The fourth release from this hot new imprint, features four tracks from four outstanding producers. The A Side kicks things off with “Skyline” by Chris McCormack, a straightforward blazing drum track with cyclic keys and bouncy, almost UK hard house style flavor. The second cut features one of techno’s most consistent producers, Mark Williams at the controls. On “A DJs Groove”, Mr. Williams drops his signature tribal influenced techno, laced with vocal stabs, Latin undertones and intense, tension building breakdowns. The flip features “Forever” by DJ K-Alexi, an old school rave style track that easily could have come from the back catalog of Blake Baxter and “Late At Night”, a dark gritty tech funk romp. Nothing ground breaking, but a solid EP that will appeal to a variety of jocks. ***(3 of 5)
Volume One – Wicca (Wicca Records-Germany)
Absolutely ruthless four-track debut from Andre Walter and his new Wicca Recordings imprint. With releases in the past for Jerk Records, Construct Rhythm and Chris Liebing’s Stigmata imprint, Walter is a rising star in the techno world and this release will do nothing but improve his name recognition and standing on the scene. Kicking things off is “Sam Hain” a colossal, slice of hard driving techno, while “Aquinox” is a similarly brutal piece of work. “Paracelsus” leads off the B Side with a strenuous, straight techno killer, featuring unyielding beats, sinister bassline and wicked undertones. The EP wraps up with “Dion Fortune”, a hard percussion affair, with a long tension building breakdown and ton of rugged flavor. Class material all around.
****(4 of 5)
We Affect – The Attack People (Abiotic Recordings-US)
Utterly remarkable 4 track EP from Ian Lehman and Dustin Zahn; two of the hottest young guns in the world of techno. “We Infect” kicks things off in striking fashion, with an absolute smoking track. Driving drums and destructive percussion merge perfectly with lush, dub style keys to form a truly stunning track. Sure to find its way into the most discerning techno sets, this is totally essential. “We Affect” is up next, with a deeper, more electro influenced tech feel. The flip side features a remix of “We Infect” by Montreal based producer and DJ extraordinaire, Mateo Murphy. Taking things in a more driving, straight ahead direction, Murphy drops one of his best mixes to date and turns in a dancefloor slayer that has BIG ROOM written all over it. The EP finishes with “Distress Call”, a sinister techno rhythm track. A word of advice don’t sleep on this release or Dustin and Ian, they are supremely talented and without a doubt represent the future of American techno. *****(5 of 5)
