Popof - On The Line

Popof has a stellar touch when crafting wicked techno grooves, and Mind Access, his latest EP on ELEVATE, keeps on bringing the pounding beats, with pulsating track On The Line poised and ready for its attack on the dancefloor.

Raito - 002

Suara keeps putting out quality techno records from new faces in the scene, bringing booming kicks and smart melodies together for a unique sound. In this case, French producer Raito offers his take on this side of techno with the Ikaruga EP, including the epic track 002.

Matt Sassari - Leroy

Leading with his trademark pounding kicks, Matt Sassari´s Leroy carries a monster groove, aided by effective vocal samples and a menacing synth line that comes from out of nowhere.

Electric Rescue - Knofeb

French techno wünderkind Electric Rescue continues his prolific output with the Limit of Social Norms EP, out on Newrhythmic Records. Nothing about this producer´s music is ordinary or unoriginal, as the 5 tracks all enter into unchartered techno territory guided by his skilled hand. Knofeb is a deep and disturbing, with sounds that feel either alien or underwater blanketed by a thick layer of distortion.

Ron Costa - Touma Perception

Ron Costa is a name associated with deep, fat grooves that make his tracks stand out in the techno scene. He now turns out the Touma Perception EP on Octopus, in which the title track provides the fun with very satisfying and melodic beats.

Noir - Undone

Noir is one of the hardest working men in techno, a producer, label owner and international DJ who keeps exploring the boundaries of the style, especially in its darkest corners. With Undone, he brings the acid into techno, while maintaining a sub-surface vibe throughout the tune.

Mediane - Inhuman

Mediane are two producers from Paris who combine their respective influences and talents to create tunes that are dark, deep, atmospheric, aggressive and ominous. Sometimes these styles come together all at once, like in Inhuman, off their Spiritual Rave EP on OFF Recordings, where punishing beats coexist with scary synths and an overall uneasy feeling.

Roman Poncet - Turn Down

Featured in the Figure 100 Compilation, Roman Poncet´s Turn Down presents a deep, jackin´ side of techno, a different vision that sets the tune apart from the other heavier tracks in the collection, which nevertheless includes great music from many artists on Len Faki´s label.  

Darlyn Vlys - Faux Semblants

Darlyn Vlys is a native of Montpellier, France, who moved to the Spanish city of Valencia to produce his own brand of techno and house. 2018 has seen the release of his debut LP Prince In the Rain on Sincopat, as well as of the EP Faux Semblants on Upon You, with two tracks that explore deep into techno territory. The title cut is full of effects and noises that bring a kind of ominous feeling but still manage to sound attractive and engaging.

Matt Sassari - Seigneur Gondor

Matt Sassari certainly keeps himself busy these days, with release after release of quality original tunes and remixes. This time, on the Seigneur Gondor EP, released by Kneaded Pains, he brings two very different tunes that nonetheless keep true to his own adventurous style. The title track has a techy beat and quirky samples, while Olum adds wobbly bass to the weirdness.

Hell Driver - Exoplanet

French up-and-coming DJ and producer Hell Driver reaches into the lights and shadows of techno, often edging over the darkness, but managing to keep enough balance in his music to not fall over completely. Exoplanet, for example, a track included in the Yin Yang Bombs Compilation number 35, carries a menacing, stomping kick that is nonetheless enlightened by a nervous and jittering synth line. A peak-time tune that can blow a dancefloor away.

Thomas Evans - Because I´m

French DJ and producer Thomas Evans has a knack for finding and exploiting the deepest, darkest corners of techno, bringing out unique melodies and rhythms, and creating music that´s been played and supported by some of the biggest names in the scene. He has worked with labels like Phobiq and We Are the Brave, the latter of which has just released his Because I´m EP, three slices of gut-busting, head pounding techno, including the intense and driven title track.

Nerdjack - Underground Diva (Matt Sassari Remix)

Starting from the trippy, jacking original by Nerdjack, Matt Sassari refashions the house beats and trades them for a harder-edged techno base, keeping the flow of the tune while making it sound heavier. It´s a stomping extravaganza, complete with a mysterious vocal sample and buzzing effects. Released by the great Kling Klong.

Deapmash - Wrong Meta

Deapmash gives us four tracks of abusive, distorted hard techno in his Global Networks Connections EP, the kind that obliterate dancefloors and whips crowds into a frenzy. Jacking, mechanical, twisted and tough as nails, the EP´s first track, Wrong Meta, contains all the elements that make for great late-night madness, with a tinge of old-school flavour. Released by way-out-there techno specialists THEM Records, and not for the faint of heart.

Patrik Berg - Discovery (Feat. Matt Sassari)

Matt Sassari teams up with Patrik Berg for their Discovery EP, released on Monika Kruse´s classic Terminal M label. The French and German team produce unapologetic, no-nonsense techno beats, topped with impressive synth riffs and stabs, for a heady, lose-yourself-in-the-music effect. The title track is a jittery, frisky, unstoppable monster, with resounding kicks, a killer bassline and many layers of madness.

Philipe Petit - Body

An excellent track by Philipe Petit, another long-standing French DJ/producer. Playful bouncing synths and bass with an edgy melody tying it all together. Released by Figure SPC (SPC U).

François X - Rising

France again on the decks, this time represented by François X´s Rising, off the Marcel Dettmann Records 4-track sampler EP MDR 14.2. Quality jacking techno that doesn´t let up.

Terence Fixmer - Elka

An epic track by one of France´s leading techno DJs. A combination attack led by massive kicks and synths makes for a blistering record. Out on Deeply Rooted (DRH047).

Deapmash - Meters (Divided remix)

Bringing this release by Black Nite Records (BLN005) back from earlier in the year, French producer Deapmash turns out two interesting original tracks, but it´s Divided´s remix of Meters what truly catches the ear, with an unstoppable kick anchoring an otherwise relaxed atmosphere.