Not to be confused with the UK techno producer of the same name, The Surgeon we have is straight out of Detroit and straight up rocking the ghetto tech flavor. With a voice sounding a lot like DMX and rough, bass heavy beats; “Crunk In Yo System” is an arduous, party-rocking mover. “6 In The Morning” samples a line from R Kelly and turns it into a late night, smooth party rocker. Another excellent release from the Databass crew.***(3 of 5)
The Metrosexual EP – Monologic – TBL (US)
Rock solid Tech House/ Electro EP from Monologic and the Twilight 76 team. The title track is essentially a Midwest DJ/ producer should out track, complete with slow building beats, dark bassline and electro clash sensibilities. “Mazes” is next, with a soulful, tech house groove and vocoded vocals. “Found” leads off the B Side, with its murky, malevolent, old school electro feel, while “Conference” moves things with a stripped down, Matthew Dear-esque, minimal house gem. The simple, thought provoking, beatless “Picture You” wraps it up and places the finishing touches on this exceptional excursion.***(3 of 5)
Minority EP – Dex/ S2/ Ray 7 – Tunnel 7 Productions (US)
Three distinct and appealing techno tracks from Detroit based, Tunnel 7. “Forever 2 Return” by S2 kicks things off, with a smooth, slow building, infectious groove. Filtered synth pads, floor rooting bassline and funky drum programming, make this a searing mover. The flip side features “Escape” by Dex and Ray 7, a soulful, almost broken beat techno romp, complete with old school flavored keys, funky percussion and a ton of dancefloor rocking energy. The EP finishes off with “Technochet” by Dex, a glitchy, bleepy, jackin’ techno smoker. Another exceptional release from the Submerge crew.****(4 of 5)
El Camino EP – DJ Dex – Motech (US)
Dex is back with another noteworthy 4 cut EP for Motech. The title track starts the ball rolling with its subtle techno sensibilities, looped bassline and crafty effects. A more focused, percussive take on the title cut is up next, and seriously lives up to its namesake. Stripped down and straight to the point, the “Drum Mix” takes the track in a funkier, more tribal flavored direction and comes up trumps. This is the mix that is doing it for me. The B-side features “Low Rider Psycho”, a jaunt to the sinister side of techno, complete with imposing kick, jazz style bass, vocal stabs and a heap of gloomy anxiety. “Electrixol” rounds thing out, blending menacing synths and a broken beat feeling rhythm track with lush pads and hot percussion.***(3 of 5)
Cruising – Basic Bastard – Ignitor (US)
Basic Bastard (aka Orlando Voorn), is back on Ignitor with 2 tracks of his signature funky Detroit techno madness. “Cruising” holds court on the A Side, with smooth, forward moving percussion, lovely keys and a driving bassline that is certain to rock your body. The B Side brings you, “Space Rider”, an utterly stunning, deep techno romp, complete with lush undertones and gorgeous keys. This is an incredible late night gem, and a record you should seek out and buy. Incredible.****(4 of 5)
Silent Witness EP – Various – Audio Assault Arms (NL)
Arms is a sub label of the always-consistent Dutch techno outfit, Audio Assault. Run by Bas Mooy and Jeroen Liebregts, there always out front in the world of relentless, banging beats; this EP is no exception. “How I Feel Tonight” by Carl Max kicks it of with insistent, driving percussion and haunting, eerie synth line. This track is also handed over to phenomenon, Sven Wittenkind for his interpretation. The resulting remix is one of the hardest track I have heard all year and a true dancefloor destroyer. The B Side features “RND Source” by label boss Jeroen Liebregts, a straight-ahead, techno monster and “Confrontation” by A Johansson and M Fridell. Bangin’, while remaining funky and full of flavor, this is a top track and another must have release for hard techno DJs everywhere.****(4 of 5)
Alliance III – Patrik Skoog vs. A Johansson & M Fridell– Audio Assault (NL)
Celebrating their tenth release, Audio Assault is back with part 1, of a two part special. On this release, Swedish man of the moment, Patrik Skoog and newcomers Alexander Johansson and Mattias Fridell, drop their debut for Audio Assault. Skoog gets it going with “Revolt”, a straight ahead, brutal drum track, complete with driving percussion, mesmerizing stabs and a ton of gut ripping power. “Mantus” is the second entry from Skoog and takes things in a slightly more tripped out, yet still bangin direction. The flip features two fierce smokers from A Johansson and M Fridell. “Renascent” is an unadulterated destroyer, with blazing percussion and a ton of edits, frequency drops and other fierce tricks. “Disorder” wraps things up, with annihilating rhythms and a ton of flavor. Top tracks, from the front to the back.*****(5 of 5)
