VA - Aesthetik Label Showcase

Album: Aesthetik Label Showcase
Artist: Various Artists
Label: www.aesthetik-records.com
Genre: Techno / Minimal
Release Date: 13th August 2007
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Review:
a fantastic release covering various forms of techno. From ambient techno, minimal and almost banging techno. The majority being in the ambient techno genre and includes one or two standout tracks from that genre. The album ends off with an ambient IDM track ... interesting stuff and a good way to end an album.

None of the tracks are weak or out of place. Its definitely a great compilation and seeing its a showcase, this netlabel must be good. This is the first review of them on netlabel review and hopefully there will be more pretty soon.

Hiroshi Oki vs Dessben - Puente Aereo [Antiritmo020]

Album: Puente Aereo
Artist: Hiroshi Oki vs Dessben
Label: www.antiritmo.com
Genre: Techno / Ambient Techno
Release Date: Jul 2007
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Review:

Some stunning Techno from Spain this time. The guys at Antiritmo have a knack for releasing full bodied dance floor friendly dance music with an abstract edge to it. This release is one of their best this year and I really enjoyed listening to it.

Its definitely aimed at the dance floor and has some serious "bang" in it that wont disappoint you if thats what you desire. Its only 4 tracks, but packs a serious amount of energy into it. It literally makes me want to dance. The slow variations in sound keep on building from start to finish and when the track ends you are left waiting for the next one to carry on! It does not disappoint in that respect at all.

So DJ's take note, you got some seriously banging techno tracks that will set your dance floor alight (or at least your CD players if your a bedroom DJ). And if you are just a iPod'der that enjoys some energetic techno ... you know the drill. (Get it)

Retroflexus - Graft EP [bump035]

Album: Graft EP
Artist: Retroflexus
Label: www.bumpfoot.net
Genre: Minimal / Techno
Release Date: 3 June 2007
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Review:

This debut release from Retroflexus, an artist from Hungary is also bumpfoot's 80th release.

The music is interesting and will slide down well with all minimal fans. The music tends to be a little quirky at stages but its still funky throughout all 4 tracks.

I found the third track had the most appeal to me, steady solid beat and some nice techno elements just made it worth the download. Give it a download if you are into techno, tech house, minimal ...

Tom Larson - Dancing in the Night [Kreislauf 014]

Album: Dancing in the Night
Artist: Tom Larson
Label: http://kreislauf.org/
Genre: Ambient Techno / Minimalist
Release Date: 1 May 2007 (Mayday)
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Review:
A blissful mixture of ambient, minimal & techno. Really something that you can enjoy on your day off or a lazy afternoon where you don't want something that will put you to sleep, but still be very mellow.

Its a great mix of Detroit style minimal techno and ambient techno.

At the 25 minute mark the mix just becomes magical, a fantastic concoction of melancholy and relaxed vibes. To top things off, the album does pick up pace at the end giving you a more dance floor friendly mix. Overall it is a dance floor friendly mix, perfect for warming up those summer night outdoor dance floors.

This is a superb selection of tracks and overall definitely worth the download. If you are into dance music with a mellow edge ... need I say more?

There is a track list on the website, I am sure you'll want it.

BronZe - Dreamer EP [GCAF007]

Album: Dreamer EP
Artist: BronZe
Label: http://www.groovecaffe.com
Genre: Tech house / Techno
Release Date: March 2007
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Review:

This 3 song EP is not bad at all. It is quite mellow, especially the first 2 songs. The music is very easy to listen to, it will also be great background music but still keep the blood flowing. It will also work on a dance floor or in a dance mix too. I find that there are some parts that are a little to stretched, but nothing so bad that it damages the overall feel of the music. The third song has more energy than the first two and the songs form a good combination for an album.

Its a good release and worth the download.

