Reports
Reports
not even noticed - nocturnal slide
The Frankfurt duo, not even noticed, is recognized for their ability to rejuvenate classic breakbeat elements while incorporating a forward-thinking approach to drum and bass. Their latest release, Nocturnal Slides (2025) on Gimme A Break Records, showcases their talent by blending old-school influences with modern sounds. Tracks like 'Ethur' and 'Queso' weave emotive liquid drum and bass with uplifting pads and gritty basslines, while 'Jitter' challenges genre boundaries with jump-up DnB drums and acid bases. The duo also explores different styles in 'Kura', evoking a garage feel, and delivers raw energy in 'Rustle', appealing to hardcore junglists. The Phasmid remix adds a trippy twist, showcasing their innovative approach to production.
Denise Rabe - Mastermind
Denise Rabe's latest work, Mastermind, showcases her evolution in sound, transitioning from spine-chilling insect techno to a style I'd describe as sound bath techno. The music features slow, methodical rhythms characterised by heavy modulating subs, expansive pads, and minimalist samples. Rabe's productions engage the dance floor with influences from various genres.
Her tracks demand patience and serve as tools for group hypnosis. Mastermind, featuring dynamic synthesisers, constantly searches for resolution, while One Complete Moment uses sparse melodies to create unresolved tension. Both tracks reflect her signature insect-like textures, blending simple percussive patterns with intricate modulation that enhances the overall sonic experience.
Paleman - Pale Vater
Callum Lee, after a brief foray into experimental music under the alias Fresnel Lens, returned to club-focused releases in 2023 with his familiar Paleman persona. His 2023 album Veiled showcased his percussive excellence, and now, in 2024, he releases the EP 'Pale Vater' with 30D Records, just in time for NYE gigs. The title track features sharp syncopated grooves and a futuristic sound, while other tracks like 'Lying About Lying' and 'No You' evoke a throwback to dark dubstep influences. The EP's standout track, 'Trawl', offers rich atmospherics with haunting elements. However, the tracks feel like variations of the same material, lacking distinctiveness, yet maintaining high quality and appeal for a NYE playlist.
James K - Hypersoft Lovejinx Junkdream
James K's latest record, Hypersoft Lovejinx Junkdream (2024), features not only a complex title but a stunning production that blends downtempo and breakbeat elements. The title track creates a dreamlike atmosphere with rich bass drones and reverberation, showcasing James K's innovative style. The second track, 'Blinkmoth (July Mix)', offers a trip-hop sound reminiscent of Portishead, with careful construction and expressive vocalisations. Overall, the album is noted for its visionary vocal delivery and harmonious production, continuing the magic from James K's previous work, Random Girl (2022). The album promises to delight music lovers with its fresh and nostalgic feel.
Daniel Avery - Digital Rain / I Miss You
Daniel Avery is a prominent figure in London's music scene, known for his ability to stay relevant through new albums and mixes. His latest release, Digital Rain / I Miss You, showcases his exploration of ambient music against breakbeats.
From capturing the quiet moments after clubbing by blending soft breaks with elements of liquid drum and bass and cinematic qualities to a harder sound with grainy textures and nostalgic mechanical artefacts reminiscent of his earlier work, Avery employs a minimalist approach in his rhythms, prioritising accessibility and space. This release may be seen as self-referential and less innovative, lacking significant cultural reference points. Overall, Avery continues to meld various influences in his music, maintaining his relevance in dance music.
Blawan - BouQ
Blawan's new record, BouQ, released under his imprint Ternesc, showcases his signature radical sound design and bass-heavy sections while pushing genre boundaries. The EP features varied grooves, incorporating pop rhythms into his futurist bass style. While the record can feel overwhelming, Blawan introduces more solid, trappy and UK hip-hop influences, experimenting more with dramatic vocals and glitches. The second half of the EP returns to a progressive direction, combining old-school dubstep and electro house and featuring a garagey footwork vibe and haunting flute melody.
Schwefelgelb - Trigger
The critique of live versus studio music has intensified, especially with the rise of live performances in electronic music. The German duo Schwefelgelb stands out in this regard, consistently surpassing expectations in their live shows. Their latest EP, Trigger (2024), particularly highlights how they capture the energy of live performances in their recordings.
The track "IO" showcases their mastery of acceleration and deceleration, creating a dynamic, intense atmosphere that deviates from typical industrial sounds. 'The second track, Open World Games', embraces a more theatrical style with a dark ambience, incorporating rugged glitches and minimalist rave elements for contrast.
Additionally, the album features two remixes: UFO95's minimalist electro/techno remix of 'Open World Games' maintains Schwefelgelb's aesthetic. In contrast, Flore's remix of 'IO' takes a bold departure with a contemporary UKG influence, reflecting the duo's openness to new sounds. Overall, the project effectively simulates the thrill of a live performance while exploring diverse musical landscapes.
Vril - Saturn Is A Supercomputer
Vril's latest album, Saturn In A Supercomputer (2024), showcases his mastery in blending ambient music with elements of techno, moving slightly away from traditional German sounds. Vril builds on themes of futurism and isolation, the album features dynamic compositions and a more wistful sound palette compared to his earlier work.
Vril creates a cosmic atmosphere with its swelling synthesisers and subdued vocals. Its captivating, beatless pieces highlight Vril's skills in ambient production, creating a sense of anticipation with its delicate synths. Tracks like 'Batumi Stranding' merge ambient textures with minimal techno. At the same time, 'Final Earthbound' engages listeners with a thought-provoking intro on human evolution before diving into a subdued techno experience.
Returning to dance-centric sounds, "Truth Out Of The Cave" features catchy basslines and strong grooves. The title track takes a dramatic turn with its melodic hooks and a nod to Detroit's electro sound, though it occasionally sacrifices clarity in its production. Vril's Sohn (SP12 Rework) exemplifies his adaptability as a producer, transforming the original's character into something new yet equally impressive. The album reflects Vril's broad musical identity and innovative approach to blending genres.
Not Waving & Romance - Wings Of Desire
Not Waving and Romance have produced two intimate musical collaborations, with their latest album, Wings of Desire, exploring themes of consciousness and religion through ambient music fused with Renaissance elements. This follow-up to their earlier works, including Infinite Light and Eyes of Fate, embodies a unique blend of the divine and mechanical, creating what they describe as "mythological Old Testament ambient." Wings of Desire combines classical and contemporary styles, featuring repetitive loops and symphonic vocals. This emotional range and depth are uncommon in ambient music, inviting deeper study and reflection. Overall, Not Waving and Romance blend influences from artists like AFX and Boards of Canada, creating a complex sound that unfolds gradually for those willing to immerse themselves in its mythological ambience.
Shed - Applications
A special collaboration between a prominent German label, Ilian Tape, and influential producer Shed showcases the intersection of Munich and Berlin's music scenes. The Applications EP encapsulates the Ilian Tape ethos through retro-futurist sounds and analogue techniques. Shed's distinctive style, characterised by gritty drum programming and analogue synthesis, heavily influences the tracklist.
Opening with EMCZ, a high-energy, industrial boom-bap-style track that propels the dance forward, TLSQ contrasts this with an organic 4x4 groove, rich with transforming synth layers that surprise the listener. The closing track, UFO2, is marked by its intense Big Room energy, highlighted by pounding percussion and atmospheric elements. The overall impact of Applications shows how relevant Shed is and may always be.