Blue Hour
Remixed [1]

Legendary Italian label Palmares Records is back with two previously unreleased works from Stefano di Carlo directly from his archive of 90's productions plus two new remixes, one from label boss Alex Neri and the other from Andy Perfetti.....the perfect comeback for Palmares Records.

Scottish Techno wizard Astro joins PIFF Records on their landmark tenth release, with 5 cosmic and groovy belters.Having recently found success with his own Neptune Discs imprint and regularly performing up and down the country, Astro has firmly established himself as one to watch in the techno sphere.Opening with the title track, Astro combines a relentless bassline with dubbed-out chords and spacey leads. Echoing space-age soundscapes and futuristic sounds of 70s kosmische musik and 90s techno, Astro makes good on the aesthetic promised by his artist name.Astro brings down the tempo for the hypnotic Cloned Substance. A mesmerising hat pattern combines with delay-drenched leads and a bouncy bassline to create a track intent on capturing the listener in a state of trance.Thunderstorm adheres to the tried-and-tested Astro combination of a thick bassline, spacey stabs, and continuously evolving drums. As to be expected, the results are spectacular. Irresistible grooves and rich soundscapes are the order of the day as Astro delivers once again.A haunting and proggy FM-lead acts as the foundation for Pluto, underpinned by a sub-heavy kick and tranquil chords. The meditative ebb and flow of various elements masterfully expresses the solitude of the track’s namesake.Planetary Blitz closes the EP as a digital bonus track. Expanding on the spaced-out motifs of the previous track (as reflected in the track title), Astro substitutes chord stabs and warm basslines for a driving blend of punchy kicks and a subtle glittery guitar.

Adam Pit’s Grounded EP sees the space•lab favourite exploring deeper, techno-inspired terrains. Opening track, ‘Schtoopbloop’ traces mystical synth lines and expansive vocals, underpinned by a satisfyingly substantial, driving baseline. Track two, ‘Tiptoe’, enters Pits’ iconic breaksy palette - equal parts dreamy and slick, this is the wipeout soundtrack for the next century. On the flipside, Konduku dips his toe into remix duties, offering up a shimmering, spiralling rework of the original. Finally, closing up the release, title track ‘Grounded’ growls into view, rising from sub-heavy foundations into dubby, treacle-speed sounds.

Barna mainstay oma totem is dishing out the cerebral and dubby like it’s nobody’s business. 3 tripped-out accelerators courtesy of the Oyster Cult debutant, complete with an OK EG rework for good measure.No messing with this purveyor of reverb-drenched dynamics and fractal polyrhythm. But this time, rather than the inward contemplation of releases past, we get something a little more full-frontal.Robust club gear rooted in ominous portent, opener ‘The Trick’ recalls the heyday of early 00s bass music. It’s tunnelling prog caught on a dark side flex. Then, in a coming together of kindred spirits, Melbourne hardware duo OK EG take it upon themselves to provide some introspection. Expect depth charge bass-weight primed for meditative moments. ‘Choreos’ finds the Hivern Discs affiliate at his deftest. Intricate and kaleidoscopic with careful attention to rhythmic intricacies, but never at the expense of dancefloor propulsion. The same could be said for the follow-up. Equal parts driving and trance state-inducing, closing number ‘Mania’ has oma returning to the inky abyss from whence he came. Detailed, dubbed-out and quintessentially Kalahari.

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