(Thanks Nova)

Tails - Drugs Prescriptions [kreislauf012]

Album: Drugs Prescriptions
Artist: Tails
Label: http://kreislauf.org
Genre: Techno / Minimal / Techhouse
Release Date: April 2007
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Review:

We are back! and to catch up the first thing we are going to do its review something worth downloading! Kreislauf have sent all of us who appreciate the more toned down style of dance (ala Minimal) a heavenly album. Drugs Prescriptions by Tales is a very funky and extrmemely enjoyable piece of audio. Its got all the elements of a top of the range minimal techno and enough energy to rival some house albums out there. Fast the halfway mark the album moves more into the purist techno realm, but its all good ... Enjoy!

Album: Pimp my Llama
Artist: Dirtybird
Label: www.italobusiness.com/content/netlabel/index.html
Genre: TechHouse / Electro
Release Date: 14 March 2007
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Review:
This is a very straight forward EP with some reasonable tunes on it. Once again it might be more mix fodder than iPod food, but it is still good enough to get a mention...

Hardmate - Früher, ganz ganz früher [rest034]

Album: Früher, ganz ganz früher
Artist: Hardmate
Label: http://www.rest-label.net
Genre: Tech-House
Release Date: March 2007
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Review:
If you want some more dancefloor friendly music, either to use in a mix or to listen to, this album will have something on it for you. Its tech-house all the way from start to end.

The album is good, but i cannot say that it will have a lot of replay value on your iPod / player. It will however work very well in a mix. It just does not have the X factor required to make you go "Whooo hooo!". I think some of you might disagree though, dont get me wrong its not bad by a long shot...

There is one stand out track on the album, "Planet Chaos (Sanomat Remix)". Its tends to be more hard trance and it is a track that will make you go "Whoo hoo!".

Tony Guinness - Almost

Album: Almost
Artist: Tony Guinness
Label: http://after-dinner.net/
Genre: Tech-House / Minimal
Release Date: 14-March-2007
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Review:
Tony Guinness presents to us some pumping and rather funky Tech-House. Both the "Almost" tracks are pretty repetitive but does not get too monotonous or boring at all. I actually think they will both pump up a dancefloor quite well. Its just such a funky groove. The Mr Smith remix of Almost Pt2 is a very good remix and adds and funky bassline into the mix.

Fans of House , Techno , Tech-House and minimalist styles should find this release enjoyable. I can already hear some of these being played on a dancefloor soon.

Paul Damixie - Love Feels So Good [micro001]

Album: Love Feels So Good
Artist: Paul Damixie
Label: microme.audio-lab.org
Genre: Tech-House / Minimal
Release Date: 12 March 2007
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Review:

This release seems to be the debut of both Paul Damixie and the Netlabel "Microme". The release is dance oriented and blends minimal, techno and house elements to create good Tech-House. So whats the verdict?

The album contains a few groovy, gritty basslines and funky beats. Sometimes it steps well into the hard house arena but still manages to keep vague elements of techno / electro (See "Super Expensive"). The production is also good and is funky enough to appeal to fans of hard house and other dance genres.

To summarize: I enjoyed it.

Droog - Alles ist Hermoso [norbu03]

Album: Alles ist Hermoso
Artist: Droog
Label: www.norbumusic.com
Genre: Ambient Techno / Minimal / Techno
Release Date: 8 May 2007
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Review:

I'm impressed with this release especially the first track. Its got such a fantastic rhythm ... fantastic atmospheres, haunting melodies and its funky to boot! The second track is a little more devious with a more traditional techno sound building up from start to end. Its definitely something i can see come up in someone's mix pretty soon...

Its a shame its only two tracks though but well worth the small download. There is even a FLAC version for you audiophiles out there.

John Lagora - Avian Flu [alquimia001]

Album: Avian Flu
Artist: John Lagora
Label: www.alquimia-netlabel.com
Genre: Techno /Electro
Release Date: 5-March-2007
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Review:

John Lagora is featured as Alquimia Net Label's debut release and it is a very good release at that. Its hard to cast the release into one genre. John Lagora seems to blend the techno and electro genre's into his own unique sound creating a styled version of these. This is a good thing as it gives the artist identity.

