & Red by Bones) keeps it bangin' with the "Bronx Tales" of the Hydrofreaks. Antfactor & Pocket Pool take two tracks each on the third release for Spelunk Recordings, with the former continuing with his atmospheric and eclectic four on the floor and the latter getting into rugged electro mode. Recommended. Mixing up the styles on green vinyl is the 4 artist compilation "Mutual Exclusion V.1.0" on Phoenix's MUT3X. Label operator Adam Muntner gets the groove going with the downtempo electro of "Tschak" (as in "boom tschak"), while Fanon Flowers provides more of his 4/4 splendor. The flip sees Jason Justin in filter mode and Undercover Brother (apparently a well known Detroiter recording on the downlow) putting effects and a swing to his clapper. Another label doing it right. Switching over to full throttle electro power, new Swedish label a P.M.S. plan kicks things off with You ("7 Lords Of Messiah") and a doublepack with a hip hop feel in the shape of Gravity's "A Paroxysm Of Excellence" (with Mr. James Barth-Cari Lekebusch for real getting in on the action on one cut.) The German Ladomat 's newest is Turner's "Imschwung" EP; moodiness with the B's "Drum & Dran" the best of 'em. My German translation skills are nonexistent, but it looks like Turner is up soon with the "Lukin Orgel" album. Ed DMX returns for the vocal title cut on "Adrenalin Flow" (UK Rephlex), backed with two perky instrumentals. Wonderful stuff; sorta like Aux 88 meets New Order, eh? I can never have too many good things to say about Serotonin. First Jason Szostek did his electro thing, know it's time for John Selway to do the same. "Zoids Vol.2" is four superb songs in an old school meets the new flavor backed with a fistful of zest. Please sir, can I have some more? Finishing off in Michigan we find Naquil (better known as Nate Krafft) and the "Bionik Dikk" EP on his Infra Red. Warning: this is not ghetto aside from the track names. What you get are 3 sample happy tracks (a bit of Kraftwerk's "Numbers", a shot of Cybotron's "Clear") made for the DJ. In a booty style is DJ Disco D's "The D-Down"; more song-based electro can be found on the B side. Vmax have V988 on the way soon. Out now is SI_LO's latest. It's called the V989 EP and, because it takes the known into the unknown while maintaining a balance for the dancer and the listener, it's damn good. Top 15 1. Equinox/Nitevision-SW40 EP (US Synewave test)
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