Angus Mills
Alva

Istanbul-born, Berlin-based duo Bärtaub is queueing up next on the prestigious Paris imprint of Yoyaku.Following successful releases on Butch’s Otherside label and legendary R&S records, Bärtaub brings a fresh sonic exploration to the Yoyaku imprint.“Nominal Attraction” delves into the magnetic forces of music, where objects are drawn to each other within the same genre nominally, skilfully ensuring that each piece maintains a distinct identity, providing a set of unique spaces for each track.The release presents a seamless blend of breaks and house music, united under the flag of Minimal Techno, evolving within a sharp sound organically to create an immersive and dangerously danceable experience that transcends traditional boundaries of the genres.The A side showcases a powerful introduction as well as a deeper, breaded cut as the duo is joined by Brick.The B side opens up on a more incisive interpretation of Deep Breaks with the title track of the EP, to finish off on an inevitable piece designed to warm even the coldest floors of the planet, under the name of Chord Shift Space.

Detroit's stalwart Kyle Hall is back on Apnea Records with "Crimson Clouds," his second release for the label following the acclaimed "Cosmic Touch." This acid-infused record is a tribute to Detroit's electronic legacy, drawing inspiration from the 90s sound of labels like Matrix and Underground Resistance, all while injecting Hall's unmistakable modern flair. Tracks like "Acid Tea" showcase Hall's acid-driven approach, delivering a dancefloor twister that's pure bliss. Meanwhile, "Nimbus" stands out with its syncopated rhythms and soulful synth lines, and "Told Them Before" brings raw, head-spinning techno energy to the forefront. With "Crimson Clouds," Kyle Hall delivers another essential record that bridges classic Detroit sounds with his unique modern twist. A must.

We’re glad to present Roman Khropko’s latest release on FIB002, marking a new phase in his sound. With fresh concepts and approaches, this record shows a deeper philosophical narrative that underpins each of his works.The opening track serves as a manifesto of our contemporary world, where an AI-generated voice delves into the opportunities and challenges brought by modern technology—creating a thought-provoking recursion between sound and meaning.The remaining two tracks perfectly embody Roman’s signature style, seamlessly blending his refined vision of cutting-edge Tech sound with his extensive experience in crafting dancefloor-oriented music.Limited edition for those who truly understand.

"For ALT015, we welcome the fabled DMX Krew for a second time. The Space Is Inside EP accurately reflects the artist's multiple decennia in the studio, shaping his aesthetics on the axis of electro, techno and synthpop. On Vicious Windows, a distinct lead pierces through the ominous, unison-drenched synths stabs and square waves. As the track progresses, we are kept on our toes by drum fills that sound like hydraulic valves releasing pressure and subtle detune slider fiddling. The hot and sweaty Bass box combines zap-like bass patterns with even more jittery synth work, while the titular woofer addresses us in a vocoder voice. Warm Places echoes Dutch West Coast, and although concise, sufficient melody and modulated drums are snuck in to immediately reveal the artist's hand. On Space Is Inside dark chords interplay with a wistful FM bass melody. Subtle bursts of synth sparkle keep everything rooted in silky melancholy. While the strings on Mental Disturbance are also gloomy, the lead is more frantic. The 303's modulation is constant, and slowly flanged snare drums try their best keeping it in line. Closer Tunnel Beneath Precinct 11 sure doesn't tone down either. The spooky, reverb-laden synth work collides with a dark, catchy bass, its cutoff and resonance knobs never left untouched. It closes down an EP of machine funk that covers a lot yet manages to shape into a satisfyingly cohesive arc."

Following a string of releases on a who’s who of top labels such as Planet Euphorique, Salt Mines, Haws and Craigie Knowes, prog-trance pioneer Lisene drops a full-length LP on his On Rotation imprint. With 8 hyper-detailed tracks ranging from club-focused techno, progressive and electro to slo-mo downtempo, Lisene brings his A-game to an album sure to cement his place as one of the most exciting producers and DJs in the UK’s underground music scene. Created over several years with a perfectionist’s attention to detail, “Science Friction” flits between moods and sonic environments with ease while retaining the cohesion of Lisene’s inimitable production style. Despite being an album, this is still very much a record for the DJs, featuring heads-down club tracks and bass-heavy electro crafted with precision and a cinematic sense of scale. For the home listeners, expansive slo-mo soundscapes and cerebral synth odysseys float high above the clouds, with widescreen details revealing themselves ever further with each re-play.“This album has been 15 years in the making and represents a culmination of everything I’ve worked towards in defining my own sound and style without letting myself be pigeonholed. I’m immensely proud of each track - it really reflects where I was at musically while making this, while giving a glimpse into my future sound. This is a record that deserves to be played on the finest sound systems and hi-fis, and I couldn’t be more happy with how it’s turned out. Dive in and enjoy!” Combining influences from across the spectrum of dance music with a cinematic sense of psychedelia and his own inimitable production skills, “Science Friction” is sure to see a lot of airtime across the festivals, after-parties and living rooms of the world this summer and beyond.On Rotation is a Leeds based label, event & mix series run by Chris I’Anson, Lisene & Adam Pits. Artwork illustrated and designed by Patch D Keyes.

‘WAR1209’ finds Ukrainian artist shjva inducing trance states across an album equal parts tripped-out and dubby. Spanning brooding lysergic visions and locked-in dance floor hypnosis, expect drowsily impressionistic soundscapes and darkly cinematic gear across the 9-track duration. Total sonic immersion for the oddballs and the freaks.
 Terraforming uncharted alien terrain, tracks like ‘X-Side’ and ‘Upper Limit’ descend into sprawling, widescreen exploration. Fathomless landscapes serving as vessels for deep introspection. ‘Enigmatic’, on the other hand, opts for detail and precision-tooled dynamics while retaining that same wide-eyed sense of wonder. Where ‘Dragonfly’ offers fractal fuel for ceremony and ritual, ‘Cloudhopping’ and ‘Psy-Fi Alien Dub’ wade knee-deep through some dub techno murk. Saving the direct and tunnelling for last, 'Banshee' and 'Chrysalis' are like two sides of the same proggy coin; one ominous, the other more optimistic and utopian.