The music is thumping and solid, dancefloor friendly and damn groovy. All the dance music enthusiasts who like the "New Electro House" genre must at least try out the track "Stay tune, boy". Its Solid beats, funky tribal rhythms and a KILLER bassline!! You wont be disappointed in this one.

This one get s a full and solid 4/5 :)

Monuloku - The bird, which became a fish [gargan011]

Album: The bird, which became a fish
Artist: Monuloku
Label: http://www.garganrecords.com/index3.html
Genre: TechHouse
Album URL
Release Date: 3-Feb-2007
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Review:

This is definitely one of the better tech-house albums out there at the moment. Pumping beats, crazy melodies and growling basslines from the first to the last track.

The title track really has a good feel, almost like slowed down trance. The second track really has a interesting bass sound and mixes in elements from the minimal techno genre to create the Tech-House theme.

Its a good release from the guys at Gargan Records and is definitely worth the download. Its recommended.

Various - Globalization [ma026]

Album: Globalization
Artist: Various Artists
Label: http://www.musicartistry.de
Genre: Many
Album URL
Release Date: Jan 2007
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Review:

Ok, so now the proverbial $#!t has hit the fan? If its mind blowing your after, you just found the mother of all blowers! This is a compilation and collaboration between a number of netlabels to produce a very high quality album (of note!).

The album is done with each artist submitting two tracks to the listing. The first two tracks are by "Brett Knacksen", both have a tribal rhythm and even though it never goes into pounding beats its really intense music!

The second artist in the lineup is Amoebafunk giving us a superb psy-trance delivery in his first track. Here and there i hear whispers of Shpongle (litterally almost). This is not a floor filler, its flowing psytrance mixed up with a hint of ambient. His second track is a little more intense using synth lines that give off an almost industrial/EBM sound. Really good stuff all around!

The next artist is PatherKlub giving us some more dancefloor friendly music, but this time stepping well into the realm of EBM. The vocals and bass synth lines especially reminds me of project pitchfork and other EBM artists. His second track reminds me of Neurotic Fish, still EBM but a more pop feel than the other track.

BeCkman is up next, delivering an even more dancefloor friendly mix between house and trance? Its hard to describe the style on this one, but the second track is a definite dancefloor burner!

Ok so we need some bleeps and squeeks to give this album a more complete feel. Qorser brings us some top notch IDM, you have to listen to this with headphones (yeah, your iPod will do just fine). Its mind melting! Both tracks are fantastic ...

And to make sure you get enough, Ben Crea cleans the floor with some pumping house tunes! With house I mean deep deep house. Ben delivers a smooth mix between deep and funky, ready for sipping on a sunday afternoon party.

To summarize:
This album covers a lot. From intense to downright funky. Overall its been a pleasure to listen to it. Its found a new home on my mp3 player and it will be on there for a while still. There will be something in it for almost everyone...

Bonnie Drasco - Acid & Fresh EP [poly05]

Album: Acid & Fresh EP
Artist: Bonnie Drasco
Label: http://www.polytone-label.de
Genre: Minimalist / Electro / Ambient Techno
Album URL
Release Date: Jan 2007
Download

Review:

If you are into the sort of hypnotic techno / tech-house genre, this album should slide down pretty well. Pulsing beats and sweeping synth lines create an almost eerie vibe especially on the 3rd track. Its got energy, but not the sort that will burn you out on the dance floor, it might blow your mind though.

I found some of the tracks to be a little too off center and possibly wouldn't have reviewed it, but the 3rd track just reminded me of the hours I' spent on a dancefloor, taking up the beats and basslines oozing from speakers in the early hours of the morning. So i thought it was worth a mention.

This album might not go down with the majority of people and even techno lovers might find it a little "bland" but it just brought back the feeling of an era to me. Maybe I'm wrong and you all love it. Some of you WILL love it, thats for sure ...

So what the heck give it a spin. You can swear at me if I wasted your bandwidth!

Jean Murder - Cambio Climatico [mininet003]

Album: Cambio Climatico
Artist: Jean Murder
Label: http://www.mininet.minimalnet.org/
Genre: Techno / Tech House
Artist URL
Album URL
Release Date: 2-Feb-2007
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Review:

Some reasonable tunes on this one. Nothing that screams "Dance mother F?#@!" but its not bad at all. The sort of stuff a DJ would use to get a dance floor warmed up just after a few intro tracks. Its well produced, high quality and will be good enough to listen for any techno fan. Some of the tracks have a tech-house feel and should also appeal to fans of that genre as well.

Overall i cannot give it more than 3/5. It just does not have enough hooks to grab you or stand out from the crowd. The album artwork is also good and adds something to the whole package.

Its reasonably good , so try it and let the artist knwo what you think. They appreciate any comments (me too).

In Vitro - Método Paranoico Crítico [bump025]

Album: Método Paranoico Crítico
Artist: In Vitro
Label: LABELURL
Genre: Progressive House / Electro / Techno
Artist URL
Album URL
Release Date: 27-Jan-2007
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1. Método Paranoico Crítico (6:29)
2. Método Paranoico Crítico (minimix) (5:23)
3. Retina Pupila (5:42)

Wanna know what time it is? ITS PARTY TIME!!!The guys at bumpfoot are bringing out the big guns! If you want something to shake your b-hind to, this is it! One of the most approachable dancefloor albums to date! Seriously thumping beats, PHat growling basslines, hot hatz and an amazing groove!

a Definite download for all dance music lovers out there ... (this is HOT!!)

Various mixed by Tom Larson - Klänge der Nacht Vol.1 [Mixotic 067]

Album: Klänge der Nacht Vol.1
Artist: Various Mixed By Tom Larson
Label: http://www.mixotic.net
Genre: Ambient House / Minimal Techno / Tech House
Artist URL / www.tomlarson.de
Album URL
Release Date: 22 January 2007
Download (111Mb)

Review:

a Fantastic selection of music is used in this mix by Tom Larsen. All of the tracks are deep and relaxing, yet still groovey enough to enjoy. Its the perfect companion for those "comming down" times when you just want to fade out but not give up completely!

Herotyc - Chico Minimal [bump024]

Album: Chico Minimal
Artist: Herotyc
Label: http://www.bumpfoot.net
Genre: Minimal Electro / Techno
Album URL
Release Date: 21-Jan-2007
Download:

1. Hay Inquietudes (5:16)
2. Me Gustas (6:03)
3. Algo Sutil (6:57)
4. Esta Prohibido (6:04)

Our friends over at Bumpfoot have released another high quality album. The album "Chico Minimal" by and artist called "Herotyc" is really a fine example of minimal electro. Detroit style tech house with a chilled flavor.

This is a very good release and is recommended to anyone who likes the mentioned styles.

Paul Hossow - Smokedriver [LZ008]

Album: Smokedriver [Mix]
Artist: Paul Hossow mixing Various Artists
Label: www.loopzilla.org
Genre: Minimalist / Tech-house
Album URL
Release Date: 15-Jan-2007
Download (76Mb)


a Perfect selection of minimalist tracks moving onto a more tech-house vibe later in the mix really cooking it up. It does get a little long in the tooth in the beginning but makes up for it at the end... This wont be a problem if you are into minimalist techno though...

Here is the track listing from the loopzilla website. Please visit them for more details and other hot mixes!

01. TOBSUCHT FX - a to the nie
02. SVEN LAUX - florera
03. LUKAS LEHMANN - salz vs. pfeffer
04. CLICK BOX - woody pecker
05. LIEBE IST COOL - ok! (kane roth rmx)
06. SIC - digital
07. VADIM LANKOV - gloom & mood
08. BJOERN DE BAAL - documents of life part 1
09. TANZMUSIK - auf deutsch (rootsix rmx)
10. TOOLTECH - himalaya

mixed by paul hossow
54:41 min / 75 mb / 192 kb